Loading...
Times Advocate, 1992-08-12, Page 2_ .e` km. :wrap up, Saan store loses $15,000 in break-in ST. MARYS - Police say a break-in at the Saan store in St. Marys July 30, was likely the work of professional thieves. According to the St. Marys Journal Argus, more than $15,000 worth of merchandise, which included men's and ba- bies' clothing was taken. Thieves forced a rear door into an electrical room and then broke through a wall from the room into the store area. The rear door to an empty store in the Stonetown Mall next door was also forced open where a second attempt was made to break through a wall. A similar break-in occurred in a nearby municipality two nights later leading police to believe a group of professional thieves are working in the area. Daily bus run returns to area PARKHILL - After months of providing service every other day, Cha -Co Trails will again be running a bus seven days a week through the communities of Si Joseph, Grand Bend, Parkhill, Ailsa Craig, Denfield and llder- ton. As reported m the Parkhill Ga- zette, the recent purchase of a Goderich to Stratford run by the Chatham -based company has lead to the restoration of most of its previous service. The only hole in the system is the lack of a return trip from London on Sundays and holidays. The London -bound weekday bus stops in Grand Bend at 11:40 a.m., Parkhill at 11:55 a.m., Ailsa Craig at 12:10 p.m., Denfield at 12:20 p.m. and Ilder- ton at 12:30 p.m. arriving in London at 12:50 p.m. The re- turn bus leaves London at 3:20 p.m. arriving in Ilderton at 3:40 p.m., Denfield at 3:50 p.m., AiI- sa Craig at 4 p.m., Parkhill at 4:15 p.m. and Grand Bend at 4:30 p.m. The London -bound Sunday and holiday bus leaves Grand Bend at 3:45 p.m., Parkhill at 4 p.m., Ailsa Craig at 4:15 p.m., Denfield at 4:25 p.m., and llder- ton at 4:35 p.m. arriving in Lon- don at 4:55 p.m. with no return service. Mitchell to improve fish habitat The Ministry of Natural Re- sources will be in Mitchell This week conducting tests on water in the Thames River to help de- termine what kind of fish are in the river and offer solutions as to how to improve their habitat According to the Mitchell Ad- vocate, interest has been sparked by avid local fisherman and the Mitchell Jaycees. Following testing August 11 and 12, three representatives of the ministry will use results to work with the community to improve the habi- tat and encourage other species of fish to move into the river. Murder trial Moved to Goderich GODBRICH - Atter the de- fence successfully argued that an impartial jury could not be picked due to extensive media coverage of the slayings, a teen- ager charged with three counts of first-degree murder will be tried in Godorich. As reported in the Goderich Signal -Star, the case involves the 1991 slayings of Alfred Critchley, 77, his wife Virginia Critchley. 73. and their grandson Jaren Paagbum, 19. The case was originally to be tried in the city of Chatham. No trial data has been set. Grand Bend Plnete Zoo is the new home of a week and a half old Resus monkey that is usually found in China. Worth keeping the slate? Debate continues over original library roof EXETER - Buoyed by the re- cent announcement of a grant to subsidize last winter's restora- tion of the Old Town Hall roof last winter, council were ponder- ing their latest dilemma and wondering if government money would help with the repair of the Library roof. Last month, council were de- bating whether to repair the orig- inal slate roof of the Library, or replace it with new asphalt shin- gles. In the end, they agreed to compare tenders on both meth- ods. At last Tuesday's meeting, however, councillor Ben Hoo- genbooip asked whether a pro- vincial grant might help with the extra cost of maintaining the slate tiles. "i don't believe the library has ever been declared a heritage building," pointed out councillor Robert Drummond. "So this grant would not apply" "You're right," agreed mayor Bruce Shaw, who thea asked how long it would take to make the Library a designated heritage structure. Administrator Rick Hundey said the process would take sev- eral months at least. Building official Dave Moyer said roofing tenders went out on August 5 and Shaw asked if any grant applications could be made in the meantime. "There doesn't appear to be much money available for this kind of work, but we can try," said Moyer. Hundey pointed out that be- fore the library was designated it ought to be examined carefully for its historical value, structural integrity, or access by the handi- capped. Deer over population has to be cut back By Ray Lewis TA -staff GRAND BEND - A study de- signed to address a number of con- cerns on the effects of browsing and trampling by white-tailed deer on the Pinery Provincial Park and its environs, is recommending a re- duction of nearly 730 deer within the park boundaries. Increasing white-tailed deer num- bers in the northern part of Bosan- quct Township, including Pinery Provincial Park initiated the docu- ment designed to outline and exam- ine the damage being done by the deer to the park as well as local ag- ricultural producers, landowners, and the incidence of deer/vehicle collisions on Highway 21. Estimates in 1980 based on pellet group counts placed the deer popu- lation at about 480, but according to the study recently released by Guelph's Landplan Collaborative, the herd has nearly doubled in the past decade to around 880 deer. Without predators, there is no evi- dence that it has reached its peak Terry Crabc, Pinery Park Natu- ralist, agrees with the outline that a herd of 158 would be ideal, allow - overlooked is the fact that when you get 900 deer out there walking around, they leave 3,600 holes in the ground every time they take a step. That type of disturbance is extensive to plant growth." According to the study, the densi- ty of deer recommended in most "The herd has nearly doubled in the past decade to around 880 deer" mg the park's rare vegetation to bounce back. "There is a balance for the sys- tem to replenish itself and not be ovcrbrowsed, and its between 150 and 200 deer," said Crabc. "In a natural system like this, aside from what they eat, something often natural areas to allow adequate re- generation of woody species is be- tween six and 12 deer/km2. The present population stands at ap- proximately 35 deer/km2. The Pinery's vegetation is repre- sented by some of the rarest plant communities in southern Ontario, Browsing by whlto-tailed deer, like this doe and fawn shown above, has become a major prob- lem for both the Pinery Provincial Park and its neighbours. The Ministry of Natural Resources is expected to announce plans for,an extended deer season outside the park in the very imme- diate future in a small attempt to help solve the problem of deer overpopulation. A report re- leased by the Landplan Collaborative from Guelph, Ontario indicates that ideally, to prevent further problems, the present herd calculated at 880 head, should be trimmed by nearly 700 deer. Leaving the road not in safety conviction EXETER - A fine of $75 was handed down by Justice of the Peace Karen Sturdy in Provincial court in Exeter last Tuesday to a Bruce - field man for a charge of leaving the roadway not in safety. The court heard that on May 13, Paul Taylor was driving north on Main St ig Exeter when he struck the bridge with his right fender, causing considerable dam- age to his vehicle. Taylor pleaded guilty to the reduced charge and was given 60 days to pay the fine. Unauthorised plates Patrick Pear of 130 Richmond St. Centralia represented his wife Gloria Pear who had been charged with using license plates not authorized for her vehicle. The court heard that on June 26, the accused was stopped in Exet- er for not having authorized plates on her vehicle. Her husband had recently bought a new vehicle and both were ignorant to the fact that the plates removed from the old vehicle and put on the new vehicle driven by Gloria had to be registered again. Justice of the Peace Karen Sturdy suspended the charge and the accused was not fated. 4 containing examples of savanna. forest, dune. and wet meadow com- munities, which deer foraging threatens to eliminate. "One species of rare shrub, Dwarf Oak, is shown even in the preliminary stages of a controlled exclosure study to be unable to withstand the combined effects of Drowsing and burning," says the study. Although pellet group counts have been shown to be highly vari- able, other signs such as crop dam- age, number of deer shot by hunters and the number of deer vehicle col- lisions seem to support an increase in the deer population. According to the study, Highway 21 has the highest incidence of deer/vehicle collisions in Ontario, with most occurring in the 4 km stretch in front of the park gates. Between 63 and 80 percent of all traffic accidents which occur be- tween Grand Bend and 1pperwash are a result of deer/vehicle colli- sions. Last year, there were 92 col- lisions. In addition, crop damage around the Pinery has pmvcn extensive Eight growers near thc park repon an average of about S10,000 Toss each over the past five years Thir- ty percent of resident seasonal and non-resident landowners in the area have also reported damage to gar dens by deer, while a total n• $71,150 worth 01 damage was re- ported for non-agricultura; land fmni 198E -9C. approximatcls $1342 per landowner who reported damage. An announcement regarding an extended deer hunt season outside of the park boundaries is expecte:i in the very near future by the Min- istry of Natural Resources. which operates the park. But with deer able to retreat to the confines of the Pinery. the measure is expected to make only a small dent in the herd. A public meeting will be held likely this fall to discuss the prob- lem and vanous soluuons, alter people have had a chance to review the study. - Copies of the report arc available at the Pinery Visitor Centre daily from 10-6 p.m. for S4 plus tax. OPP investigates two accidents and three thefts EXETER - Thc Exeter OPP de- tachment was called to two separ- ate accidents this week. On Sunday, a vehicle driven bs Herbert Schmitt.ing, age 33, of Cal- lander, Ontario, collided with a ve- hicle driven by Colleen Davis, 52. of Tuckersmith Township. The at - cident occurred on highway. 4 at sideroad 10-11 of Tuckersmith Township. Damage was consid ered moderate. There were no in juries. Wednesday, police investigated an accident that occurred on Huron County Road 5 after a vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. The driver, Richard Chute, 41, of Pon Franks, Ontario, received injuries and was taken to hospital. Damage to the vehicle was extensive. In other incidents, Exeter OPP in- vestigated three (hefts over the past week. Overnight last Tuesday, a brown 1979 GMC pick up truck was sto- len from Dashwood Thc vehicle was beanng Ontario license VW:'_ 032. Sometime between Saturday anti Sunday, a new standard size volley - ball net was stolen from a Centre Street residence in Dashwood Also during the past week, ., 1: foot white fibreglass row boat and it white "Ellese" wind surfer without sail was dragged to the water and stolen from the Green Acres Cot lages on the shores of Lakc Huron near sideroad 5-6 of Has "1 own ship. Exeter OPP arc asking for assn Iarwe in these cases. If you Call help in any of thew, call the Exeter OPP at 235-1300 or Cf/MC Stole pers at 1-800-265-177 Chairman confident Lucan pool fund raising will be successful LUCAN - Appearing at a Lucan council meeting last Tuesday night. Herman Steffens said he was confident that enough funds would be received to complete the planned renovations of the Lucan swimming pool. Steffens, a Biddulph township councillor and chairman of the fund raising committee hopes fi- nances will be in place to allow the complete renovations to be done by July 1 of next year. tie said more than oto -half of Ude proposed S200,000 overall cost was pledged and he emphasized that the projected figure was at the highest point. To date the Lucan arena booster club has $40,000 in an inveattuent account for this purpose and Stef- fens said he expected another S15,000 from this source. The Lucan Lions and the Lucan and arca Knights of Columbia have each pledged $10,000, Lon- don township council will provide $5,000 and the Lucan Legion and Merton Lions arc expected to do- nate 52,000 each. A PRIDE grant of 522,500 will also be used along with an expected $60,000 horn a calendar lottery promotion similar to the one cur- rently underway for the Precious Blood Mission in Exeter. Steffens said all advertising has been sold for the calendar lottery which will provide a prize for each day of 1993. The chairman said he would have plans drawn up before tenders are called. He added, "I would like to have this done as soon as possible to get better tender rices." Reeve Tom McLaughlin, a for- mer member of Ate arena board said the plat to repair the exisiing facility would be much cheaper that replacement or w have a oov- ered pool. McLaughlin said the repairs Ix ung planned would be good for at least 20 years and added. Similar renovations at the Sealorth pout will extend tiic lift of Weir lactltt\ by 23 years." Included in the renovation work will be remodelling of thc change WOW, improved lighting and von illation along with more gradual slope in the pool itself and a shal lower shallow end. "Ilse present peol heater is working only at one half of it's capacity. and needs to be replaced. McLaughlin assured Steffens that the village would support the pro ject, especially with the sale of the lottery calendars. A decision on a ftaaanccial contribution will be made after a budgetary review meeting scheduled for September 15.