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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-08-19, Page 1Sutmtruer Mimed Eunohes 6" bunt Cash & Carr, COUNTRY FLOWN) Exeter • GC (,raiser -Kneads Insurance Service Experience Value 235.2420 Serving South Hum►: Inside Bean Festival Zurich gets ready for weekend pages 8-11 Sportscaster Tiernan visits home second front oaragOSSESSliakili Special edition marks 25th year of Big '0' EXETER - This year marks the 25th anniversary of the creation of one of Exeter's more dynamic in- dustries. Big 'O' inc., started in 1967 to manufacture plastic drain- age tile, has now gone on to be- come a company with interests and investments in several nations. A special supplement to the Times Advocate this week takes a look at Big 'O's history, present and future. This supplement was creat - ea with the support of advertisers. Dealership renovation paves way for corner beautification EXETER - Town council Mon- day evening took an opportunity to1 spruce up a corner of Main Street and Highway 83. After surveying plans presented by Eric Campbell to renovate his car dealership, council agreed to an encroachment onto highway prop- erty to allow parking spaces on the land in return for an opportunity to landscape the corner and perhaps have the BIA install a sign welcom- ing travellers to town. - Campuell will be paying $5.000 toward the corner beautification. The dealership is slated to receive a renovated 7O 5 aquate- metre showroom and offices. The only COMMIS about the pro- ject at the meeting came from coun- cillor Bob Spears, who speculated that the encroachment agreement gave Campbell use of the land for- ever. Building official Dave Moyer as- sured Spears that the legal agree- ment specified that the land was still at the town's disposal if needed m the future. Councillor Dave Urlin toted that the only probable use for the road- side strip of property would be for future widening of the highway. "It will greatly enhance that cor- ner. The potential to beautify that corner is great," said councillor Ben Hoogenboom. Hay reeve escapes injury in collision EXETER - On Sunday afternoon ex -Huron County warden Lionel Wilder escaped injury when the 1991 Case combine he was operat- ing was struck by a truck. Wilder, the current reeve of Hay Township, was travelling north on Stephen Concession 8 -9 when a truck owned by Atwood Pet Foods and operated by Wayne Riley of Clinton, travelling west on Side - road 20-21 disobeyed a stop sign and ran into the combine. The truck was demolished in the accident. Wilder's combine re- ceived extensive damage to the header unit. Wilder himself was not hurt, and Riley aid his passen- ger received very minor injuries. North Middlesex & Lambtoa T Ribbon cut an $4 million pipeline 75 cents New water supply will change future of Lucan By Adrian Harte T•A Editor CLANDEBOYE - Lucan ratepay- ers were given their first, and prob- ably ably only, glimpse of the nev, pumping station that now supplies their village with Lake Huron water at an official opening ceremony Thursday evening. The pumping station, located south of Ciandeboye, feeds the new Lucan water tower through a 35cm line and three pumps which are controlled by a computer system. As Tim Rossiter from Huron Middlesex Engineering explained to those who gathered for a tour through the building, the system even has a standby power system with a diesel generator of its own. --s Tim Rossiter of Huron Middlesex Engineering explains the workings and features of the new water pumping station that now serves Lucan. Thursday's tour offered the public a glimpse of building that will become can's infrastructure an unseen part of Lu - Rossiter pointed out that two-thirds of the water tower's capacity is for firefighting. While there is no fluoride system on the water line, he said prot'ision for• such equipment has been made in the building for future installa- tion "if the citizens so desire". Lucan reeve Tom McLaughlin gathered everyone outside for the official opening (the line has been supplying water since July 17) and called the occasion a "proud and happy day" for village residents. He said the project was begun in 1987 as council realized the short- comings of the old well water sys- tem - "and I guess that seems like a long time ago". McLaughlin said the process to get such a large pro- ject underway is lengthy. The reeve said there was perhaps a "silver lining" to the years of wa- ter bans and building freezes: "we have a better appreciation for this valuable resource, water". McLaughlin gave his acknowl- egements to all those involved with the S4 million project, 79.63 per- cent of which is funded by the Min- istry of the Environment. Actually, he said, the project came in 10 per- cent under budget. "In conclusion, 1 would like to say we've implemented a first-class system that should see us well into the future," said McLaughlin. Middlesex warden Frank Gare of- fered his congratulauons to Lucan council and staff. "These people proved a job like this can be done and they deserve all the accolades we can give them," said Gare. Middlesex MPP Irene Mathyssen said one of her first duties as an MPP two years ago was a meeting with Lucan council. Continued on page 2 Warm room could get a financial boost _ EXETER - The warm room which is going to be built in the arena of the South Huron Recreation Centre, is drawing closer to becoming a reality and members of the Inca! recrea- tion committee say there could be same financial assistance from Community Living -South Huron. "They have a grant which may be able to help us, stud red center facility manager Cam Stewardson. The rec board bas received correspondence from Commu- nity Living which indicates as much as $12,000 may be available. Since the new warm room is going to be wheel- chair accessible, part or all of that grant money could be uti- lized. . Members of the rec board's facilities committee recently towed the warm room at the Monkton Arena in hopes of get- tiag-aeme.ideas for the one for Exeter. Although Ken Oke suggested the possibility of building a two-storey warm room, the board is suggesting they keep it at one level . "Tile one -storey we can do relatively inexpensive.' said Stewardson. 1t was decided at Thursday's meeting to ask the town's building inspector Dave Moyer if he would like to be part of the project. The rec board has yet to set a date when construction will begin. In other business at th8 meeting, there was lengthy discus- sion about whether or not smoking should be prohibited in the hall. "Almost every major building where people gather, they're .itatallowsdta.emote:'.ataid:EMer,tnaytrr_Bnice Shaw. Exeter Town Council is in the process of deaLag with a non-smoking bylaw to restrict smoking in public places. Don Richardson of the rec board said, "In five years there wont be anyone smoking, so why spend $60 on signs?" • Also at the meeting, the board received letters which complimented the staff of the rec centre on their fine efforts during troth the Canada Day celebrations and the Usborne Township festivities. • It was reported by staff that revenues at the playground are down over $1,200 and also at the pool due to lack of swimmers and high expenses to keep the pool heated. • While further details have not yet been made available, the Exeter Minor Hockey Association, the rec board and the Town Council are planning a special ceremony on August 30... Official critic of NDP policy Provincial Liberal leader visits Exeter farm By Adria. Harte T -A Editor EXETER - Ontario Liberal leader and Leader of the Opposition Lyn McLeod toured a farm north of Ex- eter last Wednesday as part of her continuing plan to familiarize her- self with the province and its iaaues and also to increase the province's familiarity with her. McLeod visited the farm of Ron and Judy Dougall, an operation which includes extensive plots of pick -your -own fruits and vegeta- bles and even a craft and gift shop. "Talk about a diversified opera- tion," said McLeod, and comment- ed on how she found it hard to be- lieve the Dougalls bad enough spare time to pursue their own hob- bies, such as Ron's radio -controlled aircraft. McLeod explained that her tours of the province, as frequent as a couple of days each week, even .when the legislature is sitting, arc an essential part of trying to beuer understand the province. "If we're going to make any sense in Queen's Park (we've got to] get out into the regions," she said, add - lag chat she has always believed goveriunents have a tendency to be- come short-sighted about anything outside the capital's boundaries. As the MPP for the Fort William riding in Ontario's north, she -says she understands what such shun - sightedness can cause in the outly- ing regions. "Northerners always believe no one in Queen's Park knows what they need," she explained, quickly adding that since she has been tour- ing the province, asking questions about government, she finds that feeling is not just confined -to the north. A common Queen's Park prob- lem, she said, is to create tegiislae tion and policies with a "one size fits all" philosophy. Policies aimed at large urban centres dont work in the rest of the province "no ruauer bow well intentioned". When asked what she discovered on her visit to the Exeter area. McLeod replied "it makes you aware • of the constant struggle to make a living in agriculture." She said the government has to make sure it has policies in place to keep farmland in production in On- tario and to keep tanners on it. NDP policy, said McLeod, seems aimed at putting more restrictions on tampers, on the sale of farmland. and .regulations of materials and equipment, "but they don't go on to say 'how is that farmer going to make a living?'' The reforms to the Labour Rela- tions Act have the potential to be "absolutely devastating" to agricul- ture, she said. After heated debate in the Legislature, the bill has been revised to include a clause to ex- , erupt agriculture for the time being. But McLeod said it is still uncer- tain whether the ban on replace- ment workers in strike situations will , eventually threaten seasonal operations like fanning. McLeod also accused recent cut- backs to the Ministry of Agricul- ture and Food as being another ex- ample of the NDP's centralization of the government. Much of the 59.5 million trimmed from internal ministry expenses translates into re- duction of services in field offices. "What you end up with is a very centralized, Queen's Park -oriented operation," she said. In addition to the OMAF cut- backs, McLeod pointed out that the NDP announced a $20 million farm interest assistance program for 1992, a program that used to be 550 million. "And we've only actually seen $1 million of that $20 million an- nounced." she said. "That obvious- ly gives us some concern about farm assistance - although the low interest rates have helped." So with all the cuts in govern- ment spending, where is the deficit - Continued on page 2 Liberal leader Lyn McLeod (centre) toured the farm of Ron (left) and Judy (right) Dougall last Wednesday afternoon as part of her plan to visit all regions of the province.