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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-09-23, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, September 23, 1992 711 THE NF. W.S • e Regional mar up Sa Strange snt� m ERICH in� RICH oderich OPP received countless calls last Sun- day of an object over Lake Hu- ron described by viewers as a large, bright white light As reported in the Goderich Signal -Star, many people report- ed sighting a distress flare over the lake southwest of Goderich Harbour around 9:10 p.m. The Rescue Coordination Cen- tre. at Trenton (RCC) also re- ceived numerous calls about the light, particularly from the American side of the lake. Spokesmen for RCC con - fur ed the light was a Russian satellite which happened to be passing over the area. Police station nixedby council ST. MARYS - A proposal to turn the basement of the St Mar- ys post office into a new police station at the cost of $492,000 has been rejected by town coun- cil, according to the St Marys Journal Argus. Described by some councillors as a 'Cadillac version' the build- ing was to included skylights, a weight room and a covered en- trance ramp to allow officers to drive right into the building when transferring prisoners to cells. Architect Brian Garratt of the Stratford firm Kyles, Garratt and Marklevitz explained the build- ing was designed based on the accommodation needs of the po- lice department. Councillors scoffed at the idea of spending nearly half a million dollars- on the project. The de- partment's needs and possible soluuons to the problem will be re-evaluated and re -tabled at the end of October. Mitchell receives $50,000 MITCHELL - The Town of Mitchell received a welcome surprise recently when it was granted more than $50,000 in government grants. According to the Mitchell Ad- vocate, town council was very surprised to learn they would re- ceive three grants through the Solicitor General's Joint Emer- gency Preparedness Program (JEPP), to aid in emergency planning. An estimated $45,000 was handed out for a new emergency response vehicle for the Mitchell and District fire Area Board. In addition, a grant of $3,375 was approved for three portable radi- os and a final grant of S1,125 was awarded permitting the town to stage a mock disaster. Takeover for Forest phone company FOREST - Amtelecom Group Inc. of Aylmer, which seven years ago helped The People's Telephone Company of Forest Ltd. ward off a hostile takeover has now become. the aggressor. As reported in the Forest Stan- dard, the Alymer-based tele- phone and cable company has offered to purchase the 196,000 shares it does not own. Originally, residents were re- quired to buy a shire when they received a telephone. There are currently 700 holders of shares which are traded privately. Amtel already oversees four different companies with four more operating divisions. Each shareholder has been offered three of its shares and $3 cash per share, a value it indicates is worth about $25. The purchase offer would then be about $5.75 million. An offi- cial response to the offer is ex- pected following a meeting of the Forest companies' board. Debate ends, slate to go, library will get new asphalt roof EXETER - Thc'issue of how to refurbish the Exeter Library roof has been settled. After examining tenders at their last council mect• ing for both slate tile repair and replacement with asphalt, council chose the least expensive option. Despite some hopes that the roof could be kept with its original slate, economic considerations finally prevailed and VanPelt Con- struction will get the contract to remove the slate and replace it with asphalt roof for 56,376.13. Although slate roofs have a longer lifespan than asphalt, council recognized that repairs to the slate would cost about twice as.much on a roof that is not really visible to the average passerby. "What's going to happen to the slate after it's taken off the roof" queried councillor Ben Hoogenboom. Councillor Tom Humphreys asked if the old slate -would have any salvage value and building official Dave Moyer said he didn't know Mayor Bruce Shaw said he was surprised that the tenders were as low as they were and Moyer suggested economic conditions have in- spired very competitive bidding. Another tender accepted last Tuesday was from Birnham Excavat- mg Limited of Forest to install a new storm sewer on Francis Street. The cost of the work is -535.541.59, subsidized 50 percent by the Ministry of Transportation. Police Commission reports on hearing Continued from front page A salary increase of 19 percent for the police secretary ,'justified by the services board on the basis of increased work hours and new duties for handling female prisoners, was also rejected in the report. "We are not satisfied that this proposal, although reasonable on the sur- face, can be justified in the present economic climate." concludes the re- port. ".:.We would disallow this salary increase and permit only an ad- justment consistent with the alteration in the hours of work." Council's objection to the purchase of a new police cruiser was also up- held, with the commission agreeing that repair hills of $1,1,(10 did not jus- tify the old cruiser's replacement. However, since the new cruiser has al- ready been bought the commission suggests its cost he taken from other parts of the budget, or added to the 1993 budget. The actual value of these recommendations is, as yet, unknown, mainly due to the purchase of the cruiser and unexpected changes to the chiefs status. "We'll have to redo the budget now, based on these reductions they say we can make," explained clerk Liz Bell. "It probably doesn't change any- thing in the analysis." Urlin told council he felt that the. report's support of council's position indicated a change in policy for the Ministry of the Solicitor General. "What he's saying in that paragraph is that 'yes we do have the final say'," said Urlin. Reeve Bill Mickle agreed with Urlin that this commission hearing may be a "stepping stone" to what will be a - final policy for the province. "is this decision binding''' asked Spears "It lays out, as lar as I'ni concerned the adjustments that are needed in the budget It would have been binding fit it had gone the other way' re plied Mickle. "So this is the final word on our police budget and we can find out where we stand for 1992," commented Spears. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom said council needed to have 'open door policy with the police services hoard" and should be prepared to discuss budget changes with them. Mickle said he was encouraged that the reports conclusions indicated di- rect "actions" which council had hoped for. "We didn't get exactly what we wanted, but they didn't get exactly what they wanted," he said. Mayor Bruce Shaw was not present at the council meeung to discuss the report. Many had expected, given the tone of the July 15 hearing, that the com- mission would find in favour of the police services board. After Mon- day's meeting Mickle said that he too had initially expected the worst for the town's position, but the delay in the issuance of the report had led him to hope it might be affected by new policies being created at the ministry. He said this hearing report may indicate what is to come in the final re- port of the Expert Panel on Municipal Control of Policing. Man receives $1,500 fine in Exeter court EXETER - Driving while under suspension netted a Hensel) man a $1,5(X) fine in Justice of the Peace Court in Exeter last Tuesday. John F. Towson of Hensall entered a guilty plea after being stopped by officers on August 27. The court heard Towton was travelling on Highway 4 north of Hensall around 11:50 p.m. when he was stopped and found to be driving while under suspension. Justice of the Peace Karen Sturdy took into ac- count three previous offenses of driving while under suspension when fining Towton 1 uwton was given six months to pay the fine Driving while under suspension Nornran J. Alsop of London entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of driving while under suspension, following an incident May 2. The court heard that at 8:02 an. an officer near the intersection of Highways 4 and 84 noticed a vehicle in which the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. The car travelled through the intersection but filially stopped for police at which point it was found the driver had had his license sus- pended. Justice of the Peace Sturdy took into account the fact that Alsop has had his license suspended on four previous occasions when fin- ing him 5500 with six months to pay. Falling to stop Robert W. Holmes of Seaforth pleaded guilty to charges of failing to stop for police and operating a vehicle without valid insurance. Police told the court Holmes was driving west on Highway 83 around 3 a.m. on July 11, and refused to stop for police. Holmes was fined S500 for each charge and given six months to pay. Following too elate Emma P. Campbell of Hensel) entered a guilty plea to a charge of following to closely. On July 30, Campbell was driving north on Main St. in Exeter at 2:05. p.m. when a car in front of her stopped at the intersection of Highways 4 and 83. The Campbell vehicle struck the stopped vehi- cle in the rear. A woman in the other vehicle was taken to hospital and released, but is still receiving chiropractic treatment. Campbell was fined $78.75 and given 30 days to pay. Fair organizers promising 'bee -hive' of activities EXETER - Thc 1992 Ex- eter Fall Fair presenting "Focus on Honey" gets underway this weekend with lots of activities planned for every member of the family. Directors and members of the Exeter Agricultural Society have been "buzzing around" _for several months to bring the com- munity its 118th edition of the fair. The doors to the South Huron Recreation Centre open at 6 p.rii. on Friday with the official opening on stage set for 7:30 p.m. This year celebrates 200 years of fairs in Ontario and it is anticipated that many of the fair's past Presidents will attend the opening cercmo- Hies. One of the highlights of the Fri- day evening program is expected to be the annual crowning of the Fair Ambassador. Nine contestants (pictured below) arc vying for the title this year. They will be intro- duced to the public in the Commu- nity Centre auditorium during the program. The final selection and crowning is expected to take place at about 10 p.m. The evening program will in- clude Peter Mennie's Theatre of Music, Peter has performed at many events in the area as well as all across Ontario. There will also be the Queen of the Fair Compeu tion, with the 1992-93 winner. be- ing crowned by last year's winner Rita Bilcke. Also on tap will be a ^lihm auction, and presentation of Homecraft and School awards to- gether with some "Fun Events" in- volving many representatives from various community organizations. The Ontario Beekeeper's Asso- ciation will have a display in the main lobby where you can discov- er the various aspects of honey production in Ontario and perhaps be able to sample this sweet nec- tar. The "Bee Hive" tea room will be open to enjoy a snack of honey with a muffin or tea biscuit. On Saturday the parade which includes several bands, begins at 11 a.m. It will proceed down Hu- ron Street, Main Street and Victor- ia Street to the fair grounds. Floats and vehicles form at South Huron District High School while chil- dren and walking classes meet at the Exeter United Church parking lot Horse classes gather at the -Ex- eter Public School. Judging for the parade categories is at 10:30 a.m sharp. Something new at the Exeter Fair this year will be a Craft Show and Sale which begins at 10 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. Also on Saturday you will be able to take in and enjoy the various horse shows, 4-11 Calf Club show, poultry, and pet shows Inside, one can have their face paint ed, view a cooking demonstration peruse the exhibits or sit and relax in the "Bac Hivc" tea room. During the evening, The Exeter Agricultural Society will sponsor a $3,5(X) total prize BiNGO starting at 7:30 p.m with a Jackpot prize of S1,150. On Sunday there will be a Step Dance Competition at 1 30 p.nt where one can enjoy some old ty me music and entertainment provided by fiddle champion Karen Reid and Gerry Smith together with the danc- ing talents of our area young people Also on Sureiay there will he goats. sheep, and an Appaloosa horse show. Come to the fair this weekend and "Bee" sure to join in the fun the Ex- eter Agncultural Society are wel- coming everyone and say they arc promising something interesting tot every member of the family. !ants for er Fair Ambassador Laura Cook, 18 StephanietCoak, 17 Sally Prouty, 17 of Exeter of Mister :of Exeter sponsored by MacLeans sponsored by sponsored by Home Hardware Miles Ford Sales Big Y.Dais Store Karen Robinson, 17 of Exeter sponsorby Exeter C+skr Julie Webr,17 of E spo d:by The :aro Event Deanne Ballan syn e,19 ofxeter spofsdrrd by Murphy's Pub and L'alery Tara flunking, 17 of .Exeter sponsored by EMA Foods Patti Des}ardlne,118 of RR; Grand Bend sponsored by Slip's Valu Mart 'khelle Moore, 17 of Exeter sponsored by The Fashion Closet