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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-11-18, Page 1Inside Duty dads New roles for fathers page 3 4H Achievement Local groups receive awards page .11 Batten tournament - - Ilderton wins page 14 Mini Carnations 4 95 Cash and Cam ep COUNTRY fIOWfRS Exeter a bunch • Bob Dinney chosen as Citizen of the Year EXETER - An evening of good-natured ribbing wound up on a more serious note as town council honoured two of its Citizens of the Year et the Lions Youth Centre Thursday. The 1992 recipient of the award was Bob Dinney. Council also took the opportunity to belatedly present its 1991 award to Mickey Bridges, who was ratable to accept her award at last year's Appreciation Banquet. Mayor Bruce Shaw surprised many with the announcement of the 1992 award. He said this year the award went to one of the town's "natives". "Who are the natives? Everybody seems to have come here from somewhere else, mostly from Holland..." said Shaw, laughing, but went on to point out Bob Dinney's family busi- ness was one of the very oldest on the town's Main Street. The mayor explained-Dinney was born irL-Exeterr in 1919. attended public school here, joined the Boy Scouts, and played baseball and hockey here. "He did all the things good kids did then and still do now," said Shaw. "1993 will lie the Year of the Volunteer," he continued. "Bob would y be the prototype fbr that sort of thing." After to 'his grundl titers business andjoining the Air Force to , Shaw staid Dinney . was not only a Charter • Member of the town's Lions Club, a Lttglon member, a town councillor for bur years, but also served as president of the Exeter Busbtass Association, is a member of the Mastitic Lodge, and stlt4ed on the hospital board. "As all are concerned, Bob is a very worthyrecipient," said Shaw. Dinney, obviously very surprised to hear he was the hon- oured award winner, spoke a few words to the audience. "I came hero tonight expecting to have one of my sons hon- oured," explained Dinney. "After all you've said, I must be 150 years old." Dinney said he has always been iiroud of Exeter. "I don't think we could have a better town anywhere," he said, adding that he was too short of words for any further comments. 1 hope I Bart livd up to the honour you have bestowed upon me tonight," he concluded. The evening's program began with mayor Bmee Spew in- troducing the council members, including a description of councillor Ben Hoogenboom as council's "ethnic minority" and councillor Bob Drummond as "our male chauvinist pig representative". The treating continued as Shaw introduced the recreation centre staff and board, whom he said have been not as widely criticized as in past years. "Fortunately, we've got policing matters to take the heat of the press off the rec board," said Shaw. Rec board chairman Mike Soldan got his own back by say- ing he maintained that Shaw always appointed his friends to town positions so that they could all attend the Appreciation Banquet as a party at the taxpttyters expense. "And they're getting smaller every year," carne another comment. Continued on page 2 GC Gainer-Keyeale insurance Service Experience Value 2352420 Serving South Huron Storyteller coming to Exeter Library North Middlesex 64 Lampton Seth , :.::i s Iooc Since 1873 EXETER - The Exeter Library is hosting a children's storytelling program on Tuesday Decetther 1. Marylyn Peringer, guest storytell- er, will be exploring legends and folktales in her unique Winter Sol- stice program, sharing some of her best tales, ancient and modern. The program is sponsored by the Huron County Library, the provin- cial government, and the Southern Ontario Library Service. Peringer's program will begin at 4 p.m. on Tuesday December 1. Tickets are S 1, Nothing taken at driving range break-in EXETER - The Exeter OPP re- port 36 occurrences over the past week, including a break and enter at the Oakwood Inn driving range. However, police say the culprits left empty handed and nothing was taken. The return of snowy weather also caused several minor traffic acci- dents in the arca. Police are urging extra caution for motorists travel- ling snow-covered roads. especially when approaching intersections and driveways. With the Christmas season on its way, police arc asking motorists to lock their cars and to conceal Christmas gifts in the truck, it room permits. Thieves rob discount store of $5,000 in cigarettes EXETER - The rash of smash and grab cigarette thefts m the area struck in Exeter last Tuesday night. Exeter police say throe youths were seen breaking through the front door of the Triangle Discount Store on Main Street at about 2:30 a.m. A witless saw the youths en- ter the store. grab about 100 cartons of cigareues and flee in a vehicle. Police say the attire theft Wok probably no more than 30 seconds. The cigarettes, worth about $5.000, were likely hauled out in a bag. The witness "said they were drag- ging something behind than". However, the vehicle could not be identified by the witness. Sergeant Brad Sadier said the po- lice were on the scene within three minutes of the crime. alerted by the burglar alarm company, but by then the robbers were already long gone. Sadler said he wished there were more details available to help with the case. He said if anyone else ,saw..atnythieg related to the crime, or has information that would help with the iave;s{igation, be invites them to contact the police, or anon- ymously call Crime Stoppers at 1 - *00 -265.1777. Former treasurer appears in court Monday Embezzlement charge means sigh of relief for congregation GRAND BEND - The former treasurer of Grand Bend United Church will be appearing in court in Sarnia on Monday to answer charges of embezzling over 5150.000 from church coffers over a five-year period. The Pinery Park OPP detachment conducted an eight-month investi- gation after being notified of prob- lems with the church finances by minister Rev. Colin Stover. Cheryl Sue Pearen,47, of South - con Pines was charged with one count of theft on November 1. Police say that about S151.700 was stolen from church funds be- tween February 1987 and January 1992. Pesten was suspended as church treasurer in March after a decision by the church board. The police officer heading the in- vestigation said he could not com- ment on whether or not there was any hope of recovering any of the funds alleged to be missing. Rev. Stover also said that as'far as be is concerned, such questions will have to be answered by the courts. "Any decision the court makes reflects on what course we take," said Stover. Stover said he could not say how the funds were determined to be missing, or how they were believed to have been taken. "I've just been told not to talk about matters before the courts," explained Stover, but noted that ru- mours of the financial collapse of the church are unfounded. "Many people have asked if were closing our doors and all 1 can say is we're financially sound," said Stover, adding that the 250 - member congregation has been kept up to date on the church's fi- nances and "no alarm bells are ring- ing". But while the money has yet to be proven stolen, Stover conceded that if money is missing, it could have been put to good use. "If the money had been there, if we had $ 151.000 to use, yes, there are things we could have dune, but right now that's just simulation," said Stover. The minister said perhaps the most stressful pert of this episode is now over, since the matter is now in the hands of the Crown. "It's been distressing over the number of months. 1 won't deny that," said Stover. "We've had a good congregation to pull together and to look to the Lord for guid- ance." Stover said the congregation have probably "weathered the worst of it." "The stressful part was in March and the few months after. It's been a great relief getting it out in public now," he said. Pearen works as -a secretary at South Huron District High School. When asked if the charges had af- fected Peasen's position at the school, director of education Bob Allen said he "wouldn't be able to comment on a personnel matter". However, sources have confirmed Pearen is on leave from her job since the announcement of the charges. Duo herr Haitians In construction EXETER - Two local companies have joined hands to help aid Men For Missions International (MFMI). TNT Stand-by Power Incorporat- ed, - owned. by lJun Triebaer, and Ven Truck ng, owned by Len vera and sans have eeaabated to acquire and ship a much-needed gptuabf to MFMI its Florida. 6 "What they have done for us is just terrific," said MFMI represen- tative Ed Potter. "It was so unself- ish." Tine generator was then airlifted to Jiiaiti,for use,in.the consto1c1ion of a aclaaol fwd will be used in oth- er future projects. Funding for the project was un- dertaken by MFMI, the layman's voice of OMSI, a non- detatttittwtionel mission organiza- tion. Any donations may be sent to Men For Minions, Box 33522 Dta!bwn, . i�n.Ori o, LAP 4X4., or contract -lid Pouor in.Sas- a. Wednesday. November 18. 1992 75 cents Police chief back on the job But Exeter's policing troubles far from over EXETER - In a surprising turn of events, town police chief Jack Hark- ness, suspended from duty since Labour Day, returned to duty Monday morning. Acting on legal advice offered by lawyers representing both the police services board and the chief, the board has still to offer any explanation of what led to the removal of the chief from duty. Harkness' suspension appeared permanent when the board made its deci- sion, and details are sketchy as to why lawyers advised them to change that ruling. Also, the reinstatement of Harkness as head of the 13 -member police force does not appear to be any resolution to the conflict between himself and the board. The chief issued a brief statement Monday morning to con- firm his return to duty and offered no further comment on the issue. Police services board chairman John Stephens confirmed the board met with their lawyer last week and was advised to reverse its September 7 de- cision to remove Harkness from duty. Stephens said he is unsure in what position this turn of events leaves his board. 'sAgain. were following ouriiatupei tyioe very closely.: if youke pay- ing them a lot of money you have to listen," said Stephens. "At this point we really can't say anything." But the chairman did say the problem of the chiefs suspension is not solved. "' 'ion't think anything's been settled. The issue hasn't been settled. I re: Jon't know what to say," said Stephens, adding that everything like- ly it.Irges on negotiations between both sides' lawyers over the next few days. The board had been trying to arrange a hearing with the Ministry of the Solicitor General to discuss the issue, but Stephens said he is not sure whether a hearing will still be pursued by the board. "1 think the next move will turn on the discussion between the lawyers," said Stephens. But regardless of what will happen in days to come, the burning ques- bon for many in Exeter is why their chief of police was removed from duty in the first place. The board declined to explain their actions in Sep- tember, and arc still offering no explanation now. Stephens said he understands that the board's silence does not sit well with many members of the public. "We'd like to get this thing sorted out and settled. The community is wondering what's happening. We owe it to them to get it sorted out." said Stephens. rPEE MOt DAY IC : WAS 'JIRECTEI. g` THE •]c WWI M;TN M` OATH OF '[i; UUlt :r ACCUKDAMCE THE (FFICF : A,'. Or DUTY AS THE CH11iF Of poLlcE of EKETEP COLICC OCRvICE 1 INTIM' To CARP. OU: TMC , x16.. ty,At. NG FUNTNF.F rurcTlors of mit Pvaillor COMOO T ON TNc ADVICE OF M1 COUNSfiL RCLEAw: roveMEEP 191i EXETEF POLICE Segv:zes !MOIL I.1 Ae'P gr or pot.lco +ICES kTEP POLICY'Eag Exeter Library comes up short In county inspection EXETER - Town council had their first chance Monday evening to peruse the report of the Huron County Library Board's appraisal of the Exeter Library, a report that is fairly scathing of the building's amenities. "In general, it's a negative re- port," summed up mayor Bruce Shaw. "They commend us on what we do. but they fault us for what we do without of - to bastardize the English Isagw Shaw said Ibe main complaints against the library are that it is too crowAad.. bas .S9ac- cess, and the bur "is yin sad ofs ...and it's an ,inpde- • w node The wpvrt lase any the .library is in a very good location in the town and that the staff do well to work with its physical limitations. Deputyseeve Lossy Fuller asked to take the report and its criticisms to the executive committee. Coun- cillor Ben Hoogenboom agreed. "I think we should look at the long-range plans for the library," said Hoogenboom, who said the re- port "was all criticism, but there are no solutions to the problem." Hoogenboom said perhaps the town could apply for grant funds to help, revamp the library. Shaw One of the good comments is the inside is wheelchair accessible, but they couldn't get inside any- way," said Shaw.