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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-12-09, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, December 9, 1992 7N THF' NEWS Regional wrap,up Craigholme renamed AILSA CRAIG - The nursing home in Ailsa Craig will no longer be known as Craigholme. According to''the Parkhill Ga- zette, resident council decided to officially change the name of the facility from Craigholme to Craigwiel Gardens. The home is located on the eastern limits of the village, and will now bear the name of the organization operating the nurs- ing home. Woman honoured for saving baby ST. MARYS - Quick thinking by an 18 -year-old St. Marys woman saved the life of a four- month -old baby. Chantelle Mattiussi received the prestigious St. John Ambu- lance Silver Cross Award re- cently, at the annual Volunteer of the Year banquet. According to the. St. Marys Journal Aigus,.while babysitting in London last August, Mattiussi found one of her charges suffer- ing -from a blocked airway pas- sage. She resuscitated the infant and called 911. The infant also experienced an epileptic seizure immediately af- ter being revived. Mattiussi calmly cared for the baby until an ambulance arrived. Teachers signnew agreement STRATFORD - The Perth County Board of .Education signed a new two-year collective agreement that gives approxi- mately 280 secondary school teachers a three percent raise and, more control over positions of responsibility. According to the Se Marys Journal Argus, as of August 31, 1993, salaries for secondary teachers will range from $29,172 to $63,667. Principals' salaries will range from $80.117 to $84.629, while vice -principals will range 870,293-$74,795. The main stumbling block was the decision by the board to re- duce the number of department heads and positions of responsi- bility as a cost cutting measure. Under the new agreement, the creation of department heads will be reduced to 20 periods from 22, which will mean anew department head is created when more than 20 classes are sched- uled in one school during the school year. The board estimates it will save 8150,000 with the scale - mem. Goderich plans to develop with new strategy GODERICH - The Town of Goderich has introduced a new plan to improve economic and social opportunities in the town as residents prepare for the year 2000. According to thc Goderich Signal -Star, a document entitled, "Strategy for Community Eco- nomic Development" was re- leased recently by the Goderich Economic Development Strate- gy,Comm law . The strategy focuses on five areas of development manufac- turing/distribution, tourism, pub- lic service agencies, retirees and social -political opportunities and each is prioritized. The highest level of importance has been given go the maintenance and creation of employment opportu- nities. Other projects include heritage and agriculture, development of the waterfront, an indoor pool facility and town boundary changes. 1 Officers of the London OPP Crime Unit were searching Mud Creek last Tuesday and Wednes- day for the body of Eugene Grenier. The discovery of Grenier's abandoned car at the creek's bridge (In this photo just behind the officers) on County Road 24 led to the discovery of his wife's body on a London apartment balcony. Man commits suicide near . . Lieury, wife's body found on London apartment balcony LIEURY - The body of a former Grand Bend man was found in Mud Creek just east of Lieury last Wednesday after a two-day search by police who were seeking a man in connection with the murder of a London woman. Eugene Grenier, 46, of Sandring- ham Cres., London, was being sought by police toi questioning about the discovery of the body of his third wife, Debra Grenier, 39, on the balcony of the couple's apartment last Monday. Debra Grenier was found stran- gled by police after they began in- vestigating an abandoned car be- side the Mud Creek bridge and traced its ownership. Police re- turned to the area with teams of of- ficers and search dogs on Tuesday and Wednesday, evidently expect- ing to find the man's body. In interviews with the media, Eu- gene Grenier's second wife told po- lice he was prone to violence and alcoholism, and had been sentenced to a 90 day term after taping her hands, together and threatening to shoot her. Grenier attended South Huron District High School and was well- known as the owner and operator of Rollie's Cycle and Sports in Grand Bend for several years. An autopsy conducted Friday at Victoria Hospital in London con- cluded Grenier's cause of death was drowning, and Detective Sergeant Bernie Crane of the London OPP crime unit said they are treating the `death as a suicide. Duchess street residents opposed to road upgradin LUCAN - A slightly different through street would enable easier version ohne old song, --"I -don't -=attow-removal, better fire -protection want her, you can have her" echoed and better distribution of traffic. He around the local council chambers also said Market street now bears last Tuesday night. the brunt of traffic with Kent taking A delegation of residents from some and not many motorists using Duchess sweet presented a petition Duchess. protesting the proposed upgrading of their street and one Princess street resident said her street really needed repair and upgrading. Upgrading of Duchess street which would include installation of water and sewer mains, curbs, gut- ters and sidewalks is part of a five year plan. Reeve Tom McLaughlin told the delegation, "We normally do a five year plan on our road system. We have completed Butler street, Lang- ford Drive and Fairview Place in the last few years and this work was well received by the residents of those particular -areas." McLaughlin continued, "Near the end of each five year period, we look at the future to determine which area needs upgrading the most In 1991, we decided Duchess street was next." The reeve pointed out that up- grading and establishing of a ure is interesting." He said the costs -would probably -be -about -$80;000 and provincial grants would cover half of the overall costs. Mawdsley went on to say, "If you make ours a through street, we will get more traffic and we don't want This was ,borne out by -a ee .,-aaat. Now.we have cars racing side traffic study conducted by works -by side late at night and if the street superintendent Doug Johnston ,who said in a 24 hour period, 1,000 cars per day used Market street, 250 were registered on Kent street and only 75 on Duchess. McLaughlin continued, "We would like to revitalize the whole street. We could start at the west end in the upcoming year. It's a five year plan and we couldn't get the necessary grants for a culvert be- fore 1995." One of the Duchess street spokes- persons, Clare Anderson said, "We are a bunch of happy campers and we want to keep our street as quiet as itis now and also keep our beau- tiful trees. George Mawdsley iofid: cottuctl there would be better ways to spend $90,000 than on "our street". Later in the discussion engineer Don Pletch said, "That 890.000 fig - Failure to report accident costs $90 EXETER - Blake R. Robinson of RR 1, St. Marys was fined $90 in Exeter court last Tuesday by Justice of the Peace Karen Sturdy for failing to report an accident. Robinson was a passenger in a vehicle owned by his father when it went out of control on Conces- sion road 2-3 in Usborne town- ship on July 19 at 2 a.m. A fence on the property of Bill Ford was damaged to the extent of $375 and the vehicle, a 1981 Impala suffered damages of $1,000. ' On August 10, acting on infor- mation received, police inter- viewed three persons including Robinson. They acknowledged their involvement in the accident, apologized and reimbursed Ford for the fence. OPP Constable Ray Jack, repre- senting tie crown asked for a fine of 878.50, but Justice of the Peace Sturdy said considering the incon- venience to the fence owner the fine would be based on the new rates which recently went into ef- fect. Charges were dropped against the other two persons in- volved. Sturdy fined Kenneth Raymond Glover, 309 Senior street, Exeter 878.75 for improperly actuating school bus signals. - • The incident occurred on Sep- tember 28 at 3:40 p.m. on Conces-.. sion 2-3 road in Stephen town- ship. After discharging passengers at the Inch residence, the Charter - ways bus operated by Glover passed a tractor and wagon driven by T. Rutten. As the bus was pre- paring to stop at the Eveland resi- dence, its rear end struck the trac- tor. Evidence revealed the bus sig. nal lights were on when passing the tractor. Rutten said he was travelling at a steady speed of 20 kilometres per how. A charge of allowing a person to operate a vehicle without insu- rance against Louise D Hart of RR 2, Oil Springs was dismissed when a witness did not show up. For the crown, Constable Ray Jack said Petrolia OPP officers could not locate the witness Gerry Hart Jr. On Tuesday morning and he proposed an adjournment. The accused said it had taken an hour and a half to get to Exeter and she was prepared to proceed with a trial. Mrs. Hart also said her van was insured and her KM was in • sured. When Justice of the Peace Stur- dy learned the accused was ready to proceed, the charges were dis- missed. f is opened up, they will go faster than ever. Stop signs don't help, they don't observe them now. They are ignored now on Market." Elsie Gibson also asked about the fate of "our nice trees". To this Pletch replied, "The trees are all on the village right of way. It depends on where the sidewalks go. They are usually put on the side closest to downtown. We can do construction without damaging the trees and I do appreciate the fact you like your quiet street." Pletch went on to say. "As.we get more streets, there is more work for the snow plows." To this, one spec- tator replied, "Aren't we lab al- ready? This was t*ttuted-brioltn- ston when he said, "No, most of the time you are fust." Both Mawdsley and Gibson said they would be happy with a tar and chip surface on their street rather than asphalt Anderson continued, "I've got 40 -year-old trees and sidewalks over the roots would finish them off." The wife of a local doctor she added, "You will keep your resi- dent doctor as long as you keep our trees." Phyllis Brady pointed out that the petitions carried signatures from residents all over the village and that improvements were needed on Princess street. At this point, Fran Simons repre- senting Princess street residents said, "Our street is a disgrace to the town. The sidewalks are in 50 piec- es and there are small children in almost every h6use with no place to play. If the Duchess people don't want you to spend the money there, we will gladly take it." At die end of the discussion reeve McLaughlin summed up by saying, "it seems to be the concensus of the residents to leave things pretty well as they are just adding water, sew- ers and a tar and chip surface. Later in the meeting, the mauler was again discussed. Councillor Bryan Smith said, "It would be a shame to spend money on people who don't want it." McLaughlin added, "We want to get more people on water and sew- ers for better fire protection. i re- cently walked down Princess street and it is in terrible condition: and concluded "The input from the del- egation was fine and they deserve a decision in detail and why, and should come soon." 4" Public meeting ABCA to unveil new floodplain maps for Stephen Township CREDITON - A public meeting Thursday evening.is aimed at clear- ing up some concerns and miscon- ceptions surrounding new flood- plain mapping by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority for Stephen Township. The new maps mainly affect Cen- tralia, the Oakwood Subdivision, and parts of Crediton, but as ABCA regulations officer Kelly Prouse ex- plains, the effects of the new maps are perhaps not as great as son residents believe. "It really won't change the imp', cations for the people in that area," said Prouse, adding that all effected properties were already under ABCA jurisdiction for building per- mits and fill applications. "We aren't expanding the flood- plain. It has always been where it is...lt definitely won't change the status of anyone in that area," said Prouse, adding that the current floodplain limits were updated in 1989. The public meeting will also be presenting proposed changes to the fill lines in some of those areas, which Stephen administrator Larry Brown explains makes lick differ- ence to property owners. "All they've done is updated the mapping...before they called it floodplain and now they call it fill line," said Brown. One benefit of the new maps, he pointed out, is that some Centralia properties will benefit from fewer development restrictions. But Brown said it is possible the, meeting will bring in people who were unaware the floodplain, par- ticularly in Crediton, was redefined in 1989 and may now include their properties. "Some people may not have real- ized they were in the floodplain," said Brown. All affected landowners were no- tified of the meeting by mail, and as Prouse explained, are invited to attend the meeting and see the new maps and discuss them with Con- servation Authority staff. The meeting is being held Thurs- day evening, starting at 8 p.m. at - the Stephen Township Community Centre. Lucan water charges set LUCAN - Residents of the vil- lage of Lucan 'have until January 29, 1993 to prepay the charges in- volved with the newly installed Lake Huron water pipeline system. At a regular meeting on Decem- ber 1, council also set the amount to be paid for those wishing to pay up front. The charge will be S1,000 ..foss-threeeluarter__inch _ service or less. As a result of very competitive construction tenders, final costs were well within engineering esti- mates allowing council to holfl the one time cost to 31.000. The reason for the delay in get- ting -out the invoices was the failure of the Ministry of the Environment to complete the, audit on the sys- tem's expenditures. prepayment at $1,000 The audit has still not been com- pleted, but council decided to go ahead and set the rates. Clerk Ron Reymer said the delay in the village getting final audit approval wa costing $392 per day in interest. For those residents not paying by January 29, 1993, the amount due will be borrowed on their behalf by _ the municipality and they will be advised regarding their payment obligation over the 10 year loan pe- riod. During the discussion on the wa- ter charges, reeve Tom McLaughlin said, "It will 'likely be well into March before -we -get the audit from the Ministry. It is costing us to much to wait until then and we don't get grants on monies paid out for interest". Hay repeal of commercial zoning pleases Exeter ZURICH - Hay Township coun- cil has repealed the bylaw that raised some- concern with Exeter town council. Last month, Hay council passed -bylaw.25whit rc olec t e bylaw that changed the zoning of a property on the north boundary of Exeter, allowing a more relaxed property usage. Bylaw 67 changed the property zoning to a highway - commercial class from the agricul- tural -commercial it was before. Town council opposed the zoning change, saying it conflicted with serviced properties already zoned within town boundaries. Council agreed to appeal the zoning with the Ontario Municipal Board. "We did appeal, but there is no reason for a hearing because the by- law is repealed," town administra- tor Rick Hundey confirmed at Monday evening's council meeting. "I 'resume the applicant decided it was something he could not suc- cessfully defend," Hundey told council. "fie' in_si[t we_ balk to b]G:_ law 10 of '87," said reeve BW Mickle, referring to the previous agricultural -commercial zoning of the property. An agricultural -commercial zone requires a business or industry op- erating on that property conduct 90 percent of their business with the agricultural sector. Contract for teachers - went through with a recorded vote. "It seems there are 10 people out there who haven't had much cgrttact with the recession," said Sillery. Shaw said increase was .5 per- cent. Chief presents 1993 police budget plan EXETER - A police budget for 1993 didn't get much of a look at Monday evening's council meeting. The proposal is being submitted by chief Jack Harkness to members of the police services board and a copy was sent to council. Mayor and police board member Bruce Shaw said the figures were preliminary aril "didn't mean any- thing" and appeared reluctant to en- courage discussion. "It doesn't look Tike there was much thought put into it. It looks Iikc (the chief( put in four percent (increases) across the board," ob- served councillor Robert Drum- mond. "Including salaries," added coun- cillor Ben Hoogenboom. "Especially salaries," replied Drummond. 4 Council noted the budget is likely to be largely affected to current ne- gotiations with the police associa- tion over officer's salaries. Otherwise, tie chiefs preliminary budget calls for a total figure of $622,100, some 8.7 percent above the disputed budget presented by the police services board last spring. if tic 8510,395 budget that coun- cil pushed hard for last summer is used as a basis, then the chiefs budget would be 21.8 percent high- er. In addition to four percent in- creases in most major budget cate- gories, the chief also predicts a large increase in the shared police communications system. Exeter's share in the system is expected to go up sonic 815,000 next year. • •