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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1993-01-06, Page 3wrap Interest-free Inane a hit GODERICH - Thanks to the Goderich Community Credit Union, Goderich merchants re- ceived a bit of a boost this year. According to the Goderich Signal.Star, the credit union has been offering interest-free loans up to $1,500 to clients and non - clients who open an account with a minimum $15 deposit. What's the catch? There really isn't one except the money must be spent in the:tewntof-Gode- rich. Fire destrzys Staffa tome STAFFA - A Staffa family lost everything when their 85 - year -old home burned to the ground in an overnight fire last Monday. According to the Huron Ex- positor, the fire caused $50,000 damage to the small wooden frame house, which was heated by a -wood stove and two small heaters. Noone was home at the time and a.cause has not yet been.de- .tennined. School explosion in ures-two NITCHEL.I - An .industrial accident at Mitchell District High School sent two people:to hospital December 21, while they were 'helping to clears .up following the recent anon fire there. According to the Mitchell Ad- vocate, two men, both of Strath E,c-1st '92 d1■ usIvei By Ray Lewis T -A Staff EXETER - With -the arrival of 1993 comes a -host ofanisw IMl- tenges for the Huron Coallelliellid of Education (RCM). Junior Kin- dergarten (JK), zero percent in- creases and desu amifg were all subjects debated throughout 1992. and will continue to be scrudnb d well into the new year. For school board trustee Bob Heywood, December brought to an end his first year as Stephen Town- ship's represenuutive. While he looks forward to ushering in the anew year, he is well aware of the ii!l9scal challenges that lay ahead, saihdthe responsibility he will carry. "I'm interested in seeing some re- straint come into the system," -ad- mitted Heywood. "I have some :concern with programs in the schools, but probably my biggest concern is taxation." Heywood agrees his lifestyle.def- initely changed over the year.in or- der to adapt to the rigors of board life. With three children in school, sand having gone through the sys- usorrn himself, he was interested in nerving and in education. But dur- -tieg his fust year he got more than the bargained for as the HCBE :faced its toughest fiscal challenges in history. "I estimate I was called to Clin- _aon or elsewhere.about 50-55atimes never the last 12 months," said Hey- jwrrood. "Especially during the.bud- iy process." He served on the Staff Improve- nsannt Committee, which was set up ,*yatustees and teachers to adminis- er funds within the collective mgreement as well es the Education `Committee whose mandate it is to .study curriculum. In addition, Heywood was in- etaked in CUPE negotiations be- etsraen;the HCBE and its teachers. :So far only die seccsndary teachers .have ratified .although .he expects :the others to follow very soon. "I'havexeally enjoyed it because I think we .have a great board oro tes.''b1Mmme I•sitttvem ties masird yes on an alM1lhteiills■ey aided, including our ownn." "I have seen a pile bP 1e in :livable in south Huron tonere. The province says we have no money, so the burden falls on the people. 'illut you can't justify -an increase to •utltose people. We have to bite the ehullet." Aisne. Bat'sOtey loam more programs alrti e. 'They want JK 9mple- e ttyd =which I believe will cost BtlulOnds of dollars across the sys- tem. -Administration tells us it's a crfOtterIalker because of the grant Vie. But if that is true, then y"i*s Peel and other counties )Lg IK because they can't af- 'tlluto-run it anymore. It doesn't "I have some concern with powwow in schools, but probably my biggest concern is taxation" As far as JK is concerned, Hey- wood sides with most of the HCBE that the program is not a necessity in the county, and is also not feasi- ble. "We have a provincial govern- ment who says they don't have much money for us. They might have 1 percent, 2 percent or 0 per - make sense." Surprisingly, Heywood said he has yet to meet even a parent of a JK -aged child who feels the pro- gram is necessary here. "Most agree it is.a Toronto prob- lem, and while we sympathize with Toronto, they have to realize that their problems are not necessarily 1111111. 41We-+i11111ti -ittany sci.00ls 411101Intened the I anything -44=4;iit.d. 'But let's be honest, it." Heywood alsoquestions the gov- ernment's proposal to increase tran- sition payments to the boards, when at the same time, they are planning a 12 percent increase in hydro, which is a big ticket item in the school system. "When you've got 30-35 schools operating, that's a lot of money." Surprisingly, Heywood said itis phone has remained relatively quiet throughout his first year in office. However, fie has received comment from many who are concerned with the transition years and destream- stg. "I think it's been a tilde blown out of proportion," said Heywood. "I think it's a good idea if kids aren't streamed until grade 10, but there is some talk of destreaming in w cork with," avid Heywood. "But I bion. soy, tpio ref Rest W"> :xe.b n.a li n.a&far asa+e-.ems. oiswoomewoompoi Sob -Heywood reflects upon his first year as a trustee for' the -Huron County Board of Educe - smoke. and water damage ex- perts hired to clean up the school after :lite fue December 11. The duo was rushed to Strat- ford General Hospital after an explosion occurred while they were "fogging" a classroom. Fogging is a process which in- volves using a product called Unsmoke which removes the smell of smoke in the building. When- it is released; from its container it becomes a fog and at the time it was being blown into a tunnel beneath the class- room where the explosion took place. According to Mitchell princi- pal Terry Boyce. the windows in the ..classroom were broken and the frames were pushed outward almost four feet near the ceiling. Derange to the classroom didn't add to the original fire tisane ge, as plans to replace the ceiling and floor of the room were. flirted y. set. One of the workers was treat- ed and released while the second was kept until December 24 and released. Stratford boasts New Year's trirpeets STRATFORI) - Southwestern Ontario's New Year's baby is , Gray Markley of Stratford, al- though he had to fight off a stiff challenge from two other com- petitors, within his own family. Gray was born at 12:03 a.ns. at St. Joseph's hospital in London, but his brother Peter was close behind arriving at 124 a.m.; one minute ahead of sister Oliv- ia. The triplets were born to Caro- line and Craig Merkley of,siltat- fore two weeks aliead of sched- ule. That wasn't the only surmise for the couple that evening, be- cause they had :men g three boys. Gray wed in at leer pounds, elevattt ounces, Peter at five pounds, 10 ounces aid J 1ivia at three pounds, ono -half ounce. The triplets were born by cae- sarean section and are the Merk- ley's first children. • A Why a1ttordi b/ X71 staff? EXETER - Councillor Robert Drummond suggested .to council alttonday evening that perhaps some ttlown employees and volunteers 'nacre not getting .the recognition Whey deserved. ...Drummond said he first became Maim of the problem when he •earned four fire department retired and were not honoured at the town's annual appreciation banquet in,November. Drummond said he then realized quite a number of town employees have many years of services and have not been officially recognized for long service. "Obviously, no one nsaiepi it .to our.atiention ,m im r Bruce Shah ae fire .dt'ApiE- ranent retirees. Shaw said service awards to so1- Atnteers had been given in the past. "We've got to be told about it somehow," said the mayor. On the subject of employee ser - Would have been Vl9r year Council des against MOW ale increase for 1993 EXETER - Acting on advice provided by the Exeter PUC, town council agreed not to increase sewage or water utility rates this year, but would absorb additional costs imposed by the province. Council had considered raising the sewage rate to allow for an in- crease of $12,000 in sampling tests from the Ministry of the Envi- ronment. A Icuer from PUC manager Hugh Davis expressed surprise that council had discussed sewage rale increases before consulting the P.UC, but noted that a.ihrec percent increase would be adequate to cover new sampling costs. Davis also advised that a slight increase in the water tate would al- low the sewage surcbarge to remain at 120 percent of the water rate. However, mayor Bruce Shaw told council that the PUC were also of the opinion the extra costs could be absorbed, with a reduction in reserve fund revenues. Reeve Bill Mickle called any increase in utility rates an "indirect tax" in a year when the town is trying to hold taxes down. Councillor Robert Drummond noted his two-month utility bill asked for rates of S24.20 for water. and $29:04 for sewage. Council- lor Torn Humphreys pointed out a three percent sewage increase was less than six dollars a year and "not a big deal". Mickle disagreed. "To be honest with you it's six dollars on top of everything else. It is a big deal" argued Mickle. Councillor Ben Hoogenboorn favoured absorbing the ex:reased sewage testing costs from the ministry. "You can't keep doing that all the time," commented Humphreys. Drummond also argued that the $12,000 had to come off sane - where else. Mickle then argued the surcharge was meant only for increasing expansion capital, not rppstsof the system. Finally, council agreed alp' t4400genboxrrn's motion to absorb the extra costs, and.holdallIketility rates at 1992 levels. "lea just wondering if my budget win Stay .at a zero percent in- crease, because it can't," said works superintendent Glenn Kells. Drummond said the deferral of casts could only go so tar, until they lutifto be paid` lace r. "You have to pay the piper sometime," agreed Humphreys. vice awards, Shaw said the issue had been discussed in the past, but nothing was done about ie Councillor Ben Hoogenboorn Aelod police constable George Rob- inson has been on the police force :dor over 25 years. but has received :mo recognition. "That's a said point," agreed 'Shaw. "But there's no policy," said Hoo- ganboone "Thefe's no policy," echoed Police report quiet holiday %:season "EXETER - Police are se1- tance from anyone with infra about a break-in *Age aggueol Saturday, shortly befie=4;. Ken Easterbrook's proximately Ihrecaid11111111111110111111b of Exeter, waslot- sons unknown. emu piece of wood was used W the patio door, Sesigehmemilip- twists noticed the bilkoalilailles and contacted police. Nothing was. reported stolen. Anyone with War mation about this incident is 40 to call Crime Stoppers at .1ji)80- 265-1777. Despite the inclement wig* over the holidays, few ace** were reported. On 'ihursday. a for trailer turning into a driveway an Highway 21 was struck on the side . by a vehicle driven by Sermalyaa McPherson of Thunder Bay. Nei- ther McPherson nor David Wilson. driver of the tractor trailer, were in- jured. Damage was minor. Over the past week slick and icy road surfaces caused some vehicles o.slicie off the rood witif light dam- .incurred. in geneltl.,police re.. - .Awl a relatively gttiet„eaw yes ,,seasu n with few inO dense• Shaw. Clerk Liz Bell did note that town police officers receive financial bo- nuses increasing with years of ser- vice. Councillor Tom Humphreys said many companies provide dinners or gifts to employees every five years. "Companies often do, public ser- vice bodies do not," commented Shaw. 1O1ind I will oppose that." ' Heywood believes that in this day irtd age by grade 10 students have to know where they're going to go, what their output is and what their level of achievement is going to be. The program also calls for en in- tegration of some subjects, which many teachers feel is a Very prema- ture move and one they refuse to accept. "The government has jumped the gun because they're telling the boards to have it in place by Sep- tember 1993, but they don't even have the curriculum drawn up." As far as 1993 is concerned, Heywood would like to see more evaluation of staff, especially teachers because they have the biggest influence on our children. He feels the major problem for '93 will be economics; coping with less money from the province and less ability for the people of Huron to pay higher taxes. With welfare roles rising, factories closing, more people on unemployment, instances of unpaid taxes in some communi- ties up 40 percent, the county's tax base is diminishing. • "That will be the toughest point. Weil be looking at JK and it's hard to say no because then the govern-' ment cuts your funding." Aside from the challenges, Hey- wood has only one request for the new year. "It would be nice to hear more in- put from the people. They still have as much of a voice as ever, but theyseem to exercise it less." Education Board elects new executive The executive of the Huron County Board of Education is set to begin the new year with two new faces. Roxanne Brown, who represents 'the Town of Clinton, *.ill be re- placing"Liliane Nolan as chairman of the Personnel Committee. Carter, representative of Tucker - smith Township and Village of Hensel!, will become chairman of the Management Committee, re- placing Rick Rompf. Bea Dawson (Hay and Usborne Townships and Village of Zurich) will return as chairman of . the board for her second term. In addition Graeme Craig (Town of Seaforth ►IcKillop Town- ship) was unelected as vice- chairman, and Normal Picket (Town of Goderich) as chairman of the Education Committee. "., About RASP.iliEnitelMIT OPIUM' ar/ litlialitIod by: Paul Hanna Co-operative Trust Co. Canada At: Clinton Community Credit Union Clinton Branch - 48 Ontario St. Date: Thursday January 14, 1993 startingst 7:30 p.m. AWARIVINE MUM. t:AMMw Cr�rrMtf� COMPIT'lNMON 21100009