HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1993-08-25, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, August 25,1993
Wild dogs
may not be
to blame for
sheep deaths
CREDITON - Stephen Township
may be able to recover livestock
damage claims if they can prove
the ownership of a dog that killed
several sheep in Crediton.
Council approved payments of
$300 and $525-to'Andrew Robert-
son of Crediton after two ewes
were attacked and killed on August
6 and two ewes and three lambs
were killed on August 9.
These claims were in addition to
previous livestock losses earlier in
the year. At first, the attacks were
believed to be by wild dogs, or pos-
sibly even wolves, but after a do-
mestic dog was chased away from
the Roberstsons' calf, the true cul-
prit may have been found.
"We do have sightings, dogs here
and dogs there," said township ad-
ministrator Larry Brown, but said
evidence in this case does suggest
:the cause may be a single dog from
/ a neighbouring farm.
Council made a resolution atylttfr
August 17 meeting that if owner-
ship of -the dogs at faultcan-be-es-
tablished, then the township would
seek restitution.
The Robertson's made a livestock
loss claim earlier in the year after a
similar attack.
SWAN to
unveil plaque
for women in
Goderich
GODERICH - Friday September
3 at 1230.p.m. Stop Woman Abuse
Now will be holding a ceremony to
dedicate a tree and plaque in the
Goderich Court House Park.
The plaque will read "In honour
of our mothers, our daughters, our
sisters - stop woman abuse now".
In 1989, says the organization,
199 women were murdered in do-
mestic situations in Canada. Wife
battering is being called a national
epidemic with over 2.5 million
women being assaulted by male
partners.
SWAN is a Huron County com-
mittee of more than 40 profession-
als who reprosexht health care, po-
lice, education, and children's
services who are working toward a
reduction and elimination of wom-
an abuse.
SWAN is inviting the public to
this plaque dedication, which will
include special music and guest
speakers in the Court House Park at
Colborne Street.
Keep ATV's
off roads
EXETER - The OPP are remind-
ing local residents that driving off
road vehicles on roadways is illegal
after an incident Friday.
Police say a 14 -year old was driv-
ing an ATV on a concession road
in Stephen Township. He was seen
,lt to be driving at excessive speeds
and without a helmet. The OPP are
cautioning that since this is an on-
going problem in the arca, violators
will be charged.
The OPP report fou serious acci-
dents in their detachment area in
the past week.
Last Tuesday, Debra O7iagan of
Centralia was driying on Mill St. in
Hensel) when her vehicle collided
with the rear of another slowing to
turn left. No injuries were report,
ed, say police.
Also last Tuesday, faulty brakes
were reported to be the cause of an
accident involving the collision of a
vehicle driven by Shawn Stanlake
of Exeter with a sign at the end of
Waterworks Rd. at Port Blake. Af-
ter hitting the sign Stanlake's vehi-
cle continued down the embank-
ment. Police say there were
forumately no injuries.
Last Wednesday. a truck carrying
mixed grain left Concession 6-7 of
Stephen Township and rolled over
on its side in the ditch. The driver,
Douglas Lightfoot of Crediton re-
ceived minor injuries in the inci-
dent, say police.
On Sunday, the vehicle of Chris-
topher Skinner of Mitchell was
southbound on Concession 6-7 of
Usbome Township north of High-
way 83 when it left the roadway
and flipped over into the ditch.
Skinner, who received minor in-
juries, has been charged with im-
paired driving and driving while
disqualified.
A
Terry Culbert and his uncle Mert stand near the grave of f his great great grandparents John
and Mary Culbert at Lucan'$ St James Cemetery.
Comparecl to Lucan. Ireland
Lucan to be
featured in
TV news special
-.s
By Catherine O'Brien
T -A staff
LUCAN - it seems the village of
Lucan has its own personal ambas-
sador in fomter resident Terry Cul-
bert who was in the area last Tues-
day working on a feature story.
"I always tell people I`m from Lu -
can even though I haven't lived
here for 30 years," he said.
"I have great memories of grow-
ing up here."
Culbert is a cameraman and re-
porter for Global Television. He
has been producing lifestyle and
human interest stories for Global
since 1990.
In that time he has done a number
of features on Lucan including, of
course, features on the Donnellys
which he did while working as field
producer and cameraman for Glo-
bal on -air personality Bill Bramah.
Culbert was back filming tris old
home town as part of a feature
comparing the village to that of Lu -
can, Ireland.
"It's absolutely beautiful there,"
he said of the Irish county.
Culbert went to Ireland in May
for a two-week working vacation.
He was busy filming a number of
stories and spent a bit of time trac-
ing his roots.
Although his family originally
came from the southern region of
Ireland, Tipperary to be exact, he
found there were few Culberts liv-
ing there now.
His great great grandparents John
and Mary Culbert left Ireland to
settle in Lucan back in October
1840. on
At that time they bought e hun-
dred acres of land in the area for 62
pounds and 10 shillings, about
S125 at today's .;xchange rates, and
built a long cabin on it.
The property stayed in the family
until his uncle Mert sold it a num-
ber of years ago.
"Three houses have stood on that
land," Culbert said.
And the house his father, aunts
and uncles were born in still stands.
That house and uncle Mert just
might make their way into the
three-minute feature, along with
other interesting sights in the vil-
lage.
"It's something I've wanted to do
for a long time," he said.
It is unclear at this point when the
feature will be aired on the eve-
ning news.—
Culbert said it's a teal pleasure
exploring other liule towns across
Ontario.
"The last three years have been
the happiest for me," he said.
But before Culbert ventured into
a rewarding career there was an Ex-
eter connection to his youth.
Between 1958-60, while in high
school, he was the photographer for
the Times Advocate's Lucan corre-
spondent.
"That certainly was an interesting
time," he said.
And, it seems, the experience
didn't have too many adverse af-
fects on him.
Kirkton farmer
making sunflowers
lev4 a specialty
Rezoning freeze in Grand Bend
GRAND BEND - An official
plan review and limited sewage ca-
pacity has brought a six-month re-
zoning freeze to Grand Bend.
Monday night, council decided to
stop rezoning and any minor vari-
ances because they want to see
what direction the village is taking
before changing its look.
"We're lucky its in the winter and
hopefully not too many people will
be making applications," said cpun-
cillor Cam Ivey.
However, not all members of
council agreed with the decision.
"A couple of weeks ago we were
talking about assisting an individu-
al in rezoning," said councillor Bill
Uniac.
What brought on the decision
was two subjects of discussion on
Monday - an application by a resi-
dent to have the zoning on his prop-
erty changed and the fact that the
village is beginning a review of its
official plan.
"Hopefully we'll have a good
handle on this by the first of March
to see where we're going with the
official plan," said Lambton
County planner Ann Marie Ho-
ward.
She said that because of the limit-
ed amount of sewage capacity it
seems as though there is already a
development freeze on anyway.
Joe Green of the Fisherman's
Cove Restaurant was looking to
build a deck on top of a storage
building and have the deck used as
part of the restaurant and have it li-
censed.
"The present zoning is environ-
mental protection which allows for
a restaurant in hand with a fishing
operation," sped Grand Bend Ad-
ministrator Paul Turnbull.
However since there is no longer
a fishing operation at that location,
any renovations would require
changing the zoning.
"It's not just relevant to one prop -
Calls for resignation
Bluewater board \
backs down on
loan agreement
GRAND BEND - Surplus funds generated by the Bluewater Recy-
cling Association, caused a furor in past weeks amongst board mem-
bers after the group decided to use the money to loan to an employ-
ee.
The board voted to give a $60,000 interest free house loan to gen-
eral manager Francis Veilleux instead of a $3.500 a year raise.
While some board members saw the loan as a just reward for a job
well done in maintaining Bluewater's success rate, others said the or-
ganization should not be setting such a precedent in these economic
times.
Board chairman John Russell has maintained the loan was quite le-
gal and in the best financial interests of the Recycling Association,
but agreed to revoke it after complaints arose from member munici-
palities.
Most vocal waslapiefprd councillor George Hall, who argued the
Bluewater Asld be re -investing surplus funds, or re -
.turning them to Inambarc rather than getting into the loin business
for employees. •
Some members of Forest Town Qnttrtdii wets en dto
rand the resignation of the association board. Mart inaltilitailies
only learned of the loon deal after the boaad agreed to revoke it last
Wednesday.
"They didn't ask any of the municipalities," said Exeter mayor
Bruce Shaw. "We didn't know anything about it."
st
crty," pointed out Howard who said
other land owners along the river
may be looking to find different
uses for their properties.
"There is an issue of where you
want the harbour to go and how
you want it to develop," added Ho-
ward.
It won't be until later this year
when Grand Bend will be ready to
make recommendations towards
the official plan review and in the
mean time, Howard has asked that
councillors take a long look at the
current plan.
"I want you to pick out any prob-
lems and see what has to be ad-
dressed," said Howard.
Continued from front page.
called black seeds or oilseeds.
This kind is generally used more
for bird feed or in producing sun-
flower oil.
The taste, Willis said, is different
than the stripe seed people usually
eat. The black seed is also smaller
and has more oil in it.
"They are highly nutritious, but
there just isn't that much in the
black seed to eat."
Willis said farming sunflowers is
similar to con. "The growing time,
harvesting, fetiirzer - it's all quite
the same."
"There are rtbout 100 growers in
Ontario," he said. Most of them are
in Essex and Kent County.
Of course, like any crop, the sun -
10 -17.911 )7 Ail
flower has its natural enemies. In
this case it is binds.
"There have been reported cases
where entire crops were destroyed
by birds."
But these cases usually occur in
areas where the sunflowers are in
the migrating pattern of a number
of birds.
Fortunately it's tough for most
birds to perch on the sunflowers so
it's difficult for them to eat seeds
that aren't on the ground.
There is still another month or so
to enjoy the sight of the large flow-
ers before harvesting which should -
take place in late September or ear-
ly October.
Townships see increase
Construction starts up in July
ZURICH - Building rates in the
arca appear to have been given a
little boost in July with some town-
ships reporting above normal con-
struction starts during the month.
Hay Township reports a July con-
struction value of 5390,280, com-
pared to just 532,000 for June. Up
to the end of May, building starts
reached only a value of 5414,150.
"It's just picked up. It had been
dead up to that point," said clerk -
treasurer Janisse Zimmerman, who
said most of the new work was be-
ing done on farm buildings and a
couple of new residences.
Even with the upturn, it appears
unlikely Hay will be able to match
the 53.4 million building total re-
corded in 1992, having reached
only 50.8 million so far.
Stephen Township also reported
a strong July in the building depart-
ment. With construction values
reaching 5664,880, administrator
Larry Brown said the totals made
the township "ahead of last year".
He said five new homes were be-
ing built in the township, and a new
barn and storage shed added to the
total.
While Osborne Township did not
have July totals tabulated, staff said
building appears brisk, with two
Stew homes underway and additions
to homes and barns included.
In contrast, Exeter is still endur-
ing a building slump. With a popu-
lation slightly larger than Stephen
Township, July. building totals were
$266,350, bringing the year's con-
struction value to 51.7 millioh, al-
most exactly 5200,000 behind last
year's figures.
Suspended drivers
fined in Exeter court
EXETER - Two drivers were fined for driving with licenses under
suspension at court in Exeter last Tuesday.
Suspended: John Brown of Hensel' pleaded guilty to driving
while suspended. The court heard he was stopped for speeding in
Stephen Township on July 10, and found to be without a valid li-
cens\
Justice of the Peace
Karen Sturdy took into
account this was Brown's
second offense since Oc-
tober 1991 when fining
him 51,000 plus 55 in
court costs. - His license
was suspended for an ad-
ditional six months.
$1,000 fine: Kenneth Weigel of Edmonton, Alberta pleaded
guilty to driving while under suspension in Ontario.
The court was told Weigel's car was stopped on July 1 by the Ex-
eter OPP for speeding. His license was confirmed to be suspended.
Justice of Peace Sturdy noted Weigel was convicted of driving
while having a blood alcohol count over 80 mg. in April 1992. His
suspension was not to end until April 1994. He was fined 51,000
plus 55 in court costs, and an additional six month suspension was
added to his license.
Speeding: Christopher Traquair of Exeter pleaded guilty to
speeding 114 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. He was fined $13250 and
given three months to pay the tine.
44