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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-05-25, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, May 25, 1994 IN THE NEWS_ Regional wrap up Clinton garbage tag price drops to $1 CLINTON - In a recorded vote last Monday night, Clinton Town Council passed an amend- ment to the garbage bylaw which will see the price of town garbage tags drop to $1. The original price was set at $2 which would cover all gar- bage related collection costs such as recycling and landfill. But after the February I start date, a private competitor in the collection husiness began col- lecting garbage for $1 a bag, it was reported in the Clinton News -Record. Council decided to drop the price because so many people were using the private collect- ing. The price drop will mean an estimated $35,000 deficit be- cause of the price reduction. Perth school taxes up 5 percent ST. MARYS - The Perth County Board of Education an- nounced a 5.3 percent tax in- crease for 1994 at a special meeting last Thursday night. The tax hike will mean an in- crease of about $41 to the aver- age home owner in St. Marys. Town taxes were kept at a zero increase, so the entire tax in- crease will go to education. Trustee Lily Horst said the in- crease was the best the board could do, in Tight of a cut of $2 million from the province. The board's budget for the year was set at $68 million, it was reported in the Journal Ar- gus. Emergency 911 service set for 1996 MITCHELL - Perth county residents can expect to have 911 service by 1996. At the May 12 meeting of Perth County Council, reeves voted to go ahead with the sys- tem although county wide mu- nicipal addressing has not yet been completed, it was reported in the Mitchell Advocate. Dave Hanly, director of plan- ning, said there are about 20 other municipalities in the prov- ince who want to implement 911, but they haven't completed the municipal addressing sys- tem either. Perth County council decided to implement the system now, with 80 percent of the address- ing project complete, so the county won't end up on a long waiting list r itf -etjtcr munici- palities. Blyth council agrees to dog waste penalty BLYTH - Byth residents who don't clean up after their dogs should be prepared to pay the price. On May 11, councillors agreed to set a $50 penalty for owners who allow their pets to defecate on public property. Rather than fine guilty parties, which would involve court fees, council decided to set an admin- istrative fee. Animal Control officer Bob Trick will hand out the penalty fee to dog owners whose pets continue to be a problem, it was reported in the North Huron Cit- izen. Jim Crown of Exeter assists the Kellogg's balloon team filling their "Tony the Tiger" hot-air balloon on Saturday morning. The balloon, sponsored by the Royal Canadian Leigon, was part of the Grand Bend Hot Air Balloon festival. Well water information night in Hensall Monday Free well water testini offered by Health Unit HENSALL - Last year's Huron County Farm Health Survey re- vealed that clean drinking water is a problem on local farms. With that in mind, the Huron County Health Unit is sponsoring a water testing information night Monday night in Hensall. Rural residents who get their drinking water from a private well are invited to attend the evening, which will feature free testing for pollutants and minerals, including bacteria, nitrates, fluoride, sodium and calcium. A public health inspector will provide information about the dif- ferent types of water supplies, the tests which are available, how to test your supply, how to interpret the results, and how problems can be corrected. Participants will be asked to drop off samples from their own wells the next day, which will be tested at a laboratory with results to be mailed later. In- structions will be included on how to interpret the results and how to take action, if necessary. All private well users are invited to attend the evening at the Hensall Arena on May 30, from 7-9 p.m. Similar events are scheduled for Brussels and Benmiller next month. If anyone interested can't attend, they are encouraged to have a neighbour attend on their behalf, or to call the Huron County Health Unit. When well. water is contaminat- ed, warn Health Unit officials, it can result in illness for the family or livestock. One of the re- quirements of the Environmental Farm Plan is to know the status of the farm's water quality. Both drilled deep wells and shal- low dug wells require regular sam- pling and testing to ensure it re- mains safe to drink. The 1992 Huron County Farm Health Survey identified well wa- ter quality as a concern. In 1993 a Rural Health Task Force was as- sembled to develop an action plan to address such issues, and later formed the Huron County Rural Health Coordinating Committee. Key items in their action plan in- clude a need to raise awareness of the importance of protecting water supplies, and providing current in- formation to well owners. Not only does the well owner benefit by attending Monday's ses- sion in Hensall, but the Health Unit is also able to gather important in- formation about the status of pri- vate water supplies in the county. Anyone wanting more in- formation about water testing in- formation nights or water testing in general is invited to contact the Health Unit at 1-800-265-5184. High School opens doors o11 art students' creations South Huron District High School opened its doors on its art department Thursday evening. Interested parents and members of the public came to see the students' best work on display in the small gymnasium in an ex- hibit called Gallery '94. Works on display included paintings, drawings, and even a few sculptures. Crowds way up The Bend's best weekend in years, say police and businesses By Erin Lobb T -A staff GRAND BEND - The combina- tion of sunshine, and the balloon festival made• this long weekend one of the best in 10 years said Grand Bend O.P.P. constable J.J. Arseneau. About 20,000 people descended on "the Bend" each day this week- end, filling all local bars, restau- rants, and campsites to capacity. Those managing to make it down the main street waited for at least an hour to get through the mile long back up. Linc -ups seemed to be the theme of the weekend as people waited sometimes two. hours to get in the bars, "Our bar lineup started at three o'clock in the afternoon," said Dino Brooks, manager at Saunders on the Beach. "There was 100 times more people than last year." Mainstreet Hotel manager Sharon Brooks said they had double the amount of husiness they expected, as well. The Pinery was also packed, their 1,000 campsites have been booked solid for months. The park's alco- hol ban remained in effect yet again this year. Sargent Gord Bruce of the Grand Bend OPP detachment predicted liquor offences to be the same as last year. In fact over 400 were is- sued, which is just slightly higher. Constable Arseneau cited 15 im- paired driving charges laid between Chatham, London and Grand Bend's R.I.D.E. units. Only one narcotics related charge was issued. Ten criminal charges were laid over the course of the weekend. Counterfeit 20 dollar bills discov- ered at Big Daddy's, J. Dee's, and Gordy's, led to the arrest of a Guelph man. Bylaw officer Keith Crawford re- ported that only or three or four by- law charges were issued. "When we talked to people they actually responded positively." The OPP's approach was simply to issue the charge. "We dispensed with warn- ings because it doesn't work, and things can get out of control," said Arseneau. "The Balloon Fest was another opportunity for family entertain- ment," said Grand Bend mayor Tom Lawson of the two day event. "We were successful with five out of six launches." The event hosted 10 balloons which were launched twice each day- six a.m. and six p.m.. Other Airshow features, such as remote control model aircraft and a chil- drens program kept little ones amused throughout the afternoon. Speaker says women losing sense of peace By Fred Groves CLINTON - Women and espe- cially young girls are afraid they are losing the sense of peace and wellness. That's the message Dr. Fred Mat- thews brought to a one -day seminar on Sexual Assault Thursday in Clinton which was hosted by S.W.A.N. (Stop Woman Abuse Now) and the Ontario Women's Directorat. "Whcn women are not well, the community is not well. Women's peace seems to he slipping away," said Matthews. The seminar was entitled, Sexual Assault, A Community Issue and Brown, a Community Psychologist told those in attendance that vio- lence is spreading not only in the big cities but rural communities as well. "Girls are talking to me about their peace and wellness. A lot of it has to do with fear of violence." Thursday's audience was mostly female and Matthew pointed out that males arc the ones causing most of the violence. "There's a male gender influence in thc problems," he said. Matthews said society as a whole is somewhat surprised that sexual abuse continues and noted that with all the information we have and 25 years of the 'women's movement' that women still have a problem with peace and wellness. "For every effort we make...something is working against us. There are some success stories " The seminar's main focus was to bring the community together to educate each other and to create ac- tion towards eliminating sexual vio- lence. Matthews said he has been study- ing the actions of youth violence for about 10 years. "There is an incredible amount of fear growing in the schools." As part of the seminar on Thurs- day, the Company of Sirens per- formed 'Datelines'. The company is a professional theatre company which produces plays on contempo- rary issues. The play exposed some of the myths concerning dating violence through the eyes of a group of high school students. Crime Stoppers Tips sought in jewellery robbery Crime Stoppers of Huron County is offering cash rewards for help solving thc following thefts. Smash and grab: In the early hours of Thursday May 5, thieves smashed a window at Anstett Jewellers in Exeter using a large rock. They then stole a quantity of jewellery, including 200 gold chains, and 25 sterling silver rings and 25 South Huron District High School rings. A newer -model Chevrolet Cavalier two -door, red with a grey stripe, was seen at the scene of the crime. Two male suspects were seen and are described as follows: one was 5'10" I80-200 lbs, with short black hair and wearing a black sweatshirt; thc other had a thin build, 160 lbs, wearing a hooded sweatshirt over his head. Break and enter: Between April 30 and May 1, a residence at lot 18, Concession 14 of Hay Township was broken into and ransacked. The thief made off with a large amount of property, including a VCR, television, movie tapes, jewellery and tools, along with a ra- dio, electronic games, and liquor. Break and enter: At lot 19, Lake Road West in Stanley Town- ship, sometime on either May 6 or 7 a thief smashed a window to gain entry. Stolen were an Electmhome VCR; a Mitsubishi cabinet stereo including a dual cassette deck, model DT76 serial 11CN13830, an amplifier and a model LT46 turntable; two marble elephants (50 lbs each); a set of Tasco binoculars; a Cameo 0.6 cubic foot micro- wave, and assorted beer and liquor. If anyone has any information about these or any other crimes, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-265-1777. You will not have to reveal your identity and you could he eligible for up to a $1,000 cash re- ward. Remember, crime doesn't pay, Crime Stoppers does. A