Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-06-01, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, June 1, 1994 Regional wrap up Huron Park man faces jail for harassment GODERICH - A 38 -year-old Huron Park man has been sen- tenced to 90 days. to be served on weekends. after he pleaded guilty to criminal harassment and breach of probation. The weekend sentence will al- low Gary Grant. who appeared in Provincial Court May 16, to keep his job. it was reported in the Goderich Signal -Star. The court was told Grant was charged after he broke a Febru- ary 22 probation order to stay :may from the victim. The court was also told that in mid-May. Grant went to the woman's house with gilts and he svould drive by her house. As well, the court was told Grant was put on probation for a previous conviction of break, en- ter and assault involving the same victim. New telephone manager appointed KIPPEN - The Tuckersmith Municipal Telephone System has a new manager, it was re- ported in the Clinton News Record. Alar Korgemets started at the Tuckersmith office on May 2 and comes to the Kippen area with a lot of telecommunica- tions experience having worked with Bell Canada and Roger Cable TV in Calgary as well as a Telecom company in New Zealand. Wingham studying airport proposal WINGHAM - The Town of Wingham could be getting a municipal airport. Last Tues- day night. the town's Airport Advisory Committee was in- formed that -.Wingham has re- ceived, from the provincial Ministry of Transportation, RO percent of the funding for the feasibility study. The $64,0(0 will be spent on studying possible sites for the airport and the effects on the en- vironment and town. The airport was first proposed for the town in October, it was reported in thc Wingham Ad- vance -Times. Future tenant at Goderich plaza still unknown GODERICH - Developers of the Zehrs Plaza expansion have been silent on the subject of its future tenant, despite a promise to council that the tenant's name would he released. Town administrator Larry McCabe told the Goderich Sig- nal -Star last Tuesday that he had yet to be told by developers what retailer would he occupy- ing the 70,000 square foot ex- pansion at the Zehrs Plaza. - Wal-Mart Canada president Bruce West wouldn't say wheth- er Wal-Mart was a possible can- didate. "We have a number of site, some of which may take years to develop." A IN THE New office for Hay Township slated for Zurich Construction of new building could start by the fall ZURICH - If everything goes according to plan, Hay Township should be laying the foundation for a new township office by the fall. Hay Township councillors agreed at a May 16 meeting to go ahcad with plans for the new building in Zurich to he housed on Mill Street, just to the cast of the existing building. Councillors had previously discussed the possibility of purchasing a new site in Hay Township, but they were told this would he more costly than building on land in Zurich that the township already owned. And although council has approved the new municipal office that doesn't mean the project is carved in stone. "First a grant application has to he approved by the province." said clerk -treasurer Janisse Zimmern►an. Plans for a new township office have been on the hack burner for a number of years. High maintenance costs, foundation cracks and lack of space forced the issue to finally he discussed by council especially since infrastructure grant money is available for the project. The old township building will eventually be demolished to make way for a parking lot, Zimmerman said. Hensall yard sale sends a kid to camp HENSALL - The Bank of Mon- treal in Hensall joined in Saturday's community yard sale to help a good cause. Employees of six branches of the bank in the area went together to do- nate items for their own yard sale, and also added a stand to sell hot dogs to the thousands of visitors in the village. In all, they raised $325, which will be donated to the Children's Aid Society to send a child to camp this summer. Children's Aid sent 129 children to camp last summer, for one week each. "They're hoping tobe able to do that again," said Karen Dickins at the Bank of Montreal. Since the average cost of a week- long camp stay is $230, Dickins said Usborne Township receives provincial grant EXETER - Usborne Township council won't have to worry about carrying all the costs involved in drain maintenance for thc area. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs notified council that the grant for a drainage superintendent will he covered completely by the province. As well, 85 percent of the $3,(XX) grant will go toward drainage main- tenance, it was reported at council's last meeting on May 17. Temporary dog control officer hired EXETER - Residents of Usborne township might want to take note of the acticities of their furry little friends. A temporary dog contrc: officer was hired by Usborne Township Council on May 17 to start work immediately. Howard Curric was hired for the temporary positon that will he in ef- fect for three months. Tree planting part of 1994 road budget EXETER - Some of the roadsides in Usborne Township will have a bit more shade this fall as road crews begin tree planting. Usborne Township Council agreed on May 17 to recommenda- tions by the road superintendent to purchase 100 trees for roadside planting. As well, council approved a draft road budget of $410,000. "I guess we've raised enough to send one and a half kids to camp." Dickins also said the village's community yard sale continues to he an impressive event. "I think it's getting Nigger and het - ter every year," she said. Grand Bend reports a quiet week GRAND BEND - Between may 21 and 22 culprits stole the Grand Bend population sign from the south end of the village on Hwy. 21. It was valued at $300. Any in- formation regarding this, or other crimes, should be directed to the Grand Bend OPP, or your local Crime Stoppers. A total of 37 charges were issued by police from May 23 to 29. Con- stable J.J. Arseneau reported how- ever that it was a quiet week with no major incident reports, despite the numbers of people on hand for the Air Show. The Grand Bend OPP detach- ment will he having the ribbon cutting ceremony, and tour of their new building June 9 at 10 a.m.. Your Views Letters to the editor Alternative childcare needed A number of concerned parents have organized to assess whether there is a need for a full-time daycare and/or be- fore and after school program in Exeter. Dear Editor: I would like to address the issue of childcare needs in the Town of Exeter and surrounding area. In the past three weeks, a number of child caregis- ers in Exeter and area have been visited by the Min- istry of Social Services in response to complaints registered that they were caring for "in excess of the legal limit" oI' children within their homes. As a re- sult, these caregivers reduced numbers to comply with the legal limit. Other caregivers in town took the 'offensive" approach and scaled down their children to the legal number so if the Ministry visit- ed them, they would not he in violation. 1 do not blame the caregivers at all as they are reacting in the only way they can. but 1 am emphatic to the parents and most of all the children that don't understand why they cannot go hack to the caregiver they have loved and hecn cared for during the past number of years. Families are discovering that if they need full- time childcare they likely have maintained their spots, hut if part-time or before and alter school childcare is required, these children have been "let go" so the sitters do not exceed the legal number of five children up to age 11. Needless to say. this has created a great deal of stress in area families as few alternatives exist. Some parents I have talked with are resorting to actions they are not happy with. namely latch -key children. applying fur leaves of absences from their employment. splitting their chil- dren up to be cared for by different caregivers. call- ing in sick and possibly going on social assistance or unemployment insurance. These drastic measures being resorted to are not for the good of the chil- dren, their parents nor society in general and 1 feel the lack of adequate daycare facilities is a long term problem that must be addressed. With no daycare or before and after school pro- gram available in the Town of Exeter. the only source of childcare is the "in home" babysitter. This has provided good care to our children in the past but with thc threat of further Ministry visits and lines of $2(X10/day and potential jail terms, it is ex- pected most sitters will comply with the legal limit of "5" and stay within the reduced number structure. This results in an inadequate supply of good child- care workers available to meet the needs of families with full-time, part-time and/or before and after school childcare needs. A number of concerned parents have organised to assess whether there is a need lir a full-time day- care and/or before and after school program in Exet- er. If either of these were to be implemented in the future. there is no doubt it will he at increased costs to what most parents have been accustomed to pay- ing. It also does not solve all the programs of par- ents working outside of the home such as infant day- care. ill children. parents working shift work hours, etc. However. it may add some childcare alterna- tives to those currently available in Exeter. Thanks to thc support of Jane Holley and the Ex- eter Public School Parents Association, a survey is being sent home with Exeter Public School children this week of which we would ask parents to com- plete and send hack with their comments. If anyone else in town would like a copy of the surscv or would like additional information. they can call 235-(1112. Sincerely. Corlette Eilder Your Views Letters to the editor Time to pressure MPP ...Rae has promised a free vote but this has not happened.. Dear Editor: Time Advocate May 25, 1994: "Huron MPP sup- ports discussion of Bill 167 granting same sex cou- ples the right to adopt children. I contacted Klopp's constituency office and was informed that Klopp had supported the hill on the first reading to allow discussion so that he could de cidc where he stands on this important matter. MPPs of all parties would likely support a hill to give homosexual couples equality in the work place but will not give them the right to call themselves a family and adopt children. Rac had promised a free vote but this has not hap- pened. MPPs expecting advancement. or special projects in their riding may expect some recognition for their yes vote - 11PPs committed to vote yes were advised of the time and day of the introduction of this hill. The nay votes were not advised. Our member requires the discussion of second reading to determine his stand. Pressure from Bob Rae will likely have more influence on his vote than any discussion in the house. Klopp has forgotten his electorate. the voters of Huron County who sent him to Queens Park He does not realize that he is not representing the vast majority of Huron voters on this issue. We have as much right to pressure Klopp as Rac has. Lets do it. All who support my stand that lesbians and gays not he allowed ato adopt children please write and phone constituency office - 1-8(X)-668-9320. J.C. Goddard MD Hensall 4" New Guinea Impa lent was -$1:-39- 89' 1 3 - 4" Garden Mums was $$-a9_ 89° 1 Gal. Shrub or Evergreen was $6A9 1139 Deluxe Hanging Baskets was 12 99 $&9a, 799 Flat of 12 boxes Annuals or Vegetables reg. Patio Pots or Window Boxes $17 99 Q9t was S1249 . `r ` );] • • . 4 cu. ft. Peat Moss Expands to 226 L. Reg. $6.99 Sale 549 Canadian Tire, Exeter Phone 235-0160