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Announcement,
pages 21-22
Experts
page 25
Plus
Home
Locator
SEIP'S
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4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262
Fresh Baked from our
Bakery
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Hotdoo or Hamburg Buns
Local unemployment soaring?
12.2 percent jobless rate can't be right, say employment officials
EXETER - While other centres in Ontario are reporting
lower unemployment rates this spring, the picture for the
jobless appears to he darkening in South Huron County - or
is there a problem with the statistics?
Laura Overholt, manager at Exeter's Canada Employment
Centre, said she is trying to determine whether or not the
12.2 percent unemployment figure for the area is a true pic-
ture of the problem.
In February, the local jobless rate stood at 10.8 percent,
with the overall Huron County rate at 7.7 percent. Is is pos-
sible that the unemployment problem has worsened from
one in 10 people looking for work to nearly one in eight?
"We're a little concerned that might not be
correct," said Overholt, adding that an un-
employment problem that bad should be far
more visible, with many more people trying
harder to find work.
"We have some programs going on that
really aren't being utilized," said Overholt, referring to the
PACE and construction industry adult education programs
being offered at the high school.
A possible source of errors in the jobless rate data is that
some people may still have active Unemployment In-
surance claims, while having started a new job.
"We're a little
concerned
that might not
be correct."
•
In fact, Overholt says the Exeter centre is hav-
ing a hard time finding skilled workers to fill
certain positions, including in the electrical
trade. Consequently, the employment centre
will be attempting to discover just what cat-
egories local unemployed workers fit into.
Overholt said the local manufacturing sector has been hit
hard in recent months with layoffs or closures at factories.
"There has been significant hiring in certain kinds of the
industry...but then again, you don't know how long-term
those positions are."
Nurses support hospital's stand
They warn deaths or
hospital closure
could result from
emergency cutbacks
EXETER - Nurses at South Huron Hospital
say that patients lives will he at risk, and the
closure of the entire hospital may be the out-
come if negotiations between doctors and ad-
ministration fail.
A deal is being sought to keep local doctors
on call to the hospital's emergency ward. The
hospital hoard says it is prepared to pay up to
$100,000 over and above the OHIP fees col-
lected by the emergency doctors, but that
would be considerably Tess than the $60 per
hour temporary agreement made last fall.
The nurses' union, Local 112 of the Ontario
Nurses Association, says that signs directing
people to the hospital emergency would have
to be covered or removed during the weekdays
the ward would be closed. Staff layoffs in
emergency would follow, they say.
Other services would be cut back, including
x-rays, casting, and lab work.
"Given today's climate in the provincial
health care system, this might easily lead to
the closure of the whole hospital, which was
originally funded and built by this com-
munity," states a release from the nurse's un-
ion.
If the emergency staffing issue is not re-
solved, and the unit closes, deaths might re-
sult, they warn.
Last weekend, about 200 people made use of
the South Huron Hospital, state the nurses,
and say they "fully support the Board of Di-
rectors and Administration in their endeavor to
keep emergency open".
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is saying
that the province cannot afford to pay doctors
more than the $3.85 billion already allocated
to OHIP billings. A letter from health min-
ister Ruth Grier to small hospitals states that
the ministry wants to re -open negotiations
with the Ontario Medical Association to try
and divert more funds to smaller communities
where doctors are not as well compensated for
working long hours in emergency wards.
"I have asked the OMA for a commitment
that doctors will maintain their essential ser-
vices without requiring payment above and be-
yond the $3.85 billion already agreed to,"
states Grier's letter.
Negotiations are continuing at the hospital
nonetheless. An offer from the physicians was
reviewed by the hospital board Monday after-
noon, and it is expected a final arrangement
will be found before the next deadline for pos-
sible emergency closure arises by next Mon-
day morning.
"I cert;.inly am hopeful we'll have some-
thingrr said hospital administrator Don Cur-
rell.
Town taxes cut'
two percent
The bad news is you're paying the
extra for garbage tags, and your tax
bill will still go up two percent in
education tax increases
EXETER - Property taxes will go
up two percent for Exeter property
owners this year, despite a two per-
cent decrease in town taxes.
The blame for the tax hike lies
squarely with both education
boards. The County of Huron had
no tax increase for 1994.
The puhlic school board's in-
crease of six percent, and the separ-
ate school board's five percent in-
crease both translate into an overall
two percent increase on the quarter-
ly tax hill.
Exeter's two percent decrease
came about through the removal of
waste management budget figures
from the general tax levy. Virtual-
ly the entire program is being fi-
',Please see Council, page two
Huron County facin
road repair money
crunch by 1996
GODERICH - Huron County road repair may not be up to present
standards in the coming years as money for the work is slowly dry-
ing up.
That was the message given to Huron County councillors Thurs-
day morning by the Public Works engineer.
Dennis Mcrrall said government funding for repair work has been
dropping since 1987.
"The 1994 level of funding is below the 1987 level and is SI, 40,1,400
below the revenues in 1991," Mcrrall told council.
He went on to say that "this dramatic loss in funding will lead to
long term service reduction on the county road system."
Mcrrall told council they should start preparing for a real money
crunch in 1996. That means changing the way the county deals with
its road repair needs, he said.
Pooper
scoopers
now law for
dog owners
in Exeter,
after close
council vote
EXETER - Town council passed a
"pooper-scooper" bylaw Monday
evening.
Under revisions to the town's dog
licensing bylaw, all dog owners in
Exeter are now required to pick up
after their animals when they defe-
cate on either puhlic or private prop-
erty.
"My question is, if we have a by-
law we're going to vote on, is it en-
forceable?" asked councillor Bob
Spears: -
There was some debate amongst
council members as to whether the
police, town staff, or the dog catcher
would be involved in a complaint
about a dog owner not picking up.
There was no clear conscnsus on en-
forcement.
"When you walk your dog, you'll
have to take your little pooper-
scooper along with you," said depu-
ty -reeve Lossy Fuller, chairing the
meeting in the absence of the may-
or.
However, when it came time to
vote on the bylaw, only three of the
council members present voted in
favour, three did not. Fuller decided
to break the tic.
"I'm going to vote, and I'm going
to vote in favour of those two by-
laws," said Fuller.
The other bylaw was to appoint a
new dog catcher, Joan Weiss of
• Hensall.
Pulling together
The OPP team won the second annual tug of war with the firefighters In wood team Invited to take on the winners of the evening's match. Of
MacNaughton Park Thursday evening. The firefighters won the Fltweek course, at the time of the Fltweek tug of war, the OPP and Town Police were
event last year. However, the OPP were no match for the competitive Dash- two separate organizations.
Catholic
and
Public
Secondary
school put
on hold
See page 2
' Five
contestants'
Vying for Hensall
Fair Ambassador
See page 3
Bluewater
Recycling i
Facility creates 10
new jobs
See page 5
Student
of the
Year
Nominees
See page 9
Therapy
dogs
Visit
Blue Water
Rest Home
See page 12
Field
hockey
reunion
Hosted by
South Huron
District
High
School
See page 14
Classifieds
pages 18-19
Announcement,
pages 21-22
Experts
page 25
Plus
Home
Locator
SEIP'S
valu-mart
4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262
Fresh Baked from our
Bakery
•99 pkg. of 8
Hotdoo or Hamburg Buns
Local unemployment soaring?
12.2 percent jobless rate can't be right, say employment officials
EXETER - While other centres in Ontario are reporting
lower unemployment rates this spring, the picture for the
jobless appears to he darkening in South Huron County - or
is there a problem with the statistics?
Laura Overholt, manager at Exeter's Canada Employment
Centre, said she is trying to determine whether or not the
12.2 percent unemployment figure for the area is a true pic-
ture of the problem.
In February, the local jobless rate stood at 10.8 percent,
with the overall Huron County rate at 7.7 percent. Is is pos-
sible that the unemployment problem has worsened from
one in 10 people looking for work to nearly one in eight?
"We're a little concerned that might not be
correct," said Overholt, adding that an un-
employment problem that bad should be far
more visible, with many more people trying
harder to find work.
"We have some programs going on that
really aren't being utilized," said Overholt, referring to the
PACE and construction industry adult education programs
being offered at the high school.
A possible source of errors in the jobless rate data is that
some people may still have active Unemployment In-
surance claims, while having started a new job.
"We're a little
concerned
that might not
be correct."
•
In fact, Overholt says the Exeter centre is hav-
ing a hard time finding skilled workers to fill
certain positions, including in the electrical
trade. Consequently, the employment centre
will be attempting to discover just what cat-
egories local unemployed workers fit into.
Overholt said the local manufacturing sector has been hit
hard in recent months with layoffs or closures at factories.
"There has been significant hiring in certain kinds of the
industry...but then again, you don't know how long-term
those positions are."
Nurses support hospital's stand
They warn deaths or
hospital closure
could result from
emergency cutbacks
EXETER - Nurses at South Huron Hospital
say that patients lives will he at risk, and the
closure of the entire hospital may be the out-
come if negotiations between doctors and ad-
ministration fail.
A deal is being sought to keep local doctors
on call to the hospital's emergency ward. The
hospital hoard says it is prepared to pay up to
$100,000 over and above the OHIP fees col-
lected by the emergency doctors, but that
would be considerably Tess than the $60 per
hour temporary agreement made last fall.
The nurses' union, Local 112 of the Ontario
Nurses Association, says that signs directing
people to the hospital emergency would have
to be covered or removed during the weekdays
the ward would be closed. Staff layoffs in
emergency would follow, they say.
Other services would be cut back, including
x-rays, casting, and lab work.
"Given today's climate in the provincial
health care system, this might easily lead to
the closure of the whole hospital, which was
originally funded and built by this com-
munity," states a release from the nurse's un-
ion.
If the emergency staffing issue is not re-
solved, and the unit closes, deaths might re-
sult, they warn.
Last weekend, about 200 people made use of
the South Huron Hospital, state the nurses,
and say they "fully support the Board of Di-
rectors and Administration in their endeavor to
keep emergency open".
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is saying
that the province cannot afford to pay doctors
more than the $3.85 billion already allocated
to OHIP billings. A letter from health min-
ister Ruth Grier to small hospitals states that
the ministry wants to re -open negotiations
with the Ontario Medical Association to try
and divert more funds to smaller communities
where doctors are not as well compensated for
working long hours in emergency wards.
"I have asked the OMA for a commitment
that doctors will maintain their essential ser-
vices without requiring payment above and be-
yond the $3.85 billion already agreed to,"
states Grier's letter.
Negotiations are continuing at the hospital
nonetheless. An offer from the physicians was
reviewed by the hospital board Monday after-
noon, and it is expected a final arrangement
will be found before the next deadline for pos-
sible emergency closure arises by next Mon-
day morning.
"I cert;.inly am hopeful we'll have some-
thingrr said hospital administrator Don Cur-
rell.
Town taxes cut'
two percent
The bad news is you're paying the
extra for garbage tags, and your tax
bill will still go up two percent in
education tax increases
EXETER - Property taxes will go
up two percent for Exeter property
owners this year, despite a two per-
cent decrease in town taxes.
The blame for the tax hike lies
squarely with both education
boards. The County of Huron had
no tax increase for 1994.
The puhlic school board's in-
crease of six percent, and the separ-
ate school board's five percent in-
crease both translate into an overall
two percent increase on the quarter-
ly tax hill.
Exeter's two percent decrease
came about through the removal of
waste management budget figures
from the general tax levy. Virtual-
ly the entire program is being fi-
',Please see Council, page two
Huron County facin
road repair money
crunch by 1996
GODERICH - Huron County road repair may not be up to present
standards in the coming years as money for the work is slowly dry-
ing up.
That was the message given to Huron County councillors Thurs-
day morning by the Public Works engineer.
Dennis Mcrrall said government funding for repair work has been
dropping since 1987.
"The 1994 level of funding is below the 1987 level and is SI, 40,1,400
below the revenues in 1991," Mcrrall told council.
He went on to say that "this dramatic loss in funding will lead to
long term service reduction on the county road system."
Mcrrall told council they should start preparing for a real money
crunch in 1996. That means changing the way the county deals with
its road repair needs, he said.
Pooper
scoopers
now law for
dog owners
in Exeter,
after close
council vote
EXETER - Town council passed a
"pooper-scooper" bylaw Monday
evening.
Under revisions to the town's dog
licensing bylaw, all dog owners in
Exeter are now required to pick up
after their animals when they defe-
cate on either puhlic or private prop-
erty.
"My question is, if we have a by-
law we're going to vote on, is it en-
forceable?" asked councillor Bob
Spears: -
There was some debate amongst
council members as to whether the
police, town staff, or the dog catcher
would be involved in a complaint
about a dog owner not picking up.
There was no clear conscnsus on en-
forcement.
"When you walk your dog, you'll
have to take your little pooper-
scooper along with you," said depu-
ty -reeve Lossy Fuller, chairing the
meeting in the absence of the may-
or.
However, when it came time to
vote on the bylaw, only three of the
council members present voted in
favour, three did not. Fuller decided
to break the tic.
"I'm going to vote, and I'm going
to vote in favour of those two by-
laws," said Fuller.
The other bylaw was to appoint a
new dog catcher, Joan Weiss of
• Hensall.
Pulling together
The OPP team won the second annual tug of war with the firefighters In wood team Invited to take on the winners of the evening's match. Of
MacNaughton Park Thursday evening. The firefighters won the Fltweek course, at the time of the Fltweek tug of war, the OPP and Town Police were
event last year. However, the OPP were no match for the competitive Dash- two separate organizations.