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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-07-03, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, July 3, 1996 Regiona1 F`64 wrap up Exchange student killed in crash MORNINGTON TOWNSHIP - On June 23, a female exchange student was killed in a single car accident that also injured three area teens, reported the North Huron Citizen. The woman's name was not to be released until next of kin were notified. Injured in the 2 a.m. crash on Sideroad 3-4 in Momington Township were Ja- son Terpstra, 18, of RR 3 Brus- sels, Brian Terpstra, 20, of RR 2 Atwood, and Teresa Dietrich, 17, of Newton. While Jason suffered internal injuries and was reported to be in fair condition last week, the other teens sustained minor inju- ries. Fire chief resigns due to health and safety issues CLINTON - Dean Reid re- cently resigned as fire chief due to health and safety issues that could not be dealt with due to., time constraints, reported the Clinton News -Record. Reid has been with the fire de- partment since 1975 and has been chief since 1993. A volunteer chief, he told the Record, does not have time to spend on the necessary work. In his letter of resignation 4o • 'te Clinton Fire Area Board, Reid suggested the department look for a full-time chief who could also conduct building in- spections. He noted both Exeter and Wingham have full-time chiefs, and the situations at their fire de- partments is "like day and night," compared with the situa- tion in Clinton. Seaforth dancer wins title SEAFORTH - Carol Ann McQuaid, of Seaforth, recently wonher second straight Canadi- an Open Step -Dancing Champi- onship at Dundalk. According to the Huron Ex- positor, the 22 -year-old has been step -dancing since she was three -years -old. Fire truck rejected CLINTON - The purchase of a new fire truck for the Clinton and Area Fire Department at a cost of $238,116 was rejected by Stanley, Goderich and Tucker - smith Townships. According to the Clinton News -Record, the three town- ships turned down the truck due to its price. Meanwhile, Clinton and Hul- lett Townships are in favor of the purchase of the Spartan truck that was to replace a 27 -year-old truck at the department. House painted blue for reunion MrrCHELL - fi keeping with current school colors, Pearl Ische decided to paint her house light blue, just in time for the Mitchell District High School All -Yeah reunion last weekend, reported the Mitchell Advocate. let IN TT -IF, Lead hazard posed by PVC mini blinds HURON COUNTY - This advi- sory has been prepared and sent to all Huron County newspapers to in- crease awareness of readers to the hazard posed by PVC mini blinds. Lead level in these blinds may cause neurological damage in young children. The following warning from Health Canada outlines the problem and recommends consumers to take appropriate action. "Ottawa - Health Canada is ad- vising consumers that inexpensive 1" (2.54 cm.) horizontal PVC (pias; tic) mini blinds made in China, Tai- 1 wan, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Mexico contain lead. Lead exposure from these mini blinds may result in a daily intake of lead by children which is greater than the World Health Organiza- tion's tolerable level. Since exposure to lead can result in neurological damage in young children, Health Canada recom- mends that consumers with chil- dren aged six years or less remove these PVC mini blinds from their homes. PVC mini blinds contain- ing lead should also be removed from other locations frequented by these children (e.g. child care facil- ities, schools). Consumers should contact their local municipal governments for appropriate methods of disposal. Retailers should be contacted di- rectly. if a consumer wishes to re- turn the product to the point of pur- chase. Manufacturers and retailers of mini blinds have indicated that "lead free" blinds will be on the Canadian market shortly. The Health Canada investigation is continuing. Health Canada offi- cials will monitor the introduction of "lead free" mini blinds " Letter requests ministry quiet conflicting restructuring Stephen councillors raise concern about letter sent without full discussion STEPHEN TOWNSHIP - According to the minutes of the June 4 meet- ing minutes that were re -issued last Monday, several members of council are concerned that "matters concerning amalgamation were discussed without the full agreement of council." Stephen is involved in an amal- gamation study with the muncipalities of Exeter, Grand Bend, Usborne Township and most recently Bosanquet. In a recorded vote, three council members disagreed with a meeting be- ing held with the warden and administrator of Huron County as well as a letter forwarded to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing without the consultation of council. The letter, sent of behalf of Stephen Council, addressed concerns about amalgamation without the support of Lambton County, where two of the interested municipalities are located. "Stephen has been approached in an unofficial manner, suggesting that any intiative that may change the county boundary to Lambton's dis- advantage, would be met with reprisal. Specifically, we have been di- rected to abandon any restructuring plan involving Lambton or face a counter restructuring proposal annexing significant portions of Stephen Township into Lambton," states the letter dated May 30. The first release of the Stephen Council minutes of June 4 did not record the discussion of this issue or the subsequent recorded vote on a motion put forth by Councillor Anita Riddell and seconded by Harvey Ratz. "it's just a misunderstanding," said Administrator Larry Brown. "When -1 1 btottght flie letter back to council they were concerned because they hadn't seen it and they felt it had not been discussed fully." IBrown was instructed to prepare the letter to the minister as a result of a meeting held between Stephen Reeve Bill Weber, Deputy Reeve Tom Tomes and the Administrator and Warden of Huron County. The letter requests the ministry quiet any restructuring initiative that may overlap or conflict with the amalgamation committee's study. "We are concerned that having entered into restructuring discussion in good faith under Bill 26, we could be punished by provincial support for alternative studies," it states. The challenging voice of Blyth's Mabelle Mabel By Brenda Burke T -A Reporter BLYTH - Mabelle Mabel, this season's second production of the Blyth Festival, tells the story of Al- exander Graham Bell and his deaf wife, Mabel Hubbard. Set in the couple's home in Bad - deck, Nova Scotia, the performance gives a convincing sense of time and place. Original slides capture snapshots of their lives and sound effects of gulls, violin playing, a ticking clock and a war explosion give depth to the play. As well, cos- tumes and sets perfectly reflect the performance's mood and era. There is also the occasional fun- ny moment, such as Mabel stating, "I do not have hairy ears," or the energetic jig performed by Bell's daughter, Elsie, played by Jocelyne Zucco, and their housekeeper, played by Liza Balkan. Some scenes shine. Balkan plays an extraordinary role as Helen Kel- ler, and Aylmer Clarke, known in last year's Blyth production, He Won't Come in From the Ram, hits an emotional peak when frustration renders him unable to concentrate on his inventions. The effects are realistic and ex- citing. Characters who fly kites and ride in Bell's flying and water - propelled machines exhibit all the wonderous joy flying or floating for the first time would create. The machines were simply but re- alistically constructed. Despite these strengths, Mabelle Mabel faces structural and dialogue challenges. Although the play flips smoothly from past to present, this sometimes causes problems. After Bell dramatically dies in hod with Mabel at his side, he vis- ibly creeps away in.preperation for the next scene. And when Mabel poses in the background waiting for her next appearance, she looks out • of place. With the exception of a few en- gaging, fast -paced scenes, the play drags and lacks emotion. Often the dialogue gets in the way, especially since Mabel, played by Wanda Gra- ham, uses the voice of a deaf per- son. Despite a valiant effort, she fails to carry the voice consistently and some words get lost. Because she has such a large speaking role, it is difficult to listen to her 'deaf voice' for a long period of time. Her distfacting high, wailing pitch tends to spread to other char- acters, making their voices rise at times. With a small cast of characters reappearing in most scenes wearing the same clothes and utilizing sim- ilar meandering voices, the play lacks the charm and excitement ex- pected from what must have been a passionate story. No system could have handled flood waters at Continued from front page drainage and sewage projects for years, most recently with the drain under the railway bridge, and will continue to have engineers look for improvements in the system. "Even if we'd made every pos- sible improvement in the system, that amount of rain on saturated fields had nowhere to be detained," he said. Although private citizens and town crews worked during the storm to keep drains open, there wasn't a major, blockage down- stream that would have made the fioochng wqt; 'Y< Education awards Huron County Board of Education awards were presented to three members of the Exeter Public School Early Years Team for their efforts producing a video and crafts package on the town's "White Wonder" squirrel. Bath Dietrich, right, and Chris Bruxer received their awards Friday and Michael Hamather accepted an award on behalf of Cindy Hamather. One person jailed, nine fined in court EXETER - In Provincial Court in Exeter on June 25, Judge R.G.E. Hunter sent one man to jail, fined nine others, issued a suspended sentence and delayed sentence in one other situation. In addition, a large number of other charges were remanded to later court dates. Drinking, driving Peter Gunning of Grand Bend pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while his blood al- cohol con- tent was over the legal limit and will appear in Exeter court on August 27 for judgement. The court heard that Gunning was travelling on Highway 21 in Stephen Township at 12:05 a.m. on December 5, 1995 when he failed to dim his lights when approaching a police cruiser. Constable Pinch followed the abcust•d and observed the vehicle swayed over the centre line twice. When stopped he had an obvious odor of alcohol on his breath and his eyes were bloodshot. Breathalizer tests at the Exeter OPP detachment recorded readings of 2.00 and 1.80. Disturbance charge Robert Eagleson of 46 Hill Street, Exeter was fined $300 after he pleaded guilty of causing a disturbance in Hensall on May 12, 1996. The court was told, Eagleson alleged to be in a drunken condition was escorted several times from the Hensall Community Centre beginning at 12:30 a.m. OPP Constables Kern and Jack were summoned and found the accused bumping his head on the ground. Drinking, driving fine Judge Hunter fined William Sproul of London $850 for operating a vehicle on October 8, 1994 while having a blood alcohol content over the legal limit. His driving licence was also suspended for 12 months. While on patrol in Zurich at 1:53 a.m. OPP Consta- bles Herbert and Finch noticed a van travelling east on Main Street in Zurich without lights. Following for more than a kilometer, the officers found the vehi- cle to be weaving and when stopped found the ac- cused to have an alcoholic odor on his breath, glossy eyes and slurred speech. Fined in absentia Bruce McPherson who is spending the next two years in Kenya as an aircraft maintenance technician working on a food relief operation was fined $1,200 in absentia and had his driving privileges suspended for 12 months, By letter to the Crown, McPherson pleaded guilty on a charge of driving with an over the alcohol legal limit content arising from an incident in Exeter on August 26, 1995. The accused was seen leaving Gar's Bar in Exeter on that date and drove in excess of the speed limit. When stopped he had an alcoholic odor, slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. At the Exeter OPP de- tachment, breathalizer readings of 1.50 and 1.50 were recorded. Guilty of fraud Allen Anger of Talbot Street in St.Thomas was fined 8100 on a charge of fraud which occurred in Exeter on October 25. 1995. On that date, Anger tried a quick change scam on a clerk at Triangle Discount. The court learned Anger actually lost 55 in a series of quick changing money Moves. He has a lengthy record including a fraud conviction in Walkerton on November 15, 1995 Over .80 tines Jason Harburn of R.R. 2, Zurich was fined $750 by Judge Hunter and had his driving licence suspended for 12 months. Harburn pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with more than an .80 alcoholic content in his system. Ile was stopped by police while travelling in Hay Town- ship at 1:28 a.m. on May 17, 1996. Preathalizer readings of 1.10 and 1.10 were recorded at the Exeter OPP detachment. A similar 5750 fine was levied against Ralph Ma. chorda of Bengali and his driving privileges suspend- ed for 12 months. A vehicle bperated by Mathonie was seen weaving while westbound on King Street in Hensall at 1:55 a.m. on May 5, 1996. When approached by police the accused was found to be unsteady on his feet with an alcoholic odor on his breath. At the Exeter OPP detachment, breathaliz- er readings of 1.40 and 1.30 were revealed. Christopher Overholt, R.R. 2, Zurich was fined $1,000 and had his driving licence suspended for 12 months after pleading guilty to driving and drinking at 1.50 a.m. on December 29, 1995. Overholt's vehicle was southbound on Highway 4 in Hensall when stopped by police. He was found to be unsteady on his feet with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes Breathlizer readings of 1.70 and 1.80 were recorded at the Exeter OPP detachment. Fined for mischief Leslie J. Poppe of Southdale Drive in London was fined $200 after pleading guilty to a charge of public mischief. She is alleged to have reported to Constable Jack of the Exeter OPP on December 31, 1995 that a truck she owned was stolen when it wasn't. The next day she sold the same vehicle. Gets suspended sentence, Judge Hunter issued a suspended sentence to Lori - Anne Rowntree of London and placed her on proba- tion for 12 months after she pleaded guilty to a num- ber of false pretences and theft charges. The fraud charges resulted from purchases made in late 1995 from Sisters Clothing, Designers Clothing, Looking Good Clothing and Holtzmann's IGA, all of Exeter and the South Huron Veterinary Clinic in Zu- rich which were paid by. non -sufficient fund cheques. The thefts were international money orders taken from Veri Trucking. Hunter ordered total restitution of $2,387.82 be made within 11 months with a minimum payment of $125 per month. Fined 51,500 on two charges William Bartlett of King Street in Hensall was fined $1,000 on a charge of drinking and driving and an additional fine of $500 for taking a vehicle with- out the owner's consent. His driving licence wasis- pended for 12 months. At 1:12 a.m. on March 31, 1995, a vehicle driven by Bartlett went out of control on Concession 2-3 in Hay Township and hit the ditch while being followed by Constables Brennan and Medina. The accused was taken to Seaforth hospital for treatment and a blood sample taken almost four hours after the accident revealed a reading of 1.13 mg. Over .80 charge After David Stanley, R.R. 1, Exeter pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a motor vehicle with a blood al- cohol content over the legal limit, Judge Hunter sus- pended his driving licence immediately for two years while deferring sentencing until August 27. Stanley is alleged to have been driving southbound on Concession 2-3 in Stephen Township at 1 a.m. on October 14, 1995 when the vehicle struck a hydro pole. He was cut free by Constable Jack and was found to have bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. At the Exeter OPP detachment, breathalizer tests recorded a reading of 2.2. He was convicted on simi- lar charges in 1988 and 1994. His lawyer was asking for a jail sentence of 75 days to be served on an inter- mittent basis. Fined after trial In the only charge which went to trial, Clifford St. Antoine of Denfield was fined 5750 and had his li- cence suspended for 12 months for operating a vehi- cle while his blood alcoholic content was over the le- gal limit. St. Antoine testified that he had consumed two beers at about 4:30 p.m. on December 1, 1995 after work in Glanworth and one more at the Hensall Le- gion at about 9 p.m. Constable McGregor told the court she observed the accused leaving the Pioneer Gas Bar in Exeter without wearing a seat belt. His vehicle was weaving on the highway. St. Antoine said this happened when he put his seat belt on. Defence cdunsel David Reid said the police officers had trouble with the breathalizer testers and his client's rights had been violated. Also, a letter was produced from a doctor saying a fail on the tester was impossible considering how much the accused said he had consumed. Readings at the Exeter OPP detachment ware 1.30 and 1.40. Judge Hunter decided that the tester was calibrated within the past week and he denied the rights violation claim. 4 1.'