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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-10-09, Page 1SEIP 'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Xi On Video... Flipper $1699 t. 1 slot 1 SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 tttnl — art — ti =I Oil le109eltleffilig_ • 8 you aren't1 subscribing Times -Advocate, you're rt1k tlsethe coupon w subscnbe today/ 1 Name: 1 Address City Prov. 1 to I Postal Code amacteenottnezrs dimI 1 year tp6. 2.45 CUITQ � 563. 4.41 UST aaigaiVaeetn I 1 year $63 . 4.41 8119 . 6.33 UST OILDIMILZanatia 899.00 (Yd. 566.40 pastap4) 1 USE YOUR CREDIT CARD 00000000 1 00000000 card No. 1 Expiry Date 1 U Visa ❑ Master Card 1 CI Cheque enclosed Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE 424 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6 MI MI MN MIN IMM NM INN 1 Inside 161st Battalion's 80th anniversary See page 2 Exeter Fair field crop results See page 11 Self esteem workshop See Crossroads Second front Board and council crack down on under -age drinking EXETER - Exeter Council sup- ported the South Huron Recreation Centre's Board of Management concern that underage drinking still persists as a problem at Exeter Hawks functions." They've done a pretty good job over the years in reducing the inci- dents of abuse - whenever the board comes down hard, things get better," said Deputy Reeve Dave Urlin, in presenting the board's re- port to Council. Council expressed its satis- faction in accepting the action of the bdard in dealing with the Hawks organization. Stop signs come to Marlborough raceway EXETER - The residents of Marl- borough Street had a long-term wish realized Monday night when Exeter Council agreed to erect stop signs at the intersections of both John and Sanders Streets. The Public Works Manager and the Public Works Committee presented seven options to council. With the vocal support of several residents, council rejected all op- tions that would not bring immedi- ate, positive results. " There are 10 times as many kids in the area now than there were six or seven years ago. We're kidding ourselves if we think things haven't changed," said Deputy Reeve Dave Urlin. The stumbling block seemed to lie in the regulations which im- ply that stop signs are not to be used as a speed control device. The arguments voiced by all who spoke centred on the safety issue: the street is now used as a raceway by some and as a town by-pass by oth- ers. Council discarded options that spoke of more sidewalks, more en- forcement and school signs. Wednesday. October 9. 1996 Elementary students back eating lunch In classrooms Approximately 300 children were eating lunch on the gym- nasium floor until Monday EXETER - Exeter Public School students began eating in their classrooms Monday after a number of parents expressed strong opposition to having their children eat lunch on the gymnasium floor. Although the Health Unit did not indicate the sit- uation is a concem, parents were worried the ar- rangement was not conducive to eating lunch prop- erly. Primary children, who may take more time to eat or are intimidated by nearly 300 other children in the same room, are considered by some to be at the greatest risk. "I think their should be a more vi- able option to eating on the floor," one parent told the T -A. Initially the school moved students into the gym because the fire code prevents children from eating in cor- ridors. In past years, students ate in a group of classrooms with the overflow of senior students eating in the hallway. Although parents were asked to keep children home for lunch if possible, a shortage of staff avail- able to supervise students prompted the move into the gym. "I've been inundated with calls since the be- ginning of September," said Parent Association President, Jane Hefley, who proposed several solu- tions. The School Advisory Council, comprised of teachers, administration, parents and community representatives, met last Tuesday and agreed to try keeping children in their classroom, at their own "I tht sho MOT option on th desk while eating lunch. This will hopefully pro- mote responsibility and encourage children to clean up after eating. Principal John Ross volunteered to monitor the hallways in addition to two staff during the lunch period. As well, grade 6, 7 and 8 students will be invited to volunteer as lunch monitors. This duty will be rewarded with free food on hot dog and piz- za days. The length of time for lunch monitors will also be shortened to avoid 'burn -out'. Seven parents have volunteered to assist during the lunch period and they will be called upon when Ross is unable to monitor the hallways. Ross also suggested custodians only clean up ma- jor spills after lunch, in addition to the two class- rooms without sinks. Students will be required to keep their desk and classroom clean. Each year the two full-time custodians are asked to per- form additional duties with a growing school and student population. The issue of the lunch room seems to be symptomatic of a greater prob- lem. With increasing government funding cutbacks, staff are asked each year to do more. Whether its coaching teams, sitting on com- mittee or monitoring the playground, teachers' time is becoming increasing scarce. "I'm not unsympathetic," said one parent at last week's meeting. "But why isn't it happening at oth- er schools. Are we being short-changed?" A letter will be sent home letting parents know what new lunch period arrangements have been made. A strict code of conduct will be enforced and students who don't behave properly will lose lunch- room privileges for a year. 'nk their uld be a re viable to eating e floor." Newsletter and association formed for Lucaaopirions. LUCAN - Lawrence Cowell in- formed council last week of the re- cent establishment of both the Lu - can Ratepayers Association and a Lucan area newsletter. Referring to a written presenta- tion, Cowell explained the Rat- epayers Association is a grassroots lobbying group that consists of "concerned ratepayers" who are trying to "come to a better under- standing of the issues and how they are being dealt with by council." "During the past two years Lucan Council has dealt with many contentious issues," the presentation continued. "Our objective is to re- view the issues (rel- evant to) our com- munity, make informed recommendations to council, to hold council accountable for (its) "Our o is to...ho council countab (its) acts to launc campaig the upco election actions and to launch a campaign for the upcoming election." Cowell claimed the 40 -member association that meets once a month is "growing quickly" and plans to help council with functions such as public meetings. In Sep- tember the association informed Biddulph Council of its concerns regarding the proposed amalgamation between Lucan and Biddulph. Residents will soon be able to read about the association in a new monthly news- letter that will focus on village politics and events as well as pro- vide "an open forum for ratepayers to have a public platform to ex- press their views." "It's more of a newsletter than a paper at this point," explained bjective Id QC - le for 'ons and ha n for ming Cowell, who claims he was prompt- ed by residents to start the news- letter in an effort to replace the de- funct Village News. The newsletter is expected to launch its first issue within the next few weeks. In an effort to improve the level of public information, Cowell pointed out, the television camera that records council meetings will be fixed. Numerous complaints about the camera's sound and pic- ture have been made by residents and council members. With the help of Fanshawe College, Cowell intends to correct the problem. "There is a consensus that the camera is both wanted and need- ed," Cowell stated in his presenta- tion. Since the loss of both the weekly paper and cable cast council meet- ings, he informed council residents don't know what's happening in their community. Agent for Sketcbley Cleaners Garbage coming to Exeter? By John Greig Advance -Times Staff HURON COUNTY - Morris Twp. and the Town of Exeter landfill sites could be getting the rest of the county's garbage over the next 30 years. County council decided at its Oct. 3 meeting to abandon a new mega - dump for the entire county in Ashfield Twp. in favor of using the extended life of Moms' and Exeter's dump sites. The county has spent eight years and over $ I million in developing a waste management strategy. Exeter and Morris Twp. have shown interest in allowing the rest of the county to use their landfill sites said Steve Janes, a consultant with Gore and Storrie, the company the county has enlisted to help it decide what to do with waste management. Exeter and Moms Twp. would retain ownership and management of the landfill sites while the county would provide co-ordination. The county would be divi• •d into two zones, with the north using the Moms Twp. site and • tth using Exeter's site. Janes presented co ncil with three options for future direction and rec- ommended the third option, the site called the A3 site in Ashfield Twp., be abandoned by counc The motion to aban: •n the : to was passed by council. Council then passed ano er motion instructing county administration to meet with the councils of Morris and Exeter to talk more about the possi- bility of using those landfill sites. The other option for waste disposal is to ship the garbage to another pan of the province or to the United States, but Janes said the cost at this point is prohibitive. A push also will be put to optimize the space in existing landfill sites or Continued on page 2 Police eradicate marijuana plants EXETER - It's harvest time again. OPP conducted an eradication program during the last week of Sep tember, seizing hundreds of marijuana plants from Huron and Perth Counties. Detective Constable Pauline Schwanz, of the Mount Forest OPP Ma- jor Crime Unit, said 3,500 plants were located and destroyed as a result of the search that spread from Exeter west to Grand Bend, north to Toh- ermory and east to Kitchener. Although a large quantity was found growing in one area north of Mount Forest, many plants were found scattered throughout Huron and Perth Counties. Schwanz puts their street value at a "conservative" $100,000. OPP used a helicopter to spot the plants which are grown in wooded areas and sometimes hidden inside cornfields. However, a combination of a slow start and had weather kept the hel- icopter down for two days and ruined the element of surprise, giving the growers a chance to harvest their crops. "This year we were too late. In some spots we only found holes in the ground where the plants had been pulled," said Schwann. Police rely on tips from the public to lead them to a number of out- door marijuana growing operations, saying half of their seicures are a result of anonymous tips from kcal pilots who see growing operations while flying, and from farmers who often discover them planted in their fields. To date no arrests have been made, but Schwan,. said it's important OPP keep the pressure on outdoor growers because it eventually force, them to an indoor growing operation where police investigations resul. in arrests. Seventeen children from Lynn Tremain's Junior and senior kindergarten class enjoy a hay ride while going on a pumpkin tour on Thursday morn- ing. The Grand Bend Public School students explored the pumpkins at Greenway Farms and Pumpkin Patch hosted by John and Joan Love. Right, Conrad Love points to one of the larger pumpkins in the patch. Ir