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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-10-16, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Q p fames and the Giant Peach' 17.99 Setting Eke'ter cin(l .ut',, sii;Lc1 valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 ,.tr_one sere awe --, r Use odayl 1 Name: 1 1 AddressCity 1 Prov- 1 Postal Code anicanisaimio MEMO 1 r yor Os • L46 08T4t reef MD • 4wr GET mmtoaoraaatn 1 1 year to+4.41 13$T4y.r$I10+6.33O8r otuatoarAMaoa 616.00 Ond. sss.40 pos p) 1 USE YOUR CREDfi CARD DDDDDDOD 1 DDDODODO card No. 1 Expiry Data O Visa ❑ Master Card 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 o Cheque enclosed &gm= TIMES ADVOCATE 424 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 180, sim a>• MI ss NU 'my a� Inside Elder abuse Workshop held See page 3 Hensall Kinette Celebrates 40th anniversary See page 8 Middlesex VON Wellness clinics See Crossroads Second front Hawks win home opener See Sports Page 14 Hensall man dies in holiday crash MIDDLESEX COUNTY - A Hensall man is dead following a head-on crash that occured just north of London on Highway 4 Fri- day afternoon. Mark Francis Lansbergen, 26, the sole occupant of a southbound ve- hicle died at the scene of the acci- dent. Donna Gardner, 49, of Mon- tecello, Ark, died at University Hopsital in London after the south- bound vehicle collided with the ve- hicle in which she was a passenger. The accident occured on Highway 4 near 14 Mile Rd at approximately 4 p.m. Ray Gardner, 69, of Orchard Lake, Mich., the driver of the northbound vehicle, was flown to Victoria Hospital in London and was listed in fair condition Mon- day. Gardner's wife, Virginia, was also in fair condition Monday. Paul Gardner, 72, husband of the • deceased, was listed in stable con- dition at University Hospital. No charges are anticipated. Two arrested following break and enter EXETER - Two people were ar- rested following a break and enter that occurred on October 12 at a Gregus Court residence. A 16 -year-old young offender was remanded in custody until Tuesday when a hail hearing was scheduled. The other culprit was 19 -year-old Peter Joseph Hummel, of Clinton, who was release on a promise to appear in court on De- cember 17. Wednesday. October 16. 1996 ONE DOLLAR Buying local hydro could save millions EXETER - A study prepared for the Public Utilities Commission concluded ratepayers in Usbome and Stephen Townships would save millions of dollars if they amal- gamated with Exeter and bought their hydro locally. The study was prepared by a con- sulting company, ECMI Energy Cost Management Incorporated from Burlington, and was designed to analyze the financial implica- tions of the PUC expanding their hydro services into the townships of Stephen and Usborne under a municipal merger. According to Roger White, pres- ident of ECMI, ratepayers in the two rural areas would save $1.4 million over a five year period if they purchased hydro from Exeter PUC. The savings boil down to $1,500 for each of the 2,500 cus- tomers in the townships who are currently being served by Ontario Hydro. White said under such a scenario, a local PUC can better service a community because it is more ac- cessible. "When you're dealing with large municipalities you lose account- ability...the decision -makers are farther removed from the rat- epayers," he said. Mayor Ben Hoogenboom said Exeter customers would not benefit financially if utility expansion oc- curred, but it would put the PUC in a stronger position to fend off a • • • R.' � L`.•rty�`��. y1 yy..� As►8 `' `•CR'.t 'J �evAlt ',4 e tF.RL `-"Yf�G wtik 1F Q. Ye.i• F• Mount Cannel School kindergarten students enjoyed a hayride through Whalen Orchards in Grand Bend on Thursday. Lucanresldents demand cheaper solution to infiltration problem takeover from London, Huron County or Ontario Hydro. A private members bill could im- plement the expansion, however, Hoogenboom said it could be de- feated and would be easier to pass if amalgamation took place. The government's push for mu- nicipal restructuring under Bill 26 has initiated amalgamation talks be- tween Stephen, Usborne, Exeter, Grand Bend, North Bosanquet and parts of Hay. If a merger takes place the PUC could extend its hy- dro services by following existing provincial statutes and eliminating the need for private members bill. Public Works position not to be filled HENSALL - When Public Works Superintendent John Baker leaves, his position will not be filled, an- nounced Reeve Cecil Pepper at Hensall Council's meeting last Monday night. As well, additional full time vil- lage staff will not be hired and win- ter works will be completed using existing staff and/or contract ser- vice. It was also noted Darrell Presz- cator has recently resigned from the Public Utilities Commission. Names of people who wish to fill this position will be accepted until the end of the month. In other council news, author- ization was given for B.M Ross and Associates Ltd. to proceed with the necessary drawings and plans, and obtain Ministry of Energy and En- vironment approval for the exten- sion of the York Street storm sew- er. "I personally think• it should be looked at," urged Councillor Butch Hoffman itt response to a recent ponding problem in front of res- idents' homes in the area. Many would rather improve lot gradings and eavestroughs Tunnell of than change sewer and sump pump connections By Brenda Burke T -A Reporter LUCAN - Residents expressed their frustration at a public meeting Thursday night, many opposing the idea of spending thousands of dol- lars to help fix the village in- filtration problem. When Wilberforce area homes were built, explained Reeve Rob Brady, their foundation drains were then legally connected directly to the sanitary sewer system. In the meantime, he continued, the village has grown, lot gradings have settled and an excessive amount of storm water is getting into the system. These high flows, at times four times the acceptable amount, have caused basement flooding and sew- age back-up, most recently during last month's heavy rainfall. To compound the problem, eaves - trough downspouts are either di- rectly connected to the sanitary sewers or discharging adjacent to foundation walls. As well, illegally connected sump pumps discharge into the sanitary sewer instead of outside residences. Storm water must be routed away from foundations where it will drain away naturally, points out a public meeting information sheet. Available for a disconnection subsidy to help fix the problem is $200,000 in infrastructure money that must be used by the end of March. "That's why there's a sense of ur- gency about this whole thing," ex- plained Brady. "This is a village -wide problem," pointed out one man. "(It's) not my fault...I didn't put the drains in." According to the Mid- dlesex County Board of "This is a Health, sewage in base- village -wide ments is a health concern problem... and the board will have to (It's) not my take action if the problem can't be fixed through ,ft/Ult.../ funding. didn't put Although waiting for fi- the drains nal results of a sewer in-„ spection study conducted in. by student Craig Williams, Public Works Superintendent Doug Johnston said the majority of vil- lage homes (300 to 400) need to be correctly hooked up and that the Wilberforce area is in the worst shape. But sewer committee members could not guarantee this method would solve the problem. Paul $500 to other options. The committee was to take its recommendations to council. Dale, a former sewer committee mem- ber, said he had a prob- lem putting out $3,500 to fix a problem that may not be fixed. Residents strongly urged the sewer com- mittee to recommend the upgrading of lots and fix- ing of eavestroughs at a lower estimated cost of $600 before considering VON presents Wells with Award of Distinction The Ailsa Craig native will be given the award in Halifax AILSA CRAIG - People in the community know Jackie Wells as a tireless volunteer and now the Victorian Order of Nurses is ac- knowledging her work with an Award of Distinction” It's very humbling, actually," said Wells. "I only do what I real- ly enjoy doing." The award gives Wells national recognition for her work and will be presented to her in Halifax on October 19. Wells, a native of Ailsa Craig, is a registered nurse who began com- munity work for the Middlesex VON 15 year[ ago. She then bot- came head of the Palliative Care program in May 1989. Wells now wake in the VON's Stradttoy of- fice where she has been manager of the volunteer programs since November 1993. Wells says the award ac- knowledges what a small com- munity can do when people work together. She added she would like to take all the people who volunteer with the VON with her to accept the award. In addition to her position with the VON, Wells is also involved with the Strathroy Rotary Club, long-term planning through the District Health Council and is a member of a committee that is working to provide reliable trans- portation for disabled people. Wells is also proud of her con- tinued efforts developing stan- dards at a, national level to main- tain quality volunteer programs. One of the most successful vol- unteer projects Wells has or- ganized is the Wellness Program that was formed though a partner- ship with the Centre for Activity and Ageing in London. The week- ly exercise session, instructed by volunteers, now boots a member- ship of 250 county seniors. Jackie Wells will be given the VON Award of Distinction at a ceremony In Halifax on October 19. Terror, frightfully fun EXETER - Last October the South Huron Recreation Centre hosted a Hallowe'en "haunted house -tunnel of terror" with the cooperation of the Exeter Optimists and the South Huron District High School drama students. Organizers were surprised at the response and were overwhelmed with the large number of children, and parents who couldn't wait to be spooked. "We had no idea it would be so popular," said Lynne Farquhar esti- mating 500 children went through the tunnel of terror. "We certainly weren't prepared for that." The event will take place again, but this year volunteers are ready. The Optimists, South Huron Stu- dents and Recreation Staff will open the doors to this year's Tunnel of Terror and Hospital of Horror on October 25 in the Agricultural Building. Farquhar said she is expecting an- other large turnout so the event has been simplified to streamline the numbers waiting in line. Like last year, it only costs SI per child for the evening of fear that includes a drink and a slice of pizza. Admis- sion is free for adults. Young male suspect of theft EXETER - A Bulova Quartz "Marine Star" was stolen from An- atett jewellers on October 12 at ap- proximately 4 p.m. Police report the suspect is a male, aged 16 to 18 years. 5'5" tall with short blond hair, wearing a black ball cap and a dark green polo t -shirt. He was also wearing dark blue baggy jeans and white running shoes. -Anyone with information regard- ing this theft is asked to contact Ex- etet OPP or Crimestoppers.