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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-12-04, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, December 4, 1996 Resident strikes out at would-be thieves KERWOOD - A 64 -year-old Kerwood area man fended off three men who threatened to kill and rob him in his home on Nov. 22, reported the Parkhill Gazette. According to Strathroy OPP, the men represented themselves as a delivery service before one of them informed the resident it was a hold-up. They tried to force their way in the house but fled in a van af- ter the homeowner gave one man "several swats." The three suspects, from Lon- don, were later apprehended and charged accordingly. School fire results in evacuation MITCHELL - A woodshop dust collector fire resulted in a two -and -a -half hour evacuation of Mitchell District High School on Nov. 21, reported the Mitch- ell Advocate. Woodshop teacher Fred Yundt noticed the smell of burning plastic at approximately 10:30 a.m., then saw smoke streaming out of a classroom vent in the school's west wing. Yundt explained a spark from a piece of equipment was sucked into a dust collecting pipe where it apparently caught fire. When firefighters arrived at the scene they concentrated on preventing the smoke from spreading throughout the school. The smoke-filled neighboring wood shop, cafeteria and ma- chine shop were sealed off. When the fire was contained, students met in the gymnasium where they were dismissed until 1 p.m. Although the classroom and building were not damaged, the dust collector must be replaced or repaired. Man gets 10 years for vicious attack GODERICH - A .33 -year-old Goderich man was sentenced to 10 years in a federal penitentiary for a vicious attack on a 57 - year -old woman behind Victoria Public School in March. According to the Goderich Signal -Star, Mark Joseph Albert pleaded guilty to charges of at- tempted murder, robbery and ag- gravated sexual assault. Judge G.I. Thomson called the incident a "vicious, mean- spirited, nasty, greed -driven as- sault," According to Albert's state- ment to police, he hid behind a wall at the school and waited for the victim to pass. He then threw her to the ground, pulled off her clothes and assaulted her. In his statement to police Al- bert said, "I feel bad for what I've done." Fire ruins unoccupied house BLYTH - On the evening of Nov. 23, a blaze gutted a two- storey brick house west of Byth, off County Road 25. According to the North Huron Citizen, the unoccupied building owned by Mason Bailey was a total loss with only a back kitch- en expected to be salvaged. The fire call came in at 6:50 p.m. but flames were already through the roof by the time fire- fighters arrived, Blyth and Dis- trict Fire Chief Paul Jailing told the Citizen. Grand Bend resident Roberta Walker was one of nearly 1,200 people who filled the hall at South Huron Recreation Centre last Wednesday for a public meeting held to rally residents behind ' South Huron Hospital. Council discusses hospital strategy EXETER - Exeter Council spent most of its meeting Monday night discussing the plight of the hospital and strategies for maintaining its function as a viable health centre. Many councillors decried the bias and shortcomings of the rec- ommended options insofar as the entire south Huron/north Lambton/ north Middlesex region was not considered part of Exeter hos- pital's catchment area. Council passed two motions at the end discussion. The first com- mitted council to work with the hospital and "re -affirm our de- termination to save the hospital." Council will ask that the data be studied again and a draft proposal be prepared examining the hos, pital's function. The second mo- tion spelled out what council is pre- pared to do: * Town/hospital staff to obtain all relevant data including con- sultants' report * Access that information for the purpose of preparing a submission and data for a South Huron Hos- pital consultant, should one be hired * Offer two members of council as members on a committee to be set up by the hospital board * Prepare an initial position to submit to the task force, outlining issues and problems with proposed options. It would also recommend options be derived that meet the DHC restructuring criteria as well as providing equity service for the entire service area including parts outside Huron -Perth. Council also recommends deferral in the process so that a proper option can be de- veloped. * In the same position, council will ask for an audience with the task force in cooperation with the hospital board. * Discuss with and recommend to the hospital board the hiring of a health services consultant to assess the data, advise the board, council and the community and to develop a more detailed submission sup- ported by analysis. Community residents Gerry Downie, Peter Ivatts and Bill Purdy attended the meeting to voice their concerns that some who should have known better were "surprised" at the task force's options. They offered themselves as able citizens, willing to work with any group committed to saving the hospital. "We want to be involved." Reeve Bill Mickle urged the com- munity to speak with "one voice" so the task force and others would not use the arguments of one group against another. Councillors echoed each other in wanting to work with all groups and the hospital to con- vince the "powers that be" that ''there is a better solution than clos- ing Exeter's facility. It was learned near the end of the meeting that council could make one appointment to a special cit- izens committee being formed by the hospital board. Council named Mickle as its spokesperson. Hospital restructuring sparks emotional debate at county County Council reaffirmed its motion for all Huron County hospitals to remain open GODERICH - Huron County Council reaffirmed its motion of a month ago after emotional debate, which calls for all Huron County hospitals to re- main open. The debate was sparked by the report to council of a resolution passed by the Huron County board of health which states that "in order to ensure access for all Huron County residents to acute care, the Hospital Restructuring Study Group be encouraged to look seriously at ensuring the provision of acute care facilities located strategically throughout Hu- ron County..." Several councillors had concerns about the word 'strategically' and wanted the county's opposition stated more strongly. Because the health board is operated at arm's length from county council, council cannot change a motion of the board. "I'd hope the board of health could give better support. I would like to see all the hospitals remain open," said Coun. Brian McBurney of Turnberry Twp. "I'd like to see something stronger instead of this gutless resolution," he said. Ron Murray, health board chairman, said a lot of discussion had gone into the resolution. He also said the board wanted to let the restructuring committee of the District Health Council do its job. The Health and Related Services Committee of the health council recently released three con- troversial options for restructuring health care in Huron and Perth Counties. "What's your interpretation of 'strategically throughout'?" asked Coun. Bill Mickle of Exeter. Murray answered that he felt all areas in the county were included in the resolution. But McBurney wasn't convinced. "The health board gets paid to march and fight; it seems they prefer to just keep on marching," he said. "I can march and fight Mr. McBurney," said Murray. Coun. Bill Carnochan of Tuckersmith Twp., one of council's representatives on the health council, asked councillors who wanted to keep all hospitals at the current level of service where they were go- ing to find the 18 to 20 per cent the health ministry is taking out of hospital funding. Coun. Carol Mitchell, of Clinton questioned how much the health council listened to the people and questioned the how useful the process of consulta- tion was. Carnochan told councillors to come out to open houses being held throughout the county to express their views. "We'll be there and we have numbers," said Mitchell. Many voice concern over possible loss of hospital Continued from front page Hospital Administrator Don Cur - tell stressed the options presented by the task force leave no beds in Exeter. "I'm not certain what that means. This is where you may see hos- pital's close," he said. "For South Huron County and for those areas we service, you really have one op- tion." An option that included SHH as a full-scale primary hospital was dis- carded by the task force. Hospital Board Chair Verla Russell said the lack of a fourth option clearly demonstrates equity of access is not being achieved through the current restructuring proposal. More than 24 per cent of Huron County's population live in the South Huron service area and an additional 8,000 to 10,000 live in neighboring counties. According to a telephone survey conducted by task force con- sultants, South Huron ranks as the second most used hospital in the the two counties during the past year. Stratford was the most used at 36 per cent. Fifteen per cent sur- veyed also said Exeter was their home hospital, placing it second to Stratford. "Why a full-fledged hospital didn't fall here perplexed us," said Curren. "We are prepared to ad- vocate a full-service hospital should be in Exeter." During a question and answer pe- riod at the end of the meeting many people spoke about personal rea- sons why a local hospital is irn- portant to them. Marnel Saunders, executive director of Anago Re- sources, works with area disabled people. She said as a. society, we are judged by how we take care of our weakest citizens. Hospital employee Dan Meiding- er said there is not 20 per cent in Huron Perth to take away. This fig- ure is the restructuring goal the province commission has es- tablished. He added the system in arriving at the options was flawed. "The decision was made going in. They gave us one option writ- ten down three different ways." Local teacher, Bonnie Becker questioned why the government has not been prepared for the aging population. "You are not asking us what we want. You are telling us. We want our hospital and we need help from you." Carter elected Board of Ed chair CLINTON - At its inaugural meeting, the Huron County Board of Education elected Allan Carter, past vice -chair, as chair for an an- nual term beginning Dec. 1. Carter also represents Tuckersmith Township and the Village of Hensall. The position of vice chair was filled by Doug Garniss, who repre- sents the townships of Morris and Turnberry. Linda Horbanuik, representing the Township of Hullett and the Village of Blyth, was elected chair of the education committee and Stephen Township trustee Bob Heywood was elected chair of the management com- mittee. Past chair Roxanne Brown, from the Town of Clinton, was elected chair of the human resources committee and Norm Pickell, trustee from the Town of Goderich, was elected a member at large. Board endorses virtual school As a result of the special board meeting held Nov. 19, trustees passed a motion endorsing the concept of a virtual school. Classes, will begin effective Feb. 1 and a interim report will be completed i by May 1997. After much discussion regarding the structure of a committee re- garding entrepreneurial activijies, the motion, from Nov, .19 was amended to include,,, titat recor?imendations be. brought --forward td the board and published." It think that is paramount as a matter of trust," said Trustee Joan Van den Broeck. The committee will "establish parameters for entrepreneurial ac- tivities that respect the integrity of business in the county." It will be comprised of members of the community, trustees and administration. Recommendations from the committee will be pre- sented to the Executive Committee for discussion and/or action be- fore being brought to the board. In other matters, the board agreed to support a motion from the Town of Clinton regarding the Huron County hospital campaign. The board expressed concern for the health and safety of its stu- dents in view of cuts to health care services." There should be emergency services at the very least," said Wil- helmina Laurie of the Huron Women Teacher's Association. The board also passed a motion to refer information regarding amalgamation to the Executive Committee for detailed study. These documents include Change and Choice, from the British Co- lumbia school system and Community Leadership in Education, Models for Local Education Governance." We don't know the board is going to be dissolved. It's the wrong message to get out to the public," said Trustee Norm Pickell. School fundraising has started. For the next two weeks, students will be selling various kinds of chocolates. Every other day, there is a $50 cash prize to be won by the top seller. On the final day of selling, Friday, December 13, the top seller will receive a $100 cash prize. There is a total of $350 in total to be won. Please help support our school. The Christmas Semi -Formal is next Thursday, December 12 in the large gym. Tickets cost $6 for single, or $10 for couples and they will be on sale very soon. This Friday, there will be an assembly to remember the Montreal Massacre. It will be a memorial for the 14 women who lost their lives at the hands of a madman. In the small gym, on Thursday, December 5, there will be a job fair. Local businesses will be displaying what they do. It runs from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. S.H.D.H.S. Music presents "The Sounds of Christmas", Sunday,December 8 at 2 p.m. in the large gym. Canned goods or donations are accepted for the Christmas Bureau. Graduation photos start on December 9 and if you are planning on graduat- ing this year, sign up for your picture in the office. For those who missed their second dose for Hepatitis B, they can receive it Tuesday, December 10 Upcoming events • Senior Girls Basketball All-Star Game, large gym, Tuesday, December 10, 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. • Children's Theater, Tuesday, December 10, Wednesday, December 11. Until next week...Bill Kline Ontario Works plan receives a GODERICH - The Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vices advised the County of Huron Social Services Friday that the Ontario Works Business Plan has received final ap- proval. The plan has been approved with an implementation date of November 1, 1996. John MacKinnon, Social Services Administrator, indicates that in anticipation of this approval, his staff have been pro- viding individual and group intake sessions to clients over the past month. As a result, in excess of 200 clients have com- menced the transition from involvement in the previous Mu- nicipal Employment Programs to the Employment Supports component of Ontario Works. In this component all employable clients will be required to develop an actign'plan with the Ontario Works staff. This ac- tion plan will be developed with a goal to exiting Social As- sistance in the most expeditious manner. The types of em- ployment supports will depend on the plan and can be delivered from existing services within the Social Services agency. Community agencies, private suppliers or any combi- nation of the three. These supports are also available to social assistance clients who are not required to participate, such as sole support par- ents and other clients receiving General Welfare Assistance or Family Benefits Allowance. As part of the Ontario Works Business Plan a service con- tract is being developed that would see 15 job ready clients val in Huron registered for employment placement with an agency that would receive payment for successful placement. This pro- cess should be finalized so that clients will be placed through this service early in 1997. This "Fee for Placement" activity will compliment the regular placement activities of the Onta- rio Works staff (previously Municipal Employment Program) which places an average 15 clients per month in employ- ment. Anyone wishing further information about the Huron County Ontario Works Business Plan can call the Social Ser- vices office at 519-524-2188 and speak to John MacKinnon, Administrator or Dave Overboe, Supervisor.