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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1997-05-28, Page 11 SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Hot food to go kken ribs and morel 111: ; tiutrr 1873 SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Clay Bell Planters $9. 99 Town considers leasing In the News See page 2 Panther Page See page 13 Exeter Cub Scouts See Crossroads Second front Grand Bend OPP wraps up long weekend GRAND BEND - During the Victoria Day long weekend. Grand Bend OPP investigated a total of 32 occurrences. excluding motor _ vehicle accidents, -driving and Pro- , vincial Statute offences According to a recent press re - •lease. 10 vehicles were vandalized and -seven thefts and one break and enter were reported. Police made 25 arrests for disturbances and uor offences. and investigated five motor vehicle accidents. in addition. the following charges wbrc laid during the Victoria Day • weekend: 10 impaired drivers. 172 Liquor. Licence Atit, 21 Highway Traffic .Act. three Environmental • Protection Act, one Public Lands Act, one 7t`"cspass to Property Act, three -12 hour suspensions and live drug-related charges. ' First place Jolene Unwin of the Exeter Elites baton twirlers won first for modelling in her category at the Stonetown Batonfest in St. Marys on Saturday, May 24. 0 uick repair Teamwork saved the day as Abbey DeWeerd, 6, left and Elyssa Hooper, 7, stopped to fix a bicycle chain on the corner of John and Andrew Street on Friday. After a quick repair the two were off to enjoy a sunny afternoon together. aclers to v6th actions By Heather Mir T -A Reporter HURON COUNTY - The Huron County Board of Education will take action to dock teachers' pay if they vote in favor of an illegal walk -out. Morc than 250 Huron secondary and public school teachers will par- ticipate in this week's vote to protest the provincial government's handling of educational issues in- cluding funding cutbacks, allowing boards to reduce programs, sec- ondary,/education reform without a curriculum plan and "misused" test results. "Government attacks against ed-. ucation have backed teachers into a corner where we either fight back to maintain services for our stu- dents or we roll over and allow the government to dismantle Ontario's Public Education System," said John Clarke, OSSTF District 45 Federation Officer, adding. "I will be voting to maintain the high qual- ity of education in Ontario, I' will be voting to give provincial govern- ment an idea of what they can ex- • pect if they intend to further cut Ontario's Public Education sys- tem." Huron Board of Education Di- rector Paul Carroll explained the board' was made aware of thc po- tential for a walk -out on short no- tice to protest provincial govern- ment actions. Principals and staff in the Huron system have been no- tified of this possibility and the hoard has confirmed it will remove a day's pay for each unauthorized day of absence. "Wc have reminded people of their requirements under the law and we respect the personal de- cision they have to make...and we're not going to do anything to r • or Continued on: page 2 Farmers racing to get back on schedule By Kate Monk T -A Reporter USBORNE TOWNSHIP - The race is on among area farmers to get their crops in and growing. -This spring's cold, wet weather resulted in a three-week delay in the plant- ing season. But with more sea- sonable weather in June's forecast, everyone is making the most of their opportunities. "It's such a game of chance," said. Pat Down of Usborne Town- ship. Pat and her husband Bob planted • corn on April 30 and by May 23, were still waiting for it to germinate. Pat said in the Seaforth area, many of the corn fields were planted by the end of April. "There just haven't been growing days, since then," said Pat Down. "We have a chance of only an aver- age year: We're not going toget bumper crops." . Dale Good of W.G: Thompson & Sons in Hensall says corn seeds sit- ting in the ground for the past three weeks are the real concern but it's too early -to 'tell : how well these. plants will do. . According to Bob Down, some people are already switching to soybeans since there's a reasonably good price for beans. But that isn't a viable option for farmers who . rely on the corn crop as livestock feed. Another consideration is how a different crop will fit into crop ro- tation. Farmers ate. also returning their current seed and planting corn that . requires a shorter growing season. This will enable them to plant the crop later and still get a good har- vest. . • Good has found most farmers are switching corn varieties, rather than moving to soybeans. "A hotter summer will catch us up. If we don't, we'll be back into a 1992 situation," said . Bob Down. During the 1992 growing season, a lack .of sunlight inhibited plant de- velopment. According to meteorologist Jay Campbell, 'warmer weather will slowly arrive in the area. "The weather will be turning warmer than it has been, but it is still likely to stay slightly below normal for the first part of the month. By the end of June, th temperatures should be normal or bit above,"predicts Campbell. As far as rainfall is concerned . Campbell anticipates it should by close to normal for the month. Goodestimatesthat nearly 75 pe; cent of the corn is already in tht ground and a few farmers have al- ready started planting soybeans. The cold, wet weather has also hurt thisyear's hay crop. "Hay will be in short supply again. Last year had unprecedented prices. Unless things , change, we won't have : volume on the first cuts," explained Bob Down. People are already buying up straw, an- ticipating a poor crop in 1997. "It's amazing the amount of crops that can go in in such a short time," commented Good. "They should get back on schedule." Farmers are out in full force throughout the area. With the current dry weather, nearly 75 per cent of the corn is in the ground. • A11 -candidates election meeting focuses on agriculture industry • By Brenda Burke T -A Reporter HOLMESVILLE - Agriculture was the key word at the Goderich Township Hall Thursday night as federal election • candidates answered numerous questions from the public -at an all -candidates meeting sponsored by thc Huron County Federation of Agriculture. "I know the sights. sounds and smells of modern farming." claimed Reform Candidate Doug Fines, who voiced his par- ty's support of a democratic, market-oriented wheat:hoard. "Reform will protect Canadians from unfair subsidies," he continued, adding the party would reduce taxes, enabling people to purchase additional agriculture products. Progressive Conservative Candidate Colleen Schenk de- scribed agriculture as "big business," adding in the past, PCs have supported rural life. "Farmers have typically been the most self-sufficient," an- nounced Christian Heritage Candidate Dave Joslin. Paul Steckle, representing the Liberals, noted six pages of his party's Red Book are dedicated to agriculture, adding re - fated products are well received around the world. "We're going to have to renegotiate the current trade agreement," said New Democratic Party Candidate Jan John- stone when the topic of safety net programs arose. Although all candidates noted the importance of main- taining a level playing field in supply management, Joslin voiced the opinion that protective measures may be on the way out. "I don't think it's a given that we have to keep marketing boards," he said. • Candidates also expressed their support for rural women. "We believe in equality for all people." said Fines. "...including women." to which the audience responded with a groan. While Schenk mentioned the importance of keeping rural hospitals open duc to the high number of farm -related ac- cidents, Steckle stressed the significance of upgrading com- munications in rural areas to match that of urban centres. "We have more and more people moving into the rural ar- eas," he pointed out. Candidates also discussed the amalgamation of agriculture with other ministries. All but Schenk agreed ministries should be kept separate. She believes such action would avoid duplication and complication. Other issues discussed at the meeting include the deficit, tax relief, unemployment, health,and education cuts, govern- ment downsizing, CBC funding, immigration, capital pun- ishment, gun control and"native rights, -"This is not a way to integrate the native people back into society," said Fines, referring to the way natives have be- come dependent upon government support. Joslin felt "integration" rather than "self-government" is the answer to native -government issues. Prior to their closing election -comments; the candidates voiced opinions on pension equality. While Joslin called the MP pension plan "obscene," and voiced his belief that it should be scrapped, Steckle strongly disagreed. "I am not ashamed of the fact 1 have a pension plan,". said Steckle. "You have to understand that politics is a different kind of a league." 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