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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-04-15, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, April 15, 1998 JN 'EJL&NL Wi Regional wrap up Man bites off woman's nose MIDDLESEX CENTRE A woman lost her nose during a scuffle Saturday night with an attacker •who also stabbed her with a large barbecue fork and struck her with arolling pin. According to the 'London Free Press; Murray Benjamin. Ball. 25, of no fixed address, is charged with aggravated assault. assault, robbery. the theft of a motor vehicle and uttering death threats. Bomb rips through London bar LONDON. - Four patrons suf• - fered non -life-threatening inju- ries following a bomb explosion at T.J. Baxter's Tap & Grill on Saturday.. - - The London -Free Press reports the bombwas highly sophisticat- ed. Given" the size of thc blast and thenumbcr_of people in the restaurant at the time. London Police Staff -Sgt. Chester _OIs- zewski, head of the explosives disposal unit. told the Free Press it was a remarkably fortunate re- sult. Hc said . it will take at least five days to figure out exactly what happened and possibly longer to figure out why. A gas explosion was quickly ruled out and one inspector said the blast was not accidental. Cause of business fire a m jrstery BRUCEFIEL13 - 'A .wall at lamco Trailer Sales Ltd., was so badly burned, investigators may never discover thc fire's exact cause, reports the Huron Exposi= tor.. . Substantial damage was caused to' thc business equip- ment, roof and structure. Thc 'blaze apparently started when a wall between the paint booth and storage area ignited. Area firefighters were on the scene for at least two hours, then returned for 30 minutes the fol- lowing day to squelch a minor flare up. Police sworn in as OPP GODERICH' The entire Goderich Police Service force was sworn in as Ontario Provin- cial Police members on April 6. The Goderich Signal -Star re- ports eports the ceremony marks the beginning of an OPP contract for the 13 officers. OPP Commissioner Thomas O'Grady told the Star residents can expect increased police visi- bility, public contact and in- volvement with youth. Walkway to be moved BAYFIELD - Because Bay- field Council is concerned about safety and liability,' a village couplehas been ordered to re- move a walkway that crosses from their land to village proper- ty. The Clinton News -Record re- ports this is the second time in less than a year that Susan and David Bender have been asked to remove the stone structure. The issue was first brought to council by the road superinten- dent who was concerned the un- approved structure was too close to the road. The couple has fought coun- cil's decision, claiming there are many other private structures on public property. a Eliminating tobacco use is key to eradication of cancer The Exeter Branch- of the Cancer Society is seeking smoke -related cancer survivors to help with health promotion EXETER - One important aspect of the Canadian Cancer Society's mission is the eradication of cancer: • Unfortunately for many cancers it is not known how the disease is caused and/or how to prevent it. "For tohacco-caused cancer. we already have the cure` eliminate tohacco use," said Rob' Cunningham- of the ('a- nadian Cancer Society. Smoking is the cause of about 30. per cent of cancer. deaths and approximately 85 per cent of lung cancer deaths. Among women. lung- cancer deaths have risen more than 400 per cent since 1970 and the situation is expected to get worse; - Lung cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with the one-year 'survival rate at approximately 35 per cent. Smoking also causes or has been associated with cancer -of the throat, mouth. tongue. lip, larynx. pharynx. bladder, kidney. pancreas. stomach and cervix. • "Had it not been for the increase in tohacco-caused can= cer, Canada would he seeing- a•decrease-in age-adjusted cancer death rates." said Cunningham. The most important variable affecting cancer rates is 'the. success, or lack thereof, in achieving lower smoking fates. according to Cunningham. "Nothing gig es -a bigger hang for the puck than tohacco control." he claimed.. . • Per capita cigarette consumption was 40 per cent lower in 1992 than in 1982, following the implementation of to- hacco tax increases, smoking restrictions, advertising re- strictions. stronger package•warnings and puhlic education prograrns. • •. "Unfortunately: since the 1994 tohacco tax roll -hack, per capita` cigarette consumption has increased;" Cunningham said.. • "Many of our best successes have been copied by other nations. By ensuring Canada is on the cutting edge of to- hacco control, the Society is able to make a significant con- trihution to cancer control worldwide," he explained. . .Understanding the odds • .. Many -smokers continue to smoke because they are coin= - vinced they wily be among the lucky. ones who won't de- velop lung cancer.• In fact, there is a wide range Of -susceptibility io lung can- cer. Tragically some people who have never. smoked de- . velop the . disease while .others who smoke for decades avoid it completely. - .. . -At the -University- of Toronto, Dr.• John McLaughlin is seeking to better understand the odds of developing lung cancer: 'He and his team of researchers are carrying out .a study to determine whether individual variations in the abil- ity to process environmental chemicals' (such as those found in tohacco smoke) account for individual differences in' who will develop lung cancer. - The study involves comparing lung cancer patients with similar healthy people to determine. whether the two groups have genetic differences that affect the way they process to- hacco- smoke. and if so. whether this affects the risk of de- veloping lung cancer. The researchers will interview participants and use ques- tionaires to establish risk factor.levels and will also analyze '.blood and cell samples to test for genetic differences. Seeking tobacco reduction volunteers . The Exeter Branch of the Cancer. Society. is currently -seeking volunteers to assist- with education/health- pro- motion in the area of tohacco reduction. If you are a smoker related cancersurvivor or someone whiff is interested in this area. please call branch president .Pat Chovancck at 23.5- 4934. • The Canadian Cancer Society is a national. community- . based organization of volunteers whose mission is the erad- ication of • , end the enhancement of the quality of lite of peopt -• h cancer. - Lucan looking to be in bloom soon Village council is hoping taxpayers get behind the program that will pit Lucan against centres like Goderich and Stratford to see- which is the mostbeautiful By Craig Bradford T -A Reporter LUCAN:If- you've got a green _thumb, Lucan wants you: Village council wants to get the hall rolling on Communities in Bloom, a nation-wide contest that decides which community . is the most beautiful. • Gary Wilcox attended last week's council meeting to tell councillors his: take on spearheading thc pro- gram. - But .upon reading the inforn1ation supplied by Communities in Bloom, Wilcox said he.became in- timidated by thc scope of thc pro- gram. . . "i'm all in favor of doing what I can to help. out this little hurg,". Wilcox said. "But it 'appears for one. guy to take this ori would be lu- dicrous." - Wilcox said hg's been talking to Nicholson Garden Centre's owner about the program and suggested, that a group like the Scouts, 4-H or. Junior Farmers could do a lot of the work setting up flower boxes and maintaining floral displays. He also wants to set up a competition among homeowners where they would receive recognition for keep- ing their property in tip-top shape. Reeve Robert Benner said arca landscapers should be contacted for their input. Lucan and Area Business As- sociation (BA) president Pat .Van= Geleuken suggested the village buy_ box plants to sell to. residents a( cost. She added council should set up a contest to coincide with the Aug. 15-16 Heritage Days Festival. Wilcox said he prefers to "start small" and hold a contest later in the year. He added the Ausable Centre. should be contacted to see whether the organization can bring in speakers on flowery topics. Cquncillor Petry Caskanette said he'll talk to the Lucan Scouts about participating in Communities In Bloom. • Other notes from council: Building a fence? VanGeleuken appeared in front of council with a proposal to build a fence in front of the former Grand Exeter signs new OPP contract EXETER - Exeter Council has passed the bylaw to sign a police services contract with the Ontario Provincial Police. The five-year contract has a price tag of $524,883 per year, 525,000 lower than the original budget pre- sented to council in December. The 1997 expenses were 5434,000. Staff Sergeant Henry deWolde of the OPP met with councilon•Jan. 26 to explain the increases. The new contract contains new line items and increases in costs to make police services in Ontario 1 "revenue neutral" with full cost - recovery. For budgeting purposes, the contract contains provincial av- erage numbers but Exeter will pay less if costs arc lower. The contract is retroactive to Jan. 1 and will be in effect until Dee. 31, 2002. A county -wide police services contract is also being explored. Ex- eter's contract can be rolled into a Huron County OPP contract if the costs arc lower. • Central Hotel lot on Main St: De- scribed frequently as an eyesore by -•Lucanitesbecause of overgrown weeds and vehicles parked there. the lot owner has proven to he dif- ficult to contact despite repeated at- • tempts by village staff. The village can't force• the owner to- cut down ' the weeds because thc weeds aren't - "noxious" as laid out in Lucan's weed bylaw. ' The fence would be. paid for by BA members and volunteers would" do the work. The fence will he six feet high and 64- feet king and will he on village property and one side-- walk ide=walk Krick will have to be removed for each , of thc pressure treated poles that will he spaced- eight feet apart. Though - undecided: the fence's panels might he either lat- ticework or plywood with pressure treated two by fours holding them in place. Hanging plants will he in- stalled on each of the. posts.. The BA is toying with the idea of hav- ing art students use thc fend gs�. a medium to show their work. The _BA hasn't been able to con- tact thc property owner but James Moulton. a realtor with Oliver and . Associates, is favorable of the idea and will he allowed to put his sign . either on or atiowc the fence. tanGcicuken said the fence will bring the visitor's eye down to store level which will hopefully bring more attention to the down- town's stores. Council was supportive of the proposal and VanGeleuken will re- port hack at the May 5 council meeting on further details and whether they havd thc land owner's permission. in other BA news. VanGeleuken• said' members want the maximum •two-hour free parking signs hack up. The matter will be on thelnext council meeting agenda. • A burning -issue Backyard fire • complaints are smoldering yet again in front of council.. Roydcn Herbert wrote council about his concerns over toxic fumes being created hy•hurn- ing plastic and other unsuitable ma- terials not just in backyard pits but in homeowners' fireplaces and wood stoves. In his letter addressed to Reeve Robert Benner. Herbert Time to 'Ride Back in Time' LUCAN - Lucan Arca Heri- tage's annual '.Ride Back in Time' production will tell more about the area's history on May 30. The historical live theatre show has 10 scenes from Lucan area's history re-enacted on the racetrack behind the Lucan Community Memorial Centre. Scenes include ones on the es- tablishment of Donnelly School circa 1865. the Henry Ford visit in 1912 and two on the Wilber- force settlement. After the show there will be a short play at the Lucan Scout Hall written by James Rcaney, the author of the Donnelly Trilo- gy. Cost is 55 for adults, $3 for youths and children under 12 free. Call Lucan Area Heritage at 227-0756 for more information. said the most recent incident was on March 1 at 1:30 a.m.-when his Water Si. home was in the path of "a very pungent smoke. so much so that i was forced to leave my home in the middle of the night -and find lodging for the rest- of the night away from this. 'choking smoke." Herbert said he suffers from res -_piratory problems. Herbert wants Lucan to adopt a _"no burn" bylaw that -prohibits un- attended outside fires.as well as the burning of any material that -pro-- duce pro-duce harmful fumes. .• Herbert also wants the number of chimney fire calls addressed. Laureen McKenzie attended the meeting and hacked Herbert's -con- cerns. • - Benner said. if Lucan attempts to draft • a bylaw` controlling backyard fires. it shoutd he more like .Ailsa Craig's bylaw that prohibits some. kinds of fires and less like Exeter's total ban -on outside. fires (thoygh permits Ant /14/illalile for spretciaf events). - in a letter of response to•Herhert, Benner said the province already prohibits burning of hazardous- or noxious substances through the Ministry of Environment. He said those witnessing such fires should call the Ministry- who enforces its regulations. "The village does not have the manpower or .the equipment to in- vestigate;such complaints." ,Benner said in the letter. "Enforcement of such a law is far beyond the -fi- nancial capability of the village:" The issue will be discussed fur- ther at the May5 council meeting. • Show us more money Administrator Ron Reymer said hell apply - to the province for 530.000 under its Special Circum- stances Fund which, is supposed to help municipalities smooth . the downloading process on top of the province's two other downloading helping funds. the Community Re- investment Fund (Lucan' will get $87.000 according to the prow ince's newest numbers) .and the Special Transition Assistance fund (51 1.000 over the next two years). The money would be used to off- set the $56.0(X) in savings the prov- ince is. imposing On Lucan rl .7 per Cent of its annual budget) to .make its downloading -"revenue neutral." - Lucan is one of the only Mid- dlesex County municipalities that may qualify -for the Special Cir- cumstances Fund.. Reymer said. since one of the ways the province calculated how much downloading municipalities can handle is skewed when it comes to the' village. The province took a -five-year average -of how much municipalities spent on capital projects -beginning in the early :90s. and then downloaded what it gave in grants_for those pro- jects: But during those years Lucan spent $11 million to finish several major projects including hooking into the Lake Huron water pipeline and building the new. water tower. sewage pumping station and treat- ment plant: The province also didn't include federal/provincial/ municipal.. infrastructure program projects of which the three levels of go.verttr lents evenly split the costs on. Arena news - The arena hoard has sent a letter detailing recreation facilities in Lu can to.the-2001 Summer Games Al- liance committee. •The hope is that Lucan may he able- to snare. some athletes for workouts and practices. In other arena news, the last two change rooms will be:insulated and get- puckhoard for next• season and the scoreboard needs to he re- placed: A new- scoreboard costs about 58.100. hut a used one may cost as little as $900: . The gravel arca in front of the Li ons shed will he paved later this year. hut just • how much will he paved is•still to he determined. The arena hoard is thinking about -doing up to 59.000 in paving if local skateboards will use the arca. The hoard is still waiting direction on how many skaters would- use the arca on a regular )iasis. • Bring us your brush • Brush days :are set 'for April 20- 21. Those with loose branches and hrush should haul them to. the curb on those days -so the public works staff can -chip them down. Branches are to be no higher than eight inch- es in diameter and should be at the -curb- hetore 7 a.ni May 4-5 will he metal/steel/ stone/concrete. days. Residents can get rid .of stones. rocks.extra metal/ steel. bricks and concrete. Wraith reminded homeowners that the first step in getting Lucan ready for Communities in Bloom is for them to clean up their yards. • He has wheels - Public works • - superintendent Doug Johnston is mobile again af- ter the village truck he was using broke down for the last time. Coun- cil approved a two year lease on a used '95•GMC Sahara pickup iron-. Nevin Motors for $229.70/montr" plus 5300 down. Council contemplated buying tht truck for -$12.695 plus tax. but :opt: ed for the lease- due to a possihk .amalgamation and because the pur- chase would eat up too much of the 516:000 equipment reserve. Welcome move Council decided, to up front the $ f,600 needed by --the siert coin- mittee to buy the two wooden sand- blasted 'Welcome to Lucan' signs for the entrance/exit points of town along Hwy. 4. Council will send a letter 10 community groups about putting their small signs on the wel- come sign. Tin burglar - ' Someone is taking aluminum cans from blue hoses before Blue- water lue water Recycling can pick up -the poxes. The villages recycling cost - goes up when valuable recyclahles like aluminum don't make it to Bluewater's facility. Benner said a similar case in Till- sonhurg ended when a man was.• taken .to court..hv the town over stealing the cans. The town won its ease. ' Cleaner wanted • The village needs someone to clean• its. offices starting next. month Sue Pike has given her no- tice to.end her services at the end of the month. The job requires some- one to do general cleaning duties once a week for 520/week. Flag flap ' . Want a Lucan flag to fly on your pole? Be prepared to shuck •.out some big clams...they sell for 590 at the village-oftice. Parked with the fishes The OPP Underwater Search and Rescue Unit and Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority - staff pull a car from Morrison Reservoir on Thursday. Owned by Bill and Ann Hirtze! of Exet- er, the car was stolen last October. A young offender involved in the theft told police the car was in Morrison Reservoir. A