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TIMES AD LOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, April 28, 1999
$1.00 (includes (S'I')
Hearing in
shooting
death starts
The preliminary hearing
for John Dougherty, 54,
charged with first-degree
murder in the shooting
death of Exeter's John
Douglas Windsor, 29,
began on Monday.
Port Frank's Dougherty
was hunting with
Windsor on June 30,
1997, when Windsor was
killed by a single 20 -
gauge shot to the neck in
the Hullett Conservation
area outside Clinton.
Dougherty was charged
on July 9, 1998.
The incident was origi-
nally reported as a hunt-
ing accident by the OPP. A
police spokesperson said
the delay in laying the
charge was because test
results on evidence sent
to Toronto's Centre for
Forensic Sciences had
just became available.
COPS nab
drunk driver
HENSALL — The Exeter
Citizens On Patrol (COP)
program has put another.
notch it its belt.
London OPP Const.
Myra Rusk said COP
members were on patrol
in Exeter at about 3 a.m.
April 17 when they
noticed a car driving
erratically on Main St.
The COPs followed the
vehicle and phoned the
OPP who later stopped
the vehicle on Elizabeth
St. in Hensall.
A 26 -year-old Hensall
man was charged and
will appear in Exeter
court on May 27.
Public meetings
next step in
amalgamation
•
•
Fish Derby set
for Saturday
Bill Dinney of the Ausable
Bayfield Conservation
Foundation demonstrates
his fish juggling skills while
stocking the Morrison
Reservoir Monday morn-
ing. No fish were injured
during Dinney's routine.
•
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Their work is almost done.
'l'he organization committee for the amalgamation of
Exeter, Stephen and Usborne is now preparing for pub-
lic meetings after hammering out the final details of
their amalgamation proposal.
While dates aren't firm yet, Stephen and Usborne
townships will probably be holding their public meet-
ings on the first week in June, with Exeter's near the
end of May.
After the public meetings, the draft will then be taken
back to the individual councils for approval. The orga-
nization committee may then have to meet again to
finalize the proposal.
Last week's meeting saw the committee decide, on
recommendation from Exeter Coun. Robert
Drummond, to strike out of its draft any references to
annexing part of Hay Township, which it had earlier
• proposed. The group wanted to annex the 'northern
part of Dashwood, which is in Hay Township, but Hay
has said it isn't in favour of any boundary adjustments
now.
As a result of Hay's refusal, Stephen Township Reeve
Harvey Ratz said the South Huron has to move on with
amalgamation.
"It's just not feasible at this time," he said of annexing
parts of Hay.
The committee also decided to have the mayor and
deputy mayor of the new municipality, set to become a
reality on Jan. 1, 2001, serve on Huron County council
See details on page 2
See PUBLIC MEETINGS page 2
Swing Into Spring with
high school fashion show
EXETER -- Not in the
spring mood?,
Students and .staff' at
South_Hilton. District
High' School want to put
that bounce in your Step;
with their 'Swing Into
Spring' fashion show
tonight (Wed.) at the
school's large gym start-
ing at 7:30 p.m.
Student models will be
showing off fashions
from local businesses.
Adult tickets cost $5
and children/students
get in for $2.
Lake Huronlevels continue to decline
Low water levels are increasing shipping costs and pose a danger to recreational boaters
BY THE LAKE HURON CENTRE FOR COASTAL CONSERVATION
BLYTH — Look out below!
If you operate watercraft or enjoy activities like water
skiing, you might want to take these simple words of
advice.
Water levels on Lake Huron have been declining for
the past several months. In stark contrast to the high
water levels experienced in 1997 when many cottagers
feared for the safety of their properties, levels are now
below their long term average and are approaching
chart datum.
For navigational safety, depths on nautical charts are
shown from a low-water elevation called chart datum.
According to the Canadian Hydrographic Service,
chart datum is selected so that the water level will sel-
dom fall below it and only rarely will there be less
depth available than what is portrayed on the chart.
On Lake Huron, chart datum is 176 metres (above sea -
level). Current levels are about 176.2 metres — or 20
centimetres above chart datum.
If levels dip below chart datum, the economic impact
to the shipping industry could be significant. For every
one centimetre decline below chart datum, 93 metric
tonnes must be subtracted from the total load that a
Great Lakes ship can carry.
Shipping companies either ship less tonnage, or make
more frequent trips. Either situation would be more
costly. Operators of recreational watercraft will have to
be more cautious than ever about shallow waters and
boulders beneath.
Levels on Huron haven't been as low as current levels
since 1990 and they haven't dipped below chart datum
since 1966.
"The many water enthusiasts who have not experi-
enced low levels on Lake Huron are urged to proceed
with caution," said Patrick Donnelly of the Lake Huron
Centre for Coastal Conservation.
While some people might see a need to clear away
rocks and boulders in the nearshore to aid in their
recreational enjoyment of the water, they may, in the
long-term be doing themselves a disservice.
"These rocks and boulders act as an armour against
erosion of the lake bottom. Without them, erosion will
deepen the nearshore and allow larger waves to threat-
en their property, particularly when high levels return,"
Donnelly said.
Another important considers 'on is that disturbing the
lake bottom can destroy fish habitat and can lead to
some heavy fines without the necessary permits in
place. Violations under the Fisheries Act could cost you
up to $300,000 for a first offence. Depending on your
shoreline location, you will need to contact the local
Conservation Authority, the Ministry of Natural
Resources and/or the Department of Fisheries and
Oceans before you work in the water.
See LAKE LEVELS page 2