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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-06-02, Page 2Regional wrap up 2 • • Wednesday, June 2, 1999 In the Ne Daytime watering ban issued for Brussels residents BRUSSELS — The village issued a daytime wa- tering ban for its residents last week, reports the North Huron Citizen. "The move is precautionary," said Clerk - Treasurer Donna White. "The PUC is not alarmed, but with the . dry weather they don't . want to take any chances." Deputy -Clerk -Treasurer Lori Pipe said watering new seed and trees is obviously necessary, but added some people "have been going a little too far watering their grass." Residents can water their lawns and flowers from 7-10 p.m. Anyone caught watering during the ban will, be given a warning. The next time their water will be shutoff at the curb. The situation will be reviewed monthly at the PUC meeting. Former OPP commissioner recovering from beating GODERICH — A former Ontario Provincial Police commissioner is recovering from a vicious beating and apparent carjacking on May 25, reports the London Free Press. Archie Ferguson, who retired in 1988 after a 38 - year career with the OPP and settled.at Amberley Beach, near Goderich, was attacked last Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. after helping a man who came to his door to ask for help, saying his car had ' broken down a half kilometre north on Huron Rd. Ferguson, 70, left .his home and drove the man to the point along Huron Road, where he was at- tacked while trying to give the suspect's vehicle a battery boost. Ferguson was hit over the back of the head "with a blunt object" as he leaned under the hood, said Huron OPP Sr. Const. Don Shropshall. A struggle ensued and Ferguson was hit several more times in the head and upper body region The assailant, in his early 20s, fled in Ferguson's 1998 Ford Explorer On May 29, the suspect, 27 -year-old Michael Beldham of Wingham was arrested on a Canadian wide warrent in'Toronto. Ferguson's Ford Explor- er was also recovered at that time. Mitchell golf course expanding MITCHELL — Members of the Mitchell Golf and Country Club have voted to proceed with construc- tion of a new $650,000 clubhouse, reports the Mitchell Advocate. "We're putting twice as many people through here than five years ago," said club manager Tim Ertel. "We've just outgrown it." Ertel said approximately 35,000 rounds were played at the golf course last year. The current club house, built in the early 60s, will be replaced by a one -storey 14,000 sq. ft. fa- cility. The new clubhouse will provide a 200 -seat ban- quet hall and a separate dining room which can seat 150, almost double the current capacity. A full kitchen and a much larger pro shop are also planned for the facility. -A in the clubhouse's design is a tower complete with a clock. Construction is expected to begin this October. Abduction attempts unfounded HURON COUNTY — Huron OPP investigated two incidents in May involving a suspicious van and at- tempted abduction but no criminal acts were found to have taken place, reports the Huron Ex- positor. A 15 -year-old girl walking along Highway 8 be- tween Clinton and Seaforth reported being fright- ened when a van stopped to pick up a man walk- ing in the same area on May 10. On May 11, two 15 -year-old girls reported seeing a suspicious van in Goderich. "Huron OPP would like to remind all students who walk to and from school to, when possible, walk with a partner and ensure that their route is known by their parents," said Sr. Const. Don Shropshall. Committee making plans to celebrate Biddulph Tvnship's 150th anniversary By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN BIDDULPH --- Two nrmbers of the lo- cal sesquicentennial committee appeared be- fore Lucan Biddulph council last to inform councillors how they plan to celebrate the 150th anniversary' 6f Biddulph Township. Phyllis O'Neil, chair of the committee told coun- cil about a planned logo contest.. open to ele- mentary school children. from Lucan Biddulph. The contest, which dos- es on June 18, will award a CD player to the winner. The group is also plan- ning a "Warm Up to 150" Beef Barbecue on July 24 in Granton Park from 5-7:30 p.m. The "Taste of Bid- dulph" dinner will be held on Jan. 7, 2000 in the Lucan arena, a date which marks the an- niversary of the first- ever election of Bid- dulph Township council. The big celebration, though, according to the committee, will take place on Jan. 23, 2000, at the Granton Park and Lucan arena. O'Neil said the com- mittee is planning sever- al events for the cer- emony including a parade, a family skating party, opening cer- emonies, a church ser- vice and a dance. Secretary/treasurer of the committee Jackie Martens asked council if the committee could continue using the Lu - can Biddulph photo- copier and to continue meeting in the township offices. Deputy -Reeve Bob Ben- ner told Martins and O'Neil the matter would go to council's corporate services committee. The committee has. raised $5,100 from an auction and hopes to re- main revenueneutral af- ter celebrations, but O'Neil said if any money is left over a plaque may be made com - memorating Biddulph's 150th anniversary. Other notes from Lu- can Biddulph's May 25 meeting: To pave or not to pave Council is considering paving the Coursey Line after learning that main- taining the existing grav- el road- over 10 years would be more expensive than paving it, according to Benner. While a motion was made to make plans for paving the line, it was deferred until council's June meeting so costs can be further in- vestigated. Council will also be looking into tar- ring and chipping the road. Township ten- dering office main- tenance work? Council also discussed what to do about main- tenance of the township office and the grounds. Since 1984, Frank Van Geel . has done the work for Biddulph Township, which has included cleaning the office and cutting the grass for $275/month. Since the amalgamation with the Village of Lucan will mean more work, Van Geel has asked for an in- crease to $375/Month. In light of the fact Van Geel has asked for a raise and that Lucan Bid- dulph is a new mu- nicipality, several coun- cillors said the job should go out to tenders. Councilors Harry Wraith and Paul Wallis said the tendering pro- cess is important. Coun. Glenn Silver agreed, but added Van Geel has "been doing a great job since 1984" and said putting the job out to tender would be pun- ishing Van Geel. Benner, though, while saying he has no prob- lem with Van Geel's work, said "we have rules" that have to be followed to protect the taxpayers. That matter will also go before the corporate services committee. Computers need upgrading Coen. George Marr of the corporate services committee reported that the township's comput- ers are not Y2K compat- ible and will need up- grading: He said a , new system could - cost $40,000. Administrator Ron Reymer said that price would include a completely integrated fi- nancial and tax system and hardware. He said the township is still look- ing at prices and hopes to consider prices at its July 6 corporate services meeting. Court of Revision Council will be holding a Court of Revision for discussion on the Benn Drain at 7 p.m. on June 22. The meeting will give residents who are af- fected •by the drain, which is the main drain through Lucan, a chance to discuss the project with the engineers. Deputy -clerk Joan God- dard said costing will also be discussed. Teachers and hoard , settle contract Continued from front page addressed in the new deal. Elementary school classes will be staffed in accordance with the maxi- mum aggregate average class size of 25 mandated by the provincial government. The new collective agreement also addresses all other terms and conditions of employment of the teachers which were formerly dealt with in .previ- ous collective agreements. The Elementary Teachers Federation is the amal- gamated union of the Federated Women Teachers and the Ontario Public School federation. Arena expansion gets boost from council Continued from front page ment," he said. Council's commitment came as a relief for arena boosters who have talked about an expansion since '83 and have been fund- raising for five years. Arena manager Rob Funston, also a member of the Centralia -Huron Park Lions Club who are the number one support- er of the project, said now it's full -speed ahead with fund-raising. "We really feel the pub- lic will support this," he said. And the public has been supportive of the project in the past. Funston said there is about $80,000 in the bank and the Lions Club, along with Stephen Minor Hockey, plans ' o raise another $100,000 for the project. "We want to make sure the money is spent wise- ly," he said. The project will tear the existing front of the arena building down and rebuild. There will be larger and more dressing rooms (four small ones expanded to six larger ones), a larger warm area to view hockey, a bigger concession stand with storage space, bigger washrooms with more tbilets/urinals and a first aid station: There will also be more parking spaces to the north and south of the building. The expansion will add more than 4,400 sq. ft. to the building and will move the front doors from the west side to the north. The arena board wants to start construction in April 2000 and Funston said the fund-raising deadline is set for January 2000 so changes to the plans and the ten- dering process can take place well before ground- breaking. Funston said the Lions and minor hockey will hit every service club in the south Huron area for donations and then go to businesses and the public. Right now the arena expansion backers are hammering out a fund- raising plan and are con- templating a 'sell a brick' type fund-raising cam- paign. Arena board mem- bers will also take a sec- ond look at recent arena expansions in places like Monkton and Mitchell to get ideas. The new direction for the arena expansion unfortunately means an end to the Lions' popular annual hole -in -one .con- test. Funston said the public can only be asked to give, so much before their pockets are empty. "We don't want to dou- ble dip," he said. "They get sick of us." Funston said Exeter contributors have been generous to the expansion project even before amp' gamation with Stephs and Usborne townshi became a sure thing. Funston said a healt arena is important to community. "It's a bigger pictu than just coming out play hockey," he sai "Without this structu kids won't learn the 1 lessons like commitmE and dedication they n€ to learn."