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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1984-03-14, Page 1OUALITY FUR ITYRE WHY PAY MORE? I% Whitings Phone 235-1964 Huron aboard calls for report on French immersion The education and person- nel committees of the Huron County Board of Education will be bringing a report on French Immersion to the' April meeting of the board. At its March 5 meeting, the board received a request to set up a French Immersion piolot project from a group of Goderich and area parents calling themselves the com- mittee for learning opportunities. There were over 30 parents in attendance at the board meeting. Representatives of this committee, Mark Scully of Goderich and Paul Putty of Lucknow made a 35 -minute presentation to the board outlining what French Im- mersion is and; how they would like to see t operated FARM PRINCESS — The 1984 Western Fair Farm Show Princess is Florence Ryan of Mount Carmel. She was representing the South Huron Junior Farmers. Area farm princess -The 1984 Western.Fair Farm Show was a hugsuc- cess with one of the largest crowds in its 47 year history and a Mount Cannel area girl was a big part of it. • On the first day of the show Tuesday, 20 year-old Florence Ryan of Mount Carmel was named -Farm Show Princess defeating 13 other young ladies. Florence is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ryan Jr. and was sponsored by the South Huron Junior Farmers She is a parttime secretary with the Exeter branch of the Canadian imperial Bank of Commerce. The new Princess was crowned by last year's winner Janet O'Neil. RR 4. Thornda le. The princess candidates were judged on an essay. general poise. an interview. quiz and impromptu speech. The essay was based on in- formation and activities of the sponsoring group, which `in this instance was the South Huron Junior Farmers who are well known for their com- munity minded activities. in the impromptu speech, Florence Ryan was asked to talk about Do you -believe in plowing matches? Western Fair Association president laugh Mitchell and all exhibitors appeared to be well pleased with the large crowds.which were in atten- dance, especially on the final day Friday for a computer seminar. About her winning Florence told the T -A "I was very hap- py to he chosen. I met and talked to a lot of wonderful people and learned a lot of the feelings of the farm community." Principal changes in south Huron Several Huron ('ounty elementary- school principals and vice -principals will he shuffled around to new schools this summer. , A press release issued by the Huron County Board of Education recently stales, "In addressing thequestion of transfers. consideration was given to the needs of the schools and the experience and abilities of principals." Arnold Mathers of Huron Centennial Public School in Brucefield will be transferred to J.A.U. McCurdy Public • School in Huron Park. John Siertsema of J.A.D. McCurdy Public School will go to Huron Centennial. Mathers will also be principal of Huron Hope School. John Kane of Victoria Public School in Goderich will go to Holmesville Public School while Ronald McKay. of Holmesville will become principal of Clinton Public School. Clinton Public School prin- cipal Allan Taylor will go to Osborne Central School. The Usborne Central principal. William Linfield goes to Vic- toria Public School. Eleanor Scott. principal al Iluron Hope school. for the trainable mentally handicap- ped will become vice- principal at Victoria Public Schooi. i, ictoria's current vice-principal F'1 oyd I lerman has yet to be assigned a position in Huron County. to set up an early total French But some trustees question- Immersion program. They ed establishing a new pro- would like to see a gram when the board is in the kindergarten and Grade 1 process of reviewing accom- French Immersion program modation levels at three start this September. elementary schools. Statistics they gathered at "I have a problem in my a public meeting in February own mind in deciding to add show 23 children could be a program when we have to enrolled in such a program at go to Hensalland watch them the kindergarten level and 27 justify keeping their school children for Grade 1. open," said Trustee John The majority of these Jewitt of Londesboro. children would come from Trustee Joan Van den Goderich, but interest has Broeck of Saltford had also been expressed by similar concerns. She said parents of children in Blyth, there are four schools in ad Holmesville and the dition to the three already townships of Colborne and under review that are within Nutlet. a range of six students of Scully said that while the coming under a similar time between now and review. September is short, other Mrs. Van den Broeck also school boards have set up said that inpreparing the French Immersion in that budget this year, the board's length of time. various committees were told not to add new programs unless they deleted costs in other areas. "If we work on that premise, what are we prepared to give up?" she asked noting the only areas were there could be cuts in- clude summer school, the county science fair and transportation. "Are we prepared to do that?" she asked. Trustee Murray Mulvey, RR 1 Clifford responded by saying he had enough faith in administration to come up with a report which indicated the pros and cons of a pilot project in Huron County. The parents from Goderich and area are asking the board They're in the mail The Easter Seals are in the mail. Bill Carson, - fund co- ordinator for the Exeter Lions Club, sponsors of the Annual campaign in this area' had club members stuffing thousands of envelopes Thursday night. The Easter Seal Society has been serving families in the Exeter area for almost 60 years. The number of cases and types of disabilities have varied over the.years. Easter Seal spokesperson Sonia Jackson said six families in the Exeter area received direct benefit in 1984. The disabilities include: cerebral palsy, spina bifida, ataxia (difficulty with -balance), muscular atrophy and cleft palate. The Lions through Easter Seals have supported families, by -their financial help with support devices, home accessibility, com- munication aides, parental relief and camping holidays. Three children in the area attended Woodeden Camp last summer. Woodeden runs for the summer months serv- ing -60 youngsters with a variety of disabilities. in each of the four two-week camping periods. Twq area accidents Officers of the Exeter detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police in- vestigated only two motor vehicle accidents this week. Saturday. a vehicle driven by Timothy flamather, Hen - sail struck a sign and fence on highway 4, just north of the Hensall village limits. Damages were set at $3,200. Wednesday on private pro- perty at RR 1 Hensall a vehi- cle driven by Paul Jeffrey struck a parked vehicle own- ed by his brother Shawn. Damage was listed at $500. PREPARING SEAL ENVELOPES This year's Easter Seals are in the mail thanks to the Exeter Lions. Shown preparing the envelopes Thursday are Lions Clarence McDowell, Doug Jamieson and Esmoil Merani. T -A photo The group of parents also indicated that the Ministry of Education funds about 75 per- cent of the provincial average per pupil cost of $211. A report by Bob McCall, superintendent of program, estimates the cost of im- plementing a French Immer- sion program in one school area at $3,843.94. He arrives at this figure by estimating is would cost $6,200 for such things as ac- commodation, equipment and supplies and other material for bath kindergarten and Grade 1. From that total cost of $12,400, McCall subtracted Ministry of Education grants based on 25 pupils in each of the two initial grades of $8,556.06 which would leave a bajance of $3,843.04. Exeter trustee Clarence �h�Fw y McDonald asked why the cost fects" of French Immersion. of teachers was not included The overriding theme of the in the estimate? excerpts were negative The superintendent replied towards French lmmei ion. that teaching costs were not "The main concern for all included because the French should be to achieve the best Immersion students would education available for our need a teacher even if they . children. To rush into a pro - were in a regular classroom. gram that Qpviously has rais- Direcior of Education Bob ed several serious concerns in Allan added that theoretical- schoolboards that have ly there are no teacher costs. already established the pro - but in reality there probably gram would be improper. The would be. school board (H,uron) shout The board also acknowledg- study and make public their ed that they had received let- findings on these and other ters from two citizens with concerns and assess the.sup- concerns for setting up a port of the Huron County French Immersion program. residents when they have Allan read aloud the letters received all the facts," states from D.C. Scott and Doug Scott's letter. Harrison both of Goderich. But Scully had the same Scott's letter took excerpts CEA study and head the sum - from a recent Canadian mary which said in general, Education Association (CEA) ' administrators involved in study on the "Issues and Ef- Please turn to page 3, niA vi SUNSHINERS IN MEAT DEPARTMENT — Students of the Sunshine Kids nursery school visited Zehr's food mar Wednesday morning. Above, meat manager Red Ro inson shown Jenny Mercer and Jason Wilson how hamburger is packaged, Ames VOC Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 One Hundred and Eleventh Year EXETER, ONTARIO, March 14, 1984 PANCAKEFLIPPERS --- Irene flipping abilities at Tuesday's Harness and Rev. Jim Sutton display their pancake supper at Trivttt Anglican Church. T -A photo Rec Centre board gets report on 1983 activities South Huron recreation and community centre board members and staff met with provincial ministry consul- tant Melanie McLaughlin at their regular meeting on March 8 with all members but Tom Tomet present. - For the past year, Ms. McLaughlin has been assisting with the compilation of -a written policy for use of the facilities. Board and staff job descriptions and organiza- tion charts are being drawn up, by-laws reviewed, and a complaint -handling policy is. being established. The annual report covering activities for 1913 was submit- - ted. Dave Atthill was hired for a 12 -month period under the federal careers access pro- gram. The position will be re- evaluated at the end of the year. ' During 1983 the Rec Centre received grants totalling -ap- proximately $12,000 and assisted other groups in ob- taining funding. Recreation director Lynne Farquhar hopes service clubs will be en- couraged to help with funding of future capital` expen- ditures. Proposals- include a pool thermal hlanket, cash register and microwave in the concession area, water descaling equipment, arena heaters and an ice surfacer. A range of new programs introduced in 1983 including needlepoint, crocheting and- macrame, cake decorating and chocolate molding, ballroom dancing, photography, golf and tennis lessons and a wide variety of sports were well received. Shuffleboard, suggested by some Exeter gentlemen, was one of the most popular. More than 100 enrolled, and the Courts are in use three times a week, with 40 players at a time. Carrying on during the summer is now under consideration. The classes in calligraphy and dough art which began in January are going well. The Dancefit exercising has retained its popularity over the last few years, and still at- tracts 15 to 20 to each class. Plans for 1984 include set- ting up coaching clinics at levels 1 and iI in theory, depending on the need; reorganization of an active tennis club: brochures to advertise and promote available facilities and pro- grams and usage of the hall for seminars, business meetings, etc. and continuing to offer -a wide variety of pro- grams conducive to all interests. Stephen accepts gravel tenders • At Tuesday's regular meeting, Stephen township council accepted tenders for the annual gravel contract and for a reconstruction contract. .Jennison Construction of Grand Bend presented the lowest bid of.$3.38 per cubic yard for a regular A gravel contract. There were three other bidders. On the reconstruction pro- gram for Concession 2-3 road from Lot 21 to highway 83. McCann Redi-Mix will supp- ly clay and A gravel for $1:19 and $4.55 per cubic yard. respectively. Dave Siddall was low bidder on the B gravel contract at $2.04 per More talks on Bell strike The results of. a meeting Friday between officials of the Bell Aerospace plant at Grand Bend and their workers. members of the United Auto Workers is ex- pected to be announced Mon- day, March 19. Tony Jones of Iluron Park. spokesman for the 79 employees who have been on strike since February 14 said Monday dight his group made a final proposal at F'riday's meeting and he expected to hear the company's rep'; , Monday. Jones added. "We offered a few concessions including some changes in our wage structure. In addition 1 feel a few things were agreed upon verbally. Talks Friday were carried out by a mediator between Bell Aerospace president Ted Bartlett and UAW interna- tional represtentative Bert Rovers of London. cubicyard. Councillors Ken McCann and Ruth Miller were named to the court of revision to be held March 20 on the Ryan municipal drain. The resignation of Wayne Ratz from the township recreation committee was ac- cepted. Ile will be replaced by Ian Russell of Huron Park. Jim Drake is a temporary replacement for John O'Neill who is sick. Approval was given to Lynne Farquhar to apply for a grant for the summer playground program at Iluron Park. Application is being•made for the employment of three persons at the Iluron Park pool this summer under the Experience '84 program. Clerk Wilmar Wein has been instructed to write a let- ter to Donald Darling of Mount Carmel, owner of Country Corners to clean up his yard and keep equipment off the road allowance. Carl Rood, Jim Hoffman and Leroy Keys of the Pinery cemetery committee attend- ed the council meeting to review 1983 operations and present a new budget for the coming year. Council approv- ed a grant of $1.000 for 1984. Council agreed to pay their share of paving at the Grand Bend fire hall only in front of fhe doors and their share of expenses for fire chief Mex Ifamiltonto attend a conven- tion in Windsor. Council rescinded a bylaw 'concerning operation of the Dashwood Medical Centre. That organization has now been incorporated. Council members and clerk Wilmar Wein will be atten- ding the March 29 meeting of Iluron County council with similar representatives from ilay township. i "k 'fir Price Per Copy 50 Cents Busy week for police, check .thefts, prowlers Officers of the Exeter town police department faced a busy week investigating a wide variety of occurrences. Monday, a 1980 Ford pickup truck owned by Frayne Leas- ing was stolen from theCaven Presbyterian Church. The vehicle was later recovered in a damaged condition near Dublin. Police continue to receive complaints of a young male prowler in the Gidley and Senior . Street areas. Residents are urged to call police whenever they see or hear of any suspicious persons. Friday, police received a report of a breakin at Exeter Furniture Ltd. They found evidence of two intruders at the scene wherea safe was at- tacked and other .damage caused. A small Phillips dic- tating machine was stolen during the breakin. Police feel they have found a relationship between this breakin and other occur- rences in the area: Two suspects have been question- ed and police hope to make arrests soon. A resident on Carling street has reported his vehicle headlights being hit by a pellet gun. Theft of gas from a truck parked at Smith -Peat Roofing has been reported. Also at the scene was an abandoned vehi- cle which had been invovled in an area hit and run inci- dent. This occurrence is under investigation by the Exeter OPP. Investigation,continues in- to three shoplifting incidents. Police have arrested two juvenile shoplifters who were observed by undercover security personnel. Two pairs of men's.gloves, leather and suede were found by a local citizen on Main street. They may be claimed at the town police office. Police investigations of in- cidents of the issuing of NSF cheques and of child abuse continue. The latter investiga- tion is in conjunction with Family and Children's Services. Also this week, police responded to two early mor- ning burglar alarm calls, con- ducted property checks, put in 15 hours of court time and conducted spot checks for drinking drivers. The investigation of the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald B nilton is reaching a conclusion indicating the deaths of the Exeter couple results from the inhalation of carbon monoxide. Technical examination of the chimney should determine if it was the cause of carbon monoxide buildup in the Andrew street residence. Constable George Robert- son listed damages at $600 when a vehicle driven by David Bell, Exeter slid on ice and ran into a parked vehicle owned by Don Camp- bell, Exeter on the parking lot Exeter Inn. turday, three vehicles were nyolved in an accident in front - of 249 Main Street south. A car driven by Janet Simons, Bayfield was pro- ceeding south on Main street when the driver fell asleep and struck two parked' vehicles owned .by O`Rourke. Goderich and James Foster, Huron Park. Constable Roberston set damages at $1.800. Huron school rolls expect 159 decrease Enrolment at Huron Coun- ty elementary and secondary schools for this September is expected to be down by 159 students which will- result in 10.9 fewer teaching positions. The Huron County Board of Education approved a 1984-85 teaching staff of 588 both full time and part time teachers at its March 5 meeting. There are presently 598.9 teaching positions in Huron's elemen- tary and secondary schools and schools for the trainable mentally retarded. Peter Gryseels, superinten- dent of personnel, said the reduction of 5.8 teaching.posi- tions at the elementary level is expected to be handled • through natural attrition. This means that enough teachers may retire or leave the. Huron County schoohsystem to go to another board to make it un- necessary to let any teachers go. There are presently 330.8 elementary school teaching positions. Gryseels said it is hoped that a similar situation will happen at the secendary level where 7.3 teaching 'positions will be eliminated for this September. if not, the superintendent said some teachers with tem - Please turn to page 3 BOYS WORKING OUT -- A small -number of boys took part in this winter's gym- nastic classes and received their diplomas at TIM Saturdaymornjng'. Above, gym- nastics director Lauren Love hetes Jeremy Westlake, Byn Guenther and Sean Finch T -A photo through their paces. - At tennis courts Startfu1fld car. The long awaited Stall tion of lighting for tI%abExete tennis courts moveU a step closer to reality this week with the announcement of a, recreation fund raising eff of the Exeter Lion nd Lioness clubs. Lions spokesmanhU Ellison said the lights will cdst approximately $10,000. Most of the money will have to be raised locally although some governme b ing is available. �. Ellison stated t is project could be the beginning of a long-term commitment of . . the two clams to improving focused around the popular ` recreation in the community. \Peanut Stomp. Other added Z., He quickly dispelled any attractions this year will,be''a rumors the clubs will be try- large slow pitch tobrnameM irfg to'raise money for an in- involving both ladies' and door pool. mens teams. • "Our projects ►at present--- Comma will be smaller >rnd will be «s nave oeen formed designed to benefit specific beijrg set 'to ere and make this htohiss groups or spent ,,where there _weekend one of the highlights is an obvious need;" /he othe summer. Ellison sug- stated. The concept of an in- f le c•ycle the date door pool will be looked at for on the calend future consideration. tended a specs 'he rime fund raiser this people who live a 'ay from year ill be a home coming Exeter to come home for the wee June 9, 10 and 11 ' weekend. now. Ile ex- itation to -If: 1 e 1•