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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1980-07-24, Page 1No. 30 FIRST WITH LOCAL NEWS JULY 24, 1980 Price per copy 25 cents --A Three Three people drowned in the area over the weekend, including two Scarborough youngsters who lost their lives in a farm pond in Hay Township. That incident claimed the lives of Sarah Margarett and Ryan Joseph McGratten, children of Richard and Joyce ‘McGratten, 20 Oakharen Drive. .They had been visiting at the residence of an uncle, Don Regier, when they apparently wandered off together and slipped off the embankment around the pond at lot 21, concession 8 of Hay Township. The body of four-year-old Sarah was found floating facedown in the pond around 12:30 p.m: when the family went to get the children so they could head for a family reunion in Seaforth. The body of her six-year- old brother was recovered by OPP divers from Tobersnory and Mt. Forest about 7:45 p.m. in 13 feet of water about seven feet from shore. . Coroner _ - Dr. ,Liam O'Connor, Grand Bend, pronounced the two. youngsters dead at the scene and . their • ,bodies were removed by -Hoffman's Ambulance. They were- taken. eretaken, to Stratford. General Hospital for post 'mortem examination on Monday. Exeter OPPConstable Bob Whiteford .was in charge of the investigation. The other drowning victim was Jong Molc Lee, 39, of Ifl area Bramalea,'who disappears below the waters fn',(ake Huron at the Grand Bend beach; Sunday. • He had been camping at The resort for the weekend. His body was found by a "human chain" organized by a lifeguard and a vacationing RCMP sergeant after children reported a man in.difficulty etween the beach and the first sandbar around 4:20 p.m.. By the time searchers located him-, Lee had been in the water about 15 minutes, police said. He - was pronounced dead. at_ South Huron Hospital. - Lee was a non -swimmer and got into water over his head. • - - A fetter was'read at Grand Bend council Monday night criticizing the action of the lifeguards and the police at the scene of the drowning. According to the writers of- the fthe letter, Nancy Bonk and M. Osborn of Windsor, the events prior to the victim be- ing found were "totally, con- fusing" onfusing" and "precious minutes were wasted." The letter continued, "Had the victim been a relative of mine. I would seriously consider -taking legal action.. As it is, a valuable life was spent by the inept actions of the lifeguards on duty and the' police force. I am strongly. _►recommending a review and' investigation of your life- saving procedures." • Councillor Harold Green said that he was ori the beach at that time. and said, "That's not the way I saw it at all." Green said that .the people he talked to were very impressedwith the way 'lifeguards handled the situa- tion. Lifeguards on duty were Dave and Mike Wright and Cameron Coates. Green said that a vacationing RCMP -of- ficer from Winnipeg on the beach 'told him that the lifeguards did a good job. Green said that by the time Dave Wright reached the victim he had gone under water.` Wright immediately had people standing by to form a chain and the body was soon found. Green added that there was a slight un- dertow and that the victim was in water over a person's head. A resuscitator was Please turn to a e 2 COL a R1tl RS - Riding bicycles in the Zurich. Fair pcirade Saturday wereMichelle Ond fay Caers and Heather Consitt Staff photo Creat talent showadds to annual -fair success The 116th. edition of the Zurich FallFair was a success according topresi-_ dent Gerry Thiel who said the crowd was about the same as last year. Thiel said he was par- ticularly pleased with the Friday night talent show. He added, "It was a super show with a full house in atten- dance." This year's fair got off to a fine start Friday evening with a talent show featuring 30 participants. Hosting the event was CFPL radio mor- ning man Mike O'Brien. The highlight of the even- ing was the crowning of this yeg{'s fair queen. Taking the ti /was 17 year old Joanne McBride of Zurich. Runners up wete Wendy Risi and Charlene Hartman. Also participating were Brenda Masse, Linda Mathonia, • Beth Gelinas and Julie Miller. Judges for the queen con- test were Mary Quinn, Aileen Taylor -Smith and Elizabeth LeMoine of the Huron Country Playhouse at Grand Bend. The fair got into high gear Saturday with the annual parade which wound its way through the village streets. Providing the music for the parade which took as its theme "2000 and beyond" was the Seaforth Girls Marching Band. • Officially opening the fair was Huron County warden Bill Morley of Usborne Township: Other members of the official party were Leroy Thiel representing the • village, Reeve Jack Tanney, of Hay township, MP Murray Cardiff, fair presi- , dent Gerry Thiel and the fair queen contestants. An. event which drew a fine crowd and 29 com- petitors was the wrist= wrestling cbntest'which this year was limited to com- petitors from the South Huron area. Stephan Orenczuk of Huron Park placed first in the heavy weight division followed by Dave Cyr of Zurich. Ron Oesch of RR 2. Zurich triumphed in the medium category while Fred Ducharme won the light weight division. In the ladies' competition Valerie Glanville took both the light and medium weight categories while second place finishes went to Carol Fisher and Alice Masse. - A total of 30 entries in the baby contest gave judges Charlene Finkbeiner of Dashwood and -Lori Bisback of Grand Bend a difficult time in picking out the top three babies in each divi- sion. The top three children in the under six months , category were Andrea, daughter of Mr. and Mrs, Andre Durand of .RR 2, Zurich; Bradley. son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Masse of RR 2, Zurich and Matthew, ,son • of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Regier of Crediton. In the Six to twelve month category, Kathy. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Oliver of Huron Park. 'Terri, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hamather 'of Zurich and Sandie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ryan of Mt. 'Carmel were the top tots. For youngsters up to 18 month's the top children were, Steven, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo -Ducharme of Grand Bend; Eric, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Groot of Hensall and Vicki- Lynn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Rau of RR 2, Zurich. Showing the top pets at the fair were Jennifer and Cynthia Stark, Mark Laporte, Paul Dickert, . Robert Lostell. Paul Taylor and Cameron Rader. The fair parade was one of the best in years with a large number of boys and girls entered with their bikes and trikes. ' Winners in the best decorated bicycle division were Dale Miller, Wayne Regier and Kevin Teeter. In the best children's organization or club float the winners were the Hensall Nursery School. the 4-H club Please turn to page 6 • HARMONIZING --r The tombination of the voices of Tammy Lesperance, •and' Lisa and Debbie Bedard provided the audience of the Zurich Fair talent show Friday with some good entertainment. Staff photo Ball tourney, Saturday The annual Zurich fastball tournament will be held Saturday with eight_ top notch Western Ontario teams participating. The host Zurich Buckeyes will be battling against Hensall, Lieury, Clinton, Embro, South Zorra, Goderich Zeibar.t and Goderich Fisher Builders. The tourney starts at 8 a.m. with Hensall meeting Goderich Ziebart followed by South Zorra and Lieury at 9:30. A The third game at 11 a.m. pits Clinton against Embro BEST COOK Carol Anne Lostell of Kippen was named cham- pionship cook at the 1980 Zurich fall fair and wins the Exeter Times Advocate special. She also won the Simpson - Sears certificate for gaining 66 points in the women's section in classes 50 to 61. Mrs. William Dolmage of Londesboro was second with 63 points. while the Buckeyes take on Goderich Fisher Builders at 12:30 p.m. Winners of the first round move into the 'A' division while the four losing clubs carry on in the 'B' section. The 'B' final game is slated for 8 p.m. with the 'A' championship slated for 9:30. During the entire day a refreshment booth and sausage and sauerkraut dinners will be available in the arena,