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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-10-01, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Mystery Movie Madness tic ming Exeter and area since 1873 SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Inside Teachers' strike a possibility See page 3 Lucan sewer work may be dashed See page 3 Biddulph's 150th anniversary history book See Crossroads Second front Hawks smash Bombers 8-1 in home opener See page 18 ` Huron Farm Tour on Sunday See page 21 Wednesda, October 1. 1997 Battle is on for town's top job EXETER - The proverbial starter's pistol could be heard on Monday morning at Exeter's Town Hall when Bruce Shaw completed the paper- work to put him in the election race with incumbent mayor Ben Hoo- genboom. The election platforms for both Shaw and Hoogenboom are based on the work of the current council although they don't agree on the success- of the council. To Hoogenboom, the current council did very well in Tight of provincial cutbacks. In Shaw's eyes, there is considerable room for improvement. Hoogenboom filed his election papers on September 18 and is; following the tradition of previous mayors who have generally run for two or three terms. He is ready to stand on the performance of his council and his record. "I look back over the past three years and in light of, all the cutbacks, we have done a very good job for the Town of Exeter. Unlike previous coun- cils that had unlimited access;to grants, things are somewhat different to- day," said Hoogenboom. He foresees that municipal councils will continue Co be frustrated by "not knowing who does what" in light of provincial reforms. "The (provincial) government has indicated they will not create prob- lems for governments with large increases. We have not seen too much positive from the province that would indicate there are standards that we're all looking for." He says the next two to three years will see the town restructure to some degree ibssibly to "friendly or forced amalgamations!' "I welcome some changes in that area although we want this to be an amalgamation that makes sense. for our local ratepayers. We don't want to have to pick up the Farm Tax Rebate in the residential homes. We want to be able to protect our local ratepayers from being treated unfairly." Hoogehboom's vision for Exeter is based on the work council has done for the future in the area of water, sewage and waste disposal services. "Unlike previous councils, we have to go at it totally on our own. We're planning this possibly without access to grants. A lot of credit goes to our council for not sitting back and doing nothing even though we know it's going to cosi taxpayers some money." "From that_ standpoint,. council has done a very good. job. With me 'as- mayor, asmayor, it has been a lot easier. I've been around 25 years. Previous coun- cils had the luxury of doing things with two-thirds grant from the prov- ince. I'm prepared to stand on this council's record and let the chips fall day night high - where they may." lighted what the Hoogenboom was first on council in the 1973-74 term. He was not on real goal of ed - council . from 1975-82 but was a member of the hospital board. From ucation is through 1982-94, he served as a councillor before being elected as mayor in '1994. the recent turmoil Shaw also brings a wealth of experience/ to the race (18 years as Exet- regarding pro- ,,,„,mayor). He said whenrhe retired from politics' three years -ago, it was vincial cutbacks Air show finishesmeant to be a permanent retirement but three things have changed his and labor reform. plans 'SHDHS pr n- . Wbole 5.99 93c + /c G.S.T) ONE DOLLAR Full of promise Happy (and sad) to move on. Some of the South Huron District High School '96/97 gradu- ating class award/scholarship winners, front left: Lisa Stewardson, Cohen McKay, Melanie Neil, Melissa Seabrook, Jessica Brown, Christina Hoffman, Amanda Jennison; middle left: Jeff DeBlock, Eric Hundey, Eric Clay, Brad Hartman; back left: Holly Steinmann, Mike Schwindt, Stephanie Pearson, Jason Glavin, Jayne Westlake and Shari Beierling. SHDHS grads shine at commencement Members of the class of '96/97 are as good or better as any year, principal Bill Gerth said at Friday's ceremony By Craig Bradford us proud." T -A Reporter "Despite what we have been hearing in the news. 1 feel this - group of graduates can compete EXETER - This year's corn- with any group of graduates any- rnencentent ceremonies at South where," Gerth said. Huron District High ---School -- Students.have_some tough_choic- (SHDHS) on Fri- es to make during and after high school to compete in the . highly competitive job market and Gerth said SHDHS students are up for the chal- in the black HURON PARK - Thanks to com- munity support and, corporate in- volvement, the 1997 Centralia In- ternational Air. Show built a $1,000 nest egg for next year's event. Airshow Chairman Tom Lawson said an invitation nas already been extended to the Snowbirds to attend the air show in 1998, but confirma- tion will not be received until early in the new year. Personnel involved with the aircraft in this year's show have all indicated they would like to return, if possible. The August 27 air show at the Centralia/Huron Airpark drew 10,000 people who donated two vans of foodstuffs to the local food - hank. Presently, the date of next year's show is still up in the air. A date will be set depending on the Snow- birds' schedule. Recycle, Reuse, reduce and bag tag USBORNE - Due to environmen- tal motives, every household must purchase a $2 bag tag for every gar- bage bag they put on the road. Usborne township tested this strategy to see if it actually helped reduce the amount of waste collect- ed. Usborne decided to stop using bag tags for one year to see if it made a difference in how people re- cycle their goods. Compared to Blanshard town- ship, Usborne Reeve Patricia Down said with the use of bag tags, Blan- shard had collected less garbage and more recyclables. "After one year of Usborne not using bag tags, we had more gar- bage and less recyclables," said Down. "That's why the bag tags have been reinstated." P "My involvement with saving the local hospital (Sou r th Huron) cipal Bill Gerth ./ "...I feel this group of graduates can compete with any group of lenge. graduates "Kids are leaving anywhere." high school with • their eyes wide open said this year's over 170 graduates and know the direction they are go- / +' Continued on page 2 "are a wonderful group that will do ing in," he said. - A positive attitude is the most im- portant item students can take away from their high school years, Gerth said. • "If you stick to it you can do any- thing," he said. rash victim returns t thank rescue crews By Kate Monk T -A Reporter HURON PARK - Pilot Andy MacGregor from London returned to the Stephen Township Fire Hall on Friday night to thank the team of fire fighters and ambulance at- tendants who worked together to save his life 19 months ago. MacGregor was a student pilot practicing night take -offs and land- ings at Centralia/Huron Airpark on February 26, 1996 when the 1980 Cessna 172 clipped a tree and crashed west of the airport. On Fri - Huron County Board of Educa- •- tion trustee Bob Heywood said this year's crop of graduates "are a promising hunch," including his daughter, Lynette, who is taking .applied sciences at the University of Guelph. "(The graduates) have many things to thank their teachers and parents for but they have to Find ways to conquer the ways we have failed them," Heywood said. Those ways include the state of the econ- omy which older generations are passing down to this one. "We arc going to ask them to deal with this stuff," Heywood said. "But they won't be alone...we'Il have to do that togeth- er." The big winners of the night were Moncur Scholarship winners Shari Bcierling and Jason Glavin, both 19. The award . is given to the top graduating female and male stu- dents. "It's a dream come true," Beier - ling said of winning the top honor. Bcierling is taking visual arts at "Toronto's York University and wants to become a fine artist spe- cializing in painting. "i hope to be employed and an ar- • tiste extraordinare," she said. Bcierling, of Grand Bend, is the pride of parents Sylvia and Ray and brothers Chris, 27, and Dave, 29. Glavin, who's taking economics and political studies at Kingston's Queen's University, hopes to go to day night, MacGregor explained he was on the final approach of. his third circuit when he and his in- structor misjudged the plane's al- titude. "We thought we were about 40) feet above ground when we were +; Continued on page 2 Thanks for the lift. Andy MacGregor (center front) returned to the Stephen Township Fire Hall on Friday night to thank the people who rescued him from a plane crash in February 1996. Fire department and ambulance personnel involved in the rescue effort are (back row from left): Mark Cronyn, Jim Finkbeiner, Rob Pertschy, Tom Tomes, Brian Dinney, Doug Lightfoot, Don Broom, Dennis Masse and Norm Hyde. Front row from left: Murray McDonald, Donna Hoffman, Andy MacGregor, Jeff Hoffman and Don Clarke. law school. "After all the hard work and hours you put in, it makes it really worthwhile," Glavin said of earn- ing the Moncur Scholarship. "In the end it pays." Glavin's family from RRI Credi- ton includes parents Betty and Mike and brothers Adam, 15, Brad, 22, and Rob, 25. or a frill runrlri“ 11 id all ,INS al (IN and u•Itrllal shills, turn to tial;(' 14. Seatbelt blitz runs Oct. 4-18 Seatbelt critics beware. The OPP's 'Operation Impact '97' seatbelt awareness blitz kicks off on Saturday and runs till Oct. 18. Area OPP detachments will set up rotating check points at intersec- tions and could hand out $90 tick- ets (plus the $15 surcharge and two demerit points against your drivers licence) to anyone not buckled up. OPP auxiliary officers will conduct traffic surveys, the results to be re- leased after the blitz is over. Lambton County OPP's goal is to increase seatbelt compliance to 95 per cent. Compliance was at 92 per cent in '96. "The only way to get 100 per cent compliance is to charge every- body," Lambton County OPP Const. Luke George said. "We don't want to do that." MTS break-in nets thieves debit machine EXETER - Thieves made off with a debit card machine, a credit card machine and a telephone after an overnight Sept. 27 break-in at MTS Farm Supplies at 215 Pickard Rd. in Osborne Township near Ex- eter. Huron County-Goderich detach- ment OPP Sgt. Shawn Johnson said thieves gained access through a door and minimal damage was done to the door frame. Anyone with information on the break-in arc asked to.call Crimc Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or Goderich OPP at (519) 524-8314. Financial advice you can count on! AIIPP George Godbolt CLU, CFP 496 Main Street Exeter ON 235-2740 When it comes to investment and tax strategies, retirement and estate planning, and more, we have the expertise and technology needed to help secure your financial future. . Call me today for financial advice you can count on! Llcens.d with Mutual Life of Canada/Mutual Investco Inc..two companies of The Mutual 0roup, Lt•ifis :I Mutual affair ij The Mutual Group -11