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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-12-17, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Delicious Hot Foods To Go Serving Exeter and di ,, SI!1L( 1'3 SEIP S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Photofinishing intishing 4.99 24 roll Wednesday, December 17. 1997 School concert season Santa's sleeping. A primary class at Precious Blood School in Exeter took a quick nap. with Santa at last- Wednesday's Christmas concert. Inside Time to buy your turkey See Crossroads Second front Silver Stick Lucan Lasers win See page 20 Computers donated to SHDHS See page 23 Ailsa Craig teen dead in accident AILSA CRAiG - Alvin Emke, 17, is dead after he was hit by a ve- hicle while crossing Queen St. in his home town of Ailsa Craig at about 8 p.pr. on Monday, London . OPP Const. Donna Shulist said. He was pronounced dead at Strathroy Middlesex General Hos- pital a short time later. The acci- dent is under investigation by the OPP, Shulist,said. • [ong-term regular monitoring proposed for Hensall landfill site USBORNE - Usborne Township has provided the Village of Hensall with a proposal to pay a lump sum of $35.00( for the perpetual care of the Hensall landfill site. Usborne Township has used the site for a number of years and found it was time to monitor the site regularly, explained Usborne administrator Sandy Strang. This is the first time Usborne has considered long-term monitoring of a landfill site. Council recognized since "garbage doesn't go away," it was time to look into monitoring the effects garbage has on the water and the hydro geology of the site. "The monitoring is basically to make sure everything is as it should be," said Strang. COP could make your community safer By Craig Bradford T -A Reporter SOUTH HURON - If you're concerned about crime in your neighborhood, Exeter OPP Const. Liam Brennan has something for you. The COP (Citizens on Patrol) program has or- ---dinarycitizens do something. abode the- crime in their communities. Here's how -it works: two vol- unteers'patrol their cOminunity, much like an OPP patrol, in a car from about I I p.m. to 4 a.m. (though they can put in only a couple hours); if they see any suspicious cars, people or activity, they use 'a cel- lular phone, to contact the OPP who will respond. Brennan ''said there have been 'recent meetings in Exeter and Zurich to gauge interest in starting up COP programs there. To date, Bayfield' Sao yti the only Huron County municipality with a COP program and Brennan was unaware if other nearby OPP services have similar programs. The Bayfield COP, called BMW (Bayfield Mobile Watch) is a' few years old and has about 30 volunteers. Brennan said it would he ideal to have 60 or more volunteers in a COP so each member would have to do only one late' night shift a month. The start up cost for h COP program is minimal, Brennan said. Municipalities or community groups in places where a COP is wanted will he asked to buy ,a cellular phone and pay for the monthly ser - "With the a seco of ey vice cost that amounts to about $288/year, he said. Volunteers will 'use their own vehicles and -gas. A floodlight would also he handy and'costs about $50. Recent problems, like vandalism in many com- munities and stolen/broken lights in Exeter's Mac - Naughton Park, could he solved quite, easily if a COP program was around, Brennan said. "(The COP program is) just to help the OPP," he Said. "With COP, the OPP-has a. second. set of eyes.-. It's,a real proactive approach to policing and it gets the community involved. The 'OPP can't he every- where at once. COP makes vandals think 'twice about going out and damaging those 10hts.' " , Brennan said either he or Bayfield officers will go tint with COP volunteers the first time they patrol to show them how its done. But volunteers aren't dep- utized or trained for anything more than ohservers. "These people will never be_ asked to get out of their cars and intercept any- one." Brennan said. • What they will he asked to do is to get a description and licence plate num-. her of suspicious cars and descriptions of suspicious people. Brennan hopes businesses run with the COP idea and play a leading 'role since a COP program could pave the way to ending flower pot vandalism in downtown Exeterand other Huron communities and provide extra security after hours. Any South Huron community )nterested in,start- ing'a COP program can call Brennan at the Exeter OPP detachment at (519) 235- 1300. COP, OPP has nd set es." Teddy bear toss Exeter Hawks' fans supported the Christmas Bureau by bringing their teddie bears and oth- er stuffed animals for the annual teddy bear toss at Friday night's Hawks game. Steve Ma- son, left, Bill Campbell and Jason Roy are veterans of the event with excellent tossing tech- niques. They are all 12 -years -old and in Mrs. Bergmann's class at Exeter Public School. Free turkey dinner on Christmas Day By Chantal! Van Raay • T -A Reporter HURON COUNTY - It is estimated that about 400 families in Hu- ron County cannot afford to have Christmas dinner this year, but through a community effort of donations and volunteers that statistic might change. A group of volunteers have collaborated their efforts to make Christmas dinner a reality for needy families and the elderly. The Ranch House Restaurant and Inn in Exeter is inviting needy families and the elderly of Huron County to a complimentary Christ- mas turkey dinner on Christmas Day between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. In- vitations to the dinner can be picked up at food banks, churches and a number of other charitable organizations. Jos Bervoets, a volunteer, with the project, said he expects about 1,000 people to attend the dinner. "This is a quarter of the popula- tion around here. • "I think it's very important that people get together and help peo- ple who have less," he said. He explained the idea has snowballed since it was initially con- sidered less than two weeks ago. "It's a community effort," he said. "It is hard times for everyone, with cutbacks and everything else, The feedback has been just phe- nomenal." Coffee, juice, 23 turkeys and all of the fixings have been donated by a number of businesses in the community. While this is the first time a complimentary Christmas dinner for the needy has been organized in Exeter, Bervoets is positive this will become an annual event. "It's a wonderful, wonderful event," he said."I'm sure this will be an ongoing thing." Most importantly, he wants people "to come ow and have a great turkey meal Bervoets said while the support has been exceptional, they still need volunteers for the dinner, to serve, prepare and bus tables. Those who wish to participate can call the Ranch House at 235- 3141.. Board hopes cheques out by Christmas HURON COUNTY - All Huron County Board of Education schools have distributed 'copies of the approved claim form for parents, to recover the child care payment being made available by the Ontario Government to offset costs and inconvenience during the recent withdrawal of service by teachers. Claims will be processed as quickly as they are received. The Board will endeavour to return cheques to parents before this Christmas Break if claim forms are submitted to thelocal school as soon as possible. Many questions have been raised about whether parents may donate proceeds from the child care credit hack to the local school for supplies and equipment. Should parents and others choose to make a donation to provide items for use by students, it irpossible to issue a, charitable donation tax receipt for such contributions: Cheques should be payable to the Huron County Board of Education, hoting the designated school and purpose for the use such funds. The same process c . be followed until the January 16, 1998 deadline for submission of claims. For further information, please contact Janet Baird -Jackson, Superintendent of Business, , or Glenn Lamb, Financial Services Administrator, at I-800-265-5:98 . or 519-482-3496. Infrastructure projects approved for Huron County UODERICH - 'Five projects worth $362,998 ,have received approval under the Canada/Ontario Infrastructure Works program. Paul Steckle, MP for Huron -Bruce, Helen Johns, MPP for Huron and municipal leaders made the announcement Friday. "The infrastructure program has proved to be an important catalyst in upgrading roads and municipal facilities throughout Ontario," said Steckle. "These improvements will benefit , local residents for many years to come." "Projects like these demonstrate the provincial government's commitment to maintaining and improving the province's infrastructure," said Johns. "i am certain that arca residents will be pleased with the results of these improvements." Town of Clinton Funding of $110,000 will be used to install new storm drainage on Park Lane from Albert Street to Beech Street, which will alleviate flooding during heavy storms: Work will be completed by next spring. "Our residents benefit directly from the installation of these storm sewers," said Clinton mayor Ron McKay. "Thanks to the infrastructure program, we can proceed' with this work immediately." Township of Grey Funding of $94,000 was used to install new concrete deck overlay, curbs and railings. Work was completed at the end of September. "i am pleased we are able to carry out this necessary maintenance on the Alcock Bridge, an essential element in our transportation network," said Robin Dunbar, Reeve of the Township of Grey. . Town of Exeter Funding of $81,820 was used to reconstruct McConnell Street, north of Thames Road to Walper Street, including upgrades to the storm r Continued on page 2 0 " on all regular priced merchandise OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOU Now until Christmas ne9s Fine Furniture 467 Main St. Exeter 235-0173