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Wednesday. February 8, 17395
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GRAND BEND - Only a few
' days ago, organizers of the Grand
Bend Winter Carnival were worried
1 there would not be enough snow to
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victors stayed off the roads
give the festival a proper wintery
atmosphere. By Saturday, freezing
cold and high speed winds were
bringing in so much snow that
many visitors stayed away, and by
Sunday the closure of Highway 21
led to the cancellation of other
events.
The Fire On Ice motorcycle rac-
es, perhaps the highlight event of
the Carnival's first weekend, had to
be cancelled because of poor vis-
ibility on the track at the Grand
Bend Airport. On Sunday. the out -
Even a dragon's breath was an Icy blast on Saturday after-
noon. Seven year old Justine Baltessen of Parkhill took a
break from playing in the Children's Village at the Grand Bend
Winter Carnival by finding some shelter from the wind on the
ice sculptures that adorned the huge ice castle in the Colonia!
Tavern's parking lot.
Too many secrets at council?
One councillor wants to see fewer
discussions hidden behind closed doors
EXETER - One town councillor's bid to
have less of council's business conducted in
secret went unsupported Monday evening.
Councillor Tom Hughes said he was con-
cerned some of the items on the Committee of
the Whole Agenda might be outside the guide-
lines recommended by provincial legislation.
"They don't seem to comply with the spirit
of Bill 163," said Hughes, referring to items
on the agenda for the in camera meeting later
that evening.
Mayor Ben Hoogenboom disagreed, stating
that one of the items was a legal matter, and
the other concerned property.
Municipal guidelines state that only legal,
property and personnel matters may be dis-
cussed behind closed doors.
"It's not a town property though," said
Hughes, noting that the matter dealt with a
proposed development by the Hensall Co -Op,
outside the town boundaries.
Town administrator Rick Hundey said the
issue certainly had some legal aspects to it,
and a potential agreement might arise from it.
Councillor Bob Spears said provincial leg-
islation teems to recognize that a lot of mu-
nicipal government discussion is done at the
comr tree level, which is usually outside pub-
lic scrutiny.
"Ultimately, the debate and voting takes
place in public," said Spears.
"They still allow us to do work behind the
scenes," said Spears, saying there was but a
subtle difference between committee meetings
and Committee of the Whole meetings.
"There are no minutes of the Committee of
the Whole meetings," pointed out Hughes.
Unlike other committee meetings, such as
public works, the cemetery board, or rec-
reation centre board, the Committee of the
Whole does not document its decisions and
discussion, or even agendas, with minutes.
Hughes then made a motion to record and
publish minutes of all Committee of the
Whole meetings. However, his motion died
without a seconder from the other council
members.
door figure skating demonstration
was cancelled as well.
In all, it made for a somewhat
quiet first weekend for the Car-
nival, even though many soldiered
through the snow squall to keep
most events open. The snowpitch
games and the snow football went
ahead, even though competitors
could barely see each other at times
through the white -outs on the
fields. The best places to be, it
seemed, were at the indoor events
such as Saturday's well -attended
teen talent contest and gong show.
"The snow is something else,"
said Fran Mackay at the Carnival's
main office on Monday. "I'm sure
it will improve and next weekend
will be packed with visitors."
As of press time, carnival pr-
ganizers were trying to reschedule
some of the cancelled events for
this weekend - weather willing, of
course.
Exeter
ready for
national
spotlight?.
EXETER - Does Exeter really
have what it takes to be a showcase
town for floral beauty nationwide?
The test will be later on this year.
Exeter has been registered as one
of only three municipalities in all of
Ontario to compete in the Canada
in Bloom/Communities in Bloom
in 1995. Stratford is one of the oth-
er two. Each province will enter its
communities in the contest, which
will use a travelling jury to judge
the flowers and greenery of each re-
spective community and present
awards in Ottawa on September 30.
"There is a need for a bit more at-
tention to the matter," town ad-
ministrator Rick Hundey told coun-
cil Monday evening. He said some
organization is needed to get some
town groups on side "to do a good
job of it".
Deputy -reeve Dave Urlin sad he
thought the contest was an ex-
cellent program, and suggested
council's executive committee think
about getting some community
groups together.
Councillor Bob Spears pointed
out the Business Association is al-
ready budgeting for some flower
boxes in the hope several store
owners will have flower displays
out front this summer.
The judging of Exeter's effort,
quality and originality, appearance,
respect for environment, and com-
munity involvement will likely take
place in July.
Willie's prediction not too far off the mark
The Ground Hog
Day prediction
was followed by a
winter storm
By Heather Vincent
T -A staff
EXETER - No way out. Driving
outside of Exeter yesterday was
nearly impossible due to a severe
snow storm. The storm was at its
worst near Grand Bend and be-
tween London and Lucan in a band
approximately ten
miles wide.
The Ontario Pro-
vincial Police re-
ported that all road
we closed outside
of Exeter. Only two
accidents, which re-
sulted in no serious
injuries, were reported by noon on
Monday.
Glenn Kells of the Exeter Works
Department could not make any
comment regarding the situation in
the town, he was too busy with the
snow and blowing drifts.
Mary Ellen Zielman of Hessum
Bed and Breakfast in Centralia was
busy Monday preparing for more
guests who might be stranded by
the extreme weather conditions.
"I'd b
the
wash
make
"I'd better get the sheets washed
and make up the beds," said Ziel-
man. Two parties were stranded
Sunday evening at the Bed and
Breakfast. One group was from
London and St. Thomas and one
from Uxbridge. The two groups set
out for home on Monday morning
while the weather was quiet for a
time.
Donut Delite on Main Street is
open 24 hours a day. Many people,
especially truck drivers were wait-
ing there for roads to be cleared be-
fore some drivers ventured out at
approximately nine
o'clock yesterday
morning. Transport
truck drivers were pre-
vented from leaving
Exeter due to road clo-
sures and many were
drinking coffee and us-
ing the telephone at the
be
closed is not covered by their in-
surance.
Snow squall and wind chill warn-
ings were in effect all day Monday
for the area and over 30 centimetres
of snow was expected to fall.
Snow was falling at a rate of two
centimetres or more per hour.
In addition to road closures, Hu-
ron County schools were also
closed. This blast of winter weath-
er is certainly making up for the un-
seasonably mild weather of De-
cember and January.
get
sheets
ed and
up the
beds."
shop.
Most trucks were parked along
Main Street. Drivers could be fac-
es with charges should they go
through closure signs.
Several vehicles were spotted go-
ing around the road closure signs.
A word of warning; police can
charge the driver of a vehicle trav-
elling on a closed road. As well,
any vehicle which is involved in an
accident on a road that has been
Road closed signs sealed off Exeter for most of Monday, but there were still a few brave souls
who venture past the signs onto unplowed highways, risking charges from police, and void In-
surance.