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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-05-31, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Clay Bell Planters 9.99 �C�l'' 40cm Solving Exeter (HO ,ilea since 1873 SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Zite Video Hotline 235-3535 Legends of the Fall r__tt___t_, SUBSCRIBE! 1u aren't subscribing to The II 1 Times Times Advocate you're missing out. Use the coupon below and subscnbe today! Name: ' Address 1 City Prov Postal Code t SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada I Within 40 miles • (65 km) addressed to non letter carrier addresses $33.00 plus $2.31 G.S.T. Outside 40 miles • (65 km) or any letter t• address $63.00 + 54.41 G.S.T. ' Outside Canada •599.00 (nd sea 40 postage) ' USE YOUR CREDIT CARD 1 1 000000 1 cu000000 Card No. I Expiry Date 0 Visa ❑ Master Card 0 Cheque enclosed Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE ` 24 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1 S6, ata me esti =II esti Inside Starting a small business Opportunities in Huron County See page 5 Meet your candidates Huron, Lambton, Middlesex politicians introduce themselves See pages 12, 13, and 14 Air Show June 8 coming to Huron Park See page 28 Classifieds pages 20-24 Experts page 25 Announcements pages 26-27 Mike Harris carne to Exeter, and with Helen Johns (left), he visited local businesses. Harris chatted with John Wuerth (right) in Wuerth's Shoes, about problems facing small businesses. Harris visits local voters in Exeter Ingrid Nielsen TA Staff EXETER - The troops were in good spirits, as Mike Harris, leader of the provincial Conservative party, passed through Exeter on Wednesday afternoon. Harris pulled into town and greeted an enthusiatic crowd. Once off the bus, the entourage of Harris, Helen Johns - Conservative can- didate for Huron County, and supporters walked down main street to talk with local business people. One of the stops on the walk -about was Wuerth Shoes. John Wuerth, a co-owner, spoke to Harris about his concerns as a small x business owner. "We are looking to expand our business," said Wuerth. "But I am really afraid of government intervention. I'm afraid of government getting in our face." Harris sympathized with Wuerth, and told him he plans to "scrap payroll tax for small business" as one of the ways to help stimulate growth. Everyone eventually moved into Johns' headquarters, and Harris ad- dressed the crowd. He was asked his position on rural affairs, and what his party would do for the agricultural community. "We are going to be releasing agricultural policies today," said Har- ris. "Bill -91, which is a companion piece of legislation that we call the unionization of the family farm, will be completely scrapped under under a Mike Harris government." "As well, under the labour relations act, we are going to exempt all farm businesses. That's the way it was before...I tell you it is different, agriculture and farm produce. We cannot have the same kind of la- bour negotiations (on a farm) when you are looking at a crop and pro- duce. If it doesn't come off that day or that week, you know, we're in big problems. So other dispute resolution mechanisms are going to have to take place there." Harris was then asked about the concern in rural communities with •' Continued on page 3 Everyone back to work at General Coach in Hensall Strike is over at General Coach after workers vote 80 to 32 to accept latest contract offer Ingrid Nielsen TA Staff HENSALL - It was work as usual for the 140 employees at General Coach in Hensall, on Monday morning at 7:00. The employees voted 80 in fa- vour, 32 against for the new con- tract offer made by management at General Coach. The vote was held Sunday morning at the Hensall Com- munity Center. "It's no worse than any other con- tracts. It's not really great, but we're back to work, and that's good," said Wayne Ducharme, an employee at General Coach. No one would say they were ex- tremely happy with the new con- tract, but everyone was happy to be back at work. "It's real high spirits in there, and that's good," said Steve Zaranik, union steward and a member of the negotiating committee. "You wouldn't even know that we were out on strike for five weeks. It's a really positive atmosphere." Kitchener Pavlick, a union mem- ber, was satisfied by the new offer. "I've been to 12 meetings overall. There's nothing more to get. It's like beating a dead horse," said Pavlick. "The guys have been out for five weeks, and they've lost about $2,000 each in lost wages that they're never going to get back." The union was successful in some of its demands. The workers will receive a raise of 15 cents at six month intervals, totalling 75 cents, retroactively from September 31, 1994. The company also raised its hiring wage for new employees from $4.00 to $3.00 less an hour than the amount earned by present workers, for two years. "Everyone wants more money, "Everyone wants more money, but the best thing is that the company is really looking to work with us." The friendly photographer is gone EXETER - One of Exeter's most respected citizens and a person who put a smile on many faces passed away on Tuesday, May 23. Jack Doerr was known through- out this area and most of Western Ontario as a skilled and dedicated professional photographer for close to 50 years. Beginning in the mid to late 1940's, Doerr was almost a weekly contributor with photographs to the Times Advocate on a free lance ba- sis covering all aspects of the newspaper. In his own business, Doerr's pho- tographic skills were mainly aimed at wedding and anniversary cele- brations and family portraits. His talents were recognized pro- vincially as he was for a number of years on the board of directors of the Ontario Society of Photogra- phers. but the best thing is that the com- pany is really looking to work with us," said Zaranik. John Pryde, General Manager and Vice President, agrees that it is important for everyone to cooperate and get back to work. "All I can say is that it is good to see the employees back at work. I hope the general feeling of the em- ployees is a spirit of cooperation," said Pryde. As for the company, some orders were lost over the duration of the strike. Pryde says that he is grateful to those customers who were pa- tient. "We're very fortunate. Most of our customers were very loyal and patient. We have lost some orders, and the shuttle bus line has been transferred." Even with the summer quickly approaching, Zaranik says he didn't feel heavy pressure from man- agement to catch up for all the time lost. "It's really relaxed, no pressure." The strike began on April 21, and lasted for five weeks. Walkathon surpasses $100,000 goal EXETER - The bunions are healed, the sore muscles restored and the participants of the fifth an- nual Steve and Audrey Skinner "Walk for Sick Kids" arc back to normal. With the good fortune of a sunny day and the emotion of remember- ing Stephanie Skinner, the child who died from a rare liver disorder in 1990, the April 23 walk was an outstanding success. More than 325 people participat- ed in the Skinners' fifth annual and final waikathon to raise money for the Children's Hospital in London. This is where Stephanie spent most of her young life until her death at 111/2 months. The Skinners want- ed to make a contribution to this very special institute that was such a major part of thcir life during this year. Audrey admits that originally her biggest hope was to raise $2,000 as a lasting tribute to her first child. But $24,000 was raised that first year and at the urging of family and friends, they decided to continue for five years. With phenomenal support every year, the amount grew and over the past four years the Children's Hospital was able to purchase four pieces of valuable equipment, each one carrying a plaque for Stephanie. This year their goal was to raise $20,000 to bring the total over $100,000. Audrey now confirms that they have raised a total of $26,660.77 for a five year grand to- tal of $107,880.80. The hospital is in awe of what the Skinners and the •' Continued on page 3 It's roundup time Team Penning is gaining Interest in Huron Country and this Was demonstrated by the large turnout to Saturday's horse and cattle competition at the Kinsman 4 K Stock Farm In Staffs. Pictured above, an amateur team sorts the three cattle called from the herd. See story on page 10.