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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-01-31, Page 1SFJP 'S valu-takit: 4 & 83 Exeter 2330262 230513'5 Hat day 1 iNsistroxie explore iY of new powers The Omnibus BM will chip& 47 laws and el - ' low user fees for many rvices • 1 nantnprw o» 1 Outside 40.1 1 a•saa�s®`ts 1 1 QG3C MCLI Carts No: % 1 Oat* Li Vi=a CI ter Card Q 1 L4' 4M".: Insides Oritank'' farm It's your business See page. 5, Sports • Compete with students priorities See Crossroads Second front c l!rocleste Bleed 01000 Balt Hettoot,'ieif� admire each other's hii s Owing Hat Day on Thursday. Aiino is pages 20-21 Classifieds pages 23-26 Police charge man with driving with open liquor LUCAN - On Jan. 22 at approxi- mately 3:30 a.m., Lucan OPP stopped a vehicle on Highway 4, revealing open liquor. A small quantity of beer was seized and Daryl Hutchinson, 19, was charged with driving a motor vehicle with open liquor. Two suspects sought after Lucan break and enter LUCAN - On Jan. 26 a break and enter occurred In the Lucan area. OPP reported suspects drove away in a maroon -colored, raid -'80's Oldsmobile. One suspect has been described al 25 years old with blond hair and a moustach. He may have been wearing a red and white or red and yellow jacket. The second suspect is approximately 18 to 20 years old with dark hair. y ars The students face competition in the work force and post- secondary when many graduate at the same time Heather Mir T -A staff • EXETER - Oracle 8 Huron County students are en- couraged to pursue a four-year program when they en- ter high school in an effort to reduce. competition once they graduate. The Ministry of Education is expected to release guidelines by March 31 for a fixed four- year high school program, starting in September 1997. Parents of students currently in grades 7 -and 8 won- der how the work force and post -secondary in- stitutions will accommodate the number of"atudents expected to graduate when the school system switches over to a mandatory four-year di- ploma. "Where are we going to put all these people all at once?" asks the parent of a grade 8 student, Dianne Finkbeiner. South Huron District High School Guidance Counsellor David Cox estimates under the current school system 85 to 90 per cent of university -bound students take' iffier IMM fbdr years to cotnplete high school: In addition to the ttquired 30 credits, with a minimum of six Oetario -Academic Credits, many students enrol in additional:couries. Cox said the average number of c *etlifi aecirmutated by a South Huron graduate is approxi:tnaiely 35. "I'he minister hal said tbit high school students starting in September 1997 will finish high school in four years. How they will do that has not yet been fi- nalized," said Cox. In 1988 the high school system was changed from a 27 -credit diploma (SSOD) with a fifth year honors di- ploma (SSHOD) to a single Ontario Secondary School Diploma. This system of 16 mandatory and 14 • optional credits, including university preparation, can be completed in four years through careful planning. "They expected masses of high school students would do that. But they didn't." A very small percentage of graduating students have taken the "flint track" through SHDHS and many stu- dents not university -bound also took five years to complete the 30 credit diploma. From an incoming SHDHS grade 9 class of 200 students, approximately 50 continue education at the university levet while about 100 apply to colleges. "What. we suggested to the parents of grade nines corning in is, if students are capable and mature enough, they should consider trying to do the present program in"four years," said Cox adding, "The grade. 7's are just going to have to work as hard as they can and hope that there will be (post -graduate) places." In other provinces, four-year high school programs have been in place for many -years. M numerous uni- versities its eastern Canada, a bach- elor of arts (120 credit program) may be completed by five-year On - "The grade 7's are just going to have i0 work as hard as they can and hope that . carie high school graduates in three there will be rather than four years. Western (post -graduate) Provinces do not offer Ontario stu- �� dents the same option. Universities places. in Ontario have not yet indicated they are considering adding a fourth year to three-year degree programs in anticipa- tion of graduates entering post -secondary school with only four years of high school. • One year of university will likely cost approximately $10,000 and one year of college only slightly tly leuat $9,000, South Huron students are advised by staff. Fi- nancing the cost of living away from home for many rural students will be an increasing challenge. According to Cox, gaining a good education is more important than ever in a job market that is expected to force individuals to make an estimated six career changes in a lifetime. "The best way to prepare for career change is to have a good education to start with...you can take minimal training each time to change careers," said Cox add- ing, "We have a lot of adults who have suddenly lost their jobs. To get in the door of almost anywhere, you need a grade 12 diploma and many of them don't have - Ttastitfli'. eats . have . ftliteed provincially -funded. o' _visitations to • look at softie- in- . novative methods, including amal- gamation and user fees, in an effort to reduce spending. School boards, municipalities, police and fire departments are ex- ploring the scope of new powers they will be awarded in the Bill 26 legislation that passed on Monday. The sweeping bill will change 47 laws and give municipalities the ability to charge user -fees for al- most any service including fire and police. The only services it appears the province will mandate include the operation of a hone for the aged, welfare support and the de- livery of policing in tnunicipaities of 5,000 people or more. In London, council recently con- . sidered and rejected a user pay sys- tem for firefighting under which homeowners would be billed for responding to fire alarms. "The problem I see," said Exeter Are Chief Jahn Morgan," is people are going to be reluctant in calling fora minor Item. At rather have a like that come and we'd go to it. (Userfees) would eliminate that err Continued en page 2 ZurIch meets 4or amalgamation Interests Zurich met with Hay Township and Hensall to evaluate how amalgamation might unfold • Heather Mir T -A staff HAY TOWNSHIP - A meeting between Hensen, Zurich, and •Hay Township Council was held at Hay's municipal office last Tuesday to discuss the option of amalgamation. Although meetings are only at the discussion stage, the group will pursue talks including other municiiialities north of Zurich. According to Zurich Reeve Dwayne LaPorte, "Hr�ay has made the decision that they're not going to talk with Exeter at all. Hensel) hasn't closed the doors totally on Exeter yet and Zurich is in the same position as Hensall, basically. We haven't closed it (the door) completely but it's geeing tighter, closer to being closed." La Porte added,"We know we have to do something and we'd rather go this way than with Exeter Pi this time." • Maureen Sim; ions, Zurich clerk - treasurer, said the group has plans to invite tl a Village of Bayfield and Stanley Township to meet on Feb. 28 to liscuss amalgamation following the release of Bill 26 regulations Monday when more in- formation is available. This meeting is hoped to evaluate whether or not the municipalities share a similar vision of how amalgamation would-unfold.Simmons added although no commitments have been made, Hay, Hensen and Zurich have agreed to proceed working to- wards a feasibility study to determine if amalgamation is best for res- idents of the concerned areas. "We feel that our community of interest is with these other mu- nicipalities. We aro more interested in Hensall and Zurich," Hay Reeve Murray Keys. Although Hensall is pursuing discussion with Zurich and Hay, council has agreed to send a delegate to meetings between Exeter, Grand Bend, Stephen and Usborne Townships. "We're sending someone to their meetings just to see what', going ' on, not necessarily to take part but we're not saying no yet," Hensall ; Reeve Cecil Pepper told the T -A on Monday. "We haven't closed it (the door) completely . but it's gig. tighter, closer to being closed." Financial advice you can cont on! .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! uo«+..a,m wt *a LJe ol can.e.na*MI hwaatoo h,c . two companies d The WSW GroJP. 111,C The tiutuam.,