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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-02-14, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, Febry 14, 1996 Region wrap u Farm group leaders discuss cuts to OMAFRA CLINTON - Huron County farm leaders gathered at the On- tario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs office last week to discuss the pro- posed 35 per cent cut to the min- istry, reported the Huron Exposi- tor. After receiving a 25 per cent reduction in its 1991 budget, OMAFRA was informed in a Progressive Conservative elec- tion promise it would receive no further cuts. "Cuts of this magnitude cause me personally a great deal of concern," said Steve Thompson, president of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture. "Es- pecially when we hear the gov- ernment say one thing and mean another." Worries were voiced by the Huron County 4-H program, which depends on OMAFRA for 1,000 hours of work annually in- cluding use of its facilities, equipment and secretarial work. The program costs $27,000 to run and fundraises $1,400. Wingham wrestler is champion WINGHAM - Trevor King, an F.E. Madill Secondary School student, claimed the Ontario Amateur Wrestling Association heavyweight chwmpiibnship, re%' 1.orted the 'Wingham itidvance,4: Times. Eight hundred Ontario wres- tlers competed in the event held at Brock University in St. Catha- rines. King will travel in April to the Canadian wrestling champion- ships in Regina. Museum closes gift shop HURON COUNTY - The move to close the Huron County Museum's gift shop will save $1,000 per year, according to the North Huron Citizen. The shop became unprofitable following a pay -equity settle- ment that increased wage costs above income levels. Although some museum items such as the Huron County Atlas will continue to be offered for sale, the building's retail effort will be scaled back. Post office clock to be restored MITCHELL - At the cost of $5,000, council has decided to have the town's 125 -year-old post office clock restored, re- ported the M''chell Advocate. Council acted on a recommen- dation from the town's Local Architectural Conservation Ad- visory Committee. The clock is expected to take 200 hours to repair and restore. Barns to be demolished ST.MARYS - The Ann Street chicken barns will be demol- ished as early as next week, ac- cording to the St. Marys Journal Argus. Once the barns purchased from John and Albert Kikkert are torn down, materials sal- vaged will be sold. The demoli- tiion could take several months. F s Flat garbage s rate approved Council agreed to charge each household a flat rate of approximately $70 to re- cover the cost of Bluewater Recycling's garbage co -collection program. Heather Mir T -A staff ZURICH - Council agreed to proceed with the first of three options which calls for charging homeowners a flat rate to recover the cost of Bluewater Recycling's garbage co - collection program. The approximate cost to offset the landfill site main- tenance and the actual co -collection is projected at a $70 flat rate per household. The village contributes an estimated $14,400 for their share of the landfill expenses. Co - collection is expected to cost the village approximately $9,000. Drawbacks to a flat rate cost recovery include the possibil- ity of more lax recycling. However, the village has had a high participation rate since a recycling program was intro- duced. An equal sharing of expenses, despite how much garbage each household generates, was also listed as a dis- advantage. Concern over under -cutting surrounding municipalities on the sale of garbage bag tags was one reason council decided not to opt for a user -pay system. Councillors suggested sur- rounding area residents might purchase bag tags in Zurich and dump their garbage in the village if the cost were con- siderably less. This would draw revenue away from the sur- rounding Township of Hay. Tractors recovered GRANTON - Lucan OPP re- ported, as a result of a search warrant conducted at a resi- dence on King Street, three sto- ten John Deere tractors were re- covered. John Stevens, 47, of Granton is charged with possession of stolen property. An additional search warrant was obtained for a house on El- gintield Road in Biddulph Township. Two stolen John Deere tractors were seized. Clinton Beley, 34 of Biddulph Twp, was also charged with possession of stolen property. Torch run wraps up in 4e0r,4rs.4:, „y EXETER - This year's Law En- forcement Special Olympic Torch Run will be held on April 30 in the Exeter area in order to accommo- date the May 2 run finale, which will take place in Cornwall. This year's participants will run through Zurich, Hensall and finish in Exeter. Exeter OPP officer Paula Ros- sewy, this year's coordinator, is seeking eager runners who wish to participate by running with the po- lice officers. The event is a fundraising effort and donations are also welcome at the Exeter detachment. For more information contact Constable Rossewy at 235-1300. Nevada tickets stolen EXETER - A break, enter and theft occurred on Feb. 10 at Erb's Garage in Hensel!. OPP reported once the suspects gained entry, an unknown quantity of Nevada tick- ets were stolen along with approxi- mately 12 to 20 packages of cigar- ettes. The total value of the break and enter is estimated at $400. There are no suspects. Overnight on the same date, OPP also received a report of a break-in at Country Corners Rental in Mt. Carmel. A Kabota generator val- ued at $1,500 was stolen. Delegation Council agreed to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of installing a shield around the light on the maintenance garage in response to a complaint from a nearby resident. Bob Fisher attended Thursday night's council meeting to voice a complaint regarding the light which shines into his home. "It's a real nuisance, especially when you're trying to sleep," said Fisher adding, "I don't think I should have to move my window or put blinds on my kitchen window." "It's a legitimate complaint, but how much money are you going to spend?" asked Councillor Brad Clausius. Amalgamation Council briefly addressed agenda issues for the amalgama- tion meeting scheduled between Zurich and Hay Township for Feb. 28. Bayfield and Stanley have also been invited to participate in these talks. Zurich drafted a list of all critical ratepayer services to be evaluated. Clerk -Treasurer Maureen Simmons asked council to determine how these services should be performed, where they can be offered and how they would be funded (through general levy or special area rates). The task of amalgamation will be a challenge for mu- nicipalities faced with future grant reduction and very little direction from the province. "A lot of the councils we are dealing with have been around for a long time and they may be very resistent to change," said Reeve Dwayne La Porte. According to the agenda, the Feb. 28 meeting will present an opportunity for municipalities to define conunon interests and "rationalize the decision to take part in discussions on the feasibility of amalgamation." The goal of talks will also include addressing negative factors during open discussions on amalgamation. "If you envision the concept of amalgamation, how would you see it unfold?" Simmons asked council. In addressing some of the critical services, council sug- gested general administration could be centralized in Zurich where a new municipal building has recently been com- pleted. Councillors agreed road standards must be consistent and public input will play an integral role in decision making regarding the sharing of services. Council also discussed sewage and water systems, planning and economic development, fire services, recreation and waste management as well as PUC and Hydro systems. The political structure, including the number of elected official: and the means of appointment, are also under consideration Zurich favors a system of election by ward, with the head of council to be chosen by the community at large. Mystery solved after 50 years Lieutenant's sister gains not only insight, but new friends Dot Sale - Dorchester Signpost For Margaret (Penhale) Crawford, 82, Belmont, (formerly Exeter), a re- tired teacher, the last six months have been a learning experience. After 50 years, she has finally learned what really happened to her only brother who lost his life in WWII. In the process, she has gained not only insight, but new friends as well. On March 21, 1945, R.C.A.F.F./Lt. Allan Penhale, 24 a wireless/ operator-air/gunner from Exeter, was one of four crewmen aboard Lock- heed Hudson T9445 which was shot down over Samree, Belgium while returning from a flying mission over Germany. The other three crew members were: F/Lt. Richard Ferris, Pilot, W/O Robert Hutton, Naviga- tor, and F/O James Trail!, W/O-A/G. It would be August 1945 before the crewmen's families learned what their sons flying missions consisted of. It would be another 50 years be- fore they learned what had really happened to them. With the surrender of Japan, the following information was released: "From the little village of Tempsford in Bedfordshire, England, the R.A.F. operated two secret special missions squadrons. None of the inhab- itants knew that the R.A.F. station near them held one of the war's biggest secrets. These squadrons were the airborne Scarlet Pimpernels of this war. The squadrons delivered arms, ammunition, radio sets, food and A* supplies to the underground figl}ters of all the occupied countries. Thi was .also •apassengerh, Polish and Dutch agentswe Ma til bd • in their own countri�ea 'otherVwere brought back td Edg=",, land for training as saboteurs."- ` In June 1995, Crawford received i phone call from Jack Smith in Lon- don, Ontario, who had known her brother and been in the same wireless operator class so long ago. • "Jack said he had just returned from a trip to London, England where he had read an advertisement in "Air Mail" magazine placed by air historian Phil Mertens of Leuven, Belgium looking for the families of the crew of Hudson T9445", explained Crawford. Crawford immediately contacted Phil Mertens, 32, who with his wife operates a bakery six days a week and one day a week indulges in his hob- by of collecting air crash artifacts with the hope of one day opening his own museum. Two years ago, Mertens found the crash site of Hudson T9445 in the dense forest of the Belgian Ardennes. During the course of collecting arti- facts, he discovered a watch case and strap not far away. By contacting the Stirling Aircraft Association Photographic Library in England, Mert- ens learned that the serial number of the case belonged to F/O Traill. Since that time, Mertens has been on an Odyssey to discover what hap- pened the night Hudson T9445 crashed, what became of the crew and make contact with their next of kin. Crawfbfd and her family, including her three sisters - Gr>}ce-Penhale, Exeter, Gladys Bland, Windsor, Doris Beat- tie Florida, and now the sisters of the rest of the crew of Hudson T9445, have copies of everything Mertens was able to learn. These include military records (some of which took six months to come from Alabama), letters, maps, photo- graphs, and memorabilia from a former W.A.A.F., Mary Peppin, a then 19 -year-old military driver who was the last one to see the crew before they took off that fateful night. Among the information found by the library in England was tht-following: "On the night of 20/21-3-45, 161 Squadron desptached eight Stirlings and five Hudson aircraft on special duties R.C.A.F. F/Lt. Allan Penhale were two others)." Also confirmed was that they are buried side by side u Heverlee War Cemetery in Leuven (which Crawford had already know when her grandson Duanne visited there in 1990. When Mertens placed his ad in several magazines the first time, he re ceived only one reply - from Mary Peppin in Surrey, England. Placing th ad in again, he struck paydirt. Writing to Mary Peppin, Crawfor was delighted by her reply and has re ceived several letters since then. Included in her first letter were the com forting words: « "We had very few Hudson aircraft, so we knew them quit He and his well. I remember your brother quite well... He and his ere% crewmates were mates were a very happy crowd - always laughing and joking a very happy and that is how they were when they took off. Whatever the; y crowd - always felt inside themselves, they were always like a crowd of schoc boys, going on an outing. laughing and joking - and that of Allan's crash "It was always sad when crews failed to return, and that nigh was the worst, because we lost so many au craft." is how they were when they took Peppin, now 72 and widowed, finished by writing, "He wa doing a wonderful job which he loved, and no bombs - jus Off' food and supplies for people who were in great need." Spurred by Mertens' discoveries, Crawford vowed to get h touch with the families of the other crew members. By the eni of the year, and with help from her grandson Bill and his com mainly dropping supplies to the resistance in Europe... The mission (of puter, she had contacted and received letters from all of them. With tit, Hudson T9445) was to parachute an SOE agent behind the enemy lines exception of one who is satisfied just knowing where her brother is bur and blow up the railway lies. When the agent baled out, the bag contain- ied, she continues to correspond with the others as well as Mertens am ing the explosives - which was attached to his leg - caught on the aircraft Peppin. and was lost. He landed successfully, but because he had no means of And while Mertens considers his mission accomplished, Crawford stil completing the task, he had to abort the mission and return to Allied lines. had one more person to find. Hudson T9445 was on it's way home when it is believed to have been in- "F/Lt Ferris had been recently married to ag iri from Ottawa at the tim tercepted by an Amercian Black Widow night fighter and shot down (as of his death. I have now contacted his wife" Costs of meter installation to rise ow Continued from front pap hook-up mandatory for residents, until the second meeting in Feb- ruary. Council discussed the option of spreading hook-up payments over th, - to five years to relieve residents u„ any Financia) hardship. Tax arrears Council supported a motion to send a resolution to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Associa- tion of Municipalities of Ontario to reduce the current three years be- fore municipalities are permitted to file legal action against tax arrears. The village presently holds a total tax arrears of $76,000 and charges 1.25 per cent interest monthly on tax debts. Council agreed it is pru- dent for residents to borrow money from a financial institution at a lesser rate of interest and pay off their municipal tax arrears. Amalgamation Council will hold a meeting with Biddulph Township to discuss amalgamation on Feb. 26 at Lucan Council chambers. Members dis- cussed the Amalgamation Decision Matrix provided by London Town- ship which outlines a variety of op- tions. Council was asked to rate each of eight scenarios including main- taining the status quo on the basis of each of the following criteria; financial impact, municipality inter- est, acceptability to residents, min- istry direction, service impact, tran- sition costs and impact on staff. Council will respond to the sur- vey by Feb. 15 as requested, how- ever, "without a uniform set of cri- teria," members found it difficult to make an accurate assessment. Scenario seven, which includes amalgamation with London Town- ship, and maintaining the status quo, received the best scores from Lucan Council. "Scenario seven's pretty attractive to us," said Reeve McLaughlin adding, "None of these option are very attractive to London Twp. But for Lucan and Biddulph, there is a better impact." Council indicated it is still inter- ested in discussing amalgamation with its neighbors. ANNUAL MEM= The annual meeting of the policyholders of the Usborne and Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company will be held In the Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre at 2 p.m. Monday, February 26 to receive and dispose of the Financial and Auditor's Reports; to elect Directors and to transact any business that might righty come before the meeting. Nominations will be received for the election of two Directors for a three year term. The Directors whose term of office expires are Lorne Feeney and Michael O'Shea, both of whom are eligible for re-election. E.J. 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