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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-03-06, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 10"Spider Plant mown* 23 3535 SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 41) Kids Video Rentals 49 Boutros 235.3535 Wednesday.March 6. 1996 tssf t■rs ss� ass$ t<, Ila■ Ia� Pickets pact arwr't to Ttt° u . th. . out. tar, I Name: Address City Prov. 1 Postal Cade Canada Within Hirai - (e5 turd addressed b 1 non letter carder addresses $33.00 plus $9,31 G.B.T. Outside 40 miles - (E8a any Weer1 mist addrese $63.00 (05% 41 G.B.T. outgo. Canada-so9.00e. polloW mg YOUR CREDIT CARO - 1 ULLEICEILLI 1 ouoou0007 Card No. 1 1 Expiry Date ❑ visa ❑ Master Card 1 1 CI Cheque enclosed Ratum & TIMES ADVOCATE um�semamaar Exeter Ont. 1 1 1 1 Inside It's your business Council approves sidewalk patio design See page 5 Sledge Hockey Club See Crossroads Second front Aneounceirpents pages 20-21 Experts page 22 Classifieds pages 23-26 Local educator dies EXETER - Ralph G. Wareham, 52, a Huron County educator for over 25 years died suddenly last Wednesday. Wareham was an active member of the Exeter United Church and worked as a superintendent with the Huron County Hoard of Educa- tion. ducation. He began his career teaching science at F. E. Madill and also in- structed at South Huron, Bluewa- ter, Central Huron, and Seaforth where he was principal. Father of Jeff, Suzanne, Jenny and Lisa, Wareham enjoyed many activities including skiing. He is survived by his wife Joanne (Webb) Wareham. The funeral was held at Exeter United Church with interment at Exeter Cemetery. Charges pending in high speed accident EXETER - According to police, charges are pending after a, vehicle, driven by William Mawson, of RR3 Parkhill. hit the railway tracks leaving Exeter at the end of Victor- ia Street early Sunday morning. At approximately 1 a.m., a 1985 Chev Celebrity struck the first set of railway tracks taking out an esti- mated 100 feet of track. The vehi- cle became airborne for a consider- able distance, crossing the second set of tracks and a ditch before it impacted on the other side of a ditch. t OPSEU members conducted an impromptu demonstration outsid on Main Street, Exeter Friday moming. et MP's office the office of Helen Johns Public service employees strike outside Helen Johns' office EXETER - OPSEU members hit the bricks in front of Helen Johns' office Friday morning. Arriving early in the morning, ap- proximately 28 strikers marched with placards congesting the stretch of side walk in front of John's office, chanting anti - conservative slogans and passing out OPSEU lit- erature. "Helen walked through us and said she didn't support us," said Keven Fer- guson, spokes- person for the OP- SEU Technical Bargaining Team, adding this has been the ongoing obstacle in getting the government to negotiate with them. "They're telling the media the want to talk with us but they have only met with us once for 20 min- utes...they're stalling the rest of the time," he said. However, Johns said she did speak to them briefly, even though she wasn't warned they were com- ing and has made an appointment to see two OPSEU representatives this week. "I'd like to see a resolution to this but I don't know how that is going to happen. Both sides have sub- stantially different ideologies. The thro and sa didn't s [provincial] government doesn't want to ruin their fiscal re- sponsibilities by spending the amount of money OPSEU wants the province to spend," Johns told the T -A Monday. Some of the strikers were blam- ing the government for the 50 car pile-up on the 401 last week claim- ing they were waiting for management to dis- patch them. "I'd like to tell the government they were responsible for a quar- ter million. dollars worth ordamage on the highway,",said Fergu- son. "The work site representative wasn't called...we could have had it salted in 15 min- OPSEU members wet8 alcn blaming the government for the small uprising at the correct.ions-f- cility in Goderich saying man- agement there "orchestrated" the incident. This is the second week the pub- lic service employees have been on strike since almost half of the prov- ince's 64,000 workers walked off the job last Monday. Issues of concern for OPSEU members include security, sever- ance pay, pensions and elimination - Continued on page 2 `Helen walked ugh us id she upport us," emergency, crews discuss plane crash Rrsfigtiters aritl ambulance"54spnnel worked together in difficult rescue Chris Skalkos T -A staff HURON PARK - Stephen Town- ship firefighters and Hoffman am- bulance personnel met Sunday to discuss the emergency call they re- sponded to last Monday night when a small plane crashed near the Centralia airport. Steven Marsh, 30 of London was instructing his student pilot, An- drew MacGregor, 44, in night landings and take -offs when the plane's left wing clipped a treetop and crashed 1/4 mile west of the i runway shortly after dusk. Marsh was able to get clear of the wreckage and walked two ki- lometers in the dark to Crediton to call for help. Stephen Township firefighters and Hoffman's am- i bulance attendants located the crash (site and freed MacGregor, who was still trapped in the plane. More than a week after the call, most of the firefighters and am- bulance personnel who were in- volved with the rescue gathered at Stephen's fire hall in Huron Park to view video tapes shot the day af- ter. Watching the twisted remains of the single engine 1980 Cessna 172 aircraft, it was hard to believe any- one could have survived the crash. "I couldn't believe what it looked like in the daylight .compared to what I thought it looked like at night," said Chief Robert Pertschy. The crushed cockpit was un- hicle. recognizable and the plane stopped in an upside down position making it difficult to free MacGregor who was hanging upside down. Emergency crews responded at 8:28 but had a hard time locating the plane at first. Marsh who was still disoriented and in a state of shock had difficulty di- recting them to the scene. After a ground search was con- ducted, the plane was spotted near the Ausable River, how- ever, the darkness complicated the rescue further and the site's loca- tion within a swampy area made it impossible for emergency vehicles to get close. Blocked by the river and a narrow, bridge there was only one way to access the crash site. "Nothing could prepare us for a unique situation such as this," said Pertschy. "We didn't realize what we were walking out to." Bringing whatever emergency supplies they could carry, the res- cuers walked through the muddy field and had to cross a shallow spot in the river in order to get to the plane. They wereassisted by Barry Becker of Crediton who shut- tled blankets and other equipment back and forth on his all terrain ve- Volunteer fire fighter, Rob Wing- er was one of the first to reach the plane. "It was so dark I could only see the plane from 25 feet away with a flashlight," recalled Winger adding the trapped survivor was still con- 's nice to serous and could be heard calling out for know two help, emergency Emergency crews services can transported MacGregor work to ether back to where a land g ambulance was waiting. when serving He was stabilized by those in need." Dr. Chernick who was picked up from South Huron Hospital in Exeter and brought to the site by Hoffman's ambulance. He sustained multiple limb fractures and was transported to Victoria Hospital in London but is expected to recover. Marsh was treated for cuts and bruises in Ex- eter and released. Exactly 24 firefighters responded to the call as did Jim, Donna and Jeff Hoffman along with Marion Taylor from Hoffman's Am- bulance based in Dashwood. Kathy Gielen, who was off duty at the time also responded to offer her as- sistance. Most were present at the meeting on Sunday which also served as a group therapy session. "After witnessing this kind of Stephen Township volunteer firefighter Murray MacDonald, left, and Hoffman's ambulance at- tendant Jeff Hoffman, view a video tape of the wreckage from the plane that crashed near ,Centralia airport last Monday. They helped rescue a trapped man Inside. trauma it helps to discuss it among ourselves just to get it off of our chest," said Gielen. The discussion also sought suggestions to see if the situation could have been better handled. "This was the most challenging rescue I have encountered," said Donna Hoffman who has been an ambulance attendant for 22 years. "If we had to go into the exact same rescue I . don't think we would have done it any differ- ently." In a letter addressed to Stephen Fire Department, Hoffman states, "...without your help in getting us to and from the scene of the crash, we could not have been able to ac- complish what we . as ambulance attendants are trained to do...it's nice know two emergency services can work together when serving those in need." Pertschy said knowing that both of the men are going to make it lessens the impact on those in- volved with the rescue. However, he admits "this is one we are going to remember for a long time." Housing group plans to manage Huron Park HURON PARK - At its Feb. 27 board meeting, Huron Park Hous- ing Association members passed a motion to submit a property man- agement plan to the Ontario Development Corporation, which cur- rently leases the area's residences. According to Housing Association Vice President Jim Parker, such a move would reduce ODC's services and save the corporation money. With the plan in place, he said, "ODC may think twice about sell- ing the park." Although ODC would continue to finance the subdivision, he ex- plained, the association would act as an agent, claiming re- sponsibility for duties such as resident screening and applications, rent collection and minor housing repairs. The association is now in the process of registering its name and becoming incorporated. "We would be the keepers of the grounds," said Parker, adding the plan may include setting up a rental office. Mike Blois, a guest at the meeting, suggested the association move cautiously with the idea. "It's probably ahead of what an interim board should be doing...I think it's a wonderful idea...(but)...We're a little ahead of our time." "All I want to do is instill the idea in someone's mind," replied Parker, who added the group should get legal advice. "Are we going to be too late?..It's all up for grabs...Who knows what is going to happen." The association's plan comes during an attempt by Brother James Steele, under the company name Steele Semper Fidelis Inc., to pur- chase the residential portion of the subdivision. He is also affiliated PACS, a new outreach ministry/social services agency aimed at Hu- ron Park residents. ODC claims Semper's bid has been denied and that there are no immediate plans to sell the park's residential area. "I have talked at length with the county and the ODC...None of them express full -fledge support (of Brother James)," said Parker. "We Just let him go about his business...I would rather not get into a fight. To sit down and belittle each other is fruitless...We pose him no threat...PACS pales no threat to us. Maybe it'll do us some roe A proposal of the property management plan was to be drafted and presented at tht association's next board meeting.