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Times Advocate, 1994-8-10, Page 3Exeter Terry Fox Run in the works Organizers say the 1994 event is aimed at topping last year's fundraising totals EXETER - On September 18, thousands of people across Canada will be participating in the annual Terry Fox Run to raise funds for the fight against cancer. Once again, Exeter will be one of the sites of the run. Pledge sheets for runners will be available at several locations in Exeter later this week. Organizer Adrian Harte said that since participants in the event the past two years have said they were happy with the 10 kilometre route through the streets of Exeter, he will be planning a similar course for 1994 with few changes. Advantages of keeping the route on Exeter streets are the sidewalks, shady trees, and the fact that the same route can be used by participants who choose to jog, ride, or even rollerblade. Last year's Terry Fox Run raised over $2,000 in Exeter and Harte said this year's target is to improve on that total. A school challenge is in the works as are some other ideas. All funds raised by participants in the Terry Fox Run go directly to the support of cancer research. All expenses are paid for by the Run's corporate sponsors. Anyone wanting a pledge sheet, more information, or wanting to help organize the event can contact Adrian Harte at 235-1331, or 235-2357 evenings. Water unsafe for swimming The Lambton County Health Unit posted signs on Grand Bend's beach GRAND BEND - Signs cau- tioning swimmers about the pol- luted waters went up along the Lake Huron shoreline including Grand Bend on Friday. It's the first time this year the main beach in this popular resort community has been posted. Michael Garipey of the Lambton County Health Unit reported that the bacteria E -coli found in human and animal feces drains into the wa- ter from defective septic tanks or run-off from farm fields. Swimming in the polluted water could cause upset stomach or a skin, eye or ear infection. "They test on a weekly basis, it's poste V from here to Sarnia," said Grand Bend mayor Tom Lawson. The health unit usually docs the testing on Wednesday and it takes two days for the results to come back. "The sad part is it takes 48 hours to do the testing," said Lawson who said the county should consider do- ing testing on the weekends. Monday night at the Grand Bend council meeting Lawson asked ad- ministrator Paul Turnbull to contact the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority and ask them how they can help. "We suspect there is possible farm runoff. Where is the problem and how can we monitor it?," he asked. "We should root out the problem and find the source." He said the Health Unit did more tests on Monday and hoped the signer would be removed late Tues- day or early Wednesday. Councillor asks for one -dollar garbage tag Smaller bags should go out at the curb at half the price? EXETER - Is two dollars too • much to pay to set a small, or half - full garbage bag out at the curb? At least one Exet.r councillor thinks so. Councillor Bob Spears made a suggestion at last Tuesday's council session to institute a one -dollar tag for smaller garbage bags under the town's user pay collection program. The two -dollar tag program came into effect last July, and boasts great success in reducing the amount of landfill waste generated by the town's residential properties. Spears said that in summer months, many residents are unhappy about waiting until their garbage bags arc full before setting them out at the curb - with a two -dollar tag. Spears asked that a one -dollar tag be considered for smaller, or half -full bags. The public works committee will consider the proposal at its next meeting. Blaze leaves four homeless in Parkhill Donations are being accepted to aid the victims who -lost everything in the downtown fire PARKHILL - Donations are be- ing collected in Parkhill after a Monday night fire left four people without their homes. The fire started in Kelli's Family Restaurant and spread to nearby business, including a flower shop and a Stedman's store. Firefighters from other Mid- dlesex municipalities arrived in town to fight the blaze, and it was an aerial ladder truck from Strath- roy that proved essential in helping stop it spread further down the block. Four single people in four separ- ate apartments lost their homes and all their possessions in the fire. The Northwest Middlesex Multi - Service Centre at 181 King St. in Parkhill, and the Blessings Un- limted store are both accepting do- nations of food, clothing, furniture, or money to aid the victims. IN THF. NFWLS Times -Advocate, August 10, 1994 Page 3 Grand Bend will expand, modify The local sewage plant will have to wait two more years By Fred Groves T -A staff GP AND BEND - Although it is still a couple of years away, the ex- pansion of the Grand Bend Sewage Treatment Facility is drawing quite a bit of interest. Saturday morning, dozens of res- idents from the area came to the Grand Bend Legion to take a look at the plans for the modification and expansion of the facility. "It's a lagoon based treatment ter- nary level system," explained Ste- phen Pyke from M.M. Dillon the firm which is doing the study. "Sewage treatment facilities are ei- ther primary, secondary or tertiary. It's bumping i,p to the next level." Grand Bend initially began look- ing into the expansion possibility back in 1990 and since then, the village has learned a few surprising facts. "Although Grand Bend has been under a development freeze for the past five years, through this plan we found we have more capacity," said mayor Tom Lawson. However, the existing capacity does not met the village's future plans which continues to see it's population grow. "Long range, what's in the area's best interest?," asked Lawson. Looking at the plan, which could Grand Bend deputy -mayor Cam Ivey, left; talked with several local residents on Saturday about the village's sewage treatment facility's expansion plans. Hensall would like to make cat issue part of fall election Right now council says there is nothing that can be done about the problem unless the majority of village residents supports the idea of a bylaw By Catherine O'Brien T -A staff HENSALL - Perhaps the only way Hensall councillors can deal with the ongoing problem of cats wandering onto private property is to make the issue part of the next upcoming municipal election. The was one possible option touched on by councillors Monday night after another complaint from a village resident about un - welcomed cats on private property. "What are you going to do about these damn things running in town," said Hensall resident Ken Clarke about the cats. "I'm getting tired of them," he said. "I don't want to be mean, but something has to be done." A frustrated Clarke said cats con- tinually come onto his property and break open his garbage bags and spray in his car port. "It's not just me bothered by the cats, other people are also com- plaining," Clarke said. He went on to say that it wasn't fair that dogs are regulated yet cats Cat control bylaws just won't fly, says mayor EXETER - A dog owner, miffed at increasing restrictions on her pooch, asked council why cat own- ers did not face similar restrictions in Exeter. "Being a dog owner I have to have a license, I can get charged if it goes off my properly, and I have to scoop up behind it," JosieChrist- mas told council. She said she doesn't object so much to the restrictions as the fact that a cat owner faces no such re- quirements, and can let a cat out to roam all day without concern. Mayor Bruce Shaw said the issue is cut-and-dried for council. Pro- vincial legislation makes provision for municipalities to regulate certain animals, but cats aren't on the list. "It lists the other animals, and it doesn't list cats," said Shaw. "You can't regulate cats." The mayor noted Hensall's at- tempt at a cat control bylaw was shot down, and Goderich has backed off from a similar attempt for the same reasons. are able to roam free. "They should be regulated like a dog," he said. Councillors said they have re- ceived similar complaints about cats, but there is little they can do about the problem without a bylaw in place. "We had a bylaw in place, but it was defeated," said reeve Cecil Pepper. "Legally we can't touch them," said councillor Butch Hoffman. It was just over a year ago that councillors were forced to drop a proposed bylaw as public outcry and petitions were presented to council against it. And it's not just Hensall dealing with a cat issue. % "Other municipalities have,the same problems, but no one has been able to put a bylaw in place," said Pepper. "Goderich worked on it (a bylaw] for six months and then scrapped the bylaw," he said. As well, Pepper said it's a myth that the majority of cats wandering through the village help with con- trolling mice at nearby feed mills. "Half the cats would run the other way if they saw a mouse," Clarke added. Besides discussion about making the issue part of the next municipal election, councillors said another alternative would be to contact a group of people who last year said they would be willing to form a committee to try and deal with the issue. Clarke said he has a live trap and would like to catch the cats, but wanted to know if council would deal with the animals once caught. "We have no authority to touch the animals," Pepper said. "The problem is that right now we have no way of knowing wheth- er the animal is a domestic or stray," Reaburn said. "We tried to regulate this so peo- ple would not take it into their own Correction In last week's issue of the Times - Advocate it was incorrectly stated in the review of the Huron Country Playhouse production of Hank Wil- liams: The Show He Never Gave that country and western star Hank Williams died in a car crash. While Williams died in the back of a car on January 1, 1953, it was not the result of a crash. The Times -Advocate regrets the error. hands," added Reaburn. Clarke was told that although council .empathized with his prob- lem there was nothing they could do at this time to help him. "Maybe once I catch them, I will just bring them to your house then," Clarke said to Pepper. "Something has to be done," he said. sec construction begin in 1996, there has been five alternatives set aside. They arc modify and expand the existing system (which is what the village is leaning towards), con- struct a new facility at the existing site, reduce sewage flows, limit growth, do nothing. The new system which is being called the "New Hamburg Process", is now in the third. stage of develop- ment with the fourth ready to be- gin. In all, there arc five stages which have to be completed. "Stage Five is the design and con- struction," said Pyke. "It may or may not happen." One determining factor on wheth- er or not it will go ahead is fi- nancial. While the new system will in- itially benefit Grand Bend and Ste- phen Township the most, the plan is hoping to involve Bosanquct Township as a project participant to provide future development in the northern pan of the township. Preliminary cost analysis has Grand Bend's share of the new sys- tem at S2292,0(X) of which $481,000 will have to be paid by the municipality and the rest comes from provincial funding. Stephen's share is $1,637,000 of which the township will have to pay $343,000. Bosanquet's share is $748,000 and as of Saturday fund- ing was not yet available. An example of how the taxpayers will have to come up with the mon- ey - it will cost 20 to 30 cents per day for treatment services based on an average per capita consumption of 50-75 imperials gallons per day. "It will be a user pay system, we have meters going in," said Law- son. f tip Regular Council Meeting Monday August 15, 7:30 p.m. Change of location to Olde Town Hall (Upper floor) HAS NOW OPENED OUR SHOW ROOM FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE We have expanded to serve you better For All Your Decorating Needs We Now Carry: T Benjamin Moore Paint T Wallpaper Y Flooring Samples T Full Line of Fabric Samples with an in-house workroom to assemble our unique custom window treatments/accessories T Sundries T Drapery Hardware A designconsultant to help you make_ indkiduatas the privacy of your honut of tin ournew showroom . ,r` Our Specialty Is: • Decorative Wall Finishes oto Stenciling by a Certified Stenciler a Being Unique with several years of experience in the decorating trade, having decorated some of the most prestigious homes and offices in the area. Louise 's Unique Interiors (Division of 1060136 Ontario ttd. ) 436 Main St. S., Exeter, Ontario Tel: (519) 235-4086 / Fax: (519) 235-4087 A