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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-9-28, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Potted Mums 4.99 6" Serving Exeter and area since 1873 Wednesday, September 28, 1994 mitri am — amism ism 1 '1 Sffioke M you stent subscribing to The Times -Advocate, you're missing out. 1 Tkne1 1 alarms m Use the coupon below and subscnbe today! 1 Name: Address City 1 Prov 1 Postal Code 8UBSCR1PTION RATES: Canada Within 40 miles - (65 km) addressed to non letter carrier addresses $30.00 plus $2.10 G.S.T. 1 Outside 40 miles - (65 km) or any latter canter address $80.00 + $4.20 .i9.T. Outside Canada -$99.00 cm NIA boor) 1 USE YOUR CREDIT CARD 00000000 1 00000000 Card No. 1 Expiry Date 0 Visa ❑ Master Card 1 1 CI Cheque enclosed Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE ` me Maitit' um dm Ont. NOMow 'I Inundatory 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 nside $ Stephen Township wants one in every home before Christmas CREDITON - If you live in Stephen Township and have been putting off buying a smoke detector for your home, council has come up with one more reason not to delay any longer. Council approved a bylaw at its September 21 meeting requiring all Ste- phen residences to have a smoke detector installed by December 1 this year. The township is planning an advertising and notice campaign to encour- age everyone to have at least one of the devices - which cost less than $20 - in every home and apartment. The present building code requires all new homes and apartments to be constructed with a smoke detector, but township administrator Larry Brown noted the regulations are not retroactive and do not apply to older buildings, which is why council passed its own bylaw. Brown said no active inspection of homes is planned, but the bylaw does have a provision for fines up to $500 for violators. Local fire departments wage campaigns each year to encourage in- stallation, and battery replacement of smoke detectors. A recent house fire in Usborne Township could have been a fatality had it not been for a smoke detector warning the family, claimed firefighters. Brown said council's decision to give residents until December 1 to in- stall detectors was based on the hope that all Stephen homes would have them by the Christmas season. Hay finalizing new twp, office details ZURICH - Hay Township is still working out some final de- tails on a new office for the mu- nicipality, but a floor plan for the building was finalized by council last week. Jim Denomme of RAM De- sign attended council's session last Monday, and helped decide the layout of the 48 x 72 foot building that will be constructed 'Please see Hay, page three. Remit gets SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 • Pk Pumpkins • Carving Pumpkins • Painted Pumpkins • Turkey Pumpkins Come see our display Ambassador of the Fair Michelle Ducharme was the winner of the 1994 Exeter Fall Fair Ambassador competition, selected from seven contestants. Behind her is fellow contestant Dawn Chappel. The runner-up to the Ambassador was Karey Youmans. More fair photos are on pages 18 and 19. Results from the fair competitions are on pages 21 and 28. e lea an life The one -legged bird returns to its old haunt on the Oakwood golf course By Adrian Harte T -A Editor GRAND BEND - A Great Blue Heron returned to his home on the Oakwood Golf Course Friday morning, short one leg, but oth- erwise in good health. The bird, often seen fishing at the golf course, was spotted in August with an obviously broken leg by groundskeeper Fred Ducharme. In seeking someone to help the ma- jestic bird, Ducharme eventually contacted Tom Dunbar at Huron Wildlife Rehabilitation in Bayfield. Dunbar, who has handled injured herons before, said he was for- tunate to capture the Oakwood bird. He and a summer student were able to trap the bird after it flew into a culvert under Highway 21. With a three -metre wingspan, and a light- ning -quick pointed beak, Dunbar said one should not underestimate how dangerous a cornered heron can be. "They're probably more danger- ous than raptors [hawks, owls, or eaglesj," said Dunbar, adding that safety goggles to protect the eyes is a must. Examining the bird at his Bay- field aviary, Dunbar found the her- on's leg was badly broken - the bone sticking out of dying tissue. "It's amazing that it didn't die of infection," he said, but noted the bird would likely have eventually perished, if not from infection, then from getting the dangling leg caught in a tree. "He would have lost the leg, no doubt," said Dunbar, who amputat- ed the limb to give the bird a better chance at survival. Herons can quickly adapt to life on one leg, changing their hunting methods from stalking fish and frogs in ponds or ditches, to learning to hunt from one spot, and then move on. "It doesn't take them tong to fig- ure it out," said Dunbar. How the bird was first injured is only a guess, 'wt Dunbar says that living on a golf course has its haz- Tom Dunbar of Huron Wildlife Rehabilitation carefully, but firmly holds the Great Blue Heron he nursed back to health for release at the Oakwood Golf Course Friday Imorning. At far left Is course groundskeeper Fred Ducharme, who spotted the injured bird on the course In August. Once set free, the heron (above) spread Its wings for a brief flight before settling down In ramified' surroundings. A S ards. "I suspect he was hit by a golf ball," he said, and pointed out that each and every one of the 150 birds he sees at Huron Wildlife Re- habilitation are there because of an encounter with mankind. "Absolutely every one," he said. Some are poisoned through in- gesting chemicals, lead shot, are winged by hunters, are caught in the backdraft from passing trucks, or get tangled in hydro wires. Upon being released from the box, the heron took a few flaps of its huge wings to cross the golf course and then sit quietly near the trees to savour its first freedom in a month. One main reason for re- turning the bird to Oakwood is that another bird in the area is likely its mate. Huron Wildlife Rehabilitation, to which Oakwood owner Dave Scatcherd has made a donation, is a volunteer -operated charity that has a reputation for rescuing shore- birds, the "stinky fish eaters" as Dunbar describes them. Although they do receive a few raptors each year, most are transferred to a Sar- nia centre for the best care. Over the winter, Dunbar will also be raising two baby squirrels for re- lease next spring - one of which is a white squirrel. Dunbar said the organization relies on private donations to con- tinue its work. Without formal government funding, supporters such as the Huron Fish and Game Association, and the Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foun- dation are necessary to keep it alive. in an bid to increase public awareness of the organization's ef- forts, an open house is being planned for this Sunday in Bayfield from 1-5 p.m. The aviary is one kilometre north of the village on Highway 21 and will be posted for visitors. Dunbar said anyone who find an injured bird or animal should con- tact Huron Wildlife Rehabilitation at 482-3138 for instructions.