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Wednesday, October 26, 1994
Most support civic corner, says poll
Question - "Do you support town council's
plans to renovate the Old Town Hall into a
new municipal,office and library complex?"
YES 57% NO 30% UNDECIDED
EXETER - A Times -Advocate telephone poll indicates a
majority of Exeter residents approve of plans to transform
the Old Town Hall into a focal point for the community.
The $500,000 -plus project has been a source of con-
troversy.since the spring, and is likely to be one of the key
issues in the municipal election.
However, when the T -A conducted a telephcne survey
Thursday evening of 60 homes distributed randomly
through the alphabetical listings of the phone book, some
57 percent said they supported town council's plans to go
ahead with the project, outnumbering nearly two -to -one
13%
those who said they opposed the idea. Another 13 percent
said they had yet to make up their minds on the issue.
The only restriction on the poll was that we did not con-
tact any members of the present council, candidates in the
election, nor their immediate families.
Those who oppose the project, however, seem to be a bit
more vocal, with several of them adding comments to their
response to the survey.
"The corner is already a focal point. It seems like a waste
of money," added one person we called. "I think just a few
people are deciding this. Just put it on the back burner until
real issues are deal with," said another.
On the other hand, those who said they support the town
hall plans were usually content to simply answer "yes" to
the survey question. A few did say they hoped to be one of
the homes called after reading of the upcoming poll in last
week's issue.
The results do suggest mayoral candidate Ben Hoo-
genboom will have a hard time selling to voters a platform
based on quashing the Town Hall renovation project.
His opponent, Lossy Fuller is calling for a revitalization
of the Main and Sanders Corner over the next few years,
with the Town Hall as its start. She will no doubt be com-
forted by the poll's results.
While we don't have the capabilities of the Gallup or-
ganization to tell you how representative our poll is of the
overall voter sentiments in town, we can tell you that the 60
people contacted represent about four percent of town
households. The telephone survey method was chosen
mainly because of past experiences with readership sur-
veys. For instance, in 1988 when we included a ballot on
Sunday shopping in the T -A, we received about 60 re-
sponses, but nearly all of them were firmly opposed to Sun-
day retailing, suggesting only those with strong feelings
against the issue were inclined to respond to the survey.
Exeter PUC may
cut hydro rates
Good financial shape makes it possible
EXETER - If Ontario Hydro sticks to its promise to freeze elec-
tricity rates next year, Exeter customers of the PUC may actually see
a rate reduction.
The PUC, in preparing its •1995 budget, refers to cost reducing
measures and spending restraints, as making possible the rec-
ommendation for a rate reduction.
PUC manager Hugh Davis said the overall hydro supply system
for the town is in good shape, the utility has "excellent" reserve
funds.
A final decision will be made on 1995 utility rates later this
month, or in early November.
Also, at this time, the Commission has no plans to increase water
rates either.
"Legion plans for
Remembrance Day
The annual cenotaph
service and banquet
are being planned
EXETER - The Exeter Legion,
R.E. Pooley Branch, is planning its
Remembrance Day activities, in-
cluding a November 11 banquet.
Poppies will go on sale No-
vember 2, with the assistance of the
Huron -Middlesex Army Cadet
Corps and Legion members.
A • parade and cenotaph service
will be held Sunday November 6,
followed by a special service at the
Exeter United Church.
Local schools will be holding Re-
membrance Day services of their
own Friday November 11. Parents
wishing to attend should contact
their child's school for service
times.
The Legion will be hosting a Re-
membrance banquet that evening
for all members, veterans, and
guests. Guest speaker for the eve-
ning will be Rob Esscry of Central-
ia, who traced his uncle's downed
plane in France. Tickets arc being
sold at the Exeter branch, Stan
Frayne's, and Dinncy Furniture.
Drama machine
Drama students at South Huron District High School do a warm up exercise before a Sun-
day afternoon rehearsal for their school's upcoming entry in the Crossroads Drama Fes-
tival in Blyth November 18. Working together as a machine are Rob Miller (front left),
Laura Sandwith (front right), and behind are Jen Campbell, and Jeff Bowen. The school's
entry this year will be What Glorious Times They Had: Nellie McClung. Public per-
formances at the school are planned for November 24 and 25.
Airport used to train officers
RCMP host driving course for those who guard politicians, VIPs and royalty
By Fred Groves
T -A staff
HURON PARK - In 1989, Sgt. Gary Budden of the Roy-
al Canadian Mounted Police made sure United States pres-
ident George Bush was well -protected.
He has driven vehicles for the royal family when they
have visited Canada and last week, he wan at the Huron
Park Airport to teach a defensive driving course to law en-
forcement officers.
The RCMP offers the course which teaches the officers
how to drive safely especially when they are assigned the
important task of protecting dignitaries.
Out on the airport's runways were members of the
RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police, Metro Toronto as well as
some from the Niagara Regional Police.
"The OPP are bodyguards for the premier of the province
and the rcst are with the VIP section," said Budden who is
with the RCMP's training section in London.
"All dignitaries coming into the country, we have to pro-
tect them," he said.
The atmosphere at the test track created for the officers
was fairly relaxed. Budden communicated tq his instructors
and there were no uniforms, no marked cars and the only
sign of any police identification was the markings on the
huge RCMP command centre.
Knowing how to drive defensively, in any situation is se-
rious business and the RCMP are the ones who provide the
training and pass their expertise onto other law enforcement
agencies.
"We provide it because no one else offers it. It's very ex-
pensive, we're wrecking cars here."
There were no smashups at the airport, but the different
kinds of cars were put through a course which you wouldn't
want your family car to experience.
On the course were tight turns, quick lane changes and
even a bit of water and slippery road conditions to make
things even more challenging.
Budden stressed the importance for the special assign-
ment officers to take this driving course which has been
held at the Huron Park Airport for nearly 10 years.
"Police spend 80 percent of their time at the wheel and
they don't train other thap at the academy. Police officers
are the only ones in the world who have a unique driving
style. We have to do pursuits, attention isn't always on the
driving."
The group which Budden was instructing on Thursday
had 12 officers, both male and female, and another group,
which had been on the course earlier in the week, was in
London upgrading their shooting skills.
At the airport, the track was set up to include high speed
lane changes which drivers had to pick one of four lanes at
between 80 and 110 kilometres per hour. There was a turn
which had to be maneuvered at 65 km and another at 80.
Added to that was what Bodden called "dec:.sion makers"
where the drivers approach a set of lights and have just
three seconds to make a decision.
And what is the toughest thing to remember when de-
fensive driving?
"They (officers) know their limitations but they have to
know the limitation of the vehicle."
Emergency driving procedures were taught to police officers on the Centralia Airport runway last week.
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