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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-04-20, Page 1Far THE BAY Ft UG rl('0rporatsng T LYTH STAN 50 cents No, 16 erg y Shelley McPhee'one Dennis Timmbrell filled the Clinton high school auditoriums on April 14 when more than 1. farmers met to discuss the minister of agriculture's proposed farmland tax rebate plan. Similar to five years ago when Timbrell, then minister of health filled the auditorium with his proposal to close the Clinton hospital, again hundreds of area people spoke out in opposition to his newest proposal. 13y a 393 to 86 vote, farmers solidly re- jected Timbrell's plan which is proposing a 100 per cent tax rebate on farmland. Farmers have referred to the program as a "hand out" scheme which may even- tually destroy their rights to private land ownership. Essex County Warden Jack Morris warned that the rebate program could put farmers in a very vulnerable position. He reminded the crowd that taxes pay for re- quired services such as police and fire pro- tection, municipal and roads. Warden Morris stressed that the present 50 percent rebate system, "is right and fair. We should pay for the services our farmland requires." Despite strong assurances from Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) ecutive member Bridget Pyke; from Nan- cy Bardechi, agriculture ministry representative and Harvey Tasker from the ministry of revenue, farmers strongly opposed the plan. With the farmers' overwhelming vote of rejection came a motion, requesting the OFA to reconsider its present en- dorsement of the propos program, and a request t t the Ontario government to continue the present f0 per cent rebate systema until a suitable 1ternative is found. With the motion, the Huron County Federation of Agric, ture joined nice, Peell and Sirncce County Federations, Huron County Council and the Christian oii yop 1''armers Federation of ontarto in their op- position to the plan. The motion will be presented at an OFA directors meeting in Toronto on April 20. Stanley Township Reeve Paul Steckle explained Huron County Council's position by noting that the proposed plan would ex- clude small business operations and other farm related enterprises, also suffering the effects of a poor economy. "I'm afraid we're opening an issue that will have long social impact and upheaval," he stated. Tom Jackson of Peel County called Tim- brell's program, "the biggest snow jeh ever put onto farmers in this province." Bill Jongejan of Goderich Township, vice president of the Christian Farmers noted, "Our Federation has been ad- vocating the removal of education taxes from property tax for years. Education tax is a people tax and it should be gathered in other ways." He strongly urged the Huron Federation of Agriculture to join forces with the Chris- tian Farmers in continued opposition to the 100 per cent rebate scheme. In the open floor discussion Doug Gar- niss of Morris Township voiced his support of the 100 per cent rebate. He exlained, "I don't feel that farmers have been getting a share of the economic pie." However hundreds of other men and women at the meeting clearly showed their' opposition to the proposal. The extra $20 million rebate to be offered under the new program did not win their favor. In - Stead the majority voted in favor to con- tinue with the present $65 million yearly rebate which gives Ontario farmers 50 per cent return on on productive land, buildings and.h9p(les. eluron Federation member George Underwood, chairman of a task force stu- dying the issue, stressed, "We are convinc- ed that there are other methods we can propose that will be acceptable to more farmers." e farm )is too stimi 1 ;nes _'' istry tol BY STEPHANIE LEVJF- &UE Water quality guidelines for waste disposal sites are too severe for small rural sites Huron County municipal of- ficials told representatives of the Ministry of the Environment. At the Huron County Municipal Officers' Association annual meeting on April 13 Grey Township Reeve Leona Armstrong said it is her understanding that the water quality level at the edge of a waste disposal site is to be better than drinking water. xr More than 450 men and women registered to vote on the Huron County Federation of Agriculture motion, opposing the proposed 100 per cent farmland tax rebate. At a special meeting in Clinton on April 13 attended by more than 650 people, 393 vote to reject the government offer. (Shelley McPhee photo) three outstanding volunteers donate thousands of hours On April 19 the Centre honored three special volunteers who each have donated five years of service. Gertrude Postma of R 1, Varna began as a volunteer driver with the Centre on November 7, 1977. y December 1982 she had driven 15,263 miles and put in 382 hours driving clients to the from the Centre from Zurich and Hensall every Monday. She also serves as an emergency driver on other days. On the rare occasion when Gertrude hasn't been able to help, her husband has filled in. aa_ssel Alton of Go,;erich also decided to devote his free time to .e Centre in November of 1977. Since then he has given 568 hours of his time and has driven clients from Goderich one or two days a week, for a total of 22,723 miles. He too has served as an emergency driver. Edwin Zeale of RR 1, Clinton has served as a driving and day volunteer at the Centre since February 2, 1978. Offering transportation for clients from Clinton, Myth and other areas, two to three days each week, Edwin has tallied up 16,796 miles, or 420 hours. As well he has put in an additional 2,124 hours, or 354 days, helping two days a week at the Centre with the whirlpool, woodworking, bowling, swim therapy and many other duties. The three outstanding volunteers were honored by the Huron Day Care Centre with a special presentation invade by Clinton Mayor Chester Archibald. Volunteer Week, from April 18- 24 had as its theme for this year "Volunteering - A Great Way To Grow". This theme has pro- ved a fact at the Huron Day Centre for the Homebound. The centre is now at the five and a half year mark of its program and as the volunteers have grown in numbers and experience, so has the size and excellence of the service to the homebound seniors of Huron County. The cen _ ,has 60 volunteers from all parts of uriihnCounty. Some are drivers, some drive and stay for the day, some come in or are brought in for special ac- tivities such as ceramics, bowling, etc. A volunteer may come in as many as three They've volunteered hundreds of days and thousands of hours but Edwin Zeale of C1Iutora, Gertrude Postma of Varna and uaee1 Alton of Gaoderlch are s 1 h .zr;pity devoted to helping at the Huron Day Care Centre to Clinton. In reeogal lou of Volunteer Week the three workers were honor by the Centre nil April 19. (Shelley McPhee photo) times a week, or as seldom as once a mon- th, as long as they assume the responsibili- ty of meeting that commitment, barring unexpected happenings, then there are the emergency volunteers to call on at the last minute. - The centre would not be able to operate without volunteer help. All of the clients staff and Board of Directors of the Huron Day Centre for the Homebound thank these people for their assistance. From Clinton and Area volunteers are - Jim Allaway, Willy Brehm, Barbara Bellefleur, George Cox, Ann Dykstra, Mary Doherty, Muriel Jones, Sharon Lacroix, Gerry Mountford, June Mc- Cowan, Viola Riley, Phyllis Tyndall, Henny Uyl, Betty Dreaddy, Doralene Flowers, Ralph Guertin, Elmer Johnson, Elaine Cox, Bertha Gibb. Betty Fawcett, Gladys East, Joy Vodden, Sandi Westerhout, Margaret Wrignt, and Edwin Leale. From Goderich and Area - Gordon Finnigan, Margaret Alton, Everett Sparling, Russel Alton, Hazel McCreath, Rhona Hadden and Jim Coulter. From Sea forth and Area - Ellen Doyle, Viola Hulley, Ruth Malkus, Alice Reid, Eileen Townsend, Mac Young, and Rev. T. Duke. From Zurich Area and Exeter - Mary Mueller, Jean Fleming, Gertrude Postma, Helene Regier, Ken Johns, Elizabeth Alexander, Paula Van Osch, Charlie Thiel, Jack Heddon, Donna Klopp and AnnieFinkbeiner. From Blyth, Auburn and Brussels - Murray Souch, Susan Howson, Ken McDougall, Jim Smith, Pat Watson and Harold Steffler. From Bayfield and Varna Area - Irene Easton, Marion Hill and Willa Rath - well. Clinton candy stripers 11 ea work awards On Sunday, May 15 the young volunteers at the Clinton Public Hospital will be honored. Clinton's 35 Candy Stripers will receive a total of 63 awards for the more than 8,000 hours of volunteer work they have given the hospital. They work under the direc- tion of co-ordinator Ellen Butcher. The capping and awards ceremony will be held at Wesley Willis United Church on May 1, at 2 p.m. At the monthly meeting of the Clinton Hospital Auxiliary Marg Caldwell an- nounced that the vanishing parties have been "great fun and fund raisers." She also reminded members of the upcoming regional conference which will be held in Clinton on April 25. The CHSS girls' choir will provide special en- tertainment at the luncheon. Joyce Hilderley asked members to number all penny sale tickets and return them at the May meeting for distribution for sale. iris Montgomery was scheduled to at- tend the Spring institute in Don Mills on April 19 and 20. Special thanks goes out to the donors of gifts to be used for the Clinton Spring Fair draw. The gifts include: a lithograph, hand finished by Lead McAlister of Bayfield_ It depicts an old shingled shed at Burnt River near Lindsay. 14 was matted and framed by Jim Fitzgerald of Clinton. Also dgnated is a hand crocheted centrepiece and matching placemats, made by Mrs. Don Darrell of Mississauga, formerly of Linton. As wen the eve, popular u,anoy Striper doll, attired by Eileen Staddon will be offered as a prize. These gifts will be on display at various outlets in Clinton and area. Any members who do not have their tickets are asked to contact Joyce Chilton at 565-2165, Iris Montgomery at 482-9368 or Barb Howson at 523-9391. A prize will be given to the auxiliary member, youth or adult, who sells the most tickets before the June 4 draw. Dawna Westlake reported that the present fund raising committee is winding down with the first annual celebrity dinner and auction on Friday, April 29. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. and tickets are available in limited numbers. Please call now at the hospital )-2-3447, Steve Cooke at 482-7012 or Dawna Westlake at 565-2462. Mrs. Westlake extended an invitation to the Auxiliary to hold the June pot luck meeting at her home in Bayfield on .June 6. March and April were particularly busy at the Clinton Hospital, with the St. Patrick's Day and Easter celebrations. The Auxiliary still needs volunteers, especially for the hairdressing service. if you have a couple of hours on Tuesday mornings, please consider helping. Call 52,•2 if you can help. The Auxiliary is also looking for donations for their paperback reading service. Anyone who wishes to donate books may leave them at the hospital gift shop. 'These books will be sold for 25 cents each. Reeve Armstrong was speaking to Doug McTavish, +;;rector of the London regional office of the Ministry. Mr. McTavish waa speaking to the group on Regulation 309 in regards to waste dis;•,,,sal sites. "There is no change in the regulations, but there is a change in how they can be en- forced," commented Mr. McTavish ad- ding that provincial officers can now pre- sent a summons to a municipality for an infraction of the regulations where previously they could not. The issue was brought to the forefront late last year when municipalities receiv- ed letters from the Ministry outlining the penalties handed out for convictions of guideline infractions. But many municipalities are currently in the process of developing land fill site development plans which have to be submitted to the Ministry by July 1. Mr. McTavish said a landfill site does have an effect on the water quality around the site. Reeve Armstrong said the intent of the water quality control is good, but the Ministry has to be more flexible for small sites. In her township's case, the water on the edge of the site does not meet ministry guidelines, but the closest well is over a mile away and there has never been any complaints of water contamination. Water quality guidelines were not the on- ly concern of Huron Municipal officials. Burning on landfill sites was also raised. "The residents don't mind, but Ministry) inspectors say we have to cut it off," commented Stanley Township Reeve Paul Steckle. Mr. McTavish said the Ministry has no rules about burning at such sites, but there are guidelines to follow, such as consider- ing weather conditions, segregating plastics and rubber items and having fire permits (specifically in Northern On- tario and some municipalities in Southern o Ontario). He added the Ministry wouldn't stop municipalities from burning refuse unless there are complaints or inspectors notice any infringements of regulations. "We legally can't ( prevent burning ) unless there are complaints," stated Mr. McTavish. Reeve Steckle called for the Ministry to consider each landfill site on its own merit. Separate Board okays PD days BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE Huron -Perth Seo ., rate School Board teachers will be back to school this year on Sept. 1 and 2 for professional activity days. The nine professional activity days in the Huron -Perth system for the school year 1983-84 are part of the school year calendar approved by the board at its April 11 meeting. Director of education William Eckert said it will be "uncommon" for boards across the province to start school on Sept. 1. Previously Ministry of Education guidelines stated the school year would start the day after Labor Day, whereas now school may start on Sept. 1. "I think it's wise that classes not begin before Labor Day," commented Mr. Eckert, "it's a tradition for Ontario families to start school after Labor Day." The director noted that of the nine pro- fessional activity days only five are within the flow of the school year as two are ac- tually before the students come back to school and two are at the end of June on the 25th and 26th. The other professional ac- tivity days are on Friday, Sept. 23, Friday, Oct. 28, Monday, Dec. 5, Friday, March 9 i which precedes the mid -winter break and Monday, April 2. Stratford trustee Ron Marcy asked if there are any PA days common with the two public boards - Huron County Board of Education and Perth County Board of Education. Friday, Sept. 23 is the only common day between the three boards, while Monday, Dec. 5 is shared with the Perth system and Friday, Oct. 28 is shared with the Huron system. Monday, April 2 is common between the separate system and the Huron secondary schools. Other changes in the school year calen- dar recognize the dropping of Remem- brance Day as a holiday and a two-week Christmas vacation as outlined by the Ministry of Education. The holidays are Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 6; Thanksgiv- ing Day on Monday, Oct. 10; Christmas holidays from Der. 19 to .Jan. 1: mid- winter break from March 12 to 16 ( changed by one week from previous years); Good Friday on April 20; Easter Monday on April 23 and Victoria Day on Monday, May 21 There is a total of 194 school days in- cluding PA days which leaves 185 in- structional days - the minimum required by the Ministry. 'Why is it set at the minimum rather Turn to page 3 1983Weather 1982 HI [0 APRii, 12 10 1 13 12 0 14 13 7 15 10 1 16 5 - 3 17 i - 3 18 1 - 5 Ram 19mm Snow 3mrn HI 1,0 8 - 2 9 1 8 2 16 2 19 - 1 22 0 12 2