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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-09-07, Page 1ezt z 0 THE BAYFIELD BUGLE cents No. 36 Wec nes incorpora111ng may, :eptemb r 7, 1983 118t year Centre to become etention facilit Y sung offenders home will open by April 1, 1985 The Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped, scheduled to close November 15, will be converted to a regional detention facility for young offenders. The announcement, that the centre would definitely be converted to a regional detention facility, was made by Provincial Secretary for Justice, Gord Walker at a special press conference at the centre Tuesday ending months of speculation on the fate of the facility. With Community and Social services deputy -minister Robert McDonald and Correctional Ser- vices deputy -minister, Dr. George Podrabarac, at his side, Walker unveiled the multi-million plan before the media. While many specifics of the conversion remain unknown, Walker and McDonald said the new correction facility will em- ploy between 195 and 200 people. Some of the centre's existing employees will be retrained for new jobs, McDonald said but he refused to elaborate on numbers. The new facility, will which not look much different than the Bluewater Centre does now, will house 177 young offenders between the ages of 12 and 17 and should be operational by April 1, 1985. Walker said there may be phasing period prior to April 1, 1985. The centre has been a resilient one since it was opened 21 years ago by Premier John Robarts. Walker cited it as one of the most progressive institutions of its kind in North America. "The success of the Bluewater Centre is considered significant in Ontario and its success has led to the need to change its use," he said. "For 21 years it handled the developmental problems of humans and this year it will change again. It has been determined that the Bluewater Centre will become a regional centre for young of- fenders." The Young Offenders Act was passed by the federal government in 1982 but cost- sharing negotiations between the federal and provincial governments are ongoing. In making the announcement Tuesday, Walker said the negotiation process is progressing favorably. "This facility will serve our purposes well and negotiations are coming to fruition with the federal government," he said. "on April 1, 1984 the Young Offenders Act will be proclaimed and by April 1, 1985 we must be in a position to take of- fenders." The centre will be along -term facility in that offenders requiring incarceration from 90 days to 15 months will be sent to Goderich. The minister indicated that both male and female offenders will be housed at the regional detention centre. The minister was effusive in his praise of the mayor, riding association and com- munity for its co-operation during the time from the announced closure of the centre last October. The closure of the Bluewater Centre as a facility for developmentally handiccapp��dd adults was leaked to the press last fa1't. Since that time, local politicians, union and volunteer groups and citizens have been fighting the announced closure as part of the Ministry of Community and Social Services' five-year plan. That plan stressed the deinstitutionalization of retarded adults and pumped more than $23 million into support services in the com- munity. Many employees of the centre have already moved from the community and taken jobs at other centres. Some of the remaining 145 employees will be offered retraining, if applicable, and jobs at the regional detention centre. Ministry per- sonnel will be in Goderich within the next few weeks to assess employees and determine their eligibility for work at the centre. "Employees have been given op- portunities in other centres and others may well stay in the community," Walker said. "A substantial number could take opportunities here. There will be renovation work here too that will provide employment." The renovation work should be tendered and starting soon and while the minister refused to elaborate on the extent of the renovations, he said it was "in millions of dollars and more than a handful." The Bluewater Centre provides the government with an ideal location for its regional detention centre, one of two to be located in the province. While Walker would not disclose the location of the other detention centre, he admitted that it too, was a centre for developmentally han- dicapped. The centre offers the government a ready-made facility with farming, educational and?shop opportunities. Walker said the deja` tion centre would be a "boon tPithe coi nunity-a substantial industry." "Twenty-one yeat}'s ago this facility opened and it has changed to the needs of the community. It is a facility that is second to none in the province," he said. "The government offers thanks to the community." While the structure may not change dramatically on the exterior, a fence will encompass the entire property and bars will be placed on windows. In commenting on the new tennants, Walkers said the nature of the crimes they would have committed prior to incarcaeration, would be modest compared to the inmates in an adult institution. Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell and Goderich mayor Eileen Palmer both expressed their disatisfaction at the definite closure of the centre as a facility for the developmentally handicapped. Residents, employees and families have been on a limb for nearly a year and Riddell didn't think it was necessary. "I'm sorry to see the Bluewater Centre close as a facility for the developmentally handicapped. It was one of the finest in- stitutions anywhere," he said. "There is no reason the government couldn't have made this announcement at the same time it announced the closure of the centre. It would have saved a lot of people a lot of grief." Palmer was also relieved that the centre would be reopened, thereby saving desperately needed jobs for the com- munity but, she too, expressed regret that the centre closed its doors to the developmentally handicapped. "I'm relieved that it will provide jobs for the people of the community," she said. "But we still have to be concerned about the care of the developmentally han- dicap¢." Over $3, 700 raised last year Clinton will host Terry Fox Run Posters announcing the upcoming Terry Fox Mil were placed in Clinton this week by Angela Reid. Jennifer Trenieer and Stacy Reid. The run will McPhee photo) r be held in Clinton on September 18. tSbelley By Rod Hilts On September 18, Clintonians will be running, walking or jogging a 10 kilometre course set up for the third annual Terry Fox Run. On that day, people across Canada and around the world will be participating in the event for Terry Fox and his dream that a cure for cancer will be found. Last year, over 200,000 Canadians took up the torch for the Terry Fox Run by participating in one of the 1,195 organized run sites. In total 2.4 million was raised for cancer research, $3,766.90 of which was raised by 103 Clinton and area runners. "The success of The Terry Fox Run is because of the tremendous effort made by people around the world. That effort made Terry's dream a reality in the form of the Terry Fox Cancer Research Fund. We are now closer than ever to understanding and finding a cure for this devastating disease that affects one in five Canadians," said Maurice Legault, President of the Canadian Cancer Society. Participants ranged from 3 to 65 years - old and finished the course as quick as 35 minutes and as long as two and one-half hours. Although this is not a competitive run, some runners time themselves. Last year, the run was well sponsored by Clinton and surrounding residents as the average participant had over. $35 in sponsors. This year, registration will be held Sunday, September 18 at Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS) in Clinton between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The run will go rain or shine. Pledge sheets are available at Mac's, Becker's, Dixie Lee, the Canadian Cancer Society in Clinton and most main stores in surrounding villages. The run will start at CHSS and follow Princess St. to Percival. From Percival St., the run will continue down East St. to the Canadian National Railway tracks where it will follow the Bayfield Road for 4.3 Kilometres. It will then turn around and follow Dunlop St. along to Erie St. before turning up Mary St. From Mary St. it continues from Rattenbury to Shipley St. north, eventually meeting Queen St. It then comes down the home stretch to Rattenbury St. and back to CHSS. Parents are urged to accompany their children in the run. All who successfully complete the 10 kilometre run receive a Terry Fox colored certificate and free pop. As a special bonus, the first 40 to register receive a free hat with a Terry Fox crest on it. For more information contact the Canadian Cancer Society located at 20, Isaac St. Clinton or telephone r2-7832 between 1 and 4:30 p.m. School buses have an added precautionary sign this fall to warn oncoming drivers. The flashing stop sign was put on some buses last season, but have been made mandatory this fall. Marian Cook of Blyth, driver for the Hullett Bus Lines shows the new sign to Clinton and District..; Christian .School students Phillip de Vries, Brian Werkema, Glenna Buffinga, Christy Pardys and Angela Verberg. (Shelley McPhee photo) ABCA wants help By Shelley McPhee The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has no intentions of turning the ownership of the Clinton , Conservation Park over to the town. ABCA representative John Smithers told Clinton council at their September 6 meeting that the ABCA proposal (reported in the August 31 edition of the Clinton News -Record) was not to give up complete ownership of the park, but to ask Clinton, Tuckersmith and Stanley Townships to assist in the regular maintenance of the picnic grounds. Mr. Smithers said he understood that Clinton council could have rnisinterrpreted his original letter, but he stressed, "It is not the Authority's privilege of transfer ownership of the park to the town." The land he explained, located at the south limits of town, was purchased as a flood plain area for the Bayfield River. Twelve acres of it was developed in the 1970s as a day camp area with a picnic pavilion and a fitness trail. Mr. Smithers noted that government funds were available at that time for recreational developments, but high costs of main- taining such areas has forced the ABCA to change their directive. He said that while Clinton area residents benefit from the park facilities, the ABCA's .prime ob- jective is to provide flood control plans and develop erosion control methods for the Bayfield River. High costs of maintaining the park has led to the shared maintenance proposal by the ABCA with Clinton, Tuckersmith and Stanley. Mr. Smithers noted that work crews in Exeter must go to the park at least every two weeks to cut grass at the 12 acre park. He noted this has resulted in high costs of labor and transportation. Much of the Clinton Conservation Area is grassed and it takes one day to cut the area and another day's work to trim and manicure it. He noted that additional tree planting will take place at the park to reduce the amount of grass that must be mowed. The ABCA is basically asking the three municipalities for assistance in the grass cutting work. If the ABCA continues to be solely responsible for this work, Mr. Smithers noted, the Authority will be forced to reduce its maintenance budget for the Clinton Park, or increase the general levy that each of the municipalities presently pays. Levies, charged to each municipality on a yearly basis, have remained within a five per cent guideline, however Mr. Smithers .said he could not guarantee that this limit would continue in future years if the ABCA was forced acquire more funds to meet the high' „costs of maintenance. Clinton will pay a $4,287 levy to the ARCA this year. While Clinton Council is considering the ABCA proposal, Tuckersmith Council has indicated that they will not contribute to the shared maintenance program. Mr. Smithers said that Tuckersmith Council declined because they felt they adequately paid for the park through their Levy. Mr. Smithers noted, "We might as well call a spade a spade, the Authority is asking for a favor. If the maintenance is not kept up, the quality of the park will decline." He noted that Clerk Mel Graham of Stanley Township had questioned why summer student employment 'couldn't help with this type of maintenance. The ABCA, he noted, is involved in a student employment program, but regulations. stipulate that the students must be in- volved in work meaningful to their careers. "This doesn't include cutting grass," he admitted, "but I think we're being deprived of a very useful source of labor." The ABCA representative explained that working with muncipalities in main- tenance areas is not a new concept. Two other Authority parks, in Zurich and Stephen Township, are managed by the municipalities. These two parks were developed at the request of the municipalities to provide park and recreational facilities. The parks were developed using ARCA funds and in turn their maintenance and management are handled by the municipalities. Clinton Mayor ('hester Archibald said he sympathized with the Authority's position, but said he could not offer immediate solutions. He suggested the idea of bringing in revenues through user fees. Mr. Smithers noted that this scheme was used at the ABCA's Port Blake Beach. Last summer Port Blake had a manned gate and the park was virtually unused. This year the beach has not charged user fees and it was extensively used. He noted that the ABCA is considering a system used in Michigan where con- tribution boxes are placed at park en- trances for voluntary donations. The boxes are theft -proof and are emptied on a regular basis. Mayor Archibald said he has no ob- jections to single family picnics or in - T urn to page 3 Weather 1983 198'1 AUGUST HI 30 23 31 26 SEPTFMRF:R 1 2 3 4 5 24 26 28 29 30 Rain 10 mm LO HI IA) 17 23 8 14 23 9 8 22 13 9 21 12 11 18 12 14 17 9 17 24 8 Raju 4mm