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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-3-13, Page 1f!e,d.Q)R?oil ATU C -T E Bin TH STA:dQIAH ll)-'lliFE IIA HIIEU) Bil.., 111-; 50 CENTS WEDNESDAY', MARCH 13, 1985 120TH YEAR m N4). 11. Farmers voice concerns CLINTON - Representatives of various , committees and organizations voiced their concerns to MP Murray Cardiff, MPPJ.ack Riddell, MPP Murray piston, and Huron County Warden Paul Steckle during the 1985 Huron Federation of Agriculture Members' of Parliament Dinner at Wesley -Willis United Church, on March 9. The topics ranged from the impact of hydro on farmland to the progress of Huron County's 4-H Clubs. In his opening remarks, Chairman Doug', Garniss, Huron County Federation President said, "The farm community has watched in dismay as the recovery from recession over the past two years has passed the agricultural community by. Our suppliers would be the first to tell you that we have major problems." Hydro Report Tony McQuail represented the Foodland Hydro Committee and expressed the committee's concerns on the impact of Ontario .Hydro routes through southern. Bruce, Huron and Middlesex counties. Mr. McQuail believes that Hydro will discover that the impact on agricuture will be significant when their 'research is completed. "The planning process which Hydro has been trying to follow to get more power out of the Bruce Nuclear Power Development is an improvement over earlier years. It has involved considerable consultation with the potentially effected communities. The hearing process also involved considerable input from government ministries, conservation commissions and farm groups. So •much imput was received that the hearing board modified the ,proposal Hydro had brought it; in light .of the input it received. At the last moment this decision was nullified by a court ruling that notice. of the hearing has been inadequate," explained Mr. McQuail. However,' he also pointed out that the problem remains whether, or not a new hearing board will agree that agricultural land preservation is a Major.concern. "We can expect a tough arguement before the hearing board." Energy Committee • For a number of years residents of Huron County have heard rumors of the construction of an adjacent energy park from the Bruce Nuclear. Power Development (BNPD) The Energy Committee of the Huron Federation of Agriculture is not opposed to making the most of the energy generated at the 13NPI), but would like to see the interests of the c•omrnunity put first. "We feel that if ordinary Canadians, especially local residents, are to benefit from any project at the energy park, it is, important to develop the area with a co- operative or small business approach as opposed to allowing huge multinationals to prevail. IKarge insensitive projects are not what the area needs or wants. To think that a large company could even come close to. replacing the 4,000 jobs that once existed at Huron County Warden Paul Steckle (right) was at the Huron Federation of Agriculture Members' of Parliament Dinner to listen to the concerns of area organizations and com- mittees. Also on hand for the dinner was I4P Murray Cardiff, MPP Murray Elston and MPP Jack/ Riddell. (Anne Narejko photo) the BNPD is wishful thinking," said Brian Jeffray of the energy committee. "If we were to talk strictly on the basis of job' creation, the . best thing the government could do is to encourage a healthy agriculture in the area." 4-H Clubs Approximately 1,200 youths are expected to take part in a large range of 4-H projects in Huron County this year, Ken Ramsey, of the Huron County 4-H Club. Leaders' Association, reported that the combining of the homemaking and agriCullum 1 programs has been challenging, yet rewarding to the 250 Volunteer leaders. - Events planned for this year include a judging competition, demonstration competition, Reach for the Top competition and an achievement day; Pork Producers • "The biggest single issue facing pork producers at this moment is Whether or not the United States goverrunent will put duties on pork going into the USA," said Ross Eedy of the Huron County Pork Producers. Mr. Eedy explained that the subsid}s„ pork producers received last year bare 'Ty covered the cost of production. He felt the subsidies were not designed to give the Ontario producers an advantage over the producers in the States, who also have indirect subsidies to help them. Mr..Eedy feels the arguement that large volumes are hurting their market is "far- fetched" because it makes up approximately two percent of the total market. • Another concern the pork 'producers have is to make the competition level equal for producers in each province. "Notable, support programs in Quebec have had a tremendous impact, on our industry with • Quebec doubling 'their production from 2.5 million to 5 -million hogs over a , relatively short time span," commented Mr. Eedy. "Under current conditions, a free market system is a far cry from reality." A third concern is for the family farrn. In Turn to page 2 • • The Blyth Festival Singers • Ware presenting two concerts of sacred music at Ontario Street United Church on March 24. Their con- ductor is Laurie Rowbotham, one of the finest in the country. He hopes the singers can help raise interest in "one of the truest and oldest arts and one of the most fascinating forms of literature." More on the singers and their pro- gram can be found on page 13 Fire ravages po t y barn TUCKERSMITH - Smouldering remains are all that is left of a Tuckersmith Township barn after fire ravaged it on March 11. The barn, located on the , RR 3 Clinton farm of Joe Postl burnt to the ground Ytrerrg'rrriiraeerrrpcs i'iii'tvri=aiiai< • Bayfield brigades. The Brucefield fire department received the call and Clinton firefighters were called in to assist shortly after 9 p.m. They stayed on the scene until after 1 a.m. Bayfield gets By James Friel HAYFIELD - The Village of Bayfield is the first municipality in Ontario to receive a $6,000 grant from the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture to help finance capital projects within the Bayfield Heritage Conservatory District. "I am doubly pleased to announce this grant," wrote Minister Susan Fish to the municipality. "It marks the establishment of the first district fund in the province and will help Bayfield continue its enthusiastic efforts to preserve heritage properties in the village." Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell, Bayfield's representative in the provincial legislature, sent a congratulatory letter to the village. The Local Architectural Conservatory Ad- visory Committee (I.ACAC) will administer the $6;000 provincial grant and another $5,000 set aside by council as an elegibility requirement for the Queen's Park largess, MTC response The Ministry of Transportation and Coin - Clinton Fire Chief Fred Lobb said that damage estimates are in the neighborhood of $100,000. The poultry barn was empty at the time of the fire, but a new shipment of chicks was expected to arrive on Wednesday. _ .fit°lLhma cause _I3ad not b&_ firmly established, but the fire may have been caused by propane heaters. Mr. 1?ostl had lit the first floor heaters and was work- ing on the second floor of the barn when he smelled smoke. first grant rnunications has sent a letter to the village stating it will probably look at regulating the speed of the section of Highway 21 which cuts through Bayfield. The decision was in response to council's concern that someone would be injured or killed at the crosswalk to the mall contain- ing the Liquor Control Board Ibf Ontario and the Nip and Tuck variety stores. Clerk Pat Graham said the ministry would look at lowering the speed limit to 50 kilometres per hour through the village. He said a major concern was slowing the speed of transport trucks travelling the highway. The reduction would help the Ontario Pro- vincial Police (OPP) to control speed within Bayfield village limits. Signs for Agnes and Euphemia Streets and Clan Gregor Square may also be erected. A chevron, a reflective style of checkerborad, is also a possibility to warn drivers of pedestrians crossing Highway 21. Streets, arena, get OPsiIP • By Shelley McPhee CLINTON' - A $175,000 Ontario Neighborhood Improvement Plan (ONIP) grant will be spent on street work, arena im- provements and development of a new park. • Approval of the projects was made at a public meeting held on March 6. Less than a, dozen people attended. The ONIP grant money will ,be evenly matched by municipal funds and project work is•scheduled over the next three years. Three project options were presented by Richard Anderson of B.M. Ross and Associates of Goderich. Theapproved pro- ject list will see improvements to 16 Clinton streets, upgrading at the Clinton Communi- ty Centre and development of the Clinton Optimist Ball Park. Waterrnain, street lights and sidewalk construction will be financed through the ONIP funding. Mr. Anderson explained that the ONIP work would co-ordinate with grant funding from the Ministry of Transportation and Communication, used for actual reconstruction work. He, explained it as "dovetailing" the work. One exception to• that will be Raglan and Mohawk Streets, where ONIP funding will be used for the street construction. Those streets are not eligible for MTC funding because of a specification in the subdivision agreement. The Raglan -Mohawk con- struction is scheduled to be done in 1986 and 1987. Other street work includes 1985 - water - mains, lights and sidewalks on- Fredrick Street; watermains on Wellington and North Streets and sidewalks on Wellington, from North to Orange. Street work in 1986 will include - lighting and sidewalks .on North Street; lighting on Wellington, Princeps, Percival, Rattenbury, William, Gibbings, Dinsley, Raglan, Dunlop and Erie Streets; sidewalks on Princess and Orange Streets. Proposed work in 1987 is - lighting and sidewalks on Alma Street; lighting and sidewalks on Maple Street; curb, gutter and paving on Raglan and Mohawk Streets. Project work for this totals $258,600 for the three year term. A portion of ONIP funding must also be used for soft services, and in the three year period $86,000 has been projected for arena work and parks in Clinton. Plans call for the replacement and reloca- tion of the arena condensor, costing $25,000; roof ugrading at $35,000; and additional im- provements, costing $9,000. Another undertaking will be the develop- ment of the Optimist Ball Park at Alma and Erie Streets: Work calls, for a diamond, backstop, fence, bleachers, • and lighting, costing a total of $17,000. The Optimist (Club will be kicking in the • • Turn to page 2. Today, Dave and Pat Hemingway (left) show off fashions from yesterday while Percy MacDonald and Pat Higgins (right) model the '85 styles. Above, Nancy Flynn models a dress worn in the 1870's; Pen- ny Hart is wearing a dress from the 1850s and Elly Vandenberg shows off the 1900 styles. (Anne Narejko photos)