HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-07-29, Page 11 F ail) (,l.F.
lil;l➢NI'111i �►TltiI;-THE 111.1 TH tiT':�\l).tFtU-TI#F H �
NO. 30
WEDNESDAY,JULY 29, 1987
50 CENTS
CPH fund raising
goes into overtime
he editor of the Clinton News -Record, Anne Narejko, had the op-
ortunity on July 24 to experience what it feels like to be confined to
wheelchair. Miss Narejko was taking part in the area's Disabled
Awareness Day. One task she had to complete while in the chair
was to wheel to Kuenzig's Food Market and purchase oranges.
IDavid Emslie photo)
wareness Day is an eye opener
CLINTON - The July 24 Disabled
Awareness Day wall an eye opener to all
involved - including the mayor and the
reeve.
Clinton's Mayor John Balfour and Reeve
Bee Cooke were two of six people invited to
take part in the Canadian Paraplegic
Association's Awareness I)ay which was
held to learn about accessibility to local
businesses and establishments.
The six volunteers were given tasks to
carry out and assigned a disability. The
mayor had a bad leg which forced him to
use a walker and the reeve, who is also the
chairperson of public works, had a hearing
impairment and a bad leg for which she
was forced to use a cane.
While making their way from the star-
ting point, ( the Clinton Legion) to their
destinations up town, both made some in-
teresting observations and reported these
back to the group during the discussion
session.
"We've got a long way to go as far as
sidewalks are concerned," said the mayor.
Reeve Cooke said, "We need far more
money in the budget to do sidewalk work."
These comments were greeted with a
round of applause.
A committee from the Huron Day Cente
For The Homebound helped organized the
day, and co-ordinator Rosemary Arm-
strong said she was both pleased and
disappointed with the way the event went.
"We were delighted with the par-
ticipants response. They were all good
sports. However, three people didn't show
up and they would have given us a broader
Turn to page 3
An experience to remember e�
By Anne Narejko
CLINTON - If 1 was given one sentence
to express what I learned from Awareness
Day, I'd have to use an old cliche, "It's not
as easy as it looks." And I have the blisters
and bruises to prove it.
July 24 was Disabled Awareness Day,
put on by the Canadian Paraplegic
Association with the assistance of those
from the Huron Day Centre For The
Homebound. The day was set aside to
educate the general public on what it is
like to have disabilities as well as
enlighten everyone on accessibility in the
community.
Along with the displays set up by 14 ser-
vices in the county, local dignitaries were
invited to play an active role in the day's
events.
Included in this list of "dignitaries" was
myself, Clinton Mayor John Balfour,
Reeve Bee Cooke, county engineer Denis
Merrall, McKillop Reeve Marie Hicknell
and the board of education's superinten-
dent of student services Chuck Rowland.
My invitation to take part in the event
was hand delivered by Rosemary Arm-
strong, co-ordinator for the Huron Day
('entre. The letter she gave me said I was
invited to take part in a "pre -determined
task that would highlight physcial access
to local establishments."
Sounded like fun, so I waited for the
"further information and details" the let-
ter promised me. However, Rosemary
must have had the same thought as I did.
I was hoping this further information
would allow me time to prepare for my
task and Rosemary must have read my
mind for the further information never ar-
rived. In fact, on the day, seconds bhf'ore
our tasks were handed out, Rosemary said
she had reconsidered giving out any more
information for fear people would
practice.
The task I was given was one of two I had
hoped not to get. I didn't want to be tem-
porarily blind or put in a wheelchair - I got
the wheelchair.
Things could have been worse though. I
was to be a paraplegic, allowing me to use
my hands, and it was only for one hour or
so.
To ensure that us "dignitaries" did not
really injure ourselves while carrying out
our tasks, a helper was sent with us. Mine
was Kelly Babcock whose wife, Geri, was
injured 10 years ago in a car accident. She
was paralized from the kneck down but
Turn to page 3
CLINTON - The fund raising committee
for the Clinton .Public Hospital (CPH) is go-
ing into overtime in an effort to come up
with another $150,000.
Originally manadated to raise $400,000 by
October of this year, the committee is aim-
ing to take that goal to more than $550,000 in
an effort to help offset the unexpected costs
to be incurred in the construction of a new
obstetrical wing for CPH.
The original $400,000 estimated was to
have made up half of the funding for the
wing.
Earlier this month, the hospital board of
directors were shocked to learn that their
building project would exceed their original
price estimates. The project that was ex-
pected to cost some $850,000 will now tally
over the $1 -million mark.
Plans are underway to begin construction
on the new obsterical wing at the first of
September. Work should be completed by
next May.
While the hospital is asking for additional
government funding to assist in the financ-
ing of the project, it appears that the addi-
tional costs for the wing will have to be rais-
ed locally.
The Ontario Ministry of Health will be
kicking in some $400,000 towards the pro-
ject. Originally estimated to be some 50 per
cent of the costs, this figure now falls below
40 per cent.
While additional funding is being sought
from the provincial government, the board
of directors is not banking on this.
Fund raising chairman Don Symons is op-
timistic that his committee can come up
with the additional funds that are needed to
complete the project. He said that the com-
munity was very responsive to the initial
fund raising drive conducted by the commit-
tee. The original goal of $400,000 has almost
been met.
"People have been most co-operative,"
Mr. Symons noted. "Our efforts to raise the
additional money will work out."
He said that there are numerous financial
sources yet to be tapped. As well, grants and
donations continue to come in daily to the
fund raising offices in Clinton.
He stressed the need for the additional
$150,000 that must be raised to see the com-
pletion of the new obstetrical wing construc-
tion. In particular, the money will be used to
help purchase new medical epuipment for
the wing.
"Our new wing won't be much good
without equipment,"he stressed.
Inquest to be held
into firefighter's death
An inquest into the death of a volunteer
firefighter killed in a tanker truck crash as
he drove to a bush fire will be held
September 30 at 10 a.m. at the courthouse in
Goderich.
Kenneth Aikenhead, 25, of Brucefield died
May 13 when the tanker truck he was driv-
ing to the fire in Stanley Township went off
the road and overturned.
Two other members of the Brucefield
Volunteer Fire Department, Dennis Hallam
and Robert McKenzie, riding with him were
injured.
The inquest was called by coroner Dr. A.
Flowers of Clinton.
ABCA proposes restructuring
By Anne Narejko
CLINTON - The Ausable-Bayfield Conser-
vation Authority ( ABCA) is proposing
reducing the number of directors from 35 to
15.
"It will save some money and everyone
will know what they are doing," said John
Deeves, Clinton's ABCA representative.
Mr. Deeves appeared before council to
answer any questions they may have con-
cerning the letter the municipality received
explaining the proposed restructuring.
One of the main reasons for proposing the
changes is, "If you are not on the executive
committee, it is difficult to be up-to-date
with the programs and policies of the con-
servation authority," noted the letter. "At
present, 11 of 35 directors meet monthly to
conduct the ongoing programs of the ABCA.
The other 24 directors receive copies of the
minutes of the executive meetings, but do
not have the advantage of the regular
discussions which generate executive com-
mittee minutes."
With the reduced numbers, all directors
would meet monthly and, "although fewer
in number, the directors would be far more
aware of conservation programs and the
reasons for them."
A second reason noted in the letter was
saving both time and money.
"There would be a direct savings in the
expense for directors' per diem, mileage
and conferences. There would be an indirect
savings in terms of staff time to prepare for
meetings, attend meetings, taking minutes
of meetings, making copies of minutes and
the mailing of minutes and other related
information."
At present, there are 32 municipalities in
the ABCA with each having a member. As
well, there are three provincially appointed
representatives for a total of 35. In order to
reduce the number to 15, the proposal has
paired municipalities together.
The current proposal has Clinton and
Goderich Township sharing a represen-
tative; Hensall and Tuckersmith Township;
Hay Township and Zurich; Stanley
Township and Bayfield; Stephen; Usborne,
Blanshard and Exeter; Bosanquet, Grand
Bend and Thedford; Adelaide, Warwick and
Arkona; Biddulph and I,ucan; Lobo and
F
he curbs in town (left) proved to be a bit of a problem 'for Anne assistance. She did, however, master the ramps at the Clinton
arejko, but fortunately the regional director out of Kitchener for Legion on her way back by pulling herself up the incline by the rail -
of w Imes. amie McDernlid as on hand to Mive some in:s. David mslie 'hotos
r
Health unit
nutritionist
wanted
The Huron County Health Unit is current-
ly looking for a nutritionist to replace Cathy
Thomson who has resigned effective August
26.
During presentation of the Huron County
Board of Health report at the July session of
county council, it was learned the board has
decided to adjust the nutritionist's salary
schedule to the same as that of the health
educator. This results in the minimum in-
creased for 1987 from $999 biweekly ($25,974
annually) to $1,040 bi-weekly (27,040) and
the maximum increased fl'om $1,208
($31,403) to $1;248 bi-weekly ($32,448).
Reason for the upgrading, council was
told is that each of the two positions requires
similar qualifications and should iaii within
the same salary grid.
In addition, neighboring counties are also
advertising for nutritionists at a minimum
salary of $29,500 and $29,600.
Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston expressed
some coincern at the board's decision to
upgrade the salary schedule now instead of
during the coiuntry's regular salary
negotiations.
Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling,
the board chairman, agreed' with Mr.
Johnston's comments, but also pointed out
that with other counties seeking nutri-
tionists, Huron would likely be unable to
recruit anyone if the salary offered were not
competitive.
London; McGillivray, Parkhill and Ailsa
Craig; East Williams and West Williams;
Hibbert and Logan; Seaforth, McKillop
Township and Hullett Township; and the
province with one representative.
The appointment of the directors could be
made by the councils of the municipalities
sharing a representative. If they cannot
agree, the appointment would be made after
a meeting with the chairman of the ABCA.
This proposal has received support from
the Association•of Municipalities of Ontario,
the Association of Conservation Authorities
of Ontario and the Ministry of Natural
Resources. The Town of Clinton also voted
to give their approval at their July 20 coun-
cil meeting.
Implementation of the proposed reduction
of membership could be as early as the an-
nual meeting in February.
CLINTON PUBLIC
HOSPITAL
BUILDING FUND
sss0
okewooie
550,
000
525,
000
500,
000
475,
000
450,
000
400,
000
300,
000
200,
000
175,
000
150,,
000
100,
000