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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-03-25, Page 17. 139 YEAR - 12 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1987 60 CENTS PER COPY As firemen battle Thursday's stubborn blaze at the home of believed to have started from a spark landing on the roof, caus- Martin and Elly Van Den -Berg, located at RR 2 Goderich, ed between $50,000 and $60,000 damage. (photo by Lou -Ann friends, neighbors and -passing motorists help remove some of Hope) the articles saved from the burning house. The fire, which is Fars destroys local home Fire . raced through a Goderich-area family's home late Thursday afternoon, destroying the second storey of the century house and heavily damaging the main floor. E11y Van Den Berg was at home with her four young children when the fire began. She. said she had. 'just put the youngest child, 11 -month-old Leonie,• in a crib upstairs and was cleaning nearby when the other children shouted that the house was on fire. • Michelle, 8, Colin, 6, and Chris, 3, ran from the' house with their mother and younger sibling. They were not injured. Mrs. Van Den Berg returned to the house, after making sure the children were safe, to call the fire department. The call was made shortly before 4 p.m. Passing motorists stopped to help Mar- tin and Elly. Van Den Berg ,remove main-. floor furnishings from the burning house located at .RR 2 Goderich. Neighbours` later helped Ioad the items onto pick-up trucks and move them to a storage area. Contents of the second -floor were destroyed by th.e fire. The family is stay- ing with friends. • The Goderich fire department, assisted by, the Clinton fire department, fought the , blaze for about three hours. "We got there 'shortly after 4 p.m. and • we were still there at 7:30 p.m.," said John Hodges, secretary of the fire department. He said damaged was estimated bet- ween $50,000 and $60,000. The second floor of the house Was completely destroyed by Fire while the first floor was damaged both by the fire, as well as water since firemen . had to fight the fire from inside. "It (the fire) pretty well destroyed everything. In certain spots, it burned right through to the main floor," Hodges said, The fire is believed to have started on' the roof of the house. ' "It appears that the fire started from the wood stove or chimney with a spark star- ting the roof on fire," Hodges said. The farm is also the site of Martin's roadside market garden centre, however damage was confined to the house. One fireman was treated by ambulance attendants for a glass cut to the hand sus- tained whilefighting the fire.. No-one else was injured. Mayor says sees. on 'a witch hunt' over expense tabs A motion which would .see Goderich To n Councillors, town employees and members of the town's various boards and committees pay their own bar tabs when meeting for lunch on town business,, was. tabled for further study by council Monday night. Councillor Jim Searls introduced the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Bill Clifford, after objecting to payment of an account for $89, including a $28 bar bill, for a lunch meeting of the Economic Development Committee, held at the Park House, March 4. "I've no objection to lunch meetings, but I think,if I person wishes to have a drink it should not be at the taxpayer's expense." said Seals. • "I don't think any board or committee needs your permission to have a lunch hour meeting," retorted Mayor Eileen Palmer. "I didn't say that they did," replied Searls,' who •called the Mayor "out of order," and requested she vacate the chair if she, wished to speak to the motion. "I'll speak to the motion from where .I sit," ,Palmer insisted, adding. that. she found the motion insulting to board and committee members. "I think the comments, wherf they ap-' pear in the media similar to .comments a few weeks ago, (referring to a letter to the . editor from Searls to the Godegich Signal - Star about police commission expenses) • are insulting to the intelligence of our peo- ple. I'm surprised, with the witch hurit Councillor Searls seems to be on, that we are able.•to get, people to sit on our ,boards and committees. at all." Councillor Stringer pointed- out -that -the -- Economic Development meeting in ques- tion "resulted in the sale of industrial land," to local businessmen for construe- tion of art„jndustritd mall and insisted "there is a social element involved," with some committee. meetings, for which he felt exceptions should be 'made. . "I don't think one drink sold that land," Searls said. (Note: The land sald has not been finalized, but, an 'offer to purchase has been .made) . Searls noted themotion pertained only to committee and board meetings, .and not occasions when' representative's of federal and provincial governments come to town. He said it is "traditional" to "wine and dine," ministry people in hope of securing grants and projects for the town. Councillor Glen • , Carey indicated he might support the motion if the wording were amended to make provision for cer- tain occasions and curcumstances. A motion to table the matter for further study and possible amending was passed, .With only Searls opposing. Escapees found `Achilles Heel' in fence BY PATRICK RAFTIS Two young offenders, who escaped from the Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders on March 2, took advantage of an "Achilles Heel," in the security fence which sur- rounds the institution, says Don Spencer, Western Regional manager for the Ministry of Correctional Services. Spencer, who attended the March 23 ses- sion of Goderich Town Council along with Bluewater Centre Superintendent Carl DeGrandis to discuss centre security in the light of the recent escape i the fourth since it began housing young offenders in November of 19851, told council the latest breakout was an unforeseeable recur nee. 1Melady places third in CIAU Joe Melady, former GDCi student, finished third for McMaster University in shot put at Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Association( CIAU) finals in Saskatchewan Runway delegation travels to Ottawa A delegation from the Town of Goderich travelled to Ottawa Tuesday, March 24, to meet with Ministry of Transportation and Communications officials about the pro- posed new 5,000 foot runwayat the Goderich Airport. Mayor Eileen Palmer, Administrator Larry McCabe, Works Commissioner Ken Hunter and Airport Committee represen- tative Richard Wright flew to the nation's capital in hope of obtaining ministry sup- port and grants for the project. 11 was not known at press time if Transport Minister John Crosbie would be able to meet with the delegation, or if they would meet with the deputy minister. ►. "The last one was - 1 don't know whether to use the word 'shock' or 'sur- prise' because we relied very heavily on the fence as the last line of defence. They ( the escapees 1 found an Achilles Heel in the fence that we didn't know existed," said Spencer. Whine they declined to elaborate on the method by which the fugitives scaled the 17 -foot wire fence, for fear of compromis- ing security, DeGrandis said it was done in, "such a manner as I have never seen in 18 years of working in correctional institutions". PREVENTATIVE MEASURES DeGrandis and Spencer assured council steps are being taken to ensure such an in- cident cannot be repeated. New measures include the installation of a closed-circuit monitoring system and intrusion alarm system, as well as "redeployment of per- sonel," at the centre. Spencer said the escapes occurred for different reasons. at various stages in the centre's operation. The first one occurred before_the security fence was completed, the second involved an escape while residents were on an outing and the last two involved escapes from the centre after the fence was put in place. Council expressed concern that the escapes have occurred despite the substantial amount spent to make the facility secure. "When we hear of the millions of dollars spent to convert the centre to the re- quirements of your ministry, I have to wonder, 'Where did this money go?" ask- ed councillor Bill Clifford. "'The majority of the money earmarked for the Bluewater Centre has yet to be spent," replied Spencer. Only about one- third of the centre's space is currently be- ing operated in, added DeGrandis. "LEARNING AS WE GO" Spencer indicated that some of the escapes may indeed have been due to the conversion of the centre from a institution for the developmentally handicapped, to a correctional facility. "Quite frankly, we are learning as we go - we're still feeling our way around this building. Had we designed this institution and built it from the ground ' up, we wouldn't have to learn. We would know," he said. Inquiries about expanding the telephone warning system, which currently notifies about 1'50 homes in Goderich Township in the area of the centre when there is a breakout, were dismissed as impractical. Spencer said it would not be feasable to ex- pand the system to the town of Goderich and further into the surrounding townships ' because of the time involved in making he calls. "When there is an escape of this kind the people involved are very busy securing the institution and with efforts to apprehend the fugitives," he said; However, DeGran- dis said consideration could be given to notify the local television and radio sta- tions when an escape occurs. Such notification may do little good, pointed out Deputy Reeve John Doherty, because the Young Offenders Act prohibits release of identification and descriptions of young offenders. "This seems to be a coricerif of the citizens. They don't know what they are looking for," he said, asking how council tnight petition the ministry to change this act. DESCRIPTIONS ALLOWED DeGrandis expiained-.tlZat the act was changed in 1986, to allow descriptions to he released when "the public at large is in some sort of physical danger." .But, he said the procedure is (aPPealing for per- mission to a justice) is complicated and time consuming. Often the fugitives are captured before permission . can, be obtained. This led Councillor Jim Searls le ask how many centre residents might be con- sidered dangerous enough to warrant the release of identifying information. "In my own terms, and my perception after 18 years in corrections may differ from yours, we have 102 residents and no more than five or six would be violent,'' replied DeGrandis. Because the centre isnot yet completed, Spencer said the minstry is selective about the types of offenders sent, to Bluewater. "We have been selective because we don't have individual rooms - or cells, if Turn to page 2 County gets six per cent increase in budget RY ALAN RIVETT Huron County @'ouncil approved its'1987 budget totalling $21,125,184, 'With the county's apportionment being $4,897,547 which represents a six per cent increase over 1986 at the council's budget meeting on March 19. To taxpayers, the average assessment rate in the county will rise 1.6 per cent resulting in a net increase to the couinty levy Of 6 per cent. Bayfield will bear the biggest increase in the county levie with a 16 per cent increase while West Wawanosh Township was assessed the lowest amount with a 1.2 per cent increase. To ger to the six per cent figure, the ex- ecutive committee of the county were forc- ed to make numerous budget cuts in the preliminary budget which represented an 11,75 increase over 1986. County Clerk -Treasurer Bill Hanley referred to the budget as a "nicker and dime" budget with a number of small ex- penses being cut to arrive at the six per cent increase over 1986. However, the budget included 'the cutting of a $23,000 grant for the new runway at. the Goderich Municipal Airport and a reduction of $250,000 in the Huronview reserve, set Aside for the proposed renovations at the County -run home for the aged. The budget did include a $75,000 to be in - Turn to page 2 Mill rate hiked four er cent Goderich Town council, in a bylaw pass- ed Monday night, set the 1987 mill rate in- crease for general municipal purposes at four per cent. • Final figures revealed additional surplus funds which allowed council to, hold the increase to four per cent, while still adding to allocations for three reserve • 'funds. A $20,000 suer will be set aside for irn- pli•mentation of the recreation master plan, which was presented to council Man 1'67The-120,1700 rs not irrtenilecl as seed money for a proposed aquatic com- plex, but will be released as needed for other aspects of the plan. .An additional $15,000 wa's pluccd in the reserve fund for construction of a planned new'fire hall, bringing the total 1987 alloca- tion to $85,000. Another $12,891 will be put in the reserve for contingency, along with the $80,000 in 1987 budget funds. The allocation brings the total amount in the contingency reserve, which can be pat toward any pro- ject council deems fit, to 'slightly.nuare than $300,000. The new budget will mean an increase of $16.49 in taxes for general municipal pur- poses, ' for the average residential public' school supporter on a property assessed at $3,000. Over . the past nine " years, the average mill rate increase for• general municipal purposes has been 3.4 per cent. Lrcluding this year's increase, the figure is still under the four per cent mark. Council has budgeted $5.6 million for municipal exclenclitu•res in 1987. Still to come are requisitions from Huron ('ount- .and the county school boards, which make up over .5() per cent of the average tax bill, Included in this' year's budget, -is- a 3.5 per cent raise in.r.emuneration to council, members., which was passed in a by-l'aw Monday night in a recorded vote: Only Deputy Reeve John Doherty. and Coun- cillor Jim Searls voted against the in- crease, with the Mayor, the _Keen. and all other councillors voting in favor. Council supports Telecar°e : •proposal •. A tele.phogae . distress line, ,Currently operating in the City of Stratford,' may soon be. available to Goderich' • area residents."' • •• Maurice Jenkins, of, Goderich;'. ap- proached town council Monday night seek- ing support for the •'I'elecare program; which would consist' -of a toll-free number which could be called by people suffering from "lonliness, distress and other natural problems: " "These people often have little or no op- portunity, , within the town, " to 'com- traunicate --said Jenkin: Jenkins said the organization hopes to have the number operating by April 1, of- fering trained advisors who could "acknowlede, and recommend actions for.. "people in desperate situations," he said.' The. progra.m.w(luamake use.nLexisting,_ staff in Stratford, and would at first be available. only to Goder;.ich..callers. Even- tually, he said, it could encompass all of the 519 area code. • An organizational meeting will be held April 12, at the Kinsmen Centre,- .with representatives any groups•".who are • in- volved with people," invited to attend. Council passed a motion to support the program in principal (no financial assistance was requested). "I think it is a well -needed service and regardless if only five or 10 people'neod it, I think it is a wonderful idea," said Coun- cillor Jim Searls, ANSI INSIDE TI B = SIG AL-. TAR A karate tournament, hosted by the fledgling Goderich Shotokan Karate Brotherhood, attracted more than 60 mar- tial arts buffs who particapated in the tw'o- event tournament. For story and pictures on Saturday's event at GD('I, see the Com- munity front, Breath of Scotland A Breath of Scotland, a Scottish variety • show spensnred by the Goderich Lioness Club, will be performing in Goderich again this year on April 2 and 3. The musical, comedy, singing and dancing"talents of the six -member troupe will be showcased in two performances at GD('i, For more in, formation, see the story on the Community front. YCW action ends The 38th annual edition of V('W wrapped up on Saturday at the Goderich Memorial Arena. The "B" and "C" division charm - 4 pionships *ere decided Saturday with the "B" championship going to St. Mary's and Dresden winning the "C" championship, For coverage of Saturday's activities, se0 the Sports section.