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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-06-10, Page 41back to rnurucipalities where Offenders are from should be initiated. A letter to the commission, signed by the wives. of seven police officers was also' discussed at the meeting. The wives in- dicated concern for the health and saftey of their husbands, when working excessive overtime hours. "Our main concern is our husbands' health and welfare, where yours are effec- tive policing of the Town of Goderich. We therefore submit to you that in order for you to get this effective policing we are asking you to hire additional men. The job requires them to be alert at all times but if they are tired they will not be up to full potential and to us that makes the job extremely dangerous," the letter states. Mayor Palmer told the officers the' com- mission has their safety at heart, however, she said they would not rush into any deci- sions regarding increased manpower. "The picture you present this morning, to less experienced people, would prompt them, to jump on the bandwagon and say we need' five people by next week," she said, adding "I do not feel that way." "We have to look at the quality of policing, our ,existing manpower, our, productivity " and our absenteeism, which is very high,''' she noted. "There are many aspects." Hilgendorf pointed our in response that some police officers have been .on Workmen's Compensation recently, and said time off for such reasons should not be counted as "absenteeism." The combined seniority of officers cur- rently on the force also adds to manpower headaches, the officers admitted, as officers earn more vacation time through years on the force. Despite this problem, Commissioner Dave Gower noted he felt the commission should look at hiring experienced officers, rather than "greenhorns," who would need extra 'training time.• The commission discussed' the matter fur- ther, in closed session and deferred their decision to a later date. Canada Post wants more power to lay off workers and increase individual workloads, and also proposed to lower pay for new workers by 25 per cent. The union wants little change from the previous contract except for wage in- creases based on the cost of living. Letter carriers earn $13.43 per hour under the previous contract which expired Dec. 21. The two sides appeared to have made no progress on resolving major issues. storm air, which causes the air to cool as it gets higher in the atmosphere. Because of this, the raindrops freeze into various ice shapes. With a very strong updraft, Radr said some hail can be as large as two inches in diameter. According to Evert Middel, ma ager of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Goderich experienced street light problems' a result of the storm. would prepare her for a variety of careers, including medicine or law. HEIDI HOERNIG The College of the Pacific opened in 1974 and is one of six in the world under the United World College program. The focus of the school is to promote in- ' ternational understanding by allowing students to study together and share their ideas, beliefs and cultures. The educa- tional program is set up so that in addition to classroom, work, students get a chance to work together on community service projects as well. Students at the college are required to take two language courses ( mother tounge and one other), one Study of Man, math science and one option. Students are selected pot only on the basis of educational standards, but on their ability to do well in the extra- curricular activities associated with the school as well. • Hoernig, who has just completed Grade 12, will receive a full scholarship for two years. Graduates earn an International Baccalaurate, which is considered the equivalent of most Grade 12 courses and freshman university courses. Hoernig is interested in biology, but is not exactly sure yet what course of study or career she will pursue after completing the United World College course. Goeclerich i Ammo 139 YEAR - 24 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1987 • Goderich Police understaffed 60 CENTS PER COPY Ron Govier (centre) was not seriously injured, but local ambulance attendants Gary Renaud (left) and Greg Cook were taking no chances as the strapped him into a' special protective stretcher before delivering hint, to the Alexandra, Marine and General Hospital for an examination, following a two car collison at the corner of Bayfield and Brittania Roads on Friday, around 4 p.m. (photo by Ted Spooner) Men injured ill accident.. Benjamin Bjerg, 17, of RR 2, Goderich and Ron Govier, 18, of Goderich Township, were taken to the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital with minimal and minor injuries respectively, following a two -car collision at the intersection of Bayfield and Brittania Roads on Friday afternoon. Neither man was seriously injured and neither required admission to the hospital. A vehicle driven by Terrence Fitzsim- Britannia, in the process of making a left turn onto Bayfield Road and did not see the Bjerg vehicle' and the two vehicles collided. Damage to the Fitzsimmons' vehicle was estimated at $4,000 by Goderich police and damage to the Bjerg- vehicle was estimated at $3,000. The collision occurred at 4 p.m. on June mons of •Ba, field was westbound on 12. BY PATRICK RAFT'S The Goderich Police •Force is seriously understaffed, according to a delegation of officers' who attended the June 16 Police Commission meeting to request additional manpower on the force. In some cases, of- ficers have worked as much as five 12 -hour .shifts and two eight-hour shifts (76 hours) within a seven day period. "That's far more than any person should have to work, said Constable George Lansbury. "From the safety aspect, we've go to draw the.line," Lonsbury added. "We're ex- pected to drive cruisers for a 12 -hour shift, then come in the next day for another shift,., when really, we should be home in bed". "I think. the ( commission) is'going to have. to consider increasing staff, not just by one, but by at least three," said,Sergeant Jerry _ Hilgendorf, suggesting the hiring of two fourth-class constables and one cadet, to augment the current force of 10 officers. Police Chief Patrick Ring agreed with. the assessment that a lack of officers is hampering the effectiveness of the force. "On the weekends, we're so. busy dealing with occurances that it leaves very little time to prevent (crime)," said Ring. Adding to the problem are the demands of provincial court judges, who have been in- sisting an armed, uniformed officer be pre- sent in court for security purposes. King said this duty is usually alternated between Goderich Police and the local OPP detach- ment, but when OPP officers' are unavailable, Goderich police have been pull- ing extra court duty. The uniformed officer is required in court in addition to any officer who may be need to give testimony dna par- ticular day. Mayor Eileen Palmer remarked thatshe felt it was unfair that the Goderich police . arerequired to provide courthouse security, when other Huron county municipalities who send offenders to court here are not. "The; Goderich Police force is being penalized and our taxpayers are paying, because the court is located here;" she stated, suggesting that perhaps a charge Mail strike should not affect Goderich area yet The series of rotating strikes, scheduled by the Letter Carriers Union of Canada, should have little effect on mail flow in Goderich unless this town is choosen as the site of a walkout, according to Tom Dalby, Director of Communications for the Huron Division of Canada Post. Local carriers re- mained on the job, Tuesday, as the first of the strikes began in other parts of the country. Dalby said he believes a directive to stage a local walkout would have to come to Goderich letter carriers from the union's head office in Ottawa. Jim Koster, president of the local car- rier's union could not be reached for com- ment Tuesday, when the first of the rotating strikes went into effect' in Calgary and Montreal. Dalby said Canada Post is "determined and committed to delivering the mail," and will do so by hiring `.`.replacement workers," for the balance of the letter,car- rier's job action. Even if a strike should hit Goderich, he said, mail would continue to be • delivered to residential areas a minimum of twice per week. "In some areas, we might be able to make more • frequent deliveries," he added. The strikes began atone minute after midnight, June 16, soon after the union ac- quired the legal right to strike. T�wn .struck by huge ha r. ,It hit the east side of Lake Huron in the early evening and the result was torrential rain and hail. Rader said the conditions on Friday night were very unstable and a cold air lapse and warm moist air at the surface caused the storm. Friday's temperature was 28 degrees with winds in, a west south-west direction on the squall line (weak cold front) of the lake. The speed of the winds, blowing if VETTE ZANDBERGEN Goderich was struck by golfball size pellets of hail and 1.3 inches (35 millimetres) of rain after becoming victim of a strong storm Friday which developed in the Alpena area in the western part of lower Michigan. According to Lloyd Rader from the Lon- don Weather Office, the storm began mov- ing across Lake Huron in the late afternoon. south-west was 15 to 20 kilometres per hour. Exeter received a separate storm equivalent to the one experienced here at approximately the same time which developed in Traverse City, Michigan and moved south east on Lake Huron into the Dashwood area. Radar said hail begins with a very strong updraft, which is an upward movement of CI students receipients of two major scholarships Godes ch District Collegiate Institute studerlt are receipients of two of this country's most prestigious scholarships for 1987. Mia Dalton, 19, of RR 3 Goderich, daughter of Clarice Dalton, has received a Terry Fox Award program 4 -year scholar- ship, good at any university across Canada. Heidi Hoernig, 17, of Benmiller, daughter of Heinz and Wendy Hoernig has received full scholarship to the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific. The Van- couver, B.C., college named in memory of the former Prime Minister, is one of six United World Colleges which accept students from 50 countries. MIA DALTON On May 21, 31 students across Canada were named as 1987 winners of the Prestigious Terry Fox Humanitarian Award. The program was established by the Federal Government to encourage Canadian youth to seek the high ideals represented by Terry Fox, the otfe-legged runner whose cross-canada Marathon of Hope raised more than $25 million for cancer research. Dalton, -who has completed Grade 13 at GDCI, will defer her education for one- year while she pursues the humanitarian endeavor which was a major factor in her earning the award. MIA DALTON In March 1985, Mia spent 10 days in the Third World country of Haiti, with a group organized by a Toronto school teacher, do- ing humanitarian work with the residents of that underdeveloped nation. In July of 1986, she led her own group of 10 area residents on a similar humanitarian mis- sion to Haiti. She plans to return to Haiti this year own her own and hopes to work with Mother aYX✓<o. g.aly ' • HEIDi HOERNiG Theresa's orphanage or in the famed mis- sionary's home for the dying. "I fell in. love with the orphans while I was there before," said Dalton. After spending six to eight months in Haiti, Dalton will return to school in Canada. She says she would like to attend McMaster University, Hamilton, and enroll in a special combined Arts and Science program there. The program Fishermen find body of boater. Ontario Provincial Police, Saturday, recovered the body of the second of two fishermen who went missing on Lake Huron on April 25. Goderich OPP Corporal Chuck Vessey said the body of William Daters, 28, of Ex- eter, was spotted at 9 a.m. on June 13, about one kilometre off shore by fishermen, who informed police. The body was found about 1.5 kilometres north of Goderich. Daters and Doug McKay, 32, of Kippen, were last seen when theset out on a fishing trip in a 12 -foot aluminum boat. McKay's body was found washed up on the beach May 23 by a Port Albert area cottager, 16 kilometres north of Goderich. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be drowning. On April 28, searchers found the men's boat floating offshore between Bayfield and Grand Bend. Life jackets and a baseball cap belonging to the men were also found in this area. No inquest will. be held into the death of Daters, a truck driver for the Hensall District Co-operative. An extensive search, involving Canadian Forces search -and rescue aircraft, the Canadian Coast Guard, Goderich Police and civilian shore searchers, as well as the OPP marine and helicopter units failed to locate the two men. The air and water searches were halted, with the men presumed dead, two days after. the boat was found, while police continued ;with.the land search. You co'uld win' free labour • The week of June 22-26, 1987 has been proclaimed as Hire A Student Week. The Canada Employment Centre for Students (CECS) in Goderich wants to increase public awareness of its services through different events. ' One of the promotional activities for this special week is to offer area employers a chance to win eight hours of free labour. Two Student Placement Officers, Lynne Dodds "and Dave MacDonald, have each donated .four hours. of their time as the prize. How do employers and homeowners enter? Simply place a job order with the CECS in Goderich (524-2744) between Thursday, June 18 and Thursday, June 25 and become eligibleto win a half day of free labour. The finale to our Hire -A - Student Week will be on Friday, June 26 when Dave and Lynne will be available to help the lucky winner. If you need help on the farm, around the house, in the store, or at the office - call us at 524-2744 and Hire A Student tolighten the. load ! Police charge area students Ontario' Provincial Police reports a post highschool party was held on June 10 at the Ashfield Township Park in Ashfield Township. As a result, 15 liquor related charges were laid, totalling approximately $1,000 in fines. Over 500 bottles'of beer and nuinerous bottles of 'wine and liquor were seized. The Goderich Detachment advises'' that this type of strict enforcement will continue throughout the summer. 1 ........ r1 SEW W T H SIGNAL -STAR 7— Horseshoe tourney There was plenty of sports action again this week and the Sports Page highlights the Second Annual Goderich Horseshoe Tournament held on the weekend. Pictures and stories appear inside. Miniature models Model railroading is a unique hobby that a local couple hope to develop in the Goderich area. Patrick Raftis has the story on .John and Ann McGibbon and their miniature hobby on the Community Front. He also features a Story on actor Devin Bundy who will be appearing in Blyth's production, Bordertown Cafe. Kevin is a Goderich native.