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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-02-04, Page 1dlffih�YiRdvirnN Lau 11 eri' c 133 YEAR -5 WEDNESDAY,•FEBRUARY 4,1981 50 CENTS PER COPY London man pulls worn Brates-hr favor of Inn rl Word was received from the Ontario Municipal Board on Tuesday that it has ruled that Harbor Park Inn owner Mike Mallough will be allowed to carry out expansions to his business. The hearing was held in December after opposition • to the expansion was filed by several Goderich citizens when the town approved Mallough's plans. A parking lot will be built in the vacant lot to the east of the ,Harbor_ Park -Inn,. the -dining area -will-be expanded, the roof rebuilt in the style that the first roof on the building was designed, and a patio will be niade to the rear and. west of the building. Before the consumption of alcoholic beverages is allowed on that patio, Mallough will have to apply for a liquor license and another .public hearing will have to be held, from burtiing BY DAVE SYKES A former Goderich resident said he knew no fear as he entered a burning Goderich Township home and dragged one of the occupants to safety Yate Saturday. Richard Hooper,30, of London pulled Audrey Bissett from the kitchen of her home at R.R. `L' Goderich near the VLA subdivision as flames engulfed the entire 100 year-old structure. Her husband Philmore Bissett, 66, died in the blaze believed to have been ignited by careless smoking. Hooper came upon the fire' by chanceafter visiting with friends in the VLA subdivision. and his heroic actions Were instinctive. " wife and I were going towards Goderich whtwe noticed flames and stopped,", he said. "There were some people standing around but the fire department hadn't arrived and they were reluctant to do anything." Hooper stepped in the side door of the house but was repelled by dense smoke. He ordered a bystander to obtain a flashlight and with that in' hand he entered the smoke-filled house. ."I got the flashlight and wentin the side door on my hands and knees," he said. "I couldn't see too much but I• noticed a pair of boots .sticking out of the smoke: ' I just grabbed the feet and pulled her out." Although other bystanders were somewhat reluctant toenter the flaming house, Hooper says he recalls hearing someone behind him when he went m to look for survivors. Mrs. Bissett was pulled from the house in a semi- conscious state and was later administered oxygen by a member of the Goderich Fire Department. She. was later transported to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. Hooper said he entered the house through a side door, went 'through a small ante room and into what he believed was the kitchen. "I think she was against the wall on the floor and I , just pulled her by the legs,' he said. "I had no fear..I lived in Goderich and had mine and rescue training andSt. Johns Ambulance training." . Once outside :he ..made sure - Mrs. _Bissett- was breathing on her own and in a relatively stable state. "By that time the house was all flames and there was a lot of smoke." he said. Hooper. said he tried to ask Mrs. Bissett if anyone else was in the h ,use but her speech was incoherent. He was able to determine that Philmore Bissett was still inside the burning house. . "I tried to get her to tell ine where he was bot- by--. that time you couldn't see at all for smoke," he said. Hooper was at the scene at 10.45 and firemen arrived shortly after but the blaze was out of control. H�usefire claims life of township resident A Goderich Township man died in a fire late Saturday night that completely destroyed his home at R.R.2 Goderich. Philmore Clayton Bissett, 66, died in the fire that. believed to have been , ignited by careless g. His body was recovered from the ruins the following day. • His wife, Audrey, was dragged from the blaze by a passerby, Richard Hooper of London, and was taken to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. Five different calls were reported to the Goderich FireDepartment by neighbours just before 11 p.m. Saturday. Mrs. Bissett had already been dragged from the blaze by Hooper when firemen arrived but Philmore Bissett, 67, was killed in a fire late Saturday night that destroyed his home at R.R.2 Goderich near the VLA subdivision. His wife Audrey was rescued from the blaze by a passing motorist and was treated for smoke inhalation. The Ontrio fire marshal's office was investigating the fire believed to have been ignited by careless smoking. The house, over 100 years old and constructed of logs, was completely destroyed. (Photo by Cath Wooden) Gaunt retires after remarkable career BY DAVE SYKES Huron -Bruce ,Liberal member of Parliament Murray Gaunt was as much an accepted institution of Ontario politics -as the continued reign of the -Con- servative Party. But at least half of that political tradition crumbled Tuesday as Gaunt announced his retirement, ending a career that began more than 18 years ago in a Huron -Bruce by-election. He has been a stalwart,` unassuming and trusted member of a party that habitually played the bridesmaid role in provincial politics. In a conversation with the Signal -Star Tuesday, Gaunt said the time had come to get out of politics adding that the decision was made with regret. "Now is the time to get out, It was not an easy decision,' I've been in a Iong time, and it was made with some regret," he said. "I enjoyed politics and it was a most difficult decision but it was made for personal reasons." ' After 181/2 years as the provincial representative for the constituents of Huron -Bruce, Gaunt would simply like to retrieve some semblance of normal family life. Political families make sacrifices and Murray says it's time to go home. "It's time for the family now," he said. "They accepted the added responsibility of my job and the help and support is a tribute to my family. Now.I just want to lead a normal home life." Despite his decision, Murray claims the Liberals have legitimate aspirations to form the next provincial government in Ontario, at the expense of the New Democratic party and perhaps the Con- servatives. "The opportunity is attainable now for the party," he said. "The NDP have dropped off significantly and the Conservatives have governed for 38 years. and I think people just want a change." The dominant concerns of Ontarians, according to Gaunt. is the poor economic showing of the province and the lack of leadership by the Conservatives in providing economic strategy. He claims the cam- paign will be "straight blood and sweat" for the Liberals and will require more of a door to door ap- proach. He concedes the Conservatives have much more money to spend on campaigning and will utilize theme media for campaigning to a large degree. Although he believes the Liberals under Stuart Smith have a realistic opportunity to form a gover- nment, Gaunt is not bitter about being an opposition member fs 18 years. Murray Gaunt "Sure I would like to be part of a government but right now I have a family priority," he said. "I considered not running in the 1977 election but the Liberals were fighting for their political lives and I felt I should be part of that fight." Political life does have its satisfying moments and for Murray playing an integral part in policy and working on select committees of the Legislature provided that satisfaction. He travelled across the country and abroad and said many rewards as a legislator were on a (Personal level. His career may now be documented history but Murray does't believe the Liberals will be silent in ' Huron -Bruce -its this election. "We've got good candidates and there's no doubt we can win the riding," he said. splestoriammesmersoisibleiressioa flames and dense smokeuashed any attempts to rescue Bissett from the firm Members of the Goderich department ad- ministered oxygen to Mrs. Bissett and she was later transported to hospital. Goderich firefighters battled the blaze all night and remained on the scene Sunday morning. Bill Exley•Of the Ontario fire marshal &otffce ice: dieted careless smoking may have been the cause of the fire. The house, located in a stand of pines just off Highway 8, was more than 100 years old and was originally a log house. Mr. Bisset is survived by his wife Audrey, eight children and his mother, Ella May Bissett, Seaforth Funeral services were hell in McCallum Funeral Home Tuesday. . liberals are optimistic says Riddell BY DAVE SYKES Huron -Middlesex Liberal MPP Jack Riddell says he hasn't "seen as much optimism in the party" as the Liberals prepare -for the Mareh-f9-ejection date announced Monday. On Monday, Premier William Davis visited Lieutenant -Governor John Black Aird and had the 31st session of the Ontario legislature dissolved. He then set an election date of Thursday, March 19 allowing 44 days of campaigning. Davis said a return to the Legislature would not have been productive claiming the opposition parties had committed themselves to defeating the minority -government. Now the provi`fice will endure the first winter campaign since the election of 1911. Both opposition party leaders seemed to welcome an election but MPP Jack Riddell insisted the timing was poor in relation to the weather in rural areas. "I fail to understand an election this time of vear he said. "It is the worst time of year for bad weather and there is the possibility of snow storins in March • • that could keep senior citizens and farmers from voting." 'While the weather may not be conducive to cam- paigning Riddell -claims -the political climate is -ripe for a change in pattern. "I haven't seen as much optimism in the Literal party and I think the people feel it is time for a change," he said. "The campaign will be'b ed on the economic situation in the province." , Riddell said Ontario is the slowest growing province in Canada adding ,that the unemployment rate is also the worst lathe country. With a winter election the Conservatives are likely io rely -heavily on a television and radio campaign, which wilLbe costly too. The Tories have more funds in the campaign coffers and the timing of the election seems to be in their favor. In the Huron -Middlesex riding, the campaign . machines are not quitein gear. The Liberals should hold a nomination meeting within the next week but no word has come from any other organization. Board - teachers reach tentative agreement The Huron County Board of Education announced Monday it has reached a tentative agreement in contract negotiations with the secondary school teachers. The tentative agreement was reached early Saturday morning marking the end of the latest bargaining session that began last Thursday at the Holiday Inn, London. Details of the agreement will not be released until both parties have ratified the collective agreement. The teachers are expected to vote on the new offer within the next week and probably Monday. As indicated in the factfinder report prepared by Malcolm Stockton, the teachers were seeking an increase of 15 per cent in a one-year contract from September 1980 to August 31, 1981. At that time the beard had offered five per cent from Scntomher 1 to December 31, 1980 and an additional 1 per cent to August 3I, 1981. The offer represented a 5.6 per cent increase over the one-year agreement. The factfinder had_recomn endedan increaseof8.5 per cent in a one-year deal. The board did reach agreement with secretarial employw members of CUPE Local 1428. The new, one-yeW agreement calls for average wage increases of 9.5 per cent. Secretaries in classification 1 nc,w earn from $5.39 per hour to $6.27 under the grid while class two wages range from $5.72 to $6.60. Audio-visual technicians in class 1 will receive $8.39 and $8.89 in class 2. • Effective may 1, 1981 wages in the clerical - secretarial class will range from $5.72 to $6.60. Department responds to fires The Goderich Fire Department was active the past few days answering four separate fire alarms in three l'days. The firemen battled a blaze at R.R. 2 Goderich that clailned the life of Philmore Bissett Saturday evening. On Sunday firemen responded to a call ache home of Paul Gorel. R.R. 6 Goderich, Ashffei'd Township but much of the home and contents were destroyed in the blaze. The Lucknow Fire Depart- ment handled the situation, although Goderich responded. • No one was home at the time of the fire and no in- juries were reported. At 11 p.m. Sunday firemen doused a chimney fire at the home of Roy Dunlop, 196 Wilson Street. Damage was minor and there were no injuries.. Goderich firemen doused a second chimney fire at the home of John Edward at R.R.4 Goderich Tuesday morning. Firemen were at the scene for an hour and no major damage estimates resulted. �u. a, In Huron -Bruce the race may be wide open as Liberal Murray Gaunt announced his retirement from politics after 18 years in the Legislature. , While the Conservatives and Liberals will be locking for new. candidates, Tony McQuail has an- nounced he will seek the NDP nomination in Huron - Bruce. The NDP association will hold a campaign • . ,training program at F. E. Madill Secondary School in , Wingham this Saturday:, INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Taste disability Negotiating a wheelchair and per- P forming everyday tasks isn't so easy, as Several Goderich citizens found out on Friday during the March of Dimes Awareness Day at Suncoast Mall. Pictures and story on page 1A. Moore resigns Jim Moore is resigning his position as recreation director for Goderich and has been hired as new director of parks and recreation for the city of St. Thomas. He takes up his new post on February 23. See page 3. Ready for Phase II GDCI fund-raisers are ready to gather money for the completion of the final $85,000 phase of the development of the recreation area and received endorsement from council Monday, night. Story on page 16. Regular Features obits Pg. 2 Real Estate .. Pg. 14-16 Newborns Pg, 2 C. Comet Pg. 2A Editorials...T... • Pg. 4 A. hoard Pg, 5A Columns, .., ..... Pg. 4 Farm Pg. 6A Sports Pg. 8.11 Church Pg. 7A Clasps}ifiyed.... Pg. 12-14 Jottings Pg. SA 2,n ' InS;n `, .7wr10;'' p .k ,�1ITi l.'A �}'':'14d.>-ti'd' iA'.14-1.69 1