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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-12-16, Page 1the oderich IGNAL 133 YEAR -50 STA GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16,1981 50 CENTS PER COPY Shining, sndllag faces have beak the eider of the day in area schools lately, as students finally present their annual Christmas concerts that they have been rehearsing 'forever'. Here, Holmesville Public School Grade 5 students present A Country Christ- mas. (Photo by Cath Wooden) Minister 'approves Wintario grants The town of Goderich was one of 78 communities in southwestern Ontario to receive approval for a Wintario capital grant from the Ministry of Culture and Recreation. ,Cultuie and Recreation Minister Reuben Baetz announced Friday that grant t totalling $4.35 million were approved for the southWmtern Ontario region under the.Wintario capital grant program. On a provincial scale, more than 600 grants totalling $40 million were approved by the ministry. The town of Goderich will be eligible for a capital grant to pursue improvements to the community athletic field across from Goderich and District Collegiate Institute. Phase t of the $85,000 project is already complete and town administrator, Larry McCabe, said the Wintario grant will apply to Phase 2, The development of the athletic field has been funded through Wintario and Community Centres giants and money raised by the GDCI students' annual walk-a-thon. No municipal dollars have been used for the project but the town leases the land from the Huron County Board of Education and is granted use of the facility. While applicants have been informed of grant approvals from the ministry the ammeat has not been determined. McCabe said the ministry should inform the town of the amount by the end of December. The payments of the capital grants will not begin until April 1, 1982. The 600 grants approved across the province are the first to be made under the ministry's revised capital grants program announced by the minister January 28, 1981. Applications were accepted up to September30 this year. The program provides grants on a basis of one dollar for - every two dollars raised by the par- ticipating municipality. However, projects that make public cultural and recreational families accessible to disabled persons are eligible for grants of three dollars for every dollar raised locally. This year the ministry received more than 1,000 applications for construction or renovation of facilities relating to sports, recreation, libraries, culture and heritage conservation. The minister claims the $40 million in grants will lead to $125 million worth of construction in the province in the neat few years. The community athletic field is already equipped with a rumiing track, baseball diamond and outdoor basketball court. Motorists get reprieve from licence suspension It appears that motorists have been granted a reprieyelrom a proposethkiendment to the Highway Traffic Act that would givepoliee the power to sus- pend licences fora 12-hom period. Earlier this month, the Conservative party had pro- posed amending the Highway Traffic Act giving police the authority to seize a drivers' licence for 12 hours if the driver registered more than A5 on a road- side breath test. However, the Liberal opposition delayed the bill and it may be six months before the amendment is brought back before the Legislature. tinder the Criminal Code of Canada motorists are legally impaired if the level of alcohol reaches 08 milligrams. The amendment would have given police authority to suspend a drivers' licence for 12 hours if a roadside breath test registered, more than. .05 milligrams of alcohol but less than .08 milligrams:no- The New Democratic Party supported the amend- ment but the government was forced to send the bill to committee for further study. - Attorney -General . Roy McMurtry had • hoped to have the bill passed before the Christmas season when the roads are inundated with drinking drivers. Drinking drivers are responsible for a great percen- tage of accidents and fatalities resulting from ac- cidents in Canada each year. McMurtry believed the bill would help to remove the marginally impaired from the highways during the Christmas season. Education is key to new life for Perm First graduate of Adult Basic Education can make it on her own BY JOANNE BUCHANAN This Christmas, is going to be the happiest Christmas of Peon Pepperdine's life. For the first time in her 33 years, she is not dependent on other people. She is not collecting welfare anymore either. She has her own job and her own bank account. But more importantly, she has gained new self-respect and confidence. Perm owes her new found happiness to the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program in Goderich which ste joined in May of 1979. Now, two and one ball years later, after seven to eight painstaking hours of study every day, Perm has become the first graduate of the program. With the help of her tutor, Betty MacKenzie„ she can read and write at a Grade 5 level and she has plasia to continue on to Grade 6, 7 and 8. "I want to go as far as possible," she says en- thusiastically. This is all pretty amazing for a woman who was once diagnosed by several doctors as being mentally retarded. Ata young age, Perm's parents were told to put her in an institution but instead, they pulled her out of Grade 1 where she did not seem to be learning anything, awl kept her at home Where they taught her manners, personal cleanliness and honemaking skills. When her mother became ill, Penn took over the household ata young age. It was difficoL Perm says she toukin't understand why everyone else her age vrent to school and learned - things while She had to stay home "I thought I was the only person in the world who couldn't read or write. I thought I was just plain stupid. I was an ashamed of my hancicap. When my friends did something I coukkft do, I would pretend I was sick so they wouldn't know haw slow I was," she explain& Being able to tend and write only your own name, puts a severe restraint on 's'lifestyle. Perm, for example, was unable to read recipes or labels when she went grocery shopping. She couldn't trash very. far because she could not read street signs or bus routes or ever hope 10pass a driver's test. She did not know what was going no in the world because she could not read a newspaper. And she couldn't get a job because she could not HU outapplication foams. Although she did not realize it at the time, she was not alone ha her pile*. Them site thousands of illiterate adults in Canada. The ABE prograt was foe -sued to Inelp norielte:e eget) threreeee rape ..att -4 Sheila Fb*, director of ABE in Goderich, first heard about the program four years ago OM a CF'PL tan' "Vetieeeee.e. Perm Pepperdine (rignit), the first graduate of the four-yeareld Adult Basic Education program in Gaderkb, goes over a lesson with her volunteer tutor, open -line radio show. She made some inquiries had then took some courses on teaching Mita -ate adults. She then started an ABE program in her home with me student and herself as tutor. She now has 15 students and 15 volunteer tutors and she has had to move the program from her home to facilities at Knox Presbyterian Clench_ Her students come frorn Goderich, Clinton, Lucknow and Winghain She also Las two students who are being tutored in Southtunptan and Banister:. The program works on a one-to-one Wining basis with each student working at his or her own level. The Dr. Latibach system of phonetics is used with each one of his bode; equalling one grade. The students zna:f ftz e*"4"`" .,°°713 .a5V415 an‘l ft.v. Betty MacKenzie, a retired librarian. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) Knox (although some, who are too ashamed of their handicap, are taught in their homes). At the end of each grade. the students receive certificates. The program ends at Grade 5 By that time, studerts are suppose to be able to read a newspaper by them- selves. Perm firststarted the program after her niece read an article Aunt it in the Goderich Signal -Star and made arrangements for her with Mrs. Fink "I thought it was impossibie for me to learn to read and mite but I was willing to hy anything. It was very hard for me and I put in a kt of hours because I am a slow tanner," admits Penn. After she advanced in the program, Penn began doing things she had never done before. She to Maya—torower and 'PE"" jeAti trm-rama. --tibreryBoaal-payafer-thetatar 'albecirat-Everything—She-ass-offered-fner4anne-Innaltnandinetettbere-she, eke is free began working as a live-in homemaker companion The students meet with their tutors once a week at for an eklerly lady. She also began taking speech therapy in London and she has plans to eventually get her driver's licence. "Perm has blossomed from living in an empty shell to doing things en her own," says Mrs. Fink proudly. Perm agrees. "It's a great feeling. I have my own independence and my own bank book. I've never had ane before. It sure makes a big difference. I never had the confidence to work before. There were so many things I couldn't do and I was so ashamed.." Perm says she owes a lot to her tutor, Betty MacKenzie, a retired librarian. "She's a fantastic teacher. Just wonderful." Even though the ABE program ends at Grade 5, Perm will continue to be tutored privately by Betty until she achieves the highest level she can. Perm, although shy, agreed to have her story published in the newspaper because she is hoping it might help others hie herself. Upon receiving her graduation certificate at a special ceremony on Monday evening, it was an emotional Perm who told the other students, "It took me 30 years to realize that I wasn't the only person in the world who couldn't read and write I realize now that I am not stupid and my handicap is nothing to be ashamed of. I am just as smart as anybody else. The only difference 131 have to work harder than anybody else Nobody O stupid although they might think they are If a person wants something bad enough, nothing is impossible. Merry Christmas Perm and may your future 10 1982 be a bright one No meetings set between board, teachers No meetings between the Huron County Board of Education and the secondary school teachers regar- ding contract talks has yet been set. Education Relations Commission appointed mediator Putt Jeffrey Garde of London said Monday morning, nit will be in the new year". before a meeting will be held. Th Lest meeting beten fiat nee grcupswas held weer totherelease ofrafact-findeins-report-oreDete26„ At that time the board offered $36,000 as meantime salary. an offer the teachers rejected Paper dates change for Christmas During the Christmas sown the office hours and publishing datesat the Signal -Star have been altered. Next week's paper will be publiabed au day earlier than normal so that papers will be home dellvetwd Tuesday, December z2„ Therefore, Advertising And news copy deadlines have been **toted aceardingly. The deadline for al word claidne4 Ws noon, Monday, December 21 and the deadline for all other advertising is 5 p.m. the same day. The deadlines for all news copy is 5 p.no, Pdonday,Deeember 21. Due to extensive renovations to the front office of the Signal -Star, customers are being asked to use a new entrance, at the bent of the new addition, lust south of the esisting front entrance. The entrance will be in use until renovatiorn are complete in January. During the hall ay season the offices of Signalaar Publishing will be closed Thursday, December 24 and Christmas Day, Friday, December 25. The offices will reopen Monday, December but will be closed Friday, January 1. Everyone is encouraged to have advertising and news copy in early next week, cauddering the paper will be published one day early. Also, nest weeks paper will feature a special 48 page Christmas Greeting section featuring the stories Jetta= and pictures of school children in the coverage area. Two GDCI graduates win Carter scholarship Two graduates of Goderich and District Collegiate Institute have been awarded Carter Scholarship's it was announced this week. Ken Wood and Damell Matra both Grade Li graduates of GDCI, were two of the three scholarship winners in Huron County for 1911. The Carter Scholarship fund was established in 1914 by J.I.Carter of Sarnia. Each year, three students 10 36 counties across the province receive a cash award in recognition of outstanding academic achievements. The recipients must have siz Grade 13 credits including English or Mathematics. Ken Wood, who is now attending Harvard, had the highest average in Hunm County at 96.5 and received $200 from the scholarship fund. Darrell Kloeze was third in the ommty with an average of 9L5 and receives $80. - GDCI principal John Stringer explained that while the cash awards are modest, it is quite an honor to receive a Carter Scholarship' . Several GDCI students have received the schobrsbip avrard ill the past. Road reports „ av a ie another source Last week the Signal-Slar reported that road concition reports were available through the district office of the himiStry of Traisportation and Com- munication in Stratford. For any information con- cerning road conditions in this area, residents may call 271-8321. A reader informed the Star this week that the blue pages of the telephone directory also contains a number for road reports, 1-800-2651070. By' dialing that number, the caller will receive a tape recorded message with an overview of road conditions. The caller reported that the message offers a report on visibility and mad conditions of main highwaysin the wain' ce. If anyone is travelling during the winter and needs information on the contrition of major highways such as Highway 401 or 400 then the toll-free number is the one to call. The message will offer motorists up to date information on road conditions and visibility. If you are just traveling m the Huron -Perth area, the Stratford district office should have specific in- formation about road conditions in this area. M no time during the winter should anyone phone police for reports of road corardions in the area. There are two numbers to call for road reports and police lines should be dear for emergencies. INSIDE THE ,=GNAL-STAR Exchange students The Goderich Rotarians hosted all the foreign ex- change students in their district for a, weekend in Goderich winch included instruction in the fine art of curling., a dinner and talent show. and church at North Street See page 2.A. And justice for all Already 25 Years have lapsed since the mew' Cour- thouse on The Square los been built County Court Judge F.G. Canter hn written an ...tereerntenee Ine—erren of the judicial- systerabeRseuerCotzity- that starts -ore page 11_