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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-10-06, Page 1Nit J uoaerich ic:: NAL ETA 134 YEAR -40 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6,1982 50 CENTS PER COPY About 50 Goderich and area residents staged a quiet demonstration outside the Huron County Court House ,Thursday to protest the fact that county council is considering moving the Huron County Pioneer • Museum to Vanastra. Council also en- tertained a delegation of concerned citizens at its monthly meeting. (photo by Dave Sykes) Museum is a fire trap county says The present museum building is a fire trap and all the artifacts would be lost in the event of a fire members of Goderich council were told by a joint committee of Huron County council last week. ' The.. property committee of council met with .the county's joint development and property committee September 27, to discuss the possibility of the county moving the Huron County Pioneer Museum to Vanastra. The county joint committee feels the artifacts should he housed in a fire -proof building and that relocation is more feasible than construction of a new building. It has been suggested that a new building could cost as much as $4 million to meet government standards. Architect Don Snider indicated, that the former radar school building in Vanastra is in good condition despite being vacant for 12 years. He explained that water has not damaged the structural capabilities of the building but added that part of the roof would require repairs. The -floors- of the Vanastra building were designed to carry a load of 50 pounds per square foot and while the building code requires a load capacity of 100 Student chased on way to school Goderich police are seeking public assistance in tracking down the driver and an occupant of a four- door ourdoor red vehicle that was stopped at the intersection of Victoria and Bruce Streets around 8 a.m. Tuesday. Goderich Police Chief Pat King said the vehicle, with two male occupants, stopped at the intersection and one male occupant opened the rear door and smiled at a young girl, who was on her way to schooL Chief King said the man who had opened the door proceeded to jog after theolementary school student but later gave up the chase. The man was described as being older than a teenager, about 5 foot 11 inches in height with light brown hair and a small beard. If anyone saw the four - door red vehicle, travelling south on Victoria Street Tuesday morning mound 8 a.m., they are asked to contact police. Chief King said parents should caution children - -about accepting rides and should be wary when ap- proached by strangers. If such an incident does oc- cur, the chief said it is important if they could remember the licence plate number or even part of it. Organizers upset pounds per square foot for a musuem, the architect claimed the building could withstand the required load. He said the building is sound in structural terms. The county joint comrnittee admitted that no studies have been conducted on the present museum building and that an operating cost comparison of building a new museum or relocating has not been contemplated. Members of the town delegation suggested it would be, wise for the county.to conduct studies on the costs of .a new building compared to the costs of relocating the artifacts and refurbishing the Vanastra building. It was suggested that the study should include con- struction costs of a new museum, operating costs of each structure, costs to relocate exhibits, projected revenues and an investigation of services available in eachmunicipality relating to fire protection, policing', water, sewage and garbage collection. County council will proceed with a cost study of the Vanstra building and Goderich town council has authorized an expenditure of $2,000 to carry out an investigation with regards to the relocation of the .. museum. County awaits study results on former radar building BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE Huron County. Council will wait for a cost study of operating the Huron County Pioneer Museum out of the former telecommunications school in Vanastra J efore it decides whether or not to buy the building. The decision to wait. fot. the second report was made at, council's Sept. 30 meeting after two other motions on the issue were defeated. One defeated motion called for the county to refrain from purchasing the Vanastra building for the pur- pose of housing the museum. In a 'recorded vote it was defeated as only reeves Don Wheeler of Goderich and' Grant Stirling of Goderich Township : and Goderich Deputy Reeve Robert Allen voted. in favor of the motion. A second motion requesting the matter to be deferred for the incoming council to deal with was also defeated. •The possibility of moving the museum out of Goderich hasn't met with glad tidings by residents of the town. This was made clear to county council as about 50 Goderich citizens crammed council chambers to make their objection to the possible .move known. These same residents had stood in front • of thecourt house in the Goderich square prior to the council meeting. Some were carrying placards ask- ing county council to carefully think over any deci- sion to move,the museum. Council heard a , presentation. from Mrs. Eileen Palmer, a former Goderich reeve. Speaking as a private citizen, Mrs. Palmer asked council to "help keep the historical Huron County Pioneer Museum in historic Goderich." This received loud applause from the audience. "Frankly, I'd be ashamed to direct" anyone to . Vanastra," said Mrs. Palmer. She referred to. the building's surroundings, calling it "an eyesore to. the County of Huron". Mrs. Palmer added that if it's the county's intention to. eventually resurrect Vanastra by moving the museum there. "I don't think you could even get Lazarus to respond." The former reeve suggested county council wait until the second. study is prepared, The first study, a structural engineering , one,. concluded, that the "building is structurally sound and could easily be converted for museum purposes." . Mrs. Palmer reminded council that with . federal ,and provincial government restraint, transfer . Turn to page 3• .;,, Intensive care unit opened at hospital Many local residents joined the Board of Governors of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in opening ceremonies for the new intensive eare unit at the' hospital. The pieblie was invited to tour the new facility during open house last Tuesday and a commemorative plaque was unveiled later in the evening. (photo by Dave Sykes) One of thenewest and best equipped intensive care units in the province was unveiled at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital Tuesday. The four -room unit was opened following special ceremonies at the hospital entrance and a large crowd took advantage of the open house to view the intensive care unit facilities. The opening culminated over a year of planning' and fund raising in which nearly $500,000 was collected for the construction project.. The entire project was funded locally. without the aid of the Ministry of Heath, as the hospital board of governors committed $250,000 to the project and the remainder was raised through the generosity of the 12,000 area residents seryed by the hospital. Several local dignitaries, board members and politicians spoke at the opening ceremonies and HuronmMiddlesex MPP Jack Riddell said the new unit spoke well of the community and the hospital board, considering the project was completed without government assistance. Gordon Cunningham, executive director of the Ontario Hospital Association, said the diligent efforts of the local hospital board and citizens will serve as an inspiration to other hospitals. "I will tell othtrs what you've done here and speak with admiration of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital," he said. "Thank you for the inspiration that 1 can give to ther hospitals in the province." Dr. Murray McAdam, president of 'the Ontario Medical Association, also praised the effort, initiative and determination of the board, fund-raising com- mittee and citizens of the area. "Your medical staff here pushed for a new ICU unit and sometimes confrontation is necessary," he said. "The people recognized a problem and . did something. 1 congratulate your caring„initiative, drive and sense of responsibility.” caring.„ The money for the ,unit was raised last year by several sub -committees of the board that canvassed area homes and business and commercial interests as well as foundations and municipal and township governments in the hospital's coverage area. by coverage ®n plowing match By Stephanie Levesque The International Plowing Match (IPM) and Farm Machinery show is over for another year and while attendance has been assessed as "reasonable", organizers say match coverage by the London Free Press cost them at least 100,000 in attendance. . Treasurer of the IPM Middlesex local committee Brian Hughes commented on Monday, October 4 that .a full page photo spread in Saturday's edition of The Free Press hurt attendance at the match. Attendance was under 110,000 for the five-day event. "We (the local committee) depend on the pay that comes through the gates," said Mr. Hughes. The treasurer aclthowledged there was mud on the . service roads, but the pedestrian roads were dry because organizers kept motor vehicles off these roads. This action was praised by exhibitors because it enabled visitors to tour displays easily. Mr. Hughes noted that the local committee had put • four and a half years into planning the match and the' Free Press had provided "good help". ' "Then they turn around and sensationalize the mud," said I* Hughes. . Organizers had hoped for 200,000 people to show up at the match, but added4Vlr. Hughes,' "we would have been happy with 150,000." He added that about 30,000 people with free passes should be added to the 110,000 figure. The revenue from the gate admission fee enables,. the local committee to pay its bills, and while Mr. Hughes said they will be able to do that, there is no surplus which would have benefitted Middlesex Coun- ty. - Mr. Hughes said the Free Press was "100 per cent irresponsible" in its coverage of the match. "They crucified us" .was anotlmer o ue tz, • • Another point raised by "Mr. Hughes was that t" least one of the pictures. run in the Saturday edition had been taken on Tuesday..This fact was stated in the .photo caption, ' but the headline read "Mud- wrestlers would have loved a match". The localcommittee has asked people to write let- ters to the editor of the Free Press and cancel their subscriptions. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Save A Child program initiated in Goderidi 'Our children are our future. Love them.' That is the theme of the `Save Abi 'program, a simple concept originated by the Jaycees of Canada and now found in many communities. It is being • brought to Goderich by the local fire department and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.. The program involves the use of flourescent orange stickers which are placed on me -bedroom -Windows of children, the elderly or handicapped, thus designating the primary areas of rescue in emer-genet' situations such as- fire. • "The .stickers tell rescuers to enter those rooms first because people who cannot get out by them- selves could be trapped in there. How many times do you read about a fire where the parents get out but the children don't," says sorority member Joy McKee who is helping to organize the program in Goderich. The 2500 stickers ( patented by the Jaycees) cost the fire department and sorority about $500 but are being distributed to the public free of charge. • The stickers and letters explaining them are being sent home with students attending Colborne, St. Marys, Victoria and Robertson Schools. Since the pro .ram covers only the Goderich fire area,. students atolmesville Sam] will receive form lifters' to be filled out by parents in the qualifying area who want the stickers. .Additional. stickers far pre-schoolers..the_elderly_or handicapped will be available at MacKay Centre any tune between Monday and Friday froari 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1-3 p.m. They will also be available through .the Hi Neighbour program and the new mother's gift pucks atthe- hospital. The stickers have instructions for use on the back. Mrs. McKee says it is important to note that the stickers should be removed from windows if you relocate your child's bedroom or move to another residence. • Besides the Goderich Fire Department, Mrs. McKee says the sorority would like to thank the Legion ladies' Auxiliary who also donated to the project. "1t was *lot of money for a small group like us to take on so we had to ask other groups for help. too," she explains. Fastball. final The Goderieh FastbaliLeague championship game • here Saturday had all the dramatic ingredients as Canada Company defeated Bedford Hotel 4-3 in the . fifth and deciding game_ of the final series. The story . and prcfures o -f tlia , dramatic "fina'l game are displayed on,the Recreation page. Museum _history There is much concern in Goderich that Huron • County council will relocate the museum in the for- -mer- radar sehool -at Vanast-ra. The county is- cots ducting studies on that building winch can be pur- chased for. $75,000. The museum has an interesting history and a story and pictures appear inside this section. Christmas Fair The Colborne Township Christmas Country Fair features the work of many fine area artists and craftsmen. Joanne Buchanan features the intricate work of one such artist in the second section.