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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-12-01, Page 1�t ederich SIGNAL. -STA 134 YEAR -48 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1,1982 50 CENTS PER COPY Hundreds of people lined both sides of The Square for the annual Santa Claus Parade Saturday. More parade pictures appear on page 6. (Photo by Dave Sykes) Museum closed for publit. saf The Huron County Pioneer Museum is closed for public safety and while a building reserve fund has been established, the future of the museum has been, transferred to the hands of the 1983 Huron County council. County council made the decision to close the museum at its Nov. 25 session after two. reports had been presented to the joint property and development committee. The reports, one from B.M. Ross and Associates of. Goderich recommended the museum be closed im- mediately and the second report, from Museum Programs Collaborative (MPC) stated the former telecommunications school in Vanastra is unsuitable to house a museum. . The B.M. Ross report said while the former Goderich Central School is a well -constructed building there are areas that don't meet the building code. Leaking roofs which have led to the deterioration of part of the roof support structural framing and part of the roof support system is below 'building code requirements. There are also areas of deteriorating wood in the basement. All three of the metal -clad additions are below load requirements of the building code. MPCs report indicated it would cost about $5 million to bring the Vanastra building up to museum requirements. In a break down of figures presented to county council by deputy clerk -treasurer William Alcock, renovations to an area to be used for the museum would be about $2 million and the renovations to the remainder of the building would costs about $3.3 million. Goderich Deputy Reeve Robert Allen said he had a copy of the MPC report several days before the county council meeting and had verified the cost estimates. "The figures are very accurate, about $35 per square foot. The information is excellent," com- mented.Deputy Reeve Allen. Tuckersmith Township Reeve Robert Bell asked county council what its plans for the school in Vanastra are. "One thing I'd .like to comment on since council is reluctant to give a definite no. There is another alternative. The building is going on the auction block ... council can go to the auction and bid on it," suggested Reeve Bell. Warden Harold Robinson commended the Town- ship of Tuckersmith for its patience with county council's deliberations on the Vanastra building. There was some confusion as to whether the county would adopt or accept the reports and in the end the reports were accepted. The MPC report made numerous recommendations dealing with planning for the future of the museum. Goderich Reeve Don Wheeler said the present council could not commit the incoming council to additional expenditures and it would be up to them to determine the future of the museum. It was also noted that 17 of the 30 county councillors will not be returning this year (they either lost in re-election bids or retired from politics) and several of them were on, the joint committee.' -.Reeve Wheeler indicated he would be available to state his views as he was a member of the joint committee. The Goderich reeve also helped launch the fund raising for the Huron County Pioneer Museum building reserve fund. His donation, in an undisclosed amount, is the 'second so far. A $50 donation from Mrs. Dorothy Leopard of London was recommended as the start of the fund. In other museum business, museum curator Raymond Scotchmer presented his annual report. From information in the museum's 1981 register book a synopsis of where visitors come from was obtained. Although only 3,397 visitors out of a total of 15,000 for 1981 signed the register, Mr. Scotchmer said it ' does given some indication where the people do come from: The local visitors (within a 40 mile radius of the museum) made up 18 percent of the visitors. The largest group comes from the rest of Ontario making ty ti up 58 percent of the visitors. Other breakdowns in- clude, three percent from Canada excluding Ontario, 13 percent from the United States and eight percent from other countries. • eport failed to reflect true atmosphere at high school A Public Institution Inspection Panel report on the Goderich and District Collegiate Institute does not reflect on the true atmosphere of the school, principal John Stringer says. The report issued by the panel in November, suggested the washrooms in the high school were in poor shape . and that the condition reflected on discipline: The panel visually inspected• a number of Huron County institutions and visited the high school at end of the lunch hour period, and the timing provided the panel with circumstantial evidence. "The panel carne at 1.15 p.m. just as the second lunch period was ending, just after600 or 700 students have eaten lunch in the cafeteria. During the lunch hour many students go back to their locker and many use the washroom," he said.; "The custodians always clean up right after the lunch hour periods." Considering the panel made only one visit, at the precise time when 700 students have just finished lunch and used the washrooms, Stringer said the report does not fairly represent the atmosphere of the school. "There were only there one time and the report doesn't reflect the true atmosphere," he said. "We have a great group of dedicated people from the vice principal, to the students, staff, secretaries and custodians. The school belongs to the citizens of Goderich and district and I can assure you we are achieving worthwhile educational goals." The Huron County Board of Education conducted an intensive team evaluation of the school, curriculum and staff in 1980 and its report was ex- tensive xtensive and complimentary in all areas. With respect to discipline, the authors suggested the student's conduct was exemplary. "The vice prinicipal of the school takes primary responsibility in management of students. Students appear to be well aware of the expectations the school has for them. It was significant and unique that during the entire evaluation no teacher was observed reprimanding either a student or class," the report said. "The attitude and conduct of students was exemplary. Students were courteous and co- operative. They moved quickly and quietly from class to class. There was no boisterous behaviour in the halls." The report indicated the school is administered well and that staff, students and administration take pride in the school.', Riddell delivers lettersof protest to Davis and Drea Huron -Middlesex Liberal MPP Jack Riddell ac- cepted a petition and over 700 letters of protest from Dorothy Potter and Tim Frawley of the Bluewater Centre staff Saturday following a blitz at the Sun - coast Mall. The letters of protest and the petition were presented to Premier Davis and Frank Drea in the Legislature Monday. (photo by Dave Sykes ) Huron Middlesex MP Jack Riddell carried a message of concern to the Ontario Legislature Monday on behalf of about 7,000 Goderich area residents protesting the closure of the Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped. Riddell presented 735 hand-written letters and a petition bearing over 6,200 naInes to Premier William Davis and Community and Social Services Minister Frank Drea representing a massive protest from the citizens of Huron, Bruce, Perth and Grey Counties. Weeks earlier, Drea had announced the ministry's plan to close six centres for the developmentally handicapped_- across.. the prov-ince, including the Bluewater Centre near Goderich. The centres will be phased out over a five-year period with an aim to d'einstitutionalize as many residents as possible and provide them with a community setting. Others will be transferred to Larger centres in the province. The letters and petition presented to Drea and Davis were a result of a blitz sponsored by Local 122 of the Ontario Public Service Employees- Union. While members' of the union have manned a booth in Suncaost Mall, gathering support for its petition, the local also sponsored a letter writing blitz. Local 122 president, Dorothy Potter said most of the letters were directed to Drea and Davis. In the Legislature Monday, Riddell presented the letters of protest and the petition and called on Mr. Davis and Mr. Drea to reconsider the decision to close the centre. He said the government was "tur- ning its back on many developmentally handicapped individuals." During the presentation, Riddell indicated the closure of centre would force about 150 residents from their home and 213 employees would lose their jobs. Riddell said he has pushed the minister and the government to meet with residents and staff of the Bluewater Centre as well as local citizens, parents and area- municipal governments to' explain the closure decision. The Liberal member urged the . ministry to at least consult with local governments and staff on the decision. Goderich town council has also petitioned the minister for a meeting and Drea responded in a November 16 tetter by saying -his iSiinistry'is simply carrying out the plan of deinstitutionalization that began in 1975. In the letter, Drea also said that every effort will be .made to offer alternative employment. or transfers to the employees of the Bluewater Centre. .Drea told council that the five-year plan was in- sttuted with the full co-operation of the Ontario Association for the Mentally Retarded, a group he says insisted on the implementation of such a program. The letter also said that "recent meetings with the provincial parent organization have in- dicated to us that they support and approve this continuing policy and present program." Council decided to check with the Ontario Association for the Mentally Retarded and seek their position on the matter before pursuing any further action. Thieves tamper with school vault Was someone after money or examination papers? That was the question facing Goderich District Collegiate officials and local police on Tuesday morning when it was discovered that the vault in the main office at the school had been tampered with. The dial system and handle on the vault were damaged to such an extent that it could not be opened by 9 a.m. and since examination papers were locked inside, students arriving to write their exams were dismissed and the schedule was moved ahead one day. The incident is still under investigation,by police. Also under investigation is a break-in which oc- curred at the Maitland Country Club on the night of November 27-28. Glass was broken in the door bet- ween the pro shop and the curling rink and three bottles of liquor were stolen from inside. Town donates x500 to bureau The town of Goderich has extended a helping hand to needy families by donating $500 to the Huron County Christmas Bureau sponsored by Family and Children's Services. Volunteer co-ordinator for the county -wide Christmas, Buruea Audrey Royal said it was hoped that . each town where a branch of the bureau is located, would assist the project financially. Last year the bureau assisted 93 children in 45.families in Goderich and Royal said the number of needy families in the county has increased. The town of Exeter donated $300 to the project and deputy -reeve Bob Allen said considering the population of Goderich, council could commit $500. Councillor Jim Searls said the timing of the donation was wrong, considering council would disband after the meeting. "It's not sensible business at this time of year and $500 is a lot of money to commit at this stage when council is going out," he said. Councillor Stan, Profit said that while the timing • was not good he thought "we must have $500 somewhere that we can give." • The Christmas Bureau, co-ordinated by Family and Children's Services, provides a toy and one new article of clothing to children of needy families and ensures that many families enjoy a Christmas din- ner. Welfare cases on the increase In one year, the caseload of the Huron County social services has increased 53.5 percent. Statistics presented at the Nov. 25 session of Huron County council show the caseload at the end of October 1982 was 234 while only 104 at the end of October 1981. At the same time assistance was issued to 241 cases by the end of October 1982 and only 157 cases received assistance at the end of October 1981. Social services administrator John MacKinnon commented there may be more general welfare assistance cases as he is expecting more people in Huron County to come off unemploythent insurance benefits in December or January. Social services committee chairman Warren Zinn said it .is surprising the_:expegitprej.a<''t Ver with the' increased caseload. The -budget -1i 36 percent over 1982 estimates with the province being responsible for all of the over -expenditure. Only $163,586 of the county's estimated share of $163,840 has been spent to date. Social services total budget of $665,594 has been overspent by $9,984. County council was also informed that the Ministry of Community and Social Services has increased the general welfare assistance rate by about five per- cent, effective Nov. 1. The maximum monthly allowance payable is now $656 for a family of four and the minimum is $163 fora single employable person. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Keen curlers The Maitland Curling Club's Junior Curling Program is now underway and the Grade 7 and 8 students who ate taking part in the program, are learning the fine art of the sport. The story about the program can be found on the first page of the Recreation section. Also inside the Recreation .section there are stories about hockey, basketball, the chess club, broombail and much more. Successful home The Keays Street Group Home which is located in Goderich has now been in existance for over four years; Reporter, -Joanne Buchanan-- talked • to t -- group home -director, Margot Smith about its success and the development of the mentally disabled. The story appears in the first section. Teacher retires Miss Helen Videan of Goderich is retiring from the teaching profession after 39 years. Reporter, Terry Marr interviewed Miss Videan who discussed the changes, she has observed, the special events which have occurred and the special people she has met. The story about the life long Goderich resident ap- pears in the first section.