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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-07-20, Page 1FI 135 YEAR -28 • ric • GODERICII SIGNAL -STAR, WED DAX, JULY ?A, 1983 4 Fun 'n frolic The annual Kinsmen Carnival returned to the Square last week offering several fast - paced rides, carnival treats and games of chance. Tom Chagnon, 7, and Mark Allison, 6, both of Goderich, enjoy candy apples in Courthouse Park and a young lady waves to her mother from the carousel. (photos by Dave Sykes) i ee :w 58 CENTS PER cq estival of Arts and Crafts begins Goderich's annual Festival of Arts and Crafts is all set to go this Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Court House Park. Convener Lu Legg says 102 craftspeople will exhibit and sell their weaving, leathercrafts, apple dolls, glasswork, copper enameling, crocheting, paintings and much more. She estimates that about two-thirds of the craftspeople will be from out-of-town, many of them returning to the Festival for a second or third time. The Festival will also feature a juried photography show with 16 to 20 competitors under the direction of Colleen Maguire The Huron County Chapter of Epilepsy Ontario will operate a tea garden at the Festival under the direction of Dianne Morrissey and on Friday evening from 7-8 p.m., 12 young local musicians, known as the Big Band Sounds of Corazon, will entertain Festival patrons. Visitorsare encouraged to drop into the county council chambers of the Court House to see the local Garden Club's display as well. This year's theme is 'Our Feathered Friends.' And merchants around The Square will offer sidewalk sale bargains to shoppers throughout the three-day Festival. Mrs. Legg, who began convening the Festival four years ago for the town's Tourist Committee, says she is hoping for the same good weather which has been experienced in past years. She says the event takes a lois of phi rafting- awl she is grateful- fur the town's - support and the help given by both the Parks Board and Recreation Board. The Festival will be open until 9 p.m. both Thur- sday and Friday and until 6 p.m. Saturday. Death came by drowning jury rules at inquest By D. Kloeze It took only 15 minutes for an inquest jury to deter- mine that Ronald Glen Geddes died "by misadven- ture" in a drowning incident on August 29, 1982. During the three-day inquest, evidence was heard that suggested Geddes's death was more than an ac- cident, but that evidence was ultimately discounted by the jury. The key witness was Dr. John Hillsdon-Smith, from the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto. Dr. Hillsdon Smith performed a second autopsy on the deceased in April, 1983. His findings showed con- clusively that Geddes died by drowning, in the Goder-icli.harbour. es`..• Both his findings '„..t�"�h. tioiite, from Stratford Gener r pital; who performed the first autopsy immedia ly after Geddes's death, show there were no signs of astruggle before death - In opening the inquest last Wednesday Dr. Ray- mond Flowers, who presided over the hearings, said that although an initial inquest on August 31 sug- gested death by drowning, there have been sugges- tions of foul play since. Widespread rumours concer- ning the death made a second autopsy and a subsequent inquest "necessary to satisfy the com- munity." Police Chief Pat King testified that Geddes's body was found with the arms folded across his chest. Dr. Hillsdon-Smith said in his testimony that he was in- itially "amazed" by the position of the arms. Their position was unusual and "suspicious", and might have indicated that they were restrained that way after he died. But a test used to prove that someone has drowned was taken and came out positive in Geddes's case. Dr. Hillsdon-Smith looked for diatoms, small few - celled algae found in water, in Geddes's bone mar- row. He found diatoms which were similar to those found in water samples from the Goderich harbour. He said this proved that Geddes had positively died by drowning. This disproved any theories that he had been killed previously and then thrown into the lake. Dr. Flowers commented that any foul play seems unlikely con- sidering the time element between when Geddes was last seen and the estimated time of death. Dr. Hillsdon-Smith concluded that after drowning, Geddes came to lie on his stomach or back to cause the arms to be folded in front of him. Geddes was last seen in the Goderich Restaurant and on the corner of Waterloo and West St. around 8:15 p.m. A witness testified seeing a jacket on the bench at the end of the south pier around 8:30 p.m. Geddes's watch, which he was wearing when found, showed 8:38. The five -person jury determined the time of death to be 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 29. They had no fur- ther recommendations to propose from their deliberations. Deborah Geddes, a sister of Ron, was the last to testify at the hearing. She said she°had seine informs, tion which would throw some light on previous testimony. There was some speculation as to why Geddes would be swimming at night in rough water with his pants and shoes on. Deborah Geddes said Ron frequently went swimm- ing at night. He had also just completed a survival course, which included surviving in the water in case of a boating accident. . Previous testimony showed that Geddes had been drinking earlier that day, and had eight or nine beer, although a friend said he was not drunk. From the alcohol levels in his blood and urine determined in the first autopsy, Dr. Waite said anybody would be "slightly impaired at that level." Crown attorney Garry Hunter in his closing remarks to the jury said Geddes might have gone in the water to try to prove himself. "He had eight or nine beer and that would make some people do strange things." He told the jury, "The only verdict you can bring back is death by misadventure." Chief King in his testimony said the police had also heard rumours that there was foul play involved in Geddes's death, particularly that it was connected with an earlier death in the area. But Chief King said that the Goderich police were never investigating Geddes's death in relation to any other death, nor did they find any evidence that Ged- des was in a fight the night he died. After checking out the rumours, he said, the police concluded there was "not one shred of truth in them at all." Association unveils plans for new workshop facility 444% 4 'et Construction on a new 5,000 square foot workshop for the mentally retarded will begin soon on Sun - coast Drive near Highway 8. The metal -clad ac structure will feature a brick front and will provide employment for 25 to 30 retarded adults hi the Goderich-Clinton area. Organizers for the Goderleh and District Association for the Mentally Retarded said the new facility should be ready by October. Construction on a new 5,000 square foot workshop for the mentally retarded will begin this week and organizers hope to occupy the facility in October. While -the planning stages have gone by quietly and efficiently the noise of construction should begin this week with the pouring of footings. Steel for the one - storey structure is expected to arrive the first week of August. Jean Wheeler of the Goderich and District Association for the Mentally Retarded said the building, located on Suncoast Drive near Highway 8, will provide employment for about 25 retarded people from the Gode rich and Clinton area. Forced, bythe ministry, to vacate facilities at the Goderich Kin- smen Centre , the local association made plans for new construction after a fruitless search for existing rental accommodation. The metal clad building, which will feature brick on parts of the frontal exterior, will cost the association an estimated $144,000 plus $5,000 for the land. While the ministry may fund as much as 80 per cent of the project, the funding is determined only when the project is complete. "We've really gone out on a limb," Wheeler said. "But we will get the contracts to make the workshop self-supporting." Wheeler is part of the numbered company, Goderich and District Handicapped Services Incorporated 550152, that has purchased the land from the town and will develop the site. When con- struction is complete and in compliance with the developer's agreement with the town, the land and building will be turned over to the Goderich and District Association for the Mentally Retarded. While the ministry will pay rent for use of the facility, the assocation hopes to secure new work contracts for the workshop. Dennis Sawyer, hired by the association six months ago, is in charge of setting up the workshop and securing contracts for the workshop employees. "We are looking for assistance from local ficins on getting jobs and we would prefer sub contract'wek," he said. " People probably don't realize the variety of jobs that we can perforin." The workshop is expected to be occupied by October. r. 7,1 f Goderi winner award nounced The andstaff of Goderich and Pi -strict Collegiate Institute hasvecemseaded that the town , of Godenich award for 198243 be awarded to Kelly Schweitzer. Thedaughterei Mr. -and Mr Ray -Schweitzer;- 241— Tilt Street, Goderich, Kelly completed Grade 13 this year and will be attending Kings College at the University of Weatern Ontario, London in September 1983. Mayor Eileen Palmer will present the town award at school's annual commencement exercises Fri- day, September 30. Reeve enters 1984 race for warden The race is on for the warden's seat in Huron Coun- ty in 1984. Hullett Reeve Tom Cunningham, 43, announced at the July session of Huron County Council that he will seek the position of warden at the end of the year. Earlier this term, Goderich Reeve Harry Worsell inr cheated he would be seeking the same position. Reeve Cunningham is serving his fifth year on county council after having served the first two years as Hullett's deputy reeve. Prior to having served as deputy reeve, Mr. Cunningham served two years as a councillor in his township. A beef and cash crop farmer, the Hullett reeve is currently chairman of the county's road committee. "I feel I have something to offer," said Reeve Cun- ningham, one of the younger members of county council. The election for warden will be held in the early part of December. The last election for wa.rdet n Was, in MT when -the former reeve of Howick Township, Harold Robinson, ran against Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling. Mr. Robinson served as 1982 warden and Mr. Stirl- ing was acclaimed as 1983 warden. Tenders awarded for school repairs Tenders have been awarded for the repairs to St. Mary's Separate School in Goderich. At its July 11 meeting, the Huron -Perth Separate School Board approved the tenders which Trustee Tim McDonnell said were the lowest iii each area. George Clement Masonry of Bayfield will do the brick replacement at a tender price of $9,000, 'Mockery Roofing Co. Ltd. of Kitchener will replace the roof at a tender price of $89,466, Hildebrand paint and paper of Seaforth will do the painting at a tender price of $3,485 and Rosman Drywall and Acoustics Ltd. will construct the interior partition at a cost of $2,3I5. :Kyles, Kyles and Garret ..of Stratford architect,''s. fees of $x,526 plus a construction contingency of $6,705, bring the total cost of the project to $204,497. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR 44, Recreation news As the men's fastball season continues and the slowpitch league begins its playoffs, teams in both leagues have been battling for positions. In the Men's Industrial Fastball League, Hotel Bedford is way out in front but a fight has been taking place between se- cond and fourth places. In the Mens' Slowpitch League seven teams with be competing in the "A" division. Stories about both of the leagues appear on the first page of the Recreation section. Road runner Just three years ago 13 year-old Christine Phillips of R.R. 2 Goderich took up long distance running. Since that time she has competed in 23 races, winning 12 firsts and four seconds. She has also broken records at some of the races she has run. The story about the determined and gifted athlete appears on the first page of the Recreation section. Art exhibition 4 This weekend many talented artists will exhibit their work at Goderich's Festival of Arts and Crafts. One of the artists, Peter Robson of Sparta, will ex- hibit his work which includes watercolors of the Ben - miller, at The Livery. A story about Robson's career appears inside the first section. 'per