HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-07-27, Page 1135 YYEARr-,30
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1983
50 CENTS PER COPY
Suggestions made
for policing Square
The Shoppers Square Association has sent a letter
to the Goderich Police Commission with a list of
suggestions "for more effective policing of the
Shopper's Square area."
Association spokesman, David E. White, said the
suggestions were being made "because of the recent
and continuing rash of break-ins in the immediate
core area."
The suggestions include: 1) having a policeman on
foot patrol for night time surveillance; 2) front and
rear door checks each night; and 3) enlisting the help
of private citizens and businesses to report incidents
to police as soon as possible and making sure their
names will not be used on the radio network.
The Association also gave a list of what it felt the
minimum patrolling hours should be and said that the
patrolmen and their hours of duty should be kept
confidential, with the officers perhaps patrolling out
of uniform.
The Association was generally agreed that day-
time foot patrols are not so important.
In dealing with the suggestions from the
Associtaion, the commission called on Police Chief
Pat King who in turn presented a letter with his ob-
servations on the suggestions made.
�_____. --King-pointed-out-that-with-the--available
-that-with-the--available
manpower the police department now has, it would
impossible without overtime to maintain foot patrol
for night surveillance.
As for front and rear door checks, Chief King said
the responsibility for ensuring doors are secure lies
with the staff of the building.
"When I leave my house, it is my responsibility to
ensure it is secure. The same goes for any
businessman," he said.
He explained that door checks by a police officer
may find the odd door or window open or prove that
the staff have locked the place. This is done at the
present. However, he said, an officer normally can
only check a building in this manner once during his
shift, assuming that he has no other calls to attend to.
"Once an officer has checked the building, there is
no guarantee that building would not be ,.attacked
after the checks have been completed," he said.
For the maximum surveillance of as many
business properties as possible, the Chief suggested a
mixture of foot and mobile patrol plus periodic
checks of buildings at random with the available
manpower. He explained that a man on foot patrol*
limited to what he can see and how quickly he can
respond to a different location if the need arises.
"The ability to respond quickly is even more im-
portant now that more silent alarms are being in-
stalled in businesses and homes. The foot -beat officer
cannot resond quick enough, especially if the culprit
is in a vehicle," he said.
Chief King fully agreed with the recommendation
to report incidents "as soon as possible" and said he
would stress "as they are happening".
Too often, he said, police are told hours or days or
even weeks later of an incident.
"The police department, via the media, have
repeatedly requested persons to report incidents to
us. They need not give their names. Their names are
not used over the air," he explained.
Chief King said he also agreed that day -time foot
patrols were not so important as they are mainly for
public relations and serve as very little deterrent to
crime.
-for the-suggestini regardirig-hdkurs of dnty; ai'ier
King said, "I fail to see how the Shoppers Square
Association would ever expect us to keep hours of
duty confidential. Although we would not publish the
hours in the Signal -Star, it would become quite ob-
vious to the public after a couple of days because of
the visibility of the officer."
As for patrolling out of uniform, he said, "In a
small community, all policemen are well-known to
those who live in or frequent town. I can assure the
commission that our troublemakers and criminals
know the police better by sight than the members
themselves. To have an officer in plain clothes is not
very effective because of this fact."
He said that the same thing happens when police
rent plain cars for patrol work. "The impact is only
good for one or two nights at most before persons
Turn to page 2
Local man killed in crash
Randy Schmidt, 31, of Goderich was killed and
three others were injured in a two -car accident on
Highway 8 near the VLA subdivision just outside
Goderich Friday evening about 8:30 p.m.
Larry Young, 33, of Goderich, driver of the car in
which Schmidt was a passenger, was taken to
Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich
where he was listed in satisfactory condition. Mark
Culbert, 28, of Goderich, another passenger, was
taken to Victoria Hospital in London where he was
listed in serious condition.
The driver of the second car, Laura Jean Smith, 58,
of London was also taken to Victoria Hospital where
she was listed in fair condition.
The accident occurred when the north -bound car
driven by Young was turning left off Highway 8 into
the VLA and was struck on the passenger side by the
Smith vehicle which was heading south out of
Goderich. sr
The accident is still under investigation by the local
detachment of the OPP and charges are pending.
Pass the life-saver, demonstrated here by Heather
Rae and 'Chris Walker, was one of several events
held during Record Breaking Day at Judith
Gooderham Park. The event was sponsored by the
Recreation Department, which has been holding
special summer events for the children. A few
upcoming events include rollerskating, a trip to
Storybook Gardens and a bike rodeo. The activities
run during the week with the last special event
being held on August 19. ( photo by Anne Narejko)
Annual Arts and Crafts Festival enjoyed
14, PW00/
Peter Robson, a watercolor artist from the village
of Sparta, attracted quite a bit of attention with his
exhibit of local work at The Livery during the
town's annual Festival of Arts and Crafts on
Thursday and Friday. Here, he recreates a
Goderich harbor scene from 100 years ago. It is
partially taken from a picture he saw in the book,
Memories of Goderich and partially from his own
research and imagination. It shows an old grain
elevator and the old Anglican Church as well as the
transitional period between steam and sail ships.
Before he had completed the ;;r.. inting, Robson had
sold it to a local couple. (Photo by Joanne
Buchanan)
Rain holds off
again for event
on The Square
Except for a brief shower on Thursday afternoon,
the rain held off for another successful Festival of
Arts and Crafts in Court House Square this past
weekend.
Convener Lu Legg of the Goderich Tourist Com-
mittee was pleased with the large crowds attending
the Festival and said the craftspeople and merchants
alike also seemed enthused.
Mrs. Legg says she would like to thank the
recreation department and the parks department for
all their work both before and after the Festival.
In the council chambers of the Court House, over
800 people from as far away as Newfoundland,
Michigan and Texas, visited the Goderich Garden
Club's Flower Festival held every year in conjunction
with the Festival of Arts and Crafts. Fifteen niches
portrayed this year's theme, 'Our Feathered
Friends'. The Huron County Pioneer Museum also
had a display of old-fashioned wreaths at the Flower
Festival.
Nine local photographers displayed their work and
competed for ribbons at the Festival of Arts and
Crafts as well. Winners include: pictorial -Mable
Fells, first and Chuck Hasson, second; human in-
terest -K. Larsen, first and Ralph Smith, second;
nature study -Dave Harman, first and Ralph Smith,
second; existing light -Ralph Smith, first, Dave
Harman, second and Chuck Hasson, third; and open
category -Allan Gerofsky, first and ' Ellen Huck,
second. Ralph Smith also won the 'Best in Show'
category with his existing light entry.
In the Livery Theatre, guest artist Peter Robson of
Sparta painted and exhibited his work and the
Goderich Arts Foundation held a bake sale.
The Huron County Chapter of Epilepsy Ontario
operated a tea garden in Court House Park for
Festival patrons. Music was provided Friday evening
at the Festival by 12 young local musicians known as
the Big Band Sounds of Corazon and throughout the
Festival by George Morley's Wurlitzer military band
organ.
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L'y i
utdaa.Farrisli.400114 °i ,e ivthgston, lair
of iff eld Township were fiaeefIVO 1R a Pim
truck driven by William Card, .1,5, alio of MShfield
when_it left Ashfield sideroad 9 -10 and Otricka tree.
Parrish is in fair condition in London's University
hospital, while Livingston remains, in satisfactory
condition under observation at Wingham and District
Hospital. Card . was,:'treated and released from
Wingham hospital the night of the accident.
Other passengers in the vehicle, Robert Maize, 14,
Richard Ireland, '16, Leslie . Livingston, 17, all of
Ashfield and Gerald Card, 15- of R.1 Sombra were
treated at Wingham and District Hospital And later
released.
Sod turning will
be this Thursday
A- special sod -turning ceremony, marking the
beginning of construction of a new workshop for the,
mentally retarded on Suncoast Drive near Huron
Road, will take place at the site Thursday, July 28 at
2.30 p.m.
Members of the Goderich and District Association
for the Mentally Retarded have formed a numbered
company that has purchased the land from the town
and will be responsible for the construction of the•
5,000 square foot facility. The Ministry of Community
and Social Services will pay up to 80 per cent of the
cost of the project when it's complete.
The metal -clad and partially bricked -building will
provide work for as many as 30 retarded adults in thq
Goderich-Clinton area. The Association hopes to oc-
cupy the new facility sometime in October.
Man arrested after
Maitland break-in
The Goderich Police Department reports on Satur
day, July 16 at 2:50 a.m. a man was arrested at the
Maitland Country Club. Charges of break and enter
and theft have been laid.
On the night of Thursday, July 21 or the morning of
July 22 the tourist booth was broken into and two
_-flags-were-stoilem TYt e-fiagriVere also stolen from
Olde Goderich Service and police presume they were
taken at the same time as the other flags.
Police are urging residents to mark their flags in
some way so if they are stolen they can be identified
and returned.
Policc also report on the night of Sunday, July 24 or
the morning of July 25 Shanahan's Foodland, located
on The Square, was broken into. A large quantity of
cigarettes, cash and lottery tickets were taken. The
value of the stolen items is estimated at $2,100.
INSIDE.IEI
SIGNAL -STAR
Race winner
This past Saturday approximately 120 runners took
part in the 5th annual Goderich 10km Fun Run and
Road Race. Although registration was down from
last year, organizers were pleased with this year's
race. Winning the event this year was 41 year-old Ken
Inglis of Kincardine, who completed the course in 30
minutes and 38 seconds. The story and pictures ap-
pear on the front page of the Recreation section.
Ball tourney
The Goderich Ladies' Slowpitch League hosted its
2nd annual tournament this past weekend. Of the 19
teams entered, London Little Red Devils took the
"A" title while Rostock took the "B" title. The story
and pictures appear on the front page of the Recrea-
tion section.
Couple retire
After 27 years of running their own store, Carl and
Anne Anderson of Goderich, have decided to retire.
Having recently sold Anderson's Book Centre the
couple will now have plenty of time to read the hun-
dreds Of books they have acquired over the years.
The story about the Goderich couple appears inside
the first section
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