HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-06-25, Page 1a
Hmph. This business of loading sand can get
really muscle -straining, especially when you
haven't got a bucket to load it into. This little
girl had a great time playing on the beach
anyway on Monday as temperatures continued
to soar into sunburn levels after our first real
summer weekend. (photo by Cath Wooden)
4
s arade, fireworks,
kir show here this weekend
This weekend promises to be an exciting one
for Goderich and area residents. Canada Week
is going to be celebrated in fine style. And, in
ca,se you don't know. about the events which
have been planned on your behalf, they are
being repeated here for your information.- It Is
extremely important that you participate in
some or all of the events- to make them wor-
thwhile.
Beginning on Friday at 4 p.m. the Goderich
and District Optimist Club will .open a
hospitality (beer) tent at Harbor Park: The
club is also sponsoring a folk and bluegrass
festival in the Park on Friday evening,
Saturday, Saturday evening, Sunday and
Sunday evening. Art and craft displays will be
set up .in the Park as well and there will be
entertainment and day care for the kiddies.
People arebeing asked to park their cars at the
beach (bottom of the hill) and take a shuttle bus
up fo the Park to prevent traffic congestion.
On Saturday there will be a giant air show at
the Goderich Municipal Airport. The Lions Club
is holding a pancake breakfast at the airport
beginning at 8:30 a.m. and there will be a static
aircraft display there all day. The action will
commence at 2 p.m. complete with parachuters
and all kinds of areobatics.
Also on Saturday, the Goderich Sailing Club
will present the Laser Championship Trials at
10 a.m. These trials will continue until Sunda
Horne cooked food will be offered
smorgasbord style on Saturday evening from 5
to 7 p.m. at St. Peter's Church and from 6 to 8
p.m. at St. George's Church.
On Saturday evening at the Legion Hall there
willbe a dance with "big band" music. There is
no admission charge for this dance.
At dusk (about 10:15 p.m. -depending on the
weather) on Saturday evening a fireworks
display will be set off at the south pier. If it is
pouring ram at that time, the display will beset
off the next night at the same time.
On Sunday a "mystery bike tour" will start
from the Canadian Tire Store at 9 a.m. There is
no charge for this fun family outing.
Many of the town's churches will be holding
"friendship services" on Sunday morning to
welcome visitors.
noon the Lions will be cooking pancakes
again–this time in Court House Park.
A parade will leave from Agricultural Park
at 2 p.rn. Floats are still needed and welcome.
If you would like to enter a float --even a
decorated truck or car --just call Chief Pat
King, Mac Campbell or Doug Bundy. If you
can't phone ahead, just show up at Agricultural
Park about 1 p.m. The parade themes are
"Friendship Days" and "Founder's Day".
_The Lions will offer a beef barbecue in Court
House Park at 4 p.rn. until 7 p.m.
And the weekend will be topped off with a
concert by the Knights of Jazz, a musical group
from Kincardine, in Court House Park at 7:30
p.m.
For more details about each event, see the
feature on the second front of last week's
edition of the Signal -Star. And don't say you
• didn't know what was going on. Get out there
and participate!
There's lots going on in Goderich
get out and celebrate
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132 YEAR -28
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1980
35 CENTS PER COPY
Hospital staff stressed to
BY DAVE SYKES
High bed occupancy- rates, coupled with a
reduction in nursing manpower to meet
provincial restraints have the medical staff of
Alexandra Marine and General Hospital
concerned.
Medical advigory committee chairman, Dr.J.
L. Hollingworth said in a rbport at the Hospital
Board annual meeting That recent high oc-
cupancy rates have placed excessive demands
on the nursing staff and put them under ex-
treme stress to cope with the situation.
During the past year the hospital was forced
to implement the Ministry of Health's policy of
bed allocations • on the basis of 3.5 beds per
thousand referral population. Goderich was
allowed to maintain 50 active treatment beds,
20 psychiatric beds and 20 chronic care beds.
However, administrator Elmer Taylor said
the occupancy rate has been running at 80 per
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IGNAL-ST R
F'aintings on display
American marine
artist, James Clary
was in town on the
weekend showing his
paintings, some
valued at over
$20,000. See story and
pictures on page 11 of
this section.
Star Trex makes tracks
The popular local group, Star Trex, has
recently recorded an album called
Goldrush which includes some of their
own songs. Joanne Buchanan takes an
in-depth look at the group and its history
in a feature story on page IA.
Phone service underway
Three area university students are in-
volved in a telephone reassurance
service designed to help those living
alone ,maintain independence. Elaine
Townshend explains the service on page
3A.
Regular Features
Tid Bits P. 2 Columns P. IA
Edftorials P 4 Weekend Events P. 2A
Letters P. 4 Entertainmvnt P. 4A -5A
Sports p. 14.16 Churches P. 11A
Classified P 17-19 Captain Comet P. 14A
Real Estate ... P. 20-21 Bob Trotter P. 16A
cent for active treatment beds and 100 per cent
for chronic care.
The high occupancy rate is extending the
medical and nursing staff to provide safe and
adequate care and they urged the board to
ensure that no further reductions in beds or
staff result from Minis -try restraint programs.
The problems mainly stem from the hospital's
turbulent financial year in 1978 and Ministry
cutbacks. _ _ •
Due to a severe deficit in 1978 the hospital
board was forced to seek additional funding
from the province while reducing beds and staff
at the same time; The Ministry provided
assistance on the proviso the hospital engage
the firm of Woods, Gordon and Company to
complete a management study of the hospital
and it's operation.
Almost all of the recommendations 'contained
in the Woods, Gordon report were implemented
this.year, thus streamlining the use ofstaff.
In his report to the annual meeting, Chief of
Staff, Dr. Michael Conlon, said bed occuparrcy
rates reached critical proportions in the past
year but medical and nursing staffs were able
to maintain patient care, and treatment at a
safe level. He urged the board ,to continue
monitoring beds and hospital services to
prevent future restrictions in these areas.
Dr. Hollingworth admitted there have been
considerable savings by reducing the number
of -nurses b-ut-s-aitl there at e under stress to -cope -
wi th excessive demands placed on them when
the hospital is running at full capacity.
"This is very taxing and frustrating for our
nurses and it is unfortunate that more adequate
staffing is _not availalbe," the report read.
"This i a result of the Ministry's financial
4
roiAde. Safe care
restraint placed on hospitals and it is felt by
many other hospitals in the province."
Dr. Hollingworth -commended the nurses for
their endurance and committment saying he
hoped they would one day be able to return to a
higher nurse -patient ratio, which depends, of
course, on Ministry funding.
At times, some patients had to be put on a
waiting list prior to admission to hospital and to
cope with the situation and overflow area of
three beds, labelledas a surgical day care -area
to appease the Ministry, was created.
"The bed situation in this hospital is critical
at times and again is a direct result of
Government restraint on hospital care," the
report stated.
Administrator Taylor said the hospital has
been running at capacity more frequently
during the past year and to live within the
budget it is placing demands on the staff. Tha
administration is, monitoring the situation and
haveicreated an over flow area of three beds.
"We are not unique in this respect and many
hospitals are experiencing the same dif-
ficulty," Taylor said, "We have had a more
frequent high occupancy rate lately but we will
just have to cope the best we can." .
Taylor indicated that in the past the hospital
may have dperated in a peak occupancy
situation for three days but recently the peak
has lasted as long as two weeks. 0
Thestaffing_fallaw_a_ _the_No.ods..iordnn_
report and we have to stay within the
guidelines," he said. "Restrictions are here to
stay and it is something we'll have to live
with."
Last year the hospital was allotted a 7.8 per
cent increase in funding over the 1978-79 figure.
Woodward remanded in
custody - to face trial
SAGINAW, Mich.—The ex-husband of a
woman wh-ose charred body was found on a
Huron .Ccrunty farm near Goderich March 25
was. remanded in custody for trial Friday on a
charge of murder.
Gene Woodward of Saginaw was arrested in
Long Island, N.Y. in April and charged after
the body of his ex-wife Jean, 24, had been
identified through dental chartSa. He appeared
Friday at a preliminary hearing on tiff charge.
Saginaw prosecutor Robert Kaczmarek said
Woodward will have the charges read to him in
the circuit court June 30 or July 7, at which time
he is expected to enter a plea and have a trial
date set.
State officials decided to proceed with the
trial in Michigan, rather than Ontario, because
under Michigan leis it isn't necessary to prove
the woman was murdered in the stae, only that
an abduction had taken place.jte said under
Ontario law, it would have to haiie been proved
that the woman was murdered in Ontario.
"It seemed best to hear it (the case) here,"
the prosecutor said.
Michigan police said earlier they have
determined that the last place the woma was
seen alive eas leaving her Saginaw residence
Feb. 19
Much of Friday's proceedings, the third day
of the preliminary hearing, consisted of
arguments by the prosecutors and Woodward's
lawyer
Tender accepted
for psych unit
The board of governors of Alexandra Marine
and General Hospital were p leasantly sur-
prised when they opened tenders for the new
psychiatric unit Tuesday,
The tenders were below original architect's
estimates and the tender of Kelly -Lyn Con;
struction Company of London for $808,326 was
accepted over three other bids. The next closest
bid was $886,000 with a high bid 0,8904,000 from
Logan Construction.
The total estimate nn the construction of the
20 unit psychiatric facility was r$1,089,400 but
that included architect fees and furnishings.
The cost of building construction was estimated
Turn to page 22
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Who's on first? French Dry Cleaners' runner
Ron Klages figured that he was supposed'to be
on the base because he was the one who hit the
ball during Industrial Fastball League action
on Monday evening, but this critter had dif-
ferent ideas. The dog wandered all around the
diamond before finally heading towards the
concession stand for a burger. (photo by Cath
Wooden)
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