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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-08-01, Page 1c�I • �.I T ALL IF#C3441041. (Cireulation Qlaaa 950C):y}F 136 YEAR -31 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1,1984" ' iIM iAiSPa PER iN CANA t Ne'ptspaper C.orhpetition 1 984 R Gp 50 CENTS PER COPY "Goderich gives warship The 28 -year-old warship, IHMCS Saguenay arrived in the Goderich Harbour Saturday afternoon to what crew members said was the "biggest and best reception yet." The Goderich Fire Department had the fire hoses spraying across the harbour as the large crowd watched the ship approach. The Saguenay was open to the public for tours last Sunday as the crew members took all interested people through the six decks. The ship left Goderich Harbour Monday, making . several mere stops before it returns to its home port in Halifax. • One of the main `features of the 366 foot ship is the 19,000 pound helicopter, Sea•King, which sits near the back of the ship. Since the primary role of the Saguenay is anti- submarine warfare, Sea King assists the boat by locating the submarines. The helicopter can also attack the submarines independently as it is armed with homing torpedoes and depth bombs. The Saguenay, which is classified as a, helicopter destroyer, has a crew of 2.70 and the capability of storing enough food for 90 'days. The boat is,constructed with two and a half decks above water level and three and a half decks below water level. Other unique construction features include the rounded upper deck contours and heated anchor pocket doors which help counter ice accumultaion. The flared bow is also an asset has it helps reduce spray on the upper deck: The Saguenay also has the ,ability to weather a nuclear fallout because it has smooth contours which enable the easy removal of radioactive contamination. It is also equipped with special filters which help purify contaminated air that is brought into the ship. Although the HMCS Saguenay is getting old, and will one day be replaced by modern ships, the interior and exterior is a work of art. The ship houses a miniature city for its crew members, trying to provide them with as many luxuries as possible. reception yet Commission says police should pay for trainin Will send letter to Solicitor -General's office BY .JOANNE BUCHANAN Police recruits should pay for their own basic training say the Municipal Police Authorities MPA) and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario AMO ). The Goderich Police Commission agrees and decided a4'its meeting.last Wednesday to send a letter to the Solicitor -General's office in support of this proposal. "There isn't another profession in the world that is subsidized like this one (policing )," stated Mayor Eileen Palmer. At present, new police recruits are paid their regular salaries while attending a 15 week basic training program at the On- tario Police College in Aylmer after being hired. "it's mandatory to send turn c the new recruit) to Police College for 15 weeks training the first year so not only do we lose him during that time but we pay him as well," explained Chief Pat King - "And then there is no guarantee that he (the new recruit) will stay here," added Palmer with concern for the town's return on its investment. She said the town could save $5,000 per recruit if the system was changed. Multiply this figure by the number of recruits across the province who have their training paid for them each year and the savings to the taxpayer could be substantial, she added. "Not only that but the taxpayer also absorbs the operating costs of the F'olice College," she pointed out. Palmer said the new proposal only asks recruits to pay for their basic training and not subsequent training. Eventually, she. said, there would be money available through Ministry of Education student loans and Manpower retraining programs just as there are for other courses. "1 don't think the financial aspect would be a burden' to those wanting to be police recruits," she said, adding that the Marling salary for a police officer is $24,000 a year and almost $30,000 after four years. Commission member Alvin McGee agreed, saying that many engineers who have to pay for their own education and training do not even' start at salaries that high. Palmer said that only Ontario and Quebec recruits have their training paid for them and that in the other provinces where they pay their own way, it has worked very well. "i don't understand why the Solicitor - General is against it when the MPA and AMO, representing 800 municipalities, is in favor of it. The argument has been made that we won't attract the type of people we want for police officers if they have to pay their own way but I think they would have a greater air of professionalism if they did have to pay for their own basic training," she reasoned. Neal Jessop, chairman of the Police Association of Ontario, disagrees. "Many of our top applicants could not afford the training program if they had to pay tuition or weren't receiving a salary. We oppose any changes." ,Jessop said he is worried the practice of making recruits pay for their basic training program could later be extended to a five-week advanced course that new officers take at the Ontario Police College after they have worked for five months. Douglas Urinkwalter, director of, the Aylmer School, said cities would save about $5,000 for each recruit by not providing salaries during the basic training course. The college trains as many as 280 new police officers each year from the 127 municipal forces in the province as well as the Ontario Provincial Police. The costs of operating the college are paid by the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor kirorersri _ - "Ws hard to say what the- effect on recruiting would be if trainees weren't paid.- Drink c+ a Iter said. Sarnia Chief of Police Hobert Cook hired four constables from the Atlantic Police Ac•aLh'rr)y in Prince i':dward Island last year in order to avoid the costs of training new policemen in Aylmer. In a recent. letter to the editor of the Globe and Vail, Hugh Waddell, president of the MPA, said recruits should obtain their basic training at their own expense fora number of reasons: every candidate selected for the course would •he guaranteed employment by the sponsoring force on successful completion of the course; the starting salary would be in the order of $24,000; from the beginning of the fourth year, the salary would be $32,000 on the average; the fringe benefits would be the most generous in the public service and normally funded 100 per cent by the employer; the outlay for the. candidate would he about $3,000 for room, board and tuition; and the saving to the Ontario municipal taxpayers would he in -the order of $5,000,000 annually. Other jurisdictions, For example, the Maritimes, require candidates for recruitment to pay their training. What other profession offers its members such excellent rates at entrance, and with such a small outlay' An engineer has made a layout of at least $40,000 on his training and is lucky to start at $18,000 to $20,000," Waddell stated. "Of course there are financial considerations but there are also gains involving professionalism and commitment to the profession. The Municipal Police Authorities and Councils are responsible to the citizens and taxpayers to assure that money is well spent. We find it difficult to understand why the Solicitor -General does not hasten the implementation of a plan that has evesytanth to c�hlrrrxiecd it and nt. real disadvantages," he concluded. The HMCS Saguenay Helicopter Destroyer journeyed through Lake Huron and arrived in Goderich Harbour Saturday. The pilot of helicopter Sea King, which sits on the back of the Saguenay, transported journalists from the Goderich Municipal Airport over the lake to get aerial shots of the ship, (above). While the Saguenay was still making its way into the Goderich Harbour, the Sea King landed on the boat and the members of the press were given a tour. The photo at left shows crew members preparing to enter the harbour with tug boat Ian Mae's assistance. The Saguenay was welcomed by the Goderich Fire Department's spraying hoses and a large number of spectators. (photos by Anne Narejko) ,Resolutions are passed b . Police Authorities ,...; )(esolutjons regarding everything from Outnf-control house parties and video"'' arcades to headphones, faulty alarm systems and pornography were presented,* and passed at the 22nd annual meeting and spring conference of the Municipal Police Authorities ( MPA) held in Toronto in May. These resolutions will now be forwarded to the ' Solicitor -General's office for recommendation as legislation. At a recent meeting of the local police commission, members spent some time going over the resolutions as they might apply to Goderich. The resolution, regarding house parties calls for the government to amend the Liquor Licence Act to prohibit an owner, tenant or occupant of a house or premises where liquor, is being consumed, from permitting or tolerating guests, invitees, or tresspassers from unduly disturbing occupants of neighbouring houses, or persons in a public street or place. It also calls for police authorization to remove such offenders from the scene. Police Chief Pat King told the commission. that house par -ties are not a big problem in Goderich. if complaints are received from neighbours, he said the parties can usually be quieted with a warning from officers. However, he said he understood the need for the MPA resolution as such parties in the city can sometimes get completely out of control. Another resolution requests that the government of Ontario conduct a study of the serious problems emanating from the operation of video arcades with a view to determining what level of government should regulate these enterprises and to empower such level of government to enact laws or.by-law's to license, limit and regulate video arcades, including the restriction as to location, ,the establishment of minimum standards for premises and facilities, "the regulation as to supervision, hours of operation, the number and age of patrons and authority for police and by-law enforcement officers to enter and inspect the premises. A resolution from the city of Cornwall requests that the Minister. of Transportation and Communication be requested to amend the Highway Traffic Act to prohibit the use of headphones while walking, jogging, cycling or operating a motor vehicle ona highway. Chief King told the commission that the idea behind this resolution was one of safety. He said he 'had heard of one person wearing headphones who had jogged right into the side of a bus because he could not hear its approach. Another resolution has called for the government to pass legislation to empower boards and councils to pass, by-laws to impose a fee-for-service charge for police responding to false alarms, the argument being that the frequency of investigation of false alarms caused by negligent operation is placing an unwarranted burden on police services. With regard to this, commission member Alvin McGee said he knew of "some obviously faulty alarms in town here" A resolution was carried from the town of Dryden requesting the Ontario government, in conjunction with the federal government, take all necessary steps to increase the powers of the Ontario Censor Board to review and censor pornographic material and that every effort he made to develop public opinion to increase the awarenestrof the seriousness of the effect of pornography on the quality of life in Canada to the end that eventually all pornographic material will be removed from public sale or viewing through such unedia as the theatres or paid TV. AlVI&G hires new administrator Ken Engelstad, i';xec•utive Director at -(:roves Memorial O'ornniiinity Hospital in Fergus, has been hired as the ne,w administrator for Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. Engelstad will take over from present , ,1,1 ,, irator Elmer Taylor on Septeniber 1 A total of eight applicants were interviewed for the job on ,July 16 and the nianagenient committee then rec'onimended Engelstad to the Board of ( Invcrnors For hiring. Panel recommends new quarters Although a Public institutions inspectionn Panel report has recommended new quarters for a police station here, Chief Pat King has told the local police commission, "Sometimes 1 think they 'the panel) get carried away." A report received after an inspection of the West Street station in late May noted that while the general appearance and cleanliness of the building was gond, there was no hand rail on the steep basement stairs and no fire extinguisher in the ,')basement. It also stated that the building was old, outdated and hazardous and that. the electrical wiring was sloppy. Chief King reported to the commission last week that a hand rail has now been fitted to the basement stairs and that a fire extinguish,er has been purchased and installed at the top of the stairs. The....Chief. tnld.__Rbe .commission, "The - budding is aid, 55 years approximately. i 1. (10 not agree that It is uu(U.ili o. Ulnc i ui.,u the lack of a hand rail. I would not agree the building is hazardous. The electrical wiring has all been done by qualified electricians. Much of it is 4isible due to the type of construction (stone walls, concrete floor). It is a mass of wires because much additional electrical equipment has been added since it was built -perhaps this is why the wiring appears "sloppy". The recommendation "new quarters" is more easier said than clone. Words cost nothing - new quarters do." Commission member Alvin McGee agreed with Chief King, "I object to the statement that the building is old, outdated and hazardous. I doubt very much if it ifi, especially compared to some of the other buildings around." Chief King's report regarding the action taken on the panel's recalamen..dations . was received and-ffied Millie cOrn)trilsslon. Accident injures boy Eight-year-old Jeff Govier, of Goderich, was taken to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital Monday. He was treated for minor injuries after the bicycle he was riding was in collision with a car driven by Daphine Anderson of Dungannon. The car was moving from the inside lane to the outside lane on Toronto Street when the accident occurred. There was approximately $100 damage to the bicycle and the car's front left fender was scraped. Motorists get warning During the past year, motorists have been constantly reminded that police throughout the province would be cracking down on drinking and driving and also with regards to the new seatbelt legislation. "This reminder seems to have fallen on deaf ears," says Sergeant Gerry Hilgendorff. "Motorists are again reminded that Goderich is no exception and effective immediately police here will be stepping up enforcement in both these areas. This includes both use of the ALERT machine and spot checks starting today." Sergeant Hilgendorff says lately the local police have seen children standing up in cars and leaning out the windows, obviously not wearing seatbelts. He says that with this notice in the newspaper, people now have no right to say they weren't warned. Cabbage Patch doll kidnapped Missing: one Cabbage Patch kid...description: red hair worn in pig tails and a dimple onthe left cheek...answers to .the name of Sarah...last seen in. the vicinity of East Street, wearing a pink dress and white socks but no shoes. The above may sound funny but it's a very serious matter for four-year-old Cara' Donnelly of Goderich. Cara had only . played with her new doll for two hours • Sunday evening after her parents had brought it home for her as, a present from Grand Bend. She left it on the front porch of her home at 93 East Street and when she went back to get it, it was gone. "We searched 'everywhere for it," says Cara's mother Darlene. She thinks someone may have taken it from the porch. "It isn't even a real Cabbage Patch doll. It's a look-alike. It's worth $20 and we could buy another one but..." Mrs. Donnelly 'says the doll was not wearing its original clothing when it went missing but had on one of Cara's baby dresses. If someone "did take the doll and is willing to return it, no questions will be aasked,..‘says Mi.'s..l ow e11 (j;phione.; - ; number to call is 524-4185. You couldmake a little girl very happy. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR µizs 4} Golf tourneys The summer • some fine weather game to the fullest. exception as the Club held a tournament the Subset Golf Course Saturday. To find tournament winders Recreation section. Theatre Two Canadian Festival and the last week. The Playhouse acclaimed musical War,. written by putting op a new called Blue City. 'Section for reviews Pioneer The Huron County having plenty of weeks. Over the weekend 'there will 'be participants from bringing their work is also holding a "What run in the County week's paper is employees. Take complete information `Y�. FF x d C .tea ,. of 1984 has given' golfers so they can enjoy their This past week was no Maitland Golf and Country on Wednesday, and held a tournament on out who the local were, take a look at the • review plays opened at the Blyth Huron Country Playhouse Iris putting on the Billy Bishop Goes To John Gray, and Blyth is play by, Layne Coleman Look inside the Recreation of these two productions. Museum Pioneer Museum is activities in the upcoming of August 11 and 12 a Craft Festival with all over Huron County, to display. The Museum is it?" which is being papers. Also inside this a story about the 11 a look inside the paper for on the Pioneer