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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-11-21, Page 14;x1. a •ia {S k f -- NEVIMPAPEFI IN cANA®A w'00.160Er'Glass QF(,1 x459,0,C•NA. fetter NeWs iaperCompetit$on 1984 u,. 136 YEAR -47 GODpRIIH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21,1984 50 CENTS PER COPY w�^ Judge William G. Cochrane Judge Cochrane retires Nov. 28 Career spans almost 40 years When Judge William G. Cochrane can be far more effective than incarcera- presides over provincial court Wednesday, tion Judge Cochrane believes. November 28, it will mark •the end of a "The emphasis is getting away from legal career in Huron County that spanned custody except for crimes of violence that nearly 40 years. r require a custodial sentence," he said. "In Judge Cochrane will officially retire the case of the drinking driver society is from the bench on that day, almost seven less tolerant but, jail is not the answer. years to the day his appoitnment was an- "A second offence for impaired driving brings with it an automatic sentence of 14 days and three months minimum for a third offence. These people are not necessarily criminals, they have a drink- ing problem. The fact that society is much more aware and attuned to the problem of drink- ing drivers can be a more effective deter- rent. If drinking and driving is socially unacceptable, it is less likely to occur. While there will always be complaints with_respect to the judicial system, educa- tion and awareness of the public would help in all areas Judge Cochrane suggests. If anything can be said for volume of criminal activity and the dispensation of justice in provincial court here, it is consis- tent and has been so over Cochrane's tenure as crown attorney. Approximately 8,000 cases are processed through the system annually and less than 1,000 of those will be of a criminal nature. "We have a low caseload for the province and since I've been here it hasn't varied 10 per cent a year." he explained. It was the challenge and responsibility of the discipline that attracted Judge Cochrane to the pursuit of a career in law and it that "challenge of decisions" that he will miss in retirement. But retirement holds promise of golf, tennis and winters in Florida with his wife and visits with three duaghters, During his law career in Exeter, Judge Cochrane was active in municipal politics serving that community in the capacity of councillor, reeve and mayor. He was also chairman of the South Huron Hospital Board and the Exeter Public Utilities Commission; past president of the Exeter Lions Club and past master of the Masonic Lodge. Until a new provincial court judge is ap- pointed bythe Attorney General's office, judges fom London, Chatham and alkerton will handle the caseload here. pounced by Attorney -General Roy McMur- try in 1977. While he has the otpion to serve on the bench in a full or part-time capacity until age 75, the 70 year-old Cochrane is looking forward to retirement and the pursuit of personal interests. A native of Exeter, Judge Cochrane graduated from the University of Western Ontario in London in 1938 and then pursued a degree in law at Osgoode Hall. World War II immediately summoned the law graduate to four years of duty in England in an officer's training school and upon his return to Canada in 1946, Judge Cochrane opened a law office in his hometown of Ex- eter. There he practiced law until 1962 when he was appointed crown attorney for the County of Huron and on December 12, 1977 he was appointed to succeed Judge Glen Hays as provincial court judge. Judge Cochrane has been involved in all facets of the law over his 40 -year career but has particularly enjoyed the challenges of provincial court judge. "I've enjoyed both jobs but perhaps I've enjoyed my role as provincial judge more. Experience as a crown attorney equips you well for the job," he explained. "It takes a certain type of person to deal with weighty matters and then forget about them and some have resigned for that very reason. It is an awesome responsibility. "Soemtimes you do wonder if you've done the right thing and sentencing is the most difficult aspect of the job. You are, in fact, dealing with the life and freedoms of an Individual and trying to be fair and firm and not vindictive." The judicial system has always been subject to intense public scrutiny and simetimes, criticism for its lack of firm- ness in meting out justice. Public awareness and education, in some case, Local banks, trust firms accept funds for OxfamCanada The severe drought conditions in several African countries has prompted a desparate plea for aid by a number of relief agencies trying to reach the hundreds of thousa4 of starving people. The extended drought, coupled with civil wars and the probleins of reaching the people in remote" regions who zost need the assistance, has:resulted in tbe death of thousands of people by start'. ion. Many nations have resport, ed to the plea with the promise and deliverance of aid. The Canadian government has pledged its support in many forms and relief agencies have issued an urgent , plea to all Canadians for donations, so that the necessary food and equipment can reach the areas and people where help is required. Your donation t9 the relief efforts now underway will be accepted at any charter bank branch in Goderich and also at all trust company offices. Peter Sheppard of the Standard Trust Company initiated the project to have all local banks and trust companies collect funds on behalf of Oxfam -Canada. "Watching television reports people ask themselves what they can physically do to help and this is the one area in which I can do something," he explained. "I asked for help and all managers agreed." While several 'relief agencies are working frantically to secure and deliver aid, local funds will be directed to Oxfam - Canada since they are working in Northern Ethiopia in the provinces of Leitrea and '1 igray. "'l hese northern provinces are under civil war and they need the help the most," Sheppard explained. The bank and trust company managers have asked that donations be made within the next two weeks so that funds can be in the hands of the agency by December 7. "We are urging people to donate as quickly aspossible," he explained. Oxfam -Canada is working in the northern provinces to bring relief and long-range development assistance to over two and one-half million people who live beyond the reach of official government ,aid. Food and medical supplies are being purcahsed and transported to the drought - stricken country. The agency is working in two major areas, the two northern provinces and the southern provinces bordering Kenya. Oxfam -Canada has been working in the north for over two years, funding projects in water catchment, well drilling, agriculture and public health. Oxfam is using established supply channels through the Sudan to reach these areas. Recently, five thousand tonnes of grain were purcahsed for distribution in. Tigray. The main thrust of the agency's efforts is to reach the people in immediate danger of starvation. Oxfam -Canada is transporting food, medicines, blankets, cooking utensils and tents via the international Oxfam network. The national office of Oxfam -Canada is located at 251 Laurier Avenue, West, Room 301, Ottawa. Land sale deal expected to close within two weeks The sale of 13.2 acres of industrial land on .Suncoast Drive near Highway 8 to Harlin Leasing Inc. to establish a transport trucking operation should be finalized within the next,l0 days. At its regular meeting Monday, council learned that while the initial offer to pur- chase had expired, company officials . would be in town this week with a new sign- ed offer. Council has agreed to sell three parcels of land for $80,000 with the sale of the first two parcels; a centre piece of land of five acres and a one -acre parcel at Suncoast Drive, to close immediately at a cost of $23,000 and $20,000 respectively. The re- maining seven -acre parcel will be pur- cahsed for $37,000. • The land is located behind Goderich Plymouth Chrysler off Suncoast Drive. The company's operation will be located on a cul-de-sac running south off Suncoast Drive and council endorsed a motion nam- ing the new street Parsons Court in honor of the first mayor of Goderich, Benjamin Parsons. The company hopes to establish a transport terminal and storage facility and have indicated that 50 transport trucks could occupy the yard at peak operation. The trucking company hopes to employ 20 people, mainly truck drivers and mechanics. Construction could begin with a few weeks on the site. Council will formalize the agreement with the passing of a bylaw at its December 3 meeting. Santa Claus is Coming to town Santa's annual visit to the town of Goderich takes place this Saturday as he participates'in the Santa Claus Parade. The parade, sponsored by the Goderich recreation department, will leave the cor- ner of South Street and Elgin Avenue at 1.pm. and make its way up South Street to The Square. All participants are asked to line• up along Elgin Avenue by 12.30 p.m. when•the judging of floats will take place. The theme of the 1984 edition of a Santa 'Claus Parade is Christmas in the vies. This year participants are being discouraged from throwing ca y off floats. It has created a potentially dangerous situation for the hundreds of children scrambling to retrieve the candy and entrants will be asked to donate candy to Santa's Court or hand it out rather than throwing it. After the parade, the jolly old gentleman from the north will be available to talk to children in Santa's Court at the Park Theatre on The Square. Children will have the opportunity to sit on Santa's knee, chat for a while and receive a gift. Construction down from last year's figures While the number of building permits issued this year compares favorably to last year's figures the dollar value of those permits has been cut in half. Figures released from the building in- spector's office to October 31, 1984 in- dicated that 170 permits valued at $1.5 million have been issued this year. During the same period last year, 190 permits were issued valued at almost $3 million. The bulk of the permits have been issued for residential repairs which accounted for 115 permits valued at $713,893. Two houses were built at a value of $182,000. There were 26 commerical building per- mits issued in the first 10 months of the year worth $205,000 compared to $739,000 worth of commercial work last year. Most of the commercial work involved renova- tions to existing buildings. The same could be said for the industrial sector where eight permits, worth $198,000, were issued for renovations. Last year 12 industrial permits accounted for $753,000 worth of new construction as well as renovations. Elevenpermits have been issued for government and institution purposes valued at $380,761. During the same period last year, 19 permits were issued in the same category with the dollar value ex- ceeding $560,000. INSIDE THE SIGNAL—STAR MIME 1. While work on the harbour expansion project is not in full. fear, the Canadian Dredge and Dock Company of Toronto has moved in a number of piece' of equipment to begin work on a section of the south pier. The company was awarded a $1 million contract for underpinning the pier to seaway depth. (photo by Dave Sykes ) Theatre review Signal Star reporter Joanne Buchanan recently took in the Goderich Little Theatre's production of "Bus Sttlp" and was greeted by some refreshing new faces on stage. Joanne found the play "amusing" and "thought-provoking". See page 11A for the full review_ Nightmare week It was a nightmare week for Goderich Recreational Hockey League goaltenders, with 100 goals being scored in just six games. for details and pictures, see Recreation. Teams in finals The GDCI Junior and Senior Vikings have both advanced to the final round of the Huron -Perth Conference girls basketball playoffs. The Seniors face Stratford Northwestern Huskies in the best -of -three finals, while the Juniors square off against Mitchell. p'or stories and photos, see the Recreation section.