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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-07-30, Page 1Goederich SIGNAL. - 138 YEAR - 30 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEI•INESDAY, JULY 30, 1986 60 CENTS PER COPY Centre neighbours discuss security . BY SHARON DIETZ,. Several measures to make the Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders more secure were, discussed at a meeting Sunday afternoon when residents who live in the' area met with the centre's superintendent to discuss security concerns. ,,, The meeting was organized after three young offenders escaped from the facility July 16. Several homes in the area were burglarized. A man was assaulted when three youths tried to steal his van and another area re relent --reported u'.ders had stolen his car and a carving knife from a kitchen drawer. The three youths were apprehended the night of the escape and the following morn- ing. They appeared in Goderich Provincial Court on Monday when they were remand- ed until August 18. They face charges of escaping custody, theft, concealing a weapon and assault. The centre's superintendent, Carl DeGrandis, said people had the opportuni- ty to express their anger and trepidition • and make suggestions. "I don't believe anybody left without a chance to express themselves," said DeGrarldis, adding the only questions he did not answer were thoseof a political nature. DeGrandis explained the circumstances the night of the escape and how ingenious the escape was. DeGrandis said he knew of only one way to get over the type of fence that surrounds the centre Now he knows' dilator is settin u this voluntary co -or g p system. A second fence and sensitizing the fence were other suggestions to make the centre more secure. DeGrandis said the consen- sus of the meeting seemed to be that the centre be made more secure to prevent future escapes. Norman McHolm, whose car was stolen the night of escape, suggested to the c of two. - meeting the fence surrounding the Learning how the escape occurred was Bluewaterbe Centre electrified and guard 0 somewhat reassuring for some of the peo- dogs be used to patrol the perimeter of the - aad—the. —f et-.that_,.the ata.£f_ is__tal.ting_ centre to prevent escapes. steps to make the centre more secure; he McHolm said he believes the hest -Ming said. A siren was suggested but this was con- tradicted because it doesn't ensure that everyone hears it. The meeting agreed on a neighbourhood watch system which in- volves a telephone pool. The centre phones 10 people in the event of an escape and each of the 10 people phone another 10 peo- ple who phone another 10. In very short order people can be advised there has been an escape. DeGrandis 'said the centre's people can do is contact their Liberal MPP Jack Riddell and protest the location of the centre. The Liberals did not support the use of the facility as a centre for young of- fenders, when the former Conservative government decided to close the centre for the developmentally handicapped which was located there previously. McHolm ad- ded he doesn't believe the politicians will change their minds, however. McHolm told the Signal -Star Monday the The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority conducted a watersh- ed tour last Wednesday for members and guests from area municipalities. It was held to inform various reeves and councillors as to the work, holdings and projects of the Authority. In the photo above, MVCA Chairman Vince Judge (right), talks with (left to right), Hartley Fischer of Listowel, George McCutcheon of Brussels, chairman of the authority when the Falls Reserve land was purchased, and Doug Trench representing the Town of Listowel. They are standing along the riverbank at the Falls Reserve Conservation Authority. (photo by Mike Fergusdn) MVCA members view bluffs project centre's superintendent Carl DeGrandis is doing everything he can to make the facili- ty more secure. McHolm believes the in- stallation of a system which will alert cen- tral control if a door that is to be locked is left unlocked should help to prevent escape. - Christina Hoffmeyer, another neighbour of the centre, says she is more reassured since attending the meeting on Sunday. She thinks the security system for the doors and the neighbourhood watch pro- gram are necessary to make residents in the area feel more secure. Some people can be unreasonable, she said, adding that some very foolish things were said at the meeting. Hoffmeyer said she and her husband believe the centre's staff is doing their best. Now that she knows how the escape happened and what security measures are being taken to pre- vent another occurrence, she feels more secure. She would like to see a scanner installed to provide more security around the fence. Turn to page 2. Funeral service businesses amalgamate Young offender fiees custody BY MIKE FERGUSON All the pumping is completed south of St. Christopher's Beach, creating a new beach, says Ken Hunter, Goderich Com- missioner of Works. Over 190,000 cubic metres of material ,have been pumped into the area beyond the filtration plant, says Hunter. He adds the pumping has stopped because there are now "no sources of material." The material was pumped from the har- bor and channel as part of the $17 million harbor reconstruction and expansion project. The beach, part of the Goderich Bluffs Erosion Control Project, is 150 feet wider as a result of the pumping. The gravel and stone material was too coarse to pipe through anymore, suggests Hunter. Meanwhile, the Erosion Project was just one of many stops on a tour held last Wednesday by the Maitland Valley Con- servation Authority (MVCA). By highlighting the various holdings and projects of the Authority, MVCA Chair- man Vince Judge says he hopes it will keep municipalaofficials better informed. Beginning in Wroxeter, the day -long tour showed the invited guests most' of the pro- jects in the Authority's jurisdiction Tours of Wingham, the Belgrave Creek Project, the Wawanosh Valley Conservation Education Centre, the Goderich Bluffs Project, the Falls Reserve,a demonstra- tion farm, the Brussels Conservation site, Galbraith CA, and finally the Listowel Conduit Reconstruction Project added tip to a packed schedule of events. E very new term of office, Judge says the Authority stages a day -long tour to -make reeves, 'councillors and Authority members "more knowledgeable and aware of projects and programs available to them. For example, Judge indicates, a stop was made at the Belgrave Stream Im- provement Project. Now, a farmer who may want information about how to im- prove a stream through his property, can approach his local council. The council members, Judge suggests, can now make better -informed decisions by being aware of the programs available to them in their respective municipalities. Judge notes the tour is also an opportuni- ty to show Foundation members just where . their .cont'ributions are being allocated. Money is al%trays needed, he says, to acquire property and initiate pro- jects that the Ministry of . Natural Resources isn't able to fund. The tour's main purpose is aneduca- tional one, says Judge, offering that it suc- ceeds on that level Silt,salmi acid stones dredged from the Goderich Harbor and channel area have been piped oveto the 'area south' of St. Christopher's Beach to create a new beach area. (photo by Susan IltMderttnark), , The town of Goderich will be serviced by one funeral service business following the amalgation of two businesses effective Friday, Aug. 1. Robert McCallum of McCallum Funeral Hoene and Richard Palla, of Stiles Funeral H e oderich announced the amalga- tio of their businesses to form the Me- ' Hum and Palla Funeral Home. All funeral services will be arranged and con- ducted at the McCallum alhd Palla Funeral Home Cambria Road location. While the town has traditionally been serviced by at least two funeral homes, McCallum explained the partnership simply "made good business sense." "Weo feel: that we can -provide a better service to the community at a more responsible cost," he explained. McCallum, a licensed funeral director since 1961, bought the former Lodge Funeral Home on Montreal Street in 1968. The business was originally founded by the Brophy family in 1875 He later relocated the business to the corner of Cambria Road and East Street. Palla, who purchased the Stiles Funeral Home business three years ago, has been a licensed director for 14 years. The business, formerly operated by Ed Stiles, was started by Elmer Cranston in the 194Os. , While services will be arranged and con- ducted at the Camhria Road location, the chapel at the Stiles Funeral Home owned by Palla on Montreal Street, will be con- verted into a family reception centre for use after funeral services. A young offender who appeared in court Monday morning attempted to flee custody as police escorted him from the Huron County Court House to. a waiting police vehicle. . Three prisoners in handcuffs were being escorted .by two police officers as they left the courthouse. Two of the prisoneramere;,, contained' by the 'police -officers lid the third bolted as they came down the court house steps. He was apprehended a short time later . on North Street, following a search by Goderich town police and OPP officers. The young offender is one of three youths who escaped custody at the Bluewater Centre on July 16. They were apprehended following a search by local Ontario Provin- cial Police officers, 'town police and cor- rectional officers from the Bluewater Centre. They were in court Monday to face charges of escaping custody, assault, theft and concealing a weapon. The three were remanded in custody until August 18. .,.. Local riding boundaries are changed Port Albert kicks in '86 Port Albert is all set to kick up its heels this weekend as the village celebrates its 150th birthday. Sesquicentennial celebrations will get underway Friday night with a dance to Star Spinners and judging of the beard growing contest. On- Saturday, the opening ceremonies and the Anson Bomber fly past will be followed by 'the giant parade. The RCAF ,reunion will be held at the ball after the parade. A fish fry and dance to Whiskey Jack will follow in the evening. Following an interdenominational church service and the school days reu- nion, Sunday morning. the high noon splash fun run will lead off. the afternoon activities on the beach which include canoe races, a windsurfing regatta and a volleyball tournament. A pork chop barbeque and a gong show followed by the shirttail parade will keep -.thefun going through the eveninguntil ttie, - wee morning hours of Monday. A soap box derby and children's ac- tivites including face painting and a magic show will provide fun for the kids on Mon- day. A horseshoe tournament, chainsaw competition, bale throwing, arm wrestling and tug of war will bring out the com- petitive streak' in people through the after- noon. Things will wind up with a dance to Crippled Duck in'the evening. Details of all the events as well stories of the history and people that helped to shape Port Albert are chronicled in a special sup- plement' that is part of this week's Signal - Star. The 24 -page supplement also con- tains a detailed schedule of events for your ._ convenience .. HapRy Birthday Port Albert! The local ridings of Huron - Bruce and Huron - Middlesex will cease to exist as five area ridings are condensed into four following the revision of the province's electoral districts. As a> result the members currently holding seats in the af- fected ridings may find themselves vying each other for the nomination, from their riding in the next election. All five ridings are held by Liberals. which means the minority government will Iose a seat when the, election is called and the revisions take effect. - The counties of Huron and Bruce will each form a separate riding and part of the city of London east of 'Clarke Side Road and the area east of Highbury Avenue and north of Huron Street will be added to the Middlesex riding, which also includes the whole of the county. Local MPPs Murray Elston and Jack Riddell will continue to serve the consti- tuents of the ridings of Huron - Bruce and Huron - Middlesex until the next election is called. The two members 'will'then seek - nominations in the new riding's. Elston is still deliberating, and has not decided where he will seek nomination but it is expected that Riddell will run in the new riding of Huron. As well as increasing the number of seats by five to 130, the- bill,.passed just before the summer recess, makes changes to most existing ridings. Fifty- eight ridings have only slightly changed while 51 have undergone more significent shifts. The last redistribution occurred in 1975 when the number of seats jumped from 117 to 125. Population increases generally dic- tate the need for change: The interests of municipalities, corn- munity groups and individuals are closely examined. The passage of The Represen- tation Aet ..culminates three years of Legislative review, public hearings and study by all parties.- The Ontario Electoral Boundaries Commission, which was responsible for the 'review, conducted public hearings' throughout the,province and received almost 000 representations. - INSIDE 1. HE. SIGNAL -STAR 'Tournament The Hi -Way Ford Squirt boys fastball team lost the championship game to Sar- nia in the second annual Squirt/Peewee boys fastball tournament played in Goderich on the weekend. The Goderich Peewee baseball team posted a win over Wingham in their first game of the tourna- ment, but lost to the eventual A champs Sunset golf Couples from; several area clubs In- cluding Barrie, Sarnia,. Kitchener and Markdaleattended the Sunset Golf Club's annual Couples' Tournament on Saturday. Pictures and story appear in today's Sports section on page 7A. -