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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-09-23, Page 1ric 139 YEAR — 38 T;. GODERICH ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1987 A 1979 Caprice, owned by Debby Kerr of 185 Bayfield Rd., is shown engulfed in flames following a rear -end collision Monday night at about 7:50 p.m. on Bayfield Rd. Kerr said she had stopped her propane -powered car on Bayfield Rd., before turning into her driveway, when she was rear-ended by an Art's Landscaping truck, driven by Steve Robertson. She said the car started to burn almost immediately. Kerr left the car and there were no injuries. Goderich Police and Fire Department arrived on the scene. The car, originally gas powered, was converted to propane. (photo by Diane Siemon) Rabies test vaccine drop program continues in area Once again, the Ministry .of Natural Resources, in an effort to combat rabies in wild animals, is conducting field trials of a baiting proceedure which could eventually be used to control the spread of disease. Some 34,000 rabies "baits" were systematically dropped from low-flying aircraft over selected sites in Huron and Grey counties on September 21, 22 and 23. MNR researchers hope that foxes in par- ticular - the most common carriers of rabies in Ontario - will be attracted to and eat the baits. The purpose of this year's field trials is to fine-tune and determine the most economical methods of vaccinating wildlife against rabies , and to develop a form of bait that will be most acceptable to the animals. In the search for the most economical method, this year's baits have been made smaller and will contain on two CCs of vac- cine, as opposed the 14 CCs contained in last year's larger, sponge type baits. "It's more economical to use less vac- cine on a very large-scale program," said Peter Bachmann a research technician with the MNR's rabies research unit. Bachmann notes that in labratory tests, two CCs of of vaccine was as effective as 14 in the number of foxes vaccinated. Bachmann said last year's tests showed about 60 to 65 per cent of the fox population picked up the bait. However, he notes, only about 50 per, cent of those "were in fact, vaccinated," making the actual vaccina- tion rate about 30 per cent. This year, researchers are testing a bait consisting of a cube of hardened wax, beef fat and mineral oil. It contains a chicken flavor to attract foxes and is colored greeen to repel other animals - mainly crows. It also contains tetracycline, a chemincal that will mark the foxes' teeth to provide evidence the animal did in fact eat the bait. The vaccine fluid is in the centre of the bait cube in a small plastic. package. About 13,000 baits will contain vaccine and about 21,000 will not. Results will be compared to see if the presence of the vaccine has any Turn to page 2 • 60 CENTS PER COPY Local hospital in need of more space, administrator BY LOU -ANN DE BRUYN A need for more storage and service space at the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital has resulted in the Board of Governor's approval allowing this infor- mation to be forwarded to the Ministry of Health. For quite some time, the board has been aware of the lack of space at the hospital and the need to do something about this problem. "There is a chronic lack of storage space and other space," Ken Engelstad, hospital administrator, said, adding, "Looking at the business office, you can see it is ex- tremely cramped, There is not one spare inch of space in this building. We've got services spread out over the building and we would like to centralize them." The board was made aware, at Monday evening's meeting, of a study conducted by Tillman Ruth Architects and Parker Con- sultants regarding the feasibility of adding a two -floor addition over the emergency area. The study noted this proposal was acceptable as long as structural support changes. A two -floor addition over the emergency area would create approx- imately 10,000 square feet of new space. Engelstad noted this was only a proposal and no architectural drawings were in the works. He added there were not many other sites for additions at the hospital. The board gave its approval for Engelstad to contact the Ministry of Health to get their approval to pursue the matter further. "This would just be a giving of informa- tion to get the .proposal on the table. It is purely exploration,'" Engelstad said, ad- ding he would not be asking for any fun- ding at this time. While the board gave its approval to this motion, board member Cliff MacDonald • expressed his concerns regarding the proposal. "The ministry might reply that it isn't feasible ( the amount of space the two -floor addition would give). Ten thousand square feet isn't that much space. They might tell us to look for more space," Mac- Donald said. "We're going to the ministry looking for more space. We need to get the concept in front of the ministry that we need to do something," Engelstad responded, ad- ' ding, "Personally, I don't think alternate sites are feasible." However, Engelstad noted the board was not tied to any additions yet and that other sites or options for space might have to be considered. Although 10,000 square feet isn't really all that much room, Engelstad noted he had a lot of ideas what that space could be used for. "Off the top of my head ... there would be no beds located there, we could move physiotherapy and speech therapy over there, pharmacy could be moved, medical records could be housed there, perhaps oc- cupational therapy ...," he said. While Monday night's motion only allows for the ministry to be made aware of the need for more space, Engelstad felt "yes, we have a strong case" in getting ap- proval for the consideration of creating more storage and service space at the hospital. Local Big brothers need male volunteers Men who volunteer to serve as Big Brothers to children from single -parent homes don't have to be gifted athletes, high -placed business e+xecuti#es, widely - known community leaders, or any other type of real-life "hero" - but they often end up feeling like heroes by providing ad- vice, guidance and friendship to youngsters. September is Big Brother Month in Canada, -and Goderich area residents can become a part of this valuable program by participating with the local chapter, the North Huron Big Brothers Association. Currently, there are 12 Big Brother - Little Brother matches within the North Huron district, said Catherine Boddy, local Big Brothers president. "But we need at least another six," she said. Figures for the district, which takes in Bayfield, Grand Bend, Clinton, Seaforth and Wingham areas, as well as Goderich, are up from last year, when there were on- ly five matches and a waiting list of 10-12 young boys. "In Big Brothers, there are always more little brothers than big brothers, because there are never enough caring, sharing men to go around," Boddy points out. The situation, she said, is the opposite in the Big Sisters organizations, where there tends to be more adults willing to par- ticipate than are needed. The requirements for participation are simple. Men from all walks of life serve as Big Brothers. Local agencies recuit, screen and support the volunteers, who:: spend at least three or four hours per week with the children, forming relationships on a one-to-one basis. Volunteers must be over 18 -years -old, but beyond that, age has little bearing on the effectiveness of the relationship bet- ' ween Big and Little partners. Often older adults - even retirees - have more time than young adults to spend with their young friend. Volunteers are expected to make a minimum' committment of a year or two - though many rewarding relationships, lasting 'decades, have been formed through the program. Locally, the North Huron Big Brothers also need help in the administration area. "We need people who don't necessarily want to become a big brother, but who will just sit on a committee," Boddy noted. The group recently held a re - organizational meeting, on Sept. 21 at Vic- toria Public School 'and are now actively seeking both committee members and big brothers. Anyone willing to participate, help out in any way, or wanting more information can contact Catherine Boddy, 524-9132, or' Ralph Smith, 482-7295. Education board renews effort to lower drop outs It's the start of another school year, and in Huron County the board of education has renewed its mandate to reduce the student drop out rates. This past year the drop out rates from the county's five high schools tallied in at 147 students. The figures show that fewer students dropped out of school than in the year previous when 170 failed to complete their schooling. MEA cautions private power suppliers The 24 local utility commissions which make up the Municipal Electric Associa- tion District Six, sent a total of 176 representatives to the MEA annual meeting held in Goderich on Sept. 16. MEA Chairman Ralph Nicol told members that Ontario's "uniform pool concept," of supplying electricity through publicly run corporations is helping the province move "toward a more self- sufficient positon". He cautioned against government lean- ings toward allowing private enterprise in- to the power business, because such a move would "fragment the uniform pool concept". "While such enterprises might be worth encouraging, we should be cautious about how they will fit into the existing system. "Those who would get into the act would not have the consumers best interest at heart," he said, adding that independant producers would probably not service "small, isolated municipalities" well, because of costs. Nicol noted that the recent provincial election sent many new members to Queens Park. "Our job is to keep them informed about the power needs of our customers," he said, especially about such issues as nuclear power and PCB levels. PASSED RESOLUTIONS During the afternoon session, held at the Bedford Hotel, members discussed such matters as supply issues, and a rates moratorium. The also passed twq resolutions. One resolution. put forward by Guelph Hydro, calls for the MEA to express con- cern to Ontario Hydro and MEA member utilities about the level of collective agreements between utilities and workers exceeding those in the private industrial sector and to encourage restraint in future negotiations. Also passed, was a resolution from Waterloo North Hydro directing the MEA to express concerns to Ontario Hydro and the provincial government regarding the decline in the reliabilityu of suppy of elec- trical power to municipal electrical utiltie,, and the expected shortfall in generation with a view to correcting the situation. The meeting concluded with a dinner and the presentation of long -service awards. MEA Chairman Ralph Nicol Of the lower figures, Bob Allan, education director noted, "The trend is encouraging as drop out rates have decreased." A closer examination of figures on an in- dividual school basis shows for 1986-87 (with 1985-86 figures in brackets): Central Huron Secondary School 43 (44); F.E. Madill Secondary School 28 (37); Goderich District Collegiate Institute 28 (35); Seaforth Turn to page 14 • Wood crosses to be replaced Due to constant breakage of the wooden crosses in place at the Cenotaph, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109, Goderich, is ccnsidering replacing them with steel crosses. The plan is to install a 3' by 10' long concrete base into which the steel crosses would be anchored with a 3' by 3' piece of angle iron. As there has been concern voiced about the possibility of injury to persons falling over these crosses, the branch asked ap- proval of Goderich Town Council, at the Sept. 14 meeting, to go ahead with the pro- ject. Council referred the matter to the Works and Property Committee. Star will close early Friday This Friday the Signal -Star office on Bayfield Road will close at 4 p.m. so that employees can attend a special company function dealing with the change of owner- ship of the company. The early closure will apply to Friday, Sept. 25 only. Ambulance receives $60,000 The Alexandra Marine and General Hospital Ambulance Service will receive funding for the addition of two staff members to increase coverage in the Goderich area, Health Minister Murray Elston announced recently. The ministry will provide the hospital- based service with $60,000 annually to bring its full-time complement to eight and add a second ambulance day shift, Monday through Friday. Currently, Goderich is served by one staf- fed vehicle from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., seven days a week with ambulance officers being called from home during the remain- ing hourse. When informing the hospital's Board of Governors about this funding, hospital ad- ministrator Ken Engelstad said, "This will allow us to staff the second vehicle, Monday to Friday on days, and reduce the number of stand-by and call-back hours presently be- ing used because of the volume of calls on day shift." Mr. Elston said, "The ministry will con- tinue to review individual ambulance ser- vices on the basis of local need. "We have allocated more than $8 million in additional funding across the province as part of a continuing effort to provide a reliable and effective ambulance service." Hospital meets new pathologist Adminstrators of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital and Clinton Public Hospital 'are currently, holding, discussions with a speech pathologist who is interested in coming to the area. Ken Engelstad, administrator in Goderich, and Dan Steyn, Clinton's ad- ministrator, as well as Anne Thompson, a speech pathologist who works at both hospitals, are discussing the possibility of hiring a second speech pathologist. Miss Surjit Mann, of Brandon, Manitoba, and a recent graduate of Minot State niversity in North Dakota (master's egree in speech pathology), has expressed an interest in coming to practice in the' Goderich area. "Our contact with Miss Mann is ongoing. She is planning ,on. visiting our hospitals shortly," Engelstad said. Currently, Ms. Thompson works part- time at both hospitals. If a second speech pathologist was hired, each pathologist would work five days at 'the , Goderich hospital followed by five days at the Clinton hospital. Engelstad noted that having two speech pathologists would be beneficial to both hospitals in that neither community would be void of service. In other hospital business, the Board of Governors was made aware of purchases approved by the hospital's Property Committee. During their summer meetings, the com- mittee approved a number of items for pur- chase._.. These included: a print -lettering.: system ($2,228.51), a microscope for the laboratory ($3,150), a mobilization table for Physiotherapy ($3,745.80), and a Lifepac 8 ,Cardiac Care System ($12,012.29). It was noted that all items were within their budgeted amounts. INSIDE I HE SIGNAL -STA 41111111111 Windsurfing cup The fourth annual Goderich Fun Cup was held this past weekend at Point Farms Provincial Park, just north of Goderich. Despite the rain and wind, 53 professional and amateur boardsailers from across Ontario participated in the event. For pictures and story, see the front page of the Community section. Behaviour learned John Penn, executive director of Fami- ly and Children's Services - Huron Coun- ty, conducted a two-day seminar on behaviour modification in Goderich recently. For a story and picture, see the front page of the Community section. Vikings defeated The Goderich Senior Vikings played host to a girls invitational basketball tournament over the weekend ,At GDCI. The senior Vikings were defeated in win- ning the tournament title by John Paul II team (London) with a score of 35-31. For pictures and story, see the Sports section.