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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-16, Page 1Gthe erich 139 YEAR — 50 GODERICH ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1987 60 CENTS PER COPY Bluewater escapees are caught Freedom was short lived for two young offenders who escaped from the Bluewater Centre for Young Offenders Friday afternoon. The two boys escaped from the Centre at 4:15 p.m. Friday but were arrested by a Goderich municipal police officer in the lobby of Goderich apartment building shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday morning. Carl DeGrandis, superintendent of Bluewater Centre, said it appeared from the Centre's preliminary investigation that the two young offenders left by way of gate which had been left unlocked. Inspec- tors from the Ministry of Correctional Ser- vices are currently investigating Friday's escape. "Our preliminary investigation shows a (Bluewater Centre) officer left a gate unlocked," DeGrandis said. The gate in question is located on the south side of the building. DeGrandis called this finding "disturb- ing" and said if the Ministry's findings concurred with the preliminary findings of the Centre's own investigation, disciplinary action will follow. The two young offenders were arrested by Const. Matt Affleck, of the Goderich town police, Saturday morning. Police Chief 1?atrick King noted a citizen's report helped police located the youths who had escaped custody approx- imately 16 hours earlier. He said Const. Affleck responded to a trespassing call from a Goderich citizen at 6:52 a.m. Saturday. When calling the police, the citizen said a boy and a girl were sleeping in the lobby of the apart- ment building. However, when Const. Af- fleck arrived at the building, located at 63 Suncoast Drive, he recognized the two youths as being the escaped young of- fenders. Const. Affleck arrested the youths and took them the Goderich Police Station. The Goderich OPP were called in and at 8 a.m. took the young offenders back out to the Cntre until their court appearance Monday morning. Chief King said both young odffenders were charged by the Goderich Police Department with attempt break and enter and possession of house break-in tools. The attempt break and enter charge was later dropped. At Monday morning's court appearance, the two young offenders received a six- month sentence – two months to be served concurrent and four months to be served consecutively, DeGrandis said. This is the second time this year young offenders at the local correctional institu- tion have escaped custody. Shortly after the escape, the Goderich OPP detachment made an application to Judge R.G. (Garry) Hunter to release the names and descriptions of the escapees. Clearance was given and the details were broadcast over the Wingham radio station. This is the first time names and descrip- tions of escaped young offenders from the Bluewater Centre have been released. DeGrandis noted the releasing of names and descriptions while the young offenders were still at large was lawful. However, once they were apprehended, no names or descriptions could be published. He also felt the releasing of information did not help with this case. "The descriptions really didn't aid in this particular incident," DeGrandis said, although he added such information could be helpful from time to time. Chief King also agreed with DeGrandis on this point. "1 don't think it (the names or descrip- tions) helped too much. A name means nothing to us unless we know the person," he said. In spite of the fact that the information did not help with this case, Chief King did say the releasing of such facts is "certain- ly a move in a good direction that they broadcast the information. When word gets around, it's a step in the right direction." The two young offenders have been mov- ed to another correctional institution. ctoria Pu li� School ►re tinted jhe r annual Chr�i as eoneert tion of a try a .t udlag aui at the seba�ol Thesday eve' . -00110,10.0.0 day, .the. andel* of young r so o t p e+e eir held a fail dress rehearrsal of a eoneertat the sehoel for students sing thel r favourite Chris,bona;s soni and teachers. At top, a junior claw runs through their presents- >Oresruyn) Landfill concerns voiced BY ANNE CHISHOLM HOLMESVILLE - Council represen- tatives from each of the six municipalities using the landfill site here gathered at the Goderich Township Hall for an information night on December 10. Along with represen- tatives from Clinton, Goderich Township, Goderich, Lucknow, Colborne Township and Bayfield, were two municipalities, Tuckersmith Township and Seaforth, who have made a proposal to join. (Tuckersmith Township presently has a portion of its township using the landfill site.) The hour long meeting was held to provide each council with an opportunity to voice any concerns regarding the draft agree- ment which was recently distributed to them. However, before questions were ask- ed, the Town of Goderich's Commissioner of .Works, Ken Hunter, explained what the pre- sent situation is. "We're going to build a new landfill site adjacent to the existing one," he said. "The present one will be capped." Mr. Hunter went on to say that a few pro- blems do exist. "Goderich, Clinton and Goderich Township are the only three legal ones in (the present landfill site agreement.) The other three must be brought in legally. As well, Tuckersmith and Seaforth are being considered (as new members)," said Mr. Hunter. The Village of Lucknow started using the landfill site around 1977 and Bayfield joined in 1978 and then Colborne Township joined, however, there narnes do not appear on the official certificate. 1New holiday "A ministry (of the.. environment) rep. at- tended each meeting in the early days and knew that they vyere using the site, 'but their names weren't put on the certificate," ex- plained Larry McCabe of the landfill site committee and the Town of Goderich Ad- ministrator. "It was simply a legality." Further explaining the overall landfill site situation, Mr. Hunter said an agreement was needed for the closing of the old site and the opening of the new site, "and that in- volves big dollars." A third issue to be dealt with is that the present landfill site operator, John Lavis, doesn't want to be in the landfill business any longer. In dealing with this third issue, the pre- sent landfill site committee is setting up a Turn to page 12 • Merchants uncertain on Sunday Shopping ;.8,000 for AIDS The Huron County Health Unit will 1 eceive a one-time grant of $8,000 for AIDS • ducation but did not apply for operating unds over the next two years. Nearby Perth District Health Unit will eceive a one-time grant of $1,000 and 5,593 over the next two years. The money is part of the Ontario • istry of Health's $5.5 million program o provide basic AIDS education and infor- ation for the public, support local boards of education in implimenting the man- :tory ADS school curriculum and carry out contact tracing of people infected with he HIV virus. Dr. Maarten Bokhout, Huron Medical fficer of Health, said AIDS education staff are in place in Huron County. Bokhout said the deadline for applica- ions for funding was in August and he tamed on Sept. 14, replacing Dr. James cGregor, acting MOH. "At the time I could not make an in- elligent decision concerning staff," he =aid. Those decisions can only be made fter spending some time on the job and Turn to r age 2 • BY SAM KINSMAN Bert Alexander, of Suncoast Mall said he is uncertain if the mall will be opened on Dec.27. He said it is probable because of the Boxing Day loophole which allows stores to open on that Sunday, this year. Alexander said it is clear to him that many Goderich residents want to have Sunday shopping. "Any place which can be open on Sun- days gets plenty of business and things are no different in Goderich." Alexander said now that the matter of Sunday shopping has been turned over to the municipalities a decision better based on community demand and desire can be made. "Goderich may have no choice but to allow stores to open on Sunday, anyway. If some of the surrounding communities such as Bayfield or Blyth decide to let their stores open on Sunday, in all practical terms, what other choice will Goderich have but to go along too?" days. People have to have some time to rest or to go to church or do other things for themselves." The Metropolitan's Peter Rambouts said The Met is still waiting confirmation from its head office before he can comment on whether or not The Met will be opened Dec.27 Shopper's Square Association represen- tative Peter Lane, of Chisholm TV, said from what merchants in the association have indicated, they are not in favour of Sunday openings. "There is a recognition that it is helpful to have variety stores and pharmacies open on Sunday, but we also feel that we ourselves provide plenty of time for customers to come in and shop, without ad- ding an extra day." Lane said that some Goderich mer- chants might feel pressured to open on Sundays, if surrounding communities allowed ththeir merchants to open on that day. "Our store will remain closed on Sun - Alexander said he is personally am- days," he said, "Sunday is a day of rest bivalent towards the issue, "I feel sorry and is for the family, reguardless of any for clerks and others who might have to religious aspect." work on Sunday, but their doesn't seem to Lane said he feels it hurts the family unit be an alternative." to have people working and buying on Sun- Concerning the religious element in the day,and treating it as just another day. issue, Alexander said, "I realize it (having to work on Sundays) "I guess it doesn't matter what day you may not affect a single person as much as are closed; some people close their stores it would affect someone who has a family, on Saturdays, or other days because of but I still think it is important to have Sun - their religion. I would just hope that stores days off." don't open up before one (1 p.m.) on Sun- While stating that Goderich already has the power to declare Sunday shopping valid, because of the town's designation as a tourist area, Lane expressed disappoint- ment with the province for turning the issue over to the municipalities, "There is no continuity throughout the province when they do something like that. They should have one law that covers the entire issue for the entire province." The law behind the issue is called the Business Holiday Act. Town Ad- ministrator Larry McCabe said that coun- cil used the tourist designation proviso in 1978 and passed a by-law allowing stores to remain open on statutory holidays, such as Canada Day, but did not change the ruling for either Sunday shopping or Christmas Day. "I am aware there are Goderich residents who want total Sunday shopp- ing," said McCabe, "but by the same token, others would prefer we left things as they are." Goderich Town Council, at their Dec. 14 meeting, passed a motion presented by Councillor Jim Searls and seconded by Reeve Harry Worsell, that council write to Premier David Peterson, expressing their displeasure with the province's treatment of the issue. "I think we should let Premier Peterson know we are very displeased with the Pro, vincial Government for throwing this issue back at the municipalities. The way this is going, one city or town will decide to open stores on Sundays) and Others will be forced to open to compete," sold Searls. deadlines The annual Christmas -New Year holi- day season has made some juggling of regular office hours and deadlines at The Signal -Star, in order to allow our employees time to enjoy the season with their families. The Signal -Star will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19; from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursday, Dec. 24 and from 8 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Dec. 31. The office will be closed on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1. The issue immediately prior to Christmas, will be delivered a day earlier than usual, on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Copy deadlines for the Dec. 22 issue will be as follows: Sports, Entertainment, Saturday, Dec. 19, 10 a.m., News Mon- day, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. Advertising Deadlines will be: Enter- tainment, Sports, Word Classified, Satur- day, Dec. 19, noon; all other adver- tisements and display classifieds, Mon- day, Dec. 21, 10 a.m, Record year for building Even with December figures not yet in, the Goderich Building Department has already issued nearly $2 million worth of building permits over the total for all of last year. The total construction value of all building permits issued in 1986 was ap- proximately $6.3 • million, making it a record year at the time. The Building Department report received by Goderich Town Council at their Dec. 14 meeting showed a total construction value of $8,285,242 for 1987, as of the end of November. "It's a record year by far," said Goderich Commissioner of Works Ken Hunter. Hunter said he expects the year-end tal- ly, to be issued next month, will reach the $8.5 million mark. "There have been a few permits issued in December, but not all that many," Hunter said. Mayor Eileen Palmer, at Monday's meeting, said the report . was "very impressive". "We thought when we surpassed six million (dollars) last year, we had broken all records," Palmer said. During November, there were, 22 building permits issutd for a dollar value of $549,900. So far in 1987, a total of 215 per- mits have been issued. The Town of Goderich charges $4 per $1,000 for the issuing of permits, so the town's income from permits for the year to date would be around the $32,000 mark. The operating budget for the building department is $56,000 and includes the salaries of one full-time and one part-time ..building inspector and one half-time secretary, as well as automobile, training - and other expenses. NEW INSPECTOR A new Building Inspector, John Mac- Donald, has been appointed to replace former inspector Doug Harrision, who left the town's employ Nov. 13 to take another job with Royal Homes, in Wingham. MacDonald was hired in September, as assistant building inspector and promoted to inspector to replace Harrison INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Lakeland wins The Lakeland Jets defeated Zilliax Sunday morning in Goderich by a margin of one goal in Goderich Industrial Hockey play. The Jets made a trium- phant comeback in the second period and went on to win the game by a score of 7-6. For pictures and story, see the Sports section New warden Robert M. Bell, of Tuckersmith Township, has been appointed as the new warden for Huron County. For story and picture, see Page 7 of this section. Cameron retires After 40 years of teaching, William (Bill) Cameron will be retiring at the end of this month. Cameron, a music teacher at Victoria Public School, was feted at the school last Tuesday afternoon and was the guest of honor at a special tea and concert. For a story and picture on Cameron's career, see the front page of the Community section. 0