Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-08-10, Page 1, • , 7 BY eiRM If/WARTY Tourists arriving h)! heat at Snug -Harbour this Sanurte;niay Je thrilled to _discover that Goderich ,has sUPRied them with a free. ride uptpwn. -Buttwo ofithe ttown's taxi -cab owners don't share those t our latOje light. Last week, Bruce. Betties of the Goderich Taxi Company got ted up with what he thought was -a lot of/bucklassing on the part Of the town's tourist committee andtook his com- plaints about the,town's new courtesycar to the London Free Press. Mr. Betties said he appr6aaied committee chairman Malcolm Campbell with his beefs about the car, but was told to get in touch with Robert Squire who is in charge of the vehicle's operation. Mr. Squire never returned his call nor came to see Mr. Betties, so the frustrated cab -owner contacted another committee member, Councillor Stan Preifit. Councillor Profit wasn't able to come up with any answers either, and agreed that Mr. Betties' next step might be to take his problem _to the press. On Friday, the story appeared in the London paper. Mr. Betties charges that the tourist com- mittee's free -ride plan is costing his company an average of $75 a week. He told the Signal - Star on Wednesday that when he first heard of the town's decision to supply the courtesy car to tourists, he was in favour of the idea. "But then they started hauling people all over town," he said. According to Mr. Bettles, taxi drivers followed the car a few times and found that it was not just giving free rides uptown to tourists from the harbour, but was carrying Coast Guard personnel who don't qualify for the service. And he complained that the rides weren't just limited to trips uptown but in- cluded runs to a liquor store at the south end of Goderich and to points. as far away as Ben - miller. Tourists enjoy town courtesy Police charge mother Last week's tourists of the week are shown with the controversial courtesy car, supplied. by the town's tourist committee to give free rides to people from Snug Harbour to The Square. Karen Kulik and.Mike Bukowski, both from Detroit, were met at the harbour by committee member Robert Squire who informed them that they'd been chosen as this week's honoured guests. Bertha Ann McCullough, 28, 55 Pauline Crescent, London and formerly of Goderich, was charged August I with • second -.degree --- murder, The charge, laid by Goderich Police Chief Pat King,is in connection with the death of Christopher MCCullough on December 29, 1974. Bertha Ann/McCullough, her husband David McCullough and sons Michael David and Christopher resided at 48- St. Patrick- Street, Goderich. Mrs. McCullough and two-year-old Christopher were taking an afternoon nap when a fire was reported at the McCullough home. Mr. McCullough was at work and Michael David was away. /The fire, reported in 1974 to be of un- determined origin, was under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal's office. Christopher had been fpund dead in his crib in the smoke- filled house. He was buried New Year's Day, 1975. •Mrs.. Mc.Cullo,ugh was returned to Goderich from London August 2 and was taken to Walkerton jail. She appeared in provincial court, Winghain, at 10 am Wednesday morning. the courtes • Brenda Stewart drives the courtesy car and 'admits that at the start, she did give the odd ride to Coast Guard sailors and didn't always limit her trips to just The Square. But she claims .the job wasn't fully explained to her when she began in June and she wasn't aware that she was in error. Since then, Mrs. Stewart says she has been sticking to the original intention of the courtesy service, and can't understand the cab -owners' complaints. She argues that business is being brought to the taxi companies because many people don't mind paying the fare one-way back 'to the harbour, but wouldn't bother coming uptown at all if they had to hire a taxi both ways. Mr. Betties calls that idea a "fantasy". He says the people arriving at the harbour who own a $30,000 yacht don't need a free ride anywhere. He argues that if the town's so in- terested in giving free rides to people, it should look into supplying a van for the physically handicapped people around Goderich. Robert Prouse, owner of Bob's Taxi sees that boat owners- aren't suffering for-cee rides. He's been opposed to the courtesy car all along, n •14 and feels the committee should have worked out an agreement with the taxi companies whereby one would handle the harbour calls 'one month, and the other company the next, Mr. Prouse said he's going after some an- - swers too and will be apprOaching the tourist committee to see what's going on. Councillor Profit declined to comment on the matter, except to say that he understands how Mrs. SteVrart probably wanted to be as friendly with people from the harbour as possible. At the same time, he sympathizes with the cab companies' complaints. Malcolm Campbell doesn't see that there is any problem with the car's service, but left comment on the matter to Mr. Squire. At press time, Mr. Squire was unavailable for comment. Mr. Betties feels the committee's public relations efforts have been poor and suggests there might not be a problem now if members of the committee had been more open 'with the cab -owners. As it is, Mr. Betties is prepared tg bring in the member of parliament to help resolve the dispute, if he has to. Better viewing assured Residents in Meneset trailer park and the adjacent subdivision as well as people who live along Airport Road will be offered better television viewing this winter. TV Cable Ltd., with offices in Holmesville, is presently in- stalling a cable television line in the area, and it is expected that service will be available by September 1, 1978. Ron McIntosh, manager of TV Cable Ltd., said more than 200 homes will be eligible for service via the new installation. Original plans were to include Saltford in this installation, McIntosh explained. That will have to wait now until the County of Huron completes reconstruction of the main street through Saltford. McIntosh said the county did not want the cable company making an underground in- . stallation along the road when ,the whole thing would be ripped up, pr"nbably in the spring of 1979. "We didn't want our lines ripped up either," said McIntosh." Some Saltford people will be disappointed, but service will be supplied in conjunction with the new road." 1 IT YE Ali32. 30 CENTS PER COPY lio, vaccine available • The Huron County Medical officer of Health has strongly advised that many area,residents who have not had their five-year booster shots should renew them in the next few weeks. Dr. Brian Lynch, Huron County Medical Officer of Health said Tuesday, it was im- portant for adults to update their polio and tetanus vaccinations in view of the recent- - discovery of a polio virug'in the Oxford -County area. The vast majority of children have already been properly immunized through clinics in schools but any adults who have ignored up- dating their vaccinations should do so. In a written statement, Dr: Lynch advised adults to Pdate their protection against polio and tetants. "While not seeinga need for special polio cliniOs-at this time, I would advise - adults to particularly ensure that they have up to date protection -against polio and tetanus. People who have not had a booster in the last five years should get one in the next few Citizens s(c)ent wild by BY JIM HAGARTY 'Skunks are definitely not welcome in the Town of Goderich, but who wants the job of asking them to leave? According to Animal Control Officer Dick Eisler, a large number of the unwanted black and white creatures have taken up residence around some of the older hOrnes in town, and while he's willing to help people who have a skunk problem, there isn't a lot he can do. Mr. Eisler's good -will in helping people out in the past has back -fired on him, as calls are coming in now from people who believe it's his job to clear their homes of skunks and the town's responsibility to. keep Goderich. skunk. - free. Some members of town council are taking the position that unwelcome skunks around a person's home are that person's problem and responsibility in the same way that individual home -owners must deal on their own with rats, bats -and any other pests they may encounter. But while council has discussed the problem in the past and considered it a closed issue,_the growing gravity of the town's skunk situation may force it to face the dilemma all overagain. Mayor Deb Shewfelt isn't one of those who feel that skunks are none of the town's business. He told the Signal -Star on Tuesday that so mai* calls have come in regarding the problem recently that council simply can't avoid dealing with it. Mayor Shewfelt explained that pleas for help are not just being made by people who want something for nothing, but by homeowners, especially elderly residents, who just don't know where to turn. Ope reason the skunks are s� prevalent now, according to Mayor Shewfelt is that the town's dog -control laws have worked so well. When dogsihad more freedom to roam, he said, the Skunks weren't nearly as brave and tended to Stay On the outskirts of town. Now, however, • they're even, creating headaches for home- oWners a half -block from downtown. Mr. Eisler agreed that there are more skunks • hitoikii this SUnlrher than in past years. He said they walk -down the sidewalks in two s and • three 's at night and that the only safe recourse for startled pedestrians is to quietly cross the ° street. . So far, according to Mr. Eisler, the biggest problem posed by the skunks is the sickening smell of their spray but that they could carry rabies and thus become a health hazard. Roy Bellinger, enforcement co-ordinator with the ministry of natural resources in Wingham, claims that skunks are one of the prime carriers of rabies. What makes them so deadly, he added, is their almost total fearlessness. They simply won't move out of the way of any man or animal, but will keep their distance if they aren't pestered. The incidence of rabies outbreaks caused by skunks is down this year, according to Dr. Thompson from the Seaforth Veterinary Clinic. However, Dr. Thompson explained thatOne of the reasons rabid skunks are so dangerous is the fact that the 9 can spread rabies for up to three weeks without showing any of the sym- ptoms of the disease. Dr. Thompson said that skunks are a noc- turnal animal and that if one is seen wandering during the day, it is likely that the animal is rabid. Other signs include a staggering gait and a des -ire to bite. The disease is transmitted primarily through the skunk's bite, according to Dr. Thompson, but he added that it is theoretically possible to contract rabies through the spray of a diseased skunk-- . For the most part, it is the owners of the older homes in Goderich that are finding their prifacy invaded by skunks and their litters. weeks." he aid. • Adults s ould keep up their booster vac- •cinations very five years for polio and tetanus and then thes,e shots can be administered in the hospita or by the family physician. Ther has been great concern in Ontario since it was confirmed that 15 Oxford County resijjents are carrying a polio virus. The Huron Co nty Health Unit -has received several calls for shots and Dr. Lynch explained that extra vaccine has been ordered and will be distributed to physicians in the Huron County area. The public health offices in Goderich, Clin- ton, Seaforth, Exeter, Wingharnrand Brussels will also receive the vaccine. Dr. Lynch is advising people to check with thier family doctor about the vaccinations but there will also be a clinic offered at the Health Unit this Friday afternoon. There will be an additional clinic at the Unit if the need warrants it. t ersome skunks Mr, Eisier_explained that the skunks dig down under the foundations of the older. homes or enter easily through the lattice -work on front porches and verandas. Councillor Elsa Haydon 'hasn't much sym- pathy for people who allow those vulnerable parts of their house% to, deteriorate to the point where skunks can find easy entrance. She opposes any suggestion that the town should enter the picture, although she agrees that it would have some responsibility in a situation where the town was overrun with skunks. Councillor Haydon's 'objections to the use of killer _traps' to -catch 'skiffin-fielied roliticil to change its mind about such traps' that were being lent to people by Mr. Eisler and the half- dozen traps owned by the town were sold, at should town council do? 13Y JIM HAGARTY Perhaps as early as its August 14th meeting, Goderich council is going to be talking about skunks, and what it should or should not do athout them. If Mayor Deb Shewfelt's feelings on the subject revail, the town will be getting in- volved the skunk problem, possibly by enacting a law enabling it to control the animals and by hiring professional pest control people to -get rid of them. There is support among members of council for the .mayor's view Of the town's respon- sibility in the matter, but there's opposition as well. Most vocally opposed to seeing the town enter the skunk removal business is Councillor Elsa Haydon who feels that, under inormal cir- cumstances, the homeowner himself is responsible for taking steps to rid his property of skunks. Councillor Ilaydon's view is shared by Councillor Dave dower who doesn't think the municipality Cali afford to become involved. Councillor Gower is afraid that if council agreed to take steps towards skunk removal, it could soon find itself involved in exterminating all the bothersome rodents that plague homeowners in Goderich. Councillor Don Wheeler is also concerned about the extremes to which the town's in- volvement might go, but feels sone help should be given where it is reasonable to do so. However, Councillor Wheeler said he recognizes, that skunks have become a problem and would like to see • a delegation of homeowners appear before council so that the matter can be dealt with and finally resolved. Councillor Stan Profit would like the town to take some leadership in solving the problem, even though it has probably no legal respon- sibility to do so, "Morally, I guess we are responsible for the wellbeing of the people in Goderich," he said, adding that the best route might be to hire pest control people. Deputy -Reeve Eileen Palmer likewise sees - the town having some ..dutY to help skunk - plagued residents. The problem, as she sees it, 1.• cannot be likened to other pests such as bats and rats. Because it's a different problem, Mrs. Palmer feels it should be handled differently. Councillor John Doherty, as chairman of the town's traffic sub -committee, was the driving force behind the purchase of the killer traps, and hasn't changed his opinion that the traps are humane and efficient. He thinks the town has an obligation to do something, and has been in touch with the pest control officer in London, in an attempt to work out some arrangement whereby traps could be rented or borrowed by homeowners. Reeve Bill Clifford sympathizes with .• homeowners trying to deal with skunks that have moved in on them, but thinks a line should be drawn between the responsibility of the tOwif and theresident. Mr. Clifford is in favour of &seeing the town help where it can, possibly by lending traps to the public, but believes the final responsibility belongs to the homeowner. At press time, Councillor Bob Allen was unavailable for comment on the situation. "Surely the town is not going,into the animal killing business," Councillor Haydon said on Friday. "There's too much killing," she added. "Just because it's alive you go out and kill it." The killer trap, called the Conibear, has the disadvantage of being able to also capture small pets, such as cats and dogs, and this forms part of the resistance to see them used. However, Councillor Haydon is in favour of a "more humane" live trap. Troubled home -owners can hire professional exterminators, but Mr. Bellinger feels that isn't a practical avenue . beeauSe of the expense. Harvey Hackland, district manager'. for Pest Control Operators from London, estimates that to travel to Goderich to rid a florae of-iskunks could cost, depending on the size of the problem, between $40 and $60. One solution, according to Mr. Hackland, would be for a number of home -owners who face the same problem to get together an make arrangements for his company to s aside a special day or two to get rid of the• skunks, thus lessening the cost to the individual concerned. Pest Cdntrol Operators use live traps, taking the captured skunks out to an uninhabited area and setting them free. The company also ad- vises home -owners on what repairs their houses require in order to become skunk. resistant. Mayor Shewfelt said council might consider bringing in professionals to deal with the skunks, and added that he'd like to see council establish a policy regarding the skunks. At present, the town has bylaws giving it authority to deal with the controlling of dogs and cats but has nothing on the books con- cerning skunks. Mr. Bellinger felt the best solution would be to hire a trapper and pay him so much a skunk to catch them. Skunk pelts have risen in market value recently, he said and there are lots of trappers around who would probably be willing - to do thnjob. • Any way it's looked at, the skunk problem in Goderich is fast becoming a smelly situation.