The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-11-23, Page 1-T1'r"r
•
ew council won't have to wait
BY JEFF SEDDON
The recently elected Goderich town council
won't have long to wait before it faces its first
opportunity to combine good judgment and
restraint' for the benefit of ratepayers in
Goderich. Some time in December council will
be asked to make a decision on the replacement
of recreation director Mike Dymond, who
resigned effective December 15, and with
campaign promises still fresh in voters' minds,
that decision may take some council members
out of the position of saying they'll do
something and putting them in a position of
proving they'll do it.
The decision appears simple on the surface.
The recreation board will make a recom-
mendation to council to hire another rec
director and council will accept that recom-
mendation. But that may not happen. Council
may want the rec board to take a look at a
number off suggestions aimed at saving money
in the recreation budget without cutting ser-
vices to taxpayers. That suggestion also seems
simple but may not be.
Rec board and council have a record of
111111111111Momemmr.
conflict over staff that has just recently been
resolved. The problem surfaced over staff at
the Goderich arena when the board and counpa
were at odds over who should be hired and what
that person should do. The board members
were adamant in their recommendation and
council kept sending that recommendation
back to the board subtly hinting that the board
should do things the way council wanted' but
never actually saying that.
Personalities on both the rec board and
council proved to be a problem. Board mem-
bers, because of their experience in the
recreation field and their constant contact with
staff inthe rec department, were obviously
better qualified to, make the choice of staff
members but some council members kept
saying it was council that did the 'hiring and
firing not the rec board. That attitude, com-
bined with very differing opinions on the
recreation needs in Goderich and the need for
recreationhere, kept the two bodies at odds.
Rec board members that have been through
the battle with council do not want to leave
anything to chance this time around. Some
members have a very good idea of the type of
personnel needed in recreation and are working
hard to prepare a case for council before
making a recommendation. They plan to meet
with Dymond and consult with him before
sending the matter to council. They then plan a
meeting with council to discuss the matter
rather than just send it to the council table and
hope for thebest.
At an all candidates meeting during -cam-
paigning for council candidates were put on the
spot by mayor Deb Shewfelt when he asked
them how they would handle the replacement of
Dymond. The results indicated that all can-
didates felt the director would have to be
replaced but some opinions suggested that
some candidates had very definite ideas on how
he would be replaced. Those opinions may set
the stage for a showdown of types between rec
board and council.
Mayor Harry Worsell said council would
have to take a "hard look" at the matter. He
said the town would "likely have to get another
Turn to page 22 •
Mike Dyrnond
...post vacant
County folk
contribute
*1.02 each
Ross McDaniel , treasurer for the Huron
County Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society
said this week that residents of Huron County
have attained an enviable record of $1.02 per
capita donated in the fight to control and cure
cancer.
"We show donations of $56,000 at the end of
the fiscal year," said McDaniel. "With a
population of about 55,000 in Huron County, that
puts our per capita record slightly over the $1
per capita mark. We're very proud of that
figure."
The divisional figures are only a little better
at $1.06 per capita.
The money was realized through the annual
door-to-door campaign for funds, the special
events in Huron such as the snowmobile rally,
the Daffodil Tea and the bike-a-thon, and
national grants.
The donations made through the In
Memoriam cards are a separate account and
money from that segment goes directly to the
divisional treasury for research.
"I'm told theligures are quite substantial in
that account," reported McDaniel.who said he
has no firiandil record orth-e—frietti ori a 1 fund.
The provincial Cancer Society enjoyed a year
of unprecedented financial success, too. The
organization has announced that in Ontario,
campaign receipts for 1978 were increased by
10.5 per cent to the highest amount raised to
date - $8,328,000.
Commemoration funds also increased sub-
stantially to bring the total income of the
Cancer Society in Ontario to $14,189,754.
"Another major accomplishment that stands
out from the past year was the production and
introduction to the schools of The Kit - A Guide
to Decision Making and Health for Grades 7 and
8, created by our education committee," said
George A. Irvine, president of the Ontario
Division.
Irvine believes the young people of Ontario
will be the beneficiaries of this special
program. Every child in the Ontario school
system will now receive some form of
education on the subject of cancer from Kin-
dergarten right through to Grade 8.
Irvine spoke of the establishment of the
"Coping With Cancer" program as Na. third
milestone in what amounted to a fruitful year.
"The Coping With Cancer program started in
the Toronto Unit and spread from there to the
Metropolitan Toronto District and thence to the
province of Ontario," said Irvine. "We had no
idea that there were so many volunteers in-
terested in this vital subject."
The rapid growth which has occurred has
resulted in hiring a new staff coordinator to
provide leadership -and- assistance across the
province.
"The Society is well and prospering
throughout the entire province," said Irvine,
and will continue in this manner until the day
comes when cancer will be beaten."
Big Brothers
want lots
of members
The Goderich and District Big Brothers
Association will be conducting a .membership
drive during the next couple of months.
Membership dues are set at $2 per person and
all persons qualify for a membership.
Since this will be the main source of fund
raising for the time being, it is hoped that
public response will be favorable.
The Association now has a telephone number
(524-4243) and an address (P.O. Box 382).
The provisional contract with National
headquarters has been executed and the
Goderich and District Big rothers Association
has arrived at the screening and matching
stage.
An ad appears in the Signal -Star for an. -
plications regarding Big Brothers. It is further
suggested that a letter be forwarded .to the
aboVe box number if you have a son) who might
require a Big Brother. A special cotnnriltte'e Will
process applications and will Contact you for it
personal interview.
Remember: "Wo man stands so straight as
when he stoops to help a fatherless boy."
YEAR 131-47
e •
d ench
f.!,'„, •
1
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1978
°wwmam STA
35 CENTS PER COPY
Terminal needed says airport committee
BY JOANNE BUCHANAN
Terminal facilities are definitely needed at
the Goderich Municipal Airport.
This was the conclusion reached by members
of the Airport Committee when they met last
Wednesday evening. The members decided to
recommend to next year's committee that a
ter/nine' be thought of as a main priority when
considering land usability at the airport and
that money be budgeted for plans accordingly.
They further instructed secretary of the
committee, Ken Hunter, .to elontact,local, ar-,-
chitects asking them to present conceptual
plans and estimated costs for the proposed
terminal.
Committee member Dick Speers told the
other members that Goderich was one of the
few airports of its size that did not have ter-
minal -facilities and airport manager Ed
Scruton told members that one of the most
popular requests was for a place to get a cup of
coffee and relax.
Speers explained, "Gas sales is the only
money-maker we have at the airport and the
only.way to increase sales it to increase traffic.
The only way to do this is to attract the traffic
and one of the ways to attract traffic would be
to have a terminal."
He went on to say that he felt the cost of
erecting a terminal would later be offset by
increased gas sales and tie -down rentals.
Speers showed the committee members a
sketch he had drawn of a terminal consisting of
a 16,000 square foot building located where the
parking lot is now and containing a manager's
office, washrooms, lounge, coffee shop and
classrooms which could be rented by Wingham
Air Services' flight school.
"This is just a jumping offpoint," Speers told
committee members.
Airport committee chairman Dick Wright
said one of the reasons for wanting a terminal
was that the lounge nd facilities,of Business
Air Services were now being used by some
people for such purposes and this was creating
a problem. -
"An airport terminal is within the
capabilities of the town and this committee. It
doesn't have to be anything elaborate but I
would be very much in favor of some form of
building that would be attractive to the area,"
Wright said.
He went on to suggest that a type of prefab
building made to specifications could be pur-
chased for the purpose of a terminal. He further
suggested that the committee get an exact cost
break -down and consider .the terminal a
priority.
"It would be a definite benefit in the long run.
The facilities we have now are really a disgrace
and have more than served their purpose," he
said.
He went on to say it was getting to the point
-where the committee had to look closely at the
idea of building a terminal.
"It's an essential move we have to consider
and if the money has to be spent, it should be,"
he continued.
Reeve Gerry Ginn said if a terminal was
going to be built, it should be planned in such a
way that it could be enlarged some day if
necessary. He said having established that a
building was needed, the next step for the
committee to consider would be design.
It was then suggested by several members
that local architects be asked to submit ten-,
tative costs and proposals for a termindl.
"Construction costs are going up every year
so the longer we wait to build a terminal, the
more it.will cost," conchidedSpeers-. '• - "
Wright said he felt the airport committee had
contributed to its betterment during its term.
"Our accomplishments speak for them-
selves. We haven't done anything earth shat-
tering but at least we're moving forward. I'm a
firm believer in the airport and 1 feel it helps
the community although this is hard to explain
to others sometimes."
RADIO PURCHASED
In other business, Lloyd Atfield reported for
the development sub -committee, that a small
hand held radio with six frequencies would be
purchased for the airport. The radio costs
approximately $450 and with accessories
amounts to about $650.
"This radio is quite adequate and cheaper
than the other one we were considering,"
Atfield told the committee.
The radio will be used mainly by the airport
manager for convenience and safety measures.
Atfield informed the committee that BusineSS
Gordon Bedard Is one of four crossing guards hired
by- *he town to help children get back and forth to
sch�ol safely. Mr. Bedard performs MS job More
for the enjoyment than for the money, he says. Ile
mans the busy corner where Bayfield and Britannia
Roads m'eet. About 100 kids pass his way four times
a day. Parents can breath a bit easier knowing the
crossing guards are on duty as Goderich traffic
becomes heavier.
Air Services was also getting a model of the
same radio and would stock parts.
The committee recommended that a land
usability plan for the airport drawn up by Don
Wheeler be tabled until the new committee
could be assembled.
"It is very important to finalize this plan as
soon as possible," cautioned Wr'ght.
MANAGER'S REPORT
In his report, airport manager Ed Scruton
-informed- the committee that student 'Rod -
Graham was now working weekends and
holidays at the airport. He is familiar with
airport procedures and is a licensed pilot,
Scruton told the committee. His main purpose
is to sell fuel and services but he also gets in-
volved in some maintenance around the gas
pump area when fuel sales are slow. Reports
indicate that he is working out well and his
presence is one more step toward a full service
airport, said Scruton.
Scruton informed the committee that it was
necessary to remove about 20 tall poplar trees
from the west side of runway number 15 around
the gully 'after reports of damage to the wing of
a C-150 training plane of Wingham Air Services.
Under certain wind conditions, he said, these
trees are a real hazard, even to the experienced
pilot.
A severe electrical storm on the evening of
October 5 resulted in extensive damage to
many runway lights and the strobes, reported
Turn to page 22 • •
Crossing
with style
BY
JOANNE BUCHANAN
For little children,
crossing the street can
sometimes be a perilous
adventure. That's why,
for the last few years; the
Town of Goderich has
been hiring crossing
guards. Neither rain nor
sleet nor snow will keep
them from their
duty...unless the weather
gets so nasty that school
is cancelled.
There are four crossing
guards in town. You
might have noticed them
out there with their bright
orange vests, holding up
miniature stop signs as
hoards of children file
past them. There are
three crossing guards
located in the , Victoria
Public School area and
one in the St. Mary's
Separate School area.
They are paid for their
job through the town's
traffic control budget.
But they are not paid a
great sum and most of
them, like Gordon
Bedard, perform the
duties of crossing guard
more for the enjoyment
than for the money.
Mr. Bedard handles the
busy corner where
Bayfield and Britannia
Roads meet. And you
should see the traffic at
that corner on Fridays,
he says!
After his retirement,
Mr. Bedard says he was
going crazy with nothing
to do so he applied for the
job of crossing guard and
was hired in June. He
works from 8:30 to 9
a.m.; 11:30 a.m. to noon;
and frorn 1 to 1:20 p.m.
five days a week, About
100 children go by his
corner.
-"I do it more for the
enjoyment. It gives me
something to look for-
ward to during the day.
On the days when there is
, no school, I'm lost," he
says.
Mr. Bedard says he
likes his job but he
especially likes the kids.
He knows most of them
by name and they know
him. He used to run a
neighborhood grocery
store and many children
would come in for candy.
"Some of the kids even
call me by my first
name," he says.
"They're really good kids
and they always do what
you tell them."
The motorists are good
too, he says, and always
obey his sign. Probably.
many of them are parents
themselves and ap-
preciate what he is doing.
Mr. Bedard says he
doesn't mind the cold
weather. He only has to
stand in it for half an hour
at a time.
- The other crossing
guards in town are
Gordon Jamieson, Mel
Stewart and Jim John-
ston. They all provide a
useful service as
Goderich streets become
busier.
Mr. Bedard says he
hasn't had any close calls
with accidents yet. One
day, however, a boy
couldn't get his bicycle
stopped and he ran into
Mr. Bedard and knocked
him down.
"It's a good thing he hit
me because a car was
coming and he would
have landed right out in
front of it," says Mr.
Bedard.
-Mr. Bedard will remain
on the job as long as he
can, helping children to
cross the street in safety
and nutting, parents'
minds at ease.