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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.