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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-10-25, Page 1People driving by Suncoast MaII. Wednesday about 10 a.m. might have wondered if the country was at war. Tanks were Tined up in the parking lot and men dressed in army fatigues were swarming all over. But a quick check ment was Perry Fisher of Goderich. (Photo by revealed that the men were from Camp Ip- Joanne Buchanan) perwash and were on' assignment practising how to drive tanks. One of the men on assign - Government grant could dampen Sifto expansion Plans for expansion of the Sifto Salt Division of Domtar Chemicals Ltd. harbour facilities may be threatened by a federal government grant of $25 million to a Quebec development corporation. Jack Riddell, Huron -Middlesex MPP, pointed out to the Ontario legisature recently that the federal department of regional economic ex- pansion (DREE) has received application from Soquiem, the Quebec corporation, for $25 million to build docking facilities to allow development of salt mines in the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Riddell, .commenting outside the house, claimed if the federal government gave funds to Soquiem then Sifto would lose the Quebec ice salt market. The Quebec market accounts for about 25 percent of Sifto's production. The MPP added that Sifto officials fear that a ,United States reaction to government in- volvement in the salt industry would threaten U.S. markets. He said the U.S. government may apply trade duties to block the U.S. market which accounts for 30 percent of the Sifto production in Goderich. Riddell said Sifto's operation accounts for $8.5 million in the provincial economy.. each 132—YEAR 43 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1979 Board grapples with The Huron -Perth Separate Sc' aol Roard will hold a special meeting with ratepayers in Dublin this Monday in their; continued efforts to grapple with -a personnel problem at St. Marys School in Goderich. The board held a similar special meeting October 15 which Director of Education, Bill Eckert, said was initiated by ratepayers in 'Goderich who wished to express some concerns to the board. .. "A special meeting was held at the request of ratepayers and they enumerated concerns to the board," he said. "The board is looking at` those concerns and will attempt to resolve the problem." He said 55 ratepayers from the Goderich are-a-- approached res-- approached the board on that occasion and the board convened in committee of the whole following their presentation. Pat O'Neil, staff officer with the Ontario v, English Catholic Teachers Association, said he was approached by St. Marys principal, Betty Clark, in September who expressed concern. over staff relations. "She approached me in mid-September about difficulties arising between her and the staff," he said. "It could have been handled by the staff at school but it became a public issue." O'Neil explained that his function was mainly as a trouble shooter in dealing with problems of to individual members. He added that the problem was not unusual in his line of work. "I can't say 1 was surprised because I have been approached by others with such problems," he said. "But the principals and teachers were working on the problem and then it was public." O'Neil said that D. Frank Ritz -spent, a day with the staff at St. Marys School in September going through exercises of co-operation, identifying problems and coming to grips with them. "We hoped the program would be successful here," he said. "The staff seemed to be satisfied they were making progress and then it Co -payment realizes $11,300 Board members at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital learned Monday evening that about $75,000 is available this year for capital expenditures. . . ° This amount is realized through allowable depreciation of $47,100; differential income of $16,800; and chronic co -payment of $11,300. Chronic co -payment is something new this year since the provincial government's decision to charge back a portion of the daily rate to chronic bed users. Administrator Elmer Taylor said that rate had gone from $9.80 per day at the start to $10.25 currently. The hospital retains 25 percent of this money. The provincial government claims 75 percent. The hospital must absorb any bad debts, but so far this year, there arene. Any fears that patients would have to leave hospital because they were unable to pay, don't seem to be substantiated. So far, nobody has had to leave AM&G becuase of the chronic care cost sharing. The Ontario 'Ministry of Health` makes the decisions about a patient's ability to pay. The local hospital is relieved of this responsibility. Taylor commented this may be just the beginning of what he Called "deterrent fees". He hinted that if this cost sharing for chronic patients is successful, similar plans could be instituted for active treatment beds and out- patient services. Taylor said these ,fees would certainly reduce the misuse of hospital facilities, and in the long run could alleviate over -crowding. "Generally reaction has been positive to the cost sharing," claimed Taylor. The administrator produced a list Of capital expenditure items purchased to the end of September this year. That amount totalled $23,149 leaving better than $52,000 unspent. Du 'ing the meeting, Dr. Jim Rourke made a plea for the board to consider the purchase of a fetal monitor, a, gastroscope and a Moore prosthesis. With the absence of this equipment at the hospital, Dr. Rourke said, local patients are having to travel to other hospitals for treat- ment. . The board had heard of the need for a gastroscope and a fetal monitor prior to Monday evening's board meeting. The Moore prosthesis was added to the list at this week's meeting of the board byDr. Rourke. He explained that this equipment is vital in the treatment of certain kinds of hip fractures. In elderly patients, he reasoned,' more stress is ]'urn to page 1 ti • South-east Goderich could get facelift BY JEFF SEDDON Homeowners in the south east portion of Goderich may get new sewers and roads in the next few years if the town's Neighborhood Improvement Project application for funds is accepted. Goderich made application under NIP for government funds for the construction of storm and sanitary sewers, road construction, curb,' gutter and paving and some recreational facilities totaling about $2 million. The application was approved recently by council but hinges on a number of things, in- cluding the town's ability to come up with its share of the cost of the project. The application 'was made by council in the hopes of using money from senior levels of government to improve hard and soft services in an area roughly bounded by Bayfield Road, Maitland Road and Bennett Street. The NIP program involves the town, the provincial government through the Ministry of Transportation and Communication, and the federal government through the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The town has already been involved in NIP using the program to improve hard and soft services in the north east section of Goderich between Gloucester Terrace, Victoria Street, Huron Road and Cambria Road. In three years the town has spent a little over one trillion dollars and by the end of 1980 will have spent almost $1.5 million in the neighborhood. Council may not have to spend as much of its own money in the most recent NIP area because of some changes in the program. Town clerk Larry McCabe said the town may be able to enjoy further cost sharing in the south-east section of town by combining •not(mal, road reconstruction with the NIP work. McCabe said normal grants with the province split costs down the middle for road con- struction. He said under the terms of the NIP agreement the province will pick up 25 percent of the road work and the town 25 percent. But he added that if the town used its 25 percent in conjunction with its normal,.road work it may he able to get the province to pay half. Goderich Turn to page 18 • Police plan high profile to minimize Hallowe'en pranks BY JOANNE BUCHANAN Maximum effort by police may help to minimize trouble on Hallowe'en night here next Wednesday. The police will be keeping a "high profile", says Chief Pat King. All officers will be on duty along with eight or nine auxiliary police volunteers. Membersof the Circle City CB Club will also help to patrolthe town. . In an effort to keep some pranksters off the streets, a Hallowe'en dance will also be held at G.D.C.I. from 9 p.m. until midnight on October 31. This, dance features music by "Busker". Tickets are $2.50 per person and,are available at the school or through the Recreation Office. Chief King says he hopes everyone will co- operate with police efforts on Hallowe'en night. He also hopes people will have fun but not at other people's expense. Hallowe'en night will be treated just like any other night by police and no excuses will be accepted for any pranks which cause damage or inconvenience to other people, says the Chief. He warns that charges will be laid. One report of egg throwing has already been reported _to police s� far. Throwing eggs at people can result in assault charges and throwing eggs at objects can result in wilful damage charges, Chief King emphasizes. Eggs can be considered offensive weapons and police have the right to search people and cars for them on Hallowe'en night. Chief King also gives a num ber of Hallowe'en safety tips to parents. If possible, young trick or treaters should make their rounds with an adult or older child (especially if collecting for Unicef). They should wear light clothing and even carry a flashlight. Masks which block vision are not recommended. Children should call at houses on one side of the street first and then do the other side in- stead of criss-crossing back and forth. They should have respect for people's property and use walks and •driveways instead of cutting across lawns and through gardens. People expecting trick or treaters to call, should leave outside lights on and put away hoses or any, other objects which can be tripped over. Motorists should be particularly careful on Hallowe'en ]fight, wathing for young trick or treaters crossing th e -ma -ds. 35 CENTS PER COPY roble was a public issue." O'Neil has met with 'Eckert hut said there is nothing more for him to do until the board makes a move on the problem. Trustee, Vince Young said the October 15 meeting was held to hear concerns of parents adding that "there were concerns both ways." Following ,a regular monthly meeting of the hoard Monday, Eckert said nothing had been resolved but that the problem would receive further attention. "The problem needs analysis and is receiving ongoing attention," he said. "But nothing has been resolved." year. He said the firm's wages, taxes and royalties make up that figure adding the Goderich operation is one of the town's major employers. The Sifto plans to reclaim a portion of Lake Huron for a storage area to allow full scale production during the winter months may also be affected by the grant. He said the firm is planning a $25 million expansion which would employ 250 people during construction and prevent an annual layoff of 6.0 m ine workers . Riddell claimed if the DREE grant was approved the Sifto expansion would not go through. Sifto mine manager Bill Coughlan said Tuesday that Riddell had a fairly clear un- derstanding of what the DREE grant would do to the Goderich operation. But Coughlan did say that any decision to stop the proposed mine expansion would have to be made by the Sifto board of directors. He said such a decision has not been made yet and no suggestion has been put forth that it would be made. Riddell asked Premier William Davis to have Ontario officials talk to DREE to have this threat to Sifto removed. _ Davis said he would investigate the matter. Change the clocks The Signal -Star would like to remind its readers that clocks are to be turned back one houl- this weekend. With the return to standard time clocks should be turned back one hour at a.m. Sunday, October 28. So, before retiring to bed Saturday evening, turn the clock back, or you will be late for church. Intensive care busier The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital is a busy place. Figures presented to the board meeting at AM&G Monday evening showed that in 1978, 337 patients needed the special care available in .he ICU and from. January to June in 1979, 176 Jatients were hospitalized there.' Doctor's in Goderich are' now. considering application to the Ontario Ministry of Health for a formal intensive ca-re—u-nitdesign ation. committee has been formed, to study the matter and nursing staff has been polled for ideas. Last month, the board learned there was no emergency power supply to the ICU. Since that time, the situation has been corrected and emergency power is available inside ICU. However, board members were comforted Monday evening .that ICU patients were never in any real long time danger in a power failure. Ion Greene, the hospital's maintenance foreman, reported to the„building committee that emergency power was always available at a plug just outside the ICU door, and that an extension was always provided in ICU in case of an emergency. IFS not bad at all. Karen Ruston, left, and Heather Zurbrigg, discovered that rice boiled in pineapple juice can be rather tasty if you can master the use of chopsticks. The twO were taking part in the Co1b151416 Centra( School bay of the Child celebrations Monday and were learning of Chinese customs. The students were divied into groups and spent the day learning of lie in Chitra, Mexico, Japan and Last Africa. (ph t5io by Jff Seddon)