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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-12-06, Page 1L MNo It you're not subscribing to The Wingham Advance -Tines, you're missing out. Use this coupon below and subscribe today) Name: Address: City: Prov.: Postal Code: Subscription rates Canada within 40 miles (65km) ad- dressed to non letter carrier address- es $27 plus $1.89 GST. Outside 40 miles (65km) or any letter carrier addrasa $40 plus $2.80 GST. Ouside Canada $80 plus $5.80 GST USE YOUR CREDIT CARD Card No. ❑CILIOODL ❑CEMCIoa Expi Date - Visa Master Card ❑ Cheque enclosed [] Return To; WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES P.O. Box 390, 5 Diagonal Road Wingham, Ontario, NOG 2W0 • i9 AL" Huron County Libraries are bracing for a major reduction in their grants from the province. Page 3 The tree decorating season has begun. But which is best for hang- ing the ornaments on? Page 8 SPORTS ii 1 The NHL Oldtimers entertained a sold out arena in Luck - now last Sunday. Page 10 HOCKEY CLUB J Madill drama guild inJjain tiancetkint raplus uGST 75< Wednesday, December 6 199 Children of all ages are invit- ed to come to a story theatre performance at the Wingham high school next week. The F.E. Madill Secondary School drama guild is present- ing Children's Christmas Story Theatre on Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16. The productions in the pres- entation will include Waldo's• Christmas Surprise, The Old Rag Dolly, and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The Dec. 15 production gets under way at 7 p.m. on the stage in the main gymnasium at the high school, and the Dec. 16 show begins at 2 p.m. Admission to the perfor- mance is $4. The proceeds from the performance go to Madill's student council. All children in attendance will be given a free candy cane by Santa Claus. December is a busy month for members of the Madill Dra- ma Guild. Because the month is so busy for the drama group, the fifth annual Performance Showcase has been moved to February While the students in per- forming roles begin learning their lines, rehearsals for Guys and Dolls don't get under way until Feb. 5 Opening night for Guys and Dolls is Wednesday, May 1. Performances will also be held May 2 and 3. The drama guild is also per- forming the one -act play, Cata- lyst for the Blyth Crossroads Drama Festival, being held Feb. 28 to March 2. The guild will also perform Catalyst at the Sears Drama Festival, March 27-30. The director for the one -act play is student Shane McKin- non. Harlem Diplomats...Goose Junior dribbles the ball while being guarded by Madill senior Mustang Chris Patterson during the exhibition basketball contest played last Thursday at the Madill gymnasium. Additional photo story, see page 11. FNSIDE News Page 3 Editorial Page 4 Letters Page 5 Feature Page 8 Sports Page 10 T.V. Guide Page 15 Classifieds Page 16 Horoscopes Page 20 Crossword Page 20 A LOOK AT— Surviving T _ _ _ Surviving on $4 a day. Bren- da Burke examines the wel- fare cuts in Ontario. Page 7 The Wingham Advance -Times is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership Food Share delegation enlightens council on need By CAMERON J. WOOD The Advance -Times Wingham Town Council was enlightened on Monday evening following a presentation on a lo- cal food hank. Members of the North Huron Community Food Share Program made a brief presentation to coun- cil on the intent to develop a com- munity food hank. This Friday the group will be meeting at St. Paul's -Trinity Anglican Church to elect a board of directors and for, malty organize. Joan van der Meer said the group' would welcome member- ship on the board from town council. Thcir intension, she said. "is to estahlish a food hank operation in the core arca of Wingham." Van der Meer said the concern over hunger is county -wide. and Wingham is just' one of several communities looking to establish a food hank. The Family and Children's Services Agency of Huron is also examining a• county -wide option. Winter road clearing reduced in Huron Co. Engineer tenders resignation By CAMERON J. WOOD The Advance -Times GODERICH — Road conditions in Huron County may not be like they once were, but as engineer Denis Merrall told county council last Thursday, they never will be again. In light of the provincial reduc- tions and consistent downloading, county budgets are stretched to the limit. This means that Huron roads, while once being clear of snow 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will suffer. The roads department proposed thit winter snow plowing , be stopped at midnight and resumed each morning at 5:00 if necessary. Merrall said this was the only vi- able alternative this year while maintaining as close to a zero per cent budget increase as possible. Staff reductions in the roads depart- ment have also enabled the county to maintain their level of spending under difficult economic condi- tions. "Everything we have been doing for the past three years fits into (the November 29) provincial budget," BUDGET IMPACT Merrall told council. "We can still deliver reasonable service, but it will never be as good as it was. We are well positioned to deliver a bud- get that reflects (the November 29 economic statement) that meets ser- vice needs of residents." The county engineer also had some advice for council when they are faced with complaints about the level of service in light of the economic re- ductions and public complaints on -county taxation... "Look at how much money is paid to support roads versus what people pay for their phone bill and cable bill. It's time to start getting the message across." People are used to the conven- ience of an ultra -mobile lifestyle and may now have to stop and ex- amine their priorities when con- fronted with foul winter weather in the late evening and early morning hours. Merrall said he always felt that as an adult the priority should Please see COUNTY/3 County waiting to learn implications "This is not just a Wingham project." The Reverend Vicars Hodge said there is a definite need. He explained that his annual discre- tionary fund, used to financially aid people in need. ran out in Sep- tfm ber. Airport funding stable Despite persistent -rumors in the community, funding for ' the Wingham Community Airport has been guaranteed by the provincial government. At Monday night's council ses- sion. Councillor Doug Layton read a fax he received late Mon- day from Huron MPP Helen Johns. In the message, Johns said 'the provincial government will honor the existing commitment to the airport development. Johns did say in the fax that the government is willing to meet with the development committee and town council to discuss possi- ble money -saving options on air- port work that has yet to be con- tracted. By CAMERON J. WOOD The Advance -Times GODERICH — Huron County, like all other municipal governments, will have to wait to learn the full impact of the November 29 eco- nomic statement from the province. In his opening address to county council on November 30, Warden Bruce Machan said the provincial mini -budget will bring an impact, but the exact figures are not yet known. He said the allocations for county governments should be known by the end of 1995. "We do know that grants for li- braries have been dramatically cut, grants for recycling will be out in two years," he said. But Machan also said the legisla- tion passed by the Progressive Con- servative government will also al - Please see IMPACT/3 THE FIGURES • Total spending in 1995-96 is $56 -billion; deficit is 59.3 - billion • The government estimates 1995 economic trowth at 2.1% and a net I rease in Jobs at 72,000; 2.3% in 1996 with 81,000 new Jobs; 3.1% in 1997 with 100,000 new jobs • Boards of Education and Poast Secondary schools lose $400 -million In 1996 • Prescriptions will cost sen- iors and welfare recipients either a 5100 deductible, a dispensing fee, or $2 each, depending on income • Hospital spending cut by 51.3 -billion over three years • Municipalities lose 5658 - million over two years i