Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-02-08, Page 1�wr Co rninistryto discuss airs to standpipe HOWICK PRECISION TEAM—The Howick Figure Skating Club's new precision team gave its first public performance at the figure skating carnival last weekend. Team members are (back), Lorna Berry, San- dra Bender, Laura Gedcke, Linda Wilson, Tracy Johnson, Patty ■ Winaham Dav D'Arcey; (centre) Gail D'Arcey, Tracy Hargrave, Jodi Potts, .Sandra McClement, Tracy Roth, Kendra Statia, Carolyn Winkel; (front) Carol Harding, Dallas Hilbert, Mary Feldskov and Angela Armstrong. Ce The Wingham Town Coun- made behind closed doors, Mr. Kopas added that centive for day care centres cil has given virtually,unani- and has never been debated while the ministry has been to serve welfare families, ___m ew "* e_ecom_ in the Legislature. - justifying the change in and has resulted in needy mandation that the town "Surely if enough voices policy with the argument—chi-16e' 11--being-tur-gaed-may,• such a situation does not should press the Ontario are raised in protest the that the current across -the - exist in Wingham or other per cent operating committee report and said the town should "take appro- priate action" to back other already sent resolutions to Queen's Park. Councillor James A. Currie, also a member of the .h ,co itt.., told miner -t° "deliness. are "much too'severe,for the (day .-care) centre to, ;sur- vive", adding the ministry shouldnot be permitted simply to duck out of sup- porting a program which it was largely responsible for establishing. _ The Wingham Public that work will be eligible for Utilities Commission is the 75 per cent grant, and it inviting a representative is just a matter of for - from the Ontario En- warding the necessary vironment Ministry to a documents to the ministry to meeting next month to substantiate the ex - discuss proposed repairs to penditures. the town water standpipe. Mr. Saxton said he Bill Ramsden from the estimates the PUC should 'ministry's- project coor- get back between $50,000 and dination branch will be in- $55,000, depending on what vited to meet with the PUC the government considers to March 1 to go over plans for be eligible expenses. completing repairs to the standpipe this spring. The commission hopes to �. bee alloprojwedect to as goplanneaheadd awithnd gThings d for th not have to start over by calling tenders. The PUC already has week�' w Frostyfest arranged to have the stand- pipe•repairs completed this year by Canadian Con struction . Controls, a com- pany which specializes in repairs to concrete struc- tares - and which carried out the first phase of the repair program in the fall of 1981, and has a guaranteed price on the job. However the recent in - The remainder of the grant program, which aids a repair program, which in- number of Ontario muni - eludes completing , the cipalities having' similar problems with concrete removal of problem sections standpipes, means the PUC inside the tank and recoating willnot have to raise the it with an epoxy sealant as money through a debenture, well as patching and sealing •an alternative that would the exterior, has been priced have ised water rates by° at about $93,000, which also a ut 2 per cent this year. should be eligible for a 75 per Since earning of the grant cent grant. -- program, the PUC postponed The recently -announced its rate increase. volvement of the provincial government through •a grant program for standpipe al councils which have repairs has called these arrangemen s in ques ion, Manager Ken Saxton told commissioners at a meeting last week. • He read a letter from the thinistry detailing dtthditidis of the grant, which include, giving the ministry a say in hiring the :project engineer and in selecting the general contractor and any sub- contractors. Mr. Saxton said he is hopeful that since t - e -repairs. to the Wingham standpipe are already half completed the ministry will agree to let it continue with the same contractor. But, to be on the safe side, he proposed a meeting bringing together the PUC, its engineer and the contractor with the ministry official responsible for the standpipe repair grants. He noted that since ,the grant program wa, an' - pounced. he has received letters from a number of engineering firms interested in supervising the repairs. In related business, he reported the PUC should soon be getting a grant toward the work already completed on the standpipe. Overholt. The ministry has confirmed government for changes to order can be changed," Mr. board 80 regulations which threaten Barnes told council. subsidy ; of rural • the em stence day, �� care centres. - However council has not yet decided what specific form its action should take. It plans to discuss the issue further at its next regular meeting March 5. The recommendation to petition the Ministry of Community ' and Social Services for changes in new day care regulations which would more than double fees paid by working parents was •olrte- of two contained in a report to council from an ad hoc committee on day care. The second recommenda- tion, which was, also accept- ed by council, is to have the Day Care Board form a com- mittee to look for alternative • ways of keeping the Wing - ham Day Care Centre open, in case the ministry does go ahead with the changes. Councillor Jack Kopas, one of the members of the ad hoc committee, told council the committee had "left no stone unturned" in its study of the issues. "The provincial govern- ment has changed the rules of the game -and wen e being asked to continue to play the game with the same team but with the budget reduced by about five -sixths — $50,000." , There is a battle to be fought at the political level, he said, and the committee is asking the town council to pick up the fight. Thereis too much at stake to abandon the day care centre. He also echoed the point made by Jim Barnes, chairman of the Day Care Board, that the new ministry policy is the result of an Ontario cabinet decision, provides no in- rural centres. , Only asmall minority of the;: children in 'WS . centre FLOWERS FOR THE . PRO—Marilee Lobsinger, club professional for the Howick Figure>Skating Club, was presented with a bouquet in appreciation of her work with the young skaters. Making the presentation during last weekend's skating carnival was Judy Barrie, incom- ing club president. - Brussels resident celebrates 92nd BRUSSELS — A family loved her flowers. Meetings birthday party was held at were another thing that was the Callander Nursing Home on her list, especially WI and Sunday, Jan. 29, for Mrs'. she belonged to Unit 3 of the Mina McCrackin, who cele- United Church and sang in brated her 92nd birthday on the choir. Feb. 1. Patchwork quilts and Mrs. McCrackin moved to quilting along with reading Bluevale in 1940. She was were her hobbies. She loved custodian at the Bluevale to read cowboy and nurse school till it closed, also she and doctor books as well as a was a great gardener and good game of cards with the neighbors or at the commun- ity hall. She enjoyed hockey on TV too. Her daughter Vera baked a birthday cake for the occa- sion. Those present were Mrs. Lila Goll, Mrs. Vera Moffat, Mrs. Paul Moffat The Wingham and District and Ryan and Kendra, Mr. Hospital has been awarded and Mrs. Clarence Goll, Mr. an "Accreditation of Ser- and Mrs. Ross Goll and Lisa, vices" certificate by the Jordan and Steven Guy of',,: 5,000 -member CanadianBluevale. Physiotherapy Association. . Lorne McCrackin visited The certificate will be his mother on Saturday. presented at a ceremony in Visiting her Wednesday Toronto on Feb. 15. were Mrs. Lois McArter, Norman' Hayes, hospital Mrs. Mary Lowe and Mrs. executive director, said the Ethel Brewer Mrs. Jean award indicates the high Mathers of Bluevale called quality of services which the on Mrs. McCrackin enroute hospital's physiotherapy to the Brussels Library as department provides. she was guest speaker for Mrs. Signe Holstein of the WI. Mrs. McCrackin re - Winnipeg, president of the ceived some lovely cards physiotherapy association, and gifts. Physio program gets accreditation are from such. families, 'arid none have been turned away. Reading from a letter. to Minister Frank Drea from Marc Forrest, a member of •the Day Care Board, he noted there are not enough children from disadvantaged families -here to- keep the centre open, once the new guidelines are in force. As a result the centre would be forced to close and even those children would be denied day care. The letter added that . because of the lower wages paid in small towns many working parents could not afford to pay the full cost of child day care, with the result that some people would be forced back onto the welfare rolls. Other councillors also spoke in favor of the recommendations. Deputy Reeve Patricia Bailey, who has been leading the fight to get the regulations changed, id she was delighted with said the goal of the ac- creditation program is to promote by voluntary means the best quality care possible. "We hope the ac- creditation process will continue to foster a consis- tent effort by Canadian hospitals, clinics and other health organizations to provide the highest quality service to the general pub - lic." The CPA said physio- therapy programs in Canada now rank among the best in the world. sa council's support of the He . suggested council should set aside 10 oe15 minutes at its next regular meeting to discuss possible actions open to it. Councillor Tom Miller, after asking some questions about how it is decided who qualifies for subsidy and who doesn't, suggested council could draft a resolution for circulation to other municipalities in Ontario,_ inviting their support of day care. In other day care business, council -appointed several new members to the Day Care Board. They are Annette and Bevan Lindsay, Dave Martin and Sue Things are looking good for next weekend's Frostyfest '84 celebration with plenty of snow and several new features added to this year'sschedule of events. Among the new attractions this year is a travel show and dance `Festival in the Sun" next Friday night at the Wingham Legion. It will start at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a travelogue, slides, a steel band and exotic Caribbean drinks. • The Wingham Junior Citizens are spon- soring an all -day skate-a-thon next Saturday timist Rink at the. Josephine Street ball park. A family skating party is slated for next Sunday afternoon at the rink with free hot dogs coffee and hot chocolate for those ROMPING IN THE SNOW—Youngsters at the Wingham Day Care Centre don't mind winter, which provides all sorts of new possibilities for outdoor fun. A visitor to the centre, cannot help but be impressed by its cheerful atmosphere and the children's smiles and laughter. However parents and staff are increasingly concerned that a provincial plan to raise fees to reflect .actual operating costs could spell the end for centres such as this, by pricing them beyond the reach of many working parents. Frostyfest chairman, said prizes will be offered in three categories for the best sculptures and application forms are available from Optimist Rick Whiteley. . Also starting next Thursday, the down- town merchants will commence a three-day Frostyfest sale. A variety concert featuring the Wingham Optimist Band, the Wingham Canadettes and the McMichael Sisters will start the halt, rolling next Thursday.at the Wingham town hall. .;,. e--Wgh kating Clare . , .. feature its annual carnival next Friday evening at 8 p.m. at the Lockridge Memorial Arena. Champion skaters Mark and .Curtis „Ko.Qre w b Xf o }f - all, k.+) telements for at•� brave _enought • O = ceu. h a .• , _ afternoon. - The Wittgl>ta>Ein "Kinsmen;' flulb: wilt"b ' , Another Sunday feature will be a holding a casino night next Friday evening • snowmobile poker rally • with registration at the Wingham. Armouries and it will from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Turnberry Tavern. continue next Saturday also. In addition to these new features most of The• Wingham Legion will host two the tried-and-true events of other years will Frostyfest events next Saturday, starting . continue in Frostyfest '84. - • with a pancake and sausage breakfast from The weekend's activities will get un- _ 7 to 10 a.m. derwarWith the._ judging. of a snow- A -dance-will be held at the Legion:.next ..... sculpturing contest to be held next Thursday Saturday night with music to "Revised at Cruickshank Park. Ray Cardy, Edition". Police urge motorists to pocket their car keys Wingham policeare urg- ing local motorists to pocket their keys when they park their cars so as not to leave an open invitation to would- be car thieves. Three vehicles were stolen in Wingham during the past week as a result of keys having been left in them, Chief Robert Wittig noted, and he is at a loss how to break people of the habit of leaving their keys either in the ignition, in the ashtray or above the visor, all of which are places a would-be thief will check. Two of the vehicles have been recovered, with one still missing as of press time. A Teeswater-area man has been charged°in connection with one of the thefts. Police arecontinuing their in- vestigation of the others and reported they do, have a suspect. Larry Lorenz, 23, of the Teeswater area, was charged with possession of stolen property and failing to stop for police following a high-speed chase by police from the Exeter area last Chief Wittig said police are Friday. When he was convinced many of these arrested near bucan he was thefts could be avoided if driving a car owned by drivers took • the simple Harold Kerr Construction of precaution of pocketing their Wingham which had been keys whenever they leave stolen from Edward Street their vehicles, but he is not earlier that day. sure how to get the message A second vehicle, owned across to car owners who are by Jim Longdo of Wingham, in thehabit of leaving the was stolen from the area of keys in the vehicle. the Wingham Inn on Sunday and was found abandoned in Wingham later the same day, while a third car, owned - by a feed company, was stolen `sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning from a driveway on Shuter Street and by noon Tuesday had not been recovered. PUC checking interest in dual -energy program The Wingham Public Utilities Commission is testing the water of public interest before deciding whether to get involved in an Ontario Hydro scheme to promote a dual -energy home heating program. PUC Manager Ken Saxton showed commissioners information on the program, which provides loans for the installation of plenum heaters or heat pumps on oil - burning furnaces. Money for the loans is provided by Hydro, with individual utilities respon- sible for administering the loans and collecting repay- ment. Mr. Saxton told com- missioners she is not especially enthusiastic about ,the program since the utilities are not paid for their time or trouble ad- ministering it. Also the loan rate is not much better than for a home improvement loan at the ,bank. However he added that Wingham customers have just as much right to benefit from the program as people anywhere else in Ontario and suggested the PUC should get involved if there is a demand. Commissioners agreed to take a wait-and-see ap- proach, not promoting the program but making it available to customers who ask for it. Mr. Saxton noted there was not a great response to an earlier Hydro plan to sell add-on plenum heaters through municipal utilities. Some people have had the heaters installed, he said, but none were sold through the PUC. In other business, com- missioners learned that the PUC ended 1983 with a surplus of $31,000 on its hydro operations. The sur- plus was entirely due to underspending in the budget, Mr. Saxton reported, noting that actual spending last year was. almost $45,000 under budget. If the PUC had spent what it planned, it would have ended the year with a deficit, The year-end audit of waterworks .operations has not yet been completed.