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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1987-04-01, Page 01s sur will reach at least $250,000 It appears likely the Wingham and District Hospital will end its current fiscal year with an anticipated surplus of at least $250,000, members of the hospital's board of governors were told last week. News of the anticipated surplus was disclosed by Robert Pike, finance and audit committee chairman, during presentation of his i report "to the board's March meeting. Mr. Pike told the meeting a number of factors have contributed to what has proved to be a complete turnaround from the board's ex- pectations of a year ago when it approved the current budget. At that time, the board had prepared itself for the possibility of facing a fairly substantial deficit at the end of its fiscal year. At the end of February, 1986, the hospital's financial statement showed a surplus of $275,000, but this figure reflects a short -month situation where monthly expenses were slightly lower than normal because of fewer days in the month. However, Mr. Pike said that by the March 31 end of this fiscal year, the anticipated surplus should still be at least $250,000. Of the ,factors contributing to the surplus situation, some were beyond the control of the board, while others were the result of discretionary action taken by the hospital through- out the year. Among the contributing items listed by Mr. Pike are: . --Increased revenue from a $150,000 government grant for in- creased activity. Although the hospital had been hopeful in ap- plying for this grant,, its award was not taken for grahted, he said. --Increased interest on hospital accounts as the result of working from a surplus position rather than a deficit. --Increased donations. In addition, a number of ex - penditures were lower than an- ticipated to also enhance the sur- plus. Savings generated by these items include: –;60,000 when actual costs for new contrast media used by radiology department came in at less than the amount budgeted. –$30,000 as the result of legal fees being less than budgeted. --$35,,000 from lower than an- ticipated utility payments. -$20,000 from a decrease in staff travel and training. –$15,000 from a decrease in travel expenditures by members of the board of governors. -420,000 as the result of a lesser than anticipated impact from the change in drug legislation. Mr: Pike also pointed to the action taken by the board early in the fiscal year to more efficiently assign patients' beds as another con- tributor. "Our paid hours per equivalent patient day are certainly - lower than last year, which is a good Newminister, family arriveat St. Andrew's Presbyterian' indicator of the effilciency within our hospital," he said, ! Early in the fls4l year when it appeared the hospital was facing a deficit and in art effort .to keep operating costs down, the board gave "unofficials' approval to a different procedure for assigning beds. In low activity periods, beds in designated areas were "closed" and new patients assigned to beds in other areas. As a4tivity increased, the closed beds were returned to service as dictated by new 'ad- missions. Neglect case is. remanded A charge of wilful neglect against a Wroxeter -area man has been put over to April 22 in Provincial Court at Wingham. ' In a brief court appearance at Wingham last Wednesday, the case of Hilbert Van Ankum .of RR 2, Wroxeter, was put over to that date without a plea. Mr. Van Ankum was charged with failing to provide for the adequate care of an animal by the Kitchener - Waterloo Humane Society after society officers had seized a mule he had taken to to be auctioned -at the K- W stockyards. Economic d evelopment not g new industry only attraction Start with a dedicated approach... add a lot of hard work and fore- thought ... toss in a dash of luck ... and mix with an dement of tricksy. Those were the ingredients for attracting and retaining industry cited by Huron County senior planner Wayne Caldwell at the annual meeting of the Huron County Municipal Officers' Association in Exeter Friday. Many of his thoughts were echoed by the other three speakers who also spoke on the same topic: Ken Bowden of the Ontario Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology; Chuck Godkin of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs; and Tim Roberts, a member of the Ridgetown Economic Development Commission. "It's difficult to pull a rabbit out of a hat and it's harder to pull out an industry," Mr. Caldwell said in his talk, urging the municipal leaders to be realistic and patient in their ef- forts ' because attracting industry "often takes a lot of time". While noting that economic de- velopment in most communities is aimed at attracting new industry, Mr. Caldwell suggested it should also include business and com- merce, tourism, residential growth, agriculture, fishing, transportation, community services, and com- munity well being. In setting up organizations and goals for economic development, the planner said it is important to have realistic goals as not every municipality could expect to attract a major industry and should be gearing more for residential growth or improving present amenities for the benefit of existing residents. He advised that the county planning department, which is in charge of economic development as well, is available to assist wherever it can. One important function being undertaken at present is a blueprint for industrial and tourism strategies in Huron. However, he cautioned that the county could not get in - contact . rsonnel patching system took place in February. During a recent emergency in- volving an accidental shooting, emergency room medical staff was aware of the incoming patient, but were unable to speak directly with the ambulance personnel to deter- mine the seriousness of the injury. Pre -determination would have aided doctors in preparing for treatment of that case, Dr. Hanlon said. Before the new system was put into place, the hospital did have direct radio contact with the am- bulances and Dr. Hanlon asked if a way could be found to return that important communications link to the emergency room medical staff. . Executive Director Norman Hayes reported that although the hospital plans to install a radio in the (Please turn to Page 3) Closed workshop IN is, planned for board members Members of the Wingham and District Hospital's board of gover- nors .will participllte...in a. one -day. workshop on Saturday, April 26. Preliminary information on the workshop was included in the report of the public relations committee to the March meeting of the board. Shirley Garniss, committee cb3ir- man, said the workshop is to be held at a Teeswater hotel from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that date. The workshop will be attended by the consultants currently conducting a role study for the hospital and Mrs. Garniss said the one -day event will provide board members with a final opportunity to voice concerns, ask questions and provide input to that document. Doctors want direct with ambulance oe The new centralized system for dispatching ambulances was again a topic of discussion for members of the Wingham and District Hospital's board of governors. At the board's March meeting, Dr. Brian Hanlon, chief of medical staff at the hospital and board vice- chairman, said doctors had lost the opport to communicate direct- ly with bulance drivers since the c er to a central dis- Turnbe ft, family loses barn to fire Fire , of undetermined origin destroyed a barn UT .Turnberry Township late last Tuesday evening, reports Wingham Fire Chief Harley Gaunt. The call came at 11:50 p.m. March 24 to the Raymond Haugh property The new minister at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Wingham gregation and in the community. Mrs. Vaudry a natural progression for a boy who N. Peters at Lot 12, Con. 7 of Turnberry. Although the main barn was lost in says the hilly grew up actively involved in the seeks arrived on St. Patrick's Day and has been kept busy countryside reminds her of their church. Mr. Vaudry attended PC nomination the blaze, Mr. Gaunt said the firemen to ever since trying to native Quebec, something,, that Bishop's University at Lennoxville were able save a milking get to know his congregation and his new community. makes her feel at home.parlor What has most impressed Mr. before attending Presbyterian Nico Peters a.36 -year-old Tucker- and a milk -storage unit. Lost in the main barn were 39 cows, 16 Rev. John Vaudry, his wife Wendy Vaudry is St. Andrew's itself:. He College. He has been in the ministry for 10 ears this May. y' smith Townskip farmer, has P heifers, four veal calves, two bale andthei# threechildrenou found said he is ale see such a largo P � declared his i . on to k the elevators and a quantity of hay and ' ore tv �no gr gation Presbyterian ministers gWat Viogi-esfive "•'Conse')~"0'Mi tfe straw. The loss has beeti estimated their liking than the rainstorm on impressed by the magnificent and nt d liberty to reach for a call if they �' P eY nomination for Huron riding in the g � at $100,000. the night Mr. Vaudry preached for modern church building and the choose, said Mr. Vaudry. He was put next provincial election. The firefighters were on the scene "a call" at St. Andrew's last fall. lovely manse. in contact with the committee from ° Mr. Peters is a member of several for five hours, said the chief and The family had been at Rodney for St. Andrew's has so much to offer, St. Andrew's searching for a new community and agricultural organi- received assistance from the the past three years and in Cape Bible study, programs for children, minister and came here to preach zations .and serves as a vice department's Number 2 station at Breton for several years before that. youth, married couples and seniors. last fall. Mr. Vaudry was invited to president for the Huron P.C. Asso- Gorrie, which sent its tanker. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vaudry are He said he has no intention of come to Wingham and he accepted. ciation. In a separate incident last week, natives of Lennoxville, Quebec. making any immediate changes. While Mr. Vaudry is busy with hisTo date, no one else has declared the department received a call from In spite of their first impression Instead, he would like to concentrate new charge, his wife is busy as a an intention to seek the nomination. the Owen Sound ambulance dispatch that rainy night last year, the on mission, at home and abroad, by wife and homemaker. Their oldest The PC nomination meeting is to a motor vehicle accident two Vaudrys think Wingham is a drawing people into the fellowship of child, Phillip, is in Grade 2 at the scheduled for April 14 at 8 p.m. at miles east of Wingtiam on Highway thriving place with much to offer. the church locally and initiating aid Wingham Public School and Mary the Central Huron Secondary School No. 86. They also have been impressed by programs for overseas. will start Kindergarten in Septem- in Clinton. Nominations must be The call came at 10:50 p.m. last the warmth of the people in the con- Entering the ministry seemed like ber. Paul is the youngest Vaudry. filed within 48 hours of the meeting Saturday, said Mr. Gaunt, butr was l d� x� f and forwarded to Jane Webster of cancelled after the firemen left the f _�s di Vanastra. station. NEW PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER Rev. John Vaudry, his wNe Wendy and chMdren Ph0p, Mary and Paul, arrived M Wkrgham on St. Patrick's Day from Rodney. Mr. Vaudry hes talon over "mk*ter at St. Andrew 'a Presbyterian Church. 9 1 4 4 Seminar underlines county . agriculture leadership role By Anne Narejko Huron County's leadership role in agriculture was emphasized at the Managing for Profit seminar for beginning farmers last Thursday at Holmesville when a couple was presented with a plaque for being the 200th applicant to start a new farm in the county. The seminar was aimed at partici- pants of the Beginning Farmers Assistance Program (BFAP) and featured guest speakers from various backgrounds as well as Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food Jack Riddell. ' Mr. Riddell told the audience that 10 per cent of the province's new farmers are located in Huron County. In actual figures, that suggests that out of 2,149 beginning farmers, some 200 are in Huron County. "The numbers speak for them- selves. Huron is Number One in the production of white beans, oats and barley; Number Two in pigs, chickens, slaughter cattle and steers; third overall in grain and corn; and fourth overall in dairy," he said "When it comes to pro- duction, Huron County is right at the top of the class." Mr. Riddell was pleased with the number of young farmers in at- tendance at the seminar to hear him explain the government programs which are now available. However, he said, "the focus of all these programs ultimately narrows down No Iamb this year as March comes in, goes out like lion What's white, wet and cold, and always seems to drop on the area just when people are pulling their barbecues, lawn furniture and lawn mowers out of storage? If you don't know, iook oi�Lside. Just when you thought it was safe to pack your boots, toques, heavy jackets and gloves away in moth, balls, Mother Nature has decided to punish us for our fair weather of late. What came in as a wet and miserable lion (rain and snow on March 1-2) has left under similar conditions. Fortunately, March bathed us in sunshine And balmy temperatures for most of its tenure. Accumulation of the white stuff Monday and Tuesday varied be- tween lb and 20 cm throuSbout the area, say4 a spokesperson for the Environment Canada weather office to Landon. And N that iso't enough, Old Mian Winter Is planning on droppiq another five cm of snow on the area tomorrow (Thursday). He may even spit out a little more on Friday as, well, according to the weather of- fice. Tommneratures have been and will continue to be below the seasonal normal high of five to seven degrees Celcius. Temperatures this week have fluctuated between minus five and plus two degrees C. Temperatures are scheduled to moderate slightly this weekend, but the snow will probably be around until we return to seasonal levels. If you're thinking the snowfall may have set a record earlier this week, think again. Back in 1944, 25 em was deposited In the area. And a word of warning, don't tuck away your winter garb yet, the weather office spokesperson says April snowfalls are almost a cam - man sight. "We're not out of the woods yet as tar as winter $pea," he says. to preserving one institution. That's at the heart of our agriculture and food economyand (it's) the family farm." He told those attending the seminar one of the reasons he was addressing them on that day was to tell them "face to face that I and my government are both committed to the individual, family -run farming operation." The' BFAP participants were in agreement with Mr. Riddell's thoughts on the family farm. Shawn Drennan, who is operating a dairy farm at Dungannon with his brother and father, said the only way he could manage to get into the farming business was to enter into a family partnership. If it ,were not for his father, he said, "I wouldn't be where I am today.19 Paul Johnston operates a beef farm in Morris Township and is also (Please turn to Page 3) Dr. Apps visits on way to Haiti Dr. David Alexander Apps of Burnaby, B.C., visited last week with his aunt, Mrs. If . A. Currie is tid toured the Wingham and District Hospital. Dr. Apps was on his way to St. Marc, Haiti, to spend two months treating the badly -deprived children there. He is married to Dr. Sue Slack of Caledonia and the father of nine. month-old Jocelyn Elizabeth, the 32nd descendant of the late Elisa- beth Robertson Currie. Dr. Apps is the youngest of the family of the late Dr. Eric C. Apps of Kenors and Gladys Robertson, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George T. Robertson of Whigham. He has one brother. Dr. Robert Apps of Orangeville and one sister, Judy, the wife of Dr. Peter Bents of Thunder Bay. volved in presenting one municipality over another in NP resentations to prospective in- dustries or businesses and it is the responsibility of the communities to represent themselves, with the county's goal being to make con- tacts. In outlining considerations in planning for economic development, Mr. Caldwell emphasized that 80 per cent of the growth in a municipality comes from within — from existing businesses and industries urged members to be aware of provincial, federal and county support which is available. He concluded that aspect by noting that the availability of land and buildings is a key to the op- portunities for attracting growth. In his remarks, Mr. Roberta told the Huron County officials that when the economic development com- mission was started in Ridgetown in 1964, it became apparent that the biggest thing needed was to change the attitude of people in the com- munity since many were opposed to growth, not recognizing that ,at- tracting industries is primarily a case of filling the void left by those which had closed .or departed in recent years. "You've got to out -hustle the other (Please turn to Page 3) Posta I rate hike is not April 1 joke If someone tells you your tires are flat, your teeth are blue or you've won a lottery, it could be an April 1 prank. But Canada Post Corporation . officials are not fooling about new postal rates which take effect today. Rate changes were proposed in January as part of Canada Post Cor- . poration's financial and operating plan. First classletter rates now are 36 cents within Canada, 42 cents to the U.S.A. and 72 cents to other inter- national destinations. Previous rates, set in 1985, were 34 cents in Canada, 39 cents to the U.S.A. and 68 cents to other coun- tries. The basic addressed advertising mail rate has increased from 15 to 17 cents. ­-4%ere will, be no increase to the basic North West Territories parcel . rates in recognition of higher rates that already exist in this region. The new 36 -cent postage stamps for domestic and international letters became available March 30 at postal counters. A 42 -cent Olympic com- memorative stamp will go on sale April 3. Ayton girl found dead The body of a 14 -year-old Ayton girl was found early Sunday morn- ing in a ditch northeast of Hanover. Jacobina Wilhemina Carman died of a gunshot wound, said Dr. Stephen Wetmore of Mount Forest, presiding coroner at the autopsy done in Owen Sound Monday morning. A Grade 9 student at John Diefen- baker Secondary School in Hanover, Jacobina (Jackie) lived with her mother, Kathryn (Katie) Carman, just outside Ayton. "Jackie was a bright student with ' lots of potential," said Donald MacLennan, principal at JDSS. The school will hold a brief memorial service for Jackie this afternoon ( Wednesday) at 3:10. At present, the Mount Forest OPP are treating the case as a homicide and are asking citizens who were travelling in the area Saturday night (Please turn to Page 3) Huron County hosting meeting held in London Although Huron County may be large in size, it is not overly abun- dant in facilities. This fact was brought out when the Huron County Municipal Officers' Association met in Exeter Friday. Huron County iWarden Brian McBurney was among those in at- tendance at the meeting and at the noon luncheon, introduced two ..42ilina orerdnn• !!M Anann� Af Perth and Bill Skinner of Middlesex. Mr. McBurney, Turnberry Township reeve, said the three had compared notes and he found that despite being the host warden, he actually had to travel the farthest to get to the meeting. Mr. Spence is from Mitchell and Mr. Skinner is from Caradee Township. Mr. McBurney also advised his audience that the county will be hating a meeti of Ontario, Association attounties and ons of Ontar, but because of the lack of ace mmo- dation 4n Huron, the event will be held in London. "We're taking the county to the (Please turn to Page !)