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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1987-08-19, Page 01Clarification needed before taking action on amendment More information, including a Possible legal opinion, is required by Wingham Town Council before taking any action on a request for a bylaw amendment to prohibit the keeping of pit bull terriers within the town limits. Requested by Councillor Ron Beecroft, the bylaw was presented to council at its regular August meeting. Coincidentally, the August agenda also included a letter from Sarnia MPP Andy Brandt urging council to request provincial government action against the pit bull terrier. Mr. Brandt claimed in his letter that in a number of unprovoked dog attacks in Ontario recently, the Department is called to rubbish fire The Wingham and Area Fire Department responded to a call last Friday evening in Turnberry Township which turned out to be a false alarm. Doug Carr, a spokesman for the department said the call came just after 9 p.m. to the residence of Clair Daw, just west of Wingham on Highway 86. Mr. Daw was burning rubbish, but a neighbor saw the smoke and alerted the fire depart- ment. There was no damage. All -candidates ,night is Monday, at Londesboro The first all -candidates meeting in the riding of Huron will be held in . Londesboro next Monday, Aug. 24. At the meeting, Huron County voters will get their chance to see where all three candidates 'in the Sept. 10 provincial election stand on the issues. Sponsored by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture, the meeting will be held at Hullett Central School beginning at 8 p.m. The candidates New Democrat Paul Klopp, Progressive Con- servative Nico Peters and Liberal Jack Riddell — will be on hand to answer questions. Council put on notice following July accident Morris Township' may be sued for damages following an accident early in July on the first concession of the township. The claim for damages was discussed at the first regular August meeting of council and involves a mishap which occurred July 5. According to the Ontario Provincial Police at Wingham, a van filled with worm pickers from Toronto skidded on the concession road, went off the ditch and rolled over. The driver of the vehicle was Evagelos Galanis of Scarborough and 16 people escaped from the van with minor injuries. The police report adds that damage to the van is estimated at UM. The matter has been referred to the township's insurance company. majority have been by pit bull terriers. Although many centres have taken action aimed at all vicious dogs, he suggests the moves are not enough. The provincial government must introduce legislation placing the onus on dog owners to prevent or reduce the possibility of attack by vicious dogs, his letter said. Speaking to the bylaw amend- ment, Reeve Bruce Machan felt council should seek more in- formation on the issue before taking act ion . "I've done some research and I think we have the bull ay the horns on this one," Mr. Machan said. "And at this point, I don't know who's shaking who." He also suggested council ask its solicitor for a legal opinion. Deferring action to a future meeting was acceptable to Mr. Bee- croft who added that the town may not have to pass the bylaw amen- dment after all. "By the look of this (Mr. Brandt's letter), the province might do it for us." Considerable media coverage has been focused recently on the pit bull terrier as people in many Canadian and U.S. centres have demanded a ban on the breeding of the dogs. MRS. BERTHA NIERGARTH of Minnie Street in Wingham celebrated her 90th birthday recently. A resident of Wingham since, 19 8 0, Mrs. Niergarth enjoys good health and spending time with her family. Mrs. Bertha Niergarth celebrates 90th birthday Mrs. Bertha Niergarth of Minnie Street in Wingham celebrated her 90th birthday twice last week: quietly at home on Wednesday and at a family dinner Saturday at Waterloo. At 90 years of age, Mrs. Niergarth still enjoys spending her winters in Florida with her son, Elmer and his wife, Mary Rose, of Peterborough and her granddaughter Barbara. She also likes watching television, reading and is an avid card player. Mrs. Niergarth is in good health, save for an episode with a broken hip. She lives in her own apartment with her granddaughter. Born Aug. 12, 1897, on the 10th concession of Turnberry Township to William Chandler and Mary Stein, Fire board offer to sell The Wingham Area Fire Board has decided to wait until September before re -advertising its 1951 pumper for sale. In an advertising program last month, the board had invited ten- ders for the purchase of toe pumper in an "as is" condition, but there were none offered. However, in his report to the board's regular August meeting, Fire Chief Harley Gaunt said the Dunville Firefighters Association had indicated interest in purchasing the truck, but a number of conditions Mrs. Niergarth was the fourth of seven daughters. After receiving her education at Holmes' School, Mrs. Niergarth worked at home for a time before starting work in Wingham at the Gurney Glove Works. It was while working at the glove factory that she met her future husband, Harvey Niergarth, whom she married on Oct. 16, 1916. They lived in Kitchener for 25 years before returning to Turnberry to farm on the ninth concession. They lived on the farm until Mr. Niergarth's death in 1979 and one year later she moved to town. In addition to her son, Elmer, Mrs. Niergarth has a son, Clare of Wingham, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. to re -advertise its 1951 pumper" on the offer made it an unattractive one. The first condition is price. Mr. Gaunt said the Dunville fire chief, acting as spokesman for the group, indicated the association "didn't have very much money and could only pay about i500or $6M." The other condition is that the association wants to purchase the truck fully equipped, complete with nozzles, hoses, ladders and other firefighting paraphernalia. The association offers assurance that it would retain the "fire truck" Classifieds .... Page 4A, 5A Midget, Bantam girls in tournament .... Page 2B Water Warriors meet results ..... Page 3B Crossroads Erma Bombeck .... Page 3A Peter Trueman .... Page 9A Andy Rooney ..... Page 7B Bramah visits Rosebud Garden . Page 8B Slinger on new dollar coin ..... Page 108 appearance of the pumper. "In other words, they won't cut it up into a camper or something like that," Mr. Gaunt said. In addition, a plaque would be placed on the vehicle stating that it had been purchased from the Wingham Area Fire Department. "Basically, what they're asking is for us to sell them the pumper in almost the same condition as when it left the factory," Mr. Gaunt said, adding that since the equipment itself is worth far more than $6W, the offer is not high enough. Although the equipment may never be used by the department and there is really no room to store it at the fire hall, Mr. Gaunt said he felt the association's offer is too low. The board should decide, he said, on whether to sell the pumper stripped of all firefighting equip- ment, or fully equipped. Some prospective buyers could just want some of the equipment and not the vehicle, he said, which could make the entire sale a lengthy procedure. Wingham representative James McGregor agreed and his suggestion that the board advertise to invite tenders on the vehicle "either stripped -- or with all its equipment — and nothing in between" was supported by the board. Howick representative Norman Fairles also drew support for his suggestion to delay the advertising program until at least September, a time when a collector might show Interest. Manpower situation again topic of lengthy discussion The topic of manpower once again dominated the discussion during the regular August Meeting of the Wingham and ArIi e Board. The lengthyssion mush- roomed from ale matter-of- fact questionby Wingham representative Ron $eecroft to Fire Chief Harley Gaunt. Mr. Beecroft asked if the board's offer of a 140 special pay for long weekends had any effect on the manpower availa- bility over the August Civic Holiday weekend. At its July meeting, the board approved the special weekend pay faca maximum of six firefighters at each of the depart nis two halls for the then remng two long weekends this sumr. er. The special weekend pay had been used in the past, but was discontinued as the weekend turnouts 9Xew larger and more costly. To Mr. Beecroft'. question, ,Mr. Gaunt reported t t only three members of the fire partment had agreed to stay on c that weekend even after being tol , I the $40 offer from the board. "As it turned out, however, Mother Nature saved our behinds," Mr. Gaunt said. Heavy rainfall on the Sunday of the long weekend "dampened alot of plans and 12 or 13 people showed up for the call we had that day." He said `_the department is responsible for approximately 300 square miles and "when only six or seven guys are available to cover an area that large, you have a real problem." Deputy Chief C. L. Hickey said Wingham is not the only department with a weekefid manpower problem: He said he personally knew of a recent fire call at Lucknow when the turnout was similar to that being experienced here. Wingham representative James McGregor suggested the board appoint a committee to meet with some of the other county fire departments in an effort to come up with a solution. He made particular reference to the Blyth department which "seems to function extremely efficiently", but Mr. Gaunt said the Blvth denartment "has its Morris contributes to recreation study Morris Township Council will ment. grant Wingham $1,250 next year to This would put the town's share at offset costs for a recreation master $7,500 and it is hoped the adjoining plan and feasibility, study the, town municipalities will provide partial' will undertake in 1988. funding as their residents use the Wingham Recreation Director town's recreation facilities and Rennie Alexander and Jim gore of participate in its programs. the town's recreation committee As the study will be done next attended the fii&*re' gular August year, Mr. Alexander 'paid the meeting of Morris council to discuss presentation is being made now to the plan and make the request for neighboring' councils for their funding. budget consideration in 1988. As was explained, the plan could .Morris council members said they cost as much as $30,000 to complete. would grant t1,250 toward the study Mr. Alexander said a 75 per cent and thanked the two men for giving grant is available from the govern- council the extra notice. Wingham PUC certified as Class Two public utility The Wingham Public Utilities Commission has been certified as a class -two utility by the Municipal Engineers' Association, commission members learned at the August. regular meeting. PUC Manager Ken Saxton says the certification is of no immediate significance to the utility or the town, save for the $90 fee it paid to the MEA. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has ordered that all utilities in the province be certified. Wingham is a class -two utility because it services a population of over 1,500 people. Although he said he is uncertain about specific long-term require- ments of certification, Mr. Saxton said eventually one or possibly all five PUC employees must be classified. This probably will mean they must write an examination, but he is not certain about possible upgrading courses for the employees. As of 1990, all waterworks operators across the province must be cer- tified. Mr. Saxton says he will be making inquiries of the ministry and MEA and expects to make a report at the September regular meeting. problems, too": Turnberry representative Doug Fortune asked if the problem is ever discussed at county mutual aid meetings and Mr. Gaunt pointed out tot the Blyth department does not attend such meetings. "They do not support mutual aid, they do not pay dues," he said. Ironically, however, Mr. Gaunt said the Blyth department is "still entitled to mutual aid because they are in a county where it exists." Mr. Fortune suggested the board request a county -wide meeting of all fire departments "particularly %to discuss such personnel problems." Mr. Beecroft, however; felt such a meeting would be of little benefit. "I don't know of any way to change (Please turn to Page 3A) BARRY McARTHUR, the young man who saved two children from drowning almost two years ago at the Gorrie dam and recipient of this year's Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award, was presented with a commemorative certificate recently. Margaret Stapleton, the Advance Times reporter who nominated Barry for the award, made the presents. tion. Family Coalition Party will field candidate in Bruce The newly -formed Family Coalition Party has chosen a Whitechurch man to stand as its candidate in the Sept. 10 provincial election. Adrian Keet was selected at a nomination meeting Aug. 11 at Walkerton. He has been active with the Federation of Agriculture, Voice for Life, the Wingham and District Association for the Mentally Retarded and ran for a position on the Huron -Perth Separate School Board in the last municipal election. The Family Coalition Party is based on Judeo-Christian principles, says Mr. Keet. Its main objective is the enhancement of family life, as well as the advancement of rights for the unborn, handicapped and the elderly. Another vital concern of the FCP is education, according to Mr. Keet. The party would re -introduce religious classes at schools and those who did not wish to participate would take ethics and morals as part of the curriculum. Other issues FCP candidates will be campaigning on are: preser- vation of the family farm, equal pay for equal work, expansion of nursing facilities for the elderly, protection of the environment and proper health care for all, to name a few. Its members oppose secular sex education in schools, no-fault divorce, exclusive state -financed day care, pay equity, abortion, birth control, sterilization and euthanasia. In a telephone interview with John van den Assem, a spokesman for the Wingham and Area Pro -Life group, (Please turn to Page 3A) BEARY HAPPY GROUP -- About 70 children and their teddy bears children to attend the event was very happy about the turnout. Crafts, attended the teddy bears' plcnlc which Fordwich Nbrarlart Marton teddy gear /edging and a teddy bear cake were en/oyed by the Feldakov organized recently. Mrs. FoWkov, who expected about 30 childron. 9