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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-06-09, Page 35Wednesday, June 9, 2004 Exeter Times -Advocate 35 >(Rt.I 1110 :I.ucvo *%O•vocr 41%ML! S. RIL0.140 Ml 144,4 :1 MIES FOR At ,,,t1D041.1 U AIO'HI r. EAT ORRM Or OUR 1411E THF .rurtnna /L ; The Halpenny family of Exeter recently got some help from South Huron District High School Grade 12 student Jenna Becker, who raised over $1,000 to help the family with its large medical bills. Denise Halpenny, second from left, suffers from multiple sclerosis and receives costly treatments every four months in Utah, in addition to her monthly treatments in Exeter to treat the disease.The drug, Zenapax, costs over $2,000 a month and is not covered by OHIP. Halpenny said only three Canadians are using the drug for MS treatment, and drug companies are trying hard to get the drug covered under health plans.With Halpenny, from left, are South Huron principal Jeff Reaburn, Becker and Denise's daughter Kendra. Halpenny complimented Becker on "having a big heart," and said she has received lots of financial support to help pay for her trips to Utah. Becker raised the money through a hat day at the school, a wheelchair awareness day and door-to- door canvassing. (photo/Scott Nixon) Electro fishing at Morrison Dam By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Morrison Dam reservoir is a very productive lake according to tests done by the Ministry of the Environment. The tests were conduct- ed June 3 by members of the MOE using an electro fishing method that sends a current through the water that temporarily stuns fish so they float to the surface and numbers and types can be counted. The tests were conduct- ed along the shoreline and in surface water and deeper waters weren't tested. The results, according to Kate Monk of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority revealed a wide variety of species. The results showed it was a productive lake since it has a large amount of bait fish for predator species, giving it the full range of fish in the food chain. The testing is done occasionally and the results are used by the MOE for its fishing guides. Steve Petre and Nicole van Dijk from the Ministry of the Environment and Davin Heinbuck from ABCA conduct electro testing of the Morrison reservoir June 3 to determine the number and types of fish in the lake. (photo/PatBolen) "We've got bait and healthy lake, which is predator fish, so we've great," said Monk. got a wide range. It's a Exeter's Scotiabank raised $666 on June 4 for the Children's Hospital at its annual hot dog barbecue.The actual barbecue raised $333, while the bank matched the proceeds. From left are Scotiabank employees Wendi Schwindt, Grant Rundle, Jean Jacobe, Lisa Hoover, Beth Prouty, Marion Snow and Darryl Parsons. (photo/Scott Nixon) Province pledges to help with school repairs By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE T -A DUBLIN — Among a recent series of educa- tion -themed commitments from the provincial gov- ernments — starting with the May 18 budget and peaking with a May 26 announcement of $854 million in funding for the upcoming 2004-05 school year — came a promise May 25 to help school boards repair facilities. The "Good Places to Learn" initiative, outlined by Education Minister Gerard Kennedy and promptly lost in the media overload caused by the larger provincial announcements and the federal election cam- paign, will be financed by a $200 million amortiza- tion fund, as recommend- ed by former University of Guelph president Mordechai Rozanski after his exhaustive Education Equality Task Force study in 2002. Of course, as is the case with so many education funding announcements, school boards will have to wait for the money. "Boards will be notified of their allocations short- ly," stated a government media release. ''Funds will flow in the 2005-06 school year to permit the significant planning required for such major renovation of school space." So, for the yet -to -be - completed 2003-04 and soon -to -begin 2004-05 school calendars, there will be a continuation of the strategy school boards have come to be familiar with in recent years: decide what really needs to be upgraded or fixed, and leave the rest until later. At the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board, that strategy means gradually addressing the deficien- cies identified by architect Terry Marklevitz, in a sometimes damning overview conducted in May 2001. Two schools — in Hesson and Clinton — were deemed "prohibitive to repair" following that overview, and are being replaced under a provin- cial funding agreement. But work was also sug- gested at several other sites. On the repair schedule this summer are Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Patrick's Kinkora, and Jeanne Sauve in Stratford, where roofing work will be conducted. In Mount Carmel and Stratford, the roofing is a continuation of work started last year. The total cost of the three pro- jects is about $263,000. At the Avon Maitland District School Board, meanwhile, a major upgrade at Exeter's South Huron District High School is something that "has been on our wish list for some time now," according to director of education Geoff Williams. Financing for the $741,271 contract, awarded to M/2 Group Inc. at a regular meeting May 25, will be split between the board's 2003-04 and 2004-05 fis- cal years. However, all work is expected to be complete by September 2004. A report provided at the May 25 meeting explained the school's science labo- ratories ('have been awaiting upgrade for the past five years. The labs have no gas, no operable sinks and drains, and no air exchange and proper exhaust." The project will upgrade three rooms "to current standards." Fire separa- tion doors will also be upgraded throughout the building, as will lockers in the section of the school adjacent to the science labs. "They hope to have the bulk of the work done by September, but if there's a glitch, they can work around it," said director of education Geoff Williams, when asked about possible disruptions for students. POLICE BRIEF Break-in at golf course SOUTH HURON — On May 28 at 6:30 a.m. a break-in was discovered at the Ironwood Golf Course on Morrison Line in South Huron. Sometime that night a storage shed was forced open and a golf cart taken for a ride. The clubhouse was also forced open and a quantity of money was stolen. Two pop machines were pried open and damaged in the process. Damage has been estimated at close to $2,000 while the theft of cash may run around $500. Huron OPP is continuing their investi- gation into this break-in. If you can help call the Exeter office or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). POLICE BRIEF Windows broken at high school EXETER — On June 3 OPP were called to the South Huron District High School located on Gidley Street in Exeter over property damage. The officer learned from the vice-princi- pal that three windows had been damaged sometime in the last day when a person using a BB gun or pellet gun shot holes in them. Several properties have experi- enced the same type of damage. If you have information on who is responsible please call the Exeter OPP office or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).