The Times Advocate, 2004-06-23, Page 17Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Exeter Times -Advocate
17
Students receive bikes
Grade 6 student Cody Lammie received a bicycle, T-shirt, helmet and
Const. Dianne McGregor and Chris Whaling of Tim Hortons for completing more
than 30 hours of community service at Usborne Central School. (photo/Mary
Simmons). Below, two students at Precious Blood Catholic School were also pre-
sented with bicycles. From left are Whaling, Grade 4 student Shelby Janke, Grade
5 student Jordan Poppe and McGregor. (photo/Scott Nixon)
bell from
Another surplus year
for SH hospital
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Last week's annual South
Huron Hospital Association meeting fea-
tured news the hospital operated on
another surplus last year.
The 51st annual hospital meeting June
17 shows a $464,122 surplus for the hos-
pital in 2004, up from 2003's surplus of
$220,306. Base funding from the Ministry
of Health in the last fiscal year was $5.3
million, up from the previous year's $4.7
million. Salary expenses were down
slightly — 2003 saw salary expenses of
$3,251,161, while the 2004 fiscal year
had expenses of $3,193,423.
The hospital's fiscal year ended March
31, making it four consecutive years the
hospital has run a surplus. Revenues
were up to about $7.7 million, about
$400,000 over the previous year's figure.
Expenses of $7.2 million were about
$150,000 more than the previous year.
Included in the expenses was a cost of
$225,582 for the dissolution of the Huron
Perth Hospitals Partnership.
Outgoing hospital board chairperson
Matt Clarke, who will remain with the
board as past chairperson, said the hos-
pital had another "interesting year." He
noted the dissolution of the partnership
last summer, as well as the recent resig-
nation of chief executive officer John
Sutherland.
Clarke's replacement as board chair-
person is Glenn Bartlett, who starts a
two-year term. Clarke wished Bartlett
well and said he knows he's leaving the
hospital in good hands.
A highlight for the hospital in the past
year was the grand opening of the South
Huron Medical Centre May 16, which
Clarke said was well attended. He said
funding is close to being complete and he
expressed amazement over how much
money the South Huron Hospital
Auxiliary is able to raise through its
Rummage Sale and quilt draw.
Clarke also congratulated hospital staff
for handling last summer's SARS crisis.
Two administrative positions were also
filled this year. Nick Bjelan is the director
of financial services/chief financial officer
and will be shared among South Huron
and Alexandra Marine and General
Hospital in Goderich. Chris Armstrong is
the new human resources officer for
South Huron, Goderich, Wingham and
Listowel hospitals.
Hospital chief of staff Dr. Peter Englert
also presented a report, stating "the qual-
ity of the care in the hospital is excellent."
He said the new medical centre should
make it easier to recruit new doctors to
the area. Pointing out the list of doctors
who already work in South Huron,
Englert said, "We're quite lucky to have
all these individuals contributing to med-
ical services in the hospital."
Olga Davis presented the annual hospi-
tal auxiliary report, pointing out the fall
rummage sale was the "best ever", rais-
ing $10,000. The spring sale raised
another $9,069. The auxiliary also donat-
ed a $30,000 cheque towards the new
medical centre at the hospital's 50th
anniversary last year. Also, $15,500 was
donated to the hospital for capital equip-
ment.
Liquor offence
BLUEWATER — On June 13 at 2:45
a.m. OPP were called to a residence on
Durand Crescent in Bluewater after a
report of a dispute between a father and
son.
When officers arrived on the scene two
men were holding a third to the ground.
They said he was being aggressive and
they were trying to prevent an assault.
The officers were told the young man on
the ground came to the residence a short
time before after attending a wedding
with his girlfriend. The couple had an
argument that became very heated,
requiring the father to step in. The son
then turned on his father and would have
assaulted him if the others had not
stopped him. The 22 -year-old male from
Bluewater was held overnight and
released in the morning charged with
being intoxicated under the Liquor
License Act.
Vehicle damage
HURON PARK — On June 5 at 9:45
a.m. an officer was called to a residence
on Kensington Crescent in Huron Park
over vehicle damage. The officer learned
that sometime between 3:30 a.m. and 6
a.m. the rear window was smashed out
of a black 2000 Ford Taurus. A stereo
system, including an amplifier, a speaker
box with two MTX speakers and a CD
player, valued at approximately $1,000
was stolen.
Huron OPP is continuing to investigate.
Anyone with information is asked to con-
tact the Exeter OPP office or call Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).
Hensall public students receive bicycle helmets
HENSALL — In the spring
of 2004, the principal of
Hensall Public School
approached the OPP school
liaison, Const. Alan Penn,
with a concern that a number
of students either did not
have a bicycle helmet or
could not afford one. A plan
was then established to
increase helmet usage.
Const. Penn approached
local businesses in the area
and was successful in obtain-
ing a tax exemption on bicy-
cle helmets purchased for
students.
A letter was then sent home
to all parents advising them
of the program.
Deb and Dave Collins, who
have children who attend the
school, read the letter and
decided the program could
be further enhanced. The
couple took it upon them-
selves to approach local busi-
nesses seeking donations
towards the purchase of bicy-
cle helmets.
Much to their delight there
was a enthusiastic response
to this worthy program.
When all was said and done,
there was enough money
raised to put a helmet on
every child who needed one
at Hensall Public School.
On June 16 a presentation
was made to 50 children by
Const. Penn. Delegates from
the local businesses that con-
tributed, Mr. and Mrs. Collins
and school staff were also at
the presentation.
Contributors to the program
included Canadian Tire in
Exeter, Cook's Mill in
Hensall, General Coach in
Hensall, Hensall District Co-
op, Hensall Global
Logistics,Hensall Kinettes
Club, Hensall Kinsmen Club,
Hensall Optimist Club, Hyde
Brothers in Hensall, Ice
Cultures in Hensall,
MacLeans Home Hardware in
Exeter, Rowcliffe Trucking in
Hensall and W.G.
Thompson's in Hensall.
Students at Hensall Public School received bicycle helmets as part of a safety initiative by parents, staff, OPP and local businesses.The
helmets were handed out at a special assembly June 16. (photo/submitted)