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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1985-10-16, Page 1Births /A13 Brussels /A5 Classified 1A14, 15, 16 Dublin /A4 Entertainment /A18 Family 1Al2,. 13 Farm /A7 Hensall IA10 Obituaries 1Al2 Sports /A8, 9 Walton /A6 Weddings /A13 New manager likes local arena. See page A9 New game appeals to rural pop. i e page Al 7 Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth,, Brussels, Dublin, Hensel! and Walton xpositorz• SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1985 -- 18" PAGES Roth block reparable The Roth block, damaged earlier this year by fire, can be repaired and should not be demolished according to the chief building official. In a report addressed to council Herman Van W ieren said all fire damage to the building was confined to the roof and ceiling. He noted the back of the building on the west side is damaged beyond repair and should be demolished but said the main building can be repaired and should not be torn down. Mr. Van Wieren, Town Clerk Jim Crocker, Mayor Alf Ross and two building inspectors made an . inspection of the building on October 2. Based on their comments Clerk Crocker recommended the Roth request for a demolition permit be referred back to committee to allow additional information to be obtained concerning demolition alterna- tives. Council adopted his recommendation. Mr. Van Wieren said the lower part of the building, which housed the Cheese House, Steak House and Moore's Bulk Food Store was in good condition, and along with the apartment above the Cheese House, needed only to be cleaned and redecorated. - On the contrary he said the apartments above the restaurant contain some fire damage. The apartment above the bulk food store is irreparable. Further argument came from the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Com- mittee (LACAC). A letter signed by LACAC Chairman W alter Armes said the demolition of the Roth block could have negative effects on the long term recognition of Main Street as a unique architectural streetscape. • "LACAC recognizes the town has definite responsibilities with respect to ensuring the structure is not permitted to deteriorate and become a danger to the public. It recognizes too the property is privately owned and the owners' right must be protected. In recogniz- ing these facts, there was a question as to whether at the same time the positive aspect, for example the restoration of the structure, should be explored to permit a comparison of he economics involved in each proposal," he. said. Mr. Armes asked the town to assess the economic benefits that could result from renovation of the property, in order to permit a comparison for the owner. He also suggested the town seek out advice from the Ministry people involved with' development projects, and reminded council of the success of the conversion of the former Public School, "In drawing attention to Seaforth's unique streetscape, LACAC recognizes there inevit- ably will be changes through the years. Our concern, however, is if it makes economical sense to rehabilitate buildings rather than demolish them, the former course be followed," he said. Mr. Armes said in this way the town could provide long term benefits to the community and permit a consistent approach within the frame work of the Heritage Conservation district the town has established. He said we can't be inconsistent, agreeing to the destruction of a building with historical significance, then encouraging other main street owners to rehabilitate their buildings. Breathalyzer unit requested A request has been sent to the Forensic Sciences Centre for a breathalyzer unit to be shared by the Clinton-Seaforth Police Forces. According to Seaforth Police Chief Hal Claus having such a unit would definitely improve operations in and around Seaforth. "This unit would give an actual reading. The roadside units only tell if a person has over80 mg of alcohol in their system. In order to determine the exact amount we have to transport them to Goderich, which is 25 miles away," said Chief Claps. Usually when these things come up it's late at night, about the time the hotels and such are letting out. W e can't afford to be out of town and miss the personnel in town. It's just not prudent for us to be away for two hours." If the Forensic Centre decides to honor the request it will be necessary for Seaforth to send one constable for a two-week training program on the operation of the breathalyzer unit. Clinton already has a trained technician on staff. Local hospital The Seaforth Community Hospital has been chosen to participate in a unique tele -radiology experiment which could have a revolutionary effect on hospital x-ray diag- nostic services in North America. The experiments, which are expected to begin in January, 1986 and take place over a six-week period, are being conducted in conjunction with University Hospital, London and the Ontario division of Dupont Corpora- tion, a United States based firm. Tele -radiology is the term used to describe a digital radiology transmitting system in which x-ray film is converted to a digital reading and transferred via telephone lines or microwaves to a receiving system The receiver would then translate the reading into a copy of the original x-ray film. The Seaforth hospital would be involved only in the transmitting stage of the experiments, said Hospital Administrator Gordon McKenzie. During the experimental period, all patient x-rays taken at the local hospital will be transfered to University Hospital through a prototype tele -radiology system COUNCIL BRIEFS will increase to $300 per annum, plus taxes, from the previous $158, plus taxes. The contract will also be renewed for a further two years. VACUUM CLEANER Council recently expressed some concern ' The town will purchase a new vacuum that having the unit would result in increased cleaner at a cost of $274,95. plus tax. overtime since only one officer would be Council agreed recently to a recommenda- trained to use it, and would have to be called tion made by its Finance and General out every time it needed to be used. Government committee tosgsurchase a new Chief Claus said since Clinton has one vacuum cleaner for the town because the old trained technician chances are one of the two one was beyond repair. would be on duty when the unit was needed. After quotes were received the committee He said area OPP have four trained determined that Crown Hardware offered technicians and often drive to different them the best price on an upright 12 inch municipalities to find the one on duty. head 6.5 amp Eureka vacuum cleaner. RENT RAISED CONTRIBUTE$$$ Effective January 1, 1985 rent on the Town council adopted a recommendation Bowling Green and Club house will be almost to contribute $280 to the lady Diana Nursery doubled. School for two Seaforth children attending The CN Real Estate has informed the town the school this fall. that in keeping with the railway's current 'A request from the Goderich and District minimum rental for such an occupation, rent (Continued on Page A3) to pioneer tele -radiology "All films (patient x-rays( will be transfer - ed. just to test the system -- to see if it works and how well it works," said Mr. McKenzie. The transfered films will be examined by radiology experts in London, "If the quality is as good as if you were there tat the site of the original x-ray( it will eliminate a lot of travelling by radiologists." said Mr, Mckenzie. adding the system will also be evaluated for cost-effectiveness. Most of the funding for the project will come front University Hospital and from Dupont, with Dupont supplying the equip- ment. However, a siu:ui portion of the cost will be borne by the Seaforth hospital. Mr. McKenzie said. A project similar to the tele -radiology experiment has been in the works for about seven years, said Mr. McKenzie. The original idea, he said, was to connect Seaforth and other area hospitals to the London facility via dosed -circuit television hook-up. Dupont has been working on the tele -radi- ology system for several years and has conducted similar experiments in American hospitals. However, previous experiments always involved transmitting x-rays a shorter distance than tram seatorth to London (aoout 40-50 miles as the crow flies(. Mr. McKenzie said it has not yet been decided whether the current experiments will involve a telephone hook-up or microwave transmitter. II successful, the ultimate benefits of the new system would be greater in areas more isolated than Seaforth, said Mr. McKenzie. Radiologists from Stratford visit the Seaforth hospital on a daily basis "tn the north. there are a lot of hospitals where the radiologists can't come in every day. or even every week," Mr. McKenzie said. While the Ministry of Health has been informed of the project, there are no plans for government involvement at this stage, said Mr. McKenzie. If the system proves to be viable and cost efficient. it could eventually put almost instantaneous x-ray diagnosis within the reach of any North American Hospital, no matter where it is situated. "it all depends on the analysis.:' said Mr. McKenzie. Tuckersmith road superintendent retires BY WIIMA OKE Allan Nicholson of Egmondville looks back on more than, 35 years of looking after township roads in Tuckersmith as he retires this fall as road superintendent. Mr. Nicholson says there are great differences in how the 94 miles of roads are maintained these days compared to when he began summer work for the township in the mid -thirties. He says the changes have been made to meet the changing traffic — from a few cars and farm wagons of the past to the hundreds of cars and trucks and the huge tractors pulling tandem wagons loaded with the harvest of the fields of today. Although he worked only casually on township roads in the summer in the beginning doing maintenance and repair work for the council, Mr. Nicholson also worked in northern lumber camps and in the mines when the war started. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy, serving on the Shawinigan (which was destroyed in action while he was on leave) and the Lanark. Following his war duties Mr. Nicholson eventually started working full time for the township in the road department as a grader operator hired by township clerk E.P. Chesney at a salary of $4,500 per year. Mr. Nicholson was made road superinten- dent in the fall of 1966. He has held several offices in the Ontario Good Roads Association and in February 1985, was presented with a 30 -year membership. To show the appreciation of the township for his excellent record of work over the years Allan Nicholson and hIs wife Helen. a party was held for Mr. Nicholson Friday night. The Seaforth Legion Hall was filled to capacity. Present were officials of the Ministry of Transportation and Communica- tions including Ross Jackson of Stratford and Huron County Engineer Bob Dempsey and Jim Hunter, president of Huron County Road Superintendents (a group of which Mr. Nicholson was a founding member) and Engineer Ken Dunn of Goderich. These officials said Mr. Nicholson was highly respected for his ability by the Provincial (Oke photo) Road Superintendents Association. Among the speakers were Tuckersmith Reeve Robert Bell and past Reeve Ervin Sillery who spoke on behalf of past members of council honoring him. A highlight of the evening of reminiscing and fun was a ditty sung by Councillor John Brownridge and Bob Mann recounting his years as road superintendent, including the time he put the township grader on a bridge to save it from being carried away by a spring flood. PICKING AND CHOOSING—Drew Alkemade sorted through some magazines last week to find just the right pictures to give his Thanksgiving project the perfect look. Drew is a Grade one student at Seaforth Public School and is in Mrs. Mary Carroll's class. (Mciiwralth photo) Extra -billing public issue District health councils will organize one -day community consultations on extra - billing in nine Ontario cities, Health Minister Murray Elston has announced. Mr. Elston said the meetings, which are to be held in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Hamil- ton, London and Windsor. will include presentations on extra -billing by panels of representatives from consumer, health-care provider and public interest groups. "Up to this point. I have been unable to discuss this matter with the Ontario Medical Association since the physicians' association appears to have opted out of negotiations.' Mr. Elston said. "We will therefore solicit the views and opinions of a wide number of individuals. organizations and agencies across the pro- vince. We must do this in a co-ordinated and systematic fashion and within a relatively short time frame, " The meetings would be widely publicized and, preferably, would be held Saturdays during late October and early November, to permit attendance by a maximum number of interested people. Mr. Elston, who was addressing Action Centre, the annual meeting of Ontario's 26 district health councils, said he has requested that recommendations arising from the community meetings be drafted and sent to him. "it will be understood the recommenda- tions and resolutions you send me will be a consensus from the consultation exercise and not a reflection of the views of any district health council," he said. Mr Elston also announced several initia- tives in the area of health promotion. They include: •compiling a provincial directory of health promotion programs in Ontario which relate to smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, nutrition and fitness; -establishing a Health Promotion Evalua- tion Fund, to receive $1 million in fiscal year 1986-87, which will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of health promotion programs: -creation of an annual awards program to recognize employer excellence in health promotion. Fire board appoints chief The Seaforth and Area Fire Board has appointed a new Fire Chief. George Garrick, a veteran firefighter with 13 and one-half years of experience on the local force, will officially take over on January 1, 1986, He will replace Chief Harry Hak whose resignation takes effect on December 31. Married for 24 years and with two sons. Mr. Garrick said his family seems to be in support of him assuming the job as Fire Chief. rye been involved for so long I figured why not take on the Chief's job," said Mr. Garrick. - I don't really see any problems. The Seaforth Fire Department is a pretty smooth running organization and I don't think it'll change overnight." Mr. Garrick said he knows quite a few of the ins and outs of the job already since he has held a captain's position in the department twice now, for approximately five years. He said he does have to familiarize himself with such things as bookkeeping and such. "i'm looking forward to being Fire Chief. I just hope I do as good a job as the one before me. " Originally from Goderich Mr. Garrick and his family have been in Seaforth for 22 years. A Class A mechanic by trade Mr. Garrick is now self-employed.