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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1988-10-19, Page 1l Births - A5 Weddings -A5 Obituaries - A5 Dublin - A6 Hensall - All Sports - Al2, A13 Seaforth to proceed with agreement. See page A4 Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton Huron xpositor Seaforth, Ontario HURON EXPOSITOR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1988 50 cents a copy Spring maker to locate in Seaforth New owners will occupy the former Genesco Plant after October 15 and will begin producing precision springs for the automotive industry by the end of this year. Town Council was told last week negotia- tions for the purchase of the Genesco building had gone well, and Wallbank Spr- ings would indeed be starting up its third ac- tive manufacturing facility in Seaforth. A family -operated company, Wallbank Springs was initiated in 1955 by Phil Wallbank, then an English immigrant laid off from his job in an Ayr spring factory. When he couldn't find work Mr. Wallbank and his wife Betty, started making springs in their farm house near Plattsville, On- tario. Today Mr. Wallbank's family operates a modern 110 person plant near that original Plattsville home, and a 35 per- son plant in Port Huron, Michigan. A high quality rating in both those plants, from automotive customers Ford and General Motors, has resulted in a large in- crease in business making it necessary for Wallbank Springs to establish a third plant. "There's a tremendous amount of pressure being put on us to take on new business," said Tony Wallbank, general' manager of the Plattsville operation. "We're planning on putting that business into Seaforth." Mr. Wallbank admitted the automotive in- dustry is unpredictable, but added there is a big enough demand for Wallbankproducts to easily warrant a third facility. "Business has been quite good. We know that in the automotive industry there can be bad times, but we've found that the good times outweigh the bad," he said. "We don't want any fear developed in the Plattsville Plant that we're moving away. It's still a going concern and we intend to keep it operating and growing. And I think, once the Seaforth plant is in operation, most Plattsville workers will be relieved they won't have to work so much overtime." The Seaforth operation is slated for phas- ed in growth over the next three years. In- itial recruiting will begin in mid November with the assistance of the Canada Employ- ment Centre in Goderich. The company will look for 10 to 15 people in light industrial oc- cupations, including set-up person, machine operator, inspector and general labor. Employees will receive training in SPC and the use of precision measuring equipment, and the company hopes eventually to offer apprenticeships in spring making. It sees employment levels reaching approximately 50 people after three years. Mr. Wallbank noted his company's recruitment notices will highlight a com- petitive wage and a benefit package featur- ing profit sharing. He credits the success of his business to the enthusiasm and par- ticipation of his company's work force and particularly admires the work enthic of peo- ple in rural communities. Mr. Wallbank worked closely with staff at the Town of Seaforth office while putting together the Genesco purchase, and said the receptiveness and the cooperation of local government officials, including Mayor Alf Ross and Administrator Jim Crocker, was a key factor in his decision to locate the new plant in Seaforth. Mr. Wallbank had also looked at the towns of Mount Forest, Listowel and Fergus as possible locations for the third plant. "We wanted to be in town, in something that was already built, and the Genesco plant was ideal. It was in good condition and the taxes are a lot lower than they are in Plattsville,"commented''Mr. Wallbank. "The town itself was also very appealing. There's a feeling you get when you walk into this town. It feels quite alive and seems a really good place to train people and keep Turn to page 18 • • Nominations in fo Election notninationtrare in, and it ap- pears this time aroundthere will be an election for most muncipal positions in Seaforth. At press time only the Board of Educa- tion Trustees, Public Utilities Commis- sioners and Reeve positions had been filled by acclamation. It is possible however, that the Deputy Reeve Position could also be filled by acclamation should Bill McLaughlin, who has filed for both that position on Seaforth council, anti the post. tion of councillor, withdraw his name. Mr. McLaughlin must withdraw hie name froth ...one,sor.another of the positions. Any oftint. othertimdida'tesvoulawithdraw' ' But as it,stood when the paper wentt press on Tuesday, current councillor Bob r council PPositions Dinsmore and dept tytreeve Hazel Hildebrand were vying for the position of MOTH; Peg Campbell and 13i11 McLaughlin were competing for the posi- tion of DEPT REEVE; and current.. councillors Bill Mc ,a llin at d Garry Osborir anld newcomers tiliam Yeah, WO. Pinder, Pat Malone} David Staffen . Irwin Johnston end Marjorie Crags,, were fighting for the six cnuncilier s , is ' " James F. sills and Gard Pullman Were returned to the PVCpoblraccia iatiexty Bill Bennett was return lo the rtHe fes sition, Graetne Cr wasacc acclaimed PUBLIC SCf OOL H r.e' ► > . for $ f, : 1d McKill ;antis; ;si Murray,, Pinel n. . S� a BOARD "T TE `.n- eaforth, Tuckersmith and M HURON-BRUCE LIBERAL of the Huron -Bruce riding Lucknow last Wednesday. Dunlop runs in Huron -Bruce nominee Ken Dunlop talks to David Mackenzie, president association, at the Liberal nomination meeting held in wins Liberal nomination BY MONA IRWIN The mayor of Port Elgin hopes to trade his mayoralty for a seat in Ottawa. Ken Dunlop won the Liberal nomination for the Huron -Bruce riding last Wednes- day. He defeated Phil Walker, a Zurich - area farmer and former Grand Bend businessman. About 175 people attended the nomination meeting, held at the Lucknow Community Centre. Both candidates emphasized the hazards of the Canada -U.S. Free Trade Agreement. "We should not allow Brian Mulroney to Sell what is not his to sell," said Dunlop, Man killed who is completing his third term as mayor of Port Elgin. "Our country's future belongs to our children and our children's children, not to Brian Mulroney, nor the Iron Ore Com- pany of Canada, nor Imperial Oil nor any other corporate body." Dunlop said that neither he nor the Liberal Party is against free trade, "but any increase from the 80 per cent that is now free trade should not cost as much as this free trade deal costs." He described the free trade deal as one that "gives us so very little benefit and Turn to page 16 • A m charged in connection' with the lreeken shading of two men in V`a 'ttfa has been remanded in custody ,thoWalltatton provincial jail. 't=he 4 •year-old Hamilton man was ar-. shortly..aft r 11:36 Mondayilii ht t a residence in iiotcldster, New'Virk. ;dues ' pollee, • hteelped by .the U.S. tot -dei, p /*pude the arrest. VMS Sought. by polite after two m e ho`t daring a dance at the Vanastara :Recreation i centre on Satur- L 3315 o'ttnmy Thapraseath, 26, of Kit- ever died at 3 a Monday in Univer- London; •after being shot the'head.' a other shoo viciitti, Bouinsy Vilaysono e, 29, Oakville, was released from Clinton 11• Iia ' da fief Loon after an operationbullet from his right foot Goderich OPP'Said t ie, sitbtitings Cit`eutred at alible 11:10.p m BeSaturday night, during a dance that follow d a day long soccer mutant*sponso k Exeter Laotian Soccer people were at thedenc Police laterfound iyealfbtt a three blacks fro* the recr ation can on a residential street.' A Godotiolf OPS. spok s ttan argumentieeetred before t ie shooti. but did not awl a't it*Oabout as f!t ., be used evidence a ease• gods the si ere aper >tnerich. court on Oct. 24 at 16 a.m tsik tbo I Election race is on in townships Reports are in from Seaforth's neighbor- ing townships concerning the upcoming municipal elections. These are the most up-to-date reports available at the time The Expositor went to press. TUCKERSMITH TOWNSHIP All but the position of Reeve were filled in Tuckersmith Township by acclamation. Running for the position of reeve are Robert Broadfoot, who served the past ' council as deputy -reeve, and George Cantelon who served on the past council as a councillor. By acclamation Bill Carnochan obtained the position of deputy -reeve, and Bill De - Jong of Brucefield, Rowena Wallace of RR 4 Seaforth, and Lawrence McGrath of Egmondville obtained the positions as councillors. Incumbent Ronald Murray was acclaim- ed to represent Tuckersmith, Seaforth and McKillop on the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board. Sally Rathwell will sit on the Huron County Board of Education for Tuckersmith and Hensall. MCKILLOP TOWNSHIP McKillop Township is short one coun- cillor, as only two people ran for three positions on council in the township. Therefore nominations will be accepted to Turn to page 18 • HEART OF GOLD - Egmondville's Betty MacLean, centre, was one of 26 Ontario residents honored in Toronto over the weekend, with a Heart of Gold Award. The award was sponsored by Air Canada in conjunction with the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). In recognition of her selflessness over the years Mrs. MacLean received a plaque and two tickets to any Air Canada destination in the world. Shown making the presentation here are; Harry Stemp, left, President of the OCNA, and Pierre Jeanniot, President of Air Canada. Mcllwraith photo. MacLean wins Heart of Gold An Egmondville woman was one of 26 On- tario residents selected by a panel of newspaper editors from the Ontario Com- munity Newspapers Association (OCNA), from more than 1,700 provincial nomina- tions, to receive a Heart of Gold Award. This award program, launched March 1, 1988, was aimed at recognizing unselfish con- tributions of people in everyday life, and was administered by community newspapers across Canada in partnership with Air Canada. More than 6,000 Canadians were nominated to receive the award. Nominated by her son Bill, who says he can think of no one more deserving of the award than his mother, Egmondville's Bet- ty MacLean has opened her heart to help friends and strangers alike over her 67 years. "...my nominee can not only be described by the words selflessness, willingness and understanding to the very letter, she also rounds out that list with liveliness and love," says Bill MacLean. "Her lifelong devotion to providing aid and comfort to others, be they friends or strangers, knows no bounds. Helping the sick and the needy has long been second nature -to this lady, and her genuine concern for the welfare of those around her has, over the years, had a profound effect on many lives." After recovering from cancer in her early 30s, Mrs. Maclean decided to spend time looking after the domestic needs of elderly cancer patients. She became an unpaid chauffeur, cook, house cleaner and friend to many people, without neglecting her respon- sibilities as a wife and loving mother of four children. "Some of my fondest childhood memories include those times when my parents would invite children from a nearby orphanage to spend weekends with us. I also remember the many foster children who crossed our threshold, to be accepted and loved as members of the family for the duration of their stay," commented Bill MacLean. "For many years, my grandfather and uncle also shared our home and, while she cared for them both in sickness and in health, my mother never complained about the extra workload. In fact she seemed to thrive on it." But Mrs. MacLean's benevolence is not confined to people. Injured birds and stray animals have also found a place in her heart, and often her home has been a sanc- tuary for up to six pets at a time. Now past the age of retirement, Mrs. MacLean still finds pleasure in helping the elderly and continues to maintain a dizzying pace as a caring friend, wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. She has never asked for, nor received any formal recognition for her lifetime of unselfish giving. Her rewards have always come in the form of a touch, a smile and the personal satisfacion of knowing that she has in some way, helped someone. All Ontario Heart of Gold recipients spent the past weekend at the Hilton International Hotel in downtown Toronto. While there they were guests of honor at a reception and awards ceremony held in the Governor General's Suite, and following that, a formal dinner. In recognition of their selflessness, they received a Heart of Gold Plaque, and two complimentary airline tickets to any Air Canada destination. "It was lovely and beautiful weekend," commented Mrs, MacLean. "We had such a good time, and came away from the weekend with some good friends." Murray Cardiff chosen PC candidate Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff was chosen by acclamation as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the Huron - Bruce riding. Defense Minister Perrin Beatty was guest speaker at the PC meeting, held Thursday at the Lucknow Community Cen- tre. About 400 people attended the meeting. Cardiff, completing his second term as MP, was nominated by fellow MP Gary Gurbin, of the Bruce -Grey riding, which will no longer exist after the next election due to boundary changes. Huron -Bruce will incorporate part of it, and Welland - Duff erin-Simcoe-Grey will take the rest. The 54 -year-old Cardiff, a lifelong Brussels resident, called the current Parliament "one of the most active" in the country's history. We've passed over 200 bills since 1984," he said. He charged the previous Liberal govern- ment with accumulating "deficit after deficit," and said the Mulroney govern- ment has made "significant, successful ef- forts" at controlling government spending. The Conservatives are proud of their agricultural record, "but that doesn't mean we can't do more," he said. Turn to page 16 • HURON -BRUCE PC nominee Murray Cardiff greets Minister of Defence Perrin Beatty at the Progressive Conservative nomination meeting held in Lucknow on Thursday Ir- win photo. r 4