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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1987-07-08, Page 1INDEX Births A5 ' •Hensall-- A6 • _Canada Day — A9 Legion A14 Classifieds.— Mb, All, 412 • Obituaries — A5 People — A5 Sports _ A7 Walton. Al2 Weddings — A5 • Dublin — 48, Al2 Entertainment -'A14 Graduates — A5 • Iospital holds §erieral r°eeihc. see page A.. New correspondent for Dublin. See page. A8. Canadci D,ay a s,ucce s..See page Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton` HURON EXPOSITOR, WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1987 50 centsa copy omments outrage town Town officials are outraged by • derogatory comments about Seaforth, which were made'] y a London alderman and.native of Seaforth, and appeared in the, Saturday, July 4 -issue of the London Free Press. •- "I get really uncomfortable when another politician attacks another municipality for no apparent reason and with no just cause,", . - said Seaforth Mayor. Alf Ross, adding Mr. Williams took a cheap shot at the town and an un -informed cheap shot at that. , Gary Williams, who is also chairman of London's environment and transportation committee, was commenting on a request by Stratford, Mitchell, Seaforth, Clinton, • :Exeter and Goderich to have an extension of the four lanes of Highway 8 from 'Kitchener to Stratford,. a bypass of •Stratford's con- gested downtown and a third lane for pass- ing wherever' possible between • Stratford and Goderich. According to the London Free Press Mr. Williams. said he "sees no.point in spending money on improving Highway 8" and is quoted as saying, "Seaforth has had 2,000 people for the last 50 years. It doesn't make a tinker's difference, you're not going toget major industrial development in Seaforth. It's still an hour away from anywhere: ' There's no skilled work force." In response to Mr. William's comments, and under the -direction of•the Mayor and. Town Clerk,. two letters have been penned by Seaforth's Mainstreet Coordinator Tom • Lemon. One has been sent to Mr. Williams himself, the other to Tom Gosnell, Mayor of London. "It's quite evident that he (Mr. Williams) is not aware of what we are trying to do and what is underway in Seaforth," said Mr. Lemon, adding the letter should bring Mr. Williams up to date on what is happening in the town. "We're up to some really good things and your comments on Seaforth's .economic development prospects, in the London Free Press this. past Saturday indicate that maybe you need to come up and have a look at what the old home town is up to," -he Wrote, "In addition to outling the town's involve- ment in the Mainstreet Canada . program, which.. is aimed at "economic revitaliza- • tion" the • letter discounts Mr. William' s comments about Seaforth's work force: • "His comment on the labor force is not on- ly untrue but it's degrading," said Mayor Alf Ross. • "And we're not going to just sit here and let him take cheap shots at us like this." The letter points out that in London people don't • think twice :about driving .20-30_ minutes to work. "Well in Seaforth, which has its own in - town labor force, that same 20.30 minute trip takes in Exeter, Stratford, Mitchell, Brussels, Blyth, Wingbam, Clinton, Goderich, Bayfield and Hensall, and all the agricultural community in between these urban centres. Are you saying that a big piece of western Ontario has no "skilled work force"?," it asks: "The bottom line is we're mounting retail and industrial recruitment program - and your comments do not help. Seaforth has some very real attractions for the right in- dtistries and investors., Our job is to make the opportunities even better and to get that message out." While the letter sent to'Mr. Williams ex- presses -concern about his comments,and reveals what has been going on in Sgaforth, the letter sent to. Mayor Gosnell asks whether or not Mr. William's views are a reflection of London council. • "Are we to interpret, from Mr. Williams comment, that it is the 'City of London's position and policy to oppose improvements in the . Highway- 8 corridor between Kit- chener and Goderich? Further, is it the policy of the City. of London to evaluate and comment on the economic development ac- tivities and prospects of. municipalities in western Ontario? More specifically, is itthe policy of the City of London to make such evaluations and statements about the Town of Seaforth?;" said Mr. Lemon. "If in fact, Mr. Williams is quoted Cor- rectly, 'in my opinion, his, rather narrow view of regional economics is truly astoun- ding. I ask mayself, why Mr. Williams would want to alienate a portion of London's market on the ong hand, and on the other, why would he want to criticize -and undercut 'efforts to further develop and strengthen that trade area? If Mr. William's comments reflect City of London policy, are we here in Seaforth to deduce that London is no longer interested in its regional friends, neighbors and business interests?" Firemen discover broken water main A watermain tee on the corner of Crombie and Chalk Streets broke at the most inop- portune time Friday - just as firemen finish- ' ed their battle with a fire at the Topnotch Feed Mills. ,The broken main was' discovered at ap- proximately 3 p.m. after firemen noticed water bubbling out of the ground near the , fire hydrant they were using. The main had to be fixed immediately in case a fire started up again at Topnotch. • The Seaforth Public Utilities Commission were forced to isolate a two -block area. After digging near the hydrant the workers found a tee joining the main water pipe to the fire hydrant was cracked. Since the PUC keeps an extensive supply of pipes and tee,s in stock, they w.ere able to fix,the-pr.o , blem.irnmediately. The water was turned back on at 7:30 p.m. Repair of the tee post about $175-$185, and because it was done so quickly no damage resulted. - It is not known how the tee broke. MILL FIRE -Topnotch Feed Mills was the scene of a fire Friday that caused $125,000 damage. Dust combustion in the hammermill located in the basement exploded at the top of a tower causing the tower to burn. Firefighters battle the flame and keep the metal cool. to prevent more fires. Blake photo Topnotch fire resuIts in $.125,000- damage Almost $125,000 damage resulted when a ,dust collector on the roof of the Topnotch Feed Mill exploded into flames Friday mor- ning at approximately 11 a.m. A Topnotch spokesman said .he believes the fire started when a hammermill located in the basement started to overheat after becoming plugged with, dust and grain Combustion resulted and the flames were sucked to the top of the tower by a huge fan. A pipe extending out of the tower and poin- ting to the roof acted like a torch and melted the roof when the fire started. • A number of area residents and some employees said they heard four to six bangs, now thought likely to have been ex- plosions, but because the day was overcast assumed they were thunder. Kerrie Thompson, 10, spotted the fire around 10:45 a.m. from her Victoria Street home, and had her mother notify the fire department. Topnotch also called the fire department after Lori Van Wynsberghe, the plant's safety coordinator, spotted the fire while driving through the Canadian Tire parking lot. She sounded the alarm to alert workers of the danger and also arranged for the evacuation of the occupants. There were four employees in the building at the time. "I ran into the building yelling fire, fire and I think they all thought I was crazy," said Mrs. Van Wynsberghe. One employee in the basement at the time of the fire, said he didn't even know there was a fire until someone told him to get out of the building. • Bob Armstrong, Topnptch's general manager, said the firemen went through the Seaforth building just a few weeks ago, to, learn where all the fire exits were located. A number of practice fire drills had been held at the plant, and there was to be a full fledg- ed drill held again this week. "We feel fortunate that we rehearsed the evacuation procedure two weeks ago. It worked today," said Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong said the fire and water damage to the building and the feed will mean a big cleanup job for the workers but added the plant will probably be back in full operation within one week. There will be no layoffs. . Seaforth firefighters stayed at the fire scene for three hours. The Clinton Fire department; called in to assist, left after two hours, when the immediate danger was over. The mill was insured. Country seeks nutritionist The Huron County Health tint is current- ly looking for a nutritionist to replace Cathy Thomson who has resigned effective August 26. During presentation of the Huron County Board of Health report at the July session of county council, it was learned the board has decided to adjust the nutritionist's salary schedule to the same as that of the health educator. This results in the miitimurrr in, creased for 1987 from $999 biweekly ($25,974 annually) to $1,040 bi-weekly ($27,040) and the maximurn increased from $1,208 ($31,403) to $1248 biweekly ($:12,4481. Reason for the upgrading, council was told is that each of the two positi0la tequires siintlar qualifications and should fall within the same salary grid. In addition, neighboring counties are also advertising for nutritionists at a minimum salary of $29,500 and $29,600. Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston expressed Sortie coincern at the boar'd's decision to upgrade the salary schedule now instead of daring the county's regular salary negotiations. Goderith Township Reeve Grant Stirling, the board chairman, agreed with Mr. Johnston's cotriments, but also pointed out that with other counties seeking nutri- tionists, Huron would likely be unable to recruit anyone if the salary offered were not competitive. Tuckersmith reeve will run for warden Tuckersmith Township Reeve Bob Beli has announced his intention to be a can- didate when Huron County Council elects its 1988 warden in December. Mr. Bell made his announcement at the • end of the regular July session of council in Goderich, the last Meeting until September. The present Huron County warden is Turnberry Township Reeve Br'fan McBurney who was acclaimed by council in D'ecenber,1986. n•(F TOWN PHOTO - Approximately 300 people were downtown fy 1:15 p.m. while children released a number of message Wednesday afternoon to help Seaforth kick off its Canada- Day balloons, Canada Day was recognized this year with more special celebrations. This photograph, taken from the town's Public events than usual, Organizes say the day. was a great success. Utilities Cormnission (PUC) bucket; was snapped at approximate- Mcliwraith photo.