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The Huron Expositor, 1986-03-12, Page 1rFl INDEX Births /A9 Brussels /Al2 Classified /A14, 15, 16 Dublin /A4 Entertainment /A18 Family /A8, 9 Farm /A17 Hensall /A10 Legion /A18 Obituaries /A8, 9 Scoreboard /A17 Sports /A5, 6, 7 Walton /A16 Easy Riders advance to provincial broomball competition. See page A5. Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, HensaII and Walton SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1986 — 18 PAGES MAKIN' TRACKS — Friday's heavy snowstorm made things tough for moat area pedestrians, but Chad Lamont, 9, of Seaforth, had the perfect solution forgetting around. He donned snowshoes for a walk In the area of the Seaforth and District Community Centres on Saturday. Raftis photo Storm forces road closure A winter storm which began during the early morning hours of Friday, March 7, forced closure of area roads and stranded a number of motorists in Seaforth, until snow plows were able to get the main highway open late Friday night. No accidents occurred during the storm, which also forced closure of area schools, but Seaforth Police Constable John Cairns estimates 50 to 75 motorists were stranded here by the storm until Highway 8 was opened about 10:30 p.m. and County Road 12 was opened several hours later. Although it turned out to be unnecessary, Seaforth Police were arranging accommoda- tions for stranded motorists in case the highways could not he opened up in time for them to move on to thew destinations. "We had the billet book out ready to call people. We already had places for most of them," said Constable Cairns. Goderic h and Sebringville Provincial Po- lice were called to investigate several accidents in the area during the storm and both detachments asked Seaforth Police to assist on some of them, said Constable Cairns. "But it was pretty difficult getting out there (to the accidents in the country)," he said. Seaforth Police were called to investigate one accident after the storm had abated and roads were opened. The collision occurred on West William Street, about 2:45 a.m. Saturday morning. A northbound vehicle, driven by David Mc- Gregor, o-Gregor, 19, of Seafortth, collided with a parked tractor trailer, owned by Peter Kling, of West William Street. The McGregor car was a write-off and the trucksustained an estimated $3,000 damage. Sebringville OPP investigated a two -vehi- cle accident near St. Columban, about 7 p.m. Friday, The collision resulted in property damage to the car and tractor -trailer involved, but no one was injured. RcADS CLOSED -- Gars and trur ks-Were lined up and down Goderich'Street after Friday's Merin uta of area roads. Seaforth Ponce said approximately 50 to 75 rriotorista were tranded inn tewVf until Highway 8 was opened up areund 10:30 0: m. Raffia photo 50 cents a copy Roads budget Almost $1 million scrapped A $6.1 million road budget has been tentatively approved by Huron County Council. . On March 6, county council accepted the budget which sees the county paying $2.24 million for its roads. This represents a 3.8 per cent increase from the $2.1 million taken last year from county coffers. • However, the tentatively approved budget is far from what county engineer Bob Dempsey originally proposed to the road committee. On February 14, he presented a budget which brought the county levy alone up 41 per cent. This original proposal would see that one -twentieth or 22.5 kilometres of the county road system would get a hot mix resurfacing. It was here that the mad committee made the biggest cut. A project to pave 10.7 kilometres of road on County Road 8 north of Clinton was scrapped. This project alone was estimated at $648,500. Also cut from the budget proposal was the purchase of a $130,000 grader, the asphalt resurfacing of the Auburn patrol yard estimated at $46,000 and the $15,000 purchase of a sign mating machine. The largest purchase this year is the reconstruction of 9.6 kilometres of road on County -Road 15, from Highway 4 to County Road 17. This is estimated to cost $790,000. The second largest project to be under- taken by the county road department this year is the hot mix resurfacing , of 7.3 kilometres of County Road 31, from County Road 13 to Highway 8. This project is estimated at $770,000. Another fairly extensive project estimated at $725,500 is the hot mix paving at 18.4 kilometres of road on County Road 22 from County Road 25 to Highway 86. Other road construction and paving pro- jects include $400,000 worth of hot mix paving of 9.3 kilometres on County Road 3 from Highway 4 to the county road. Also, $294,000 is earmarked for hot mix resurfac- ing of County Road 1 from Highway 8 to County Road 31, a distance of 4.4 kilometres. Road construction and paving will Dost a total of $3.1 million this year. The rest of the budget is for regular road maintenance, winter control and equipment maintenance, which is at $2.9 million for this year. The budget also includes the $72,000 deficit carried over from 1985. This deficit was caused by overspending in the area of snow removal. The provincial ministry of transportation and communications will pay $3.9 million towards the road budget. All budgets for the county are subject to final review by county council on March 27. Budget could have positive effect Although the recent federal budget raised yearly taxes for people in almost- all income brackets, the budget could have several positive effects for the average wage earner, said Doug Elliott, of Seaforth Financial Services. "If it (the budget) does what it's intended to," said Mr. Elliott, namely bring down the deficit and restore world-wide faith in the Canadian economy, the resulting lower interest and mortgage rates will benefit the average taxpayer. Most sources agree thd new+ budget will mean a tax increase of aborit$3yp per year for the average two-ineo y, earning - $25,000 to $30,000Er Year. Smokers and drinkers received that" ,traditionalinc easeon the favorite products, while high income earners and corporations were hit 'with a three per cent increase in a special surtax imposed for the first time in 1985. Despite these increases, Mr. Elliott contends proper money management can help take a lot of the sting out of the new tax structure. He also feels the measures are necessary to get the economy back In shape. "1 think we have to attack the deficit. You can't have your cake and eat it too. It's nice to live in a country with all these social programs, but people have to realize that you have to pay for them with your taxes," he said. Mr. Elliott advises those with money to invest to " Aet away from guaranteed investments,' and into such things as mutual funds and other investments with growth potential. The new tax measures are better for getting into the economy," said Mr. Elliott, though he admits, "there is an element of risk," in such ventures. Although tax laws concerning capital gains remained untouched by the budget, Mr. Elliott said the recent provision allowing for a Junior Farmers plan an active month of March With the annual Junior Farmers Week, expanded to Junior Farmer's Month for the first time this year, the Seaforth Junior Farmers Club has planned activities for every week during March. The idea of the month is to attract new members and generally make the dub more visible to the surrounding community, said Seaforth Junior Farmers President Glen Haney. Mr. Haney said the local club has just finished a very successful canvassing cam- paign, collecting pledges in Tuckersmith Township for the Heart Fund during the past week. The Seaforth club was responsible for collecting pledges in one-third of the township, with other area 'clubs responsible for canvassing the remainderof Tuckersmith. This past weekend, the club operated a broomball toumament and a dance at the Seaforth and District Community Centres and held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening. The club makes an effort to perform community services when possible and in keeping with that idea, will visit Seaforth's two nursing homes on March 16, entertaining residents with a variety -talent show. Area residents will get a chanceto become involved with the local Junior Farmers first handhonpMarch 25, when they host a card Legion.oAftermthe everyone, game, thegroupow�ill perform a skit, "Corrin' Round the Mount- ain." Th'e Seaforth Junior Farmers will also be involved when• Seaforth hosts the Ogterio Rmgette Association regional tournament during the March 22-23 weekend and the first weekend in April. The club has been asked to provide seine forth of entertainment for the out of -toxin players between nng'ette games, said Mr. Haney. He said they would be organizing basketball, volleyball and other games at local schools for the players. For more inforiiration on the Seaforth Junior Partner$, centact Glen Haney, 527. 0936. tax-free lifetime accumulation of $500,000 in capital gains will be a big boon to farmers wishing to retire. "A lot of farmers couldn't afford to sell out before," he said. New retirement options in the works "will make companies come up with some very interesting things in the way of pension reform." he projects. "RRSPs are still the best tax -deferral method for the average person," because the dollars invested are not taxed and the growth is tax sheltettd, Mr. Elliott said. Long-term planning is the key to good financial health in the long run, Mr. Elliott suggests. For too many Canadians, long-term ' planning is next Friday," he said. BASKETBALL FEVER — The Seaforth District High School came up against Almonte District High School, west of Ottawa, on two occasions in OFSAA action last week. The first game on Thursday, ended in 69-43 in Almonte's favor. Here Almonte's six foot Steve Lowry, 22, tries to outreach Seaforth's Ron Vercruyssen, 44, while teammate Scott Bolton, 21, Looks on. These two teams went on to meet in the championship game ort Saturday, March 9. In the championship game Seaforth fought hard but Almonte had a 32-26 half-time lead which proved to be too much. Almonte eventually won with a score of 66-54. Stull photo Golden Bears take all Ontario silver Seaforth; District High School Golden Bears were foiled again this year, in their bid to win the OFSAA A boys basketball a hanipionship, in Walkerton on the Weekend. The Bears, who finished third in OFSAA playdowns last year', were defeated 66-54 by the Almonte District High School Orange= men, in Saturday's final game Greg Murray held Seaforth in the game almost single-handedly, scoring 39 points in the contest. • "He was shooting from fantastic range, from 20-25 feet all night," said Bears' Coach Terry Johnston "And a lot of the tunes he was double -teamed," he added. Mr. Joiinston indicated a good deal of respect for the Almonte team, in comments • made after the game. "Almonte is an extremely good basketball team. it's the first team we've plaed that had five good ball.players," he said. The Bears qualified for the !'mal, after beating top -seeded Niagara DSS 67-54 in the semi-finals. Against Niagara, Murrayhad 20 Paints, Jeff Boyle had 18, Paul Menary14 and John McCowan 12. Mr. Johnston said aftersixtrips to OFSAA, his team was disappointed, but took slaceo l m their highest finish ever, Previously, the Bears placed third twice.