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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1982-12-29, Page 1Incorporating 4 Brussels Post 50c per COPY e inron SEAIFORTH, ONTARIO, WE it NESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1982 — 16 PAGES xpositor rLss Is recei st ati e t By Ron W asalnllt Heroes and heroines are few and far .. between but Doug Lowe of Brussels is a hero in the true sehst off the word. A modest, soft-spoken helicopter- pilot.. Doug admitted he saved the life of a fellow human. As a .IrFesult, he was informed by the Carnegie Hero ' Fuad Commission of Pittsburgh. Pennsyl- vannia, last week that he would receive the 'highest honour in North America for his life-saving role last May, 1981. A helicopter pilot for the past 10 years, Doug has travelled extensively throughout Canada and the United States. Last May, Doug, was travelling by automobile, east through Jasper National Park in Alberta to his next assignment at Hinton, Nberta, when he was the first person at the scene of a single vehicle accident, Upon further investigation, Doug noticed the driver was unconscious and trapped under the steering wheel of his automobile. At the time, the vehicle was showing the first signs afire. While he Was attempting to free the driver, "all that was going through my mind was whether the car would blow up", says Doug. "It all happened to fast. I was in there before 1 knew it. ' Doug estimates it took 15 minutes to free the driver. "He was semi-conscious when we got him out and he complained of leg injuries." 1t was later learned the driver had both legs broken. Minutes after freeing the victim, "the car was engulfed in flames, but didn't blow up';, says Doug. "If he didn't come out when he did, that would have been S it. He was a pretty lucky man." If it wasn't for the fire, Doug said he would have left the injured man until an ambulance arrived on the, scene. Doug, who is single and 35 years of age, is the son of Stewart•and the late Greta Lowe of Brurssels. Winter months are spent at the family home in Brussels and the summer is spent in the air. Contacted by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission "a few days ago", Doug learned he would receive a monetary award of $2,000 immediately, and a medal, "in a few weeks." In part, the Carnegie award, "is given to a person pertorming the act of voluntarily risking their own life to an extraordinary degree in saving or attempting to save the life of another person', or, who voluntarily sacrificed himself in a heroic manner for the benefit of others." The foupder of the fund. Andrew Carnegie. was an industrial leader and philanthropist who established the fund in 1904 for the purpose of recognizing acts of heroism. Doug first learned' of the fund when a fellow helicopter pilot received the award in 1980 for his part in rescuing a nurse from the icy waters of a lake near Sault Ste. Marie. The nurse was involved in the crash of a small aircraft. When asked if he would do it over again, Doug hesitated and said, "its just something you do from instinct. There is a bit of an obligation if you're the first one at the scene." BRUSSELS NATIVE; Doug Lowe, reads a letter from the Carnegie Hero Fund Cor mitssion. Doug will receive the highest honour in North America in saving the life of an accident victim. Colouring contest winners are announced Judges of the annual Christmas colour- ing contest, sponsored by the Huron., Expositor had a difficult job of choosing six winners in three categories from the over 125 entries submitted. The top three winners in each class will receive their prizes in the form of. cheques which will be mailad tQtheir home within the next two weeks. Prizes vire $3, $2, aid $1 for first, second and third respectively. In class one, aged five and under, first prize was won by Stephan Bachert, aged five of RR2, Blyth. Second was Jason Henderson, • aged five of RBI, Brucefield. Laura McKer- cher, aged five of RRi, Dublin. placed third. /Class two, aged six. seven and eight. first prize was won by David Jacklin, seven years of age, of Brussels. Six year old Beverley Paratchek of Dublin placed second and close,, third was Michelle Dillon, aged eight of RR 1. Clinton. Winning first prize in class three, aged nine to 12 was Mike Murray of the Dublin area. Second prize goes to Heather McKer- cher of RRI. Dublin and third to Sheila Schwartzentrubcr of RR4, Wingham. BY RON WASSIFNK Advertisements and editorial articles have stressed time and again that if a person has ' been drinking, they should not .be, driving. This is -especially true during the holiday season when many people tend to get into the "spirit" of Christmas. ' • • Seafforth police chief Hal Claus said although many partake in the Christmas celebration in the form of drink, the season when drunk drivers are a problem is during the summer months. Chief .Claus explained that 3.7 traffic accidents, each causing over $400 in damage, were reported to the department. Of this number, nine showed that the` driver had been drinking. He said the Majority of the accidents were "snow related dr involved traffic mishaps in the downtown core." The use of a portable Alert breathalyzer tester "has been an asset to the depart- ment," said Chief Claus, "People are aware of. the device * and therefore, are more cautious." He noted that since the pottable unit has been in service since January, 35 drivers had their licence suspended for a 12 hour period. The Alert breathalyzer features three rink lv.' lights, "Pass, Warn, or Fail if a drinking driver registers the warn light, he or she receives a temporary 12 hour driving suspension. If "Fail" lights up, the driver is required to "blow" on ,a larger unit which gives the exact alcohol level in that person's bloodstream. Chief Claus'warns that drivers tvho receive a temporary ,suspension and drive within the 12 hour limititgill receive an automatic three month licence suspension. No impaired driving charges were laid by the Goderich detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police said Community Services Officer for Huron County, Eric Gosse. ,He said there was only one accident reported nd was not related to drinking drivers. The reason for a "very quiet Christmas" was due to excellent weather conditions. Constable Gosse said driving was "easier on clear roads. Another reason, he said, "we've let it be known that the department is clamping down on impaired drivers." 'He explained all police departments in Ontario are following this pattern. Constable Gosse said "Booze related accidents cause a lot of problems. A sober driver has at least some control when Please turn to page 3 e decorated BY SUSAN WRITE A Christmas atmosphere fills all the rooms of the big old house on Centre St. where Inez and Bob Spitital have lived for more than 30 years. Lights on the front porch, a homemade swag of fresh boughs and red bow on the front door and a cherry table topped with more greenery and an old family Bible. open at the Christmas story, see to that. inside the big rooms there are more wreaths, a small antique sleigh on the piano, greens on the fireplace mantle, a nativity scene and a tiny choir atop the TV. But the highlight and what one of the Spittal grandchildren, Kathy Larone, calls the focal point of the Christmas season is a miniature village scene that fills 'the bay' window, under the huge perfectly proport- ioned, spruce Christmas tree. It's small, it's lighted and you have to get down low and look for a long time to get al' the details. There are a number of small houses, right in the centre, is a tiny replica of the Spittal's church. St. Thomas Anglican complete with an outdoor sign. Tiny trees, pine cones, people and snowmen are arranged around the village. At one side there s an old-(fasb,ioned barn, a toy that once belonged a youngest Spittal son. Paul, farm animals and more people. At he the edge of the village there's a skating rink (made from a piece of mirror) and snow, really fluffy cotton batting, lies all over the "ground." The village scene had its start 41 years ago, "the first'year Bob wdnt in the army," Inez Spittal remembers. ft was small at first and Mrs: Spittal "added to it as 1 saw things." You can't buy the tiny houses any more "and that's sad." she says. Most of the "people" and buildings in Please turn to page 3 Looking back at '8 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1982 The residents of Seaforth were still waiting for the first new baby of the New Year to arrive. The prospects seemed slim. Accord. ing to officials; at Seaforth Community Hospital, who reported that they had no new arrivals and no expectant mothers. Seaforth and, area residents took a Monday evening blizzard, in stride. The Seaforth Police Department, and the O.P.P. detach• ments in Goderich and Sebringvillc reported no accidents, though many motorists ended up in the ditch. There was also a report of someone riding a bicycle north near the tracks on South Main Street in Seaforth at about 7 p.m. McKillop Township council set 1982 wage rates for its employees at its renal regular meeting of the new year in Winthrop. Monday afternoon. Roads superintendent. Wayne Dolmagc received a 15 per cent boost in his salary to 520,696 per year from 18,000 which works out to about 59.95 per hour, compared to last year's rate of 58.65 Frank Hulley and Art Strong of the road department received wage boosts of 13.8 per cent and 15 per .cent. respectively. Mr, Hulley's tate rises to 58.80 per hour. while Mr. Strong's rate rose to 51.9' per hour from 56.93. Part-time casual help. for road and drain labour. will he paid ata rate of 56.50 per hour in 1982. an increase of just Tess than 15 per cent from last year's rate of 55.10 per hour. The student rate remains unchanged at $5 an hour. Clerk -treasurer, Marion McClure also received a wage hike of 9.5 per cent raising her salary to 523.000 from 521,000. Her car allowance remained the same at 51000 per year. j°,2 The Seaforth Centenaires got .off to a had start in -1962 after losing their two first games of the New Year to Exeter 3.2 and 8-1 to Thedford. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1982 Frigid temperatures, snow,and swirling w in'ds added up to a vicioustorm that virtually shut down 'Seaforth and most of the district. early in the week. - All schools and most businesses were forced to close in the Monday storm and some travellers were stranded in—town. Town employees worked long hours in an attempt to clear Seaforth streets. . Hensall council appointed, a board of management for the village's business improvement area (BIA) at its regular meeting on Tuesday night. The board will be responsible for managing and improving the arca. • The Brodhagen Chamber of Commerce moved up the date of its annual winter carnival this year to be sure there was snow, but it got more 'snow then it bargained for this weekend resulting in the postponement of the event. The annual winter carnival has been sngwed.nut twice and rained out twice in its Six-year history. Seaforth and area residents contributed approximately 53100 in pledges to Participa• tion Lodge for disabled adults on the weekend as part of an Ontario -wide telethon. The Seaforth Lidos Park renovation cam- paign received a considerable boost towards its goal of raising 5'5.000 for the park. after they received a 55,448.00 memorial gift in memory' of the late Frank Kling. The donation was presented by Anna Kling and Peter Kling representing Frank Kling Itd. Seaforth Community Hospital registered its first baby of the New Year on Fnda January 15 at 2:25 p,m. Paul Chamber,. son of Kathy and Charles Chambers of Clinton received the honour of first New Year's baby.' Seaforth received a 5200,000 Ontario' Neighbourhood Improvement Program (ONIP) grant. housing minister ('laude Bennett informed Mayor John Sinnamon at the end of last week. The town applied 'for a grant of 5500,1100 and clerk Jim Crocker says council is \cry pleased with what it got. The Seaforth Fire Arca C'ommitirc is, continuing to investigate sites and building designs for its proposed new headquarters. Mayor. John Sinnamon. a member (it the committee. said al council that nu dciision has been made on either a pre-engineered steel building at an estimated cost of 52'1,000 or a masonary structure loving' 5294.500. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1982 Farm columnist. Bob Trotter wrote in hes column that life for some farmers' s w o e s , ,ur he terrifying, and that it is getting \\ ins,' as the economic squeeze hits the back 1rr1‘ ."Dianne Harbin, president of Wonr, for Survival of Agriculture painted ,i heart rendering picture: Who ran hear a 0one,1 or child screaming for help in the nnddl, of a 101) acre farm? Where docs a w (imam c.• „len the tired over.workcd in-dcM farmer .ekes out his frustrations on his family" Therefore the Women for Sur 4o..• of Agriculture was created in 19-5 to 1 e ice prix ale family problems, The director and superintendent of i. ,r • 4ion for the Huron•Pcrth ('ountt k,•"e,en Catholic Scparatc School Board "respts declined.' a nA and -al per Celt " 'ct'• in.rcasc respectivcl\ for each po'Won Director of education. Welham Fikeri • oil that the salaries has not kept pace '' '11 inflation and referred the matter ha, k n personnel for c nsideration. SEWING CIRCLE?—No, not really. These students'af Seaforth Public School are part of the annual switch -about in Industrial arts and family studies. Fla Mathers is teaching these boys the ins and outs of a sewing machine. Meanwhile up the hall. Keith Snell is azAasmsemnsgraeassegagasonegonszesesanso teaching girls some tech.n.ical skills for usinc s" a'• tools. One outcome the school is striving '„ develop a little bit of Independence for rout gee and household chores More photos on PG 5 IP"'" b, C3',..bP We were all part of 1982 (Year in review throughout this issue,) �� y