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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1989-09-13, Page 1INDEX Births — A7 Weddings — A7 Hensel! — A9 Sports — A10 - A13 Dublin — A17 Obituaries — Al8 Parents approve integration. See page A5. Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensel) and Walton Seaforth, Ontario HURON EXPOSITOR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1989 50 cents a copy Foot chase nets prisoner A routine check of licence plates by a Seaforth Police Constable, led to an all might adventure, and the eventual capture I of a man wanted by a number of other police forces around the country. ' On Wednesday, September 6, at ap- proximately 12:50 a.m. the Seaforth of- ifieer on duty ran a routine check on a vehicle bearing Prince Edward Island licence plates which was parked on Main 1 Street South. 'The check showed the vehicle had been stolen September 4 from Keddys on the Bay, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and it was subsequently placed under surveillence. At approximately 1:20•a.ni. a male and two females entered the vehicle, and on the approach of the police, sped off. After a short chase the three suspects aban- donned the vehicle in Harpurhey and fled on foot. Officers from the Seaforth, Clinton, Goderich and Exeter Police Forces, plus the Goderich OPP and the London OPP Canine Unit were called in and assisted in the search for the suspects. The two females were arrested on Highway 8 between Seaforth and Clinton at approximately 2:45 a.m. The male, a parolee from Kingston Penitentiary with an extensive criminal record, including armed robbery and break, enter and theft, was arrested in a bush lot south of Harpurhey, by the London OPP Canine Unit and tracing dog. That arrest took place shortly after 5 a.m. He is the subject of several outstanding warrants held by other police depart- ments and is being charged by the Seaforth Police Force with: possession of stolen property over $1,000; possession of a narcotic (hashish); possession of a restricted drug (LSD); dangerous driv- ing; and escape by flight. He is current- ly incarcerated in the Stratford Jail and awaits trial in Goderich on November 6. HC:BE teacher faces charges The Huron County public school teacher charged with eight counts of sexual, abuse involving eight students, while released on his own recognizance, is not teaching. This was confirmed by Huron County Board oL Education Administrator Bob Allan, who said, as a condition of the ac- cused's bail hearing he was ordered to stay away from people under the age of 15, "and obviously the Huron County Board of Education • would like to comp- ly with the direction of the court", The accused appeared in Criminal Court in Goderich September 5, and is scheduled to reappear October 2. Mr. Allan remains unwilling to discuss the case as it is a personnel matter. He did say "the-Board-became,aware in late June that a police investigation was .tak- ing place in one of out schools." The in- vestigation was conducted by police in conjunction with Family and Children's Services. • Mr. Allan was also reluctant to confirm �.�°•�,�, , ung+.�s:� at which school the investigation place. "I always feel that a school has a per- sonality and a reputation, so I'm not very quick to name a school. As a former principal I know how damaging it can be to have a .school's name used in a negative way." Mr. Allan said the board takes the view that an employee is innocent until proven guilty. The Board wants to protect the in- terests of students in its schools, but it also has an obligation "to see that the rights of our employee are not infringed on in any way." The Director explains that the number of sexual abuse charges against teachers has risen in the past five years, and "teachers are 'frightened by this." "A lot of people (Board employees)' are watching our management of this in- dividual."They are asking: are they going to protect the rights of this individual, or just throw him to the wolves." took A MELD OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT - Huron Bruce MP Murray Cardiff and Seaforth Mayor Hazel Hildebrand pose with Seaforth's first reeve, D.D. Wilson, played by actor/playwright Ted Johns. Reeve Wilson made a return trip from the hereafter to help his old town wind up Phase I of the Seaforth Main Street pro- gram, and to officially open the newly constructed Civic Court. Robinet photo. Town's fi rst reeve returns A visit from one of the ghosts of Seaforth's past was a highlight of the festivities arranged for Thursday to mark the completion of the first phase of Seaforth's Main Street .program. The town's first reeve, D.D. Wilson, por- trayed by actor/playwright Ted Johns, made a return trip from ,the hereafter, and addressed today's Seaforth residents from a ribbon,.. banner and balloon:dressed town hall civic court - the first.tungible evidence of .the streetscape ;project :which has been working hand in hand with ,the ,Main Street Program. To coin Seaforth's.newest slogan, itwas certainly "Small Town Canada •At Its Best". Ina humorous rhetoric combining past .experiences withpresent day observations, D.D. ,praised ;the Main Street ;program, then ,complimented the town on its ,in- itiative.and concern for its. residents. Pre- sent ;.day ,Seaforth Mayor, Hazel Hildebrand had the:honor • of eutttng the ribbonxen.;ihe recently -restored •town -hall ;porch, ,which was reereated ander the phase OOC 01 the .town's 'Main Street :program, and ,buts+,the civic -court. Also :taking ,part in the !official ,opening ere ex Shevchuk,outgongaMafnS treet ,tor, 1egQampbe111,:Deuity reeve hrfie4trro.tee, OnrarCa> , rte i rucef , enk mm QLemon, ,former.program coordl nator ..r now with. Heritage Canada, and Catherine Villa, Commercial Heritage and Economic Development Coordinator. Although the biggest effect the ,Main Street program has had in Seaforth to this point, is in ;getting .strategies in place, those involved .say it has breathed new .life into ,the ,town, by :giving it a focus, and a plan .of attack. In addition to establishing an ;Economic Development Committee, the •program ,has accomplished the drafting of the Streetscape,Master Plan, which ,wiil;be us- ed As a ,guide for the future •renovation..and revitalization of ,Main ,Street. •Streetscape is a ;long-term ;plan to beautify the town. A number of -other .committees have been ,formed, .some ,government funding bus bcen secured, and a -number .of ,new businesses were :attracted to, a main street that ;bad 10 ,vacant stores ,when the ,,pro- gram pegan..45tatistics ;show that 23 ,jobs wereicreated,thrRugh.=new • business astaarts, ,$325;000was;invested„In .41114118.reuoVa- tjons ,and ; 400,00,,was <,iavasted blrtesses4rorn .' to 1989. `innee g ,goltal er ,erg Jo hne=,they olt w s,o tlucgeseftt •stance, a "1bt cl'ea'ne, teL Cj ,lest Oar„nso ed;,,by .dretvrphorotthan 1 ,000,tpeople, ,up.°3 raeiitvfrom 991906. Isms torpngelsa9” ;In mew tions, F;or. parade Alb is 95th BIRTHDAYS - There were three 95th birthdays at Seaforth Manor this week, as residents Mary K. Ryan, David Netzke, and Verda Cameron All reached a celebrated age. Mrs. Ryan went on a bus tour with Theresa and George Simpson to Mar - die and John Maloney's to celebrate her birthday on September 8, and received cards and calls from friends and relatives. Mrs. Cameron, formerly of Bayfield and Tuckersmith, heard best wishes from the Governor General, Prime Minister and her Member of Parliament on her birthday September 11. Mr Nei- zke's birthday was September 9, and the Seaforth native received best wishes from Pat and Rose Altman, his daughter. and family and friends.'Mr. Netzke lives with his wife Eva at the manor, who is 96 years of age. Corbett photo. Huronview downsizing plan postponed BY Batt:<IL'lrIRY A plan which woukt. ,.have gradually downsized the resident a population at Huron County's.Huronview'Home-for the Aged was rejected, reconsidered in con- fusion and finally sent back Thursday to the facility's management committee. for more review, The committee had wanted an im- mediate t freeze on admissions to the home, and to let the number fall from its current population of about 245, down to 180. That would.have been held at 180 un- til residents move into the two new facilities which are to be built by 1992. Restricting new admissions met with an immediate reaction at Thursday's county council session. Some councillors said it would mean denying services to aging residents, and the plan was quick- ly defeated, with almost no discussion. But once council was told what it had rejected, and the reason for the proposal in the first place, the vote was reconsidered. "I realize you've defeated a motion, but it (Huronview) has to be downsized because the province simplytnlill not ap- prove any more beds," said clerk - administrator Bill Hanly. "It has to be done." "I think we have to address what the county has agreed to fund," said Warden Dave Johnston, abandoning the chair to address council. "Sending it back to the committee is not going to do any good." Council then heard that the two new facilities will offer slightly more beds for extended care residents, but will cut in half the number of residential care beds, and that most of the current residential bed population at Huronview could not manage in the apartment style units be- ing proposed as replacements for the residential beds. The entire Huronview redevelopment project, under ai,udy for several years, has always been controversial. Concern and confusion has recently centered on the provincial government approving the project for the north and central parts of the county, but not for the south, despite an extensive study fin- ding that county residents perceive a need for three :homes; one central, one north and one south. Thursday, council accepted the management committee's recommenda- tion for the composition of the two new homes, after finally learning at the last meeting in July that a home in the south would definitely not be approved as part of the package. If the motion passed Thursday by coun- cil is also approved by the province, the home in the north would have 60 extend- ed care beds, 20 alternate housing units (probably one -bedroom apartments), and a respite care bed. In Central Huron, there would be 120 extended care beds, 20 alternate housing units, and three respite care beds. Huronview administrator Wayne Lester told council that leaves the county with three more extended care beds than cur- rently at Huronview, since the respite beds are essentially for extended care. But it also cuts in half the number of residential care beds. Currently, about 80 people live at Huronview as residential care patients. Turn to page 18 wiles bring slapstick softball to The California Cuties slapstick softball team was in..town Thursday night pitching grapefruit, .carrying 'their own portable bases, and cutting up their opposition, all to the delight •ot'their audience at Lions Park. Pitcher Fifi the Flirt, shortstop and fielder Mainstreet Sally, and firstbase Dumpy Dora took on the Waterloo Chym'rs, while Quties' comedian Madame Hilda gave the play -byplay. These Cuties are four of the ugliest women you'll meet, possibly ,because -they are men in dresses and padded bras. The clubs first played a serious game of baseball, then two comedy innings. The Chym'rs. Senior Fastball team pro- vided tougher competition than the Cuties are used to. The club was champion of the Inter -City Fastball League, runner --up at the Eastern Canada International ,Softball Congress :World :.Qualifier, and finalists at the OASA Senior Eliminations. .Pitcher Danny Yantzi, originally of Tavistock, is one of the best pitchers in:the province and ,pitched for Owen Sound in the nationals. So .actually the fans were seeing two great teams there," commented :Recreation Director Marty Bedard. The Quties are no slouches, and .even though Yantzi racked up the strikeouts Fifi managed to come close to the fence several tines. "Flfi's a,pretty ,good stick, a real;good suck ,aa a matter ,of fact. .He'd: o..after'the high .onesannd .connected a ,,few," says Graham ,Neapltt, one of •the event's organizers and the catcher for 'the Chym'rs. He also caught for ;.the :Cities who were abort player from ctheir,;vsual -four (Hilda just..mtttoluices). a .was,im- pressed ,cgitlif id's pito Liu ` He,,throws a 484d41rop AallAttd. alrea C gaup d he};tpr,ows,bard. 'But ,wo face 08'401es;iiace,,ht gh bre • pit gin their league,, baek ,in etaikta,ot Seaforth •GRAHAM ,NES,FIITT, patoher .fpr the Waterloo Chym'rs and a local man, gets an *sport to ,Home ?tate from ,Dumpy Apra in Thursday night's California Cuties game against ,the Qhymlrs at Winos .Park. •Qorbett photo. ��lIt's rfi n iieeingg a ,reel ,pitcher," r1!e' a n't ,taped r,ppe 1) to et teff; a1 4gre,n fthe-. egic e 'b butt e, - .d g.ame in band fpr the last two innings of his .in ,a 'tlfenight, Two Ctties took to the ,plate at once, one batting left -landed ,and onebat- ape,,%tyya�s $int ,right, ,and when the .ball was hit one kfglne e u e=12'• ren