HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1983-03-16, Page 1• ,Incorporating
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SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1983— 24
budget approved by 3 of 5
Three of five municipalities who own and
operate the new Seaforth and District
Community Centres have approved the
building's 1983 operating budget. It shows a
deficit of $36,305 and management board
chairman Ken Campbell says expenses were
budgeted high and income low, just to be on
the safe side for the centres' first year of
operation. •
Seaforth, which pays the biggest share.
$19,351; McKillop which pays the second
biggest, $9,076, and Hibbert which has the
second lowest share. $2,106, have all
approved the budget. Tuckersmith. which
pays the third largest share. $4,901. and
Hullett which pays the smallest. $871, have
both turned it down.
Huron has
There is growing concern among police more impaired charges." he speculates, The. chief feels that much of this parent
officers and community groups over the referring to easier accessibility of funds to education can come through setting proper
sharp increase in the number of impaired young peoplle to purchase alcohol. because examples
rdtheink chilnddrenivinththe
family.
ern If
m
charges and alcohol-related accidents in of the.upswg in the economy. parents
l
Huron County. According to figures released He explains that present educational carry over to the children, he explains.
by the Ontario Provinical Police (OPP). programs on the danger of ,drinking and • The chief is supported in his view by
Huron County registered more alcohol- driving are aimed at grade 4 and 5 students constable Wilson, who feels that there
related accidents per capita than any other in an attempt to explain the problem and must be some initiative taken by people
county in the province. help them cope with peer pressure, which is themselves to curb drinking and driving.
The facts indicate that there is a serious felt to be one of the root causes to the FOR GRANTED
problem with drinking and driving in the increase of alcohol abuse among teenagers. "People take alcohol for granted," he
county which has prompted both local and "We have to start younger that peer added, emphasizing that too often people
OPP officers to step up the number of pressure, which is felt to be one•of the root particularly
a icularl us probs, mconsider
thannsider drugl abuse.preventive courses in county schools. causes to the increase of alcohol .abuse
"Alcohol consumed in motor vehicles is among teenagers.
stupendous, especially on weekends," God- "We have to start younger so, that peer
erich OPP Constable, Bill Wilson std. pressure will be different for the coming
He estimates that 60 per ten of all generation," he said.
accidents in the area are alcohol -ret ted. 1 ne He does not feel that the same educational
figures show that the age group om 14 to program would work with older teenagers
25 are primarily involved in the a accidents because of what he termed their inability to
and in alcohol charges, be persuaded by "scare tactics,
In Seaforth ,the number of impaired Schools are giving much of the direction in
charges rose from one in 198 to six in 1982. educating young people about alcohol abuse
The age group charged in, he community with the individual police departments
ranged from 17 to 38 years of age. with the offering support for the programs through
majority in their mid -twenties. active involvement and information. How-
Seaforth police chief, Hal Claus feels that ever, chief Claus feels that a Targe part of the
police will see a significant rise in the responsibility should fall on the parents, to
number of impaired charges in the future. educate their children about the- obvious
s the economy picks up there will be dangers related to drinking and driving.
According to figures from 1980. the last
complete operating year for the old Seaforth
arena. the deficit was larger then than it is for
the brand new building. The operating cost
that year was $41,140, with the lion's share.
536,920. paid by Seaforth. On a voluntary
basis. other municipalities contributed the
following grants: McKillop. $i,800; Tucker -
smith, 51.500; Hibbert, 5651 and Hullett.
52.69.
Mr, .Campbell emphasizes that a fair
portion of the operating budget goes for
expenses which will not be incurred every
year, $12,000 this year and the sante amount
for two more years goes to pay off the
debenture on ,the old arena. The ice plant
from the old arena is in use in the new
building. A floor polisher. budgeted at over
53.000 is also a one time expense, as are a
couple of other items, totalling with the
debenture. about 520,000. "When you
deduct those (the cost is) a long way under
what it cost to operate the old arena. Mr.
Campbell says.
Because the three municipalities approv-
ing the budget contribute 80 per cent of it, the
budget can stand. but Mr. Campbell said the
Tuckersmith and Hullett reps to the commun-
ity centres board will be going back to their
councils to explain the budget more com-
pletely.
At its Mar. 9 meeting Seaforth council
decided to write the board of management
chairman to ask for an official explanation of
why a higher tender was accepted for snow
removal this winter. Council's rep, Irwin
Johnston, said Mr. Campbell had asked that
councillor Henry Mero, who asked Tor an
explanation at the Feb. meeting, speak to him
directly.
"As a private individual, I'm not going to
approach the chairman," councillor Mero
said. "I'm asking as a councillor and expect
an answer as a councillor."
In oilier arena business. councillor John•
Ston reported the heating system is working
satisfactorily and that garbage is picked up
from the building every Monday and
Thursday. He said the arena manager
doesn't know where the metal garbage bin, in
use at the old arena. had gone.
most alcohol related accidents
Investigate break -.in
March 1, with stereo equipment stolen in the
break-in.
Damage to the windows. coupled with the
valuenf the stolen equipment, is estimated, at
about 52166.
Police report a quiet week with no charges
laid.
Seaforth police are continuing their
investigation into an. early morning break.
enter and robbery at Bob and Betty's Variety
Store at 33 Main St. According to police chief,
Hai Claus, 'two plate glass windows were
reported broken at 4:25 a.m. last Tuesday.
Figures released by the Seaforth police
support this view. In 1982 there were only
eight drug related charges registered, while
there were six impaired charges and a total of
92 Liquour Act offences laid.
Another aspect in the fight against
impaired driving is what many officers see
as the relatively light sentences given to
convicted drivers in Canada in comparison to
other countries.
"1 do believe in other countries where
they have stricter laws it does keep people
off the roads," chief Claus explains.
Please turn to page 3
Firemen hope to soon
move to new hall
Seaforth firemen hope to move into their
new firehall shortly after the town takes
possession Mar, 31, Mayor Alf Ross reported
at council Mar. 8.
E• erything seems to be in order and the
building is up to standard, he said.
The fire area committee consi&ered and
turned down an offer from the building's
previous owner, McNichol. Trucking, to lease
ane bay of the building, the mayor reported.
The fire area committee's 1981 budget,
which includes the purchase of the new
building, was 'approved. Expenditures arc
projected at 5239,355, including capital
expenses of 5188.835. Seaforth will pay
SbS .2.4,.pr 31.17 percent of the curbs-,
McKil)op. V74.917' • Or •'35'.53 ' per ceut.
Tuckersmith, 536.710 or, 17.41 per cent:
Hibbert, 519.883 or 9.43 percent and Hullett.
513.621 or 6.46 per cent.
In 1982. before the new 'building purchase.
the fire arca committee spent 566.841. On the
1983 budget, salaries and wages increase
only slightly. from 56,160 last year to 56,400.
The secretary treasurer will he paid 5900, up
from 5600 and utilities will increase front 5880
to 53.000. Rents will decrease sizeably, from
$3.480 last year to a projected 5870 in 1983.
Will the fire siren move from the town hall
root' to the new building south of the tracks,
councillor Bill Martin asked. Or is it still
necessary. at all.
Since fire department members now have
pagers "1 wonder if the- traffic it creates is
worth it?" he asked.
Pagers aren't 100 per cent reliable.
councillor Henry. Mero commented. People in
town are used to hearing the siren as a
warning and can get out of the way as
volunteer firemen drive to. the firehall. clerk
Jim ('rocker added.
"How else are you going to know it's one
o'clock 3– quipped t'ouncillor Paul Ross.
Councillor Martin suggested a compromise
could be reached. perhaps using the siren as
back up. "I'll have it discussed at fire area
committee.– said the mayor.
Starting with this week
Expositor prints Tuesday
For the first time in its 123 year history,
The Huron Expositor is being printed on
Tuesday night. That means this issue will he
in the hands of most arca readers on
Wednesday morning.
When it was founded and for many years
later. the Expositor was dated on Friday. Leo
Hagan who began work here as a printer in
1932 says printing the paper. always eight
pages in size (except near Christmas when it
jumped to two sections of eight pages each)
took most of Thursday. After the Expositors
were addressed he took some down 16 the
post office Thursday night. and the rest
Friday morning.
Years later. when Tont Haley joined Ole
staff in the fifties. the paper was completely
printed. still in the plant in Seaforth. by late
Wednesday night.
It was will the issue of May 15. 1969 that
l hr a 111_07;1)0%00r \Neill offset and was
pi. led on the new presses at Signal Star in
Go Ierich which served arca papers. late
Wcdnesdaafternoon. The papers were in
the mail to arca readers Wednesday night.
1 ess than five years ago the dateline on the
xposiuir was changed to Wednesday
be, .11151' it was available at sales outlets here
shortly after suppertimc.
Despite the changes in dates, and the
l \positor Mill continue to he dated Wednes-
da . ane thing remains the same: service.
Residers always get their paper. As Leo
Hagan remembers. "even when there was
tour feet of snow in the back alley. those
papers got to the post office...
AIR TRAVEL—Jim Stephenson and daughter Ann, aged two, examine a balloon which
Jim found In Grey township last Monday. Hailing from Willard, Ohio, the balloon
travelled approximately 300 miles in six and a half hours. (Wassink photo)
Balloon from Ohio school
floats here. in 6'/z hours
Close encounters of the fourth kindwere
the furthest thing from Jim Stephenson's•
mind when he noticed what he thought was a
child's balloon Floating in the sky. Grinding
chop on his father's farm. Jim of RR1, Ethel
says he initially didn't pay much attention to
the balloon: '
"At 4:30 Monday afternoon (Mar. 7) 1
noticed the balloon which was approximately
50 feet in thc air. It was travelling from a
southeasterly direction, heading west,
explained Jim. "A gust of wind caught the
balloon and blew it across the road, against a
fence. It was approximately 40 rod from
whcrc I was."
Curiousity got the better of him. Jim says
"1 decided to see what it was. There were four
balloons attached to a string. Three were
broken, shredded as if blown by high winds.
Four cards. wrapped in plastic. were attached
to the other end of the string, The tags were a
bit faded, but were in excellent shape."
Reading the tags, Jim found the balloons
were front Willard Junior High School,
Willard, Ohio. Names printed on the tags •
included Roberta Worcester, Wynn Lydy and
Johanna Beebe. On the reverse of the card,
the finder was instructed. "If you're bored
beyond belief, Read a book and get relief.'
Return this card by March 30, 1983 to become
eligible for a special prize." The card was
signed,."W.J.H.S. Right to Read Activity.'
"This is the first time I ever saw a balloon
flying in the sky," exclaimed Jim. No date
indicated when the balloons were released
and ,lim didn't know where Willard, Ohio was
located. '
Jim and his wife are hoping they will
receive a reply from the school. "We don't
care about the prize. It's just interesting that
a balloon came this far." Mrs. Stephenson
said a reply letter was sent via first class mail.
"No„we didn't reply using a balloon or a
bottle.” she joked.."lt would be interesting
to sec if the balloon travelled faster than the
mail service."
In a telephone interview with Dave
—Hirschy. building principal of Willard -Junior
High School on Thursday; Mar. 10. the
Expositor learned that the balloons had
travelled approximately 300 miles. Willard is
approximately 75 miles southeast of Toledo.
Ohio.
When told the balloon had been found on
Monday. Mr. Hirschy. amazed, said approx-
imately 800 balloons were released by
students and staff of the school, that very
same day. "1 checked my watch and it was
10:02 in the morning." The balloons travelled
300 miles in Icss than six and a half hours.
Unable to contain his excitement, Mr.
Hirschy said the find by Jim Stephenson is
the first reply the school has received. "We
are going to send prizes in the form of books
to whoever finds a balloon. We will definitely
send a prize to the Stcphensons."
Mr. Hirschy explained that Willard is a
town of approximately 7,000 residents.
"There arc 750 students from grade five to
eight enrolled in our school. "Everyone will
he excited by the news.'
As part of reading activities, thc balloons
were expected to head in an easterly direction
towards Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania, said Mr.
Hirschy. "There was not really a strong wind.
but it was from the south."
As for the remaining balloon, two-year-old
Ann. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson
has had a great time with her new toy. "ShF 's
been after it ever since its arrival." said her
mother.
Absentee ownership a concern, MPs told
ST. PATRICK'S—Jackie Rosea and Darrel Eckert of St Patrick's Separate School in
Dublin are sharpening their dance skills for St Patrick's Day The school is planning a full
slate of events to celebrate the day See related pictures on page All (Svela photo)
Absentee foreign ownership continues to
escalate in Huron County and farmers were
encouraged to present their facts to the
Minister of Agriculture and Food Dennis
Timbrell.
At the annual Huron County Federation of
Agriculture members of parliament dinner
in Clinton on Saturday. the question of
absentee foreign ownership 'dominated the
concerns presented by Federation commit-
tees, affiliated and commodity groups.
"The reason the province is not acting is
because they don't think it is a problem,"
said MPP Jack Riddell (Lib.•Huron•Middle•
sex) noting that according to government
statistics. only one per cent of Ontario
farmland is foreign owned.
"1 know those figures are erroneous.
added MPP Riddell.
The Concerned Farmers for Ontario
Farmland pointed out the figures are
particularity erroneous in Huron. This group
was formed hack in early ,I982 following a
seminar on the subject in Stratford.
"Huron County has had a 30 per cent
increase in foreign ownership in the past
year. In the centre of the buying area.
Morris Township had about 200 acres
foreign owned three years ago. 2,000 acres
one year ago and now 4,000 acres are
foreign owned." stated Doug Garniss of
R.R. 4, Wingham representing the concern-
ed farmers.
"If absentee ownership can he controlled
by legislation in Prince Edward island.
Manitoba. Saskatchewan and Alberta, why
not in Ontario?" asked Mr. Garniss.
Haying received his answer from MPP
Riddell, Mr. Garniss asked "What should
'se he doing?" •
Present your facts to the minister
1 imbrcll)." said MPP Riddell, adding, "A
letter from you people is worth more than
Murray (Elston Liberal MP for Huron -Bruce)
or 1 getting up in the legislature."
Reeve Paul Steckle of Stanley Township
agreed absentee forei n ownership is a
serious problem in Hu County and one he
is vitally concerned +abo t.
"We appreciate th support of any
municipality," said Huron Federation pre-
sident Tony McQuail of R.R. 1, Lucknow,
"It's one of the areas where with a joint
effort, we could make our case clearly.
Mr. Garniss pointed out the detrimental
effect absentee foreign ownership has in the
local area. both socially and economically.
"Land tends to be purchased in large
blocks over a short period of time, and either
run as a large corporate entity, or the land
rented out on short-term leases. Barns,
farmhouses, °fences and woodlots are often
demolished as a nuisance." Mr. Garniss
pointed out.
Saying that foreign ownership destroys
the family farm, the Wingham-area farmer
noted it limits expansion of present farms
and difficult for beginning farmers to enter
the industry because the absentee foreign
buyer has the money to outbid the local
farmer. Mr. Garniss added that in good
financial times the competition pushes land
prices higher and in bad times the land is
bought for as little as possible.
Absentee foreign ownership also threat-
ens the farmer's l'ifes'tyle said Mr. Garniss.
noting that as foreign owned land increases
there are fewer farmers, resulting in the loss
of churches, community halls, stores, farm
equipment suppliersand even whole ham-
lets.
The Concerned Farmers for Ontario
Foodland fear the control of agriculture will
Please turn to page 3
Team Ten game,rl5sses $1000
for(
track and field /A13
Bears win WOSSA and are
now in Timmins /A14
ar•
Espec Ily for Mardi 17, .
a St. Patrick's -04 quiz
/A11
Keep the kids busy
during March break
/A3
Births /A6
Brussels news /A22
Classified /A21, 22
Dublin news /A11, 12, 18
Entertalnment /A5
Family /A6
Farm /A8' 9
Hensall news /A10
Kids /A15, 18
Obituaries /A17
People /418
Roulston /A2
Smiley /A2
Something to Say /A2
Sports /A13. 14, 15
Welton 1410
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