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SEAPORT14, ONTARIO,WEDNESDAY,AUGUST,10, 1983 — 18 PAGES
xpositor
rful, beautiful
'Yo!pWhpallOd at the public works
cammittee meeting Aug. 2 agreed downtowit
Seaforth needs'more plantings. greenery and
beautification. The downtown heritage dis-
trict plan, under study for a year now, will
recommend how to go about it, deputy -clerk
Luanne ?hair said, including some sort of
•
attractive arrangement at the main intersec-
tion.
The Highway /t8 corner needs something
that says to passing motorists, "Hoy. don't
drive through, drive down," Miss Phair says.
Although there have been some problems
with the plan, a draft is expected bv the end of
Hailstones cause damage
Hailstones he size of baseballs fell on
farms and homes in the Cromarty and
Kippen area for at least five minutes during
a storm Monday night.
The hail broke windows of houses,
windshields , of cars, dented aluminum
siding and cars, tore through the canvas of
tent trailera, flattened gardens and fields of
grain and shredded fields of corn.
'Of 40 acres of corn on. his farm, Bruce
Dow estimates that 75 per, eent is ruined. A ,
field of wheat on his farm was also flattened
with kernels of grain embedded into the
ground.
His father, Harvey Dow says insurance
people are coming to look at the damage
the hail did to the body of his car.
"The damage to the houses and cars are
bad but what the hail did to the farmers
around here is the sad part," he says.
iroultirMtt.w.ixnex-ei'•;„,,,;
HMM, THE WHEEL LOOKS O.K, —Dave Brooks, Inspector for the- Ministry of
Transportation and Communication checked over more than 25 cars in Seaforth last Friday,
Another inspector, Clare Deveul le says Seaforth car owners generally keep their vehicles In
good shape.
25 cars at
inspection
"invitation only"
in Seaforth
Car owners in Seatorth generally take
good care of their cars, says Clare Devculle,
inspector for the Ministry of Transportation
and Communication.
"They're not saints but their cars arc
usually in average or above-average condi•
tion," he said during the yearly vehicle
inspection Friday in Seaforth.
A general 15 minute inspection including
the lig.hts, body. exhaust, engine, wheels.
windshield wipers was conducted on
approximately 25 cars whose owners were
given summons by Seaforth police a week
before the inspection.
"It's by invitation only." says Mr.
Deveulle. Owners who don't show up are
charged. adds Hal -Claus, Seaforth police
chief.
With minor problems. such as a headlight
not working, owners are asked to get them
fixed. Bigger items must he re -inspected
when fixed, and major problems such as
faulty steering, brakes, exhaust or holes in
the floor mean the car will he taken off the
road.
"lf a car 'is in pretty bad shape,
sometimes the only way to get it repaired is
by taking the license plates off." says Mr.
Deveulle.
Some people bring their license plates to
t he inspector if they know their car will not
pass, instead of paying for a tow truck to tow
the car back home.
The inspector, who is constantly travel-
ling around Ontario says he must take close
to 100 cars off the road in one week, In
Seaforth 14 cars had the license plates taken
from them on Friday.
Keeping a car in safe condition requires a
regular maintenance program with thor-
ough yearly checks by a mechanic.
"Your mechanic should be like a family
doctor. Find a good one who you trust, stick
to him and visit him regularly. Besides the
regular check-ups you should go more often
if something is wrong, just like you would to
a doctor if you were feeling sick. After all,
it's only for your own safety," says Mr.
Deveulle.
Unsqd@ 'V'k
the year, she says. The planner should get in
touch with the Horticultural Society and the
BIA for comments and ideas, mayor Alf Ross
suggested. Then, Miss Phair said, a
beautification plan could be roughly laid Out
in time to allow Spring planting.
"We'll ask the architect to get in touch with
either of you as immediately as passible,"
councillor Paul Ross told horticulturalists
Gladys Doig and Ruth Beuttenmiller. The two
were invited to the public works meeting after
they appealed to council last month for action
to make Seaforth more attractive.
The BIA (Business Improvement Area) has
been waiting for the heritage district study,
Bob Fisher told the committee. When the BIA
was first formed, members weren't in favor of
borrowing, even at 1 per cent interest, for
beautification, he said.
Now with nearly two years in, he'suggested
the merchant group could budget and plan for
some improvements, along with the Horticul-
turall Soc ty and LACAC, 'the town commit-
tee co -or inating the heritage district plan.
Lack o p ublic_property at Seaforth's main
intersection is a problem 6 deputy reeve Bill
Bennett, public works chairman said. The
town only owns the sidewalk, 33' from the
centre of the roadway to be exact, public
wo 5.superlitteadent John Forrest said.
414'e y4th. you," on the need for
imp Velneats, Mr, Bennett said. "But I
dont kbew,h14, personally, to go about it."
Eva aLlOWWowned 6' wide sidewalk at the
ccinIel'AYMidd:allow room for some plantings,
MrS 40i; mild;
Teiot sIceet that links the downtown
witliVeloria Park could be Jibed with trees,
Mrsj, BeuttMimiller suggested. "Make it
park-Iiite rather than cars and parking
meters. Put trees in to the roadiine.
Meanwhile, the eommittee agreed to seek
prides for 1984 on more flower boxes similar
to the 12 the Society owns and plants on Main
St.every summer. "We started with eight
(five years ago) because people were so sure
they wouldn't last, they'd be wrecked," Mrs.
Doig said.
The boxes, which weigh 400 to 500 pounds,
arevandalized at times but on the whole "the
kids haven't bothered the boxes at all this
sununer," said Mr, Forrest.
Improving Seaforth's downtown, en-
trances and main corner will take co-ordina-
tioit and co-operation, those at the meeting
agreed. "We can't just let the thing die...and
a one shot meeting isn't going to do it," said
councillor Ross.
Over 2500 athletes
register for Sportsfest
Campsites at the Van Egmond house and
the Agricultural grounds are filling up this
week as the 2,500 people registered SQ far for
Sportsfest prepare to participate in the
weekend's competitions in Seaforth and area.
Despite earlier fears that registration
would be low, co-ordinator Mary Jane Nigh
says each event, with the exception of trap
shooting which has been cancelled', has a
good number of participants.
"That's a pretty good track record since in
other years, organizers have had to drop
three or four events," she says.
Team events have the highest registration
with teams on a waiting list in some
categories. Ball hockey is full with 16 teams
and five teams on hold, girls' squirt softball
has two teams on hold with six teams filling
the event and ladies' softball is full with 24
teams and three teams on hold. Most
BY WILMA OKE
.The cost of opening a new commercial
entrance to Highway 4 at Vanastra will cost
more than twice as much as first estimated.
Tuckersmith Township Council Tuesday
was given the engineer's calculation,
,$13,000, including the engineer's fees.
"This is an appreciable increase", said
Reeve Robert Bell, comparing it to the
original estimate of $5,000. He said the road
superintendent, Allan Nicholson, had felt
this was a low estimate right from the time it
was first made after the opening was
requested by Vanastra residents.
Tenders are to be called for the construc-
tion work,
NEW HEATER PURCHASED
Council approved purchase of a propane air
furnace to heat the swimming pool area in the
Vanastra Recreation Centre, from Bailey's
Heating, Kippen for $5,665.
Reeve Bell presented a certificate to Mr.
Nicholson from the C.S. Anderson Road
School at Guelph for his successful comple-
tion of a three-day school in road work in
May.
Council passed a $400,000 borrowing
by-law to carry on council business until taxes
are collected.
An application for a tile drainage loan for
OMB
surprising is the six teams on a waiting list for
ladles' slovypitch with 16 teams filling the
event after organizers had troubles getting
enough teams to participate last year.
More participants are expected for indivi-
dual events such as the fun run, horseshoes,
) tennis. darts, and euchre.
\, "People usually show up at the last minute
for those events."
With 18 convenors, 15 members of the
Lake Huron Zone Recreation Area (LHZRA)„
and Katimavik participants helping out, the
Sportsfest committee still.needs 20 to 25
volunteers to help out with scoring, lining
fields,,tefereeing and reporting scores to
headquarters.
Anyone wishing to volunteer can call Mary
Jane Nigh at 527-0882,
Information, about the campgrounds is
available from Lynda Jones at 527-0413.
anfs meeting.
$20,000 was approved. /
Councillor John Brownridge asked council
to ask for a regular financial statement from
the Vanastra Water and Sewage system.
Concerned about the spiralling costs of the
proposed new Seaforth landfill site and the
lack of definite information, Councillor
Robert Broadfoot has asked for an on-site
meeting with McKillop and Seaforth coun-
cils.
Clerk Jack McLachlan is to apply for a
grant to meet the costs of compiling a history.
of the township to mark the sesquicentennial
birthday in 1985. Committees are being set
up to plan and carry out festivities to mark the
event.
A request from the City of Mississauga for
endorsement of a resolution to conserve old
railway stations as heritage buildings was
turned down with only councillor Brownridge
voting for saving the historic old buildings
from the wreckers' hammer in the coming
years.
The Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Au-
thority's offer to give the township the
privilege of maintaining the Clinton Conser-
vation area in the northwest part of the
township was not accepted. Council agreed
with councillor Brownridge that Tuckersmith
(continued on page three)
CLOSE CALL AT THE POOL—Four-year-old Shannon Dale doesn't look too pleased about
being near the water after her ordeal at the Lion's pool last week. When she got into water
over her head, David Cronin pulled her out and took her to the nearest lifeguard.
Quick thinking
saves four-year-old
What could have been a tragedy was
averted thanks to the quick thinking of
12 -year-old David Cronin. A son of J erry
and Heather Cronin, St. Columban, David,
used rescue techniques he learned at
swimming lessons, to assist a four year old
girl who experienced 'difficulty when
swimming in the Seaforth Lions pool on
Wednesday.
Left unattended for several minutes by
her older cousins, Shannon Dale, daughter
of Datryl and Hilda Dale, Seaforth, floated
on her back into deep water and started to
swallow water. Shannon cannot swim.
Noticing the youngster was having
problems, David lifted her out of the water
and took Shannon to lifeguard Carolyn
Wilson, at the side of the pool. Shannon
started to cough out the water and began to
cry.
"As soon as she started crying, we knew
she was O.K.," says David Rimmer,
another lifeguard.
Neighbors of the Dales, Peter and
Margaret Bannon, were at the pool at the
time with their grandchildren and say they
were impressed with David's efforts.
"We were very proud of the boy for him
to realize there was something wrong and
to do something as fast as he did," says.
Mrs. Bannon.
"We need more
swimmers like him"
Life saving training starts during
swimming lessons when children are as
young as six or seven, says Carolyn
Wilson.
"We need more swimmers like David,"
she says.
Shannon's scare has caused her mother,
Hide to do some serious thinking about
her daughter's inability to swim.
"I'm going to enroll my children in
swimming lessons as soon as 1 can," she
says.
hearing date set for Sept. 13
An Ontario Municipal Bo rd hearingk,
concerning a minor variance is scheduled for
Tuesday. September 13 at 1:00 p.m. The
hearing will be held in the Seaforth council
chambers.
The OMB hearing stems from an appeal on
a decision of the committee of adjustment of
Seaforth which granted Leo Medd a variance
for permission to build a new residence, by
reducing the westerly side yard requirement
from 25 feet to 15 feet, Mr. Medd was also
granted approval to retain the existing
dwelling on James Street until three months
after final inspection of the new residence, at
which time the present house is to be
demolished.
The appeal was made by Richard Burgess.
David Tremeer and Christine Tremeer.
"The OMB chairman will listen to
arguments and will decide whether to uphold
or deny the appeal. The chairman's decision
will be final." said Roman Dusz, Huron
county planner. "Since the matter has been
appealed. it now becomes a new hearing. The
committee of adjustment has nothing more to
do with the matter,"
The promptness of the OMB hearing (two
months following the.edeadline date for
appeals) is not unusual said Mr, Dusz, "It can
take from three to six months to schedule a
hearing. It all depends on the schedule of the
board. '
The committee of adjustment has made a
decision, a decision the county planning
department upholds. "We are on record that
the application is reasonable and should be
approved. Our position is that we Stand in
favor.
"The concerns of the surrounding neigh-
bours are not so much of the variance but the
possible future use of the property. The OMB
will be dealing with whether it is reasonable
planning. The board will only deal with the
facts," said Mr. Dusz. "If the applicant does
open a business in the future, then action can
be taken. But that's a nonexistant issue at
this point,"
Clerk of Seaforth, Jim Crocker will be
attending the hearing. "We just hit it lucky
that a hearing will be held this soon. OMB
hearings are scheduled when convenient for
the board. It just depends how you hit it."
"This is a brand new hearing for a minor
variance. The town will not be making
arguments for or against," said Mr. Crocker,
"The faster the matter is heard, the
better," says Paul Ross. lawyer for the
applicant, Leo Medd. "I'm confident the
Ontario Municipal Board will uphold the
decision of the planning board, because the
decision was based on good solid authority."
A September meeting did not surprise Mr,
Ross. "1 wrote and asked if they could
expedite it and they've done that. 1 did expect
an earlier date."
Thieves break into Legion,
take six cases of liquor
Liquor valued at approximately S1400 was
stolen from the Seaforth Legion after a
break- in just before daybreak on Monday
morning.
Six cases of 40 ounce bottles of liquor were
stolen by thieves who entered the legion
through the window St the main door.
Crowbars were used to gain entry says Hal
Claus, Seaforth police chief.
The Legion in Clinton was also broken
into. It was not known if the two incidents
are related. \
Scott -Dickson decendants celebrated
150th, plaque unveiled A 3
Free rabie shots for
pets A 10
Huron Cattlemen hold
beef barbecue A 7
0
A second two headed
calf born near Walton A 10
Births /A6
Brussels news /Al2, 13
Classified /A14, 15, 16
Community Calendar /411
Dublin news /A4
Entertainment /A7
Family /A6
Farm /A10
Hensel, /A 10
Kids /A11
Londesboro /A13
Obituarids /A7
Odds n Ends /A2
People /A7
Roulston /A2
Smiley /A2
Sports /A8, 9