Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1983-09-21, Page 3'i.• • T.1)W HURON 0,(PQ.010110SEPTMER 21 1$3 — A3 . .; • • , .• . 14 01" A QUEEN LYNNE—Lynne Dodds of RR1 Seaforth was crowned as the Huron County Oueen of the Furrow at the 58th annual plowing match held this past Saturday. The 18 -year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Dodds, Lynne captured the title for, the second year In a row. She is being crowned by Ruth Townsend, .one of the queen of the furrow competition organizers. Town hall parking spots Parking problems behind the town hall since the police station has moved there were discussed at council Sept. 13. The PUC and public works committee will meet to discuss parking needs. Meanwhile the suggestion to put a meter in what was one of the police parking spaces in front of the town hall is still being investigated. A new meter will cost 5600, said works superintendent John Forrest. Why not move one from another spot downtown where it doesn't get much use, Dim n@ yGican councillor Bill Martin suggeked. Like the south side of John St. where there is a double and a single meter and not room for three cars, added councillor Wayne Ellis. One spot is still needed in front for police and council members who have to go to the clerk'sffice, said deputy reeve Bill Bennett. But he added moving the double meter might be possible. Mr. Bennett's public works committee will look into the matter, with the chief of police. From page 2 Agriculture Society on Saturday. Chief of police James V. Ryan investigated. He secured information which led him to several young boys. ' As a result of a car crash on #8 highway east of Seaforth late Friday afternoon, Miss VVinnifred Long of Brussels is in Scott Memorial Hospital here. Constable Helmer Snell, Seaforth investi- gated the crash. SEPTEMBER 25, 1908 • A meeting of the supporters of M.Y. McLean will be held in the council chamber on Monday evening next at eight o'clock, for the purpose of organization. A full attendance is desired. James Hugill has purchased the farm of Mrs. George Irwin on the Huron Road, Hullett near Alma. The farm contains fifty acres and the price paid was $3.100. James Patterson has sold Maple Lawn Farm, 11/2 miles south of Brucefield on the luogicagi cind London Road to George Weir, of Seaforth for the sum of 58,000 cash. Mr. Patterson has owned and worked this farm for forty years, SEPTEMBER 21, 1883 Thomas Dick of Hay one day this week slightly wounded and captured a fair sized eagle. which is quite a rare bird in these parts. Quite a number of the people of Derry a little settlement about three miles west of Cromarty are missing their cats. Some of the sufferers are threatening taking action against the offender. Last week John Fisher shot a large she bear in the big swamp on the 14th concession of McKillop which weighed when dressed 418 pounds. The bear had a couple of cubs with her but the youngsters made their escape before Mr. Fisher could get near enough to shoot them. 31PIE* From page 2 smartening up. and saying, "Out or get a job. " Ul is tightening up. and about time. /Welfare is being cut back to those in real need. But most people want to work. and are happy when they are working. I've seen an excellent example in the past couple of weeks. A construction company has torn our street to ribbons with their huge back -hoes and front-end loaders. These guys are mostly young. They work like dogs, but there's nobody going around with a whip to make sure they don't slow dow,e, There doesn't even seem to be a foreman, running around, shouting epithets. They enjoy what they're doing. though it's hard, backbreaking work, long hours, and most wages below 57 an hour. (Try to get a plumber or an electrician for that.) They're happy; they're pleasant; they're co-operative. They don't quit the minute it's noon. or six. They finish what they're doing. Pets They don't, as a government crew might do, stand around with one guy digging a hole and six others watching him. The work they do in an hour would exhaust the average postal worker, teacher, civil servant, in eight. They don't take five coffee breaks a day. They hate some of the things they're doing, but they're happy to be working. And what do they have to look forward to when the job's done, and bad weather slows construction work to a crawl? They'll probably have to go on pogey, to keep their tamilies alive. It that's wrong, then let's create a state in which a guy is told where he's going to work, how much he's going to get, what size accommodation he can have, lots of whips arid guns, no right tosay what he wants about his boss or the prime minister — a mass of "happy'. workers, producing likeittefe, for no known reason. From page one small animals. Neutering is a preventable measure. "It's an expense, but it is much less than caring for a litter of pups for a year." says Dr. Nuhn. "We do about 250 spays and castrations on cats and dogs, in a year. There are a lot of animals not being born. but there could be a lot more." A COWARD'S WAY For those who can't be bothered with neutering or giving cats and dogs away. the alternative is dumping the animals along a sideroad or a school. By dumping at schools, the owner hopes kids will take the animal home. ' About two or three times per year a sack of kittens is found in a sideroad ditch. "We put animals to sleep which is the humane thing to do, rather than people dumping their animals," says Dr. Nuhn. It makes me very angry when people do this. If 1 ever caught anybody dumping pets, they wouldn't win my good citizen award." Recently, a clinic technician found a bag of kit -tens on a Tuckersmith township sideroad. Other times, conscientious citizens make similar finds and contact the pound. "It's a coward's way out." The Seaforth police department is respon- sible for picking up stray dogs and cats in Seaforth. The most common complaint is a dog in the garbage, usually early mornings. 'The garbage man will tell me when there's a problem," says Hal Claus, Seaforth police chief. "Sometimes he has garbage scattered for two blocks. Ha dog has a tag, we will call the owner and he can pick up his dog at the pound, but half' have not tags." Seaforth employed a dog catcher up until a year ago. Due to the expense and only a few complaints. the dog catching job was turned over to the police. "Night patrol is funny because the mother cats are teaching their young to fend for themselves," says chief Claus. "The cats will jump right into the garbage truck looking for food. We never pick up stray cats, only if they are inured." OWNERS FINED An animal, taken to the pound, will only be released when its owner pays a 550 fine. For Clinton pet owners, there is a 5100 fine for a second offence. The pet owner must also pay up to three days room and board for their dog or cat. thit tor to) 4011 Hur 11 iii';44i-Y;;•• Y „t0r0,0440 f tk 1004'4 ttriCile.' ,• - ,,,,j. Illiarn9yera OtItefr glrlscornpe ft,* the II I ',P001, ..,.;. V,. .,. , Cettnilet,OP wean CherylStcwart, 20, of Kithtlni 411eAslt..1,i,li,!!te..,f ;1,v,A.,.,i!'d Mrs- 'Other com bin 0i4e Lisa Thompson. : '.1011it.S:Ftitltr ,• 18; of RIO irightni*Ughter of. Mr. and Mrs. Sidhey:!Tlietkpitett;'gttetia Wilson, the ' 17-year!old daughter Of:: and Mrs. Stuart Will!,tistrixotof4RstliiortIABEItheflite 4,110tp•NOwnSend, Mrs, 'Ale* To/olisntlf ,Sherritogotter , the ng1110001 Mr. and • 11 of Se f rt daughtero and Mrs. 171YtearilPaf160;4:!thli:tML,iluit.menes: iErice, Chuter b RRt attl it il,B mil r 04,r0,114,‘Ii; 10Otaintere. • InBlytte 1)14 *64 04' (let ofliMta , • , ffin.itl'Oifaiviteirlete0 as the The held074, tiVA v 0., Queen of the Furrow. Noxt Y compete at the IPMIp ot Ject,offnet°'fz,cont;'; and third place )1111innr,a.111 each categury are as follows: erBrPulsoswegsptilluillDero'd.2a0s ofRRSteivesetitAduortit andof •'.Jeff McGavin of lR4 WsIton., _ Huron plowers,ref Xyears of age • Ken • Innes n°faillrfiS:vern Sritiedton'aofCG:Eataveinierd; RR4 ;;',g4WielInter of MitChell.; Vicki GOttee.lt 4.744:4(11:Hi"4:Vg5r of. Brussels, wonle•efiplorlas class for those under 24 . befit, Stewart of Dublin. 11c1114 .-11,44_ s",$teio A ou of PtliSsels.400 McOavin of RR4 WflIton and .Paul • Bodds•of'12121 keaforth.: 014/01410,§ fi911 tion,t0ows - PauI no odPPP t,„ izabetlt!tewart of Dublin and Nut:fear of PPetil'I;W108 C1141ifer those over 20.- Ken lanes' _nissels, Brian -McGayin of RR4 Walton* and Barry Gordon Of 'Egmondville, Businessmet0), plowing class using walk - 14 plow - Albert Carson Of Listowel, Orland Reichert of Zurich end Ralph Webber of Dashwood, 't. Plowing class for tractors with four or more Pt**, 7' Neil Williamson of Walton, Bill McAlliater of Auburn and John Becker of 'DashwOod, • AOltifitecla;qct Iton aii4 Deiclsort Of Zuelch • ; .".,M04'0 nail driving , R011 Penti$04,0:11R6 Goderich, Ernie Talbot of Kitipetrind Bob Bell of Kippen. N, WonSetes mill driving , Donna 11094 of Zurich; Wimmil'antnilson ORB'S "DIME° and pourta•Thiel of Zurich, Log oftwIng. Using yellt °Vat saw , the telm of Ray Scotchkner and Bill MellWillir,y both Godericka ' • Log saWingo with I1 COMPetit0V00011the same saw the team of Rott'sotchnieT Mitchell anRay,Scotchmer Of Ck#010* LOgsawin for wornen -.the te!tinof.cheryl Stewart aniLynne Dodds. Horseshoe pitching Huron teams - Alex Bba and Harold 'Carter. Horseshoe packing Open class Ernie Harburn and Frank Elliott both of Staffs. Prizes and awards will be handed out.at the banquet to be held on Friday. Oct. -28 at the Pineridge Chalet, Henson. ' • • writing ar e lY SUSAN'HUNDERTMABK Whilete's in S aforth this month t Joseph ' Mathangani plan to learn as Mucb as he possib can and ad"tke that knowledge back with ItJn to Kenya. A v sitor with the Alkemade family, the 26 -year-old African is in Canada with the hopes of attending school in North America. "I'm going to help to build Kenya from the education I get from being here," be says. "It's only through initiative and ern:at that' I; can do Something for my government." • In Kenya, the university of ,Nairobi 'has strict requirements for admissionbecause it is the only university in the conntry. Though Joseph missed attending university by two points", he hasn't Wit his appetite learning. With his job at the' university bookstore he continues to learn. "The pay is small but et the bookstore all the new books are comingin and 1 feel right in the centre of everything," he says. A YOURNLIST With three or four articles published in the Nairobi Times, Joseph's goal is to become a journalist. He and his sister Once tried to start a children's magazine but the costs of such a venture were too expensive for them. And, without the necessary certificates from university, Joseph says he would not be hired by any of the country's three newspapers. Because there are no community papers in Kenya, Joseph was particularly impressed with The Huron Expositor. He says stories like the recent one on rabies, can improve communication in the community. "In my country, something like rabies would just be rumor and farmers would not know what to do about it. Here, they must be very alert about it," he says. "Without a newspaper, there is no communication and nothing to touch people's hearts." The Nairobi Times, the only newspaper owned by the Kenyan people, is only three months old in a country which gained its independence 24 years ago. (The other two papers have Asian and British owners). At that rate, Joseph says a community paper may be a long time coming to Kenya. Rather than wait for that day, Joseph is looking to North America as a place where he might continue his education. COMPETITION "Young people in my_ country sometimes get lost because there is no guideline. Competition for spots at the university is fierce and those who don't make it into university sometimes end up taking kobs they don't want," he sett, , • 9 • Many of those young people are leaving the farm for the cities in search of white collar jobs and because, of the 40, per cent unemployment in Nairobi, the government is trying to encourage them to stay on the farm. Because he grew tip ono farm near Nyeri, a small town similar in size to Seaforth, Joseph says he's amazed by the size of farms around Seaforth. In Kenya, farms are much smaller •except for the large plantations once owned by British colonialists. Growing the major export crops of coffee, cotton and tea, these large farms are now jointly -owned by groups Of Means. The average farm is only half an acre each ' and produces enough cora and vegetables for the farm family and Some vegetables to sell in the city. CORNMEAL • Though Kenya is the most developed country in East Africa, the machinery .on Canadian farms .is ,unheard of in Kenya, especially a machine to harvest corn. - Elephants, on my back Joseph Mathangani is an aspiring journal- ist and writer. Seaforth inspired him with the following poem. Elephants on my back Sky tny view That small world I see yet I don't comprehend It is all right. - 'Sall. In the wind; I flew, To that small paradise 1 see, Yet don't comprehend Who whispered Seaforth In the dark. Who? It is a shining star. Wake up, wake up. • Father wake up. Seaforth's a shining star. Joseph Mathangani . "Vye call it make and we take off some - sweet corn for eating and let the rest dry in the fields. 'Theft we take it to a mill to be ground up into Fern meal which we use a lot • for cooking. That crop can carry us until the next season." says.Joseph. As well as learning about Western culture, Joseph hopes to encourage Canadians, to learn about Africa. After visiting the library in Seaforth and some travel agencies in Ontario, Joseph was surprised to see there is very little information about African coun- tries available to Canadians. "Most of the tourists in Kenya are West Genpan, British or American. Canadians should start o visit too. Bomas of Kenya is a good place for tourists to visit because there are people walking around in traditional costume and ceremonies such as ntarriage and circtinicision and traditional dances are ... performed. There you are treated to our culture," he says. Joseph brought a Mzee or old man carving to Canada as a present for the Alkemades. He says he's enjoying his stay in Seaforth because it's similar to his home town; though, Seaforth is much more developed, • "Everyone is friendly here - they all wear a smile." VISITOR FROM KENYA—Joseph Mathanganl is visiting the Alkemade family in Seaforth this month. Eager to learn as much as he can, Joseph says he's fascinated with the old buildings In town such as the Van Egmond House and the Queen's Hotel. He is pictured with Meagan and Drew Alkamade and a Mzee statue he brought from Kenya. Board outraged by rejection of program BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE Rejection of its application for 5700,000 under the Canada Ontario Employment Development program is another slap in the face, says the Hnron-Perth Separate School Board. "The Huron -Perth Catholic School Board has expressed both disappointment and surprise" upon learning of the rejection, a press release issued at the board's meeting on Sept. 12 says. The form letter from COED advising of the rejection says "This should not be taktn as a reflection on the merits of your pr posal. Unfortunately, in aerogram such a COED where application's exceed•program nding a number of good proposalsX, cannot be recommended for funding." But the separate school board wants some answers. It submitted its application to COED on April 22 and did not receive notification of its rejection until Aug. 22. Correspondence frbm Perth MPP Hugh Edighoffcr indicates that the board's propo- sal was first to be considered on July 20, but that meeting was postponed until July 27. Further correspondence from the MPP states the second meeting was postponed and it wasn't until Aug. 10 that the board's proposal was considered. A spokesman from the London regional office of the Ministry of Labor, which co-ordinated the prograM, said most of the money made available to the London region had been handed out by June. He indicated that 52,376,692 has been allocated under the COED program for Huron and Perth out of a total of 518,787,204 in the London region. The London regitm includes Elgin, Heidi- mand-Norfolk, Huron, Lambton-Middlesex, London East, London West, London -Middle- sex, Oxford, Perth and Sarnia. The COED program started last fall with an emphasis on private enterprise. The ministry spokesman said municipalities and non-profit' organizations started submitting applications at the beginning of this year. EVERYTHING Examples of some of the projects include "everything from draining ditches to assist- ance in painting town halls". He said one school board in,,the London region managed to upgrade its school buildings by insulating and caulking under the COED program. The Huron -Perth Separate School Board made its application following receipt of a letter dated M'arch 28 from education minister Bette Stephenson. We strongly urge you to participate in the Canada Ontario Employment Development Draft landfill agreement studied in closed session With two of its members opposed. Seaforth council went into private session to discuss a draft agreement to manage the area landfill site, Sept. 13. There's a "difference in thinking" be- tween McKillop and Tuckersmith, the other two municipalities involved, reeve Bill Campbell, Seaforth's rep to the landfill committee explained. "rd like to have the feeling of this council whether they agree or disagree." McKillop had asked that its Share of costs be reduced from 14 to five per cent. It also wants the clerk of the municipality with the largest percentage to be secretary -treasurer of the landfill committee. "I'm not sure why this has to be discussed in camera," said councillor Paul Ross, who was concerned about the lack of information On the site to him as a councillor and to the community. "It affects e0eryone in the community...thee are not great negotiating points of a ctinft‘act." ,r!X He wants &tunas feeling, sotne hartAny before the public sees the draft agreement, the reeve said, "There could 'be many changes," Council reported out of the private session that the terms of the agreetnent it is going to be negotiating were discuased, Conditional options have been obtained from Eckerlea Acres Ltd. and Herman and Christine Hoste, owners of land needed for access to the landfill site the committee and engineers favor. (=minalearned' Council approved the terms of the optimas. Program. We believe that the program will provide you with a Unique opportunity to develop and implentent projects that will generate employment in your area and, at the same' time, provide. substantial, long-term benefits to your community," she said. So the separate school did participate, particularily after repeated requests for capital grant money from the Ministry of Education were 'denied. Over a six-year period, from 1977 to 1983, the board ha's requested over 52.5 million in capital grants. In 1980 the board received' $80,000 for work at St. Joseph's school in . Clinton. Earlier this year, after initial • rejection, the Ministry , granted the board $200,000 for repairs to the roof and brick work at St. Mary's school in Goderich. ,the board wants its taxpayers to "under- stand the Board has made representation and worked for many years to try and obtain a fair and equitable share of funds for much needed capital expenditares." 'May, board chairman Ronald Murray wrote a letter to Dr. Stephenson requesting support of the COED application. A state - inept of capital needs accompanied the letter. TRUST SH ln part it reads, "with faith and trust the Hnion-Perth RCSS Board has, over the years tried to believe that Catholic education in Huron and Perth has shared fairly and equitably in the allocation of capital funds to school systems, both provincially and locally. The Board is no longer convinced of this. Indeed a somewhat fundamental trust has been shaken. Trustees cannot now help but believe that Catholic education in Huron - Perth has not been provided with approvals for capital projects or the allocation of capital funds to the degree and in the amounts to which we are entitled." On June 21, the minister responded, "While I acknowledge the seriousness of your capital situation over the last five years, I assure you that the,projects put forward by your Boktd have received careful analysis by staff at the Regional Office level and by senior personnel at the central office. If this has not resulted id what the Board perceives to be a fair distribution of funds, it is not because of lack of sympathetic consideration but be- cause, on a province -wide basis, your board's capital needs must receive, in general. a lower priority than those of other boards, within the strict systerti of priorities we are forced to adopt." A ministry of education spokesman from the regional office in tendon said "Major structural problems" receive a high priority in the distribution of capital grants. Any addition or new school capital grant money is handed out on the basis of "new pupil places". The regional superintendent of business and finance, Ken Carter, said new housing developments in the Peel region and other areas where there has, been an influx of people are high on the list of priorities for capital grants for construction, Mr. Carter added that the availability of capital is limited particularly with the ' province's restraint program* WHAT'S NEEDED In its COED application the board "after careful examination of the system needs," projects were developed to improve physical facilities, including school additions at the following locations: -Precious Blood, Exeter for a general purpose room with change rooms and a library resource room; -St. Joseph's in Clinton for a general purpose room with change rooms. " - -St. Boniface, Zurich for a library resource, change rooms with additional washrooms to complement the existing general purpose room. ' -Sacred Heart in Wingham for one permanent classroom and a library resource room. -St. Ambrose in Stratford for a general purpose room with change rooms and library resource room. A general purpose room is similar to a gymnasium but smaller in size. Overall the proposal would cost 51.5 million with the remaining S800,000 to be paid by th board through debentures over a e\il 10 -year pen . "We were repared to go to the taxpayer for over 50 per cent of the cost." said director of education William Eckert pointing out that if the work had been financed through the board's regular financial channels, the Ministry of Education, taxpayers would have to pay only 10 to 20 per cent of the cost. The board expressed outrage at the allocation of COED money when they learned an accepted application was for a swimming pool and sauna at a golf club in southwestern Ontario. • "The question to be asked is, how are priorities established for the use of funds intended for the express purpose of creating jobs locally?" says the board's press release. "The fact that the board made its application for permanent facilities 'in areas of severe deficiency resulted from the continuaTinability of the Ministry of Educa- tion. and relectance of the provincial government to provide the necessary finan- _dal assistance to go forward with the work in the usual tanner. It is new evident that the COED program of job creation has also failed to help the Board meet needs in the area of improved education facilities. No reasons have been given for the rejection of Il five projects outlined in the application. The rejection Of the program follows letters of support for the project from all MPs and MPPs in Huron and Perth counties. 'a