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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-03-18, Page 1,00.0 value, 23 cattle .stolen Bob Down woke up Wednesday morning, looked outside and found that 23 of his cattle had been stolen sometime the night before. Mr. Down, whose farm is on the second concession in Usborne township, had the cattle stolen between 6:00 p.m. March 16 and 8:00 a.m. March 1.7. The OPP thinks that the thieves backed a truck up to the farm, ticular care now, particularly if they have a cattle pen adjacent to the house. They request them to report any suspicious activity they see. They also request the farmers to be on the alert for what they think could be Mr. Down's cattle and to report suspicious activities to the OPP. Their phone call could save them the problem Mr. Down now faces. loaded the cattle in it and left, with about $7,000 of beef on the hoof. Mr. Down's cattle were Charolais, Herefords, and Black Angus with white faces. They had all been freshly dehorned, an identifying trait, not. more than a week ago. Each of the cattle weigh in between 550 and 700 pounds, The OPP are asking that farmers in the area take par- Exeter looking at $45,000 to clean up, save trees THE FIRST THING MANY YOUNGSTERS notice about school is the chalkboard. The BIG chalkboards, and what better thing to do on the first day at school then to find out just how much fun that chalkboard is? That's what Debbie Lawrence, Sharon Maxwell and Heather Tinney did Tuesday at Hensall Public School when they were there for The estimate does not include the painting of trees where the cuts have been made as the sap conditions of the trees right now will not let the paint take, The Ministry of the Environ- ment has been in Exeter, at the Works Department request, to mark the trees that are not worth saving because of disease or too much damage. Wright estimated that there are 40 to 50 trees which will eventually be removed entirely because they are dead or dying. The potential danger that the hanging branches create is too great to not remove the branches said Wright. The hanging branches could fall and seriously hurt or kill pedestrians. As well as that danger, there is the fact that if the trees are not properly trim- med, they will die. The Public Works Committee had anticipated spending $4,000 on tree maintenance this year, but along with the branches of the town's trees, the ice storm smashed this figure out of proportion. In order to remove the thousands of hanging branches and save many of the trees, Works Committee Chairman Ted Wright estimated the final total to be between $40,000 and $45,000. Wright arrived at this estimate through the costs of running the bucket trucks, the chipper and the man hours required as well as the hours required to remove the hanging limbs. He said he has figured the costs of the operation by taking the daily costs of $850 and multiplying by the estimated six weeks it will take to complete the job. Kindergarten registration. Were they looking forward to school? None of the three would commit themselves to that, probably thinking of future temptations to play the venerable game of hookey. photo by Youn9s. Wright said that a petition presented to council in the summer of 1975 from Exeter ratepayers urging protection of the trees shows that the town would be willing to save the trees. Council approved the continued use of the chipper and bucket trucks and the use of RAP em- ployees to help in the clean up in exchange for Works department employees to help RAP when they begin to prepare the parks for the summer months. Wright said department foreman Glen Kells had written to the Ministry of Com- munications to investigate the possibility of funds to help defray the costs of the clean up. He said the nature of the storm is putting excess strain on the budget. He thought that there might be money coming for Please turn to page 3 Council rejects RAP proposal for Burkley-Bowling fence One Hundred arid Third Year EXETER, ONTARIO, MARCH 18, 1976 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Hopes high The Property Committee has rejected a proposal from RAP on the erection of a fence between the Exeter Lawn Bowling Greens and the Burkley Restaurant because it would impede the use of the greens for tournaments, the lawn bowling clubs main source of income. RAP has suggested that a fence ' ink be built from the southeast IMP corner of the greens running along the property line until it. came to the corner of John Tzavaras' restaurant where it would jog out eight to ten feet to and continue in this fashion until it met Main St. where it would run northwards, encircling the greens. 00 should be brought into effect. Mayor Bruce Shaw said that they couldn't rule one way one time and then change that ruling on the next incident. Con. Bar- bara Bell concurred with the Mayor, adding that since council is "looking forward to the official plan being in place shortly" they should rule under the new plan. Since there are no parking requirements for businesses below Victoria St. Mr. Tzavaras will not have to rent land from the town to provide parking. This also means that he can open the banquet facility he is planning on, without worry over the LLBO who had sent a letter to council requesting information on the parking requirements for Mr. Tzavaras' business. ssibility of arena reopening receives the "structural engineer's stamp" he becomes the target" should the structure collapse. McKinlay is cautious about the re-opening. Projects get 4 grants Cubs to see police work Cancel If area residents see some little people in the police cruiser in the near futtire they are not to think the youngsters are being led off to jail. On the contrary, they're assisting the police department by learning what a policeman is and does, and at the same time earning a scouting badge. The program, being set up by Constable 1a ice, will have two cubs accompanying an Exeter police officer for approximately one hour while the officer does his regular shift. This program will be carried out over a period of four weeks to enable all the Exeter Cubs to be a junior police officer for one night, The project commenced by Constable Vice giving a lecture to the 18 members of Exeter Cubs at their meeting, March 9. was shown" supporting Exeter in their drive for a solution. All four municipalities said that they were interested in obtaining grants and monies for a project. Hensel' has been invited to the open meeting as well after they showed interest in the projects that will be discussed. Two municipalities which the Mayor did not name have ex- pressed an interest in raising funds for another "facility, not an arena." The meeting is open to ratepayers from the five municipalities and will discuss three alternatives to the problem: to restore the present arena, build a new South Huron arena andior additional recreational facilities and finally whether to abandon the idea of an arena in Exeter. Should the arena he re-opened, the insurance which was slashed immediately after the closing will have to be updated to cover liability and fire, revamp their budget. This presents a totally new picture to RAP, who may be eligible to rent our the arena in the summer months. They expect some sort of budget picture by April 8. Mayor Shaw said the engineer who would certify the arena safe would also be doing the continual inspection that would be necessary. The engineer would be required to file reports with the Ministry of Labor every two to three weeks saying that the building is safe. He has offered to do this free of charge to the town. In other business related to the arena, a public meeting involving five area councils has been called for April 1 at Exeter Public School, Ratepayers from the five municipalities involved are in- vited to attend. The meeting follows a closed discussion between councils of Exeter and Hay, Stephen and Usborne Townships. During the meeting Shaw said, "good co-operation from the area McKinlay said that engineering reports show that the structure can sustain about 50 percent of the required wind load in its present state. He added that without the snow load there is"one less element" to worry about. RAP is waiting to get the details of the possible re-opening he said and are prepared to programme activities into the arena on whatever basis it will be opened. McKinlay did say that he would not put the Ontario Association of Hikers and Campers" on the line again by trying to woo them back to Exeter. The Association has had to cancel their planned weekend camp-out here because the lack of arena took away vital facilities that they needed, They are presently negotiating with Sarnia to hold the event there. It was scheduled for the May 22 weekend. RAP will again have to delay their budget as the re-opening possibility sheds new light on the situation. McKinlay said that RAP had been proceeding on the assump- tion that there would be no arena for 1976 and were budgeting without it. If there was to be a facility, then they would have to Water situation could get worse Four new grants to Huron County projects ranging from up to $44,600 to the Seaforth Com- munity Centre and Arena to renovate the washroom facilities, first aid station and heating system, to $550 to the Wingham Hockey Tournament 1976, have been approved from the proceeds of the Ontario Lottery. Culture and Recreation Minister Robert Welch said today's list of grants which totals $50,800 is part of the continuing Share Wintario programme to support cultural and recreational facilities throughout Ontario. To date, the ministry has announced $23.1 million for more than 750 projects and groups in the province. ink In addition to the grant to the gimp community centre and the hockey funds, Mr. Welch said the Seaforth District High School Girls Trumpet Band is eligible for a grant up to $3,500 for travel expenses while at the Invitational Edison Pageant of Light Festival in Fort Meyers, Florida, February 7, 1976, The Goderich Laketown Band will receive a grant of $2,200 to assist in the purchase of new instruments and flags for the 35 band members. There is a possibility that the arena will be reopened for either continuous or special use from April 15 to October 15 but a definite decision on the facility and a remedy for it has been postponed by council at least until early April. In a letter sent to council from William R. Jahn, Regional Engineer, he said that the arena could be re-opened "under the condition that a written statement signed by a professional engineer suitably qualified in the structural field" was sent to the Ministry of Labor. This statement, Jahn continued, would have to "assure that the arena structure is capable of safely sustaining its dead load •plus local wind loads" as set down in the National Building Codes. The arena could open only during periods when it would not snow. Mayor Bruce Shaw said that he talked to an engineer be would not name, and said this engineer would certify the arena safe without adjustments to the present structure, RAP director Jim McKinlay stressed that the opening of the arena was only a "possibility." If and when the opening Squirts This proposal would have allowed Mr. Tzavaras to use two side doors on the north wall of the restaurant that would be ren- dered ineffective if the fence ran right along the property line, which is 22 inches from the wall of the restaurant. Health regulations dictate that the doors must be able to swing wide open and the fence would impede this. This would also necessitate Mr. Tzavaras taking delivery of stock through his front door and dining room. The RAP proposal called for gates at either end of the fence to allow delivery and the eight to ten foot headway to be used for a horseshoe pitch. Councillor Garnet Hicks said that the committee rejected the proposal because the use of the greens would be hampered and because, in Mr. Hicks' words "a fence is a dirty thing." Con. Hicks was questioning the maintenance of the fence and who would keep it clean He added that things are "not just as tidy as they should be" on the north side. He did not elaborate. Con. Hicks was also critical of past councils, saying that the property committee "questioned the wisdom of former councils" who allowed the building to be built so close to the bowling greens and then the doors to be built on the north wall opening out onto the greens. Bowling green property cannot be sold to Mr, Tzavaras because of the one stipulation in the deed between Exeter and the club, The deed states that the property, which was given to the town,can be used only for bowling purposes and if there is a decline in interest in the community that it be kept a green area. Council would be stepping on touchy legal ground if they tried to sell the property said Reeve Derry Boyle, While Mr. Tzavaras still has to worry about the fence and the bowling greens, he will be receiving the effects of the new official plan's stance towards parking below Victoria St. Council wrestled with the idea of whether or not the new bylaw The Ministry of Environment has completed its report on Exeter's use of water from The Exeter Squirts soccer trip to England was officially can- celled March 10 in a parents' meeting where they were presented with the alternatives that the executive had decided upon the night before. The executive of the Centennial Soccer Club had decided to cancel the trip after the ac- commodation arrangements that they expected fell through and the funds needed did not seem to be forthcoming. The parents decided to of- ficially disband the trip in a 15 minute meeting after being presented with two choices; either to cancel or go ahead with the backing of the club. If they went ahead, the club stipulated that they had to have $4,000 in the bank by March 29 or the trip would again be cancelled for good. Cheques that the club had received towards the trip from local industries have not been cashed and will be returned to them, The $1,000 in government grants has been cancelled, other expenses to be paid out of the remaining $700 that was raised. With the money that is left, the youngsters will be compensated by a trip to Toronto to see a professional soccer game in the summer, Wrine:ZiM ;SEUMMORIAMMURESiNSWESMii People and events Two charged with car theft THE EXETER RODEO COMMITTEE is working on finalizing plans for a "western type" dance to be held at the Pineridge Chalet in April. FAITH 'N BEGORRA, the Exeter Lions are holding a St. Patrick's Day dance at Huron Park Rec. Hall, Friday night. Proceeds to defray the costs of building the new tennis courts. A GARAGE SALE IS PLANNED, April 17, at the Exeter town hall, by the Heritage Foundation, All articles, except clothing, will be accepted for sale. Donors will receive 50 percent of the sale price if they so desire. EXETER POLICE AND CUBS are joining forces in the near future in a project to show the younsters what a policeman is and does. Each cub will spend approximately one hour with a police officer while the officer does his regular shift, THE RCMP visited the Exeter Lions meeting at the Hensatl Hotel last Thursday „ . but it wasn't a raid, Guest speaker for the evening was an RCMP representative who talked about drug abuse. A TIME TO EAT — Three Exeter Explorers line up for their dinner Sunday, pram left are Tommy Robinson, Suzanne Mothers and Miriam Wright. T-A photo by Sharon Specht Usborne township wells, and it isn't sitting too well with council, The Ministry will require that Exeter pump water back into the Ausable river on a continuous basis, an act Mayor Bruce Shaw says is paradoxical to the actual history of the river. Mayor Shaw said that the ministry has not studied the history of the Ausable and doesn't know there are periods during the year when the river bed is dry. He said this, with the almost prohibitive cost of pumping water could possibly create a desperate water situation for Exeter. Burns Ross, who has planned the town's drainage system, is preparing a rebuttal to the report that will include the history of the river and the near desperate position of Exeter's water situation. Shaw said Exeter is on the verge of being short of water, and twice last summer the situation was perilous. The PUC has done test drilling on the Cudinore well site and discovered a good supply of water there. Exeter has to have additional water, the Mayor said, par. ticularly if it is a dry season and the population continues to in. crease but if the Ministry rejects the town's appeal for am. mendment to the report, then council could have a serious problem. Boyle stands behind opinions Reeve Derry Boyle, it can be safely said, is a man who stands behind his opinions, is firm on his convictions and will not vote against something he believes in . . 99 percent of the time. The Reeve got caught in the one percent at Monday's council meeting when he voted against a motion that he had proposed and had been arguing, in favor of, but be caught himself and corrected it. The Reeve maintains that every councillor has to vote on a motion on the floor, negating the privilege abstention, He used the example of county council, which he is a member of, to demonstrate his point. At county council no ab- stention is allowed. 'The new procedure by-law, given another reading Monday night, says that a council member can abstain, but his vote will be counted as an affirmative vote. Boyle proposed mandatory voting, but when it came down to the actual vote, he raised his hand in oppostion to the matter. Please turn to page 3 The Exeter OPP were involved in an investigation of three stolen ears this week which ended with two men being charged. One of the cars was stolen in London and the other two in Exeter, The two men appear for a bail hearing Thursday, March 18 in Goderich, No other details were released, The OPP also laid 49 charges under the Highway Traffic Act, and the Liquor Control Act. They were also involved in a number of minor accident claims that resulted in no injuries and little damage, 95