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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-08-25, Page 1LANDMARK TO DISAPPEAR — The former home of pioneer Isaac ed to make way for an addition to South Huron Hospital. Carling, built in 1856 will be demolish- T-A photo Police have eyes open . . looking for stolen ears clahe fxeferZtuessAbuocale One Hpnared. and Fourth Yeor EXETER, ONTARIO, AUGIJST 25, 1977 Price Per Copy 2$ Cents Board decides to 'go it alone' in $500,000 hospital addition PICKED CLEAN — Exeter Deputy-Reeve Don MacGregor examines a handful of grain from the farm of Gerald Dearing. Ducks cleaned most of the heads before it could be combined. T-A photo Ducks beat farmer to grain harvesting FALLING APART -- Some of the brickwork in the former Carling home is in poor condition, Mortar is falling out and even some sections of the brick themselves, Stephen use surplus • • . and then some T-A photo DETERIORATING — Not only is the former Coding home portion of the hospital hard to heat, it is also deteriorating. The large pillars on the front verandah have cracked and are presently assisted by jacks. Boyle bounces back S. • n d • , /4,4**406,00a ...A 2 - Aconite TIME OUT — The faces of the cloak atop the town hall were removed this week for painting. Peering out are two new faces, those of Dr, Wally Read and Art Whilsmith, who helped with the task, Pions Oro un- derway to get the clock works fixed as well. T..A photo Stephen Township farmer Gerald Dearing won't be setting any yield records on a crop of mixed grain recently harvested on his farm. The problem is that part of the crop was already harvested before he got to it. The culprits were the wild ducks who make the Exeter sewage lagoon their home for the summer months. Exeter Deputy-Reeve Don MacGregor said this week he inspected the crop and found that some of the rows had been almost entirely eaten by the birds.. MacGregor said there are about 500 ducks who make their home at the lagoon. Due to the wet weather, the i• Constable Jim Rogers is in- vestigating. He is also investigating two acts of wilful damage at cottages at Sunset Grove, RR 2 Zurich. Stones were thrown through windoWs at cottages owned by Gerald Jozwiak and Leonard Richard, both of Michigan. Total damage was estimated at $100 and the work is believed to have been that of some children in the area. crop was left in the 20-acre field for almost three weeks after being cut, and there was ample evidence to point the finger of, guilt at the ducks. Feathers and bird droppings were numerous in most of the rows where the birds had ap- parently dined. The barley in the crop was the favorite on the menu, although some of the oats were also missing. Dearing told the T-A he estimated the ducks ate about 200 bushels of the crop. The diners were not spotted in the field because it is surrounded by corn and the birds kept to the centre of the field where they could not be seen. • Constable Frank Giffin is in- vestigating two other area thefts. On Saturday night, one ton of feed was taken from the loading ramp at the Zurich office of the Hensall District Co-Op. It was valued at $150. A tape deck owned by Murray Erb, Hay Township, was removed from his car Friday night while it was parked at a Hensall service station, It was valued at $70. Two slings and two chain-falls were reported stolen from an Ontario Hydro work site on the North Boundary of Usborne over the weekend. They were valued at $215. Constable Bill McIntyre is in charge of that investigation and also a break and enter at the refreshment stand at the Kirkton park on Sunday night. In the latter incident, about $50 worth of cigarettes, chips, gum and hamburg patties were stolen, Thieves gained entry by forcing a door. On Friday, police were advised that a battery had been stolen, from a service truck parked at Larry Snider Motors, It was valued at $68. A maintenance building at the Ontario Development Cor- poration in Huron Park was also entered this week and $1.75 in coins removed. The tower at the Huron Industrial Park airport was also entered twice in recent weeks, but nothing was reported missing on either occasion. Constable Bill McIntyre has laid charges as a result of his investigation into several recent thefts and breakins in the Huron Park area, A radio stolen from a ministry of transportation and com- munications building was recovered. Juveniles were in- volved. Charges have also been laid in connection with breakins at Dunline, Fleck Manufacturing, Dayton Tire and Tuckey Beverage, all located at Huron Park. Other charges are pending. OPP Constable Bill Lewis is continuing his investigation into the cause of a fire which gutted the Stardust Drive-In Restaurant in Crediton in July, He also recovered a car this week which had been reported stolen in the Forest area. It was found abandoned on Highway 83 just west of Dashwood, After waiting for almost six years for government assistance to build an addition at South Huron Hospital, the board of directors have decided to "go it alone". In making the announcement this week, board chairman Carl Cann said there was no indica- tion when the government would approve financial assistance for the project, sayng that approval could take "another three, five or even more years". He said the directors had reached the conclusion that they Stephen township council Tuesday night accepted the 1976 audit report from chartered' accountants McGillivray and Company. It showed an actual deficit on the year's operations of $118,112 but the accumulated deficit at the end of 1976 is only $15,688. The township started business January 1, 1976 with an ac- cumulated surplus of $102,424 and these monies were used to keep the mill rates as low as possible and come close to a balanced budget. Revenue for the year was listed at $1,154,735, an increase of close to $90,000 while expenditures were up $272,000 to $1,272,847. All three Police Villages in the township ended the year on the black side of the ledger. Dash- wood had a net revenue of $7,002 while the figures for Crediton and Centralia were $4,093 and $4,695, respectively. A new motor grader with snow plow and attachments will be received within the next eight weeks from Champion Road Machinery Sales Limited of Goderich. The Goderich firm submitted the lowest of two tenders at $60,883. This price includes a tradein. could not wait any longer for government assistance in view of the need to update the medical facilities at the hospital and the deteriorating condition of the former Carling home. That home, which comprised the administration portion of the hospital when the facility wasp built in 1953, will be torn down to make room for the addition. The board chairman said the Carling home, built in 1856, was literally falling apart and had to be replaced. It is extremely hard to heat, mortar is falling out Courieil ' accepted the resignation of three members of the Huron Park volunteer fire brigade including chief Jesse Reed who is leaving the area. The others are Don Clarke and Andy McIntyre. They are being replaced by William McGrath and Jack McSloy. A grant of $1,700 was made to the Crediton Parks Board and the recreation budget for the Dash- wood Athletic Field of $1,895 was accepted. Seven applications under the Ontario Home Renewal Plan were accepted. They totalled $31,500. Building permits for the con- struction of barns were approved for Cliff Russell at Lot 9, Con- cession 16 and Willis Hotson, Lot 6, LRE Concession, A grant in the amount of $500 was made to the Huron Country Playhouse. This is to be used for programming. An agreement was reached with the Crediton fire department for the purchase of an antenna and radio equipment. The firemen are donating $500 to the purchase of a mobile unit. Eric Finkbeiner and Peter Wuerth have been hired by the township as equipment operators. between the bricks and the large verandah is already being held in place by two jacks on either side of the pillared entrance. A study 'of the hospital com- pleted in February 1972 by Agnew, Peckham & Associates, recommended at that time that the Carling home portion of the hospital be replaced. The board members have been submitting plans for that project since that date, and in total have submitted eight different plans for an addition. Last year, the provincial government approved the plans for an addition estimated at roughly41,000,000 but gave no in- dication when funds would be made available. "We finally decided we should put on an addition that we could afford ourselves and asked for approval to proceed on that basis," Cann stated. That approval was finally received on Thursday, although the ministry of health did add a provision that the hospital's operating costs not increase when the project is complete. Cann said the proposed addi- tion which the board will now un- dertake is about half the size of that originally intended and will cost in the neighborhood of $500,- 000. He said the hospital will seek assistance from county council and the balance of the funds will No problem for opening Plans are well underway for the grand opening of the South Huron Rec Centre, although some portions of the building will not be completed in time for the Labor Day weekend attractions. The floor on the ice surface has been completed, but the boards around the playing surface will probably not be installed until after the opening. Officials note that may be an advantage for the dances and bingo. Rumors were circulating in Exeter early this week that the opening festivities may be ex- periencing some problems due to Liquor Control Board and Huron County Health Unit inspections being delayed. Rec centre manager Kirk Armstrong and the management board said there was no truth to the matter and the opening will go ahead as scheduled, Armstrong said he has been in periodic communication with liquor and health inspectors and no problems are expected to materialize in getting the necessary approvals and per- mits. Fire Chief Gary Middleton has also given the building an okay as far as safety factors are con- cerned. Meanwhile, tickets for the various events (outlined in an advertisement on the back page) are going well and organizers point out that area residents should not delay in getting their ducats as the numbers to be sold will be limited. come from the capital fund which the board has accrued in recent years. "Hopefully there will be no need for a fund raising cam- paign," the chairman com- mented, although he said some additional funds may be required if the board sees that benefits can be derived from extending services beyond those now an- ticipated through the addition. He said the hospital was probably in an unique situation among hospitals due to the sizeable capital fund it has ac- crued. This has been ac- complished through several be- quests, interest on those funds, and some money set aside from operating budgets in the past. "We're very fortunate to be in that position," Cann stated in reference to the fact the hospital Derry Boyle, a member of Exeter council for almost 15 years, has been named to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councillor Barb Bell. That's the same situation which started Boyle on his lengthy career in municipal life. He was originally named to a council post to fill a vacancy 15 years ago this past June. He subsequently won the reeve's post and held that position for several years. Last fall he failed in a bid to unseat Mayor Bruce Shaw. board could proceed on its own with no provincial assistance. "We just can't wait on them," he added, in noting that the addi- tion would house new ad- ministration and emergency facilities, An elevator to the basement will also be included and possibly additional space for physiotherapy. He said the present emergency facility is outdated and inade- quate and the board feel they must proceed now to correct that situation. The architectural firm of C. H. Gillin, London, have already been engaged to proceed with drawings for the addition. The firm has been involved in the previous hospital additions un- dertaken in 1963 and 1968. Hospital administrator Elmer Please turn to page 3 Boyle's appointment to council will be formally approved by council at their first meeting in September, according to Mayor Shaw, who said this week the appointment has been informally ratified by council. "If they think I can help, I'll fill out the term," Boyle said in reference to his decision to go back on council. He said he had no further ambitions than that, Mrs. Bell, who served on council for two and a half years, will be leaving Exeter to take up residence in Listowel. The Exeter OPP officers have laid charges in a number of recent thefts. but they had a , whole new list added to their investigations this week, Included in the thefts reported this week were over 300 dozen ears of sweet corn from the Hensall area farm of William B. Rowe Rife, The corn, valued at $320, was picked during Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Restoration proceeds quickly on town hail 4111PEADING SESSIONS END — A summer long reading course at the Exeter 'Library ended this week when Wilayor Bruce Shaw drew the winning ticket in -a draw, The winner was Cindy Grubb. of Kirkton. Helping the mayor make the draw are from the left Sandy McDonald, Stuart Hodgins, Sheri Cornish, Eric Cooltnan and Tim Long. T-A photo With work progressing rapidly on the restoration of the town hall, the Exeter and District Heritage Foundation made plans this week for fund raising events and the grand opening of the facility. Meeting in the upstairs of the hall on Monday, the 17 members had ample evidence of the progress of the project. They had to use the rear fire escape to get into the hall because the cement in front of the building is being removed. It will he replaced with sod and landscaping. Chairman Doug Gould advised that most, of the duct work for the hew furnaces is nearly completed and the cement has been poured for the floors of the washrooms. The outside restorers are ex- pected-to he on the job this week, cleaning and repairing the brick- work and replacing the down- spouts. The belfry has been moved to London and is being restored by Kernohan Lumber. It will be completed and returned to its position atop the hail in the im- mediate future. Restoration of the hail is ex- pected to be completed by the middle of October. Noting that the bill for the project would then be for- thcoming, Gould suggested that the town-wide canvass for funds should be undertaken as soon as possible. Several other fund-raising projects were discussed at Monday's meeting, These included appearances of two well-known choirs from the Kitchener-Waterloo area, the Schneider male chorus and the Dominion Life choir, Gwyn Whilsmith advised that either may be available for ap- pearances this fall or next spring and she was asked to proceed with making arrangements for their visits at the earliest dates available, Doug Gould volunteered to assist with the arrangement of a celebrity allelic% in conjunction with a table telethon, Items for the auction would be solicited from well-known personalities, The Foundation will operate a food booth at the fall fair. Their recent booths at the rodeo and sidewalk sale days were found to be profitable ventures, Bev Read will again be in charge of the booth. A meeting will be held with local senior citizens in the near future to see if there is any in- terest in having a craft shop included in the hall basement. If interest is evident, the New Horizons program would pay for the installation of the shop and provide funds for equipment and Materials, Discussion was also held on renting the commercial space available in the hall. There will be about 1,275 square feet of space in the three rooms, which consist of the former council chambers, the police office and the fire hall. Several enquiries have already been received and a committee of Bill Huntley, Ben Hoogenboom and Doug Gould was named to investigate the rental to be charged and to review ap- plications. Jerry McDonnell was ap- pointed treasurer of the restoration budget, and the 'Foundation approved payment of $3,120 for the work completed to date on the hall.