Times-Advocate, 1979-03-14, Page 1up
The Huron-Perth County
Roman Catholic Separate
School board set its 1979
budget at $4,683,415, an in
crease of $132,000 over last
year at a special meeting in
Dublin Thursday night.
Jack Lane, Superin
tendent of Business and
Finance, said in presenting
the budget, “To meet this
increase the board will
require only 2.9 percent
more than last year from
municipalities in the two
counties."
He said salaries and fringe
benefits account for 70.6
percent of budget.
Provincial grants and
Home firm
rolls off
3,000th
Two noteworthy events
took place at Northlander
Mobile Housing in Exeter
this past week.
On Friday, the firm turned
out its 3,000th unit since \
opening production at its
Highway 83 East location on
November 2, 1964.
When that unit was moved
into the yard, it joined two
recently completed units
that meet CSA standards
which have been accepted by
the Central Mortgage &
Housing Corporation.
President Bill Smith ex
plained that the move to CSA
standards which meet
CMHC approval “opens all
of the government
assistance home ownership
programs to mobile home
buyers".
He said this will help the
young family buyer in
particular in that financing
will now be much easier.
Down payments will be
lower and the length of
mortgages will be extended
to permit smaller monthly
payments.
In the past, new mobile
home buyers were generally
faced with a 25 percent down
payment and a 10-year
mortgage term.
Smith said he wasn’t
certain what the new terms
would be for down payments
and mortgage terms, but
indicated it would be
significant, making them
more easily financed for
young, married couples.
While the main thrust of
the CSA standards cover
improved insulation to make
units more energy efficient,
there are also new standards
pertaining to plumbing,
windows and snow loads.
The higher grade windows
will also produce more
energy savings, Smith noted.
While the mobile housing
industry has been in a slight
slump in recent years, Smith
expects the new apoproval
from CMHC and the move to
smaller, more energy ef
ficient homes to provide
many benefits for the in
dustry.
“People are getting more
conscious of smaller homes
. . . they’re coming our
way,” he said.
Smith also suggested that
an attitude change on the
part of governments at all
levels will help the industry
apd he’s looking forward to
even greater changes in
those attitudes.
More and more com
munities are “slowly
coming" to the realization of
the need for designated
areas for mobile housing and
Smith expects to see more
and more mobile home
subdivisions as energy, land
and regular house con
struction costs increase. t
Another increasing
market for firms such as
Northlander is retirees.
These buyers now constitute
aboutsOpercentof the market
and continue to increase.
The declining value of the
Canadian dollar has also
helped to some extent,
reducing the number of U.S.
imports.
Birds signal
early spring
Spring is right around the
corner if robins seen in
Exeter recently know what
they are doing in providing
weather forecasters with the
proper information.
Reg McDonald, Anne
street spotted a robin on
Saturday, March 3 and
Melvin Edwards, 91 Main
street reported three robins
in his backyard on March 7,
Mr. Edwards was the first
to report robins a year ago,
but his sighting in 1978 was
on March 21 which suggests
a much earlier spring this
year.
other revenue will provide
82.6 percent of the 1979
budget, compared with 83.4
percent in 1978. Local tax
payers will be required to
contribute $798,00 which is
17.4 percent of this year’s
budget, up from 16.6 percent
in 1978.
To allow for the collection
of the-necessary taxes, the
board has set a mill rate of 5
mills or its equivalent for
ratepayers in all 51 sup
porting municipalities over
that paid in 1978. This will
mean $5 per $1,000 of
assessment more than last
year As an overage, this will
cost the taxpayers $17.50
more in 1979, according to
board calculations,
Mr. Lane said, “Postive
results from board decisions
made in 1978 to cope with
declining enrolments are
reflected in this budget.”
The board will send three
trustees to Vancouver from
June 13 to 16 as delegates at
the Canadian Catholic School
Trustees’ Association
convention.
At the meeting, Monday,
the names were announced
of the three trustees to go:
Michael Connolly, Kippen;
Gregory Fleming, Crediton
and John O’Leary, Staffs.
Keith Montgomery of
Wingham was named as an
alternate delegate.
Bob Butler of Stratford,
will be presented with an
award of Merit for his many
years as a separate school
board member in Perth
County. Nominated by the
Huron-Perth County Roman
Catholic Separate School
Board for the award, it will
be presented to him at the
convention of Separate
Schools Trustees to be held
in Toronto April 5.
Mr. Butler served about 20
years on the separate school
board in Stratford, 12 of
them as board chairman.
With the forming of county
school boards in 1969 Mr.
Butler represented the
Huron-Perth board on Perth
County Board of Education
for eight years.
The property committee
was directed to get more
details on the proposed
creative playground at St.
Aloysius school, Stratford.
The four Trustees who
attended the public speaking
finals sponsored by the
Ontario English Catholic
Teachers Association in
Dublin Tuesday night of last
week commended the pupils
taking part for their ability
and the quality of their
speeches.
A half hour presentation on
the science curriculum, as
taught in the 19 separate
schools in Huron and Perth
Counties, was outlined in
detail by three members of
the committee the three
teachers were Mrs. Frances
Craig at St. Columban
School; Michael Dewan of
Immaculate Conception
School, Stratford and Mrs.
Joan McIver at St. Patrick’s
School, Dublin. They an
swered numerous questions
presented by the trustees.
The meeting was over at
10:50 p.m. when the board
went into committee-of-the:
whole.
One Hundred and Fifth Year
imes
Serving South Huron, North Middlesex
Advocate
& North Lambton Since 1873
Price Per Copy 25 CentsEXETER, ONTARIO, MARCH 14, 1979
DREA VISITS EXETER — Minister of consumer and commercial relations Frank Drea was the guest speaker at the annual
meeting of the Huron-Middlesex Progressive Conservative Association. Discussing items of interest with Drea are former Huron
warden Gerry Ginn, Exeter mayor Derry Boyle, Drea, reeve of Hay township and warden of the county Jack Tinney and new
president of the association Bruce Shaw of Exeter. T-A photo
Prepare agreements for
Dashwood water syst&r
Construction of a water
system for the police village
of Dashwood could begin by
October 1 of this year if
present plans can be com
pleted without a hitch.
As the result of a recent
joint meeting between the
Dashwood trustees and
councillors of the townships
of Stephen and Hay the
necessary bylaws have been
drafted.
Stephen
Wein said
bylaws
agreement,
frontage rates and water
connections are being for
warded to the Ontario
clerk Wilmar
this week that
covering an
water rates,
Ministry of the Environ
ment.
The Environment Ministry
in turn will prepare the
proper papers for sub
mission to the Ontario
Municipal Board.
The total estimated cost of
the project including the
trunk supply line from the
Shipka line is $705,604.
A grant of $529,2340 is
expected from the Province
of Ontario which will reduce
the cost to Dashwood
ratepayers to $176,410. This
amount may be debentured
over a period of 40 years.
Stephen road superin
tendent Frank Mclsaac has
Four people hurt
in area collisions
Four people sustained
injuries in the six accidents
investigated by the Exeter
OPP this week. Two of the
collisions were hit and runs.
Three of the injuries oc
curred on Friday when a
vehicle driven by Ivan
Gagnon, Goderich, went out
of control and rolled over on
Highway 4 south of Exeter.
The driver and two
passengers, Delbert Lecy
and Gregory Reynolds,, both
of Goderich, were injured in
the crash which resulted in
damage of $1,200. Constable
Don Mason investigated.
Last Saturday, a vehicle
driven by Carolyn Hodgins,
RR 2 Centralia, went out of
control on Highway 4 north
of County Road 21 and struck
a sign post. Damage was set
at $635 by Constable Mason. .
On Tuesday, vehicles
driven by Margaret
Visscher, RR 2 Kippen, and
Barbara Conlon, RR 2
Zurich, collided on Highway
84just west of Zurich. Ms.
Visscher sustained minor
inuries and Constable Jim
Rogers listed damage at
$350.
In another Tuesday crash,
damage was set at $780 by
Constable Rogers when a
vehicle driven by Richard
Sywyk, Huron Park, went
out of control on Highway 4
north of Exeter.
The first of the two hit and
run collisions was reported
on Thursday when an
unknown vehicle struck a
parked vehicle owned by
Larry Mason, Dashwood,
The incident occurred on
Highway 83 in Dashwood and
damage to the Mason vehicle
was set at $250 by Constable
Bill Osterloo.
The other incident oc
curred on Nova Scotia Ave.
in Huron Park on Saturday
when an unknown vehicle hit
a car owned by Helen Kadey,
RR 1 Exeter. Damage was
estimated at $350 in that one.
been instructed to call
tenders for the supply of
from 150 to 200 flaked tons of
liquid calcium to be applied
to township roads this
spring.
Tenders will be opened at
the first council meeting in
Paril.
Reeve Ken Campbell and
clerk Wilmar Wein were
given authority to sign a quit
claim deed for the east side
of Lot 5, Concession 5 to
former owner Bob Galloway.
The transaction became
necessary as the result of
straightening out a portion of
an adjacent sideroad.
Council will co-operate
with the Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources in a tree
planting program and pay
one-half of the costs.
Application is being made
to the Ministry of Revenue
for study on the realignment
of assessment as they affect
commercial, industrial and
residential properties.
An agreement has been
signed allowing the Stephen
Optimist club to take over
operation of the Recreation
Centre Annex at Huron
Park.
Payment of the 1979 levy
the Ausable-Bayfield
Conservation Authority was
authorized in the amount of
$10,789. This is a very small
increase from the previous
year.
McKinley
goes again
Huron-Middlesex MP
Robert McKinley told a
partisan crowd Friday in
Exeter that he would seek re
election in the new federal
riding of Huron-Bruce,
McKinley told the annual
meeting of the Huron-
Middlesex Progressive
Conservative Association
that the idea of not running
had crossed his mind but
that he had quickly
discounted the notion.
The Zurich area resident
said he had given himself
completely to the people of
the riding for the past 13
years and that this total
committment would con
tinue.
McKinley lashed out at the
present prime minister
saying “My total com
mittment will continue until
Please turn to page 3
The country's fate
rests with Ontario
According to the provin
cial minister of consumer
and commercial relations
the fate of Canada in the
final analysis rests in On
tario.
The honourable Frank
Drea told the 250 party
faithfuls at the annual
meeting of the Huron-
Middlesex riding association
held Friday in Exeter that
this province is at the centre
of confederation.
There are several areas on
a nation wide basis where
Ontario must speak out.
He said the government of
Premier Davis is committed
to the maintenance of the
monarchy as the head of
state and that this stance is
not negotiable.
Referring to the possible
split between Canada and
Quebec, Drea stated Ontario
will never negotiate
sovereignty association with
Premier Levesque.
This province will “con
tinue to lead the way" as On
tario can not afford to stand
still, according to the
former Toronto Telegram
reporter.
There is a sense of
bewilderment of what is
happening to this country
which a decade ago was
progressing to the point
where the people of the
country assumed it to be
automatic, Drea stated.
This province’s govern
ment has been among the
leaders in the country in
terms of fiscal responsibili
ty with Drea citing the ex
ample of his own ministry
where the budget has
remained the same for two
years.
It’s expected consumer
and corporate relations will
absorb an eight percent in
flation rate combined with a
six percent growth in work
load.
The province’s restraints
have been a direct result of
feedback from the people
with Drea stating, “We’re
asking you as a government
to meet the challenges of
trying economic times and
that’s the least you can ask
from us,”
A portion of the Conser
vative’s provincial restraint
is the return of many func
tions which the government
has assumed in previous
years to the private sector.
Drea said an example of
this was the regulation of in-
surance agents by
themselves.
Making reference to
current economic conditions
Drea stated it was private
industry which would have
to lead the way in terms of
growth for the province with
a “majority" of the pro
jected 130,000 new jobs in
the province this year to be
created by the private sec
tor.
“As a government we are
committed to creating a
climate that will attract the
investor and the en-
trepeneur,” Drea added.
In an indirect reference to
the area in which he was
speaking, Drea said the
agricultural community was
to play a part in the
leadership of the province.
Turning to the expected
federal election, he said it
“will be difficult" and that
“the future of the country is
at stake."
Drea received a standing
ovation from the gathering
when he told the federal con
servative candidates in the
audience they would receive
the full backing of the Davis
government and that “the
time has come for a
change."
In thanking the cabinet
minister, new riding presi-
Please turn to page 3
READY FOR WEATHER — Channel 10 television weather
man Brad Finch was dressed for any weather conditions when
he took to the ice at the Lucan arena Sunday night as a
member of Team 10. The television personalities played a 10-
10 tie with the Lucan Lions House League Gang. T-A photo
Local firm wins
Usborne contract
Home manager
resigns position
John Lyndon, Goderich,
manager of the Huron
County Housing Authority,
resigned from that position
last week. Lyndon submitted
his resignation to the county
housing authority effective
immediately.
He said Wednesday that he
was “fed up” with every-
thingin the job and did not
want to comment on some of
his reasons. He said he had
been considering the move
for quite a while and just
decided after a holiday to
make the decision.
The manager said he was
tired of the bureaucracy of
the job. He conceded that on
occasion he got into
problems in the job but said
that is true of any line of
work.
Usborne township council
has accepted the tender of C.
A. McDowell Ltd. of Exeter
to-fulfill the municpality’s
1979 gravelling contract.
The McDowell bid of
$33,700 was the lowest of six
received. The highest was
45,200.
At the regular March
meeting, building inspector
Herman Van Wieren
reported making six in
spections during the month
of February.
The 1979 road budget has
been set at $231,500 with a
provincial grant allocation of
$107,900. Included in the
program is rebuilding of
sideroads 15-16 on concession
2-3 and 1-A on concession 5-6.
Mrs. Judy Finch, RR 1
Lucan, has been named dog
catcher for the township of
Usborne.
Council has authorized the
renting of part of Lot 11,
Concession 6 from Emerson
Penhale for use as a ball
diamond. The 1979 rental fee
will be $335.
A grant of $50 was made to
the South Huron Association
for the Mentally Retarded.
Morgan’s Mobile Homes
wer given permission to
move wide mobile homes on
township roads under OPP
supervision.
Tile drain loan ap-
plications in the amount of
$27,000 were approved.
Announce
two awards
The winners this year of
the Wm. A. Stewart
Scholarship at Centralia
College of Agricultural
Technology have been an
nounced. They are Christa
Daase of London and Louis
Patrick of RR 1 Delaware.
The scholarship fund was
established in 1976 by the
people of Middlesex County
in appreciation of the con
tribution made to Ontario
agriculture by Wm. A.
Stewart, the former
Minister of Agriculture and
Food.
This fund provides two
scholarships which are
awarded annually to a male
and female student who are
residents of Middlesex
County and are enrolled at
Centralia College. The
winners must combine high
academic achievement at
the College and active par
ticipation in community ac
tivities.
Miss Daase and Mr.
Patrick are active in recrea
tion and community work.
Louis Patrick is also in
volved in the Boy Scout
movement.
I
DIVERS SEARCH FOR MISSING YOUNGSTER — Divers from three Ontario Provincial Police detachments searched Satur
day for the body of William Todd Passmore. Divers were hampered by thick ice which covered the stream behirtdthepoul
Passmore farm in Usborne township. The body wos recovered the following day, T-A photo
"MS*WV
Usborne tot drowns
in farm drain ditch
A two and a half year old
Usborne lad who failed to
heed the admonition of his
parents, drowned Friday
morning in a drainage ditch
about 100 feet from the barn
gate which he had been told
not to go beyond.
The body of William Todd
Passmore, son of Paul and
Darlene Passmore, wasn’t
recovered until late Sunday
afternoon about 1,200 feet
from the spot where he had
fallen through the ice on the
farm half a mile north of the
Thames Road church on
Highway 83 east of Exeter.
The boy was outside play
ing when he wandered off
around 9:30 a.m. and his
footprints led to the ditch.
While most of the ditch was
covered with ice, there were
spots where holes had
brokeh through from spring
runoff and it was in one of
those areas where the tot
had ventured,
Exeter OPP quickly join
ed in the Search and they
were aided by four skin
divers who arrived to assist.
While police centred their
search on the creek,
neighbors and volunteers,
including some members of
the Exeter fire department,
conducted a search through
the farm buildings and
neighboring proper ties.
Darkness forced cancella
tion of the search on Friday,
but three of the skin divers
were on the scene again ear
ly Saturday, and aided by a
construction shovel
operated by Gerald Reid,
started to methodically
break open the ice in the
search through the frigid,
murky water. Volunteers
continued their search of
buildings and nearby bushes
and gravel pits throughout
Saturday and Sunday and the
boy’s body was discovered
at*5:35 p.m., just a few feet
from the point where police
had planned to terminate the
search.
Exeter OPP Constable
Jack Straughan, who was in
charge of the investigation,
along with Cpl. Bill Freeth
and Constable Ed Wilcox,
paid tribute to the “fantastic
number" of people who aid
ed in the search and offered
assistance.
Some of the volunteers,
along with the local
policemen, waded in the
frigid waters in search of
the boy before the skin
divers arrived on the scene.
Sunday afternoon, the skin
divers had to adjourn their
search after their suits
became wet and they were
taken to Exeter to be dried
out before resumihg their ef
forts.
Involved in diving were
OPP Constables Brian
Adkin, Mt. Forest; Bruce
Burns, Owen Sound; Derek
Strath. St. Thomas and St.
Thomas PD Constable
Robert Dymock.
The creek ranged in
depths of up to seven feet
and in places the ice was
still almost two feet thick.