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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1988-03-30, Page 1CELEBRATE IN 1988 LUCKNOW'S 130th CELEBRATION JUNE 30 . JULY 3, 1988 PUBLISHED IN LUCKNOW ONTARIO a esday, , 40C PER COPY 4.4 The Grade One and Two classes of the Lucknow District Christian School received a visit from John Maaskant last week. John came attired in a traditional outfit he pur- chased in Egypt during a recent visit there. Along with the custom, John delighted the children with his slides. (Pat Livingston photo) Spring anglers ready with rods and reels Within the next few weeks mild spring weather will generate an increase in out- door activities and renew anglers' interest in local fishing opportunities. The first season of interest to anglers will be the April rainbow trout run. Rain- bow may be angled in Lake Huron, the Bayfield River, below Highway 21 and in the Maitland River, below the CPR bridge in Goderich throughout the months of March and April. Inland waters open for rainbow, brook and brown trout on April 30, 1988. The Port Albert Fishway will be operating through the month of April, passing these migratory rainbow over the dam and allowing them to head 30 miles upriver to spawn in cold water streams. The fishway provides a unique opportunity to see these spectacular fish which may reach up to 20 lbs. in weight. School groups may arrange a weekday visit to the fishway by contacting the Ministry of Natural Resources, Wingham Office. Staff will be available at Port Albert on weekends to provide the public with viewing opportunities. Throughout Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources is placing increased emphasis on the management of natural. fish stocks. Consequently, there have been reductions in the stocking, of catchable- sized fish which have been used in the past to provide artificial fishing opportunities. In the spring of 1988, the only Wingham District ponds receiving catchable-sized trout will be those located at Shakespeare, Fullarton and Morrison Dam. The Wingham Dam Stapleton Tract, Hullett Ponds and Teeswater Dam will not be stocked in 1988. Ponds located on the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority properties at Falls Reserve, Donnybrook and Sunshine Will not be stocked by M.N.R., but may be stocked by the Authority. Interested anglers should con- tact the M.V.C.A. for further information about their properties. The Ministry's management of self- sustaining fish populations relies on the protection of fish habitat and the enforce- ment of regulations which permit the harvest of fish at levels consistent with the production capabilities of the resource. Considerable efforts have been taken in re- cent years to improve natural fish produc- tion through stream habitat improvement programs. Consistent with the above approach is the stocking of wild strains of fish to sup- plement natural production. In 1988, about 13,000 brook trout and 65,000 rainbow trout fingerlings (2 inches in size) will be stock- ed in suitable Coldwater habitat. The locations of these streams and fur- ther information on the Ministry's fisheries programs is contained in a new angling brochure which has been released by the Wingham District office. Copies will be available free upon request. All anglers between the ages of 18 and 65 are reminded of their need to obtain a 1988 fishing license before undertaking any angling activities. Board approves wage hike for employees A four per cent interim wage increase for registered nursing assistants, clerical staff and service employees of Wingham and District Hospital, has been approved by the hospital's board of governors. At its regular March meeting, the board accepted a finance and audit committee recommendation to grant the interim in- crease effective April 1. Marian Zinn, finance and audit committee chairman, told fellow board members the interim in- crease is recommended because it ap- pears any arbitration award to the Cana- dian Union of Public Employees (CUPS), which represents employees in similar positions at larger hospitals, is still several months away. Personnel at Wingham and District Hospital are not represented by unions and the hospital has traditionally followed the settlements between larger hospitals and their unionized staff. The agreement for this group expired Sept. 30, 1987 and Executive Director Nor- man Hayes said the board has granted similar interim increases in the past. The four per cent at least matches the rate of inflation and it "shows the employees we are thinking of them," he said. Asked why the interim increase is not retroactive to the agreement's expiry date, Mr. Hayes said the matter of retroac- tive compensation will not be addressed until after the CUPE settlement has been reached, including any difference between the interim rate and the rate awarded in the union•settlement. In addition to registered nursing assistants and clerical staff, the group of approximately 140 employees also in- cludes engineering, housekeeping, dietary and ambulance personnel. Board grants increase to management staff, nurses The board of governors of Wingham and District Hospital has approved three-year agreement which grants identical wage in- creases to two employee groups at the hospital. At its regular March meeting, the board approved three-year wage and benefit packages for management staff and for registered nurses, effective April 1, 1988 and expiring March 31, 1991. According to the agreement, employees in both groups will receive variable percentage increases in the first two years, based on their position on the grid schedule. First-year employees will receive a two per cent increase in each of the first two years of the agreement, while employees with one to three years' service will get 4.5 per cent the first year and 3.5 per cent in the second year of the agree- ment. Employees in the four -to -seven year category will receive 4.75 per cent the first year and 3.75 per cent in the second. All categories will' receive an additional four per cent increase in the third year. • The agreement follows a recent settle- ment between the Ontario Nurses' Association and larger hospitals in the pro - vine. Wingham and District, a non-union hospital, has traditionally followed ar- bitration awards handed down to similar unionized employee groups at other larger hospitals. This year, however, marks the first time the hospital has followed this procedure for its management staff which includes the director of finance, director of nursing, director of RNA program and all other department heads. Weekend traffic force While the weather may be unpredictable at this time of year, it's a certain forecast that the Ontario Provincial Police will be out in force during the Easter Holiday this weekend. OPP Commissioner Tom O'Grady has indicated that the the local detachments of the force will vigorously enforce all pro- vincial statutes. "This Easter weekend will see a marked increase in the number of people travelling on the provinces' highways and the OPP is committed to doing everything possible to see they arrive at their destinations safe- ly," said the commissioner. Starting this Friday, the OPP will have more than 500 cruisers on provincial highways, each equipped with radar and roadside breath testers. The commis- sioner has asked all detachment com- manders across the province to remind all traffic officers to be vigilant in their duties this weekend. Last year, the OPP issued in excess of 10,000 provincial offence summons under the Highway Traffic Act during the Easter weekend. A total of 240 drivers in the pro- vince were charged with alcohol-related driving offenses while 432 others had their drivers' licenses suspended for 12 hours. Post Office Just a reminder to the residents of Lucknow and area that the Lucknow Post Office will be closed Good Friday, April 1 and Easter Monday, April 4. The office will be open for business on Saturday between 8:30 a.m. and 12:38 p.m. The staff and management of the local post office would like to take this oppor- tunity to wish all their customers a very happy Easter.