Loading...
Times-Advocate, 1981-01-21, Page 1Building value down $1 million again For the second year in a row, the value of building permits in Exeter has dropped by over $1,060,000. The total value of permits issued in 1980 was $1,100,515 according to statistics given by building inspector Brian Johnston, Monday. The 1979 figure was $2,- 179,571 and the 1978 total was $3,858.545. "It reflects a winding down of the economy," com- mented Councillor Bill Mickle in reference to the sharp decline. Noting that the only major increase was in government buildings (the new police station) he suggested governments were the only group that had money to spend. Only seven new homes were built last year for a value of ;376,000 compared to 14 in the previous year at a value of $726,00Q. However, Johnston said this was above average for the area. Reeve Don MacGregor suggested the high interest rates were responsible for the decline and there was also a suggestion that people were renovating their homes rather than building new ones. The value of residen- tial renovations increased 11Pair i [ , ar'' x SEARCHING THE STACKS — Chris Weernink, of Kirkton, finds the book he was looking for and pauses to survey another student's find. Both are port of an Exeter Public Library tour, taken by Mrs. Glenna Tripp's grade 5 class from Precious Blood Separate School. Juniorprogram slated for Exeter Valentines day for many people is a day to send something special to their sweetheart. February 14 this year is the date for something special to happen in Huron County. Yes, Junior Farmers from all over Ontario will be travelling to Exeter in Huron County to participate in the Junior Farmers' Provincial Winter Games. The local County Junior Farmer members have been busy •. for several months making preparations to host this event. They will be on hand to welcome Junior Farmers who will be arriving in Exeter anytime after 8:30 a.m. to participate in the competition. The various types of sports will include curling, volleyball, basketball, CONTEST STARTS The most popular contest The Times -Advocate has ever conducted is starting for the second year with this week's edition. "The Hottest Buys Around" contest is basically a lucky draw where three readers will win the amount of their residential heat bill up to a maximum of 8125. One winner will be selected for January, February and March. The contest will run for the next 10 weeks. System cost to increase The police communication system shared by the five towns in Huron ended up with a deficit of $5,722.02 last year and this year's budget could be increased by over nine percent Exeter council learned, Monday. The communication system is administered by Godericb and clerk Larry McCabe indicated Exeter's share of the deficit would be $1,079.19. Each town pays on a population basis and the Exeter portion is 18,8 per- cent of the total for 1980 and goes to 19.3 percent for 1981. Clerk Liz Bell said the deficit was due primarily to the fact officials had used 1979 figures toarrive attheir budget, but failed to con- sider the system was in operation for only eight months of.1979 and not the entire year. "That doesn't spark any confidence in the ad- ministration," commented Councillor Jay Campbell, who suggested that he had half a mind to send the ac- count to the finance com- mittee for their considera- tion. However, Mrs. Bell said the budget had been ap- proved by representatives of the five towns and it was passed for payment. The 1981 budget has been estimated at $103,210, of which Exeter's share would be $19,919.53. badminton, bowling and cross-country skiing. These events will take place at South Huron District High School, Exeter Bowling Lanes, Exeter Curling Club and the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority cross-country ski trail at the Morrison Dam. After the competition is completed, there will be an exhibition broomball game at the South Huron Recreation Centre. The Huron County Jr. Farmers will challenge the executive of the Provincial Junior Farmers and all spectators will enjoy this fast paced game. Dancing at the South Huron Recreation Centre from 9-1 a.m. to the music of "Shannon" will conclude the days events. The Huron County Jr. Farmers are really enthused and excited about hosting the Winter Games which will involve several hundred young women and men in the province. "We want all the people in Huron to share in this enthusiasm by coming to watch these events," said Marg Pym, RR 1 Centralia. "We're sure the town of Exeter will be booming with activity February 14 and we would like everyone to join in giving all these visitors a very warm Huron County Welcome," she added. last year to$337,241 from the 1979 figure of $286,919. The decline in commercial development was evidenced in the 1980 total of $97,250 for commercial renovations. The previoua year's total was $457,015. Garages and tool sheds remained about the same at ;23.150 while industrial ad- value of 853,260. said the figures for January ditions and renovations was There was some optimism and this may indicate things almost negligible at $7,500. expressed by Johnston fie to come. The figure for that in 1979 was ;511.080. Swimming pool con- struction declined slightly to eight starts in 1 :0 with a value of ;41.400. There were 10 pools built in 1979 at a �. Three people hurt in area collisions Three injuries were reported in the five ac- cidents investigated this week by the Exeter OPP. None of the injuries was or a major nature. The first of the collisions was last Monday when vehicles driven by Marilyn Sillery, RR 3 Exeter, and Arndt Vermaeten, RR 3 Ex- eter, collided on concession 4-5 of Usborne just south of Huron St. Damage was listed at 8600. by Constable Ed Wilcox. There were two collisions, Wednesday, the first in- volving two snowmobiles operated by Lindsay Laporte, RR 2 Zurich, and Jeffery Forrester, RR 2 Zurich. They collided on con- cession 10-11 of Hay north of Highway 84. After the machines collid- ed. the Laporte vehicle struck a tree and the driver suffered minor injuries. Constable Don Mason in- vestigated and estimated total damage at ;3,500. The other Wednesday crash involved vehicles driven by Cyril Cater, Grand Bend, and Kenneth Baker, RR 2 Dashwood. They collid- ed on Highway 83 west of Dashwood. Mr. Cater and his wife, Emma, sustained minor in- juries and damage was listed at ;1,600 by Constable Wilcox. The other two collisions were on Thursday, the first involving a vehicle driven by Calvin Westlake, Exeter. He lost control on sideroad 25 east of Highway 4 in Usborne and the vehicle Collisions increased The December police report given to Exeter coun- cil by Chief Ted Day, Mon- day. showed an above average number of collisions. There were 22 ac- cidents investigated with two minor injuries and property damage of ;12,379. Other statistics in the report were as follows: 10 charges and eight warnings under the Highway Traffic Act. 14 charges under the Liquor Control Act, two per- sons charged with impaired driving and two charged with driving while under suspension, 10 thefts of un- der 8200 and one over ;200, four incidents of wilful damage to private property, three fraud investigations, four animal complaints, one place of business found in- secure. skidded and then rolled over onto its roof. Constable Al Quinn in- vestigated and set damage at 8900. The other Thursday ollisions involved vehicles driven by John Lohse and Ervin Pfaff, both of Huron Park. They collided on Coun- ty Road 21 at Algonquin Drive in Huron Park and Constable Don Millson es- timated total damage at $2,- 700. �slfa a Council learned that the department sustained a loss in the year as the revenue s SMOOTH SAILING — Poul Kaempf and Eric Brown make quick work of the Pinery Park toboggan run Friday when GrandBendPublic School visited the park. Ames • Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Eighth Year from building permits reached only $7,133 while the expenses amounted to 822,- 155. The latter was well below budget. due primarily to the fact the town did not have the services of a building inspector for three months of the past year due to the resignation of Doug Triebner and the delay which arose in naming his successor. The town had budgeted for total expenditures of 835.075 in 1979 and the actual was about 813,000 below that Johnston's report showed that seven projects were completed under the Ontario Home Renewal Program. He suggested this may in- crease in the current year because the ceilings have been raised on the eligibility for the program. The former income level under which people could receive assistance was 812,500 and this has now been increased to 815.500. Exeter eligible? Exeter should explore whether it may be eligible for a portion of the federal government's $350 -million program to help com- munities hit by layoffs. Councillor Jay Campbell said this week. "For a small town, we've been hit pretty hard," he told council, Monday, and added that this was showing up in the sales figures of local merchants. Campbell explained there had been layoffs at several area industries. The federal program will provide financial assistance to companies and workers in communities specially designated by the federal cabinet on grounds layoffs are hitting a local economy particularly hard. The government has refused to say which communities will be designated first. dvocate & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, JANUARY 21, 1981 Price per copy 35 Cents A HUNGRY BUNCH — Sarah Kerslake enjoys a cupcake at a bake sale at Usborne Cen- tral School, Friday. Crowding around for their chance to buy some goodies are Gerry Edwards, Brenda Wilkinson, Kevin Johns, Mark Lynn and Dennis Wilkinson. T -A photo Industrial development group seek $5,750 Exeter's industrial com- mittee members held their initial meeting last week and BUILDING BURNS — An early Saturday afternoon fire gutted the Mooresville area farm machinery business building owned by Ken Glendinning. Workmen are shown cleaning up T -A photo Monday. Damage $60,000 at Mooresville Fire guts building Fire of unknown origin caused ;60,000 in damages at a Mooresville farm machinery business early Saturday afternoon. The blaze started about 1:30 p.m. in the work and storage area of the 35 by 70 foot building owned by Ken Glendinning on Highway 4, about 10 kilometres north of Lucan. Glendinning was having dinner in his nearby home when a passing motorist spotted the fire and smoke coming from the building. The owner called the Lucan fire department and then tried to bring it under control with a fire ex- tinguisher, but, was not successful. The building still stands, but most of the interior is completely gutted. Cleanup operations were underway Monday afternoon. The loss of ;30,000 to the building and the same amount to feeder and silo equipment and parts was partly covered by insurance. Glendinning expects to rebuild on the same proper- ty. Firemen from Lucan and Granton were hampered by a short supply of water. have requested a grant of one mill (about 85',750) for industrial promotion pur- poses this year. In response to a question, Councillor Bill Mickle said he didn't know if the com- mittee needed that much money or not. Last year's committee had a budget of $1.000. However, they were basically inactive and spent none of their funds. In comments after making his report. Mickle said at- tracting industrial growth would bring benefits to all citizens and he called on anyone with ideas to present them to the group, which has both council and private citizen representation. Mayor Shaw and Coun- cillors Toni Humphreys and Morley Hall are council members in addition to Mickle Other citizens on the group are 13111 Gilfillan, Mike Soldan. Jon Dinney and Bob Swartman. Mirkle indicated the members were enthusiastic over their challenging posi- tion. but cautioned that it would take patience and dedication to enlarge the town's industrial base. He also noted that Exeter was unique in that it was one of the fess. Ontario towns located so close to a large city that was showing any growth .rod he noted that it was important that local citizens support the com- mercial businesses here so they would remain com- petitive and attractive. It was explained that a decline in business would result in a devaluation of all property int, Exeter, not just commercial. The committee's request for a budget of one mil was turned over to the finance committee for considera- tion. At their meeting last week. the committee dis- cussed a variety of topics, including: 1. Costs of industry to es- tablish in the area; 2. Where to obtain infor- mation of industries re- locating: 3. Government programs; 4. Liaison with the county and South Huron region Please turn to page 3 Canvass will start Bob Hoffman, chairman of the Dashwood Medical Cen- tre. said that a door-to-door campaign in Crediton and Dashwood to raise funds will start the last week of January. The fund-raising drive is to raise the 865.000 needed to build the medical centre. The rural campaign will start the first week in February. The money must come from the community and area because the federal and provincial governments do not give, grants for such facilities. "They seem to give grants for everything. except for the important things," he said Hoffman said that everything was ready to go last summer. but the doctor from Saskatchewan backed out at the.last minute. He said that the building would be built byvolunteer labor just like community centre in Dashwood. There is no set floorplan for the building, but a five Please turn to page 3 Gets jail sentence for drinking, driving Ivan Coleman of Hensall was sentenced to 15 days in jail. to be .served on weekends. when he appeared in Exeter provincial court, Tuesday. Coleman pleaded guilty to driving with a blood alcohol content over 80 mgs. Breathalizer evidence in- dicated on December 3 that Coleman was driving with a blood alcohol content of 320 mgs. Noting Coleman had a previous conviction, Judge W.G. Cochrane sentenced him to 15 days to be served on weekends. from Friday nights at 6 p.m. to Monday morning at 5 a.m. Coleman's driver's license was suspended for three months. Pleading guilty to the same charge. an Exeter man had his license suspended for six months. When stopped on November 2. David Michael Bell of Exeter, was said to exhibit the classic signs of impairment. Bell pleaded guilty to im- paired driving, was fined 8300 with 30 days to pay. and was given the alternative of serving 30 days in jail. His license was suspended for three months. No drinking was involved when Lawrence Timothy Pole. Dashwood, was charg- ed with dangerous driving on January 1. Pole was said to be driving at 160 kilmeters per hour through Dashwood; fishtail- ing. and running a stop sign Pole admitted trying to get away from police when he saw their red lights. Pole's license was suspended for three months and he was fined 8200 with 60 days to pay. or 20 days in jail. William Clarence Harris, London. was fined $500 or 50 days in jail forpossessionof narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Harris was found to have eight 24 -gram packages of marijuana, on November 28. The drugs had an estimated street value of $55 per package. Judge Cochrane took into account Harris had no previous record, was just 18 when the offense occurred, and is still in school. Harris was given 60 days to pay the fine. For the possesion of five hand -rolled marijuana cigarettes, Daryl Malcome Raymond. Exeter. was sentenced to a 8100 fine, or ten days in jail. A vehicle in which Ray- mond was a passenger, was stopped by police on September 26. The cigarettes were found when Raymond was searctied. He was given 30 days to pay the fine. A vehicle stopped for speeding. and a search of the driver's socks led to six months probation for two area youths. Charles Joseph Collins, aged 16. of RR 1, Varna pleaded guilty topossession of narcotics after two small vials of hashish oil were found hidden in his socks on Octobert5. The approximate tour grams of oil had an es- timated value of 850. Please turn to page 3 Planners give list for centre's uses At their inaugural meeting last week. the Exeter plan- ning board recommended four additional used which would be allowed for the Hawleaf Development Ltd. shopping centre at the cor- ner of Highway 4 and 83. The report was approved by Exeter council. Monday. without comment The tour additional uses recommended include a con- venience milk store. hair- dresser barber. Laun- dromat cleaners and finan- cial institution The procedure to expand the uses. which had been recommended in the Ontario Municipal Board hearing last fall. will be to re -zone the existing plaza as a separate zone. At • the board's meeting, Councillor Jay Campbell was named as chairman for the current year. succeeding Gerald Merner. Stu Homuth becomes secretary and the new vice-chairman is Jeff Pearson The board adopted a budget of $1.500 for the year. This is 8750 for legal ex- penses. $150 postage, 8300 printing and advertising. $150 subscriptions and secretarial costs and 8150 miscellaneous. HELP FROM GRANDPA - - Jeff and Andy Glavin gets some help from their grondfothe' Alf Smith as they prepare to go skating in Crediton Sunday afternoon. The free skating ses sion was sponsored by the Crediton firemen. T -A photo