Loading...
Times-Advocate, 1985-04-10, Page 2Page 2 times -Advocate, April 10, 1985 Kids, parents do now! Did you know...? Did you know that all snakes are deaf? Or that they smell with their forked tongues? Were you aware that the temperature during incubation determines whether hatching snapp- ing turtles will be male or. female'' Moderate weather produces all male turtles, and extremes of hot or cool temperatures result in female snappers. Children (and quite a few parents hada chance to learn more about the animals and birds with whom we share this planet at presentations by the Toronto Nature Centre sponsored by the Huron County library at its Kirkton and Exeter branches on Saturday. The Nature Centre's program director Jim Lovisek told his atten- tive audience that the human species is endangering many forms of wildlife by destroying both the creatures and their habitat. After a short slide presentation, Lovisek turned to a pile of crates and CLOSE-UP — Children attending an endangered species program at the Kirkton library presented by Jim Lovisek, director of the Toronto Nature Centre, got o chance to examine creatures like an Indigo snake. • SNAKES ALIVE! Bloke Robinson, RR 1 St. Marys and Peggy Malone, RR 1 Granton, help Toronto Nature Study director Jim Lovisek hold Julius Squeezer the boa constrictor during a program on en- dangered species at the Kirkton library. - County considering long service awards Long service awards may be presented to county councillors after Huron County Council agreed in a 15 to 12 recorded vote ants recent ses- sion to consider such awards. Warden Paul Steckle said the awards could be plaques. scrolls or pins, but that will he determined by the county's executive committee. Some of 'those who voted against considering such an award said they were put on council by the voters and as -such should not be recognized by their political colleagues. "11's not up to us. 11's up to the public. I don't think it's necessary." said Hay Township Deputy Reeve Tony Bedard. County council's longest member. Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling said he could see the merits of such an award. "Maybe not for me. but tor my family." he said. The second longest member of county council. Brussels Reeve (',.I Kra titer quipped. "Give us a pension." The executive committee will make a recommendation on the type of award to he given Those voting against the award were: West Wawanosh Reeve J.R. Aitchison. Hay Deputy Reeve Bedard. Tuckersmith Reeve Bob Bell, Clinton Reeve Ernest Brown, Seaforth Reeve Bill Campbell. Hullett Reeve Tom Cunningham, Colborne Reeve Russel Kernighan, Zurich Reeve Isadore LaPorte, Turnberry Reeve Brian McBurney, Usborne Reeve Gerry Prout. and Goderich Reeve Harry Worsell with two votes. Those voting in favour were: Grey Reeve Leona Armstrohg, Ashfield Reeve John Austin, Blyth Reeve Tom ('ronin. Goderich Deputy Reeve .1.1'. Doherty. Exeter Deputy Reeve Lossy Fuller. McKillop Reeve Marie Ilicknell, Layfield Reeve Dave Johnston. tlensall Reeve Harry Klungel, Brussels Reeve Cal Krauter, Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle, Stanley Reeve Paul Steckle, Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling, East Wawanosh Reeve Neil Vincent. Stephen Reeve Alan Walper, Stephen Deputy Reeve Ralph Weber. Absent for the votes wereMorris Township Reeve Bill Elston, Wingham Reeve Joe Kerr, Howick Reeve .Jack Stafford and Hay Reeve Lionel Wilder. The Shoe Sale Men Wait for is on now at DON'S SHOE PLACE "Because You're Worth It" PRICE on all men's NUNN BUSH DRESS SHOES Choose from slip-ons or ties, Size 8-12 in D to 2E widths 60 Main Street SEAFORTH OPEN MON -SAT 9 S 1() Suncoast Shopping Mall GODERICH ()PI N MON -SAT 9 30-9 00 I XCEPT SATURDAYS 9 30-6 00 • cartons that had been the source of mysterious scratching and scuffling sounds. First out of the bag was a large bullfrog. Lovisek said bullfrogs are considered game animals, and have a specified hunting season. More than 20,000 are captured in Lanark County alone each year, and their flavourful hind legs end up among the entrees in many restaurants. Next came a baby snapping turtle, followed by a formidable female 15 -pounder, Jaws 11. Lovisek gingerly brought out a four- year-old American crocodile, explain- ing that this closest,, survivor of the dinousaur age is on the brink of ex- tinction. Unfortunately, its belly skin is highly prized, and a purse that cost the lives of two crocodiles can be pur- chased for $4,000 in an exclusive Toronto store. The children were allowed to touch the animal's long, plated tail but were warned to stay away from the business end, armed with rows of sharp teeth. Volunteers were allowed to hold Julius Squeezer, a.30 -pound, eight -foot boa constrictor, and a beautiful 14 -year, -old Indigo snake. A blue -crowned conure, a South American parrot, was more easily handled. Lovisek told the children every live parrot seen in a pet store represents 30 others that died. When collectors spot young parrots in a tree, they cut down the whole tree. Birds that survive the crash are ship- ped to -North America and kept in quarantine for 45 days. Only one in 0 survives the entire ordeal. A great horned owl who sat docile- ly on his handlers' gauntleted arm and turned his huge yellow eyes like spotlights on the audience brought the program to a fitting close. Lovisek told the children that owls have one ear higher than the other. This enables them to pinpoint the exact location of a scampering mole or a rustling mouse. The children were allowed to stroke the attractive plumage on the owl's back. The 45 -minute program gave the Kirkton and Exeter children and their parents a heightened awareness of the wonders of creation, and the con- tributions made by species other than man to a delicately balanced ecological system. Mediator is named: The Education Relations Commis- sion has appointed Dr. David Whitehead of London to act as mediator in the negotiations between the Secondary Teachers and the Trustees of the Huron County Board of Education. Dr. Whitehead (B.A. University of Toronto, M.B.A. York University, Ph.D University of Chicago) is an Assistant Professor of Business Ad- ministration at the University of Western Ontario. His areas of academic interest are Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management. From 1979-1981 Dr. Whitehead was in personnel work at the University of New Brunswick. Dr. Whitehead has attended and served as a Resource Person for ERC sponsored training sessions for third parties. This appointment is made under Section 13 of the School Boards and Teachers Collective Negotiations Act, Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1980. One case for court Only one case was heard on Tues- day by Justice of the Peace Douglas Wedlake in Exeter court. It concern- ed a London man, Kenneth C. Leven, charged with failing to stop at a stop sign. Levene was not present, but an ex - parte trail was held, with a not guilty plea being entered for him. Evidence was submitted by Constable Sin- namon of the Exeter OPP. Sinnamon testified that he observed a vehicle going north on county road 2, ap- proaching country road 4 on February 8, and that the vehicle slow- ed but didn't stop to go eastbound on county road 4. Sinnamon stopped the driver and identified him. The constable said there were stop signs in place for north and southbound vehicles in this location, and that on the morning in question the visibility was good. Although it was blowing snow, the constable said you could see for 100 metres, and there were no view obstructions. Wedlake convicted Levene and fin- ed him $53 with 15 days to pay. School budget on April 22 Anticipating an overall budget in- crease of just under six percent, the Huron County Board of Education will be holding a special budget meeting on April 22 at 7:30 p.m. Director of education Bob Allan told the April 1 meeting of the school board that grant information from the province has been received. This material indicates school,boards will receive about four percept more than the $22.7 million received last year. In 1984, the board had a budget of $37 million with local taxpayers pay ing $12.8 million for education. The special meeting is open to the public. SNAPPER — Jim Lovisek, director of the Toronto Nature Centre, talks abqut snapping turtles to children attending a program on endcingered species at the Kirkton library. Consider Catholie sehool Continued from front page raised the most curiosity were those of transportation, financing for the school and curriculum. While the planning committee has worked out the curriculum in some detail, the issues of finance and transportation are less certain. McCauley said that after looking at a number of separate secondary schools in the province, the planning committee had decided That the school will place particular impor- tance on arts ( music, theatre, fine art) and athletics. Joan Cronin, a member of the plan- ning committee, outlined the religious curriculum. The program is to cover aspects of the Bible, ethics based on religious teaching and other ways that religion can be applied in the stu- dent's daily life. The proposed pro- gram is based on religious curriculum currently being used in separate secondary schools elsewhere in the province. The area of finance cannot be deter- mined with much accuracy, but McCauley said the brunt of the cost is covered by secondary school grants from the provincial government. Even after the grants have been paid, there is still an outstanding cost of about $300 per student per year. McCauley said he did not expect that figure to change substantially between now and September, 1986. "But it's a new experience for us," he said of planning school costs, "we just don't know." The separate school board plans to house its separate secondary school in unused portions of Huron Central Secondary School • in Clinton. McCauley said this "school -within -a - school" approach had been used in western Canada, and that it had work- ed well there. Students would be phased into the facility slowly. The first year, the new school would contain only grade nine students, and add one grade each year until the school had five grades. nine to 13. McCauley said some renovation will be needed before the school in Clinton could open and that the unknown cost of that renovation is making it.difficult to project costs. The facility that would serve Roman Catholic secondary school students in Perth county is St. Michael's School in Stratford, a Roman Catholic institutuion that had to close in the last 1960s. McCauly said the Stratford facility was "fully" equipped, ready to go." Both schools would require special start-up grants from the provincial government. By the middle of May, McCauley said, the planning committee will have completed its work, which it will submit to HPRCSS. After that, the proposal goes to the Huron and Perth Boards of Education, who will draft an impact report on the effects of a separate secondary school in the area Both the planning committee's report and the impact statement will then go to the Ontario government's Planning and Implementation Com- mission. If the plan gets provincial approval, McCauley said, the Separate School Board can begin to work on opening its school by September 1986. Dear Editors: Think of Exeter and you think of lovely old houses on quiet streets lin- ed with beautiful trees. But there is a move afoot to destroy the at- mosphere of- one of Exeter's longest established residential areas. I am • referring to the proposed amendment by the Pentecostal Church to change the zoning of cer- tain lots on Main Street from institu- tional to commercial. If this change takes place it will decidedly have a disastrous effect on the surrounding homes and the families who live in those homes. It could also mean the destruction of one 9f Exeter's fine old church buildings - the church where the Pentecostal members presently hold their services. Also, many of our love- ly old trees would likely have to be cul down and destroyed, all in the name of "Progress". This is an important issue which concerns all residents of Exeter, especially those who have children at- tending the Exeter Public School, who have children enjoying the facilities of the Rec Centre, and who have children walking and biking to and from the swimming pool at the foot of Andrew Street. Because the corners of Main Street and Victoria, and the Andrew and Victoria could easily become heavily trafficked by cars and trucks making it dangerous for children crossing, if this area becomes zoned commercial. As it stands at the moment, the crossing at Main St. and Victoria is about the last fairly safe crossing left. Rezoning of this area of Main Street could also mean the end of a unique- ly excellent set of shops and boutiques downtown, if the core area is expanded. My neighbours and I are very much concerned and opposed to the rezon- ing of this area. We love our town the way it is. Why do we have to change? Very sincerely. Maude J. Connon w EASTER ASSEMBLY - - Stephen Central School had its annual Easter Assembly on Thursday. Here the kindergarten children are reciting a verse about Spring. f JUNIOR CHOIR The Stephen Junior Choir sang spring songs at Thursday's Easter Assembly.