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Times Advocate, 1991-03-20, Page 1TA Classifieds They really pay Call 235-1331 j cr Gaiser-Kneale Insurance Call us for Compr•hansiv• Cpompp•titiv• HOMEOWNERS 235-2420 Serving South Huron North Middlesex & Lambton Since 1873 Wednesday, March 20. 1991 75 cents Inside Donnellys Coming to terms page 4 Running The sap is flowing page 7... Mohawks Take lead in series Second front Tykes A look at future stars page 14 ti Spicer Commission in Exeter on. Friday EXETER - The Citizen's Forum on Canada's Future, more common- ly known as the Spicer Commis- sion, will be coming to Exeter on Friday morning. University of Windsor professor Lloyd Brownjohn will be hosting the forum in the municipal office's council chambers from 10 a.m. to noon to hear some local input on is- sues said to be troubling our nation. The forum is gathering public opinion on national issues such as Quebec's role in Constitutional matters, native and ethnic rights, and the attitudes of Canadians about their senior levels of govern- ment. Village's sewer problems persist ZURICH Zurich reeve Bob Fisher told council last Monday night major sewage problems still exist on John Street because some residents are illegally tied into the sewage system. Fisher told council the Ministry of Environment has contacted the village with its concerns regarding future constriction in the village. Fisher noted his frustration over a lack of a solution to the ongoing sewage problem, and said a new lagoon would cost the village about $3 million. Council is currently researching new ways to detect residences which are illegally hooked into the system. Shaw speaks out in support of town staff EXETER - Although he was reluctant to refer to any specific complaints, Exeter mayor Bruce Shaw said the innuendoes and criticisms he has heard about the town staff are unfounded. Shaw spent the March break working on town busi- ness and said he had been up- set by comments from the "4,000 bosses out there" that the town staff were not work- ing as hard as they should. Shaw advised the critics to investigate the rumours they hear before passing them on because he said in every in- stance, all complaints he heard were unfounded and all had a reasonable and accepta- ble explanation. "They do a good job," said Shaw. "And in my opinion earn every cent they make? By Adrian Harte DASHWOOD - For 11 -year old Jacob Weber, Easter is an especially good time of year. While he raises rabbits year-round on his father's farm south of Dashwood, Easter usually brings with it an increased demand for baby bunnies as pets. Jacob has a couple of litters of miniature lop- eared rabbits, a particularly popular soft and fluffy breed, that he hopes will find homes in the next few days. Although Jacob got his first rabbit three years ago, it wasn't until last year he decided to begin breeding them for sale. He keeps between 50 and 75 rabbits, selling up to 30 a month for the rabbit meat market. Rabbit meat is currently bought at between $1 and $1.05 a pound, although Jacob's father Bill concedes that it sells for much more than that in supermarkets where it is promoted as sometHing of a specialty item. New Zealand Whites and Dutch rabbits reach the ideal market weight of 5-6 pounds within 10- 12 weeks. Lop-eared miniatures are kept only for pets. With up to eight does and a couple of bucks, Ja- cob finds he doesn't run out of rabbits. "They multiply fast, every 45 days there's more," he said. His cages are kept in a specially insulated and ven- tilated part of his father's barn. Jacob cleans them regularly and looks after them both before and after school every day. "We decided if he was going to keep rabbits he should learn something from it," said his father Bill. Keeping precise breeding and litter records, noted Bill, is the key to maintaining the operation's profita- bility and health - valuable lessons that also apply to running the family's dairy farm. However, raising rabbits is something of a high- risk venture. Disease can quickly wipe out an entire stock, but Bill points out his son has been careful and fortunate. In return for Jacob's regular chores on the farm, his father buys the rabbit feed. Both consider it a fair ex- change - and now that his operation has reached the limits of the size available for it, Jacob is saving up his money for a future investment. "I'm saving for a car," he confesses, and wonders what he will be able to afford five years from now when he is old enough to drive. Two charged in shoplifting spree EXETER - The Exeter Police ar- rested two women on Saturday for shoplifting incidents which oc- curred at the Valu Mart, EMA Foods, Darling's Foods and MacL- ean's Home Hardware. Charged with three counts of possession of stolen property un- der $1,000 were Sharon Carter, 29, of R.R. 3 Exeter, and Sharon McNicol, 38, of R.R 3, Exeter. Both are scheduled for court ap- pearances in Exeter Provincial Court on April 9. Also on Saturday, a 1985 Ply- mouth two -door was stolen from the parking lot of the Good Times Restaurant. The Exeter OPP later located the car abandoned on Hu- ron County Road 31 without dam- ages. On Wednesday, police investigat- ed an incident of car windows brok- en in the parking lot of the Huron Dental Clinic. Also reported were broken lights on a vehicle parked at the Exeter Legion. There was another car damaged last week as tires were slashed at the parking lot at 176 Sanders St. E on Tuesday. MaeNaughton Park facelift may begin EXETER - As the NDP provin-, cial government continues to show- er local municipalities and agencies with promises of grant monies pro- viding they undertake capital pro- jects during this recession year, we find the next item in the area to benefit is MacNaughton Park. The Ausable Bayfield Conserva- tion Authority has been informed that the province will contribute about $23,000 so that erosion pro- tection measures can be installed along both banks of the park and around the river's island. Exeter council noted Monday evening the project had been on the town's wish list for some time. "For years we've talked about fi- nalizing this arca with gabion bav- kcts, and this looks like the an- swer," said`councillor Ben Hoogen- boom, who\added the work would greatly corifibute to the ongoing beautification of the MacNaughton Park arca. Town administrator Rick Hundey pointed out the town's contribution to the project would be more than $18,000, and park reserve funds have only about $7,000 earmarked for such work. "The question remains, do you want to wait to implement these plans, or do you raise the money?" Hundey asked council. Works superintendent Glenn Ketls said he understood funds from the upcoming Lions/ABCA Conservation Dinner may be ap- plied to this project. Reeve Bill Mickk noted the 55 percent funding level was not as high as previous years when the project was considered and put on the backburner. "It wasn't done in the past 15 years because the Ausable wasn't prepared to spend that money in Exeter," said mayor Bruce Shaw. Councillor Dorothy Chapman said she was "only too pleased" to hear about the initiative to finally get the park face-lift under way and she put forward the motion that council pursue the matter farther with both the ABCA and the Lions Club. Craigwood medium -security Warden criticizes new. facility By Cheryl Clark /11LSA CRAIG - Some Middlesex County residents think East Wil- liams Township's medium security facility for young offenders looks too much like a prison says township reeve and Middlesex County warden Ray Campbell "No one likes a prison in their backyard," said Campbell, stating several renovations completed at the Craigwood facility (formerly a group home) seemed to have slipped under the township and county council's noses. Campbell said neither county or township council had a legal avenue to halt Craigwood's renovations which included an approximate 20 metre high fence because the building and surrounding lots were already zoned for a group home. "No one likes a prison in their backyard" "We heard a lot of rumours about it and we were concerned, said Campbell, noting 'many township residents had heard a guard tower was to go up at the Craigwood site. "If they would have asked for a new (building) permit they wouldn't have got it," said Campbell, stating council never reviewed the renovation plans. Some public controversy took place last year when East Williams Township residents found out approval for over $1 million in renovations slipped under county council's noses. Safety is not a big concern said Campbell, because there have been few problems in the last decade with young offenders who resided at the home. Campbell conceded to several positive aspects of the facility including its technologically advanced workshops and increased classroom space. The facility's young offender capacity has remained the same at 10 youths per cottage or unit. "There is a lot of employment there," he noted. However, Campbell says the fence gives Craigwood a negative image and makes some township residents uncomfortable. Campbell says the Craigwood facility's property was zoned for a group home and therefore, it was not subjected to property taxes. He feels the renovated medium security facility should be open to such taxes. HIS main concern is what once was a group home is now a "jail" and the county has no say in what kind of criminal element may reside there. "We are wondering what we can do to stop them," said Campbell "We are worried about more expansion." Campbell says overall council is upset with the way renovations were done. "We would have worked with them (Craigwood administrators)," said Campbell, stating council was and is willing to make compromises with facility staff. "To me it is a jail," said Campbell. "It definitely has its benefits, but it definitely is a jail." Craigwood Youth Service's executive director Ken Thomas said he un- derstands the concerns of the reeve and county council administrators, but says it is important to keep in mind the element the township is dealing with. "It is important to remember they are young offenders," said Thomas. He stresses the facility is medium security and young offenders who com- mit the most serious crimes wind up in a maximum security facility or are tried as adults. Thomas said it took approximately four years to get Craigwood renova- tions in motion, and during that time East Williams Township residents were informed about the group home's proposed change to a medium se- curity facility in accordance with provincially legislated guidelines. Thomas said in simple terms this facility's major difference from the home is "this one is locked and the other one was not". Thomas said he has been approached about the "unsightly" fence. He said the fenced exercise yard was purposely placed off the road and trees and shrubs were strategically planted around it to appease passers-by. "The facility is extremely well-designed and well-equipped," said Thomas, noting the renovations include a major expansion of the previous programs. The facility's first four young offenders will move in on March 18 and Thomas expects one of the units to be at its 10 resident capacity within two months. The majority of the young offenders will be from the London and Mid- dlesex County arca, but Craigwood will house young offenders from six surrounding counties as well. Thomas says this program allows young of- fenders to keep in contact with family and friends. Thomas said East Williams Township residents will see the benefits of the modernized facility in time. "It keeps them within the community so the family has access to them," said Thomas. Thomas said over the past decade, Craigwood administrators have strived to be the best in terms of developing youth counselling program. Over 80 percent of Craigwood's resources are used to develop new pro- grams including an early intervention program for young people, family therapy, a day program, a group home progam and a resident treatment program. Thomas said the young offenders to be housed at Craigwood's newer facility will have commiued the same crimes which landed them in the old group home. The crimes are the same, but society's demands for punishment have changed, he said. "Just because it kooks like a prison; doesn't make it so," concluded Thomas. Drug bust results in two charges STEPHEN TWP. - A Crimes - topper's tip led Exeter Ontario Pro- vincial Police to obtain a search warrant seeking cannabis resin and cocaine at a party taking place in Stephen Township on Saturday night according to Staff Sergeant Don Mclnnis. One Exeter resident, who police have not identified, was charged with breach of probation and nar- otkic's possession as a result of the seven squad car raid. The cars were dispatched to the location, which police also declined to identify, at 10:45 p.m. on the tip, said McInnis and several police of- ficers were needed for a "fast and precise" bust.