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Times Advocate, 1992-07-22, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, July 22, 1992 Bayfield residents feel storm was twister BAYFIELD- - Although John Hoekstra at the London Weather Office could only confirm that a severe thunderstorm ripped through the village of Bayfield last Sunday, residents arc con- vinced it was a twister. According to the Clinton News -Record, heavy rains be- gan developing into very severe weather around 8:20 p.m. Un- like a regular summer storm, witnesses say following a calm gale force winds erupted for 10- 12 seconds uprooting trees and ripping down hydro lines. Driver comes forward after abduction report HOLMES VII .I .F - After read- ing about an apparent attempted abduction in the newspaper, a Goderich. area man .has come_ forward to clear himself. According to the Goderich Signal -Star, the man, who stopped to ask a Hohnesville child for directions, was upset to read about the incident in the paper, especially when it was considered an attempted abduc- tion. The 62 -year-old man got the name and address of the child's family from a friend, and phoned the parents to set up a meeting where he apologized explaining he had been looking for the Holmesville Hall. - Lock -out ends at Goderich Elevators GODERICH - Unionized em- ployees at Goderich Elevators Ltd. were hack to work last Wednesday, after voting in fa- vour of a new contract last Tues- day night_ Asreported in the Goderich Signal -Star, union representa- tives of United Food and Com- mercial Workers International Union Local 523W and manage- ment signed a three-year memo- randum of agreement, ending a 25 -day lockout which affected 27 employees. The contract gives a three per- cent increase in the first and sec- ond year and a 3.5 percent in- crease in the third year for all job classifications. Factfinder to settle teaching agreement STRATFORD - Professor Richard Jackson from the School of Business at Queen's University has been appointed factfirtder to help thc Perth County Board of Education and its secondary school teachers reach a contract agreement. According to the Mitchell Ad- vocate, issues include benefits and staffing, while at the fore- front are the boards reduction on the number of department heads as well as decreased payment for those holding the remaining po- sitions. Ile teachers current agree- ment expires August 31, 1992 and the factfinder's report is ex- pected to be delivered to the board and teachers by August 15. 4 )Minors can usually buy cigarettes More than half retailers fail tobacco test By Adrian Harte T -A Editor CLINTON - Studies show nearly all smokers start their habit before age 18. Teenagers are more con- sumed with thoughts of looking re- bellious and cool than health and mortality. But since laws prevent the sale of tobacco to those under 18, many habits can be nipped in the bud, right? Wrong, according to Jordan Gras - by of the Stop Tobacco Access to Minors Program (STAMP). In pur- chase tests conducted in 52 of the 105 variety stores, grocery stores, service stations, and pharmacies which sell tobacco, minors were able to easily buy cigarettes 54 per- cent of the time. Grasby sent into each store trained students aged 14 and 15 who asked to purchase a specific brand of cigarette. If the retailer took the package off the shelf and placed it on the counter, Grasby counted that as a clear intent to sell. However, since cigarettes cost $6.50 and the students only had $5, the purchase was not completed. "If [the tests) had been done in the evening, 1 think the results would have been higher," said Grasby, who felt younger part-time counter staff might have been less disceming. The good news is that 46 percent of those tested passed the aware- ness test, refusing to sell to the two boys and two girls whom Grasby chose for being plainly younger than 18. Those retailers will re- ceive a letter of congratulations from the Huron County Health Unit program for respecting the law. Others will be notified of their fail- ure and encouraged to take steps to be more careful to whom they sell tobacco. Many of those who found the stu- dents to be short the price of a full 25-paak of cigarettes suggested they ptuthase a 15 -cigarette pack- age, often nicknamed the "kiddie pack" and accused of being market- ed directly at minors. "We got that a lot...a lot," said Grasby, and added that in three cas- es when the students were asked their age, and after being truthfully told the person behind the counter was still papered to sell them cig- arettes.,. of the 52 retailers asked to see proof of age, an area for im- provement said Grasby. The Minors Protection Act, which dates back to 1908 (and is being lobbied for an update) makes it illegal for anyone under age 16 to possess tobacco. 'Those between 16 and 18 can purchase tobacco with the wriuen permission of a parent. But, observes Grasby, many retail- ers are not aware, or concerned about such laws. "That's the attitude - if 1 don't sell them then the next store will," said Grasby. Changing those attitudes is the goal of STAMP. information kits will be sent out.tt) tobacco retailers within the next few weeks. They will include pamphlets explaining the laws, how to say no to minors trying to purchase cigarettes, and stickers for both retailer and cus- tomer explaining the policy. While many retailers already have stickers on cash registers that depict a pack of cigarettes with it line through an 18, Grasby said they will be encouraged to replace them with the new ones. The old graphic is -now considered to depict cigarettes as a "forbidden fruit". A1I Huron County police depart- ments have endorsed the STAMP program, but actual participation from each has yet to be decided. Statistics suggest that a mere five percent of tobacco sales are to mi- nors, but those minors are future smokers, and future sufferers of cancer, hear disease, lung disease, and the other effects of smoking. "Teenagers have a problem with looking down the road," said Gras - by. By keeping tobacco out of their hands for a few extra years STAMP hopes to give a few teenagers a chance to take a better look down that road and avoid a costly habit. A chance to speak out for national unity EXETER - Local residents are being given an opportunity to and their voices to the call for Canadian unity with an innovative program to bring the message directly to Quebec homes, Called "Speak up for Canada - Wc belong together" the program asks people to sign their names to cards that carry a message of unity. The cards will be collected on Au- gust 17 and will be delivered to Quebec by Sears Line Haul for de- livery by Canada Post. If all goes well, every household in Quebec will receive at least one personally signed card with the bilingual mes sage: "Yes, I feel Quebec is an im- portant part of what makes our country great and I believe in a Canada that includes the people of Quebec. Let's keep the Canadian family together." The program is being supported by a television advertising cam- paign which launched on July 17. Over 150 shopping centres across Canada will be distributing the cards. In Exeter, cards can be signed and deposited at the Sears Catalog office, Stedmans, the Cana- dian imperial Bank of Commerce, Scotiabank, and Darlings Food Market. - "I feel it's a good thing," said Gloria Hayter, who is coordinating the Exeter program from the Sears office. "If we don't stay together, well..." Hayter said the cards deliver a positive message to Quebecers and she hopes to see people coming in specifically to sign them. There is C'\t illiP- a�0c¢ coo �� seas ? CP :y Concerns raised over Friedsburg -articte-- DASHWOOD - A story in last week's issue of the Times - Advocate seems to have caused concern in thc village of Dash- wood, as sources did not give cred- it to those who funded and built two community projects featured in the article. In tht story, "Friedsburg Days Keep Community Spirit Alive," it was implied that two sets of play- ground equipment in Dashwood were erected as projects of Frieds- burg Days. Cathy Hayter, Friedsburg Days coordinator, apologized for the muup. "Regarding the. story on Frieds- burg Days, I did_ not mean to imply that the Friedsburg Committee fi- nanced the playground equipment at the ball diamond or at the com- munity centre. Both of these pro- jects were financed and put up by separate community groups. Sorry for any inconvenience 'that this caused." The equipment at the community centre wawbuilt due to the efforts of the Dashwood Fire Department, together with many others in the community. As well, the playground appara- tus at the Dashwood ball diamond came at the hands of the Dashwood Bears slo-pitch team.' The Bears raised money mostly through ball tournaments, including their own which is held the same weekend as Friedsburg. The team purchased .the equipment along with money donated by Dashwood Minor Base- ball, and saw to the construction of the apparatus. "It wasn't a Friedsburg project at all," said Bears member Brian De- nomme. "We just wanted to make sure credit was given to the right people for their efforts." Commission to decide police budget Continued from front page "Since invoices are not held on file, but sent for payment at the mu- nicipal office, chief Harkness is 10 be commended for his ability 10 compile this report in the detail shown," said Wurm. •Mickle's report detailed several Ontario municipalities with popula- tions ranging from 4,108 to 21,759 which do not pay for policing at all, receiving free OPP coverage. "The reeve quite correctly said there are flaws in the system. There arc communities that receive free policing," agreed panel chairman Douglas Dnnkwalter. "Yet places like Exeter and a few villages under 1,000 are required to provide polic- ing. •Mickle said the costs of police wages in Exeter have increased an average of 13.4 percent annually since 1989,whereas-the ACM largest average increase was 7.3 percent in the cemetery deparunent. Overall, policing costs have risen •47.6 percent since 1988, but other town budgets have gone up a total of 27.1 percent. • •Chairman Drinkwalter admitted he did not know if the decision of the panel will be making in the next 'few days or weeks would be legally binding on council. It has never been tested in the courts. •Drinkwalter also revealed that Exeter is the second municipality to ever require a hearing to resolve a police budget issue. The last hear- ing was in 1988. Other municipali- ties have appealed to the Commis- sion for aid, but all disputes have been resolved before_thehearing stage. Some other budget disputes arc still in the works elsewhere in the province, however. •Whitt the -mandate 'of the meet- ing was specifically to discuss the budget and not any alternatives for Exeter policing, Dorothy Chapman did mention the subject in her com- ments. "If you decide to go that way, all I can say is you're going to pay for it while everyone else gets it free," said Chapman, who described thc dispute over the police budget as a "death struggle" for the survival of the small town police force. New chairman for police board Counc!I comments on hearing EXETER - Town council Mon- day evening had a few comments to make about the Police Commission hearing and even went to far as to make an inquiry into possible costs to taxpayers. Councillor Bob Spears fust spoke about the public hearing and com- mented on what appeared to be a dismal number of ratepayers who attended it. "When you subtract the number of town councillors, families, mem- bers of other town coun- cils...surprisingly few people showed up," said Spears. "Either people have enough confidence in the parties involved they are sure the right decision will be made...or it's not a big enough deal." "Obviously the democratic pro- cess is not worth defending. It in- trudes on their leisure time," con- cluded Spears. Deputy reeve Lossy Fuller said she thought presentations at thc hearing were good, but didn't agree with all comments made. Mayor Bruce Shaw asked her to be more specific. Fuller said she was upset that the police chief suggested council did not seem aware of the town's popu- lation growth and how it affected policing. "That was a stupid comment," agreed Shaw, with heavy emphasis. Fuller also wondered why a non ratepayer (Gregory Brown from the Children's Aid Society) spoke at the meeting. Later, Shaw said he wanted to comment on the process of the hearing and the police services board in general. He said his com- ments might seem contradictory to some. Shaw called the two police ser- vices board appointees, Sharon Wurm and John Stephens "two fine people and they really mean well. They really have the interests of the town at heart." Shaw said he would like to sec council set up a better dialogue with them and not to "take shots" at them, or at the police officers them- selves. Shaw said the police services board appointees are "concerned there may be a strained relationship between them and council - and 4 they don't want it". He pointed out the board could have opposed council's plan to in- vestigate costs of OPP policing for Exeter, but did not. "They want what's best for the town as much as we do," said Shaw. Shaw also announced, that "as of last week" the chairman of the board is now John Stephens and no longer Sharon Wurm. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom asked Shaw how much the paper- work for the hearing cost the tax- payers. 1 don't know. I'II try to find out for you," replied Shaw. Hoogenboom also queried who asked the Children's Aid Society representative to speak. Shaw said he didn't know, but could guess. Hoogenboom also asked if Brown paid for his attendance? Council were sufficiently intrigued by that question that they agreed to send a letter to the county and the CAS to fold out if there was any cost involved in making the presen- tation. even an option to add your phone number and address to the "friend- ship cards" in case the recipient wishes to contact the sender. Gforfa Hayter at the Sears Catalogue Office holds one of the cards of friendship to be sent to Quebec from across Canada. Four alcohol related convictions in court EXETER - Four convictions for alcohol related � • charges were laid in court in Exeter last Tuesday. John Delaney of 64 Charloue Cres., Kitchener pleaded guilty to charges of impaired driving and driving with BAC over 80 mg. The court was told that on May 23 at 1:22 a.m., an officer following the accused northbound on Highway 21 from Highway 83, and noticed the vehicle swaying from centre of the road to the shoulder. At the Exeter OPP station a breathalyzer was ad- ministered at showed readings of 142 and 135 mg of alcohol per litre of blood. Judge Harry Momotiuk fined Delaney $500 with four months to pay and suspended his license for one year. Impaired driving Keith Case of RR 2 Dashwood must pay a talc of $800 with four months to pay for a charge -of driving while impaircd. Case pleaded guilty to the charge. The accused was stopped by police on County Rd. 4 in Stephen Township when he was observed swaying from the centre of the road to the shoulder. The officer said the accused was staggering. Breathalyzer tests showed readings of 160 and 150. Impaired driving Kenneth Wildfong of Main. St., Zurich pleaded guilty to charges of operating a motor vehicle while impaired and BAC over 80 mg. The court heard that on June 2, the accused was stopped on Main St. in Dashwood when he was observed swaying by police. The officer told the court Wildfong staggered as he stepped out of his vehicle. Judge Harry Momotiuk fined Wildfong $600 with four months to pay and his license was suspended for one year. BAC over 80 Sherrec Carrigan of 132 Rideout St., London pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving with blood alcohol level greater than 80 mg. The court heard that on March 29 an Exeter Police officer noticed a vehicle leaving Lester's Roadhouse on Main St. Exeter when it came to an abrupt stop. After having a conversation with the accused who ad- mitted to having 2 or 3 beers, the officer took her to the station where breathalyzer readings were 160 and 150. Judge Momotiuk took into consideration that Carrigan had no prior record and her employment situation when fining her $400 with 90 days to pay and suspending her license for one year. Break and eater Dwayne Hayter of Mel Crediton pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of possession of stolen property. The accused was in possession of a loaf of bread which was taken from a residence on February 5 when he was involved in a break and enter with a group of offenders. Hayter was given 60 days to pay the $400 fine handed down by the judge when he was convicted for break, enter and committing a felony. Taking a vehicle David Jones of 184 Main Si, Exeter pleaded guilty to a charge of taking a vehicle without the owner's consent. The court was told that on December 22 the accused was hitch- hik- ing to Exeter from Heasell when he took a car from a residence on Highway 4 in Hay Township and was involved in a single vehicle acci- dent when he put the vehicle into the ditch. Judge Harry Momotiuk took into consideration the accused co- operated with police and that be is currently employed when giving him the 8300 fine with 90 days to ?ay. 1'