Times Advocate, 1995-05-24, Page 1Strike impacts more than management and workers *-
General Coach workers have been out for over a month forcing production to halt in a peak season
Ingrid Nielsen T -A Staff
HENSALL - As the sign starts to
become a little heavy, it slides to
the ground and becomes a comfort-
able prop for a strong arm. The
men stand around a small fire in an
old bathtub to gather a little
warmth. Few talk about the com-
pany or negotiations; instead the
conversation turns to mutual
friends or fishing. It's a rather cool
day, but there have been worse.
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They haven't had a pay cheque in a
little over four weeks.
Across the street, a curtain moves
slightly, as a face appearrs through
the window. The face is a common
sight, as John Pryde, Vice President
and General Manager with General
Coach watches the strikers. The
feeling on both sides of the window
is not necessarily anger, but instead
growing concern about what the
next few days will bring.
The line has been drawn between
management and labour at General
Coach in Hensall, with the com-
munity watching for who will make
the first move and end the four
week strike, which began on April
21
"The feeling I get talking with
everyone out here is that they don't
want to go back until this is set -
(lee.," said Steve Zarar4k, Union
Steward and a member of the nego-
tiating committee.
With the employees out of work
for about a month, one might as-
sume the lost pay cheques and low
strike pay would be starting to hurt.
Union members strongly deny that
their position has weakened, and
say that, "Everyone is feeling pretty
good still," says Zaranik.
"A lot of guys are picking up ex-
tra work," said Kitchener Pavolik.
"Farmers think this is great."
The strikers are requested to pick-
et for at least one shift per week.
That leaves a lot of time for season-
al work such as farming or land-
scaping.
"For the immediate time, they
seem to survive just fine. If there is
a plus to it, there are summer jobs,"
said Butch Hoffman, a Hensall
council member.
Membeis of the community and
local Ijusinesses say they haven't
felt much of a difference since the
strike began.
"The community hasn't really
been affected," said Hoffman.
"Everyone seems supportive, wav-
ing when they go by."
Zaranik and Pavolik agree with
the feeling of support from most of
the community. "Everybody is
waving. 1 don't think anyone has
flipped us the linger, eh Kitch
Continued on page 2
�( !ting EXCtt:l ,
1873
1-1111M
Wednesday, May 2L
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Country
Cottage
Interiors
Showcase
in Grand Bend
See page 7
Grand Bend
Raceway
Off to a
roaring start
See page 18
Classifieds
pages 21-25
Announcements
pages 26-27
Experts
page 28
Correction
The article in the May 17 issue of
the Times Advocate, "Council
waits to join sewage study", should
have clarified that the study pro-
posed will look at sharing many
services, including recreation and
fire. The study is not for all of Hu-
ron County, but instead involves
six municipalities; Hay, Zurich,
Hensall, Exeter, Stephen and Us -
borne.
Meet your
candidates
GRAND BEND -The Grand Bend
and Arca Chamber of Commerce is
hosting an all candidates meting for
Lamhton County Friday.
The meeting, which will be held
at the Grand Bend Legion, will be-
gin at 7 p.m. Four candidates have
confirmed their participation: Don-
na Stewardson - NDP, Marcel
Beaubien - Conservative, Larry
O'Neill - Liberal and Jim Hopper -
Family Coalition.
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Pulling her weight
Exeter OPP officer Paula Rosseway pulls for her team against members of the Bluewater
Tug -of -War. Local firefighters also participated in the event held at McNaughton Park
Thursday night.
Drug search at SHDHS
The search was part of a routine check at area schools
Ingrid Nielsen and Christopher Skalkos
TA -Staff
EXETER - In the middle of first period at
SHDHS on Thursday morning, the halls were
cleared and Exeter OPP officers searched the school
for drugs.
This search was part of a routine check that OPP
officers are performing at all high schools in the re-
gion. Every high school is checked spontaneously
once a year.
No narcotics were found during the
search at SHDHS, and no arrests were
made.
While some people were concerned
that this was a raid, Sargent Tcrry De-
vine, Exeter OPP, clarifies that this
was a "search". A raid implies that
the police knew of an existing problem and were
acting specifically on it. This was not thc case.
Four narcotic canine units were dispatched, with
seven OPP officers. The dogs were guided down the
halls sniffing at lockers as they went hy.
"It was sort of a catch them unaware search, but
there was no quantity of drugs found. None at all,"
said Devine. "Basically we went there to see if there
were any drugs floating around and there were
none."
The search caused a few curious looks from stu-
dents as they were told over the announcement sys-
tem to leave the halls. Some students say that they
heard thc dogs harking in the halls.
"Lots of people were watching. People had to be
confined to the rooms for about an hour. It makes it
"It was
a catc
U/
se
a bit awkward," said Herb Murphy, principal of
SHDHS.
While this was a routine drug search, some stu-
dents are concerned with a growing presence of
drugs at SHDHS.
"There is a drug problem at our school," said one
student. "Every year, it's just coming in more."
A friend quickly agrees. "You're sitting in thc
smoking arca, and suddenly you smell pot. There
are some kids in public school who
don't want to go to SHDHS next year."
Murphy said that, "there's always a
concern about drugs and young people.
We would be blind if we didn't rec-
ognize the potential problem."
Devine agrees. "I don't think that our
school is any worse than the other
schools in' the area, hut whenever you get a large
group of teens together, there's a potential for it
[drug problems) being there."
At the same time, some students feel that all the
positive aspects of SHDHS students get overlooked
each time a few students do something negative.
Janice Walker, one of the co-op teachers was par-
ticularly concerned that the drug search would draw
attention away from all the hard work that co-op
students had put into their job fair, which was held
the same day in the Exeter Rec Centre.
"When I heard this was happening at the school
this morning, I was so mad," said Walker. "It's not
fair if these kids who worked so hard might not get
the same coverage now that this [drug search) is
happening at the school."
sort of
h them
;aware
arch."
To inspect swim pool gates,
fences only after complaints
LUCAN - As the result of a re-
view of regulations of arca munici-
palities and a discussion by council
members, exisiting swimming pool
gates and fences will only be in-
spected as the result of a complaint.
Clerk Ron Reymcr reported that
the city of London, township of
London and the town of Strathroy
all inspect pool gates and fences in
response to complaints only.
Parkhill does yearly inspections
and Exeter carries our inspections
every other year and charges the
pool owner $10 for the service.
Duchess completed
Works superintendent Doug
Johnston reported to council that
construction on Duchess Avenue is
"99 percent done and it's great to
have it wrapped up.". Johnston add-
ed that excess materials on Duchess
would be used for reconstruction
projects on Princess street.
Councillor Rob Brady, a resident
of Duchess said, " I think most of
the residents in that arca arc happy
with what has been done."
In addition, Johnston said all hy-
dro lines on Princess had been bur-
ied as to plans and the new lawn
mower was doing a fine job with
village staff in charge of the opera-
tion.
Brady reported that the I.ucan Li-
ons had completed their Market
street park renovations and picnic
tables were ready to be moved into
the new pavillion with the electrici-
ty installed.
Reeve McLaughlin asked that
written thanks be sent out to all of
those who participated in a very
successful Pitch -In program a
couple of weeks ago. He added,
"We didn't get as much stuff picked
up, but grade six students from Bid-
dulph Central Schook did a similar
pickup only a week earlier. All in
all, our Pitch -In was very success-
ful."
Thanks arc to be sent to the Lu -
can Guides and Scouts, Bluewaer
Recycling and C.H. Lewis Ltd.
As the result of a request from
the province of Ontario and a rec-
• Continued on page 2
492 charges laid in
Grand Bend
Chris Skalkos T -A staff
GRAND BEND - A total of 492
charges were laid on the Victoria
day weekend but according to
Grand Bend O.P.P. it was "rel-
atively calm."
The first long weekend of the
year, commonly known as " May 2-
4" has traditionally brought thou-
sands of people to Grand Bend to
enjoy the beach, water sports and
Main street night life.
Grand Bend O.P.P. estimate that
over 40,000 people, mostly teen-
agers, visited the village from May
19 to May 22.
Of the 492 charges laid, 375 were
issued under the Liquor Licence
Act, 89 under the Highway Traffic
Act and 25 under the Environ-
mental Protection act. Two mo-
torists were charged with impaired
driving and the most serious of the
four charges laid under the Crim-
inal code was an assault causing
bodily harm offense.
Constable Dennis Ticknor from
the Grand Bend O.P.P. detachment
said a combination of more uni-
formed officers and the cool wcath-
Around the Bend
on weekend
er helped to keep things stable.
"It wasn't as had as years gone
by, people remained relatively
calm," said Ticknor.
A crowd management unit was
brought in for the first time this
year. Wearing grey uniforms and
black baseball -style hat; they could
he seen patrolling the village on
foot in groups of four or five.
Ticknor said the heavy police
presence may have acted as a de-
terrent for the rowdy crowds that
usually conjugate in the street after
the bars close.
"We were spread out and more
visible which may have reduced the
chances for a serious problem to
occur," he said.
Overall, Ticknor said he was
slightly surprised at the outcome
considering the Victoria long week-
end has a statistically backed rep-
utation for being one of the "wild-
est" weekends of the year.
"After spending all winter in-
doors it's the first chance people get
to let their hair down, whoop it up
and have a good timer he said.
Faces and scenery of the May long weekend in Grand Bend.
Grand Bend sewage
system to be updated
CREDITON - Stephen township
council has agreed to go ahead
with the proposed expansion and
upgrading of thc Grand Bend and
arca sewage system.
After reviewing thc proposal
from the Ontario Clean Water
Agency, council learned that the
project will receive an 80.16 per-
cent level of governmental assis-
tance to a maximum of $3,270,000
based on a maximum gross capital
cost of $4,080,000.
The township also agrees with
OCWA's intention to allow a pre-
defined arca of the town of Bosan-
quet to receive sewage service
from the Grand Bend and arca sew-
age system, subject to an agree-
ment between Grand Bend, Ste-
phen, Bosanquet and OCWA.
On the same subject, council ac-
cepted a class environmental as-
sessment report on the Grand Bend
Airport Arca Sewage Collection
System and will have it circulated
for thc mandatory 30 day public re-
view period.
A bylaw was passed which will
allow the township to enter into an
casement agreement with OCWA
for the water pumping station pro-
posed for the township shed site.
Award contracts
The 1995 township gravel tender
has been awarded to low bidder
George Radford Construction at a
hid price of $4.43 per tonne as rec-
ommended by the road superinten-
dent.
The paving tender was awardedto
low bidder Lavis Contracting at
$44.90 per tonne for the work on
Concession 18-19 and $38.49 per
tonne for the Gore Road project.
Council approved a proposed en-
croachment agreement with Jim
Hayter and Debbie Bender for their
property at part of Lot 2, Plan 213
in the police village of Crediton.
The agreement will be prepared and
registered at the owner's expense.
Road superintendent Eric Fink -
sr Continued on page 2
4