Times-Advocate, 1996-05-29, Page 2Yi
Murray
remanded in
custody
GODERICH - Steven Murray,
who faces a second-degree mur-
der charge in connection with
the disappearance of his step-
daughter, Mistie Murray, was re-
cently charged with six counts
of breach of conditions.
Murray had been free since
last September on bail of
$125,000 with no deposit re-
quired but on the condition he
report to Goderich police each
week.
He was also not allowed to
leave Huron County, except to
see his lawyer in Toronto.
Scheduled to resume Thursday
is a preliminary hearing into the
second-degree murder charge
against him.
Accident
claims Blyth
man's life
BLYTH - James Hubbard, 33,
of Blyth, was killed on May 20
in a collision at the County Road
12 intersection, reported the
North Huron Citizen.
A large truck driven by Mer-
vyn Schneider, 58, of Brussels,
was travelling west on County
Road 17 at Winthrop when it ap-
peared the truck failed to stop at
the intersection, stated an OPP
press release.
Title of fair
queen
lopsing
PBputar►tY
CLINTON - The tradition of
choosing a fair queen may have
to be cancelled, reported the
Clinton News -Record, unless
contestants come forward.
Brenda Maclsaac, who has
been involved with the event for
10 years, told the Record the
choosing of queen has never
been cancelled before due to
lack of contestants. However,
last year organizers also had dif-
ficulties finding young women
willing to participate.
Maclsaac hopes to see at least
six contestants as three or four
are needed to hold the contest.
The decision to cancel the
event would be officially made"
by the fair board.
Youth to
compete in
Spain
VANASTRA - Robert Kham-
souk will compete against inter-
national athletes in the first an-
nual world junior Tae Kwon Do
championships in Spain next
month.
According to the Clinton
New -Record, the 15 -year-old
from Vanastra made the Canadi-
an national junior team after
competing in Edmonton, Alberta
on May 4.
Man
missing
GODERICH - Ooderich OPP
are searching for a 43 -year-old
man who recently went missing.
According to the Clinton
]Jews -Record, Edward Mayhew
is described as a white male
weighing approximately 120
pounds, with brown hair and
blue eyes.
Behind his barn on the week-
end of May 18, a relative in
Goderich Township found May-
hew's pickup truck containing
his belongings.
Lambton requests exemption from. Bill 26 restructuring
While the county wants to maintain its existing boundaries, Bosanquet has t"
requested full standing at amalgamation talks
By Heather Mir
T -A Reporter
EXETER - Lambton's resolution passed on May 1 asking
the Minister of Municipal Affairs to exempt the county from
restructuring under Bill 26 has Grand Bend con-
cerned about the implications on current amal-
gamation discussions.
Should Minister Al Leath approve Lambton's
request, Administrator Wayne Kloske indicated
the county would have a "big problem" with
Grand Bend and Bosanquet pursuing talks with
Exeter, Stephen and Usborne. In fact, the
Lambton municipalities would be prohibited
from participating.
"You've basically not endorsed what Bo-
sanquet has come out to do," said Exeter Mayor Ben Hoo-
genboom regarding the town's request to participate fully in
amalgamation discussions.
Lambton's concern driving the exemption request is that
restructuring under Bill 26 would undermine the county's
work completed to date with Bill 35. The legislation, which
took effect in 1989, amalgamated Sarnia and Clearwater.
Implementing the Lambton/Sarnia act cost taxpayers more
than $ 10 million.
"This new restructured county is working very efficiently,"
said Kloske.
"Are you
coming in
believing our
approach
won't work?"
Kloske also stated restructuring by the com-
mittee involving Grand Bend and Bosanquet
could negatively impact Lambton's recent credit
rating increase to an A+ standing. Grand Bend
makes up approximately four per cent of the to-.
tal Lembton County assessment.
.The amalgamation committee requested Lamb -
ton keep the group informed of the proceedings
regarding its request to the minister.
Bosanquet requests standing
Mayor Fred Thomas advised committee mem-
bers it is not in the best interest of residents to annex one
third of Bosanquet and in order to represent ratepayers, the
municipality "requests full status in discussions." Although
Bosanquet is open to innovative ideas during restructuring
exercises, Thomas reminded the committee decisions will
Cemetery Board not included
in council's cost-cutting plans
EXETER - The Exeter Cemetery
Board was "up in arms" last Mon-
day night as it, through its chair,
Andy de Boer, took council to task
for even considering the inclusion
of the board's operations in coun-
cil's cost-cutting plans.
The board presented a detailed re-
port in which it outlined its grave
concern its members were not in-
cluded in any discussions and have
nothing substantive to go on except
rumor. The brief stated the board's
chair was denied a meeting with the
cost-cutting committee, and yet its'
operations were being undermined
by that very same committee.
The brief went on to extol the
virtues of the cemetery and its op-
erations. "
First, let us emphasize that we are
all in favor of cost cutting, but it
has to be done in a way so as not to
undo all the positive things that
have been accomplished in the past,
or to jeopardize how we view the
sanctity of life and death."
presentation resentation listed five con-
- cerns- of the board:. i) that the Exet-.
— Ees eiy-Beard may be singled
out as a target for cost savings,
when our request to council each
year for a grant to balance our bud-
get is very small; ii) that there is
uncertainty of where we stand as a
board - bylaw 4, 1939 clearly states
the board's mandate, and yet de-
cisions about the cemetery have
been taken out of our hands; iii)
that the emotional stress has in-
creased on our superintendent be-
cause of the uncertainty of whom
he is responsible to and the pro-
posed changes; iv) that the effects
of the cost cutting may have a se-
rious affect on the families who
have loved ones buried in our ce-
metery or have purchased lots for
themselves; and v) that the ce-
metery might close down from late
fall to early spring with no winter
burials and no flowers to be grown
in our greenhouses."
In presenting the brief, de Boer
said, "The cost for the cemetery
operation is $17 per taxpayer per
year, and that's a pretty good deal,
isn't it?"
Councillor Thom Hughes replied,
'Mike all 'torn' ' departments; -'tit
After several obviously un-
sympathetic comments and more
questions about the fairness of the
grant by de Boer, Deputy Reeve
Dave Urlin jumped in. "
We're not here to be badgered
and drilled by the question as to
whether we approve of $17 a head
!" he said.
Councillor Roy Triebner asked if
perhaps there was a mis-
communication."
"It's our intent to talk to staff and
boards; nothing is etched in stone,
but everything is up for study."
De Boer said he asked for a meet-
ing with Councillor Joe Rider, the
chair of the cost cutting committee,
but he was refused. Rider coun-
tered, "It (refused) is too strong a
word - I said, It's not the right
time.' "
Councillor Robert Drummond
broke in, "If we're looking at cost
cutting, nothing is sacrosanct."
De Boer retorted, "We're talking
about sacred ground here! No de-
cision should be made without the
approval Of the Certietery Bdardf"
iShou1d operate on'a'break-even bad`' ks''ile Eber left die podititit, hb'
sis." warned, "Lay off the cemetery!"
New Lucan councillor sworn in
MartIn.Crillttenden
LUCAN - Martin Chittenden was
sworn in as the village's new coun-
cillor at council's May 21 meeting.
A runner-up in the last election
held a year and a half ago, Chitten-
den will sit on the Planning Board
Committee as well as the North
Middlesex Building Committee.
He decided to accept the position
of councillor "to get more involved
with the community," and gain an
understanding of it.
It will be a challenge, he said,
"working with the different commit-
tees and the electorate to the best of
my ability."
He also sees amalgamation as an
interesting, challenging issue.
Plaque presentation
Mayor Bon Hoogwrboom presents a plaque to resigning
Councillor Bob Spears, in recognition of his five years on Ex-
eter Council, his 15 years on the Planning Advisory Commit-
tee and Committee of Adjustment and his past three years
on the Exeter and Area Fire Board. Spears has moved to
London.
A resident of Lucan for nearly 14
years, he lives in the village with
his wife and has three children. His
hobbies include repairing motorcy-
cles and equipment.
have long lasting effects and costs as well as benefits.
"We are in search of excellence in restructuring...we want
to be the best, not the first," said Thomas.
While Bosanquet wants to participate in amalgamation dis-
cussions, it is pursuing other options.
"Are you coming in believing our approach won't work?"
asked Grar i Bend Mayor Cam Ivey, "Do you have the
same committee the rest of this group has?"
The committee resolved to defer the request until further ,
information and answers to questions can be gathered. Three
of the main questions concerning the request include:
•Will Bosanquet participate financially in the study?
•What are the alternative options Bosanquet is pursuing?
•Is Bosanquet representing the annexation area or the *,. ,
whole municipality?
Although Grand Bend indicated its support for Bosanquet's
involvement in discussion, Ivey asked that Bosanquet's
"cease and desist" motion regarding the group's area of inter-
est be rescinded.
"The boundary that has been laid out ... that is not up for
negotiations," said Maguire.
Junior triathalon
planned for July
The Grand Bend Parks and Rec-
reation Committee hopes the tri-
athalon will become an annual event
GRAND BEND - Delegates attending last Tuesday night's council
meeting received approval in principle for a junior triathalon to be
held in the village on July 20.
The "Kids of Steel" event is to be sanctioned by the Ontario As-
sociation of Triathletes and includes swimming, cycling and run-
ning for children 18 and under. Parks and Recreation Committee
members Barry Richman and Bill Uniac explained the event is for
boys and girls in three age categories. By mid-July it is expected
flat lake conditions will allow for even young children to participate
as well.
Children under eight will remain within the south beach area for
the event that includes a 50 -meter swim. Older participant will
swim 1 km from the north pier to the pump house at Oakwood
where a transition to bicycles will take place. The 20 ken ride to the
Pinery Provincial Park may also include a loop within the park.
The final leg of the race will begin at Pinedale and a challenging
course on hills and in the old river bed is being planned. The run
will finish at the harbor building and will be followed by a barbecue
at the pavilion and a draw for prizes.
The committee anticipates 50 volunteers will be needed,to gp.ure
the event runs smoothly. Police have already beencon(ncied"to, di-
rect traffic in the village and at transition points ' participants v'ii i
passthrough.
According to Patterson, similar events are well attended and par-
ticipants travel at their own expense. An entry fee of $15 in ad-
vance or $20 the day of the event is expected to make the triathalon
financially self-sufficient. The committee also hopes to make a do-
nation to the ongoing fundraising for gene research by John and
Jesse Davidson.
"The kids do this for the bragging rights and for ribbons," said
Richmond.
Council plans to hold a special meeting to address issues such as
insurance and private property access. Other participants including
the OPP will be invited to attend. Approval for the event was grant-
ed subject to the receipt of a detailed report.
Jesse `s Journey topic of
Rotary Club speaker series
John Davidson returns to Grand
Bend to share the incredible journey
and thank the village for its support
By Chris Skalkos
T -A Reporter
GRAND BEND - Last summer, Jesse and his fa-
ther John Davidson of London passed through
Grand Bend during their province wide walk to
raise money for genetic research. On Thursday
night John Davidson returned to Grand Bend to
thank the village for its support and share the story
of Jesse's Journey.
Sponsored by the Grand Bend Ro-
tary Club, Davidson spoke to a dinner
crowd from service groups including
Legion, Lioness, Alhambra and Probus
at the Oakwood Inn Golf Club as part
of a public speaker series.
The inspiring story of the epic 3,300
kilometer crossing of Ontario dubbed
"Jesse's Journey" is well known. Their
wheelchair voyage began last year on
May 20 at the Ontario/Manitoba border
and ended in Ottawa 124 days later. In
the process they raised over $1 million
dollars for The Foundation of Gene and Cell Ther-
apy, but most importantly, they raised awareness
about a deadly disease that afflicts hundreds of
children and offered hope a cure may soon be
found.
Jesse, 16, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
(DMD), a genetic disorder unique to male children.
Jesse's muscles do not replicate themselves nor-
mally and the loss of muscle strength, which be-
came evident around the age of five is progressive.
Few DMD youths reach their third decade.
Jesse and John reached Grand Bend last August.
They were greeted by hundreds of people who fol-
lowed their walk into the village ending with a civil
ceremony at the Lions Club Pavilion. The residents
of Grand Bend opened their hearts to the cause do-
nating a total of $20,000 setting, a one -day collec-
tion recons for the walk to date.
"We met hundreds of people on a daily basis as
we made our way across the province, many were
rural people and that's where the journey did its ab-
solute best...in small town Ontario. Towns much
like Grand Bend," said John Davidson during his
speech.
With a dose of humor, Davidson recounted a few
of the stories that epitomized the support John and
Jesse received along the way.
He rcalled the construction worker
who held up a fleet of dump trucks
waiting to be loaded as he walked
over to make a donation; and the
group of 12 leather clad motorcyclists
wbo wanted to have their picture tak-
en with Jesse giving him $500 for the
photo session before roaring off on
their Harley Davidson.
"Ono day a truck driver in Sarnia
stopped his rig in the middle of the
stepped down handed Jesse
$500, climbed back in his rig and
said 'way to go kid' and away he went," said David-
son. "The journey was a lot of hard work but peo-
ple like that made it pure magic every day."
Davidson thanked the many volunteers and ser-
vice groups who spent countless hours to prepare
the overwhelming reception he and Jesse received
in Grand Bend. He said their stop to the village was
very special for Jesse because his grandparents, the
Siftons are summer residents there.
"I would like to pay tribute to the people who
gathered and waited by the roadside...they made
Grand Bend one i our, best stops along the jour-
ney," he said.
•
ti
1
+%
a
ti
S