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Times Advocate, 1994-8-31, Page 3JAUTHENEWS Times -Advocate, August 31,1994 UWO may be able to help Grand Bend The engineering dept. may have solutions to sand problems GRAND BEND - While sand may be one reason many people come to Grand Bend's beaches, it's also a major headache for local council and it's works department. In the past, council has had the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Au- thority give their input on how the sand could be stopped from coming up onto the main street. At a recent council meeting, the village received a letter from the University of Western Ontario's Fa- culty of Engineering Science in re- gards to their help with the prob- lem. In a letter to council, acting dean B.J. Vickery wrote, "I suspect that a fully funded commercial in- vestigation might involve costs above your budget estimates but if timing is not of great concern there may be an opportunity to complete a study with student effort and fa- culty supervision ata cost which did little more than cover supplies, technicians time and (wind) tunnel occupancy charges." He added that a commercial. study of the s nd problem could cost up to $20,000 but one done by the students, which would take a year -and -a -half would be a few thousand dollars. "I would like us to support the time of one -and -a -half years. I think it's long overdue," said coun- cillor Phil Maguire. Council has decided now to seek more input from the ABCA. Don Harron in Blyth show BLYTH - Two of Canada's best- known performers - Catherine McKinnon and Don Harron, will perform A.R. Gurney Jr.'s en- chanting two person play, Love Letters, at Blyth Memorial Com- munity Hall, Sunday September 18 at 2:30 p.m. as a special fund rais- ing event for the Blyth Festival. A.R. Gurney Jr.'s witty and liter- ate Love Letters traces the life- long relationship between Andy and Melissa (played by Don Har- ron and Catherine McKinnon) as told through their letters from a Grade 2 birthday party through to love and marriage (to other peo- ple). A delicate dialogue, this play portrays the ups and downs of two people who love each other dearly using their correspondence to share their feelings. Don Harron and Catherine McKinnon are returning to Huron County for what may become their annual appearance in support of the Blyth Festival. Don Harron is one of this country's most extraor- dinary talents. A modern 'Renais- sance Man' whose entertainment career has included achievements as an actor, writer, broadcaster, comic and producer. Harron is probably best-known to Cgnadians as his alter=ego Charlie Farquhar- son. Catherine McKinnon's in- credible professional career has taken many roads from night clubs and countless national TV series' appearances to starring roles on stage, Juno Awards, and a Command Performance before her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in Halifax. Tickets for Love Letters, at $25 each, are available from the Blyth Festival Box Office, 523-9300. Fine, probation, acquittal decided by Judge Hunter EXETER - While most cases in last Tuesday's provincial court ses- sion in Exeter were remanded to later dates, Judge R.G.E. Hunter did levy two fines, issutr two probation otfiefs'pnd acgtlitgne person on an assault charge. Get probation Shawn Hertel of Strafford received a suspended sentence and was placed on 12 months pro- bation after pleading guilty to a charge of hav- ing possession of a stolen snowmobile. A charge of n COUI't theft was dropped by the crown represented by M. Beattie. The charges arose from an incident on February 4, 1994 when police stopped a snowmobile on Highway 23 which was stolen in Stratford a year earlier. It was agreed that Hertel did not profit from any transactions. He was ordered to pay restitution of $203.30 for towing charges and $39.27 for damage to the snow vehicle. The probation order will be transferred to Stratford. Christine Kennedy of Huron Park also received a suspended sen- tence and 12 months probation on assault charges stemming from an incident at the Club Albatross in Huron Park on February 15, 1994. Kennedy was alleged to have sworn at and shoved and pushed bar tender Linda Downing after being asked to leave. The accused re- turned a second time and attacked the complainant. And then police were called. The court was told Kennedy had gone off medication for a few days resulting in her behaviour on the night in question. Fined for assault A $400 fine was levied against Joey D. Carmichael of Goderich on a charge of assault on Donna Hildebrand of Huron Park in the early morning hours of June 27 of this year. Carmichael was alleged to have shoved Hildebrand against a door and slapped her face. In his defence the accused said he was original- ly pushed. The court also learned that the complainant did not want to lay charges. In addition to the fine, Carmichael was placed on probation for 12 months and ordered to seek counselling. Exceeds 0.80 BAC Shawn Vanstone of Hensall will pay a fine of $750 and have his driving privileges suspended for 12 months after pleading guilty to a charge of operating a vehicle while his blood alcohol count was over the required limit. The accused was stopped by OPP officers at 2.29 a.m. on F. bruary 27 of this year on routine patrol on Andrew street in Exeter. The offi- cer noted an odour of alcohol coming from the vehicle and a roadside test was failed. At the Exeter OPP station, breathalizer readings of 1.40 and 1.50 were recorded. Assault charges After a trial, Judge Hunter dismissed assault charges against Wayne Cowell of Exeter which were laid on February 22, 1994 by his wife Linda. The incident occurred three days earlier when there was a dispute over the laundry duties. Cowell who conducted his own defence said after doing the laundry and intending to hang it on an outside line he was intercepted by his wife who wanted to use the dryer for her arti- cles of clothing. In an ensuing dispute Cowell was alleged to have knocked his wife backwards against a door leaving bruises on her thigh. In his defence Cowell said, "I don't remember bumping into her and I was not mali- cious. I didn't remember the incident until charged. I was not antago- nistic, she was." At this point the crown said, "You seem to have a very convenient memory." On the witness stand, Mrs. Cowell about the laundryincident said, "He was very angry and called me names. 1 Just tried to get my clothes out of the basket. Contact was not necessary for him to get the basket to go outside." • Page 3 /s Gibbs willing to sell his Grand Bend beachfront? Some options in Grand Bend's harbour study would need his property By Fred Groves T -A staff GRAND BEND - This resort community is taking a very serious look at expanding one of it's biggest tourism attraction - boating. Monday night, consultants released several options which would see Grand Bend's harbour and waterfront areas take on an entirely new look, one that the village hopes will attract even more people. There were four options laid out for the public to view, one of those proposes for improving parking and vehicular circulation to the north side of the harbour. The same option reduces the length of the existing north beach. Also, a proposed 80 visitors slips in a new north basin. All of these ideas however have one major obstacle. The property which would be immediately affected, is owned by Archie Gibbs. If those ideas, and others which surround Gibbs' property were car- ried out, that would mean his property would have to be bought by the village. "Discussion on that matter is premature. We'll see what happens," said Gibbs who attended the information session on Monday. Grand Bend mayor Tom Lawson said buying private property to ex- pand the village's attraction capacity would not be out of the question. "Where there is a will, there is a way if it's practical. As long as it makes sense and it's not a burden to the taxpayers," said Lawson. Gibbs said he was not contacted by the consultants about any pro- posals and said all he was told was, "just that the meeting was on." The consulting firm had a meeting to first discuss the Harbour Water- front Development Plan on July 27, since then, they've done a lot of work. "We gave them a very compressed time table to work on it," said Lawson. "It was fitting in with the overall official plan. We're looking for public input before the (boating) season is over." In March, Minister of Municipal Affairs Ed Phillip came to Grand Bend to announce that the village was receiving a $172,825 job- sOntario grant. Part of that, $20,000 was earmakred for the study. While consultant Eha Naylor brought four options to the village, Gibbs felt that perhaps cosmetic improvements might be the first step in keeping boaters in Grand Bend. "Any boaters that I talk to say its (the harbour) one of the saddest one's they've been seen. The facility for sitting outside is minimal," said Gibbs who noted more picnic tables and a little paint wouldn't hurt mat- ters. All four options presented by Naylor had one thing in common - im- prove the harbour entrance by reducing wave agitation and dredging. Besides creating the slips in a new north basin three of the four op- tions had specific plans for the old river bed. One option suggested fill- ing it in and relocate the public launching and associated trailer parking there. Lawson said any work that had to be done on the river bed would have to be authorized by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. Counterfeit $20 bilis surface In.Exeter stores EXETER - Counterfeit $20 bills are now beginning to turn up in local stores, and police are warning people to be on the lookout for the phony currency. Two Exeter retailers had counterfeit Canadian $20 bills passed in their stores last week, report the Exeter OPP. Although the bills were of obvi- ous poor quality, and were the product of a photocopier, police say that store owners should not be afraid to contact police about the legality of a suspicious banknote. Counterfeit $50 bills of reasonable quality were turning up last year, but because $20 bills are more commonly circulated, there is more of a risk of counterfeit bills not being properly scrutinized. Police are also investigating the theft of a generator and electric motor from a tool shed at the Faith Tabernacle Church in Centralia on Friday. Complaints about dirt bikes being ridden in the Huron Park area have also come. to police in the past week. The OPP say if any violations are witnessed, to contact the police at 1-800-265-2525. A woman's purse was reported stolen from a unlocked vehicle parked near Pizza Delight in Exeter last Monday. If anyone has information about these crimes, contact the detachment at 235-1300. 4 4 F=ete' CLEANING CENTRE coin laundry dry cleaning laundry service OPENING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31st COM latialarY c1e� og laundry seri ire "MR ALL PDDR. CLEANING NEEDS..." 342 Main Street, Exeter at Sanders Street 235-4101 WHEN THIS SIGN WENT UP IN EXETER... YfJijCHOICE OF VEHICLES l WENT UP AS WELL a Eric Campbell is pleased p to announce that his car dealership has now added the Ford Franchise • Taurus • Mustang • Probe • Crown Victoria • T -Bird • Contour This means that you now have a much wider choice when it comes to selecting your new vehicle. Whether - ---•a� you need a car, truck or van you ; will get a better range of models M; and styles. New '95 models are arriving daily -} 1 1 maimmr wricu NCO t +v. � r i Eric Campbell has been serving this area for over 33 years. Giving fair prices and excellent service has been a cornerstone for making the business grow to one of the finest in Ontario. Adding an entire new line of Ford products to our Mercury lineup will enhance our service to our many customers. am • Ford, Lincoln, Mercury Sales Ltd. 165 Main Street N., Exeter, Ont. NOM 183 •