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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-07-21, Page 1the Go derich 131 YEAR -29 GODERICH„ ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21 /982 50 CENTS PER COPY ospita BY JOANNE BUCHANAN The seenarhe Two light aircraft collide over the yard at Robertson Public School, and crash to the ground injuring about 30 children playing there. Such a disaster is not a pleasant thing to think about. However, not being prepared for that disaster in real life would be even worse. Precious minutes lost because of poor organization and confusion, could mean the difference between life and death. Last Wednesday afternoon, with the assistance of the- Emergency Services Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Health, Alexandra Marine and General Hospital put its disaster plan into action using the above scenario. Bits and pieces of an airplane were strewn about Robertson =hoot yard: Volunteer casualties, who were made up with realistic injuries _esuchas.barnatard eintsaynere glanahrewn about the yard and told how to act. A eall was then plat irilhethe hospital. Responding to the disaster were the police department, fire department, St John Ambulance, the Goderich town crew, doctors and nurses, volunteer assistants, a disaster unit from London and ambulances from Goderich, Seaforth and Dashwood As a large crowd gathered to watch (including personnel from other area hospitals and the Bluewater Centre),. the procedures used by these ettoreaten-s were -inspected ministry_officiaLs_ and the whole event was taped by the Emergency Services Branch for a presentation at the CNE later this summer. Because of the taping, Goderich's mock disaster was made as realistic as possible and many of the town's residents who had no knowledge of the event beforehand, wondered aloud if something terrible had really occurred. While real disaster can happen in a split second, lots of planning and preparation went into Goderich's mock disaster. A committee formed several years ago at AM&G began to formulate a disaster plan which was later finalized by the commamity health committee. It was then turned over to hospital ad-' ininistrator Elmer Taylor to organize an exercise to see how well the plan would work. "The whole thing was a learning process," says Taylor who would like to see such exercises held every year and a half. "We will now bold meetings and debriefings with all those involved to make any • MOdifications necessary." Taylor says the hospital will receive a copy of the ___tamproduced hy the ministry and will also be debriefed by the mthistry. Local citirenthisibb- wit- • nessed the disaster have also been phoning the hospital with suggestions for improvement and, .,,isastei Owl te40 Taylor says all of this input will be considered. He feels that the mock disaster worked very well considering itwas Goderich's first. He felt the biggest test was at the hospital itself as doctors and nurses responded efficiently to the many casualties brou into the emergency department. eft was all very realistic and the casualties were really welltaken care of," he says. One young casualty didn't want to be taken care of though. "Don't fix my cut. I want to show it to my mom," he said proudly. *". 7.taten- Aleitindra Marine and -General HospitaT tesied disaster plan last Wednesday with a mock disaster set up in the Robertson Public School yard. The ilishister itivoNed two light air -craft dilliditig over the yard and crashing to the ground, injuring about 30 children playing there. At right is Graham Longwr who volunteered to be one of the • casualties and received realistic wounds for bis - role. ( Photos by Joanne Buchanan • , Provincial, township, county and municipal of- ficials joined with the seniors of Sunset View Apartments for the (official opening of the senior citizen housing complex Thursday. Ciaaide Bennett, Minister of Munieipal Affairs and Housing, was also on hand for the ribbon -cutting •ceremony. The lioushlg complex was a project of the Ontario Housing Corporation. ( photo by Dave Sykes) •Housing unit officially opened Residents of Sunset View Apartments on West • Street were proud hosts Thursday for the official opening of the senior citizen housing unit. Residents of the 53 -unit senior citizens housing complex, county, township and municipal politicians • gathered at the entrance as Ontario, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Claude F. Behnett, opened the facility. The housing unit was a project of the Ontario Housing Corporation, a responsibility of Bennett's ministry. The concept and preliminary work for the senior's aiiihatiginated with the town of Goderichin 1976 -,and was completed in 1981 with the co-operation of the Goderich Housing Action Comnifttee, the County of Huron and the Huron Housing Authority. In his remarks to the audience, Bennett said it must • be remembered that government agencies are not responsible for building such needed units, but, rather; the taxpayers of Ontario. "We have opened many fine facilities in the • province of Ontario and every politiciah from every party has a common appreciation 'of what we are doing for seniors," he said. 'It takes the co-operation of different levels of government but local council understood the needs of the community and invited the governments to participate. We appreciate that invitation to participate." Bennett remarked on the aesthetic quality of the unit and suggested it will serve. the neetis of the eeniors of the community for many yeads. While governments were involved in the building of the unit he praised Ontario taxpayers tor their part. "It is not a Bennett or Cosgrove paying for this fine facility. It is the general taxpayer," he said. "We believe we have wisely invested your tax dollars." Across the province, family and senior citizen housing has been established for more than 100,000 Ontarians. "It is an example of tax money being well invested," Bennett said. Bennett also praised the work IA the individuals who serve an the 61 housing authorities across the province. • "-They give freelyeof -the* tinahandtio not receive. an honorarium," he said. "Without their Care we. wouldn't have the housing we need." Subsequent to his praising remarks, he presented a provincial scroll to Mrs. Knisley in recognition of the work her husband performed on the Huron County Housing Authority. The commemorative plaque was signed by Premier William Davis. Bennett also, brought good financial news to the area on his one -day visit announcing that the provincial government had approved grants in the amount of $12.5 Million, to be shared by 57 municipalities •in the Ontario Neighbourhood Inn provement Program. The town of •Goderich will receive $200,000 for its shat et of the program grants. Bennett also distributed grant money to several „township politicians, as the government's share of the municipalities' official plan updates. ouncil split on motion to investigate PUC take-over BY KRIS SVELA A motion placed before Goderich town council asking for the formation of a committee of council representatives to thoroughly investigate the ad- vantages and disadvantages of council directly ad- ministering the affairs of the Public Utilities Com- mission (PUC) was narrowly defeated in a split 3-3 vote at Monday's council meeting. The motion called for a council committee to be set up to administer the PUC if the investigation found that it could administer that body more efficiently than the present system. The motion went on to say that a report would in - dude an analysis of cost savings (if any), amalgamation of labour, machinery and cost savings related to the amalgamation, as well as a review of the proposed capital works of the Water Distrib,ition Expansion, financial implications, phasing of the same and an analysis of the administrative chart in- -eluding lines of authortry and possible_adminiStrative changes. The motion also called for the services of outside, consultants if needed. In a heated exchange, Councillor Jim Searls called the motion a "witch hunt" and told council that he had received no support for a similar study he had proposed five years ago. "Council, before considering taking over the PUC or Waterworks, should consider cleaning their own house," he added. Deputy Reeve Bob Allen, a supporter of the motion, told council,"That the town should look at every considerable 'way to use our money in the most productive way possible." "Council has the right to investigate whether it be expeditious to move in this manner," he explained, citing the tax burden already carried by ratepayers. "This motion is only asking for a review. It could be to the benefit of the ratepayers that council runs it (the PUC) in view of its past performance or maybe it will 'show that it is not a benefit to ratepayers. Without the small beginning of reviewing we will never know," Councillor Elsa Haydon said. Councillor John Doherty, who did not support the motion, told council, "My feeling is that the town council loOk after its own business and the PUC theirs. Clerk -treasurer, Larry McCabe advised council that the investigation is only a study. life explained that if the motion was accepted the final decision on a possible transfer of administrative duties from PUC to council would have to be placed on the ballot of the upcoming municipal elections to be voted on. In...an interview before the rne_eting, McCabe sAid that two municipalities in Optaras have already taken over full and partial administrative duties of their local PUC and that if an investigation were launched these communities would be considered in the study. , He admitted that there have often been conflicts. between the PUC and local councitsentemany com- munities concerning Cost efficiency. Voting for the motion were Elsa Ha3rdon, Bob Allen and Jim Magee. John Doherty, Jim Se_arls and Stan Profit voted against, defeating the motion in a split vote. In a telephone interview after the meeting, Elsa Haydon would not dispel the possibility of re- entering the motion at a later date. est Government to assist th6 -Bruce • Festival isbiggr BY JOANN% BUCHANAN The annual Festival of Arts and Crafts to be held here this Thursday, Friday and Saturday wili boaSt about 100 exhibitors this year. That's 40 more than last year and convener Lu Legg says she will be able to fill a whale Prtra Seefien -Of the Court House Park with the overflow. Depending on the weather, it should be a good Festival with lots of variety. We've been lucky with the weather the last three years," she says. Extra exhibitorsbave caused more work for Mrs.. Legg and the tourist committee. "We're responsible for setting up all the ac- caMmodation for the exhibitors and we've had to make more easels and more Wiles this year," she es - plains. The tourist committee began looking after the Festival about eight years ago, with Mrs. Legg as convener for the past three years. The Festival ap- luallytatiginated about 2IJ yearsago with the i :17 ctub anorgrew trom there. Mrs. Legg says abott 75 per cent of this year's exhibitors will come from out of town. About hall of them have been here before but there are also mine new ones this year. Pairtints, jewelry, stalried glass, pottery, woodworkiug and needlework will an be on display and for sale. Some exhibitors will also demonstrate their crafts. A juried photography show is part of the Festival too and Mrs. Legg is hoping for some more local entries to be judged and displayed. The Goderich Garden Club will also hold its annual Flower Festival inside the Court House. This Festival originated with Jean McKee of Benmiller about 12 • years ago. She brought the idea from England. It is not a competition. This year there will be 16 exhibits on the theme IfileStonee. And, all around The Square, local merchants will hold their annual sidewalk sales in conjunction with the FestivaL The Festival opens Thursday and will run until 9 pan. both Thursday and Friday evenings and twin 6 p.m. Saha:day-evening. - - • Club raises $9,000 The Godericb Kinsmen Club's 20th annual Stun- merfest held this past weekend brought in ap- proximately$9,090 for comnawaity projects. • ' Most of this money was raised through the beer tent where 90 kegs (about 675 cases) of beer were sold? lritigiag &bat $LOW raore etatt:"Oh- Saturdayafternoon, the tent had live entertainment for the first time and Kinsmen president Ron Bloe, says he would like to see this become a regular feature shim the crowd seemed to really enjoy the music - The Kinsmen also made:money through their bingo and crown and anchor games and through the car- nival rides and games from which they receive a • percentage rate. Money from the carnival rides and games was down about 10 per cent this year due to rain on Saturday. The Kinsmen share was $1,359. The food booth run by the Kinettes in conjunction with Summerfest realized about $500profit, down about $200 from last year• . Although the Kinsmen raised more money overall this year than Last, there was me hitch. Some person or persons stole the crown and anchor game which was accidentally left outside the beer tent on Friday night. If you know of the whereabouts of this game or have any inkamation whidestrald help' taelnee-enen- -- get this 'game back, please contact president Ron Blue. ner Centre - Ontario Energy Minister Robert Welsh, made public today draft legislation that would amend the Power Corporation Act to enable Ontario Hydro to develop the Bruce Energy Centre Project. Located near the Bruce Nuclear Development in Bruce County, the Bruce Enbrgy Centre will use steam as a source of energy for combined agricultural and in- dustrial purposes. The government of Ontario through the Board of Industrial Leadership and Development (BILD) will provide necessary financial assistance to begin construction of the 'hecond stage steam pipline, the condensate return pipeline and the steam distribution system. In making the announcement, Welsh explained that the financial assistance guaranteed to Ontario Hydro for the development of the project will ensure that its electricity customers will not be requiredto subsidize the Bruce Energy Centre. A $1.7 million- BILD grant has alreadybeen com- mitted for the.initial stage of the steam oineline. Welsh also indicated that. 'by making the draft legislation available to the public, we hope to en- courage discussion and -consultation on the proposal." Discussion -of the amendment is invited from all interested individuals including members of legislature, potential industrial customers, • local residents in the Bruce area and Ontario Hydro electricity customers. A revised' bill will he introduced early in tne tall session of the legislature. • Door damaged The front door of St. Mary's Separate School on Bennett Street received $160 damage over the weekend. There were also three other incidents of • wilful damage during the week; one assault; one disturbance; four minor car accidents; and one case of forgery. Police made four arrests, laid three liquor charges and 16 highway traffic act charges and issued 15 warnings and one 12 hour suspension. Safety check? Goderich police are asking for the public's co- operation in tracking down four men who were ap- parently safety checking vehicles in town last week. These men were neither police officers or employees of the Ministry, of» Transportation and Com- munication. On Friday at 2:30 p.m. a woman was stopped on Bayfield Road by two men in a white car with an amber flashing light. One man was dressed in a blue short -sleeved shirt and a hat which the, woman described as looking like a policeman's hat. The other man Was also wearing such a hat and carrying a • clipboard. There teas also a brown tow truck at the scene with two men in coveralls. The men checked over the woman's car and told her of some parts which needed fixing. The police would like to know if anyone else was stopped anywhere in town by these men so they can find out under what authority they were operating. _ INSIDE T IF S1GNAL-STAR 11.3.2[Sity:le Steel Band The 22 member South Star Steel Band performed before a large crowd at the Livery on Saturday. The band is on a cultural exchangegrip with Canada The .story and pictures appear on page t Vl 0 Kinsmen Carnival Kids and carnivals go together and the annual Kinsmen Carnival held over the weekend was no exception. Joanne Buchanan was there and captured some of the excitement on film. Her pictures appear. on the first page of the Recreation section. I I