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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-12-30, Page 1eric1 A ,4, L- GODERICH, ONTARIO, MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1985 60 CENTS PER COPY 1985 was an active year here Harbour development got underway and Bluewater Centre opened It's almost time to close the books on 1985 and embark on a brand new year. As we come to the close of the calendar year, the approach of New Year's Day brings with it an injection of enthusiasm and a more positive outlook. A new year can sometimes mean a new beginning, a fresh start, a new outlook. We always trust that a new year holds better things ahead for all of us. But before we discard the past year and toss it on the trash heap, it is fitting to take a retrospective look at the year. Life in and around the town of Goderich and indeed, in the province of Ontario, was progressive and exciting. It was a year of celebration for Goderich Township residents and it was a year of elections. It was an active year for the town as the harbour expansion project swung into full gear. In 1984, town officials and representatives of the two major industrial concerns at the harbor, Domtar and Goderich Elevator, petitioned . the federal government to undertake an ambitious expansion program with respect to Goderich Harbour. During that year, the federal Liberal government and Transport Minister Lloyd Axworthy, committed $17 million to the redevelopment of Goderich Harbour. It was during 1985 that contractors actually began work on the harbour after months of planning and tendering. The overall plan calls for the creation of a new seaway -depth harbour adjacent to the north side of the Domtar Sifto Salt Mine. A 200 metre breakwall was constructed out of large stone from the south shore of the mouth of the Maitland River. Plans also call for the dredging of the channel and harbour to seaway depth to accomodate the loading of ocean-going vessels by Goderich Elevator. In January of 1985, the town entertained the prospect of using the dredged material from the harbour expansion project to create a 26 acre parcel of land south of the water treatment plant. Initial plans called for the dredged material to be dumped south of St. Christopher's Beach. The material would be held in place by a $1 million retaining wall created needed stabilization for the bluffs along the shoreline as well as creating valuable water front property for the town. Subsidies would cover 85 per cent of the cost while the town would be responsible for $150,000. Politically, 1985 was most active and interesting year. Many conservatives did more voting during the year than some people will do in a lifetime. Subsequent to the resignation of William Davis, the Conservative party held a leadership convention in Toronto in January and selected Frank Miller to succeed the popular Tory leader. Things didn't work out well for Miller as the Conservatives, who had ruled for over 40 years in Ontatrio, lost the spring election, narrowly, to the i,iberals who combined with the New Democrats to form a type of co-operative government. After the stunning Toss, Miller eventually resigned as leader of the party and Conservatives returned to the convention process to elect Larry Grossman as leader of the opposition. The election process also extended to the municipal level as Ontarians in towns, villages, townships and cities elected new government officials for the next three- year term. Locally. Eileen Palmer was uncontested and was returned as mayor for the next term as was reeve Harry Worsell and deputy -reeve, John Doherty who stepped in after the resignation of Jim Britnell earlier in the year. • Harbour dredging and reconstruction was in full swing this year There was a good race for council though as incumbents Glen Carey, Bill Clifford. .Jim Searls and Peter McCauley were re- elected while John Stringer and Stan Profit filled the other two council seats. There was big news at the county level this year for both county council and the board of education. After much deliberation and investigation, the Huron --1 Board of Education decided not to proceed with the implementation of French immersion in Huron while the separate board began offering the French program in Goderich and Stratford. County council faced two difficult issues this past year -and decided to spend money on both the Huron County Pioneer Museum in Goderich and Huronview Home for the Aged in Vanastra. Council held its budget to a 5.9 per cent increase and decided to commit funds to a reserve to phase in the museum project. Another major development for the area was the reconstruction and subsequent opening of the Bluewater Centre as a regional detention centre for young offenders. The centre took in its forst residents in August this year and will be fulluy operational as a regional centre by next year. Many former employees of the Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped were retrained by the Ministry of Correctional Services for employment at the centre. Turn to page 2 Severe winter storm rips through Goderich Friday Drifting, blowing snow and slippery road conditions throughout most of Western On- tario made driving hazardous over the Christmas Day and Boxing Day holidays. The blustery weather made driving dif- ficult and slippery: roads resulted in vehicles sliding into ditches. Highway 21 north of Goderich from Dunlop to Kincardine was closed twice over the holiday and remained closed Fri- day after a multi -car accident. Goderich OPP Constable John Marshall said the highway was closed at 9 p.rn Christmas Day and reopehed at 6:46 a.rn Boxing Day, but after a series of accidents around 10 a.m., the road was closed again. One car with four people travelling south on Highway 21 swerved to avoid an oncom- ing car and rolled into a snowhank, said Marshall. The driver and a front seat passenger were treated for minor injuries. Shortly after, thre was a three car colli- sion at the same snowdrift. Marshall said a car with a lone occupant became stuck in the drift. A vehicle with four occupants rammed the vehicle stalled in the snow and a third vehicle with three occupants then ran into the two other vehicles. Two passengers in the third vehir le'+r•r in satisfactory condition in hospital Thursday night. Highway 21 was reopened at 7 a.m. Fri- day but was closed at 1 p.m. following a multi -car pileup just north of Sheppardton. A report of injuries and the number of Turn to page 2 1 4 .:-...401101111VIV, 1PZoov. *TCHFS A'ro lume61 Travelling was difficult in town Friday and treacherous on the highway Local lawyer, Paul Rivers buried Friday Goderich lawyer John Paul Rivers died at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital on Wednesday, December 25, 1985 in his 43rd year. Called to the bar in 1969, he was a graduate of the University of Western On- tario. He was a partner in the law firm of Hunter, Parker and Rivers of Goderich. A past president of the Goderich Lions Club, he was assistant coach of the Garb and Gear Novice hockey team tor five years, and a member of the Goderich Minor Hockey Association. Born in Sarnia on May 12, 1943, he was a son of the former Margaret Skinner of Forest and the late Harold Rivers. He married the former Peggy Johnston of Carp. He is survived by Peggy and two sons,, Douglas and Donald, all of Goderich and his mother, Margaret Jamieson and her husband, Arthur Jamieson of Forest. He was predeceased by his father, Harold Rivers. The funeral and committal services were held at the McCallum Funeral Home in Goderich on Friday, December 27, 1985 at 3 p.m. with Rev. G. L. Royal of Knox Presbyterian Church officiating. New members announced for committees Committee members were appointed by by-law at Goderich council's Dec. 16 meeting. Members of the airport committee are Deputy -Reeve John Doherty, Dick Wright, Leonard Bannerman, Ted Gozzard, a representative from Colborne Township council and a representative from Huron County council. Crystal Crowley was appointed to the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital board. Members of the committee of adjust- ment are John MacDonald, Gord Crawford, James Eric Kirk, Roy Breckenridge and Don Hosack. Members of the Goderich economic development committee are Mayor Eileen Palmer, Coun. John Stringer, Fred Durst, Jack Brady, Bruce Sully and Bob Cornish. Appointed to the recreation and com- munity centre board are Deputy -Reeve John Doherty, Coun. Jim Searls, Reeve Harry Worsell, Doug Currie, Ron Bushell, Ron Klages, Jim McDade, Pat Hamilton and Ray Desjardine. Members of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) are Reeve Harry Worsell, Roslyn Campbell, Dorothy Wallace, Cindy Fisher, Gary Davidson, Dave Gower and Gordon Duern. Eric Johnstone, Clayton Edward, Ed- ward Stiles, Robert McCallum, Roy Mugford, Rick Palla and Kathleen Leaman are appointed to the Maitland Cemetery board. Members of the Municipal Day Nursery committee are Coun. Glen Carey, Maureen Penn, Joan Spittal, Janet Bentley and Donelda Brindley. Appointed to the property standards conunittee are Maurice Jenkins, Gordon Crawford and James Eric Kirk. Authority to hold public meetings is given to the committee of Mayor Eileen Palmer, Coun. Bill Clifford, Coun. Glen Carey, Coun. Peter McCauley and Coun. John Stringer. INSIDE THF SIGNAL -STAR More concerts There were several Christmas concerts staged in elen;-ntary schools in the cover age area iast week and many pic- tures from those concerts appear in this section of the paper. Sailors win The Goderich Sailors Junior C hockey team had its modest three -game winning streak broken in a league game against Walkerton last week, but the team re- bounded with a 5-3 win over Wingham. We also have a report on the Legion Midgets and Peewee Bs on the sports page. First baby There are plenty of gifts awaiting the first baby of 1986 and inside this section is a two-page spread sponsored by area mer- chants, detailing the gifts that await the first arrival of the new year.