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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-10-17, Page 1DEIST ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWB3PAPER IN CANADA ( G8edericA( ) ... ._,_. e. Competition 1984 l Cmculation Class 3 OQ - 4500 C C 111.A Better Newspaper G SIGN LAwmaSTAR ' 136 YEAR -42 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1984 50 CENTS PER COPY Large crowd questions Ministry BY PATRICK RAFTIS A recent public information meeting, on the conversion of the Bluewater Regional Centre for the Developmentally Handicap- ped, to a detention facility for young of- fenders, drew a large crowd and a mixed bag of comments ranging from supportive, to openly hostile. The meeting, held Oc- tober 9, at the Goderich Township Com- munity Centre, attracted an estimated 170- 180 interested people. Mostly residents of Goderich and the surrounding area. Local residents were able to express their concerns and question two Ministry of Correctional Services representatives, on the matter. Victor J. Crew, regional director for the ministry's western region and Carl DeGrandis, co-ordinator of im- pli.mentation of the new Young Offenders Act, as well as Manfred Gitt, of the Ministry of Government Services, responded to questions and commented on the centre's upcoming conversion. HEART OF MATTER Once the floor was thrown open, ques- tioners wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter and pulled no punches. The very first questioner, Goderich Township Councillor Pat Osborn wanted to know if the future "inmates" of the centre would include "murderers and rapists". DeGrandis responded that offenders convicted of any offence covered by the act could wind up at the centre. But he also pointed out that the courts have the option of trying any . individual accused of "heinous crimes", such as rape, murder or armed robbery, in adult criminal court. In those cases, he said, the convicted of- fenders would be sent to an adult in- stitution. Osborn also asked if any of the future Bluewater residents would be attending local schools. ca Area residents got a chance to question Ministry of Correctional Services representatives, on the planned conversion of the former Bluewater ('entre for the Developmentally Han- dicapped into a detention centre for young offenders, at a recent information meeting held at the Goderich Township Community ('entre. Fielding questions are: from left, ('arl DeGrandis and Victor Crew, correctional services and Manfred Gitt..Ministry of GoN ern mein Services. photo by Parick Raftis) He was told that the institution would have its own schools, workshops and train- ing facilities and the majority of young of- fenders will attend school within the facili- ty. However, in certain circumstances, some "selected residents" would be allow- ed to attend local schools. "This would be the exception, rather than the rule," said Crew. Osborne indicated concern about a possi- ble proliferation of "half -way houses" cropping up in the area as a result of the conversion of Bluewater to a young of- fenders facility. Although such "open custody" facilities are an integral part of the correctional system, "One of the main reasons for that type of program is to have the young of- fender close to his home, school and com- munity," said DeGrandis. Therefore there would not be a disproportionate number of "community resource centres" in this area, he explained. In case of an escape by a resident or residents of the. institution, particularly one occurring late. at night, Osborne wanted to know if there would be some type of alarm system, to ward nearby residents of the situation. "I urge you to try not to get your images of penal institutions from television. There won't be guard towers, with guns and spotlights around the centre," replied Crew. In an escape situation local authorities would be notified and they would work in conjunction with staff from the centre, in attempting to locate the escapee, said DeGrandis, adding that no alarms would go off. Another questioner wanted to know when training programs, for former employees of the centre for the developmentally handicapped, who are be- ing retrained for work when the centre reopens as a young offenders institution, will begin. About 80-90 former employees are being considered for jobs in the centre's new capacity. They will make up the major portion of the centre's estimated total employment figure of 150 workers. "In most case, we hope to start training well before the end of this calender year," said Crew. Although private business in the area should begin to profit shortly, as soon as construction and renovation proceedures get underway at the centre, Gitts estimated the full benifit to the community won't be felt until the spring of 1986, when the centre reopens. INTERM PLAN There is however, an interm plan, not yet finalized, which could see the centre housing selected offenders, in a minimum security setting, possibly as early as the Turn to page 2 • Concerns aired on harbour expansion project An open house designed to solicit comments and concerns with respect to the $17 million expansion of the Goderich Harbour was a necessary participatory step federal government officials commented. The open house at MacKay Hall Friday attracted a number of interested individuals who showed up to learn more about the development and pass on concerns and comments at the same time. Every federal agency and department with a hand in the development here was represented. While local industrial users of the harbour have pushed for expansion to create a new seaway. depth harbour and dredging of the existing channel to permit the loading of grain, it wasn't until August that the federal government announced the details of the $17 million project. The phased project will begin immediately with work on underpining the south pier near Captain Fats and the creation of a new breakwall out from the southern edge of the Maitland River. A new seaway depth berth will then be created adjacent to the northern edge of the Domtar Sifto Salt Mine. Erle Douglas of Public Works Canada said his department will act as the construction branch of the project, carrying out contracts on behalf of Transport Canada. He said that while the contract for the construction of the new breakwall was awarded to Gaffney Quebec Limited of Stratford, the contract for the underpining work on the south pier has not been awarded. The tenders closed Thursday. Douglas said the 610 -metre breakwall will extend into the lake to overlap the existing breakwall, thereby protecting the channel and future berth from silt deposits Forster's fridge is largest in County COLBORNE TWP.- The October 12 ceremony to open the largest bridge in' Huron County was attended by represen- tatives of both the county and province, in- cluding Transport and Communication Minister James Snow. and a crowd of about 50 people. Mr. Snow cut the red ribbon to declare the bridge officially completed after approx- imately one hour's delay due to weather conditions. Fog in Toronto kept the minister from arriving at the scheduled time of 10 a.m. Huron County Warden Tom Cunningham listed and congratulated the many people in- volved in initiating, funding and building the 485 foot, five span bridge, among them Huron -Bruce MPP Murray Elston and Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell. The warden also had some good news for those funding the project. County Engineer Robert Dempsey had estimated the bridge to cost about $1.4 million, and although all the costs have not yet been calculated, Warden Cunningham said the structure should cost about $1.15 million. Mr. Snow congratulated the county on the bridge and said that Huron County may be the last county to have the capacity to undertake such a large project. He said these projects are usually tendered to con- tractors. While it is estimated that between 10 and as many as 16 can- didates may contest the Ontario Pro- gressive Conservative leadership following Premier Bill Davis' retirement, at least one cabinet minister has stated he will not be a candidate at the provincial leadership con- vention. Transport and Communication Minister James Snow said, while opening a bridge in Colborne Township near Holmesville, he is not planning to get into the race. "There will be quite a number of my col- leagues as candidates, but I am not planning to run," he said following the ceremonies. He refused to speculate which of the rumored candidates, among them Treasurer Larry Grossman and Agriculture Minister Dennis Timbrell, is the one to beat. Mr. Snow also said he didn't favor any of these potential candidates at this time but repeated "quite a number will be running." "I will be waiting for a while until they ( the candidates) campaign in earnest. Then I will support the candidate I feel is most capable." During his speech to the crowd assembled for the bridge opening ceremony, the minister indicated he was surprised by Mr. Davis' retirement. "I thought we'd be put- ting signs up this week." Board employees get five percent Non-union employees of the Huron Coun- ty Board of Education received a total compensation package increase of five per cent for 1984-85. Superintendent of personnel Peter Gryseels said the overall five per cent in- crease includes increment increases. These increases are based on the number of years service and merit. The salaries for purchasing, plant and -.- $2000. Other non-union personnel are: chief custodians at high schools who receive an average salary of $20,000, contract custo- dians with a salary range of $6,500 to $30,000 depending on the size of the school and bus drivers with an average salary of $5,000 per year. A further salary review is being made on the plant managers salary, a move ap- proached by the board at its October meeting. and wave action. Former town councillor Paul Carroll said the breakwall will increase siltation at the mouth of the Maitland River and create a more volatile situation. "The plan is good but incomplete," he said. "There's more work to be done." Douglas said it was such personal .concerns, drawn from the experiences of people who live along the lakeshore, that will assist his department in the construction process. While many local citizens and users were only given the opportunity to express concerns after the project was approved, Conservative MP Murray Cardiff said it was not too late to address those concerns. "I don't believe it (the meeting) is after the fact," he said. "The users have expressed legitimate concerns while supporting the project in principle. The people are not opposed to progress. "But it would be great and desirable if we could start soon and still address the concerns of the people. It has been a good exchange." The harbour is under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada and Fred Scantlebury of the department's regional office said the concerns of local residents will not just be passed off, but acted on where possible. "There have been concerns over the new breakwall from the marina operators in the river but we have promised to monitor the situation for 5 years and we. did -extensive studies with the environmental people both federally and provincially," he explained. "People have expressed Turn to page 2 • Transportation and Communication Minister James Snow cut the ribbon on October 12 to officially open the largest brl a in Huron County. Assisting in the ceremony to open the Colborne Township bridge were left, Huron County Warden Tom Cunningham ano, right, . Gaffney gets contract for new breakwall Work will start in November on a new breakwater north of the Domtar Sifto Salt Mine Murray Cardiff MP for Huron Bruce announced on behalf of Transport Minister Don Mazankowski Monday. A $2.5 million contract has been awarded to Gaffney Quebec Limited of .Stratford and is the first phase of a $17 million pro- ject desigened to open the port to max- imum St. Lawrence Seaway draft. Expanded port facilities will create new opportunities for the shipment of grain, salt, alfalfa pellets, industrial chemicals and synthetic fuels through Goderich. The port will also become a more attractive op- tion for potash shipments from the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan which has moved shipments through the harbour here on a trial basis in the past. The breakwater will be 610 metres long, protecting vessels in the port and keeping sediment away from the harbour and dockage facilities. Completion of con- struction is expected by June 1985. The upgrading of 300 metres of the south pier, which will involve underpinning a section of the south pier, is now in the tendering process. This work is also ex- pected to be completed in June 1985. Gaffney Quebec Ltd. tendered the lowest of six bids. Christmas Countiy Fair starts today Have you started your Christmas shopp- ing yet? If not, you should think about attending Colborne Township's 19th annual Christmas Country Fair being held at Sajtford Valley Hall today (Wednesday), Saturday and Sunday. It's the perfect place to buy those hand -made Christmas gifts and decorations or just browse and pick up some ideas of your own. The fair, which is sponsored again this year by the Bluewater Chapter No. 284, Order of the Eastern Star, sells country baking, and arts and crafts by local and area artists and craftsmen. Special features at this year's fair- in- clude oil paintings and burlap dolls by Elaine Schmidt of Waterloo; pottery by Genet Hodder of London; glass snagging by June Hintz of Fordwich; silk scarf ar- tistry by Darlene Abuda of London; and Ontario scenes, figure drawing, portraits and still life paintings by Gwen Kiar of Goderich. In total, over 40 different crafts will be represented. Lunch and refreshments will be served at the fair by members of the Eastern Star Lodge. Admission is fifty cents and all pro- ceeds go toward community projects. Hours for the fair are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; and noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday. INSIDE TI 9F SIGNAL-E3TAR Fashion show Cathy Bedour and Joannie Vanden Heuvel model dresses from the Metropolitan Store. The store held a `Prelude to Winter' fashion show at Sun - coast Mall last Thursday evening. More coverage can be found in the Recreation section. Minor hockey games Goderich minor hockey teams began playing exhibition and regular season games last week. Most of the teams fared quite well in the early -season going. Stories and photos in the Recreation sec- tion. Grid winners The GDCI Senior Vikings steamrolled their opposition once again. The Vikes demolished Stratford Central Rams 45-4 in Huron -Perth football action, Thursday in Goderich. The Junior Vikes also beat Stratford this week. Details and photos in Recreation.