Loading...
The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-11-18, Page 111 Goderich 139 YEAR — 46 GODERICH ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1987 60 CENTS PER COPY Education board to elect chairman CLINTON - In December a new chairman for the Huron County Board of Education will be named. After serving a two year term in that posi- tion, Art Clark, board member for Wingham, Howick and Turnberry Townships, is stepping down from the top seat as trustee chairman. At the board's yearly inaugural meeting, on December 7, a new chairman will be elected. John Jewitt, board member elected from Seaforth, Hullett and McKillop Townships has announced his intention to run for the RIDE checks have begun The Ontario Provincial Police Christmas/New Year R.I.D.E driver check program began Sunday, November 15 on a province -wide basis. The OPP R.I.D.E. program is a year- round anti -impaired driving campaign, stepping up for eight weeks during the peak of the festive season. The two-week extension of the Christmas/New Year R.I.D.E. blitz, which ran for only six weeks prior to last year's program, has proved effective in screen- ing twice as many motorists, and getting hundreds of impaired drivers and liquor law violators off the roads. Impaired driving is still one of the most significant factors in approximately half of all fatal motor vehicle accidents in- vestigated by the OPP. "The OPP R.I.D.E. program is an essen- tial means of reducing the risk of accidents and fatalities on our highways at any time of the year," said OPP Commissioner Ar- chie Fergus, -,n. "The potei:tial for danger has tradi- tionally increased during the Christmas season, and for this reason the OPP will place a high priority on taking impaired drivers off the road," the Commissioner added. In last year's Christmas/New Year R.I.D.E. blitz, OPP officers checked 357,167 drivers across the province and charged 1,193 people with alcohol-related Criminal Code of Canada driving offences. A total of 2,938 motorists were taken off the road with 12 -hour licence suspensions and 1,595 people faced Liquor Licence Act charges for having alcohol easily accesible to the driver. The OPP will operate a minimum of 40 R.I.D.E. check locations across Ontario every day, stopping more than 20,000 vehicles weekly. "The OPP R.I.D.E. checks may in- convenience the motoring public, but we will keep the delays down to a minimum," said Commissioner Ferguson. "Our main purpose is to save lives and prevent ac- cidents and it is in everyone's best interest that we stop impaired driving." Hydro rates up An increase in 1988 hydro rates was discussed and accepted at the November meeting of the Goderich Public Utilities Commission. Marty Bocharding of Qntario Hydro presented a report to the PUC concerning hydro rates for the upcoming year. The PUC accepted a proposed 5.2 per cent average overall increase, effective January 1, 1988, pending Ontario Hydro approval. While the average hydro rate increase is 5.2 per cent, rates for residential, commer- cial and large users differ. Residential and commercial rates will rise 5.4 per cent while large user rates (Domtar Sifto Salt Mine for example) will increase by 4.8 per cent. Residential rates, for example, currently include a standard monthly rate of $5 plus a rate of 8.1 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 250 kilowatts. After the 250th kilowatt hour, rates decrease to 4.75 cents per hour. With the new rates for 1988, residential rates will include a monthly rate of $5 plus a rate of 8.55 cents per hour for the first 250 kilowatt hours after which time a 5 cents per kilowatt hour charge will be made. This means an average residential home user who uses approximately 1000 kilowatt hours per month will notice an increase of about $3 per month on their billing. Last year's residential increase was 5.9 per cent as compared to this year's 5.4 per cent. From the 5.2 per cent overall increase in hydro rates for Goderich, the Goderich PUC pays Ontario Hydro for the wholesale price of hydro. For example, for every $1 a customer pays the PUC, the PUC has 14.4 cents left over after paying Ontario Hydro. While- hydro rates for 1988 increased, there walo no change for 1988 water rates. The Goderich PUC increased water rates 5 per cent January 1, 1987 but will not be in- creasing them in January 1988. Goderich residences will continue to be charged a flat monthly rate of $13.65 for water. Currently, this rate allows customers to use as much water as they like. However, PUC manager Evert Middel noted metering Goderich residences could be a possibility in future years. Water metres are presently being installed in new homes- under con- struction. Before the metering system could be introduced in Goderich, all residences would have to have a water meter. Rates for water would then con- stitute a minimum cost plus a charge per cubic meter of water. chairman's seat. The Londesboro area resident has served on the board of education as vice-chairman for the past two terms. Joan Van Den Broeck, trustee for Goderich and Colborne Townships announc- ed her intentions to run for the vice- chairmanship, when board members met for their November meeting. Other trustees also declared their inten- tions for work on the board for the upcoming year. Ashfield and West Wawanosh trustee Tony McQuail is seeking the chairmanship of the personnel committee. Brian Jeffray, trustee for Wingham, Howick and Turn - berry Townships will run for the top seat on the management committee and Graeme Craig, Seaforth, Hullett and McKillop member will seek the education committee chairmanship. In other business at the November meeting, board member welcomed a new trustee, Rick Rompf, who will represent the Town of Goderich. Mr. Rompf was ap- pointed as the Goderich trustee to fill the va- cant position left with the resignation of Mary Ann Dempsey. Further discussion at the. meeting focuss- ed on the annual allowance that is paid to the Huron Board trustees. An amount for the next term must be set *fore the 1988 municipal elections. It was noted that the trustee's allowance has remained unchanged for several years at $400 a month, one-third of which is a tax free allowance. The board members approved a recom- mendation that a study of the trustee's allowance be undertaken with a report to be brought forward in the new year. • Colborne School students have been busy for weeks, preparing their Nov. 21. Here, helping an oversize snowman take shape are Grade float (theme: "Christmas Past, Present and Future") for the an -8 students Karen Ruston (left) and Leslie Stoll. (photo by Patrick nual Goderich Santa Claus Parade, which willbe held 011 Saturday, Raftis) Driver education to cost more - CLINTON - It's going to cost more money to study driver education in Huron County high schools, but the increase in fees does not subsidize the benefits of the program, say the Huron County Board of Education trustees. Effective January 1, 1988 the student fee for driver education programming., will amount to $150. The fees are now set at $100. The fee increase has been forced into practice because • dealer -leased vehicles have not been available in sufficient quanti- ty. As a result, the board of education trustees have opted to adopt a new program that will see contracts made with local driv- ing schools. Such an approach has been suc- cessfully used at F. E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham for the past two years. In a report to the board, Ashfield -West Wawanosh trustee Tony McQuail noted that the local share of this normally self- sustaining program will increase from nil dollars to $61.33 per student by January 1, 1988. He further noted that fees in neighbor- ing area school boards have been raised to as much as $195 per student during the cur- rent school year. In spite of the fee increases that will be placed on the driver education program in Huron, Mr. McQuail noted, "Our sense is that there is still a cost benefit to the students and the parents in insurance." He further noted that the program is too valuable to cancel, and further pointed out that if student fees were not increased and additional costs were absorbed by the board, it would result in an additional tax burden of $36,000. John Elliott, Blyth, East Wawanosh and Morris Townships trustee suggested, "The program is still more beneficial than the monetary savings. It instills safety in the young people. It is not primarily offered as a cost saving program." Goderich and Colborne Townships trustee Joan Van Den Broeck suggested that the program be monitored to determine if stu- dent numbers are adversely affected by the increase. A 1987 Driver Education Survey shows that 644 young people took the course in Huron County last year. Each student paid $100. In comparison, in Bruce County the fees were set at $145 each and 200 students were registered. In Perth County, 775 students took driver education training at a cost of $115 each. In Kent county the fees were set at $150 and 378 students were registered in the 1987 program. 'Try hugs,drugs'not is slogan for Drug Awarness Week with alcohol and drugs before they will recognize their own. "Adults use drugs for the same purpose as young people yet adults believe their use is different than a young person's use. There are as many older people with alcohol and drug problems as young people," Ellison said. He stipulated the problems of alcohol and drug abuse are not centred in any one area. The problems exist everywhere – in Goderich, in Ontario, in Canada, in the United States and in Russia. In spite of the fact that a lot has been done locally at the high school level (making students aware of alcohol and drugs and the effects they have when misused), it is never enough, he said, adding he hoped this is where new programs and workshops' might help in the school settings. As part of Ontario Drug (Addiction ) Awareness Week, the Huron Addiction Assessment and Referral Centre and Addic- tion Research Foundation (London Centre) are sponsoring a guest speaker who will be talking about Addiction and the Family. Mrs. Maeve Connell of Addiction Research Foundation (London Centre) will be at Huronview in Clinton this Friday, November 20 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. If you are interested in hearing her speak, con- tact Mrs. Anne Wickie at the Huron Addic- tion Assessment and Referral Centre in Clinton at 482-3416. Public meeting A Public Meeting will be held at The MacKay Centre for Seniors on Monday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting is sponsored by Town and Country Homemakers and The MacKay Centre. The purpose of holding a public meeting is to determine what home support services are presently available in Goderich and the sur- rounding area for seniors and adult han- dicapped, and to find out what programs need to be developed or expanded. We hope to receive input and ideas from organizations, service clubs, councils and of course senior citizens and adult handicap- ped. There are 1,229 seniors living in Goderich, 241 in Colborne Township and 215 in Goderich Township. There are already a in,: of good things going on around Goderich. With help and co-operation from everyone, perhaps we can add to these services. As the senior population expands, these ser- vices are going to be very useful in helping people to remain in their own communities. New chairman for . utility A new chairman for the Goderich Public Utilities Commission was elected at the commission's November meeting. Herb Murphy will commence his term as PUC chairman December 1, 1988. Donald McMillan will act as vice-chairman. The commission also includes Leonard Sheardown (past -chairman), Dr. Jim Peters and Mayor Eileen Palmer. Library adds new members The Huron County Public Library added 194 new members to its rolls as a result of this year's Library Week theme, Huron County Council learned at its regular November session. Sharon Cox, assistant chief librarian, told county councillors this year's theme focused on encouraging residents to get a library card. Mrs. Cox made her remarks during presentation of the library board to council. Library Week activities also included special programs at most of the branches, she said, including an open house to mark the official re -opening of the Belgrave branch at its new location in the Institute Hall there. Christmas light competition on The Goderich Kinette Club are spon- soring a Christmas, lighting contest to promote the idea of citizens lighting up the town during the holiday season. The contest is open only to residential homes, no businesses, within the area from Huron Haven on the north, south to Zilliax and East to the VLA subdivision. The entry deadline is Dec. 14 and houses will be judged the following weekend. Entrants must send in color photographs before the deadline to Box 112, care of The Kinette Club, Goderich. Prizes $100, $50 and $25 for the three top entries. 9NS DE THE SIGNAL -STAR "Try hugs, not drugs" is the slogan for this year's Ontario Drug (Addiction) Awareness Week which began November 15 and runs through to November 21. For the first time ever, Drug Awareness Week has been designated a national event. Health and Welfare Canada made this an- nouncement on June 11, 1987 as part of the new National Public Awareness and Infor- mation Campaign on Alcohol and Drug Abuse – a component of the federal govern- ment's National Drug Strategy. ment planning workshops. The group's future goals include helping to establish an outpatient counselling service in the county, establishing day care treatment, and pro- moting programs and treatment sevices available in the county. Currently, membership on the council is low and Ellison said the council is looking for more members to help with their future goals. If you are interested in helping the council or would like to know more about the group, Grant Ellison can be contacted by calling the Alexandra Marine and General "The Addiction Research Foundation Hospital at 524-8323. (ARF) hopes that National Drug Awareness Lynda Price heads the Huron Addiction Week events (scheduled at various locations Assessment and Referral Centre which is throughout the province) will motivate peo- based in Clinton. The Centre, funded by the ple to actively seek solutions to reduce Department of Health, assesses people with alcohol and drug problems," Dr. Joan Mar- alcohol or drug addictions and puts them in shman, president of the ARF, said. "We see touch with the proper agency for treatment. too many people who are suffering – alcohol The Centre is also looking at raising public and drug abusers and their families, awareness about alcohol and drugs and the friends, and co-workers. We need action on problems associated with them. all levels from individuals, families, Ellison noted that one in 10 people who schools, business and industry, community abuse alochol or drugs will be addicted to organizations and governments." the point where their life revolves complete - In Huron County, the Council for Action on ly around consuming alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and Other Drugs as well as the He also said a survey conducted in Huron Addiction Assessment and Referral Goderich two years ago showed that 60 per Centre are designed to help people with cent of males aged 15 and over were abusing alcohol and drug addiction. alcohol. By abuse, he explained, the amount According to Grant Ellison, acting chair- being consumed was detrimental to their man for the Council for Action, said the health. group deals with educating the public about Another point he made was the fact that alcohol and drugs as well as homing treat- adults reeogni2e a young person's problems Vikings advance The GDCI Junior and Senior basket- ball teams both reached the best -of -three Huron -Perth finals. The Juniors won their first game in Goderich 45-24 over Stratford Northwestern, while the Seniors lost 63-49 in the opener against Northwestern. For stories and pictures see the Sports section. Butting out Young offenders sentenced to time at the Bluewater Centre will not be able to smoke. As of Aug. 17 a new smoking policy has been adopted by the Ministry of Correctional Services. For pictures and story see the front page of the Com- munity section.