The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-01-18, Page 1Y
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The 27,000 ton lake freighter, Algoway, that was trapped in ice for nearly
two weeks in Goderich Harbor, was finally freed late Tuesday. It took a
Canadian Coast Guard ice breaker as well as an American ice breaker and
Harbour repairs
A'contract for $120,553 in repairs to the south
harbour wall at Goderich was awarded to
Dillon Construction of Tecumseh, Ontario
recently.
Federal minister of public works .Andre
Ouellet announced January. 11 that the Dillon
tender for the job, the lowest of three, had been
• accepted. The highest bid for the job was
$156,327.
• The .contract awarded Dillon calls for work
on the harbour wall to be completed bythe
middle of February. Specifications on the
contract were prepared by C.C. Parker and
Associates of London under the supervision of
Public Works Canada.
The contract calls for restoration of the
decking and replacement of the fendering on
the most easterly section of the south harbour
H�.s1fti
BY SHIRLEY J.KELLER
The administrator of Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital ,Elmer Taylor,along with the
vice-chairman of the board, Jim McCaul,will
be going to Toronto tomorrow to meet with
other hospital administrative personnel from
across the province to hear what the Ontario
Ministry of Health has proposed as budget.,
guidelines for 1979.
Taylor told the Signal -Star this week that
hospital administration will know after
tomorrow's meeting just how serious the
government is about implementing the
_ proposed guidelinesfor hospitals.of3.5_beds per
, 1,000 persons in the communities they serve.
"Until 'then, I'm viewing the rumors as
planning,guidelines only,"° said Taylor.
At the present moment, AM&G is rated as a
101 bed hospital and according to Taylor, that
rating is not likely to change..:
However,at the present moment there are 88
beds which the government recognizes as
staffed and in operation. That number will
Buried Monday'
ice breaking tug to free the boat frim the ice. The Canadian ice breaker,
Griffon and three local tug boats faded in attempts to free the ship which
attempted to enter Goderich Hatibor°and load with salt destined for
Chicago. Once the Algoway had a clear path to the lake it went to Sarnia for
an engine overhaul and a winter berth. (photo by Dave Sykes)
132 YEAR -3
ICJR§Wi-Y— d-A-AiUARY 18; 1979
35 CENTS PER COPY
cuts not as
change to 74 if the proposed guidelines are
impose -d.
"But it is not as bad as it looks," Taylor told
the Signal-Star."While the number of active
beds will likely be reduced, the- number of
chronic beds could increase."
At the present moment, there are 58 active
beds - beds that are used for general patient
care. Taylor feels that if the guidelines were
imposed, the loss of bed would be in this area
and AM&G could wind tip with only 37 active
beds.�,..__
"Right today that would mean that we would
have ten patients too many," said Taylor.
But at the present;moment there are. ten
chronic beds at AM&G and Taylor feels that if
the guidelines were put into effect, the hospital
would have 16 chronic beds.
As well, the hospital is rated at 20 psychiatric
beds, and this number shouldn't be altered.
WHAT TO DO?
Board members at AM&G have discussed in
the past the possible need in the future toraise
money to support hospitals from other sources.
Whether it would be through public sub-_
scription drives or something more popular
with the public such as a,lottery is only a matter
of conjecture at present.
"Some people feel the government is moving
towards more public participation in the
support of hospitals," Taylor said. "It is no
secret that the board of AM&G has discussed
some alternatives."
There is also a growing utilization of the
Home Care program in Huron County. This is a
system whereby patients can leave hospital
early and continue to receive care at home all
funded, underthe, _Ontario-Hosp-ita-1 Insura-nee-
plan.
Or in some instances, people would not enter
hospital at all but receive treatment at home
under OHIP.
Doctors must support this system, of course,
and must recommend patients for the program.
"Home Care is being utilized much more
here,"Taylor said,"but I suppose one could say
there is room for improvement in this area."
Ron Feagan :simply the best
BY DAVE SYKES
One of North America's leading harness race
drivers and Goderich native, Ron Feagan, died
at his Dundas farm late Friday night.
Hundreds of horsemen,friends and relatives
attended funeral services at Knox Prebyterian
Church, Monday to pay their final respects to
the. man who almost single-handedly
dominated the sport of harness racing over his
21 -year career.
Feagan was- born in West Wawanosh
Township, March 10,1942. He was two months
short of his 37th birthday.
He married' the former Susan Buchanan,
November 18,1969 and the couple lived in
Toronto before moving to Dundas five years
ago.
He is also survived by a son,Ronald Blair; his
mother, the former Gertrude Lorene Eason;
his grandfather, George Feagan of Goderich;
two sisters,Dorothy( Mrs., Rheal Miller)
Mattawa and Gayfe ( Mrs. Roger Kenyon) of
Goderich and,one brother, Gary of Dundas.
He was predeceased by his father,William
Keith Feagan.
News of the death shocked the harness racing
world and the community of Goderich, which
fervently followed the brilliant career of the
young driver:
Feagan, who `thrilled fans with an un-
precedented racing career was a credit to the
sport and gave of himself unselfishly to what he
called: " The greatest sport on earth."
In his eulogy at the funeral service, Revererfd
G. L. Royal said of Ron: " He leaves a presence
to learn of his espoused spirit of ideals and fair
4 ..
play. He revealed a..loyalty to his employers
that not all can show. He was a man that
worked very close to nature."
It was that loyalty, dedication and fierce
competitive spirit that earned Ron respect in
every track he worked.
Simply, among his peers and fans, he was one
of the best.
Ron grew up in a racing atmosphere and one
former Goderich racing official said it was
difficult to remember a time when Ron wasn't
working around the barns at the track. He was
destined to become a driver and soon after
receiving his first horse, a gift from his father
Keith,•he began winning races, the first when he
Was 16. Ron gradually proved himself on the
county fair circuit in the Huron County area
and later moved his talents to the Western Fair
Raceway in London where he established
himself as one of the premier drivers.
But it was not until Ron shifted his energies to
Tura to page 9 •
New fire -arrangement
BY SHIRLEY J.KELLER
The town of Goderich has a new fire
agreement with the neighboring municipalities
of Goderich, Colborne and Ashfield Townships
calling for an annual fee for each of the three
rural municipalities based on their assessment.
The four municipalities were in agreement as
well that a fire area board was the best route to
take in the future,but were not prepared to take
that step on Monday night when council met for
HA monthly committee meeting. The makeup of
a fire area board - the number of represen-
tatives from each municipality is still a
debatable point.
Beginning this year, however, Colborne
Township will pay 813,211.34 into Goderich's
fire budget; Goderich Township will .pay
$7,4$3.80; and Ashfield Township Will pay
$3,076.24:
At the outset of discussions Monday evening,
Reeve Bill Bogie of Colborne, spokesman for
the rural municipalities, said the prices
outlined by Goderich for fire protection seemed
excessive.
"There's no question about the ability of the
Goderich fire department," said Reeve Bogie.
"The biggest argument is the cost.
Bogie said the rural municipalities' didn't
expect the level of fire protection as provided in
Goderich, but said they felt with the new rates
they would be paying an equal share on an
assessment base and would not be getting equal
protection. It was Bogie who on behalf of the
three rural municipalities, suggested a fire
area board.
Goderich's deputy -reeve Bob Allen said the
town was anxious to form a fire area board, but
Turn to page 9 •
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___There has been, speculation in the past that
doctors admit patients to hospital who might
not need to be there at all. While it is unlikely
the medical practioners in Goderich abuse the
hospital in that manner, there could well be
times when a patient is in a kind of "grey" area
and could benefit from hospital rest and care
but under the right conditions could be treated
at home.
looks
There are growing indications, too, that
doctors will have to take a careful look at the .
type of patient they admit for hospital'care in
the future and in some cases, doctors may even
have to change in certain ways their practice of
medicine.
"We'll know... what's happening by the time
the board meets on Monday evening,," said
Taylor. "It will be fully discussed at that time."
4
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At Mark Hook's house everybody pulls their
weight, or somebody else's weight. In this case
it is Chico, Mark's year and a half old dog, that
is being asked to pull Mark'b weight. The four
year old took advantage of Saturday morning's
snowfall to tour the. town on his toboggan. Chico
was hooked up to the snow vehicle and away
Mark went. Accompanying the youngster was
Mark's dad Phil who was just a little too rnuch
for Chico to ,handle and had to walk. (photo by
Jeff Seddon)