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The Huron Expositor, 1984-09-26, Page 10 3 0 Z •ding the communities and areas of gJsseis, Dublin, Hensall and Walton S h SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1984 —• 20 PAGES FINALLY somebody has put the cart before the horse. And Frank Reynolds of Harpur- hey was the first. He's shown driving his winning entry In the Seaforth Fall Fair parade on Friday. (Wasalnk photo) Citizens respond to draft zoning bylaw An open house held at the town hall 15. Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the draft zoning bylaw attracted about 25 6r people, most of whom were concerned with property lying in the flood plain. Public concern included devaluation of property in the Inner Flood Plain, Outer µood Plain and construction in the flood plain, ' Cindy Fisher of the Huron County Planning Department said the open house was held to hear public response to the zoning bylaw and answer any concerns raised, '"The majority of the people who cattle, were concerned with the flood plain," said • councillor Bill Martin. Others who assisted Mr. Martin and Ms. Fisher at the open house, included repre- sentatives of the Ausable-Bayfield Conser- vation Authority, the -county planning department, council representatives and the deputy clerk. Some people just wanted clarification about the bylaw. Others wanted to know about property on highway #8 and future commercial development of that property," said Ms, Fisher. "We answered the questions that could be answered. But any requests for changes to the bylaw will be discussed at a later date by the planning advisory committee," She said the open house allows for personal questions to be asked and answers Fair w The weather was perfect for the Seaforth Fall Fair 'last Thursday, Friday and Saturday. In fact, it was too good, says Bob Broadfoot. president on the agricultural society, because farmers were in the midst of harvest. Though, the number of fair' goers was down from last year. gate receipts wcrc about the same, Entry recti were recently restructured and for this reason, Mr. Broadfoot said proceeds will he about thc same. The three day fair also celebrated its 25th anniversary as a "B" fair. And to mark the occasion. all presidents and presidents of the ladies division, who served the agricultural society in thc past quarter century, were given society pins. DENISE DUPUIS CROWNED The fair started Thursday night with the crowning of thc 1984 Fair Queen. Denise Dupuis ,,was chosen from atm I1 contestants. Mary Lou Anderson was first runner up; Sharon Wilson, second runner up and Marion Hunt was chosen Miss Congeniality. Guest speaker at the Queen competition was Dr. Clay Switzer, deputy minister of agriculture. "I feel strongly about the tradition of fall fairs,•' said Dr. Switzer. "The first fair in Ontario was held at Niagara nn the Lake, and we've been holding fairs ever %ince." Seaforth held its first fall fair in 1845 and has had a fair ever; year since then. And it's ther was-#ao goo Immersion meets with An ad hoc committee set up to investigate the feasibility of setting up French Immer- sion classes in Huron County met with Seaforth and 'area parents Thursday. The meeting, which attracted approxi- mately 35 people, provided information on the French Immersion programs available, airrent French programs in operation and to answer any questions parents had about either of these. Among the questions raised by parents were some pertaining to the ability of the average intelligent child to cope in a totally French atmosphere, the affect of such a program on regular school programming, the costs. the possibility of segregation. and the location of such a program if one were Arnold Mathers, a supervisory officer and member of the committee. told the parents theft were no locations as yet picked out for the immersion programs and said that would depend on the results of the committee's study. / "if there was a positive reactioniwe would only start a class where there were the right number of children. Obviously if there was too little response in an area, one wouldn't be set up. And if there was too much response we might have to give preference to those who did not need outside transportation," said Mr, Mathers. Mr. Mathers said no intellectual assess- ment would be made of a child before he or she were accepted in the program, and said it is not a program directed toward gifted children but -towards the average child. "If we did that, then we would be setting 4 all for one reason, said Mr. Broadfoot, "to promote agriculture." It took two attempts before Seaforth could become a class "B" fair said Ken Campbell, one of the 25th anniversary past presidents. "The criteria is to keep the prize money at a stipulated amount for three consecutive years." He said since Seaforth has become a '; B" fair, changes have been made to upgrade the fairgrounds. The fair has been improv- ing in the past few years. but Mr. Campbell said at one time, there was discussion to discontinue the annual fair completely. "If that had been done, it would have been a great mistake," he said. BEST PARADE YET Friday was parade day and the parade was one of the best yet. Students of Seaforth Public and St. James Separate participated in the parade. The talent show that night was good, "but we could have had a better crowd," said Mr. Broadfoot. "We could have had a better crowd" "We had the best parade in years." said Ken Coleman, publicity chairman. "We had a lot of participation from the schools. They're taking more interest in the fair.' committee parents. up a situation for the gifted child and not for the average person wishing to expand their knowledge in French," said Mr. Mathers. Parents concerned that their children might do well in the French language but still encounter difficulty grasping such basic skills as mathematics were told that special assistance would "probably" be available, if it were required. But a child's ability to cope would be assessed on the same basis as it was in the English program. "l'm not sure if another level of remedial instruction would be added to the current system, but l'm sure the teachers would do their best to help. There is a normal drop out rate. A child could always switch if he couldn't adapt," said Mr. Mathers, He said it is not guaranteed that a child who has difficulties in some courses while in the French program would perform any better once he or she is returned to the English program. Parents were also concerned that their children might lose their ability to compre- hend English once totally immersed in the French program. Mr. Mathers and the committee refuted the fact that a child immersed in French does worse in English than his English counterpart: Although there are certain lags in English language arts for the first few years of the program, according to research, he said almost all are made up during the first year that subject is introduced. And by the end of the elementary grades, immersion students perform better than children in the regular IMMERSION/ PAGE THREE School projects on the bicientennial, a special feature in the school competition at the fair, proved to be popular. There were 40 bicentennial entries. "The weak area was Saturday. We got away from the demolition derby and in its place, sponsored an antique tractor pull," said Mr. Broadfoot, "But it will take at least a year to establish the tractor pull." Though there weren't enough tractors in the pull, spectators were still treated to a two hour program. The mini -pedal pull for kids in the community centres proved popular. Over 40 kids entered in the pull, PROMOTE AGRICULTURE The Seaforth Agricultural Society pro- vides about 520,000 in prize money. With the assistance of various grants, the fair has been successful in the last few years. "But we spend far more in prize money than we ever take in," Mr. Broadfoot said. WEATHER/SEE PAGE THREE given. She said a public meeting would be held, if requested. "But we haven't felt there's a need for such a meeting as yet." "We found neighbors coming in as delegations because they obviously have some conceirn's," said Mr. Martin. "Some people asked for changes to the bylaw. We will be looking at the flood plain, especially the inner Flood Plain and the number of properties within in, ROOM FOR ERROR "There is room for a small error and there are a couple of problem spots in the flood plain," said Alec Scott of the Ausable-Bay- field Conservation Authority. "We will be going out into the field to survey these areas. in some of the border line cases, it will probably be time well spent," he said. in addition to talking to 25 ratepayers, 10 letters were also received concerning the bylaw. Any changes will be discussed' by the planning advisory committee and they will recommend any changes to council. Council will then discuss any changes and then an approved bylaw will be circulated. But there is a 21 day appeal period and appeals have to be in writing. if appeals cannot be solved at the local level, then the zoning bylaw will come before the Ontario Municipal Board which will only deal with the objections received in writing. "One of the purposes of the open house is to bring out any shortcomings in the bylaw. And only one came up and that concerned rebuilding in the flood plain," said Mr. Martin. It's a concern that needs to be addressed and we will do that." Though some residents were concerned with the flood plain and decreased property, Ms. Fisher said property values are not affected in the outer flood plain. "Property values are not affected in outer flood plain" "And it's really doubtful if values are affected in the inner flood plain," said Gary Davidson, senior planner for the county. 'Somebody who is now in the flood plain and with ' all the recent publicity, their property values will be affected,',' said Mr. Martin. "But that will all change within three months," he said, when publicity dies down. "By implementing the zoning bylaw and mapping the flood plain, we re only ZONING/SEE PAGE THREE- Ruckus HREE Ruckus limited to A ruckus on Seaforth's main intersection early Sunday morning resulted in police from seven departments being called for assistance. The incident started at 1:30 a,m. when bpi grow s of youths were at odds with ietzeh fiche outside the Seaforth and District 'Commtini Centre after the Far Fair hl. Windup Dance sponsored by the Optimist Club ended. Broken up by Seaforth police officers on patrol, the youths gathered at the main mterseetion of Main and Goderich Streets, and soon attracted a crowd of approxi• mately 100 people. Police Chief Hal Claus said a number of minor skirmishes took place, but most of it was limited to a shoving and yelling contest. Chief Claus said Seaforth police re- queted assistance from the other depart- ments due to the,size of the crowd gathered at the intersection. Local police from Goderich, Clinton and Exeter as well as OPP units from Goderich, Sebringville, Wingham and Exeter were all.called to the scene. Chief Claus said those gathered on the sidewalks were advised that they were part shoving d an unlawful assembly and were requested to disperse. "After about three minutes the police moved in to disperse the crowd. A number who refused to leave the area when asked to were placed in cruisers and taken to the station,' h&aid,..,. : , . • • :.... By 3:00 a.m- the intersection was clear and those taken to the station were released unconditionally. Chief Claus said quick response by area police forces can be credited for keeping the situation under control and preventing any injuries or property damage. Tuckersmith Council prefers isolated site BY WILMA OKE John Brownridge. Tuckersmith's reprc• sentative on the Seaforth and area landfill site, reported that the committee has two sites under consideration at this time, one in the area of the Seaforth sewage lagoon and the other on the farm of Arthur Varley. DENISE DUPUIS was chosen 1084 Queen of Denise was crowned by the 1983 Queen, Lisa the Seaforth Fall Fair on Thursday night. Beuttenmillor• (Wesslnk photo) This new landfill site being sought will serve Seaforth, and McKillop and Tucker - smith townships. Earlier this year a site north of Seaforth was found to have inadequate soil structure for a landfill site. Mr. Brownridge said that at this time. preliminary tests indicate the soils are acceptable at both the Varicy farm and the lagoon site. Council agreed that the Varley site was preferable because it is isolated, while the lagoon site is trio close to the residential areas of Harpurhey and Egmond• ville. Seaforth would also be affected because of the prevailing winds. Several members of council said they had many - calls from both Harpurhey and Egmondville residents. concerned about where the landfill site might be located. Mr. Brownridge said the present Seaforth landfill site south-east of Seaforth will be closed in Apr. by the Ministry of the Environment because it is full. To he prepared for a place to dump the garbage in case the new landfill site is not established by Apr., council supported a plan by Seaforth to petition the Ministry of the Environment for the use of an already established landfill site on an emergency. temporary basis/ SITE/ SEE PAGE THR Midway owner upset after trailer smashed Mischief at the midway on the fairgrounds Friday night may have a detrimental effect on the Fall Fair in future years. A car, driven by a local youth, was driven into the end of one of the refreshment trailers, did extensive damage and has left Big A Amusements disappointed in the attitude of some of the local people. "They (Big A Amusements) weren't very happy when they left. And, we're Concerned that if we lose them, the fair board won't want a midway in the future. if that's the case then we may be back to a one night, one day fair," said Bob Broadfoot, president of this year's agricultural society. Mr. Broadfoot said the incident was just an example of the "local Tads trying to tantalize. the Carney boys into a fight. "Big A Amusements has worked the fair fot five years and there has never been any problems before," he said. Police Chief Hal Claus said no charges have been laid. He expects the situation tc be looked after in a civil manner. "The damage is going to be paid for," he said, Papal mass at St. Coloumban/ A4 Brussels Fall Fair results/ 417 Seaforth Fall Fair results/ A7 Births /A10 Brussels /A16, 17 Classified /Al2, 13, 14 Dublin news /A4, 5 Entertainment /A20 Family /A10, 11, 18 Farm /A15 Hensel, news /A14 Kids /A7 Legion /A20 Obituaries /A 10 Sports /A8, 9 Welton /A19