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The Huron Expositor, 1984-10-10, Page 1iJ ring the communities U areas of Isels, Dublin, Hensall r.• cc 'Walton UFQ' lc SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1984 — 22 PAGES APPLES ARE A NICE size thle year at Marlene Or ards near Seaforth. Gerry Marlene est 'I"tes he will harvest 400 bushels of les from his 350 trees, Displaying so,ti of the red, Juicy apples Is Steve Marten_`,; (Waaslnk photo) Brusse The restoration and rebuilding of the Brussels Dam should be completed within one month. So far, the $345,000 project is on schedule. Made possible through a Canada Make Work project, federal funding for the dam was announced earlier this year, and construction started in May, Owned by the Maitland Valley Conserva- tion Authority, the deteriorating state of the dam was a concern of local residents, council and the authority. At a public meeting, Authority officials speculated that the decayed structure could deteriorate rapidly in the next five years. Though it's not a major factor in flood control, the dam and old feed mill have long been considered a recreation area and possible tourist attraction. "It's a real smart thing for Brussels that they decided to save the dam," says Vernon Marriott, project supervisor of Looby Construction Limited in Dublin. Mr, Marriott says he has worked on similar projects in the past, such as the Mitchell dam. "But this dam is a very, very am is oras -rule well built structure -- it was built heavy," "It's supposed to be a restoration and it's restored all right," he says. Much of the old dam remains intact, but two new spillways were constructed at the west end, near the mill. The dam wall was restored in the worst places, says Mr. Marriott, with the bad section taken out and replaced. A new spillway Is now being completed at the east end of the dam. When complete, approximately 650 metres of cement (about 90 truckloads) and about 25 ton of steel were used for the new structure. An artificial island was construct- ed at the south side of the dam. The new dam has been designed so in case of excessive flooding, the island will be overtopped, but Mr. Marriott thinks that will be rare. "The water Is supposed to go through the spillways first. And there are two, 18 foot wide spillways. The chance of the island being flooded are pretty remote." When completed, the grassed island will undoubtedly become a favored picnic area, The spillways have been designed to allow a vehicle to reach the island for maintenance purposes. Mr. Marriott won't hazard a guess as to the completion date. "When its finished, it's finished. And so far, the local people think it looks great." Jim Diebel of the Authority says the project will soon be complete except for landscaping. And he says most people are surprised the new dam is turning out to be a full-fledged restoration project. "Many thought it would be a patch job. Everyone is pleased wlth It," he says. "The old dam was fairly solid, but it wasn't good. We could tell it used to be an old wooden dam covered with concrete. We didn't run into anything unusual, but we did get a lot of fill to make the island when the Brussels main street was repaved." "We utilized everything as much as possible, including local labor and material. The federal grant will be enough to cover costs and there may be some left over to seed the island next spring." he says. r• 9 CO'p Possible landfill site still local concern French immersion investigated by Huron BY HEATHER McILWRAII'H Current interest in Huron County sur- rounds the rights of residents to have their children educated in either the French or 4nglish language. More and more French language ins tion is becoming a growing trend in Canada. And, while Huron County is just now investigating the possibility of French Immersion, other boards of education have offered that option to parents for a number of years. Wellington County, for example, is in its 11th year of French Immersion, having started its initial class in 1974. Now, there are French Immersion programs offered in 14 public and three high schools throughout that county. "It's proven quite successful as 'indicated by the increasing numbers every year," said Sondra Fish, French Immersion Consultant for the Wellington Board of Education. Mrs. Fish said that the Success of the program in any county is dependant on its reception, pri arily by the parents, "It's the co-operation beyeen the parents and the board — the parent's actual support of the board, that is making this program. work." "There are still certain things that need revision but that's the case with all instruction, English or French•" she said. The presence of such groups as the French Immersion Association and Canadian Par. ents for French (CPF) are an example of the continued parent support of the French Immersion program across Canada. These groups help the effort of the French Immersion programs by providing exposure to French outside of the classroom environ• ment through summer camps and plays. "Sure, some parents out there think French Immersion is too high profile, and some feel it'll have a detrimental affect on the English program because so many are opting out of the English program and into the French," said Mrs. Fish, "but 1 feel very positive about the program and feel it's the only way to go in a country that has two official languages." Wellington and Halton County as opposed to Waterloo County, offer a total (100 per cent) French Immersion program. Students Parents should have option of French or English BY HEATHER Mc1iWRAITH All parents should have the option to choose whether or not their child is educated in the English or French langu age, according to Debra Whale, a dairy fernier and advocate of the CPF (Canadian Parents for French). Mrs. Whale, lives in Erin and is a mother of two boys. She said she was 100 per cent for the French Immersion program be- cause, it offered a child a lot more options in life, further down the road. "There is no looking back. More opportunities exist in Canada for those Canadians who are bilingual. There aren't too etany jobs available for those who don't have training in both the English and French language," she said, At present the Whale children are bussed 15 miles to and from school daily, a distance, which while time consuming Mrs. Whale said is worth it for the education the children are receiving. "I would bus them twice as far to give them the opportunities they're receiving now. I think it's a very viable form of education. It's an ever improving and well run program." As to her children's reaction to program, Mrs. Whale said they enjoy it and OPTION / PAGE THREE 4 enter the program in their kindergarten year and are taught entirely in the French language until grade three. At that point English language classes are added to the curriculum. Wellington County has an approximate dropout rate of four per cent, which, Mrs. BY WILMA OKE A delegation of 12 ratepayers attended th'pckersmith Township Council meeting Tuesday night to question council's proposal to endorse the Arthur Varley farm as a possible Seaforth landfill site because of its isolated location on a farm, compared to the bocation near the Seaforth lagoon area which orders on Harpurhey, Egmondville and Seaforth, Gerben Wynja of RR 4, Seaforth asked several questions the group wanted answer- ed. Mr. Wynja said the Wynja farms are only 200 to 300 yards from the Varley farm. He 'said that their land would decrease $500 to $600 an acre in value with a landfill site so close. The delegation was told that farm values should not be affected by a nearby landfill site, but some of the delegates were skeptical and one said he would be seeking a lowering of his assessment if the site should be chosen. John Brownridge, Tuckersmith's repre- sentative on the Seaforth landfill committee, said if the site was chosen, it would be screened by a row of trees and enclosed with a fence. It was suggested by the delegation that the Seaforth landfill committee should be investi- gating a waste incinerator and when told this would be a very costly solution, the -proposal was made that perhaps the county should be going for it. Mr. Brownridge said most municipalities in the county had adequate landfill sites at this time and said be was sure they would not be interested in an incinerator program. Audrey Cameron, who lives on the road many of the garbage trucks to the Varley site would take, spoke of her concern that the road would be Tittered with waste blowing off the trucks. I don't want to be picking up other people's garbage off my lawn," she said. "I don't want to see it causing trouble for people...." Reeve Robert Bell said this had been a problem at times in the southern part of the township but that it had improved. One of the delegates said there are many springs in the area and this would cause problems. Mr. Brownridge said .this shoulji be brought to the notice of the officials and; that this would be discovered when drilling takes place. He said the hydrdogeologists would take many tests. "We would not want to put it there if it we nota suitable site," Mr, Brownridge assured the delegation, "1 don't want to see it causin trouble for people or damaging the enviro } ment or the water." Reeve Bell said there would be pub) LANDFILL / PAGE THREE Child hit, injuries minor A five-year-old child suffered minor injuries Sunday after she was struck by a car. Carrie Flanagan received cuts and bruises when she ran from the sidewalk on the west side of Main Street and into the path of a northbound vehicle• driven by William D. Rozell of P mbndglile. The incident occurred, about 12155 p nirtieiir Market Street. No charges were laid., ••* ••• A 1968 Camaro parked in the Sunoco lot on Goderich Street East was stripped of four chrome centers and four chrome wheel trims early Sunday morning. Seaforth Pollee Chief Hal Claus said the theft is estimated at approximately 5200 and that parts stolen• were unidentifiable. The f; - k vehicle belongs to Tom Shannon of Seaforthj The police have no suspects at this time% The Seaforth Police are encouraging, people who heat strange and/or suspicious noises in the night to report them. Pofce'Ch1cf Hal jCiaus said o recent repottt by h"s'cekpink iiol-selh' ° itking'Iotntnde by. residents of Chalk Street North allowed police to drive up and apprehend a suspect in the theft of a gas barbdeue. Sometimes it is very important, sotoenple should call in any strange noises they hear at night," said Chief Claus. Other police business last week included) four liquor charges being laid. Auto parts stolenoff lot F A theft of auto parts off a vehicle parked in the lot of a Brussels car dealership resulteB'tn a toss of about SISO. Jack McCutcheon, of J.L. McCutcheon Motors, reported the theft early Saturday, when it was noticed that the 1985 Chevrolet truck was missing its tailgate, wheel caps and wheel rims. An earlier incident which occurred Aug. 30 has led Mr. McCutcheon to believe he is the victim of a band of "midnight autowreckers". "This is no practical Joke. We figure that It has to be someone from outside the area looking for parts to sell in a city. We Just Bd. of Ed. Fish said, comes In the first years of the program. A lot of people try out the program in the kindergarten year and decide after that whether or not they want to continue in it. Some children either can't handle the program or they move," she said. FRENCH IMMERSION le being discussed as a viable alternative to learning French In Huron County. But Seaforth Public School students continue to study Core French. Seaforth French teacher, JuIIe Baldwin, uvea flashcards In her classes. Assisting her In the photo Is Angle Roth, (Wasslnk photo) thought It would tae We If people knew whag was happening," he said. "It (the truck) was a nice looking truck until someone took all the pieces off it. 1t'I unfortunate because we can't keep all ou# vehicles inside," he said. Wingham OPP are stlll Investigating the incident. INDEX Huron -Bruce Liberals acFlaim Murray Elston /A5 Boy and girls can take Home Ec. and Ind. Arts /A10 Centenaires have Sunday opener /A8 Picture perfect Thanksgiving /A15 INSIDE Births /A6 Brussels /Al2 Classified /A16, 17, 18 Dublin news /A4, 5 Entertainment /A21 Family /46, 7 Farm /A18, 19 Fire Safety Page /A14 Hensall news /A20 The Junction /A11 Kids /A10 Legion /A6 Obituaries /A6 Sports /48, 9 Walton /A13 .i