The Huron Expositor, 1984-11-21, Page 111 I.LI
he communities
4 of
Dublin, Hensall
t'
SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, NOt61MBER 21, 1984 — 24 PAGES •
050c a copy
CI
se
ugged with grease, used in
rgarine making process has
caused problems for men cleaning out the
sewer line leading to the Seaforth Creamery.
The grease buildup coated a 24 inch 'liantetc
sewer; closing the opening down to two
inches.
About two-thirds of approximately 800 feet .
of sewer line was cleaned'' out just prior to
recent heavy rains. And if the cleanup had not
been started, the sewage flow could have
been restricted to, such a point as to cause
sewage to backup into basements of Seaforth
residences.
There has never been much cause for alarm
a1M1F'
in sewers alarming
in the past because of a grease buildup in
sewer lines. The creamery was established in
1916. In 1979, the firm started producing
margarine. But in the last two years,
eduction at the plant has been increased
four -fold, says Fred Hardy, manager.
And that increase in production, means the
creamery 'has shift workers' manufacturing
butter and margarine 20 hours every day.
Machines used at the plant must be washed
twice 'a day to meet sanitary regulations.
Over the last few years, there's- always
been a certain amount of grease floating on
top of" the sewage, says John Forrest,
Seaforth public works foreman.
Rash of break-ins.
concerns local police
Police are concerned'about the number of
break and enters that have occurred over the
past week. At least six such crimes have
.taken place in Seaforth since Nov. 12.
"It's a problem. All of a sudden there was a
whole rash of them," said Police Chief Hal
Claus.
Mary Jane Kunz of Victoria Street reported
a break and enter at her residence on Nov. 18.
Police say entry was gained by forcing the
rear porch door. A case of 24 Molson
Canadian was stolen from the kitchen.
There was an attempted break and enter at
Just Hair, on Seaforth's Main Street on Nov.
16 and 17. Police say the break in was not
completed but damage was done to the front
door.
Earlier in the week, Vicky Morrison.
manager of Just Hair, reported a theft of $45
from her establishment. Although it was
reported as a theft, police are considering it
as a possible break and enter.
Entry was -gained to the high school on
Nov. 15 through a door on the east side of the
building leading to the boiler rqo h. Take
from the cafeteria was $100 and • ±.p in sm
.
bills and change from the secreta s de
The break in is still under inves
",Etltry"" aglied"'tii fife "S
District Community Centres on Nov, 15.
Police say entry was gained to the building
through a door on the north side of the
building. The door leading to the office of the
arena manager was forced, and the only thing
The office of Dr. Drake. a dental surecon in
Seaforth. was broken into sometime between
Nov. 16 and 19.
Police say entry was gained through the
basement where a door , was forced open.
Once entry was gained the thief or thieves
went up the stairway and forced open the
door leading to the dental clinic,
Stolen was the cashbox containing a
number of cheques made payable to the
clinic, and cash totalling approximately $240.
The incident is still under investigation.
that appears to be missing is the key to the
pop machine.
Harry Den Haan reported the theft of three
bottles of liquor from the Optimist Hall on
Nov. 12. Police say there was no sign of a
forced entry.
One Staffa resident had some problems
on Seaforth's Main Street Nov, 10.
Oh that day, Gary Thomas Quance struck a
parking sign and a doubleheaded parking
meter on the corner of Goderich' and Main
Streets.
Chief Claus says police officers gave chase
and Mr, Quance was eventually charged with
dangerous driving and failing to stop for
police.
Total" damage to town propertyihas-been,""
estimated at 53.000. Damage to Mr.
Quance's vehicle has been estimated at
$1,800.
In other police news, one impaired and four
liquor charges were laid,
Take sea guIIsoff list
The McKillop Township Council recently
agreed to endorse a resolution received by
the Township of Downey suggesting the
Ring -billed Gull be removed from the
protected species list.
The decision reflected the feeling of
various municipalities that the gull popula-
tion is increasing too rapidly and is
threatening the environment. The resolution
says the "gulls are invading lake fronts and
beaches - polluting water sources, invading
on our farm communities, destroying and
feeding on farm produce, destroying the
natural compost of our natural land by
feeding on countless numbers of worms, and
polluting the streets and parks of many of our
urban centres in search of food."
Because most ring -billed gulls migrate
south in the winter, they are a protected
species under the Federal Migratory Birds
Convention Act administered by'the Cana-
dian Wildlife Services (CWS).
The CWS estimates 350,000 pairs of
ring -billed gulls inhabit the Ontario reaches
of the Great Lake basin. If the gulls were
removed from the protected species list
SEA GULLS/ ON PAGE THREE
.._....:.............
VERY INTERESTING—Crafts are part 9f -the
regular Story Hour at the Seaforth Library
every Saturday afternoon. Using leaves cut
from
wallpaper, Lindsay
Janette Wood, created their very own trees.
(Wasslnk photo)
Nuhn, left and
"But it just kept getting worse in the last
couple of years. And in the last six months,
there was a lot of grease buildup in the sewer
lines. We traced it hack to the creamery," he
says.
He says the creamery has had problems in
the past with their own lines plugging. "They
always,called us to help. And finally this year,
we refused because they- weren't doing
anything on. their part to correct the
problem."
Ministry of the Environment personnel
never anticipated a grease problem in the
sewer lines and it was. something they
weren't looking for. But else ministry noticed
a buildup of grease, materials in the pumping
station in recent months. And the buildup
was cause for alarm.
Samples of the Material have been taken by
the engineering ,firrn of B.M. Ross and
Associates. An analysis will be done to
determine what the exact content of the
material is; how recent the problem is; and
the grease content. The results will not be
known for another week, but they will assist
in determining what can and should be done.
"A high fat content is quite apparent when
looking pt the samples." says Mark Bell of
the ministry.
'The grease buildup appears to have
gotten worse in the last few- months. , We
weren't watching for such a problem --it crept
up onus," he says.
° Mr. Bell is aware the creamery had a spill a
few years ago, but the material• did not get
into.the sewer system, as far as he knows.
And as for the'recent grease problem being a
spill or a gradual buildup, he can't say until
testing is complete.
"We're not sure if it's in the process used
or because of increased production. It may
have been a long term problem, but
quantities or the process must have changed
GREAS /SEE ON PAGE THREE
i NEED HELP—And that's lust what Christa
Leonhardt received from her mother Janice
when Chrtsta needed help putting on her
skates. Christa was one of about 80 skaters
who took advantage of free public skating on
Saturday. The free skate was sponsored by
the Seaforth Optimist club as their part of
Youth.Appreclatlon Week, (Wasslnk photo)
Newspapers filling a gap
(Editor's note: This Is the third In a three
pari aeries dealing with the use of weekly
newspapers in the classroom.(
The use of weekly newspapers as a
teaching tool in elementary school class-
rooms is filling a gap that was there. says
Arnold Mathers. Mr. Mathers is the
superintendent of programming for the
Huron County Board of Education.
And that gap is presently being filled at
two public schools, in Seaforth and
Goderich. in the form of a pilot project.
Two classes at the Seaforth Public
School–grade four and six• -are involved in
the project. And thus far. response from
teachers and students has been positive.
Though the board of education hasn't
been greatly involved in the initial stages
of the "newspapers in education" pilot
project. Dale Matthies. a teacher at
Robertson Memorial School in Goderich
has. Mr. Matthies designed material which
incorporated the use of the weekly
newspaper as a learning "textbook" for
elementary schools. Mr. Matthies became
involved when Shirley Keller, editorial
co-ordinator for Signal Star Publishing in
Goderich, came forth with the idea and
asked him if he was interested in assisting.
"Mrs. Keller said she wanted something
unique to. Huron County, but using the
same concept, wanted to be able to expand
the program to other schools in the
province," says Mr. Matthies. "She
showed me copies of other ideas used by
'...came up with
my own ideas."
daily newspapers in schools and said she
wanted something different. So 1 came up
with ideas of my own."
There are several "Newspaper in
Education" programs in existence. but all
deal with the daily press. There is no such
concept for the weekly newspaper. he says.
That is. until Signal Star Publishing
initiated the program in conjunction with a
51.000 grant from the Ontario Community
Newspapers Association.
BLACK AND WHiTE
"My whole concept was to have all the
necessary material (excluding the news-
paper) in a three ring binder. All the
material "is in black and white' to make
photocopying easier. And with the binder,
material can be replaced or updated.
"The print is fairly large, designed for
kids who have reading problems. And the
design is such for ease of use by the
teacher. And it should be just that. Blanks
were left in certain sections so the teacher
can fill in those areas as they (elate to their
community," he says.
The program is designed in such a way
so that material can be made easy or
difficult at the discretion of the teacher,
says Mr. Matthies. All the teacher is,_
required to do is pull out a lesson, and for
the next year. can fill in the blanks as
required. The material can be used over
and over again. he says.
EXPOSITOR PART OF PROJECT
In Seaforth. the Huron Expositor is part
of the pilot project. Each week, about 75
copies oi' the newspaper are distributed to
the students and teachers participating in
the program. The Expositor is used in such
NEWSPAPERS/PAGE THREE
Consumers will see
water rate increase
The Seaforth Public Utilities Commission
(PUC) will proceed with the application of a
stone chip surface to its portion of a roof it
shares with the town.
The commission made the decision last
week after receiving an agfeeable quote of
$971 for the job from Gordon Dale Roofing.
The cost of resurfacing the entire roof with
.asphalt will be shared by the PUC and the
town.
The PUC opted for the additional tentest
and gravel surface after deciding it would
provide additional insulation to its portion of
the building.
Members of the commission said they felt
the initial extra cost of the new roof could be
easily gained back through reduced heating
costs.
RATE INCREASE
Consumers will see a 1.6 per cent rate
increase in their, water rental charge in
Seaforth next Jan.
The increase is caused by a decision by the
provincial government to increase its water
rental charge to Ontario Hydto by 200 per
cent. Ontario Hydro currently spends 530
million each year for 44ater rental. The
provincial government has raised that cost to
$59 million annually.
The 1.6 per cent hike will he reflected in the
proposed hydro rate increases for 1985.
GRANTS WiLL END
Residents are being advised that the
COSP and CHiP programs as implemented
by the federal government in 1981 will soon
be terminated.
COSP. or the Canadian Oil Substitution
Program. which offered consumers up to
$800 in funding if they switched commodi•
ties, will end on Mar. 31. Heating system
conversions completed and ready for inspec•
tion by midnight, Mar. 31. will be eligible for
COSP grants subject to existing progratn
criteria.
Homeowners are advised that for CHiP
(Canadian Home improvement Program)
applications postmarked after Dec. 31. the
government's Contributions .to the eligible
costs will be reduced from 60 per cent to
one-third. The allowable maximum grant will
remain the same. The CHiP prograrb will
terminate on Mar. 31. 1986.
n