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The Huron Expositor, 1988-05-04, Page 1INDEX Dublin - 8 Sports - 13,14 Weddings -A2 Cranbrook - A3 Farm - A4 Hensall - A8 Obituaries - A8 Foster homes fighting extinction. See page 18. Huron xpositor Serving the communities and areas of Seatorth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensall ; and Walton Seaforth, Ontario HURON EXPOSITOR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1988 50 cents a copy HCBE budget indicates 10 per cent school tax hike "Estimating is at best an imperfect science, and assessment changes are going to make it even more difficult this year," said Bob Allan, Director of Education for the Huron County Board of Education, at a meeting where board members went over the proposed estimates for 1988. The county -wide reassessment may have thrown the estimator's figures off a bit this year, and Huron County ratepayers should hope so. According to this year's estimates their taxes will rise almost 10 per cent (9.67 per cent) overall over 1987. The elementary based taxpayers with an average assess- ment of $3,110 will pay $301.83, up from the 1987 figure of $284.57. Those in the secondary panel fare no better, as the average.assess- ment will be $224.70 compared to $203.39. The budget passed at a special meeting of the HCBE on April 25 set the 1988 budget at $47,369,519, compared to $44,474,660 in 1987, for a difference of about six per cent. The board will be going to Huron County municipalities for almost $15.5 million in 1988, compared to $14 million last year. $8.85 million of this is for elementary funding, while $6.6 million is for secondary schools. Mr. Allan, who presented the estimates, said there was no attempt to build an op- timistic picture, and the figures presented represent a worst case or maximum impact scenario. When it came to funding special projects the board had to "cut the suit to fit the cloth," in one board member's words. And there was less cloth than needed this year: Special projects were dealt with separately in the 1988 budget, and while $788,100 was needed to implement all of the special projects recommended, the board was able .to allocate only $450,000. Secondary school science lab facilities were the top priority and most expensive of the special projects items. They were originally slated to cost $160;000 but a cut of $30,000 was applied. The remaining $130,000 will be used to address health, fire and safe- ty matters and to commence a rebuilding program for science Laboratory facilities in secondary schools. Lig reviewing this item the board noted Bruce county has just com- pleted a complete revamping of secondary school labs over the last five years at an average cost of $50,000 per facility. The Fax message system was dropped Turn to page 19 Looby awarded $3.2 M contract A $3.2 million contract to begin repairs on the Healey Falls Dam on the Trent -Severn Waterway has been awarded to Looby Builders of Dublin. The contract, which attracted tenders from 10 companies, was awarded by the Ministry of the Environment on April 26, 1988. The work to be completed includes the in- stallation of electrically operated mechanical gates and concrete repairs to the existing Healey Falls Dam, which is located on the Trent River, 9 kilometres north of Campbellford, Ontario on the Trent - Severn Waterway. The completion of the project is scheduled for no later than June 15, 1989. The contract covers the installation of cof- ferdams and dewatering of the site; demoli- tion and rebuilding of parts of the existing structure; construction for new machinery bridges; removal of existing concrete from surfaces of piers, sills, walls and abutments; construction of a control room for electrical equipment; supply and in- stallation of gates, mechanical and elec- trical equipment; pressure grouting; con- crete refacing and provision of an electrical power supply. Healey Falls Dam is currently operated manually using timber stop -logs, and con- trols the outflow from the Haliburton, Scugog, Kawartha and Rice Lakes Water- sheds. Good control is vital to prevent flooding and maintain navigation levels in the waterway. Installation of mechanical gates will significantly improve the sometimes slow and often insufficient operations of the dam. It will also greatly reduce the hazard associated with the manual operation of the stop -logs. The repair work to the dam will maintain the historic nature of the structure. r. �f STAGE FRIGHT - Some of the younger models in the fashion show weren't that eager to walk around in front of 700 people -some were just getting the hang of walking. But Trudy Upshall and Sarah Teall got Courtney Murray and Robert Johnston through the whole ordeal. Corbett photo. Local . merchants show off spring fashions "Spring in Bloom," Seaforth's 1988 Fashion Show, gave Seaforth area clothing merchants a chance to sflow off their spring stock last week. Held on April 27, the Fashion Show and Dessert Luncheon was sponsored by Seaforth and District Ringette as a fund raiser. The parents of the ringette players were very involved with the project, and they were responsible for the cheesecake served, canvassing for door prizes, and many were even involved with modelling. Joan Wood was the coordinator of the LOCAL FISHERMEN crowded into the best Park as the annual trout derby took place on Local girl lands Jill Betties was the winner of Seaforth's annual trout derby held on Saturday, as she brought in a rainbow trout 37 centimeters long. The Lion's Park pond was stocked with 300 rainbow trout for this year's derby, but Jill caught a wild one. The difference was a spots to fish in Lions Saturday in Seaforth. fish were pulled from the park's pond. Corbett 137 young fishermee turned up for the event . and 103 stocked wild trout to vuiti fishing long red stip of color down her fish's side, whereas the stocked fish were completely silver. 137 local kids participated in the trout der- by this year and some 50 parents who came with their youngsters tried their luck as well. Approximately 100 fish were taken photo. derby from the pond between 7:30 Saturday morn- ing and 1:00 that afternoon. But there are still fish in the park -and some good sized ones. When the pond was stocked 300 fish of 10-12 inches were put in, but five hand picked fish 16-18 inches in length were also thrown in, and they haven't been brought out. event this year, and Carolanne Doig was would be happening with the show in 1990. also involved with the event's organization. The audience isn't the only thing to have Miss Doig has been with the event since the grown, as there were also more businesses first fashion show in 1984, and she says its presenting fashions. They included: Anna's really starting to take off. Dress Shoppe; Collins, the Wedding People from London; the Hospital Auxiliary; Kids Kloze; Knitter's Loft; Lynda's Place from Stratford; No Kidding from Clinton; Seaforth Golf Course; Shinen's Men's and Ladies wear; Stewart Brothers; and Don's Shoe Place. With all these businesses taking part there were 288 outfits shown Wednesday night, plus all the bridal fashions. Hildebrand Flowers was responsible for the stage set up and flowers for the bridal show. Flower Magic set up the display at the entrance to the show. Alouette provided the makeup, Carol Carter played piano for There were people asking about tickets several hours to provide music, and lighting fo.- tl, shwa month before they were even was handled by Bill Teall and Bruce Whit- ^ri^red, and they sold out almost without more. Carolanne Doig wrote the script for pr ion. After Wednesday night there commentators Ken Cardno and Audrey were people already asking about what McLlwain. This year the show, which takes place at the Seaforth and District Community Cen- tres, had to be moved from the small hall to the arena floor. The move was necessary to accommodate 650 people who bought tickets and another 50 to 100 people who were in the bleachers. In 1986 there were 400 people at the show. "It's really become an event, something people look forward to," says Mrs. Doig, ad- ding that the show is effective as a fund raiser because people enjoy it and don't mind paying for it. PC poll says Riddell opposed "A survey by Progressive Conservative Party staff has revealed that Jack Riddell, M.P.P. for Huron, opposes Sunday shopp- ing." This is the claim recently published the Ontario Progressive Conservative Caucus. But Mr. Riddell says: "not once was I con- tacted, I believe someone talked to the secretary at my constituency office." Of course Mr. Riddell's secretary couldn't comment for the Minister of Agriculture, but she referred the caller to a television in- terview Mr. Riddell had done. When con- fronted with the question "will you shop on Sunday," Mr. Riddell indicated to the inter- viewer that he had better things to do on the Sabbath. So when the PC caucus says Mr. Riddell opposes Sunday shopping, he calls their statement "a misrepresentation of my views." The caller mentioned above was from the PC party. Fred Biro, director of com- munications for the Conservative caucus, says PC staff telephoned Liberal MPP con- stituency offices this week asking if the member favored Sunday shopping. He says of 82 respondents, 33 per cent opposed Sun- day shopping while nearly 38 per cent refus- ed to comment. Only 12 of the members ask- ed apparently favored Sunday openings. The Sunday shopping issue has been a hot item in Ontario politics this year, and the re- cent announcement of proposed legislation to amend current retail opening legislation has brought the issue to the forefront again. Andy Brandt, the Progressive Conser- vative party leader, has called for a free vote on the legislation, and he says Liberal MPPs will have to decide whose interests come first, their constituents or the Premier's, when they vote on the govern- ment legislation. This is what Mr. Biro says the PC party was trying to get across when it polled the Liberal constituency offices and published the results on each of the members. "The point we are trying to make is Mr. Riddell should vote accroding to the wishes of his constituents. If the majority are op- posed to Sunday shopping then he should vote against this legislation. But I don't know what they believe, that's up to him to determine," says Mr. Biro. At the same time, Mr. Biro says there is no chance the Liberals will allow a free vote on the legislation, as he thinks they fear some Liberal members oppose it. But Mr. Riddell says he supports the up- coming "municipal option" legislation. The public has seen the legislation bashed by the opposition, he says, but if they understood the implications of the legislation they would support it too. He says the legislation actually prohibits Sunday shopping in the province. But it allows municipalities to "opt out and open Sunday if it is in their best interests." Turn to page 19 OPP investigating Seaforth area theft The Goderich OPP detachment reports the ongoing investigation of stolen proper- ty from a Seaforth area home. A total of $9,000 worth of goods were stolen from a storage shed at a RR 2 Seaforth address. The theft was reported April 28 although the owner said the items could have been stolen between April 25 and April 28. The stolen articles include: downrig- gers, a Honda 10 -horse outboard motor, one 50 cc Yamaha motorcycle, one Honda generator, two sets of golf clubs (man's left, lady's right), as well as various tools. APRIL CHARGES The Goderich OPP laid a number of charges during the month of April. Includ- ed in these charges were: 26 12 -hour license suspensions, 12 alcohol related traffic charges, four persons charged under the criminal code, 264 highway traf- fic charges, 49 traffic act warnings, and 49 liquor charges. e