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The Huron Expositor, 1987-10-07, Page 1INDEX Farm -- A3 Graduations — A6 Sports — A7, A8 •• Classifieds _ A10, All, Al2 Dublin –; A13 • Hensel'. — A14 - Obituaries — A16 Legion — A16 , Births , A16 Lone plow woman .out, to beat boys. See page A4.. Serving the communities and areas. of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensel' and Walton - HURON EXPOSITOR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7,1987 50 centsa copy -- Fireman's -death unnecessary By Shelley McPhee Haist GODERICH The results of a day long in- quest here could have wide-reaching'effects on volunteer fire forces across the province. The Ontario Fire Marshal's -.Office has been requested to - immediately issue a bulletin to more than 660 fire departments in the province, stressing the inherent dangers of using converted milk trucks as fire water tankers. - Further recommendations.: regarding driver' training, . fire vehicle inspections, vehicle safety guidelines and provincial fun- ding were part brought forward from the five member jury in the Ken Aikenhead inquest. The September30 inquest investigated the death of the 25 -year old Brucefield fireman who died on May 13 while travelling to the scene of a/brush fire. He was fatally injured when the Brucefield Fire Department tanker truck that he 'was driving flipped over. Two others were injured in the crash. Mr. Aikenhead , and tanker truck passengers, Dennis Hallam and Bob McKenzie were travelling down Sideroad 30 • and 31 of Stanley Township when .the fatal accident occurred. As the truck crested the top of a hill, the fire could be seen and Mr. • Hallam recalled, "The next thing I knew we • ,weredn'the ditch." - • Police reports indicate that the truck MTC to exten The Ministry of Tranportation and Com- munications has notified Seaforth Mayor Alf Ross, of its plans to extend the four laning of Highways 7 and 8 from Kitchener to Strat- ford. Mayor Ross and other Huron County Mayors had presented a report to MTC Minister Ed Fulton earlier this spring detailing desired improvements to Highway 8.• The improvments included an upgrade between the 401 and the City of Stratford; an upgrade of bypass routes through the City of Stratford and improvements between Strat- swerved onto the grassy shoulder of the road: When the delver attempted to right the vehicle back onto the gravel, it veered sharply,. crossed the roadway and flipped over into the south ditch, Mr. McKenzie remembered, "We came over the crest. I heard the crash, Then I was waking upon the ground." Neither, passengers or the driver were wearing seat belts at the time of the, accident. A recommendation from the jury in this regards stressed the mandatory installation and use of seat belts in' all emergency response equipment. Driver training programs for volunteer firemen was also addressed in the recom- mendations. With the suggestion that such programs be prepared and implemented for volunteer fire departments. It was evidenced that no specific driver 'training is necessary for volunteer. fire fighters. "To my knowledge, Ken (Aikenhead) had never driven the truck to a fire -before," Brucefield Fire Chief Bob Caldwell told the inquest jury. Mr. Aikenhead was familiar with • the tanker truck, as he was responsible for the maintenance and weekly check runs. He was a Class A licensed driver which allowed him to drive trucks. ' d four-laning Local injured wh A Seaforth woman is still in St. Joseph's Hospital, London after her car hit a wooden utility pole, then slid on its side for several metres. - ' Police say Connie Marion was driving alone east of Oxford Street near Woodward Avenue in London when she lost control of her car and hit the pole on the south side of the road. The pole snapped off at the base, dropping 110 -volt wires onto Oxford Street and snarl- ing traffic for about an hour. The car turned onto its side and slid for about eight metres (25 feet) before stopping in the curb lane. Constable Alan Keutsch said there was no one else in the car and no ford and Goderich, including periodic pass- ing lanes. The report was meant to reflect more than the identification of a deficient transportation corridor, rather the county's desire to 'foster improvements in the local economic base; to provide for new and addi- tional employment opportunities; to en- courage investment and to protect and develop Huron's urban and rural communities. - The mayors indicated access to Huron County has been a problem, and highway 8, which is one of the County's main transpor- en car hits post other injuries because of the accident. Mrs. ' Marion, who is a diabetic, remains in hospital while doctors try to regulate her blood sugar. • Colleen Motton of London was in the Canada Trust branch across Oxford Street when she heard the car snap the pole. "When I got to the car, she had etas on her face. We got the,door open and she got her foot onto the ground then said, 'I can't help you. I can't get out.' " . Police and ambulance attendants popped the windshield •out of the- car and --Mrs. Marion was pulled to safety. Firefighters• cleaned up spilled gasoline and oil. In his report to the jury Goderich OPP Constable Tom Jansen s ,ested that tire fighters would benefit from riving courses, similar to those that are given for police officers. ' "With red lights and the siren going, you. . tend to drive as you can. If you back off and maintain control, you'll arrive at the scene within seconds of . a high speed run," he . reported. - While it was noted that no speeding infrac- tions H ere reported in the Aikenhead in- vestigation, Constable Jansen suggested that 'special considerations must be taken when driving on a gravel road. David Fields of the Ontario Fire Mar- shal's Office said that video films on driver ' training are available for use. tie suggested, "Perhaps we should be • promoting them More." Mr. Fields said that it was "pie in the sky" ' idea to provide special training sessions to the more than 17,000 volunteer fire fighters in Ontario. He. noted; "Too much training will bombard them. Instead we take a prac- tical approach by stressing safety and care....It's hard to get and keep volunteer fire • fighters, therefore we don't want. to drive them away." - It was suggested at the inquest that had Mr. Alkenhead had special driver training, Turn to page 12A • of. Highway 8 , tation corridors, is often, viewed as a .bot- tleneck, restricting access to the main pro- vincial transportation corridors. The result is it serves as an inhibiting factor, limiting not only new industrial and business development, but„,ajso restricting agriculturalopportuntnies and tourism potential. Consequently Mr. Fulton's letter was' received with -enthusiasm. "It's pretty goof( news. We're extremely pleased,” said Mayor R ss. "'It's super. It's reall', a boom for this area." .. Mr: Fulton, wrote Mayor Ross he had reviewed the needs on highway 7 and 8 from the west limits of Kitchener to the City of Stratford. He.hoted the design for the four laning of the highway from Regional Road 1 (County Road -22) easterly to just east of Regional Road 6 (Old highway 7 and 81 is now com- plete, and said he intends to award a con- tract for this project so that construction can commence in the spring of 1988. Dee to the operational constraints con- nected with the construction of the new structure over the Nith River, it is an- ticipated construction will be completed by the fall-of:1989. ' MTC staff have been instructed to proceed Turn to page 12A • MASS OF ,PENPALS - When Michigan's Billy. Bennet released a message balloon earlier this 'summer, he probably didn't expect it would get him several pen pals. It did Amber Halfpenny, who found the balloon, took it to school and the end result washer entire Blass wrote back to Billy. Shown here with a giant letter that bears the faces and artwork of Mrs. Britton's Grade 1-2 class .at Seaforth Public School are' back. Amy Hamon, Maegan Jarret, Amber Halfpenny and Jessica Burgess. Front. Danny Smith. Andrew Duch, Brett Jewitt and Jasen Wood. Mcllwraith photo; McLIwain named to David McLlwain, youngest son of Audrey and Jack McLlwaln of Seaforth, ha's been made an official member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. McLlwain is the first player from Seaforth to make the National Hockey League since Cooney Weiland. ,Mr. McLlwain was previously a member of the North Bay Centennials of the Ontario Dodds is national A local youth has captured the Canadian Junior Plowman's Championship for the se- cond time. Paul Dodds, son of Don and Maja Dodds of RR 1 Seaforth, is .now the first Junior Plowman ever to win the title two consecutive years. Mr. Dodds took time away from his 'studies at the University of Guelph to com- pete in the national plowing match held in Quebec_this.pastsveek and-itpal eff_when_ he won his second title. Mr. Dodds won his, first title at the Canadian Plowing Match Pittsburgh Major Junior A Hockey Association, and last winter played on the Canadian Junior hockey team that travelled to Czechoslovakia. • The Penguins have indicated' they .are pleased with Mr. McLiwain's performance on the ice, and it is expected his name will soon be a common one in NHL hockey reports. - plowing champion held In Alberta last fall. To qualify for com- ' petition in both those Canadian champion- ships Mr. Dodds had to first win the Junior divisions at two International Plowing Mat- ches In Ontario. The first he won in the fats of 1985, the second in the fall of 1986. On the whole Ontario fared well in this year's Canadian competition. Barry Timbers of Uxbridge won the, Senior Plawinan's_.Championship and. Darryl Hostrawser of Belwood was named the reserve champion in the senior category. Construction on hospital complex could begin Construction of the first phase of the enlarged Seaforth Community Hospital complex could begin as early as November as a result of a building committee decision to ask for tenders. At a meeting Friday the committee ap- proved final plans for construction of a health care centre to be located north of the present hospital. The new 8,200 square foot, one storey building will provide accom- modation for a mental health facility, of- fices for the health unit and for six profes- sional office suites. A basement will provide a service area. Soil testing for the building was carried out Iasi month and construction should be in progress in November if tenders are satisfactory. Approval for the basic program, including renovations and new construction which amount to $1,800,000 was received from then Health Minister Hon. Murray, Elston, M.P.P. last year. Since then the Board has named Kyles, Garratt and Maktevitz of Stratford as architects for the project. Con- sultants are Agnew Peckham of Toronto, who actedin that capacity when the present hospital was built in 1963, • "While the hospital will construct and operate the new facility", building commit-. teechairmanJames Etue ernphasized "it is being financed on a full recovery basis." All functions to each other and will be of great the accommodatiortis being rented to the assistance in indicating the proposals as occupants at negotiable rates that provide discussions are held with area groups, for the tenants being responsible for hospital administrator Gordon McKenzie caretaking, heat, light and business tax, in said. addition to a basic rent. Doctors presently ' Already completed is a new fire alarm occupying the Seaforth Medical Clinic on system in the existing hospital. Plans for the Goderich Street West already have entered' system provide as well for the hospital addi- into an agreement with the hospital and tion. The fire alarm project was carried out discussions are being concluded concerning at a cost of $147,000. the mental health an'd health unit Meanwhile architects are completing accommodation. final plans for a 10,900 foot extension to the Explaining why the community Health present hospital to be built as an extension Care Centre was being built first, Mr. Etue on the north side of the hospital. It will pro- said requirements for the planning and the vide for enlarged out-patient and emergen- approval ofthe Health Care Centre are less cy facilities as well as an enlarged, demanding than those for the hospital addi- physiotherapy department. Enlarged x-ray tion. For these reasons it has been possible accommodation 'also is included as well as to obtain final clearance for the centre at an air conditioning for the in-patient areas. earlier date than for the hospital. Mr. Etue and board chairman Fred The hospital complex was a top attraction Tilley, in discussing the proposals, em - among exhibits at the Seaforth Pall Fair pliasized the long time need that has existed when scale models of the new hospital corn- for additional emergency and out-patient plex were on exhibit. Hospital officials were care which at present consists of one small en hand to explain to interested area room to handle trauma cases. The new con - resident the con proposalstruction and would show c p em ow struction will increase facilities to handle proposals complement accidents or heart attacks and will provide and improve the facilities of the present for.nine patients as compared to two. hospital. . The total project will cost in excess of $2 The models, with a lift off roof, make million with two-thirds being coveredby a clear the relationship of the various hospital provincial grant. As well additional grants 1 Me nursin9 �ONEY, MONEY, MONEY A draw on a Hattan Wicker Swivel Rocking Chair held by Mital building of the Seaforth C6Mmunity Hospital netted nearly $2.000 for the hos p g fund, and made Trey Sills, the winner of the draw. a happy in- dividuat. Shown here with the proceeds of the dreiW are Beth Van Doornik and Pauline s of the nutting staff, Jim Etue and Marlen' Vincent, members of Linton, representative ..ng _. the hospital board, and Lulu Watson and Erle Dow, hospital patients. Mcllwraith photo. • HEALTH CARE CENTFIE PLAN - t his is a sketch of what the Seaforth Community Hospital Health Care Centre should took like when complete'd. The front of the building will face west. November are provided for the fire alarm system and other special situations. A Huron Canty grant of $300,000 is anticipated and the balance will be raised by the hospital. Preliminary organization work has been underway by a committee headed by Marlen Vincent, so that plans for a fund raising campaign may get into full swing to coincide with final approvals , for the hospital addition. Office _.Cet o close Due to the Thansgiving holiday the Seaforth Expositor office will be closed Monday, October 12. As a result all advertising and news' deadlines will move up to Friday. Write-ups from events occuring over the weekend, if slipped through the slot in the Huron Expositor door before noon, will still be eligible for publication in the October 14 paper. Thank you and have an enjoyable Thanksgiving. Trouble with mimes The Expositor had a hard time getting names straight in the last edition. On page one of the newspaper a story detailed the partnership of a Dr. David Longstaff with new optometrist Loui§ LaPlante. In fact, Dr. LaPlante has teamed up with Dr. John Longstaff. David Longstaff is the local optician and not a doctor. In a second article a Seaforth man who collects bells was referred to as Harold Pryce. Ho is, in fact, not Harold, but Oliver Pryce, A headline was wrongly placed oh a story which appeared on page A4 of The Ex- positor. The headline, which referred to the academicaccomplishtlents of Grade 13 graduate Marie Petrie, was not meant to top a story abbot the recent Meeting of the Huron -Perth- Rotten Catholic Separate School Board. Our apologies for the errors and for any embarrassiitent and/or inconvel ienre that -may ha`ve-re9ult-froth-our mistake.