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Community Newspaper Vol. 14, No. 12, Folio 24 Wednesday, March 25, 1981 32 pages, 25cents Youngest sweeper One of the younger sweepers at the Penetanguishene Family Bonspiel last Sunday was Patrick Desrochers, aged 17 months. His mother Vivian | Lead lent a hand throughout the event, but Patrick seemed to enjoy the com- petition anyway. One of five to date Set Don Westcott, one of the five applicants to date for the position of Chief of Police, was officially ap- pointed as Acting Chief of Police by town council Monday. The ap- pointment is retroactive to March 7. The town clerk has received. five applications, all apparently in response to word-of-mouth news of the opening or to the advertisement placed in local newspapers. An advertisement began appearing as well in the Globe and Mail last week Westcott attended Monday's meeting of council and was recognised by Frances St. Amant, chairman of the public safety com- mittee. The public safety committee will select on April 6 from the applications received by the end of this month those candidates that it wishes to interview. Council also approved Monday that Sgi Westcott attend a school safety course at the Ontario Police College in Avimer from June 8 to June 12. Council was told that arrangements were made for Sgt. Westcott to take the course before former Chief John Geere resigned, and that because the course. described as very beneficial, is offered in June, a conitict will not result with Westcott's being absent. The town at the moment without a chief of police is one man short and without Westcott would be two men short of its normal complement. Mill rate on the rise Education budget exceeds $7071M by Murray Moore The $101,884,992 budget for 1981 ap- proved Monday night by the Simcoe Countv Board of Education will mean an average mill rate increase of 14.10 per cent over 1980. In dollars and cents homeowners with residential property with a market value of $50.000 will pay, in Midland, an estimated $470.44; in Penetanguishene, an estimated $395.96; and in Elmvale, an estimated $404.68. Budget committee member Alvin Gravelle said yesterday that, in light of the increases in the cost of such necessities as heating, transportation, and utilities, the budget is realistic. Budget committee vice-chairman John McCullough, who can recall the budget in 1969 being under $30 million, said salaries made up the largest part of the budget One example of a program where the board compromised was. the Oral French program, now only available starting in Grade 6. Starting in the fall Oral French will be offered in Grades 4 and 5. necessitating the hiring of 20 teachers. Gravelle said the expanded Oral French program would be welcomed by the people who have requested an expanded program of the ,board in the past. "You can't leave programs out year after year without being a step behind other boards. We're behind now in Oral French." The Simcoe County Roman Catholic Separate School Board now offers Oral French in lower grades than the SCBF.. he said. Oral French will be introduced in Grade 1, 2 and 3 in a second stage, Gravelle said. The board didn't feel it could afford to offer Oral French starting in Grade 1 at the present time Nearly $250,000 is included in the budget to pav for a_ general purpose room this year in one of three elementary schools in the county that are in line for one: Duntroon, W.R_ Best and Moon- stone Of the total budget, local taxes are expected to provide $46,161,166. In the past two years average mill rate in- creases were 6.98 per cent (1979) and 8.68 per cent (1980). This year the hoard decided it could no longer put off building maintenance programs. More money has been budgeted for main- tenance and in- structional programs, as well as Oral French. The board has set aside $200,000 to pay for removal or en- capsulation of asbestos in several schools. Alvin Gravelle French trustees may meet here next year A resolution passed at the recent annual meeting of the Association of French School Board Trustees of Ontario could mean an economic boost for this area next March. The association voted to meet in the Penetanguishene area next year if proper facilities are available, area FLAC delegate Basile Dorion said this week. The holding of the meeting here would mean the presence of about 150 delegates and their spouses, he said. The association in- cludes the members of French Language Advisory Committees as well as trustees. Snowmachines crash on Penetanguishene Bay A collision between two snowmobiles on Penetanguishene Bay, Saturday that sent one driver to hospital with major injuries resulted in a charge of careless driving being laid against Michael Bellehumeur, 23, of Penetanguishene. Midland OPP report that the injured driver is Kevin Robitaille, 18, of 11 Park Street, Penetanguishene. Bellehumeur is a resident of 31 Maria Street, Penetanguishene. The 3:25 p.m. accident occurred when Bellehumeur pulled away from the water- front nark on a northern heading and into the path of westbound Robitaille. Bellehumeur received minor injuries, police said Beaumar Drive resident charged after accident Beaumar Drive resident Margaret Anne Dorion. 24, was charged Sunday with careless driving by town police. Police say a hydro pole in front of 26 Robert Street East was damaged in an accident at 2:50 a.m. Town police were advised Saturday by the caretaker of St. Joseph's School that a win- dow had been broken between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30n.m. A juvenile was involved, police say. The investigation is continuing. Snowmobile is supposed to sink A third manmade object is going to sink to the bottom of Penetanguishene Bay before the ice goes out this year. That's the whole point. however, of the third Spring Splash Contest. Chalet Sports and Equipment for the third vear has chained the hulk of a snowmobile to one of the floating wharfs at the town dock. Peonle are invited to get a form at the store and estimate on what day and at what time the snowmobile will go through the ice. Already this year a tug and a frontend loader have gone to the bottom of the bay. Recovery of the snowmobile will be simple, however: it will be hauled above the water by the chain attaching it to the dock. Main Street factory has new owner Midland Industries became the owner last week of the onetime shoe factory at 28 Main Street that went into receivership last year, general manager Lin Love said this week. Acquisition however of the building by the division in Midland of Waltec Incorporated does not mean expansion of Midland Industries, he said. All that has changed is the owner. Love said the building was an investment to be rented. Currently the 32,000 square foot brick building is leased to another division of Waltec. Price of paper to increase, April 1 As of Wednesday, April 1, 1981 the price of the newspaper will be increased five cents to 30 cents per copy. Increased distribution costs, printing prices and administration costs have prompted the increase, a portion of which will be shared: with our carriers and stores handling the paner Flashback Page 5 Lifestyle Page 8 Scoreboard Page 20 Classifieds, Real Estate Page 26