The Windsor Star from Windsor, Ontario, Canada • 5

iv The Windsor Star Thursday August 6 1981 xm-mnsm U. pulls the plug on decoder imports American residents can no longer buy pay-television, decoders in Windsor and tafce them back to Detroit. Orders from Washington closed the border to the decoders and their components which are legal in Canada as of Monday, according to chief customs inspector Ramon Spencer. Previously, only decoders purchased from Video Gallery of Windsor were banned from the U.S., and then only because a court case involving them is pending in Detroit. Pat Kerich, president of ON-TV, whose Channel 20 signal was the prime target of the pirate decoders, said his lawyers sought to have the border closed to the decoders.

Court ruling Kerich said the company argued before the Federal Communications Commission that the decoders are prohibited under a recent federal district court ruling. Kerich said the FCC agreed the decoders are not receivers and advised the U.S. customs headquarters to ban the items. Spencer said he couldnt assess the impact of the ban. He said anyone who declares possession of a decoder at the border is given the opportunity to take it back, rather than have it seized.

Spencer felt that since many would-be purchasers tele-. phone and check with the customs office before making the trip to purchase one, few of the devices will show up at the customs checkpoint. Dozen outlets There are more than a dozen outlets for decoders in which may have sold as many as 10,000 of them in the past year. Kerich alleged some decoders are sub-assembled in Detroit and transported to Canada for completion and sale to 'Americans to circumvent the threat of legal action in the U.S. Until the recent rulings, U.S.

customs had allowed decoders into that country if duty on them had been paid. The only way to get decoders through now would be to smuggle them. County names Curran to fill disputed post By Doug Firby Star Staff Reporter ESSEX John Curran was hired Wednesday as Essex Countys administrator-treasurer, leaving in doubt the fate of Clerk Peter Cramp. County council spent two hours behind closed doors with county lawyer Richard Bondy before passing a motion to hire Curran, 44, the countys social and family services director. Council was to have combined Cramps job with that of the administrator-treasurer, but deferred making that move until a dispute with the clerk over the elimination of his job is resolved in court.

Council also accepted a personnel committee report of July 1 5, advising Cramp to take a paid leave of absence until his suit is decided by the Supreme Court of Ontario. No court date has been set. Asked lawyer Cramp phoned his lawyer, Jeffrey Sak, immediately after the vote, and then said he would report for work as usual today. He stayed for the rest of Wednesdays council meeting as well. As far as Im concerned, Ive given the county 1 5 years of my life, Cramp said in his office.

Im the clerk of the organization and Ill remain the clerk of the organization. Ill be back on the job tomorrow. Cramp said he was advised, not ordered, to take a leave of absense. My advice comes from alawyer, not from a (council) resolution, he said. But County Warden Jack Menard said Cramp was told to take the leave, and if he refused, our solicitor will be dealing with that.

Council decided in early March to combine the job of clerk and administrator when the current administrator, Rene Van den Brande, retired. A new job of deputy clerk is to be created, but it is expected to pay only about half Cramps $43,000 yearly salary. Competence unquestioned Van den Brande was originally to retire July 1 6, but will stay on until Curran can assume the new post probably Oct. 1 Curran said he would stay on as social and family services director until that position is filled. Council decided Wednesday to advertise for candidates immediately.

Cramp was cautious about his comments because of the pending court case but he did say theres never been any question of my competence on the job. He showed media representatives copies of two telegrams his lawyers have sent to county council. One states he has been willing to meet with council, contrary to claims that he was not, and the other states that the position of administrator-treasurer has never been advertised. Council advertised for the position of administrator-clerk-treasurer. Cramp was not among those considered for the new position.

Besides Curran, only Duncan Green, treasurer of Simcoe County, was seriously considered. Currans annual salary will start at $50,025.70 when he assumes his new post up from his current $47,600. Put on probation He will be given six months probation, with a review to be held in the fifth month. He said the strained relations surrounding his appointment were regrettable. Theres definitely a cloud there.

Its a big job, he said, but I think Ive got a handle on some of the problems going on. Curran has been social and family services director for the past five years. Before that he was executive director of the Credit Counselling Service of Metropolitan Windsor. Hes a graduate of St. Patricks College in his native city of Ottawa.

Star photo by BEV MacKENZIE Slimy Little River looks like no river at all, just a watery garbage dump Old Little River cant roll along Hes become resigned to the trucks and cars that regularly pass his house on their way to dump their garbage. Just as long as they dont dump stuff here its all right with me, he said. Much of the garbage is dumped in an undeveloped area running about 100 metres (325 feet) from the east side of the stream. River choked up The city is purchasing most of the land from 444266 Ontario a corporation of 26 Windsor businessmen represented by lawyer Frank Fazio. Gerry Potvin, of 953 Greendale has been jogging through the area for more than eight years.

In that period hes watched the litter of garbage bags, mattresses, boxes, lumber, old rugs, washing machines, dryers, piles of dead branches, bricks, asphalt and broken concrete slowly multiply. Its just choked with all kinds of refuse, said Potvin, 49. Theres always been a bit of it, but more so in the last couple of years. Concrete obstacles which once prevented vehicles from driving onto the property have been removed, he said. Aid.

A1 Santing last week asked the department of public works to inspect the area. Eyesore not visible He said that few people frequent the site and it cant be viewed as a public eyesore. To the average member of the public its not a disaster unless its visible." But Santing says theres a possiblity dumping could cause environmental damage to the area. Thats Potvins concern. He says hes seen oil dumped on the east side of the stream and is concerned wildlife might be endangered if the dumping continues.

That area is just laden with muskrats by the thousand. There are blue heron Ive seen, there are raccoons, there are all kinds of wildlife, he said. Public works foreman Ralph Hall inspected the area Wednesday. Its quite a mess," he said. Youve got appliances sitting out in the middle of no mans land.

I didnt know the place existed. Geanup planned He said he will attempt to remove the garbage as SGon as muddy trails through the area become dry. No Dumping signs may also be put up. Hall said the city had already taken action against a previous dumping problem further west by the bridge over the river on Little River Road. Ed St.

Louis, of 8910 Little River had complained to the city earlier this year about the garbage. Sometimes you could hardly stand the smell when you went back there," St. Louis said. It was unbelievable. There was every type of garbage you could think of.

But now the mess is gone. Public works has not only cleaned up the garbage but continues to patrol the area, said St. Louis. By Paul McKeague Star Staff Reporter One day it may sparkle along the edge of a city park. But at the moment the algae-covered stream at the eastern end of Little River Road is a watery garbage dump.

Beer bottles, tires, lumber, a refrigerator and an oil drum are just some of the objects which lie half submerged in the stagnant water. The stream, once the basin of Little River, is known as Old Little River. It runs from just north of the CN Railway tracks to the Little River Sewage Treatment Plant at 9475 Jerome Street. It is roughly 500 metres (1,600 feet) east of the bridge on Little River Road. The city eventually plans to incorporate the stream into a park system running between E.C.

Row Avenue and Riverside Drive. The planned green belt, known as the Little River Corridor, will include the land between Little River and the stream. However, no date has been set yet for the transformation. Park planned A city planning department sketch shows tennis courts and a parking lot, as well as parkland in the area. Eugene Cabana, 29, of 9545 Little River lives about 1 .3 km (.8 mile) west of the stream.

He used to catch sunfish and catfish there, but he doesnt go fishing any more. Now you dont have room to throw your line in without catching it on something, he said. 1, s' i j. i WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION BOARD EMPLOYEES 'ASSESSMENT kb 'v f'" A -v i During the current postal service disruption Workmens Compensation Board Employers Assessment Payments may be made at any Ontario Branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce without handling charges. Employers who do not know their correct balance should phone i WINDSOR 256-3461 COMPLETE THIS COUPON AND BRING IT WITH YOU TO THE BANK Ex-city minister buried Star Chatham Bureau RIDGETOWN Rev.

Charles John Draper, 76, an Anglican clergyman for more than 50 years, was buried here today from the Anglican Church of the Advent. He had been retired from the clergy for 1 0 years. Mr. Draper had spent most of. his life at churches in Southwestern Ontario, including Windsor, Sarnia, Walpole Island, Wallace-burg, Chatham, Walkerville, Thamesville, Lucan, and Dutton as well as many others.

He was born in Barrie and moved to Collingwood while he studied for the ministry at Wycliffe College. Mr. Draper also studied at Huron College and in New York. He was an active athlete in his younger days, enjoyed bowling and was an ardent golfer. He was a member of the Masonic Order and was a past president of the Windsor Optimist Club.

Mr. Draper had been in ill health since he suffered a stroke in 1975. Amount Paid Your WCB Account No. Bank Copy Note: Please make your cheque payable to Workmen's Compensation Board Employers Receipt Amount Paid Your Company Name WCB Account No. Star photo by WALTER JACKSON for youngster Erik Wood.

During the special day, the Blue Knights, an association of motorcycle policemen, also presented centre Administrator Ross Byron a cheque for nearly $5,000, which was raised through a four-month mo-, torcycle raffle held for the centre. Thank you for maintaining your WCB account in good standing. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION BOARD It works better when we work together. SPECIAL TREAT Residents of the Children's Rehabilitation Centre of Essex Copnty, 3945 Matchette were treated Wednesday to motorcycle rides by members of the Ontario Blue Knights, Windsor chapter. Here, Blue Knight Lloyd Briese adjusts the rear-view mirror REV.

C. J. DRAPER 'K fcNl! I.