The Windsor Star from Windsor, Ontario, Canada • 3

STAR Thursday, May 25, 1995 A3 LOCAL NEWS Metro Editor Bill Hickey 256-5533 iveirlboat faces faudl in high waiter THE WINDSOR By Brian Cross owned by Hilton Hotels, and is sitting in dock at Trinity's Lockport, shipyard. Lipley figures the OCC will get a good deal on the boat it eventually buys. The asking price for the boats range from $17 million US to $22 million US. The second riverboat touted by Al-. fieri is one of two available from Bob Kehl, an Iowa businessman who has ordered a number of riverboats on speculation from shipyards, hoping to capitalize on the growing riverboat gambling industry.

The never-used boats are docked in south Louisiana. Alfieri said earlier this week that there's a third boat his group still wants to look at. And his staff will be travelling back to the southern U.S. for more scouting missions. Marine engineers The OCC has enlisted marine engineers and architects to examine the boats to ensure they'll perform through a Canadian winter and adapt to the needs of the Windsor casino operation.

The three-compa- ny consortium running Casinov Windsor will work with the OCC, es-' pecially when it comes to outfitting the selected boat with gambling machines and deciding on its theme, interior design and marketing approach, said Casino spokesman Keith Andrews. The riverboat, which would stay moored and wouldn't take any river cruises, would add 600 new casino jobs The approximately 25,000 square feet of gaming space a riverboat could provide would be added to the cramped 50,000 existing in the tern- porary casino on Riverside Drive. TV limelight to shine on local firefighters Alert Windsor firefighters are being rewarded with their own segment on the syndicated television show Rescue 911. Hollywood film crews arrive in town Friday for four days of filming. The TV show will re-enact the dramatic case of the Sutton family, who were saved from a fire in January because firefighters installed a smoke detector just hours earlier.

Beth Sutton had called the Windsor Fire Department because her 30-month-old son Nathaniel got his head caught in a rocking chair. Firefighters who attended noticed there was no smoke detector in the Bruce Avenue apartment, and returned to the Sutton's residence a few hours later with a smoke detector. Shortly after they left, they received another call to return to the apartment, and discovered a fire on the kitchen range. The detector had alerted Sutton to the danger, allowing her to scoop up Nathaniel and escape safely. The show is expected to be broadcast sometime next season.

Transit meetings a bus ride away Transit Windsor is inviting the public to its meetings, to be located in places accessible by bus. The accessible locations and the invitation to the public were suggested by the public transit focus erouD organized by City Council. Star Staff Reporter A southern riverboat built to ply the Mississippi would under take a daunting odyssey to make it to Windsor's riverfront by September. It couldn simply cruise up the Mis sissippi to the Great Lakes, because of low-level bndges in the nvers leading to Lake Michigan. So it would either be tugged or piggybacked to Windsor, via the eastern seaboard and the St.

Lawrence Seaway. Although much of the trip could be made through the Atlantic Intra- coastal Waterway system that pro vides protection from the open sea along much of the U.S. east coast, the riverboat would go through some open water. And a Mississippi-style riverboat is meant only for calm waters. It basically a river barge with a building on top, and isn't designed for ocean use.

Its shallow hull dips only about six feet below the water line, making the three-story vessel unstable in wavy ocean conditions. And it has only a four-foot freeboard the part of the boat between the waterline and the deck meaning an average ocean wave could flood the boat. To get the riverboat through the Atlantic, there are two options, says Gary Lipely of Tnnity Manne Group in Gulfport, builder of one of the riverboats being considered for the Windsor nverfront. He said the boat could be tem porarily modified by applying steel bulkheads to the sides to make it more seaworthy. Then the riverboat would be towed by tugboats all the way to Windsor.

businessman Rob Kehl is being considered for Windsor's riverfront Candidates tangle over By that time, OCC president Domenic Alfieri expects to have decided on which riverboat to buy There's currently somewhat of a glut of boats on the market, the result of some stalled gambling approvals and some entrepreneurs ordering boats built on spec, without any specific customer in mind. At least 12 boats are available in Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi. There are 68 in operation. "Recently it's become a buyer's market, because there are boats out there that are just sitting there, that are paid for and are continuing to be paid for," said Lipely, whose company built one of the two boats Alfieri has said he likes. The Queen of Kansas City is 95-per-cent finished, welfare candidates prior to taping Wednesday of A riverboat similar to this owned by Iowa Or it could be placed on a submersible ship, which acts like a dry-dock.

The submersible ship is pumped with water to sink it 30 feet, then the riverboat is floated on top and the water is pumped back out to refloat the submersible ship, a seagoing vessel that could carry the riverboat up the east coast. Once in the St. Lawrence, the riverboat could be set on its own way. Costly route Going the submersible route is very costly and time consuming, requiring at least four tugboats. Using either method, the trip would take at least a month.

And it would be practically unprecedented. Jack Gordon, who writes on the Trillium Cable 11 camera operator Mark Joyce Cherry Bruce Crozier from farm support programs to school board amalgamation, heating up a placid electoral contest with some sharp exchanges. In one set-to over the Boblo Island casino proposal, Crozier accused Maris of misrepresenting his position. While Crozier said he supports redevelopment for Boblo, including a casino, a Maris campaign flyer says the Liberals oppose the gaming house. "This is totally, totally untrue," Mmmi reform r.

election forum Star photo: Scott Webster Windsor-Riverside, Saturday, May 27, 4 p.m.; repeated Wednesday, May 31, 9 p.m. Essex-South, Sunday, May 28, 3 p.m.; repeated Tuesday, May 30, 7:30 p.m. Essex-Kent, Sunday, May 28, 4 p.m.; repeated Tuesday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. At each of the sessions, candidates make opening statements' and are questioned by The Windsor Star's editor James Bruce, columnist Gord Henderson, and columnist-editorial writer Karen Hall. John Coleman, editorial page edi itor of Die Star, will act as moderator.

By Ray Ford Star Staff Reporter Call it workfare, welfare reform, or just scapegoating the poor, but in Essex South, where with more than 3,000 people relying on social assistance while farmers must import workers from as far afield as as Mexico, Ontario's welfare system has become an issue. "If an able-bodied person is not willing to put a little back into should just stop sending a (welfare) cheque," Progressive Con- servative candidate Dave Wylupek said Wednesday, during a spirited on-the-record session with Essex South candidates Wednesday. While wylupek pledged "nobody with a real problem is going to go without a cheque," he said able-bodied people should have to do more than just sit around and get welfare. "You can't use a whip and make people go to work," charged Liberal MPP Bruce Crozier, pushing his own party's plan to reduce welfare payments unless recipients seek training, education or perform community service. Crozier argued the Conservative program would have people starv ing in the streets, and torce munici palities and charities to pick up the slack.

"1 know there are people who are lazy, but I think there are an awful lot more people who want to work." "I find this whole debate disgust ing, shot back NDP candidate uave Mans. People on welfare are not the problem in this province. Unem ployment is the problem. The Family Coalition Party Joyce Cherry agreed. "There are a lot of good people on weltare through no fault of their own.

I hey only wish they could get a job." During the hour-long discussion candidates tangled over everything Elects riverboat gaming industry, said such a journey has been taken by a riverboat only once before. In the 1930s, the Delta Queen was reinforced with plywood for a trip from California, through the Panama Canal, the Gulf of Mexico and into the Mississippi. Five tugboats were needed, and the riverboat was almost lost several times. But the Delta Queen made the trip, said Gordon. Today, it continues to operate and is registered as a historic treasure.

The Ontario Casino Corporation (OCC) wants to have its riverboat parked along the downtown Windsor riverfront as early as September. On Tuesday, City Council gave its approval in principle to the scheme, with final approval expected next month. Papineau trains his lens on Essex South Dave Maris Dave Wylupek Crozier said, brandishing the flyer and demanding an apology. Maris offered no apology, instead saying Liberal leader Lyn McLeod has talked about putting casinos in Niagara Falls and northern Ontario. "In the round-about way Liberals answer all their questions, they've said there's only going to be two other casinos in Ontario." see CANDIDATES, page A4 ing able to balance the budget, cut taxes and not cut back on govern ment services all at the same time.

Gary McNamara, the Liberal candidate in wasn't fazed by the poll. The party was expecting a drop in its pre-campaign popularity, he said, and the most significant result from the poll is that the NDP hasn't made up much ground. Debates coming soon to a TV set near you Transit Windsor's next meeting will be June 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Windsor Regional Hospital, which can be reached via the Tran sway 1C and the Central 3 buses.

Here's a list of meetings: Sept. 14 at city hall in room 301 City Hall is serviced by most buses. Oct. 12 at Windsor Public Library, serviced by 1A, 1C, Central 3, Ottawa 4 and Dougall 6 buses. Nov.

9 at the University of Wind sor in Vanier Hall in the Centennial Room. The university is serviced by the Transway 1C and Crosstown 2. Dec. 14 at City Hall in room 301 Herman student wins leadership award A Grade 13 student at F. Herman Secondary School is the first Canadian student to win a Principal's Leadership Award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Brenda Mclntyre is one of 150 award winners named from among 6,500 nominees from Canada and the United States. The award in eludes a 1 ,000 US scholarship. Students were nominated by their principals, and the winners were selected based on academic achievement, extra-curricular activ ities, community service and em ployment experience. Mclntyre has been editor of her school yearbook, president of the Rotary International Youth Oroup i Interact Club and co-ordinator of the Red Cross Child Alive Rehydra tion Program. She has participated in the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa and Rotary district con ference in Michigan and accompa nied her Grade 9 French Immersion class to France.

All the while, she has maintained an average of 94 per cent in Grade 13. She received an Excellence in Education Award from the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation last year and was named an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year this year. She plans to study political science at the University of Windsor before entering the faculty of law there. 'Great community person' among top 10 teachers The principal of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic elementary school in Windsor has been named one of 10 teachers-of-the-year by The Toronto Sun. Sister Paulette Mellon, nominated by her school staff for the annual awards, was chosen from among 1,500 nominations.

The 65-year-old nun, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, has taught for more than 40 years and was described Tuesday by school board director James Molnar as an "outstanding principal" and a "great community person." She will retire at the end of this school year. The teachers will be honored by the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Toronto on June 1 6. Board delays sale of supplies, equipment The Windsor public school board won't sell the supplies and equipment used to teach family studies, technology and visual arts in Grades 7 and 8 despite the decision to eliminate the programs at the end of this school year. The trustees voted 5-4 Wednesday not to dispose of the materials until they have evaluated possible alternatives to cancelling the Coverage of The Windsor Star's fifth on-the-record exchange with area candidates in the June 8 provincial election will continue Friday with the riding ot Lssex-Kent.

All five sessions organized by The Star will also be broadcast beginning Saturday on Trillium Cable 11. Here's the Cable 1 1 broadcast schedule for each of the hour-long sessions on the five area ridings: Windsor-Walkerville, Saturday, May 27, 2 p.m.; repeated Wednesday, May 31, 7 p.m. Windsor-Sandwich, Saturday, May 27, 3 p.m.; repeated Wednesday, May31, 8p.m. 4 Cooke, challengers woo volatile electorate Jil -71 fl Peine Me elUMsUWy- Lake St. Clair Tecumseh' JST Ci'y LimiisT By Gary Rennie Star Staff Reporter There's nobody home at least half the time that PC candidate Blaine Tyndall knocks on a door in Windsor-Riverside.

And he thinks he knows why. "One (spouse) is working to put food on the table; the other is work- Windsor-Riverside ing to pay the taxes," he said Wednesday. Tyndall is hoping his party's tax-cutting agenda is going to appeal to enough of those working couples to return a Conservative government to Ontario on June 8. With the 40-day election campaign about two-thirds over, both Tory and NDP candidates in the riding are taking comfort from the latest provincewide poll showing the Liberal lead in popular vote has shrunk. Dave Cooke Oary McINamara Maine lyndall Cooke, who had to take time out.J from campaigning Wednesday for a cabinet meeting in Toronto, said hej expects the next seven to 10 days to be crucial in the riding.

The poll done after last Thursday's leaders' debate showed Liberal popular support dropped from 52 per cent to 40 per cent of decided voters. PC support rose to 36 per cent of decided voters, from 26 per cent. NDP support rose from 17 to 21 per cent. Incumbent NDP MPP Dave Cooke said the polls show the public isn't buying Liberal promises of be- All three candidates agreed the number of undecided voters in the riding was high, and the most important task for them was to talk to as many as possible before the election. "It's still very volatile," said Cooke.

"I've never seen an election like this in the six I've run." see COOKE, page A4.