Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-02-23, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017. PAGE 9. Campbell named chair of Maitland Valley Authority 411111111 MVCA CHAIR JAMES CAMPBELL By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Deputy -Reeve James Campbell has been named to a one- year term as the chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) Board. At the authority's annual general meeting on Feb. 15 in Wingham, Campbell, who was vice -chair, had been nominated for the position and accepted the responsibility. Campbell said he didn't plan on altering the current direction of the organization. "We're not really considering any changes at this point," Campbell said. "The big thing we're working on right now is the idea of the carbon footprint." The carbon footprint is the amount of carbon produced by an individual or company through their projects. Typically, the information is used to determine how a company can offset the amount of carbon it produces through practices like planting trees or preserving green spaces. Campbell said there are several big contributors to the project, including municipalities and companies. The issue was the topic of one of the presentations at the meeting. Campbell has been a part of the group for most of his 25 years as a North Huron Councillor and in East Wawanosh Township before that. "I don't really know how many years I've been on the authority board," he said. "For most of my years on council, the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority has been one of the committees I've sat on." Campbell said he was looking forward to presentations that are planned for municipalities in the area. "Every year there is a brief presentation that lists all the activities in the municipality," Campbell said. "It really shows just how much the MVCA is doing and this year there will be a presentation at North Huron." Campbell said that, aside from the carbon footprint initiatives the MVCA is involved in, the organization has also redoubled its efforts at tracking precipitation through natural water flow. He said many new gauges have been installed over the past year to warn people living in locations downriver from areas that experience heavy rain events. "Having that information presented really helps with the efforts the MVCA undertakes," Campbell said. "Sometimes you feel like you're doing all this work and it's not noticed, but when we make those presentations and explain how important the projects are, councillors understand the situations." Campbell said he was happy with the turnout to the MVCA annual general meeting, saying that the gallery of the North Huron Council chambers was full to the point that MVCA staff were giving up chairs for people interested in attending the event. He also said there were members of North Huron Council there willing to get involved with the MVCA and that was encouraging for him. "It was great to see that many people there," he said. Video surveillance leads to capture of Pop -Tart thief By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Troy Billings of Blyth, formerly of Wingham, is now on probation after pleading guilty to charges of theft and transportation fraud. Judge George Brophy found Billings guilty in Wingham court on Feb. 16 on one count of theft under $5,000 and one count of transportation fraud. Crown Attorney Laura Grant said that Billings was arrested on Aug. 22, 2016 in Wingham after he was found to have stolen packets of Pop - Tarts from Rexall Pharmacy in Wingham. A manager at the Rexall store told the Wingham Police they had had a problem with disappearing Pop - Tarts for the better part of six months. The manager informed police that it was always the same flavour of Pop -Tart that would go missing, usually around the same time as well. The thief, Grant said, would remove the packets of Pop -Tarts, leaving the empty box behind on the store's shelf. However, several attempts to thwart the thief, including opening boxes, placing security strips on Pop -Tart packets and resealing the box, were fruitless. Through video surveillance the Rexall employees eventually caught the thief in the act. Armed with video evidence, the Rexall employees reported the theft to police who identified the man as Billings. He had been caught removing the packets of Pop -Tarts from the box, stuffing them down his pants and then leaving the store without paying. Billings then further pled guilty to a charge of transportation fraud, stemming from an incident on Oct. 18, 2016 when he stiffed a taxi driver. Grant told the court that Billings had contacted a taxi company, asking for a ride between Goderich and Wingham, where he was to attend court. The driver originally demanded payment upfront, but after Billings told the dispatcher that he had been arrested that morning and his wallet was taken, he agreed to pay the driver upon returning to his home in Wingham. Billings took the ride, which totalled a cost of $73, but when he returned to his home in Wingham, he went in the house and didn't come out, leading the driver to contact the police. The driver relayed the information given to her by Billings, asking if a man fitting Billings' description was in bail court that day and he was. Billings pled guilty to both charges. Brophy ordered Billings on probation for 12 months. He also told Billings to pay restitution to the taxi company in the amount of $73 and imposed two $10 fines, both of which carry with them a $3 victim fine surcharge. Billings has six months to pay both the restitution and the fines. Brophy also ordered Billings to complete 10 hours of community service within the next six months. Grant also brought to the court's attention an outstanding $200 summons on Billings' record from 2005. Brophy chose to dismiss the summons, saying there was no reasonable expectation that Billings could pay. Not great weather for all While many were happy about the warmer weather over the weekend, it wasn't great for snowmobilers. The annual Easter Seals Snowarama event had to change some of its activities as a result of the snowmobile trails not being open. Shown playing dart poker is Lucas Bergsma. (Denny Scott photo) Winter Sports Pages Coaches and parents ° b we need your team's picture ,�, and players' names Helping out The Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) and Blyth 140th Committee hosted a community breakfast on Family Day at the Blyth and District Community Centre. The meal was sold out by 10 a.m. The Blyth Festival's John McHenry was busy making sure that those who got breakfast had clean dishes as well. (Dennyscottphoto) ok so' • Hockey • Broomball 1. Please submit team photo A.S.A.P. 2. Please include players' and coaches' names for under the photo. Please help us get ALL the Winter Sports teams published. 413 Queen St., Blyth The Citizen 519-523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-8:7-91.4