HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-01-01, Page 22 News Record • Wednesday, January 1, 2014
year in review
JANUARY
Back to School
Students across the AMDSB headed back to school January 7
with lifted sanctions in the schools, but not so much for the
teachers. Bill 115 brought with it two-year wage freezes, limited
payment increases and reductions to sick days. That contract
will expire in August of 2014.
Hair-raising experience
Participants from Clinton, Seaforth, Brucefield and Goderich
helped raise $5,139 in January for the Canadian Cancer Society
through the Kindest Cut of All event. Organizer Karen Hoggarth
of Clinton was one of 14 people who donated their hair to be
turned into wigs for cancer patients.
Solar
Central Huron Council went ahead with a plan to place solar
panels on both the REACH Center and the Central Huron Com-
munity Complex in 2013. Installation of the panels cost about
$900,000 per project and are expected to bring in revenues of
about $285,000 per rooftop per year. Construction costs are
expected to be paid off by the project within four years' time.
Septic fail
Central Huron council split the vote and ultimately killed the
idea of mandatory septic inspections for the municipality in Jan-
uary. Council was divided four votes to four in two separate
votes on the issue, which would have seen residents pay $31 per
year over five years for the county -wide inspections.
Cardno cash
The Betty Cardno Centre received a $31,000 grant in January
to go toward several renovation projects. A new roof, cement
and electrical work added up to about $90,000 in work for the
centre in 2013.
Bayfield books
The doors of the Bayfield Public Library were opened to the
public this past January, after eight months of construction. The
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New Year's Foal Khandi Kane Kisses was
born in JL Stables in Brucefield on New
Year's Day to Liz and John Elliott.
library building cost $1.3 million, and cel-
ebrated it's official grand opening in July
2013.
Silver stickers
The BCH Novice Rep team went unde-
feated at the regional Silver Stick tourna-
ment in Kincardine in 2013, earning them
the chance to play internationally in
Michigan Jan. 25-27. They joined five
other Ontario teams and two Michigan
teams in the toumament, making it to the
semi-finals where they lost in double
overtime.
Fire agreement
After one year of testing the waters, the
municipality of Central Huron has
decided to go with a five-year plan for
mutual fire coverage with North Huron.
The area serviced by North Huron
includes part of Auburn, as well as north-
ern Hullett Township.
Karen Hoggarth of Clinton was one of 14 people who donated their hair to be turned
into wigs for cancer patients.
Protest bus
About 250 teachers and staff from the
Avon -Maitland District School Board
filled six school buses and headed off to
Queen's Park January 26 to have their
voices heard at the Liberal leadership
convention. The move was a response to
the imposed contracts in Bill 115.
Proceed with caution
Central Huron council closed the final
chapter on revamping its procedural
bylaw this December, after a year of delib-
eration and hard work by municipal staff.
The final revisions were approved by
council Dec. 17, with the last changes
involving before and after questions from
the public.
OMG OLG
The OLG slots will be staying in Clinton
for another five years thanks to an agree-
ment between the Ontario Lottery and
Gaming Corporation and the Clinton
Raceway slots. Clinton was one of eight
JINIMAN RIVER DIRECT
CITRUS TRUCKLOAD SALE
SAT., JAN. 4TH - 12:30PM - 2:30PM
China Palace Restaurant
20 LB. BOX OF FLORIDA
Seedless Navel Oranges
dor Ruby Red Grapefruit
$28.00
PER BOX,
racetracks in Ontario that were included
in the agreements, following a year that
saw the industry suffer some serious
blows. The agreement was finalized Feb.
28.
BCH/Seaforth Stars
The peewee BCH/Seaforth girls hockey
team took gold in the Pink on the Rink
tournament hosted by South Huron. The
girls played games in Exeter, Lucan and
Huron Park over the Jan. 11 weekend.
FEBRUARY
Congregations congregate
On Feb. 6 we reported the congrega-
tions of Brucefield, Goshen, Kippen and
Varna joined together for a service at
Brucefield United Church. The decision
to amalgamate the community churches
began in 2011, with the final services for
all four congregations happening in Sep-
tember and October of 2013.
Agri -biz
Bluewater undertook a business reten-
tion and expansion study to gauge the
municipality's needs for adding value to
agricultural business and making them
thrive and strive. The survey and study
came about because of the need for more
promotion for farm businesses, and look-
ing
ooking at what foods were staying in the
county and what was being sent away for
further processing. The study produced
five points of action, including cutting red
tape for food producers, rebuilding the
local farm chain and linking agri-busi-
ness to tourism events.
Back in the political saddle
Five -time federal and provincial elec-
tion candidate Dennis Valenta has had a
busy year. In February we reported
Valenta - who has to -date run as an inde-
pendent - joined the Reform Party of
Ontario to run in the 2014 provincial elec-
tion. He chose the Reform Party to be able
to speak freely on behalf of his constitu-
ents. However, the party dissolved this
year, leading Valenta to start his own - the
Equal Parenting Party.