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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-02-04, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: RACING - Pg. 8 Brussels' McCutcheon honoured with Hall of Fame induction FINANCIAL - Pg. 12 The Citizen' talks dollars and cents ANNIVERSARY - Pg. 19 Local couple celebrates 70th wedding anniversary Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1 HO 4Citiz Volume 32 No. 5 n WELCOME TO BINT H $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, February 4, 2016 Central Huron fire causes x'400,000 in damage Total loss Firefighters from both North Huron halls, as well as Huron East and Central Huron, were on the scene of a house fire on Hullett-McKillop Road in Central Huron, but despite their best efforts, the home was a total loss, with approximately $400,000 in damages. No one was injured in the blaze, which was reported by a passer-by shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday. According to Londesborough correspondent Brenda Radford, the house belonged to the Laxton family. (Vicky Bremner photo) By Denny Scott The Citizen A fire claimed a home at 39732 Hullett-McKillop Road over the weekend despite the best efforts of local fire departments. A call from a passerby at 1 p.m. alerted the Fire Department of North Huron to the blaze, who mobilized both the Blyth and Wingham halls to fight the fire. Upon arrival, the house was fully engaged. Mutual aid support was called in from Central Huron and Huron East's fire departments. Reports from the FDNH indicate that no one was home at the time of the call and that the fire will result in a total loss with the total damage, including structure and contents, at approximately $400,000. The fire resulted in Hullett- McKillop Road being closed between London Road and Dutch Line from shortly after 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. that day. The cause of the fire is undetermined. Deputy -Chief Matt Townsend said that the FDNH used a lot of resources fighting the fire. "There was a lot of fire," he said. "We used approximately 50,000 gallons of water and practically all of it disappeared into steam. When we were finished there was almost no water around the scene." According to Londesborough correspondent Brenda Radford, the home belonged to Harold and Anna Laxton. The farm used to be home to Bert and Dora Shobbrook before they moved from the village, as well as Richard Bergsma, who had raised goats on the property for a number of years. Fall Fair, IPM partnership begins to take shape By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen While they are not yet set in stone, details are beginning to emerge regarding the 2017 partnership between the Brussels Fall Fair and the International Plowing Match (IPM) to be held in Walton. Peggy Sloan, Monica Ryan and Mallory Kernighan from the IPM committee spoke to members of the Brussels Agricultural Society at their annual meeting Friday night, updating the group as to where IPM planning currently sits and where the fair fits in. Kernighan, the IPM's special features co-ordinator said that of the 11 committees under her, the Brussels Fall Fair is one of the most important. Organizers at the local level, as well as with the Ontario Plowmen's Association (OPA), are very excited to host an authentic fall fair at the IPM. It's never before been done, Kernighan said, so there is no better time than the 100th match. Sloan said that what IPM organizers envision the fall fair is largely with the student education program portion of the fair as far as organization is concerned. One of the IPM's most exciting plans, she said, is an IPM passport that would ensure students get a full view of the IPM, going around to various activities and displays in order to obtain stamps for their passports. A number of those checkpoints would be at the Brussels Fall Fair, she said. Because of the timing of the school year, the hope is that the Brussels Agricultural Society will have a pretty solid idea of what will be included at the 2017 fair in the next few months, Sloan said. This timeline ensures that planning can be done ahead of the next school year and that materials can be provided to teachers by this June. She told society members to go ahead with their planning of the fair and to not wait on the IPM. The way IPM organizers have envisioned the planning process, she said, is that the society will dictate space and activities to the IPM and the IPM committee will work to accommodate them, as long as the activities are permitted on the grounds. One major theme the IPM committee is hoping to push in its educational program is the importance of soil. Sloan said that much of the program will focus on soil, how it works, why it's important and will feature actual in -tent demonst- rations. Such demonstrations were utilized at last year's IPM, she said, and they were extremely effective. One of the fundamental questions regarding the partnership asked at the meeting was whether or not the fair would be a separate entity from the IPM. Long-time society member Dorothy Cummings asked if the fall fair would simply be located at the IPM or if the two would be integrated. Kernighan said that ideally as much of the fair and the IPM would be integrated as possible, such as quilting displays. She said that Brussels Agricultural Society President Matt Cardiff is planning to speak to the IPM committee in March, ahead of IPM presentations in April which will aim to solidify the IPM's planning process. Snowarama Feb. 13 By Denny Scott The Citizen The North Huron Trail Groomers, alongside K2 Wind and Easter Seals, are all looking forward to the 1lth annual Snowarama snowmobile rally on Feb. 13. The event, which starts at the Londesborough Community Hall, welcomes snowmobilers to experience 130 kilometres of scenic trails and roads maintained by the North Huron Trail Groomers and Wingham and District Snowmobile Club throughout the community. The day starts with breakfast at the hall, according to organizer Audrey Bergsma, and is set to go rain, snow or shine. "We run the event with or without the trails being available," she said. "If there is no snow, we will do a scavenger hunt around the community and a car rally." If there is snow, snowmobilers will have the opportunity to take part in a dart rally. By travelling the trails, snowmobilers will find Continued on page 7