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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-02-04, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016. Hefferfaces backlash from photos of slain predator By Denny Scott The Citizen A local farmer and municipal councillor is facing backlash on social media for killing a large predator that followed his livestock into their barn last week. Morris-Turnberry Deputy -Mayor Jamie Heffer found himself in the middle of a significant social media backlash when photos of a large predator he had dispatched in his barn he had shared with other lamb producers began making the rounds through Facebook and other social media sites. Heffer told The Citizen that he was protecting his livestock when he dispatched the predator and has since been working with the Ministry of Natural Resources. However, there has been a significant outcry regarding his actions. The point of contention for those on social media sites seems to be whether or not the predator was a large dog. Heffer says it appears to be some kind of wolf hybrid. One morning last week, Heffer was going about his normal activities when things took a chaotic turn for the worse. "It was 7 a.m. and I had just got in the barn and started the choring routine," he said. "We have several sheep that are housed outside and can come in for cover. I was doing the chores and they came crashing into the barn with a predator right on their tails. It followed them right into the barn. We have two livestock protection dogs and they immediately took action to drive it away from the flock. That's what bought me enough time to get a gun loaded and take action." Heffer, who had just entered the barn, said it was a harrowing experience and that one of his first observations of the animal was that it was "way too big for a coyote," but noted it was behaving like one. Heffer said his livestock Turkey dinner set Feb. 7 PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188 Doug and Connie Shiell greeted worshippers and handed out the bulletins at Knox United Church on Sunday, Jan. 31. Rev. Paul Ross conducted the church service and welcomed everyone and went over the announcements as printed. Happy birthday was sung to Madison Davenport who will be three on Feb. 1 and her brother Jackson who will turn two on Feb. 5. "Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary" was sung and Rev. Paul Ross lit the Christ Candle. The call to worship was read responsively. The opening hymn was, "0 Lord My God" and the Approaching God in Prayer was read in unison. The choir anthem was "0 God Has Made Us One". After the singing of the children's hymn, the children gathered in the front pew for story time with Rev. Ross. He entertained the children with his puppet friend. Charlie and used Charlie to talk to the children. Charlie wasn't very happy on Saturday night because he wasn't going to be going to church on Sunday but Paul changed his mind and brought him. How does God talk to us? Rev. Ross had two tin cans tied together at each end with string. He talked into one and a child held the other up to his ear and could hear the message. Would God talk to us by cell phone, e-mail, etc.? No, God communicates through feeling and when we are in tune with our feelings we hear God. After the Lord's prayer the children adjourned to Sunday school. We listened to the word of God as Kendra Robinson read scripture from Jeremiah 1: 4-10 and Psalm 71 the responsive Psalm with the congregation. The sermon was entitled, "Called by God". Paul told of his calling by God 48 years ago to go into ministry. Life was good for Abraham when he answered God's call. Jeremiah was a teenager doing his homework when he was called to be a prophet. Jesus answered the call from God. Is God calling you to make a change? "Faith of our Fathers" was sung which was the hymn of response. The minute for missions was reported by Nancy Jardin. Larry Harper and Doug Shiell took up the offering which was dedicated. The closing hymn, "I, the Lord of Sea and Sky", the benediction and blessing. "Go Now in Peace" concluded the morning worship service. The congregation adjourned to the lower half for lunch, fellowship and the annual meeting. Nancy Cameron will be conducting the service on Sunday, Feb. 7. During the next four weeks while student minister Brian Hymers is away, please contact Rev. Richard Hall, Wingham United Church for any pastoral care emergencies. On Feb. 28, the UCW will be having a turkey dinner in the church basement at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available from any UCW member or contact Ruth Gordon at 519-357- 1375. Madill, MRES fundraiser considered by council Continued from page 2 the sports field at F.E. Madill. After doing some research, Cameron told councillors that 115 Huron East students attend school at F.E. Madill, which is 15 per cent of the school's total student body. Council thanked the women for their presentation and said the request would be considered as part of the 2016 budget. Treasurer Paula Michiels said that the first draft of the budget will be presented to councillors for their consideration at the Feb. 16 meeting, with final consideration of the budget to take place at the April 5 meeting. k te r`- #1 And We Still Try Harder ' . oar `a lame „� Recent circulation figures show The Citizen has the �+ �;4, ;� highest circulation in the northern part of rte,;, :;, leelde Huron County, #3 in the entire county. �:;� �." The Citizen - Proudly Community -Owned Since 1 85 ' " protection dogs, which have handled coyotes in the past, were not able to deal with the predator, which he said dwarfed his dogs. "The sheep were crowded and the livestock protection dogs were doing their best but it was utter chaos," he said. "The sheep were under intense duress and I was able to get a shot away and dispatch of the predator." After the chaos had abated, Heffer discovered that some of his livestock had been bitten. While he didn't lose any as a direct result of the attack, the stress of the attack resulted in several stillbirths and abortions among the flock. "That's a very common things with predator attacks," he said. "There's way more to it than those three or four minutes of chaos" One of the photos shared on social media shows the predator next to a coyote and the size difference is significant. Heffer said the animal weighed in at 108 pounds (approximately 50 kilograms). Heffer took pictures with the predator, including one where he held it up, showing that, when on its hind -legs, it was taller than he was. Those pictures were intended to be shared with fellow lamb producers. "We had the best intention with sharing those photos," he said. "The people we shared them with would have fully understood their content and intent. Predation in the sheep industry is a huge item. It's one of our biggest and most difficult challenges." The photos reached far beyond where Heffer had intended them to, however, and due to the fact that several posts denouncing Heffer's actions included his telephone number, the past week has been a gruelling one for the family. "We have had extremely abusive messages come both through the internet] and through the phone," he said. "I don't know if any of them are local, because they come up as private numbers, but there are certainly a number of them from outside the area." Heffer said the abusive messages were a consequence of sharing the information and trying to warn fellow producers, but he and his family are working their way through it. "It has been a very difficult week," he said. FROM BELGRAVE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING CONCERNING A HOUSEKEEPING ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT AFFECTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY TAKE NOTICE that Council of the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry will hold a public meeting on Tuesday March 1, 2016 at 7:40 pm in the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Municipal Office, 41342 Morris Rd., Brussels to consider a Zoning By-law Amendment under section 34 of the Planning Act. This is a housekeeping Zoning By-law Amendment initiated by the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry. BE ADVISED that the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry considered this application to be complete on January 20 2016. ANY PERSON may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support or in opposition to the proposed zoning by-law. IF a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry before the by-law is passed, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry to the Ontario Municipal Board. IF a person or public body does not make an oral submission at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry before the by-law is passed, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to do so. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and copies of the housekeeping Zoning By-law Amendment are available during regular office hours at the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Municipal Office 519-887-6137, and the Huron County Planning and Development Department (519) 524-8394 ext. 3, and on the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Website at www.morristurnberry.ca. Dated at the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry this 28th day of January, 2016 Nancy Michie, Administrator Clerk Treasurer Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Box 310 41342 Morris Rd., Brussels, Ontario NOG 1H0 519-887-6137 Purpose and Effect: This housekeeping Zoning By-law Amendment includes the following changes. 1. Adding a "Farm Produce Sales Outlet" to Section 7 AG4 (Agricultural Small Holdings) zone 2. Removing the following definition from Section 2 Definitions "Farm Produce Sales Outlet: means a fruit, vegetable, flower or farm produce stand set up as an accessory use to an agricultural use on a farm, used for the sale of produce from that same agricultural use" 3. Amending Section 3.29 Non -Conforming Provisions including revisions to: - Section 3.29.2 regarding replacement of buildings or structures for non -conforming uses and - Section 3.29.4 regarding strengthening, repairing or renovating of buildings or structures used for non -conforming uses. 4. Site specific amendment to Lot 95 and 96, Plan 410 and Lot 110, Plan 410 Wingham, s/t Easement R48382, Turnberry, Municipality of Morris-Turnberry (300 Augusta Street). The property is zoned R4-1 (Residential Park -Special) and is proposed to be changed to VR1 (Village Residential). The area of this property is 1.1 acre (approximately .44 ha). The entire property is subject to the amendment. This by-law amends the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Zoning By-law 45-2014. The Housekeeping Zoning By-law Amendment and a map showing the location of the lands subject to this proposed Zoning By-law Amendment are available at the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry Municipal Office and on the Morris-Turnberry website www.morristurnberry.ca