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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-05-12, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016. Stewart receives one of Lions' highest honours By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen A long-time member of the Blyth Lions Club has been awarded the second-highest honour a Lion can receive. John Stewart, who has been a member of the local club for decades, was awarded the Presidential Medal from Lions Club International at the District A9 banquet, which was held on April 30 in Owen Sound. Just under the Ambassador of Good Will award, the Presidential Medal is the second-highest award a Lion can receive and Stewart said he was a little surprised to find out he was being honoured this way. Only approximately 100 of the awards are distributed worldwide each year, Stewart said. As he and his wife and fellow Lion member Mary Lou sat at the banquet together, the presenters began to run down Stewart's numerous achievements, but it was only when they really narrowed it down that he knew they were talking about him. The winner, the speakers announced, had been a president of his local Lions Club and a Zone Chair. However, looking around the room, Stewart said, half the people there could have applied. But as they began to narrow it down and said the winner was the current Multiple District A Secretary, Stewart knew it was him — because there's only one of those. Stewart described his response to the award as "shock and surprise" but added that he was certainly honoured to receive the award. The award is special to him, he said, because it takes into account not only his work with the Lions, but his contribution to his community as well outside of the world of the Lions Club. Recognized John Stewart, who has been part of the Blyth Lions for decades, received the Presidential Medal from Lions Club International. The medal is the second-highest honour a Lion can receive. (Photo submitted) M -T scraps cat policy Morris-Turnberry Council scrapped a policy that was intended to give the animal control bylaw officer the ability to subdue cats he felt were ill in favour of a wider - reaching policy. The policy, which staff was directed to craft once Morris- Turnberry councillors decided a bylaw controlling cats wasn't the way to handle feline issues being reported throughout the municipality, wasn't ideal according to council members including Dorothy Kelly who felt it may leave the municipality open to litigation. The policy empowered the municipality's animal control officer, through the animal control bylaw, to handle any felines that he or she felt were ill. Councillor John Smuck, however, disagreed with Kelly, stating that the animal control bylaw officer should have the ability to handle any animals that pose a possible danger, regardless of species. Staff suggested that such a ruling would be better enforced by a policy, similar to the cat policy, that would need to be brought forward and discussed at a future meeting. Hitting the road Four Walks for Alzheimer's were held across Huron County on Saturday, raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Huron County. One of the biggest teams at the Clinton event was Team Howie, named for Howard Bernard of Brussels. His wife Joan, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were named the honorary family for this year's walk. Exercising their legs and showing their true colours for Team Howie that day were, from left: Collin Kikkert, Jillian Hilt and Evan Kikkert, with Josiah Hilt being pushed in the stroller. (Vicky Bremner photo) Council not closing arenas: MacLellan By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen With controversy swirling around the future of recreation in Huron East, Mayor Bernie MacLellan has reassured the public that the municipality is not looking to close arenas. After a conversation about recreation costs at Huron East's May 3 meeting, MacLellan read a prepared statement insisting that no councillor has suggested closing any of Huron East's arenas or changing the level of service they provide. "I have heard that members of the public think that council will either close an arena or not offer the full service next year to save money," MacLellan said. "However, I don't think any councillor has said such a thing, but rather council has been reviewing the escalating cost of operating the recreation centres. Council does need to figure out what level of municipal assistance is acceptable to the ratepayers of Huron East. Everyone pays for all municipal services through the general levy, whether [they] use them or not." MacLellan said that if councillors and ratepayers want to keep the level of services they've come to know and enjoy, then the money has to come from somewhere in an era of dramatic provincial funding clawbacks and escalating costs for utilities and policing that don't look to stabilize any time soon. "If council wants to keep all the services that Huron East currently provides, then we need to accept that the trend of double-digit municipal tax increases will continue for the rest of the term and maybe even into the next if we can't find more efficient and cost-effective ways of delivering the services to the public," he said. Despite earlier conversations this year about serving Huron East with only one community centre and repurposing another — perhaps as an indoor soccer facility — councillors nodded in agreement with MacLellan's statement. Deputy -Mayor Joe Steffler concurred with MacLellan, saying that Huron East Council does not want to close arenas and if there is a councillor who wants that, that councillor will not be popular with Huron East ratepayers. Grey Ward Councillor Dianne Diehl said the public in the north end of the municipality, including the Grey and Brussels Wards, needs to be engaged in the process, because Huron East Council currently isn't very popular there. See histories and historic photographs on the Huron History section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca "We need some damage control in the north," she said, adding that council has lost the support of the Brussels Lions Club, which is very concerning. Diehl said that she and Brussels Councillor John Lowe had talked about potentially holding a public meeting in Brussels to assure the public that council isn't looking to close community centres in Brussels or in any other parts of the municipality. Brussels Councillor David Blaney agreed that the Lions Club isn't very happy right now and that members should be part of the strategic planning sessions. He suggested that engaging members of the public in the process could be helpful for a number of reasons, not the least of which would be brainstorming programming ideas. "We could see a lot of ideas that Martin's Nursery TREES FOR SALE Containers & Field Grown Trees & Shrubs EMANUEL E.M. MARTIN 42661 Orangehill Road RR #1 Wroxeter, ON NOG 2X0 1 Concession North of Wroxeter on Belmore Line • Shade Trees • Fruit Trees • Spruce, Pine, Cedar • Shrubs you didn't think of and some of them are usually pretty good," Blaney said. Let us Wash Your Winter Coats Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687 MEETING NOTICE Municipality of Morris-Turnberry The upcoming meeting for the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry will be held: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Regular Council Meeting, instead of 7:30 pm as previously advertised. 16, • Natural Mulch • Screened Topsoil • Regular Topsoil (call ahead to make arrangements) Delivery Availabl • Sand • Gravel • Fill • Loading & Hauling • Bulldozing • Excavating MCKERCHER CONSTRUCTION LTD. Give us a call 519-887-9061 Fax 519-335-3570 R.R. 2 Bluevale