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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-03-26, Page 1CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, March 26, 2015 Volume 31 No. 12 TRANSPORT - Pg. 15 Local company has brush with serious attack SPORTS - Pg. 9 Brussels Curling Club wraps up its season Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0 INSIDE THIS WEEK: The ride of champions The Blyth Brussels Midget AE Crusaders completed a sweep of the Lambton Shores Predators on Sunday at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre to win the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championship that eluded them last season. They won games two and three of the series over the weekend in Brussels by scores of 5-3 and 5-2 respectively, clinching the six-point series in the minimum of three games. The team was then awarded the Eric Wesslby Memorial Trophy, seen in the hands of Craig Raynard, left, on the ice before taking the traditional fire truck ride through Brussels courtesy of the Huron East Fire Department, which was a little late after receiving a call with just one minute left in the game. From left: Craig Raynard, Tim Waechter, Curtis Raynard, Scott Dolmage and Hunter Dale. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Health Units, EMS departments could merge Midget Crusaders crowned Ontario champions Two of Huron County’s largest departments may be merging with their Perth County counterparts in the near future, according to a pair of statements issued late last week. Investigation will begin soon on the potential merging of Health Units in Huron and Perth Counties, as well as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Emergency Management Departments from both counties. According to a press release issued on March 19, a working group comprised of senior administrators and councillors from both counties will soon be formed. Its task will be to develop a business case that will be presented to both Huron and Perth County Councils for consideration at a later date. The business case, the release states, will further explore efficiencies that could be created by operated an amalgamated Emergency Services Department. “Delivering effective public services as efficiently as possible is what our ratepayers expect from us,” says Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Orchard. “A business case analysis will reveal if operating a unified department is in the best interests of both counties.” The release states that factors analyzed will be sharing technologies and operating systems, governance, response times, economics of scale in managing a combined vehicle fleet and the administrative and reporting requirements of a single department. “Perth County has a proven record of providing outstanding emergency services to our citizens,” says Perth County Chief Administrative Officer Bill Arthur. “We are committed to maintaining our levels of service to the county, Stratford and St. Marys. County Council have said that we owe it to our taxpayers to fully investigate this potential merger. We look forward to working with Huron County to achieve the best and most efficient service for both counties.” Similarly, a working group is being created to further explore a potential merger between the two counties’ Health Units. The group will be comprised of representatives from both Health Unit boards, as well as senior staff from both Health Units. From that early discussion, the release states, it will then be decided whether or not the group should proceed with a firm merger proposal or not. “The talks are in the very early stages,” says Tyler Hessel, Bluewater Mayor and Chair of the Huron County Board of Health. The release states that the working group’s initial discussions will focus primarily on whether or not there is a shared vision between the two The Blyth Brussels Midget AE Crusaders are champions of the province and owners of the Eric Wesslby Memorial Trophy after a pair of wins over the Lambton Shores Predators on Saturday and Sunday. The Crusaders capped off their championship season on Sunday at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre with a sweep of the Lambton Shores Predators, based in Forest, winning all six of the points they needed in the first three games of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) series. On Sunday, Lambton Shores scored first, lighting the lamp with a power play goal in the first period. Their tally was quickly matched by the home team with a power play goal of its own to end the first period. In the second, the teams traded goals once again, this time they were both even strength, as the Predators went ahead 2-1 and the Crusaders once again evened the score up at two, sending the game to the third period tied at two. Blyth Brussels then scored a power play goal shortly after the third period began and never looked back, scoring again to make it 4-2 and then added an empty net goal with seconds left to solidify the 5-2 win. The crowd then helped the players count the clock down to zero and the celebration began as helmets, gloves and mouth guards flew and players and coaches piled on goalie Dalton Carey at the home end of the ice. Each player was then awarded a gold medal and a chance to hoist the Eric Wesslby Memorial Trophy before taking the traditional trip around Brussels on a Huron East fire truck. Coach Scott Johnston said he couldn’t be more proud of the team, both as players and as people, as, over the course of the season, he and the coaching staff saw them mature The Citizen Celebrating 30 Years 1985~2015 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 12 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 14