Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-01-10, Page 1CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, January 10, 2013 Volume 29 No. 2 OPP - Pg. 20OPP ‘disappointed’ inholiday R.I.D.E. results LEGION - Pg. 22 Blyth Legion honoursHullett Central studentsAWARDS- Pg. 15Huron County 4-H hands outits annual awards Publications Mail Agreement No. 4005014 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0 INSIDE THIS WEEK: Fire coverage in Morris-Turnberry will be the focus of a meeting between Morris-Turnberry and North Huron Township Councils tonight, Jan. 10, at the Belgrave and District Community Centre. The meeting, which follows more than a year of debate between the two councils about fire protection services and who should own what, results from the dissolution of local fireboards and the creation of the Fire Department of North Huron several years ago. Morris-Turnberry’s frustration is over greatly increased costs for the fire protection service purchased from North Huron while, at the same time, any say or ownership of the department and its operation has been taken away from them. Councillors are also frustrated that Morris-Turnberry is the only municipality in Ontario without even part-ownership of a fire service while North Huron Council holds that they are providing a service, nothing more. Under the now-deceased Fire Chief John Black, North Huron set up the Fire Department of North Huron and presented new costing to its neighbours for fire suppression and prevention services based on the idea of limiting one-time spending spikes. Previously, municipalities would pay for fire protection and then, based on assessment, make additional payments for equipment and vehicles. With the new system, the cost of those investments would be forecasted and saved to offset large purchases. The creation of the new fire department also increased the cost of fire suppressive services from North Huron as training regiments were increased for all firefighters in both halls to meet the numerous standards set for volunteer fire departments. The meeting, set to start at 7 p.m., will be mediated by University of Guelph professor Wayne Caldwell, who recently helped North Huron identify their higher-priority strategic planing goals in a series of town hall meetings. This meeting is set to be the first in a series with a final goal of resolving the issue of fire services in Morris- Turnberry. The second meeting was set during North Huron Township Council’s Jan. 7 meeting for Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m., again in Belgrave. The second meeting will also be moderated by Caldwell. During North Huron’s council meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Gary Long said that he and Nancy Michie, his counterpart from Morris-Turnberry, are approaching the meeting with realistic expectations. “I met with [Michie] and Wayne Caldwell,” he said. “We talked about an agenda, the key points that need to be discussed. We will be finalizing the terms of reference and starting to negotiate specific items. The consensus is that it’s unlikely any agreement will be reached Thursday night [Jan. 10].” He said the meeting will be focused on the advantages and disadvantages of the two models that are most prevalently discussed by the two councils; ownership of the Fire Department of North Huron and the suppression agreement model. “We will have a full discussion and look for ways to build and strengthen our relationships,” Long said. Both North Huron and Central Huron Councils passed a bylaw to continue the existing fire suppression services that North Huron provides to their southern neighbours on Jan. 7 until a new agreement can be reached. Wingham Ironmen captain Aaron Armstrong is moving ever closer to the Western Junior C Hockey League’s individual points record held by Dave Hopkins of the Hanover Barons. The record of 113 points was established in the mid- 1980s. Armstrong picked up 11 points on the weekend as the Ironmen took both ends of the home and home weekend series against the Mount Forest Patriots. The Ironmen captain has 108 points and has five games remaining. Armstrong has smashed the Ironmen’s individual points record of 94 points set by Jim McGee in the mid-1970s. Armstrong picked up two goals and four assists Friday evening as the Ironmen scored a 7-3 decision over the Patriots at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex. Armstrong had a goal and four assists on Saturday at the Mount Forest and District Community Centre as the Ironmen posted a 6-2 victory. Derek Elliott had two goals and an assist on Friday evening with single markers tallied by Nic Carter, Travis Donaldson and Joey Terwoord. Receiving one assist each were Steven Kerr, Blair Goss, Darren Kerr, Drew Gross and Evan Ducharme. Ben Davis had two goals for Mount Forest. The Ironmen held a 2-0 lead after the first period and struggled to a 3- 2 advantage after 40 minutes of play. Wingham outshot the Patriots 41-28 and was 1-2 on the power play. Coach Russ Sutton said it was a really big game for the Ironmen. “We sure need these two points and the effort was definitely there by the guys tonight,” he said. The Ironmen were guilty of playing ‘lazy’ hockey in the second period, he said. “They [Mount Forest] were While Blyth Public School may no longer be open, residents of the village will be happy to know that graduation ceremonies for many of its former students will still be held in Blyth. Hullett Central Public School Principal Shawn Allen sent a letter to North Huron Township Council late last year requesting that, as the council had done for the Blyth Public School graduation ceremony, they waive the fee for renting the Blyth and District Community Centre. Allen explained, in his letter, that approximately two-thirds of the former Blyth Public School students decided to go to Hullett when their school closed as Blyth is a double catchment area and students could go there or to Wingham. The ceremony is to be held on June 26 and the decision to have it in Blyth was one of circumstance, Joint fire meetings to begin tonight in Belgrave Greeting winter with open arms Morgan Howson, left, and Jenna McDonald, right, were among the youth of Huron County who had to get up and go to school on Monday morning after enjoying their holiday break. The pair, and the rest of their schoolmates, were greeted with some of Huron County’s first real snow to play in. The duo embraced the cold weather in their winter gear during the first recess at Hullett Central Public School. (Denny Scott photo) Hullett grad to be held in Blyth Armstrong closes in on record By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 6 By Denny Scott The Citizen By Jim Brown The Citizen Continued on page 24