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The Citizen, 2013-04-25, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013. Provincial funding announced for Wingham hospitalOn Monday the provincialgovernment announced funding forthe Wingham and District Hospital,just how much, however, remains to be seen. Jeff Leal, Minister of Rural Affairs, was in Wingham on Monday to make the announcement, saying that he will know the exact dollar figure after the tendering process is complete. Karl Ellis, Wingham and District Hospital CEO, says the funding is in the multi-million dollar neighbourhood. The funding will go towards renovations that are planned for theemergency, ambulatory care and daysurgery departments of the hospital.There are also plans for a central registration area and a new team station, which would force the pharmacy, sterilization area and systematic therapy department to all be relocated. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of next year. Previous plans to place an addition on the hospital, however, are not included in these funding plans Ellis says. “We are very pleased with this funding announcement. Our staff,physicians and community arelooking forward to revitalizing thissite so that we can continue to provide high quality health care at the Wingham and District Hospital,” Andy McBride, Board Chair of the Wingham and District Hospital said in a statement on Monday. This comes two years after funding was initially announced by then-Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell, which was then later pulled. “Rural hospitals help strengthen rural communities by providing necessary care to local residentsclose to home and family,” Leal saidin a statement released on Monday.“By making these kinds of investments, we are helping improve the quality of health care, improve access for patients and strengthening communities like Wingham and Listowel.” Through a statement issued on Monday, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Deb Matthews said “Small and rural hospitals in Ontario are using this new support to close gaps in care and make it easier for patients across the province, regardless of where they live, to beable to access the care they need,when and where they need it.”In a statement released shortly after the announcement, Huron- Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson said Monday was a good day for her riding. “I applaud the Wingham and District Hospital for demonstrating astute business sense in managing priorities and recognizing how those priorities fit within the current available capital fund programs. This is indeed a good day for Wingham and District!” she said. Continued from page 11 and Cultural Centre,” she said. “Often times it isn’t as obvious as to where the library can be relocated. The fact that there was a former school library really helped us out. Not having to worry about moving the shelves and whether the floor can hold the weight of all the books made the move that much easier.” The ease through which the move was accomplished was due to the experience of Huron County Library staff as well as the company they hired to help with the move according to Zoethout. “We used Gardiner’s [out of Goderich[ as movers and they were great,” she said. “They were very knowledgeable and had moved branches before for the library and it went really well.” Wark explained that Gardiner’s recently helped the Bayfield branch of the Huron County Library relocate to a new space and that was just one of many moves the company has helped with. “It was great to work with people familiar with the process we have in place for moving,” she said. She said that she encourages people to visit the library and make use of the wireless internet and facilities they normally would have at the main street location. For more information, contact the Huron County Library administration office in Clinton at 519-482-5457 or the Brussels branch at 519-887-6448. Former school library ideal for temporary branch: Wark Going, going, gone! The Maitland Conservation Foundation held its annual dinner and banquet at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Friday night and the evening included several quality items being sold off to the highest bidder. Here, auctioneer Dave Johnston tried to handle the bidding traffic for this handcrafted saddle stool, being showcased by Joe Vulders. (Jim Brown photo) The County of Huron is pleased to announce that Environment Canada is offering free CANWARN Storm Spotter Program sessions to be hosted within Huron County. The sessions will take place: Thursday, April 25, 2013 - 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm North Huron Wescast Community Complex Hot Stove Lounge 99 Kerr Drive, North Huron (Wingham), Ontario Canada Thursday, April 25, 2013 - 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Exeter Firehall 55 William Street, South Huron (Exeter), Ontario, Canada Please register by contacting Warning Preparedness Meteorologist Geoff Coulson at canwarn.ontario@ec.gc.ca. For more information, contact the County of Huron at 519-524-8394 x. 3315. Brussels students enjoy swimming trip Businesses and individuals in the Brussels area helped the youth of the area enjoy some much needed summer fun with a trip to the Vanastra Recreation Centre to swim during a Professional Development Day for area schools on April 19. Burke’s Tent Rentals, D&D Glass from Vanastra and Primitive Wares sponsored a bus to transport students from Brussels to Vanastra while Dr. W.B. Spink covered the admission for the children to get into the facility’s public swim that day. Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre Director of Facilities Abi Corbett attended the event with the children and said that there were 38 attendees in total. Slicing and dicing Bob Bennett, president of the Huron County Beef Producers, was on roast beef slicing duty on Saturday night as the Beef Producers held their annual spring barbecue and dance at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. (Jim Brown photo) Read Rhea Hamilton Seeger’s Gardening column on the Huron Home and Garden Guide section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca