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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-11-14, Page 1CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, November 14, 2013 Volume 29 No. 45 TURBINES - Pg. 26Huron East Councilconsiders new bylaw COMEDY - Pg. 27Improv night welcomesback Bluevale nativeWORLDWARII - Pg. 12Auburn resident tells story ofescape for the first timePublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK: Morris-Turnberry passes animal control bylaw Maitland River ES is officially open Remembering Due to Monday’s nasty weather, the Brussels Legion’s annual Remembrance Day service was held in the Legion, rather than on its front lawn by the village’s cenotaph. Ceremonies were also held in Blyth at Memorial Hall and later in the day in Brussels at Huronlea Home for the Aged. Placing their poppies upon the wreathes that had been laid are North Woods Elementary School students Amber Wheeler, left, and Sarah Hastings, right. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Morris-Turnberry Council made two minor adjustments to its animal control bylaw and passed it at its Nov. 5 meeting. The bylaw, which had been defeated at council’s Oct. 22 meeting, had an equine exception added for urban properties over five acres and had wording changed from “dog” to “animals” in the first few pages. It was passed with councillors John Smuck and Jamie Heffer voting against it. The bylaw, which had been in the works for approximately a year, has been a controversial piece of legislation resulting in large public consultation meetings and more than a handful of tense council meetings. One of the major points of contention for the bylaw was the number of dogs allowed on rural and urban properties. The bylaw states no more than two and no more than three dogs will be kept on urban and rural properties, respectively, regardless of any kind of shelter or adoption process in place. The only exceptions to that rule refer to working animals including guard dogs and guide dogs. There is also a limit of five animals in an urban area. A second issue that resulted in many comments from the public was the exhaustive list of prohibited animals which will not be allowed on Morris-Turnberry ratepayers’ properties unless they are grandfathered in or a permit is issued by the Provincial Government for Thursday, Nov. 7 marked a special day for students in North Huron, Morris-Turnberry and the surrounding communities with the grand opening of Maitland River Elementary School (MRES). The institution, which is located in Wingham adjacent F.E. Madill Secondary School, officially opened its doors with the beginning of this school year, however the grand opening of the building was held off until last week. By name, Maitland River has existed for a full school year and then some as it operated out of the former Wingham and Turnberry Central Public Schools last year, however the building itself was completed this past summer with outlying structures and work still being completed after school had begun. The grand opening ceremony, held in the school’s auditorium last Thursday afternoon, featured several very important guests, however, Liz Sandals, the province’s Minister of Education, was unable to attend in person as had been previously advertised. Sandals sent a video greeting as well as a promise to visit the school in person sooner rather than later. Principal Alice McDowell started the ceremony by thanking everyone involved in the new school from Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) staff, to those responsible for the construction to students, to parents and everyone in between. She was very excited to welcome people, officially, to the school, however the act of declaring the school officially open was left to AMDSB chair and Huron-Perth Trustee Colleen Schenk. In a pre-recorded message played through a projector in the auditorium, Sandals stated she was happy to be involved with the grand opening “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this very special occasion, the grand opening of Maitland River Elementary School,” she said. “I know a lot of people worked very hard to get your new school ready for the new year and you have good reason to celebrate and good reason to be proud of your community.” Sandals went on to say that a new school signifies something unique and that schools are where the “seeds of success” are planted for children to grow towards future prosperity. “Simply put, there is no greater equalizer than a solid education and no better path to prosperity,” she said. “I don’t just say this as the Minister of Education, I say this as a mother of two and a grandmother to three. I see first-hand all the great work that goes on in schools each and every day, all across this great province.” She ended by congratulating the community and the students on the grand opening of the school, telling them they have a lot to look forward to and be proud of and stating she looks forward to visiting the school. Schenk then took the “ Arts/culture tourist spending generated: $3.7 billion in GDP province-wide in 2010, 67,000 jobs and $2.4 billion in wages + $1.7 billion in taxes. Culture works.” RECENT OAC STUDY By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 22 By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 13