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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-01-19, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012. PAGE 11. Defense against the snow arts From left, Tyson Michie, Jaida Ruff-Robertson and Hayden Robinson worked hard on a snow fort that very nearly became a class project for their East Wawanosh Public School Grade 4/5 class with the number of people working on it. The students created titles and jobs for everyone involved from those in charge (the master council) down through to the lowly brickmakers. The fort, before fellow students assaulted the walls, was taller than any of the students involved according to the group, and could easily fend off any snowball attack. (Denny Scott photo) UCW meeting on Jan. 26 On Friday, Jan. 13 there were five tables of shoot at play in the Belgrave Community Centre. The winners were: high pink card, Mary McIntosh; second high pink card, Judy Hahn; most shoots, pink, Bev Hayden; high white card, Charlie Shaw; second high white card, Brian Schlosser; most shoots white, John Pollard. The next shoot is Friday, Jan. 27. Everyone is welcome. Please join us for storytelling on Tuesday, Jan. 17 and 24 in the lower hall of Knox United Church from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Have you ever woken to a new day and shouted with joy, “Another great day!” or left the service of worship feeling a sense of having been in the presence of God? Then you know how inadequate words can seem at times. You also know if you are going to share these experiences you are going to have to find words to do it. Tom Bandy and Bill Easum in their book “Growing Spiritual Redwoods” wrote what could be called a theme for personal story and faith sharing, “What is it about your relationship with Jesus Christ that the world can’t live without?” Please join us in the lower hall as we make an effort to “talk overstories” and practise them so we canmore effectively “walk our stories”into our community of faith andbeyond. Our sole purpose is to learn how stories connect and communicate our faith while strengthening our own understanding of just what each of us has to offer. The general meeting of the UCW will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26 beginning with a potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. Chris Palmer will be speaking about his experiences after a tragic accident. Everyone is invited to this open meeting. On Sunday, Jan. 29, following the church service, there is a potluck lunch and the annual meeting. Reports are now available, along with your contribution statements. By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188 PEOPLE AROUNDBELGRAVE NEWS FROM BELGRAVE M-T council caught in the middle of dog dispute At their Jan. 10 meeting, Morris- Turnberry councillors found themselves in the middle of a dispute over dogs between two neighbours in Lower Town Wingham. Bob Trick, the municipality’s animal control officer, attended the meeting along with a local resident Sherry McLaughlin, speaking on behalf of the dog owner. Nancy Michie, administrator clerk-treasurer, explained to council that there are special circumstances involved because the municipality’s dog bylaw allows up to two dogs per house in urban areas. This property has two dogs but there is no residence on the property. The owner keeps the dogs to protect items he has stored in a shed on the property. In the past there have been thefts from the building. But because of the bylaw, Trick is not allowed to issue dog licences or tags to the owner of the dogs. The option was for council to amend the bylaw to allow up to two dogs for a legal non-conforming building. Council did pass the amendment but not before the scope of the argument between the dog owner and a neighbour was hashed out. Trick said he had made 12 visits to one or the other of the parties between September and December. He said he was ready to enforce any bylaw councillors passed but asked if they wanted to allow guard dogs in a residential zone. Trick raised the possibility of liability issues if a gate was left open and the dogs got out. The property owner had built a new fence around the property but Trick found problems with it. The fence goes right to the lot line but dogs are supposed to kept several feet from the lot line to protect children or others who might be at the edge of the property. Trick also had concerns about the height of the fence, worried that if there was a snow buildup the dogs might be able to get over the fence. Also, he said, because the dogs could see anyone who went by on the street and he had witnessed the dogs following the width of the property inside the fence, barking at people or cars going by. McLaughlin said she thought the issues were brought on by an ongoing dispute with one neighbour. “Other neighbours aren’t complaining,” she said. “I feel like I’m being harassed.” She promised the dogs’ owner wasn’t aware of the regulations about the fence and would remedy the problems. Councillors were split on their feelings about dogs on an urban property with no house. Councillor John Smuck noted that when dogs bark in a residence there is usually someone there to quiet them, but when they’re in an unoccupied building, nobody’s there to notice. McLaughlin said she has asked other neighbours to contact them if the dogs are making noise. Councillor David Baker failed to see a difference between a farmer who has a guard dog to protect sheep and someone who kept a dog to protect a shed from break- ins. “It’s still a dog,” he said. Trick said that now that the bylaw made it legal for the dogs to be kept on the property, he would deal with the noise issues. By Keith Roulston The Citizen