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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-09-02, Page 29Willits crowned queen at Plowing match Queen Lindsay Willits (front) was crowned Queen of the Furrow at the Huron County Plowing Match. The crowning ceremony was held at the Plowing Match and Taste of Huron dinner held at the Regional Equine and Agricultural Centre of Huron in Clinton on Friday, August 27. Behind Willits is one of the other Queen hopefuls, Allysa Gowing. (Denny Scott photo) Lindsay Willits beat out four other competitors at the Huron County Plowing Match to be named Queen of the Furrow on Friday August 27. The RR1 Wingham native currently works as an IT supervisor in Mount Forest for Quality Homes, and said that win signifies thebeginning of an interesting year forher.“It was exciting,” she said. “I’m looking forward to a fun year.” Willits’s job will consist of attending parades, opening ceremonies at fairs and the International Plowing Match in 2011 in Prescott Township. She will also be attending the Plowmen’s Association Convention in Stratfordlater on this year.As part of preparing for thecompetition, Willits said she kept it simple. “I didn’t have to do a lot,” she said. “I wrote my speech.” Willits’s comfort with the competition was brought on by watching her sister compete last year. “[Seeing my sister compete] did help me get ready for it,” she said. “Iknew what I was getting into.”Willits grew up on her parent’sbeef farm, so she had experience with farming implements and rural life, but she said that what really helped her plow was her coach, David Grobbink. “And I drove a tractor, but I had never really plowed before, my plowing coach really helped with that,” she said. Willits thanks her coach and thePlowman’s Association for thechance to compete and represent theHuron County Plowing Match in the upcoming year. She had this to people who want to fill her shoes in the future. “You really just have to put yourself out there,” she said. “Don’t be nervous, get involved in the competition. Whether you win or not, it is a great experience.” By Denny ScottThe Citizen The former and the potentials Former Queen of the Furrow Margaret Vincent of North Huron (centre) talks with competitors vying for her crown at the 2010 Huron County Plowing Match. (Denny Scott photo) Monique Baan of Walton is the winner of the contest to name the Morris-Turnberry history book with her title “A Harvest of Memories from Morris-Turnberry”. Baan was presented with a small gift at the Aug. 24 meeting of council, in thanks for her suggestion which was chosen from nearly 20 entries. *** An “open well” will be held at the Belgrave water treatment plant Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for neighbours of the water system. The event is part of the Source Water Protection education program to inform people of the importance of proper maintenance of nearby septic systems in preserving pure water. *** Morris-Turnberry has received a grant of $182,344 from the federal government through the Ontario Potable Water Program for the Belgrave water system expansion. The grant has been pending for two years and the amount had already been calculated into the charges to users of the water system. *** After a few revisions the lease with KW Power Logic/SunSaver 2 Limited was approved for signing. The company will pay the municipality for use of a small piece of land next to the municipal building on which a solar electric generation panel will be installed. *** In his road report, Gary Pipe, director of public works, said the grass cutting on roadsides in the southern part of Morris Ward had commenced and would continue for the next several weeks. He also assured council that graders would be out to smooth rough roads as soon as it rained enough to keep the dust control active. *** As part of the province’s five-year review, council identified two areas in the Provincial Policy Statement it would like to see changed in any revision. Council told Carol Leeming, Huron County planner, that they’d like to see a relaxation of the section that prevents small parcels of land in rural areas from being developed for residential purposes. If a small parcel that isn’t suitable for agricultural purposes meets other criteria it should be allowed to be used for a house, they said. The other revision council sought was a time limit on the prohibition against building a residence on a property from which a residence had been severed as a “surplus residence”. Under the current law no house can be built on the remaining farm forever. Council felt that a 10-year prohibition would prevent people trying to use the surplus residence provision as a way of creating more rural housing lots. *** The road to the Pioneer Seeds development at the south-east side of Wingham was named Pioneer Drive in a bylaw approved at the meeting. *** The 20-day appeal period for the zoning bylaw approving changes required for the Morris-Turnberry portion of land on which a new North Huron elementary school would be built expired without appeals made. Council had approved the bylaw at its Aug. 3 meeting. *** Council agreed to buy a table of seating at the Huron Manufacturing Association awards dinner which will be held Nov. 12 at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Baan of Walton names M-T history book THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010. PAGE 29.