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The Citizen, 2010-10-07, Page 1CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, October 7, 2010 Volume 26 No. 39BOOKLAUNCH- Pg. 11Blyth P.S. teacher releases children’s book STAGE - Pg. 23 Blyth man directs new play in GoderichSPORTS- Pg. 8Wingham Ironmen improveto perfect 7-0 recordPublications Mail Agreement No. 4005014 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK: While many of the trustee seats on the Avon Maitland District School Board are acclaimed for this year’s election, there is one race that local voters may take some interest in. Three people are vying for the Central East Huron seat on the board of trustees, including incumbent Wilhelmina Laurie and two locals and veterans of recent Accommoda- tion Review Committees (ARC), Pam McLellan and Robert Hunking. Hunking, of RR1, Auburn, was involved with the ARC that resulted in the closure of Blyth, East Wawanosh, Wingham and Turnberry Central Public Schools, while McLellan worked with the ARC that resulted in the closure of Brussels Public School. McLellan says that even before the ARC process she was involved in began, she had put her name in for the vacant seat which Laurie eventually occupied. When going through the application process, McLellan said, she was told that it wasn’t thought to be fair to put her in a trustee position, given the Accommodation Review process that was about to begin. McLellan said that living two doors down from Grey Central Public School, a school that was slated to be included in an upcoming Accommodation Review, would have put her in a tough position according to those she applied to. It was the North Huron Accommodation Review process, in turn, that also interested Hunking in the position. As he became more involved in the process, he said, he did more and more research and felt that he could help educate the public on what was happening with their education system. Both candidates acknowledge the tough job the board of trustees has had through both of these Accommodation Review processes and realize that the majority of the criteria are brought down by the provincial government, leaving the local school boards with limited options when it comes to school closures. Laurie, however, says that there should be no further Accom- modation Review processes in the area, at least in the near future, as the board needs to cover its bases as far as construction and transition periods from the previous several ARC processes. McLellan says that in the Accommodation Review process that resulted in the pending closure of Brussels Public School, she felt the correct decision was not carried out, which would have been, she said, to close Wallace Public School and disperse its students to the surrounding schools. Hunking had a similar experience Following up a successful effort in 2008, Blyth-area resident Mark Nonkes is anchoring a second attempt at collecting used bicycles for Namibia. After several hundred bicycles made their way to Namibia in 2008, Nonkes, who spent time working in there, says he has seen the difference first hand that Huron County has made in the small African country. Drop-off points have been set up throughout Huron County for this year’s installment of Bicycles For Humanity, but with an even loftier goal this year, Nonkes says that the program has extended into Perth County in hopes of collecting even more bicycles this time around. In addition to an extension into Perth County this time around, Nonkes says that children’s bicycles will also be accepted this year. In 2008, only adult bicycles were included. And while drop-off points have already been arranged, a mass “Day of Action” has been planned for Oct. 23. For the mass “Day of Action” Nonkes will be collaborating with 104.9 The Beach in Goderich to help collect bicycles all day long. Local drop-off points have been set up at Spring Breezes Greenhouse, just west of Blyth, and at the Blyth United Church. A drop- off has also been arranged at Woodland Links Golf Course is Clinton. Other drop-off points have been, or will be set up in Wingham, Goderich, Exeter, Stratford and Listowel. Nonkes says that the 2008 campaign, which began with humble ambitions, has become a major success story in Namibia. He hopes to fill an entire container with bicycles once again. The target is 350 bicycles, which was exceeded in 2008, but because this year’s campaign has expanded to include children’s bicycles, Nonkes thinks they may be able to ship even more this year. He says that while the 2008 campaign was county-wide, bicycle donations, as well as cash donations to assist with the actual shipping of the container, were most successful in Nonkes’ home area of Blyth and he hopes that will continue this time around. In addition, he says, he is hoping to hear from businesses or community groups in Brussels. Currently, there is no drop-off point set up in the Brussels area, but he says he would love to hear from someone who is willing to step up and help arrange one. The majority of the 2008 bicycles, Nonkes says, went to help people reach employment easier or attend school easier and to make health care more accessible to people with HIV or AIDS. For more information or to lend a hand, contact the Nonkes family at 519-523-9456 or for more information within the Blyth area, contact Rev. Gary Clark at Blyth United Church at 519-523-4224. Bicycles for Humanity returns Londesborough meeting called Members of local ARCs to run for board of trustees Nature’s many wonders There were tractor rides and leaves changing colour, but these two youngsters prove that there was plenty to do and see below ground level over the weekend at the Wawanosh Nature Centre’s annual Fall Colour Tour. Six-year-old Faith Lockie, left, and four-year-old Hunter Lockie were investigating a creek to see what they could find while their parents enjoyed the colours of the leaves. (Vicky Bremner photo) C e l e b r a t i n g 25 YearsTheCitizen1985-2010 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 12 An all-candidates meeting will be held in Londesborough on Wednesday, Oct. 13 so that Hullett Ward residents can make an informed decision based on their ward’s specific needs. Arranged collaboratively by Londesborough resident Keith Allen and outgoing Deputy-Reeve John Bezaire, the meeting will be held at the Londesborough Community Hall at 7:30 p.m. Allen, who was instrumental in Hullett’s fight for fire coverage earlier this year, says that the fire issue is just one of the many reasons that Hullett residents should be sure to get out and vote after hearing what the candidates have to say. With the large percentage of candidates coming from the town of Clinton, he said, it’s important that the East Ward receive representation north of Clinton’s town line. “We don’t want all of our representation to come from Clinton,” Allen said. “Nothing against those people, but it’s important that people from from Hullett get informed and have an idea of whom they want representing them going forward.” Allen said that with the only all- candidates meeting currently scheduled for the municipality of Central Huron being held at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton, he felt it was important for the Hullett Ward to have its own all- candidates meeting. Looking at this year’s issue of fire coverage, he said, the Hullett Ward can be neglected and he said he doesn’t want that to happen again. “After the fiasco with the fire coverage,” he said, “It’s important that we get out and talk to our candidates. We need to hear their promises and what they plan to do from them.” All Hullett Ward residents are encouraged to come out to next week’s meeting to meet the candidates, ask questions and learn more about the people who could be representing the municipality for the next four years. It’s time for everyone to give thanks, including the employees of The Citizen. The offices of The Citizen will be closed for Thanksgiving Monday on Oct. 11. That means that advertising and editorial copy must be in to the Brussels office by 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8 and by 4 p.m. that day in Blyth to be in time for the Oct. 14 issue of The Citizen. The employees of The Citizen wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Time to give thanks