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The Citizen, 2009-05-07, Page 6H1N1 is a new strain of influenzaA, and while the virus has claimed lives in Mexico, and the numbers of those stricken in Ontario continues a gradual increase, the symptoms here continue to be mild. Huron County public health manager Christina Taylor said, “And Canadians who are ill are responding well to treatment.” Experts in the fields of epidemiology were in Mexico said Taylor, to find some answers, including the reason for the different levels of severity being experienced, she added. The virus is being described in the United States as a novel stain not previously detected in swine or humans. Though there were no suspected cases in Huron County as of the beginning of the week, the local health unit is prepared, said Taylor.“We have been preparing forpandemic for years. This is not anew subject.”The health unit has increased its activity to enhanced surveillance. “We are linking daily to federal and provincial government communications and are taking direction from both,” said Taylor. “We are working closely with local healthcare providers to ensure infection control measures are in place. It’s a bit of a waiting game.” Right now precautions are general, said Taylor. The health unit advises people to wash hands frequently and for 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer. Cough and sneeze into sleeves or arm. Stay home if ill and talk to a healthcare professional if experiencing flu-like symptoms. Symptoms are similar to seasonal influenza including fever, a new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, headache and fatigue, saidTaylor.Thirty-one cases of H1N1 were confirmed by Monday of this week, in Ontario, all related to travel to Mexico. “At this moment in time patients who have those symptoms or a history of contact with someone who has it or within seven days of travel to Mexico start to have symptoms need to call Telehealth or their healthcare provider,” said Taylor. Taylor also said the current information has shown this novel strain hasn’t a high priority group, she added. However, she reminded, that with any influenza very young children and the elderly are at higher risk. “So we encourage no visiting in any way, shape or form if you feel ill.” At Huronlea and Huronview County Homes for the Aged,administrator Barb Springall saidthey are also re-inforcing the mainmessage for prevention and alsohave medical consents ready to if the health unit orders treatment, staff is ready. “The pharmacy also has doses ready and we have gone together with Emergency Medical Service and done some precautionary stocking of supplies, such as gloves and gowns. There is also a control group that meets regularly to review the homes’ pandemic plan, said Springall. Information changes daily, said Taylor, adding that the health unit’s creating communication tools for the public and that the website has become essential for obtaining the most useful and current information. To learn more or keep updated go to www.huroncounty.ca/health and click the swine flu link. PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009. Continued from page 1 Vincent, is what drove the cost of insurance up during the meetings of last year, the centre should be able to obtain liability insurance for approximately $3,500 per year. “The insurance may be a little more expensive, but for what we want to do here, it’s not too much,” he said. Coverge, however, is dependent on becoming a legal entity, which right now, the board is not, Vincent said. The money to pay for the insurance costs, McClinchey said, would come out of the centre’s revenue. McClinchey put minds at ease too, saying that whatever money was raised in Belgrave would stay in Belgrave. Without affiliation with North Huron, there are no other avenues for the money to flow through. In fact, right now, he said, in some cases, money raised in Belgrave, has been filtered through the township. This new agreement would solve that problem. North Huron would essentially be renting the facility to the board, with a standard landlord-tenant agreement. The rate will be $1,000 per month. However, North Huron is set to donate $32,000 to the board annually, in addition $10,000 annually towards capital costs, which will increase at a rate of 1.5 per cent annual to cover inflation. In addition to those donations, the municipality of Morris-Turnberry currently has $20,000 set aside to donate to the board annually as well, Gowing said. Once the agreement is signed, no council representatives will be required for the board. The board will consist of three tiers. The first tier will be the executive board, consisting of four members, the next will be made up of no more than nine members, which is the advisory council and the third tier is every member of the East Wawanosh and Morris communities. The advisory committee would be elected by the public, then the advisory committee would select the executive committee. There would still be public meetings with voting on any major events. In the event of a “catastrophic event” because of the arrangement, the board would have the township to fall back on, McClinchey said. If the board cannot fulfill its duties, responsibility will fall back onto the municipality and the board will dissolve, McClinchey says. The same circumstances stand if there is an issue between the board and North Huron. If there is a serious dispute, the matter will be dealt with at a public council meeting, rather than hiring a lawyer or a moderator, which McClinchey said, would be unaffordable for the arena board. If North Huron had sold the grounds to the board, even for a minimal cost, if something catastrophic happens, control could be lost. So having North Huron as a safety net, to keep control of the centre, was the best option for the board, McClinchey said. Health unit keeps close eye on H1N1 situation Centre’s revenue to cover insurance Continued from page 1 “My members are receiving improved working conditions and funding for professional development. Avon Maitland parents can be confident that high quality student learning will continue on an uninterrupted basis because of the work of qualified professionals who feel they are respected by their employer.” That feeling of respect, however, wasn’t evident in the advertisement appearing a week earlier in area community newspapers. A campaign on local radio stations accompanied the newspaper ads. The campaign accused the board of failing to use provincial funding for its intended purpose. “The Avon Maitland District School Board has been given money by the province to reduce class sizes but the trustees of the board have refused to spend it on reducing class sizes in Grade 4 to Grade 8,” states the newspaper ad. Merlin Leis, president of ETFO’s main Avon Maitland local, confirmed the campaign was a local initiative within the union. “The centralized bargaining of issues has been beneficial in many ways, because it allows the province to set priorities for spending. And they’re the purse-holders, so that has been helpful,” Leis said. “However, locally, some needs tend to be sacrificed. And we found that with the class size issue.” Research revealed average Grade 4-8 class sizes in the board are 26.9 students per teacher, compared with a provincial average of 24.5. The new collective agreement calls for a reduction in the board’s average class size by 0.1 students per year, but Leis says that’s inadequate. He added that the local union “held off as long as we could” on sending out the ad, in hopes that further concessions could be achieved from the board. But, a couple of weeks before the final deadline, it became apparent that would not happen. “We wanted to inform the community, we wanted to inform the parents, we wanted to inform the ratepayers that the money they’re providing through their taxes is not being spent as it’s meant to be spent,” he said. Pratley disputed both the class size figures used by the union and the interpretation of the intended use for the particular envelope of Education Ministry money. “Their numbers are inaccurate,” said the Stratford trustee, referring to the Grade 4-8 class size concern. “I think one needs to factually look at what’s in the ad before you make a judgment on what they’re saying.” He added that the money referred to by ETFO wasn’t specifically targeted at reducing class sizes. Rather, boards were required to invest it in “student achievement.” “And we use it for student achievement. What (ETFO) is not accounting for is the fact that we support our Grade 4 to 8 teachers with the resources they need to encourage student achievement, such as literacy and numeracy support, special education support and support for students with special needs.” Responding to Pratley’s interpretation, Leis said, “quite frankly, the arguments made by the board leave something to be desired.” Needless to say, with the collective agreement finally signed almost a year after the previous deal expired, there’s still plenty to discuss around the negotiating table – as the two sides begin to think about the end of this new deal on Aug. 31, 2012. Feeling of respect not evident in ad THANK YOU We would like to thank all those who contributed in any way to the success of the 2008 Belgrave Community Growing Project. As a result of your donations and efforts, we are able to send a cheque totaling $14,900 to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. In the seven years this project has existed, it has raised over $117,000 for world relief. Contributing to the project in 2008 and deserving of great thanks were: Ross and Barbara Anderson, William and Lois Andrews, Brussels Agromart Ltd., Jim and Pat Barnes, Bayer Crop Science, Ltd., Bodmin Ltd., John and Linda Campbell, James Coultes, Steven and Nicole Coultes, William and Muriel Coultes, DeKalb Seeds Ltd., Donald and Gloria Dow, Steven and Lara Dow, Brad and Maryon English, Gordon and Nancy Folkard, Adam Garniss, Noreen Gnay, Huron Bay Co-operatives - Belgrave Branch, Roger and Debra Hopper, Patricia Hunking, James and Mary Hunter, Harold and Nancy Jardin, Laura Johnston, Knox United Church Sunday School, Jack and Doreen Marks, Florence McArter, John and Marie McIntosh, Monsanto Ltd., Northminster United Church - Oshawa, John and Sheila Nixon, Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds Ltd., George and Elizabeth Procter, Kenneth and Lila Procter, John and Kathleen Roberts, Ross Family Farms, Donald and Connie Shiell, Jack and Mary Taylor, Dr. Ronald Taylor, Trudy Taylor, Mary Thomas, Evening Unit of Knox UCW - Belgrave, Glen and Verlaine Van Camp, Allen Walker, Doug and Kathy Walker. We are in the process of gathering funds so that we can continue this project in 2009 by growing a further 25 acres of corn to be donated to world relief. With increased crop expenses, we would welcome contributions from anyone who would like to help in this worthwhile effort to alleviate world hunger. Please clearly identify your donations as for the Belgrave Community Growing Project and send them c/o Knox United Church, Box 70, Belgrave, ON N0G 1E0 LISTOWEL WINGHAM HOSPITALS ALLIANCE Corporation of the Listowel Memorial Hospital ‡ Corporation of the Wingham & District Hospital Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Corporations of Listowel Memorial Hospital and Wingham & District Hospital will be held jointly for the SXUSRVHRIUHFHLYLQJWKHÀQDQFLDOUHSRUWVDQGVWDWHPHQWVUHTXLUHGE\WKHPublic Hos- pitals Act and for the election of Directors; for the appointment of Auditors; for the amendment of Bylaws; and for the transaction of other such things as may properly come before the meeting. Copies of the Annual Report and Financial statements may be obtained at the front desk of both Hospitals effective June 5, 2009 and at the Annual Meeting. Copies of the proposed Bylaw amendments may be obtained at the front desk of both Hospitals effective May 11, 2009. Memberships granting voting privileges may be purchased at the front desk of the hospitals for ÀYHGROODUV  SULRUWRÀYHR·FORFNSP:HGQHVGD\0D\ 2009. No membership sold after that time will entitle the purchaser to vote. ANNUAL MEETING & ELECTION OF DIRECTORS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2009 30 Listowel Kin Station, 555 Binning St. West, Listowel, Ontario :('1(6'$<0$<‡30 Royal Canadian Legion Auditorium, 183 Victoria St. West, Wingham 78(6'$<0$<‡30 Kin Station Hall, Listowel COMMUNITY FORUM IF YOU CARE, YOU’LL BE THERE! A community forum sponsored by your local hospitals By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen Unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires. Pay close attention when you’re cooking and stay in the kitchen.