HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-12-18, Page 1The Huron County Health Unit is
pleased with the number of people
vaccinated at community clinics
over the past month. Over 4,200
residents of Huron County took
advantage of the free clinics in
various communities.
Senior public health nurse
Christina Taylor says it’s good to see
people recognize the importance of
getting their annual flu shot. She
says they would have liked to have
seen more young people at the
clinics.
“Not everyone realized that we
didn’t offer school flu clinics this
year. But it’s not too late to get a free
flu shot. People can still get
vaccinated at their family doctor’s
office or at the health unit’s Health
Link Clinic.”
Taylor says it’s very important that
everyone over six months of age get
a flu shot. “People with influenza
can easily spread the flu to those at
risk for serious illness. This group
includes babies and young children,
the elderly, or anyone with medical
conditions like asthma, kidney
disease, diabetes, cancer, or heart
problems.”
Influenza, commonly called the
flu, is a highly contagious viral
infection of the nose, throat and
lungs. It causes a sudden fever, sore
throat, chills, dry cough, headache,
muscle aches and fatigue. Most
people who get the flu are sick for
two to seven days, but can feel tired
and weak for up to two weeks. In
some cases, the cough can last for
weeks, too.
The flu can cause pneumonia and
other complications that can require
hospitalization. The bug can even be
fatal.
The flu spreads very easily from
person to person in tiny droplets
from the nose and throat.
4,200 turn out to flu clinics
Workin’ hard
Despite the strike of Santa’s reindeer in last week’s Reindeer Rebellion, the Christmas
production performed by the students of Brussels Public School, the elves remained loyal,
sticking by Santa’s side throughout the whole ordeal. Elves, from left: Darian Fritz, Dana
Dolmage, Teddy Jacklin, Camden Hamilton and Amanda Morrison. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
The Blyth Festival just wrapped
up one of the most successful
seasons in its 34-year history,
realizing a surplus of $175,633 on
its 2008 season.
The season garnered huge critical
acclaim. “At a time when the mantra
of seasonal regional theatre is light
and lively, it’s reassuring to confirm
the Blyth Festival continues to go
against the grain and present
compelling, engaging theatre that
matters,” said Robert Reid of The
Record.
Twenty-six members gathered in
the Bainton Gallery at Blyth
Memorial Community on Dec. 11
for the Blyth Centre for the Arts’
annual general meeting.
Artistic director Eric Coates spoke
of the enormous success of 2008 in
his report, “We took big artistic risks
in 2008, presenting new work that
tackled some extremely sensitive
topics. This was a season for people
who are not afraid to get involved
and to debate big ideas. Huron
County is bursting with these folks
and it seems that every last one of
them came to the Blyth Festival this
year. We are extremely grateful and
also rejuvenated by this show of
support.”
The season posted 28,341 tickets
booked overall, with Innocence
Lost: a play about Steven Truscott
by Beverley Cooper enjoying most
success with 12,671 followed
closely by Harvest by Ken Cameron
with 7,499. Courting Johanna by
Marcia Johnson, based on Alice
Munro’s Hateship, Friendship,
Courtship, Loveship, Marriage and
Against the Grain by Carolyn Hay
closed with 4,440 and 3,197 tickets
respectively.
Elected to the board of directors
and executive for 2009 were: Doug
Elliott, president, Seaforth; Wendy
Hoernig, vice-president, Goderich;
Alison Lobb, treasurer, Clinton; Jodi
Kuran, secretary, Goderich;
Margaret Webster, member at large,
Wingham; David Armstrong,
Goderich; Denis Beker, London;
Cass Bayley, Hensall; Wendy
Hutton, Seaforth; Dr. Bev McKee,
Bayfield; John Rutledge, Goderich;
Lisa TeBrinke, Clinton; Trish
Trenter, Wingham; Jan Vogel,
Goderich; Bruce Whitmore, Walton
and Mary Wolfe, Bayfield.
In 2009 the Festival celebrates 35
years of producing and developing
great Canadian theatre. The season
includes two world premieres, a
return of a hit from 1989, a
Canadian classic and a revival of
Innocence Lost: a play about Steven
Truscott. Save on single tickets by
purchasing Playful Passes now.
For more information visit
www.blythfestival.com or call 1-
877-862-5984 toll free (519-523-
9300 local calls).
The Blyth Festival’s 2008 season
was sponsored by Sparling’s
Propane Co. Ltd. and CTV.
CitizenTh
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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008
Volume 24 No. 50EDUCATION- Pg. 7Versteeg new AMDSBchair CAUSE - Pg. 20Fundraiser to helpHome’s childrenCOMMUNITY- Pg. 6ARC hears fromdelegationsPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK:
Festival realizes
big surplus for ’08
The results, said Const. Joanna
Van Mierlo are a bit disheartening.
“It would seem that people just
don’t get the message about drinking
and driving.”
With the festive RIDE program
only a few weeks in, Huron OPP
nabbed four more impaired drivers
this past weekend, while several
others had their licences suspended
for 12 hours.
“At the risk of sounding like a
broken record, we ask that drivers
make arrangements prior to
attending events that involve
alcohol,” said Van Mierlo.
Unfortunately, even that doesn’t
always work. One of the drivers
charged this weekend was actually
the designated driver for his group.
On Dec. 14 shortly after 3 a.m.,
police came upon a vehicle stuck in
the snow. The driver was steering,
while three occupants were trying to
push him out.
The driver told police they were
coming from a party and that he was
the designated driver. Believing he
had been drinking, police demanded
a roadside breath sample, which the
driver failed.
At the detachment the 22-year-old
from Wingham provided two
samples of his breath which
confirmed he had nearly two times
the legal limit of alcohol in his
blood.
He will appear in court Jan. 15.
A 32-year-old South Huron man
was charged with driving while his
ability was impaired after being
stopped in a Dec. 12 RIDE check in
Egmondville. He will make an
appearance in Goderich court, Feb.
23.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. Dec.
13, 1 29-year-old man from
Bluewaterwas nabbed for drunk
driving after being stopped by an
officer on routine patrol in
Dashwood.
His court appearance is in Exeter
Feb. 26.
The fourth arrest was in Exeter at
approximately 3 a.m. Dec. 14.
A 21-year-old from South Huron
has been charged and will appear in
Exeter court, Feb. 26.
OPP disheartened
by RIDE results
The final issue of The Citizen for
2008 will be published Dec. 24 just
in time for Christmas.
When it goes to press, the staff
will be taking some time off to
enjoy the holidays with family.
The Blyth office will be closed at
2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23 to re-open
Friday, Jan. 2 at 9 a.m. The Brussels
office will close Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.
Deadline for editorial and
advertising copy for the Dec. 24
paper is Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. in
Brussels and 4 p.m. in Blyth.
There will be no Citizen
published the week of Jan. 1.
The Citizen staff would like to
take this opportunity to wish you
and yours a safe and happy
Christmas and all the best for 2009.
Dec. 24 date of last 2008 paper