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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-12-03, Page 1Santa's going to be very busy on Saturday VOL. 2 NO. 49 Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1986.40 CENTS It was a day of triumph last week when the Londesboro Liuns Club tar surpassed its fund-raising goal of $30,000 by bringing in more than $45,000 during the “Back the Biter’’ campaign. The required amount will be used to purchase a fully-equipped van for Lion Ron Nesbitt, in a wheelchair since being injured in a swimming accident last summer. Helping to put the fund over the top was the $10.99 collected by Amanda Kennedy, 6, of Londesboro, shown above giving a hug to Mr. Nesbitt, her real-life hero, as she presents him with her bag of coins. 3 in custody after Brussels robbery Two men and a 16-year-old juvenile are in custody following an armed robbery of Brussels Variety on Saturday night. Two men, one armed with what later turned out to be scissors but was mistaken for a knife, entered the store about8:40p.m. Oneofthe men wore a stocking mask and one wore a ski mask. Clerk Joanne Van Vliet and customer Shelley Jor- ritsma were in the store at the time. According to Sgt. John McKee of the Wingham Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, the juvenile remained in the car at the time. After leaving the store the robbers proceeded to Seaforth where a civilian overheard them talking about their exploits and tipped off the police. Subsequently thetriowas ap­ prehended between Seaforth and Clinton and about $350 in cash was recovered. Charged are Gary Melhuish, 24 of no fixed address and Mark Wood, 22, of Goderich St., Sea­ forth, plus the juvenile whose ■ ■ — - - —1 ■ arrive to give out more candies to Blyth and area children. Wow! Biter Backers boost fund to $45,000 Proceedsfrom the “Back the Biter’’ Day in Londesboro Satur­ day exceeded even the wildest expectations as Londesboro, Au­ burn, Blyth and surrounding com­ munities rallied to the aid of a neighbour. The day, Saturday, November 29, brought in at least $45,000, half as much again as the goal of $30,000 set by the Londesboro Lions Club some seven weeks ago when the project was first announ­ ced. “And there are still donations coming in today (Monday),’’ said fund-raising chairman Dave Over- boe, who predicts that the final total may be “closer to $50,000.’’ The project was undertaken by the village’s, 19-member Lions Club to raise enough money to purchase a fully-equipped van for Lion Ron Nesbitt, in a wheelchair since he broke his neck in a swimming accident last July. From the very beginning, donations of both time and money have poured in to support the fund, with nearly $17,000 in hand before the week­ end’s events got underway. Busi­ nesses, groups and individuals from Londesboro and surrounding communities have reacted with great generosity and enthusiasm, with individual gifts ranging from nearly $1,500 to the $10.99 presen­ ted by six-year-old Amanda Kenn­ edy, Ron Nesbitt’s greatest fan. The Auction Saturday evening was the crowd’s runaway favour­ ite, raising over $10,000 on the 144 items and services offered for bids by Auctioneer Burt Lobb of Clinton, spelled off when the going got rough by Ontario Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell, an old auctioneer from ‘way back.’ The box seats for a party of eight for a Toronto Blue Jays game, donated by John and Brenda Radford .went for $900 to a group of Londesboro ball fans; the gigantic Canadian flag, which had flown on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and was donated by MP Murray Cardiff, went to the Town of Clinton on a reserve bid of $300; artist Larry Lucio’s limited edition print went for $300 to Bill Bromley; and three days of labour, donated by Jim Preszcator who claimed “nobody identity cannot be released under the Young Offenders Act. Store owner Ron Clarkson said the one good thing about the whole experience was the involvement of the civilian who helped police capture the suspects. It was good to know, Mr. Clarkson said, that people would get involved to stop crime. Santa will get a real workout Saturday as he makes stops in both Blyth and Brussels as part of his pre-Christmas rounds meeting boys and girls. He’ll make his appearance first Sunday morning at the Brussels Santa Claus parade that starts out at Brussels Agromart at 10:15. The Seaforth Girls Band and majorette groups from Brussels and Wing­ ham will take part in the parade. Afterward Santa will visit the Legion hall where he’ll meet kids and distribute candies. Then it’s off to Blyth where he’ll arrive about 2:40 p.m. Blyth Lions Club will, as usual, provide movies at Blyth Memorial Hall starting at 2 p.m. After the movies Santa will has ever seen me work,” went to high bidder Tom Allen of T.B. Allen Ltd. for $200. Ontario Premier David Peter­ son’s autographed tie, donated by MPP Jack Riddell, sold to an unknown bidder for $120, who in turn donated it to Ron Nesbitt, the man atthe centre of it all. Ron’s father, Carl Nesbitt, got the “Rick Continued on page 32 Extra money goes in fund With a surplus of more than $15,000 above its goal in the “Back the Biter Day’’ project, the Londesboro Lions Club has decided to set up a charitable trust fund which will provide the basis for a similar award, if one should ever be needed. “We’ll invest the money for maximum growth, but I sin­ cerely hope we will never have to spend it on anything like this again,’’ said fund-raising chair­ man Dave Overboe, who was visibly moved by the unprece­ dented generosity of the village and its surrounding communi­ ties over the past few weeks. More than $45,000 was rais­ edin a one-day event planned to raise $30,000 to purchase a fully-equipped van for fellow Lion Ron Nesbitt, who has been confined to a wheelchair since suffering a swimming accident last summer. “The next recipient of the award could be anybody,’’ Mr. Overboe said. “Our only criter­ ia will be that there be no money or insurance available to cover whatever it is we fund.’’ Wanted... Christmas memories With Christmas fast approach­ ing, The Citizen is looking for special Christmas stories to in­ clude in the Christmas issue of the paper which will appear Dec. 23. A special prize will be awarded the best story about ‘ * My Favourite Christmas’’, about the memories of Christmases past on the part of our readers. A prize of $15 will go to the story chosen as the best. $10 will goto the second prize story and $5 will go to all stories chosen for publication in the Christmas issue of The Citizen. Deadline for entry is December 17.