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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-02-01, Page 1The Citizen Volume 23 No. 5 Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 $1.25 ($1.18 + 7c GST) Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Inside this week Pg. 6 Pg. 8 Pg. 11 Pg. 18 Pg. 19 NH hopes to make a First Impression Playoffs begin for local teams Experts offer financial tips Skating Club bids farewell to coach Local musician on cross-Canada tour The Friends of Ball’s Bridge have received some “incredible” news and the campaign to save the bridge has, it would seem been given a big boost. “It was a shock. There is such love for this bridge,” said Friends co-chair Daryl Ball. “We are so appreciative.” The news came by letter, first to The Citizen. It was written by an area resident who wants to donate her property to Ball’s Bridge. She asked that the letter be put delivered to the right people. The information was given to Ball, who set up a meeting with the woman. “She has a strong connection to the bridge and was moved to this action by the idea that the bridge might disappear,” said Ball. She feels so strongly that the bridge remain here for future generations.” The Friends received notice in writing that the woman has changed her last will and testament, leaving all her earthly possessions, including a house and building lot to the bridge. An estimate of the property value, according to Ball, is in the six-figure range. Ball’s Bridge, an historic iron bridge, located just west of Auburn, was replaced by the county more than a decade ago. Last spring, its deteriorating condition resulted in its closure. With the county taking the stand that it would be too costly to repair the bridge, which also is no longer under county jurisidiction, a group of individuals established the Friends of Ball’s Bridge to try and save the structure. On Jan. 3 county council voted to hand the bridge over to Central Huron and Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh, along with $250,000. The municipalities would work with the Friends to see the bridge open to light traffic and maintain it over the years. “I read in the paper what was happening,” said the benefactor, who has asked to remain anonymous, “and thought it should get some help. I thought this was a good thing to do. That’s it in a nutshell.” Ball, who has been getting legal advice said that the plan is to set up a trust or form a Foundation from all donations, that would see there are enough resources to maintain the bridge forever. “It will take a lot of money down the road. What this person has done, well, it’s incredible really, he said.” “I just wanted to make sure it’s looked after. That’s the main thing,” said the bridge’s benefactor. Ball’s Friends get big news Cross country It was a good day to get out and enjoy nature and winter at the Wawanosh Nature Centre’s annual Snowfest held this past Sunday afternoon. Visitors could don snowshoes and trek through the grounds. (Vicky Bremner photo) Wingham has always been the home of the Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA), and now in its 65th year, it will soon look like it. Announced at a press conference held at the build site on Jan. 25, new WOAA headquarters will be built in Wingham and a fundraising campaign has been launched. After a billboard was presented showing the layout plans for the building, a second billboard was revealed containing the campaign’s slogan and its financial goal. The campaign, themed Building for our Future has a goal of $347,000 and a projected end date of June 10. Although the target for the end of the campaign is in June, there are three year pledge opportunities, with the WOAA hoping to have the building paid off by the end of 2009. Starting with $80,000 that has been raised over the years, several donations were accepted at the news conference, bringing the total collected in excess of $120,000 or 34 per cent of the goal. Volunteers serving on the fundraising and building committees and the WOAA board of directors donated $21,300, $5,000 was donated by CIBC, $3,500 by Wingham minor softball and hockey and $3,000 came from Howick Minor Sports Association. The headquarters will be built on a lot owned by the WOAA, located on Alfred Street just behind the Libro Credit Union, close to Cruickshank Park. The facility will include staff offices, a board room and a lower level hall, able to house clinics, workshops and large-scale meetings, events for which the WOAAhave had to rent local halls up to now. Committee president Dave Black and chair Gary Gravett hope to have a better idea of where construction stands at the end of the campaign in June; however, they hope to start construction by the end of the year, possibly as early as the summer. On hand to help with the conference were WOAA alumni Larry Jeffrey, member of the 1967 Stanley Cup Champion Toronto Maple Leafs and Alison Bradley of the Canadian National Women’s Softball Team. In addition to the alumni, several minor hockey players from Mildmay and Teeswater were on hand to say thank you. In addition to the athletes, local politicians were present to lend their support to the project. North Huron reeve Neil Vincent praised the WOAA and Huron- Bruce MP Paul Steckle said that he is a firm believer in community sports, calling local hockey a great character-builder. The WOAA was born in Wingham and it was important to the organization that its headquarters stay in Wingham. The WOAA concentrates its efforts on hockey and softball associations throughout Midwestern Ontario. Currently the WOAA is located in offices above a shop in downtown Wingham. This expansion will exponentially increase the room the WOAA has to work with. The donation package calls the headquarters a sound economic investment that will help the organization maintain financial stability, making the future of the organization a bright one. Huron East council is almost ready to take the next step in the Brussels Library saga. At Jan. 23’s Huron East council meeting, clerk-administrator Jack McLachlan announced that he will be receiving a price to demolish the building behind the library before council’s next meeting in two weeks. McLachlan said that council’s bid on the property had gone through and now this was the next step. By their next meeting on Feb. 6, McLachlan said he should have a price and council will be able to move from there. This is a step that has to take place before any others can, says McLachlan. Once the price is received by council, McLachlan says, they will be able to discuss the matter further, including a date for the demolition and progress further from that. The Brussels Library has appeared as old business on council’s agenda for quite some time now. Issues first arose when it was resolved that all libraries should be wheelchair accessible, which the Brussels Library still is not. First becoming an issue in 2002, this was something that ratepayers were assured was at the top of everybody’s agenda in 2006’s all- candidates meetings. Many citizens came out to have their voices heard at a public meeting on the future of the library in Nov. of 2005, and after discussions, mayor Joe Seili joked, saying the issue was “clear as mud” to him. Citizens assured councillors that the library is very important to them. There were thoughts on moving the library, but eventually it was decided that was not for the best. By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen WOAA to get new home By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen New chapter in library saga