HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-06-14, Page 1The CitizenVolume 23 No. 24 Thursday, June 14, 2007 $1.25 ($1.18 + 7c GST)Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Inside this week
Pg. 2
Pg. 6
Pg. 10
Pg. 11
Pg. 23
Lifeguards ready to
begin season
Central Huron looks
at doctor proposal
Kids score big for
great-grandma
From rink to
theatre for woman
Classic comes to
Avon Theatre
The Citizen of the Year for
Blyth and area is one of the
community’s “most active
volunteers”, according to her
nominators.
As president of the Legion Ladies
Auxiliary Janice Henry has made it
possible for thousands of dollars to
be raised for projects in the
communty.
One nominator said, “Mrs.
Henry has brought her team
of volunteers together from
the Auxiliary and the Anglican
Church to provide catering for
social groups and offered country
suppers to hundreds of people who
have visited Blyth Festival each
summer.”
Henry has advocated for
improvements to Blyth Memorial
Hall.
Another nominator said Henry is
“a very quiet supporter of many who
are less fortunate in our community.
Only those people know how much
she does.”
For years she spearheaded the
shipping and packing of countless
cartons of clothing to places in
need.
One nominator said Henry takes
volunteering to a different level.
“She is a good Auxiliary member
and has helped me become one
too. Some people would want to
be called a volunteer for this.
Janice just wants to be called a
friend.”
Nominators spoke of Henry’s
dedication to a number of groups
and organizations, including the
Lions and the church. “She puts in
many hours of volunteering in the
community. She is a very deserving
person.”
The award is sponsored annually
by The Citizen.
And
Blyth’s
Citizen
is..?
Decoration
It was a perfect spring day for the annual Blyth Union
Cemetery Decoration Day service this past Sunday. There
was a good turnout for the special remembrance, which
began with the Blyth Legion parade. Pastor Les Cook
delivered the service and hymns were sung by Jackie
Cook. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
An intersection that has been the
site of a number of car crashes,
opened some serious discussion at
the June 6 county council meeting
about drivers in Huron.
Councillor Neil Rintoul of
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
spoke of the most recent incident at
Base Line and Londesborouth Road,
which claimed the life of a Toronto
physician.
He also noted that this was not an
isolated case.
“I know the intersection meets the
county criteria, but this is the second
time in 2007 that the air ambulance
has had to come here because of an
accident at that corner.”
He wondered about solutions,
such as a way to slow the traffic on
Base Line. “I don’t have the answers
but I think we have to do
something.”
County engineer Don Pletch said
that county staff were called out to
the most recent crash. The problem
in this case and others, he said, was
that the driver didn’t come to a full
stop before proceeding.
“We too are concerned by the
number of accidents at this corner,”
said Pletch, adding that from 1990-
2002 there have been 15 crashes at
that intersection.
“All have been drivers who failed
to stop,” he said.
June 4, staff was sent out to watch
traffic at that intersection, Pletch
said. Out of 67 vehicles travelling
east-west, only 26 stopped. “And
these are not visitors, these are
people from the community.”
“It’s not because there’s no
flashing light. It’s not because
there’s no rumble strips. They’re just
rolling through,” he said.
Councillor Bill Dowson of
Bluewater wondered if a four-way
stop might not be a solution. “It may
not stop the accidents, but it may
stop deaths there as traffic from all
directions would be slowing.”
Pletch mentioned the intersection
of County Roads 31 and 13, calling
it the most dangerous in the county.
“But we have had no accidents there
because people have to stop to see if
anything’s coming.”
Pletch feels it may be for this
reason too that none of the accidents
at the Base Line intersection have
occurred in winter. “Because there
are snowbanks and they have to stop
to look before they proceed. Perhaps
some sort of barrier to visibility
would force them to stop.”
The problem extends beyond this
particular location, however. Pletch
said the average speed on county
roads is 115 km per hour, well above
the posted 90 km per hour. Even in
populated areas, he said, drivers are
travelling usually 20-25 km and hour
above the speed limit.
Driver inattentiveness is also a
problem, he said, with many drivers
talking on cell phones. “People are
just not focussing on their driving.”
“OPP are aware and have stepped
up their efforts. There has been a
significant increase in policing since
January,” said Pletch.
Warden Deb Shewfelt of Goderich
agreed saying that information came
through loud and clear at the
Western Region of the OPP meeting
he attended. “(OPP Commissioner
Julian) Fantino wants more front
line policing.”
A new tradition has seen its start in
Blyth as the Blyth Festival held the
am920 Ontario Open Country
Singing Contest June 8, 9, and 10 in
Blyth Memorial Hall.
Event co-ordinator, Amber Riehl,
expressed her delight in the success
of the event held for the first time in
Blyth.
“Contestants were pleased at the
opportunity to perform in a
professional venue. Over $4,900 in
cash prizes was given away to
the winners at the Sunday finals
in Blyth. am920 on-air personalities
kept the events running smoothly
as master of ceremonies, and a
large corps of wonderful volun-
teers assisted to ensure an
entertaining weekend was enjoyed
by all.”
Winners in the 12 and under
karaoke category were: Carly
Schnur (Burlington), R.J. Latter
(London), Brontae Hunter
(Kincardine), Aleisha Mayers
(Sarnia), and Emily Beckenhauer
(Elmwood). Jessica Woodhouse
from Stratford was the first-prize
winner in the 18 and under category,
followed by Rachel Page
(Kincardine), Kristin Hawley
(Stratford) and. Johnee Rae Whalen
(Sault Ste. Marie), and Amanda
Brown (Formosa).
Female open category winners
included Chantal Thorn (Kitchener),
Kira Isabella (Orleans), Leslie-Ann
McKee (Timmins), Genevieve
Fisher (London) and Careyanne
Andrews (Oakland). The male open
winners were Sheldon Nickerson
and Raymond Miller (Brantford),
Aaron Shane (Hanover), John Fraser
(Mississauga) and Frank
MacLennan (Etobicoke).
The band under the leadership of
Steven Miller played two pieces for
each contestant in each 18 and under
and open categories ranging from
traditional country music to new
“country” music of Carrie
Underwood, Faith Hill, Martina
McBride and Shania Twain.
The 2007 Ontario Open Country
Singing Contest was sponsored by
am920 Radio, A Channel, Flynn
Farms (Clinton) Ltd., Groves TV
and Appliance Centre, Clinton
Raceway, MicroAge Basics, Ontario
Greenways Inc., Pandora’s Pantry
and the Fireside Café. The Blyth
Festival’s 2007 Special Events
Sponsor is Huron Insurance
Managers Group.
The 2008 am920 Ontario Open
Country Singing Contest will be
held May 23, 24 and 25 concurrent
with the 11th annual Barndance
Jamboree in Blyth.
Organizers feel the events are
complimentary and look forward to
working together to maximize the
experience for the contestants and
audience alike.
For more information contact
Amber Riehl, special events co-
ordinator at the Blyth Festival.
Registration packages will be
available Aug. 1.
Corner raises concerns for county
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Country crooners compete in Blyth