The Citizen, 2007-06-28, Page 1The CitizenVolume 23 No. 26 Thursday, June 28, 2007 $1.25 ($1.18 + 7c GST)Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Inside this week
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Gearing up for
Homecoming 2007
Blyth team takes
tournament by Storm
Barn Dance
Society donates
Brussels students
collect pop tabs
‘Of Mice and Men’
at Tom Patterson
Michael Gulutzen of Huron East
will receive a Fire Safety
Action Award from the Fire
Marshal’s Public Fire Safety
Council at a ceremony on June 28
in Toronto.
Each year Fire Safety Action
Awards are awarded to
young children and teenagers who
have actively demonstrated fire
safety behaviours they have
learned.
On Feb. 9, 2007, then eight-year-
old Michael and his three-year-old
brother Ryan were at home in their
family’s living room when Michael
saw smoke coming from the
kitchen. He yelled to his father,
who was just outside repairing a
vehicle.
When his father came into the
kitchen doorway, flames were
licking the ceiling. Michael quickly
went back into the living room and
awakened Ryan, who was sleeping
at the time. The boys got low and
crawled under the smoke to the
doorway where their father was
waiting.
The Huron East Fire Department
– Grey Twp. Station annually visits
the local public school to teach
students about fire safety in their
classrooms.
Recently, the Huron County fire
departments purchased a fire safety
house and have used it on their
visits to local schools and in
community events. Grey Fire
Department also hands out fire
safety materials to residents at their
local community breakfast every
June.
“A fire can start when you least
expect it,” said Fire Marshal
Pat Burke. “Michael was able
to realize his sleeping brother
would need assistance to get out
of the home. He knew what
needed to be done, he did it and as
a result, helped his family avert a
tragedy.”
The annual Fire Safety
Awards recognize outstanding
contributions to fire protection and
prevention in Ontario. Fire
departments throughout the
province nominated individuals
and organizations for this year’s
awards; 21 recipients were
selected.
The Minister of Community
Safety and Correctional Services
Monte Kwinter and Fire Marshal
Burke will present the awards
at a luncheon ceremony at the
Fairmont Royal York Hotel in
Toronto.
Child
gets
fire
safety
award
Well if there was any doubt, it’s
been reconfirmed. ATVs are not
allowed on any road in North Huron.
OPP Inspector Dan Grant of the
Huron detachment attended the
North Huron council meeting June
18 to clarify regulations regarding
ATV use in the municipality.
Councillor James Campbell
explained why there were questions.
“Two yeas ago the government said
to pass a bylaw to allow them on a
municipality’s roads. We understood
that as long as we didn’t pass one,
they aren’t allowed.”
“That sums it up,” said the
inspector, adding that no country
roads allow ATV use and in this area
they are not allowed on any
provincial highway.
Councillor Archie MacGowan
noted that there does seem to be an
increase in the number of ATVs. He
also mentioned that they had been a
problem, causing damage in county
forests.
“Is your assessment that the
province needs to step in with a
blanket legislation?” he asked
Grant.
This was not, however, something
that the inspector felt would help.
“We have avenues to deal with these
issues,” he said. These include the
Trespass to Property Act and
criminal offences.
“I deal with legislation that’s
important to us,” he said.
Campbell said he had been
contacted a few weeks earlier about
ATVs in a county forest. When the
police were called, however, he said
the OPP said they had no
jurisdication and the bylaw
enforcement officer would have to
deal with it.
“Had I talked to the officer, I
would have questioned that,” he
said.
Grant responded, “And rightly so.
ATVs in a county forest is not a
bylaw issue, it’s a police issue.”
The proper procedure for an ATV
complaint said Grant is to call the
police. “And if you don’t get a
satisfactory response then call me,
because then it’s one of my issues.”
“So when an officer is out on
patrol and finds someone on a ATV
in a place that has no bylaw
permitting their use...?” Campbell
questioned.
“They can be charged on the roads
and charged with trespassing on
private property. There are lots of
resources for us to use,” Grant
responded.
The problem, however, is making
contact. “We are not in a position to
get into a pursuit with them. It’s
dangerous and doesn’t work.”
A total identification is required
for an arrest, however, police can
go and talk to someone who is
suspected of being the guilty
party.
While everyone agreed that ATVs
have become a problem, they also
recognized that it’s a few making it
bad for the rest. Grant mentioned a
group that is trying to organize
similar to the snowmobile clubs. “To
my understanding they are a fairly
responsible group.”
On June 19 police were contacted
by a man who had found some
marijuana plants in a cornfield
behind his Blyth Road residence.
Police attended and seized 21
plants in the clone stage.
Huron OPP once again is asking
for the public’s help to put an end to
illegal marijuana crops in Huron
County. Marijuana plants have now
been planted outdoors.
Many times illegal crops are
planted on property without the
landowner’s knowledge. If you
come across an illegal marijuana
crop or a crop that you think looks
suspicious, call Crime Stoppers or
Huron OPP.
Report an illegal crop and harvest
your reward by calling Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Riding high
It’s not just for boarders as Philip Dow proved demonstrating some high-flying stunts on the
ramps at the new Blyth youth activity park. The official opening was Friday evening highlighted
by games, activities and a fish fry. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Farmer
finds pot
Huron and Grey County OPP
property crimes unit teamed up and
scored big as they recovered
$100,000 worth of farm equipment.
Equipment recovered was a
$30,000 baler from Brindley’s in
Dungannon, $40,000 farm tractor
from Belfast Road, Ashfield-
Colborne-Wawanosh Twp., a New
Holland haybine from Lucknow; an
ATV from Lucknow Line Ashfield-
Colborne-Wawanosh, a hay rake
from McGavin’s in Walton, and two
ATV’s from St. Michael’s Road
Morris Twp.
Two males were arrested and have
been charged. A 19-year-old from
Melancthon Twp., Dufferin County
has been charged with six counts of
possession of stolen property. A 22-
year-old Morris-Turnberry man has
been held for a bail hearing and will
appear on June 25 at Goderich
provincial court and face four counts
of possession over $5,000, five
counts of possession under $5,000.
OPP
charge 2
for thefts
OPP inspector confirms
no ATVs allowed in NH
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen