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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-07-26, Page 1The CitizenVolume 23 No. 30 Thursday, July 26, 2007 $1.25 ($1.18 + 7c GST)Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Inside this week Pg. 7 Pg. 9 Pg. 16 Pg. 19 Pg. 20 Locals named Madill Scholars Girls bring home silver from tourney Brewers in first place CHSS, GDCI Ontario Scholars Double homicide in Huron County Arson is suspected in a fire that occurred sometime during the night of July 18-19 on Brandon Road near Ethel. Grey firefighters responded to the VanNes dairy operation at 3:30 a.m. Chief Calvin Semple said a shed had burned, as well as a tractor and mixer wagon which had been backed into the building. “It had been going quite a while by the time we got there.” Huron OPP also said there was damage to a milking barn. Semple explained that he had been called back to the scene at 6 a.m. by the one of the VanNeses. “He said there was something I needed to see. It appeared that someone had tried to start fires in other areas of the barn.” OPP are treating the fire as suspicious. The crime unit and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office had been contacted last week. Semple estimates the damage could be as high as $200,000. Counting the days As Homecoming 2007 was drawing near Jim Lee helped with the countdown on a downtown bulletin board. Only one sleep remains until folks start coming home to Brussels for the 135th anniversary celebration. The opening night ceremony is at 6:45 p.m. at the ball park. (Bonnie Gropp photo) Police suspect arson In a close vote North Huron council made a decision to allow Sunday gun hunting in the township. Greg Farrant, communications manager for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters was present at the July 16 meeting, along with 10 avid hunters, to plead their case. Farrant said that there are currently 67 municipalities in southern Ontario that support Sunday gun hunting, including Huron East and Central Huron. He noted as well that there are 3,379 Federation members in the area. When the opportunity to approve Sunday gun hunting in a municipality was brought forward a couple of years ago, the council of the day had rejected it. With an election having taken place since, the delegation was hoping to have council reconsider. Farrant said there were several reasons for promoting Sunday gun hunting. The first was the loss of livestock and crops due to predators. “Wildlife has caused $45-$50 million annually in damages,” he said, “and livestock predation is increasing.” Hunting is the best tool for wildlife management. “Bylaws that appear to restrict hunting based on public impression should be challenged,” he said. Safety is the third reason for allowing Sunday gun hunting. “Collisions with wildlife have increased by 86 per cent over the last 10 years,” said Farratt. “There is a reported motor vehicle/wildlife collision in Ontario every 38 minutes. Ninety percent of these involve white tail deer.” “Without the annual deer hunt, wildlife experts estimate that vehicle collisions with deer would increase by at least 300 per cent.” Economically there is a benefit to Sunday gun hunting as well, said Farratt. “Hunting represents a $1.5 billion infusion into the province.” The extra day allows hunter to spend more time in an area, he said, and provides additional opportunity for those who work long hours. “Many people may only have Sundays to share an activity with family members.” For those who argue from a religious standpoint, Farratt said that Quebec, which has the “highest religious practice” in the country has had Sunday gun hunting for two decades. From a safety standpoint, Ontario By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen Summertime and the living is easy. Or at least it’s going to be for the staff of The Citizen soon. The office will be closing soon for vacation. The Brussels office will be closing Monday, July 30 at 2 p.m. to re-open Monday, Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. The Blyth office will close Thursday, Aug. 2 at 5 p.m. to re- open Monday, Aug. 13 at 9 a.m. There will be no paper for the week of Aug. 9. Anyone interested in advertising any event for that week may choose to do so in the Aug. 2 paper. All advertising must be in by July 30 at 2 p.m. in Brussels and 4 p.m. in Blyth to be included. We’re all going on a holiday Brussels Homecoming is going to be a busy weekend, so use your time wisely. The opening ceremonies will take place at the Brussels ball park at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, July 27. As of 6 p.m. that night, food will be available from the Brussels Legion at a booth at the ball park, leading up to the long-anticipated rematch between Ritchie’s Rockets taking on Jamestown for the first of their two games over the weekend. The Rockets haven’t played competitive ball since 1975 and are eager to retake the throne as a great ball team that knows how to have a good time. Be sure to watch for some antics and a new mascot for the Rockets. After game one of the Ritchie’s Rockets flashback series, the Brussels Tigers will take to the field for the first game of their tournament at 8 p.m. Friday night will be wrapped up with a teen dance at the Legion for ages 10 and up at a $5 admission charge. That gets going at 8 p.m. and finishes up at 11 p.m. Monkey Finger, a local band, is performing live at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. That also carries a $5 admission charge and will go from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday morning kicks off early with breakfast at the Brussels United Church starting at 7 a.m. Saturday carries the main event, the parade, and has many day-long activities to fill everyone’s agendas. The Car boot sale runs from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. People will be selling their wares out of the trunks of their cars, similar to a garage sale, but mobile. Shortly after that, the car show gets rolling. Taking place at Logan’s mill and the dam island, the car show will run from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., giving everyone plenty of time to soak in the sights of the show. Speed is the name of the game at the soap box derby, taking place at Sports Drive and Thomas Street between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Also at 9 a.m., the Tigers tournament continues at the ball park. Food is provided by the Legion at the ball park during the game as well. Team penning also starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The penning goes on all day, through to 6 p.m. The volleyball tournament also gets rolling at 9 a.m. Both activities are taking place at the Optimists’ Clubhouse. At 11 a.m. the Brussels Mennonite Church barbecue begins at the BMG Community Centre The beer garden at the ball park will open at 11 a.m. as well. At noon is the parade that will run right down Turnberry Street. At 2 p.m. there is a Jamboree at the Legion, quickly followed by game two between Jamestown and Ritchie’s Rockets at the ball park. The middle of the three-day festival will be capped off with a beef barbecue at the BMG Community Centre between 5 and 7 p.m. put on by Cardiff’s Presbyterian Church and the Agricultural Society. MacAdam Road will play from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Community Centre dance at a cost of $10. The Brussels Fire Department kicks Sunday off with a breakfast at the fire hall from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Team penning kicks off the day again, starting at 9 a.m. and running through to 6 p.m., the fastball tournament continues at the ball diamond at 11 a.m. followed by a multi-denominational church service. The service takes place at the Brussels Conservation Area. At noon, the beer garden opens at the ball park once again, then the bathtub races go at 1 p.m. at the Brussels dam. Shortly after the bathtub races, the Lions Club duck races will be held at the dam. Tickets will be available throughout the weekend for $5 each, or three for $10. Starting at 4 p.m., there will be a pork chop barbecue, put on by the Anglican Church at the BMG Community Centre. At 8 p.m., the shirt tail parade gets running from the Brussels pool, onward to the arena.The evening and the weekend concludes with a fireworks presentation at dusk at the BMG Community Centre. Fun begins on Friday night N. Huron to allow Sunday gun hunting By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen Continued on page 10