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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-07-20, Page 1Railway hearing Wingham hearing will decide railway's fate See page 5 Young Actors Auburn boys on professional stage See page 10 Sports Walton, Lawries lead league See page 18 VOL. 4 NO. 29 Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988.45 CENTS Rain helps. Need more. The rain that some parts of the area got on Friday and Saturday nights was the answer to many a prayer - but it still wasn’t enough to rectify the damage that eight weeks of drought has done to the crops, according to OMAF crop specialist Brian Hall. “It has saved the crops tempor­ arily, but it’s still not enough to get us through harvest,’’ Mr. Hall said Monday. He said that reports indicated that about 60 per cent of the county got anywhere from one and one-half to two inches of rain over both nights, but that most of the rest of Huron had received as little as one-half inch in total. Weather­ man Boyd Taylor reported that his rain gauge, about a mile east of Blyth, had recorded 18 mm. of rain Friday night and an additional 6 mm. on Saturday, for a total of nearly one inch, but reports from the Brussels area indicated con­ siderably more rain both evenings, while observers in East Wawanosh said the Friday night fall was “scarcely enough to wet your shirt.’’ The beans, both soys and white, look surprisingly good in most areas, Mr. Hall said, adding that they still have the potential to produce close to normal yields if we get more rain. But he said that much of the corn crop has already gone “beyond saving,’’ with plantstassling while only knee- high likely to produce only about 50 per cent of the normal yield, although other fields still have a good chance of recovery. The rain could also initiate second growth in pasture fields, Mr. Hall noted, but added that it will take quite a bit more moisture before cattle can be put back on grass. Many beef cattle across the county have already gone to feedlots, while most dairymen are feeding hay to try to save parched pastures. To ease the situation somewhat, Mr. Hall said that the Clinton OMAF office is initiating a “Hay Exchange’’ this week to try to get buyers and sellers from across the county together. Farms with hay to sell can call the office and leave their name, phone number and the kind and amount of hay they have, while farmers needing hay can do the same, while OMAF staff will co-ordinate the calls. “We’ll try to ease the situation in Huron County first,” Mr. Hall said, “although we’ve already had calls from people as far away as Kentucky looking for Ontario hay.” To take part in the Hay Exchange, call the Clinton OMAF office at 482-3428 or at 1-800-265- 5170. Bible stories come to life this week at “Bethlehem 29 A.D.” the theme for the Kldscorner Bible School at the Mennonite Fellowship Church in Brussels. Story teller Margaret MacLeod fascinates children with her stories of the time while other instructors, also in costume, bring other Bible events to life. The unique approach has brought out a iarger-than-expected attendance of 110 youngsters. Prime Minister coming Prime Minister Brian Mulroney willmakehisfirstvisittoHuron county July 28 when he visits Goderich to officially open the new harbour development in the lake­ shore town. After flying into Goderich Air­ port from Ottawa he is scheduled to open the $17 million harbour project at 10:30. The federal government-funded project saw dredging of the harbour and the building of a new warf on the north sideof the harbour near the salt mines. Later the Prime Minister and his wife Mila and family will attend an open luncheon at Goderich airport as a fundraiser for the Progressive Conservative Party. That event is scheduled to start at 11:45. He will beinGoderich until 2 p.m. Full details of the visit are still being worked out and should be available for next week’s paper. Brussels Legion delays construction Re-construction of the Brussels Legion building, which was gutted by fire in the early morning hours of July 6, has been put on hold for at least 30 days to give members enough time “to consider all the options,” according to public relations officer and Legion secre­ tary Kathy Burkholder. “We don’t want to rush into anything until we are very sure of thedirectionwewanttotake,” Mrs. Burkholder said Monday night, following a meeting of voting members of Branch 218 called to discuss the issue. At the same time, members appointed a building committee of Bob Harkness, John Rutledge and Ross Bennett who will work under committee chairman Murray Lowe to direct the project; Isabelle Janes was also appointed to the commit- Continued on page 22 Dogs dog Blyth council debates In the great affairs of municipal politics in Blyth dogs continue to have high place. The problems of dogs running at large took up council time again at its meeting July 12. Helen Grubb, Clerk-treasurer explained that dogs on the loose had been causing problems for Mrs. June Foran and her new guide dog as they make their way around the village. The dogs come running out to challenge the guide dog and the dog, trained to protect its master, prepares to meet the challenge. It means that it can’t do its proper job of helping Mrs. Foran around the village. Reeve Albert Wasson said there isn’t much the council can do where the dogs are still on their owner’s property but he hoped that people in the areas where Mrs. Foran often walks would become aware of her problem and help out. “I’m beginning to think dog owners are as bad as smokers” Councillor William Howson said, referringtoa discussion earlier about trying to get smokers to use ashtrays instead of butting out on village streets near Memorial Hall. “We don’t seem to have any luck getting through to people what is right and what is wrong.” A considerable discussion then took place on trying to control the number of dogs running at large. Councillor Howson wondered when was the last time village workmen had picked up a dog. Merv Ritchie, town foreman, said that two or three dogs had been destroyed in the last year. “We can threaten all we like but we have the responsibility for picking up dogs,” Reeve Wasson said. “The more you can pick up the better,” Councillor Howson said as council agreed to stricter enforcement of the dog by-law. Mr. Ritchie meanwhile was mak­ ing plans for better equipment for catching dogs.