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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-02-11, Page 1Wheeler brings home national skating title Kevin Wheelerof Brussels came home triumphant on Monday, bearing the gold and silver medals he and his figure skating partner won last week at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Ottawa. It is only the latest in a long string of victories for the 21-year- old skater. Mr. Wheeler and 14-year-old Michelle Menzies of Preston plac­ ed first in both their compulsory and freeskate programs at the Ottawa Civic Centre to make a clean sweep for the gold medal in Junior Pairs Skating. As well, the pair teamed up with Christine Hough of Waterloo and Doug Ladret of Vancouver to place second in the “Fours” competi- X. Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. VOL. 3 NO. 6 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1987.40 CENTS Blyth may lose rail line Blyth, Auburn and Walton have joined other Huron County com­ munities who face the possible loss of rail service after Canadian Pacific Rail served notice to municipalities along the Goderich to Guelph line that it plans to apply for abandonment. Theletterhasbeensenttoall municipalities and was to be dealt with by Blyth council on Tuesday night. It had earlier been consider­ ed by Hu ronCounty co unci land the town of Goderich. CP Rail says the Goderich to Guelph portion of the line that runs from Goderich to Hamilton has been losing money. The inter­ mediate points along the route have received and forwarded only 10 carloads a month for the last two years and traffic from Goderich itself has been under increasing competition from Great Lakes ships. The route still remains one of the busier lines in Huron county and although CP has applied for abandonment it may not be the end of the line. The Canadian Trans­ port Commission can order the railway to continue the service (as it could for other lines such as the Canadian National line through Brussels) in which case the railway is eligible for government subsi­ dies. Teacher contract talks blacked out A news blackout has been imposed on contract talks between the Huron County Board of Education, its 350 elementary school teachers, and a provincial mediator. Personnel Relations Admini­ strator Gino Giannandrea was unable to say on Monday when the blackout might be lifted, or when further talks might take place. Negotiations began in Stratford on February 4. Wages are only one of 16 items on the bargaining table. The teachers are seeking a salary grid increase of six per cent, which would bring the top salary for a teacher in Huron to $48,124, while the Board is offering a two-year package which would bring the top salary to $47,436 by the end of the year. The countryside around Blyth was alive with the roar of snowmobile engines on Saturday as close to 300 snowmobilers took part in the Blyth Snowtravellers Poker Rally. The route took participants from the Westfield area as far south as Londesboro. Museum gets$1.17 million grant BY BILL BRAGG Plans to rebuild and renovate the Huron County Pioneer Museum went into high gear last week when a provincial grant of $1,171,300 toward the cost of the first phase was announced on Friday. Anticipating the grant, Huron County Council the day before the announcement was made approv­ ed working drawings of the first phase and authorized a call for tenders. The old Central School, built in 1856, will be retained as the main entrance to the building but all existing additions will be de­ molished and replaced with new construction during the first phase which is estimated to cost around $2.2 million. The second phase calls for renovations to the school building and landscaping, bringing the total estimated cost to between $3.5 million and $3.6 million. The $1,171,300 grant was made under the Community Facilities Improvement Program of the Ministry of Citizenship and Cul­ ture. It was announced by the mini- Continued on page 5 tion, adding a silver medal to their collection. Miss Hough was Mr. Wheeler’s original skating partner in national competition, but the pair broke up after Miss Hough was injured on the eve of a world competition in 1983. The Hough-Ladretteam was the emotional favourite in Ottawa, after the miraculous recovery of Mr. Ladret after an accident only three months ago which left him near death after a fall on the ice. Besides winning two medals at the national finals, the Wheeler- Menzies team earned a place in the world record books by successfully completing an intricate routine known as a “Throw Triple Flip,’ the only junior pair to have ever completed the maneuver in the history of skating. As well, the couple became the only team in Canada to perform the equally difficult ‘Fordward Outside Death Spiral’ during their four-minute freeskate routine in Ottawa. “We’re just relieved it’s over,” Mr. Wheeler said. “It’s a lot of training andshard work, and we’re glad it paid off.” Since last July, he and his partner have put in eight hours a day on the ice, as well as six hours a day in off-ice conditioning, includ­ ing running five miles a day, or running the equivalent on stairs, and doing vigorous weight exer­ cises for muscle strength. Even after taking the national­ level gold medal, Mr. Wheeler and Miss Menzies will not be going on to the World Championships in Cincinnati next month. Canada is only permitted to sent three teams to the international competition, and it’s the senior pairs that get chosen. The Hough-Ladret pair will be included, after winning the senior pairs third-place bronze medal in Ottawa. Instead, they look forward to the 1988 Canadian Nationals in Victor­ ia next February, when competi­ tors for the Calgary Olympics will be chosen. The area’s other championship team, Peter MacDonald of RR 3, Brussels, and Kerrie Shepherd of RR 1, Blyth, placed 11th overall in the Novice Dance Division at the National Finals. Brussels Santa Claus parade reorganized The 1987 Brussels Santa Claus parade is set to go next December at a new time, which organizers feel will attract a larger crowd to stay in the village and shop. Last December, the parade went off at 11 a.m., a time later criticized by Brussels councillors, some of w hom felt the timing permitted people to see the parade in Brussels, then hurry off to other communities to see other parades and stay for shopping. This year’s parade will start at 2 p.m. on December 5. Kathy Burkholder, 1987 parade chairman, said the parade commit­ tee meeting last Wednesday at­ tracted a good turnout, with representation from many main street businesses and Brussels service clubs and organizations. Sheaddedthattherewasalotof enthusiasm for the new time selected. Other officers elected at the meeting are: Ron Clarkson, trea­ surer; Allan Teeft, secretary; Albert Roetcisoender, business representative; and Neil MacDon­ ald, representative from council. The next Parade Committee meeting will be held at the Brussels legionat8p.m., September 23. All interested parties are urged to attend.