Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-12-13, Page 1Christmas workshop Blyth couple helps out Santa See page 5 Soaring renovation costs have councillors upset The cost of renovating part of Huronview to serve as offices for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food has jumped 700 per cent since the first estimates were given to Huron County Council. County Councillors Thursday ap­ proved the awarding the tender for t* renovation of the “Summer- hui ’ wing of Huronview' to the firm of D. Grant and Sons Ltd. at a cost of $626,500, pending a suitable lease agreement being reached with the Ministry of Government Services which is in charge of acquiring space for OMAF. The cost of the contract does not include another approximately $100,000 in architect fees, con­ struction costs for a parking lot and the cost of removing asbestos from the building. The renovated build­ ing will provide 11,172 square feet for OMAF’s use. The cost of the renovations stunned some councillors who won­ dered if the county should be getting involved with renting if it was going to have to tie up so much money. “I can just hardly believe the figures that are in front of me.” Clinton Reeve Bee Cooke, said. The original estimate of the cost for the renovation had been much lower, she said. Tom Tomes, Reeve of Stephen township and vice- chairman of the Huronview com­ mittee agreed, saying the first estimates had been from $75,000 to $90,000 but when the Ministry of Government Services got involved, the things it wanted included in the building drove the estimate up to $450,000. But the tenders were over the estimate by 30 per cent and he said his committee and the architect had been surprised by the escalation. Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle was one Continued on page 17 Citizen publishes twice next week In order to accommodate holiday schedules, The Citizen will be keeping different hours in the next few weeks. Next week’s issue of The Citizen will be delivered to area homes Tuesday morning. It means that the deadline for advertising and news is 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. The annual Christmas issue of The Citizen will be delivered to area homes Friday, Dec. 22. The advertising deadline for this issue is also Friday, Dec. 15. The Citizen will be closing to give employees a week of holidays during the Christmas season. There will be no issue between Christmas and New Year’s. The January 3 issue will go out as usual but deadline for the issue will be Friday, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. The changes will mean some altered hours. Since our advertis­ ing staff will begin its holidays Dec. 18, the Brussels office will not be open. It will re-open Dec. 28. Christmas subscription orders and subscription renewals can be mail­ ed to the office or dropped through the door and will be processed. The Blyth office will be closed beginning Dec. 21 and will re-open Dec. 28. Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. VOL. 5 NO. 50 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1989. 50 CENTS History crumbles A Blyth landmark came tumbling down last week as crews working for CP Rail demolished 1 ‘The Arch” on the CP line at the northeast part of the village. Thearch carried the old CN Wingham-London line over the CP’s Goderich-Guelph line. In recent years the abandoned CN line had been a favourite walking trail for local peopleand over the years many youngsters went to “the arch” to swim in the Blyth Creek. Henschels to be in Goderich court Tuesday Klaus and Kirstin Henschel will appear in court in Goderich Tues­ day to speak to 15 counts of fraud and theft in connection with the bankruptcy of Brussels Stockyards Limited in October 1988. Preliminary trial on the charges was set for that day but sources say the trial is unlikely to proceed. The charges involve, the disap­ pearance of the couple along with hundreds of thousands of dollars following the regular Friday auc- 21, 1988. Left unpaid were local tion at the Stockyards on October farmers who had sold livestock Auburn bam, cattle destroyed Fire destroyed a large dairy barn near Auburn early Sunday morn­ ing, killing 25-35 head of dairy cattle as well. Blyth District Fire Chief Paul Josling said the older section of the barn on the farm of Peter DeGraaf, RR 3, Auburn was already engulfed in flames when a passing motorist turned in the call at 1:25 a.m. Firemen could see the glow in the sky before they left Blyth (others said the fire could be seen from as far away as Clinton and Goderich). through the sale, 4H members who Continued on page 2 in fire When firemen arrived there was little they could do but try to save the newer section of the barn which they managed to do. Chief Josling said the damage would run to well over $100,000.