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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-12-04, Page 1Christmas spirit New leader Sports Entertainment \ Christmas Carol and festive music sheets included See page 13 Raymond Hallahan new Thresher Reunion president See page 25 Bulls all tied up in weekend action See page 11 Shirley's one funny Valentine at Grand Theatre See page 27 County councillors defeat plan to cut grants A move to scuttle a series of grants to educational, cultural and agricultural groups was defeated by a recorded vote of 23-10 at the final Vol. 7 No. 48 Wednesday, December 4,1991 60 cents Students at Brussels Public School last week were visited by a princess- Huron County Dairy Princess Morgan Murray. The Seaforth District High School student quizzes members of the grade 3 class on their knowledge of milk and where it comes from. She also showed a video that shows production of milk from the feeding of the cows to milk being picked up by a tanker truck. Best dressed Blyth homes get prizes An anonymous taxpayer's sug­ gestion that Blyth residents be encouraged to decorate their homes has been picked up by the head of the village's Rutabaga Festival committee. Bruce Papple, chairman of the committee, appeared before Blvth Village Council Nov. 26 to detail plans for the decoration contest. He said the plans are modest, and plaques will be given out to win­ ners in various categories rather than prizes of money. "It's not something where somebody will go out and put up $100 in lights to win," he said. There will be no entry fees. Judges will tour the village the week before the Dec. 21 communi­ ty Christmas pageant at Memorial Hall. They will judge categories for meeting of the current term of Huron County Council Wednesday in Goderich. In a move aimed at trimming the best original Christmas theme (nativity scene, etc.), Best Christ­ mas Scene (Santa, etc.) and the best fantasy theme. Prizes will be announced at the Christmas pageant which involve individuals and groups from the community and is being spearhead­ ed by Peter Smith, artistic director of the Blyth Festival. That night there will also be a hayride around the village to view outdoor Christ­ mas displays and to sing Christmas Carols. The Junior Farmers will be serving hot chocolate, cider and cookies. Mr. Papple said he had been co­ operating with Mr. Smith’s efforts. "Peter says he wants to keep it as a village thing. He’s not doing it as part of the theatre but because he lives in the village. That's why I'm $210,950 county grant program, the Executive Committee had recom­ mended in October that all grants of $100 or less would be eliminated in it too." The ideas won the praise of the council. "Personally I like the way you've approached it," Reeve Albert Wasson said. He said he liked the idea of talking about dec­ orating of homes, rather than talk­ ing about the best lighting display which made him uncomfortable because of concern that people could go overboard in energy-wast­ ing lights. He also praised the idea of the hayride and carol singing. "I'm really pleased, myself, the way it's turned out." Mr. Papple said that because it's a village activity no club is involved because it wants to earn credit. "It should be put on for the people in town, by the people in town," he said. in 1992, while larger grants to everything but hospitals would be reduced by one third in 1992, a fur­ ther third in 1993 and eliminated in 1994. That would still have left in place the biggest portion of the grant programs, $125,000 a year to the five area hospitals. Decision on the matter had been put off at the early November meeting until a new council would take office but that decision was overturned last Brussels to discuss PRIDE plans at Jan. 22 meeting A public meeting will be held at the Brussels Library on Jan. 22 to hear village council's plans for spending $124,000 in local improvements over the next three years under the PRIDE program. The program, already approved in principle by the province, will pay half the costs of approved pro­ jects with the other half coming from local taxpayers. There were some tense moments before councillors themselves worked out a rough plan for the money. Councillors generally agreed to sidewalk improvements of about $10,000 a year over the three years, and agreed with plans to repair the chimney at the library and put in new windows in the basement of the building, and agreed with the idea of putting new street lights on main street but con­ flict arose over the possibility of spending money on storm sewers or water mains. "In the second year I'd like to see a storm sewer," Kevin Wheeler back in form Off to Japan to compete today The leg ailment that plagued Brussels skater Kevin Wheeler last year has done nothing to slow him down, as he and his free-skate part­ ner Michelle Menzies of Preston continue to glide into the top spots at recent competitions. Last year, after Kevin com­ plained of severe pain in his leg doctors discovered a tumor. While the growth was diagnosed as benign, it had grown into the bone The surgery to remove it was intri­ cate and there was concern over the damage done. "Doctors told him he would never skate again, and may not even walk," said Kevin's moth­ Bea Dawson new chair of Board of Education Former vice-chair of the Huron County Board of Education, Bea Dawson, trustee for Hay and Usborne Townships and Zurich, was acclaimed to the position of Chair for this term at the inaugural meeting on December 2. One- time chair and Blyth/Hullett trustee John Jewitt, nominated Mrs. Dawson saying that her attendance at extra committee meetings, "speaks well of her dedication." Goderich trustee Rick Rompf, nominated McKillop and Seaforth trustee Graeme Craig for the posi­ week and the present council was left to decide, amid considerable debate. First John Doherty, Reeve of Goderich, who had asked at the earlier meeting that the decision be left for the new council, protested the procedure under which the issue was brought back to the floor. Then he said that while he recog­ nized the amount of work the Exec- Continued on page 23 Councillor Greg Wilson said, not­ ing there are problems in several areas of town and he'd like to solve at least one of those problems under the program. "Don't forget we have to come up with a pot full of money," Reeve Gordon Workman warned, remind­ ing council that for every dollar of grant used, council must find a matching dollar. Councillor Wilson said there were problems that need­ ed to be fixed and Reeve Workman replied "I also know how much storm sewers cost." Asked by Councillor Wilson if he was against installing storm sewers the Reeve said "I'm absolutely against it." The Reeve said he was also against replacing old water mains with new ones, saying that old mains could be mended and work better than before. "Sooner or later is has to be replaced," Councillor Wilson said, Continued on page 26 er Shirley. "He was back skating in 11 days." Mrs. Wheeler says, the athlete did a lot of therapy to gel the leg healed and are pleased with the way it has come along. In October of this year, at Skate Canada in London, Kevin and Michelle brought home a silver, then this past month they claimed first place at the Sectionals in Grimsby. On December 4 (today) they are departing for Japan, where they will be competing in an inter­ national competition. Then they will have a brief time to prepare for the Canadians to be held in Monk­ ton, New Brunswick on January 14. tion of vice-chair. Mr. Craig has served for many years as trustee and in making the nomination Mr. Rompf noted that he had stood as chairman on every committee. Mr. Craig won the position uncontest­ ed. Mr. Rompf was returned to the position of management committee chait, while Wingham trustee Lil­ ian Nolan will head the personnel committee. Goderich trustee Norman Pickell was elected chair of the education committee.