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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, August 15, 2019
Volume 35 No. 32
WINE - Pg. 9
Thompson in Blyth to
announce wine changes
FESTIVAL - Pg. 19
Blyth Festival opens
third, fourth shows
EDUCATION - Pg. 3
Local student returns from
month-long Shad program
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0
INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
Neighbours lodge Four Winds noise complaints
Mitchell named Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador
A meeting will soon be scheduled
in hopes of smoothing relations
between the Brussels Four Winds
Barn and neighbouring residents
with complaints regarding noise,
parking and a lack of supervision.
David and Annette Stephenson,
representing numerous neighbours
of the event centre, spoke to Huron
East Council at its Aug. 6 meeting.
They were quick to point out that the
Four Winds Barn has had a positive
impact on the community, but that
they and their neighbours have been
left with numerous concerns.
The Stephensons referenced
neighbouring municipalities having
noise bylaws in place demanding
that noise be brought to a reasonable
level by 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. each
night. Huron East, however, doesn’t
have such a bylaw, which has
resulted in the barn being
“extremely loud” according to the
Stephensons’ letter, to the point that
music and people speaking into a
microphone can be heard as far as
three blocks away from the barn.
“This is very concerning, as it
disrupts nightly activities, family
events and healthy sleeping habits,”
the Stephensons said in their letter to
council. “While we understand that
this is the nature of the business they
are in, this has been a far too regular
occurrence for something not to be
said.”
The Stephensons also allege that
they have attempted to raise
concerns with employees of the Four
Winds Barn directly, but have been
handed “unprofessional” comments
in return.
“Some of the people who make up
our community include: families
with young children, shift workers
and retirees and it is extremely
disheartening to be life-long
community members and be treated
like this,” the letter states, adding
that they have been told to “buy a
cottage” and spend weekends there
if the noise is a concern for them.
The Stephensons said that because
the building doesn’t have air
conditioning, the barn doors are
often open. If they were closed, the
letter suggested, noise muffling
would likely be improved.
They also said that a number of
people have been parking on
Elizabeth Street, despite Huron East
erecting “no parking” signs to
ensure passage for emergency
vehicles. The letter also states that a
Sean Mitchell has been named the
new Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador
after impressing judges on Saturday
night at the Brussels Legion.
After being named to the
prestigious position, Mitchell told
The Citizen that it was a real honour
to be recognized, and thanked his
competitors, Megan Exel and
Brittany Struthers, for their effort in
being involved in the program.
Mitchell is excited to be the
Ambassador for the Brussels Fall
Fair and the Agricultural Society,
saying they are important parts of
Brussels. He felt that becoming
ambassador would be the most
practical way to give back to the
community of Brussels, which he
feels has helped shape him.
“I was initially approached by
[former Brussels Fall Fair
Ambassador] Hannah McCutcheon,
and she’s pretty persuasive,” he said.
“When I was asked, it was kind of
an obvious way to give back to the
community and show that I
appreciate what I’ve gained by being
from Brussels.”
In his speech, Mitchell pointed out
that he has come to appreciate the
value of growing up on a farm and in
a community like Brussels.
“That really allowed me to have
unique opportunities that most of
my peers in Guelph have never had,”
he said. “Living away from the
Brussels area during the week has
me appreciate more where I come
from. I have come to realize the
extent that Brussels shaped me as a
person and that has been significant
to me. That realization has made me
love Brussels and our area even
more.”
As Ambassador, helping with the
On Monday at approximately
7:45 a.m. members of the Ontario
Provincial Police (OPP) Huron
County Detachment, Huron County
Paramedic Services and Brussels
Fire Department attended the scene
of a single motor vehicle collision
just north of Brussels.
The collision occurred on Brussels
Line between Cardiff Road and
Browntown Road in the
Municipality of Huron East.
The male driver, Dennis Linthorst,
17 years old, of Howick Township
and two male passengers, Ivan
Kuepfer, 19 years old, of South
Bruce and Owen Bakker, 14 years
old, of Brockton were pronounced
deceased at the scene.
A fourth passenger was still in in
hospital at the time of printing.
The investigation remains ongoing
and further details will be released
when available.
Brussels Line between Cardiff
Road and Browntown Road was
closed throughout the day following
the incident as OPP Technical
Collision Investigators (TCI)
supported the investigation.
Huron County OPP is asking
anyone with information that can
assist police to call 1-888-310-1122.
Should you wish to remain
anonymous, please call Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
(TIPS) where you may be eligible
to receive a cash reward of up
to $2,000.
Three dead in Brussels crash
A new era
Sean Mitchell, right, is the new Brussels Fall Fair
Ambassador, representing the Brussels Agricultural
Society across the province. Amanda Morrison, left, passed
the torch on Saturday night at the Brussels Legion as her
reign officially came to an end. Mitchell came out on top of
a field that included Megan Exel, centre, the runner-up, and
Friendship Award winner Brittany Struthers, who was unable to
attend. Mitchell’s first official duty as the Ambassador will be to
represent the society at the Huron County Plowing Match later
this month. (Hannah Dickie photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued on page 2
Continued on page 3
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen