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The Citizen, 1994-01-19, Page 1Sports g Government j_____Feature_____■______News Blyth PeeWee Bs take A title at tournament See page 3 Blyth council sets new rate for dog licenses See page 6 Area trails get OFSC Pres.’ stamp of approval See page 10 Music group enjoys village atmosphere See page 19 Village councillors discuss sludge tank By Janice Becker In a joint meeting between Blyth and Brussels councils, the impor­ tant issue of sludge management for the future of the municipalities was resolved. Both towns had been told by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy that the sewage treatment facilities were not sufficient to meet the needs of the communities and additional facilities would have to be constructed for the aeration and storage of sludge. Steve Bums from BM Ross and Associates, presented three alterna­ tives to the councils for the con­ struction of a new aeration and storage tank. The first alternative would be to build a separate facility at each plant site at a total capital cost of approximately $930,000. Of this cost, 25 to 30 percent would be paid by the municipality and the rest by provincial grants. The second option would be to build a combined facility at one plant, requiring the other munici­ pality to truck sludge to the site. The trucking and additional labour costs would result in a $2,000 per year operating cost. The price of this alternative would be $652,000. The final suggestion was to build a combined facility at a remote location between the two villages. The cost of $822,000 would include a $100,000 price tag for the purchase of the land and an addi­ tional yearly operating cost of $8,600. Drivers escape injury High snow banks caused an acci­ dent in East Wawanosh Twp. on Tuesday, Jan. 11. A spokesperson from the Wing­ ham OPP said that David Hedley, 52, of RR1, Belgrave was travel­ ling north on Sideroad 33/34 when he noticed a GMC pickup edging out of a private lane. The driver of the truck Ron Howatt, 45, RR1 Belgrave was trying to see past the snow banks, the spokesperson said. When Mr. Hedley applied the brakes, his 1987 Mercury slid into the front of the truck police said. Neither driver was injured. After consultation with Mark Bell, operation officer, western region, with the Ontario Clean Water Agency and John Earl, envi­ ronment officer from the Owen Continued on page 6 CitizenTheNorthHuron included Flu bug hits area school students By Bonnie Gropp No charges laid Some quick action on the part of a 16-year-old Wingham youth turned what could have been a trag­ ic accident into a fender bender. A spokesperson from the Wing- ham OPP said that Derek Knight, 16 was driving south on Hwy. 4 at 1:55 p.m. on Jan. 16. After sig­ nalling the youth proceeded to turn left. Then police said, he noticed a south bound truck passing him so corrected into the southbound land. After seeing that he was gaining on the car and would not be able to slow down, the driver of the truck Ken Ritchie, 32, RR1, Walkerton had attempted to pass to avoid a collision with Mr. Knight's 1987 Chrysler Le Baron, police said. There were no charges laid. Nei­ ther driver was injured and both vehicles sustained light damage It's not just the stormy weather causing problems out there these days. Spokespersons from four of the six area elementary schools say the flu bug seems to have hit a little harder this year than in previous years. Joanne Jewitt secretary at Hullett Central Public School said on Mon­ day that one class alone had eight studerits absent, while another had three. Some of the teachers had been hit with the bug as well. "It's been kind of an on-going thing since we came back from the Christmas holiday," she said. Doris Robinson at East Wawanosh Public School said that there had been a lot of sickness this year. Many students, she said, seemed to be getting sick a second time. Some classes had as many as eight students absent, while on Monday there was a total of 22 stu­ dents absent. Blyth Public School has also noted some significant drops in attendance. Rina Kolkman, school secretary, said that while she does­ n't know for sure if it's worse than previous years there have been as many as 11 students gone from one classroom. Monday's absentee total was 26. Brussels Public School Secretary Isabel Prior says that several teach­ ers have commented on the large number of students absent due to illness. "It seems to be more than usual," she said," but it's the season I guess." June Johns, the secretary of Wal­ ton Public School says the flu has been a problem at the school off and on for a while though it is not as severe as it was before Christ­ mas. "We're at a normal level now, but December was terrible. Hope­ fully, this is it." Only at Grey Central School says secretary Joan Bateman has there been no greater number of students away at any time than in previous years. Dr. Maarten Bokhout, Huron County Medical Officer of Health, says that while it may seem there is an epidemic it is not quite so dra­ matic. "There haven't been any places, yet where half of the people are away." Dr. Bokhout says the strain that seems most prevalent these days brings with it a high fever, cough, headache and sore muscles. A few afflicted persons have experienced nausea, though vomiting does not seem to be a symptom. Some have come down with bronchitis as well. Dr. Bokhout says the bug is a viral illness, a nuisance disease, that sufferers in otherwise good shape will build up antibodies against. If you have had this partic­ ular strain of flu in the past, it is unlikely you will get it again, he said, which is why so many stu­ dents are hit and not the staff. "They have probably been exposed to it before and have built an immunity." Treatment for the flu he says is "common sense". "Take it easy and until you feel substantially better don't go back to work or school." The bug is air spread and a lot of people get sick very quickly. Blyth begins recycling Apr. 1 By Bonnie Gropp By early spring residents of Blyth will begin recycling. A motion was passed at the Jan. 12 meeting of council to implement a recycling program with Bluewa­ ter Recycling Association effective April 1. Council had met with Francis Veilleux, a representative from Bluewater, at a special meeting Jan. 11. Mr. Veilleux told councillors that Bluewater sorts in four categories, coloured glass, clear glass, cans and plastic and paper. The Associa­ tion, which was formed in 1989, is owned by 46 municipalities in four counties. The Association provides a ser­ vice on a membership and non­ membership basis. Active membership, he said, would enable Blyth to become a shareholder in the company so they would have a say in the operation and the ser­ vices offered. A council member is appointed by bylaw to attend quar- terly meetings.This group nomi­ nates 10 people to sit on the board. As a member Blyth would receive full service benefit, a hands off approach to implementing the recy­ cling program, which includes the Continued on page 6 Skater finishes 6th Mark Shepherd of RR 1 Blyth has returned home from the Cana­ dian Nationals skating competition in Edmonton, Alberta with a sixth place finish in the Novice Men's Single. A family member says that Mark is very happy with the way he skat­ ed and with the way things went. He has competed twice before at the Nationals but this is the first time as a single. Previously he, entered the Dance Pairs with part­ ner Debbie MacKenzie, of Kitchen­ er. Mark is the 16-year-old son of Murray and Joan Shepherd.