HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-02-09, Page 1Community Sports News Education
Ark begins
community
project
See page 2
Blyth Midgets
move on after
WOAA series win
See page 7
Interest shown
in organization of
Christian school
See page 10
Area drama
students learn at
Crossroads Fest.
See page 23
The North Huron
ltizen
9, 1994■1 600 GST included
Thanks
Huron Warden Allan J. Gibson, right, accepts a cheque for $1 million from Ontario Premier
Bob Rae, while MPP Paul Klopp watches. The grant, which is part of the jobsOntario
program, will go twoards the redevelopment of the former Huronview building. While
addressing the capacity crowd, Premier Rae attributed his visit to Mr. Klopp's continued
efforts in promoting Huron issues.
Rae announces Huron grants
Premier Bob Rae and Huron
MPP Paul Klopp announced, Feb. 5
$1 million jobsOntario Community
Action funding for the Huronview
Redevelopment Project in Clinton.
This project will redevelop an
existing senior citizen's home into
an expanded health and social
services complex to serve a variety
of community needs, creating 25
construction jobs and seven full-
time positions.
"jobsOntario Community Action
helps communities take that very
important first step to promote
economic renewal and create jobs.
It brings members of a community
together and turns their resources
and knowledge into action," said
Premier Rae." This type of grass
roots partnership with communities
New dog catcher for Brussels
Brussels councillors obviously
liked what they heard when they
talked to Bob Trick of Londes boro
about being the village animal con
trol officer, Monday night. Before
the meeting was over they voted to
terminate the services of their pre
sent dog catcher.
Council had invited Mr. Trick to
make a presentation because they
were dissatisfied with the current
level of service from a company
they felt was too far away. Mr.
Trick already handles the same
duties in Blyth and Clinton.
"I believe half the job is commu
nications," Mr. Trick said in a thor
ough presentation of how he would
handle the job. "If I can stop some
thing from happening that's the way
I like to do business. I try to be as
visible as possible. I don't try to
means jobs and new capabilities for
communities like Clinton and
thousands of Ontarians." The
premier credited Mr. Klopp for his
tenacity in bringing Huron issues to
the premier's attention.
To date, the Ontario government
has helped create 2,400 jobs by
providing more than $48 million in
jobsOntario Community Action
assistance to 360 communities
throughout the province. These
communities are also contributing
$97 million, bringing total
investment to $145 million.
"jobsOntario Community Action
is about government helping
communities to help themselves,"
said Mr. Klopp. "This project will
retain community services jobs and
the businesses these workers
sneak around."
Mr. Trick said he has a very visi
ble vehicle and "word travels fast"
so that people who let their dogs
run loose tend to think twice.
On his regular patrols he travels
85 to 90 per cent of the streets in
the village and looks down all the
others, the patrols are at random
during peak times, morning, noon,
after school and after supper. "I try
to keep people off guard.
"I look for dogs, with or without
tags. If I see an owner walking a
dog without a tag, I talk to him and
offer him the chance to buy a tag
from me or from the clerk's office."
If dogs wearing a tag are found
running loose, he takes the dog to
the owner and gives a warning. He
explains what the charges are if a
dog is found loose a second time.
support locally. In particular, these
25 short-term jobs will make a vital
contribution to Huron County's
economy. The Huronview
redevelopment will also help
preserve the town's architectural
heritage and provide a central focus
for the county's social and health
services."
The premier also announced
funding of $10,000 for the Huron
Community Service Network to
establish a community leadership
program.
"jobsOntario Community Action
supports community development
projects that create long-term
economic opportunities for a
community," said the Premier. "It
helps communities to take control
of their economic development
future."
This service encourages people to
buy a dog tag, he says.
If a dog is loose a second time,
he tries to collect an "administra
tion fee" before he leaves town. If
necessary the dog will be impound
ed after which not only will the
administration fee be charged, but
boarding fees will be added.
Mr. Trick said he had already
carried out a patrol of the village to
get an idea of how much distance
was involved. He travelled 12.8
kilometers of street and estimated
an average patrol would take two
hours, given time to stop and talk
to dog owners.
That brought the one part of the
presentation the councillors were
not so impressed with: the cost. Mr.
Trick estimated the annual cost of
Continued on page 6
Judge to sentence
Falconer in March
A Kitchener woman will be sen
tenced March 29 in Goderich after
being found guilty in court last
week of having over 80 mg of alco
hol in 100 mg of blood.
Kathleen Falconer was charged
in February 1993 with impaired
driving causing death, following an
accident in Grey Twp., which
claimed the the life of a 27-year-old
Brussels woman. Sherry Souch, her
husband, Gary and son Mathew
were on route to Listowel Hospital,
Jan. 28, 1993 when their car collid
ed with the car driven by Ms Fal
coner. Mrs. Souch died shortly
afterwards, on Feb. 2.
Ms Falconer first appeared in
Wingham's provincial court, March
10 where she asked to be tried by
judge and jury. A preliminary hear
ing was set for May 19 in Wing
ham after which Ms Falconer was
bonded over for trial.
The trial began Monday, Jan. 31,
at which time, Ms Falconer's attor
ney stated that his client wished to
be tried by judge alone. Testimony
from both sides, including that of
the accused, was heard for two
County rejects
It had been expected that the
February session of Huron County
Council would have been filled
with tension with the announce
ment of the candidate sites for the
Huron County Landfill site but it
all turned out to be anticlimactic
when the latest list of sites was
rejected before even being
announced.
Dr. Gary Davidson, director of
planning and development, told
county councillors Thursday that
when the technical panel had exam
ined the nine possible sites chosen
under the latest set of criteria it was
felt that all would probably fail the
testing for geo-technical reasons.
Dr. Davidson said the committee
felt it was not wise to spend money
testing doubtful sites and to put
landowners through the stress
involved. "We felt it was not good
CHSS to be central tech, source
After considerable discussion,
the trustees of the HCBE decided at
the Feb. 7 meeting, to proceed with
the establishment of one centralized
design and technology centre at
Central Huron Secondary School,
Clinton.
In a report presented by Superin
tendent of Program, Arnold Math
ers, the Technology 21 centre at
CHSS would be the source of tech
nical studies for all Grade 7 and 8
students in the county. Allan
Carter, trustee for Hensail and
Tuckersmith said the decision to
centralize was not a good one. "The
students at the southern tip of the
county would be spending up to
four hours on the bus, including the
time from home to school then to
the design centre. The travel lime
would cut into the teaching time
and I believe the move to be very
irresponsible."
Other trustees, including Doug
Garniss, representing Morris and
Turn berry, said the plan was good
because it would rejuvenate the
days.
In a phone interview following
the trial, Crown Attorney Robert
Morris explained that Justice
McCart determined that while there
was sufficient evidence, such as
blood tests taken at the hospital, to
show that Ms Falconer did have
over 80 mg of alcohol in her blood
he had reasonable doubt as to
whether or not her ability to operate
a motor vehicle was impaired. Mr.
Morris said that while over 80 can
be proven through scientific evi
dence, impaired is visual. As Ms
Falconer was involved in a colli
sion the symptoms she displayed
could have been as a result of either
the accident or the alcohol, thus the
reasonable doubt.
Mr. Morris said he is considering
a recommendation for an appeal on
the charge of impaired causing
death, which is done through the
Toronto Crown Law office. Sen
tencing will proceed regardless.
Mr. Morris said he will be request
ing the maximum sentence of five
years for Ms Falconer as there was
a fatality.
candidate sites
to put the landowners in a position
of concern when there wasn't much
likelihood the sites would pass (the
hydrogeological testing)."
Instead the committee decided to
open up the criteria to allow all
classes of farmland to be eligible
for the site. This class includes
about 25,000 acres, Dr. Davidson
said.
"I think it's a wise decision," said
Lionel Wilder, reeve of Hay Town
ship and chairman of the Planning
and Development committee.
"Some of the sites that would have
been drilled would have been a
waste of time and money."
It is hoped the next group of can
didate sites will be announced early
enough so that the drilling can be
done in April, before the land is
ready for seeding, Reeve Wilder
said.
stale programs now in place at the
four locations.
Trustee Norman Pickell of
Goderich said the subjects suggest
ed for the centre are "super and it is
a great way to get the kids excited
about design and technology. It is
by far the best way to continue to
make the program available to all
Continued on page 6
Grant revives
firehall dream
Dreams of the possibility of a
new fire hall for Brussels have been
rekindled by the possibility of
funding under the federal-provin
cial infrastructure program.
Clerk-Treasurer Donna White
told council she's not sure the pro
gram would cover the long-sought
fire hall but if they thought it was a
priority, she would seek clarifica
tion. Councillors agreed that if the
grant would apply, it might be an
opportunity that won't come along
Continued on page 6