HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-02-16, Page 1Government Sports Entertainment v
How much did county
councillors and reps
spend in 1993?
Blyth Midgets tie
Tavistock in first game of
OMHA playoffs
Blyth Festival to launch
its season playbill in true
country style
See page 6 See page 10 See page 19
Snow much fun
This may be the coldest, snowiest winter we've experienced in some time, but a group in
Blyth this past weekend were willing to make the best of it at the first annual Blyth Sno-Fest.
There was a good turnout with several teams of hearty, warmly dressed individuals competed
in several outdoor activities such as floor hockey, plank walk and blind volleyball. Here, some
players find that returning a volley in deep snow is a little more challenging than the indoor
game. Fortunately, the landing is softer.
New licensing good says Sgt.
Lester retires as
Huronview admin.
"As a parent, I feel my child will
be safer with the restrictions and as
an OPP officer, I believe the new
guidelines are a step in the right
direction."
These are the sentiments of
Wingham OPP Sergeant Greg
King, with regards to the graduated
licensing for new drivers, which
will be implemented by the Min
istry of Transportation, beginning
April 1.
The program consists of two lev
els of "probationary" driving before
full driving privileges are extended.
Sgt. King says, "This will allow
the driver more time to gain experi
ence" before facing expressway or
night driving conditions. "I believe
it will help reduce accidents."
"Some young people have com
plained the restrictions on night
driving may affect their ability to
hold jobs ( the first level prohibits
driving between 12 and 5 a.m.).
However, keeping the new drivers
alive is far more important," he
says.
A press release from the Ministry'
says, "Graduated licensing is a key
element in our government's plan to
make Ontario's roads the safest in
North America. It will go a long
way to reducing traffic collisions
and fatalities on our roads."
The graduated licenses will be
phased in from April 1 until June 6.
and will cover Class G license for
cars, vans and trucks and Class M
licenses for motorcycles.
Level One requirements for a
Class G license are as follows: a
. fully licensed driver, with at least
four years' experience, must be the
only person in the front passenger
seat and that person cannot have a
blood alcohol level of more than .5
percent; the driver must have a
blood alcohol level of zero; must
not drive between 12 and 5 a.m.;
must not drive on high-speed
expressways of series 400 high
ways and must limit the number of
back seat passengers to the number
of seatbelts.
Driver Education Instructor and
teacher at F.E Madill in Wingham,
Murray McLennan says the restric
tion regarding driving on express
ways concerns him.
With the new guidelines, "Level
One students arc not allowed on
Continued on page 6
Director of Nursing at Huron
view and Huronlea Donna Sur-
geoner and County Planner Dr.
Wayne Caldwell have been
appointed as co-administrators for
the county homes for the aged fol
lowing the early retirement of
Wayne Lester.
Mr. Lester announced his inten
tion to retire Feb. 1.
County Clerk Administrator
Jocelyn Murray said that the posi
tion has been filled on an interim
basis. The county, she says, has
been looking at the administration
Busted watermains keep
Brussels employees busy
The winter of 94 has brought
more than above average snowfalls
and long hours of snow removal for
town workers. The extended peri
ods of extremely cold temperatures
have caused four watermain breaks
in Brussels in the last month, the
latest occurring on Feb. 14.
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Lori
Pipe says, "Three out of every 21
pipes leading from the main to the
houses is frozen. We have 18 pipes
that probably won't be thawed until
spring."
"Ninety percent of those affected
are off the county roads because the
pavement has been scraped bare.
This allows the frost deeper into the
ground," she says. Most of the
pipes affected along Turnberry
Street became frozen over the past
weekend.
Both the municipal office and the
Brussels Medical Dental Clinic is
frozen but, "fortunately the dentist
is on holidays for two weeks. 1
don't know how we would get
water to them," Mrs. Pipe says.
Others affected in the village are
hooking a hose to a neighbour's
outdoor tap to bring water into their
home.
Mrs. Pipe says the problem
Blyth cuts hosp
By Bonnie Gropp
In an effort to cut costs, Blyth
councillors voted at their Feb. 9
meeting that they would no longer
have a village appointed represen
tative to the Wingham and District
Hospital Board.
While councillors were strong in
their praise for the efforts and dedi
cation displayed by Noreen Gnay
as the representative for Blyth and
OPP report 2 minor accidents
High snowbanks resulted in a
minor fender bender in Blyth last
week.
Wingham OPP Sgt. Greg King
said that village employee Bill
Bromley, 50, was attempting to
pull onto Gyspy Lane, but his view
was obstructed by a snowbank. As
he moved the 1986 village owned
truck ahead it was struck by a south
bound 1979 Ford driven by Bryan
Bell of Blyth.
There were no charges and no
injuries as a result of the accident.
Damage to the village truck was
minor, while there was moderate
damage done to the Bell vehicle,
of the homes. It is a position that
has been complicated by the fact
that there are now two county
homes instead of one.
Ms Murray said that consultation
with staff has begun, to hear their
views on what type of administra
tion would best serve the homes.
Some of the questions centre on
whether there needs to be two
administrators or an assistant.
Once the structure is agreed upon
it will be taken to county council
for its acceptance after which appli
cations will be called.
occurs in the last metre of the pipe
before it joins with the main under
the street. "The men are unable to
reach past the curb to thaw out the
last section."
"Village workers, along with help
from employees of B&G Electric,
worked for 10 hours on Saturday
and were able to free up only one
line," she says.
"The men are worn out. If they
aren't removing snow they are try
ing to thaw pipes. This winter has
been a challenge to all and I think
the men are looking forward to
some time off."
Blyth Clerk-Treasurer Helen
Grubb says Blyth has had only two
lines freeze and one has since been
thawed.
"Most of the problems occur with
older home because the trenches
for the lines were hand- dug and
shallow. Lines are often placed
along driveways, which is a very
poor spot because of exposure
when the drive is plowed," she
says.
Ms Grubb says they are not out
of danger yet because a warming
trend and then extremely cold
nights will force the frost deeper
into the ground. 'We still have a
long way to go," she says.
rep position
East Wawanosh during the last few
years, it was felt that her services
were not essential.
Discussion regarding the issue
began when council was informed
that East Wawanosh had passed a
motion at its Jan. 12 meeting rec
ommending that Mrs. Gnay receive
$250 annually, plus $35 for extra
meetings, with East Wawanosh
Continued on page 3
Sgt. King said.
A Belgrave woman was charged
with failing to yield from a private
drive following a minor accident in
Belgrave Feb. 12.
Sgt. King said that Karen Mof
fatt, 38 of Jordan Drive, Belgrave
was reversing her Dodge van onto
Jordon from her driveway when
she struck a 1985 Ford pickup,
driven by James Bruce, 63, also of
Belgrave. Mr. Bruce was travelling
south on Jordan, Sgt. King said.
Neither driver was injured. Dam
age to Ms Moffatt's van was mini
mal while Mr. Bruce's truck
sustained minor damage.