HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-02-01, Page 1Winter fun
News
Brussels Ag.
Society ends year
with loss
See page 6
Government
Rural Caucus
meets in Goderich
to discuss issues
See page 7
Sports
Local teams finish
regular season,
gear up for playoffs
See page 12
Education
2 area girls earn
spot on provincial
junior debate team
See page 22
The North Huron
itizen
Ward hears plea
for equity from
Huron bd. of ed.
It was more for the practise than for necessity, as well as for the fun of it that the Blyth Cubs
did some snowshoeing during their visit this past weekend to the Wawanosh Nature Centre.
Though the snowfall perhaps didn't warrant them, it didn't keep them from making the most of
the experience. The group spent the entire weekend at the Centre delighting in a variety of
winter activities.
Walton Hall future uncertain
If community halls are the heart
and soul of rural communities
throughout Ontario as McKillop
Reeve Ron Murray says, Walton
may be at risk of heart failure.
A group of 42 residents as well
as surrounding township reeves
gathered Jan. 23 at Walton Com-
munity Hall to discuss the future of
the historic building.
The Walton Women's Institute
has had trouble with the upkeep of
the hall after purchasing the build-
ing in 1976 for $1, from the Walton
Community Club.
While the number of WI mem-
bers is decreasing, their ages are
increasing and maintaining the
level of fundraising necessary to
sustain the hall is becoming more
difficult.
"Maintenance costs last year
were $2,700 while revenue generat-
ed by the hall was only $585," says
WI President Marjorie Humphries,
"and repairs only accounted for
$26.17."
The WI hosts monthly hot meals
to try to raise money, but the meals
cost $85 and only bring in $45, she
says. The chore is also very drain-
ing on the 11 members.
"We cherish the hall as commu-
nity members, but we are feeling
the strain within our organization,"
says WI member Margaret McIn-
roy.
In reply to questions from those
gathered Reeve Murray says he is
unaware of any grants which might
be available.
"Grants are not the answer. There
has to be community input and
community involvement. If nobody
Goderich OPP officers investi-
gated three motorized snow vehicle
injuries this past week.
On Jan. 29, an RR3, Auburn man
was taken to Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital following an acci-
dent in Goderich Twp. Police say
that Paul Cooke was injured after
the snowmobile he was driving
went over an embankment into a
stream.
Alcohol was a factor, police said.
That same day, Amy Fothering-
ham of RR4, Seaforth was taken to
wants it then it will just disappear
like the library," he says.
Two residents, Joanne McDonald
of the Walton Sports Club and Rev.
Randy Banks of Duff's United
Church offered assistance in orga-
nizing events to fundraise.
There was concern expressed by
the residents that larger facilities in
Seaforth and Brussels were draw-
ing much of the business away
Continued on page 9
Seaforth hospital with minor
injuries after the snowmobile she
was driving hit a bump and rolled
several times. The accident
occurred on a trail south of County
Road 3 in Tuckersmith Twp.
Police say alcohol was also a fac-
tor in an accident which occurred
on Jan. 28 in Ashfield Twp. Steven
Armstrong of Goderich was taken
to Alexandra Marine and General
Hospital by ambulance with major
injuries after his snowmobile rolled
in a ploughed field.
By Janice Becker
Two weeks into a six week tour
of Ontario to gather public input
regarding the 1995 provincial bud-
get, Brad Ward, Minister without
Portfolio for Finance, says the gen-
eral outlook for the coming year is
optimistic.
Mr. Ward made a stop in Clinton
on Monday evening to listen to
Huron County residents and their
concerns.
"People attending the meetings
are telling us to continue on the
track we have been going, to carry
out our plans which have already
been started."
Contrary to the general consen-
sus, there is one group in Huron
County who wishes change. The
Huron County Board of Education
(HCBE), represented by Superin-
tendent of Business Janet Baird-
Jackson, made a presentation to the
gathering regarding the redistribu-
tion of wealth in the education
arena.
Likening Huron County to the
Winnipeg Jets in the NHL or the
Florida Marlins in the American
League of baseball, Ms Baird-Jack-
son says there must be an equity of
funding for the small market school
boards.
HCBE wants to be able to offer
the latest in technology for the edu-
cation of their students, but have a
much smaller population on which
to draw, she says.
"We can only raise the price of
After months of meetings, dis-
cussions, public input and testing,
the search for the new Huron Coun-
ty landfill site is down to one can-
didate, Ashfield Conc. 13-14, East
Division (also known as A3).
Three of the four final possibili-
ties were excluded when they were
found to have significant granular
deposits of sand and/or gravel, says
Craig Metzger of the Huron County
Planning Dept. -
(A subsurface composition of
The prospects for the 1999 Inter-
national Plowing match to be held
in Huron County look very good,
says Neil McGavin.
He has attended two planning
meetings recently and says there
are now five farm sites on the list.
Another site near Grand Bend iir-
port had been included.
When tourist bureaus saw the
amount of money brought into the
county during Renfrew's plowing
match ($13 million), they decided
to take the opportunity to become
involved in the process, he says,
and Huron Tourism has taken that
stadium seats (taxes) so much
before the price becomes unbear-
able."
She suggested it may be time to
consider a sharing of the wealth,
using the Metro Toronto Board as
an example.
Comparing the total equalized
assessment per elementary pupil in
1993, Ms Baird-Jackson says
Huron received less than 30 per
cent of Toronto's assessment;
$241,518 compared to $810,739.
"We must be very focused and
frugal in how we allocate our
funds," she says. "The Huron
County board spent only $597 (per
student) over the 1993 secondary
ceiling while Metro Toronto spent
an irresponsible $3,564 over their
ceiling."
The HCBE also directed 98 per
cent of the secondary spending
towards the classroom while
Toronto spent less than 75 per cent
in that manner, she says.
Ms Baird-Jackson stressed that
unless the issue is addressed, fru-
gal, assessment-poor boards, like
Huron, will have difficulty continu-
ing to provide quality education for
their students.
Mr. Ward and MPP Paul Klopp
both responded by saying there
were plans underway to look at the
issue and that the concerns of the
HCBE would be brought to the
attention of Finance Minister Floyd
Laughren so that further adjust-
ments could be considered.
clay and/or silt is desired due to
better protection against seepage.)
A recommendation will go to the
February meeting of county council
to eliminate the other Ashfield site
as well as the two West Wawanosh
locations.
Ashfield 3 will required more
intensive investigation as drilling
has been done on only five site so
far, says Mr. Metzger. "We will
also have to measure the impacts of
locating a landfill on that site."
step.
There has also been some talk
that two farms near Vanastra may
be interested, but no formal word
has been received, he says.
The four farms already on the list
arc Ken Glanville of Winthrop, Joe
Semple of the Ethel area, Earl
Becker, north of Dashwood and
Anthony Soer of Grand Bend.
Anyone interested in having their
property included on the list of sites
should contact the Huron County
Plowmen's Association prior to the
annual meeting set for Feb. 12.
Vol. 11 No.5 Wednesday, February 1, 1995
61c + 40GS-1650
3 hurt in snowmobile accidents
Search for county
landfill down to 1
Prospects for Huron
Match looking good