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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-01-17, Page 1See page 9 See page 12 See page 17 See page 22 The orth Huron itizen Vol. 21 No 3 ednesday Jan. 17, 1996 6.10„4-4e. GST 650 Heading south Farm equipment dealers and manufacturers in Huron County are aiding their more southerly neighbours in Pennsylvania after the eastern United States was hit by record snowfall recently. McGavin Farm Equipment, Walton, with implements brought in from Vincent Farm Equipment, Seaforth, and four manufacturers in the region, shipped more than 40 new and used snowblowers to the state to help farmers dig out. Standing with the truckload are Jeff McGavin, left, and Marvin Mortin. U.S. blizzard good for business Sports Brussels Atom Reps win 4 straight Feature Making winter's favourite pastime safer Church Brussels Mennonites burn mortgage Education Hullett gets exchange teacher from 'down under' Brussels area fears health unit closure By Janice Becker Even when Huron County isn't blasted by the woast Mother Nature has to offer, local farm implement dealers can cash in on heavy snow- falls in other parts of the continent. Record snow in the eastern Unit- ed States last week has resulted in a booming business for McGavin Farm Equipment and Farm Supply in Walton as well as Vincent Farm Equipment, Seaforth and snow- blower manufacturers in Lucknow, Clifford, Wiarton and Auburn. When the V plows were no longer sufficient to throw snow over the ever mounting road-side walls and farmers were unable to clean out 'heir drives, two farm equipment dealers from southeast- ern Pennsylvania (PA) put in calls to Ontario for assistance. "There are no dealers or manu- facturers in the state," said truck driver Marvin Mortin of Zimmer- man Farm Services, Richland, PA, who took several loads down. Relying on a past relationship with the dealer, a former Millbank resident (now in PA) contacted Neil McGavin regarding both used and new blowers. A second dealer learned of McGavin Farm Equipment through a manufacturer in Lucknow, said McGavin. Leaving Jan. 12, with 13 of the more than 40 new and used blowers which were shipped to the States over a three day period, through McGavins, Mortin said his truck load was already sold. They were just awaiting his return. "Farmers ( in Pennsylvania) did- n't even use blowers until 1993," said Mortin. With storms like these, "some of the Pennsylvanian farmers are hav- ing to dump their milk because trucks can't get in," added McGavin. The eastern United States was hit with 24 to 38 inches in a blizzard, dubbed the Storm of '96 by news media. Mortin said Washington, D.C. and Virginia were hit the worst. "It was the worst storm in 30 years." Ontario manufacturers who came to the rescue were Heim Welding, Lucknow, Barfoot's Welding and Machine, Wiarton, AgroTrend Manufacturing, Clifford and George Smyth Welding and Machine Shop, Auburn. By Janice Becker The health unit in Brussels is sorely needed by residents and would be greatly missed if it were to be closed due to county cut- backs. Those were the sentiments of the Huron County Health Unit Brussels Branch board members as they dis- cussed the possibility of closure with county representative Ron Murray. Murray, reeve of McKillop Twp. and chair of the county Health and Seniors Committee, attended the Jan. 11 meeting of the board to look at the operation and answer board questions. "As with all departments, every- thing is on the table when we look for areas to cut," says Murray. "With the restructuring and redefin- ing of the health unit, we are look- ing for ways to get away from the duplications, save waste and make the best use of the money avail- able." "The Brussels office is not presently up for closure, but it may be," he says. "The Seaforth office is definitely being closed and there is thought the Goderich office will not be reopened after it was moved to Clinton while the Goderich courthouse was undergoing renova- tion." In his research to discover what the health unit in Brussels offers the community, Murray says the only information he received was with regards to the Diabetes Pro- ject. "It would be really bad if this office closed," says Betty Graber, board member. "This unit is used as a drop-in centre for health issues. People depend on (the staff) when the doctors are not in. Brussels doesn't have a hospital for residents to go to." Many of the residents who make frequent use of the health unit are young mothers or the elderly who do not have transportation available to get to other facilities, says Board Chair Bruce Hahn. Aside from the drop-in centre function of the health unit, it offers residents 11 different groups for learning throughout the year, not just the Diabetes Project. The sessions include topics such as prenatal care, postpartum con- cerns, solo parenting, caring with confidence, living well and active sitting. The council of Morris has asked for a clarification to the article on the front page of the Jan. 3 issue of The Citizen. The article mentions a chimney fire on the outskirts of Brussels, that Morris Twp. did not pay Brussels for attending. Morris did not, and has not, to date received a bill from the Village of Brussels for this fire, nor did the The health nurses act as a liaison, providing resources and referrals as hospital resources are not easily accessed from Brussels. After being handed a list of the groups which operate out of the Brussels office, Murray says he was glad he attended the meeting, to see firsthand the facility and to learn of the numerous programs. Hahn says he understands the county's quest for spending cuts, but didn't think they could justify the financial savings of cutting the Brussels office. Questioned as to where the nurs- es would work if the branch was closed, Murray was unsure, but thought probably Wingham. "It would not take long to spend $230 on mileage expenses for nurses travelling from Wingham (for programs), says Graber. That dollar figure is the amount the county pays each month for rent, heat and PUC bills, in the operation of the Brussels health unit, says Lori Pipe, secretary for the board. Another strong incentive to keep- ing the health unit are the fact that the Brussels Diabetes Project is the most active in Huron-Bruce, says Graber. The Project also gets funding through an endowment to the build- ing, added Graeme MacDonald, Grey Twp. councillor and board member. Graber and Hahn both requested an opportunity for someone to speak to the county health commit- tee before a decision to close the Brussels unit was made. "We would like to be in on set- ting the criteria by which offices will be closed," says Graber. A meeting with the committee might be considered if closure came that close, Murray says. Saying things are still in the dis- cussion stage, Murray told the board he believed "it would not take much to send (the decision) the other way." "Everything is on thee table. The crunch is on." The board will be sending copies of the Brussels Health Unit activi- ties to each member of the county Health and Senior Committee to provide information regarding the many services offered by the staff. The Brussels Health Unit presently employs three staff: Mar- guerite Thomas, Kathy Workman and Connie Kuc. Wingham Fire Department receive a telephone call from Brussels to say that they had received a fire call in Morris Twp. in the Wingham Fire Area. On Dec. 8, a letter was mailed to Brussels and the Brussels Fire Department, accompanied by a cheque paying for three fire calls Continued on page 6 Morris clarifies fire agreement