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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-12-18, Page 1Vol.12 No 50 Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996 70¢ + 5e OST 750 Perfect angels Melissa Cowan, left and Evelyn Horne gave angelic performances at the East Wawanosh Christmas Concert on Thursday, Dec. 12. The program featured students from the Early Years classes to Grades 3/4. Walton and Hullett schools also held the concerts last week, while Blyth's was Dec. 17 and Brussels and Grey are tonight (Dec. 18). Product determining retail success • News Blyth Medical Centre hosts open house See page .3 Sports Brussels Tykes tournament's B champs See page 10 Business Grey Twp. man opens new business See page 21 Retires After 20 years Bruce McCall leaves MVCA bd. See page 23 Mood grim at Wingham open house Tfie North ura itizen By Margaret Stapleton Advance-Times Staff The weather outside was grim, but the mood inside was much darker when the Huron-Perth District Health Council held an open house last Thursday in Wingham to discuss its options on hospital restructuring. More than 1,000 citizens of Wingham, as well as the communities in the catchment area of Wingham and District Hospital, turned out for the information sessions presented by DHC representatives. DHC Chairman Janet Hook and Kelly Gillis, DHC administrative assistant, explained the criteria used by the DHC to arrive at its three options for hospital restructuring in Huron and Perth Counties. However, the frustration of local people spilled over during the question-and-answer sessions when Hook and Gillis were widely- heckled by the angry crowd. Late last month, the DHC released three options for hospital restructuring, all of which diminish the role of Wingham and District Hospital, as well as Other small By David Scott Expositor Editor Now it's just a matter of waiting to see where Seaforth fits into the future picture of local health care. Area residents were given a chance last Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m. to voice their concerns and give their input on the three possible options for hospital restructuring at the Huron Perth DHC's Open House held at the Seaforth and District Community Centres. The task force was scheduled to meet yesterday (Tuesday) to decide on the final preferred option. That option was to be made public by today (Wednesday). Unfortunately, it wasn't released in time for this hospitals in Huron and Perth and elevate the role of hospitals in Stratford and Goderich. An action committee was rapidly formed for Wingham and area and an "option four" developed. The new option, which was unveiled at a whirlwind series of six public meetings held in the catchment area of WHD, calls for Wingham, Goderich and Listowel hospitals to become "primary-plus" hospitals with their services intact. Verna Steffler of Wingham, a member of the action committee and the board of governors at WDH, said she was very happy with the turnout to last Thursday's open house in town, despite the inclement weather. Between the open house and the six public meetings, Steffler estimates, the committee got its message out to over 2,500 people. While the committee may have gotten through to local residents, getting through to the DHC is a different story. The Wingham committee, along with numerous others, submitted a written brief on it option to the DHC last Friday and made a presentation Monday Continued on page 6 week's press deadline. A steady stream of residents filed through the information display that recapped the efforts of the task force and broke down the numbers of responses received and surveys conducted. Specifics included the number of acute care beds needed in Huron-Perth (220-225) compared to what there is presently (346). The first 45-minute session of the day began with a presentation on the task force's fact-finding procedures given by Chair Janet Hook and Kelly Gillis, DHC health planner. Only 10 minutes were allotted for questions and answers before the group moved into the final cordoned off area where more Continued on page 7 By Janice Becker Citizen staff From bustling sales to silent cash registers, the amount of Christmas shopping being done in local stores appears to be highly dependent on the product offered. Oldfield Pro Hardware and Radio Shack in Brussels is having a great season, said Jim Oldfield. "Com- puters have really gone as have small (satellite) dishes and cellular phones." Technology is in high demand, he said, as people focus more on home entertaining. "We have been selling two to three dishes per week. The picture is unreal, it is digital and stereo." Phones have also been hot since the installation of a tower in the area. As for computers, people are coming in knowing what they want, said Oldfield. "This is not their first computer. They are look- ing for a fast modem and internet capability. With the price on colour printers also dropping, they have been popular." Staying at home seems to be a theme this year. McDonald Home Hardware has seen an increase in power tools, said Julie McCall. "Maybe they are going to do the work themselves." Sales have also been fairly good in housewares and appliances, she said. The tendency to home entertain- ing may be evident in sales at the liquor store. Nancy Ducharme said sales have been slow, but that is not uncommon. "Our sales often occur in the last three days." "The amounts appear to be down as there are fewer Christmas parties and home entertaining is scaled down." There is always the consid- Ten people were taken to hospital after a collision on Hwy 4, just south of Blyth on Dec. 15 at 2:50 a.m. According to OPP a 1989 Pontiac driven by Christopher Lee, 19, of Blyth crashed into a 1985 Cadillac driven by 17-year-old Margaret Stewart, also of Blyth. All the people taken to hospital eration of drinking and driving she points out. Items which are going well this year do include wine to go with the holiday meal and gift packs. The liquor store may see increased sales before New Year's, which tends to be a celebration for couples rather than the family. Last year, sales in the two days before New Year's equalled the week before Christmas, said Ducharme. As for Luann's Country Flowers, in Blyth, business is great, so busy in fact, she had little time to talk. Other retailers are seeing busi- ness on par with last year or a drop in sales. were treated for non-life threaten- ing injuries, police said. Lee was arrested and charged with impaired driving causing bodi- ly harm, over 80 and driving a motor vehicle with liquor readily available. His court date is Feb. 17. Lee also had his license suspended for 90 days. Seaforth just waiting Closed for the holidays The offices of The North Huron Citizen will be closed for the Christmas holidays, Dec. 20 until Jan. 2. The final issue for 1996, our "Season's Greetings" will be published Mon- day, Dec. 23. As there will not be another Citizen until Jan. 8, anyone want- ing to advertise an event to be held prior to then, may wish to do so in the Dec. 23 issue. Copy must be submitted to the Brussels office by 2 p.m., Dec. 19 for inclusion. The office will re-open at 10 a.m. on Jan. 2. Deadline for advertis- ing and editorial at the Blyth office will be Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. The office will be open, however, until 5 p.m. Dec. 20. It will be back to business as usual on Jan. 2. The staff of The North Huron Citizen takes this opportunity to wish our readers, advertisers and their families a very Merry Christmas and nothing but good news in 1997. 10 hurt in car accident