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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-01-08, Page 1Sports Milestone Special Government Brussels Tykes add 3 more to the win column See page 7 Area couple celebrates golden years of marriage See page 10 A retrospective look at the newsmakers See page 11 County’s DHC reps outline their position See page 23 County says no to amalgamation A Huron County resolution to the convention of the rural section of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (ROMA) next month will call on the government to stop forc­ ing amalgamation of municipalities that feel there is no economic gain to be made. The resolution was sponsored by Brian McBumey, reeve of Tumber- ry and seconded by Tom Cunning­ ham, reeve of Hullett. Cunningham noted Hullett has agreed with other area municipalities to study the possible gains from amalgamation, but the province's timetable for forcing amalgamations might mean the study wouldn't be ready before the municipalities were forced to act. Further, he said, "We are of the opinion that there may not be any good economic reason for us to enter into amalgamation." Mason Bailey, reeve of Blyth, supported the motion. "This resolu­ tion would say (to the government) don't force us to betray our ratepay­ ers," he said. Carol Mitchell, reeve of Clinton, agreed. "I think it is imperative that all parties agree to an amalgama­ tion," she said. "It will make a lot better partners in the long run." But Goderich Reeve Bill Clifford opposed the resolution, although he agreed it might be like voting against motherhood. "It's been over a year now since the government announced their masterplan to get us out of debt," he said. He claimed a majority of people in the province still support the government's agen­ da. "It's fine to be territorial and want to do it ourselves but how long are we going to be able to afford these further cuts." It's great to try to protect the identity of our communities, he argued, but there are financial realities. Bailey wound up the debate with an impassioned plea for protecting the rights of ordinary voters. Blyth, he said, had looked at a lot of places where there had been amal­ gamations and in speaking to peo­ ple found out their taxes went up and their sense of control went down. Democracy is put in danger, he said, when control is given to fewer and fewer people. "We would be for opening the door for the man­ darins and bureaucrats to take con­ trol. When we give away the grassroots people we are giving power to people who may not be as considerate in the future." 70«+ 5* GST 750Vol. 13 No 1 Wednesday. Jan. 8, 1997 Hospital group plans meetings By Janice Becker Citizen staff With word of a 60-day extension for the final report on hospital restructuring in Huron and Perth Counties being announced just prior to the holiday season, local action committees are making full use of the additional time. The Citizens' Action Committee for Wingham and District Hospital has continued to meet and plan. With the extra time, the committee has organized six information ses­ sions to be held across the region after the Jan. 21 announcement of the single preferred option, said committee member Andy McBride. These meetings will be Jan. 27, Blyth Public School; Jan. 28, How- ick Central Public School; Jan. 29, F.E. Madill Secondary School, Jan. 30, Lucknow Community Centre; Feb. 3, Teeswater Hillcrest Public School and Feb. 4, Brussels Public School. All meetings are scheduled Continued on page 10 BIDE nabs 1 drunk driver The happiest of new years If the numbers can be believed, it would seem the message about drinking and driving may be sink­ ing in, for Huron County at least. While the same number of check­ stop locations were set up through­ out the RIDE program, according to Community Services Officer OPP Senior Constable John Mar­ shall, there were considerably fewer vehicles checked this year than last. This may be attributed in part, he said, to more people stay­ ing at home, spending the night or appointing one person to drive a group, if they've been drinking. Of the 6,108 vehicles stopped compared to 8,475 in the RIDE ini­ tiative, only one driver was charged with impaired. In 1995, check­ points caught nine impaired drivers. Also this year there were only six 12-hour license suspen­ sions, as opposed to 20 last year. There was a substantial drop in the number of other charges laid during spot checks, from 41 in 1995 to six this year. "So, looking at the numbers it appears people are starling to get the message. Hopefully that's true," said Marshall. Accidents, however, were up considerably between Nov. 29 to Jan. 2. OPP officers were particu­ larly busy on Christmas Eve, when heavy snowfall and decreased visi­ bility made roads hazardous for holiday driving throughout the county. While OPP reported just 91 colli­ sions during the 1995 REDE initia­ tive, this year there were 124, with one fatal accident. Two people died as a result of accidents as opposed to none last year. Anneke and Rymert Los of RR1, Listowel got the best start to a new year that a young couple might hope for when little Luke was born at 7:55 a.m., Jan. 3. Luke was the first New Year's baby to arrive in The Citizen's readership area. All other local hospitals also had New Year's babies by late Jan. 3. New Year’s baby born to Grey couple It was well into the new year before the area's first New Year’s baby arrived. Luke, the first child of Anneke and Rymert Los of RR1, Listowel, Grey Twp., was bom at 7:55 a.m., Jan. 3, at Listowel Memorial Hos­ pital. Luke weighed in at 3120 grams (6 lbs. 14 oz.). The Loses moved to Canada from Holland a couple years ago and run a dairy operation. Vickie and Bill Brophy of Wing­ ham are the proud parents of a baby girl who arrived Jan. 1 at 1:18 p.m., at Wingham and District Hospital. She tipped the scales at 7 lbs. 10 oz. Clinton Public Hospital was able to announce its first baby of 1997, Jan. 2 at 12:20 a.m. Jesse was bom to Pat and Laurie Haggitt of Varna. A pink bundle of joy arrived Jan. 3, at 12:34 p.m. at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, Goderich, for Brenda Powell and Henry Roesch of RR2, Goderich. Jacqueline (spelling undecided) Elizabeth weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. The last New Year's baby for local hospitals arrived on the scene at Seaforth Community Hospital, at 10:51 p.m., Jan. 3 when Madisson was bom to Terri Lyn and Darcy Vanneste of Exeter.