HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-01-08, Page 3THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8,1997 PAGE 3.
Council steps up campaign
Blyth By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
People
A rare treat
Three young Blyth residents had the chance to meet
Calgary Stampeder Jay McNeil when he attended a
gathering at Blyth United Church in December to talk to
the Youth Group. With McNeil are, from left: Kristen Oster
Rachel de Boer and Jenny Ritchie.
Calgary Stampeder
talks to local youth
On Friday, Dec. 20, the last day
of school prior to the Christmas
break, the Blyth United Church
hosted a special evening for sports
fans with right offensive guard, Jay
McNeil, of the Calgary Stampeders
football club.
McNeil, a member of the
Stampeders for the past three years,
spoke to a gathering of young
people and parents about his career
in pro football. He explained how
football has enabled him to reach
many of his goals in life. Football,
he said, has given his life the
discipline and focus necessary to
meet with success.
A native of London, Ontario,
McNeil began his playing career at
high school prior to receiving a
scholarship at Kent State
University in Ohio. He was drafted
by the Calgary Stampeders in 1993
and became the starting right guard
for the Stampeders this past year.
At 6'4", 290 lbs., McNeil is ready
to tackle the rigors of this
demanding position.
He had a message for the young
people, to set goals and stay
focused upon the prize. He shared
that his football career was almost
finished before it began. Choosing
to opt out of football in Grade 10
because of the work involved, he
nearly passed up his promising
future. Seeing how much he missed
during that year, he changed his
mind and the following fall joined
the football program and hasn't
looked back.
Pro football has enabled him to
travel and meet many fine people.
He said he feels privileged to be
doing something he loves in life.
Speaking of loves, McNeil
announced to the gathering his
upcoming plans for marriage. Next
year, perhaps McNeil will have a
Grey Cup ring to go with a
wedding ring!
The 40th annual McWhirter
family reunion was held at Blyth
arena Jan. 1 with the families of
Bill McWhirter, George
McWhirter, Pat Shaw, Mabel
Willis and the late Jack McWhirter
and Elvin McWhirter.
A total of 57 relatives were in
attendance from Brussels, Blyth,
Waterloo, Kitchener, Clinton,
Lucan and Walton. Wayne and
Lucy Willis from Morinville, Alta,
travelled the farthest.
It was an active afternoon with
games and a euchre tournament
followed by skating and a pot luck
dinner.
It was Christmas in the country
with almost all of the folks at the
home of Harvey and Deanne Snell,
RR 1, Aubum.
Guests on Boxing Day were:
Alvin and Gene Snell, Blyth; Cliff,
Nikki and Craig Snell, Blyth; Kriss
Snell, Stratford and Marla
Estabrooks, Carrying Place; Herb
and Bonnie Shannon, Darryl,
Corey, Nathan and Devin, Blyth;
Jim, Audrey, Dean Timpany and
Deneen Kebbell of Aylmer; Jack
and Shirley Johnson, Kari and Kurt
of London; Sherri Guetler,
Dorchester; Tony Latour and
Shannon Snell, Clinton and Shane
Snell of Wingham.
Visiting over the Christmas
season with Mary Walden were
Walter and Eunice Cunningham
and grandson Rodney Cunningham
of Fort Frances, Ont., also Shirley
and Bill Bush of Toronto.
With the deadline now passed for
municipalities across the province
to discontinue the collection of
education taxes, Blyth council is
plotting their next move.
In information received from the
Crombie commission on "Who
Does What", Clerk-Treasurer John
Stewart said "the panel believes
education taxes should not be fund
ed by property taxes, however, to
balance the provincial budget, there
has to be a sharing between what
the province and municipalities pay
for."
There has been some shifting of
responsibilities between the two
levels of government, but Crombie
also indicated in his report that
each will still spend the same
amount of money, just in different
areas.
In the report, Crombie said he
doesn't see a way the province
could pay for education without
shifting such items as welfare and
health care to the municipalities.
He said he would prefer to see edu
cation stay with the municipalities.
Though there may be some ideo
logical support coming from
provincial sources, Reeve M?son
Bailey said," It appears things may
not be going our way completely. It
will take resolve to continue. To
fail is unacceptable."
With the ROMA (Rural Ontario
Municipalities Association) confer
ence set for early February, Blyth
councillors plan to attend, hitting
the floor to gamer further support
to the education finance reform
campaign.
As well as speaking with govern
ment ministers who will be in
attendance, council has forwarded a
resolution which they hope will be
brought before the membership for
Continued on page 14
Daily Specials
Open Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 -5:00
Fri 8:30 - 8:00, Sat. 8:30 - 5:00
S/tedxrffy One.
190 Queen St.,
Blyth 523-9628
ANNOUNCING
Blyth Apothecary
Vitamin Bottle Bonus Month
For the month of January 1997
Turn your empty vitamin bottle into a
NOTICE TO THE
RATEPAYERS OF THE
VILLAGE OF BLYTH
CHRISTMAS TREE
RECYCLING
Drop your Christmas Tree off
at the old water tower behind
Bainton’s Old Mill. Trees will
be chipped and the mulch
used on the Greenway
Project. Accepting trees
until Jan. 11th.
John Stewart, A.M.C.T.
Clerk-Treasurer
Village of Blyth
MEDICAL CLINIC
NOW OPEN
saving
DR. JANET ZETTEL
DR. DAN ROOYAKKERS
Tues. 1 - 5 , Thurs. 1 - 5, Fri. 9 -1
Call: 523-4567 for appointments
New patients welcome
on your next vitamin purchase valued over $3.00
Bring yours in today!
BLYTH APOTHECARY
Blyth 523-4210
NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS
IN THE
VILLAGE OF BLYTH
We have extended our Christmas Clearance
Sale to January 14/97
Christmas Trees
Christmas Ornaments
Tree Toppers
Father Christmas and more...
40% off
40% off
40% off
40% off
& Brighten up someone's day during the
winter months with a fresh cut bouquet.
Weekly flower specials ft
Note: Our winter hours ~ January • April 1997
Open Tuesday - Saturday - 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
(If you need flowers or a gift on a Monday don’t hesitate to call 519-523-4440
luann's Country Flowers
Queen St., Blyth 523-4440
Wire Service Available. 1-800-610-7757
~ your call will be gladly received).
1997 Dog Tags are now available at the Municipal Office. All dogs
must be licenced in compliance with Village By-law No. 02-1997. A
complete copy of the by-law Is available at the Municipal Office.
An owner or boarder of a dog(s) shall within 10 days of becoming
such an owner or boarder, and thereafter on or before the 15th day
of February each year cause such dog(s) to be again licenced for
one year.
The fee schedule shall be as follows:
(a) For each neutered male or spayed female dog $20.00
(b) For each additional neutered male or spayed female dog $25.00
(c) For each male or female dog, If only one per household $30.00
(d) For each additional male or female dog $40.00
(e) Pitbulls and Pitbull Cross $100.00
A $15.00 late payment charge shall be assessed in addition to the
licence fee.
Proof of Rabies Vaccination must be available at the time of
purchase.
The by-law requires dog owners to forthwith remove excrement left
by the dog anywhere In the municipality of the Village of Blyth. Any
person contravening this provision is subject to a $50.00
administration fee.
John Stewart, A.M.C.T
Clerk-Treasurer
Village of Blyth