HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-01-08, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1997 PAGE 11.
A retrospective o£1996
The news highlights of last year
Brussels residents began plan
ning for Homecoming 1997 as they
sought a theme for the 125th birth
day party.
The Made in Huron Shop opened
in Clinton, boasting Huron County
products.
Bly th Festival recorded the sec
ond surplus in two years, bringing
it back from the brink of collapse.
Small county libraries receive
final word on closure. County
council voted to shut down
Aubum, Bluevale, Centralia, Cran-
brook, Gorrie and Walton.
Bly th received a 26 per cent cut
in provincial funding, putting the
figure at $92,626.
Two directors, with more than
39 years total experience, retired
from the Blyth Festival board. They
were Sheila Richards and Helen
Gowing.
Brussels Atoms took the A cham
pionship in the houseleague finals.
U.S. blizzards were a boon to
McGavin Farm Equipment and
Farm Supply in Walton as the call
for snowblowers kept them busy
for weeks.
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
began 1996 by burning the mort
gage for the hall, after 16 years.
Government agencies dealt with
budget cuts as OMAFRA lost 35
per cent of its funding and Maitland
Valley Conservation Authority laid
off six staff
The Brussels Agricultural Soci
ety presented awards to top winners
from the Brussels Fall Fair. Some
were: Diane Damen, Jeanne Ireland
Trophy for most points for school
work; Crystal Ahrens, most points
in the junior division and Justin
Howatt for champion market ani
mal.
Huron County Plowmen prepared
their bid for the 1999 International
Plowing Match.
Fundraising efforts by the Blyth
Snow Travellers enabled the club
to purchase a winter rescue sled for
the Blyth and District Fire Depart
ment.
New owners take over Sabo's
Restaurant, Aubum, changing the
name to Stickers.
event at Central Huron Secondary
School, Clinton. They put together
the first-ever student trustee confer
ence as well as a video-conference
with Education Minister John Sno-
belen.
Six small communities from
across the county fought for the
survival of their libraries.
Londesboro Lions Club reached
two-thirds of its fundraising goal
for the Hallways Project when it hit
the $26,327 mark.
Brussels Crusaders began post
season play after ending the regular
season in third place, just three
points off the lead.
Walton-area resident Graeme
Craig was selected as chair for the
1999 International Plowing Match
which will be held on the farm of
Earl Becker, Hay Twp.
The new Huron County Health
and Library facility, housed in the
old Huronview buildings in Clin
ton, was officially opened.
Five bus loads of teachers trav
elled to Hamilton to take part in a
protest against cuts by the Harris
government.
Feme Howatt captured second
place for her home-made bread at
the Ontario Association of Agricul
tural Society’s, District 8, competi
tion in Toronto. She was the
representative from the Brussels
Fall Fair.
Brussels and Palmerston cadets
took part in a campout, braving the
cold weather for an over-night stay.
Two Central Huron Secondary
students earned top honours in the
Snowbelt debating competition
held in Clinton. Rachel Bokhout
and Robin Martin advanced to the
provincial championship while
Erica Clark and Shawn Clark also
finished well.
Jim O'Toole leaves OMAFRA to
go into private business.
The Huron County Board of Edu
cation made the decision to contin
ue the junior kindergarten program
for another year, in spite of gov
ernment funding cuts.
County council discontinued the
road rebate to taxpayers, which
amounted to at least 25 per cent of
the county levy for highways.
Spurred by concerns from Ash
field Twp. residents, the county
hired two consulting firms to con
sider waste disposal alternatives.
HCBE student trustees were
instrumental in an extraordinary
Blyth lost one of its oldest and
most respected community leaders
when Simon Hallahan, co-founder
of the Pioneer Thresher Reunion
and Hobby Show, died.
Several Brussels figure skaters
brought home awards after an inter
club meet in Stratford. They were:
Jeanette DeWetering, Tanya
Franken, Leisa McCall, Christa
Smith, Nicole Mastnak, Lacey
McCall, Michelle DeWetering,
Samantha Thomas, Katherine
Campbell, Christine Seili, Michelle
Smith, Julie Nolan and Amanda
Stevenson.
It was announced that Triple A
hockey would come to Huron-Perth
for the 1996-97 season. The team
would be the Huron-Perth Lakers.
With the strike by provincial
meat inspectors, (governed by the
Ontario Public Sector Employees
Union) local butchers felt the pinch
as their businesses were shut down
for days.
After an impassioned speech by
Blyth Reeve Mason Bailey, Blyth
council began their campaign for
education finance reform.
With warm days and freezing
nights, the maple syrup crop was
one of the best seen in years.
Brussels Crusaders moved onto
the finals against the Wiarton
Trust me
David Schlumpf, a Grade 2 student at Grey Central Public School listens as Public Health
Nurse Connie Kuc explains the reason for the needle he is about to receive and what to
expect. A mass innoculation of Huron County students began in February with the goal of
eradicating measles.
Wolves.
A strategic planning committee
for Clinton Public Hospital recom
mended the facility move towards
ambulatory and out-patient care
instead of in-patient programs. This
was suggested as an alternative to
neighbouring hospitals for the
declining number of needed hospi
tal beds.
The OPSEU strikers' shack, in
front of the Ministry of Natural
Resources' Wingham office,
burned.
More than 120 reeves, council
lors, clerk-treasures and road super
intendents from across the county
gathered in Clinton to discuss
options for amalgamation.
Morris Twp. began planning its
140th birthday celebration.
The Book Store reopened in
Blyth after an absence of almost
three years.
zone level competition.
Blyth Public School supporters
began a campaign to raise funds for
the replacement of playground
equipment. The equipment was
removed due to its deteriorating
state.
To maintain future viability,
Wingham and District Hospital
board members agreed to convert
12 of the 25 chronic-care beds to a
Continued on page 12
Stop Smoking Program
for Women
in Huron County
^524-2773 Goderich 1-800-265-5503
With continued cuts to education
funding, the HCBE feared taxes
could rise as much as 6.8 per cent.
Huron County council announced
there would be no tax increase for
the coming year.
Blyth Tykes took the B consola
tion title.
Blyth Public School students
Jamie Lewis, Megan Campbell,
Mike Walsh and Brianne Schultz
were winners in the Royal Canadi
an Legion's Remembrance Day
Quit or Reduce Smoking
Learn to Cope with Stress
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Childcare and Transportation Provided
Wingham Sessions
Start January 23rd, 1:30 p.m.
Call: Ruth Cooper
Clinton - 482-3416
(long distance 1 -800-265-51 84)
Sponsored by Health Canada and
Huron County Action Group on Women and Smoking