HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-02-03, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1999.
AValtonThe news from 'Walton Public School news
Children write speeches
Compiled by Patty Banks Phone 887-6156
If you like to eat oatmeal
porridge, then Walton kindergarten
was where you needed to be last
week. It was the letter O that had
the kids making the porridge and
they also made and ate O-shaped
cereal necklaces. The children also
had fun playing Old Maid.
Grade l/2s are still working on
energy. They are now designing
things that move. Some are making
boats with elastics which, when
wound up, will move. Others are
testing batteries with tin foil to see
if there is any energy left.
Grade 2/3s are doing writing
projects based on the book Magic
Hockey Skates. They were pretty
excited this week to hear back from
their penpals from Stratford.
They wilLbe meeting with the
penpals later this year.
For environmental studies, the
students are beginning a new theme
- pioneers.They will begin to map
their origins.
The Grade 3/4s are beginning to
think about writing their speeches
for the Legion competition Feb. 21.
For social studies they have
begun a unit on medieval times.
Right now they have to get their
title pages completed.
The staff of Walton Public
School held a farewell lunch for
secretary, Diana Dolmage, who
will be working at the Brussels
school. Diana said that she just
wanted to thank all the parents and
kids and staff for being so
supportive in her role as secretary.
They have made it very hard for
her to leave. We welcome Jane
Zwep to the school who will be the
new secretary.
Walton Hall rentals great
Making the turn
It was the perfect day for snowmobile races in Walton,
Jan. 31, as dozens of racers took to the track at the Lee
farm. Gordon Wolfe of Dobbinton went high on a sharp
turn as he competed in a Pro 501 plus heat. He finished
fifth in the class.
HCPP hire counsellor
The Walton Hall board will be
having a roast beef supper in
February.
The hall board is also having its
annual meeting on Feb. 16. They
will be going over the past year's
events. They welcome any new
ideas on how to make use of the
hall.
So far rentals have been great.
They have a well-attended aerobics
class going and euchre nights are
successful as well. Everyone is
welcome to attend. Call Judy Lee
for more information.
Karen Hoegy just returned home
from Thailand where she went with
Dorthy Williamson, to meet her
daughter Sherry Hoegy. She said
that it was very warm and humid -
24°C at night and 32-35°C during
the day.
She was amazed at how everyone
was trying to sell things. The
streets are lined with food stands,
cars, taxis, bicycles, people and
dogs.
The trio visited Bangkok,
ChiangMai and Phuket. Phuket is a
resort area on the Andanman Sea
and caters to the tourists. This was
the richer part of the country but a
lot of the houses everywhere else
were just shacks.
The girls learned how to barter
for whatever they wanted to buy
and that was an interesting
experience.
They also visited an elephant
farm.
The king owns all the 200
elephants that are in Thailand, thus
they are a protected animal.
The canal rides were something
to see as well with the canals lined
with people in boats selling their
wares. There were lots of people
living in their shacks along the
canal as well. Karen said that of the
200 or so temples in the country
they got to see two of them.
Pork prices hit bottom, packing"plant workers went on strike and
producers realized huge financial losses in their daily operations.
The past several months have been very difficult for many fanners so the
Huron County Pork Producers Association has hired a stress counsellor.
Gabe Del Bianco of Innerfit in Auburn will be available over the next
eight months to help farm families deal with the emotional stress and anger
which comes from actual and potential financial crises.
Having grown up in a small village in Oxford County, Del Bianco said he
is very familiar with the "faith, hard work and perseverance" of the farm
community.
Whether concerned about oneself or a
neighbour, Del Bianco said the struggle to get
through the current crisis "will not come
easily. Even when the prices rebound, the
results will remain for a long time."
"We are trying to emphasize that it is not
just about prices," he said. "As prices climb,
the crisis still continues as families deal with
the repercussions."
It is not just the toll on the finances which
bring crisis to the family, he said, it is the
"lessening of the value of people".
"Anger, depression, fatigue and "just not
knowing" can steal self-esteem, dignity, hopes
and dreams," he said.
To work through those difficulties, Del Bianco will be offering his
"sounding board' services in three ways.
He will visit farmers' homes for a walk and talk, clients can visit his
Innerfit office which is located in an old renovated church in Auburn,
across from the post office or through the OMAFRA office in Clinton.
Del Bianco said the farm visits are not just about providing stress
counselling but helping to keep the lines of communication open.
It is to find out what can be done in the future to make more services
available when crises arise, he said.
On an informal basis, Del Bianco is welcoming producers to visit the
Clinton youth centre at 17 Victoria St. , Tuesday afternoons.
In providing a social lime and the opportunity for producers to talk with
others, Del Bianco will be on hand each Tuesday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the
centre. Visitors can enjoy a pool game, a few rounds of cards, a little coffee
or just sit and talk.
Del Bianco will also make himself known to area producers by phoning
and making house calls, just to get acquainted.
For those looking for somewhere to turn, Queen's Bush Rural Ministry is
a phone crisis line which provides callers an outlet while guiding them to
the services which will best meet their needs.
Operating for 10 years, Queen's Bush can guide callers to sources of
financial help, as well as counselling services in their area. They service
Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth, Wellington and Duffcrin Counties.
A spokesperson for the crisis line said there has been an increase in calls
due to both the pork price collapse and drought-destroyed crops.
"There has been some relief with prices rebounding and the promised pay
out by the government, however, there arc a lol of questions about the
amounts."
"We are hearing from 100 sow and less farrow to finish operators. We try
to get the best help we know is put there."
Queen's Bush Rural Ministries can be reached by calling 1-519-392-6090.
Collect calls will be accepted and the service is free.
Del Bianco can be reached al 526-7625 or through OMAFRA at 1-519-
482-3428 or 1-800-265-5170.
Rev. Murray talks of Beatitudes
Leona McDonald greeted
worshippers at Duff's United
Church on Jan. 31. Rev. James
Murray delivered the call to
worship. He reminded everyone the
UCW meets Wednesday with guest
speaker Laura Scott showing her
slides from Russia.
Rev. Murray's sermon was based
on Matt. 5: 1-12, the Beatitudes.
It is interesting to note, he said,
that like Moses, Jesus went on a
mountain to preach. Moses brought
back the commandments in stone.
"Jesus gives us a new set of
commandments which he writes on
our hearts. His commandments are
telling us to live a God-centered
life in our everyday world," Rev.
Murray said.
Jesus gave the beatitudes because
he wanted to change people's lives,
give them new- meaning and
purpose.
"He wants to see the world on
fire with possibilities. He wants to
set us free from the mistakes of the
past. He wants the future to be open
for us. He wants us to handle
everything today brings. To have
courage to do the right thing. Tq
love according to God's way of
doing things," he said.
"So take stock of where you are.
Know what you are facing and
feeling. And know that in the face
of all this, God blesses you. Jesus
loves you. The Holy Spirit is with
you. Always. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Always."
Morris Twp. talks bag tags
Meat packers
strike ends
After an eight-week strike, Quali
ty Meat Packers has settled the
strike with its 950 employees,
thereby reopening processing facil
ities for 25,000 hogs per week.
Company officials estimate it
will take approximately one week
to get the Toronto and Bramalea
locations into production.
In a release from Ontario Pork,
Will Nap, chair of the Ontario Pork
Producers Marketing Board said,
"We are elated with the recent
announcement to end the strike.
Ontario Pork is currently working
with Quality Meats to arrange the
marketing and scheduling of hogs
as the plants return to full process
ing capacity."
Producers are being asked to con
sult with the sales and marketing
departments to co-ordinate logistics
for processing.
The strike at Quality Meats had a
severe impact on the price produc
ers received for their hogs due to
increased transportation costs for
shipping to alternate markets, said
Ontario Pork.
Morris Twp. councillors respond
ed to a letter from a concerned Bel
grave resident at the Jan. 19
session.
In response to Jean Kennedy's
inquiry about bag tags, council
explained that bag tags will reduce
the cost of operating the landfill
site and should reflect on the $70
per household (approximate) cur
rently charged to taxpayers.
Gary Clayton of The Old Tyme
Radio Centre in Belgrave asked
council if they would be interested
in helping offset the costs of wel
come signs for the hamlet.
Approval was given for Belgrave
Variety was to sell bag tags.
Clayton proposed erecting a sign
at either end of the hamlet which
would welcome visitors to Bel
grave, refer to Old Tyme Radio and
say Please Drive Carefully. The
total cost would be $550 per sign.
He would supply the 20 foot posts.
Council said they would consider
the matter.
Maitland Engineering Services
will be asked to review the condi
tion of Blind Line Bridge, Sideroad
20-21, Cone. 2, due to damage
caused by the collision from a log
ging truck.
Frank Cowan Insurance Compa
ny will not cover the damage. Co
operator Insurance has contacted
the township regarding damages.
Jeff Dickson of Maitland Engi
neering Services was on-hand to
Continued on page 16
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Reduce, reuse and recycle
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