HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-01-21, Page 1Helping hands
Donations of canned food,
diapers, batteries, flash-
lights, blankets, toiletries,
firewood and cash, from
across tie area, poured in
as local service clubs put
out the call to help fellow
Ontarians devastated by
the ice storm of two weeks
ago. Brussels Optimists
loaded a Wheeler Bus
Lines bus, parked at IGA,
with personal needs. Little
William Stevenson, 2 1/2,
from RR2, Bluevale, (right)
offers Optimist Joe Seili his
donation.The Brussels
Lions filled three tri-axle
dump trucks from
McKercher Const. and
Nicholson Haulage, (below)
for the trek east after calls
to friends, neighbours and
CKNX radio brought a flood
of firewood. On hand for the
loading Friday afternoon
were, from left: Neil
McGavin, John McKercher,
Jim Armstrong, Jan Van
Vliet and Robert Hesse.
Community turns out to
honour Brussels Citizen
of the Year
See page 2
Brussels PeeWees win
second tournament
championship
See page 8
Carroll says funding
model could result in
school closures
See page 10
Grey sends message
to N. Huron group itizen
Lions truck wood to eastern Ontario
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
In what appears to be a move
away from expected restructuring
options, Grey council has suggest-
ed an alternative.
When the issue of selecting an
option for restructuring in North
Huron arose at the Jan. 19 session,
Reeve Robin Dunbar suggested
ignoring the arbitrary municipal
boundary lines and looking at ser-
vice areas.
"Looking at the county without
boundaries may be the way to make
progress," he said, adding that the
county strategic planning commit-
tee noted that some action on
restructuring would be required in
the coming year.
"We (the North Huron Review
committee) should have been look-
ing at natural groupings. It has been
done backwards," said Dunbar.
In answering questions regarding
county boundaries, Dunbar said the
neighbouring counties of Bruce and
Perth had already restructured and
By Amy Crawford
Citizen Co-op Student
Students of F. E. Madill
Secondary School's Drama Guild in
Wingham have their work cut out
for them as they are preparing to
host this year's Sears Drama
Festival, Feb. 18 - 21.
Hundreds of young actors and
stage crews will flock to Blyth
Memorial Hall, site of the 1998
competition, from North Waterloo,
Huron and Perth secondary
schools.
The Sears drama festival is an
outlet for talented young adults to
showcase their talent and be
recognized. The 52-year-old
Festival, sponsored by Sears,
stresses the importance of dramatic
arts in high schools.
Virginia Schenk, Wingham, co-
ordinator of billeting and social
activities said, "The Festival gives
students a chance to make contacts
with professional actors and
actresses."
The Sears Festival is a
competition with three categories.
From the district level at Blyth,
three schools will advance to
Regional competition, then the
winner will go onto All-Ontario
where there is no competition, just
a showcase of the best.
A production of this magnitude
doesn't just happen, there are many
behind the scene activities involved
to make this a success. The large
drama community at F. E. Madill
has to plan events for the schools,
prepare workshops, and make sure
they have facilities to take care of
everyone's needs.
"There is a huge amount c,f work
are protected for three years.
Clerk-Treasurer Brad Knight said
it might be unfair to make a deci-
sion at this time as Hullett Twp.
had recently expressed an interest
in being included in the North
Huron talks.
Councillors said the problems
with a large block of 10 or 11
municipalities appears to be more
acute for Grey and Ashfield Twps.
as they feel no connection to the
others. Areas such as Blyth and
Wingham, who have already
approved the 10-municipality
option, are more central and can
justify the links, said Knight.
Though councillors admitted it
might be a hard sell as municipali-
ties had been fighting to retain their
boundaries, they agreed the sugges-
tion should go to the review com-
mittee for consideration.
Dunbar said it would be better to
do it right now, at this late date,
than to try to fix something which
may not work.
A letter outlining Grey Twp.'s
position will be drafted for the next
meeting for council's approval.
involved, even little things like
making sure there is toilet paper in
the washrooms," said Schenk.
With any big production there is
always money involved. Schenk
said, "We are planning to ask for
donations from the local
businesses, but hope we get enough
from ticket sales and entrance fees
to cover costs."
One of the major decisions this
year's hosts had to make was where
to hold the Festival. They decided
upon the Blyth Theatre because,
"we wanted it in a professional
theatre that has the proper facilities
for our needs," said Ashley Gropp,
Brussels, head of publicity. -
"When you have a professional
theatre as close as Blyth, why not
take advantage of it," said Caley
Moore, co-ordinator for all aspects
of production.
With all the effort put into
pulling off this production Erin
Eadie, Wingham co-ordinator for
billeting and social activities
committee said, "All are high
quality performances and are
definitely worth coming to see."
There are four shows per night
for four nights and tickets are $10
per night per person, $32 per night
for a family of four or more or $32
per person for the four evenings.
Everyone is encouraged to get out
and support the local high schools
that are involved.
With many schools from all over
coming to participate there is a
need for host families to take
people in during the four days.
Anyone interested is urged to
contact Wingham high school and
speak with Mrs. Alexander, drama
teacher.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
It was truly an eye-opening expe-
rience for the Brussels Lions Club
members who headed east on the
weekend with three tri-axle dump
trucks loaded with firewood for the
ice-ravaged area of eastern Ontario.
The campaign to gather dona-
tions began Wednesday evening
when John McKercher spoke with
Lions Robert Hesse, Jim Arm-
strong, Neil McGavin, Jack Knight
and Jan Van Vliet.
Within a matter of hours, plans
began to fall into place.
Though the Lions had initially
thought they would buy whatever
wood they could, a Friday morning
call to CKNX radio really boosted
the effort.
"The phone did not stop ringing
all day," said McKercher, owner of
McKercher Construction, RR2,
Bluevale.
Donations began to flow in.
Nicholson Haulage and McK-
Continued on page 6
Vol. 14 No 3
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1998
70¢ + 5¢ GST 750
Madill students
plan for Sears