HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-03-04, Page 1See page 10, 11 See page 15
The North Huron
itizen
Vol. 14 No. 9
Wednesday, March 4, 1998
70e + 50 GST 75(4
Sign of spring?
It has been a February like no other and with the springlike temperatures of this past
weekend, local sports enthusiasts took their game outdoors in Brussels. In a fast-paced
game of road hockey on the tennis court, Grant Jarvis, left, Jamie Smith, centre and Brett
Clarkson each try to take control.
Student trustees, parents' opinions differ
What happened
to our winter?
What happened to winter?
While some may argue that El Nino's effects may not be so far-reaching
as central North America, local weatherman Boyd Taylor of RR3, Walton
has few doubts. "There's no question that something has caused this
unseasonable winter."
Taylor reports that throughout February the temperature was on average
5.5°C warmer than other years, with only trace amounts of snow recorded
on six different occasions. "By trace, I mean what you see in the air, not
something you can measure."
Rainfall too was minimal with a total of 28 ml or just slightly over one
inch for the month.
"Making this," he said, "the warmest and driest February on record."
Although sunshine was still scarce, there was still more of it in February
than in December and January combined, Taylor said.
"I told my grandchildren the other day to remember this winter. They
may never see another like it."
Sports
Brussels Juveniles, Blyth
Midgets receive WOAA
trophies
Farm
Some pork producers less
than pleased with idea of
co-operative
Entertainment
Pianist, entertainer
Frank Mills returns to
Blyth stage
See page 23
Brussels overspends
audit report shows
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen Staff
The audit for Brussels is
complete, but while the bank
account looks good with a surplus
of $33,650, the year actually ended
in a deficit position.
At the March 2 meeting Clerk-
Treasurer Donna White informed
councillors that the budget had
been overspent by $18,000. The
biggest problem had come in the
area of public works. The
An Ethel-area teen is recovering
at home after sustaining serious
injuries in a car crash last Thursday
evening.
Corey Campbell, 17, RR1,
Ethel,was on Conc. 1, in Morris,
just west of County Road 12 at
8:45 p.m., when his 1996 Mercury
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
It is all a matter of safety.
Grey Twp. councillors discussed,
at the March 2 meeting, the need to
improve the location and size of
stop signs in Ethel.
Road Supervisor Dave Hastings
said that although no serious acci-
dent has happened yet, a change
will help prevent one.
Hastings was seeking council's
permission to request the Huron
County road department raise the
height of the stop sign on Conc.
budgetted figure had been for
$16,050, while the actual costs
were $24,614.
"There had just been a couple of
little things which had not been
budgetted for that added up to a
lot," she said.
She suggested that council begin
to budget more for maintenance in
the future because the village
equipment is aging and that will
mean repair costs.
The auditors will be at the next
meeting of council to make a full
presentation.
Sable entered the north ditch where
it struck a hydro pole and rolled
over. OPP state that the hydro pole
was severed off and the vehicle
demolished.
Campbell was taken by ambu-
lance to Listowel Hospital and
released Friday afternoon.
No charges were laid.
7/8, in the village, next to the
restaurant.
With vehicles parking directly in
front of the store, the stop sign is
very difficult to see, particularly for
those unaccustomed to the corner,
said Reeve Robin Dunbar.
Stating that this would be the
first step in making the intersection
safer, Hastings also mentioned that
a stop sign on County Road 19, at
the corner would help, as traffic
from the west is difficult to see at
times.
Council authorized Hastings to
seek improvement to the signage.
By Michele Green
Special to The Citizen
Parents are fighting harder than
student trustees to save an area
school from closure as the Avon-
Maitland District School Board
looks for a location for its
amalgamated administrative
offices.
Student Trustee Brent Cameron
told trustees last Tuesday, Feb. 24
in Clinton that students transferred
to larger schools as a result of
school closures would have better
course selection.
After being transferred to a
secondary school in Wingham,
Cameron said he got a better
program, which was worth the
added time travelling to school.
After checking with colleagues,
Maureen Agar, of the Seaforth
District Secondary School Parent
Council, said students don't need
extra courses to qualify for
entrance to post secondary
institutions. They can get the
necessary skills in Seaforth, she
said.
She said the loss of Durham's
high school was detrimental to the
community.
The new Avon-Maitland board is
considering closing Scaforth
District Secondary School or
sharing the building with the
student body.
Student Trustee Holly Beth
Mathers said Seaforth would not be
in the same situation as Durham. Its
school closed and nothing took its
place, she said. In Seaforth, the
students may leave, but the board
employees would be in the
building, having an economic
impact on the community. "It's
better to close and put something
else there," she said.
Mathers' school, Mitchell District
High School, is no longer
considered for closure to make
room for the board's office. "It has
been determined to be a growing
community and it's not feasible to
close the school," said Trustee
Colleen Schenk.
Trustee Atje Tuyten said she
wouldn't support closing any
schools to suit administration. "I
don't believe that's the right
approach," she said.
TOO MANY SCHOOLS?
However, the board has up to two
additional secondary schools, said
Superintendent Janet Baird-
Jackson.
Paul Carroll, director of
education, said reducing the board's
total number of buildings would
reduce its costs. By using space in
the schools which are already
heated and maintained, the board
could become more efficient, he
said.
The board would sell its two
Stratford buildings to move into
one of the schools.
"It seems the two buildings in
Stratford could be looked at as
assets to the predecessor board
(Perth)," said Trustee Wendy
Anderson. "It bothers me that when
there was a shortfall, it was
assessed on the door of the
Continued on page 6
Teen hurt in crash
Safety at Ethel corner
concerns road sup't.