Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-11-11, Page 1Optimists kick off 25th Atom tournament .... And Perhaps a Play set to hit the stage with `Complete Works' Collection pays tribute to veterans See page 7 See page 8 See page 23 Vol. 14 No 44 Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1998 700+ 50 GST 750 Geese fatalities raise questions By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers are currently investigating a high incident of unexplained mortality with Canada geese. Area Supervisor Ron Bennett said that there have been no reports of this occurring anywhere else, stressing that the situation is localized to the Blyth area . The concern was brought to the attention of MNR last week after employees at Sparling's Propane discovered a number of dead or dying geese at the pond, located just south of the business. By Friday of last week close to 25 of the migratory birds had been buried. Though at first there was speculation among those who discovered the birds that they and been shot. However, Bennett said the deaths do not appear to be hunting related. He also said he suspects that whatever the problem is, they were suffering from it, when they came to the pond. Samples have been sent to the University of Guelph for analysis. Though he did not want to speculate until the investigation was complete, Bennett suspects they are looking at either poisoned bait, lead poisoning as a result of low water levels or algaeic bloom toxicity, which has been a problem in the west. Should the investigation reveal any further information it will be released to the • media immediately, Bennett said. Something amiss The discovery of over 20 dead Canada Geese at Sparling's pond last week is under investigation by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Deputy Conservation Officer Rick Williams discovers an ailing bird in the grasses by the pond's edge. Grey reeve says county has role in amalgamation itizen Response to the amalgamation survey printed in The Citizen the weeks of Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 has been encouraging. Obviously residents consider this While municipal restructuring has been turned back to local municipalities, Huron County still has a role to play in helping the process take place, Grey Twp. Reeve Robin Dunbar told county council, Nov. 5. "There has to be a co-ordinating role (for the county)," said Dunbar as he urged municipalities to get on with the process. Dunbar also sug- gested the county should set a tar- get date to try to have restructuring take place. "The time to talk is over. The time to act is now," he said. To get the ball rolling in northern Huron his township and the Village of Brussels had agreed to start plan- ning toward amalgamation, he told council. Doug Grant, reeve of Bayfield, agreed with Dunbar's call to action but warned against the county set- ting a deadline. It can propose a deadline but if it sets one, the only way to enforce it is to call in a provincial restructuring commis- sion, he said, and that was some- thing nobody wants to see. Mason Bailey, reeve of Blyth, The executive of the Huron- Bruce Provincial NDP is planning an evening when members and the general public can meet the candidates for the local NDP nomination. To date Tony McQuail, a Lucknow area farmer, is the only declared candidate but there are indications that former Huron MPP, Paul Klopp and 1997 Federal Candidate, Jan Jonstone are considering throwing their hats in the ring. At their Wednesday night meeting the executive decided to hold a meeting on Friday, Nov. 20 in the upstairs of the Lucknow Town Hall. At that time any declared and decided candidates will be asked to make a short speech to give those in attendance an opportunity to get to know their positions on the issues affecting all people in Ontario. The executive has scheduled the actual nomination meeting for Friday, Feb. 5 with a snow date of Feb. 19 in Goderich at the MacKay Hall. Riding President, Lynda Rotteau said the meeting will start with a On Nov. 6, a break-in was discovered at Blyth Veterinary Services on Queen Street. The owner. arriving at work around 8 also supported Dunbar saying his council was working on a plan. While Dunbar didn't put his sen- timents into a motion, he said a let- ter from his council would be going to the county's strategic planning committee with the hope they would take action. But Warden Jack Coleman said a motion passed at the Oct. 1 meeting of council indicated the restructuring discus- sions were to be turned over to the local municipalities and that left the county out of the process. Jim Love, reeve of Hay Twp. felt that Brussels and Grey could go ahead with its proposal without the entire county being involved. Once their arrangement was worked out it could come to county council for approval, he said. But Dunbar argued that the coun- ty could work as a facilitator to let people in one part of the county know what people elsewhere were doing. "The role of the county is basically a passive role," he said. He urged other councils to act without delay. "The longer we put this off, the more inevitable it is that a commission will come on the scene," he said. potluck supper followed by a brief annual general meeting including election of officers. It will then move into speeches by the candidates about 7:45 p.m. The speeches will be followed by questions from the floor. The meeting will conclude with a discussion of election readiness and local organizing plans. Rotteau said "A potluck meal reflects our values. We each have something to bring to the table and by sharing with each other our meal and our lives are richer." This meeting will be 'an opportunity for NDP members and the general public to see the local hopefuls in action before the nomination meeting in February. Rotteau said "The threatened school closings, the hospital cutbacks and the downloading to the municipalities are all ways that ordinary people and local communities are paying for the Tory tax breaks for the rich." "The heart is being cut out of our communities and I hope people will come to the meeting Nov. 20 to learn how they could help win Ontario back." a.m., found that the rear door had been pried open gaining entry. Once inside a safe was pried open and a small amount of cash was stolen. an important issue and for that rea- son we want to provide ample opportunity for anyone interested in participating in the survey. We will accept submissions until this Fri- day. Anyone who doesn't have a survey but would like to have their say can drop in to the office of The Citizen to fill one out. The results will be published in an upcoming issue. NDP candidates meeting to be held in Lucknow Break-in at Blyth vet's Deadline for survey this Friday