The Citizen, 2001-01-04, Page 6FEBRUARY
2000
AUGUST
2000
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2001.
Taking an introspective look at the year 2000
The first baby of the new millen-
nium was Natasha Jennie Rose born
to Amanda and Bob Keddy of
Lucknow on Jan. 4 shortly after 9
a.m.
John Wharton of RR3, Blyth was
the lucky winner of a 2000 Chevy
Z71 extended cab pickup. His name
was drawn as the grand prize winner
in the Blyth Bulldogs fundraising
,raffle.
Blyth's first Pee Wee OMHA E
Champions from 1971-72 were hon-
oured by the Auburn Lions Club for
their contribution • to the village's
minor hockey program.
The new W.J. (Bill) Sproul
Memorial Award was presented to
the Lucknow 4-H Beef Club which
won the top group of three in Huron
County.
The amalgamation plan for
Brussels, Grey, McKillop, Seaforth
and Tuckersmith was unanimously
approved by Huron County council.
A public meeting was held by the
Avon Maitland District School
Board in Walton for community
members to voice their opinions on
school closures.
The first annual Blyth Bulldogs
Sweepstakes raffle successfully
brought in $ 20,612 for the arena's
capital fund.
Huron County council has recom-
mended staff bring in a budget
allowing for a two per cent tax
increase, the first since 1993.
Huron County council lent its sup-
port to a plea from Seaforth that the
Avon Maitland District School
Board take into account the social
and economic impact on communi-
ties before closing rural schools.
Local horticultural and agricultur-
al societies faced new financial con-
straints as the provincial government
cut annual exhibition transfer grants.
The Brussels Agricultural Society
could eventually lose as much as
$700.
A three-member committee of
Walton Public School supporters
prepared to present a viability plan to
the Avon Maitland District School
Board.
A few inches of snow allowed
snowmobile riders to get out on the
trails.
The Huron Bruce Complex com-
mittee prepared to call tenders for
the $6.4 million project.
The amalgamation plan for North
Huron received county approval.
The battle over a county-wide
policing contract cost the county
approximately $1 million.
Auburn library got hooked to the
internet when a new computer sys-
tem arrived.
The Brussels library was among
three in the county which benetitted
from a donation of computer equip-
ment from Microsoft Canada.
The Brussels Tykes earned the B
championship when they hosted a
tournament.
Londesboro Snowmobiling Gang
raised $3,400 for the Children's
Miracle Network Telethon.
The Avon Maitland District School
Board put forth a recommendation to
close Walton, Seaforth, Vanastra,
McCurdy and Falstaff Public
Schools as well as Seaforth High
SchOol.
Neil McGavin was named presi-
dent of the Ontario Plowmen's
Association.
The Blyth Midgets captured their
second WOAA championship in
three years.
The final vote to close five Huron
County schools was-approved at the
school board meeting.
Representatives from Grey Twp.
council and the Rural Ontario
Municipalities Association met with
Agriculture Minster Ernie Hardeman
regarding the closure of OMAFRA
offices but, had a less than satisfying
response.
Ray and Barb Storey received the
Blyth Scouting Citizenship Award.
Beth Earl of Ethel was named
Citizen of the Year.
The Walton Hall board approved
the purchase of the land on which the
hall sits and the parking lot area used
for the facility.
Grey Twp. Reeve Robin Dunbar
was elected president of the Ontario
Library Trustee Association.
A new pumper truck arrived at the
Blyth and District Fire Department.
Warm March weather slowed the
production of maple syrup in many
areas.
Brussels council learned that the
Walton landfill site would be unable
to take the village's waste when the
agreement with Morris Twp.
expired.
The Brussels Minor Ball associa-
tion put out a plea to parents to help
keep the organization running.
The 1978 Wingham Ironmen
squad participated in and won the
CARHA World Cup in Vancouver.
John Van Beers resigned from
Hullett Twp. council.
The Brussels Business Group sup-
port an initiative to purchase a mural
for the main street.
Brussels councillors supported a
joint venture with other local utilities
for the provision of hydro.
After two years of dry conditions,
experts estimated 40 days of rain
needed to re-establish well levels.
Brussels Minor Ball folds.
The Blyth Midgets earned the All-
Ontario Championship with a 25-6-1
season record. They did not suffer a
loss in their three series play-off
rounds.
Huron East and North Huron
received provincial approval for the
amalgamation plans.
Brussels council approved a 2000
budget to include a three per cent
increase.
Brussels Atom hockey player
Doug Schnock was the first recipient
of the Tom Schauber Memorial
Trophy for the most improved Atom
player. Kyle Gibson earned the Don
Higgins. Memorial Trophy for goal-
tending.
Tom Duizer was appointed to
Hullett Twp. council.
Implementation of a bag tag sys-
tem in Blyth brought problems as
Councillor Jeff Howson saw an
increase in burning in the village and
complaints continued to be filed at
the municipal office.
Blyth's Citizens of the Year were
Doug Walker, Robb Finch, Dave
Cook and Brent Scrimgeour.
The Brussels Optimists raised over
$17,000 for the Make a Wish
Foundation, more than tripling their
goal.
Brussels students Rachel Elliott,
Jessica Spink and Emily Cardiff had
an opportunity to participate in an
exchange program to France.
Blyth council approved a plan to
reconstruct Gypsy Lane.
The. Wingham PeeWee Girls,
including many local players, earned
the provincial silver championship.
Auburn residents began a grass-
roots effort to fundraise in support of
continued internet availability at the
local library.
F.E. Madill Secondary School
track athlete Kerri Meier and her
4x200-metres relay team members
earned gold at the University of
Windsor Lancers' track meet.
The Huron Stewardship Council
hosted a farm drainage tour of three
sites in Hullett Twp., to provide edu-
cation on the relationship between
agriculture and fish habitats.
Calvin Brick Church in East
Wawanosh Twp. closed.
The North Huron Citizen got a
face-lift, changing the overall design
of the newspaper and making further
use of computerized methods.
Considerable work began at Blyth
Lions' Park as the club planned to
spend between $15,000 and $20,000
on improvements.
Seaforth District High School got
security cameras as part of a pilot
project to stop vandalism.
Students at Walton Public School
received an evergreen tree from the
Earth Friendly Gardens program,
both as a reminder of the school and
in replacement of the garden which
would not be planted this spring as
the school was scheduled to close:
The municipal portion of taxes for
Blyth residents dropped 1.52 per
cent.
Dane Cornell of Blyth earned a
scholarship award from the
Midwestern Ontario Rotary Music
Festival.
Former Brussels Bull Steve
Coulter was named head scout for
the Owen Sound Junior B team.
Fran Bremner of Brussels was one
of two winners for naming the new
municipality of Huron East.
A physician shortage continued to
plague Wingham and District
Hospital.
F.E. Madill concert and jazz/pop
bands brought home silver and gold
from the Ovation Music Festival in
Chicago.
Heavy rains caused excessive
damage to farm land, swamping
fields and washing away soil and
chemicals.
Blyth Festival earned the London
Tourism's 2000 spirit of Excellence
Hospitality Award.
Vandals hit Bluevale dam, result-
ing in extensive repair work.
Blyth council decided to sell the
village hydro utility to Hydro One.
After the announcement of the E-
coli contamination in Walkerton,
East Wawanosh Public School was
closed briefly due to poor water
quality and local municipal water
system caretakers were put on high
alert.
In a court victory, Seaforth resi-
dents learned their two schools
would not close this year.
County council considered the
relocation of the ambulance stations
after a consultant's report suggested
changes.
To accommodate Walton Public
School students at Seaforth Public
School, the Avon Maitland District
School Board approved the use of
portables.
The Huron County Health Unit
was overwhelmed with requests for
water testing kits as residents. across
the region checked private Well syS-
terns. Up from a normal seven to 10
requests, the health unit received 400
in two days.
Blyth Public School teacher
Cheryl Cronin received recognition
for her contribution to the education
of special needs children.
The Blyth Church of God congre-
gation bought a former restaurant
building on the edge of the village
and transformed it into their new
place of worship.
Wingham and District Hospital
ended the year with a $52,000
deficit.
Walton Public School marked its
final chapter with closing cere-
monies which featured guests from
the past and memories for the future.
Walton Public School secretary
Jane Zwep was recognized by the
teachers' federation as the Support
Person of the Year.
The Brussels dam was flooded for
the second time when heavy rains hit
the region.
The Citizen went on-line with their
own website, offering regional infor-
mation for surfers and an advertising
alternative for business owners.
Belgrave celebrated the new mil-
lennium with a parade, games and
family fun.
The Avon Maitland District School
Board decided no funding would go
to outside groups.
Blyth Festival Theatre
director/actOr Ross Manson received
two Dora awards. His direction of
Building Jerusalem earned
Outstanding Production and
Outstanding New Play awards.
In preparation for the National
Communities in Bloom competition,
the entrance to the Blyth community
centre received new gates thanks to a
contribution by W.J. Ward of
Londesboro.
A rare Case tractor owned by Neil
Schade of Brussels was shipped west
for a heritage show in Manitoba.
Unacceptable E-coli levels closed
several beaches along the Lake
Huron shoreline.
Bluevale residents fought back
against vandalism which had caused
considerable damage in the hamlet.
The process began to form a com-
munity patrol group.
With news that a sludge storage
tank used jointly by Blyth and
Brussels, was leaking, both councils
considered the options of repair or
replacement.
An intensive study of Blyth Brook,
by the Maitland Watershed
Partnerships, got underway.
County council chambers were
filled when the topic of ambulances
was once again discussed.
The Huron Health Unit issued boil
water advisories for the Twps. of
Usborne, Stephen and Hay, the
Villages of Zurich and Hensall as
well as Exeter after 6.5 inches of rain
few in a short period of time.
Dorothy Dilworth was named
Grey Twp. Senior of the Year.
The estimated cost to restructure
Huron East was $1,094,000 with_
savings of $185,000.
Brussels council decided to sell the
PUC, but went looking for a better
offer than one suggested by Hydro
One.
Brussels prepared for the unveil-
ing of a wall mural.
In spite of negative reports from
large media outlets, local municipal-
ities continued to fight for the safety
and security regarding the water sys-
tems. _
National Community in Bloom
judges arrived in Blyth for a tour of
park lands, facilities and meeting
with local officials.
Propane truck drivers were given
an opportunity to practise fire extin-
guishing techniques when the
Ontario Propane Association
brought a mobile workshop to Blyth.
After 15 years at the same loca-
tion, the Brussels office of The
Citizen moved south along
Turnberry Street, relocating next to
Brussels Variety.
Fire at the Lee farm in Walton
caused a commotion during the
annual TransCan Motocross champi-
onships and cost local service groups
fundraising money as stored recy-
cleables were destroyed.
Huron-Bruce MP Paul Steckle
announced his intention to seek re-
election in the next federal vote.
The Walton Brewers - won the
Huron County Fastball Association
tournament.
Continued on page 7