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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-02-28, Page 1• D 'gualihmiereggastazoismitA,---- Inside this week Blyth girl takes top Pg. 3 awards in Legion contest Pg' 6 Support for living independently Pg. 8 Blyth skaters present carnival D, a Brussels PeeWees . S. 7 lose to Drayton Pg. 20 Blyth Scouting honours leaders Steady on As the weather turned nasty outside, inside the Brussels arena was a busy spot on Saturday as some 80 curlers, local and from further afield, turned out for the club's annual mixed bonspiel. There were two draws at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. After a day on the ice, participants from out of town had a treacherous trip home due to weather conditions. (Results on page 9) (Vicky Bremner photo) e Citizen B ssE Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 17 No. 9 Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001 75 Cents (70c + 5c GST) Health Unit reports one case of flu Gals team challenges Habits in fundraiser . It is a challenge game between rookies and retired veterans, women against men when the ABC Double D Gals take on the Nasty Habits/Lions members to raise funds for the Blyth Community Centre building fund. The Nasty Habits, a familiar group in Blyth and surrounding area, will come out of retirement .for the charity match and will have their ranks boosted by Blyth Lions Club members. The ABC Double D Gals, in their first full year of competition, draw members from Blyth, Brussels, Belgrave, Goderich, Seaforth, Bayfield and Dungannon. The family event, planned for 7:30 p.m., March 3 promises to be a fun- filled evening with entertaining hockey, great prizes and maybe even a few antics and tricks by the two squads. Attendees will haVe the opportunity to win a 50/50 draw or compete in the chuck-a-puck challenge. Tickets will be available for purchase in a draw which will see' the top two lucky winners each win a pair of tickets to the last regular season maple Leaf game. The Gals/Nasty Habits hockey match is sponsored by the Blyth Lions Club as a fundraiser for the community centre expansion project. Anne Elliott of the Gals emphasizes the importance of the fundraisers held for -the community centre. "An expansion will benefit all those who use the (facility). If the community wants to keep the centre, 'we have to come together and work for it. This is the Gals' way of helping." Tickets for the match are $3 per person, $10 for a family and children under five are free. By Janice Becker Citizen staff Influenza was officially identified Feb. 19 in the Bluevale area of Huron County. This is the first case isolated and confirmed here this influenza season. With no increase in absenteeism at schools and no confirmed cases at area institutions, Marlene Price Community Health Division Manager for the Huron County Health Unit, said, "Numbers are low, but we are not out of the woods yet. Influenza (flu) can last until the end of March. We just may not have been hit yet." It was an incident parents fear and communities often believe will never happen at home. North Perth OPP officers were called to Listowel District Secondary School last Wednesday morning when they received -a report of a student with a pellet gun shooting at other students. Two young males were taken into custody and are facing several weapons-related charges after a CO2-operated pellet gun was recovered from a locker. The two students were later released into the custody of their parents, on a promise to appear in court in Lisfowel. One young offender was charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace while • the other was charged with four Criminal Code offences of assault with a weapon, careless use of a firearm, pointing a firearm and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace. Responding officers expressed concern over the realistic appearance of the handgun, an exact duplicate of Man dies in farm accident Funeral services will be held today, Wednesday, Feb. 28 for a Grey Twp. man killed in a farni accident Friday afternoon. Police said Nicholas van Nes, 27 was one of two men repairing a feed dump wagon at property on Brandon Road just north-east of Brussels. The victim was underneath the wagon using a cutting torch. He had cut one cylinder and was two-thirds through the second one when the cylinder snapped causing the two sections-of the wagon to slam together crushing his upper body. The Grey Fire Department assisted at the scene. Visitation was held on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Funeral mass for van Nes, who was the son of Bill and the late Margaret van Nes will be at I p.m. from St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Brussels. The Health Unit will continue to monitor the situation, but Price said she would like to think the increased number of residents obtaining the free flu shots this fall as well as the school programs have helped reduce the risk of spread. "If all the doses we distributed to the hospitals, nursing homes and schools were used, 55 per cent of residents received shots, a comparable figure to neighbouring counties." In long-term care facilities, Price said 95 per cent of residents had shots as well as 75 per cent of staff at hospitals and homes. That number is up from 56 per cent last season. When the flu season hit last year a Glock 40-calibre semi-automatic. It would easily have be mistaken for an actual handgun if the officers had encountered the student in the hall with the gun in his hand, said the OPP press release. According to a report from the police the gun was purchased through ariAmerican website via the just after Christmas, Price said the hospitals were very busy. "It has been quiet (so far) this year." The predominant strains of influenza in Ontario so far appears to be the same as those strains covered by the influenza vaccine. The flu usually presents with a high fever, headache, sore throat, cough, muscle aches and pains. It can lead to pneumonia and other complications especially in the elderly or in persons with chronic health problems like heart or lung disease. Influenza is one of the more serious of a number of respiratory viruses that circulate each winter: Many people confuse these other intemet. The schotil administration had responded immediately after learning a student had been shot in the back with the pellet gun. The OPP were contacted and an information letter was sent home to all parents. The letter reassured parents there was, and is, no threat in flu-like illnesses with true influenza. The annual flu vaccine people are encouraged to get in the fall protects against influenza but not these other respiratory viruses. Remember, it's still not too late to get a flu shot so if you haven't already, don't put it off any longer. If people are feeling ill with influenza, it . is important for them to stay at home to.avoid infecting others. Influenza should not be confused With the "stomach flu" which has been circulating in Huron County this year. Viral gastroenteritis or "stomach flu" causes symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, which are different from the respiratory symptoms caused by influenza. general to students at LDSS and assured them the efforts regarding this case will continue for the safety of the staff and students. Police say the two students charged in the incident have been suspended. The victim of the shooting was not injured. Pellet gun incident at LDSS