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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-01-30, Page 1Fun in the sun? It was a glorious day for outdoor fun on Sunday as the Wawanosh Nature Centre hosted its Snowshoe Walk. Warm temperatures and sunshine meant for open coats and no hats as people, such as members of the Van Camp family, enjoyed a day of fun in the snow. The warm temperatures were expected to continue into this week. (vicky Bremner photo) Lintons, producers of the year Inside this week ft t4 Grandson rg• L nominated as Jr. Citizen pg. in Local teams begin to playoffs n_ Survivor contest rg• IL begins ATV club Pg.14 promotes safety HE discusses Pg. 22 economic impact e Citizen Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 18 No. 4 Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002 75 Cents (70c + 5c GST) Heart & Soul to do mahout By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Residents of Blyth and area will soon be receiving a package in the mail. The .1-kart & Soul committee is sending out the package to inform people about the arena project and seek support. Having recently received a big financial boost in the amount of $1.4 million from the -provincial and federal governments, as well as an initial contribution of $265,000 from North Huron, the committee now only has $1.1 million to raise towards the revitalization of this facility, which is truly the heart and soul of the community. Fundraising co-ordinator Fran Cook explains that the upgrades will enhance services, making the facility more appealing to more user groups. Noting the diversity of functions held at the centre, Cook points out that the changes to the building are not just about the sports component. "There's more to that building than hockey," she says. "People use it for meetings, weddings, funeral lunches. Literally it is there for everything from birth to death." The plan for the arena, which has served the needs of the community for the past 25 years, first began taking shape when it became apparent a new floor was needed. Because the ice surface is quite small, an expansion would be necessary. "The idea grew to the point it made sense to make improvements to the building that would improve safety and make it more competitive with others in the region," said Cook. It is expected that the brochures should be arriving at homes and busine'sses within the next few weeks. "I think people will be surprised when they look at it, to see what a small community can build together," said Cook Colleges not ready for new system says bd. By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen According to officials of the Avon Maitland District School Board, admissions departments at Ontario's colleges and universities aren't prepared to deal with the radically altered marking 'system now being used for students completing the new four-year high school program. The first of those students are now in Grade 11 and are expected to begin applying for admission into post-secondary institutions next year. Following a regular board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 22, Avon Maitland curriculum coordinator Wally Webster said, "I'm worried that next year, (colleges and universities) are going to treat Grade 12 graduates the same" as students graduating- with Ontario-Academic Credits, or OACs, under the outgoing system. "And that would be a mistake." Under the new curriculum, high school students now face the same type of evaluation process and altered report cards which have been in place in elementary 'schools for several years. At the Jan. 22 meeting, Webster, along with fellow curriculum co-ordinator Ron Dodson, delivered a staff report outlining the board's implementation of the new high school program, including the evaluation and report card process. Traditional percentage marks are absent from the new style of report cards. Instead, students are given a rating of 1, 2, 3 or 4 with respect to their ability to achieve the goals set out in the curriculum. The report cards also feature teacher •comments regarding three factors: strengths, weaknesses, and "next steps." Stratford Trustee Meg Westley, who explained she has a child currently attending Grade. 9, agreed the new style of evaluation and report cards are superior in many ways to older systems. She praised the frequent evaluation made possible by the system, and agreed it leaves less of a chance for surprise for both students and parents,. because it clearly identifies what type of problems a student encounters in each subject, and clearly delineates what will be done in attempting to ease those difficulties. She cautioned, however, that shortcomings may remain with regards to consistency between high school teachers in applying the new system. Dodson admitted that a board-created "steering committee" is addressing that problem. Wendy Anderson, Perth representative, Wendy Anderson, identified however, what appears, on the surface, to be a much more serious dilemma. Anderson Continued on page 6 By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher Dave and Brenda Linton were named producers of the year by the Huron County Pork Producers' Association at its annual meeting in Seaforth, Wednesday. In presenting the award, Dave Lewington spoke of the respect the couple has won from their neighbours while building their farm from a renovated barn to an efficient 100-sow-plus farrow-to-finish operation. Speaking of their newest barn, a loose-housing sow barn, Lewington said it showed "respect for the environment and for the welfare of _their pigs." Both Lintons are involved in the community with Brenda serving on the Huniane Society and Dave having spent two years as Huron County's director on the Ontario Pork board. - He has also been involved in consultations on Canadian Food Inspection Agency's proposals to regulate drug use in on-farm feed milling operations. Ontario Pork Chairman Clare Schlegel thanked him for his work on behalf of Ontario pork producers on this issue. Dave serves Oil the CKNX Farm Advisory Board and writes columns for Ontario Fanner. Both partners one involved in the operation with Brenda's nursing skills adding to the high level of achieveme,nt in the barn.