The Citizen, 2002-03-13, Page 1[-NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY 'N.:]
Inside this week
Pg. 6
Pg. 7
More pictures of
storm damage
County halts
paramedic testing
pg Midgets take semi- 10 finals series
And then there Pg. 12 were two
'Wingfield on Ice' at Pg. 23 Grand Theatre
Storm damage
This barn in Hullett, owned by Murray and Joan Howatt had withstood many a storm but the weekend winds were too much. No
one was injured when high winds tore off the roof and damaged the walls. Friends and neighbours were on hand on Monday to
help remove the rubble and clean up the area. (David Blaney photo)
Winter delivers a final blow hopefully
e Citizen
Volume 18 No. 10
County
to pay
back
Myth FD
Huron, County will reimburse
Blyth and District Fire Department
for supplies used in its service as the
county's only first response tire
department.
Last year -the department spent
$2,200 on oxygen, training and
supplies providing a service that
would otherwise be performed by
county ambulance staff. When the
firs: response system was first
stared in 1997 at the urging of the
Mir istry of Health, the province
reimbursed costs, but when the
county took over ambulance service
the ;ssue got lost in the shuffle.
Lucknow Fire Department, which
serves part of Huron, also requested
reire bursement.
As well, the county will try to
negotiate to have Blyth's base
hospital transferred to the Grey-
Bruce Base Hospital, .the same as
county ambulance staff, and the
county will pay the $35 per month
fee.
County
approves
3% increase
Mo,iths of preparation meant
there was no discussion Thursday as
Huron County councillors passed a
2002 budget that calls for a three per
cent tax increase for county
purposes.
The final budget met the
preliminary directions of county
council. Most of the money raised
will go to a two per cent wage
increase negotiated with county
employees. A smaller portion will
go to 3o to meet county priorities
including water quality/manure
management, child care and child
health, more staff for some
expanded libraries, the county's
buildings and communications
technology and corporate- records
manage ment.
Environment Canada's hazardous
weather warning was amply justified
last weekend. High winds, driving
rain and blowing snow made life
difficult for everyone in the
area.
Large numbers of area
homeowners were subject to power
outages lasting from a few seconds
to well over an hour for the residents
of Brussels.
Across Ontario 115,000 customers
were left without power for varied
lengths of time according to Hydro
One.
Winds up to 124 kmh downed
trees and utility poles across
Southern Ontario. Locally the high
As you go for a drive in Huron
County, you may now see the
distinctive yellow and back Road
Watch signs.
The road signs are reminders that
drivers are being watched: that
dangerous driving is not acceptable _
in Huron County, regardless of
whether or not a police officer is
watching.
"Just a few more signs to go up on
county roads", said Linda Stobo,
Huron County Health Unit. •"The
metal drop boxes are being installed
in 24 locations this week.
The Road Watch program has
winds were responsible for
numerous uprooted trees and
damaged roofs.
Huron OPP report that while
several accidents were investigated,
the biggest problems were caused by
felled hydro lines and trees. The
worst was in the south of the county
as well as from Seaforth to Mitchell.
Sr. Const. Don Shropshall said, "We
even had one call come in to say
there was a shed blowing down the
road."
Although no injuries 'have been
reported at least three local families
felt the full fury of the storm.
Jack Nonkes, of Spring Breezes
Greenhouses, was in one of his
been a great example of what can be
accomplished if communities,
different sectors and levels of
government, and industry work
together. Said one committee
member at the last meeting, "When
we first sat around the table in July,
1 did not know whether we would be
able to bring the program to Huron
County. Not only will the program
be operational by the end of March 7
we are looking at ways to support
neighbouring communities in their
efforts to get Road Watch started."
Communities in Wellington and
Perth Counties are following
buildings when the force of the
winds tore the plastic covering and
proceeded to completely demolish
the structure in seconds. On Monday
all that was left was a tangle of
aluminum framing - wrapped in
plastic remnants and piles of potting
soil.
Friends and neighbours helped
rescue as many of the plants in the
greenhouse as possible and transfer
them to the remaining structure. The
second greenhouse although
damaged remained standing.
Sylvia Nonkes was busy starting
the cleanup on Monday morning. A
new greenhouse and plant stock
Huron's progress and have asked for
some guidance and ideas in getting
started.
On Monday, March 25, the Road
Watch program will be officially
launched at a press conference in
Clinton, at the Huron County Health
Unit. "This ceremony is an
opportunity to learn about how the
program works, celebrate the efforts
of committee- members and
partnering organizations, and mark
the program as "fully operational",
said Marguerite Thomas.
chairperson of Road Watch Huron.
The program is effective only if
75 Cents (70c + 5c GST)
have already been ordered and
Nonkes predicted they will be back
in full operation prior to the start of
the spring season.
The Auburn-area greenhouse of
John and Sherry Blay was also
blown away by strong winds and
driving snow.
A Hullett-area dairy farmer may
find it takes a little longer to recover
from the storm. Murray and Joan
Howatt had their barn severely
damaged when high winds destroyed
the roof and did severe damage to
the walls.
The Howatts spent Monday
clearing the debris with the help of
friends and neighbours.
citizens take a few extra minutes to
put a pad of form% in the glove
compartment of their vehicle, so that
when they witness dangerous
driving, the form can be completed
and put into a drop box for the OPP.
Get your pad of forms from the
Supersaver flyer b4.,g, and see this
program as a way ***reclaim the
safety of roads and communities.
For more information about the
program launch or the Road Watch
Program. call the Huron County.
OPP, .524-8314. the Huron County
Health run, 428-3416 or your local
municipal otticc.
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Wednesday, March 13, 2002
Road Watch ready to go in Huron