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The Citizen, 2002-07-10, Page 12Graduation Lee Ann McDonald, daughter of Rick and Jo-Ann McDonald, granddaughter of Leona McDonald, graduated from the 4 year Honour English Program at Guelph University with her Bachelor of Arts Degree, and a minor in Family and Child Program degree. She will be attending Western University in the fall to obtain her Bachelor of Education Degree. Congratulations on all your hard work and love always, Mom, Dad, Kelly, Scott, Grama Leona and Jason. To remember her Prior to the end of the school year students at Grey Central Public School planted a tree in memory of Sophia Stephens-Walker, the child of a teacher at the school, who passed away earlier this year. (Photo submitted) McKERCHER CONSTRUCTION LTD. R.R. 2 Bluevale • LICENSED SEPTIC INSTALLATIONS • SCREENED & FIELD TOPSOIL • BARK MULCH • SAND • GRAVEL • FILL • BACKHOEING • BULLDOZING • EXCAVATING • LOADING & HAULING Give us a call 887-9061 Fax 887-9999 `Wedding announcement HENRY - TAYLOR Andrea Leah Henry and Jorge Manuel Taylor were united in marriage at Trinity Anglican Church, Blyth, Ontario on May 11, 2002. Andrea is the daughter of Jim and Janice Henry of Blyth. Manny is the son of the late George and Juana Taylor. Manny -and Andrea would like to thank everyone for sharing in their special day. The couple now resides in Brussels. PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2002. DHC says Huron hospitals shortchanged By Keith Roultson Citizen publisher Huron County council should become more active in arguing in support of local hospitals. Goderich Councillor Deb Shewfelt suggested after seeing figures that show local hospitals got short-changed on government funding. Recent provincial funding increases the amount to only about $24 per resident in Huron-Perth compared to more than $50 in rural areas like Chatham-Kent, said Jim Whaley, executive director of the Grey Bruce Huron Perth District Health Council in his annual presentation to council. Whaley said the health council could understand receiving less than London Middlesex, where the increase averaged $160 per resident because hospitals in London have many specialists and specialized funding and are teaching hospitals for medical students. It's the comparison to other rural areas that was disturbing, he said. (Grey Bruce was even worse off getting an increase of just $18 per resident.) "It's quite a discrepancy, said' Shewfelt. "I almost feel like a second class citizen." Whaley said the health council had decided it needed to be more of an advocate for rural health care needs. For instance Whaley said he was part of a group looking at the Un,derserviced Area Program which designates areas as medically- underserviced. The program was first put in place 30 years ago with an emphasis on Northern Ontario, he said. Now areas like Grey Bruce Huron Perth have fewer doctors per capita than northern communities, he said. County ends some out-sourcing of services By Keith Roultson Citizen publisher Huron County councillors voted Thursday to end a five-year experiment with contracting management of dietary, housekeeping, laundry and tuck shop areas of the county's homes for the aged and hire employees to do the work. Councillors accepted the recommendation of Barb Springall, By Keith Roultson Citizen publisher Over the objections of the only two former wardens sitting on council, Huron County councillors voted to remove the choice of committee chairs from the warden's prerogatives. Adopting the final recommendation of the Hugh Thomas report into administrative procedures, councillors agreed that beginning with December's inaugural meeting, councillors will vote to select membership on a striking committee to appoint councillors to various standing committees. Each committee will then elect a chair. The proposal had first been put forward by Bill Dowson, Bluewater councillor. But former warden Carol Mitchell argued the warden should have the ability to select committee chairs who are compatible with his or her beliefs. "It's important to have the warden able to choose people of like homes administrator, that the contract with Sodexho management services not be reriewed when it comes to an end Oct. 31. Springall estimates a saving of $34.371 to $52,461 per year from the move. Springall said the staff provided by the company were fine members of the staff but it would be less stressful in the longrun to have the county manage the system than deal with upheaval as the end of each contract approaches. mind," she said. "I've seen chairs that could be very contrary to the way the warden feels." But Goderich Councillor Deb Shewfelt argued the new proposal is more democratic. "I like people who think differently," he said. Perhaps problems in the past came about because people agreed too much, he said. Norm Fairies, past warden and Howick councillor said he worried She said she hopes the county hiring employees might stabilize the situation after, five Sodexho employees were replaced in the past year. She said she was confident the county can recruit the necessary staff even though registered dieticians are in short supply. Under its agreement with Sodexho, the county would have to pay the company $15,000 each for any employees who decided to switch to the county, Springall said, By Keith Roultson Citizen publisher Following the lead of the Municipality of Bluewater, Huron County council has decided to declare Sunday, Sept. 8 as a day to recognize firefighters, police, paramedics and other emergency workers. Bluewater Councillor Bill Dowson said his council had decided to honour the emergency workers and invited other county municipalities to join in. Every church in his municipality will be notified if they would like to take a few moments to pay tribute to the emergency services workers, he said. He paid tribute to Brucefield volunteer firefighters who had had to attend two fatal accidents on the long holiday weekend and were deeply affected by the tragedies. It was Morris-Turnberry Councillor Keith Johnston who suggested county council should about too many committee chairs being from one part of the county under the new system. The striking committee in the past tried to find a balance geographically, he said. But Dowson argued that council is still electing the striking committee. "I see no reason it would get all the committee chairs from one area." The new selection process was approved by a vote of 10-7 in a recorded vote. though the company could waive that clause for the benefit of its employees. Dave Urlin, South Huron councillor noted that one of the reasons the county had contracted with Sodexho had been the expectation that bulk buying of food would reduce costs, yet the company was unable to meet the budget, being $7,000 over for the first three months of the year. Without bulk buying might costs rise, he wondered? adopt Bluewater's plan. Goderich Councillor Deb Shewfelt made the official motion. HEALTH NEWS: ORGAN DONATION 0 & As Organ donation: Did you know? (NC 1—Nearly 4.000 Canadians are waiting for organ transplants that could improve or save their +iyeks. Last year, more than a himdred people on transplant waiting lists died because no organs became-available. "Tor more.information on organ and fissile donation and how you can donate, visit www.healthcanada.ca/ organandtissue on the Internet. - Canada Springall said they would investigate getting into a bulk- buying consortium to try to reduce food costs. County adopts committee structure Councillors declare day of recognition