HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-09-18, Page 1"Isk'
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Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002
Walking for a cause
Walkers, and bikers, bladers and runners too, hit the road in Brussels on Sunday to help raise
funds for cancer research during the annual Terry Fox Run. With 69 participants the numbers
were up over last year according to organizers. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Gerth clarifies SDHS usage
NORTH HURON PUBUSHING COMPANY INC I
Inside this week
2002 Ambassador Pg. chosen
n .7 Results of Beigrave ‘,.
• / fair begin .
pa Stewardship group
14 1.7 hosts tour
Grey CPS
Pg, 14 celebrates outdoor
learning centre
Pg. 24 County gets info on
smoking bylaw
r
e Citizen
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 18 No. 36
Committee
names top
Citizen
A "real volunteer", who is
"everywhere", was the choice of this
year's Brussels and Area Citizen of
Year selection committee.
Those nominating Jo-Ann
McDonald of Walton listed endless
volunteer activities as well as a
dedication to family and friends as
the reason she was deserving of the
award.
"She does so much in the
community to help others," said one,
while another described McDonald
as "a very willing, ambitious person
who is a great asset to our
community."
McDonald has given of her time to
many organizations and events
including the Brussels. Legion.
Duff's United Church . and its
Sunday school, Brussels
Agricultural Society, the Grey Twp.
Heart and Stroke campaign, the
BM G Catering Group, minor
hockey, Brussels curling, Walton
Hall board and Walton and Area
Sports Club.
She has coached children's
baseball and is a member of a
Walton _ slopitch team.
McDonald was convenor of Tri-
County baseball from 1997-2001.
As well, she helps with the
motocross, works as a hairdresser
and delivers mail, occasionally
helping out with a second route.
Also, after church or at the local
restaurant, she gathers all the latest
information from residents for her
weekly correspondent's column in
The Citizen. -
McDonald's nominators speak of
her kindness and thoughtfulness.
"She helps elderly people paint and
paper. She also makes birthday
cakes."
Another noted, "Jo-Ann is a busy,
devoted mother to three children ...
getting them involved in all aspects
of community life as well."
"Of all the volunteer work she
does, she will always help when she
is needed."
"She is a person who makes a
community."
McDonald will he presented .in the
near future, with her award, which is
sponsored each year by The ritizen.
By Stew Slater
Special to The-Citizen
Clinton's Central Huron
Secondary School (CHSS) has
become home to about 84 per cent of
the students who would have
attended Seaforth District High
School (SDHS), had it not closed its
doors effective this September.
CHSS was the intended "receiving
school" according to the Avon
Maitland District School Board's
closure plan.
Part of the .building which housed
SDHS remains in use, as it did prior
to closure, as the board's
administrative offices. Much of the
rest • of the former school,
meanwhile, sits unused, except for
some community-based activities
held under short-term rental
agreements, and some school hoard
utilization.
According to Education
Superintendent Bill Gerth, that's in
keeping with the board's .plan. He
told trustees about use of the
recently-closed school at a regular
meeting Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Gerth said he felt there was "a
need to reassure" the Seaforth and
area community that the building
wasn't being used to accommodate
expansion of the previously-existing
administrative facilities.
School board utilization has been
confined to once-per-week
classroom sessions for teachers
involved in the board's early
language programs, and as a
coordination space for the
"technology consultant" who was
hired to partially replace the now-
eliminated Tech 21 program. The
gymnasium, cafeteria and library
have been used for staff
development events, and Gerth said
areas of the former school have
allowed the board to address a
shortage of meeting space in the
administrative offices.
Community groups continue to
use parts of the facility under short-
term agreements, as they did prior to
the school's closure. But Gerth says
longer-term rental agreements will
not be approved.
"Certainly, the facility is available
for day-to-day rental commitments,
but. . . we are still interested in
exploring the possibility of
relocating Seaforth Public School to
this facility." he explained.
The relocation of the elementary
school was included in the hoard's
original closure plan, but was
dropped close to the time trustees
approved. the plan in February.
2002.
CHSS was to receive all students
who would have attended SDHS.
though board officials have admitted
some enrolment may have been lost
after a well-publicized campaign to
have students register at Catholic
high schools in Stratford or Clinton.
Others have registered in different
Avon Maitland high schools. •
Superintendent Marjatta Longston
told trustees that "some" former
SDHS students now attend Mitchell
District High School.
Special Education Superintendent
Marie Parsons, meanwhile, noted
that, of the three SDHS students
whose disabilities are severe enough
to require placement by the board,
none went to CHSS.
Instead, two now attend South
Huron District Secondary School in
Exeter and one is enrolled at F. E.
Madill Secondary School in
Wingham.
According to Gerth, the projected
drop in enrolment within the board.
between this year and last year, was
not as large as projected. He told
trustees that opening-day
elementary enrolment was 13.044.
which is 143 above projection. Last
year, there were 13,125 elementary
students.
Opening-day secondary
enrolment, at 7,239 students, was
approximately equal to the number
projected. and down from a total of.
7,611 last year.
75 Cents (70c + 5c GST)
Brussels
Terry
Fox Run
• raises
$4,500
For a small community Brussels
has done it again.
Waneta Leishman, who, with her
husband, Allan, organizes the annual
Terry Fox Run said this year's total
exceeded that ul 2001. A total of
$4,499.81 was raised, with $600.81
of that due to roadside donations .
collected by volunteers Carol
Thornton and Joan Jacobs.
Participants were also up from last
year with 69 registering to run, walk,
bike or blade to raise money for
cancer research.
Leishman also acknowledges the
contributions of local businesses
which supported the effort through
various donations.
Overall, she was very pleased with
the outcome. "The people of
Brussels should be very proud of
themselves." she said.
wry
summer
brings
early
harvest
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Though there has been spotty
precipitation across the region in
recent weeks, the summer of 2002
has been an extremely dry year.
Because of this, farmers are
harvesting early and finding some
surprises in the field, said Brian
Hall, crop specialist with OMAF.
"The edible beans are being
harvested now and the yields are
average where there was rain in
"August," he said. "However, the
yields are very Uneven and the beans
are very dry. Yields have ranged
between 1,400 and 1,800 lbs."
The excessive dryness is causing
problems for the farmers because the
crop is more susceptible to damage.
Canners, recipients of most edible
beans, do not like damaged beans
because it results in a poor canned
product.
The soybeans have turned quickly.
said Hall, with premature dropping
of leaves. "The. crop is quite far
along in the south."
Corn :for silage 'is also being
harvested and farmers are being
surprised by the low moisture
content. often just 50 to 55 per cent.
Thus far. yields have been verage.
said Hall.
The third cutting of forages has a
good quality. but the yields are
down.