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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-01-22, Page 1sThe Citizen Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 19 No. 3 Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003 75 Cents (70c + 5c gst) Permit revenue down in Huron E. By David Blaney Special to The Citizen Huron East Chief Building Official Paul Josling provided council with his annual report on building activity in the municipality recently. In 2002, 174 building permits were issued for the five wards. Together they represented a total value of $13,038,200 in construction investment. These figures are a decrease from the activity in 2001. The same figures for 2001 were 204 permits issued representing a value of $14,012,850. The last few years have seen much of the building activity being farm related and this year is no exception with a total 67 permits representing more than $7.5 million. This was more than half the total value of all the permits issued. The most farm construction took place in Grey and McKillop wards which recorded over $7 million dollars of agricultural-related work. Grey ward also saw $400,000 of commercial construction and eight new homes valued at more than $ 1.5 million. Of the 18 new homes built in Huron East in 2002, 14 were in the rural wards with three being built in Seaforth and one in Brussels. Residents of the municipality continued to improve their homes with 68 permits being issued for residential renovations. The aggregate value however was only a small part of the total, amounting to a little more than $981,000. The area saw little industrial growth during the year with five permits issued for a total value of Continued on page 6 With snow squall warnings posted six days in the past week and snow depths beginning to accumulate on fields, at least snowmobilers from across the area were happy to see the white stuff. While driving conditions were tenuous for much of the weekend and blustery weather Monday closed schools and businesses, this pair took pleasure in participating in the St. Helens snowmobile poker rally on Sunday. (Vicky Bremner photo) Belgrave people pray for peace By Mark Nonkes Wingham Advance-Times Belgrave joined communities across Canada last weekend in protesting the possibility of war with Iraq. While the service in Belgrave may have been quieter than rallies in Toronto, Ottawa and Washington, organizer Rev. Ethel Miner Claire said the event was important. About 24 people attended the church service at Knox United for a 45-minute service of prayer, candle light, scripture reading and reflection Saturday, Jan. 18. The service was run in conjunction with four other area churches. Miner Claire said information was also provided on how people can take action by writing letters to members of parliament. The idea for a service was introduced when Miner Claire heard of plans for rallies across Canada protesting the potential Iraqi war. Since the closest protest Miner Claire was aware of was planned for Toronto, she decided to hold one in her community of Belgrave. Joining the thousands in protest OPP warn of seam The Ontario Provincial Police Anti-Rackets Section and the RCMP Economic Crime Branch, are warning Canadians to be cautious when they receive a fax or mail from foreign countries advising them they have won major cash prizes. Consumers receive a fax advising them that they have been specially selected to win a major prize, or have been awarded one of three valuable prizes. Although there is no initial request to purchase a product or pay in advance to receive the prize, an attached prize confirmation form asks the recipient to mail or fax back detailed personal and bank account information. This latest scam letter is faxed or mailed to Canadian residents from a company based in Spain. It asks the across the country was powerful, Miner Claire said. After the service one man told winners to keep their winnings a secret until after they receive the cash prize and requests that they forward bank account information along with a signature so that the money can be deposited into their personal bank account. Be careful about providing confidential personal information, especially bank.ng or credit card details, unless you are certain the company is legitimate. If you have doubts about receiving a fax or mail notification that you have won a major cash prize for a contest you never entered, your best defence is to simply ignore it. OPP D/Supt. William Crate said: “Vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young adults are often targeted in mail and fax scams such as these. They may not fully Miner Claire that the service was something everybody should have been at. understand or do not have experience with situations in which something enticing and seemingly legitimate is being offered to them in exchange for banking and other personal information. The end result could be very costly for them.” “It is important that people do their own ‘due diligence’ when these types of offers are presented, whether by mail, phone, fax and or e-mail; and for sure, never send personal information to anyone that you don't know,” said Supt. Dave Jeggo of the RCMP’s Commercial Crime Branch. Contact the PhoneBusters National Call Centre at I 888 495- 8501 if you are contacted by someone who says that you nave won a prize, but you have to purchase a product to qualify.