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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-01-29, Page 1The Citizen Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 19 No. 4 Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003 NH NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANyInC] Inside this week D x Community pulls rg. v together to save Hail o Brussels PeeWees r5‘ 0 in A final Winthrop couple top pork producers Survivor contest begins Ethel man does mission work in El Salvador Ignorance can be an excuse By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor You've just travelled down a sideroad and turned onto a major highway. The road is slippery, visibility poor. Arriving at the next town, you see a barricade indicating the road you just travelled was closed. According to Sr. Const. Don Shropshall of the Huron OPP, this is one time when ignorance can be an excuse. “If you didn't know the road was closed, then should you have been in an accident you would be covered by your insurance. However, if you go around a barrier, now you have a problem.” With the nasty winter weather of late, road closures have been occurring with regularity, and last week Shropshall said several drivers were charged for being on them. “Two serious crashes had occurred between Carlow and Nile. We had put the sign up and people came down the road. These drivers put the lives of others in danger by their actions and were charged.” While the Ministry of Transportation will close roads due to unsafe driving conditions, there are also several other reasons for such a move. If the OPP are investigating an accident, or other disaster they will issue the road closure. As well, they will close a road if for some reason the police need to contain that area. “For example if there’s a fatality we do a thorough check. The road could be closed for four or five hours.” Once a decision to close a road has been made the county and municipality which might be affected are contacted so that barriers can be put in place as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, to hit every intersection leading onto the roadway there just aren't enough signs, said Shropshall. “We update the radio station on road closures every 90 seconds. Thai’s why we encourage people to listen to their local station.” OPP Officers Tim Tatchell, right, and Ken Knoblauch will be among the officers seen on Huron County snowmobile trails this winter, clocking speeders and checking for alcohol consumption. They stopped in Blyth Friday afternoon, (jamce Becker photo) OPP hit the trails By Janice Becker Citizen staff With almost two weeks of snowfall, snowmobile trails across the region are open and riders are making up for lost time. In an effort to hinder speeding and impaired driving on the trails, OPP officers Ken Knoblauch and Tim Tatchell of the Community Directed Patrol Unit, along with other officers, will be taking to their machines as well. The officers will be equipped with a radar gun and a roadside breath screening device. Man dies in snowmobile crash Police have stated that speeding was a major factor in a crash which claimed the life of a young Wallace Twp. man in the Grey ward of Huron East on Saturday night. According to police a group of snowmobilers had been travelling east on a trail, west of Henfryn Line. They were apparently returning We plan to be on the trails more this year,” said Knoblauch. “We travelled just 900 kilometres last year and 300 already this season.” Not only will the officers be taking random rides along the trails throughout the county on weekdays and weekends, they will be responding to residents’ concerns and visiting poker rally locations. “We have been in contact with all the clubs to get their schedules,” said Knoblauch. In attending the St. Helens poker rally Feb. 19, the officers were pleased that there were no speeding or alcohol violations with the 350 home from an evening poker rally run in the area. After crossing an open field they approached a curve. One driver, Peter Barron, 21, missed the curve, went through some brush and struck a tree. Several people helped officers attend the crash scene, taking them sleds checked. However, there were three charges for failure to have a permit and one registration infraction. Riders are reminded that riding without a trail permit will cost them $255 this season while speeding fines will be $l I0. The speed limit on all trails, sideroads and highways is no greater than 50 km./hour and the in-town limit is 20 km./hour. With increased presence on the trails, the OPP hope it will encourage riders to be more responsible. to the location by snowmobile and ATV. Barron was transported to Listowel hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy was to be conducted on Jan. 27 in Stratford. Technical traffic collision investigators were at the scene. Monthly snowfall no record breaker By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Squalls, school closures, road closures. While it may seem that this January has seen a record dumping of snowfall in the area, such is not the case. Local Environment Canada weather observer Boyd Taylor said that the month’s accumulation has not been the highest ever, but is significant in that the majority has arrived over the past two weeks. “We need to remember that Jan. I we had bare ground. It’s been a steady, healthy winter since.” “I suggest we need a mild spell to keep this (snow) in place, because if the blower gets turned on there’s nothing to hold that powder in place.” Also interesting, he said, is that there is a variation of snowfall within a short distance. For example overnight Jan. 22, Wingham saw a foot of snowfall, while in the Blyth area it measured two inches. The cold snap started Jan. 10 and Monday night’s low at Taylor’s weather station was -25°C. “The old Almanac predicted the cold snap, but I don't think they thought it was going to be so long.” Taylor predicts a warming trend this week for the January thaw. However, he notes that sunlight this month has also been at a premium. Taylor has recorded just three days when the sun shone for a time in the Continued on page 20 Snow means time off for students By Janice Becker Citizen staff While school children have enjoyed a few extra holidays in the past two weeks, the three snow days designated by the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) are not a monthly record. Steve Howe, Manager of Communications with AMDSB said December, 2000 saw Five snow days and those were far more disruptive to the schedule because of the already shortened month due to Christmas holidays. Last year, there was just one day with a few closures. Though there have been three snow days so far in January, Howe said. “Those were not 100 per cent days. Last Thursday, 28 of the 54 schools were closed and on Monday (Jan. 20), 36 were closed.” “Most of the rural schools were affected, but many of the high schools were open for study Continued on page 20