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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-03-19, Page 1Volume 19 No. 11 Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Wednesday, March 19, 2003 75 Cents (70c + 5c gst) NH | NORTH HURON PUBUSHING COMPANY INC. | inside this week Pg-8 Pg. 11 Pg-12 •Londesboro gets unique business Midgets hanging on by a thread Woman celebrates 90th Two remain in our Sun/ivor cabin Blyth Festival Box Office opens Drugs, COP topic By Andrea Hruska Special to The Citizen Meth. Crystal. Bong. Ecstasy. These terms are actually used to either name or describe street drugs and paraphernalia. This month’s Community Oriented Policing meeting, being held Wednesday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. will be an information night for parents and others interested in learning more about street drugs and the challenges they present to our children and communities. OPP Sr. Const. Don Shropshall, who generally speaks to children in schools about drugs, explained that this sort of meeting allows parents to actually see some of the drugs, educate themselves and candidly voice questions and concerns. “Some drugs, LSD for example, have actually left (the area) and come back again,” Shropshall explained “and today our kids can obtain almost any kind of drugs in our county.” The meeting will be held at the OPP office in Brussels (enter through the lower, rear door) with the lower library as an overflow location. The February COP meeting was held at the Ethel Community Hall and produced a great turnout of concerned citizens, police and fire department personnel and council members. Topics discussed included the 9-1-1 changeover in Ethel, the need for more recreational activities at this end of the municipality for children and pursuing the three way stop issue with the county. Some other concerns brought forth to OPP Const. Dave Gillan were buses speeding through town, hunters on private property and dog grievances. Const. Gillan stated that he was quite pleased with the number of citizens in attendance at the February as it shows a level of commitment toward safer communities. Budget talks begin By David Blaney Special to The Citizen Huron East councillors started budget deliberations at the March 11 meeting with an overview of municipal finances and proposed figures from Treasurer Brad Knight. He mentioned two items he felt would make this year’s exercise a little easier than that of 2002. At the end of December the Ontario government allocated a windfall of nearly three quarters of a million dollars to the town. At Knight’s suggestion this money was placed in an equipment reserve fund designed to cushion the councillors from sticker shock when the time comes to purchase that new grader or firetruck. Knight also said they would receive extra funding of $377,000 from the province this year. He added that this money was the equivalent of raising municipal taxes by 16 per cent. Knight said, “I don’t think there have been many years that a council has raised taxation by 16 per cent.” Knight went on to indicate that he felt it would be possible to keep the rate for the municipal portion of the tax levy near last year’s if that was council’s wish. The subject of capital equipment reserve funds was discussed again during the presentation of Public Works Co-ordinator John Forrest’s budget. This budget contained an item of $100,000 to be placed in the general equipment reserve fund that council had established. The need for more reserve funds as opposed to a tax reduction or freeze quickly became a subject for discussion. Deputy-Mayor Bemie MacLellan indicated that he did not want to see council make the same error he felt the previous Tuckersmith council had made. “We always cut our budget when the county and board of education raised theirs,” he said. He went on to say that he felt the policy had eventually caused problems because of delays in needed projects and repairs. MacLellan suggested a one per cent raise with the money to be placed in capital reserves would not be inappropriate. Councillor Graeme MacDonald went further suggesting that council would be wise to consider a two per cent increase to ensure that the municipality was building up sufficient reserves to cover new equipment. Each one per cent increase in the municipal tax rate is approximately equal to $24,000 raised from property taxes across the municipality. Most councillors indicated that they wanted to leave the subject for later detailed budget discussions. They also expressed a desire to know the county and education tax rates prior to making any decisions. Councillors will discuss the budget at future meetings including one specifically designed to allow the public to have its say. Deadly blaze Tragedy struck the Brussels community, robbing a close-knit, long-time Brussels family of a son, grandson, father and nephew. John Lowe, 31, son of Wayne and Hope Lowe and Grace McCall, died early Tuesday morning in a fire that consumed his home at 781 John St. Lowe’s aunt, Ann Bosman, said he had called his father from a cell phone for help when he discovered the blaze. Lowe, who was home alone, made it to a front window by the porch before succumbing. “We loved him. I don’t know what to say. We’re going to miss him,” said Bosman. Lowe is also survived by his daughter Skyler and grandmother Mary Lowe. Brussels Fire Chief Murray McArter believes the fire started in the kitchen, which was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived shortly after 1 a.m. The house was destroyed. The fire marshal and coroner where on their way to investigate the incident at press time. (Janice Becker photo) Solid season at Belgrave arena By Janice Becker Citizen staff This week’s warm temperatures will bring an end to a very successful skating season in Belgrave. Though the long, cold winter may have been difficult for some, it was great for the residents of Belgrave and area for whom the opportunity to skate on natural ice is a chance not to be missed. Arena manager Allen Walker said this was the first time in his five years with the community centre that the ice has not melted down to the cement during the season. Though the natural ice surface has been maintained until the end of March other years, this is one of the rare years when there were few days since the beginning of January where the ice was too soft for skating. Murray Scott, North Huron council representative on the community centre board said the year was a very favourable one for the arena. “It has been quite a few winters since it has been this good,” he said, in reference to the uninterrupted ice time. Walker, who not only books use of the ice but maintains the surface as well, said it has been a more efficient use of his time this year as he didn’t have to start all over again to build up the surface after a melt. “Last year we lost it twice, said Walker.” “There was a lot happening with lots of opportunities for those not involved in organized hockey to get out and bang the puck around. We had people in at midnight after they finished work and at 7 a.m. before work,” added Scott. The uniqueness of the natural ice surface has become known to a wider audience with residents from Wingharrt enjoying the skate and even college students from London driving up on the weekends for a game of shiny, he said. Broomball players have also made use of the arena, often coming late in the evening and staying till all hours, said Scott. He believes the popularity of the Belgrave arena is also helped by the less-expensive ice fees. “The cost is half that of other places.” Scott and Walker both give credit to residents of Belgrave and the surrounding area for supporting the community centre. “I’m proud of the Belgrave Community Centre,” said Scott. “Though we had a deficit of $105 this year, the surplus from last year helped out. We are probably one of the few arenas in the province running a profit.” Scott noted the support given by the Belgrave Kinsmen and Optimists. The latter group held a fundraising auction over the weekend, raising money for the playground equipment at neighbouring park. They also sponsor free skating at the arena and a portion of monies earned from the park booth during the summer is donated to the arena board. Scott said these donations as well as those through memorial contributions are very important to the maintenance of the arena, particularly this year. The arena will be inspected this summer as is done every five years. Though reports have always been good, Scott kno vs that at some point repairs will be needed.