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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-08, Page 1__jThe Citizen _______________________Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County ✓ < ,|V Z </.'z I Volume 16 No. 44 Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000 75 Cents (70c + 5c gst) Inside this week Pg. 6 Pg. 7 Avon Maitland discusses extracurriculars Retiring women not so retiring n ia Profiling area r£. 10 candidates° (Also pgs. 11, 12, 13) Pg. 14 Pg. 22 Meetings in Hullett, East Wawanosh (Also page 15) Brussels resident wants answers Blyth plans tour “It’s beginning to took a lot like Christmas...” and the Blyth Skating Club has a wonderful idea of how to prepare for the upcoming season. Come and participate in the “Christmas Home Tour 2000” featuring several Christmas decorated locations in Blyth. On Friday, Nov. 17 from 7 - 9 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 19 from 1 - 5 p.m. ticket holders can tour the locations and afterwards, visit the decorated Blyth Memorial Hall for refreshments and stroll through a variety of vendor booths. Homes may be toured on one day or over the three days. The Home Tour is being held on conjunction with the Blyth Business Association, and participating merchants will be extending their hours to be open in the evening on Friday, open as usual on Saturday and open on Sunday. They will be offering super savings the entire weekend. Steven and Laurie Sparling’s 108- year-old home will be one of the special features for the tour this year. An enterprising young doctor named W.J. Milne began construction of this home on land purchased from James Blyth and later moved into this location in 1892. Dr. and Mrs. Milne had two daughters, one of whom was Mary, who lived in the home after her parents had passed away, until 1961 when she sold the property to Grant and Mildred Sparling. The house was in considerable disrepair and was thoughtfully restored by Grant and Mildred. Since 1992, the Milne house has been the home of Steven (Grant and Mildred’s son) and Laurie Sparling and family. Some of the homes wonderful features include beautiful woodwork, its spacious numbers of rooms, a grand staircase and entranceway. Continued on page 20 For water It wasn’t all for fun on Halloween as students at Brussels Public School collected money for the Walkerton Water Relief fund while out trick or treating. The total monies raised were $279.44. Principal Paul Dyck acknowledged the support of the community saying they were very pleased by the generous contributions made. County changes mind on Legion tax break After a heart-felt address by Eric Ross of Brussels, Zone C-l Commander for the Royal Canadian Legion, Huron County council Thursday reversed itself and agreed to grant a county-wide tax exemption to local Legion branches. “The Royal Canadian Legion is struggling — really struggling — with its branches,” Ross told councillors. At an Oct. 12 zone meeting in Brussels, he said, most of the Legions reported they were in deficit positions. As well, he said, branches are having a hard time getting people to hold office partly because the officers have to spend so much time Ambulance proposal remains Once again there was an attempt at Thursday’s meeting of Huron County council to reverse the amalgamation of ambulance sites and once again the move was soundly defeated. Goderich Reeve John Doherty introduced a resolution calling on the county to retain the current six ambulance stations after it takes over ambulance administration on Jan. 1 to further study the system while it operates it. In supporting the resolution. Bob Broadfoot, reeve of Tuckersmith, pointed out the Huron County Federation of Agriculture had passed a similar resolution. “It represents all the farmers of Huron County,” Broadfoot said. But Jack Coleman, reeve of Stanley, said he is a federation member and he didn't support the and effort raising money. Ross outlined the many contributions the Legion branches make to their communities. The nine Legion branches in Huron County, for instance, spent $47,400 last year on youth and school programs, $11,400 on sports, $56,000 on general and community programs, $4,500 on seniors programs, $6,000 on charities, $6,500 on veterans’ comfort, $12,200 for charitable foundation and bursaries and $1,700 District C. Hospital Foundation. Branches employ 32 people, full and part time, and volunteers contributed 18,000 hours. As well, branches offer free use of their resolution and didn’t think the organization understood the issue. Lin Stettler, reeve of Seaforth, said the federation’s resolution showed momentum growing against the county’s position. What’s more, with just another month left in the current council’s mandate “I cannot in good conscience commit a future council to an action when there isn’t a consensus.” Mason Bailey, reeve of Blyth suggested the decision on changing the service should be postponed until the new council is in place, noting probably half the councillors in the room won't be back either through retirement or restructuring. He called it unfair and unethical for council to move ahead. “We may be leaving a legacy they’ll wish they'd never seen,” he said of the incoming meeting halls for community groups, Ross said. In recent years the Legion’s charitable foundation has donated $51,000 to the Seaforth Community Hospital, $28,000 to the Clinton Public Hospital and $41,763 to the Wingham and District Hospital for the purchase of equipment. But the branches are struggling to maintain their commitments, Ross said. “You here today can be the allies that the Legion needs to carry on into the 21st century,” he said. Council voted 59-4 in a recorded vote to exempt Legion buildings from property taxes. Brussels Legion already had an councillors. But Brian McBumey called for the resolution’s defeat. “I don’t know how often we’re going to have to kick this horse to see if it will run. We’ve made the decision three times and I think that’s enough.” He pointed out there are just two months before the county’s system has to be ready. Eventually the resolution was defeated in a recorded vote by a 40- 23 count. Local councillors supporting keeping the six stations were Bailey, and Bill Siemon of McKillop Twp. Opposed were Ralph Watson from Brussels; Robin Dunbar, Grey; Bert Elliott, Morris; Norm Fairies, Howick; Brian McBumey, Turnberry; Doug Miller, West Wawanosh; Don Schultz, East Wawanosh; Stewart Steenstra, Colbome and Bob Szusz, Hullett. exemption for the municipal portion of their taxes ($1,102.60) but will now receive an additional saving of $1.133.48 for the county portion and $828 for education taxes. Blyth village council recently voted to exempt the local branch from the $242.47 municipal portion but it will now also save on the $193.61 county portion and $138.69 school levy. Wingham’s branch will now save $7,314,80 in taxes. The municipal taxes will now be spread among all municipal ratepayers in the host municipality. The county portion will be spread among all ratepayers in the county and the education portion will be picked up by the provincial government. In total, nearly $35,000 in taxes will be written oft' by the various levels of government. D. Joslin leads CHP In Huron-Bruce riding, the Christian Heritage Party of Canada (CHP) presents Dave Joslin of Brussels area as their candidate in the Nov. 27 federal election. Joslin is the featured speaker at a public meeting on Friday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. at the Wingham Town Hall. At a time when political debates have become long on personal attacks, and shallow on policy, Joslin hopes to rais^ the level of debate as part of the legacy of the common Christian heritage.