The Citizen, 2004-01-08, Page 11:1;. ES1ABLISHED 1877
Local nominations
Each year youths across the province are recognized for their generosity and giving
personalities through the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards. This year there are 156
youths nominated and two are from this area. Chelsey McLellan of Brussels and Aaron
Richmond of Ethel have each been nominated for the award and said "it is an honour." (Elyse
DeBruyn photo)
2 local youths nominated
for OCNA's Jr. Citizen award
NORTH HURON PUBUSHING COMPANY INC.
Inside this week
Pg. 6
Pg. 8
The- year 2003 in
review
Black Buzzards
post win
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10 Abalboioeks abtf 2003
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20
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P
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e Citizen
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 20 No. 1 Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004
$1 (93c + 7c GST)
Suspected
thief
still in
custody
A 32-year-old man is .in police
custody in the Waterloo region as he
was arrested and charged with three
counts of robbery after several area
banks including the Blyth CIBC,
Were robbed last month.
A police report stated Scott
Drager, of no permanent address and
a parolee, and two other men were
arrested in connection with the
Harriston Royal Bank robbery.
The two men were released after it
was discovered they weren't
involved, but are still to be
investigated for involvement with
Drager,
Drager was charged with robbing
the Arthur TD Canada Trust on Dec.
18, the Harriston Royal Bank on
Dec. 29 and the Blyth Canadian
Imperial Bank of Commerce on
Dec. 23.
Huron OPP responded to the
alarm at the CIBC in Blyth just prior
to 1 p.m. on Dec. 23.
Officers discovered that a white
male with a slight build wearing
dark clothing and toque approached
a bank teller and demanded money.
After the man left on foot, two
canine units and an Emergency
Response Team attempted to trail
the suspect, but the trail was soon
lost due to heavy pedestrian traffic.
Several officers continued with a
door-to-door canvass looking for
clues to assist the investigation,
while other officers were stopping
vehicles lo6king for the suspect.
Drager was also charged by
Waterloo Regional Police for the
Waterloo TD Canada Trust bank
robbery on Dec. 16.
Sr. Const. Don Shropshall with
the Huron OPP said Drager is being
investigated _in other jurisdictions
for additional bank robberies
including his involvment in a
British Columbia bank robbery.
By Elyse DeBruyn
Citizen staff
Two local youths are being
recognized for their good deeds as
they join 154 other nominees from
across Ontario for the Ontario Junior
Citizen of the Year Awards.
Chelsey McLellan of Brussels and
Aaron Richmonil of Ethel, have
each been nominated by a
community member for their
outstanding performances and
involvement in their communities.
Each year, many young people
across Ontario dedicate their time
and prove their nurturing
personalities through leadership
skills, school life and home life. It is
an honour to have two nominated by
Citizen readers.
McLellan, 13, a student at
Brussels Public School, was
speechless when informed of her
nomination.
"I'm. not trying to be recognized,
but I am honoured that people do,"
said McLellan.
Richmond, 18, a student at F.E.
Madill Secondary School, said he
was shocked to hear he was
nominated.
"This is an honour. It's something
that doesn't happen 'to many
people," said Richmond.
McLellan, daughter of Max and
Barb, was nominated because "she
is a very good citizen."
Her nomination form states that
her leadership is a method of sharing
and passing on her paper route with
a smooth transition to another youth.
A note of thanks on her last day was
put in the paper by McLellan - truly
something she would do.
She is the third daughter in the
family and her sisters are "hard acts
to follow." She appears oblivious to
their talents and personalities and
this has made her a "good woman on
her own."
The nomination form went on to
say that McLellan represents the
teenagers who just live life making
the world a better place. Her
pleasant manner with all ages,
perception that tells her to say more
than hello and her graciousness that
makes a tricky situation okay is part
of what makes her great.
Consistence is another reason for
her nomination, her constant good
work, pleasantness, ever present
smiles and the always happy
greetings. "She is a terrific, well
behaved, well mannered pleasant
teenage girl who lives in Brussels."
"She is always eager to volunteer
her services to all staff and students
at her school, an active participant
on student's council, very well-liked
by her peers, literacy buddy to
younger students, respected highly
by school staff and excellent
academic skills," the nominator
wrote.
"I thought many others in the
community would be nominated
before myself," she said.
Richmond, son of Marlene and
Stephen Betts, is a "wonderful,
happy young man."
He is a volunteer at Huronlea
Retirement Home in Brussels.
The person who nominated
Richmond wrote, the residents' and
staff of Huronlea are always
commenting how this young man
can take the residents minds off
themselves and on to something
more positive.
He has the capabilities of great
• things if encouraged to do so,
although his eyesight is limited, he
has great insight as to what is going
on with others.
Richmond has a special way about
him when working with the elderly,
especially Alzheimer patients. He is
very caring, kind, patient and
understanding.
Continued on page 2
H. East
decision
could
cost
others
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
If Huron East has its way, the new
tanker truck for Blyth Fire
Department could be even more
costly for other municipalities in
served by the fire area board.
At the Monday night meeting of
North Huron council, clerk-
administrator John Stewart
explained that Huron East has
indicated it would like to withdraw
from the board agreement as of Jan.
3I. While Stewart said the
township's solicitor has indicated
Huron East does not have that right
and would be in violation of the
agreement, it does put council in a
quandary over the tanker purchase.
"The quote we have in place to
replace our tanker is $155,994.
According to the agreement, we
need the unanimous decision of all
parties."
Also in the fire area with North
Huron and Huron East are Ashfield-
Colborne-Wawanosh, Central Huron
and Morris-Turnberry. Should
Huron East withdraw, they would
obViously not want to pay their
share, said Stewart, thus others
would have to pick up the balance.
North Huron's share with Huron
East would be $51,181.63. Without
it would be $57,577.38. North
Huron has a total of $43,000 in
reserves for the purchase.
Even if Huron East is legally
bound to remain in the agreement,
they could refuse to pay their share.
"I would think there would be
some hard feelings if one
municipality didn't pay for a new
piece of equipment sitting here,"
said councillor Archie MacGowan.
Stewart admitted that this situation
could lead to a legal battle where a
judge would be deciding who pays
what.
It was decided that council should
budget for the higher amount.
Councillor James Campell also
noted that others in the agreement
have expressed concern about
similar boards should Huron East be
allowed to withdraw. "None of the
agreement will stand if it's okay for
someone to pull out."
MacGowan wondered what the
board's response is if Huron East
does withdraw. Stewart said that if a
call comes to Blyth Fire Department
from 9-1-1 dispatch they will go.
He explained that Huron East has
a plan in place that would see the .
coverage area currently served by
Blyth covered by the Grey, Brussels
and Seaforth departments.
"The arguments are that they are
geographically closer and that the
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