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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-02-19, Page 1On patrol OPP Consts. Dave Gillan, left, and Dan Harness have been patrolling Huron County snowmobile trails to keep drivers on the straight and narrow. This past weekend 58 sleds were stopped and three drivers charged. (Bonnie Gropp photo) OPP riding the trails e Citizen L Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 20 No. 7 Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004 $1 (93c + 7c GST) NH NORTH HURON PUBUSHING COMPANY INC. I Inside this week Pg. 6 Pg. 8 Semestering back at schools Midget Girls win Silver Stick pgp Another gal gone '" in contest Pg 1 2 Bridal section *7 begins / Salute to Scouts Da . 4, 10 1 8 and Guides begins Vanclief visits riding By Elyse DeBruyn Citizen staff Tables were full at the Lucknow Community Centre on Friday night as former minister of agriculture, Lyle Vanclief, joined members of the Huron-Bruce Liberal Association for a beef supper while addressing the recent sponsorship scandal and the BSE crisis. Vanclief, who resigned as minister of agriculture in November 2003, began by addressing the Liberal government's handling of the $250 million sponsorship program and stressed his .full confidence in the new prime minster. He said the way in which the money was handled was "totally, unconditionally wrong" and now an investigation is taking place with charges being laid. He also said the prime minister's goal is "to get to the bottom of it and find out what happened." "He (Prime Minster Paul Martin) will be successful and the country of Canada will be stronger and more successful," said Vanclief. He said the government will deal with the situation "in a way that it should be dealt with," and "to the best of everyone's ability, set things so it will never happen again." Vanclief then spoke about the • BSE crisis. He said no country in the world with a similar situation had conducted such a through investigation of the BSE case. "I said, we found one case in one cow, let's keep things in perspective," He said the government had dealt with the testing in five weeks and proved scientifically to the world that Canadian beef is safe if not safer than ever. Now that science solved the BSE case, Vanclief said they have to solve political science. Continued on page 25 By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor It's not like they haven't given you fair warning. The OPP have the snow -patrol back on snowmobile trails this winter and a media blitz was done last week to make the public aware. Consts. Dave Gillan and Dan Harness made up -the team this year. "The busy times are obviously Thursday, Friday and Saturday," said Gillan, adding that Sunday has also had its share of charges laid. In addition to using radar to catch speeders, the police are looking for insurance and trail permits. 'We are also really trying to enforce staying on the trails." If caught wandering, snowmobilers can be issued a $70 By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Martha Dutrizac doesn't believe students in Huron and Perth Counties have missed significantly more school days than average during 2003-04. But the Huron-Perth Catholic District Sch6ol Board's education superintendent does know that those missed days don't normally come within such a short duration as occurred during January and February's snowstorms. Successive so-called "snow days," Dutrizac said in an interview earlier this week, "really take a toll on morale" for anyone from staff, students, parents and administrators. "As soon as you get a snow day, it just snowballs, literally," she said. Dutrizac cited several days missed during the two weeks leading up to a decision to cancel a planned Jan. 30 Professional Development day, which normally would serve as a ticket for trespassing. Anyone who attempts to outrun the police can be fined a minimum of $1,000 and serve 14 days in jail. As well their driver's licence could be suspended for one year. "This can also go on the owner of the snowmobile," said Gillan, "so if you loan your machine to someone they better be responsible." If the pursuit results in an injury or death the minimum automatic fine is $5,000 or. a maximum of $25,000. Your driver's licence can be suspended for 10 years. Charges for driving while impaired are the same as with an automobile, and the individual would be tried in criminal court. Until last week, officers had only laid one 12-hour suspension. "That's been pretty good," said Gillan. training opportunity for teachers and a day off for students. The education superintendent expressed confidence- the training opportunity will still be made available to teachers at some point in the future. Officials at the Avon Maitland District _School Board obviously share Dutrizac's frustration. Like their Catholic counterparts, they've cancelled a Professional Development day, previously scheduled for March- 29. And the two boards co-operated to cancel a shared Feb. 23 "early dismissal day," when buses were to take students home two hours early to allow for further teacher professional development. "We are-really concerned about the lost time in some schools. It's significant," said Avon Maitland education superintendent Marjatta Longston, speaking to trustees at a regular board meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10. In response to January and February weather conditions which were described in a Feb. ,10 news However, there were other liquor- related charges. Then this past weekend, a Huron East man was charged with driving with over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. The fine for speeding is "a flat $90, whether you're 10 kms over or 200," said Gillan. Recently, officers charged someone with driving 133 kms an hour in a 50 km an hour zone. "That's the worst so far," said Gillan. "But there will be faster." The two-man patrol spent Feb. 11 on trails in the Huron East to South Huron region. Fifty-eight sleds were stopped and a total of three were charged, two for no insurance and one for failing to carry insurance information with him. Eight others received warnings. release as "not friendly," the Avon Maitland board also asked school administrators and parent-based school councils to make instructional time a priority, by making a series of "considerations." Suggestions include: less school time -spent on special calendar day celebrations; a review of out-of- school activities such as school dances, skating - trips and ski trips; and limiting student attndance at in- school activities to those who will receive direct benefit. "Class time has to take precedence," Longston told trustees. Dutrizac praised the efforts made by parents, school councils and staff during the recent snow days, and seemed hopeful the 2003-04 snow days have passed. "Since we've been back full force, our principals and teachers have really focussed on instructional time," she said. "We feel like we've really been on a roll for the last 10 days and, hopefully, that will continue." RCMP Ride may be coming to Wingham By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor If enough help can be found there are some exciting plans in the works for Wingham's anniversary celebration. Chair of the homecoming committee Al Harrison attended the Monday night council meeting to seek support and approval for a project that would be'a prelude to the actual weekend celebration at the end of June. Harrison has met with officials regarding the RCMP Musical Ride. While no contract has been signed, Harrison stated,"They are prepared to come to Wingham, Tuesday, June 8." The chairman said the selling point was that he wants to gear the event to children. "We want a matinee program and plan to sell it to the schools as a year-end trip. Several other highlights would be centred around the Ride, including a demonstration from the Saugeen First Nations Reserve. Harrison said there would be a one-hour pre-show- before the half- hour RCMP Ride. The group, which consists of four 70-foot trucks, some buses, over 40 people, and 36 17-hand horses will arrive on Monday. The price for stabling will be $2,500. After the matinee and evening performances on Tuesday, the officers will have a "down day" on Wednesday before departing Thursday. ' The barn will be open to tour, throughout the visit. Harrison said the initial outlay is in the area of $7,000, which he hopes to recoup with the afternoon performance. "The evening will be gravy." He said, however, that he and the committee are in desperate need of help to pull this off. "It's exciting and I hope we can do it.," he said, asking for council's support with any equipment and labour that would be required. Attendance, he was told, has reached 5,000 for these shows, though that is usually in larger centres. However, he noted, this is "not only about the money. Wingham will be on the map, all around the world." With council's support Harrison said the idea would be going back to his committee. "I'm sure they'll support it as long as we can get help." Also planned for the following week is a flyover by the Snowbirds. Boards make up for lost time