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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-05-13, Page 1Close up view Robin Montgomery looked over one of the student art exhibits on display currently at the Bainton Gallery in Blyth Memorial Hall. The exhibit, which features the artistic talents of secondary school students, opened on Friday evening. (Vocky Bremner photo) Heavy rainfall not all bad I NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC _ Inside this week Pg. 2 Pg. 7 Pg. 9 4-Hers learn photography Minor hockey presents awards Special guest at Hullett school He's 'Out Standing 7 Pg. in His Field' Der iQ Huntington IS' -1" Awareness Month e Citizen Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 20 No. 19 Thursday, May 13, 2004 $1 (93c + 7c GST) Crow tests negative for WNv The Huron County Health(Unit reports that the first crow submitted on May 5 for testing was found to be negative for West Nile virus. The Huron County dead bird reporting program began on Monday, May 3. Local residents are asked to report the location of dead crows and blue jays only, as these types of birds are particularly sensitive to West Nile virus. As it is with humans, the West Nile virus is transmitted to the bird population by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms in birds manifest as neurological signs such as convulsions. tremors, head tilt, wing droop and paralysis. Huron County residents are asked to report all dead crows and blue jays but only suitable specimens (dead less than 12 hours and with an intact head) will be picked up. The bird specimens are collected by summer students hired by the Huron County Health Unit, then shipped to the Canadian Co- operative Wildlife Health Centre in Guelph for screening. All dead crows and blue jays sightings will assist the health unit in mapping out possible West Nile virus activity in the county. Dead crows and blue jays are to be reported to Huron County Health Unit West Nile virus Infoline at 519- 482-3416 or toll _free 1-877-837- 6143 Ext. 2001. All other dead birds should be discarded in the following manner: • placed in a double plastic bag, using rubber gloves, a double plastic bag or a shovel; • do not touch dead birds with bare hands; • placed out with regular household garbage; and • wash hands thoroughly. By Elyse DeBruyn Citizen staff The rainy wet months of spring has lasted longer than previous years, but the unwelcome rain is actually benefiting our environment while slowing farmers down. Boyd Taylor, a local weather watcher, said as of Mond4, Huron County had 75 mL of rainfall, which is equivalent to three inches and in April 30 mL of rain fell, but "in a sense it was a dry April." "I think we can agree that the main problem is that we aren't seeing much sun and we continue to get those southeastern cold winds." He said he doesn't see much of an improvement from the rainy weather for the rest of the week. "It'll be raining until things get shaken out and then we can get things working in our favour." Taylor said the weather this spring is similar to last year around this time. "We broke (started to get nicer weather) around May 18-20 and we got on with our work. This year seems to be dragging on," said Taylor. He said it looks - doubtful tor farmers to be "doing much this week," as rain seems to be in the forecast. He said farmers still have a lot of corn to plant as well as white and soy beans. He said cooler temperatures than Monday's are, needed for farmers to be able to get started. Dry conditions are needed as well. Taylor said because of the "muggy" weather, the ground isn't drying as fast, making a longer wait for farmers. He also said that thunderstorms are an issue ^`as long as it stays muggy." "Until we can get rid of this moisture in the air, expect everything and anything," said Taylor. Brian Luinstra, water resource co- ordinator for Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA), said spring rain has increased the water levels which is a "good thing:" Although keeping the water at a certain level is important, Luinstra said "the more rain the better." because it makes "better quality groundwater, diluting problems more." He said due to a wet fall, winter and spring, the water levels have been increasing since September of last year. "Last September water levels hit a low and have slowly been increasing ever since," said Luinstra. He said every aquifer (the water baring layer below the surface) responds differently to the water level depending on how long the water takes to get into the aquifers. Lunistra said he doesn't know how much rain is needed to keep the water bed in a healthy state, but he, along, with other members at MVCA, are in the process of developing a water budget over the next 12 months which will give them a better idea of how much is actually needed. He said although they are unsure of what the favourable is, the water levels are being consistent and overall the water bed "seems not to be a problem overall," but "we wouldn't want to raise the water too high," said Luinstra. AMDSB results above average By Elyse DeBruyn Citizep staff For the third consecutive year, the number of Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) students successfully completing the provincial literacy test exceeded the provincial average. In October 2003, Grade 10 students in. Ontario took the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) and recent results shown in a press release state that 143,025- students in Ontario took the test and 109,609 or 77 percent passed both the written and reading part of the test. In the AMDSB area, 1,419 students took the test and 1,161 or. 82 per cent passed both tests. Province wide, nine per cent failed both tests, five per cent passed only the reading part and nine per cent passed only the written part. In the AMDSB area, 75 students failed both tests, 81 students passed only the reading portion and 102 passed only the written portion. At F.E. Madill, 85 per cent of the students passed both tests. Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton had 83 per cent pass both. Goderich District Collegiate Institute had 76 per cent and Listowel District Secondary School had 79 per cent. Five years ago this test was introduced to secondary schools and it is anticipated that by the end of the current school year, 96 per cent of the first wave of Avon Maitland students required to successfully complete the OSSLT to graduate have now qualified for their Ontario Secondary School diplomas. This one test that determines whether a student is eligible to receive their high school diploma or not, was brought into the schools when Grade 13 was dropped. The OSSLT is based on the expectation for reading and writing in the Ontario curriculum up to the end of Grade 9. These skills are the basis for learning in all subject areas in both elementary and secondary school. The OSSLT identifies those students who have demonstrated the required skills as well as those who need further assistance and specific areas requiring remediation. For the students who have been unsuccessful in the OSSLT, the AMDSB, in co-operation with the Ministry of Education, introduced a literacy credit course for Grade 12 and success in this course grants diploma eligibility to these students. Marjatta Longston, superintendent of education for the AMDSB, said the Grade 12 students had "so many fails and weren't getting their diplomas," the government introduced the new credit course. She said students can take the course if they have failed the OSSLT Continued on page 6