HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-08-03, Page 1The Citizen
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Program benefits
student, employer
CAP student at Blyth
Library
11 locals among
Madill Scholars
Blyth U-15 girls
win finals
Inside this week
Teen
NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC
Pg.ft Japanese troupe to
17 perform in Blyth
Sandra Clark with son, Alan
(Aharon)
Volume 22 No. 31
Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006
$1 (94c + 6c GST)
dies in
London
hospital
A Wingham teen died Sunday at
the London Health ScienCe Centrt,
from injuries sustained in an ATV
crash, on July 23.
Tara MacDonald, 15, was on the
ATV with 18-year-old Mitchell
Blake of 'IZR2, Brussels. The pair
were travelling on McDonald Line
when they went through a yield sign
and collided with a bus.
MacDonald was airlifted to
London with critical injuries.
Blake, who was not wearing a
helmet was transported by air
ambulance to Hamilton General
Hospital. He has since been
released.
Huron OPP remind ATV
enthusiasts, parents and youths that
ATVs are not toys. Children, they
warn, should only use ATVs after
having received proper instruction
and under dirkt supervision,
"Sightings of off-road vehicles are
becoming more commonplace on
our highways," said Const. Jeff
Walraven. "The public is reminded
that only certain four-wheeled ATVs
are permitted along the shoulder of a
public highway and persons
operating such motor vehicles under
these circumstances are not to be
under the age of 16 and must hold a
valid driver's licence, at least a G2
or M2."
In addition, the vehicle must be
properly registered, and also insured
for liability coverage.
The carrying of passengers is
against the regulations because three
wheeled ATVs and ATVs are not
equipped with a passenger seat.
"It's up to each rider to make
smart choices and be responsible-for
their own safety and the safety of
others. Please help us so that we will
not have another tragedy."
The investigation continues into
this collision.
iluion East and surrounding area
is about to receive a financial
injection of over $1 million - and
not a politician is in sight to
announce it!
Aug. 14 - Aug. 20 the village of
Walton is to be transformed by the
15th annual Celebration of Canadian
Motocross.
The Walton TransCan Grand
National Motocross Championship
has evolved into not just one of
Huron County's tourist attractions
but the biggest event of its kind in
Canada.
The influx of over 25,000 visitors
consists largely of regional day
trippers from Toronto, London,
Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Bathe
and Windsor. They tax the capacity
of fuel suppliers, food services and
various other attractions and
services around throughout the
area.
According to event manager Chris
Lee, "Broadcasting of our event over
national and international public
television channels introduced a
much wider audience than just
motorcycle enthusiasts to the sport
of motocross. And once they came
to Walton to see what it was about
they were hooked on the excitement,
the family atmosphere and the
incredible athleticism of the racers."
Approximately 20 per cent of that
number are event participants.
The majority are amateur
competitors- who emerge from a
qualifying process which is co-
ordinated nationally by the 6,000
member Canadian Motorsports
Racing Club (CMRC). There is
representation at Walton from every
part of Canada and neighbouring
states.
Professional racers make up a
smaller group that hails from as far
afield as Chile.
In addition the Walton TransCan
hosts a large annual industry
displays and so staffing and support
arrives from national sales
organizations such as Honda,
Yamaha, Suzuki and many others.
Combined they test the limits of
local accommodations and services.
They avail themselves of a
By Heather Dietz
Citizen staff
The fighting in the Middle East
has come close to home for one
Brussels couple.
The call came to Sandra and Bill
Clark in the morning of July 27.
Their son Alan Clark had just
received word that he would
be joining the Israeli Defense
Force.
"I was really upset", said Sandra
when she heard the news.
The" National Military Service is
compulsory for Jewish men over the
surprising array of local suppliers
including laundromats, hardware,
automotive, printing, clothing,
rentals, catering, medical, food,
beverages, communications and
more, creating a welcome mid-
summer bulge in regional sales
receipts.
Lee said, `!Returning visitors
invariably refer to the welcoming
community atmosphere and support
that Huron East offers and is an
essential part of what gives the race
experience a unique character. That
character is why spectators arrive
from California and British
Columbia and various such distant
points and motocrossers make a
special mark on their calendars each
year."
While the event is managed by
Tite Racing Promotions the
execution -relies on community
organizations such as Brussels
Minor Hockey, Blyth Minor
Hockey, Walton Sports Club and
Seaforth Curling Club who mobilize
an army of volunteers. They seize
the opportunity offered to
age of 18. It's mandatory that they
serve a minimum of three years,
although they may be called for
active duty immediately in times of
crisis.
Clark, who has converted to
Judaism, and changed his name to
Aharon Yarden, which is Hebrew,
has been living in Kidmat Tzvi, 20
km from Lebanon. ,
He has been living there for the
past 14 years with his wife and their
son. They recently built a new house
which is in the' peaceful part of
Israel.
The houses all have a safe room
accomplish the majority of their
annual fund raising requirements.
The result is one of the most highly
respected events of its kind.
"In my 22 years as a motocross
journalist I've been to many
motocross tracks in Canada and
Europe, and Walton is definitely one
of. my favourites. I know I'm
considered a traditionalist but the
Walton track offers the best of the
past and the present. Of all the
events I have attended, including
GPs and International MX, the
Walton TransCan Grand National
ranks up there with the best. My hat
goes off to Chris Lee and his family
for the passion they put into the
sport of motocross." - Wil De
Clercq (MX Performance Magazine
- Performance Racing News).
On the race track the TransCan
has many winners, young and old, at
all levels of ability and realizing
various levels of reward but the
synergy of a persistent private vision
and an embracing regional
community has resulted in the
biggest winner of all.
which means the walls are two-feet
thick reinforced concrete.
The windows are also air-
tight.
The last time that Sandra Clark
spoke to her son was the morning of
July 28.
She does not know when they will
be in contact next because the
soldiers' cell phones were taken
away from them due to GPS tracking
systems and interceptors.
The Clarks will have the chance to
visit their son when they travel to
Jerusalem for three weeks on Sept
9.
Standing together
About 35 'Friends' of Ball's Bridge attended a site meeting has county councillors considering the worth. In addition to
on Sunday morning to try and find ways to keep the 120- its history, the bridge is a popular spot for recreation. (Vicky
year-old bridge open. The high cost of repairing the bridge Bremner photo)
Huge national event comes to Walton
Local couple's son joins Israeli force