HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-02-24, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2005. PAGE 23.
HE councillors take swipe at cat owners
By Mark Nonkes
Special to The Citizen
Some Huron East councillors got
their claws out and took a swipe at
cat owners at last Tuesday’s council
meeting.
A strongly-worded letter from a
resident complaining of
neighbourhood cats prompted calls
for cat enforcement from some
Huron East councillors.
“If you have to pay for a dog
licence, then why don’t you have to
pay for a cat licence," said Joe
Stettler, Seaforth-ward councillor.
"We have an animal control
problem,” said Alvin McLellan,
Grey-ward councillor.
In the letter, the resident
complained of cats using her garden
as a litter box.
It was a sentiment councillor Joe
Stettler could relate to. Living in
Seaforth, he said a large number (of
cats) roam the streets and often hop
into his yard.
“If I wanted a cat I’d go buy one,"
he said.
However, McKillop councillor
Sharon McClure called for clarity in
working with an urban and rural
municipality. She said on farms cats
are often not domesticated and the
landowner does not control the
feline population.
She added that on the farm cats are
beneficial because they are a form of
rodent control.
Clerk-administrator Jack
McLachlan reported the
municipality receives a number of
cat complaints every year.
“It's a very touchy issue," he told
council.
Mayor Joe Seili reminded council
that every time the animal control
officer was called and if a cat was
trapped and taken to the veterinarian
the cost would likely be about
$100.
“Don't cut the animal control
budget,” Seili joked.
In the end, council agreed to help
the Seaforth resident by providing
her with a live trap to humanely deal
with the cat, but with no official
municipal action to take place.
Sears Festival request raises
concerns for Nil councillors
Festival presents
^Morgan’s Journey’
For the past 10 years over 53.000
students, parents and teachers have
attended Theatre-for-Young-
Audiences productions at the Blyth
Festival as part of its commitment to
provide arts activities to youth who
live here in southwestern Ontario.
On April 5 and 6. the Festival is
hosting Prologue to the Performing
Arts production of Morgan's
Journey - the Chalmers Award
winning play by Robert Morgan and
David S. Craig. There are four
performances that are each adapted
to age and grade levels between
junior kindergarten and Grade 6.
Tickets are on sale now at the Blyth
Festival for performances at 10:15
a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Morgan's Journey has enjoyed a
performance history unparalleled in
theatre-for-young audiences. From
the moment of his birth, they follow
Morgan on a journey of exploration
during which he encounters
everything for the first time. They
celebrate his birthday and with the
help of a trickster sock-puppet
audience-goers are drawn into
Morgan’s struggle to discover which
of the gifts he has been given have
true and lasting value. Through a
hurtful, yet common experience of
real conflict Morgan learns a
valuable and moving lesson about
love and the true meaning of
friendship.
Tickets are just $7 each. Qualified
chaperones travelling with school
groups receive complimentary
tickets.
Each performance is 45 minutes
long, concluding with a 10-minute
question and answer period. All
performances are in Blyth Memorial
Community Hall
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
A request from the Sears Drama
Festival committee raised concerns
for administration and councillors at
the North Huron council meeting on
Monday night.
The event is being hosted at Blyth
Memorial Hall by F.E. Madill and
Goderich District Collegiate
Institute. Louanna Alexander, drama
teacher at Madill, had written to
council asking that they allow
visiting students to billet at Blyth
arena as last year, and that the rental
fee be waived.
Clerk-administrator John Stewart
said Monday, however, that allowing
them to stay at the arena last year
had resulted from a mix-up on the
township’s part.
“It is an excellent program and we
don’t want to be a wet blanket on
this, but we have concerns. If
everything goes fine, things are
good, but what if there’s an
ammonia leak or fire and we have no
staff there?”
“If there’s a tragedy there, who’s
going to be hung out to dry?"
Councillor Archie MacGowan
also noted that council has to cut
back on donating the facilities. “At
the end of the day, these facilities
cost money. We start waiving fees
and the cost goes up to the
taxpayers.”
Council agreed that the arena
could be used if they pay the rental
and for a staff person to be on-site.
Physical, Emotional
& Spiritual
Healing Seminar
at Blyth Community
Church of God
led by Pastor Les Cook
Saturday,
February 26
Registration at 9:00 am
ON $4.00 THURSDAYS
Drop into either of our offices any
Thursday with your word classified
(maximum 20 words) and pay only
$4.00 + GST (paid in advance).
That’s $1.00 off regular rates.
The Citizen
You go girl - Many more
Your friends
GRACE
Happy 60th
Birthday
March 3
Money Tips
On ice
Members of Blyth’s Skating Club were busily preparing on
Friday night for their upcoming talent show. (Vicky Bremnerphoto)
(NC) - If you’re older, your
children have grown and you
have already built up substantial
equity in your home, you may
want to free up capital by
downsizing. Moving into a
smaller, less expensive home will
provide additional cash for
investment or retirement living
expenses.
For financial tips and
investment information visit the
Investors Group web site at
http:/www. investorsgroup. com
Love Wyatt, Dalton,
Ryan & Mackenzie
50th
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