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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-04-07, Page 1The Citizen _______________________Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 21 No. 14 Thursday, April 7, 2005 $1 (93c + 7c gst) NH I NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC. Inside this week Pg. 6 Pg-8 Pg-10 Pg-12 Pg-27 Food Share campaign kicks off Madill teams compete at OFSSA Curling Club presents awards Writer pays tribute to Blyth man Rita MacNeil performs in Blyth Wingham hospital gets $300,000 The Wingham and District Hospital Foundation presented a .cheque Th the amount of $301,372.96 for the purchase of equipment which brought the 2004/2005 fiscal total to $306,827.99. Of that total $140,000 completes the pledges for the digital imaging equipment while $161,373 was used to purchase additional new equipment with the remaining $5,455 going toward an update to the donor wall. The presentation was made by Foundation members to the hospital board chair Verna Steffler and other board and staff members prior to the board’s regular meeting March 31. Over the last three years the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation has donated $940,000 and since its inception the Foundation has donated $1,916,536 to the Wingham hospital. “The Foundation has contributed on average over $300,000 to the hospital in the last three years. That represents a significant contribution from the community and a considerable amount of hard work and effort on the part of the Foundation. It is greatly appreciated,” said Steffler following the cheque presentation. Foundation chair Murray Gaunt said the generosity and support of the entire community makes it all possible. The Wingham and District Hospital Foundation is a registered charitable organization incorporated in 1978 as a non-profit organization set up to receive and administer donations from the public for the sole benefit of the Wingham and District Hospital. It is operated by a volunteer board of directors independent of the hospital. Dinner and a show It was an April Fool’s treat as the Blyth Church of God hosted dinner theatre on Friday night. Besides enjoying a delicious roast beef dinner, guests were entertained by volunteer actors performing Uncle Phil’s Diner. Katie Cook’s performance brings a smile to Doris Hicks’s face. The fun evening also included a bubblegum blowing contest. (Vicky Bremner photo) N. Huron discusses fire fund By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor What exactly would happen with the $70,000 fire services grant was on the table at North Huron council’s Monday night meeting. Clerk-administrator John Stewart said he had received many phone calls from people interested in what was going to be done with the money. Stewart explained that the funds would be divided between the Wingham and Blyth fire boards, which would in turn decide how to Drug bust in A-C-W Huron OPP, assisted by Ontario Provincial Drug Enforcement Section and Western Region OPP Emergency Response Unit, executed a Controlled Drugs and Substance Act search warrant at #85644 Bluewater Highway, Ashfield- Colbome-Wawanosh in the northern Huron County on april 2. Officers entered the residence and found 658 marijuana plants in various stages of growth valued at $658,000. Also officers seized $13,000 worth of growing equipment located inside the home. use it. The money can be used for fire prevention education, for training and for suppression. While it was his understanding that the funds could not be used towards a new fire hall, they could purchase bunker suits, helmets etc. Stewart also said that he believed there was no time frame within which the money must be spent. However, a letter did need to be sent to the province explaining how it would be spent. “We do have to decide how much During the investigation an illegal hydro connection was discovered. The home, which was rented out, was found with extensive damage to the ceiling, walls and floors along with water damage that exceeds $5,000. A 46-year-old from Goderich has been charged with production of a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, theft of electricity and mischief exceeding $5,000. He attended court April 4 in Goderich for a bail hearing. each board gets,” said Stewart. It could be done the easy way, with a 50-50 split, or broken down by population or by weighted assessment, he added. In answer to a council question Stewart said he felt that the coverage was probably close geographically. Council asked for more information, including maps, for the next meeting. In conclusion Stewart stressed that if councillors are questioned on the fund they make it clear that how it is spent is not up to the municipality but to the fire boards. “There seems to be some frustration because every municipality didn’t receive this. But it goes to them through the fire board. This is for community.” Catholic church to be torn down The doors of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church have been closed since the beginning of the year. Now the building itself will soon be a part of history. Since the closure, there has been some interest shown by buyers for Loose dog raises concern By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor In response to a call regarding a loose dog on March 30 the Municipality of Huron East and Brussels Public School felt the best recourse was to err on the side of caution. According to Huron East clerk­ administrator, Jack McLachlan, the dog’s owner called the municipal office in the early afternoon to report the animal missing. “He was wondering if the dog had been found. We receive a lot of calls like this.” When it was mentioned that the dog might be a pitbull, McLachlan said “we got a little concerned and thought it was in the interest of public safety to call the school,” as the owner lives in the vicinity. The school’s principal Heather Beattie, who was out of town that day at a meeting, said she received a call that afternoon. “They kept the kids in at recess which was the right move.” At dismissal, it was decided that a teacher would escort the country students to the bus, and that the parents would be contacted in town to pick up their children. “Certainly it is not that I wanted anyone to get hysterical over this, but I want my kids to be protected. We didn’t want to take the chance.” The police were contacted as well and two officers responded to try and locate the animal. While Huron East’s animal control officer Vince Smith' spent hours searching for the dog the following day, as of late Thursday it had not been located. By late Monday afternoon the municipal office had not received any further information regarding the dog’s whereabouts. The only legislation in place for pitbull in the municipality at this time is a highly-increased licence fee. And while the provincial legislation will ban the dogs from the community it is a grandfather system. “If this is a pitbull and it’s here, it will stay,” said McLachlan. “The trouble is with all the publicity on these dogs these days people may react differently if they come upon one, which may result in the dog reacting differently than normal too. It was our decision to err on the side of protecting the children.” the church. However, an inspection has determined that necessary repairs would be too costly. A group of former church members met Monday night to discuss the issue, which includes an offer to purchase the lot.