The Citizen, 2005-09-29, Page 1Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 21 No. 38 Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005 $1 (93c + 7c GST)
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NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC.
Inside this week-
8 Man gets heart
healthy
Keeping kids safe
from internet
Brussels fair
results begin
p 19 More Belgrave fair
results
D Erika Ritter comes
*5- & to Blyth
Fill 'er up
There were long lines at Radford’s Gas Bar on Queen
Street in Blyth Thursday, Sept. 22 as rumours ran rampant
that gas prices would soon sky rocket due to Hurricane
Katrina. Cars lined up back to the arena. Gas at the time of
the photo had just been raised from 99.9 cents per litre to
105.9 cents per litre. (Heather Crawford photo)
Plant
report
positive
By Heather Crawford
Citizen staff
Brussels took “a step forward” in
its attempts to build a beef packing
plant, Huron East mayor Joe Seili
said.
Seili met with a consultant
Wednesday, Sept. 21 from GifTel
Associates who reviewed a
preliminary study for the plant.
The purpose of the study was to
give an idea as to the amount of
support from local farmers for the
meat packing plant.
Seili suggested the consultant’s
report was positive.
“The majority of the feedback has
been positive,” Seili said, adding
there have been some negative
comments. However, “it’s looking
favourable,” Seili said.
The meeting marked progress in
the building process of the plant.
“It has to be farmer-owned in order
to get support from the government,”
Seili said. He went on to say there
has been some interest in investing
from some farmers already.
Seili said construction is expected
to b»egin within a month and council
will be looking for investors in
November.
Monday, Seili said he would
present the report to council at the
Tuesday. Sept. 27 council meeting..
The proposed location of the meat
packing plant will be in the AG3-3
zone on the same property as the
Brussels Livestock yards, Brussels
Agri-Services, and The Cowboy
Loft.
Talk about building a meat packing
plant in Brussels began when federal
agricultural minister Andy Mitchell
said he would like to see Canada
increase its kill capacity by 25,000
animals per week.
It has been reported that Brussels
was selected as an ideal location with
Brussels Livestock located just east
of the village.
It has been estimated between
1.000 and 3.500 animals per week
would be killed at the meat packing
plant in Brussels.
Local Catholic churches may close
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
A reorganization of the Huron-
Perth Deanery of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of London is
recommending the closure of several
rural churches, including St.
Ambrose in Brussels and St.
Augustine.
Parishioners were told of the
recommendations during masses this
past weekend.
Bishop Fabbro directed each
Deaner of the Diocese of London to
prepare for his consideration
recommendations for parish
reorganization. These were
presented to the deanery pastoral
teams Sept. 16.
Father Peter Keller, Episcopal
Vicar for Huron-Perth Deanery,
explained that this is the first time
the Diocese has looked
comprehensively at where parishes
are going. “We have never looked at
the financial needs, the number of
priests required to serve these
Fair weather for annual fall event
By Heather Crawford
Citizen staff
One bright spot to the end of
summer, the 144th Brussels Fall Fair
was held Tuesday, Sept. 20 and
Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Brussels
arena under sunny skies.
The weather held up for both days
with a clear, warm night on Tuesday
for those spinning around on the
rides and gorgeous blue skies
Wednesday afternoon, perfect for a
parade.
A midway was set up with a giant
slide, spinning rides and a tent for
the kids to jump around in.
Brussels Public School principal
Heather Beattie said the organizers
did a fantastic job this year. “I think
it is very unique to our area,” she
said.
Beattie said the food was
preordered this year which helped to
“save a lot of time.”
Cotton candy, candied apples, hot
dogs, hamburgers and the usual fair
fare were enjoyed by many. “The
teachers said the beef on a bun was
parishes,” said Father Keller.
While in the past a parish could be
established wherever people wanted
it, the policy released this spring
states that any parish in a rural area
with a membership under 200 or in
an urban area with a membership
under 400 is not going to be viable in
the long term.
Also considered is the proximity
of a parish to others, the number of
priests available to celebrate mass
and the financial viability with
regard to the establishment,
alteration or closure of parishes.
Based on the criteria, said Father
Keller, a recommendation came
forward that would see St. Augustine
close by June 30. 2006. St. Joseph’s
in Kingsbridge would close by June
30, 2008 leaving St. Peter’s Parish in
Goderich with one priest to serve
what was the North-West Group.
Closure for St. Ambrose, St.
Mary’s in Lucknow and St. Mary of
Perpetual Help, Hesson, in the
North-East Group are recommended
for closure by June 30, 2008. This
delicious,” Beattie said.
Inside the arena, exhibits were set
up displaying quilts, crafts, baked
goods, art, photos and more.
Mary Douma, secretary, said the
art and photo exhibits have realty
“taken off.” Local area photos were
on display along with students’ art
which drew in big crowds.There
were less flower exhibit entries this
year however, Douma said.
The Merrymakers kept the party
going on Wednesday afternoon with
accordion, drums and piano
accompaniment.
There was face painting, balloon
animals and games for kids inside
the arena as well as the continuation
of the Mayor’s Challenge.
This year, participants were judged
on their chili, bean blowing, tossing
abilities and costumes.
The Brussels Legion members,
dressed as Jack, Jill, a cow and the
Beanstalk, took home the honour of
best costume while the Municipality
of Huron East won the mayor’s
challenge.
“It’s a participatory fair rather than
leaves one priest to serve Sacred
Heart, Wingham and St. Joseph
Listowel.
Other recommendations have been
made for the Central, South-West
and South-East Groups.
The projected dates could change,
according to Father Keller as the
Bishop hopes to attend every single
closing. “All of the dates will
eventually be more solid as
decisions are made. “Some parishes
have already said to close them now,
if it’s going to happen, and not
wait.”
“I don’t think anyone wants to see
a parish close. I think in the past
regarding re-organization it was
always the expectation that a parish
would come forward and say their
time had come.”
However, with the exception of St.
Michael’s in Blyth, and a handful of
others, that has not been the case.
There are approximately 17,850
Catholics served by 22 parish
churches in the Huron-Perth
Deanery. The recommendations
a show fair and it has a tremendous
amount of support from the
community,” agricultural society
vice president David Blaney said.
“We were worried that with the
plowing match (in Listowel)
occurring at the same time, that
might cause some problems,”
Blaney said. “But I think it went very
well.”
Blaney said there were more
things for the kids to do this year.
“This year the organizers met with
myself and (Rob) Snell, the principal
of Grey Central and they wanted our
input,” Beattie said.
“This was the 144th year and we
really want to keep this thing going,”
she added.
Wednesday afternoon, the streets
of Brussels were filled with floats
mixed in with the parade of school
children who headed from the ball
park to the arena while parents and
friends looked on from the
sidewalks.
Blaney said the organizers would
have liked to have seen a lot more
antique tractors in the parade but
would bring the total number to 12.
Father Keller stresses that the
recommendations are simply that.
“The Bishop makes the first and
final decision.”
A period of reflection and
consultation within parishes will
begin in early October. Then the
implementation team will gather
input from parish leadership within
the Groups. Dates of meeting are to
be announced Oct. 1.
Once the meetings are complete,
the information will be reviewed and
final recommendations will be
presented to the council of priests by
the end of December. The Bishop
will then consult with the council
and is expected to announce his final
decisions by May, 2006.
“The Bishop and part of the
procedures demand that parishes
have the chance to be heard,” said
Father Keller. “There will be quite a
bit of feedback.”
“It is de-moralizing for people to
have their church close, but the goal
is to build stronger parishes.”
“there was an awful lot of that at the
plowing match,” he said.
There were 28 parade entries all
together. McNeils auto body had a
float covered with flowers, leaves
and musical instruments. They took
home the 1st place prize for best
comic float.
Heather Hill was given the prize
for best decorated bike while Halie
Wick was named best clown. Eliza
Dodds won the first-place prize for
best old-fashioned costume.
Beef was shown by the 4-H club to
a crowd in an area tucked away
behind the arena. The grand
champion showman, reserved
champion showman, and junior
showmanship awards went to Travis
McPherson. Andy Toll was named
the reserved champion showman.
Dan Shapton won for the grand
champion calf and Travis
McPherson won the reserved
champion calf. Novice showmanship
went to Patty Blake.
Sheep were also shown. Dallas
Coultes took home the little folks
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