Loading...
The Citizen, 2005-10-06, Page 1Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 21 No. 39 Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005 $1 (93c + 7c GST) NH I NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC Inside this week p z Author tells teens *8* “ they are target Pa 11 Salute t0 locai r8‘ * * firefighters begins D ! z Belgrave hosts Wl r8' 10 fall rally p iQ McGavins a *8* I' plowing dynasty p v Elimination draw rg. ZO winner collects Storm knocks out power A storm early Sept. 29 caused power outages across most of western Ontario, a representative from Hydro One said. A press release from-the company stated that about 70J300 people were without power duringuhe height of the storm. Locally, power was reported to be out in part of the Wingham area. Two trees were reported having fallen during the storm, one of which hit a power line south of Stone School Road. Public works departments in Auburn, Seaforth and Brussels reported mainly brush and small branches were needed to be cleared up after the storm. Crew workers were reported to have been out working since 2 a.m. Thursday morning to fix power lines. Hardest hit areas were Bracebridge, Huntsville, Kingston and Bancroft according to Hydro One. Office open Monday This weekend is a special time of family and gratitude as we celebrate Thanksgiving. However, while it’s a long weekend for most, the usual business hours at the Blyth Citizen will remain unchanged with the office open on Monday, Oct. 10. Deadline for advertising and editorial submission, however, will be moved up to noon. The Brussels office will be closed lor the long weekend, but information can be slipped under the door for pickup at noon on Monday. Crunch There was yet another collision at the intersection of London and Blyth Roads, south of Blyth, on Friday afternoon. The driver of the van, a Guelph man, said he was travelling west and didn’t see the the northbound truck when he proceeded into the intersection. At least seven accidents have occurred at the corner in the past 10 years, one in 2004 resulting in a fatality. The road underwent a major reconstruction in the early half of the1990s. (Bonnie Gropp photo) AMDSB hosts first community forum By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen To the sounds of Zurich Public School principal Betty Beer performing a song she wrote for the occasion, and a keynote speaker who inspired hearty applause, the Avon Maitland District School Board hosted the first of three scheduled community forums on Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Mitchell Community Centre. Under the theme Cultivating Character, about 250 people from across Huron and Perth Counties gathered to consider how to promote desirable character traits among students. “When you have effective character education, teachers spend less time on discipline and more time on teaching,” stressed keynote speaker Dr. Avis Glaze, the chief assessment officer for the provincial Ministry of Education’s Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat Glaze has already assisted two other Ontario school boards in a move towards injecting character Cat bylaw still on table for N. Huron By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Despite concerns that expenditures could surpass revenues. North Huron council is not ready yet to give up on a cat bylaw for the township. At Monday night’s meeting deputy-clerk Kathy Adams said she had contacted both the Blyth and Wingham vet offices and they were willing to serve as a kennel for stray cats. However, while Blyth’s vet said she thought it was good due to the health and safety factor, she education into the existing curriculum. She remained in Perth County on Friday to address this and other topics with all Avon Maitland teaching staff during the board's first professional development day of this school calendar. On more than one occasion during Glaze's presentation, “character” was described as “what a person does when no one is watching.” She showed a video about a major American corporation, in which one executive claimed an effort to promote strong character among employees was followed by a decrease in workers’ compensation payouts from $24,000 per month to between $2-4,000 per month. “If you look at the Enrons, the Worldcoms . . . this is a crisis in character. It’s not about skills,” Glaze said. She added the people conducting job interviews are often just as concerned about the prospective employee’s character as their skills, so boosting students’ characters will correspondingly boost their chances at securing work. Jerry Selk, vice principal at F.E. cautioned that it could be costly. “If there is rabies in the area cats are a concern,” said Adams. However, the cost of three days boarding and disposal of an unclaimed cat would cost $75. The Wingham clinic would charge $60 for the three days and disposal. Currently, said Adams they have been taking in strays at their own expense. “Obviously, they’d be happy to see the bylaw because we would then pick up the costs.” Councillor Archie MacGowan wondered if the costs couldn't be recouped through licencing. Adams Madill Secondary School in Wingham, is co-chair of the board’s cultivating character committee. In an interview, he stressed the goal is not to create additional material to be taught in the curriculum. Instead, it’s hoped the process — including the three community forums, the committee work which will follow, and ultimately the teacher training which will likely be rolled out in September of 2006 — will make it possible for Avon Maitland staff to take advantage of what Selk calls “teachable moments” to promote character. “We aren’t going to tell people how to teach or how to run their class, but we are going to tell them certain elements which should appear in every class,” the committee co-chair explained. Those in attendance at the community forum are all considered community leaders in some way, and were either invited directly by the board or invited on the advice of the leaders of each school in the board. But a brief survey of a few attendees showed word of mouth also played a said that would be unlikely because of the enforcement costs paid to the animal control officer. Councillor Arnold Taylor wondered, however, if the costs wouldn’t eventually drop. “We seem to be thinking there is going to be a great overload of cats. I suppose at one time we had an overload of dogs, but once you put licensing in place you begin to see a decrease.” “Initially we are going to have an expense but I think over time the strays will decrease.” Taylor also noted that many of the cats running around town aren’t strays. “Of the 10 or 15 in my yard I role, and Selk agreed several people just showed up for the evening without invitations. He was noticeably pleased with the turnout, adding he had already been in discussion with people from a wide range of backgrounds. There were lots of teachers, trustees and administrative staff, but also students and custodians. Those from outside the board included clergy, businesspeople and members of the media. In an interview, top board administrator Geoff Williams said money for the character education process was set aside in last June's budgeting process, and he called it money well-spent. “We think it’s really important,” he said. And Selk agreed. “It’s the right thing to do. I have children. I have a grandchild. I think it’s important,” the F.E. Madill vice principal explained. Ideally, the same guests will return to look deeper into the question at the two upcoming forums in the same location, Oct. 20 and Nov. 24. But the committee also welcomes others who’d like to participate. could tell you where they belong.” “Personally I think cats are a nuisance.” Councillor James Campbell also noted the health and safety issue. “If you ever had an outbreak of rabies cats are worse than dogs because they roam.” Council asked Adams if the animal control officer could come to discuss the issue at a meeting. “I think we need to get the cats that belong at home, at home,” said Taylor. “It is something we should discuss further. Everyone knows it’s a problem,” said MacGowan.