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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1997-10-15, Page 1Bis Huron BusitnNs Centre celebrates Small Business Weak. See page 13 & 14 Sports High school tennis team comes up big. See page 15 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 — Seaforth. Ontario October 15, 1997 -- $1.00 includes GST Briefly New gavel The strange case of the mayor's missing gavel took a twist for the better just before things got underway at last Tuesday night's regu- lar meeting of Seaforth Council. The rock Mayor. Johnston had to use to get council going last month was aban- doned. At first they thought it was a jokc. The old wooden gavel. with the thing you bang it on. just wasn't where it always was when the mayor went to use it at a council meeting a couple of months ago. Everybody has since looked high and low. in the desks and under, but no go... and no gavel! No terrorist group has made contact or yet claimed responsibility. (I don't have it.) So Seaforth Works Superintendent John Forrest has taken the bull by the horns and on his own initiative fashioned a new one, with a little plaque and everything. It's nice. Looks all official. The rock went back to being a • paperweight Tuesday night. No negligence When it met Tuesday night. Seaforth Council "referred to the town's lia- bility insurer" claims from a storm late last February. According to the agenda. this was recommended in a "letter from Crawford-THG. International Loss Adjusters stating that following their investigation they find no evidence of negligence on the part of the OCWA (Ontario Clean Water Agency) or its employees regarding -sewage/storm water back-up in the Town of Seaforth following the storm on Feb. 21. 1997." Foodbank remains At last Tuesday night's meeting, Seaforth Council extended its rental agree- ment with the Seaforth and District Foodbank at Town Hall until Dec. 31, 1998. Promotes ;well»being The Chair of the Huron - Perth District Health Council, Deb Campbell. and health planner Kelly Gillis presented the 'OHC's health promotion plan to council last '(itesday night. it promotes "well•being." Council endorsed it. Giant Kippen pumpkin a winner BY CALE COWAN SSP NcwsStaff He wasn't first. but it's obvious Grant McGregor of Kippen is still pretty happy ,.with his pumpkin. . "Everybody likes to be No. I. but it's not bad at all being second." said McGregor. referring to his recent sec- ond -place ranking at the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest. His enormous vegetable weighed in at 785 -and -a -half pounds. just over 16- pounds off the winning mark set by Wendy Veens of Arkona, who grew hers to 802 pounds. Sure there was some finan- cial reward in it for Veens, but as McGregor said before he headed up the coast, he wasn't in it for the money. Speaking from his Kippen- area patch — graciously pro- vided by Wayne and Pat McBride — just before load- ing his pumpkin Oct. 3. McGregor talked proudly of his pumpkin. "I'm happy.,7;hey don't come along tike that too often," he said of his pale orange monster. "Usually they split." It's just the third year grow- ing the big boys for McGregor, but he's learned quickly. He's picked up some of the tricks of the trade, but going in. he knew the compe- • tition from Arkona would be stiff. "They grow some big pumpkins down there. But i think mine is just as good." he said. Looking back. his words couldn't have been more prophetic. McGregor was leading the competition when weighing began Oct. 11. but the Veens pumpkin came in late for the dramatic finish. The pumpkin began its life in the McGregor's Hensall home. the product of a -cross between two hefty parents — a 946 -pounder and whopping 1,006 -pounder. He picked up the seed for the 946 -pound mother after joining the Greater Pumpkin Confederation. PHOTO nv CALE COWAN 81G PUMPKIN - Grant McGregor -of Kippen is pictured here .with his 7e5 -and -a -half pound pumpkin which captured second place at Port Elgin's regent Pumpkinfest. That's where genetics came into play as McGregor han- dled the cross-pollination himself. "It seems to be a pretty good cross because it didn't split," he reasoned. ".But there's no guarantee of any- thing." Even though his pumpkin .grew nicely, it may have turned out to be nothing more than a nice jack -o -lantern. But once that growth spurt hits during the humid days of August — if you can avoid the dreaded split — you know if you've got a con- tender. 'But whale McGregor scien- tifically applies all the right manure and nutrients and protects his pumpkin from the elements, he admits there is one other.thing that's need- ed in generous amounts. "You need a lot of luck," he confessed. Beyond that, he said start- ing with good seeds (he obvi- ously had that) and preparing your ground (he was :hoeing every day) will up your chances and dimitat.sh the luck factor. Soil testing and: rich fertiliz- er are key .elet4tents it the mixture as well, Combined Race on for mayor of Seaforth BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff There is a race for mayor in Seaforth, but all othgr candi- dates for the town's next council have been acclaimed before the municipal elec- tions across Ontario in early November. Nominations closed Friday at 5 -p.m.. ,Candidates who might wish to withdraw hod until 5 p.m. Tuesday to do so. after this paperwent to press. Incumbent Irwin Johnston is seeking a second term as Seaforth's, mayor. A new.. comer .to .municipal politics, ;David Scott, .a playwright and the ,editor.of The .Nunn ;Expositor, is also running for • mayor. ,Cprrent Reeve,Bill .Bennett did -pot put ;his name in the ring after almost' a quarter- Qenlury.atr town council. Coon. Brian Ferguson has been avclaimed as Seaforth's new reeve, as has incumbent deputy -reeve William Teal'. The next council will be made pp of;three incumbents - 'Coons. John Ball, Michael Nak and :kleather Robinet and newcomer' Steif ler,, who nevertheless is well;kuown in political circles locally and is currently a member of Seaforth's Police Services Board. . Incumbents. Joe Steftler and Jim $itis have been .acclaimed .to the Seaforth Public EUtili1y Cellltnissien• There • .two c ' idates - Bob Alden and Abby Armstrong - for the one pub- lic ,board of education ;trustee position that will ,represent Seaforth, .Clinton, Buyf~tgld, ;Blyth,, Tuckersrgith, ,i1pllgt, MKillop and Staeley. Vince McInnes .0.as beet) acclaimed as the ,trustee for the Huron -Perth ,Cou,nty. Roman Catholic Separate School $oard representing Seaforth, McKillop, Perth lEast, North Perth, tcjcy, ,$russets and Howigk. t :nNTTAIt iFtl ren n;per 14 First tigge in Ontario Seaforth picked- for pilot project for business expansion Seaforth has been picked 'as a pilot project for a busi- ness expansion and reten- tion program in which OMAFRA will provide its services free. Jane Muegge of the Clinton office of the provin- cial agriculture ministry said "this was the first time this has taken place in Ontario," according to minutes of the Seaforth community action committee's Oct. 2 meeting. Brock.Vodden from.Biyth, who "has experience with general management con- sulting and productivity improvement for compa- nies, among other things" attended. Muegge explained "OMAFRA staff have been studying small cotntnat hies in the tJ.S. as a model" and "is offering a training course for two committee members in Guelph, Nov. 4 to 6. "OMAFRA is willing to provide Seaforth with their tinie, money. training staff assistance and help in 'creat- ing the evaluation tools." According to minutes of the meeting, "Joe Steffler asked what the project would cost, noting the infor- mation indicates it could cost $15,000" before "Muegge explained that OMAFRA will provide their service free" and, Seaforth administrator Jim Crocker said that "the town has a budget for economic devel- opment now, and they would have to continue to have one in the future. The committee last met before the Huron County Road Superintendents' Trade Show in June, and produced some bro44rres And an information booth that "received lots of posi- tive comments." At this more recent meet- ing it established a loose organization for this busi- ness retention And expan- sion committee, as follows: ,Chair of the leadership team, J.oe Steffler; ,media co-ordinator/,teittp, Gwen Devereaux, Liz Cardpo, 11¢;i�ke Hak; business Xesio4(rces co-ordinator/ team, Luke Janmaat, Marlen Vincent, Ken Campbell; a,nd milestone meeting co-or- nator/team, Cathy Garrick,, J i ni Crocker and ,lobo blµq,t. Council approv0 e memorandum of 0:40,- standing qstanding at 1pgt �,u night's meeting. SIMPLY THE BEST...CARLSON WAGONLIT ELLISON TRAVEL JUNE BALL LAURIE RUSSELL KRISTYN DARLING BONNIE SITTER SARAH DARLING JULIE CAMPBELL i it • r =• it- =t