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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-03-01, Page 5News THE HURON EXPOSITOR. March 1, 2000-5 Community group plans next steps, hopes judge decides in their favour By Scott Hilgondorff Expositor Editor Witt a vote to. close Scaforth District- High School last week- and hopes that a judge will tell thc Avon Maitland District School Board it has to give a local school study group more time. community leaders arc preparing for their next step in the tight to save local schools. • • • "We're not ready to quit." said Lisa Campbell. acting - chair of the study group. Thc court is being asked- to rule on whether or not the group was given a fair - opportunity 'to come up with alternatives 'to closing. Seaforth District High. School and will announce a decision on March 7 after 'hearing the case on Monday, - March 6. • Members of the group and other local citizens recently - launched a civil law suit against the board in hopes of. gaining more time -to come 'up with an alternative. If they are awarded more time. Campbell outlined a' number of ways Tth4t time will be spent. "Obviously, 'we'll look at lobbying the government for' 'rural funding," she said of something the, study group has stayed away from -as it struggled with a tight time frame to conic up with alternative 'proposals for the hoard .which was expected -to make a school closure decision last night: a decision that cannot . he implemented until a judge decides next month whether or not the board was fair. With extra time, Campbell said, "We will look at absolutely everything possible on a much larger scale. For example, she said they will dime up with more accurate cost figures for sonic of the proposals they have already made to the board. including one to have Grades 7 and 8 moved to the high school. The group has complained the board is not giving them the. information or cooperation it needs to help. develop more detailed reports but Campbell hopes extra -time will allow them to get better. information and produce better plans. ' "We• will do a fully comprehensive:study of - Quoted 'This isn't over until the people of Seaforth say It's over,' -- Maureen Agar, planning a community meeting for March 8. recognize' that may still need to close, they want a chance to examine the whole picture and find ways to do it with the least it» pact on communities. She said they also want to consult more closely with the Seaforth community to find out what direction it thinks the study group needs to take. The group originally held an emergency community meeting to get an initial 'reaction about what it should - do Io lead the fight toward keeping the schools open but Camphcll said they nced'to do a more comprehensive survey of the community. :They also hope to rebuild or\ uggestions Director of Education Lorne Rachlis already rejected in his report - made public onMonday. - Onc of those is'thc plan to c . cry school." said Campbell of plans to reach past Scaforth and into other parts of the hoard to took at overall efficiencies' and cost savings. While she said they some schools • close Walton Public School, sending those students to Scaforth Public School while sending the Grades 7 and 8 students to Scaforth District High School. This was the secondary choice the public made at the emergency meeting the group held last fall to try and decide what course of action to take. ••- The first choice was to keep all schools open. "We'll definitely rebuild on those ideas. Given the time; we'll cost them out more comprehensively." she said, adding they still believe the Grade 7s and 8s solution is the most productive compromise to closing the highschool. "I don't see us changing our focus," she said. . Maureen Agar, another parent leader in the struggle. to save the high school, said they are planning a public meeting on March 8 for people from Scaforth and the surrounding townships. The meeting will be held to help address questions the public has about what next week's court decision may mean. to the area and to address other questions and concerns people have now that the hoard has voted in favour of closing the schools. More dogs found in Parkhill OSPCA says fines and jail time for being cruel to animals is not high or long enough From Pogo 1 biscuits offered by the couple.. But she was told Hensall, by the.landlord, agents: The animals were they can not help because The landlord had evicted the couple for non- payment of rent. Palmer said in a gees release last week the doge were living in deplorable this newspaper telephoned conditions. trapped in a - Palmer on Monday. She garage without food or ::hopes the autopsy, which adequate water: will analyze thc amount of "Garbage, bones, wood body fat on the animal. and: mattresses were will reveal why .10 dogs everywhere." she said. ' died in a six-week period. Local velcrinnrian Dr.•"We want, to know why John Earle said a those dogs died," she said. colleague was at the site _"The tenantshad only euthanized and one body the individuals had ,not was sent to the University registered- their ,vehicle of .Guelph for an autopsy. licence plate or driver's Results df the autopsy licence for fivc.years: " �Jeie. hot'received when "That's why we issued the public appeal, she. said, Thcappeal was sent to media in Huron. Perth and Middlesex counties. :The appeal received Tots of news coverage and led to a complaint being filed late last week and the discovery.gf the additional --dogs near Parkhill.: lived at this_address for six Palmer said the' couple weeks. We're especially has had animals" -removed concerned because they from . their care twice took six dogs with them- before in Elgin County,. three 'adults and three .referring to thc St. Thomas puppies." and Yarmouth Township Palmer called the Ontario reports. She also 'said the for adoption. They Provincial Police to report couple had lived at a home wouldn't even eat dog the incident and ask for • at RR_' Zurich. north of St. their help in tracking the Joseph. prior to these An .,.one canparticpate pini fair Y but geared to under 3o crowd and • found: the scene "disgusting."The 13 surviving Shepherd -cross dogs were unsocialized and extremely afraid of people' and considered unsuitable From Peg. 1 fair,' but anyone interested in participating can still 4 do so by contacting H.E.L.P. at 482-1700. In' some cases. employers will be looking to fill recruiting . needs, Alexander ,explained adding that others are there • to promote their'companies to young people. "The fair will represent all sectors from financial. manufacturing and technical concerns to service industries. she said. "Young people will be able to meet top employers from the Huron - Perth. London arca." The Rural Youth Jobs Strategy funding for the project, means that all high school sEnior students in the Huron -Perth system will' he bussed to the job fair. The job fair, titled Target Youth 2000, .will open at 10 a.rn. at the Scaforth Agricomplex and run through to 6 p.m. MARCH BREAK 2000 Holiday Happenings .Presented bythe Seaforth Recreation Department Five xciting Days of Activity For Your Children to Enjoy During the March Break FOR: CHILDREN AGES S TO 12 YEARS LOCATION: MEET AT ARENA EACH MORNING DATES MON. MARCH 13 TO FRI. MARCH 17, 2000 TIMES: 9:00 A.M. TO4:00 PM. (supervised lunch avaitabe) COST: 512.00/DAY OR S50.00 FOR THE FULL WEEK SCHEDULE OF WEEK Mon. March 13 - A.M. Welcome - Sports and Games • PM.. Skating Tues. March 14 - A.M. - Crafts with Susan Halfpenny PM. - Free Play Wed. March 15 - A.M. - Sports and Games P.M. • 5 Pin Bowling at Starlight Lanes Thurs. March 16 - A.M. Swimming at Vanastra Rec Centre P.M. - Movie Afternoon Pri. March 17 - A.M.- St. Pat's Day Craft & Cooking P.M. -Skating Call the Recreation Office 527-0882 ti. incidents. She is trying to contact the landlord,of this property. Palmer • said if wilful intent to' cause an animal unnecessary pain or harm is proven under. -the Criminal Code of. Canada, a"$2,000 fine can be laid and/or six months in jail. They . could also lose custody .ofan animal for two years. "Until the law is changed. it's not enough." said Palmer. "It should be a lifetime ban and a stricter jail term." • OSPCA investigators have the same powers as .police "officers when enforcing animal cruelty laws. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the OSPCA Perth County branch at 519-73- 6600 or Crime Stoppers at 1 -800 -222 -TIPS. Thc OSPCA. is a registered charity with thc mandate - to protect animals. Formed in 1873, _the .OSPCA has grown to 24- bran>,hes and 35 member hurlTane societies. - 0 11 0 "We'll have ideas for them and they can bring their own ideas." said Agar of the grc up's efforts .to plan its next course of action. "This isn't over until the people of Seaforth say it's over," she said. HURON MASSAGE THERAPY CLINIC Janine Lavoie, B.Sc; RMT For apps "itturs or Sat 1 .ill 527-0780 Total Image II qui TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS INTERNATIONAL' TPI > TRAVEL SEAFORTH DAVE & MICHELLE DEIGHTON ASsauta TELIFH(NE 0141521-1062 fACNIMILE 010517-177S E UMI .1.1r�dumfA,Jfsx1 m u ONTARIO Ri'.,1,T RAT:ON 104t7!r+•, Thank You! I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patronage over the past 14 years; It has been •a -great plea- sure and a wonderful experience serv- ing Seaforth and area. Thank you all very much! Announcement As of April 1, 2000 the new, owner of Flower Magic will be Brenda Forbes. Brenda will offer a full service florist shop and: be able to look after all of Flower Magic's loyal customers. Once again I thank you all and 1 know you will be as kind to Brenda as you were to me. TOWN OF SEAFORTH NOTICE DOG TAGS/ RABIES VACCINATIONS 2000 Dog Tags are now on sale. Dog owners have until March 15, 2000 to renew their dog's registration. After March 15th, 2000 a late registration fee of 515.00 will be charged in addition to the regular registration fee. You may register your dog at the Seaforth Municipal Office, 72 Main Street South, Seaforth, during normal office hours. Owners of dogs shall pay the following registration fees: , • For one neutered male or spayed female dog: $20.00 • For the second neutered male or spayed female dog: 525.00 • For one male dog or female dog:. $30.00 • For the second male dog or female dog: $40.00 • Forthe third 'male dog, female dog, neutered male' dog, or spayed female dog: • 575.00 • For the fourth male dog, female dog, neutered male dog, or spayed female dog: $100.00 Please note that we require proof of. rabies vaccination in the past 36 months. prior to a dog tag being issued. Also, if you have a new dog, a veterinari- an's certificate must be provided as proof of the dog being spayed or neutered before a dog can be registered. as such. Seaforth and area has bad a number of .positive rabies incidents in the past, so to ensure the safety of your animal, other animals, and children, please have' your dog or cat vaccinated regularly. •7 . BRAND NAME LADIES' up to 1/2 PRICE COMFORT AND DRESS BRANDS . • Naturalizer • Aerosoles • Westies ' Selected Styles and Limited - 'Z\ •Dexter • Trotters and more REG. TO $130 KW $ 95TO $ 9 1 fcrtll's''� 60 Main St., Seaforth SLOE, t16 527-1506 O 4 r.litorgb 4 ka