HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-04-19, Page 1April 19, 2000
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(includes G5T)
Local weather
Wednesday - Cloudy
with sunny periods.
Low near 3, High 14.
Thursday - Mainly
cloudy with showers
and windy. Low 4,
High 11.
Friday - Probability of
precipitation 70 %.
Low 4, High 11.
From Environment Canada
In brief
Two youths
charged after
two others
are shot with
BB -air rifle
Two 15 -year-old males
from Tuckersmith
Township and Seaforth
have been charged after
local high school officials
contacted police March 28
over a report of two other
15 -year-old youths being
shot.
The victims told police
that on March 16 at
approximately 5:30 p.m„
they were invited to a
home - on George Street in
Seaforth when a youth at
the home produced a BB -
air rifle.
Their exit was blocked
and both victims were shot
when they attempted to
leave.
The- youths were then
repeatedly shot for the next
several minutes.
The two offenders have
been charged with
unlawful confinement and
discharge air gun.
Churches hold
second` Walk
of Witness
Good Friday
Local churches
taking part in a Walk of
Witness Good Friday.
Starting aE:1:30 p.m. at
Egmondville United
Church, the walk will
incorporate six local
churches, with a brief
"service at each.
"It's a witness to -the
community of the
crucifixion of Jesus
Christ," said Rev. Bill
Hauser of Seaforth
Community Church.
Organized • by the
Seaforth Ministerial
Association, this marks the
second year for the walk in
which a large, symbolic
cross is carried in turn by
the congregations.
While the walk begins at
Egmondville United
Church this • year,
participants will actually
drive to the second stop at
St. James Roman Catholic
Church.
From there,.the cross is
carried to Seaforth
Community. Church,
Northside United Church.
First Presbyterian Church
and St. Thomas Anglican
Church where the service
will conclude at about .3
p.m.
Everyotte is welcome.
Inside...
A.Y. Mctean
collection given
to museum..
Page 3
Sine of Huron
photo spread..
Pope 6
Seniors Games
begin d bowing
alley....
PogoS -
4
r •••
Digesting farm facts
Skye Pfaff of McKerdie Public School stands next to the digestive organs of a cow as students
learned a cow can be made to swallow a magnet to help it remove nails and metal debris it
may accidentally eat while grazing at the -Slice of Huron held last week at the Seaforth
Agriplex.
Scott Hilgendorff photo
Seaforth one of few rural
hospitals to hire recruiter
By Scott Hilgendorff
Expositor Editor •
Doctor and nurse
recruitment is going to be
one of the most important
issues to - face Seaforth
Community Hospital.
"I believe this to be the
number_one issue were
going to face in the next 10
years." said Andrew
Williams. administrator for
the hospital: He was at
council's April 11 meeting to
give an update on the
hospital and the Hgron Perth
Hospital Partnership. as the
eight hospital link -up
approaches ..its second
. anniversary. • •
Williams said the Seaforth
Community Hospital board
has taken a leadership role in
this issue by hiring Gwen
Devereaux as a recruiter for
the hospital last year. .
"1 don't know of very
many hospitals in rural
Ontario who have hired
someone to look at
recruitment," he said. adding
he thinks the partnership
• i
needs someone to look at all
eight hospitals. ,
In addition, he said the
board. which still operates on
its own under the partnership,
has given its
approval to an
incentive plan for
attracting doctors.
"You can bet
your bottom dollar
it is very
competitive;" he
said.
However., he
also said •the
Seaforth Medical
Clinic. linked with the
hospital, can help with
• attracting and keeping
doctors.
Consultants have been
hired to • conduct an
operational review of the
clinic which was supported
by the physicians who work
there and will help them
redefine how the clinic
operates.
Williams said clinics are
what most medical program
graduates are looking for'
now instead of going into
private practice.
He said they'd rather come
to an established clinic with.
the support it offers. -
The partnership, created in
response to a
provincial•.
commission's look at
hospital • structures.
has created a system
that allowseach of
the eight hospitals to
maintain local
independence while
improving efficiency
and saving money.
"All eight hospitals
are working more closely
now than they ever have," he -
said. ..
He also said savings so far
are being reinvested in
patient care:
That includes an $800,000
savings by switching from
having meals made at the
hospital to. a bulk retherm
system and a more than
$(million 'savings in
administration.
. Williams said it's too early
• Se* PARTNERSHIP, Page
Textbook shortage
`pathetic,' say two
distric.t trustees
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Staff '
Calling the three -to -one ratio of students to textbooks in
some Avon Maitland District schools "pathetic,"•two trustees
at last week's meeting, spoke in favour of supporting a
motion by the Halton District -School Board asking the
province for more money for textbooks.
"The ministry is driving all the curriculum changes -
they're changing it all the time - and it's galling they're not
providing the things our kids really need. I want them to
pay," said trustee Abby Armstrong.
"You could just about throw up when you hear the big
splashy announcements that there is new money for
. textbooks; added trustee Maggie Laprade, who said the
reality is that there are not enough textbooks to go around.
Laprade said that some schools in her district, such as
Mitchell Public School, have worked out elaborate schedules
to allow three students to share one book.
See LOCAL, Pogo !
Town applies
for grant that
could fund
economic
development
officer
By Scott Hilgendorff
Expositor Editor
The Business Retention and Expansion committee has
received a '$10.000 commitment from the town that could
potentially lead to hiring an economic development officer
for the town.
Gwen Devereaux and Alf Ross of the BR + E committee
were at council April 11 to request the commitment that will
go toward an application the committee is preparing for a
Rural Agri -Ventures grant. • • 4•, .
If the application is successful, the federal program would
match funds contributed by community partners and leave
the committee with 'a budget large enough to hire an
economicdevelopment officer with funds to- allow that •
person to work on bringing' business to the area and
strengthening the community that's here. •
Devereaux said their committee is made up entirely of
volunteers who do not have the ability to complete the work
identified from last year's business community survey.
"We feel we need someone in a position who is leading the
group who is a paid person in economic development for
Huron East," said Devereaux.
Originally. the committee was formed by local citizens to
look at strengthening the Seaforth area when, about three
years ago. there was a possibility the hospital would be
closed.
The group has since completed a survey of the area and
has'held a number of brainstorming sessions to generate
ideas to help meet the needs of the local business
community. However, it has found -itself unable. to make
much progress in areas like youth retention and helping
industry export goods. without a working budget.
And now; with Seaforth about'to amalgamate. with -
neighbouring communities into Huron East, she said their
focus has to include the greater community and not just
Seaforth.
But she said, "There's only so much volunteers can do."
Devereaux used the Town of Hanover as an example of
success in her pitch to council.
She said Hanover is a town of similar size that is active in
economic development but has grown far ahead of similar
sized communities because of that town's belief in economic
development.
She said an economic development officer leads
communities like Hanover to government programs and
funding that help them improve their community and
develop such aids as town web sites and brochures.
The community of Campbellford in Eastern Ontario has
had success with the Agri -Ventures program and now has
$100,000 to work with; $50.000 of that was raised from area
See GRANT, Page 2
What's in that basket?
Fifteen-monthOold Ian Fletcher, of Monkton, is lured over to the Easter Bunny's basket ut the
Seaforth Manors Easter Bunny tea pn Sunday.
Susan Hundertmork photo
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