HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-08-23, Page 1411.....A41141.40 41. .---, - -- _ . .
In brief
August 23, 2000
Si
(includes GST)
Local weather
Wednesday --Showers
and thunderstorms end.
Clearing. High 23.
Thursday --Mix of sun
and cloud. High 25. low 15.
Friday --Sunny. High 25.
low 13.
Saturday --Mix of sun
and cloud. High 28.
Low 15.
From Environment Canada
Silver Creek
cleared
to help stop
flooding
Trees and shrubs
obstructing water flow in
Silver Creek in the
section south of the
industrial park may have
been to blame for
Seaforth's flooding
probleins this summer.
Now that the creek has
been cleared by public
works staff,
superintendent John
Forrest said he hopes the
flooding problem is
cleared up as well.
I tiope that will solve a
lot of the problems vyith
water backing up," he
told town council on Aug.
8.
Basements were •
flooded in several low-
lying areas of Seaforth at
least twice during heavy
rains this summer.
Alec Scott, water and
planning manager with
the Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority,
said during a phone
interview that opening up
Silver Creek was a
solution arrived at after
meetings with the
conservation authodity
and town staff.
"The section behind the
fire hall and towards the
golf course had been left
niitural for quite a few
years. Clearing it out will
certainly help but whether
or not it's a long term
solution will remain to be
seen," said Scott.
"That was themost
obvious thing that could
be done right away. We'll
come up with other
solutions if needed," he
said.
By Susan Hundertmark
Barn burned
at motocross
OPP were still on the
scene of a suspicious fire
Monday night at the Lee
property on the northeast
edge of Walton after a
barn was burned down
Saturday night on the
luny.
The fire occurred in the
middle of the Trans -Can
motocross racing
weekend at around 11:30
p.m. Saturday night.
The Office of the
Firemarshall is currently
investigating the fire with
a damage estimate set at
about $60,000.
The barn was situated
in the middle of the
grounds .in an area
between camping sites
and vendors and the race
track.
Inside...
Fbtit+er show
ahtocts
visitors..
Pap!
Mclun1eering wee
Huron Hospice ...
Pope tl
t s -Con event
hWatn._.
Pope 6
r
Thousands attended the Trans -Can motocross eveittt
hosted and organized by Walton's tee family.
Scott Hilgendorff photo
in Walton Thursday through Saturday,
Murray
pushes
for new
probe
Witnesses may not have seen
Murray's boat, a major issue
in police's investigation
of Mistie's father, Steven
By Matt Shurrie
Goderich Signal -Star Staff
More than five years after
her teenage daughter
vanished, Anne Murray is
preparing to ask the province
for a new investigation.
"What I really want is a
new police team or one
person who is not with the
OPP." said Murray from
Goderich's Snug Harbour
last Wednesday.
"I'm looking for someone
who is completely unbiased
to help get age enhanced
photos but I need the
cooperation of the police and
it can't be found here."'
Murray's daughter. Mistie.
was lb when she was last
seen in May 1995 and
Murray believes an intensive,
search with updated photos
will help find her daughter.
"Once we have age
enhanced photos then it's
time to make one last pitch
attempt at all areas around
the world," said Murray, who
along with London Lawyer
Gordon Cudmore are
prepared to pressure Queen's
Park in launching an
international search.
"If that doesn't reap any
benefits then there will be a
time to close (the search) but
I feel at this time there has
not yet been any
investigation for her."
Following Mistie's
disappearance. police
claimed her father. Steven
Murray, had killed her on his
boat and dumped her body in
Lake Huron.
A jury acquitted Steven
See MURRAY, Page 2
Smith first hat in rhig for trustee spot
judicial tribunal'in May that the Avon Maitland He points to the education director Lorne
board did not treat Seaforth fairly during its school Rachlis's five-year plan, in which several other still
closure process. unnamed Huron County schools are slated for
Smith is running for trustee of Huron Area 2 possible closure.
Central, made up of Seaforth, Clinton. Blyth. . "I don't accept that the board is in bad financial
Bayfield and the Townships of Hullett, McKillop, straits. Nobody's ever convinced me of that and
Stanley and Tuckersi Lith. The area is now they won't if they continue to withhold all the
represented by trustee Abby .Armstrong. who has information from me." says Smith.
not yet indicated if she wilfrun again. He points to the discrepancy in numbers between
And, while voters outside of Seaforth. but still in the board's original estimate of a $124 million
Smith's electoral area. may not be concerned about budget with a $1 million shortfall last fall when
the continuing possibility that SDHS may close. seven Avon Maitland schools were studied for
Smith hopes to convince them he will work against closure and the final $129.5 million budget in the
By Susan Hundertmark
Expositor Staff
After spearheading a successful law suit against
the Avon Maitland District School Board.
Seaforth's Charlie Smith is the first candidate to
throw his hat in the ring for school board trustee in
Huron and Perth Counties for this fall's municipal
election.
The school closure issue. particularly the recent
attempt by the Avon Maitland board to close
Seaforth District High School, got Smith involved
in school board politics.
He and four other Seaforth people convinced a any school closures.
Sign campaign
aimed at reducing
car/tractor crashes
By Scott Hilgendorff
Expositor Editor
Fifty signs warning of
slow moving vehicles are
going up on 'county roads
throughout the area in efforts
to help reduce the number of
accidents involving farm
vehicles and motorists.
Already in Huron County
one woman has died and two
other serious collisions with
injuries have occurred, all
three in a period of little
more than a week in July.
"There's a lot of education
to be done out there," said
Jim Love, a reeve in rural
Hay Township and vice chair
of Huron County's Farm and
Home Safety Association.
He's hoping the signs will
help increase public
awareness among motorists
that they are sharing the road
with slower vehicles.
One of the reasons
accidents occur is because a
faster moving car comes up
on a tractor or piece of farm
machinery and the driver
misjudges the speed,
colliding with the tractor.
About $5,500 is being
spent on the project with half
coming through a federal
grant, half coming from the
association and assistance
from Huron County which is
providing the staff to put the
signs in place.
"Hopefully, we can
prevent one accident. It
would be worth the money
we put into it," said Love.
The grant was specifically
See POUCS, Peps $
See SMITH, Pap. 5
Scott Hilgendorff photo
Farmers gathered Wednesday in McKillop Township for a demonstration day held by Vincent
Farm Equipment, McGavinfarm Equipment and Huron Tractor. Prospective buyers could test
drtve the latest equipment from tractors to off -rood vehicles.
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