Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2001-06-13, Page 1In brief Medical students spend time in rural areas including Seaforth Two first-year medical students were in Seaforth last week as Southwestern Ontario Rural Medicine Unit (SWORM) based in Goderich continues to attempt to attract new doctors to rural 'Ontario. Working with the University of Western Ontario, 104 first-year medical students were sent to hospitals across Southwestern Ontario where they were exposed to rural life and medicine. Thirty-two hospitals took part in the program including Seaforth Community Hospital in hopes of attracting more doctors to rural areas. SWORM reports Southwestern Ontario is currently in need of 300 doctors in an area of which more than 40 per cent is considered' rural with communities of less than 10,000 people. This is the fourth year medical students have come to Seaforth working with the local medical community from spending time in the emergency room and clinic to riding along with paramedics and touring the area. "This will result in more students graduating with the knowledge, skills and interest to pick rural practice as a career choice," said Dr. James Rourke, director of SWORM. The program, called rural and regional undergraduate medical education week, is an extension of efforts begun in 1997 to include rural experience as part of the undergraduate medical curriculum at Western. Inside... Speaker helps people grieve.. Page 5 David and Gofa h portrayed nWalton_ Pagel Acar/truing loci( al heriwage harries mitran East._ Paws Fair play.... Brett Jewitt photo Sadie Smith, Delayna Smith and Tyler Cronin dance together during one of the musical performances in lions Park as the Seaforth Cooperative Children's Centre held a festival in the park Saturday. Barry remains in custody A 19 -year-old Seaforth man has been remanded in custody until his first appearance before a judge in Goderich court Aug. 13 after being charged with one count of arson and one count of possession of an incendiary device. Jeffery Barry was charged June 4 after being arrested by police in Victoria Park where he allegedly tried to set fire to the pavilion. He appeared before a justice of the peace in Goderich June 7 for a bail hearing where he was remanded in custody during which time he will also be admitted to a psychiatric hospital in St. Thomas for 30 days. Meanwhile, police continue to investigate a series of 10 fires set to buildings and in garbage bins since April 15 in Seaforth's downtown core. Council scales back plans to lure an economic development officer By Scott Hilgendorff Expositor Editor A scaled-back plan for an economic development officer was approved in a recorded vote at Huron East council's June 5 meeting. "Everyone has a feeling on this. Can't we put it to a vote?" asked McKillop Coun. Sharon McClure after the fourth lengthy discussion about hiring an economic development officer since April. Treasurer Brad Knight had brought proposals to council to help cut the budget it is preparing by at least $100,000 to help soften a large tax increase about to be experienced in the rural wards of Huron East. One of those proposals included an option to cut in half the $50,000 being included in the budget for an economic development officer for the approximately six months remaining in this budget year. The original proposal would potentially see $100,000 in the budget for an economic development officer with $50,000 for salary and $50,000 for an operating budget. McClure made a motion accepting one of Knight's options that would see the amount cut to $25,000 with 50 per cent of that amount being area -rated to the Seaforth ward where there was a perceived greater involvement with the officer and the town's Business Improvement Area. Students reuniting with Johnston as popular coach enters retirement By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff Close to 400 people so far have said they'll be returning to Seaforth this weekend for a reunion to celebrate the retirement of Seaforth District High School teacher Terry Johnston. "We've had a really good response and in the last week the numbers have doubled so I wouldn't be surprised if even more people let us know they're coming at the last minute," he says. After teaching phys. ed. in Seaforth for 31 years, including 30 years of coaching track and field, 27 years of boys' basketball, more than 20 years of golf along with several years of coaching volleyball and girls' basketball, Jonhston is retiring this month. The 536 Golden Bear athletes he's coached over the years have been invited to bring their families to a family fun day and dance Saturday with basketball games, touch football games, golf, tennis, soccer and a fun run planned for the afternoon. The fun run is being hosted by Faye Murray at 1 p.m., girls' basketball in the gym will be hosted at 2 p.m. by Mary Thompson and Sarah Johnston and boys' basketball will be hosted in the gym at 3:30 p.m. by Paul and Phil Menary. Dinner will be catered at 6 p.m. by the Seaforth District High School All -Girls Marching Band and the dance at 7 p.m. in the gym will be hosted by Ron and Laurie Scott. Golf will by hosted Sunday morning by Dennis Neilsen. Another "event" Johnston is hosting is reminiscing. Soo REMINISCING, Page 13 McClure said Gwen Devereaux, chair of the Business Retention and Expansion committee which proposed the idea of an economic development officer to council, had called her before the meeting and McClure assumed she also called other councillors individually to make "her last pitch" for an officer. McClure requested a recorded vote on the motion. Speaking against it, Seaforth Coun. Dick Burgess said, "Allocating half the cost to Seaforth Ward, I believe is inappropriate. I'm questioning why we are targeting a $25,000 expense. Obviously there is something more than the Soo BURGESS, Page 3 Scott Hilgendorff photo An angry king... Graeme Craig portrays King Saul in a Walton community production of The Rock Slinger and His Greatest Hits, a musical version of the Biblical story about David and Goliath. Your community newspaper since 1860