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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-05-01, Page 7AIM IMO Id a hub 6. www In brief Budget looked at closely Huron East council began its line -by-line look at its first budget in a process that is expected to take a few more weeks before it is finally approved. Council is faced with a budget that is expected to result in a tax increase fgr rural residents who hale seen their assessments increase. At the same time, council is faced with the $959,000 cost of a police contract for all of Huron East and a request for potentially $100,000 for an economic development officer. Deputy Administrator Brad Knight, who is preparing the budget, is encouraging council to look closely at the budget and find areas in which councillors think they might be able to make cuts to help soften the overall blow to taxpayers this year. Knight has said this is both the most interesting and challenging budget he has worked with as staff and council try to harmonize the budgets of the five municipalities that now make up Huron East. "I think it's important we go through this line by line," said Knight to council at its May 8 committee meeting. Council went through the expenditure portion of the budget at that meeting and was expected to go through the revenue portion at last night's meeting. Deputy Mayor Bernie MacLellan had expressed concerns that people expected the amalgamation to save money and not see taxes rise but Mayor Lin Steffler said that is a promise that was never made. She said they have only offered to work hard to give taxpayers the best value for their money. She pointed out that money was saved by the amalgamation but that there are still costs involved in operating the new municipality. By Scott Hilgendorff • Police suggest holding off on Citizens on Patrol Business community frustrated by perceived absence, of police help By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff About 20 local businesses were dissuaded by Huron OPP Staff Sgt. George Lonsbary from immediately forming a Citizens on Patrol committee at Monday night's BIA (Business Improvement Area) meeting. "It's a good thing but [for] in the future because we don't want to mess up the investigation," he said, of the ongoing investigation into a total of nine fires set mostly in downtown Seaforth during the past six weeks. Lonsbary told the group he didn't want to say too much for fear of jeopardizing the investigation but offered that the two fire calls over the weekend had police a little uncertain. "We thought we were getting onto it but after the weekend, whether there's a second or third group, we're not sure. We got a number of tips and some of them look fairly positive," he said. However, after Lonsbary left the meeting, at least two business people said they were frustrated that a Citizens on Patrol group isn't being set up right away. "I think we're all feeling it needs to be done now and not six months down the road. If we're going to ask people to sit and wait, we're not going to get anyone to join up," said Chris Bruxer, owner of Sumthing Special. Brenda Forbes, of Flower Magic, also said she was upset about the postponement of setting up the Citizens on Patrol group. The group would see citizens assisting police patrolling the community looking for suspicious activity. "I don't see anything being done. I just spent a weekend of sheer hell from lack of sleep and I can't comprehend that the officers are doing SN POLICE, Pow 2 Scott Hiigendorff photo Police wait for the identification unit to determine what happened inside the Shell gas station in Seaforth Monday morning after a female employee was attacked while opening. Woman attacked as she opens gas station While police say she is still traumatized by the incident a Seaforth woman is out of hospital after being knocked unconscious by an attacker as she opened the Seaforth Shell gas station Monday morning. Police were called when another employee discovered the unconscious woman at about 7 a.m. The woman was taken to Seaforth Community Hospital by ambulance and OPP's crime unit and canine unit were on the scene all morning and part of the afternoon. Police believe it was an attempted robbery but no entry was made in the gas station's safe. Officers have canvassed the neighbourhood for witnesses who may have seen anything that could help them in their investigation. The canine unit was unable to track the assailant and OPP currently have no suspects in the case. Tom Williscraft photo The canine unit was called to track suspects after an attempted robbery at the Seaforth Shell Station. Youth charged for stabbing girl on bus A 13 -year-old has been charged with assault causing bodily harm after stabbing a girl in the hand on a Grey Public School bus near Ethel. Police were called just before 4 p.m. on May 10 when the youth mistook the girl for one of the people who was teasing him, stabbing her in the hand with an unreleased object. The victim was taken to hospital in Listowel where she received stitches for her injury. Patients sent to Clinton as doctors close practices because of Seaforth shortage By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff The Seaforth Medical Clinic is not accepting any new patients, leaving Seaforth without any doctors with open practices. "I think this is the first time the clinic has had to close its practices. The clinic has always made a point of being open to new patients in the past but they had to make this decision because of volume," says Seaforth Community Hospital chief of staff, Dr. Carolin Shepherd. Shepherd says her practice, which is run out of her home, has been closed for several years with a two- year waiting list. She suggested that anyone looking for a family doctor try the three new doctors in Clinton including Dr. Martin Salter, Dr. Norbert Akeh and Dr. Lisa Yang. Mary Cardinal, clinical leader of the hospital, says the decision to close the practices is "very recent" since two doctors are now working part-time. "I'm not surprised it came to this. Across Ontario, doctor shortages are a problem. Any family practice will tell you they're very busy," says Cardinal. While Seaforth hospital has been actively recruiting doctors for several years, Cardinal says Seaforth still needs at least two more doctors. "At present we have a coordinated response to the shortage and while there's nothing definite yet, doctors are being toured through the town regularly," she says. Cardinal also says even patients without local family doctors will be seen by a doctor at Seaforth's emergency department. Scott Hilgendorff photo Santa made a surpise visit to Northside United Church on Sunday morning to tell the congregation about the Christmas house tour planned for November 16-19. He helped build excitement about the event and encouraged the community to help volunteer with putting the tour together. Your community newspaper since 1860