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Huron Expositor, 2003-12-03, Page 14 1E0 IMP imi• --- nrxss.�.:�ft.acr�r��a"s Krista Workman Dally Merest Salina Accent 2.55w 31.1flis 43.3os • c oat�tatm8� GIC arca asdDumber zDLIII Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 $1.25 indudes GST In brief `ling t he am a rims 15 Main St. Seaforth 527-0794 Festive RIDE campaign begins this week It's still a sobering reminder. Now that the holiday season is officially upon us the Huron OPP and Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) are reminding motorists to think before they drink. To enforce that message both groups were out in force on Monday to launch the annual Festive RIDE program in Goderich. Officers and OSAID members from Goderich District Collegiate Institute were on hand to chat with motorists and remind them about the dangers of drinking and driving — a message that wasn't apparently heard in Huron County in 2002. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has also been an avid supporter of the program. During last year's festive RIDE program 10,016 vehicles were stopped and 17 people in Huron were charged with alcohol- related offences. An additional 12 motorists received 12 -hour license suspensions. Across the province the statistics weren't any better as police checked 567,552 vehicles and charged 458 people with alcohol related offences. An additional 1,072 motorists received 12 -hour suspensions. Provincewide in 2002 one driver was either charged with impaired driving or issued a 12 -hour suspension for every 370 vehicles checked at RIDE locations. "The OPP along with police agencies will be working tirelessly to provide the citizens of Huron County and Ontario with safe roadways during the festive season," Huron OPP Senior Constable Don Shropshall said. "If any member of the public sees a suspected 'drunk driver' please call your local police immediately and report to incident to the police." Shropshall said members of the public are asked to be as detailed as possible as to the colour of the vehicle, plate number and direction in which the vehicle is travelling. Festive RIDE programs will be strategically and randomly located throughout the county until Jan. 2. By Matt Shurrie Inside... Santa Claus parade .. Pags S Sealorlh figure slaalrg dub fights baAer comedian.. Page 16 Christmas Carol comes to Seaforth.. Page 13 Susan Hundertmark photo Four-year-old Jessie Campbell, of RR 1 Dublin sits in her mom Susan's lap as she gets her flu shot from public health nurse Amy Leduc at a press conference in Seaforth Monday where health unit officials urged parents to protect their families against a severe flu season. Huron health unit urges, children need flu shots By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Because of "significant drops" in attendance across Huron County at flu shot clinics this fall, the Huron County Health Unit is offering three more clinics this week, Dr. Beth Henning said at a press conference Monday. "Huron has a particular problem this year and we can't explain it. We thought that on the heels of SARS, people would take action on the flu, which is something they can do something about (by getting immunized). We thought there'd be a good chance we'd increase numbers but they've dropped," she said. Instead, numbers are down across 35 of the 38 schools where flu shot clinics were offered in Huron County with the overall total of children immunized less than 30 per cent. Henning said she's particularly worried about unprotected children since the "A Fujian" strain of the flu is a severe illness, See EXTRA, Page 2 SPS building sells to Arva contractor for $200,000 By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Arva contractor Jack Vanderweg left home Saturday morning with the intention of buying Juliet Public School in Stratford which was auctioned for $650,000 at 1 p.m.. But, he came home the owner of the former Seaforth Public School,' which he bought after a short two minutes of bidding at 3 p.m.. "It's kind of a 'secret what I plan to do with the property. I have to tell my wife first," said the oWner of Jackal Trades Inc. after the sale. While Gardner Auctions tried to start the bidding for the former school and its 2.2 hectaires of land at $300,000 to close the 50 people in attendance, the first bid thrown out was $50,000. Vanderweg's final bid of $110,000 was lower than the Avon Maitland District School Board's reserve bid, which was not revealed at the sale, but Vanderweg agreed to meet it and bought the building. The Avon Maitland District School Board revealed later that the reserve bid was $200,000. While he would not reveal his p l a n s, Vanderweg said he would not tear down the building. He added that he will be ready to share m or e information about his plans Quoted 'It's kind of a secret what I plan to do with the property,' -- Jack Vanderweg, Arva contractor in a month. Recently -elected Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler, who is now acting chair of the Seaforth community development trust, attended the sale. Steffler said -that while the trust was not interested in the property, he knows Vanderweg and is confident the property will come to good use. "I've dealt witth Jack through my job with Huron County and all my experiences have been positive. He's our number one customer, spending lots of money at the county auctions, mostly buying construction equipment," said Steffler. Farmers say they'll struggle as hydro oes u By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff Area farmers are expressing the same disappointment as the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association (OFVGA) because of the Liberal government's decision to raise hydro rates that will lead to a $42 million impact agricultural industry. "It won't affect households as much as it will affect those who use it as a business like the agricultural industry," said Neil Vincent, president of the Huron Federation of Agriculture. "The hydro increase will have a huge impact on our livestock and grain operation," said Nick Whyte, first vice-president of the Huron Federation of Agriculture. The chicken producer and Seaforth trust members reapply for six-year terms By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Most of the current members of the Seaforth community development trust want to keep their seats on the committee. Former Seaforth Coun. Bill Teall, who did not run in the Nov. 10 election, sent a letter to council asking to be considered for an appointment when the vacancies created on the seven -member trust by the election are filled. And, while no letters appeared at council with their requests, defeated Seaforth Coun. Dick Burgess, Jim Sills and Doug Elliott have also applied to sit a second time on the trust, says Clerk -Administrator Jack McLachlan. Only Liz Cardno has not yet applied to be reconsidered to sit on the trust committee. Chair Alf Ross has another three years to serve of his six-year appointment - he and Joe Steffler, who automatically sits on the trust with his election as Seaforth councillor, were appointed with six-year terms. While Burgess and Teall gained spots on the trust because they were the elected representatives of Seaforth ward, Sills, Elliott and Cardno were appointed for three-year terms that See TRUST, Page 2 a owner of Whyte Bros. Farms Ltd., of Seaforth, said the increased hydro rates will also have a major impact on profitability as farm operators will have to find ways to cover rising costs. "On the other hand, with the blackouts in August, if paying a little more for electricity means a reliable source of energy then so be it. Or, if it encourages conservation of energy then that's good. Otherwise, it is leaving agricultural businesses struggling," said Whyte. In a press release last Wednesday, the OFA and the OFVGA made a joint statement regarding the Liberal's decision to raise hydro rates. The government recently announced that rates will increase in April 2004 from the hydro cap of 4.3 cents per kilowatt hour to 4.7 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 750 kilowatt and 5.5 cents per kilowatt hour for everything else used. Vincent said he backs OFA President Ron Bonnett's comments that "we are not asking for a freeze or for the cap to remain in place." "We understand the realities in that the price of electricity should more closely reflect its true cost and that the current cap, given the deficit, is Se. REMOVING, Page 2 Susan Hundertmork photo Oath of office Joe Sell makes his declaration of the oath of office to become Huron East's second mayor at a swearing-in ceremony of council Monday night.