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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2003-12-31, Page 1Brother Plain FAX MACHINE Only $99.'" liter $40 rebate PETE MARTENS ' PETE'S PAPER 51 Main St., Seafo 527-1681 Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003 $1.25 includes GST In brief Seaforth firefighters find smoke filling arena Monday • morning Spectators at the Seaforth arena for Cooper Standard company tournament on Monday morning were surprised to find themselves in a room of smoke. The Seaforth Fire Department responded to a call at about 8:30 a.m., on Dec. 29 at the arena where smoke had filled the lobby. "There was no fire in the arena but there was something smouldering in the duct work," said Tom Phillips, deputy -chief of the Seaforth Fire Department. Phillips said once they were able to clear out the smoke in the lobby, they were able to pinpoint the location which was coming from vents under the change rooms. He said that what was smouldering or what caused it has not been determined. He added that they remained at the arena for about two hours. . Philips said people had cleared the ar6t)a but he advised those still on the ice to stay at the far end even though there was no concern of a fire. Vanastra girl receives head injury after vehicle crash A three-year-old Vanastra girl received a minor head injury following a two -vehicle crash on Victoria Street in Clinton on Dec. 24, reports the Huron OPP. At 12:15 p.m. an officer found a 31 -year-old woman from Vanastra, driving a silver 2002 Toyota, travelling northbound had struck a black 2000 Lincoln, driven by a 59 -year-old woman from Goderich Twp., as it pulled away from a parking space and attempted a U-turn. The 31 -year-old mother and her seven-year-old daughter of Vanastra were not injured but her three- year-old daughter was taken to Clinton Public Hospital where she was treated and later released. The 59 -year-old woman, who was also not injured, was charged with making aU-turn with no clear view under the Highway Traffic Act. Inside... Vanastra offers Christmas program... Mil 3 Successful hodaeyaorvp helddareno... potBs 11 lions to look at starting community policing in Seaforth... pie Shoplifting increasing at dollar stores By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor , The three shoplifters charged the week before Christmas at Unusual Finds in Seaforth are just an indication of a growing problem at their store, say the Gibbons family, who runs one of two local dollar stores. "Shoplifting has gotten right out of hand. We're seeing thieves from age five to 68 and parents shoplifting with their children. It's shocking," says owner Belinda Gibbons. ".`Yesterday we caught two people and today, we caught two more. One of them got away and one started to run so I had to jump on him. And, it never seems worth it. They only have $3 worth of stuff in their pockets," adds her son Trevor during the week before Christmas. Owner Steve Gibbons says his dollar store, which has been operating for three years in Seaforth, was only in business a few months before he saw the need to install security cameras. "Those cameras have paid for themselves over and over again. The first day we had them, we caught someone," he says. But, while the surveillance system, which includes small cameras at the end of every aisle which provide a view of every shopping space in the store, has helped, Steve says he's amazed at how many people continue to shoplift. "We're constantly seeing it happen. They do it right in front of the cameras," he says. In January, Unusual Finds is upgrading its surveillance system to colour cameras that also have a zoom. feature. That way, staff watching the video screens behind the counter can get a better look at the item being taken. Belinda says Christmas time and summer are the two worst times at the store for shoplifting. But, she finds it hard to believe shoplifting is happening because those doing it are in need. "They usually have money in their pockets that could have paid for the items they stole because they usually only take $1 or $2 items," she says. "Yesterday, the guy we caught with $3 worth of stuff in his pocket had $160 in his wallet," adds Steve. Belinda guesses that shoplifters are thinking that since the items taken are only worth a few dollars, the store can afford the loss. But, she points out that it doesn't take long for the numbers to add up. Huron OPP Sr. Const. Don Shropshall says that while he's not aware of a large problem with shoplifting on Seaforth's Main Street, he's also aware that many shopkeepers are not reporting the thefts from their stores. See VIDEO, Page 2 Susan Hundertmark photo Despite a sophicated surveillance system, which Trevor Gibbons shows above, Unusual Finds Dollar Store in Seaforth, continues to have difficulties with shoplifting, especially throughout the holiday season with three shoplifters charged during the week before Christmas. Snowmobilers hope trails will open in new year By Sara CampbeN Expositor Staff Area snowmobilers are hoping for Tots of snow and cold temperatures in the new year to open the trails for the first time this winter. "We still need a good dump of snow yet before we can get out there," said Ken Hunsberger, a driver's training instructor with the BW (Brussels/Walton) Trailblazers snowmobile club. "The ground's not frozen underneath the snow. It has to freeze and the temperatures need to stay cold for the snow to get packed." Because of mild temperatures, snowmobile trails in Huron East and across the province have yet to open. Snowmobile club officials said trails need six to eight inches of straight snowfall for a thick cushion on the trails. "There are quite a few more inches of snow needed yet. The plowed fields are still rough and showing in some parts," said Ron Williamson, director of the Seaforth Pineridge Snowmobile Club. "Temperatures are still warm and rain in expected again sometime. It's all up to Mother Nature about whether or not the snowmobilers can get out on the trails." However, last week Hunsberger said he was just starting to post snowmobile trail signs. "The farmers were behind taking off their crops so we are behind too," he said. "We are lucky though that we have farmers around that allow us to use their properties" for trails." Hunsberger and the BW Trailblazers operate out of the Brussels and Walton area. Last year, they issued only 500 permits which was down from previous years because of similar weather conditions to this year. Williamson said the Pineridge Snowmobile Club has about 700 members See MILD, Page 2 Blood donor clinic sees less than expected turn -out By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff Organizers of Seaforth's Boxing Day blood donor clinic were a little less than merry when the expected turn -out was 23 less than the goal of 176 donors. The Canadian Blood Services held a blood donor clinic on Dec. 26 at the Seaforth Public School with this year's campaign theme, "The More The Merrier," which encouraged Canadians to make plans to donate with family and friends. "We did have quite a few families attending together, which was great to see, but the total of people attending was down from previous years," Jim McNichol, Seaforth organizer with the Optimist Club. McNichol said the goal was 176 units, but only 153 were collected. Last year, the Seaforth Boxing Day clinic had more than 200 donations. "It's a good way to donate together with family and friends and a good gift of life to someone else," said Joyce Hugill, of Seaforth, who attended the clinic along with eight other family members. See CONK, Page 2 Farmers upset U.S, blames Canada for infected cow By Sara Campbell R Expositor Staff Huron County farmers say the recent announcement of a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States comes as no surprise. However, what did come as a surprise to area farmers was that the Americans were quick at pointing the blame for the infected cow on Canada. "I was not surprised when I first heard the news. I knew a case would eventually show up in the U.S. It's just disappointing to hear them say immediately that Canada is at fault when where this cow came from has yet to be determined," said Paul Coultes, president of the Huron County Cattlemen's Association. "There was comments made that it Owls Colborne photo Indentification ear tags, as seen on these cattle, are causing confusion between the United States and Canada after a cow was recently found infected by BSE in the U.S. was a Canadian cow before anything County Federation of Agriculture. has even been proven," said Neil Vincent, president of the Huron rumours that they had itput tried to hide it under the table. I was more concerned that they were quick at saying it was a Canadian cow," said Bill Wallace, of Seaforth and director of the Huron County dairy producers. Wallace said the infected U.S. cow was a Holstein, causing some concern to dairy producers but much concern is still expressed for beef producers. "This certainly doesn't help their situation," he said. U.S. officials believe they've traced the infected cow back to a dairy farm in Alberta and likely one of a herd imported to the U.S. in August, 2001. DNA tests results, expected within the next week, will prove or disprove a Canadian connection. "I wasn't surprised to hear of the BSE case in the U.S. I have heard ,$r _,