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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-01-21, Page 1Sharon Medd, Assodate Broker M.V.A. Appraiser Visit: mis.ca for Information of listings In Huron/Perth I ' �i.sin Wit..... t 5190 527-O560 Joy Finlayson & Sharon Medd Mortgage Consultants "Finally, a company that starts with a discount" Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004 $1 .25 includes GST Doug Ealott, CFP, B.Math !kneed Wafted on GIC Osa et ;sari 20, 2CCO Best a.i.c. Rates Savings Interest 23* 3.3.5% 45.86/6 CARTIER PARTNERS FINANCIAL SERVICES 1:.I1:1:i11 1(:11111■I■11 ..26 Main St., Seaforth 527-2222 In brief All -terrain vehicle stolen from Seaforth barn An all -terrain vehicle, valued at $7,000 was stolen from a barn behind a business on Crombie Street in Seaforth sometime overnight on Jan. 14. The red 2002 Honda Foreman 400 cc four- wheel drive ATV was taken from a barn that was forced open. Anyone with related information is asked to call the Huron OPP: or Crime Stoppers. Tools, valued at $500 stolen in Vanastra Tools valued at $500 were stolen from the Great Canadian Solid Wood Furniture Company in Vanastra on Jan. 13. Tools, including a grinder, socket set, drive socket set and an air impact gun, were taken from a shed that was forced open on the 7th Avenue property. Anyone with related information is asked to call the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. Trailers forced open at Family Paradise Eight trailers were forced open at Family Paradise Campground on Hullett-McKillop Road in Huron East sometime in the two weeks before Jan. 18, reports the Huron OPP. While windows to the trailers were smashed, nothing was missing from the trailers but the kitchen areas were rummaged through. Police say snow entering the broken windows also caused damages to the trailers. Anyone with related information is asked to call the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. Stereo system, worth $800, stolen in Seaforth An $800 stereo system was stolen from a vehicle parked on Main Street in Seaforth sometime in the two days before Jan. 18, say the Huron OPP. A Kenwood CD stereo was taken from a 1992 Sunfire. Anyone with related information is asked to. call the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. Alzheimer's is 'a cruel disease' Caregivers struggling to help loved ones need support of local Society By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor By the time Pam Soontiens' mother, Doreen Goodwin, .died of Alzheimer disease two years ago, the Seaforth daughter had no tears left. "It's a cruel disease and a slow death. I had already lost my mother two years before she died. You do all your mourning before they die, as you watch them go downhill and know that no one can help them," she says. But, Pam says she was able to maintain her eight-year struggle with her mother's disease with the help of a support group at Maplewood Manor for Alzheimer caregivers. During Alzheimer Awareness' month in January, Pam says she hopes anyone suffering from Alzheimer disease or their caregivers will seek some support from the local Alzheimer Society. But, despite the fact that 1,100 people in Huron County have Alzheimer disease - with statistics stating one in 13 people over 65 and one in four people over 80 have Alzheimer's - a support group in Seaforth recently folded. "A lot are struggling on their own, even though the Society is here to help," says executive director Cathy Ritsema. , "There's enough people out there in Seaforth but they're hiding it. There seems to be a stigma in Seaforth," adds Pam, who guesses 30 to 40 people in Seaforth could benefit from an Alzheimer support group. Pam knows about hiding the symptoms of Alzheimer disease firsthand since it was hidden from her until her father Ralph died of cancer in 1994. She was with her mother at a doctor's appointment after her father's death and the doctor asked how her mother was coping with her dementia. "He (my father) died of cancer and I got this shock dumped on me just like that," she remembers. "I think my father knew something was wrong because he never let my mother drive and I never seemed to be able to have a one-on-one conversation witfi her." "My father was probably thinking he was doing a good thing but if he'd prepared me for it, it would have been easier," she says. Susan Hundertmark photo Pam Soontiens, of Seaforth, holds a picture of her late parents Ralph and Doreen Goodwin. Pam asked her mother to move from her house three doors up the street in with her but for the first year after her husband's death, Doreen refused. Then, she asked Pam to put her house up for sale so that she could move into Maplewood Manor. "She knew there was something wrong and she didn't want to move in with me," says Pam. With Pam's new knowledge about her mother's disease, she became more observant and began noticing mood changes where Doreen became more withdrawn and stopped going out into the community. • Then, Doreen developed a fear of the bathtub, a fear common to Alzheimer patients. After four deaths i health officials say local flu situation is improving • By Jennifer Hubbard and Susan Hundertmark With four Influenza A -related deaths and numerous outbreaks behind them, health unit officials say they may know in a week if the worst of the flu season is over in Huron County. "The flu season isn't over yet but the situation seems to be improving," said Huron County Health Unit senior public health promoter Linda Stobo. "At this point we have fewer cases than we did over Christmas but since school has just reconvened we won't know until the next couple of weeks." This week, none of Huron County's long-term care facilities are experiencing flu -related outbreaks. At one point this winter, more than 11 Huron County long-term care facilities were experiencing respiratory outbreaks (eight of which were caused by Influenza A), antd last week two facilities remained in an outbreak situation. Because the situation changes daily, Stobo could not name the facilities, but said the outbreaks continue to occur throughout the county with no specific pattern. "It's not as if it's just a Goderich problem or a Seaforth problem; everyone is being hit," she said. Little information could also be released regarding the county's Influenza A deaths. "To be considerate of the families we can only say that all were elderly and residents of long-term care facilities during an outbreak situation," Stobo said. She added the health unit is still stressing their prevention messages and encouraging area residents to do all they can to stop the spread of the flu. Both health unit and school board officials .are encouraging parents to keep their children home from school until they are fully recovered. "Kids should be fever free for at least 24 hours before going to school," Stobo said. She said absenteeism rates are too low to cause any concerns recently. "It's been pretty quiet so far, and that's a good thing," said Steve Howe, communications officer with the Avon See INFLUENZA, Page ! And, while her mother was always very neat, Pam saw how she began cleaning out her drawers constantly, -moving her possessions around into different locations every day. "She would put things in the funniest places and never be able to find them," Pam says. Before she stopped taking walks, Doreen began showing up at Pam's house, ringing the bell and standing on the front porch unable to recognize her son-in-law when Pam's late husband John answered the door. "She knew the building but she couldn't • See ALZHEIMER, Page ! Soaring insurance, short season plague snowmobilers By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff Local snowmobilers were able to hit the trails last week for the first time this winter. "Trails are open but conditions are still somewhat limited," said Ken Hunsberger, a driver's training instructor and director with the BW (Brussels/Walton) Trailblazers snowmobile club. "Plowed ground is still a bit rough and bushes could use more snow. So, snowmobilers should take it safe," he said. "All in all, it's not bad for what we have received for snow to this point." But, Hunsberger said as many snowmobilers keep hoping for more snow, they are more concerned about soaring insurance premiums threatening recreational snowmobile trails. The cost of general liability. insurance for Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), volunteers and landowners has increased by 1,000 per cent over the past three years. "Without this insurance, all OFSC snowmobile trails would be closed," said Hunsberger. He added that under the OFSC user pay system, a portion of the liability premium increase is passed along to snowmobilers through a higher trail permit fee. "Riders are being hit with a double whammy of premium - related increases for both types of coverage, and snowmobiling is becoming too costly for many," he said. Hunsberger said because of rising rates on both personal sled insurance and OFSC general liability insurance, snowmobilers are paying. more to ride. Since personal snowmobile insurance is part of the auto insurance sector, this coverage is often considerably more expensive and less available than in previous years. "Each winter, $1 billion in snowmobile - related spending provides jobs, revenues and new business opportunities in rural, snowbelt communities and drives the winter tourism season too," said Dennis Burns, OFSC See SNOWMOBILERS, Page tt Q ted Over 200 snowmobilers stopped by Huron OPP since trails open Over 200 snowmobilers have been stopped by Huron OPP since Jan. 14 on the trails of Huron County and seven have been charged with offences. Huron OPP report that four snowmobilers have been charged with having an expired validation tag, two have been charged with failure to provide evidence of insurance and one has been charged with trespassing on private property. Thirteen others were given warnings about speeding and driving standards and four were found with alcohol on their breath but after blowing into an alcotest, were found to be within acceptable limits. Sr. Const. Don Shmpshall says the Huron OPP receive complaints every winter about snowmobiles crossing private property without permission. ",Snow machines can damage property such as septic systems or anything else that is•under the snow," says Shropshall in a recent press release. "Huron OPP want to remind operators of motorized snow vehicles to be courteous. Check your route ahead of time. If you see signs posted 'No Trespassing' please use an alternate route.'