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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-02-25, Page 1Lexmark Z605 . ys OUR PRINTF ly 89. For a Limited Time! 1 Main St., Seafo 527-1681 Tony Arts CFP, CLU, CH F. C. Chartered Financial Consultant We offer a full range of investment options. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004 :iWGisS �{3t:a W:.u�Y. $1.25 includes GST litlessiesst i IMO elim 15 Main St. Seaforth 527-t7.4 In brief Seaforth Harmony Kings hosting district contest on Saturday By Susan Hundirtmark Expositor Editor The Seaforth Harmony Kings will be hosting a district competition in Seaforth on Saturday, Feb. 28 for the second time in their more than 20 year history. Five choruses and as many as 10 quartets will be competing from Seaforth, Sarnia, Strathroy, St. Thomas and London at the Seaforth Public School. While the local barbershoppers have actually hosted three competitions, the contest six years ago was held at Mitchell District High School. "This is a fun contest to get together and hear everyone sing," says Harmony Kings member Bill Campbell. "It was basically our turn to hold it," says organizer John Elligsen. Along with the choruses and the quartets, a third category of VLQs or very large quartets, will also compete with groups with five to 11 singers participating. Elligsen says that while Seaforth is thc smallest town participating, population doesn't always factor into how good a chorus sounds. "A smaller chorus can get a better sound if everyone's doing thcir job properly," he says. The competition next week in Seaforth does not lead to further competitions, such as the provincials, but Elligsen said choruses can use it as a warm-up or to give experience to beginner quartets. And, while the Seaforth barbershoppers usually compete each year in the provincials, Elligsen says they're taking a break this year from the Ontario District contest. Elligsen says the contest will end with a program consisting of local talent providing piano, trumpet and guitar solos along with local singers. St. James Chess Club prepares for competition.. page $ Maple syrup operations face threat.. paps6 *Changes an Main Street... WWI $ Seaforth group vies for local Jr. D franchise By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor A group of Seaforth investors wants to keep junior hockey in local hands. Jason Papple, former Centenaires coach, told the Seaforth arena board Thursday night, that seven Seaforth-area investors are scheduled to meet with the Ontario Hockey Association on March 21 to present their bid for the Seaforth Junior D franchise. Papple said he started approaching can't do locally so I decided to take the bull by the horns and form a local group They're all from town and had kids play in the arena," said Papple. While the Seaforth group has missed the Jan. 31 deadline to apply for the franchise with the OHA, Papple said the OHA junior development league's chair Karen Phibbs said it's possible to make a late entry. "They're prepared to look at a local bid," said Papple. " T h e question Quoted 'What I found after the meeting is that these people aren't doing anything we can't do locally,' -- Jason Papple, fanner Centenakrs coach local people to invest in the team after attending a public meeting last week held by a group of London investors who have applied for the former Centenaires' franchise. The McGafka Pro group, which includes 15 London investors, told 30 locals last Tuesday about their plans to get the Seaforth Centenaires back on the ice after two years without a Junior D team in Seaforth. "What I found after thc meeting is that these people aren't doing anything we becomes if two groups are vying for the same franchise, they'll decide which one to support and 1 would think the OHA would support a local one," said former Seaforth arena manager and investor Graham Nesbitt, who attended thc meeting with Papple. Nesbitt added that while the McGafka Pro Group has committed to funding the team at $40,000 a year, the only investment it has actually made so far is $6,000 - $5,000 for an See SEAFORTH, Page 2 Hospital gets $20,000 in new equipment funding By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor The Huron Perth Hospital Alliance is happy to be receiving $1.037 million in new capital funding, $200,000 of which will go to Seaforth Community Hospital. The announcement last week from the province said $193 million will be designated to a diagnostic/medical equipment fund in each of the next three years. Of that total, $14 million will go to purchase equipment that will improve patient safety and working conditions for nurses. As well, $116 million will go towards equipment, such as diagnostic imaging, CT scanners, mammography, ultrasound and x-ray, that improve access and reduce wait times for Ontarians. "It's new funding and it's excellent that it's come before 5N HOSPITAL, Pogo 2 Susan Hundertmark photo Weathering the elements Jeffrey Denham, a Seaforth Scout, prepares to practise his snpwshoeing skills during a camping weekend at the Seaforth Agriplex over the weekend. Huron East leading protest inst county buuget hik in t county riiK aga s tye By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor A letter protesting Huron County's projected 35 per cent budget increase for 2004 will be sent to the county by Huron East council, which is also encouraging othcr municipalities in Huron to join thc protest. Grey Coun. Mark Beaven put forward the idea at Huron East's Feb. 17 meeting. "We've done our part in getting our increase down as far as we can but still more can be done at thc county level." said Beaven. "I'm suggesting we show firm support of our representatives on county council by asking Huron County to keep thcir increase at an acceptable level," he said. Beaven added hc's already had two calls from ratepayers complaining about the county's plans to increase the budget by 35 per cent. "I want to make sure every ratepayer in Huron East knows that it's not because of this council that their rate went up that high. It's thc county they should be calling." Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan, who sits on county council, agreed with the letter. "This letter needs to be sent because we need to stress they need to manage money better. It's a little bit of a wake-up call of the damage being caused." said MacLellan. MacLellan added that while Huron County council has said it has a desire to preserve farmland, a 35 per ccnt tax increase will hit the farmers hardest. "If they keep raising taxes, there won't be any farmland left," he said. Beaven's motion pointed out "thc rural residents of Huron County and specifically Huron -East arc experiencing financial hardships due to the recent troubles in ,the agricultural sector." But, Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler, who works for Huron County. said he wouldn't support the motion to send the letter. "The county has wasted money bigtime See COUNCIL, Page 2 Shell employee robbed at knifepoint By Sara Campbell Expositor Staff An employee of the Seaforth Shell station was shaken up but unharmed after an armed robbery involving a knife early Saturday s morning. "It's just nerve racking. I'm feeling better now but I was pretty rattled at the time," said Greg Scheerer, who was working at the Shell station during the robbery. "You're prepared for these things but you never think they will happen to you." Huron OPP are investigating the robbery at the Shell station, a division of Edwards Fuels, on Goderich Street, that Seaforth Shell employee Greg Scheerer occurred on Feb. 21, at about front door of the business 5:15 a.m. 'wearing ski masks, and the Schecter said two males, in one male was armed with a their early 20s, entered the hunting knife which had a six-inch blade. "He just told me to open thc till and back away. They took the money and then they ran out back to the rear parking lot," said Scheerer. Huron OPP were able to follow two sets of tracks left in the snow that led from the gas station to where a vehicle had been left by thc robbers. The OPP are looking for one male, about 5'4" and weighing about 140 pounds. He was wearing' a grayish/blue sweatshirt, black pants, running shoes and black gloves. The second male was little taller and heavier than the first. He was wearing a light blue winter coat with either a yellow stripe or patch and wore black gloves at the time of the robbery. Anyone with related information is asked to call the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. Steve Gower, retail coordinator for Edward Fuels, said less than $200 was stolen from the till. "It's an unfortunate incident and hopefully the two suspects can be found," he said. "For the amount they got away with, it's just the waste. With the size of a knife they had, they could see 10 years in jail," said Scheerer. Scheerer has been working the night shifts, part-time at the Shell station since August See SHS, Page 2