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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-02-25, Page 2S -TNS HURON IXPOSITOR, F!BRUARY 25, 2004 R.P's CARPENTRY Roofing, Renovations Custom Built Homes Decks, Interior/Exterior Trim, Cabinets, Farm Buildings General Contracting Free Estimates Ron Pryce 519-5224974 Egmondville 82 West 8111li o & aeeroAh. ON NOK 1 WO "Want a, FREE oil chang Join the TMP 011 Change Club! Buy 3 oil changes and you'll get the 4th oil change Free! With each service 011 Change Club Members also receive... FREE 25 Point Inspection FREE Exterior Wash FREE Interior Vacuum ‘A-0 OIL CHANGE CLUB MEMBERS OIL CHANGE $2495* Includes chassis lube, oil replacement with up to 5 litres of Quaker State 10W30 premium motor oil, oil filter replacement. `For most domestic cars and light trucks (excludes diesel engines) LIMITED TIME OFFER News Seaforth arena board passes motion supporting Jr. D team formation From Pogo 1 initiation fee and $1,000 for a bond to the OHA. "And, we've got $18,000 committed here in Seaforth so far," he said. Arena board chair Brenda Dalton asked why the local group waited so long to get organized. Papple responded that while he tried to keep the team going two years ago when former owner Dave Parsons tried to sell the team, only foie' or five people were attending meetings at the time. "When I saw 30 people at Tuesday's meeting, I knew there was renewed interest," he said. When Dalton asked what the Seaforth group wants from the arena, Papple said it needs whatever the arena board has given the London investors. "All we want is the same support and let us fight it out with them or let the OHA decide," he said. "We're in support of a junior hockey team and a local one moreso than a group coming out of London," said Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler, who sits on the arena board. The arena, board agreed that while it had given the London group a letter saying the McGafka Pro Group it is not responsible for any outstanding debt from the former Centenaires, it hadn't given exclusive support to the London group, other than agreeing to allow then to run a summer hockey school regardless of whether or not they were awarded the franchise. The arena board then passed a motion supporting the formation of a Junior D team. While all the investors for the local group so far are from Seaforth, Papple said he also wants to approach Brussels people and possibly use the Brussels arena for some of the practices and games. "It might come down to who sells the most season's tickets for where the games are held," he said. But, Papple agreed that the local group could work with whatever ice time arrangements had been made with the London group. A pamphlet that outlines the Seaforth group's intentions to possible investors, says board members will "help to ensure that the team remains a local team that operates responsibly." "There is a London business group, a for-profit group, currently attempting to take control of junior hockey in Seaforth. We can stand by and let them capitalize on the rich hockey history of this area, or local people with management skills and business saavy can take a stand now and ensure that we look after our own, now and into the future," says the pamphlet. Papple said the Seaforth group hopes to run the team with "creative new fundraising ideas where we're not asking for handouts all the time." He said the group wants to see games as nights of entertainment. He added that the group will be a non-profit organization. "Our books will be open and transparent," he said. Phibbs, during a phone interview last week, said the Seaforth group is the only group the OHA league has heard from yet, despite the application by the London group sent to the OHA board. "The league has had no contact with the London group. The only way we know about them is through media reports in your newspaper," said Phibbs. "The OHA board has the final decision about who comes on as a new entry but it's based on a recommendation by the league. They have to decide how it impacts the league as an entity and whether it will benefit the league as a whole," she said. The league consists of 18 teams throughout Southwestern Ontario, whic 11 all have a vote about whether or not to allow a new, fr chise to either the Seaforth or the London group. Phibbs said it's not unusual for more than one group to apply for one team's franchise. She said the league is very stable with good management and would be looking for a group that could provide the same qualities. "What's positive for Seaforth is that there's interest in the community. Community interest makes for solid teams and solid management. These teams are not easy to run - it takes a lot of work and dedication. You really have to want it in the community - it doesn't matter who is running it," she said. "It's great to have two applications but whoever runs it has to know that Seaforth really wants the team," said Phibbs. Council against 35 per cent increase From Page 1 and council allowed them to do it. They spent money like it was going out of EVERYWHERE A SIGN by Craig Nicholson (©20103 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.) Trail signage can be both useful and entertaining. 1 don't know if some of the ssages are intended to be funny or whether its just an unfortunate c ce of words or a happenstance of sign placement. But too often, the out- come is hilarious or dangerous or just nonsensical. Here's what 1 mean. One trail system had a profusion of signs placed at the bottom of slopes. They read: "Blind Hill". This assumes there must be some other kind of hill. If so, then where are the signs for a "Seeing -eye Hill" or a"Transparent Hill"? Similarly, what is a "Blind Corner"? Onc where vision impaired folks turn? Perhaps my favourites hill sign is one which inevitably is half -way up the slope. I usually spot it as the angle of the Incline increases so dramatically that I'm about to slide off the back of my seat. 1t says: "Steep Hill" . So if we're signing the obvious, why not also have: "Turning" at each comer" or "Straight Ahead" each time you can see the trail stretching straight as a white carpet to the horizon? I came across several "STOP Ahead" signs last winter which were posted at, not prior to, a road crossing. So where was I supposed to stop. after the logging truck hit me? Or how about the occasions when I'vc seen a "STOP" sign on the far side of a 90 degree corner, usually posted on the last tree before I'd launch into some abyss if I blew the corner? It's a small comfort to know that an accident reconstruction expert might report after the accident that I was trying to obey the last sign 1 saw. In the mountains, I once spotted a sign made all the more unusual by the general absence of signs in those locales. Located at the top of the highest peak, it read: "This is How High Up is". Or how about the one that reads: "24 Hour Grooming"? 1 always wonder if this means 24 hours a week or a season? Maybe the trail is bumpy for me because I arrived al the 25th hour... And don't you just love the destination signs that give the place names, followed by a blank space where the distance should be, then the letters "KM"? Until informed differently, one group of European tourists thought "KM" designated the municipality! Worse, I came across one intersection that had two twenty foot poles festooned with town names — but not one of them had a directional arrow or any other indication of where each commu- nity might be! But at least I knew which towns I was lost nearby! Then there's the ubiquitous signs depicting a deer Cr a moose. They never say when the animal is supposed to be or for what distance, so I don't know if I'm supposed to keep an eye peeled for only a minute or the rest of the day. I wonder if those mammals even know that's where they're supposed to cross the trail? • I even saw a sign that read: "Deaf Child Arta". Now what does that mean? One child or many? And what am I supposed to do. send up a flare? Please give me better information! I like the sign I've spotted at several gas stations: "No Permit, No Gas" . Now that's a clear message to the cheapskates who don't pay their way. They should sit empty at the pumps forever. Or how about the only sign that communicates, either by word or icon, that there's gas ahead. ,Then, as your needle drops to the bottom, you never see another. I guess it meant, that if you stay on this trail long enough, there will be gas eventually — if you can walk that fart Then there's the sign indicating a bump ahead. It's often found on a trail so mogulled out that if it weren't for that sign, I never would have noticed that specific bump! Instead of' marking bumps, why not a sign that says: "'trail smooth for the rest of the day"! Until the next time, remember that snowmobiling is an oft -road activity, so you ride OFSC trails at your own disk. O Craig Nkholsan is a contributor to Snow Goer, Canada's Snowmobiling `Matey, lltit opbtlons expressed are solely those of the author. A USt TRAIL AT YOUR OWN RISK YOU must knuw and obey the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act (Ont.) v01.1 most ISO cant!nn ret nll times • F..mcrgenvy end en phone service l�+ rely not he available �iEL •a OO EVERYBODY'S DOW' IT sid-doo. Engineered For The Way You Ride •SALES •SERVICE •ACCESSORIES 1 1/4 Miles North of Seaforth 527-0120 POLARIS' SNOWMOBILES ACCESSORIES SALES & SERVICE POOLS & SPORTS 234 Main St., Seaforth 527-0104 Your ARC1'lC CAT' Sledquarters Snowmobiles & ATVs Sales & Service Parts & Accessories ARCM Gi What SnowmobiNrq's M About."' BRODHAOIN 345.2248, PERTH COUNTY LINE 44 SNOWMOBILE COUNTRY ,YAMAHA ulnar FOR ALL YOUR SNOWMOBILE NEEDSI R�h�ICI a 1298 Lorne Ave. E., Stratford 271-0115 1 style and spent reserves. How else are you going to do it (meet the budget) but raise taxes?" he asked. Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath agreed with Steffler that "the money's got to come f r o m somewhere." "We in this room have got to stop raising our hands for stupidity," said McGrath. most of the But, MacLellan said that if Huron East can reduce its increase, so can Huron County. "We started at 24 per cent and now we're down to five. They started at 50 per cent and they're only down to 35. Maybe it can be another time," he Quoted This letter needs to be sent because we need to stress they need to handle money better,' D.puty-Mayor Bernie Mad.elkon looked at said. Beaven agreed. "They all ducked their heads when the idea came up about privatizingthe retirement homes but this budget is going to require some tough decisions," he said. Beaven added that while Seaforth will be looking at a 1.5 per cent increase if Huron East's budget increase remains at five per cent, Grey will be looking at a much higher rate of 10 per cent. "In the rural areas, we'll be getting hit really hard. It's going to be (Grey Coun.) Alvin's (McLellan) and my butt on the line when the increase goes out there," he said. Hospital receives needed provincial capital funding From Page 1 the year-end. It's absolutely needed," said the alliance's vice-president of operations Ken Haworth. As well, the announcement gives $200,000 each to Clinton Public Hospital and St. Marys Memorial Hospital and $437,000 to Stratford General Hospital. Haworth said that since the alliance is facing a $3 million deficit this year, it is also hoping that additional funding will be announced for operating expenses. With year- end coming up on March 31, the province has not yet confirmed its funding for the current year. "There's a feeling that there may be additional funding and we're certainly hoping for it," he said. Last week's capital announcement had been promised verbally earlier in the year but Haworth said he isn't sure yet how local hospitals will be able to spend the money since an administrative letter from the province detailing any restrictions has not yet been received. "We're in a little bit of a holding pattern right now. The annnouncement was a little bit confusing and we're not sure yet which grouping the money comes out of - the grouping for patient safety or for diagnostic equipment. Or, it could be a blend of both," he said. "The alliance requires a fair amount of capital and we're hoping for more capital funding during the next three years, either the same amount or more," said Haworth. Shell loses $200 during armed robbery early Saturdairiorning From Pogo 1 and moved to Seaforth in October. "You see a lot of strange people come into the store at night," he said. He added that the incident will not affect his feelings towards the community. "It's going to be hard to get back to work but you have ypur regulars who come and are really friendly just like the rest of the town," he said. Gower said this is the second knife incident at an Edward Fuel Shell station in a month. But he added that is not what is important "Cash can be replaced but it's harder on the staff member more than anything and we were lucky no one was hurt," he said. Ivo -vehicle crash in Seaforth involved man, not woman A two -vehicle crash that was reported at Seaforth's main Correction intersection last Sunday morning in last week's Huron Expositor involved a 63 - year -old Seaforth man, not a 22 -year-old Seaforth woman. The man was driving south on Main Street at 8:45 a.m. on Feb. 15 when his car was struck on the side by a car driven by a 50-ycar-old Clinton woman whose passenger was her 54 -year -.old husband. She was going east on Highway 8 and told Huron OPP that the sun prevented her from seeing the red light. The Clinton woman was charged with failing to stop for a rcd light. The three were treated and released for minor injuries at Seaforth Community Hospital.