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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-09-29, Page 1I n \I 1111 moi.•'.. 1.•aluI Ilr It) ► 527-1)5611 Discolor Mortgage Canada Canada lac. Joy Finlayson & Sharon Medd Mortgage Consultants "Finally, a company that starts with a discount" Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004 • $1 .25 includes GST Doug Elliott, CFP, B.Math Financial Planner GCC mesas ut Seo 215.3 M All rays arc mad ardwbjett ,tom wags now at dry time. Best Q.I.C. Rates 13ge 3.Y 5% 4.g* •DUN'r.a..«,C.1 li ilIH l( is ii■i/i%ii 26 Main St., Seaforth 527-2222 In brief Mitchell cyclist dies after collision with truck near Dublin A 36 -year-old bicyclist. from Mitchell died as; a result of a collision early Monday morning, west of Mitchell on Highway 8, the Perth County OPP reported. Dale Cherneski, of Georgina Street;was cycling eastbound on Perth Line 34 (Highway 8) between Perth 'Road 170 and 179, ;close to Dublin, when he was struck by an eastbound 1995 Suburban truck, police reported. The collision occurred at 6:40 a.m. The cyclist was transported to Seaforth Community Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigation team assisted with the investigation of the collision, and Highway 8 was closed, between Perth Road 170 and 179, until approximately noon Monday. Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed the collision please call West Perth OPP at 348- 9700. Three males in Seaforth charged with possession Last Friday afternoon, an officer on foot patrol in Seaforth was checking behind the London Agricultural Commodities Feed Mill on Crombie Street and heard voices in a bush area a short distance away. The officer investigated and saw the three males smoking and the odour of marijuana was detected. The officer entered a clearing and found some pipes and a marijuana cigarette. A search of the three males turned up some baggies of suspected marijuana. The three were taken into custody and were later released to family members. A 16, 17 and 21 -year- old male from Huron East have been possession of marijuana. The 21 -year-old will attend court in Goderich on Nov. 15, while the other two youth will attend court on Nov. 12. Inside... Ciderfest attracts 500 in Egmondville... pag. 6 Expositor Summer Sports ed $tion... P3106 144 Jason Middleton photo Cute but corny Eight -month-old Kalli McCowan, of RR 4 Seaforth, plays in the corn box at Sunday's Ciderfest which took place at the Van Egmond House in Egmondville. Huron East rehearses for Grey meeting By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Huron East councillors had a dress rehearsal at their Sept. 22 meeting to prepare for questions from Grey ratepayers who are exploring de -amalgamation. They were anticipating Grey citizens' areas of concern at a ratepayers' meeting planned for last night (Tuesday, Sept. 28) at the Ethel Hall after council learned that a dozen people from Grey are looking into separating from the municipality. Deputy -Clerk Brad Knight shared a power point presentation that he created explaining Huron East's finances, stressing that Huron East has the lowest tax rates in Huron County. Grey Coun. Mark Beaven predicted that the main question would be how much is Grey ward contributing to the total budget and how much are they getting back in services. "Whatever you put in, it's all coming back and more," SN COUNCILLORS Pep. 2 Seaforth snowbirds coping with damage at Florida homes By Jason Middleton Expositor Staff Looking over newspaper after newspaper, Florida snowbird Bessie Boyd, of Seaforth, checks out a special section of the paper showing aerial shots of the damage caused by hurricane Charlie. "Everything is just kindling wood," said Boyd, showing pictures of the park she lives in near Zolfo Springs, part of Hardee County, an agricultural centre of Florida. Boyd called the damage "unbelievable" while looking through the pages of the papers. "It's just terrible thc destruction," said Boyd. "You've got absolutely nothing left." Boyd said that her mobile home came away from the hurricanes with about $7,000 in damages and considers herself one of the "lucky ones." WINTER, Page 3 Local couple celebrates Seaforth's first same-sex marriage this summer , By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor There was a beautiful white gown and a snappy tuxedo, the garter belt was thrown and the bouquet tossed and 150 of the couple's closest friends and relatives were invited to the celebration. And, while all the traditions were observed, the "something new" was the fact that the couple tying the knot were two Seaforth women - Natalie Swirklis and Chance Coombs - celebrating the town's first same-sex marriage this summer. "I never dreamt of getting married. I didn't choose my lifestyle. Just like you don't think about being straight, being gay is just how my life is and it would have been fine to just live together like any other couple," says Natalie. "Then, all of a sudden, it was legal and Chance was ecstatic. She called me from a conference in Ottawa and said, 'Omigod, we can get married.'" "Why shouldn't i he ahlc to marry hcr?" adds Chance. Both Chance and Natalie grcw up in Seaforth. Because she was always a tomboy, Chance says it was tough growing up in a small town where hcr differences were obvious. Susan Hundertmark photo Natalie aux! Chance Coombs look over their wedding album in their Seaforth home. "I was never in the closet, never. I just always liked girls instead of boys," says Chance. And, because she was drawn to non-traditional work as a millwright, Chance says she's had to fight a lot of battles. "I got a lot of names thrown at me at work. I wasn't just gay hut i was doing a man's job. But, it makes you stronger. I just aliceep trudging ahead," she ys. As an activist for gay rights, Chance has gotten involved in several organizations, beginning 10 to 15 years ago with a fight at work for the right to use hcr health benefits for her girlfriend. "I pay into everything that everyone else does so why shouldn't I get the benefits?" "I fought tooth and nail for that one. When the company wasn't going to let me, I got the union president involved and an MP in London. i didn't care. if I was going to have to take it to court but they finally gave in," she says. "She's always dressed this way," says Natalie, pointing to the work clothes Chance is still wearing after her shift at the factory. "Since she was four, she kicked off the skirts," she says. But, Natalie, who's 10 years younger, says she's never had to face the same challenges. "I've always blended in. She fights all the battles and I'm the princess - I just float behind," laughs Natalie. And, thc two agree that it's a lot harder for gay men, than lesbians. "You see two women together shopping or even dancing together at a dance and it's nothing. But, when you see two men, everyone zones in. We're incognito without trying to be," says Natalie. After meeting through mutual friends, Chance and Natalie were a couple for nine years. "I always knew it was going to be her," says Natalie. "We're soulmates for sure," says Chance. "Rut, it's sad when you meet your soulmate off the hop (at the gN ti'.