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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-01-19, Page 1*harm Medd, Amite Bract. M.V.A. Appraisr Visit: uih.ti fur infiru►atkat J litiu�in Huru►/i'►rth 1511 NI :tin tit.. S. ti:d►r•th (51 9 ) 527-0560 l Alawtuutt Mortgage Cans4Ii Inc. Joy Finlayson & Sharon Medd M ortgage Cmsiltants "Finally, a company that starts with a discount" 9 Ilion, CFP, B.Math Financial Planner GICairs mcd ,sway Itl. NUS Naeasacedr1 miss drip *arm .vice..,! Wednesday, January 19, 2005 In brief Police seek black Chevy pick-up after hit and run in McKillop Huron OPP are looking for a black Chevy pick- up after a hit and run accident in .McKillop on Jan.. 15 at approximately 7:45 p.m. A 26 -year-old Guelph man was travelling westbound on Line 34 in a silver 2000 Mazda Protege when he entered the intersection of Beechwood Line. At the same time, a black Chevy pick-up travelling northbound on Beechwood, failed to stop for a stop sign. The truck struck the Mazda forcing it into the ditch. No one was hurt in the crash but the truck failed to stop and kept travelling northbound on Beechwood Line. The black Chevy pickup truck with a short box should have front- end damage. Anyone with related information is asked to call the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 222-8477(TIPS). Men charged after break-in in Grey Two men were charged with trespassing and various alcohol-related charges after a possible • break-in on Newry Road near Brussels on Jan. 15 at 4:45 a.m. Huron OPP were contacted by a citizen, who gave a description of a dark, four -door sedan,. which police found and stopped on Cardiff Road that morning. A 56 -year-old Listowel man and a 54 -year-old Millbank man were charged with entering premises when /entry is prohibited. The driver, , was arrested for impaired driving and taken for breath tests which indicated he was over twice the legal limit. He was also charged with driving while disqualified. The passenger was also charged with a liquor violation. The driver is scheduled to attend court on March 17. Alzheimer Society supports local caregivers... page 3 Fire destroys second Dublin home... Page 6 Seaforth flu outbreak Huron's first this season By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Maplewood Manor in Seaforth is closed to the public because of two cases of confirmed Influenza A, the first outbreak this year in Huron County. Administrator Tracy Nash says the local retirement home was closed by the Huron County Health Unit last Monday night when the first case was confirmed. Nine people at Maplewood are currently experiencing flu- like symptoms. "We're closed to any visitors or members of the public until all the symptoms are gone," she says. While there are a couple of colds in the retirement home at Seaforth Manor, they have tested negative for the flu and Seaforth Manor remains open for visitors. "We're doing all kinds of cleaning of the handrails and guardrails and we think that's working for us," says administrator Cathie Schalk. Seaforth Community Hospital has seen some patients with flu-like symptoms but there has not been "a rash of cases," says site leader Mary Cardinal. "Fortunately, we're not really seeing the flu yet," she says. Linda Stobo, of the health unit, says Maplewood is the only flu outbreak so far in Huron County. She says a good rate of participation in flu shots this year is helping to reduce the number of cases of influenza so far this year. "There was a real demand early in the season for the flu shot. There was such media attention to the situation in the United States where they couldn't get the flu shot that there was extra inspiration for people to get it in Canada," she says. Now that flu season is officially confirmed in Huron County, Stobo says residents should take precautions preventing the spread of influenza if they're experiencing any symptoms and be extra vigilant while washing their hands if they're caring for loved ones with symptoms. Those who are ill are strongly encouraged to avoid visiting long-term care facilities, hospitals, and retirement homes as the residents are at high risk for serious flu complications. As well, she says the flu shot is still available both at the health unit and at the family doctor's office. "It's never too late to get a flu shot but it will take 10-14 days until you have full protection against the flu. So, if you haven't got one, you might want to get one as soon as possible," she says. Influenza, or 'the flu', usually presents with high fever, headache, sore throat, cough and head/muscle aches. In elderly 'persons and persons with chronic health problems like diabetes, lung or heart disease, influenza infection can lead to pneumonia and other complications. Influenza is the most serious of a number of respiratory viruses that cause coughs and sniffles each winter. Usually influenza stays around the community for 10- 12 weeks and is often associated with increases in school absenteeism and outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Parents should avoid the use of ASA (aspirin) in children or teens, since its use for influenza or chickenpox in these ages has been associated with a rare but serious complication See PRECAUTIONS, Page 2 $1.25 includes GST Rost a.LC. Rags Zs&% 33% ■ 3.% Q gS2Hingt 1:114:111 26Seaforth i u i�liit%i 527-2222 Susan Hundertmark photo Nicole Shrubsole and her daughter Laura, 6, pose with their new baby Nathan David as be sleeps. New Year's baby is mom's late birthday present By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor After labouring all day during her birthday Jan. 7, Nicole Shrubsole, of Heritage Estates, received a late birthday present with the birth of her son Nathan David. "He almost came on my birthday and that would have been nice but when he was ready, he did it," she says of this year's Seaforth-area New Year's baby. Nathan is Nicole and Heath Shrubsole's second child and was born Jan. 8 at 2:28 a.m. at Stratford General Hospital. He has a six-year-old sister Laura. Because Nathan was two weeks' late, Nicole's labour was induced at the hospital and she ended up receiving a Caesarian section. "It was a rough birth and I worked hard. Having a Caesarian is a totally different experience," she says. "But, I'm blessed with him." Seaforth employees, businesses welcome minimum wage jump By Jason Middleton Expositor Staff With the second of five minimum wage rate increases approaching in February, many Seaforth employees and business owners are welcoming the change. The Ontario government announced this week that they will raise the minimum wage to $7.45 from the current rate of $7.15. Michelle Dahmer, a manager at New Orleans Pizza, said that the raise will help her a bit. "I wouldn't say it makes a huge difference, That 30 cents an hour is maybe (an extra) $20 or $30 a week," said Dahmer. "Every little bit makes a difference." Caitlin Broadfoot, a waitress at Terry's Family Restaurant, said that she's not sure if the raise will affect her that much. "It probably won't make that much of a difference," said Broadfoot, who is saving for post secondary education. See EVERY, Page 3 Huron beef producers hoping U.S. border will open March 7, despite new BSE cases By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Huron beef producers are keeping their fingers crossed that the U.S. border will still open March 7. despite the recent discovery of two more cows in Alberta with BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). "It's getting tougher and it's going to get a lot tougher if the border doesn't open up by March 7. Everyone's lost their optimism since those two cases," says Huron County Cattlemen's Association president Glen Walker of the group's annual meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. Dennis Martin, feedlot specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. says he's still optimistic the border will open March 7. "We should he concerned and everyone's taken a deep breath. But, when you look at the minimum risk criteria in Canada. we're allowed to have two BSE cases per million head of cows and still be a minimum risk country," he says. Martin adds that the minimum risk formula would allow for nine to 11 BSE cases each year in Canada. "But, two cows in a matter of a couple of weeks brings up the issue of consumer confidence. We certainly don't need too many more popping up right now," he says. Martin says the protectionist groups in the United States are using the two recent cases of BSE in Canada to try and keep the borders closed. "They will take that inch and try and make a mile out of it," he says. However, he says the U.S. has so far iliot made any announcement saying they're not opening the border in March. "The prices in the last few weeks have rebounded - they've got up by 10 per cent since the announcement that the borders will open. But the discovery of the two cows is deflating - what's that going to do to prices now?" he says. Martin says 2004 was a very tough year for cattle producers, tougher even than 2003 when the borders to the U.S. first closed. "We've had tremendous equity losses and cash flow shortfalls. How much more can our guys stand? We need the markets to rebound for some kind of stability," he says. Ontario Cattlemen's Association president Ron Wooddisse told Huron beef producers to remember that U.S. processors want to see the border open to Canadian beef since there is a 35 -year low in the world market's beef supply. "Canada is one of the only places that have an increased supply in beef. The world is short 800,000 metric tonnes of beef," he says. u•.it ►1 'It's getting tougher and it's going to get a lot tougher if the border doesn't open up by March 7," -- Huron Cattlemen president Glen Walker Meanwhile with a captive market, the beef processors in Canada have had a "banner year." "The U.S. beef producers have had the best year ever and they don't want to see that go away," he adds. Wooddisse says -that after the first case of BSE was found in Canada 18 months ago, scientists were expecting more cases to show up. "We knew there would be more and that they would show up in a cluster and that's the way it's unfolding," he says. See HURON, Page 2