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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-01-19, Page 6USE TRAIL AT YOUR OWN RISK • YOU must know and obey the Motorized Snow Vehicles Act (Ont.) • YOU must use caution at all times • Emergency and cell phone service may not be available {- ' 6 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Jan. 19. 2005 "c'eeared ai 9ietwit e1 Weeeda el4Kr* ., ALBERT STREET DENTURE CLINIC Denture Specialist Dean R. McTaggart D.D. Complete and Partial Dentures Denture Repairs Relines - Additions 482-1195 50 ALBERT STREET CLINTON � THE HURON -PERTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD JUNIOR AND SENIOR KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION JANUARY 24 - 28, 2005 Children registering for the JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN program must be 4 years of age on or before December 31, 2005. Children register- ing for the first time in the KINDERGARTEN program must be 5 years of age on or before December 31, 2005. Please bring Birth Certificate, Baptismal Certificate and Immunization Record Card of the child you intend to register. The following schools offer Junior Kindergarten classes: St. Joseph's (Kingsbridge) 529-7646 St. Patrick's (Dublin) 345-2033 Our lady of Mt. Carmel (Mt. Camel) 2373337 St. Patrick's (Kinkora) 3935580 St. Joseph's (Clinton) 482-7035 Holy Name of Mary (St. Marys) 284-2170 Precious Blood (Exeter) 235-1691 St Mary's (Hesson) 5958929 St Mary's (Goderich) 524-9901 St. Ambrose (Stratford) 271-7544 St James (Seaforth) 527-0321 St Joseph's (Stratford) 271-3574 St Boniface (Zurich) 236-4335 St Aloysius (Stratford) 271-3636 Sacred Heart (Wingham) 357-1090 Jeanne Sauve (Stratford) 2733396 Parents who expect that their child will enrol in the optional French Immersion Program in Grade 1 have the option of enrolment for Junior/Senior Kindergarten at either their local Catholic School or the French Immersion Schools, St. Mary's School, Goderich or Jeanne Sauve School, Stratford. We are looking forward to meeting our Graduating Class of 2017. Bernard Murray, Larry Langan, Chairperson of the Board Director of Education News Mitchell Advocate photo West Perth firefighters battled a fire last Wednesday, Jan. 12 which gutted the rented farm house of Bruce and Deb Ruston on Road 180, north of Dublin. Wind accelerated -the blaze, which began in the kitchen. Deb and her two young girls were home at the time of the fire, and all escaped unharmed, although Deb suffered minor burns. Heavy fog also complicated things, Chief Bill Elliott said. Community comes to the aid of family of four after fire destroys their home By Marc Hulet Advocate Staff Fire ripped through a farmhouse on Road 180, three kilometres north of Dublin, on Jan. 12. The home was destroyed but Deb Ruston escaped with her two young children Kayla and Lindsey. "I just wanted to get away," Deb said. "I just wanted to get the kids out." The children were unharmed and Deb was KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT by Craig Nicholson (©2004 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.) Snowmobile trails are not highways. Professional engineers and road -builders construct highways to exacting universal specifications. Transportation authorities regulate highways to make them as predictable and controlled as humanly possible. On the other hand, trails are mostly built and operated as natu- ral environment corridors for off-road activity by volunteers. Comparatively unregulated, trails are inherently unpre- dictable, uncontrollable and with potential for risk. Similarly, snowmobiles are not cars. Cars are intended for on -road use in a highly engineered and regulated setting. Snowmobiles are for off-road, recreational use, not for driving on roadways. So why do many snowmobilers persist in operating their sleds as if they are cars on a highway? Why is anyone sur- prised when doing so results in injury or death? They don't want to admit they made a poor choice or took a foolish risk. They don't want to take responsibility for their own actions. And they don't want to pay for their own injuries, loss of income or long-term care. No one is being forced to go snowmobiling. It's not a right or a necessity or even a way of life. Going snowmobiling is a personal choice each individual makes. Like any outdoor recreational activity, snowmobiling has inherent risks; anything can happen. Snowmobiling often occurs in extreme or variable conditions, usually in remote areas far from help and services. Trees fall, trails washout, ter- rain is irregular, surfaces ice up and storms happen. So those who willingly choose to go snowmobiling should always expect the unexpected. When approached responsibly, snowmobiling is enjoyable, invigorating, exciting and entertaining. It's an excellent way to get outdoors, escape from everyday work and stress, devel- op an appreciation of nature, socialize with family and friends. and to get some exercise and activity in winter. But it also requires a constant and heightened level of skill, atten- tion, care. caution and quick reactions. Snowmobiling is not a mindless, carefree, devil-may-care or forgiving activity. Often, there is not a great margin for error. So when riders push an already risky envelope, they are betting that their self -perceived skills and abilities are up to the task. This decision is their own personal choice: too often they are wrong. Professional racers are among the world's biggest risk -tak- ers. They are also among the most highly trained and disci- plined experts. thoroughly knowledgeable about their activity, its risks and how to avoid them. Snowmobilers who try to emulate racers talk the talk, but most often don't have the skills to walk the walk. They have a drink or two. They plunge ahead precipitously into the unknown. Their misplaced daring -do surpasses the margin for error. At the very least, they must shoulder full responsibility when they don't know what to expect and things go very wrong. EVERY DOIN' IT skidoo. 114Sf S f\OTh NG LIKE h BOMBARDIER' ATV S@IM• A100 «SALES •SERV CE •ACCESSORIES 1 1/4 Miles North of Seaforth 527-0120 POLARIS' The Mr/ Out. SNOWMOBILES ACCESSORIES SALES &SERVICE MaI POOLS & SPORTS 234 Main St., Seaforth 527-0104 r Your ARCTIC CAT" Sledquarters Snowmobiles & ATV's Sales & Service Parts & Accessories ARCTIC (AT SHARE OUR PASSION,' Ultimate Pertorsasce Nee our Mettle', BRIAN'S SERVICE CENTRE 130 CENTRE ST. - DASMWOOD 237-3322 treated for minor burns. Her husband Bruce was not home at the time of the fire. He was working when he was told about the fire by a co-worker. West Perth Fire Chief Bill Elliott said the fire call came in at 5:11 p.m. When firefighters arrived at the scene, the fire was already well underway. "The fire had quite a start when we arrived," he said. "I'm thankful everyone got out and no one was hurt." Chief Elliott said dense fog and strong winds hampered their efforts. "The fire started at the end of the house where the wind was blowing," he said. "The wind was against us." Fire departments from Seaforth and Monkton were called in to help battle the blaze. Trucks had to travel back and forth to Mitchell for water and the fog slowed the process down, which is why both departments were called in. Chief Elliott said the departments worked well together and were on scene for about five hours. According to Chief Elliott, the fire started in the kitchen of the farmhouse. Deb had apparently turned on the wrong burner when she put on a pot of potatoes. A used pan was sitting on the active burner and the mixture of heat ,and grease in the bottom of the pan ignited the fire and quickly spread. "It was an accidental fire caused by the stove," Chief Elliott said. Deb and her children escaped the home with just the clothing on their backs. The family lost everything. Once news of the fire spread through the community, people were quick to act with donations for the family. Bruce said everything from toys to clothing to furniture to cooked meals have been dropped off at the home of Dan and Colleen O'Rourke, who welcomed the Rustons into their home after the fire. Bruce said he was overwhelmed by the community's response. "I'd like to thank everyone in the community for all the support and donations," he said. "It's greatly appreciated." "The outpouring of support from the community is wonderful," Colleen O'Rourke said. "It is unbelievable how much stuff has been dropped off." The Rustons have since moved into another farmhouse owned by Keith and Michelle Bennewies, who also rented the previous farmhouse to the family. "Everyone got out fine," Keith said. "They are all safe, that's all we care about." The Mitchell and District Credit Union set up an account for cash donations at each of their four branches in Mitchell, Sehringville, Stratford and Shakespeare. They have also been accepting clothing and household items and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Manager of Member Services Sue Earl said the response from the community has been "awesome." Earl said she took a vanload of items over to the Rustons on Jan. 15 which had been collected at their four branches. "They're overwhelmed with the response," Earl said of the Rustons. The Dublin Lions Club is also collecting for the family. Five days after the fire, Bruce said the family was coping "not too bad" given the circumstances. "It's still pretty hectic right now but it's coming along quicker than we thought," he said, adding that his daughters - their oldest Kayla is a Grade 1 student at St. Patrick's in Dublin - are still a little shook up. "They're coming around too. They're upset that they lost all their stuff." The fire on Jan. 12 was the second serious house fire in Dublin in the past month. On Dec. 19, fire gutted the home of Michelle Sinnamon and her three children, as well as the apartment of Bob Gebhardt and his son. French Immersion in demand by rural parents By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor A public information meeting is being held tomorrow (Jan. 20) at 7 p.m.at South Huron District High School by the Huron County Parents for French Immersion to drum up support for a French Immersion program in Huron County's public school system. "From Exeter to Clinton to Blyth, parents are calling on the Avon Maitland District School Board to offer French Immersion to students in Huron County in September, 200.5. And, the board is listening," says organizer Vickie Candow, in a recent press release. A parent survey has been produced and is being distributed throughout the system to parents of prospective French Immersion students. The Jan. 20 meeting, organized by local parents, will feature the president of Canadian Parents for French (Ontario), administrators, teachers and school board officials who will present information and answer any questions from parents regarding French Immersion programs. Monika Ferenczy, CPF president for Ontario, will discuss how federal and provincial grants offset the cost of French Immersion with additional per pupil funding above the foundation grant. She also will describe how provincial transportation grants further allow hoards to access funds to transport students. "French Immersion students perform well on grade 3 and grade 6 EQAO tests and help increase the district school board's provincial standing for student success," says Candow. Research in French Immersion over the last 25 years shows students perform as well or better than students in the English stream with increased abilities in problem solving, communication skills, organization, study habits, leadership, independence and cultural sensitivity, she adds. "French Immersion is an educational investment in the community," says Candow. "Huron County parents are much closer to receiving equal access to the French Immersion education that their neighbours are already enjoying."