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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-05-11, Page 1Slum Medd, Anon* Brain Malt: mtaca for Inform itIon of listings iu Iluion/Nr atl, I ii blain til., S. Seal( rtll 11)) 527-0 560 Discount Mortgagee Canadr Inc. Joy Finlayson & Sharon Medd Mortgage Consultants "Finally, a company that starts with a discount" • Doug Elliott, CFP, B.Math Fi* dd Pone i0 Nassoeimied Ana odor ram mike a my ism Best G. I.C. Rates 3. t'l % 3355% ■ 3:0,% ',DUNDEE' 26 Main St, Seaforth 527-2222 Wednesday, May 11, 2005 $1.25 includes GST In brief Warm weather draws close to 200 to fishing derby By Jason Middleton Expositor Staff Close to 200 children took advantage of Saturday morning's warm temperatures and headed to Seaforth's Lions Park to take part in the Lion's annual fishing derby. Event organizer Paul Stephen, of Seaforth, said that this year was a successful year "especially with the weather." This year, 193 children registered for the event, which is down from the 197 who participated in the event last year. Every year the children who catch the 10 biggest fish are given awards. The winner of this year's derby caught a 36.8 cm (14.5 inches) trout which did not break the record of 68.58 cm (27 inches) set a few years ago. Stephen said that a fish that big is not one of the 300 fish that are stocked in the creek every year. "That's a natural fish that got stuck in our little piece of the river because the dam was down," said Stephen. This year, Stephen said, there was a little trouble with the dambecause it was out until the Tuesday before the event. Rules for the event state that there is no fishing allowed before 7 a.m., no lures could be used and the child must catch and land the fish themselves to claim a prize. Stephen said that there are always some people who might break the rules, but many in attendance abide by them. "I think we have to do a better job making sure people do understand the rules," said Stephen. Another factor that caused worry among organizers was that trout fishing season begins on the last Saturday of April for major rivers and lakes. while the season for tributaries in Huron County now begins on the first Saturday of May. "It's (the exception is) certainly a situation a lot of people aren't aware of," Stephen said. Elliot Moose visits St. James School ..page 5 First slopitch tourney of season held over weeend ...page 16' arrlt :ylg",,s , Or' is mier :lit ,4%14111111- -°f:. 4 miaow Jason Middleton photo A fish with my name on it Karter grown, 3, of Seaforth, points out the fish he wants to catch to his uncle Tim Brown during the Lions annual fishing derby Saturday morning, which saw close to 200 kids participating. Huron East continues quest for groundwater By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor With "fairly satisfactory" results from a test well drilled a few months ago on Welsh Street, Huron East is drilling a second test well in McKillop to continue its quest to find a radionuclide -free source of drinking water for Seaforth. Clerk -Administrator Jack McLachlan told council last Tuesday that radionuclide levels of the test well were acceptable but that a second test well will be drilled near Kling's gravel pit since the Welsh Street location would only provide enough water for two-thirds of the population of Seaforth and Egmondville. Trying to choose between the alternatives of a $20 million Lake Huron pipeline in partnership with South Huron and a $3 million upgrade to the Welsh Street well in Seaforth, councillors decided last December to look further at the groundwater option in Huron East. The operating well on Welsh Street has been proven to have good quality water at a rate of 4,500 cubic metres per day, which is 50 per cent more than the well is presently equipped to pump out. But, because the well is a GUDI well (groundwater under direct influence of surface water), a filtration plant would be necessary at Welsh Street and the costs have risen from $1.7 million to $3 million. If a well can be found that is not under the influence of surface water, the filtration plant would be unnecessary. Previous tests of the local water has shown that radionuclides are least likely to be found in groundwater to the north of Seaforth. Seaforth's wells at Chalk Street and Centennial Drive were closed more than two years ago because of unacceptably high levels of radionuclides (radon gas, uranium and radium) in the water. Residents could end up spending $450 for the $3 million upgrade or $1,300 a year for the pipeline project. Hensall, which has a nitrate problem with its drinking water, voted to join the pipeline project in January. While council hoped to give South Huron an answer by March about whether or not it will join the Lake Huron pipeline, the results of further 'testing - which is expected to be done during the next two weeks - won't be known until sometime in late -June or July, says McLachlan. "At this stage, it's not council's preference to go with the pipeline but they (South Huron councillors) haven't been pressuring us for an answer. We expect to tell them in June," he says. Drilling a test well costs the muncipality $25,000 each time. The municipality will also be installing a pump on the Welsh Street test well to double check the radionuclide levels "because it's a fairly important test," says McLachlan. Huron Conservatives choose candidate Clinton's Ben Lobb wins right to represent Conservatives from field of five By Cheryl Heath Clinton News -Record Editor Native Clintonian Ben Lohh will run under the Conservative Party of Canada banner for Huron - Bruce when — and if — a federal election is called. Lohh, who lives in Holrnesville with his wifc Andrea Fisher-Lohh, has proven to he thc top candidate out of a field of five vying for the candidacy Saturday at a Conservative Party of Canada convention held at the Blyth community centre. Winning the nomination was not an easy task as three votes were necessitated by party rules that specify.a candidate must earn 50 per cent plus one of thc voting membership's ballots to earn the candidacy. Brian Trchle. president of the 1 Huron -Bruce Conservative Party of Canada association. reported party membership now stands at 950 — up nearly double from its total of 500 one month ago. "Today we have a chance to continue what we started Ben Lobb 15 months ago," said Treble, in reference to the former Progressive Conservative party's amalgamation with thc former Alliance party. Treble is confident the party will fare well if an election is called because there is a pervasive sentiment that the Liberal party is incompetent. M for long-standing Huron -Bruce MP Paul Stccklc. Treble said the time has come for him to step aside. Treble said Stccklc is a "Liberal for convenience but he knows he has to act like a Conservative to get elected." The candidates outlined their reasons for seeking the nomination during maximum time allotments of 12 minutes apiece. The winning candidate strode up to the podium with the sound of rock band U2 emanating from the speakers. Lobb, a Wescast quality control employee and assistant with the family business Lohh Auctions, said the time for change has come. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for a change," said Lohh. "The Conservative party is about grassroots politics." And, said Lobb, a grassroots movement is precisely what is needed to turn around the economic fortunes of Huron and Bruce Counties. Lobb said his four -pronged leadership will focus on honesty, hard work, teamwork and creating a solid infrastructure. He pledged "quality communication" with constituents, along with constittlency offices manned by "first rate" staff to address constituency concerns that have been ignored for too long by the ruling government in spite of the fact a Liberal MP sits at the helm for Huron -Bruce. Jason Rogers, a Mildmay resident and management team member for Wescast of Wingham, said he felt compelled to run for political office because "I have a dream of what this nation should be." Rogers said the current Member of Parliament for Huron -Bruce has failed to properly lead the riding as is evidenced by the number of family farms that are going bankrupt as well as the number of people who are forced to leave rural areas in search of work. He also said the government has a moral obligation to dedicate more funding to the military. "I believe the military is the laughing joke of this whole world," he said. Harry DenHaan, an ,accountant who lives in Seaforth, said he would base his leadership style on both the Optimist Club creed as well as the tenets of the Scouting movement. DenHaan brought a paddle up to the podium with him to symbolize the "travels down the river of life." As a Conservative candidate, DenHaan said he would lobby for changes to the Income Tax Act in order to give more breaks to farmers and small business owners. He also noted his objection to the possible legalization of same-sex marriage. David Yates, a Goderich town councillor and teacher at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton, said a change in the ruling party is needed because "today the Government of Canada stands in crisis." The three -time town councillor said the Liberal party has consistently proved itself unable to rise from self- inflicted crises. "Government money, taxpayers' money, would work for the betterment of the community," he said. Yates said the 12 years of Liberal rule have been See LOBB, Page 5