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Huron Expositor, 2005-07-13, Page 22 - THE HURON EXPOSITOR, July 13.2005 w N. • e s w l P1 , ENS •L411Z.A., A11.17M NCIT/VE PERFORMAAKB WILL BE CLOSED FOR VACATION Monday, July 25 to Tuesday, August 2 50 Railway St., Seaforth 527-0967 SeRfOrth Ana Residents ft Btudnesses re now taking orders for e Home to the Country" n and Yellow Ribbons d Bows to decorate your home or business. Last day to order is July 23 le) Teleflora n' ROOMS i7 Main Street, Seaforth 527-0555 I3ox Office - 523-9300 1>LYT1 1 F E ST! l Powers 8 Gloria by Keetli Rotllston Juh ? -\antis! 13 rich)} corn!, and pop. cit Yalu of friendship i and healing Clip this ad to receive a free poster when attending a 2005 production. hensall.bydesign july 16 & 77 2005 10am•5pm The Village of Hensall is hosting our second annual event to raise funds, raise profile and increase a sense of community and pride. JURIED ART SHOW & SALE ICE SCULPTURE SHOWCASE FLORA-GANZA... A Garden Tour de Force and Flower Show GARDEN ART MART and... ;is \In41i2lit Artists contact: JAN HOOVER (519) 262-3545 janhoover99@hotmarl.com General inquiries: ANN BAYLEY (519) 262-3500 anneicecutture.com advertsemen7 culture inC. Hensall 06 261 9961 News Group tries to breath life into struggling Block Parent Program By Ben Forrest Expositor Staff A group of locals is attempting to breathe new life into Seaforth's struggling Block Parent program. Paula Stackhouse, an employee at Seaforth Cooperative Children's Centre, is among them, and helped organize an information session, held June 22, hoping to drum up support for a program that currently only has about five people taking part. Don Shropshall, community service officer with the Huron OPP, spoke at the meeting, outlining the benefits of having a Block Parent program in the community and explaining the responsibilities of Block Parents, as well as the screening process through which all BPs must go through. Also speaking during the evening was Marg Rooke, chairman of Ontario Block Parent Program Incorporated, which oversees all of the Block Parent communities in Ontario. She related the story of her son, who was out riding his bicycle about 10 years ago, hit some gravel and was launched over the handlebars of his bike. He gouged his arm and didn't think he could make it all the way home with his bike in tow, she explained, and went to a Block Parent instead, who then called his mother. Relating the same story in an interview prior to the meeting, Rooke said, "It was just such a huge relief, because he could have gone to any place for help, but who's to say that that person wouldn't have taken advantage of him?" All potential Block Parents go through an application program that includes a police background check on anyone over the age of 12 in the home, something that has deterred some locals from becoming involved in the past. Minor infractions like speeding tickets won't disqualify an applicant, Stackhouse explained, but more serious offences - especially those pertaining to violence or abuse of any kind would cause the rejection of the application. Speaking during his presentation to the commonly -held belief that children are at a low risk in communities like Seaforth, Shropshall said he was aware of an incident where a child was approached at the stoplight in Seaforth by a man claiming to need directions. The man invited the child into his car, Shropshall said, but was not successful. Stackhouse commented on the issue to the Expositor, saying she would like to believe that bad things never happen in a conununity like Seaforth, but that the Block Parent program is helpful even if only as a preventative measure. Even if the program is "only used once, it's served its•purpose," she says. Some potential Block Parents have been apprehensive about joining the program because they think it involves a great deal of time, but Shropshall, Rooke and Stackhouse stressed that this is not the case. Any time a Block Parent can give - even it it's only a few hours a month - is better than nothing, says Stackhouse. "I know myself, I'm a mother now, so when I do become a Block Parent, it will be probably evenings and weekends when Pm home," she says. "And, you know, it's not when I have a house full of guests. I get to pick and choose when I have a sign in my window." Up until a few years ago, the Seaforth Block Parent program was run by the Seaforth Cooperative Children's Centre, at which time the responsibility was taken on by Lauren Rooyakkers. She had struggled to find support, however, and it looked as if the program might disappear completely. Within the past six months, however, Stackhouse and two others have come alongside to help. Only about four interested parties not already involved with the program came to the June 22 meeting, but Stackhouse says the group would like to have the program back "up and running" in time for the next school year, even if only with five to 10 new recruits. She said the ideal situation would be one in which there is one Block Parent on each block, but Stackhouse knows that may not be a practical goal in a small community. Still, Stackhouse said she herself is committed to stay involved in the program for "at least a few years, if not longer" to a program that both she and Rooke see as absolutely vital for the sake of the safety of the children in the area. Man turns himself in after short standoff A standoff between Huron OPP and an armed man in Seaforth ended peacefully last Tuesday, when the man turned himself over to police after an hour. At approximately 1 p.m. last Tuesday, Huron OPP received a 911 about a distraught man in a Seaforth residence. Officers arrived within minutes to find that a young man was upset over family issues. The man appeared .as if he might become violent so family members left the home. Huron OPP officers arrived on the scene within minutes to find that a young man was upset over family issues and was brandishing a knife. OPP blocked off a section of Chalk Street and advised employees of the nearby Avon Maitland District School Board office about the situation. "We are just really relieved that it didn't happen when school was on," said Huron OPP Sr. Const Don Tom Williscraft photo Huron OPP officers block off a section of Chalk Street where a distraught and armed man barricaded himself in his residence. The man came out after talking with police for an hour. Shropshall. The officers who arrived The man at first refused to first on the scene continued leave the home and a to communicate with the negotiator, canine unit and man, who after an hour Emergency Response Team walked out of the house and were called to help contain turned himself over to police. the area and talk him out of The 25 -year-old man was the home. taken to the Seaforth Community Hospital and was transferred to the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich for a 72 -hour psychological assessment. No one was hurt in the stand off and the investigation continues. Two drivers arrested in Seaforth for driving under the influence Two men in their thirties were arrested and charged last week after both were found driving two times over the legal'limit on Huron East roads. On July 7, Huron OPP received a traffic complaint regarding a vehicle travelling westbound in Huron East on Huron Road. The officer was given a Storew savings are o0"lde cI ALL SIDEWALK MARKED RACKS,�\ ITEMS INSIDE lor e er able $n e "'EXIT SAVINGS -411(tN CLEARANCE �flOO . 3 Days Only Thursday Saturday, July 14 - 16 AN dales 1a11fu1 43 Albert St., Clinton y Tfau ady 41124872 description of the vehicle and found it in Seaforth. The vehicle, a black 2005 Ford Explorer, was stopped and the driver, a 39 -ear -old man from Burlington, was arrested for impaired driving and taken for breath tests which found he was two times over the legal blood alcohol limit. On July 8, at 10:30 p.m. OPP were contacted about a single vehicle crash on Front Road in Huron East. After an officer arrived he found that a black 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix had been involved in a crash and that the driver, a 32 -year-old Huron East impaired. The officer then arrested the driver for impaired driving and took him for breath tests which revealed his blood alcohol was twice • man, was Correction In an article entitled "Box Furniture has new owners as 'Cub' retires" in last week's edition of the Huron Expositor there were two errors in fact. Gary Betties did not own the Box Funeral Home. Betties managed the funeral home for two years. Also, Betties sold the ambulance service, not to the county, but .to Brad Lucas, of Zurich, before the county took the service over. The Expositor regrets the error and is sorry for any misunderstanding (his may the legal limit. In both cases the men were charged with impaired driving and driving a motor vehicle with over 80 mgs. The 39 -year-old Burlington man will attend court on Sept. 26, while the 32 -year- old Huron East man will attend court on Sept. 19. ATV stolen from residence Huron OPP are investigating after a four wheeled ATV was stolen from a Huron East residence on Browntown Road. The resident told police that someone had entered their property between July 5 and 7 and stole a red 2002 Yamaha Grizzly four wheel ATV valued at $8,000. The ATV has Ontario registration 1116CP6. If you have any information contact Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. have caused. Also, in last week's edition of , the Huron Expositor in an article entitled "St. Columban parishioners denied heritage designation from Huron East'? there was a misrepresentation of fact. The current church building at St. Columban is not 173 years old, but rather the parish has been located at that property for that amount of time. The Expositor is sorry for any misunderstanding this may have caused.