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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2005-07-27, Page 1_IN111Ttr,c.� Clinical Systems DR. ROBERT SHEPHERD Practice in Psychology 194 Townsend St. Clinton Phone & Fax 519.482.1799 Visit www.inpsyt.com for more information In brief Huron East had 'solid year in municipal accounting,' says auditor By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Huron East had "a good solid year in municipal accounting" in 2004, the municipality's auditor Mike Meyers told council last Tuesday. Meyers highlighted the municipality's $300,000 in reserves, which he said was "a sign of good stewardship,' along with a decreasing amount of debt at $250,000 as positives for the year. "The books are in good shape. I'm very pleased with the cooperation we've gotten from (Clerk - Administrator) Jack (McLachlan)- . and (Deputy -Clerk) Brad (Knight) and all the staff," he said. He told councillors not to be alarmed by the decrease of total capital from $1.018 million to $706,163 for the Seaforth Community Development Trust and praised the trust for its acquisition of both the Seaforth post office and the Community Care Access Centre building. "You've got a building there (CCAC) with a long life that's a benefit to the community. There are two significant assets owned by the trust that don't show up on statements that more than make up for the difference in funds," he said. Inside... Council 17"" tours , < Bridges development... t• Pairs 7 Seaforth beats Wingham in North Huron soccer final... page 14 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 $1.25 includes GST ALBERT STREET DENTURE CLINIC Denture Specialist Dean R. McTaggart D.D. Complete and Partial Dentures Denture Repairs Relines & Additions 482-1195 5o Albeit st., Clinton It's time to come home to the country 'I think we're all going to have a good ol' time,' says organizer By Jason Middleton Expositor Staff After a year and a half of planning, it's time for past and present residents of Seaforth to get ready to Come Home to the Country this weekend. While festival organizer Maureen Agar is not sure if the weekend will attract as many people as Homecoming '95 did, she said that people are "going to be pleasantly surprised. "I think the crowds are going to be excellent," Agar said. The three-day festival will run from Friday night until Sunday evening and will feature events ranging from dances, barbecues and hot air balloon rides to a magician in Victoria Park and local talent at the Legion. "I think we're all going to have a good ol' time," Agar said. "That's the whole point." A year and a half ago, Agar began planning the festival with some other people to help boost town spirits. "I just hope it builds up the spirits of the town and makes everybody think about how lucky we are to live in such a great town," she said. People from as far away as western Canada, Toronto and London are planning to attend the festival, which celebrates the community of Seaforth. Because of a dwindling number of volunteers in the area, Agar said that many of the groups had to work Jason Middleton photo Mery Agar decorates the Come Home to the Country storefront on Main Street where tickets and information about this weekend's events can be found. together to make events work. "It's working out really well," she said. Agar said that she thinks that everything during the weekend is going to be exciting, including the dances and dinners, but said that the high school reunion should be a highlight of the weekend. "I think the best is going to be at the hospitality tent at the Legion," Agar said. "It's going to be a high school reunion just for people to get together and talk about old times, all the fun they had living in Seaforth and how they like coming back and visiting the area." Beef packing plant plans in the works for Brussels By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor A visit three months ago from federal Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell to Brussels could result in a beef packing plant behind the Brussels Stockyard. "During that visit, he (Mitchell) said Canada needed 25,000 more head a week killed for the export market. And, with the largest stockyard in Ontario, I thought we could be the perfect place for it," says Huron East Mayor Joe Seili. With $25,000 in seed money from Huron East council, Seili began researching the concept, talking to local farmers, the province, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and local politicians such as Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle and MPP Carol Mitchell. "We are aiming for a farmer -owned co- op to own the plant," he says, adding that he's already received letters of support from the Ontario Corn -Fed Beef Association and the OAtario Cattlemen's Association. Seili is basing the model on similar plants in Prince Edward Island and in the Western provinces where farmers own their own hooks and supply beef for them. "We want a bland of beef that is a higher cut, higher grade and a higher quality product and we're hoping for markets other than the States," he says. With help from the Huron Business Centre, Seili is researching a feasibility study and market plan. Land has been chosen behind the Brussels Stockyard and a public meeting at Huron East council's Aug. 9 meeting will determine if there are any objections locally to the plan. So far, Seili has heard only support for the plan, especially from farmers who now must ship their beef to plants in Toronto, Kitchener, Guelph, Niagara and Quebec. "This idea is helping to cut costs for local farmers because it cuts down on trucking. The beef is coming to the stockyards so why not truck it out processed?" he says. "We need economic development in this area. As I've said before, Huron East is open for business," says Seili. He adds that aiming for markets outside of the U.S. will prevent the worry of American border closures. A meeting for potential investors in the beef processing plant in Brussels is expected to be held sometime in mid- August. The reunions will be happening on Saturday afternoon for graduates from before the 1950s at 12:30 p.m., 1950 to 1960 at 1 p.m., 1960 to 1970 at 1:30 p.m., 1970 to 1980 at 2:30 p.m., 1980 to 1990 at 3 p.m. and 1990 to 2001 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets for events such as the dances on Friday and Saturday night were not selling as fast as Agar thought they would at the beginning of the month, but in the past few weeks sales have picked up. The weekend will kick off with the Seaforth Business Improvement Association's See COME, Page 2 County plan could close daycares, council told By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor A plan by Huron County to centralize its resource consultants could close Huron's three municipal daycare centre, including Tuckersmith Day Nursery in Vanastra, Huron East council was told on Tuesday. Five resource consultants (who fill 3.5 positions) with offices at the municipal daycare centres in Vanastra. Goderich and Wingham, pay $19,300, $15,436 and $11,168 respectively to each daycare centre for administrative costs. Resource consultants provide special needs services to children at licenced daycare facilities and at early childhood centres throughout Huron County. The $19,300 paid to Tuckersmith Day Nursery constitutes more than half of Tuckersmith's $34,000 annual budget. The county's plan. would centralize the consultants at the Jacob Memorial building just south of Clinton. Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan, who also sits on county council, called the situation a "catch-22" since he said he's in favour of the county saving money. "But, it could be enough to close our daycare centre because we wouldn't be able to swallow it (the Toss in revenue)," he said. But, Eveleen McDonagh, the county's children services manager, said in a phone interview that the plan's aim is See PLANS, Page 5 Pre:,r,r led by Il►r. `,r,oforlrt PIA FRIDAY, JIJLY 29 Events Include: Live Entertainment Street Danr e Faroe Pfntinrl Game', Hor',e Carriage; Ride Kids Play Are Clow % Crk,i: Night. And Moonlight Mar)nev, SEE dJR FLYER IN THIS PAPER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS! of