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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-08-21, Page 1r:T,,,itru°�"'�"� Crops ravaged by worst case :admIs of wheat mduld in history Prov. ' Postal Code 1 r r.., 036 . 2.44 010111.4i SP . uI SST 1 r row lea . 4.41 GM yew SI 11,133 OST 0.6.00 ind. NW paw) USEYOUILIABOIT QM I anCIOUUCI 1 Cl]CLII Card No. ' Expiry Date , U visa C] Master Card ❑ cheque endosed figtimatio TiMES ADVOCATE `424 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1Se ssa sus aom — ma arm SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 kC Children's movies 49$ ate By Breed& Burke T -A Reporter HENSALL - Thanks to fusarium wheat mould, area farm- ers consider this year's harvest to be the worst they've ever seen. Yields are low, quality is poor, prices will be affected and corn may be in danger. "Rhe yields are probably half of what they should be," said Dale Good, manager of W.G. Thompson & Sons Limited in Hensall. While last year presented an average wheat yield of 75 to 80 bushels per acre, area farmers are now producing between 35 and 45 bushels. "The majority of the crop is feed grade this year," ex- plained Good, adding most of last year's wheat was grade 1 and 2. Reduced yields mean certified seed will be in short supply this fall. Infected wheat seeds are subject to fusarium seed- ling blight, leading to early seedling death. The disease was brought on with the cool, wet spring. When wheat began to flower, mould grew on the blossoms, causing the head to shrink and turn pinkish in color. Damp, humid weather ex- acerbated the air -borne disease. "The longer it stays wet, the greater chance for infestation," explained Good, adding the wheat also suffered winter kill, which is damage caused by mild spells and cold snaps oc- curring back-tok. - Good caution although "the (farmer's) price is going to be affected because the quality isn't there," rising prices are also due to many global factors. Farmers are also concerned the disease will affect this year's corn. Fusarium hangs in damp air and settles on corn as cobs are maturing. Although cattle and poultry can handle small amounts of the mould mixed in with their feed, swine are particularly susceptible to symptoms caused by fusarium including vomiting, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, muscle spasms, weight loss and food refusal. The fusarium graminearum fungus produces deoxy- nivalenol (DON) or vomitoxin. Because DON concentrations in processed grain products are subject to strict controls, there is no risk to human health. However, breathing high levels of fusarium spores from infected crops such as corn, wheat, barley, oats and rye can cause lung damage. Only one part vomitoxin per million is allowed in pastry or Continued on page 2 Serving Exeter and ai a since 18 SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 k -f Cruise Night _ Wed. Sept. 11 John McHenry Leaves Huron Country Playhouse See page 5 Lion King Musical auditions on September 14 See page 9 Zurich Bean Festival See pages 15-18 Jazz orchestra performing outdoors GRAND BEND - A special jazz liturgy will be held at Grand Bend United Church in Grand Bend at 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 25. The lit- urgy is based on the "Parable of the Prodical Son". The narration will be done by Rev. Charles Scott of London. Original music for the liturgy was composed by Norm Tufts, and the arrangements were done by Rick Wilkins from Toronto. The orches- tra will be conducted by Wilkins, who will be one of the featured per- formers. Musicians will include: Phil Murphy, Dave Wiffin, Chris Gale, Jim Phillip, Peter Hysen, Da- vid Braid, Bob Shields, Art Lang and Johnny Bond. Vocals will be handled by Leona Seller. This is the first time that this liturgy has been presented with an orchestra. Norm Tufts as a jazz composer has written over 500 tunes, many performed and recorded by jazz or- chestras and small groups in both Canada and the United States. He has written many jazz liturgies pre- sented in the 1980's and 90's. This will be the twelfth presentation of a Norm Tufts liturgy and the sixth done at Grand Bend. Two of his lit- urgies have been presented on CBC television in 1982, 1989, 1990 and 1994. One has been done on Vision television in 1989 and 1990. Wednesday. August 21. 1996 Village News halts publication Children's cuts for only $5.00 LUCAN - The Village News, a weekly newspaper based in Lucan, has ceased publication, leaving six full-time and one part-time staff without wages. Former Village News Reporter Brian Cross informed the T -A Monday afternoon that as of July 19, the paper's employees including himself, two production staff, three advertising sales people and one receptionist were unable to cash their paycheques. In the meantime, some staff were laid off and others have quit. "I was unable to cash (my cheque). The bank wouldn't honor it," said Cross, who claims former employees plan to take legal action. "Everybody k.iew what was going on," he explained of the paper that was distributed throughout North Middlesex County from Komoka to Thorndale and from Centralia to Parkhill, with a peak distribution of 8,064 homes in January. The Village News began to publish twice a month in January 1995 and became a weekly paper by the following June. Its last edition was July 31. "There was concern the paper was in financial trouble," said Cross. "When your paycheques start bouncing, I guess you're a little bit skep- tical...Everybody knew what was going on." for cotnutl4 Village News Publisher Daryl Keen could not be roached Council opposes Video Lottery Terminals EXETER - Council discussed the implementation of Video Lot- tery Terminals at its Monday night meeting and concluded it will draw profit out of local com- munity projects. "I have a strong feeling it's real- ly going to affect the service clubs in this community," said Deputy Reeve Dave Urlin, who added money raised should stay in the area. Urlin made a motion directing staff to investigate possible af- fects the terminals may have on the community and prepare a draft bylaw prohibiting them in Exeter. Beautification Councillor Roy Triebner made a motion to move forward with the downtown beautification pro- ject including 406 Main Street. "We can put one or two areas in as a test basis," suggested Tri- ebne who cited missed op- portunities such as the PUC park- ette that could have been in- corporated into the overall plan. It was decided council will ap- proach the Beautification Com- mittee, headed by John Wuerth, to review the plan and continue with its implementation. Recreation Centre Urlin also presented the Rec- reation Centre report. A motion "that the excess expense to com- plete the warmroom project be taken out of the capital reserve fund," was carried by the com- mittee. A shortfall of $3,244 will be ab- sorbed by the committee that felt the public has been generous in do- nating $29,159 to complete the project. Urlin reported Exeter skate- boarders have been given per- mission to use the paved surface directly behind the area on a trial basis. EXETER -Thanks to the generos- ity of several local barbers and hair- stylists parents will be able to get their child's hair cut for only $5.00 next Monday and Tuesday. Huron Safe Homes for Youth will be the beneficiary of all pro- ceeds. All you have to do is bring your child to the South Huron Rec Centre Aug. 26 or 27 between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Cuts Plus, Sharon's, Friends, Doug Wedlake, Rumour's, Take 2 and Dale's Barber Shop are par- ticipating. Face painting is also available for one dollar as well as free balloons and refreshments. Exeter native appointed to Social Services EXETER - Mike Harris an- nounced a cabinet shuffle Friday that replaces Social Services Min- ister David Tsubouchi with Exeter native Janet Ecker. Ecker will move from her position as a backbencher at Queens Park and Tsubouchi will shift to Consumer and Commercial Re- lations. Ecker, 42, is the daughter of Don and Melva Ecker of Exeter and attended South Huron District High School before gradu- ating from the University of West- ern Ontario in journalism. According to the London Free Press, Ecker is a "staunch party loy- alist" and by moving her into So- cial Services, Premier Mike Harris has "cooled one of his hot spots." A furor developed when Tsubouchi cut welfare and introduced work- fare in the prov- ince. The move is also interpreted as a signal that Harris intends to reward loyalty in his cabinet. Another Exet- er native, Eliz- abeth Witmer, will continue to serve with Har- ris as minister of labor. Witmer also attended SHDHS and graduated from UWO in arts and later pur- sued teacher's college at Althouse in London. Janet Ecker <93, • 7c c S T t ONE DOLLAR The Jesus Expedition Jessica Brock gestures as she sings a song with Scott Heyink, right, at Exeter Christian Reformed Church on Thursday. Over 140 children attended Vacation Bible School during the week to participate in "The Jesus Expedition" to learn about Jesus through his miracles. Petitioners and `Friends' battle over future library location By Brenda Burke T -A Reporter LUCAN - Friends of the Library and a group of petitioners have clashed over where to house Lu - can's future library. Following council's decision on August 6 to begin negotiations on Mert and Muriel Culbert's proposed library site, Paul Dykeman began a petition that stated the village may have surplus buildings suitable for an alternative library site if amal- gamation between Lucan and Bid- dulph takes place. "We, the undersigned, petition the council of the Village of Lucan to cease negotiations for the library until amalgamation talks have reached a conclusion," stated the petition that was also handled by Gary McFalls and to a lesser ex- tent, Doug Johnston. The petition pointed out Friends of the Library, a newly -formed fundraising group, needs to raise approximately 515,000 to cover the extra costs of a five-year lease for the proposed site, which is owned by the Culberts. "This fund should be put in trust so as not to cause any extra ex- pense on the mill rate," continued the petition that also mentioned Biddulph Township had turned down extra library funding and that "council reopened this issue with less than two thirds majority." Dykeman said he was surprised council had agreed to enter into the or Continued on page 2 Friends of the Library is a newly -forme-' fundraising group In Lucan that alms to raise enough money to have the library relocated to a Main Street site owned by residents Mert and Muriel Culbert. In back, from left, Nicole Legg and Mike Anderson. In middle, from left, Claire Anderson, of the Merton Friends of the Library, Linda Thompson, Yvonne Pike, Patricia Pigott with daughter Brlanna and group chair, Mary Lynn Hetherington. In front, from left, Betty Lowe and Sue Pike with Connor Pigott.