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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-09-04, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 $F 2Sat on lawn furniture 4 111111-41M ' ryt--f R_,rN-•,vita 717:," SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 JJ1 Cruise Night Wednesday 11 Wednesday. September 4. 1996 ron one em tie ow 491t1B• „-1 to The 1 out. If you went s Times -Advocate, you're missk 1 Use the coupon below an subscribe todayl 1 Name: - -_- 1 Address City _ 1 Prov I Postal Code 6USSCEVPTIQN RAMA: MIMIC! I1 year $35 s a45 GSTe2 ywr $63.4.41 GST 1 OUT ONTAetQ 1 yes, yew . 4.41 GST•2 y $110 . e.33 GST 1 QUr&DE CANADA I Q.00 (nd. {ee.40 postage) 1 1 1 1 1 VSE YOUR CREDIT CARD OCEICLICLICI 1 10000 card No. I Expiry Date 1 0 Visa L1 Master Card 1 0 Cheque enclosed Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE 1 424 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6, mon — OM W - MI Inside The Weigands Teaching in Brussels See In the News page 3 Exeter Saddle Club '96 See Crossroads Second front Huron Research Station --- Postpones I-- field day See page 19 Numbers up at SHDHS EXETER - The enrollment at South Huron District High School jumped from 848 students last year to at least 924 on the first day of classes Tuesday. "The guidance office is just full of kids registering,” said Secretary Jean Mason minutes before an in- troductory assembly was to begin at 9 a.m. Also expanded is the school's student council. According to Bill Kline, head of communication for the council, the group now consists of 26 members from senior and jun- ior and senior grades - a change from yells past when junior repre- sentatives were not included and the membership was about half its current number. Next week student council has plans for Grade 9 Welcome Week. On Monday 'minor niners' will be required to perform elaborate acts on stage. On Thursday all grades are invited to a Grade 9 dance that will begin at 7:30 p.m. Money raised from buying slaves on Tuesday and Wednesday will go to the Guidance Support Team (GST) to help with Friday's activ- ities. Also on the upcoming high school agenda: September 19 is Picture Day. Eagerly awaiting for their school bus Tuesday moming to travel to Stephen Central School from Crediton are from the left, Jackie Payne, Rachel Mungar, Becky Barrett, Kaylee Barrett, Melody Mungar and Lindsay Barrett. Biddulph andLucan ready for meeting BIDDULPH - In preparation for the second public meeting on amalgamation to be held In other matters at its Aug. 20 meeting, council accepted the tender submitted by Craw - on Sept. 5 at 7:30 p,m. at the Lucan Community Memorial Centre, Biddulph Township ford Construction in the amount of $6,215 to supply and install a new roof on the eastern gguncil discussed the amalgamation cop>ltee's revised draft resucturin proposal. section of the road department shed. �.. - The proposal's form was draftedir tift�6 scions by John Cute, of the Min- Council also directed Clerk -Treasurer Lally I otscfn to order -25 Sugar Maples and 25 istry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. A breakdown of expenses based on 1996 budgets White Ash from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority for fall planting at an es - of both municipalities was also presented. timated cost of $10 each. Who's contaminating the water? nt. atapublic meetingin Zurich last week stressed Hay Township A particrpa Council should avoid consideringthe ,issue a"farmers versus cottagers" debate By Brenda Burke T -A Reporter ZURICH - Are E. Coli bacteria levels along St. Joseph shores caused by poor farm manure prac- tices, faulty cottage sewer systems, seagulls or dog poop? That's what at least 50 people want to find out, judging by a pub- lic meeting at the Hay Township Hall on August 2? where views and recommendations were shared on the area's watqr quality. "There's no Iienying there's a wa- ter problem," began Frank Moore, of the St. Joseph Shores Home Owners Association that originated 10 years ago to represent issues of property owners. By the end of September, the 40 - plus member association will pre- pare a report for Health Canada's Great Lakes Health Effects Pro- gram, which consists of partner- ships for community education and action on health and environment is- sues. The group was allotted $3,000 to complete a one-year project and their report will describe the sever- ity of the water problem as well as look into sources. In partnership with the Huron County Health Unit and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, the St. Joseph association hired two students to test the area's watershed during the summer. A brief pres- entation of sample site levels was given at the meeting by Bonnie Bannerman, an environmental sci- ence student at Trent University. Through last year's ABCA study, St. Joseph E. Coli levels were found to be the worst along the area lake - shore. Klaus Seeger, of the Huron County Health Unit, praised the as- sociation for initiating its study, adding the Health Unit has been wanting to start such a project for some time but hasn't been able to test the water as often as it would like. He encouraged the start-up of similar studies, pointing out there have been reductions in water sam- pling projects due to funding cuts. "Bacteria don't always get de- stroyed over time," he said, ex- plaining E. Coli can settle during the winter and contaminate next season's water. The health unit has posted signs on county beaches at the beginning of summer but Seeger admitted there has been conflicting opinion on whether to post the signs once the water reaches 100 or 200 E. Coli parts per million. In her pres- entation, Bannerman stated 100 is the safety cut-off point. Seeger said signs go up throughout the summer once three poor samples have been taken back to back. The property owners association plans to continue its investigation. "We don't want to draw any hard and fast conclusions at this point," "There's no de - stressed Moore. nying there's a "We're just col- waterTOb- lecting information." p Moore's wife, lem...We have ex - Nancy, who is a reg- pectations of the istered nurse, de- politicians and we scribed E. Coli aswill go after that." bacteria in human and animal waste that is especially dangerous to the elderly, young and those with weak immune systems. Because infection appears four to six days after swim- ming, it is impossible to detect im- mediately, which makes It difficult for youngsters spending time at the beach. Symptoms include stomach aches, diarrhea, vomiting and skin infections of die eyes and ears. E. Coli levels vary, depending on factors such as rainfall, soil mois- ture and the time of year. The bac- teria is found in liquid manure run- off and water from the Zurich la- goon, explained Nancy. "The water is contaminated at least part of the time and maybe with a group effort we can do something about it," she said, re- ferring to water in the Purgel Gully, a , popular swimming spot that opens up into St. Joseph waters. The association will hold its sec- ond public meeting on the cont- mination issue this spring. It will also meet with the Ministry of the Environment and seek support of Hay Township Council. "We have expectations of the pol- iticians," said Frank, "and we will go after that." "(The) municipality has to sit on both sides of the fence," said Hay Township Deputy Reeve Jim Love, adding not only is there lack of funding, council doesn't want to upset area farmers. Besides, he said, MOE is not responding to the issue. "I think it's up to our township council to come to grips with this," said a man who suggested council appoint a repre- sentative to help deal with the issue. When asked for his comments at the end of the meeting, Love re- sponded, "So where is the pollution coming from? To say it's coming from the narrow scope of Hay Township is misleading." He suggested winds carry con- taminated water from elsewhere and added there are only four live- stock operations in the area's wt.' tershed compared to a total of 34. 40 yews ago. Causes of E. Coli contamination were a heated el the meeting. Private treatment is a contributing said Tom Prout, director of the Ausable Bay- field Conservation Authority. Hee000u a ed people to check their systems and pump them every lacks power in the issue, it can take According to Seeger, lawn fer- three years to keep them clean and initiative as a "first step." tilizer and dog feces contribute to lengthen their life span. Concern was also expressed the problem. A woman in the midi - However, suggested Seeger, "The about winterized cottages with out- ence suggested other possible caus- more you pump, the more places dated systems. Although a dye test es of water contamination such as you've got to put the sewage." can be used to find faulty septic pollution, erosion and flood con- MOE, which has authority in systems, it's difficult to detect. trol. sewage system decisions, was un- Prout advised people not to feed "There's a lot of problems. I'd able to send representatives to the seagulls, which are another cause like to know where they come meeting and Moore claims they of contamination, and added, "the from," said Jody Durand, one of the have been difficult to reach. Seeger saying "'Clean up your own back- few farmers in the audience. claimed although the Health Unit yard' goes a long way." fir Continued on page 2 Poker rally sy Days Car Poker Ratty kept Unda and in Russell busy on Sunday registering cars for the township mystery tour. The 65 mile route was mapped around Hay Township landmarks and provided an opportunity to learn more about the community's history. A Hay Days Feast followed the poker rally.