HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-12-29, Page 17Wednesday, Deeember,s29. 1999
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17
Jun.2,1999
The long anticipated Stephen Township arena project got a healthy boost front
Stephen council. The council agreed to match any private ftiindraising 3 to 1 to a
maximum of $ 300,000.
or The Avon -Maitland elementary school teachers and the school board have rat-
ified a new two year contract. The teachers have been working without a contract
since August 31, 1998.
Or Exeter council awarded this year's road work to Lavis Contracting for the price
of $326,630.88. The Lavis price was just under the estimated price of $330,000.
June 9,1999
or The Zurich Chamber of Commerce has decided to promote its Swiss begin-
nings and try to emphasize it. Steps will be made in the future to rattly this propos-
al.
mar Although the Exeter public amalgamation meeting was quick, poorly attended
and basically eventless the Stephen meeting was quite different. Many residents
were concerned with the amalgamation saying it was forced upon the citizens.
Kr An Exeter family has won a $550,000, fully furnished home in the Dream of a
Lifetime lottery for London hospitals. The family wants to live in Exeter but plans
to visit the house, especially for the $50,000 home entertainment package.
June 16,1999
fr The Lovelace family from Exeter won the grand prize in the charity Dream of a
Lifetime lottery - a $550,000 fully furnished, four bedroom dream home.
• A quantity of concentrated Dombind spilled at the McGillivray Twp. sheds. The
McGillivray community rallied together to contain and clean up the spill which pro-
ceeded to run into the Parkhill (Mud) Creek.
gir Upset Stephen Twp. residents express their concerns at a public meeting to
discuss Exeter, Stephen amalgamation.
June 23,1999
pr According to Mike Scott of the Ontario Special Crimes Unit, Huron County has
the highest number of marijuana plants seized in Ontario. Huron's climate, sparse
population, large water sources and , remote areas makes it a good location for
growing pot
The movement to improve health care in Exeter is continuing but more office
space is needed for the influx. The office space problem may be solved with a
health clinic which is in the works.
The public amalgamation meeting for Usborne was well attended and many
people voiced their concerns about the proposed South Huron municipality. Most
of the concerns were about costs.
June 30,1999
O r The Times -Advocate and nine other newspapers in the J.W. Eedy family have
been sold to Metroland. Metroland is a subsidiary of Torstar which owns many
large newspapers and publishing companies.
• r A Zurich schoolteacher was nabbed after a $242,000 drug bust Exeter OPP
executed a search warrant and confiscated 969 plants and a number of hydroponic.
systems,
or Since all three municipalities have approved the amalgamation, the proposal
has been sent to the'Huron County council for approval. If the county approves ft it
will be sent to Queen's Park for fuel approval.
•`f • ill w3
July 7,1999
lir The Grew) Bend village council has decided to sell its PUC. The PUC will be
handed over to the Ontario Hydro Services Company for $1.8 million.
gir The 46th annual meeting of the South Huron hospital board summed up a busy
year for the hospital. The meeting reviewed the past year, looked at the budget and
looked to the future.
. People who do not own fishing equipment can still go fishing at Morrison Dam
with the Tackle Share program. People can now rent equipment to fish at the Dam.
July 14,1999
▪ A single tier government for Huron County has been voted down with a
resounding `no' by South Huron representatives. The motion was defeated 41-20
In a recorded vote.
ear The Avon -Maitland School Board received a positive review on their progress
with amalgamation. The review came from the province's Education Improvement
Commission.
sr Hay Township is unhappy about the 'Original Six' proposal of putting the
munidpal offices in a more central location.. Hay council argues that it should be in
a more central location.
July 21,1999
•r 'Nvo men were killed and five people were injured in a traffic accident south of
Hensall. Daniel Martin and Tyler Trimble died after their pickup crossed over the
centre line and struck several, vehicles. z'r t.f ..�_, f,
sr A reward has been put out for the people who were involved in a vandalizing
spree at the Exeter lagoon. A scale house was burnt down, a bulldozer was dam-
aged and a portable toilet was wrecked.
or Another drug bust was made by the Exeter OPP this time in Exeter. Several
thousands of dollars worth of drugs and drug growing equipment were confiscated.
July 18,1999
s' The Grand Bend village council has looked at complaints coming in from area
businesses and want the police to crack down on problem visitors to their village. A
county -wide police contract may help bring a solution.
ar The Bluewater amalgamation group has given in to Hay township's ultimatum
to not sign the amalgamation proposal unless the municipal office location is
moved. The group will again look at another site.
er Preston Manning visited the Pinery Antique Market outside of Grand Bend and
talked to local shoppers. He was promoting his plan for a United Alternatfve part
and a 25 percent reduction in taxes.
July 25,1999
▪ A'Well armed and high ranking member of the Loner's motorcycle club has
been charged with several offences after a raid. The raid took place near Kirkton
and resulted in many confiscated firearms.
Far Construction has finally begun on the new Lucan library after several months
of delay. The Lucan town council approves' the library plans and the tender was
awarded to Favara Construction of London.
▪ Usborne Conc.2-3 will be closed this. summer due to repairs on the Morrison
Dam. Moisture has seeped between the asphalt and concrete and has eroded the
deck. The provincial government and Usborne township will split the costs.
z;-. •..l;yt-f
Agriculture ministry
offices not for local service
By Kate Hoi*
T!M1 S -ADVOCATE STAFF
SEAFORTH
Agriculture leaders said
they weren't going to
shoot the messengers
from Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs at a Dec. 20
meeting in Seaforth but
they gave them lots of
ammunition to take back
to their political bosses.
Deputy Minister Frank
Ingratta and
Assistant
Deputy
Minister in
charge of
advisory ser-
vices Jim
Wheeler pre-
sented the
rationale
behind the latest cuts in
OMAFRA field services to
about 90 people at the
Seaforth Agriplex.
Wheeler said he doesn't
apologize for putting a
"positive spin" on the $5.2
million in cuts that
includes closing field
offices.
He maintains the new
set of priorities came from
a study of what Ontario's
farmers want from
OMAFRA.
With provincial money
going into farm income
relief programs, Wheeler
said OMAFRA can't afford
to have staff talking to
farmers on a one-to-one
basis. Even if a county has
an OMAFRA office, staff
will only be spending 20
per cent of their time in
the field and will have
much larger territories to
cover.
"The primary intent is
not to serve local clients,"
Wheeler said, adding the
office locations were cho-
sen so staff could be close
to agri-busi-
nesses.
Rather than
dealing with
farmers on an
individual
basis, staff are
holding semi-
nars for.
accountants
and lawyers which in_turn
_
can charge farmer& for
information they received
for free from OMAFRA,
Wheeler explained.
"Ninety per cent of the
farmers in Ontario are
already paying for infor-
mation, Wheeler said.
Several farmers at the
meeting told Wheeler and-
Ingratta the one-to-one
communication is what
they want and need. In
response, Wheeler told
them their expectations
would have to change.,
"We're here to ,make
"We're here to
make sure farmers
have the correct
expectations."
- JIM WHEELER
OMAFRA
sure farmers have the
correct expectations," he
told the audience.
According to a survey of
hands, several members
of the audience or their
family members attended
agricultural colleges affili-
ated with the University of
Guelph. Ingratta repeat-
edly stated the colleges
won't be closed even
through. $3.2 million is
being removed from the U
of G budget.
"Our intent is to contin-
ue to support ag colleges,"
he promised: "How. the
support will happen is
being discussed."
Huron County
Federation of Agriculture
President Pat Down told
Ingratta and Wheeler the
government needs to
spread- ney _ around_
rather that reduce agricul-
ture services. While
Toronto has infrastruc-
ture in public transporta-
tion, OMAFRA is the
infrastructure of rural
Ontario, she said.
"We ,can't afford tax cuts
anymore," she said.
"They're bleeding us dry."
Down told the audience
they must be willing to
take the initiative at the
grassroots level and
strongly lobby the politi-
cians who make thefund-
ing decisions.
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