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The Times Advocate, 2005-02-09, Page 14Crossroads 14 Wednesday, February 9, 2005 Exeter Times Advocate Spring comes early to Grand Bend winter carnival Grand Bend's winter carnival featured many sporting events such as a co-ed snow pitch tournament, the abominable snow golf tournament, the amazing race, winter olympics and snow soccer.Above, Carrie Goldsmith of Grand Bend swings for the fences dur- ing her team's game Saturday afternoon. Below, the Joker Is Wild parade made its way down Main Street Saturday morning.The carnival continues this week- end. The 19th Grand Bend Winter Carnival started last weekend amid beautiful warm weather with the theme "The Joker Is Wild," something that was reflected in Saturday morning's parade down Main Street. One of the trademarks of the annual carnival is, of course, the snow sculptures around town.Above, Darrell Gratton of Northville works on his creation in front of Riverbend Bar and Grill. Not pictured are Brian Manz and Chuck Smith, who also worked on the sculpture. (photos/Scott Nixon) News of health unit amalgamation is "extremely premature" By Pauline Kerr SPECIAL TO TIIE TIMES -ADVOCATE GODERICH — Huron County's medical officer of health, Dr. Beth Henning, does not want to see health units come under the control of larger, regional LHINs (Local Health Integration Networks). The comment was made during a meeting of Huron County council Feb. 3, in response to a statement by county Coun. Dave Urlin of South Huron. Urlin said a news article described how the province would be funding 75 per cent of the new $8 million building to house the Grey Bruce Health Unit in Owen Sound. Apparently the same news article said the Huron and Perth health units would be amalgamat- ing. The story was "extremely prema- ture" in the view of the medical officer of health. Henning said it is much too soon to say if any such amalgamation will happen. A com- mittee has been formed to conduct what she described as a "local capacity review." While amalgama- tions of health units may be among the things on the table for that committee, nothing has been done yet. Henning noted another possibility is including health units under the umbrella of the new LHINs. "A lot will be based on the report," she said. A preliminary report is due in July, she added, and with the scope of the issue, Henning wouldn't be surprised to see it take a lot longer. "I don't see how it could be com- pleted that quickly." A third possibility — one Henning personally supports — is to see the province's 37 health units remain as separate entities. In her opinion, the best way to deliver public health services in Huron is to main- tain local control by continuing to work in partnership with the coun- ty. "I think it would be very difficult to deliver public health within the LHIN structure," Henning said, not- ing there are only 14 LHINs in the province. The LHIN that health care facili- ties in Huron will be part of also includes the London Health Sciences Centre, a facility that has an enormous budget compared to the Huron County Health Unit. That, and the large geographical area of the LHIN would not be con- ducive to delivery of public health services. "I want us (Huron County Health Unit) to have a separate voice out- side the LHIN structure to serve community needs," said Henning. Henning said the province's initia- tives on reviewing health care have been spurred on by "Walkerton and SARS."