The Times Advocate, 2005-03-30, Page 22
Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Regional
wrap up
One per cent
food tax
could help
farmers
CLINTON — Huron -
Bruce MP Paul Steckle
says a one per cent
food tax could help our
struggling farm indus-
try.
The Huron Expositor
reports Steckle recently
commented on his tax
proposal at a luncheon
in Clinton sponsored by
the Huron County
Federation of
Agriculture.
Steckle says he does-
n't think anyone would
complain about a one
or two per cent food
tax if the proceeds go
directly to agriculture.
So far, Steckle says
his proposal has been
rejected by the farm
community.
Algosteel first
in port this
season
GODERICH — The
first ship of the season
arrived in Goderich's
port March 21.
According to the
Goderich Signal -Star
the journey from Owen
Sound began Saturday
and was tough because
Georgian Bay was cov-
ered with a foot of ice
and the east winds
were strong.
By nightfall the
Algosteel was loading
salt at Sifto's salt mine.
Highway
facelift
between
Clinton and
Goderich
CLINTON — Plans
are in the works to
upgrade a stretch of
Highway 8 between
Clinton and Goderich in
2008.
The Ministry of
Transportation Ontario
is expected to unveil
plans in April.
The Clinton News -
Record reports the pro-
ject includes a realign-
ment of the intersection
at Blacks Point Road
and Ben Miller Road as
well as a culvert
replacement east of
Clinton's limits.
Fire departments
receive grants
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Fire departments across Ontario are
getting money from the province for training and
equipment.
The province announced the $30 million one-time
Ontario Fire Service Training grant last week.
Locally, the municipalities of South Huron and
Lambton Shores each received $70,000, while
Bluewater and Lucan Biddulph will receive
$50,000 each.
South Huron fire chief John Morgan said he is
"extremely" pleased with the funding announce-
ment.
"This will be a real shot in the arm for fire
departments," he said Monday.
Morgan said when the grant arrives, fire depart-
ments will be told what they can spend it on,
although a press release from the province empha-
sizes training and equipment.
Morgan has been told the money will arrive by
the end of the month, but he didn't have a firm
date.
He said Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle has
been pushing for funding for training for rural fire
departments because they don't have the opportu-
nity for training like city departments do. Safety
courses will be one thing the money will be used
for.
Morgan said the money could also be used for
equipment that would normally be outside the
department's budget.
He noted that while the municipality and council
have always been supportive of the fire depart-
ments, the department has been buying some
refurbished equipment and the new funding may
allow South Huron to upgrade and buy new equip-
ment.
Of the 385 municipalities in the province to
receive funding, rural and small communities with
populations under 10,000 received 41 per cent of
the $30 million
Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell said in a press
release her riding received $680,000.
Avon -Maitland
talks continue
By Stew Slater
SPECIAL TO THE T -A
SEAFORTH — Though a
contract has yet to be
reached between the
Avon Maitland District
School Board and its ele-
mentary teachers, the
board's top human
resources official says an
ongoing work -to -rule
campaign has had mini-
mal effects on students.
"There's a small impact
in terms of teachers not
attending staff meetings,
but no impact on stu-
dents," said Avon
Maitland superintendent
Jim Sheppard last week.
"I think the teachers are
handling it very well."
In the London-based
Thames Valley District
School Board, the distrib-
ution of report cards was
recently delayed because
of a similar labour action
— a campaign which has
seen Elementary
Teachers Federation of
Ontario (ETFO) locals in
all but two of the
province's English public
school boards on work -to -
rule throughout much of
March. But according to
Sheppard, that delay was
caused by the Thames
Valley local's refusal to
allow teachers to print
the report cards; in the
Avon Maitland board,
printing is the responsibil-
ity of Educational
Assistants, who aren't
represented by ETFO.
"Our teachers have
done the report cards,
they're all written and
being sent out," Sheppard
explained.
Provincial ETFO stew-
ards were expected to
meet with local represen-
tatives around the end of
March, and Sheppard
suggested that could
potentially lead to some
further escalation of
labour action. But he
expressed confidence the
local relationship remains
strong, adding the two
sides have continued to
meet regularly.
"We've agreed on a
number of issues and
signed off on them," the
human resources super-
intendent said. "I think
it's a sign that we are
making some progress."
Local gourd a world record
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
KIPPEN — Hensall's
own Grant McGregor will
find himself in the upcom-
ing "Guinness Book of
World Records."
McGregor received con-
firmation last week that
his 9.56 -foot -long (114.75
inches) gourd has broken
the previous world record
by nearly five inches.
McGregor started grow-
ing his gourd indoors last
year, then moved it out-
side May 24 at Wayne
McBride's farm in
Kippen, where some days
it grew as much as 10
inches.
By Aug. 28, the gourd
had reached its full
length. At one point,
McGregor had to dig a
two -foot hole in the
ground to ensure the
gourd grew straight.
McGregor's gourd won
at last year's Port Elgin
Pumpkinfest. Organizers
of that event then
approached the
"Guinness Book of World
Records," who fmally con-
firmed McGregor's as the
world's largest last week.
"I think it's neat,"
McGregor told the Times -
Advocate Monday. "My
grandchildren think it's
great."
McGregor didn't start
out trying to grow a giant
gourd and isn't sure why
his grew so big.
"If I only knew, I'd do it
again," he said.
McGregor is one of
three Pumpkinfest win-
ners from last year to
make it to the "Guinness
Book of World Records"
— Harry and Carson
Willemse of Forest made
it with their 138.5 -inch
asparagus, while Al Eaton
of Richmond will be
entered for his 1,446 -
pound pumpkin.
For their growing
achievements, the win-
ners will have their
POLICE BRIEF
Pregnant
woman
assaulted
EXETER — A 21 -year-
old man has been charged
with assault after a preg-
nant woman was assault-
ed.
Police responded to a
domestic call on March 18
at an apartment in Exeter.
Officers learned a couple
had been together for four
years and had recently
separated. Police say the
couple argued over an
unborn child, and the
woman was thrown to the
floor. The victim received
medical attention.
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Grant McGregor, left, and Dustin Mathonia, both of
Hensall, stand with McGregor's 9.56 -foot -long gourd,
which will be entered into the "Guinness Book of
World Records?' McGregor grew the gourd in Kippen
with Mathonia's assistance. (photo/submitted)
names printed in the
"Guinness Book of World
Records" and will receive
a certificate.
McGregor, a regular
competitor in
Pumpkinfest, intends to
enter again this year.
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