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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-07-19, Page 1(519)235-1115 www.hurontractor.com HURON W TRACTOR Exeter A hay www:nur.nni HIGH SPEED INTERNET SERVING EXETER & SURROUNDING AREAS For as low as $19.95/mo. (519)236-4333 TIMES -ADVOCATE Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, July I9, 2006 x.25 (includes GST) St. Joseph manure spill kills 1,000 fish Devon Corners property sells A manure spill killed about 1,000 fish in St. Joseph last week, angering cottage goers.Above, 15 -year-old Kristyn Mathonia of Zurich points to one of the many dead fish. Mathonia swam in the water July 13 not knowing of the spill.Although the water is being considered safe at this point, Mathonia says "it's disgusting" to think she was in the water. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF ST. JOSEPH — About 1,000 fish are dead after a manure spill last week in St. Joesph. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment was notified by residents July 13 as well as representatives of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority who were coincidently sampling water that day. The smell of manure and the sight of many dead fish drove cottage goers indoors. The spill, which happened July 10, originating from what is believed to be a hog farm five kilometres inland did not reach St. Joesph beach until the after- noon of July 13, according the regional communications advi- sor for the southwest region of the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Environment, the Huron County Health Unit and the ABCA were all at the site last week taking water samples. Although the private beaches in St. Joseph have been conta- minated the water is consid- ered safe to be in as of Monday. The Bluewater Shoreline Residents Association (BSRA) has been notified by the Huron County Health Unit of the spill, as well as the Lambton Community Health services department who will monitor the water quality. The BSRA have called the pri- vate beach owners and have also posted information on their website for the public. Public Health Manager Pam Scharfe of the Huron County Health Unit says the Health Unit has been taking water samples for over 30 years and with waist high water, as long as the swimmer can see their feet it is considered safe for people to be in. "It was crystal clear up until Friday," says Scharfe. The Huron County Health Unit will continue sampling the water until tomorrow. Signs have also been put up warning cottage goers of the situation. See FISH page 2 Health minister tours South Huron Hospital By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Health Minister George Smitherman was in Exeter July 12, visiting South Huron Hospital during one of his Huron County stops. Smitherman was taken on a tour of South Huron Hospital and the South Huron Medical Centre across the street. He was impressed with both locations. "I've visited many hospitals in rural areas and I'm very, very impressed with the dedication you have from your local communities," says Smitherman. South Huron Hospital will under- go significant renovations in the fall, costing about $1 million, which Smitherman says will be beneficial to the area. The renovations will be construct- ed in the same space. One topic of discussion last week during Smitherman's visit was the fact the McGuinty government is providing $8.2 million this year and $15 million next year for funding cancer -fighting drugs, reported in last week's Times -Advocate. Health Minister George Smitherman stopped at South Huron Hospital July 12 during his tour of Huron County.Above from left are South Huron Hospital CEO Debra Hunt, Huron Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell, Smitherman and Dr. Ken Milne. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) On July 7, Smitherman announced, "The McGuinty govern- ment is improving access to better drug treatment for approximately 1,400 people this year, rising to 2,000 next year, with the funding of four new cancer -fighting drugs." Velcade is among the drugs, a treatment of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer affecting the bone marrow. This drug is used if other drug therapies fail. Exeter resident Bruce Coleman was an advocate in ensuring this See MINISTER page 2 By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The municipality has sold the for- mer gas bar and restaurant property at the corner of Highway 4 and Crediton Road. The unserviced approximately one -acre property went to high bidder Hay Swamp Holdings Inc., owned by Mike Hogan of Premium Transportation for $41,000. Other bids for the property were Joan Hymers at $37,500 and Seajan Investments Inc. at $21,100. Hogan plans to move Premium Transportation from its current location in Huron Park to Devon Corners and expand onto the neighbouring farmland. The Devon Corners property has been a contentious issue since it fell into the municipality's hands after the former owner defaulted on the property taxes. Initial estimates of $42,000 to clean up the property ended up costing the municipality approximately $220,000 after 9,900 tons of fuel -contaminated soil had to be removed, as did two concrete pump islands, fuel tanks, an inground hydraulic hoist, two septic tanks, an abandoned brick -lined water well and the former building. Hogan said he expects his company will move to its new location late in the fall. "We'd like to go tomorrow," he said, but explained there are still permit and severance situations to go through. The company will build a 10,000 square foot warehouse and a 3,500 square foot office. He said the company decided to make the move because they want to own their own property (they rent in Huron Park) and have the office and ware- house in the same building (they are now separate in the park). The company has had the warehouse in Huron Park for six years and the office for nearly two years, Hogan said. Premium Transportation is a temperature -controlled carrier that ships local produce and food products into the U.S. and brings produce and meat and poultry products from the U.S. The company has 20 trucks. "We're really excited. It's a huge, huge step for us," Hogan said. Other council notes: Grand Bend sewage expansion At its July 10 meeting, council agreed in principle to support the multi-million dollar project that will see the expansion of the Grand Bend sewage treatment facility. Included in the project are extending South Huron's capacity for sanitary services. South Huron will also "share in the costs of the plant expansion in an equitable way to be determined with our municipal partners." Mayor Rob Morley said the estimate for the project a couple of years ago was $12 million; he said that num- ber has probably now increased to $15 million. It isn't yet known what South Huron's costs would be, but Lambton Shores has the bigger share of the project. Bluewater is the other municipality involved, but South Huron chief administrative officer Larry Brown said at last week's meeting that he didn't know what Bluewater's intentions are. As Brown said in his report, the proposed project will see a sewage service area from the Pinery Provincial Park north along Highway 21 through South Huron into Bluewater and St. Joseph. The vil- lage of Dashwood is also involved in the project. Brown's reports states the Grand Bend sewage treat- ment lagoon system is now at capacity and Lambton Shores is anxious to proceed with an expansion. If Bluewater also participates in the project, "South Huron represents approximately 20 per cent of both the current unserviced population and the ultimate 20 -year population projection," Brown's report says. See COUNCIL page 2