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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-10-11, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, October 11, 2006 Victim's father speaks about bullying at area schools Continued from front page son died because of a $10 bet. "My son was bullied one time, and it cost him his life," said Neuts. When Neuts was called to the school the morning of Feb. 6 he found a police officer doing cardio -pulmonary resusci- tation on Myles, who was taken to the local hospital and airlifted to London. When Neuts returned to the school, it was taped off as a crime scene and he remembers a police officer told him it would not take long to find out what had happened because they were "dealing with children." After conducting interviews at the school, the police determined the death was a result of a 12 -year-old friend of the student who had lost the bet with Myles, saying he would put an end to the request for the $10 to be paid. What happened has never been revealed, but police tested the material Myles was wearing around his neck that day and it was strong enough to support his weight and kill him Myles was physically brain dead, and, a few such as "home Alone" which have stones will break your bones but words scenes of violent behaviour. can never hurt you.' "My son was bullied one time, and it cost him his life." MIKE NEUTS days after he was placed in hospital, his parents gave their permission to unplug the life support. "In 20 minutes, he died in my arms," said Neuts. Asking students if they had ever been bullied or bullied someone else many of the students put up their hands. Neuts gave examples of magazines and movies considered to be comedies He said bullying can hap- "They do hurt," says Neuts. pen to anyone and added that if anyone is a bystander to bullying, they are part of the problem and probably encouraging the bullying behaviour. Another saying that Neuts would like to s e e changed is `sticks a n d Local business study starting Continued from front page "It's time South Huron did this," McMaster said of SHARE. "It has to be done." He said he would like to see the surveys of local business- es start in November and fm- ish in February. Each survey will take about an hour and a half. South Huron Chamber of Commerce member Fred Simmons said he has com- pleted a `practice' interview and called it "an incredible learning experience." He encouraged others to take part. Once local action plans are in place, follow-ups with the businesses will be done, making the project "a contin- uous circle," McMaster said. "We're hoping to create a new outlook for the commu- nity," he said, adding the project will demonstrate a pro-business attitude and educate businesses in South Huron what other businesses in the area do. Project organizers are look- ing for volunteers to help conduct the interviews. Volunteers will receive pay- ment to cover their expenses. One of the keys of the inter- views is confidentiality and the interviewers will be required to sign and main- tain a confidentiality con- tract. The task force will be a 12 - member group of volunteers, with three representatives each representing the four sectors — agriculture, indus- try, retail and tourism. McMaster and Simmons will serve as alternates. The task force will review survey results, identify issues and prioritize short and long- term action plans. An audience member at the meeting said one of the prob- lems in Exeter is that cus- tomers can't find what they're looking for and have to shop out of town. McMaster said local busi- nesses need to co-operate and should educate them- selves about marketing. Also, he said Exeter needs a posi- tive slogan. South Huron Medical Recruitment and Retention committee chairperson Wayne DeLuca said his com- mittee has attended recruit- ment seminars for doctors and is using the slogan, "South Huron, Ontario's Best Kept Secret." He said the doctors he meets have never heard of South Huron and the committee is starting to "put Exeter on the map" by informing the doctors of our community. DeLuca, who moved to Exeter from Sault Ste. Marie four years ago, asked if South Huron's business com- munity is willing to accept new businesses. He said when he was a councillor in Sault Ste. Marie, attempts were made to block new businesses from coming in. McMaster said business owners sometimes become afraid and nervous of com- petition. Responding to the question of whether or not a large chain such as Wal-Mart would ever come to the area, McMaster said it won't hap- pen because South Huron doesn't have the population base. Business Retention and Expansion specialist Karen Fischer of OMAFRA said South Huron needs a com- munity in which the busi- nesses are happy to be here; as the study may raise issues, she said they need to be addressed before new businesses are brought in. The study, she said, will "take the pulse of the com- munity" and come up with solutions. Mayor Rob Morley said if local businesses are happy, they will be the municipali- ty's "best salesmen" in terms of convincing new businesses to come to the area. Once the SHARE action plan is developed, it will be made public. "I want South Huron to be a very vibrant, growing com- munity," McMaster summed up. REGIONAL WRAP UP University classes begin in Goderich GODERICH — It's official, Goderich is offering post -secondary learning, according to The Goderich Signal -Star. A launch, attended by members of the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative (LHLC), the University of Western Ontario (UWO), students and town officials gathered at the Huron County Museum celebrating the two UWO courses offered. "This opportunity to work with the LHLC has given us a chance to show our commitment to the people in this region who support us, who are of us and who make our institution what it is," says UWO vice -provost and registrar Roma I-Iarris. Classes in sociology and biology began last month and the turnout has been impressive. Both courses will continue at the museum but LHLC members are planning to add addition- al courses for next fall. "We have been welcomed here with tremendous enthusiasm, open arms, great kindness and warmth from everyone, and we look forward to watching this initiative grow," says Harris. Marijuana found in Huron East HURON EAST — About 500 marijuana plants were found drying in an abandoned farm- house by Hensall firefighters, according to The Huron Expositor. The firefighters were completing a training exercise in the farmhouse Sept. 26. Upon entering the house on Chiselhurst Road for training purposes, they discovered mari- juana leaves on the floor and called the Huron OPP. The plants were seized by the Huron OPP and the Western Region Drug enforcement unit and immediately destroyed. The Huron OPP is asking anyone with information regarding the marijuana to contact Huron OPP. KEN OKE FOR MAYOR South Huron THINK OKE WHEN YOU VOTE 519-235-2168 Email: ken@okehouse.net DATE: TIME: TOWNSHIP OF LUCAN BIDDULPH PUBLIC MEETING PROPOSED OFFICIAL PLAN and ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENTS Monday, October 30th, 2006 7:00 p.m. - OPA No. 1: SURPLUS FARM DWELLINGS 8:00 p.m. - OPA No. 2: GROUP HOMES LOCATION: Leprechaun Hall Lucan Community Memorial Centre 263 Main Street, Lucan, Ontario PURPOSE: To consider proposed amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law OPA No. 1: Surplus Farm Dwellings: to permit the creation of lots for the purposes of disposing surplus farm dwellings A public meeting was first held on December 7th, 2005 for the purposes of considering an amendment to the Township's Official Plan to permit severances for the disposal of surplus farm dwellings. Further consideration of the proposed amendment was deferred pending an amendment to the County of Middlesex Official Plan to remove the requirement for a consolidation of the remaining farmland with an abutting farm. During this time, further review of the proposed amendment was undertaken by Council to ensure the new policy adequately addressed and incorporated the necessary safeguards for considering applications for consent to dispose surplus farm dwellings. The revised version of the amendment is now in a form acceptable to Council for the purposes of presenting to the public for further review and comment. As the proposed amendment potentially affects all lands designated `Agricultural', a designation that constitutes the vast majority of the rural area of the Township, a key map is not provided. The proposed corresponding amendment to the Zoning By-law would incorporate a maximum size of 1.0 hectare (2.5 acres) for lots being created for the purposes of disposing a surplus farm dwelling. Where an instance arises that justify a larger sized lot, the owner/applicant would have the option of applying for a minor variance or amendment to the By-law. OPA No. 2: Group Homes: - to revise the current policy regarding the establishment of group homes Under the current Official Plan, the establishment of group homes is restricted to areas in the Village of Lucan designated `Mixed Use Residential'. As a result of submissions made by the Crest Centre and being mindful of the responsibilities of the Township to provide housing opportunities for special needs groups, an amendment to the Official Plan is being proposed to replace the current policy on group homes. The proposed amendment would permit the establishment of group homes in areas designated 'Central Commercial' as well as 'Mixed Use Residential'. It would provide for the differentiation of certain types of group homes and would provide a basis for limiting the number of occupants and establishing a minimum separation distance between group homes. Finally, the amendment would provide for the registration of group homes and an opportunity for public input prior to registration. A corresponding amendment to the Zoning By-law would revise the definition of a 'group home' as accommodating 5 to 10 persons (as opposed to 3 to 10 persons). Similar type homes with four or fewer residents would not be defined as a 'group home' unless they fell within the meaning of a 'correctional home' or 'crisis care home'. These latter facilities would only be permitted in areas zoned Mixed Use Residential (MUR) and Central Commercial (C1) along Main Street in the Village of Lucan. A minimum separation distance of 200 metres (650 ft) is also being proposed to be maintained between group homes, correctional homes and crisis care homes. ANY PERSON may attend the public meeting and/or make a written or verbal representation either in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed amendments. IF A PERSON OR PUBLIC BODY that files an appeal of a decision of the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Lucan Biddulph in respect of the proposed official plan amendments does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Lucan Biddulph before the proposed official plan amendments and/or zoning by- law amendments are adopted, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. If you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed official plan amendments and/or zoning by-law amendments, you must make a written request to the Township of Lucan Biddulph. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION including copies of the proposed amendments is available between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Municipal Office or from the Township Planner, Mr. Ted Halwa, at (519) 963- 1028 (London, Ontario). DATED AT LUCAN THIS 6TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2006. RON REYMER ADMINISTRATOR -CLERK TOWNSHIP OF LUCAN BIDDULPH P.O. BOX 190 LUCAN, ONTARIO NOM 2J0 Telephone: (519) 227-4491 Fax: (519) 227-4998 E-mail rreymer@lucanbiddulph.on.ca