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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-11-08, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 8, 2006 school forum looks effects of crystal meth Continued from front page effects: sweating, weight loss, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, insom- nia, rotting of teeth, itchy and dry skin, dilation of pupils, damage to internal organs such as the heart, liver and brain, constant fidgeting, hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, panic attacks, para- noia, depression, aggression and suici- dal tendencies. After being awake on a high for five to six days, users will routinely crash for 24 hours. McCabe showed shocking before and after pictures of meth users and talked of "meth mouth," the extreme rotting of the teeth and gums of meth users, caused by dryness of the mouth. He compared the addictiveness of the drug to that of heroin. Meth is usually 80-90 per cent pure, one reason for its highly addictive nature. Dangerous chemicals McCabe described the Internet as "a terrible tool" because of the thousands of meth recipes available online. Also, most of the supplies can be bought at grocery stores and pharmacies. Crystal meth can contain the following chemi- cals: farm fertilizer, lye, kerosene, gas, cold medicine, engine starter, brake cleaner, sulfuric acid, campfire fuel and lithium. The combination makes meth labs dangerous and can explode. One of the challenges the police have is that McCabe said crystal meth is a very difficult drug to prosecute because it can be made so quickly (in about six hours). By the time officers get a search warrant for a property, the suspects have usually left with the crystal meth. "We're still learning," McCabe said, adding the drug can be produced any- where, from a house, a shed, a car or in the bush. The labs are not sophisticated and are hard to find in rural areas. Another challenge in the schools is that for legal reasons, police can no longer do random locker searches — a specific reason is needed to search a group of lockers, SHDHS vice-principal Petra Goetz said. McCabe said longtime users of crystal meth say using the drug no longer gives them a high, but producing it does, because of all the fumes they breathe in. Crime Meth also leads to crime such as break-ins, theft and social problems within families. "People will do anything to get it," McCabe said, describing meth users as different than other drug users because of their paranoia. Gray said the South Huron area isn't seeing the prevalence of crystal meth use that Perth County is. She said many young people are afraid of the Conference allowance increased Continued from front page change land use from agricultural to urban. Of the four proposals, Dillon's was second lowest at $26,420. While Zelinka Priamo was lowest at $20,280, Dillon's was deemed to have the superior proposal with the best "value for money" and will have the study completed within four months. Elevator maintenance Otis Canada was awarded the municipality's five-year elevator maintenance contract at the Olde Town Hall for $140 plus GST per month. Otis was the low bidder, with Skyline Elevator offering a price of $215 plus GST per month. Taxes not so bad? Morley noted that many South Huron election candidates are g1 JGaiser `1111 Kner Ins.keale EXETER - 235-2420 GRAND BEND - 238-8484 CLINTON - 482-3401 Usborne IkHibbert ilkMutual Fire Insurance Company Head Office Exeter, ON NOM 1S1 235.0350 • Est. 1876 Residential Farm & Commercial Properties DIRECTORS & ADJUSTERS Joe Chaffe, R.R. 5 Mitchell 348-9705 Tom Feeney, R.R. 2 Dublin 3452947 Larry Gardiner, R.R. 2 Staffa 345-2678 Jack Hodgert, R.R. 1 Kirkten 2296152 Michael O'Shea, R.R. 3 Granton 225.2600 Morris Willows, R.R. 2 St. Pauls 393-6548 Wayne Maver Exeter 235-1915 1161 David Moore Muffin 345-2512 Jason uniac Mitchell 348-9012 Barb Wotan Staffa 345-2777 ( Business Directory } REPAIRS Sewing Machine REPAIRS TO ALL MAKES Free estimates 90 day Warranty Experienced since 1952 Sew and Save Centre Ltd. 149 Downie St., Stratford Phone 271-9660 probably hearing complaints from residents about high taxes in the area. In fact, South Huron's prop- erty tax rates are below the Huron County average in rural and urban settings. Morley provided documentation from a `County of Huron County Housing Study' stating the average home in the county valued at $172,000 will pay $2,619 annually in property taxes. In Exeter, that same property pays $2,551, while those in Usborne and Stephen pay $2,279. Bluewater is also below average, coming in at $2,220. "I think that's a sign this council has done a pretty good job," Morley said of the South Huron numbers, adding that the largest portion of a tax bill goes to the county. South Huron also has the largest percentage of permanent residents in the county (17 per cent). Higher conference allowance On a suggestion by Coun. Pete Armstrong, council decided to increase the annual conference allowance for councillors from the current $2,000 to $3,000 each, effective in the new council term. Coun. Ken Oke agreed with the move, saying South Huron's allowance has been $2,000 per councillor since 2000, while the prices of hotel rooms have increased dramatically. While overall council was under its conference budget this year, a couple of councillors did go over their limit and money had to be shuffled over from other council- lors' expense accounts who still had money left over. Exeter woman missing HURON — OPP are asking for the public to help find an Exeter woman who, as of Tuesday, had been miss- ing for about a week. Wendy Gayle James, 39, of Edward Street, was reported missing Sunday. She is described as white, about five -foot -three, 120 pounds with a slim build, auburn hair and hazel eyes. Police said she may be seeking medical attention for depression. Anyone who can help is asked to call Huron County OPP at 524-8314 or Crime Stoppers at 1 -800 -222 - TIPS. REGIONAL WRAP UP East Williams school will aid less fortunate NAIRN — East Williams Public School in Nairn is aiding less fortunate students in Malawi, according to The Parkhill Gazette. East Williams launched the fundraising mission recently during a Peaceful Schools Flag Assembly. Last fall East Williams was officially named a peaceful school during a ceremony. Organizer of the fundraiser Jennifer Cavanagh along with friend Sue Finch and about 18 others are travelling to Malawi, a small nation in south- east Africa next fall. Hand sewn bags stuffed with school supplies will be brought to the Malawian students. "Throughout the following year the children will be raising funds to buy school supplies for school bags that I will be taking over with me," says Cavanagh. The bags will be sewn by various volunteers, like the 1st Ailsa Craig Guides. "As well as filling the school bags the children will be writing letters to the children in Malawi and then I will bring back response letters," says Cavanagh. She will be in Malawi for three weeks. During that time Cavanagh and her group will also help establish a new school. drug because they know the chemicals that are in it. She said one of the dan- gers of focusing so much attention on crystal meth is that other drugs such as coke, crack and alcohol can be forgot- ten. Of the drug users she sees, crystal meth is the third or fourth drug of choice for them, behind alcohol, mari- juana and cocaine. "There is a lot of cocaine in this coun- ty," she said. Huron Addiction Services is run through the Huron County Health Unit and offers free services such as one-to- one counselling, information, support and referral to other treatment services. In addition to offering services regarding drug and alcohol abuse, Huron Addiction Services also provides gam- bling addiction services. HOW DO YOUR INVESTMENTS STACK -UP ? CALL TODAY FOR A CONFIDENTIAL PORTFOLIO REVIEW BY LONDON FREE PRESS INVESTMENT & RETIREMENT PLANNING EXPERT Neil has authored over 300 professional articles on investing and managing wealth for LFP Business Monday, and Canoe's My Money, one of Canada's largest financial news websites. Neil Murray Investment Group (519) 646-2313 BMO ® Nesbitt Burns* A member of BMO Financial Group Member CIPF ADayof am REMEMBRANCE Every November 11 th, Canadians pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who served their country during wartime and in the cause of peace. More than 1,500,000 Canadians served overseas - in the First World War (1914-18), the Second World War (1939-45), and the Korean War (1950-53). More than 100,000 died. They sacrificed so we may live in peace. Carol Mitchell, MPP Huron -Bruce i.' garybean FA SECURITIES LTL MakeYour Investments Count Stocks, Bonds, Income Trusts, Mutual Funds & RRSP Products Gary Bean Securities Ltd. 588 Main Street South Exeter, Ontario NOM I S I 519-235-4099 1-800-710-5216 Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and Investment Dealers Association of Canada