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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-12-28, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, December 28, 2005 fVEflPJJMIDJI JANUARY 5 • Members of council gave themselves and municipal staff a three per cent raise. The raise to staff was adopted by council in August, while council decided this week to give itself a similar raise. The raises became effective Monday. Raises are also slated for staff in 2006 and 2007, at 2.5 per cent each year. • Dave Urlin received no support from the rest of council when he asked if it is time for South Huron to rid itself of the ward system and simply have one South Huron ward. South Huron's wards reflect the three former municipalities that make up the municipality — Exeter, Stephen and Usborne. Exeter and Stephen have two representatives on council, Usborne has one and the mayor and deputy mayor are voted on by the entire municipality. JANUARY 12 • A fire at the northern boundary of the munici- pality gutted a home early on Jan. 3. South Huron fire chief John Morgan estimated the damage to the stone home at between $150,000 to $200,000. Owner Brian Miler was taken to South Huron Hospital for smoke inhala- tion and later released. • Animal Control Officer Bob Trick presented his yearly report to Bluewater council at its meet- ing. Trick said he picked up 14 dogs in the last year Among the complaints and contacts he had in 2004 were one dog bite, two wild cat bites and three OPP calls for an Emu, a cougar and a wild dog. JANUARY 19 • Talks are in the works about combining the Adult Learning Centre and the Huron Employment Resource Centre into one larger, "one-stop shopping" location downtown. Susan McKee, administrator of lifelong learning programs with the Avon Maitland District School Board confirmed Monday morning that the two centres, running out of room in their current locations, are looking to combine their services. One of the sites being looked at is the current Shoppers Drug Mart on Main Street, which will be vacated in the spring when Shoppers moves to its new location at the north end of Exeter. • As the world continues to react to the devas- tating Asian tsunami, area residents showed their concern in a community prayer service. The service, held at Presbyterian Church Jan. 13, was open to the entire community and includ- ed prayers, readings from the Bible, songs and a candle lighting ceremony. JANUARY 26 • Is there enough interest in the area for a French Immersion program? That's what the Avon Maitland District School Board is trying to determine with a series of pub- lic information meetings and a survey that went home for parents to express their interest. After meetings in Wingham and Listowel, Exeter's meeting was held Jan. 20 in the South Huron District High School library. • Fire destroyed the 19th Hole Pub and Grill at the Oakwood Inn in Grand Bend early Jan. 20, completely destroying the building which was to reopen last week. The fire began just after midnight and was responded to by the Grand Bend and Dashwood fire departments, but they were unable to save the building, remaining on the scene until 7 a.m. FEBRUARY 2 • Bullying is a hot topic at many schools these days and South Huron District High School is no exception. In conjunction with its School Council, South Huron held a community forum on bullying Jan. 27 with several guest speakers. Principal Jeff Reaburn said bullying is a complex issue and the school wants to hear from parents on the subject. • The 24th Annual Centralia Swine Research Update hosted a packed house at the Kirkton- Woodham Community Centre. About 170 people attended the event, which saw a wide variety of agricultural experts speak on various issues affecting the pork industry. E. coli, genetics, salmonella, influenza, feeding and slaughtering were just a few of the many topics cov- ered. FEBRUARY 9 • South Huron council can't make up its mind about Exeter's new water rates. As previously reported, the municipality went through a public process last year of setting new water rates as suggested by Dillon Consulting. When it came time for council to officially set the new rates at its Jan. 24 meeting, it deferred final reading on its water rates bylaw after council decided to take another look at how it charges apartment buildings in Exeter. • Bluewater fire chiefs will draft recommendations on hiring a manager of fire services to present to Bluewater council at a review of fire services meet- ing to be held Feb. 15. Fire chiefs Dave Johnston and Ken Bruxer were at council Monday night to discuss a letter from Johnston to Bluewater council on behalf of the Bluewater Fire Chiefs Association. FEBRUARY 16 • The new water rates for South Huron are finally set. Council approved third and final reading for the new rates at a special meeting Feb. 9. First and second readings were approved in January, but council delayed final approval to consider mak- ing changes to the proposed new rates in Exeter. In the end, and after much discussion, those changes didn't take place. • "It's a crisis time for agriculture," was the mes- sage Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) presi- dent Ron Bonnett brought to a meeting Feb. 8 in Exeter with farmers of all types. The meeting at the Masonic Hall was part of a president's tour Bonnett has made throughout Ontario to meet with OFA members and discuss agricultural issues. FEBRUARY 23 • Two board members with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority have been re-elected to their posts for a second, consecutive year. Teresa Ondrejicka stays on as board chairperson and Bill Weber remains vice chairperson for 2005. The board is preparing for a busy year as outlined during its annual meeting Feb. 17. • An addition of $280 million to the annual provin- cial education budget, announced in rather unorthodox fashion by the ruling Liberals last week, should allow the Avon Maitland District School Board to "get a kickstart" on its long wish list of ren- ovation and maintenance projects. "This will let us ... get ahead of where we thought we would be," explained education director Geoff Williams Feb. 18, after a statement by Perth Middlesex MPP John Wilkinson at Romeo Public School in Stratford. Wilkinson released specific 2005-06 totals for the school boards in his riding, including $15,736,931 for the Avon Maitland District School Board and $1,120,758 for the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board. 71R0'1'1 This child is one of our very special Little Sisters. She is friendly, active and outgoing. She likes to go figure skating, swimming, walking on trails, baking cookies and muffins as well as going shopping and eating out. This lit- tle sister would like to garden with her Big Sister and plant flow- ers together. She would also like to go to the beach and play outside with her Big Sister. This Little Sister is one of many children waiting to be matched within a mentoring friendship. For information on our volunteer programs, CALL OUR OFFICE AT 235- 3307 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.shbbbs.on.ca. REGIONAL WRAP UP • Goderich "Jeopardy" champ GODERICH — After appearing on the TV game show "Jeopardy" for two nights, Goderich resident Bill Crowley is $16,000 richer. Crowley was selected in the beginning of 2005 from 400 tryout hopefuls in Toronto after being tested, according to the Goderich Signal -Star. He travelled to California in September for the taping of the shows and was required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Crowley says, "Just imagine watching a show for a long, long time and seeing yourself on it. It's pretty weird...pretty surreal." The show aired Dec. 14. Lions Club donates BAYFIELD — A cheque for $15,000 was present- ed recently by the Bayfield Lions Club to the Bayfield Community Group to aid in the Revitalization of the Clan Gregor Square project, according to the Clinton News -Record. Chairperson for the Clan Gregor Square project Nora West says, "The Lions have been one of the groups that have been with us from the start of the park revitalization project. "Without them, I don't think we would have got- ten off the ground." Lions president Lloydd Huffman says, "We are proud of our community and pleased to be able to help make it a better place to live and visit." Post office could reopen EGMONDVILLE — The new owner of the former Egmondville County Market Brian Melady hopes to reopen the Egmondville post office there but says it's too early to know what will become of the building, according to The Huron Expositor. Melady says, "We're just waiting for the closing date and we're interested in exploring getting the post office but we've had no concrete details from Canada Post." He adds a post office is the biggest demand from residents. (AnhDIAn TIRE EXETER 100 Thames Rd. E. 235-0160 Ian A. MacKenzie Limited PROUDLY CANADIAN OWNED AND OPERATED 235-0160 Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sat. 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. AUTO SERVICE: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. e �s1 J.S S.S from all of us a (RI1RDIRU TIRE