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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-04-05, Page 35Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Exeter Times -Advocate 3a Tug of war pulling away The 2005-06 South Huron Sabres Atom Rep team came home from the St. Catharine's tournament as silver medallists. The local squad tied Parkhill 2-2, defeated Gravenhurst 8-1 and Wingham 3-2 to enter the gold medal round against Parkhill. The team was tied 3-3 after regulation time and a 5 -minute sudden death over- time period to head to the shoot-out round. The two teams had to go to nine shooters before being defeated 2-1. Outstanding effort by the whole team. Above back left: assistant coach Pat O'Connor, captain Zack Bedard, assistant coach Chris Desjardine,Andrew Hodgert, assistant coach Bob Snell and Matthew Hagarty. Middle Ieft:Tyler Overholt,Tyler Edginton, Derek Elliot, Drew Beckett (Pipes). Front left: Brock Horner, Joshua Brintnell, Bret Pincombe, Ryan Hoffman, coach Dick Lord. Forefront left: goalies Cole Willemsen and Robert Anderson. Missing:Taylar Lightfoot, assistant coach Kristyn Darling and Cameron Quick. (photo/submitted) The roots of conservation — 1946-1950 BY Tim Cumming ABCA COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST (Note: The following is the first of 12 columns in 2006 about the Ausable Bayfield watershed's con- servation pioneers, during the 60th anniversary year recognizing the formation of Ontario's first Conservation Authority - the former Ausable River Conservation Authority, now the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority - and the creation of the Conservation Authorities Act of 1946.) EXETER — Anyone who has ever experienced the damages wrought by a flood has come face to face with Mother Nature. It is hard to believe that only 60 years ago (nine years after Thames River floods left 4,000 Southern Ontario resi- dents homeless) this province had not yet created an orga- nized response to flooding on a watershed basis. We can be proud that local conservation pioneers in the Ausable Bayfield watershed led the way in Ontario, envisioning the need for a strategic response to the threat of flooding. If we had the benefit of the magic Delorean car from "Back to the Future" we could voyage back in time to March 2, 1946 and a McGillivray Township council meet- ing (quoted from minutes by local historian Andrew Dixon) that "it is the belief of this council that the ruthless ploughing of flooded grass- land together with the uncontrolled cutting of timber is creating a condi- tion which is beyond the power of this and other municipal councils to control therefore this council requests the minister to have a sur- vey made of the Ausable River Watershed to determine the conser- vation measures necessary to ensure proper land use of this area." Later, on June 1, that council called for "a meeting for the estab- lishment of a Conservation Authority for the watershed of the Ausable River situated in the Counties of Huron, Lambton and Middlesex." The new Conservation Authorities Act of 1946 was clear that new Ontario CAs had to grow out of local initiative with municipal leadership, cost sharing and watershed -based planning. Conservation Authorities were to grow from the ground up, not the top down. Watershed munic- ipal leaders, veterans and other partners showed that local initiative on July 30, 1946 when they offi- cially created the Ausable River Conservation Authority, the organiza- tional ancestor of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA). The first five years of the local Conservation Authority's existence were busy times. One of the key events was the cre- ation of the 1949 Conservation Report by the Ontario Department of Planning and Development. The mammoth volume is impressive in its scope and even today the report is an important historical document. By 1950 the local watershed Conservation Authority had more than 300 acres of conservation lands under its protection. The devastation witnessed last year in New Orleans and area was a reminder about the power of nature. Although we can never completely protect ourselves from all flooding events it's reassuring to know the pioneers of local conservation forged ahead in the creation of a body with progressive planning, watershed Tim Cum ming stewardship and a concern for water quality. When the Second World War ended, our veterans returned home and the courage and hard work they devoted to winning the war they turned to winning the conservation battle. We celebrate 2006 as a Year of Conservation and today we say thank you to our local conservation pioneers and acknowledge the awe- some debt we owe them for looking to the future way back in 1946. The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is joining with partner schools, municipalities and individu- als to create `Sixty Projects' and `Sixty Classes' for Sixty Years, in honour of the local pioneers of con- servation who helped protect our lives and property through flood management and watershed stew- ardship Female charged with impaired SOUTH HURON — On April 1 Huron OPP received information from the public of a vehicle driven by an impaired driver. The officers located and stopped the vehicle on Airport Line in South Huron. Officers spoke to the driver and found that she had been drinking. The driver was issued a lawful road- side demand, registering a fail. The driver was arrested and transported to the Huron Detachment where two breath samples were provided and analyzed. A 48 -year-old female of South Huron will attend Exeter Provincial Court May 25. She was issued a 90 day driving suspension and will face one count of driving a motor vehicle with more than 80mg of alcohol. From left, Bluewater Tug Of War member Darlene O'Rourke helps out Meagan Wilson and Jennifer Hippern against Marc Metzger and Matt Springall during a tug of war workshop put on by the club March 28 at Hansen's Community Room in Exeter. (photo/Pat Bolen) By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Local elementary school students may be pulling against each other soon if the goal of the Bluewater Tug Of War club comes true. Speaking at a tug of war workshop at Hansen's Community Room March 28, club president Erich Freiter said the club is looking to introduce the sport to schools to broaden its base and build an infra- structure that will enable it to grow. The advantages of tug of war, according to Freiter is that there is not a lot of cost or space required for it, is safe to play and builds self confidence and disci- pline. Tug of war continues to grow in popularity and in 2002 was recognized by the Canadian Olympic Committee. It is an Olympic exhibition sport and Freiter said it hopefully will be back in the Olympics as it was from 1900 to 1920. Fifty countries are required for a sport to be in the Olympics, with 34 now registered. Freiter said the only requirements to join the Bluewater team are fitness, team spirit and an abili- ty to take part in two to three practices a week. The sport can be played indoors or outdoors, said Freiter although tug of war indoors "is a whole dif- ferent game with all different muscles. "It's hard to find a sport which takes so much team work," said Freiter. "It's a simple sport but within it there are lots of rules." Discussing the strategies of tug of war, Freiter said there are techniques teams have to develop as to whether they will be in an offensive or defensive mode. Coach Jim Connolly said at one time brute strength was 80 per cent of tug of war matches, but now is no more than 50 per cent with fitness and tactics play- ing an important role. The Bluewater team is again sponsoring the eighth annual elementary boys and girls tug of war compe- tition at the Hensall Spring Fair June 10 with the deadline for registration May 6. It is also hosting an international tournament June 17-18 in Grand Bend. For more information on the competition or tug of war, contact Freiter at 237-3351 or freiters@hay.net. Crash sends man to hospital HURON — A man was taken to South Huron Hospital after a head-on collision with a transport truck at Dashwood Road (Highway 83) in South Huron Monday. Members of the Huron OPP respond- ed to the collision shortly after 6:30 a.m. A 2006 Peterbuilt Tractor trailer dri- ven by Derrick Buehler of Drayton was travelling west on Dashwood Road. The second vehicle, a 2003 Volkswagen was travelling east when it drifted into the westbound lane. The driver of the eastbound vehicle, 27 -year-old John Drummond of Dashwood was trans- ported to hospital with serious non -life threatening injuries. The investigation is continuing