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The Times Advocate, 2008-03-05, Page 1616 Times -Advocate Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Medway Creek needs improvements By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN BIDDULPH — A representative of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority attended the Lucan Biddulph council meeting Feb. 19, focusing on the Medway Creek Watershed Community Board Watershed Strategy Development. Medway Creek is one of 28 watersheds within the Upper Thames River watershed. Community partnership specialist Julie Welker is hoping Lucan Biddulph will get involved with the pro- ject by creating its own Technical Advisory committee. Welker says she hopes the Lucan area can "recruit a group of people" to assist in collecting data, preparing draft reports and maps, to participate in public meet- ings and complete surveys, finally implementing posi- tive changes throughout the watershed. "We're wanting to involve the community to carry on the project. We really want to see it succeed," says Welker. Medway Creek received a D grade for its Forest Conditions and a C grade for its Surface Water Quality during its 2007 report card. The watershed is 206 square km, with six per cent in the Upper Thames River watershed. Lucan Biddulph covers 38 square feet, while Middlesex Centre covers 135 square feet. Medway Creek in the upper reaches is very sparse in forest cover. One suggestion is to plant more trees. Connecting and widening the forest cover will protect the creek and create an excellent wildlife corridor, according to the Medway Creek Report Card. Some suggestions to improve water quality are planting buffers, encouraging drain maintenance, identifying groundwater recharge and discharge zones and encouraging the decommissioning of aban- doned wells, according to the Ministry of the Environment standards. Welker says improvements for the Medway Creek are possible, explaining that the Dingman Creek improved significantly in five years from its 2001 report card from an overall C to B grade. For more information on the Upper Thames River Watershed visit www.thamesriver.on.ca Arena update The defibrillator which arrived at the Lucan Memorial Community Centre last month is located in the main lobby. Arena manager Ken Needham says the reason for that particular location is because it is a central spot in the facility, and "it's always open." Needham says it is not closer to the ice surface or change rooms because those facilities are not used year round. "Sometimes the ice is not there," says Needham, adding signs will be posted explaining where to find the defibrillator. Policing committee Ward 3 Coun. Alex Westman says he's impressed with the recent interest in the Policing committee.Westman was also named as chairman of the Policing committee, with Lucan's Ken Rees as vice- chairman. Westman says the committee plans to participate in the Canada Day celebrations this year. "We're geared up and excited," says Westman. Summer Company accepting applications HURON — Applications are now being accepted for the 2008 Summer Company Program. Run through the Huron Small Business Enterprise Centre (HSBEC), with sponsorship from the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (MSBE), the Summer Company program aims to inspire more young people to choose entrepreneurship as a career and equip them with the tools they need to succeed. Designed for students aged 15-29 who are going back to school full time, this program provides for up to $1,500 toward start-up costs and, upon successful completion of the program requirements, the stu- dent is eligible for an additional award of up to $1,500. Interested students need to sub- mit a comprehensive business plan with their application and partici- pate in an interview process. Training and mentorship will be provided during the summer by a volunteer group of Community Mentors, along with Alison Lobb, business consultant for the County of Huron. The mentor will meet with the young entrepreneurs on a regular basis during the summer, assisting them with the manage- ment side of operating a business. Application deadline for this pro- gram is April 30. HSBEC Business Plan Competition The annual HSBEC Business Plan Competition is designed to encour- age secondary school students to learn more about entrepreneurship through the creation of an effective business plan. It encourages youth to consider entrepreneurship as a possible career option for the future and give them practical experience in what is required for a start-up business. They should have a better understanding of the need for careful planning before investing time and energy into a business enterprise due to their formation of a written plan. The students do not have to run the business, simply prepare and submit a formal business plan. The contest is open to all high school students in Huron and Perth coun- ties, and the plans can be devel- oped as partnerships or sole pro- prietorships. Last year 25 plans were submitted. With five cash prizes (ranging from $500 to $100) this is an opportunity for all enter- prising students! Application for this year's competition will be accepted until June 6. For more information on both of these programs, contact Lobb at 527.0305, ext. 35 or by e-mail at alobb@huroncounty.ca Kub Kar Rally And they're off — The Kub Kar Rally hosted by the First Exeter Cub Pack with the Exeter Scouts was at South Huron District High School Saturday.There was 81 Kub Kars entered for the races from Exeter, Lucan, Kirkton, Zurich, Clinton, Seaforth, Goderich and Ellice. A large crowd of spectators were also attendance to watch the six run off heats.The winners for Speed Placing are above from left Lucan's Kurtis Fletcher, Clinton's Caleb Coultis and Goderich's Ryan Roosemalen. Exeter's Carter McGregor placed second for Best Paint Job. (photo/submitted) New standards are being met SOUTH HURON — Some of council spent a few days in Toronto rubbing shoulders with the Provincial Government last week. It was an inter- esting week. Premier McGuinty Ken Oke announced an increase in the funding for the latest infrastructure grants (MIII) to the municipali- ties from $300 million to $450 million. The requests from the municipalities came in for slightly over $900 million. In reality there is only half the money for the needs at this time. If you divide the $450 million with the municipalities involved, the request that South Huron made was bang on the money. We have complied with the intent of the grant and should be one of the win- ners. Canadian Council of Environment Ministers is coming out with new standards for sewage effluent. Although this one is too premature to begin to panic yet, it does sound like an expensive proposition for municipal- ities. I am not sure how it works, but it seems to me that when a sewage treat- ment facility gets over- loaded, they are able to dump effluent into the rivers, lakes, and streams. Better Farming maga- zine would run a list of the urban areas that are doing the dumping and the number of times that year they have dumped. It is called controlled spills and uncontrolled spills. You must register with the Environment when these spills take place. Mind you, these spills don't happen that often, but seems to occur more with the bigger centers. Unfortunately South Huron's name has been on the list. In the past, some storm sew- ers were connected to the sanitary sewers and in some cases during some heavy rains, the system would get over taxed and a spill would occur. No longer can storm sewers be connected to the sanitary sewers and for the last number of years, the sanitary sewers are sealed to keep out infiltration, trying to mini- mize the problem during heavy rains. South Huron has been working to correct this problem and I would admit that we are not there yet to be fully in compliance. The standards for sewage effluent have been set or will be set in the near future and every one in Ontario must be compliant within ten years or action will be taken. The City of Toronto announced that they could not meet these standards in ten years and questioned how it would be enforced. The answer was financially. I remember when the drinking water standards came out and it was said that municipalities could- n't meet these standards. Fines were set in the millions of dollars for councils and in the thou- sands for councilors to be paid by the councilors personally. Standards for drinking water are being met. Easy stretching exercises and solo Wednesdays EXETER — Throughout the month of February, keyboard musicians were Ruth Insley and Josie Ryckman. On Feb. 5, Marion Foster visited to speak on two upcoming trips. Faye did a quiz on Town and Country Support services. Liz Adams won the 50/50 draw. We sang Happy Birthday to Harry Dougall. Marlene Mathers entertained us on Feb. 12, for our Valentine's program. Special prizes were won by Edith Brintnell, Elsie Faulder, Ghislaine Whydoogie and Audrey McDonald. On Feb. 19, we heard speeches from Brett, Katie and Brandon from the Exeter Public School. Shirley Truemner won the 50/50 draw. Elinor Clarke showed slides on Feb. 24. Solo continues on Wednesdays at the Exeter Lions Youth Centre at 1 p.m. Anyone interested call Sandi at 519-235-0107. Foot care appointments can be made by contact- ing 235-0258. The next appointment dates will be March 18 and again on April 1/15. Exercise continues at the Lion's Youth Centre on Wednesdays from 9 - 10. We are having exercise classes from 11:15 - 11:45 every Tuesday just before Diners. Anyone who would like to join us for some easy stretching exercises, please feel free to come along. Our entertainment for the month of March will be a sing song, penny sale, Murray Christie and Mary F. Dow, Jim and Elaine Scott. Crime of the month HURON — Huron County Crime Stoppers and the Huron County OPP are asking for help in solving a break, enter and theft Dec. 14, between mid- night and 6 a.m. A garage and a vehicle were entered on Victoria Drive in Centralia. Stolen from the garage were two sets of golf clubs, Cleveland right-handed irons, an R5 Taylor Made driver, a #3 Big Bertha Driver and a full set of Pro Select ladies right-handed woods and irons in a red and black bag. Stolen from the vehicle were a Metabo electric hammer drill, a Bosch battery drill and a per- sonal ID. The owner's name was engraved on the tools. If you have any information about this crime contact Crime Stoppers at 1 -800 -222 -TIPS (8477). You will not have to reveal your name or go to court and could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.