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The Times Advocate, 2008-04-02, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, April 2, 2008 Lucan Biddulph receives grant By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN BIDDULPH — Lucan Biddulph was one of 243 communities across the province given a Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII) grant, announced March 27. Lucan Biddulph received $175,000 for its water for the Market Street reconstruction. The MIII grant is part of Ontario's strate- gy for improving infrastructure throughout Ontario. The grants are used for work on pipelines, roads and bridges and sewers and community centres. Around 6,700 new jobs are expected to be created when the work begins later in the year. Altogether the Ontario government invested $18,270,900 in water, sewer and other infrastructure projects in Lambton- Kent-Middlesex. Locally, Lambton Shores received $687,500 for the reconstruction of Mud Creek Bridge. In a news release, Lambton-Kent- Middlesex MPP Maria Van Bommel says, "Lambton-Kent-Middlesex municipalities have done a good job of maintaining their infrastructure for their residents," adding, "These grants for individual projects will assist our municipal partners in providing even better services for their communities." Lucan Biddulph Mayor Tom McLaughlin was unavailable for comment, as he is out of the country. Middlesex County visits Two representatives from Middlesex County attended the Lucan Biddulph coun- cil meeting March 27. Middlesex County Warden Albert Bannister and Middlesex County CAO Bill Raburn gave council an update on where the county stands in 2008 regarding the budget, expenditures and priorities for 2008. Raburn told council that the county bud- get was "really healthy," explaining that the reserves remained strong, with a total budget of $70,396,134. The budget levy has remained the same since 2005. Raburn says, "With real growth, this means taxpayers will see a 1.6 per cent reduction on their county tax bill." Emergency Services and Transportation and Environmental tops the Middlesex County expenditures, with Emergency Services costing $22,942,690 and Transportation and Environmental totalling $14,555,819. Priorities for 2008 include: farm tax rev- enue, broadband, spring visioning sessions and PSAB. Exeter hosts Crime Stoppers fundraiser Continued from front page McFalls. The Jail and Bail is an event which sees local peo- ple get "arrested." Each person must raise $500 of bail money, something McFalls says shouldn't be hard to do in the Exeter community. The participants are summoned to "court" May 14, at different times throughout the day, and are "charged" with "funny charges," according to McFalls. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., but partici- pants are not required to stay all day. In fact, McFalls says Crime Stoppers will work around the participants' schedules and most participants are not in jail longer than two hours. McFalls says once arriv- ing before the "judge," participants may be asked to raise a little more bail money while in "jail." "We really play it up," says McFalls, adding, "We have striped jail outfits." McFalls is now in the midst of finding people who would like to be "arrested" for a good cause. If interested contact McFalls at crimestopper@ezlink.ca McFalls is wanting about 30 jail birds. The Jail and Bail will be held in front of the Exeter Town Hall on Main Street, weather permitting. McFalls is also seeking people for the Huron and Perth County Crime Stoppers board. "We are low on board members. There's no one from South Huron," says McFalls. Again, contact McFalls if interested in becoming a board member. Duties include attending monthly meetings and some fundraising. REGIONAL WRAP UP • Imeson returns to court April 16 GODERICH — Jesse Imeson, 22, made a brief appearance in Goderich Court Monday. Imeson is charged in the slaying of a Mount Carmel area farm couple, Bill, 72, and Helene, 73, Regier, along with Windsor's Carlos Rivera, 26. Imeson will appear in court again April 16. Imeson is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of the Regiers and the strangling of Rivera last July. Two weeks are set aside in December for a preliminary hearing on the charges in the Regier deaths. Imeson sent police on a two-week manhunt last July, attracting national attention until caught in Quebec July 31. Thousands support Earth Hour HURON -BRUCE — Earth Hour was Saturday night, with about 150 com- munities participating across the country by turning off lights between 8 and 9 p.m. Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell encouraged the Huron -Bruce resi- dents to take part, promoting energy conservation. "It's a simple act but it sends out a strong message," says Mitchell. Earth Hour is a global event to promote energy conservation and raise awareness of the threat of climate change. The World Wildlife Fund launched the initial event a year ago in Sydney, Australia. Dozens of Ontario communities joined thousands of homeowners in turning off their lights Saturday. The power dipped by more than five per cent across the province. Blyth benefit BLYTH — A benefit silent auction and dance is April 25 in Blyth for Mikayla Ansley, daughter of Mike and Katie Ansley. Mikayla has been diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare childhood can- cer. She is undergoing chemotherapy to help save her eyesight. Tickets are $10 and available by contacting any Blyth Lions Club mem- ber. Exeter cabaret show gives adults opportunity By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — "A Salute to Broadway," an adult cabaret show and community fundrais- er is looking for adults to star in its show. Director/producer Deb Homuth and music director Cecile Muller are calling the show an opportunity for adults to have their moment on Broadway, while supporting two local organizations — the Huron Habitat for Humanity and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron. "We really want the commu- nity to rally around this," says Homuth, who has directed/produced about 30 to 40 children's shows over the last 30 years. Homuth says she wants to give adults "a chance to come out and be involved." Homuth and Muller are look- ing for about 50 participants who are interested in singing or dancing, alone or in a group. Homuth says no experience is needed, only enthusiasm. Participants should be at least 18 years old. Musicians and volunteers are also wanted for different jobs, including lighting, creating the backdrop and costume design. Homuth and Muller are hop- ing to find their stars by the end of the month, or the beginning of May. The performers will take the music home, with rehearsals beginning the last week of September, lasting about six to eight weeks. Muller says, "This show is an opportunity for adults who never had the chance (to per- form)." The cabaret show is a walk through time, featuring bits of popular broadway shows, dat- ing back 70 years. Some songs include: "Oh What A Beautiful Morning" from "Oklahoma," "Cabaret Song" from "Cabaret," "76 Trombones" from "The Music Man," "My Favourite Things" from "The Sound of Music," "Grease Lightning from "Grease" and "Do You Love Me" from "Dirty Dancing." "A Salute to Broadway" is Nov. 20 and Nov. 21 at the South Huron Recreation Centre in Exeter. If interested in participating in the show contact Homuth at 235-0704 or e-mail debho- muth@gmail.com or contact Muller at 238-8536 or e-mail mullercecile@hotmail.com Good news and bad news for SH Continued from front page In Huron -Bruce, seven munic- ipalities received a total of $10,022,750 in the program, but South Huron was not among them. Oke admitted Monday he was "a little disappointed" South Huron didn't receive the grant and added he wasn't given a reason why the municipality wasn't approved. He said the bridge replace- ment project will go ahead but not in its entirety — instead, the project will be spread out over a number of years. Chili with the Exeter Lioness Lioness fundraiser —The Exeter Lioness held its "Annual Chili Lunch" last Friday at the Exeter Lions Youth Centre, serving over 380 lunches. Proceeds from the lunch will go towards the revitalization ofVictoria Park.Above from left are Lioness members Mary Lou Becker and Shirley Mousseau serving a bowl of chili to Helen Coates. (photo/Scott Nixon)