Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-11-26, Page 3Wednesday, November 26, 2008 Times -Advocate 3 Entertaining show The Scott Woods Band put on a show Nov. 20 at the Hensall Com- munity Centre with the proceeds going to the Hensall United Church.Among the band mem- bers were from left, stepdancer Meryl Norris, Bruce Woods on drums and Scott Woods. (photo/ Pat Bolen) Deadline fast approaching By Lindsey Kuglin WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES GODERICH Ques- tions remain unanswered after a presentation to Huron County munici- palities from the Ontario Provincial Police. The county has been moving towards a group policing contract, but with the Dec. 15 deadline fast approaching, and many issues still up in the air, the seven or eight municipalities involved are wary to sign on. OPP Sgt. Dino Tsitome- neas said after the dead- line the 2008 cost structure will take affect about 40 per cent more than the 2003 collective bargain- ing agreement that will be honoured if the mu- nicipalities get on board before the deadline. But the municipalities were unclear on how the $6.8 million bill would be divided up. Central Huron Dep- uty Reeve John Bezaire asked if the data could be pulled out from each mu- nicipality as to what their service level is, and the municipalities could sign individual contracts. Emerald ash borer making itself at home in Huron By Lindsey Kuglin WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES GODERICH Huron County council heard from a representative from the Ca- nadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently about a confirmed infestation of emerald ash borer in the county. Brian Hamilton told council that the pest was confirmed in Bluewater in a private campground last month. "At this point, it s still specific to ash trees. We have no reason to believe they 11 move on," Hamilton said. The emerald ash borer is an invasive species native to China and Eastern Asia. It was first found in Ontario in 2002. The insect infests ash trees and the larvae will bore under the bark, which stops the flow of water and nutrients to the tree. "It essentially chokes the tree," Hamil- ton said. The CFIA has a Slow the Spread strat- egy that imposes regulatory restrictions on moving goods such as nursery stock, trees, logs, wood, rough lumber (wood pallets), bark, ash wood and bark chips and firewood. The areas un- der regulation in Ontario are Es- sex County, the Municipality of Chatham Kent, Lambton County, Elgin County, Middlesex County, Norfolk County and the City of Toronto. Hamilton said that moving any species of firewood is a ticketable offence, and trading restricted goods in regulated areas comes with a maximum fine of $200,000, and / or im- prisonment not exceeding two years. He said the best way to fight the pest is to limit the spread of wood products, and that removing infested trees is not a viable option. "We always find more outside the de- termined area," he said. Hamilton said there is no lure or trap for the beetle yet, but the CFIA has used an injectable organic pesticide that was registered only for emergency use, but the licence to administer it expired in August. Hamilton said scientists are hopeful that predatory wasp populations are on the increase, which may naturally control the spread of the emerald ash borer. According to Hamilton, the Slow the Spread approach is the best way to curb the infestation. Research shows most adult beetles will only travel approxi- mately 500 metres themselves, so local- izing infestation is the best defence. "All the money in the world is not go- ing to eradicate the emerald ash borer in North America. So, it s here and we have to deal with it," he said. The adult ash borer is 8.5-14 millimetres long, and metallic green on the outside, with a flat head and kidney shaped eyes. There are a few mimic beetles, Hamilton said, but the shape of the eyes is unique to the emerald ash borer. But "the real problem is the larvae," Hamilton said. The larvae are white, flat, segmented worm -like bugs. The segments are uniquely bell-shaped. They re identifiable from other larvae species by their two processes on the backside. An infested tree will have s shaped marks on the tree under the bark, and there will be D shaped emergence holes in the bark. If you suspect there are emerald ash borers on your property, or have seen evi- dence of them elsewhere, call the CFIA at 1-866-463-6017. Skop wteR rAnbuQer+ce,PR;s CEv,sPw�us'�'� PRICEIvIATCH Leans PRQNLI$EM WE WILL GLADLY MATCH ANY VERIFIED ADVERTISED LOCAL COMPETITOR'S PRICE ON ANY CURRENT IDENTICAL IN -STOCK ITEM. illPrdNA,IPcg o((,(SOURCE Srspce o 1. TRAILER SALES (ASK MANAGER FOR DETAILS) 1 10 MAIN ST. N. EXETER, ONT. 519-235-0800 VINYL SALE Naturals 6'15 reg. mow 3.39 moroGo ReaIistique459 reg. Simplicity X2.99 reg. Aurora $ Z' 79 reg. .nr -, Sr P. FREE ESTIMATES r1• CERTIFIED INSTALLERS r K 2.99 1.9s 1.79 There is no better time then now to purchase a new EMANNINGTON vinyl floor for your home Canyon Ridge Canyon Sunstoni Socorro Slate Rainforest 17351 Pisa Bav Wst`1f'�l � FI��r D 280 Thames Rd., Exeter 519-235-1652 UJIJ tnGo ULJ_C�