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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-04-05, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: ANNIVERSARY - Pg. 8 Brussels business celebrates 40 years in the village CYCLING - Pg. 9 Locally -sponsored cycling team raises $8,250 for MS Society CONCERT - Pg. 19 Brussels man to host special concert in Walton Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 r Citiz Volume 34 No. 14 $1 .25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, April 5, 2018 Novice Rep Crusaders bring home WOAA gold Take your turn Last week the Blyth Brussels Novice Rep Crusaders took the Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) crown by beating the Minto Mad Dogs in the final game of the season by a score of 4-3. They then took the time for the customary skate around the arena, each player taking his turn with the trophy. From left: Damon Shannon, Rodney Ansley and Brett Caldwell. (Shawn Loughlin photo) By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Last week, the Blyth Brussels Novice Rep Crusaders topped off a back -and -forth series with the Minto Mad Dogs with a 4-3 victory en route to the Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) crown. The locals hosted what would be their final game of the season on March 28 at 6 p.m., welcoming Minto to the Blyth and District Community Centre. The game made for a dramatic affair, but, in the end, it was Blyth Brussels that won the game by a score of 4-3, claiming the series. This came after Blyth Brussels won the first two games — the first in Blyth by a score of 6-3, then by a score of 2-1 in Palmerston — but lost the third in Palmerston 5-2. However, Blyth Brussels pulled out the victory in the fourth game of the series. Head Coach Mike Ansley said he felt great after his team won the series. The final outcome of the series was always in question, he said, but that wasn't unlike the season his team had. The team had its ups and downs over the course of the season, at one point losing seven games straight, but Ansley said that the team's regular season record is a bit deceiving. So many of the team's games, he said, were decided by one goal, whether it was a win or a loss. So many of the team's losses, he said, could have easily been wins. "They really were a good group of kids," Ansley said. Ansley said that Blyth Brussels had met the Minto team several times over the course of the season and the games were always competitive. This is the second year that Ansley has coached the team, which includes his son Rodney. He says the experience of coaching his son has been thrilling and a great way to connect. The Crusaders began their quest for the trophy by defeating the Novice Rep team from Arran- Elderslie in three games. They won the first game by a score of 8-0, but lost the second 5-3. They closed out the series with a 5-4 win in Blyth to move onto the second round. In the second round they played Shallow Lake, beating them swiftly in two games by scores of 5-4 and 5- 2. Once the team won the trophy, each member took a chance to skate around the ice with the trophy before taking a team picture in front of their home bench. With school set for the next day though, the celebrations could only go so long into the night for the team members. The Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association's year-end banquet was set to take place on Tuesday night. For more information, visit blythbrusselsminorhockey.ca. Petition asks HE to reallocate funds to arena By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Local resident Dan Fritz has created a petition asking that Huron East Council reallocate $150,000 from the sale of the former Brussels Public School as seed money for needed renovations at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Fritz's claim stems from a December, 2017 decision by Huron East Council to allocate proceeds of $150,000 from the sale of the former Brussels Public School into the municipality's general reserve. This went against a staff recommendation that proposed the community centre as an appropriate destination for the funds. Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight suggested that, because the closure of the school was such a major loss for the community, it would be appropriate for the funds from the sale of the building to remain in the community. Council, instead, decided to allocate the funds to general reserves, where they could be used for anything throughout the municipality, based on the direction of council. "To the Council of the Municipality of Huron East: Whereas the Council of the Municipality of Huron East elected to designate the $150,000 proceeds from the sale of the former Brussels Public School towards the municipality's general funds and whereas these funds would have made an excellent seed for the proposed upgrades to the Brussels arena and whereas we feel that the revenue generated from the sale of the former Brussels Public School should stay in the community and be used to upgrade our arena," the petition reads, "therefore we feel that the Council of the Municipality of Huron East should revoke their decision and designate the funds from the sale of the former Brussels Public School towards the proposed renovations of the Brussels arena." In an interview with The Citizen, Fritz said that while it's all well and good that community members and service groups are prepared to step up to the plate and contribute towards proposed renovations at the community centre, the municipality, too, should do its part. Fritz says that he and several other volunteers plan to canvass the Brussels and Grey wards for signatures over the next two weekends. Petitions will be placed at Turning Heads and Making Waves and McDonald Home Hardware. He plans to present the petition at the April 16 public meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the community centre. The meeting aims to bring together residents and users of the centre to discuss funding options for the potential expansion and renovation of the centre, which is roughly slated to cost $750,000. If you are interested in signing the petition, or helping out, and you are not contacted over the weekend, contact Fritz at 519-357-7372 or by e-mail at fritzy647@gmail.com. Double homicide shocks Bluevale area A Wingham man is facing two charges of first degree murder in relation to a double homicide last week southwest of Wroxeter. On March 29 at approximately 8:12 a.m. members from the Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachment responded to a 911 call for assistance at a residence located on C Line Road. Upon arrival police located two deceased adults, an injured adult female and a male suspect at the scene. The female victim was transported by emergency medical services to a local hospital where she received medical care and was later released. Police arrested the male suspect, identified as 56 -year-old Kevin Carter of Wingham, at the scene without incident. Carter has been charged with two counts of first degree murder. In the days following the incident and arrest, information about Carter has begun to surface online. The 56 -year-old Wingham resident is reported to have worked at Wescast Industries, a graduate of F.E. Madill Secondary School and an avid fisherman. Reports indicate Carter was taken to the Goderich courthouse on March 29, at which point a publication ban was put in place regarding the identity of the victims in the case. As a result of the ban, no information can be released that could allow the victims to be identified. No reason was given for the ban. Carter was remanded into custody with a video court appearance scheduled for April 3 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Goderich. Members of the Huron County OPP Crime Unit & OPP Forensic Identification Services (FIS) continue to investigate under the direction of Detective Inspector Randy Wright of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB). A section of C Line Road was still blocked Monday as the investigation into the double homicide continued. Any person with information regarding this incident should immediately contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.