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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-11-16, Page 1010 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, November 16, 2016 2016 Warden's Emergency Services Awards The late fire fighter Steve Cook, OPP officer Tyler Steward and primary care paramedic David Wagner were the recipients of the 2016 Warden's Emergency Services Awards on Nov. 2. The county chambers were brimming above capacity Wednesday morning as friends, colleagues and fam- ily members of the three award recipients forced press to stand throughout the cere- mony and others to spill into the hall. Huron County Warden Paul Gowing said it is impor- tant to recognize the work of those who keep our county safe and sound. "[The awards] really is making notice of those indi- viduals in those services who have shown exemplary ser- vice to our community," he -Police Officer of the Year for 2016 Darryl Coote/Editor Tyler Stewart, second from the left, was awarded the Police Officer of the Year for 2016 award from Huron County Warden Paul Gowing, second from the right, with OPP Inspector Jason Younan, far left, and Huron County CAO Brenda Orchard, far right, in attendance. told the chamber on behalf of the county before handing out the individual awards. "This is something we are very happy to do to show how much we appreciate the efforts of these individuals in Huron County:' Phragmites: Report raps invasion fight Debora Van Brenk The London Free Press The province's approach to preventing or slowing the spread of invasive species likes phragmites lacks conviction and has been "penny-wise and pound-foolish," says Ontario's environmental commissioner. In a report Wednesday, fH 1, • Happy Dianne Saxe said control of invasives should not depend, as it often does now, on a few determined retirees who scramble to raze weeds and raise money to get the job done. Saxe said in an interview that Ontario spends about $1 million a year to battle dozens of non-native plant, insect and animal invaders; 90T" Birthday „" to FRED YOUNG 3 Of Goderich & Formerly Dungannon Saturday November 26, 2016 • Goderich Legion Jubilee Room ir - :J : Come and • Go Celebration gi gi Let your presence al be your present. and about $5 million a year just for its own bad debts. "It really does seem penny- wise and pound-foolish," she said, noting "fixing" the prob- lem costs many times more than preventing or control- ling it: for example, it costs $75 million a year just to clean zebra mussels out of drinking -water intakes. The report focuses on for- est fires, vanishing species and invasive species. "With few exceptions, there is little indication that the Ontario government is taking concrete actions to prevent the jot Paramedic of the Year for 2016 Huron County Warden Paul Gowing, third from the left, presents David Wagner, second from the left, with the Paramedic of the Year for 2016 award. In attendance for the ceremony was Art McNaughton, far left, Huron County EMS superintendent; Steve Lund, third from the right, EMS director of Operations; Brenda Orchard, second from the right, Huron County CAO; and Jeff Horseman, far right, acting chief. The late Steve Cook won the Fire Fighter of the Year for 2016. Accepting the ward is Brad Crawford, fifth from the right. Warden Paul Gowing, forth from the right, presented her with the award as she was surrounded by members of Cook's family and the Huron County Fire Department. introduction of invaders, detect them early on in an invasion, or manage and mon- itor species that are already doing damage," the report says. Phragmites — tall, feath- ery perennial grasses that multiply quickly, crowd out native species, and are ubiq- uitous along Ontario's ditches, waterways, lake - shores and ponds — were named Canada's worst plant invader a decade ago. Saxe cited a Lambton Shores volunteer group that has a "viable and compre- hensive management Huron County Public Health Professional Day November 21, 2016 Did you knew the 1 l uron County Health l lntr has. 17 profe sitrn working to keep you he a1 by and safer Adrn ni5tratiorr Pro Fslkrril • ComrrrunrcaDorm $laerio{rst CFA Vah.onleer Coordirr•crIar - Ctirrirriarrfty rocirelc'per - Cteri t rl .sista i t -Dental Hygienist - Dietrt.r rr; • E,pilt'ernrologrs t , Graphic Designer - Parent Resource Visitor ('hysrcftira • Public health Inspector - Public t-rE alth Nurse - Fublfc Health Frornoter - PIurnber - Program Evaluator - Pragrraarr Support Thanks for all vcu do Cit prevcrrt injury' and disease, promote 4'e.1iriess, and protect health! t II'IN .I a -re - kurrn County Board of Helmuth — approach" and is working to eradicate phragmites along the Lake Huron shore. She called them "deter- mined retirees who find themselves battling not only phragmites in the ditches, but also thickets of paperwork for approvals and work permits." Nancy Vidler, who heads the group, said it's important their efforts get sustained support. "It's not going to be gone in three years, so if we lose our project money in three years, then we have to start all over again." Janice Gilbert, a wetland ecologist and Ontario's lead- ing phragmites expert, said it's still important the province consider chemical options, like those approved in the U.S. "Early detection and rapid response is critical, but that's not going to eradicate the mass infestations." Saxe said a lot of ecology work Ontario's Natural Resources Ministry should be managing is instead done by volunteers, often without pro- vincial guidance, expertise, co-ordination, or funding. Saxe said the province has the mandate, knows the need and has the power to do something significant to fight infestations, but hasn't. For the full report, https:// eco. on. ca/reports/2016-small- steps-forward/ Huron Health Unit to celebrate professionals on Nov. 21 Staff at the Huron County Health Unit are being cele- brated on Nov. 21 for the annual Public Health Profes- sionals in Huron County Day. "We have such a range of highly skilled professionals working in many areas of public health in Huron County," said Tyler Hessel, Board of Health Chair. "Many residents are familiar with some of our work, but they probably don't know we have 17 professions dedicated to keeping Huron County residents healthy and safe." Hessel goes on to say that public health is about preventing injury and disease, promoting wellness and protecting health. Huron County Public Health Professional Day is marked the third Monday of every November. Hessel says it's a chance to highlight the important work being done across the county by public health professionals.