The Citizen, 2008-05-08, Page 1The CitizenVolume 24 No. 19 Thursday, May 8, 2008 $1.25 ($1.19 + 6c GST)Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Inside this week
Pg. 3
Pg. 8
Pg. 13
Pg. 32
Pg. 34
Recognition for NH
fire departments
Bulls receive
awards
Home and garden
begins
Teen’s poem gets
top 10 placing
Late artist’s work on
display in Listowel
A Morris-Turnberry family is
homeless after an early-morning
blaze destroyed their house and most
of their belongings April 26.
According to Blyth fire chief Paul
Josling, the OPP are investigating
and the cause of the fire has not yet
been determined.
Const. Joanna Van Mierlo said, “At
this point forensic samples have been
sent away for testing and we are
currently awaiting the results to
determine whether an accelerant was
used in the fire. Until we have that
piece of the puzzle all we can
confirm is that we are still
investigating.”
Josling said the Hugh and Monica
Ives were awakened just before 4:30
a.m. by their dog. “The barking woke
them. They did have working smoke
alarms, but the smoke hadn’t gotten
to them yet.”
Josling said at least four people
were in the house at the time,
including children. All escaped
safely.
Total damage to the house, located
at 41656 Cranbrook Rd. and its
contents is estimated at a $250,000,
said Josling.
Extra manpower was called in
from the Brussels department while
Wingham assisted with water, the
chief said.
The Ives family has been staying
with friends in Walton. Anyone
wanting to help the family can make
a donation at the Brussels CIBC.
OPP
waiting
for
forensic
results
of fire
Great representation
The Serious FUN! Theatre troupe claimed 25 first prizes as part of 73 all together at the
Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts in Stratford. The group, headed up by Blyth area’s
Shannon Rose Scott, has been working together since last summer. Back left: Samantha
Edwards, Kelsey King, Kelsey Falconer, Sadie Chalmers and Alexandra Aitken. Middle left:
Nicole McDonald, Rachel Bezaire, MacKenzie Chalmers, Ally Connelly and Katherine Dwyer.
Front left: Emma Dunlop, Kathryn Peach and Regan Bezaire. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
The Serious FUN! Theatre
Company out of Blyth headed to
Stratford to compete at the Kiwanis
Festival of the Performing Arts and
came back to Blyth with an armload
of awards.
There were 73 in total, actually.
There were 25 first prizes, 18 second
prizes and 30 third prizes.
The troupe had 15 entries in the
final round and won 12 awards. In
addition to all the accolades, two of
the Going Pro kids, as they are
known, Kathryn Peach and
Samantha Edwards, will continue on
to represent Stratford in the
provincial championships in both
musical theatre, as well as speech
and drama.
While the company is operated out
of founder Shannon Rose Scott’s
residence just south of Blyth, the
Going Pro kids are comprised of
girls from all over Huron County.
Members from Blyth, however,
did particularly well. Alexandra
Aitken, MacKenzie Chalmers, Sadie
Chalmers, Kelsey Falconer and
Peach all received first place in their
musical theatre classes and advanced
to the finals. Peach was also chosen
to compete in the classical vocal
finals.
Aitken and Sadie Chalmers
competed in the speech and drama
finals as well.
Peach received the Centennial
Trophy as well as a $50 cash prize
for her performance in the classical
vocal finals. She also received the
Gordon Jocelyn Award and another
$50 cash prize for her work in the
musical theatre finals. Peach will
represent Stratford at the provincial
championship in the musical theatre,
age 12-14 class.
Sadie Chalmers won the Kiwanis
Festival award for the top
improvisation solo, as well as a $50
cash prize. Chalmers also received
first place for her comedic scene,
The Ketchup Bottle, which she
performed with Peach.
Aitken was the recipient of the
Colin Leitch Memorial Award and a
$50 cash prize for outstanding
performance in elementary
Shakespeare as well as a first place
finish thanks to her comedic
monologue.
Falconer also placed first with her
improvisation duo where she
partnered up with Kelsey King of
Clinton.
Scott said she was extremely
proud of her students, noting that
while the girls took winning well,
those who came up just short, also
took their criticism well.
For more information on the
Serious FUN! Theatre Company, e-
mail seriousfuntheatre@yahoo.ca
The boys of summer are back in
Blyth and ready to face the
competition.
After an almost 15-year absence,
there is once again a Huron County
Fastball League team in Blyth with
the formation of the Barons this
season.
Mike McDonald who was part of
the last Blyth team, Lawrie
Decorating, when it ceased to exist,
said interest had picked up this year
and it was time to give it a try again.
McDonald, who along with three
other Blyth players, played with the
Goderich Orioles last summer said
the demise of fastball in Blyth had
come about primarily because they
couldn’t get the players. “There
weren’t enough young people
coming up who were still interested
in baseball, and no pitching.”
Things have changed though and
some local young men “took the
bulls by the horns” he said. “We had
the interest and some young
pitching”
Darcey Cook, who last summer
competed at the national
championships with the Chepstow
Midget teams will be splitting his
time on the mound and behind the
plate.
“Also, we have a couple who have
come out of the woodwork to play
for the first time in years,” said
McDonald. “We’ve ‘re-introduced’
Pat Cronin to fastball for his veteran
leadership.”
Cronin most recently coached a
Midget team.
Another player finding his way
back to the diamond after a bit of a
hiatus is Shawn Bromley. “He hasn’t
played in a while. But he’s a big,
tall, lanky guy who’s going to be a
good hitter for us and a great first
baseman with that reach.”
Cole Stewart too has been away
from fastball for a bit, but McDonald
anticipates he’ll be a “hot bat for us”.
McDonald admits that it will take
these players, and the team as a
whole, a bit of time to “get into the
groove and get the timing down. But
we’re hoping to have a .500 year then
a good showing for the year-end
tournament in Exeter this
September.”
The roster currently stands at about
15 players, but McDonald said there
have been some other local athletes
expressing interest. Coaching at this
point is coming from players
McDonald, Chris Stewart and Mike
Bromley.
McDonald also credits the last two
for being the driving forces behind
getting the Barons on the field.
“They were the ones going to the
meetings and organizing the team.”
Theatre kids perform well
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Boys of
summer
back
in Blyth
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Continued on page 8