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The Citizen, 1986-09-24, Page 1VOL. 2 NO. 39 Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1986.40 CENTS Election coming in Wes? Wawanosh Because of the problems spawn­ ed by a relatively minor procedural irregularity at a council meeting September 2, West Wawanosh electors will likely go to the polls again on November 17 to elect a new councillor. The seat has been left vacant by the appointment of Councillor Cecil Cranston to the reeve’s chair, leftvacantby the resignation of Reeve Jim Aitchison, September 16. It was the resignation of Reeve Aitchison, originally attempted, at the regular council meeting Sept­ ember 2, that set off the confusion which still surrounds West Wawa­ nosh council three weeks later. At that time, councillors had a “verbal understanding” that Mr. Aitchison would resign as reeve for health reasons, but would remain on council in the seat left vacant by Mr. Cranston, who was to move up to the reeve’s chair. However, council did not accept Mr. Aitchison’s resignation by a motion in council, as is the correct procedure in such cases; and later realized that irregularities had arisen in the matter. The town­ ship’s solicitor was called to a special meeting September 15 to advise council on righting the matter, and as a result, Mr. Aitchison was re-instated as reeve. Problems arose when Kathy Todd, of RR 2, Lucknow, said she had been approached on Septem­ ber 9 to run for the vacant seat on council, and had accepted the nomination and been sworn in September9.OnSeptemberll, Mrs. Todd was told her nomination had been invalid because of the earlier procedural irregularities in vacating the seat on council. “How can they kick me off after I vebeen sworn in?” Mrs. Todd asked. She said she had received permission to sit through a closed meeting with the township’s solici­ tor and council on Sept. 15, and later the same day, attended the open meeting at which Mr. Aitchison was re-instated as reeve of W. Wawanosh. Mrs. Todd told The Citizen that although she realizes that no council seat was actually vacant, because of the invalidity of the procedure at the September 2 meeting, she is angry about the whole affair, and feels she should get a formal apology from the council. She said that she will run again, ifthe seat goes to the electors. Mrs. Todd was defeated for the reeve’s position by a close vote in the 1985 municipal election. West Wawanosh clerk Joan Armstrong said that council will now hold an election to fill the vacancy on council, but that it must be conducted as would a regular election. She said that the formal procedure will get underway im­ mediately, but that November 17 would likely be the earliest possi- Continued on page 13 Even princesses have to have fun now and then and these two contestants from the Queen of the Fair contest took time out last Wednesday to have a bit of fun at the Brussels Fail Fair. Charlene Stephenson [left] and Leanne Armstrong were just two of the 1,300 people attending the fair. Blyth planning meeting set for Tuesday night Blyth residents will get a chance to ask questions and study a proposed amendment to the vill­ age’s official plan at a meeting Tuesday night at Blyth Memorial Hall. The proposed change in the official plan is to set up a “Community Improvement Area”, dealing with deficiencies in Plowmen The International Plowing Match was turned into very much a Huron County affair thanks to the work of 10 Huron Plowmen. Jeff McGavin, 18, of Walton won the Reserve Junior Championship after an excellent week of plowing, at the Plowing Match, held at Stirling in Hastings county near Belleville from Sept. 16 - 20. Paul Dodds, 19, of RR 1, Seaforth won the Junior Champion Tractor Plowmen trophy enabling him to compete in Quebec at the 1987 Canadian Junior Champion­ ship Plowing Contest. If he is unable to attend, Jeff will take his place. hard services (such as roads and drains) and soft services (parks, recreation and cultural needs). The amendment is necessary as part of the village’s participation in the Ontario Neighbourhood Improve­ ment Program. The amendment is back up by a 26-page study prepared by the Huron County Planning Depart­ bring home prizes For winning, Paul received a trophy for his two-furrow class with contestants 16-19, and a prize of $300. He is presently a first-year student at the University of Guelph, using the two-year schol­ arship he won at the International Plowing Match last year. The same scholarship for two years at one of the Ontario Colleges of Agriculture (valued at $2,500) were won this year by William Fotheringham, 17, and Murray Townsend, 15, both of RR 4, Seaforth. The scholarships are offered to the two International Plowing Match contestants who accumulate the most points in their ment studying everything from the growth rate of Blyth since incep­ tion to the education level of residents to the condition of buildings to current land use. The meeting will be held downstairs at the Memorial Hall at 8p.m. Blyth village council will provide coffee and doughnuts for those attending. division ages 15-19, and who have not previously won the award. Steven Adams of Brussels and Brian McGavin of Walton (both of whom have won scholarships in the past), Matt Townsend, RR 4. Seaforth, Bevan Shapton, Exeter, Robert McAllister and William McAllister of Auburn also compet­ ed. Of the total of 72 plowmen competing at the International, 10 were from Huron. Many of the young competitors will be showing off their skills at the Huron County Plowing Match at Murray Cardiff'sfarm, north of Brussels on Oct. 3 and 4. Brussels could lose rail line After existing in a state of bureaucratic limbo for three years, the last section of the Canadian National’s Kincardine Subdivi­ sion, which runs through Brussels, Wingham and Lucknow, could be closed down by Christmas. In 1983, the railway applied to the Canadian Transport Commis­ sion (CTC) for permission to abandon the entire subdivision, from Listowel to Kincardine, and in due course was granted permis­ sion to close the northwestern portion of the line, from Wingham to Kincardine, while the Listowel- Wingham span was to remain open, under a federal subsidy to the CNR. Under the Railway Act, a railway may apply to abandon any line which is not economically viable. The CTC then decides whether to approve the application, or to order that the line, or part of it, be retained in the public interest. If an uneconomic line is ordered retain­ ed, the railway becomes eligible for a subsidy to offset losses. Since CN’s original application referred to the entire Kincardine Subdivision, the 1983 decision by the CTC left the Listowel-Wing- ham section of the line on shaky ground, according to Jim Stratton, assistant manager of the CNR regional public affairs office in Toronto. Last week, CN applied for permission to abandon three ‘‘light density” freight lines in mid-we stern Ontario: the Owen Sound Subdivision, from Palmer­ ston to Owen Sound; the Newton Subdivision, from Palmerston to Stratford; and the Southampton Subdivision, from Harriston Jet. to Douglas Point. In a press release pertaining to its application, CN said: “Rail traffic volumes on these lines have continued to decline, and Canadian National sees noth­ ing in the future to indicate any improvement in traffic.” The application now before the CTC is being vigorously opposed by Listowel town council, accord­ ing to a story in last week’s Listowel Banner; as a result, public hear­ ings will likely be held before a decision is made by the CTC. And although the remaining open section of the Kincardine Subdivision is not actually part of Continued on page 2 Record attendance A record number of people attended the Blyth Festival this summer, surpassing the Festival’s own attendance projections. More than 36.000 people attend­ ed performances of the five plays presented this summer. Spread out over 92 performances it meant that for each performance, 81 per cent of the 491 seats in Blyth Memorial Hall were filled. That’sa three percent rise over last year. Leading the attendance rating was “Gone to Glory” by Suzanne Finlay which filled an incredible 95 per cent of all the seats available for its performances. “Drift”, by Rex Deverell played to87 percent of capacity. “Another Season’s Promise,” by Anne Chislett and Keith Roulstonand “Lilly, Alta.” by Ken Dyba, both played to 76 per cent capacity. Colleen Curran’s comedy “Cake-Walk” which is now on tour throughout Ontario played to 72 per cent capacity to wind up the season.