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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-12-25, Page 1Il BEST ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA (CirculationClass under2200) C.C.N.A. Better Newspaper Competition,1985 Grey Township Reeve Leona Armstrong is sworn in to the office of Huron. County warden In December. Armstrong is the first woman warden In the 140 year history -of the county. [Dave Sykes photo] A snowblower was blamed for a fire in a owned'by Peter Cook of Inglis Street, Lucknow. An 'undetermined amount of damage Was done. [James Friel photo] . First woman warden hasfull county schedule By Stephanie Levesque The groundbreaking of the Hurpn Coun- ty museum, renovations to Huronview; hydro lines and open meetings will be dealt with by the county's first female warden. Leona Armstrong, 51, the reeve, of Grey Township was ' named Huron County Warden at the inaugural meeting of the 1986 council. She sought the same position last year along with four men, but came in third in a race between Bob Bell of Tucker - smith andthe successful warden, Paul Steckle. • "I must say that the pressures are not so great today as they were a year ago," said 'the new warden. There were no contenders for the posi- tion this jrear . when Mrs. Armstrong an- nounced her intentions to seek the seat that was once held by her father; Harvey John- ston of Morris Township. "1986 is going to be a challenging and exciting yearfor all of us. The new Huron County museum will get underway in 1986. It is anticipated that an architect will be ' ir,; .xed eat t . ,tte,,ygar and xhat.we ivill...he, in a position to' break ground for Phase one sometime -in late summer. When all the phases of the. museum are completed we will be proud that we had a part in making it a reality," she said. • She also noted the, importance of the ^ proposed renovations to the 'county's home .for the' aged, Huronview. "Our elderly deserve the best and that means the right to live in the most comfortable and enjoyable surroundings possible. I take a personal- ' interest in Huronview as I have spent many a night there when dad was administrator...The province has recommended for approval $716;000 for this project. Hopefully we can work together to come up with the•funds to match , this grant • without over taxing. our people," said the first female warden for' Huron. . She also sees Ontario Hydro's plans for a transmission corridor through • the county as an .i, nportant issue that has to be dealt with in the coming year. "We must work together to make sure that the routes taken will have the least impact if any, on our county," said Warden Armstrong. On the question of agriculture in gener- al, Warden. Armstrong said the countywill have to encourage both federal and provin- cial governments to assistthe farmers. The .warden's husband, Jim, a high school teacher at Mitchell District High school said he would stand in the back- ground and help his wife .as much as he could. , "It feels great," he said in answer to the question how it feels to be Huron's first man. "It's quite an honor. I'll just go along and help when I can. So far I've let her do her job and she had done very well," said Mr. Armstrong. • Many accolades were brought to the warden, most recognizing the fact that with •a 140 year history, Huron has just named it first female warden., . "It's the first time. I've kissed a warden of Huron County," quipped MP Murray Cardiff who jokingl* added, "No.'offense Paul." For her part, the new warden comment- ed that she isn't an eloquent speaker like • past warden Steckle, nor does she have the smile of former warden Tom Cunningham or the wit of another past warden Grant Stirling. However, she said she would do .her 'best to represent the county. Judge F. G. Carter swore in the new warden and dispensed some words of advice. "Be a woman, not man, you have your own qualities," said the judge. Members of the new warden's family, ;1 including her mother Lyla'and two sisters who came from Truro, N.S. just for the inauguration congratulated their daughter and sister after the ceremony. Her immed- iate family mmediate.family was also present. There was husband Jim and their four children, Robert, Bruce, Brian and LeeAnn: Warden Armstrong first started in muni- cipal polities in November of 1974. Shewas then deputy reeve for three years before , being . named reeve in 1981 'when then Reeve Roy Williamson resigned in mid- term. The full time community\worker in .a horticulture group, her church and wom- en's institute has also served as. chairman of the county's planning and development., .department. • ' The new warden was presented with a county warden's pin, a key to the county, and a dozen roses. The committees for the coming year were named at a meeting of county council on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Deadlines The Lucknow Sentinel' will be. closed• over the Christmas and New Year's holiday season as follows: Christmas - closed Dec. 24 at 4:30 p.m. and opening again on Dec. 27 at 8:30 a.m. During New Year's the office will be closed Dec. 31 at noon and will again open on Jan. 2 at 8:30 a.m. The deadline for the New . Year's paper is 3:00 Dec: 27 for all advertising and editorial copy. Car destr�yedbyfire A 1986 automobile was completely detroyed by fire Dec. 16 in Port Albert. The Lucknow and Area Fire Depart- ment was called to fight the blaze in a car owned by May Johnson, 114 Nelson St., Goderich. "She said she'd been having electric- al. problems," said Fire Chief Bud Hamilton: "Sparks started dropping on her feet from under the dash, and she • knew it was time to get out." There were no injuries in the fire. Fire In garage The department was called to the home of Peter Cook on Dec. 19 to put out a fire 'that started in his garage. A snowblower was blamed for the fire on Inglis Street which cause anunde- termined' amount of danilg ..