The Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-06-01, Page 1PUBLISHED IN
LUCKNOW, ONTARIO
Wednesday,
June 1, 1994
SS°
G.S.T. Included
West Wawanosh Coalition
ready to fight landfill site
by Scott Hilgendorff
The, West Wawanosh Landfill
Coalition Group has formed.
About 50 people from the
township met in Dungannon last
Friday night to discuss the three
possible Huron County landfill sites
in the township.
The three sites include con-
cecuuve lot numbers 19, 20°21, 22
and 23, Conc. VII and those people
affected are putting up a fight.
"'I think we all feel the same. If
we don't put up a fight and make
our arguements now, we'll fall
behind and won't be heard;" Bev
•Grierson said.
Grierson, Sandra Harmer and
Audrey Johnston chaired the
meeting at the Dungannon Senior
Citizens Centre.
Greirson told the. citizens, they
needed to determine what points
made up their opposition.
The county is also looking at sites
in Colborne, Ashfield and McKillop
To« rships for its proposed 60 acre
landfill site which will operate for
40 years. .
Grierson said they can't wait until
the site is chosen to put up a fight.
By then it would be too late to
convince the County to choose
another location.
The group discussed its concerns
with the location of the site.
"It seems to me, it's playing in a
ball game with lopside rules," said
Neil Stapleton.
"Someone's got to get it [the
landfill}. It's like a lottery you hope
you don't win," Stapleton said.
He questioned the County's sys-
tem of ranking the type of land.
The land chosen in West
Wawanosh Township was listed as
Class 3, below' rankings of Class 1
and Class 2 in southern parts of the
county; areas that do not have
proposed landfill site locations.
"It looks like the criteria is
stacked against us," Stapleton said:
Others suggested the basis for the
land classifications was made from
old maps •that don't properly depict
the wealth of . harvests or use of
land for raising cattle.
Concerns welt raised about wet-
lands and. swamp regions that
would be affected by waste in the
landfill.
Additional concerns were raised
about the mennonite community
which will have to share roads with
traffic from trucks going to the
landfill.
People were afraid for the safety
of themennonite children walking
to school every day and for the
horse and carriages.
"The danger itself these kids will
face; that's too much," one person
said.
Ultimately, the citizens of West,'
Wawanosh Township indicated the
County doesn't know much about'
the .region it is considering for a
landfill site.
"Then it's our job to teach them
about West Wawanosh, Grierson
said. • •
Different people within the
coalition will be examining specific
areas such as the landfill impact on
wetlands. Others have been ap-
pointed to liaise with government
sections. Each person will report
back to the coalition at it4 next •
meeting...
The coaltion meets again at the
senior's centre at 8 p.m on June 24
to discuss the situation further.
Area hunters against gun control
by Fred Groves
Urban vs. Rural Crime and
Violence vs. Hobby and Hunters.
Thursday night nearly 500 people
crammed into the Belmore Com-
munity Centre to voice their con-
cerns on gun control.
The biggest concern at the
meeting was against strict gun
regulations placed on their use of
firearms while gun -related violence
in the cities runs rampant..
"The people who are asking for
guns to be taken away are basically
urbanites," said Huron -Bruce MP
Paul Steclde.
Thursday's meeting was ,spon-
sored. by the Huron Fish and Game
Conservation Association and
Steckle himself is a hunter. ' •
The Liberal member has said
publicly he is against the proposed
laws his party is trying to get
towards gun control.
"Some ofthe statements I have
made are . not for popularity," said
Steckle.
In a recent interview with the
Globe and Mail Steckle said he
defended the rights of law abiding
rural ,Ontario constituents to own
guns.
"We do not represent the majority
of Canadians but we have to be
heard," said Steckle.
The biggest . debate over gun
control comes from the Liberal
government trying to put its efforts
towards tougher gun control rather
than tougher laws for criminals who
use guns.
"It's not us (hunters and
recreational gun owners) that's the
problem it's the criminals. Do we
have to keep murderers in ja4,,,,
let's bring back the death penalty.
Don't give them the Second
chance," said Steve Cooke who was
the moderator for Thursday night's
meeting.
Steckle said giving up guns to
solve crimes would be wrong and
used prohibition of alcohol 'as an
example.
"I think it's a privilege in this
country to own a gun," he said.
• Bill C-17 is the federal
government's law on gun control
and it appears as though it is far
from being cast in stone.
"The ink isn't dry on it and al-
ready we're looking at tightening i.
up," said Steclde.
Some points about hunting were
presented including' the fact .there
are 420,000 hunters in Ontario who
spend nearly $320 million annually
on lodging, food and other related
items.
It was also said at the meeting,
safety has improved in. hunting as
there. were. 150 accidents in 1960
and 30 years later there were only
45.
Bob Pegg, a conservation officer
with the Ministry • of Natural'
Resources said hunting is important.
"There is a healthy deer
population. The deer population is
too healthy according to some
farmers. We need the hunters. The
MNR recognizes it , as
"See Gun, page 2
Heather Qwuennell holds an umbrella over her daughter,.
Allison's head while she wraps herself In a blanket to keep
dry at the Kinsmen Ball Park. She was watching her mom
play ball in the co-ed slo;pitch tournament held on the week-
end. (Scott Hilgendorff photo)
Separate School Board
develops/ plan for crisis
The Bruce-drey Separate Board
of Education has formalized
• guidelines for dealing with crises in
the school and schoollcommunity.
"It's not a happy topic, but (its)
certainly is one as a caring com-
munity we need to address," said
acting director of education
Rosemary Kennedy at the board's
May 24 meeting.
Kennedy said ,the guidelines are
most often needed when there is
serious illness or death of a student
or staff member. The board social
worker, religious education consul-
tant or school chaplain can work
with administration and the school
principal to help students cope with
grief or anxiety caused , by a
traumatic event or death.
She said there are also suggestions
for follow-up support.
"People are left at school to deal
with it after the helpers go away,"
she said.
Trustees were told the 'guidelines
can be modified to meet the needs
of the individual schools and, their
communities.
"Since school staff members know
the community well, they are often
more sensitive to local needs and
characteristics. The most effective
and supportive response is often a
local response," said the report.
"Moreover, a local tragedy is al-
ways shared by 'the broader com-
munity. of the (board) and the sup-
port of the wider community will
be made available."
George Whitby
Local veteran has fought on beaches at Normandy
by Scott Hilgendorff'
On the beaches of Normandy,
through France and into Ger-
many, World War Two veteran
George Whitby helped defend
the infantry troops. in the
liberation of Europe from Ger-
• man occupation:
June 6 marks the 50th anniver-
sary of D -Day which saw more
than three million troops
gathered for action in southern
England.
"I was a Gun Sergeant when
we landed," Whitby said.
While the D -Day landings
commenced in. June of 1944,
Whitby said, "We anchored out
in .the English Channel for a
whole week."
Whitby, at the age of 31, was
a member of the 7th Canadian
Medium Regiment,'RCA. Rough
waters presented difficulties
getting the heavy 5.5 medium
artilary guns, they were to use in
their part of the Normandy Carn-
paign, off the ship, resulting in
his part of the campaign taking
place about a week later. •
He said they weren't sailors
and would have preferred taking
part in the battles raging on land.
Plans for the Allied invasion of
Europe began in 1943 and would.
involve air, sea and land forces
from Britain, the Common-
wealth, the United States , and
units ' from most occupied
European countries.
Just after midnight on June 6,
1.944, the invasion began with
landings at five locations,along
the Normandy beaches in a fifty
mile stretch between Le Havre.
and Cherbourg.
In 1939, before there were
thoughts of a Normandy cam-
paign, Whitby first joined the
military. He was 23 years old
and spent five years in England,
prior to the D -Day invasion.
In'England, he was in training
and said they spent a lot of time
moving around the country.
He said England was afraid of
a German invasion. The troops
were moved around in case
aerial photographs were taken by
the Germans, making the Allied
Forces look stronger.
When Whitby landed .at Rots,
France, it marked his first time
in battle.
He said it was the same for
many of the soldiers. Most of
those with any battle experience
took part in the battle at Dieppe
and Whitby said there weren't
many of those soldiers left at the
time of the Normandy campaign.
"We were in support. Once we
got ashore, we started firing
ahead of the infantry," he said.
During the campaign, Whitby
said they progressed through
France and into Germany, shel-
ling enemy positions ahead of
the almost steadily progressing
infantry troops:
For Whitby and his troops,
much of the time was spent
*See Whitby, page 3