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The Citizen, 1994-01-26, Page 1News Farm Feature Brussels Agricultural Society ends year with operating loss Triplet calves born on area farm HCBE employee explains what happens when weather closes schools See page 2 See page 10 See page 15 Fire destroys home Lost Despite fighting the fire for several hours, volunteers from the Blyth Fire Department were unable to save the home of Hank Dyk, Lot 3, Cone. 9 in Morris Twp., just east of Blyth. The family found the home fully engulfed when they returned to it after the completion of the evening chores. While the cause is not officially determined Fire Chief Paul Josling believes it may have started in the wood furnace, located in the basement. Cold blitz By Bonnie Gropp Thanks to the bluster and chill of this winter it is not exactly business as usual for Huron County people. Doug Scrimgeour of Radford’s in Blyth and Brussels says that employees have been working "double and triple" duty to help meet the demand caused by the extra snow and drastically low tem­ peratures. Mr. Scrimgeour says that staff has been kept so busy thawing out trucks that it has been difficult to do the regular daily routine. Also, they are short-staffed al times, as employees, who reside out of town have been unable to get to work due to poor driving conditions. There has also been a problem, Mr. Scrimgeour says with the delivery of parts and diesel fuel, which is slowing everything down. changes routines "Diesel fuel jumped 2 cents a litre in the two days we waited for it to come in," he said. While Radford's are not having a problem with diesel units freezing, (at -22°C the fuel with thicken) it is happening in many other places, Mr. Scrimgeour says. With sub-zero temperatures increasing the demand for gas line anti-freeze, many area dealers have run out. Radford's, Mr. Scrimgeour said, bought a large supply during a summer sale, which they have now been selling to other retailers. "It was more good’ luck than good management. Normally, you wouldn't keep that much around, but we're heroes today." Homeowners are finding the cold temperatures a bit of a problem as well. Dale Machan, a Brussels plumber, says frozen pipes have caused a lot of problems for home­ owners and farmers in particular. "Most people are in trouble without water, but for farms, it's really important," he says. The demand for repairs, he says, has been constant. "We're running steady every day, every hour. " His day begins, he says at 7 and may not end until 11 at night. Mr. Machan anticipates furnace problems as well, due to the num­ ber of extra hours per day they are running. The snowy conditions haven't hampered his job too much, he says, noting that he has only had to walk in one lane. "It may take me a little longer to drive to a job, but the snow hasn't really affected us much." Blocked laneways are making the Continued on page 6 It was a busy week for Blyth fire­ fighters. At 10:25 on Jan. 24, the depart­ ment battled a blaze at the farm of Hank Dyk of Lot 3, Cone. 9, Mor­ ris Twp. Fire Chief Paul Josling says the occupants of the home were in the bam doing evening chores and found the house fully involved in flames when they returned. Chief Josling says the house was a complete loss though it is still standing. Unofficially, he says it appears the fire started in the wood furnace in the basement. "It appears the fire ran up the staircases and spread through the entire home," he says , "but I will be returning to the scene later today to have another look." There were no injuries. On Monday, Jan, 2 the volunteers were called to Campbell Transport OPP nab snowmobile thief Wingham OPP officers have arrested one man following a rash of snowmobile thefts in the area over the week. After bail hearings on Friday and Monday Brad Peel, 22 of Belgrave was remanded in custody until Feb. 16 when he will appear in Wingham provincial court for plea. Mr. Peel was charged after police were called to investigate the theft of a snowmobile from the parking lot of the Brussels Country Inn dur­ ing the evening of Jan. 21. Jonathan Hugill, of RR2, Seaforth, had phoned police after noticing his 1994 Ski-Doo was missing. Con­ stables Schut and Roberts followed the snowmobile tracks to Belgrave where it was located in a ditch. The driver was fleeing on foot. Burglars hit Hullett homes Hullett Twp. was struck with two burglaries on Jan. 12 during the working hours. A spokesperson of the Goderich detachment of the OPP says the first break and enter took place between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at an RR 1 Clinton residence. The perpetrator kicked in the door and made off with a VCR, microwave, CDs, clothes and cash. The VCR was a black RCA model UR5O5, serial number, 143754907; the Panasonic micro­ wave was model NN6852, serial number G62220188 and the coat was a full-length, down-filled style with a fur collar. The $600 in cash was half loonies and quarters and the rest in OPP look for robbery suspects A 21-year-old gas station owner was taken to Victoria Hospital Lon­ don after being beaten during a rob­ bery. A spokesperson said that Robert Crumb, 21, the owner of Bob Kat's Gas Bar north of Wingham on Hwy 4 was beaten by three suspects at 7:30 pm. on Jan. 21. The suspects in Blyth after an employee found the office on fire. Chief Josling said that it is believed an electrical malfunction in the heater started an office wall on fire. Though there was little structural damage, beyond a hole in the wall, there was some damage to office equipment, he said. Of the close call, Chief Josling said," If the fire had started just a little earlier it would have been too far gone by the time the employee got there. Things would have been much different." Last Saturday at 11:30 a.m. the fire alarm panel for Blyth Festival administration building showed that the sprinkler system had been activated. When firefighters arrived there was no indication of any problem. Chief Josling says they have not as yet determined what happened. Mr. Peel was charged with theft over $ 1,000. Sometime between midnight and 12:45 Larry Johnston of RR2, Clin­ ton discovered his 1993 Yamaha had been stolen from beside the Blyth Inn. A police spokesperson said that while the officers were enroute to the scene they noticed an aban­ doned snowmobile on Hwy 4, north of Blyth. Mr. Johnston identi­ fied the machine and took it home. Between Jan. 20-22, police say a 1991 Arctic Cat was taken from beside the garage of a Blyth resi­ dence. The machine, owned by William Giousher was later recov­ ered, but was damaged. There was no estimate at press time. The police investigation is con­ tinuing. 50s and 20s. The second burglary took place in the same area, before 5 p.m. of Jan. 12. Again, the door was forced open, causing damage and the rooms and drawers were ransacked. Ten CDs were stolen, mostly country as well as five video cas­ sette games. The titles included Final Fantasy, Rad Racer, Super Mario Brothers and Quattro 4. The spokesperson says OPP are looking at the possibility both cases are related because of the location and time of the incidents. There are no suspects yet but, OPP are asking for assistance from anyone who was in the area on Jan. 12 and might have seen anything. were wearing snowmobile suits and balaclavas. An undetermined amount of cash was taken. Police are asking for information regarding the robbery. Anyone who may have seen or heard something is asked to contact the Wingham OPP or their local Crimestoppers.