The Citizen, 1998-05-20, Page 1
The North Huron
itizen
Vol. 14 No. 20 Wednesday, May 20, 1998 700 + 50 GST 750
OPP Senior Const. and Community Service Officer Don Shropshall lent a helping hand at
the Blyth Optimists Bike Rodeo last Wednesday. Here, he helps JK student Collin Whitfield
learn the proper hand signals for stopprng and turning. Some 90 children participated in
Blyth, while over 70 were put through their paces that morning at Hullett PS. A new concept
this year was safe rollerblading.
News
See page 2
Recognition
Local service clubs receive
awards from Ontario
Municipal Rec. Assoc.
See page 6
Milestone
See page 10
Provincial funds
please CAS dir.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
There are still questions, but Torn
Knight, executive director of the
Huron County Children's Aid Soci-
ety commends the provincial gov-
ernment on providing more money
for childrens' services.
"It is still a major step in looking
at the needs of children," he says.
Knight says the initial figure of
$170 million, which may have been
,_ altered to just $90 million, would
have allowed for funding equity
amongst the 55 CAS agencies in
the province.
It would have permitted the hir-
ing of more caseworkers, thereby
dropping case loads from 28 to 30
or 40 per front line worker to a
more manageable 13.5 to 14 cases.
"There could also have been an
expansion of services and other
staff," he says.
However, he says it is tremen-
dous that the need in foster care has
been recognized.
Currently, those in community
living situations are paid $35 to
$90 per day. Child welfare pays
$20 or lower, says Knight.
"The money supplied for foster
care almost covers the costs. There
has been no change in the rate since
1989."
In order to make chaiiges, Knight
A two-vehicle collision on Huron
County Rd. 34 in Howick Twp.
resulted in serious injuries, May 14.
A 1995 Plymouth van, driven by
Ben Gibson, 70, of RR I ,
Gowanstown, was stopped along
the south side, facing west, a mile
from Huron County Rd. 30. As he
attempted to cross the highway to
the north lane, the van was struck
on the right side by a 1985 Toyota
wagon, driven by Lucas Burrows,
18, of Palmerston, said OPP Senior
says agencies must already have
the money in their budget, which
would mean cutting other services.
Noting the importance of the fos-
ter care system, Knight says many
caseworkers have good training in
the theory of child welfare but very
little on the front lines.
"The two to four-month training
course that British Columbia now
has is extremely important."
At present in Ontario, new front
liners are almost immediately given
cases to handle.
Knight says there has also been
an increased demand on services
provided by CAS because of the
change in the welfare system over
the past few years.
"With many other support ser-
vices gone, such as second stage
housing, more people are turning to
CAS."
"From 1992 to 1995 we would
have 180 open cases at month end.
In 1996 that rose to 206, then 309
in 1997 and 385 in 1998."
With a lower funding than
Knight believes is needed for equi-
ty across the system, he says the
servicing and staffing provided will
be determined by allocation.
"Without equity there can be no
standard formula."
Knight expectsa six to eight
month delay before monies from
the spring budget will be distribut-
ed.
Const. Don Shropshall of the
Goderich detachment.
Both vehicles ended up in the
north ditch and were demolished
Gibson's passenger, Edith Gib-
son, 68, was taken to Palmerston
Hospital then flown by air ambu-
lance to Victoria Hospital in Lon-
don, in critical condition.
Ben Gibson was treated and
released from Palmerston Hospital.
Burrows had minor injuries and
was not taken to hospital.
The investigation continues.
Accident in Howick
Music, money, meal Barn Dance jamboree in Blyth
highlight Lions gala
With thousands of dollars to give
away, foot-stomping country music
and a delicious hot meal, the Brus-,
sels Lions' 27th anniversary elimi-
nation draw promises to be an
entertaining evening.
Only 500 tickets will be sold for
the $6,500 in prize money with the
lucky final ticket holder taking
home $4,000. The $40 ticket
admits two adults and any family
under the age of 12.
Set for Saturday, May 30, at the
BMG Community Centre, the
evening begins with a hot buffet
meal from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The entertainment kicks off at
7:30 p.m. with a second show at 9
p.m.
Fresh Horses, a salute to Garth
Brooks will perform a number of
Garth favourites while throwing in
a little blues, Billy Joel, Trooper
and Bryan Adams.
The band consists of lead vocalist
and acoustic guitarist Les Smith,
Mark Blais on fiddle, pedal steel
and vocals, Pedro Fernandez on
lead guitar and vocals, drummer
and vocalist Trevor Teed, key-
boardist Rob Angelo and Brad
Whetham on bass and vocals.
Tickets for the family night of
fun can be purchased through any
Brussels Lions member.
The Blyth fairgrounds will be
alive with the sound of jamboree
music this weekend.
The Barn Dance Historical Soci-
ety's first annual Jamboree Camp
Out Weekend begins May 23, with
a continental breakfast to campers
and members. The afternoon will
feature an open jamboree. Registra-
tion begins at 10 a.m.
That evening music lovers can
enjoy the toe-tapping tunes of the
Barn Dance Historical Society
Show, featuring among others the
bands of favourite performers Len
Love and Lynn Ruffwurm.
Sunday morning will be a free
gospel sing from 10 a.m. to noon.
The idea for the jamboree was
the brainchild of Society President
Wayne Otterbein of Bayfield and
Vice-President June Therrien of St.
Clements. "We wanted it to be a
membership drive, but also a social
time when we could get to know
some of the members we already
have," said Therrien. Currently
standing at a membership of 300
from, as Therrien said, "all over the
place", this camp out will hopefully
Residents of an apartment com-
plex in Brussels were twice victim-
ized by thieves recently.
According to an OPP report, two
reports of money being stolen were
reported May 12 and 13 from the
Alexander Street building.
provide an opportunity to get
acquainted with others who share
the same interest.
The Society was formed in 1994
by a group of people who wanted
to keep the history of the Barn
Dance alive and who simply
enjoyed country music.
Tickets for the entertainment are
available at the gate, said Therrien.
Both apartments were locked and
there were no signs of break-ins,
said OPP Senior Const. Don Shrop-
shall of the Goderich detachment.
Forty dollars was taken in both
incidents.
The investigation continues.
OPP investigate apartment thefts