The Citizen, 1998-07-29, Page 1Smoldering for weeks
In just one of five calls answered by the Blyth and District Fire Department since July 24, the
firefighters responded to a peat bog fire, Monday morning at Lot 7, South Half Conc. 14 in
McKillop Twp., owned by Kevin Klaver. Fire Chief Paul Josling suspects the fire had been
smoldering underground for a considerable length of time as 18 inches of peat had already
burned and the roots of the trees were gone. Firefighters were on the scene from 8:40 a.m.
to 2:15 p.m. and consider it a risk for future flare-ups. The Seaforth department hauled
water for several hours in support of Blyth. On July 26, the department answered a call at
the Lot 20, Conc. 5, West Wawanosh Twp. property owned by Kevin Leddy. Heat from a
baler had ignited dry straw in the field. The equipment was a total loss. At 5:30 p.m., July
24, the Blyth firefighters assisted the Clinton department with a barn fire at Lot 24, Conc. 6,
Hullett Twp. Started by hot hay bales, the barn was a complete loss. Blyth was on the scene
for two hours and Clinton for 11. Josling advises farmers to keep their equipment clean,
dust-free and well-lubricated to minimize heat build-up and to continuously check the
temperature of stored bales. Monday afternoon, the department responded to an electrical
fire along County Rd. 8, south of Auburn. Contact between a tree and hydro line had ignited
the tree, sending a portion of it to the ground and breaking the line. That evening at
approximately 11 p.m., firefighters were called in with Grey department to assist at a motor
vehicle accident in Grey. Holly Mitchell, 18, of RR3, Brussels was taken to Wingham
Hospital after her car struck a bridge. She sustained contusions, lacerations and bruises.
Vol. 14 No. 30 Wednesday July 29, 1998 700 + 50 GST 750
Livestock, crops feel summer's heat
Sports
Brussels Tigers gear up
for 27th Invitational
men's fastball tournament
See page 8
Feature
See page 18
Entertainment
`Flashes', a
refreshing day
at the beach
See page 19
The North Huron
itizen Morris bag tags
delayed for now
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
The start-up date is uncertain, but
the decision to use bag tags for
garbage in Morris and Brussels is a
sure thing.
Morris councillors had decided at
a meeting earlier this month to
implement bag tags by Sept. 1.
Brussels council was invited to
vend Morris's regular meeting,
July 21. The villages Clerk-Trea-
surer Donna White said that upon
council's arrival they were
informed by Morris Reeve Bert
Elliott that September was not
going to be an attainable goal.
"He said that they had already
been discussing the topic for over
an hour and felt there was a lot
more to getting things underway
than originally anticipated," said
White. "I was glad to hear that
because that was a concern for me
when I heard of the decision to
implement bag tags, that there was-
n't enough time."
White went on to say that the
meeting was very positive. "There
i critical
condition
young woman is n crbtical
condition after a two-vehicle colli-
sion in East Wawanosh Twp., July
22.
Tabitha Pattison, 20, of RR3,
Wingham, a passenger in a Jeep
driven by Trevor-Britton, had been
ejected from the vehicle and taken
to Wingham and District Hospital
in critical condition.
She was later transferred to the
trauma unit at Victoria Hospital,
London.
Police say that at approximately
3 p.m., a 1989 Jeep driven by Brit-
ton, 18, of Goderich went through
an intersection and broadsided a
1995 Chrysler driven by Donald
Koch, 67, of Wellesley, said an
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Owners of multi-unit, new or
large homes may be the hardest hit
as Blyth council set the tax rates for
1998.
With the assessment rolls finally
received from the provincial gov-
ernment, Blyth council was able to
determine tax rates which would
accumulate less revenues than last
year yet cover downloaded expens-
es.
Clerk-Treasurer John Stewart
said those with four-plus multi-unit
dwellings will be the hardest hit as
the assessed value increased as did
the tax ratio in comparison to resi-
dential property.
was no contentiousness about the
issue. It was a good meeting
between the two councils. I think
everyone realizes that tags are the
way we are going to have to go."
For Brussels the next step is to
begin looking at alternatives that
will help village residents reduce
their garbage. "We will have to
review our recycling program for
example," White said.
She said that Morris and a repre-
sentative from Brussels will be
meeting with Don Carter, whose
company handles garbage pick-up
to work out a reasonable rate for
commercial taxpayers.
Another point that must be decid-
ed is whether or not to go with bags
or bag tags. Samples of each will
be obtained for consideration,
White said.
She noted that Morris Clerk-
Treasurer Nancy Michie had
spreadsheets at the meeting
explaining how the program works
in other municipalities.
Brussels will be taking a closer
look at the issue at the August
meeting of council.
OPP report.
Koch and his wife, Margaret, 66,
were westbound on County Rd. 20.
Britton was travelling on East
Wawanosh Sideroad 33-34.
Both vehicles ended up at the
bottom of an embankment on the
south side of County Rd. 20. They
were demolished.
Three others in the Jeep, Britton,
Sheryl Ramsey, 19, of RR3, Blyth
and Charles Taylor, 20, of
Goderich were treated and released.
Koch and his wife were admitted
to Wingham hospital.
Technical traffic investigators
and a reconstructionist are continu-
ing the investigation with charges
to follow.
The residential property rate is
considered to be one with the
multi-unit ratio at 1.1, an increase
of 10 per cent.
In an example, Stewart said an
apartment building assessed at
$100,000 paid $1,780 last year and
would see that rise to $1,891 with-
out consideration for an increased
market value assessment.
Those with smaller or older
homes may actually see a drop in
taxes as tax rates dropped
marginally.
The owner of a $100,000 home
paid $1,780 last year which will
drop to $1,761 this year if there is
no change in assessment.
The assessment of some smaller
Continued on page 3
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
The unusually hot, dry summer
continues to affect agriculture.
For livestock, the extreme heat
can cause performance and feed
intake drops, said Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs Dairy Consultant Dennis
Martin.
However, with today's technolo-
gy, good ventilation systems and
air movement in barns, he said, the
buildings can be kept cool inside.
Producers must ensure good ven-
tilation in confined housing, said
Martin.
For grazing cattle, they will be
spending a lot of time in the shade
and not feeding.
Some producers are also having
to bring water in for livestock and
Bob Humphries, field representa-
tive for the OMAFRA office in
Clinton, reports two calls about
wells going dry.
Conditions for crops remain very
dry and very serious, said
Humphries.
The Seaforth, Clinton, Goderich
area has not received an inch of
rain in July, he said, while other
areas to the north and south have
been more fortunate.
The corn crop is facing a critical
stage at present as the current con-
ditions are the worse possible for
pollination.
"Corn needs moisture, not heat,"
Continued on page 11
Woman still critical
Assessment hits
landlords hardest