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The Citizen, 1998-12-16, Page 1 Vol. 14 No. 49 Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1998 (70c + 5c GST) 75(4 Enjoying the feast For several years now students at Walton Public School have taken part in a special Christmas celebration. They prepare, cook a serve a turkey dinner to classmates and family. Beginning early in the week, the children cut vegetables, peel potatoes, make jello and bake cookies for the lunch, held this year on Dec. 9. Grade 1 pupil Luke Becker was savouring every bite of his cookie while classmates passed the treats out to teachers, parents, grandparents and visiting board officials. Woman recovers in hospital Business See page 6 Good works Area women donate quilts to Fire Dep't. See page 20 Entertainment Blyth Festival Artistic Director announces 1999 season playbill See page 23 itize Blyth residents say n `Let's join the north' The North Huron A Wingham woman is in fair condition in Victoria Hospital, London following a car accident south of Belgrave on Dec. 9. According to OPP at approxi- mately 7 a.m., Sally Anne Campeau, 61, was driving a Chev Blazer south on County Road 4, near Morris Twp. Road 6/7, She attempted to pass another vchcile and lost control on black ice. The Blazer skidded, then entered a ditch and rolled. According to police, she and her husband, Richard, 63, a passenger were taken to Wingham by ambu- lance. Mrs. Campeau received major injuries and was sent to Lon- don. Hcr husband was found to have major neck injuries and was also transported to a London hospi- tal for treatement. A hospital On Dec. 12 at approximately 7:45 a.m. a break-in was reported to Manning's Building Supplies on Hamilton Street in Blyth. The owner of the business advised police that one of the people who rent a section of the building found the break-in at 7:30 a.m. The owner attended the premises and checked the building spokesperson said he has since been discharged. No charges will be laid. finding that entry was gained through a rear window. Once inside power tools totalling $2,700 were stolen from two locations inside the store. The tools taken were made by Makita and Bosch. Several of these tools were still inside the boxes. The store was ransacked and a safe was damaged by thieves. By Janice Becker Citizen staff Let's join the north. That was the general consensus of the 50 Blyth residents who gath- ered at Blyth Memorial Hall Mon- day evening to discuss amalga- mation options. In an informal show of hands at the end of the two-hour session the majority of those gathered voted to continue restructuring negotiations with Wingham and East Wawanosh (total population 4,600) while working towards a larger group, as detailed by Blyth councillors. There were a few votes to go to the south, with Clinton and Hullett and Godcrich Twps.(total popula- tion 8,500) as well as some who expressed a preference for one- tiered governance. At the beginning of the meeting, each councillor was given the opportunity to make a statement regarding amalgamation though no opinions were declared. However, after a lengthy question period, councillors relented to requests to state their position as they were the ones with more information. Reeve Mason Bailey said he pre- ferred the proposal first put togeth- er by Blyth which would include eight to 10 municipalities, but of the options available currently would like to see Blyth, Wingham, East Wawanosh Twp. and Hullett Twp. together. (Hullett Twp. Is cur- A vacant building fire in Walton brought firefighters to the scene late Sunday night. Blyth firefighters responded to the call after receiving the relayed message from the Brussels depart- ment just before 8 p.m. The building at 21 High St., owned by Seymour Berger of Mis- sissauga sustained damages of between $10,000 and $15,000, Blyth Fire Chief Paul Josling esti- mated. The Blyth firefighters were recalled at 2:35 a.m. Monday to deal with a flare up. The cause of the fire is under investigation. rently in negotiation with the south group.) His second choice would be to go with East Wawanosh 'Twp. and Wingham and continue to work towards a larger group. Councillor Murray Nesbitt said, that with the information he has gathered, he tends to go south as he likes the smaller group though it may get bigger in the future. Councillor Rob Lawrie followed Nesbitt's preference for the south noting the good fit with Hullett Twp. and seeing little difference in assessment or industry though much in the south is associated with recreation. He also said he had no objection to going north. For Councillor Doug Scrim- geour, the master plan of a larger municipality with a population of 20,000 is still attainable. He con- tended that his preference was based on improving the industrial environment in the north and the option of police services with a potential savings of $43,000. In response to an earlier question, he said the fire area would be work- able. Having attended many of the restructuring meetings, Councillor Jeff Howson said there are posi- tives and negatives to both though at this point he would favour Wing- ham, Blyth, East Wawanosh and Hullett Twp. The economy and Continued on page 19 The Blyth department also responded to a false alarm, Dec. 10. The firefighters responder' to the call which took them to the site of a September fire where an old school house on Conc. 10, Hullett Twp. had been destroyed by fire. The day before, a controlled fire had been set to complete the demo- lition. In this time of Christmas tlecora- lions, roaring fires in fireplaces and constantly-used home heating sys- tems, Chief Josling would like to remind everyone to be aware of which fire department covers the municipality to ensure prompt response to emergency calls. Break-in at Manning's House fire in Walton Offices close Dec. 22- Jan. 4 The staff of The Citizen will be enjoying a holiday over the festive sea- son. The Blyth office will be closed from 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 22 until 9 a.m., Monday, Jan. 4. The Brussels office will close on Monday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. to re-open at 10 a.m: Monday, Jan. 4. Our special Season's Greetings issue will be in the mail and on the newstands as usual Wednesday, Dec. 23. This will be the last issue of 1998. The next copy of The Citizen will be published Jan. 6, 1999. The Citizen staff and board of directors would like to take this oppor- tunity to wish our advertisers and readers all the joys of the season.