The Citizen, 2001-07-18, Page 1ESTA MED wrifi
• e", • • aititimisignmemay -4 e Citizen ssE
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 17 No. 29
Wednesday, July 18, 2001
75 Cents (70c + 5c GST)
NORTH HURON PuBLISH,NG COMPANY INC
Inside this week
Pg. 6
scholars
Madill, LDSS
Locals among
The Festival's ticket Pg. 17 collector
Designer brings Pg. 18 abstract to Hagge
Review from Pg. 19 Stratford and Blyth
Local man recalls Pg. 20 rescue
OPP
seek
assault
suspect
Huron OPP are asking for the
public's assistance in tracking down
a man wanted in connection with an
assault. Sr. Const. Don Shropshall
said the suspect has been known to
frequent places in Blyth and area.
On July 20 at approximately 6:45
p.m. police were called to an
apartment building in the Village of
Zurich.
According to police, a verbal
altercation had broken out between
two men at the apartment building.
One man
walked
towards the
other and
struck him in
the head with
an object.
Other people
in the area
rushed to the
man's aid.
The assailant
then fled the
Police seek suspect scene on foot. The 4 I -
year-old victim was taken to a local
hospital, then transferred to a
London hospital with a fractured
skull.
A warrant of arrest has been issued
for Charles Andrew -Phillip Barber,
38, of Zurich for aggravated assault.
He is described as white, 5'5" tall
weighing 140 pounds with hazel
eyes and long, unkempt brown hair.
He is missing some upper teeth, has
tattoos on his left shoulder and
forearm of a wolf and paw print. Mr.
Barber may also have a moustache or
facial hair.
He maybe armed and is considered
dangerous.
Any person who has information
on the whereabouts of Charles
Andrew Phillip Barber is asked to
call the Huron OPP at 1-519-
524-8314 or 1-888,310-1122 or
Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-
8477(TIPS).
By Mark Nonkes
Citizen staff
It's time for things to get wet.
So says Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs
crop specialist Brian Hall, who notes
that to keep the crops in top
condition a good rain is needed.
Everything looks pretty good right
now but corn and soybeans will soon
hit the critical mark for moisture,
Hall said.
"We need a good inch of rain,"
Hall said.
According to OMAFRA weather
reports this point last year the area
had received' 398 millimetres of
precipitation. This year there has
been 202 mm of precipitation, a
difference of almost 200 mm.
On some of the higher areas-
moisture levels are low and some
corn and beans are beginning to
yellow, Hall said. More crops will
turn yellow if rain doesn't come in
the next week.
Some farmers may have noticed
brown spots on soybeans, this
summer. These spots are a result of
bad ozone levels and poor air quality
earlier in the season, Hall said.
As corn is beginning to tassel, a
good rain would help with
pollination, Hall said.
The warm weather is allowing for
the crop of winter wheat to quickly
ripen, Hall said. The first harvest is
expected in 10 days, he said.
In wheat harvests to the south,
fusarium levels have been high, but
seem to lessen as wheat is harvested
further north.
The amount of fusarium depends
on when the winter wheat headed up,
Hall said.
The warm weather has also
allowed for a good crop of second
• cut hay.
In soybeans a new insect has been
found on the plants. The soybean
aphid has been attacking beans that
are bordered by bush. It is the first
time Ontario has encountered the
pests.
The aphid is usually found on the
top leaves of the plants. In China the
aphid has been very detrimental to
the beans.
OMAFRA is currently monitoring
the bugs and considering ways to
deal with them, Hall said.
There also seems to be a large
amount of late weeds, In the
soybeans this year. These are weeds
that may have been missed by
spraying or are herbicide resistant,
Hall said.
A lot of lamb's quarters, pig- and
ragweed is showing up in the fields,
Hall said. Farmers should monitor
their fields and watch for stray
weeds.
With new alfalfa farmers should
watch for leaf hoppers, Hall said.
These hoppers can severely stunt the
growth of new alfalfa, he
said.
N. Huron
responds
to dog
attack
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
North Huron council is taking
steps to protect residents against the
potential threat posed by certain
dogs.
At its July 16 meeting council
passed a motion to amend its animal
control bylaw that states all pitbulls,
rottweilers or pitbull crosses must be
muzzled when off their property. The
motion made by Councillor Archie
MacGowan also stated that pressure
be put on the provincial member of
parliament to change the municipal
act so that municipalities have the
power to ban certain dogs. As well
MacGowan asked that North Huron
begin a process to look into a private
members bill.
The move came as a result of an
attack in Wingham. Clerk-
Administrator John Stewart said that
on July 11, a woman was walking
with a small child and dog when they
were attacked by two pit bulls. The
dog was hurt badly, Stewart said,
though it is expected to recover. The
woman sustained cuts to her arm and
hand.
Police and the animal control
officer were called to investigate and
the municipality's bylaw was
reviewed. The health unit was also
involved, Stewart said because the
last record of a vaccination was in
1996. The dogs were removed and
were in quarantine for 1 0 days.
Stewart explained that through the
municipal bylaw charges will be laid.
Also, he said police can take action
under the Dog Owner's Liability Act,
while the victim can lay civil
charges. However, Stewart explained
when questioned, the municipal act
doesn't give the municipality the
authority to ban specific dogs. The
only thing they can do to deter
people from owning such animals is
to price the license fees higher. A
private members bill would change
this but it would take some time.
"Unfortunately right now you have
to let the dog bite first in order to do
anything," said Stewart.
Councillor Murray Nesbitt
wondered if there was a limit on fees
for tags. "Is there anything that says
we can't make them $3,000?"
While the answer was no. Stewart
added that the two dogs being
discussed did not have tags.
"The problem is the animal contreft
officer is only here so many times.
The police are only certain places so
many times," said Stewart. adding
that these dogs have cornered people
before. At that time the individuals
did not want to take any action. he
said.
"It helps if people come forward. I
know they don't want to get
involved, but there are times when .
the council and the people who work
for council can only do so
Continued on page 20
Sharp act
One little slip and it might have been a close shaye for Blyth Festival's Associate Artistic
Director Eric Coates, (still with his new hirsute look from The Outdoor Donneflys) as he 'caught'
the act of juggler Ryan Whalen of Goderich in the Memorial Hall courtyard prior to last Thursday
night 's previe.w performance of Cruel Tears. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Crops in need of rain HOW