The Citizen, 2002-12-04, Page 1ESTAdISIIED 1877 it
A trying experience
Meeting Santa Claus for the first time was not a happy occasion for this youngster when he
joined dozens of other children at the BMG Community Centre Saturday evening for a chance
to sit with St. Nick and his wife and receive a little goodie. Santa's visit to the arena was part
of a day filled with activities which included a Christmas parade down Turnberry Street, free
family skating and an opportunity to do a little shopping upstairs. (Janice Becker photo)
Santa makes stop in Blyth
Inside this week
Pg. 6 .H„ art and Soul
ort continues
Li brary plan meets Pg. 7 stiff opposition
Pg. 8
Pg. 24
Pg. 27
Brussels Bantams
win tournament A
Groups collect for
Bureau
Phase one of
Festival program
ends
The Citizen
Volume 18 o. 47 Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002
75 Cents (70c + 5c GST)
Complex
over-
shooting
deficit
By Mark Nonkes
Wingliam Advance-Times
The North. Huron-Wescast
Community- Complex is over
shooting its planned budgeted
deficit, the. township council was
told last week.
North Huron. Treasurer Donna
White told council the complex
would finish the year with about a
$300,000 deficit at the committee of
the whole meeting last Tuesday.
"How did we get 25 per cent out,"
questioned Councillor Jeff Howson.
In the 2002 budget -the expected
annual deficit was to be $260,000.
.White reported the biggest- loss
was from the squash courts. In the
udget $158,000 was projected to
be sold through memberships.
However, White said in actuality
only $89,000 has been collected
through the memberships.
"The revenue just hasn't come
in," White said.
"They're just not getting used,"
Howson said.
Another place that hasn't
generated enough funds is aquatics.'
In the budget $39,670 was expected
to be raised through passes while in
actuality only $21,000 has come in.
"Something is terribly, terribly
wrong," Howson said.
White explained that this was the
first full year the complex had run
and when budgeting she didn't
know exactly what to expect.
"If every department handles
budgets this way how is that going
to affect taxes," Howson asked.
Councillor Archie MacGowan
said more marketing should be
done towards the squash courts to
sell more passes.
White said for the next budget
there will hopefully not be as big as
variance because there will be
another year of data.
Tempting
but trails
not open
yet
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
They have waited months for this.
They paid their early bird permit fee
and the heavy snowfall which
blanketed the area over the weekend,
is a great temptation for
snowmobilers.
Unfortunately, the early onset of
winter has caught local clubs a little
short and the trails are a long way
from ready.
Bruce Howson, trail co-ordinator
for the Blyth Snowtravellers said
that quite a few of the trails have not
been staked yet. "Conditions are
good but we haven't had time, to get
the trails ready. And this snowfall
actually makes it even more difficult
to do."
Ken Hunsberger, treasurer and
driver training instructor with the B-
W Trailblazers reports the same for
his club. "We are working hard to
change it. but right now the trails are
not open."
There are areas in Brussels he said
which are still not staked and in
some places the signage has not been
placed. Also, some of the trails have
not been levelled. "That is definitely
not safe for riding. There is not
enough base to ride on unlevelled
trails."
Hunsberger predicts it will take
volunteers at least another week to a
week and a half to get the trails open.
"The problem is everyone is
impatient to get out there. That's
understandable but they have to
think about the safety factor," said
Hunsberger.
Howson agrees that being too keen
is a dangerous attitude for
snowmobiling. "This is one of the
worst times, the trails aren't open,
people are riding on the roads,
ditches and unmarked trails. There
are lots more accidents this time of
year than in the peak season."
A press releaSe from the Ontario
Federation of -Snowmobile Club
urges caution. "Current conditions
make it especially tempting-to go for
that first ride. of the season, but
snowmobilers are advised to
exercise extreme caution and to
think twice about going out at all
until conditions improve and trails
are open. Remember snowmobiling
is an off-road activity, so you always
use OFSC trails at your own risk."
Hunsberger also stresses a little
common courtesy. "I ask my kids in
driver training how their dads would
feel about someone driving across
their field of winter wheat. Treat the
land as you would your own land."
"We will get the trails up as soon
as we can get enough volunteers
available to help," said Howson.
"And when they are open there will
be an announcement on the radio."
Conditions can also be checked on
the website at ofsc.on.ca
Santa has been making his rounds
of local villages and will be stopping
in Blyth, Dec. 6.
The third annual Christmas parade
will start from Howson-s Mills at 7
p.m. and travel. south along London
Rd. to Westmoreland where it will
turn towards the arena.
• With more than 20 entries so far,
the parade promises to delight old
and you-ng alike.
Co-organizer Candice Howson
said the Clinton Legion Pipe Band
and and Listowel Salvation Army
Two people were transported to
hospital as the result of an OPP
unmarked cruiser and pick-up truck
collision in Grey, Nov. 29.
The crash involved a 1996 blue
Chev Lumina cruiser, driven by Sgt.
Robert Huntley, 42, of Owen Sound
and a black 1992 Ford pick-up
driven by Linda Subject-Dow, 27, of
Grey. The collision occurredin the
intersection of McNaught Line and
Band are booked as are the Mocha
Temple Road Runners.
Blyth Scouts will be walking the
parade route collecting donations
from watchers for the food
bank.
Blyth Canada Post employees will
collect letters to Santa from children
along the parade route. Parents.
should ensure that names and
addresses are clearly printed on both
the letter and envelop.
St. Nick will visit with everyone at
the arena following the procession
Cranbrook Road, Grey Ward, Huron
East.
After the impact, the cruiser,
entered the east ditch and struck a
hydro pole. The truck also ended up
in the east ditch. Both vehicles were
heavily damaged.
Subject-Dow was airlifted to
Victoria Hospital, South Street
Campus, London.
Huntley was taken by ambulance
and families are welcome to
participate in the free skate from 9
pm. to 10 p.m.
Youngsters not able to attend the
festivities, can write to Santa Claus
at North Pole, HOH OHO, Canada or
check out his web page at
www.canadapost.ca/holiday.
Anyone still wishing to join the
parade should contact ,Howson at
523-4508 or Fran Cook at
523-9040. Entries will be accepted
up to the start time Friday
night.
to Seaforth Community Hospital,
treated for minor injuries and
released.
The • province's Special
Investigations Unit is investigating
because a police cruiser was
involved.
Anyone with information is asked
to call the Huron OPP at 519-524-
8314 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-
222-8477.
Woman hurt in crash with cruiser
.4