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The Citizen, 2003-05-21, Page 1Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 19 No. 20 Wednesday, May 21, 2003 75 Cents (70c + 5c gst) NH | NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC~ Inside this week 3 2 Blyth firefighters get service medals Pg. 6 Pg. 8 Huron East Wl elects executive Soccer teams off to slow start ? r:.; ; D« 0 AAA Hawks win *&• 7 Steel City Cup Pg-20 Gerth moves on to Waterloo 'Ar?"-C--/ Allen’s talk show conies to Blyth CKNX AM 920 Radio Host Bryan Allen will be broadcasting his talk show LIVE on the Blyth Festival stage May 29 at 9 a.m. The show will be dedicated to the Blyth Festival and will feature such artists *as Artistic Director Eric Coates, Paul Thompson of The Outdoor Donnellys fame, Ted Johns and Janet Amos, and a few more surprise artists. The show’s topic is The Blyth Experience and the impact of the festival on the village over the past 29 years. Panelists will include village residents, actors, members of the technical crew, volunteers, directors, and playwrights. Everyone is invited including the entire village of Blyth to witness the show live in Blyth Memorial Hall. Anyone interested in attending should be at the theatre by 8:30 a.m. Seating is on a first come first- served basis - and admission is free! Arrive early to talk with other arts supporters in your community over a cup of coffee and pastries. Bryan Allen’s talk show has been playing on the CKNX airwaves since 1999 and features a variety of relevant topics applicable to residents of Southwestern Ontario. He is the former news anchor of CKNX TV. Call the Blyth Festival Box Office at 1^77-262-5984 <str 523-9300 Gar more inforaMtoas. More information on Blyth Festival’s 2003 season can be found at www.blythfestival.com Torch run Rainy weather didn’t deter the runners taking part in this down Blyth’s main street by mid-morning. The final leg of year’s OPP Special Olympics Torch Run. The group their journey took them to Goderich. (Sarah Mann photo) started the run from Wingham on Friday and were cruising Small number of mosquitoes carry WNV By Sarah Mann Student writer With many people worried about West Nile Virus (WNV), it may be comforting to know that the best defence is free. Pamela Scharfe, public health manger for the Huron County Health Unit, said when it comes to protecting ourselves from WNV, “people should use common sense.” There are 57 species of mosquitoes in Ontario and only a small percentage of those carry the WNV. Of that small percentage, the Culex Pipiens, which is the main carrier of WNV, prefers cities. “The mosquito prefers urban areas not because of the population but because of the littering of pop cans, take-out boxes, and coffee cups that collect little amounts of polluted water,” Scharfe said, “and it seems as though they are not finding it in BTF makes plans will benefit Brussels The Brussels community will soon benefit from the sale of the village’s PUC a few years ago. Following the sale, the Brussels Trust Fund committee (BTF) was formed to discuss ways of utilizing the money to the greatest benefit for the village. In response to public input, the Sana action is a $500 scholarship to a graduate of Brussels Public School and F. E. Madill Secondary School who enters a skilled trade program. This year only, because of the double rural areas.” In a press release, the health unit asked area residents to report only dead crows for testing because crows are particularly sensitive to the WNV. If residents are unsure of the bird species, they’re asked to call the health unit at 482-3416 or 1-877- 837-6143. Public health inspectors are available to offer assistance in determining whether the birds found are indeed crows. “Gathering reports of dead crows from the public will assist us in tracking the presence of the virus and to take appropriate ac­ tion,” Scharfe said in the press release. The first crow submitted to the Huron County Health Unit, which was found in Morris Twp. recently, tested negative for the WNV. Last year, five out of 18 crows from Huron County tested positive for co-hort, committee chair Ralph Watson said two scholarships will be awarded. Projects in the works include an electronic sign to inform residents of upcoming events and a small memorial park on the site of the old municipal building along with commemoration for the public servants of the village. Watson said the committee is hoping to get other community groups involved in the electronic sign project as it is estimated to cost West Nile virus and there were no human or equine cases in 2002. The health unit also advises that people protect themselves against mosquito bites by wearing light coloured clothing, as dark colours are attractive to mosquitoes. Avoid wearing perfumes, colognes, and perfumed hair products. Also eliminate stagnant water. Small amounts of standing water are ideal for mosquitoes to breed in, Scharfe said, and one property can produce up to one million mosquitoes. Walk around your property and look for stagnant water. Empty water from the base of flower pots, and remove old tires, plastic containers, and tin cans. Turn over or cover items that tend to collect water, such as wheelbarrows, canoes, and plastic wading pools. Check your garbage cans and recycling bins to see if they have between $25,000 and $30,000. A skateboard venue and virtual museum are under consideration. It has been proposed that the skateboard park could be located behind the medical building, said Watson. The police association may also get involved. The BTF has approximately $500,000 invested through the municipality, said Watson, and the committee will only use the proceeds from that investment, roughly four per cent currently. The holes in the bottom to drain water. If not, drill holes in all containers that sit outside. Regularly change water in bird baths and pet and livestock drinking containers and make sure drainage ditches aren’t clogged. Scharfe also said to use a repellent that contains DEET but to exercise caution when doing so. “Read the label before using. DEET should not be used on children under six months and children between the ages of two and 12 can use DEET but should not apply it to themselves.” The reason larvacide will not be used in Huron County, Scharfe said, is because the virus is new to North American and there is not enough known about it. “There needs tojje more research and better reporting on how to prevent this through other means. This is not just about humans, it’s about the ecology as well.” capital will not be touched. The BTF meets monthly at Melville Presbyterian Church in Brussels. Members of the committee include Watson, Cathrine Campbell, Doug Sholdice, Keith Mulvey. Henry Exel (a former PUC representative along with Watson) and municipal representatives Joe Seili and Greg Wilson. ' > Community members are welcome to make suggestions to the BTF.