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The Citizen, 2000-01-12, Page 1Community_______I_________ News Entertainment raffle nets over See page 3 Wingham hospital thanks See page 7 Tommy Hunter 1^ makes Blyth final stop on tour See page 19 The North Huron itizen Huronlea keeps flu at bay Just looking Brennan Kolkman was content to leave the skating to his older siblings last Wednesday after­ noon as area youngsters enjoyed a holiday activity at the Blyth arena. Mom Lissa kept Brennan company as he watched the eager participants on ice. By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Though the flu bug season has arrived, it has fortunately not yet made its unwanted presence known at Huronlea Home for the Aged. While other nursing homes and hospitals have been bitten by the bug and had to close their doors, Huronlea Charge Nurse Kathy Turner-Adkin reported no cases there yet. “Though it’s still early. We have a long way to go to March when the flu season can get quite busy.” To prevent an outbreak extra pre­ cautions have been taken. Staff has been encouraged to get flu shots and programs have been monitored. “For example, we have been in touch with the schools before students visit to see if any have symptoms or if there is absenteeism. If so we cancel,” said Tumer-Adkin. Should the flu find its way into the home swift action is taken. Tumer- Adkin said that if more than one per­ son comes down with symptoms the health unit is contacted. Swabs are then taken and results obtained the same day. If they are positive the home will close. “To protect our­ selves and the public,” she said. Also, said Marlene Price, a nurs­ ing director with the Huron County Health Unit, residents who are not ill can be given Amantadine, an anti­ viral medication to help prevent con­ tracting the illness. With an incubation time of onp to three days from exposure, isolation is the best control, however. “If you think you have the flu, don’t go out Continued on page 6 County approves Huron East plan The amalgamation plan for Brussels, Grey, McKillop, Seaforth and Tuckersmith was unanimously approved by Huron County council Thursday. r The approval brings the union of the five eastern municipalities, scheduled for Jan. 1, 2001, one step closer to reality. The plan must still be approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Meanwhile representatives from Blyth, East Wawanosh and Wingham attended the county’s strategic planning committee meet­ ing on Jan. 5 to discuss the road­ block of the Wingham policing issue which is holding up approval of the “North Huron” plan. County council refused the amalgamation plan at its December meeting, sending it back to the municipalities for clarification of the policing issue. “There was a general understand­ ing of the approach.” said Gary Davidson, director of planning and development, about the meeting. “It’s a matter of getting the wording right.” It's hoped to have the revised plan ready for approval of county council at its Feb. 3 meeting but the final Public meeting set for Walton, Jan. 13 Parents and concerned community members will have the opportunity to voice their opinion on school clo­ sures Thursday when the Avon Maitland District School Board hosts a public meeting at Duff’s United Church, WaLion. When the board announced a few weeks ago that several schools in the district would once again be studied for closure, all three of the schools in the Seaforth area were on the list. The option suggested by the board would be to see the Seaforth District High School students dispersed to other facilities, Walton Public Clean-up soon done By Janice Becker Citizen staff The equipment has been removed, soil carted away and soon refilling the hole will begin, but just what was the purpose behind all the work at the Walton hydro distribution sta­ tion? Ken Plata, environmental special­ ist with Ontario Hydro Service Company, said the distribution sta­ tion had become redundant due to a cleaner more efficient system. “Walton was an old station and it had old equipment. The area could be supplied more efficiently from other stations.” However, simply removing the equipment was not the only task undertaken by the hydro company. Several feet of soil were excavated from within the site as well as a few feet beyond the fencing. Up until the 1970s, herbicide was court date for Wingham's challenge of the county’s bylaw taking over policing isn’t scheduled until Feb. 11. That might mean the approval would have to wait for the March 2 meeting of council. Some councillors are already wor­ ried about delays in approval of the amalgamation plans by the province. Jack Coleman, reeve of Stanley Twp. noted the transition commit­ tees in each amalgamated area can’t start their work until provincial approval is received.Any delay makes it difficult to get all the work done by the Jan. 1,2001 deadline. “Every week it’s delayed makes transition committee’s job more dif­ ficult,” Coleman said. Speaking with officials from Wellington County, they had to meet nearly every day to get the work done in time, he said. Doug Grant, reeve of Bayfield, wondered if the ministry was hold­ ing up approval of the five plans already submitted until all Huron plans were in place. Davidson said there’s no indication of that. The county has been told it will take four to six months for approvals of the plans and hopefully some of the approvals should soon start arriving. School closed and the students from both Walton and Seaforth Public School moved into the high school building. While there have been other options suggested by local study committees, Ann Lake of the AMDSB did not believe these alter­ natives would be costed for compar­ ison in time for the Thursday meet­ ing. Board representatives will discuss school accommodation from a dis­ trict perspective as well as. school­ specific information. The 7 p.m meeting is open to everyone. used within the fenced station to eliminate weed growth and as a soil sterilant, said Plata. However, that commonly-used herbicide contained arsenic, an element which remains in the soil for many years. The levels were found to be above ministry guidelines. With the removal of the station, Plata said Ontario Hydro Services voluntarily tested the soil and water both on their site and on neighbour­ ing properties to determine if there had been any spread. 'The Ministry of Environment and Energy, the medical officer of health, the township and all the neighbours were informed,” he said. “There was no groundwater impact and the arsenic had only spread a few feet beyond the fencing. Tests were done both horizontally and vertically.” Once the site has been cleaned, it will be refilled with soil compatible to the area.