The Citizen, 2000-01-19, Page 1Education |Community News
Seaforth, Walton parents
make plea to board to
keep schools open
Grey Twp. woman
compiles school f
history | „ _
larwR Mennonites mark
See page 6, 7 See page 10 See page 12
Businesses, clubs
impacted by lack
of ‘real’ winter
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
The absence of a “real Canadian
winter” may be great for those who
dread driving icy roads and plowing
four-foot drifts from the lane, but for
many businesses and organizations,
the dry conditions can have a finan
cial impact.
“People are getting frustrated,”
said Bruce Howson of the
Blyth Sno-Travellers. “Anyone
wanting to go snowmobiling has to
go north.”
While snowmobile clubs survive
on funds raised through trail permits,
Howson said fewer permits are being
sold and fewer people are snowmo-
biling.
“This is the third year in a row
when we have had a short winter. We
had drag racing planned for this
weekend, but it is not going to hap
pen. Feb. 5 is the “rain” date and we
hope there is snow by then.”
With local snowmobilers becom
ing more frustrated with expensive
machinery sitting in the
garage, Howson said local business
es are also impacted, particularly
those in the parts and new machine
sector.
In the fuel business, Sue McNeil
of JR’s in Brussels said there has
been a slight change in the amount of
premium gas sold because that is
what the snowmobiles use. McNeil
said they depend on snowmobilers
during January and February for
business.
Randy Babcock of Blyth's
Grandview Restaurant, sees an
entirely different impact from the
lack of winter weather.
“We are more affected when the
salt trucks are not running. We (and
other restaurants) get a lot of busi
ness from them. They may eat out
three times a day.”
While Babcock said the restaurant
Grey gets support
in OMAFRA fight
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Response to Grey Twp’s. petition
opposing the closure of OMAFRA
offices has been encouraging.
Clerk-Treasurer Brad Knight said
to date close to 70 municipalities
have supported the resolution
including thus far 14 of the 26 in
Huron County. And while the major
ity have been from townships, there
has also been support from urban
centres, including one from Windsor.
Support has also been received
from the Northumberland Federation
of Agriculture.
Reeve Robin Dunbar said the
and gas pumps are still busy, he said
much of it is coming from higher car
volume this time of the year than
usual. With the good weather, people
are travelling more.
Some may hope the lack of snow
is saving the municipalities on the
snow removal budget, however,
Brad Knight, clerk-treasurer for
Grey Twp. said the township is not
benefitting from the low snowfall
because little has been budgeted for
removal.
“It is not a big issue. (Snow
removal) has cost us less in the last
two or three years than it did five or
six years ago.”
When Lloyd Michie, Morris Twp.
road superintendent, was asked how
he sees this winter shaping up, his
laughing response was, “Winter isn't
over yet.”
Morris Twp. spent much of its
snow removal budget in three weeks
last year and that could still happen
he said, noting the township is not
even through the first month of the
new budget.
Michie is just waiting to see what
happens, but concedes that by mid
February the sun starts to get hotter
and any snow that does arrive soon
melts.
Local weather observer Boyd
Taylor of Morris Twp. said this year
is worse than any other year so far in
terms of snowfall and he foresees lit
tle change this season.
Brian Hall, soil and crop advisor
with the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
office in Clinton said it is too early to
determine if the lack of snow cover
will impact winter crops such as
wheat or hays.
“March is the turning point for
weather in determining how crops
come through the winter. It depends
if there is ice in the fields, freezing
rain or warm temperatures followed
by really cold.”
Association of Municipalities of
Ontario (AMO) wrote suggesting
that a presentation be made at
the Rural Ontario Municipal
Association (ROMA) convention in
February.
At Monday’s meeting of Grey
council, there was to be a discussion
on this with an idea of seeking input
from the Huron Federation of
Agriculture on the presentation.
Knight also said that they are con
sidering trying to set up a meeting
with the agriculture minister at
ROMA.
“We have been very pleased by the
response we have received,” said
Dunbar.
Getting a kick out of it
Chilly weather didn’t deter the enthusiastic members of Blyth Cub pack as they camped at the
Wawanosh Nature Centre this past weekend. In addition to preparing for the Kub Kar Rally,
the youths and adult volunteers participated in outdoor games. Ben Caldwell tries to get a leg
_____up on his competitor Henry Rouw.__________________________________________________
Police look for dark pickup
in connection with break-in
Thieves hit Grey Twp.’s workshed
this past weekend and came away
with an estimated $10,000 worth of
tools.
According to Clerk-Treasurer
Brad Knight the break-in occurred
sometime after he left the municipal
office, adjacent to the shed on
Newry Road, east of Brussels, at 9
p.m. on Saturday. The thieves, who
entered through a back window took
handtools, chainsaws and jacks.
“Pretty much anything they could
carry,” said Knight.
Huron OPP Sr. Const. Don
Shropshall said witnesses have
reported seeing a dark-coloured
pickup in the area between 9 and 10
p.m. on Saturday. It was seen driving
with its headlights off and turning
off down a sideroad.