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The Citizen, 2003-11-19, Page 1Volume 19 No. 45 The Citizen Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003 NHI I NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC. | | Inside this week Pg. 6 Pg- 20 Pg. 21 Family wants cop’s good deed noted Pg. 8 Juveniles enjoy big win TCSS get new mobility van Poll-by-poll results begin p q? Women build a cottage industry Belgrave water meeting set for Nov. 26 By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor \ public meeting for residents of Belgrave served by the Humphrey well will be held Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. The reason is to discuss the proposed monthly rate increase tor water service According to new legislation, the municipality must recover the full cost of water and sewer service. For that reason there will have to be an increase in the current rate of $25 per month for the customers in Belgrave. A chart, showing the costs of the Ontario Clean Water Agency’s contract for the past three years was included in North Huron council Nov. 17 agenda package. Over that time the number of customers served has been consistent at 27. The contract, however, has increased from $21,717.04 in 2001 to $26,614 in 2003. That puts the cost per month at $82.15. , As well, there are a number of capital costs relating to the Humphrey system as a result of upgra'S^s required for next year. Once the costs have been determined, residents will be advised as to how the costs will be distributed amongst the users. A representative from the township’s engineering firm will be at the meeting to provide information about the upgrades. The current contract with OCWA expires Dec. 31. The municipality has requested proposals from several firms to provide the service. These results will also be presented at the Nov. 26 meeting. Tough decision The Christmas season is clearly neat1 at hand as bake sales and craft shows are being held in local communities. St. John’s Anglican Church in Brussels held a bazaar and bake sale on Nov. 15. With so many goodies, it’s not hard to see why Maddi Long (left) and Becca Long, were having a hard time deciding what treat to buy. Storm causes lost power, water By Elyse DeBruyn Citizen staff The first storm of the year proved to be a great one after residents suffered through a series of road closures and power outages across Ontario and a boil water advisory in Brussels. Jack McLachlan, clerk­ administrator for the Municipality of Huron East, said Monday, the water boiling advisory was lifted on Sunday around noon. He said signs around Brussels advising people to boil their water will be removed. “It was an inconvenience to everyone, but it was a safety and precautionary step we had to take,” said McLachlan. He said the water was off in Brussels because the diesel generator failed to come on during the storm and there was no pressure in the main. Without pressure, residents must be notified to boil their water. Colleen Elliott, manager of JR’s Family Restaurant in Brussels, said the restaurant was closed down briefly to get their water situation organized. “We are using bottled water for everything including coffee and all food preparation,” said Elliott. McLachlan said, two water samples from Brussels, taken 24 hours apart, have been taken to a lab for testing. The results must be clear before they can lift the advisory. Elliott said she was able to open the business after approval from the health board following any restrictions they had, which were the same for home owners. “Our water will be tested before we start using tap water again,” said Elliott. Jason Rehkopf, owner of the Brussels Village Market, said since the advisory, the sale of bottled water doubled and people seemed to be buying extra groceries in case of another power outage. The power outage wasn’t just in Brussels, it was out for about 150,000 other residents across the southwest, central and eastern parts of Ontario. A report from Hyrdo One said high winds reaching up to 100 km/h knocked out the power during the first winter storm. Most of the damages were from fallen trees and limbs and in many cases, power was restored only to be knocked out shortly after. Robert Globocki, a spokesperson with Hydro One, said Friday there were still about 40,000 customers without hydro and some may not get it back until the weekend. Globocki said the bad weather conditions took a toll on their equipment making it even more difficult for the workers. “There were reports of hundreds of hydro poles down and unfortunately many were difficult to access because they were in off-road locations,” said Globocki. Const. Don Shropshall with the Huron OPP, said the police responded to 15 calls regarding fallen trees, hydro lines and telephone poles across roads. He said police also responded to 16 accidents with no serious injuries, 12 alarms from places that had a power surge and a number of vehicles that went in the ditch. Globocki said some trees had taken down power lines and the power poles were broken in half. He said icy roads were making it hard for the workers to get where the damage is and restore the power. Shropshall said the most dangerous roads during the storm were the Amberly Road and the Harriston Road. For more power outage updates go to www.HydroOneetworks.com Caldwell honoured A former Blyth man, now of Nile, was presented with the University of Guelph’s Distinguished Professor Award at a reception held at the university on Oct. 23. The Faculty Association sponsors the annual awards and the winners are chosen based on references from colleagues and students at the university. One distinguished professor award is awarded in each college of the University. Wayne Caldwell, son of Gladys and the late Ralph Caldwell of RR3, Blyth, has been an associate professor with the University of Guelph since 1992, teaching classes at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Caldwell has also been a senior planner with the County of Huron since 1981; and was recently appointed chair of the province’s Nutrient Management Advisory Committee. Caldwell’s areas of expertise include rural land use planning, the connections between agriculture and rural communities, planning regulations and livestock facilities, and facilitation, conflict resolution and public participation. As a professor. Caldwell said his philosophy in the classroom is to develop a sense of respect among his students and to provide a relaxed atmosphere in class built on the principals of adult education and experiential learning. Caldwell said-by using hands-on methods in his classes with such things as field trips, role-playing and guest speakers students develop a personal connection with the material. “Teaching is much like customer service, the students are my clients and as a teacher 1 need to be realizing and aiming to meet their learning objectives,” he said. Melanie Williams, one of Caldwell’s graduate students was behind the nomination of her professor. “I am appreciative that he has given me a strong foundation to work from,” she said. She credits his encouragement to her becoming involved in the Ontario Professional Planners Institute - the institute that accredits the school’s planning program. A scrapbook of comments from students who helped with the Continued on page 0 Family escapes fire Three adults and three children escaped without injuries on Nov. 14 after a fire started in the upstairs bedroom of a Grey Twp. home. Calvin Semple, Grey Twp. fire chief, said the fire broke out between 7 and 7:30 a.m. at 44917 Moncrieff Road. The bedrooms suffered water and smoke damage. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.