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The Citizen, 2006-08-24, Page 1WE L.p.opo."'TO /B CYTH 1871. ;;•;#" 'PA Big Air NORTH HURON PUBUSHING COMPANY INC Inside this week Po 3 Fire department donates to camp Pg Q Athletes get funds 0 in Quest for Gold pg Local 4-Hers host 10• western visitors Locals in Young Pg 10 • Company 20 Health minister Pg. visits in Clinton e Citizen Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 22 No. 33 Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006 $1 (94c + 6c GST) A racer flies off the table-top during a lap at this year's 15th annual Walton TransCan Motorcross. More than 25,000 people converged in Walton this past weekend to enjoy the high-flying action at the national championship races. One thousand riders competed in various divisions from amateur to pro. It's a real community event with local organizations, such as minor sports, assisting with everything from working the gate, to food booths and clean-up. (Heather Dietz photo) Bird tests positive for WNv Local family mourns child's death Tragedy hit aWell-known local family this past weekend. _ Three-year-old Ainsleigh Ann Bontaine of Tavistock, . the daughter of former Blyth resident Heidi (Scrimgeour) and her husband Gerry, and granddaughter of Don and Lenora Scrimgeour of Blyth, drowned in a pool while visiting at a residence in Perth County. According to a news report, the child and her father were at a house on Road 10 near Conestoga Lake for the weekend. Ainsleigh had been swimming and after she got out of the pool to play, her father removed her water wings. Just minutes later she was found face down' in the water. CPR was performed- until paramedics- arrived on the scene. Ainsleigh was taken to Listowel Memorial Hospital where she passed away. Ainsleigh, who celebrated her third birthday on Aug. 14, was the big sister of one-year-old Aleigha. Also left to mourn her are several aunts, uncles and cousins. The mass of Christian Burial will be held for Ainsleigh at St. James Roman Catholic Church, Seaforth on Thursday at 11 a.m. Visitation was at the Whitney Ribey Funeral Home in Seaforth from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23. The interment will be at Avondale Cemetery in Stratford. On-line condolences for Ains- leigh may be made at www.whitneyribeyfuneralhome. corn 25,000 attend Walton races By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor For yet another year, the Walton TransCan Motocross championship races proved to be the place for action and fun. Organizer Chris Lee said attendance topped last year's numbers for Friday and Saturday while Sunday remained constant. "We were again in the 25,000 range for total attendance." Weather too co-operated. "It was perfect, exactly what I ordered," said Lee, "from beginning to end with the exception of Sunday morning." Lee explains that the damp weather leading up to the races'was the perfect beginning. "It's important to start off with a good reserve of moisture." As entry is fixed and limited the lumber of competitors remained at 1,000. What was different however, was the distribution, Lee said. "We had many more from out of province than in previous years." That fact may have played intothe results of this year's Canada Cup challenge for the amateur riders. "It was the west that' won," said Lee, "which may be a measure of the fact that they sent more riders, better riders. The western team led by the performances of Dean Wislon, Shawn McDougall, P.J. Stratton, Spencer Knowles and John Pauk enjoyed a narrow victory over the east. The contest, said Lee, was an exciting exhibition of the developing amateur talent. Leading the east team were Kory Snelgrove, Jeff Garrett, Levi Smith, Jason Benny, Morgan Hughes and Eric Jeffery. Stoneridge KTM's Michael Willard won both motos of the East/West Shootout. It was the second consecutive time the Ohio man claimed the ,victory in the contest that pits the top riders from the east and west MX2 series. In the final round of the MX1 championship Dusty Klatt of Vancouver Island upset his Honda Blackfoot Fox Racing teammate Jean Sebastien Roy who has held the title for two years. Klatt had a nine-point lead over Roy going into the final round of the premier class. He recorded a clean sweep to claim the championship. A number of local riders competed in the amateur races, with Mitchell Godkin of the Walton area doing very well, claiming second place in the PeeWees 50 cc class. Other results should be available for next week's Citizen. A dead crow found in the Goderich area has tested positive for West Nile virus. To date, the Huron County Health Unit has submitted a total of 20 birds for testing and this is the first positive test result. In 2005, the first positive bird was found in the Exeter area on July 29. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, health units in Ontario have reported 127 positive birds to date. Previously, most human cases of West Nile virus in Ontario were reported in late August and September. Therefore, it's important that people continue to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites from mid-August until the first frost. "The mosquitoes most likely to bite you are the ones breeding in your own backyard," says Laura Farrell, public health manager. "Cleaning up standing water is the most important way to reduce mosquitoes and control the spread of the West Nile virus." You can do your part by reducing standing water around your home, cottage or businesses. Empty water from garbage cans, wheelbarrows, toys, flower pots, pool covers, tires, and bird baths at least twice a week. Clean out clogged eaves troughs and keep pumps working in pools and ponds. It also helpsto cover rain barrels, or leave a layer of mineral oil on the water's surface. So far, there have been no cases of West Nile virus in humans or horses in Huron County. Mosquito surveillance monitors the types of mosquitoes that are present in the county, and if they are infected with the virus. West Nile has not yet been found in Huron County mosquitoes. However, a number of health units in the province, • including Oxford County and Middlesex- London have found infected mosquito pools. People can protect themselves against West Nile virus by wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks in areas where mosquitoes are present. This is very important at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. You can also use an insect repellent containing DEET, and keep window and door screens in good repair. Huron County residents are asked to continue reporting the location of any dead crows and blue jays to the health unit. We are testing these birds for West Nile virus. For more information, call the Huron County Health Unit Infoline at 482-5119, extension 2001, or toll- free 1-877-837-6143, extension 2001.