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Huron Expositor, 2002-06-26, Page 9News Defibrillator training offered to county fire departments By Sarah Caldwell Goderich Signal -Star Staff Fire departments throughout Huron County will be asked if they would like to participate in the First Response Program. First Response is a program where firefighters are trained to use a defibrillator, when they arrive on the scene before the ambulance. The county, at their monthly meeting on July 5, supported the First Response Program for the Blyth and District Fire Board, which they have been doing since 1996. They will be supplying their oxygen, supplies and equipment through the present County ambulance suppliers and making the training available to the firefighters at the same time as the paramedics. The Blyth and District Fire Board requested that Huron County reimburse the Fire Department for their costs of approximately $2,300 annually for first response, as it was previously reimbursed by the Ministry of Health. In December 1997, the province announced the downloading of ambulance services to the County of Huron. The Blyth Fire Department was at the same time participating in the First Response Program and the Ministry of Health was providing the necessary supplies and equipment, separate from the ambulance service. However, when the county took over management of ambulance service from the province on Jan. 1, the Ministry discontinued their First Response Program support. The First Response Program was not transferred to the County along with the ambulance services. Fire services are not part of ambulance services, and remain a responsibility for the municipality in which they are located. The Blyth and District Fire Department owns their own defibrillator and their staff have been trained to run it, and have their skills training refreshed annually. The Blyth fire department responds to about 5-10 First Response calls a•year. Hensall Fair in jeopardy if more volunteers can't be found to help By Nellie Evans Lakeshore Advance Editor Comments last month that volunteers are needed to help run the Hensall Spring Fair have turned into urgent pleas. "The future of the fair is in jeopardy if we don't get commitment of interested individuals and service clubs to sit on various committees. Our volunteer base is quite small and aging. None of the jobs are tough, if enough people pitch in," said a press release issued last Friday. A public meeting has been scheduled for Monday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Hensall Community Centre. The meeting is the only chance for the community to show interest and join the fair, said secretary Anne Mousseau, because the fair board may decide that night or in the following few weeks whether there'll be a fair in 2002. "If we don't get volunteers, I would say there'll be no fair next year," she said, "Eight to 10 people do it now." Hensall just staged the 133rd spring fair on the second weekend in June, and then, Mousseau warned more people are needed. She said some of the existing organizers are unable to lift the heavy gates that form a barrier in the arena between the calf show and the school exhibit and other gates outside for the sheep and goat shows. The press release says if more volunteers became involved the fair could improve with new events. After The Lakeshore Advance included mention of a need for volunteers in its June story about the fair, there were rumblings of interest, said Mousseau. "We were told to get a meeting organized to do this. Normally we don't meet in July and August," she said. "But the kids look for calves in September and October 'cause they have to start by Nov. 1." The Hensall Calf Club is marking 49 years and the annual show and sale is a popular event for the youngsters both male and ''emale. "(The fair) is a great opportunity for the youth to proudly exhibit their school work and participate in a variety of activities," officials say in the release. "There is much potential to add events at the fair such as a farmer's market, flea or antique market, craft show, a barbecue and dance etc. if enough people are willing to work together." For the past three years, the Bluewater Tug of War team has organized and supported an elementary school challenge. Each year, the tournament becomes more popular with this year attracting close to 120 students from area schools. The fair is also a place where area youth show sheep, goats, poultry, swine and horses. Besides the calf sale, there is a swine and lamb sale. Past President and current director Don Dearing confirmed there's a few members who want to quit after many years on the board. They are people, like himself, who are finding it difficult to move gates. But the goat show organizer said volunteers are hard to find, and sometimes they must be personally invited. "A person who you least expect, you won't have until they're asked," he said. "There are people who aren't meeting people but when the time comes they're there the night before." Dearing served as president 12-15 years ago and maintains a belief in the value of the Hensall fair. "I kinda like the Hensall fair, there's so many things going on there for a small community," said Dearing, who is also a board member for the Zurich Fair. But he wondered if part of Hensall's problem is the timing of the fair. Town and country residents are busy either with children's sports or planting crops. It's a sentiment shared by Joan Van Sligtenhorst, a member of the Huron County Goat Club. Club members usually show at the Zurich fair. "I would love to get there but I'm so busy that time of year. We're haying or doing beans. It's really sad that fairs can't get volunteers. We should all try to get there," she said. Dearing said he enjoys it when town people ask questions about the calves and other animals. He had a box of baby chicks on display in Old McDonald's Farm that was a hit with children. "It's something for kids to touch a little baby chick," he said. Dearing has noticed an increase in parent attendance since the school tug of war competition began three years ago. "When the Bluewater Tug of War came, I wondered if it would go but it looks as though it's really a thing," he said. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, July 11, 2001-3 Silly songs Scott Hilgendorff photo Shari and Jerry Tallon and their daughter Mellissa entertained children at Seaforth Public Library Monday afternoon with a selection of songs and a chance to join in with other instruments the family brought to share with the children. Water quality summit planned Aug. ii A water summit featuring speakers on topics related to water quality along the Lake Huron shoreline will be taking place on Aug. 1 1 , at Goderich District Collegiate Institute. The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation is being supported by the county's planning and development department and the Huron Stewardship Council in planning and presenting this event. More information about the summit will be provided closer to the time of the event. The summit was mentioned to Huron County councillors at its July 5 meeting. Kara L. Pepper, RMT Reeistenl Mrssage ptagist Contact: Seaforth Chiropractic Clinic 527-1242 for an appointment SM.AFORTH INSURANCE BROKER LTD. 527-1610 • Home • Commercial *Auto • Farm • Out of Province Travel Insurance 41 Main St. S. Seaforth Christa Leonhardt, Lynn Pletsch, Ken Cardno, Barb Watt and Joanne Williamson t Yot cattn the to attend these wL al:hu rhes St. Thomas Anglican Church Jarvis St. Seaforth 482-7861 Rev. Tim Connor Sunday Service at 9:30 am. Parish Assistance Call 522-0929 or 345-2023 Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth Sunday Worship Hour 10 am Adventure Club for Kids & Youth Groups Wednesdays 7 p.m. .,.r First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W. Seafort' Rev. Vandermey WORSHIP SUNDAY 11:15 AM Sunday School during Worship Catholic Church Saturday - 5:15 pm St. James Parish, Seaforth Saturday - 7:15 pm St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton Sunday - 9:00 am St. Michael's Parish, Blyth Sunday - 11:00 am St. James Parish, Seaforth Father Dino Salvador Egmondville United Church Rev. Judith Springett Sunday, July 15 Congregational Picnic at Van Egmond House Worship 10 am Games 11 am Followed by Potluck Lunch Please bring dishes & lawn chairs. NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES Rev. Sheila Macgregor - Minister 9:30 a.m. Cavan 11:00 a.m. Northside Winthrop 54 Goderich St. W. 527-2635 or 527-1449 Month of July Northside and Cavan Worship with First Presbyterian Vacation Bible School July 16-20 Call Joan to register 527-2907 Join us for our New Location R.R. #1 Auburn rand 0 • ening Jack's General Repair Saturday, July 14th 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Hamburgers & Hot Dogs Refreshments Door Prizes!!! Hope to see you there! New Phone Number 523-9308 Owned & Operated by Jack VanDorp 1