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Huron Expositor, 2004-07-14, Page 1•..o10e4U6 44.114lii 11I i1.4t 'Pll ,i z.'a V9 Wednesday, July 14, 2004 $1.25 includes GST Tony Arts Cf P. CLU,CH F. C. Cnariewrizocael Daily X2.35 yrs 3:% 45% 'Wort c.►tlad op daily doska r it y13,M)4 To Uwstmint Brion 15 Main St. Seaforth 527-0794 In brief Attempted theft of $30,000 boat and trailer from business A $30,000 boat and trailer received some damage when an attempt was made to steal them from Vinc€ is Farm Equipment just north of Seaforth on July 3 at 6:15 a.m. An employee coming to work that morning saw a dark-coloured truck speed away from a group of trees on one side of the business and a short time later, the boat -was noticed to be missing -from the secured compound. A search of the area found that an ivory 2004. Bombardier SeaD.00 Challenger, along with a trailer, were gone. When the treed area was checked by the employee, the boat and trailer were found, stuck in the evergreen trees. Both were damaged. Huron OPP are continuing to investigate. Call the Huron OPP at 524-8314 or Crimestoppers at 1-800- 222-8477 with any information. Windows smashed in Egmondville Store front Two large front store windows at the Egmondville Country Market were smashed last Sunday. Huron OPP responded to an alarm at the market on July 4 at 2:30 a.m. Officers discovered that the two windows and the panes in the front door were smashed at the Kippen Road business. Senior Constable Don Shropshall, community services officer for the Huron OPP, reported it is, as yet, unknown who committed this crime. He added officers would appreciate any help solving the matter. Call the Huron OPP at 524-8314 or Crimestoppers at 1-800- 222-8477 with any information. Inside... Local students recipients of summer job grant Pail* 11 local lawn bowling team provincial champions. page 1$ Family thankful for precious "Jewel" By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Jewel, the iguana, is back home safely with the Blanchard family, of Market Street. After searching the neighbourhood for a week, including the fields behind their house, Donna Blanchard says she and her sons were thrilled to read in last week's Expositor that their family pet was being held at the Clinton Veterinary Services. "My kids were sick at the idea that she was gone. She's loved by all of us. It's a real mystery how she got loose. We were only gone a half an hour to the Lions pool," she says. The Blanchards live next door to Maj. Frank Golding, who found the three -foot -long iguana in his backyard on June 30. Golding trapped the lizard in a garbage can and called Huron East's animal control officer Bob Trick, who took her to the vet clinic in Clinton. Golding says he's relieved the pet has been claimed since he didn't want to see the lizard put down. "I was going to suggest sending it to Storybook Gardens or the Toronto Zoo before that happened," he says, adding he didn't realize his neighbour had a pet iguana. Donna says she's at a loss about how their pet iguana escaped the cage in 1}er backyard, especially since there are no holes in the fencing and the lizard's nails have been clipped, making it impossible for it to climb trees or fences. "Iguanas need UV rays to stay healthy and she's been out there daily since the weather warmed up. She's. never made an attempt to escape before," she says. The Blanchards have owned nine-year-old Jewel since Valentine's Day when her boys received it as a gift. Her son Jordan, who wants to be a reptologist (a scientist who studies reptiles) when he grows up, had been asking to own an iguana for several years when the opportunity arose to adopt Jewel from owners who were looking to find her a new home. Jordan, 10, who had a birthday party over the weekend, used his wish when he was blowing out the candles to have Jewel returned home. While the iguana is kept in a backyard cage outside, she has full run of the house inside and often lies on the back of the living room couch, watching television with the boys. Recently found iguana, Jewel, is heli by Jordan (middle), 8, pose with their two dogs. Last week, the Blanchard iguana was being held at the Clinton veterinary clinic. She also peacefully co- exists with two family dogs, who like to snuggle up next to the iguana under her heat lamp. Jewel lives on fruit and vegetables, along with Huron -Bruce MP Steckle honoured to be considered for minister of agriculture By Matt Shurrie Signal -Star Editor Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle said he would welcome the challenge of serving as Canada's next minister of agriculture - but only if voting power is restored to cabinet ministers. Steckle's name continues to be tossed around after Minister of Agriculture Bob Speller was ousted during last month's federal election. "I'm certainly interested and I am honoured that people would consider myself as a worthy person for the position," Steckle said. "(Minister of agriculture) would have to be the most thankless job in the country." Steckle, who recently finished his second term as chair of the commons standing committee on agriculture, said in order to accept the position he would ask Prime Minister Paul Martin to restore voting rights to those serving in cabinet. "I think it's fair to say that all politicians going to Ottawa at some point in their life have a conscience," Steckle said. "If backbenchers can vote their conscience then also the members in the front row should have that ability to do so - they shouldn't be exempt." Steckle said on matters of confidence, including the throne speech and budget, he would expect all sitting Liberal MPs to vote in favour of the government. But, members should be able to vote any way they choose on issues directly affecting their constituents. "There isn't a party in the House that has ever given freedom of conscience vote to the front bench people," Steckle said. "It's never happened under the Conservatives and it hasn't happened under the Liberals and to me that's wrong." Steckle insisted while he isn't lobbying for the portfolio he has spoken to colleagues who have given encouragement. "I wouldn't be in this business if I hadn't anticipated that some day that challenge might come, ' Steckle said. "I wouldn't have sought office again if that would have been a challenge that I couldn't have faced. "I'm prepared to face the challenges as they come but I don't lay awake and night thinking about it. Each day will bring forth what it will." Steckle and Malpeque, Prince Edward Island -MP Wayne Easter are considered frontrunners for the agriculture position. Easter, re-elected for a fourth term, is a former president of the national farmers union and a former parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Since 1999 he has served as chair of the standing committee on fisheries and oceans. "Wayne has been a farm leader and he's a great guy and a good friend of mine," Steckle said of his colleague. "He would make a great agriculture minister. He knows agriculture well and would be a good candidate." Local farm leaders said Steckle would be an ideal minister given his recent stance with Canada's packers who profited from the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis. "Paul is well-respected right across the country for his efforts in thc standing committee on agriculture," Canadian Cattlemen's Association president Stan Eby said. "He knows the issues and, as. we all know, Paul will bertainly do his best to see an issue through and make agriculture a better industry." Huron County Beef Producers president Glen Walker agreed adding it would be nice to have ,an even stronger voice at the national table. It is expected that Martin will unveil his new cabinet during a ceremdny at Rideau Hall during the week of July 19. Susan Hundertrnark photo 10, while, Zjibein (left), 6, and George, family discovered that their missing vitamin and calcium supplements. "She's gentle and friendly. The kids hold her and talk to her. Our baby's home," says Donna. She adds that she's grateful for the care their iguana received from the Clinton vet clinic and to the Expositor for helping her family find their pet. President of Huron County Beef Producers at a loss on why U.S. remains closed By Matt Shurrie Signal -Star Editor Glen Walker can't understand why the Canada - U.S. border remains closed to live cattle. The president of the Huron County Beef Producers said he's almost at a loss for words when it comes to thc current crisis affecting beef producers in this country. The Canadian cattle industry has lost more than $2 billion in 14 months after a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in Alberta. "It's not a good situation to be in," Walker said on Sunday, just hours after returning home from a beef producers summer barbecue. "If things don't improve by the fall there won't be any of us left. That's just the long and short of it." Walker, who resides near Wingham, said he's frustrated that Canada has done everything possible to prove that the food supply is safe. Instead, the Americans - with a November election looming - seem content to keep the border closed. "There's no reason why thc border is still closed today because everything's in place," Walker said. "It's just all political - the science has went out the window." Canadian Cattlemen's Association president Stan Eby said his organization - and many others - continue to work diligently to get the border open as soon as possible. Speaking from his hotel room in Denver, Colorado on Sunday night Eby - in Denver to meet with representatives of ,the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the American Meat Institute - said there is a growing desire south of the border to get the flow of beef moving once again. "The mcat institute is very interested in getting the border open because there's packing houses that are (closingf," Eby said. "One has closed now that we know of and a number are working at less than capacity because they haven't got access to Canadian cattle." However, Eby said there are some forces opposed to rwpcning the border i Iuding some producers who continue to reap the benefit of higher prices. "It's a push and pull all the Soo BORDER, Page 2 • Bright Lights & Big Excitement at Slots at Clinton Raceway! With 100 thrilling 5f and 25f slot machines, live Harness Racing & Simulcast Racing featuring your favourite tracks - you're sure to find something for everyone at Slots at Clinton Raceway! rN ds.M+' t•••••, rye .....•:1 • 4.*l �nw Call 519-482-7540 today for more information) Open Sun. to Thurs. 9am -1 em • Fri. $ Sat. 9am - 3am Located at 147 Beech Street, Clinton, Ontario Canada Must W le years o1 age or olds. doN'MnMt N-aed photo M.nttlk•tlon m.y W moored N pool of ape Clinton �� a