Times Advocate, 1999-11-10, Page 22
!Exeter TIS-lwwcw
Wednesday,November 10, 1999
In the News
Hullett Wildlife Area
vandalized
CLINTON — Volunteers feel they're lighting an
uphill battle against vandalism at Hullett Wildlife
Area near Clinton, reports the News -Record.
The Halloween weekend was marked with another
round of vandalism, ongoing since the summer.
Map boxes, privies and the wildlife viewing stand
at the north end of the property were damaged over
the Thanksgiving weekend. The stand had to be
closed for safety measures following the vandalism.
On Halloween weekend, the viewing stand was
further damaged, nearly all the map boxes were
destroyed and four signs were pulled out.
The treasurer for the Friends of Hullett noted the
vandals aren't hurting the provincial government
with their acts because the non-profit charitable
organization, the Friends of Hullett, foots the bill for
repairs.
Bttilis blafled for
bird deaths
LAKE HURON -- More than 1,000 dead ducks and
loons found washed up on the shores of Lake Erie
and Lake Huron were killed by a rare fish -borne
bacteria that causes botulism, reports The London
Free Press.
About 700 birds, mostly loons, have washed
ashore on a four -kilometre stretch of Ipperwash
beach between Port Franks and Kettle Point since
mid-October.
Another 300 dead loons and mergansers turned up
�ear Erieau and Erie Beach, south of Chatham.
Tests at the Canadian Co-operative Health Centre
at the University of Guelph showed the birds died of
type E avian botulism, a paralytic condition caused
by a toxin usually found in the intestines of fish.
Officials don't know where the bacteria came from
but say humans aren't at risk for infection if they eat
well -cooked fish from.the lakes.
Avian botulism, or Western duck sickness, is
caused by a strain of clostridium botulinum, a natu-
rally occurring bacterium found in the soil. It affects
the nervous system and causes muscle paralysis.
Residents convince
council to lower s
limit
WEST PERTH — A delegation of 40 unhappy resi-
dents have persuaded West Perth council to get the
wheels moving to reduce the speed limit on their
country road to 70 kilometres per hour.
The delegation attended a recent council meeting
and raised their concerns about motorists using Line
36 (Con. 2/3) in Logan Ward instead of Hwy. 8 to
travel east and west.
Residents are concerned about the high speeds of
drivers and hope lowering the speed limit along the
rural road may encourage drivers to slow down or
better still, stay off the road completely, reports The
Mitchell Advocate.
Residents believe the majority of the speeders are
commuters finding a quicker route to work rather
than using Hwy. 8.
Although the road is paved, it is not built for heavy
traffic and does not have markings and shoulders.
For several years, residents asked council to pave
and councillors are disappointed the residents are
now complaining about the speeding.
Residents said a recent police presence has helped
slow down the drivers.
Council's administration will need to got through
the Highway Traffic Act to form the basis of a bylaw
to address the speed limit change.
North Huron group
ajes.to extension
The North Huron restructuringgroup gro p has agreed
to Morris Township's request for an extention in the
deadline to submit the plan to the county.
The township wants more time to allow residents
to study the proposal and how it would affect town-
ship reisdents.
Christmas party is village's
way of saying thanks
By Kate Monk
n E -ADVOCATE STAFF
HENSALL — Village staff, com-
mittee members, council and fire-
men have the opportunity to enjoy
a Christmas dinner and entertain-
ment courtesy of the Village of
Hensall Dec. 4.
At Monday night's meeting, coun-
cil passed a motion to invite the
employees and committee mem-
bers and their spouses to the party
hosted by the Hensall Parks and
Recreation Department.
Discussion at the meeting
revolved around whether employ-
ees should be given a gift certificate
if they can't attend the party.
Coun. Steve Towles said the cer-
tificate would allow the village to
express its appreciation to people
who couldn't attend. Reeve Cecil
Pepper said he'd like to see staff
receive something if they couldn't
attend the event.
Councillors Greg Dayman, Rod
Parker and Dave Annen disagreed.
"If you don't want to attend, that's
fine but don't expect to be reim-
bursed $25 if you don't attend,"
Dayman said, adding Hensall is the
only municipality he knows of that
provides such an event.
Council agreed with the park's
board recommendation of Oct. 6
that the dinner be the only option
for staff and volunteers.
Water taldng permit
received
The village has received a permit
from the Ministry of the
Environment to take groundwater
for village use.
The terms and conditions of the
permit will allow the village to use
groundwater while protecting exist-
ing water users. The MOE letter
stated, "if the taking of water
should result in any negative
impacts, the permitee will be
required to restore the water sup-
plies of those affected in a manner
acceptable to the MOE or to reduce
the rate and amount of taking until
any negative impacts are eliminat-
ed."
The next step is to purchase and
install a pump at the York St. well.
Lagoons at capacity -
A report from the Ontario Clean
Water Agency (OCWA) on the
Hensall lagoons states the Hensall
wastewater system is at capacity.
But there is room in the system for
sewage from new houses that
would be built on existing lots with-
in the village. The OCWA represen-
tatives told Hensall Clerk Luanne
Phair there is a "rumour" the MOE
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has asked the province to create a
$200 million fund for municipal
wastewater system improvements.
Hensall applied under a previous
fund but was told there was .no
money available for the Hensall
sewage expansion project.
Valuation of PVC assets
A consultant will be hired to:
determine the value of the village'sn
public utilities assets. It's estimated"
the study will cost $8-10,000 but if
other municipalities join the study,
the amount will be less.
Although the village is not consid-
ering selling the utility at this time,
the information will be used if it
wants to dispose of the utility in the
future.
Ticket blitz coming
Phair reported residents have
been forewarned overnight parking
is not permitted on village streets
after Nov. 1 and bylaw enforcement
officer Jamie Caldwell told council
he will be doing a blitz soon to tick-
et vehicles violating the bylaw.
Overnight parking is prohibited
because it interferes with snow
removal.
"Forget -Me -Not" Christmas
tlree
We must recall the sacrifices of our fast heroes
Dear Editor. •
As Remembrance Day
1999 looms on the hors
zon, I find myself reflect-
ing on the past, and seri-
ously contemplating the
future. This
Remembrance Day will be
the last before the year
2000. Unfortunately, the
20th century has not been
a shining example of
humanity at its finest.
Quite to the contrary, just
over the course of the
past 100 years, mankind
has engaged in numerous
military conflicts costing
us countless thousands of
young lives.
As in the past, this year
Canadians from coast to
coast to coast will be host-
ing events to mark
Remembrance Day and
Veterans' Week 1999. To
highlight the significance
of Nov. 11th as A Day of
Remembrance, the Royal
Canadian Legion, with the
help of the federal gov-
ernment, through the
Millennium Partnership
Program, is attempting to
start a new tradition.
Beginning this year, the
Legion will lead the
nation in setting aside two
minutes of silence in
every village, town and
city across Canada once
the dock strikes 11 a.m.
During that two min-
utes, trains, buses and
cars will be urged to
come to a halt; school
children will be asked to
stand at their desks, with
heads bowed; office work-
ers will turn off their
phones, while stock mar-
kets, radio and television
broadcasts will all come
to a momentary pause.
The intent of this exer-
cise is to encourage all
Canadians to reflect and
to honour the sacrifices
made by our brave and
courageous veterans who
defended this country
during its darkest hours.
We, who have never
know war, owe a tremen-
dous debt of gratitude to
those who spent their
youth in defence of free-
dom. Their contribution is
now a part of our history
and their legacy is part of
our heritage. As we
approach the millennium,
we owe it to the next gen-
eration to recall the sacri-
fices of our past heroes.
May those who have gone
before us have our
remembrance, our grati-
tude and may they rest in
peace.
PAUL STECKLE,. MP
Huron -Bruce
•
ExeterViNa resident Mary Gardiner, left, and her sister -in -taw Audrey McRoberts
enjoyed themselves at the Exeter Villa Christmas Bazaar and Tea Room on
Saturday. (photo/Craig Bradford)
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