The Times Advocate, 2004-06-16, Page 22
Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday,June 16, 2004
Regional
wrap up
Reviving Mill
BLYTH — A dozen
folks from Brussels
have a vision that will
transform the neglect-
ed Logan's Mil into a
magnet for residents
and tourists.
The Citizen reported
when they look at the
mill, they see a reno-
vated building where
the community can
celebrate its rich arts
and culture, wander
through a museum
dedicated to local his-
tory and perhaps pass
time in a coffee shop
that could form part of
the waterfront struc-
ture.
A public meeting was
held June 4 to gather
interest for a steering
committee.
Award
SEAFORTH — main-
ly because he has
practised medicine in a
rural area for more
than 10 years, Dr. Dan
Rooyakkers recently
received an award
from the Society of
Rural Physicians in
Canada.
The Huron Expositor
reported Rooyakkers
has worked in Seaforth
since 1996 and prac-
tised in Northern
Ontario for two -and -a -
half years before that.
Rooyakkers' award
was one of 30 given
out by the society this
year.
Debate
GODERICH — The
ongoing fire between
Ontario's rural and
urban communities
became a roaring
blaze during a county
council meeting as
Huron's municipal
representatives took
offence to a recent
National Post editorial.
The Goderich Signal -
Star reported the edi-
torial, written by
Lawrence Solomon,
highlighted an Ontario
government panel's
recommendation that
"unsustainable rural
areas in Canada's
heartland be taken off
life support and
allowed to die a natur-
al death."
GGBCA discusses
health issues
By Mary Simmons tion.
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
GRAND BEND —
Health issues were up
for discussion at a
meeting of the Greater
Grand Bend
Community Association
(GGBCA).
Board member John
Walsh reported the
official opening of the
Grand Bend
Community Health
Centre was well
attended May 29. He
said around 300 people
were at the facility for
the ribbon cutting and
tours.
"Most people were
impressed," he said.
"It was the culmina-
tion of a
lot of
work," he
said,
adding the
project
came in
$100,000
under
budget.
He said
chairper-
son Don
Tedford
Donaldson said she
received a positive
response from Van
Bommel but has not
heard back from
Mitchell.
Donaldson also
expressed her opposi-
tion to a Lambton
County decision to fund
hospitals through a
forced "donation"
across the county,
which will be added to
property taxes.
"This is neither fair
nor equitable," she
said.
"No elected body
should be charging for
a charitable organiza-
tion," Walsh said. "If
one starts, where does
it end?"
Towing
issue
T h e
GGBCA
board of
directors
also dis-
cussed the
towing issue
which was
first raised
at the
group's regular meet-
ing May 14.
At that meeting
Donaldson told the
group she would be
attending a Lambton
Shores council meeting
to confront council
about the decision to
use property next to
Grand Bend Public
School as a towing
impound lot.
Council found another
location for the
impound lot, which the
GGBCA commended,
but members were not
convinced towing was
the best solution to the
problem.
"There are really two
issues here — parking
and liquor control,"
Walsh said. "Towing is
not the answer to
liquor violations."
Donaldson will write
another letter to coun-
cil asking for policies
surrounding these
issues.
"Before we make any
judgements, we want
to know what the
municipality's policies
are," Walsh said.
"No elected body
should be charging
for a charitable
organization. If one
starts, where does it
end?"
GGBCA BOARD MEMBER
JOHN WALSH
deserves
recognition for taking a
lot of the work on his
shoulders.
"The focus will now
be programs rather
than bricks and mor-
tar," Walsh said.
President Stephanie
Donaldson also took
the opportunity to let
board members know
Walsh will be the new
chairperson of the
Grand Bend Area
Health Services
Foundation.
Also on the topic of
health, Donaldson
reminded the board of
directors she had sent
a letter to Huron -Bruce
MPP Carol Mitchell and
Lambton-Kent-
Middlesex MPP Maria
Van Bommel regarding
the closing of Dr. Ming
Lam's Dashwood office.
The letter stated the
health centre had
applied to the Ministry
of Health and Long
Term Care for the nec-
essary funding to
acquire Dr. Lam's
practice as a satellite
operation and asked
the MPPs to lend their
support to the applica-
Steciuk retires from practice
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — After 28
years as a family doctor in
Exeter, Dr. Bill Steciuk
retired from his practice
June 15.
While Steciuk has left his
family practice, he'll still
be working in the medical
field — he'll be working at
the Exeter Villa and will
do some part-time work at
a walk-in clinic in London.
"I just need a change,"
Steciuk told the Times -
Advocate Monday. "I've
enjoyed what I've done but
it comes to the point
where you know it's time
to move on."
Steciuk has been think-
ing of making the change
for a couple of years.
While he says he won't
miss the work, he will miss
his patients.
"Part of it is hard to let
go," he admits.
"I've really enjoyed serv-
ing the community for the
last 28 years."
Dr. Helen Frye will take
over Steciuk's practice
starting June 22. Steciuk
credited the efforts of
South Huron Hospital and
the community to attract a
new doctor to the area.
"It's almost unheard of
these days," he said.
Steciuk, who lives in
London with his wife
Sharon, said he hopes to
use some of his newly -
found free time to "get a
couple of strokes off my
golf game" as well as
watch his daughter play,
who is on a golf scholar-
ship in the U.S.
A surprise party was held June 7 for Dr. Bill Steciuk,
who retired from his practice June 15 after 28 years
in Exeter. Steciuk will continue to do medical work
in the ExeterVilla as well as a walk-in clinic in
London. His Exeter practice is being taken over by
Dr. Helen Frye.Above, even Steciuk's dog Sam
attended the surprise party. (photo/Jim Beckett)
Firearms theft
CENTRAL HURON — Five men have
been charged following a police investi-
gation into five firearms being stolen
from a residence in Hullett-McKillop.
Huron OPP were contacted June 7
about the break-in. During the investi-
gation officers learned someone entered
the residence and stole some handguns
and rifles.
The victim provided the names of some
suspects and as a result of the investiga-
tion five males were arrested and all the
missing weapons have been recovered.
During the investigation officers attend-
ed residences on Hydro Line in Central
Huron, Clinton, Bayfield, Mitchell and
Vanastra.
A couple of the guns were located hid-
den inside a barn while another had been
tossed away into a swamp and others
were found at residences.
An 18 -year-old Hensall man has been
charged with three counts of unautho-
rized possession of weapons, two counts
of trafficking firearms, two counts of pos-
session of prohibited/restricted firearms
and ammunition, six counts of possession
of a firearm while prohibited, possession
of property obtained by crime, failure to
comply with probation and break enter
and theft.
A19 -year-old Clinton man has been
charged with unauthorized possession of
firearms and possession of property
obtained by crime.
A 25 -year-old Mitchell man has been
charged with two counts of failing to
comply with undertaking, possession of a
weapon obtained by crime and posses-
sion of property obtained by crime.
A 26 -year-old Bayfield man has been
charged with possession of a
prohibited/restricted firearm, possession
of property obtained by crime and
breaching probation.
A 22 -year-old Vanastra man has been
charged with possession of property
obtained by crime, possession of a pro-
hibited/restricted firearm, two counts of
possession of a firearm and breaching
probation.
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