The Citizen, 2018-03-29, Page 1INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
DRAINAGE - Pg. 10
Local committee hosts special
drainage innovation meeting
AWARDS - Pg. 12
Londesborough Lions
honoured for service
SEMINAR - Pg. 19
Steffler Foundation to
bring Landsberg to Blyth
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Volume 34 No. 13
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Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, March 29, 2018
Blyth Brussels Atom Rep Crusaders win WOAA gold
A big game
The Blyth Brussels Atom Rep Crusaders took the Western
Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) championship last
Thursday night with a 3-2 win over the Goderich Sailors.
The game was hard-fought, with the Crusaders needing
more than half an overtime period to finish off their
competitors and claim victory, two games to one, over
them. Ava Strome scored two goals in the game, including
the game -winner in overtime. Coach John Groves said the game
was exciting and, when Strome put away the game -winning goal,
the bench erupted in cheers and jubilation. Above, goaltender
Hayden Lee takes a turn holding the M.L. "Tory" Gregg Division
Championship trophy the team had just won after a raucous
celebration on the ice. From left: Luke Fischer, Colton Radford,
Lee, Landon Hallahan and Jake Bromley. (DennyScottphoto)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
The Blyth Brussels Atom Rep
Crusaders brought home the
Western Ontario Athletics
Aassociation (WOAA)
championship last Thursday, besting
Goderich 3-2 in overtime to take
their series against the Sailors two
games to one.
The win topped off an impressive
season, with the team posting 18
wins over 29 games, culminating in
the final series.
Goderich took an early lead in the
first game of the finals, posting a 5-
4 win over Blyth on home ice.
Fortunately, the Crusaders were able
to turn the series around, winning 3-
0 in Goderich on March 20 before
taking the March 23 game by a score
of 3-2 in the second half of the
overtime period.
Goderich pulled ahead early,
leaving the first period with a 1-0
lead, but Blyth was able to tie the
score thanks to a goal from Landyn
Hallahan assisted by Colton
Radford.
The go-ahead marker was earned
early in the third period by Ava
Strome, again assisted by Radford.
Goderich would strike back before
the end of the period, however, tying
up the championship game and
resulting in a winner -take -all,
sudden -death overtime period.
Action went both ways, with some
nailbiting moments in front of both
nets. Strome, attacking a rebound,
would end the match with an
unassisted marker with 3:59 left in
the period.
"It was pretty exciting and there
was a lot of action on the bench,"
Coach John Groves said in an
interview with The Citizen. "Both
Continued on page 20
Meeting set to discuss Brussels arena expansion
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
The Brussels, Morris and Grey
Recreation Committee (BMGCC) is
looking for the public's input on
April 16 with hopes of expanding
the local arena.
Huron East Councillor Alvin
McLellan spoke to the issue at
council's March 20 meeting, saying
that a meeting has been scheduled
for next month.
In an interview with The Citizen,
McLellan said that he and other
members of the committee had been
approached often in recent years by
residents wondering when
improvements would be made to
their beloved BMGCC.
It's no secret that the centre lacks
change room space; it's an issue that
has been on council's agenda for a
number of years. However, no action
has been taken.
McLellan said that the committee
finally began looking into it in
earnest, obtaining a quote from the
same company that worked to
expand the Seaforth and District
Community Centre several years
ago.
Abi Corbett, the manager of the
centre, said that rough estimates of
the project indicate that the addition
of four change rooms would cost
approximately $750,000.
McLellan said that he and the
committee felt it was appropriate to
bring the concept to the public. Not
only did they hope to get input from
members of the public as to what
they want and need in their local
community centre, but what
fundraising options there are and
what the community can afford.
The existing change rooms at the
arena, McLellan said, are far too
small for today's players with
modern equipment. He also said that
with a growing number of girls
playing hockey in Brussels, the need
for additional change rooms has
grown along with it.
McLellan said that the
community's service groups,
including the Brussels Optimists and
Lions Clubs, have always shown a
willingness to dig deep when a
worthy project presents itself in the
community, not to mention residents
and businesses.
Initially, McLellan thought that
the $150,000 from the sale of the
former Brussels school would
provide adequate seed money for a
project at the community centre,
which was also recommended by
staff. However, Huron East Council
opted to put those proceeds into the
municipality's general funds,
McLellan said, so those funds won't
be available unless council has a
change of heart.
On Monday, April 16 at 7 p.m. in
the auditorium of the BMGCC, the
committee is planning a presentation
and then a discussion to follow
featuring committee members,
service club representatives and
members of the public.
McLellan said he feels this should
be a very open process with
members of the public having their
say in regards to their community
centre.
Belgrave water rates to rise
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
With a required public meeting
now in the books, Morns-Turnberry
Council is one step closer to
passings its 2018 budget.
After its March 20 public meeting,
council directed staff to have the
draft budget prepared to be adopted
by bylaw at its next meeting.
Morris-Turnberry's taxable
assessment increased substantially
from 2017 to 2018, according to the
presentation prepared by
Administrator Clerk -Treasurer
Nancy Michie. The assessment
increased 14.746 per cent across the
municipality from $741,834,866 to
$851,228,726, increasing the
amount that the municipality can
collect. However, through the
budget process, it was soon apparent
the municipality's fiscal challenges
have also increased.
First, council was informed that
Continued on page 20