Paul Sherban, who is site supervisor of the Mid-Huron Landfill Site, stands by the piles of shingles and wood from the Goderich and area tornado in this 2011 file photo.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – It will cost three dollars a tonne more to haul garbage to the Mid-Huron Landfill Site starting April 1, after a decision by its board Wednesday.

The fee will jump from $82 to $85 per tonne, making it the second fee increase since 2006. In 2006, the fee increased five dollars a tonne, from $75 to $80. Then in 2010, it nudged up to $82 a tonne.

Folks headed to the landfill site with a load of garbage in the back of a pickup truck will continue to pay $10, which is the charge for a load of 100 kg or less.

During its board meeting, members from the municipalities who are partners in the landfill site debated the fee increase, as they considered how much of an increase would be required to ensure a yearly surplus could be tucked away into a reserve to help pay for the costs associated with closing the landfill site, which is anticipated to occur in 2017, and maintaining it for another 50 years.

“It’s always confusing how much to put away in reserve. You probably can’t put enough away,” said Larry McCabe, who is the board’s secretary.  The board’s 2011 financial statement estimated it will cost nearly $14 million to close the site and maintain it for half a century. Closure costs include adding a cover of vegetation and building facilities for drainage control features, and leachate, water quality and gas recovery monitoring. After the site is closed, the board will continue to monitor the site.

At the end of 2011, the board had about $5.6 million in reserve funds – much like a savings account – to pay for these expenses. At that time, the actuary’s estimate adjusted interest earned on money set aside by each of the six partner municipalities in the landfill from 2.5 per cent to 1 per cent. For the Town of Goderich, its share of costs to close the landfill site jumped from about $1.89 million in 2010 to approximately $3.96 million.

“I’d rather be proactive instead of going back and asking the partners sitting around the table for more money one more time,” said Tyler Hessel, who is a councillor in the Municipality of Bluewater. He suggested a $3 increase in 2013, followed by a $1.50 yearly until the site closes.

Hessel also predicted a drop in tonnage to the landfill site in coming years, as a result of a move by the public to recycle more materials and reduce waste.

In 2012, the board projected a $110,000 deficit in its budget but a dry year resulted in lower than anticipated costs to haul leachate to Goderich for processing along with less snow removal and the board now expects a surplus of about $60,000, which will be put into reserve to help cover the closure costs.

Jim Anderson, a hauler from Auburn who owns Bin There, told the board $85 per tonne was a reasonable fee.

Participating municipalities in the landfill site board include: Town of Goderich, townships of Huron-Kinloss and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, and the municipalities of Central Huron, Bluewater and Huron East.

SEAFORTH – It has become an annual tradition for the finance department at the Avon Maitland Education Centre in Seaforth: Instead of exchanging gifts with each other, they donate to the Seaforth and District Food Bank.

They added a couple of new members to the team this year and welcomed some cash donations, resulting in a 33 per cent increase in the number of food hampers they were able to provide to the local food bank.

As a result, the food collected will be enough to provide 480 meals over five days during the holiday period. It was also a team building activity as they worked together to collect the food products and make the hampers.

According to the folks at the Seaforth and District Food Bank, the National Hungercount conducted this year found that nearly 900,000 Canadian turn to food banks. In Ontario, that number is 413,000. In rural communities across the province, nearly 40 per cent of food bank users are children.

As access to community support becomes more challenging, the needs of our rural communities have become an increasing concern. This will be further challenged in 2013 with an anticipated three- to six-per-cent rise in food prices.

The generosity of the community will help the food banks ease the strain during this holiday season.

Bullet News HURON COUNTY – Nearly 5,000 Hydro One customers in South Huron and parts of Bluewater and Huron East were the last to have power restored at around 11 p.m. last night.

Power to about 15,000 customers was cut off when a hydro pole on a 115-kV transmission line was knocked down at about 1 p.m. yesterday, probably in a weather-related incident, said a spokesperson from Hydro One tonight.

Crews rerouted lines so that about 10,000 customers could have power, while they continued to work on the downed line.

For updates every 15 minutes during an outage or to download a smart phone application, visit the Hydro One Storm Map.

Photo courtesy of Sean Davies. Taken Dec. 26, 2011. See more of his photos on Flickr.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News SEAFORTH – Doors will close at Seaforth Creamery by fall 2013, putting about 180 people out of work at the salad dressing manufacturing plant.

In a press release posted today on parent company TreeHouse Foods, Inc.’s website, it said the closure comes after a “reviewing the operations and identifying excess capacity and opportunities to lower production costs.”

In its quarterly report for shareholders, it announced production will stop by March 31, 2013 with a full closure by Sept. 30, 2013.

Total costs to close the Seaforth facility are estimated at about $17.3 million. Production will be moved to other manufacturing facilities within the company’s existing network.

“The closure will lead to increased efficiencies as we move dressing production to those plants where we have expanded capacity and invested in new lines over the last two years,” said Sam K. Reed, who is chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Seaforth Creamery was a private, family-run company until it was sold to E.D. Smith Income Fund or $95.2 million in 2006. At the time of its sale, it was Canada’s largest private-label salad dressing manufacturer. In 2007, TreeHouse Foods, Inc. bought the investment fund.

The mayor of Huron East, the municipality in which the creamery is located, said the announcement is “bad news.”

Bernie MacLellan said there were be no indications that the closure was coming.

“I truly believe that the executives in Seaforth were maybe not aware that any of this was even possibly happening,” said MacLellan, adding that even a few weeks ago they took part in the warden’s golf tournament to raise money for Habit for Humanity Huron County.

He said the company has been good corporate citizens over the years.

MacLellan has not talked to management since the announcement was made public today. He said they are busy speaking to employees.

He would like to know whether the company will gut the building and take the equipment or try to sell the building so that another company can move in to begin a manufacturing business, using the trained workforce that is already available.

“Then there’s opportunity to get these people back to work,” he said.

According to the Huron Manufacturing Association, the company was founded as the Seaforth Creamery in 1914. In the 1970s, it began

Photo taken Aug. 8, courtesy of Monica Walker-Bolton.

to focus on spreadable dairy products and in the 1990s it moved into salad dressings and mayonnaise. Presently it manufactures pourable dressings, barbecue sauces, mayonnaise and other products. More than 700 products come off the manufacturing line, packed into six million cases yearly.

TreeHouse Foods, Inc., produces jams and pie fillings under the E.D. Smith brand name.

Production at the Mendota, Illinois soup facility is also expected to stop in the first quarter of 2013, with full plant closure expected in the second quarter of 2013.

Robyn Doig, who captured the Toronto Star Women’s Amateur title on Friday, will play the Seaforth Country Classic later this month.

TORONTO – Seaforth’s Robyn Doig played six rounds of golf to capture the Toronto Star Women’s Amateur on Friday.

The 20-year-old member of the University of Central Florida Knights defeated four-time Canadian Amateur champion Mary Ann Hayward 4 and 3 in early-morning match play semifinal, Doig then went on to beat Stephanie Tucker 6 and 5 in the final at Summit Golf and Country Club in Richmond Hill, according to an article published on the Toronto Star’s website June 29.

Doig is the daughter of Cam Doig, professional at Seaforth Golf Club, and granddaughter of Ken Doig Sr., who played the amateur circuit for many years. She attended Central Huron Secondary School and is now majoring in sport and medical science.

She will be competing in the 2012 Seaforth Country Classic Open held July 25 to 28 against professionals and elite amateurs from across Canada and around the world.

To read the Toronto Star article, please visit its website. http://www.thestar.com/sports/golf/article/1219764–robyn-doig-wins-toronto-star-women-s-amateur

SEAFORTH – A dramatic facelift to Seaforth’s downtown was recognized by the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association at its recent conference.

Dressing for Success was a major renovation project involving restoration of six properties within the town’s Business Improvement Area during 2011. It was the collaborative effort of Peter Klaver, who is a BIA member and past chair, the late Debby Somerville, who was a BIA member, along with the Municipality of Huron East and its Municipal Heritage Committee.

Renovations were undertaken at the following heritage properties: Timber’s Outfitters; Decadence in the Country; Etue Insurance and Financial; Tulips Dental Centre; Sally’s Closet Too; and The Commercial Hotel.

It was nominated under the Bricks and Mortar category.

Given the improved aesthetics and property values on Seaforth’s Main Street, the ensuing economic development, and low commercial vacancy rate, it is evident that Dressing for Success achieved its goals and OBIAA rewarded this accomplishment, said Jan Hawley, who is the municipality’s economic development officer.

“Seaforth has seen challenging times over the past few years,” Hawley said. “Yet despite the downturn in the economy, its business district has remained vibrant, positioning itself well within the region.  And the efforts of Pete and Debby played a big part in that.”

“Recognition goes a long way in encouraging BIAs across the province to continue with their stellar work in improving the economic and social well-being of their communities,” said John Kiru, who is president of OBIAA. The award was presented at the conference in Thunder Bay last week.

The Ontario BIA Association recognizes the best in revitalization and management, and through its awards celebrates the most successful, innovative efforts in Ontario BIA development.

SEAFORTH – A local Hike for Hospice Palliative Care will help raise funds and awareness of a service that helps ease suffering, loneliness and grief for people who are dying.

Hikers are out now collecting pledges for the 10^th annual hike that heads out from Seaforth’s Optimist Park on May 6. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. with warm up and kick off at 1 p.m. in this event organized locally by Huron Hospice Volunteer Serve.

Hike for Hospice Palliative Care is an annual event of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association established in 2003.

Nationally, sixteen to 30 per cent of Canadians who die had access to or receive hospice palliative and end-of-life care services, depending on where they lived in Canada

CHPCA is the national voice for hospice palliative care in Canada. CHPCA’s membership of more than 3,000 is composed of professionals, caregivers and volunteers as well as hospice palliative care programs and services from every province and territory. CHPCA represents more than 450 hospice palliative care programs or services in Canada who employ tens of thousands of paid and volunteer staff working in home care programs, nursing homes, freestanding hospices, long-term care centres, and hospitals.

For more information, call the Seaforth office at 519-527-0655 or the Wingham office at 519-357-2720. Visit the website at www.huronhospice.ca

Jordan Dreise met a goat at last year’s festival.

Want to see how cows are milked, meet furry goats, learn ways to keep water clean, play games and win great prizes while supporting a local food bank?

A chance to do just that is coming up at the The Huron Perth Agriculture and Water Festival’s second annual open house Wednesday, April 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Seaforth and District Community Centre and Seaforth Agri-Plex.

It features live farm animals, a giant mystery faucet display, active games related to water conservation, wildlife displays, and door prizes. A milking demonstration will be held at 7:15 p.m. in the Seaforth Agri-Plex.  Admission to the open house is by donation of a non-perishable food item, which will be donated to the Seaforth Food Bank.

About 600 students from Huron and Perth counties are expected to attend the HPAWF during their school day April 11 and 12.

This event has evolved from Slice of Huron, an agricultural festival that started in 1992.

The open house allows the entire community to have a chance to experience what the students do during the day.

“This year we have some exciting new exhibits and an opportunity for both youth and adults to win a prize,” said Jenni Boles, 2012 festival co-ordinator. New this year is the Skills Opportunities Showcase Trailer, which allows families to explore agriculture and the environment through computer games.

Participants will receive a passport that can be stamped at the various activities with their named entered into the draw.

“This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a fun and active evening out while learning more about this fantastic region where we live,” Boles said.

HPAWF provides students in Grades 3 to 5 with hands-on learning opportunities to learn about agriculture and water, their importance in our local environment, and role in our everyday lives. Water activities deal with conservation and protection of our finite water resources. Agricultural activities profile various aspects of field crop and livestock production and being safe on the farm.  In addition, the open house provides a chance to meet people who work in the agriculture- or water-related fields locally.

Teachers attending also receive an HPAWF Teacher’s Guide with activities that can be used in the classroom.

The HPAWF is organized and delivered by a committee of volunteers representing a number of community organizations that recognize the importance of agriculture, water, and the environment to Huron and Perth counties.

Please visit the HPAWF website to find out more information about the festival.

Bullet News HURON EAST – Council in the Municipality of Huron East will decide Jan. 17 whether to continue as a party to an appeal of a court decision that caused it to lose a seat at the Huron County Council table.

Huron East’s council agreed to join forces with Central Huron’s council in asking a judge to allow four councillors to return to the County council table and to decide whether there was a strong enough case to warrant an appeal. But it stopped short of agreeing to proceed with a full appeal, during its December council meeting.

On Friday, appeal court Justice Karen M. Weiler denied the request to return Brian Barnim of Central Huron, Bill Siemon of Huron East, Dave Raich of North Huron and David Frayne of South Huron to the County council table while the appeal is being heard. However, it set an appeal hearing date of Jan. 31.

“My council will take the information that we get back from our lawyer and make a decision on whether we’ve got a strong enough case to go ahead or not,” said Bernie MacLellan, who is the mayor of Huron East. As of Sunday evening, all information he had about the court proceedings came via Central Huron.

Central Huron’s council agreed to proceed with the appeal, but on the condition that one other municipal join in. North Huron and South Huron are not part of the appeal at this time.

MacLellan said it was his understanding the appeal court judge has recommended the four councillors attend County council meetings as observers to keep up to speed on County issues.

“To go as far as to give a recommendation that those four members should attend all meetings to make sure they’re up to speed on what’s going on; to me that indicates that what she has reviewed in the information she’s having a hard time understanding why they’re not there,” MacLellan said.

Early cost estimates it received from its counsel, Patton Cromier and Associates, of London, were that it would cost up to $5,000 to find out whether there was a strong enough case to proceed with an appeal, and up to $20,000 to go right through the appeal process.

In the Notice of Appeal, dated Dec. 15, the municipalities of Huron East and Central Huron argue that the decision of Superior Court Justice Kelly A. Gorman, dated Nov. 18, is flawed for a number of reasons.

It says Bylaw-28 of 1999 contains a mechanism to increase the composition of County council, but it cannot be reduced at any time afterward, contrary to the judge’s ruling.

It also said she erred in declaring the first bylaw passed in 2011 as invalid because it is unrelated to endorsing the composition of County council. Bylaw-1 of 2011 appointed council members to various boards and committees.

At centre, Goderich Fire Cpt. John Dobie receives Firefighter of the Year for 2011.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News CLINTON – Volunteer Fire Cpt. John Dobie was first to arrive at the Goderich firehall on Aug. 21, responding to what he thought was an alarm coming from the humane society on East Street.

In the absence of the chief and deputy chief, he took charge of the crew and rode to the call in Pumper 11. As the firefighters turned onto Victoria Street, they knew it was more than just an alarm.

“I can only imagine how overwhelming it must have been,” Goderich Fire Chief Steve Gardiner told Huron County Council yesterday, in presenting Dobie with Firefighter of the Year for 2011. Gardiner, along with fire chiefs from Central Huron and Huron East, nominated Dobie for the award, which is one of the 2011 Emergency Services Awards issued by the Warden’s Task Force.

Const. Patrick Armstrong received Police Officer of the Year for 2011.

Huron OPP Const. Patrick Armstrong received Police Officer of the Year for 2011 and Gary Renauld was awarded Paramedic of the Year for 2011.

Dobie took command at the five-points traffic lights in Goderich and began to assign duties to 25 volunteer firefighters who fanned out across town to check on residents in the aftermath of the tornado. They relayed messages back to Dobie, who tracked progress in marker on the side of the pumper. Along the way, they discovered one fatality had occurred and many were injured. As well, there were blocked roads, gas leaks, onlookers unaware of the dangers and poor communications to deal with.

“Firefighters reported to me later of the amazing job he did with so much going on,” said Gardiner.

Huron OPP Const. Patrick Armstrong received Police Officer of the Year for 2011 for the role he has played in established the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund, which was created to carry on Mounsey’s commitment to community by honouring emergency services professionals who have died in the line of duty and donating defibrillators in communities.

Armstrong was partner to Huron OPP Const. Mounsey, who died as a result of a motor vehicle accident while on duty five years ago. He was also friends with Cpl. Matthew Dinning, who also died five years ago while serving on the Close Protection Team in Afghanistan.

The memorial fund organizes gala events, road races, motorcycle rides and the annual Dancing with the Stars of the OPP, which pairs OPP officers for dance competition.

Since it was established in 2009, a core of committed volunteers has raised more than $100,000 and donated 13 defibrillators through Huron County and the province.

“Constable Armstrong has clearly dedicated himself not only in 2011 but during the past five years to all of the fallen emergency workers and military officers and forever keeping community spirit alive and ensuring life-saving devices are distributed throughout our community,” said Huron OPP Staff-Sgt. Shawn Johnson.

“It doesn’t start when you put on the uniform, it doesn’t stop when you take off the uniform, it’s how you represent the community,” said John Cain, who is the OPP Western Region Commander.

At centre, Gary Renauld receives Paramedic of the Year for 2011.

Huron County Paramedic Gary Renauld, of Goderich, was also honoured for his commitment to community during a career that has spanned nearly four decades.

Renauld has served countless hours volunteering to provide para-medicine and First Aid at local events that include hockey games, track and field events, parades, camps and music festival. This past summer, he served six weeks at Galilean Bible Camp in Blind River.

He has instructed and trained in First Aid for more than 36 years, providing service to organizations such as Canadian Heart and Stroke, and the Red Cross.

He has also gone beyond the boundaries of Huron County to help in projects and provide medical care in third world countries. In January 2012, he will make the trek to Costa Rica for the sixth year in a row, assisting on a medical team that expects to treat over 1,000 patients.