Some of the swimmers show off the results. Back row: Jack DeFerrari, Sabrina Dobos, Natasha Dobos, Josephine Noel, Natalie VanNiejenhuis, and Paul McAuley. Front row; Sumiko Noda, Makenna Wormington, Gracin Black.

The Huron Hurricanes attended the WAAC Winter Invitational Swim Meet hosted by Wilmot Aquatic Aces recently.  The Hurricanes fielded one of its largest squads of the season with 23 swimmers making the trip to New Hamburg for the meet.

Here are the entries:

Abby Stevens – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke;

Emily Branderhorst – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Emily Faber – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Emma Bernier – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke;

Emma Nethery- 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Gracin Black – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Jack DeFerrari – 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Jeffrey Boersma – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Josephine Noel – 50 Freestyle 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Kerina Boersma – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Kijana Bootsma – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke;

Lauren Campbell – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Livia Swan – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Maddie Ivatts – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Butterfly;

Makenna Wormington – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Meghan DePutter-Lavis – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke;

Natalie VanNiejenhuis – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Freestyle;

Natasha Dobos – 50 Backstroke 50 Butterfly 400 Individual Medley;

Paul McAuley – 50 Freestyle 50 Breaststroke 400 Individual Medley;

Sabrina Dobos – 50 Freestyle 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly 400 Individual Medley;

Samantha Andrews – 50 Freestyle 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly;

Sarah Sparling – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly; and

Sumiko Noda – 50 Freestyle 50 Backstroke 50 Breaststroke 50 Butterfly.

HURON COUNTY – Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement as it keeps an eye on a potential storm headed into the region Tuesday night and Wednesday.

A special weather statement –  which is less serious than a watch or a warning – ha been issued for:

City of Toronto

Windsor – Essex – Chatham-Kent

Sarnia – Lambton

Elgin

London – Middlesex

Simcoe – Delhi – Norfolk

Dunnville – Caledonia – Haldimand

Oxford – Brant

Niagara

City of Hamilton

Halton – Peel

York – Durham

Huron – Perth

Waterloo – Wellington

Dufferin – Innisfil

Grey – Bruce

Barrie – Orillia – Midland

Belleville – Quinte – Northumberland

Kingston – Prince Edward

Peterborough – Kawartha Lakes

Stirling – Tweed – South Frontenac

Bancroft – Bon Echo Park

Brockville – Leeds and Grenville

City of Ottawa

Gatineau

Prescott and Russell

Cornwall – Morrisburg

Smiths Falls – Lanark – Sharbot Lake

Parry Sound – Muskoka

Haliburton

Renfrew – Pembroke – Barry’s Bay

Algonquin

Burk’s Falls – Bayfield Inlet

A low pressure system over Texas is forecast to intensify and move northeastward to pass near Southern Ontario Tuesday night and Wednesday.  Significant amounts of precipitation are likely with this system.  However, there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding which areas will see mostly rain or snow, as temperatures will be fairly close to the freezing mark.

Current indications suggest that precipitation will begin Tuesday afternoon as rain over areas south of a line from Sarnia to St. Catharines.  The precipitation will change over to wet snow by early Tuesday evening and the snow will spread northeastward to South Central Ontario by late Tuesday evening and to Eastern Ontario by Wednesday morning.  Some areas, especially to the west and northwest of Lake Ontario and including the Greater Toronto area, could see snowfall amounts as high as 15 cm through Wednesday morning with this system.  However, there is still considerable uncertainty as to the precipitation phases, and if precipitation falls as rain instead, or if the snow is too wet and it melts when it contacts the ground, these snowfall totals could be considerably less.  Areas near the Lake Ontario shoreline are also likely to have lower amounts due to mixing with rain.

Environment Canada is closely monitoring the situation.

This statement will be updated to include additional information as it becomes available regarding the evolution of this potential winter storm.

Please monitor the latest forecasts and warnings from Environment Canada at www.weatheroffice.gc.ca.

CLINTON – Healthy eating starts with what you put in the grocery cart.

In March, which is Nutrition Month, Huron County’s community food advisors (CFA) will host two free grocery store tours to provide practical grocery shopping tips and answer questions on a variety of topics.

Favourite topics include healthy eating, keeping your grocery budget under control, understanding food labels, shopping for one or two, healthy snacking, and food safety, said Gail Fraser, who is CFA co-ordinator.

Planning before going to the grocery store helps you navigate aisles quickly.

Polish up your skills at one of the two free grocery store tours:

• Sobeys in Grand Bend: Thursday, March 21, 2:30 p.m.
• Zehrs in Goderich: Wednesday, March 27, 7:00 p.m.

Call the Huron County Health Unit for more information or to reserve your spot. RSVP to Annie Books at (519) 482-3416, ext. 2260. Space is limited.

Huron County Museum curator Patricia Hamilton shows artifacts from The Great Storm 1913 to Global News Toronto reporter Mark McAllister and cameraman Ben Jonah.

Bullet News GODERICH – A news story about the ‘white hurricane’ that whipped up the Great Lakes nearly 100 years ago is in the lineup for tonight’s Global News Toronto, told alongside stories about the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

“Everything surrounding Sandy and what is happening along the east coast in the United States and ultimately what came up through Canada prompted us to think about putting this in context. Where do we put Sandy in context with other great storms in Canada’s history?” said Mark McAllister, a reporter for Global News.

The news team conducted interviews and gathered video during a visit to The Great Storm 1913 display at the Huron County Museum, the lighthouse and historic plaque overlooking Goderich Harbour, and the Homan residence which houses a painting of the Wexford, a ship that went down in the storm and was finally discovered in 2000. They also travelled by tug boat into the harbour for shots of the breakwall and shoreline.

“Now that there’s a centennial to be had next year, there’s no better time to pay a visit to Goderich and discover the history surrounding what happened here,” he said.

The two-minute news story is slated as part of Global News Toronto’s broadcast at 5:30 p.m. tonight.

Members of a committee organizing a centenary of The Great Storm, Nov. 9, 1913, hosted the news team. During the three-day storm almost one hundred years ago, 19 ships were either total or constructive losses and more than 260 people died. Much of the wreckage washed up along Huron County’s shoreline. A committee based in Goderich was charged with the task of recovering and identifying crews’ bodies.

Local historian Paul Carroll said Hurricane Sandy repeated the pattern of the storm that hit this area in 1913, with it tracking north and then twisting around. The difference is that this most recent hurricane came up of the east side of the United States, while the storm one hundred years ago came up the west side.

He pointed out the similarities in a post on the Weather Network’s site yesterday, along with a report from the meteorological office published in The Globe at the time of The Great Storm. Carroll’s posted led to a phone call from Global News with a story request.

Plans are under way for The Great Lakes Storm 1913: A Remembrance, with a two month lead-up of special events in September and October next year, culminating in a three-day community gathering, Nov. 8, 9 and 10.

(Oct. 31 Note: If you missed the broadcast, just follow this link http://goo.gl/HSVpw)

Doug McNair celebrates his win with grandmother, Gwen McNair.

CLINTON – With four wins and a pair of second-place finishes on the day, driver Doug McNair earned the most points to top the standings in the 32nd Charity Driver’s Challenge at Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

With 268 points earned during the 14-race competition, McNair defeated Billy Davis Jr. (263), Jason Brewer (255), Clinton’s leading reinsman Trevor Henry (165), defending Driver’s Challenge champion Jody Jamieson (163), Scott Zeron (139), Bruce Richardson (117) and Ryan Holliday (52) for his first driving competition win. Points were earned during the Challenge for placing first through fifth (1st-50 points, 2nd-25 points, 3rd-12 points, 4th-8 points, 5th-5 points).

McNair was a winner right out of the gate, steering Ozzy Does It ($7.30) to victory lane in the first race. Despite making a break in the stretch, the Warren Ozinga trainee recovered to win in front-stepping fashion. McNair later guided Ratings Hanover ($3.30) down the road to notch his second win of the day in the fifth race for trainer Stephen Durand. The 22-year-old resident of Guelph, Ont. sent Tom Williscraft trainee Positrack ($4.70) first up and fought off Miapretty and Jamieson down the stretch to prevail in the seventh race. Cams Western ($12.80) gave McNair the grand slam as he converted from the pocket to win the 11th race for conditioner Michael Rogers.

He also earned points finishing second with Dusty Lane Tate for trainer Paul Belanger Jr. in the eighth race, fourth with Paul Taylor pupil Lucky George in the ninth race and second in the 13th with Miss Brexley for conditioner George McClure.

The competition for the Challenge title came right down to the wire though as McNair, Jason Brewer (with four wins of his own, one second and a third), and Billy Davis Jr. (two wins, five seconds and a third) had enough points to top the standings with a victory in the final race.

With favourite Pricevalleyrevitup leading for most of the mile, Davis Jr. was within reach of the victory, but a costly break in stride by his mount in the stretch left him settling for the runner-up spot. Despite finishing last in the race, McNair had enough points to hold onto the lead.

“I’ve been in a couple of driver’s challenges before and it’s a big thrill to win it,” McNair told Trot Insider after the card. “I was definitely out to win it, especially with all the money going to charity.

“I definitely drove a little different today,” he noted. “Sorry to the guys out there for not giving them much room, but I wanted to win.”

This year’s Charity Challenge benefitted Childcan, an organization committed to raising funds to provide responsive and compassionate support services to families facing the journey through childhood cancer — from diagnosis through treatment to recovery or bereavement.

McNair noted that one of the highlights of the day was getting the meet the children in attendance and take pictures with them.

Over $10,000 was raised for Childcan as all of the drivers in the Challenge donated their earnings from the day to the charity. In addition, donations were made by driver sponsors and funds were raised on track from a BBQ and corn roast. They day also held record attendance and wagering as over 1000 people joined in on the annual event, and bet over $36,000.

Live racing resumes next Sunday, September 9 and continues through September 30.

Story courtesy of Standardbred Canada

Bullet News HAMILTON – When Hamilton Tiger-Cats take on Calgary Stampeders at the Ivor Wynne Stadium tonight, a Huron County game changer will be in the crowd.

Huron County OPP Const. Patrick Armstrong, founder of the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund, will be honoured in front of fans as a Scotiabank Game Changer with a $1,000 donation to the fund.

The fund was created in memory of his fellow Huron County OPP officer and close friend who died in the line of duty. It promotes the education and use of life-saving defibrillators, donating them to churches, schools, fire halls and legions in the name of fallen EMS, firefighters, police officers or military men and women. Most recently, it donated its 18^th debrillator to the Central Huron Fire Hall in honour of fire fighter Doug Cantelon, who died while responding to a grass fire in 1999.

The Scotiabank Game Changers program will recognize local heroes across the country and award them with $1,000 for the registered charity or non-profit cause of their choice in celebration of every CFL game. At the end of the regular season, eight Scotiabank National Game Changer Finalists will be selected from the 72 Regional Game Changers and provided a VIP trip to the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto. Of those eight finalists, one will be selected as the National Scotiabank Game Changer and will receive a $100,000 donation to the registered charity or registered non-profit organization of their choice to be presented at the Toronto match on Nov. 25, 2012.

“It recognizes the commitment and passion of everyday people doing extraordinary things that make a positive impact in their community. Scotiabank knows CFL fans across the country are passionate about the game and their teams, and we are excited to give them an opportunity to celebrate Game Changers in their community as they cheer on the game changers on the field,” said Anatol von Hahn, who is group head of Canadian banking.

“Scotiabank Game Changers honours community heroes as they ‘change the game’ in their local communities,” said Anatol von Hahn, Group Head, Canadian Banking.

Scotiabank Game Changers demonstrate leadership and community involvement within one of the six Scotiabank bright future philanthropic pillars: health, education, social services, arts, Sports and environment. Judging criteria for Game Changer selection was based on leadership, challenge and impact.

To vote for Armstrong, please visit online. Just one vote per email address per day.

HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – Family doctors in Huron County are still wondering who will pay for six weeks of X-rays, CT scans and MRIs they ordered in response to complaints of lower back pain by their patients, says the president of the Huron County Medical Society, which represents about 100 doctors across the county.

As part of the $338 million of health care savings to the $11-billion OHIP program in 2012-13, in early May the Ontario government said it would no longer cover these tests ordered by a doctor unless they meet a strict set of criteria. In addition, it said the change would be retroactive to April 1, which could leave doctors to pay the tab for these tests.

If it doesn’t meet the criteria, there is a provision in the wording that the cost of the tests will be reclaimed from the doctor regardless of what the finding is.

“I’ve declined people X-rays because even though maybe it’s reasonable because they no longer qualify I wasn’t prepared to pay for it and they don’t have the capacity to pay for it themselves,” said Dr. Stan Spacek, a family doctor who practices in Goderich.

As well, patients whose tests were ordered before the announcement were turned down by the radiologist because they no longer qualified and were sent back to their family doctor.

Changes to the OHIP schedule of benefits for doctors stipulates that tests for low back pain can only be ordered if a specific disease or condition is suspected or know, such as osteoporosis, infection or tumour. It’s meant to cut out patients who have chronic lower back pain that can be prevented through care.

“The entire belief of early prevention and detection is trumpeted through cancer screening and other modalities and throughout the health care system,” Spacek said. “This goes counter it. It also increases the liability and the legal aspect of the legal costs to the system because eventually patients will realize there was a delay because of government policy.”

He also said the change is restrictive, leaving no room for family doctors to make decisions based on individual circumstances.

“Making medicine a straight flow chart takes away the art and knowledge and some of the other things that come into play. It has to be individualized and leaving some room for that is necessary,” he said.

Spacek said the delisted services will have a greater impact in Huron County, which has a growing population of elderly people. By 2036, it is projected that 30 to 35 per cent of Huron County’s population will be over the age of 65.

“I think the impact is higher because back pain isn’t often just a strained muscle in the older group. There are other more sinister things that hide as back pain – cancer, nerve compression and so forth. Yes, I think the possibility of bad things being missed is greater in an older group because more sinister things show up as back pain,” he said.

Spacek said changes were announced after contract negotiations between the government cut off talks with the Ontario Medical Association, with the government refusing to come back to the table. He said a zero increase in fees for two years and $250 million in efficiencies the OMA suggested during negotiations were flatly rejected by the province.

The province announced earlier this year it is moving toward what it calls a wage freeze for the province’s 25,000 doctors in order to invest health care dollars in community care for families and home care for its seniors. It intends to update fees paid to doctors, which is how most of them earn their income.

Spacek said no one argues changes are required but he maintains doctors should be included in the process to find savings in the health care system. He said there are other ways to find savings, such as: limiting the coverage of medications, which are getting more expensive; developing guidelines for doctors, nurses, patients and all involved that are efficient and evidence-based; giving power locally for people to make decisions; educating the public so that their expectations are in line with costs; and providing the OMA with some leeway.

On July 9, Ontario’s doctors officially filed documents with the Ontario Superior Court to review the provincial government’s negotiating tactics. Dr. Doug Weir, who is president of the Ontario Medical Association, said the government has denied Ontario’s doctors’ right to negotiate in good faith under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

As a result, Ontario’s doctors will ask the Superior Court to confirm the OMA’s representational rights on behalf of doctors in negotiations with the government, reverse the unilateral cuts that were announced May 7, and order the government back to the table to engage in meaningful discussions with the OMA.

The HCMS is considering hosting a town hall meeting to explain the impact of changes on local residents, much like town hall meetings the OMA is hosting in urban centres.

The province has also reduced payment by about 70 per cent for lab work ordered by local doctors at the Maitland Valley Medical Centre. The change makes it unfeasible for the centre to run the lab, since it operated on a cost recovery basis. The only way to maintain status quo would be for doctors to subsidize the lab.

“That’s not the kind of charity we want to be told to do,” Spacek said.

The doctors are in talks with a private company, Gamma Dynacare Medical Laboratories, to consider whether it would run the lab, in which case the province would return the funding level back to 100 per cent, Spacek said.

“Gama Dynacare would charge the same amount that the family doctors charged.

It’s a shift in funding to private institutions of what was perceived to be going to the doctors,” he said.

If the lab closed, the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital would have to absorb the cost of increased use of its lab, since it receives set funding from the province.

The average Ontario doctor bills $385,000 and many specialists billing twice that much. From that, they pay all the administrative and overhead costs associated with running a practice. Those costs are somewhere between 25 and 40 per cent, according to estimates.

KINCARDINE – The Lake Huron Learning Collaborative will soon be able to hold virtual volunteer development meetings across Huron and Bruce counties, thanks to a $7,600 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

To mark the occasion, MPP Thompson presented a plaque to LHLC staff and Board members recently.

“I am very pleased to present the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative with this grant. Investing the in the continued education of students in Huron-Bruce is very important, and this group should be applauded for their innovative thinking and commitment to post-secondary education in our community,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce

Formed in 2004, the LHLC began to investigate options for delivering studies at the college and university level.  By working with the Town of Goderich, Municipality of Kincardine, boards of education, various non-profit organizations and supportive agencies at the local and county level, the LHLC has been able to form additional partnerships, including with the Western universities and colleges, to bring post-secondary courses and training to the communities of Huron and Bruce counties. Lake Huron Learning will also offer non-credit interest courses built around local needs and using local expertise.

“We’re pleased to accept this grant to increase technical access in both our Huron and Bruce County sites. The grant will benefit both our students and Board members to electronically associate and participate,” said Larry Kraemer, who is president of LHLC.

For more information about the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative, visit online.

Back row: Peter Drew, Kerry Creek B&B; Bob Marshall, Tourism Goderich; Cindy Fisher, County Tourism Co-ordinator; Mary Cardiff, Huron Country Playhouse; Tim Cumming, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. Front row: Laurie Ginn, Shelter Valley Campground; Rosemary Davis, H.O. Jerry; Joan Karstens, Brentwood on the Beach; Liz Ihrig, Hessenland Country Inn; Jenna Ujiye, County Tourism Marketer. Missing from photo: John Bezaire, Blyth Festival; Susan Mills, Grand Bend Chamber; Kevin Reid, Benmiller Inn; and Clair Soper, Clair on the Square B & B.

HURON COUNTY – Despite a number of challenges to the tourism industry, membership in the Huron Tourism Association increased this year.

The association now has 176 members even though business has been rocked by the 2011 tornado that hit the Goderich and Benmiller area, a Canadian dollar at or near par with the U.S. dollar, post-2001 decline in tourism from the United States, higher gas prices, and the lingering effects of the financial crisis of 2008-2009.

“The Board of Directors thanks Huron County’s tourism enterprises for their support,” said Tim Cumming, who is HTA’s president.

“These entrepreneurs are demonstrating their commitment to the growth of tourism, and the tourism industry is a pillar of our rural economy along with agriculture, manufacturing, and heritage and culture,” he said.

Cumming said despite the challenges, there are also many positive trends in the Huron County tourism industry. Attendance at special events and attractions is rising, according to the county’s new Annual Tourism Report. Also, Huron County is an active partner in Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organization 4, which encompasses Huron County, Perth County, Waterloo Region, and Wellington County. The tourism region is investing significantly in bringing tourists to the area through new websites and advertising, and advanced systems for tourists to book great getaway packages.

This is new investment in the tourism industry that has not existed before, he said.

Huron Tourism Association is also working in close partnership with tourism and business organizations and municipalities in the county and into adjacent counties to promote its attractions and experiences.

HTA, which has a volunteer board of directors of tourism representatives from throughout the county, continues to work in partnership with the County of Huron to attract tourists. One partnership project between the county and industry tourism association is the annual Huron County Vacation Guide. A spring run of 35,000 copies has dwindled to just a few thousand remaining for distribution. The industry tourism association also works with the county on other marketing including print media and advertising, broadcast and social media, conventions, websites, the Tourism Event and Brochure Swap, special events, culinary tourism promotion, and many other strategic tools.

“We’re only able to use all these marketing tools because we have association members who are committed to their industry,” Cumming said. “The support demonstrated by these forward-thinking enterprises is a solid indication to the County of Huron that the industry is strong and united and that’s a big reason why the county has been showing such steadfast and increasing support for tourism as a pillar of economic development.”

The county’s annual tourism report is available online.

For more information visit the county’s tourism website.

HURON COUNTY – Over the next year, the new chair of the United Way Perth-Huron will work to bring financial support of agencies in Huron County back to historic levels.

Ron Cameron hopes that by the end of his term, he can also say the organization facilitated the development of new service programs and services and increased annual campaign support.

“I see this board’s term as one where we again move the yardsticks of UWPH, making continued impact upon our community, and embodying our Change Starts Here outlook,” he said, in a press release.

Cameron, who has been a board member of United Way Perth-Huron for the past three years, has been elected as board chair for the 2012-2013 year.

Cameron brings a vast set of skills and experiences to the table including grant writing, strategic planning, and development of governance capacity. He is currently an active volunteer and board member of Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation and past chair, of United Way Perth-Huron’s Program Review and Allocation Committee and Community Impact Committee.

“We are excited to continue working with Ron Cameron in his new role as board chair. He comes with such a breadth of knowledge, and at the same time is willing to get his hands dirty,” said Ryan Erb, who is executive director of UWHP.

The 2012-2013 returning board members are: Ron Cameron (chair), Wayne Smith (vice-chair), Jack Groothuis (past chair), Craig Pearce (treasurer), Ryan Erb (secretary), Jeff Atchison, Christine Bland Kapp, Shelley Groenestege, Susan Moffat, Kathryn Ritsma, Jenna Ujiye and Megan Whittaker (recorder). New board members Helga Barenberg, Meghan Doherty (youth representative), Matt Orchard, Ellen Sparling (voting youth representative), and Joan van der Meer.

UWHP raised $1,052,011 in its last campaign.