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The
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Citizen
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Thursday, September 10, 2020
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Volume 36 No. 37
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0
No active COVID-19 cases in counties By Denny Scott The Citizen
Junior landscaping Maitside Orchards opened its Play and Learn Centre on the weekend and it will remain open on Saturdays from 1-5 p.m. every Saturday for September and October. In addition to the farm selling its annual harvest, the centre
contains plenty of fun stuff to keep younger shoppers busy. Here, Angelina Sultana, left, and Leona McCulloch took different approaches to earth moving, but worked together just fine despite their differing styles. (John Stephenson photo)
M-T moves ahead with strategic plan items By Denny Scott The Citizen Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, or in some cases because of it, Morris-Turnberry staff is moving ahead with several action items within the municipality’s strategic plan. During Morris-Turnberry Council’s Sept.1 meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Trevor Hallam outlined several actions staff had taken to try and meet goals set out by council in the plan. During a planning meeting late last year, council had identified supporting recreational facilities in neighbouring municipalities as an unsustainable practice. In response, Hallam and other staff have
implemented application processes for grants and for donations. Hallam said the two processes were similar in that they required groups to fill out a form and explain how much money is needed, why the projects are necessary and show the need for the money. Those requests will be weighed against each other during the annual budget process. “It makes sense for those people to come to staff and council to prove the need [for funding] rather than spend staff time to determine what’s needed and comb through [an organization's] books,” he said during the meeting. “Applications are to be received by the end of November. We plan to send out application forms to anyone who
received funding through the 2020 budget or in previous years.” Hallam said he hopes groups assess their needs and come forward with proof to back up funding or grant requests instead of requesting money because they had received it in previous years.
Hallam also said that, through a bylaw passed earlier this year, municipal-led financing is available for these groups that prove a need. “[That’s for a situation] where someone wants capital work,” he said. “We would be able to, at our Continued on page 16
As of Tuesday morning, Huron Perth Public Health was reporting zero new confirmed identified cases of COVID-19 and no active cases of the deadly disease. Of the 120 patients confirmed to have had COVID-19 in Huron and Perth Counties since the pandemic was declared in March, 115 have recovered while five cases have proven fatal. In Huron County there have been a total of 43 confirmed cases, the majority of which have been in Central Huron, Bluewater and South Huron. Bluewater and Central Huron have had 12 confirmed cases each, South Huron has had 10, Huron East has had three confirmed cases, Ashfield-Coblorne-Wawanosh and Goderich have had two cases each while Morris-Turnberry and North Huron have each had one confirmed case. Howick Township has had no confirmed cases of COVID-19. In Perth County, there have been 77 confirmed cases, the majority of which have been in Stratford, which has had 29 confirmed cases. North Perth has had 16 cases, while Perth East has had 15. West Perth has had six cases and Perth South, outside of St. Marys, has had five cases. St. Marys, where the region’s first case was identified, has had six cases. Prior to switching to the new provincial reporting program, most cases in Huron and Perth Counties were individuals over the age of 50 in Huron and Perth Counties, however that’s changed. The most recent information indicates that 26 confirmed cases, the highest in any demographic bracket, have been in patients aged 20 to 29 years old. There have been 12 patients in the 019 year bracket, 15 in the 30-39 bracket, 10 in the 40-49 bracket, 21 in the 50-59 bracket, 22 in the 60-69 bracket, six in the 70-79 bracket and eight cases in patients over 80 years old. For more information visit hpph.ca.
Threshers to host tractor parade Honouring a tradition that began in 2011, a group of local residents on tractors will be touring the area to mark the weekend of the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association which has been cancelled due to COVID-19. The tractor run is set to start Sept.
12 at 11 a.m., with the parade leaving from the camping booth at the Blyth Campground on Gypsy Lane. No route has been identified. Reports indicate there will be food available at the end of the tour. The tour is reminiscent of the annual breakfast tours that have been taking place since 2011 where
antique tractor owners would leave the campground on the Thursday before the reunion and drive to a nearby community for breakfast. Stops have included churches, community centres and restaurants. This special event is being run by Blyth’s Joe Hallahan and Gerald Benninger.