Gary McHale and his group CANACE have now asked PC Leader Tim Hudak to march with them the next time they protest the DCE.

They even gave Hudak the day and the time of his choice.

McHale says this is a great opportunity for Hudak to prove  he’s a leader.

McHale got the idea after hearing MPP  Toby Barrett say CANACE was doing a good job of bringing the issue to light in the media.

Roger Nevens made the request, because he says there have been several trespasses and break & enters on his property.

Councilor Roger Geysens wants to hear from other residents first before council makes any decisions.

A similar situation in Glen Meyer resulted in almost all 33 residents agreeing to pay for street lights where they live.

The County is replacing the bridge on the street and is also expanding the road by 400 feet.

The total cost of the facelift is just under 800-thousand dollars.

Right now, there’s no word when the jack-hammering will begin.

That in mind, Norfolk County is celebrating Black History Month, with a display at the Public Library in Simcoe.

The display was put together by Donnaree Douglas of Renton, who points to the story of Viola Desmond who refused to leave a whites-only theatre in Nova Scotia in 1946….

HISTORY

Desmond took the case to court, drawing attention to the reality of segregation in Canada.

Douglas wants to expand the display next year and has support from Norfolk County to recognized Black History Month every year.

OAS

Local MP and Human Resources Minister Diane Finley, who told a Toronto business crowd Tuesday that not making changes to the old-age pension plan would mean higher taxes for younger Canadians, fewer social programs or larger deficits.

Finley still wasn’t offering any details, but did say plans would be unveiled in next month’s federal budget.

She also said nothing about how the changes would affect low income seniors who depend heavily on federal pension benefits to keep their heads above water.

Manufacturers plan to stop producing the drug OxyContin, which will be replaced with a new drug called OxyNeo.

Pharmacist George Gascoyne at Norfolk General Hospital says the new drug will be almost impossible to abuse…

OXY

Gascoyne says anyone currently using OxyContin will have to go to a doctor for a new prescription.

He says it’s a good opportunity for physicians to have a look at why patients are using the drug.

Local MPP Toby Barrett noted the report suggested moving Grade 7 and 8 students in with high school students, something he feels might solve some local issues.

But Werden says this could lead to other problems…

MERGE

The suggestion did work for Port Dover Composite school 10 years ago, but Werden says that was a special circumstance.

He says Port Dover public school was closing so it wasn’t a problem to implement the change.

Norfolk County Fire tells us the only person inside was able to escape without injuries.

Fire Prevention Officer Ken Sheridan says an extension cord was being used under a mattress, something not recommended…

FIRE

Damage to the home estimated at 75-thousand dollars.

There is history in the former names of local Wards, names including Walsingham, Windham, Townsend and Charlotteville.

It’s an idea that has been promoted by the local Heritage Committee and while Norfolk Councillors support the idea, they last night decided to get public input, before making a move.