The Minden District Fur Harvesters are inviting people to get a first-hand look at their craft during their 31st annual winter workshop Jan. 13. 

The annual event held at the Minden Hills Community Centre offers trapping demonstrations, a taxidermy display, an array of vendors and more, according to Minden District Fur Harvesters president Ted Nottage. 

Nottage said the event is a way for the group to inform the public about the activities of the trappers association. 

“It’s a chance to show the public exactly what trapping’s all about,” Nottage said. “You’d be surprised how many people don’t actually know trapping’s actually going on in this area. Its education is basically what it’s all about.” 

The demonstrations will showcase fur handling and skinning skills for the public, Nottage said. The workshop will also feature representatives from fur auction houses and include 13-14 vendors, offering trapping-related goods and woodcrafts, he said. 

“There’ll be something to do and see for pretty much everybody,” Nottage said. “Public’s more than welcome to come and see what we do and ask questions.” 

Nottage said the event’s continued success has come from it being passed down between generations. 

“It’s the participation of everybody. Everybody seems to look forward to it. We usually have people come from pretty much all over the area,” Nottage said. “We have grandparents bringing their grandkids. They were there 30 years ago and now they’re bringing their grandkids to see what’s going on.” 

The event takes place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Jan. 13 and has an admission of $2. Non-perishable food items are also being collected for the local food bank. 

Trillium Lakeland District School Board (TLDSB) is losing a program providing tutors in the classroom at exam time after a provincial funding cut announced Dec. 16. 

 In an emailed statement, Minister of Education director of communications Kayla Lafelice said the province will reduce the ‘Education Programs – Other” (EPO) fund by $25 million for the 201819 fiscal year, putting it down to $400 million.The fund is used for specialized programming in school districts across the province.

  Trillium Lakelands District School Board director of education Larry Hope said the cuts will impact the district’s Tutors in the Classroom Program, which received about $20,000 from the fund the past several years. The program offers tutors for students in elementary schools across the district late in the year, around EQAO testing time.

  “They would be hired to support some tutoring activities and preparation work we would do around EQAO,” Hope said. “That’s about the extent of what we’ve seen (from the cuts).” The program was designed by school boards individually and allowed them to provide one-on-one tutoring for students, with a focus on literacy and numeracy skills, Hope said.

  The cut means the district will not offer the program this year he said, adding it was $20,000 spread across the division’s 41 elementary schools.

  “It wasn’t a huge amount of time that would be made available to each of the schools individually,” Hope said. “It would be spread across the schools for a very short period of time.” 

 Lafelice said the government has done a thorough review of the EPO fund. 

 “Despite only accounting for less than one per cent of school board funding, this funding has a long track record of wasteful spending, overspending and millions of dollars of unfunded commitments,” Lafelice said.

  Hope said although the cut only represents a fraction of a percentage of the education budget, it’s not something to ignore.

  “We need to pay attention to the fact that it could be the start of changes we see to funding,” Hope said.

 In anticipation of further cuts, Hope said the district is carefully reviewing to find cost savings. 

 “We’ll have to make some decisions once we know more about what the budget is going to look like going forward. Right now, all we have is rumour and hearsay but we are trying to be cautious and careful,” Hope said. “We obviously want to protect as much as we can, particularly as it relates to the classroom.”

Local transportation advocates issued an open letter to the County of Haliburton council raising concern with the work being done by a transportation consultant Dec. 28.

  In a letter to County Warden Liz Danielsen, Rural Transportation Options (RTO) chair Heather Ross said the group was disappointed the county’s transportation consultant, IBI Group, did not consult more with the county’s transportation taskforce throughout the process. IBI Group was initially hired in January 2018, with council allocating $50,000 towards it to create a transportation implementation plan. 

 “We are disappointed that through this whole process IBI has not tapped into the experience of the transportation taskforce (as a group or as individuals) or of RTO or any other agency. We ask that IBI consult with the taskforce in order to inform its final report to County Council,” Ross said in a letter. 

 Ross also said the taskforce, which RTO is a member of, was confused by an initial September report from IBI Group presenting a fixed-route service as a possibility when the task force had recommended a booked, shared-ride service.

  However, a subsequent November report from IBI Group to county council recommended the county proceed with the shared-ride service over a fixed-route service.

  In an email, Danielsen said this letter was county council’s first indication there was any concern about IBI Group’s work and she had passed it on to staff for consideration.

  “The consultant will be reporting to council during our Jan. 23 meeting and any concerns will also be addressed at that time,” she said in the email. “I am reluctant to speak on behalf of council prior to this discussion taking place other than to say that we are committed to finding solutions for transportation that are practical and will work for our residents.” 

 Community transportation project co-ordinator Tina Jackson said the task force had done a lot of work throughout 2017 to explore different models of transportation before arriving at a recommendation to the county to proceed with a shared-ride service.

  “Really, when IBI was hired and brought into the picture in 2018 the idea was not for them to identify the type of model but to create an implementation plan with the model selected,” Jackson said in an interview. “What we’re looking for is just a little bit more detail.”

  Ross said in an interview that county staff has told them to be patient. After its November report, IBI is set to present a final implementation plan to county council. 

 But she added the task force sought to send a message with the new council in place following the municipal election.

  “With the last council we really were quite successful at moving this issue,” she said. “We want to keep that particular momentum to the new council.” 

 A request for comment sent to IBI Group was redirected to County of Haliburton administration. 

 The RTO letter also asks council, through its budgeting process, to continue to support the transportation taskforce. Ross said the county has not yet indicated about continued funding for the taskforce, adding it is important the group continue its work. 

 “It is important it keeps going because it’s such a collection of knowledge,” Ross said. “We’re very hopeful the county will provide some funding for it.”

Local transportation advocates issued an open letter to the County of Haliburton council raising concern with the work being done by a transportation consultant Dec. 28.

In a letter to County Warden Liz Danielsen, Rural Transportation Options (RTO) chair Heather Ross said the group was disappointed the county’s transportation consultant, IBI Group, did not consult more with the county’s transportation taskforce throughout the process. IBI Group was initially hired in January 2018, with council allocating $50,000 towards it to create a transportation implementation plan.

“We are disappointed that through this whole process IBI has not tapped into the experience of the transportation taskforce (as a group or as individuals) or of RTO or any other agency. We ask that IBI consult with the taskforce in order to inform its final report to County Council,” Ross said in a letter.

Ross also said the taskforce, which RTO is a member of, was confused by an initial September report from IBI Group presenting a fixed-route service as a possibility when the task force had recommended a booked, shared-ride service.

However, a subsequent November report from IBI Group to county council recommended the county proceed with the shared-ride service over a fixed-route service.

In an email, Danielsen said this letter was county council’s first indication there was any concern about IBI Group’s work and she had passed it on to staff for consideration.

“The consultant will be reporting to council during our Jan. 23 meeting and any concerns will also be addressed at that time,” she said in the email. “I am reluctant to speak on behalf of council prior to this discussion taking place other than to say that we are committed to finding solutions for transportation that are practical and will work for our residents.”

Community transportation project co-ordinator Tina Jackson said the task force had done a lot of work throughout 2017 to explore different models of transportation before arriving at a recommendation to the county to proceed with a shared-ride service.

“Really, when IBI was hired and brought into the picture in 2018 the idea was not for them to identify the type of model but to create an implementation plan with the model selected,” Jackson said in an interview. “What we’re looking for is just a little bit more detail.”

Ross said in an interview that county staff has told them to be patient. After its November report, IBI is set to present a final implementation plan to county council.

But she added the task force sought to send a message with the new council in place following the municipal election.

“With the last council we really were quite successful at moving this issue,” she said. “We want to keep that particular momentum to the new council.”

A request for comment sent to IBI Group was redirected to County of Haliburton administration.

The RTO letter also asks council, through its budgeting process, to continue to support the transportation taskforce. Ross said the county has not yet indicated about continued funding for the taskforce, adding it is important the group continue its work.

“It is important it keeps going because it’s such a collection of knowledge,” Ross said. “We’re very hopeful the county will provide some funding for it.”

Trillium Lakeland District School Board (TLDSB) is losing a program providing tutors in the classroom at exam time after a provincial funding cut announced Dec. 16.

In an emailed statement, Minister of Education director of communications Kayla Lafelice said the province will reduce the ‘Education Programs – Other” (EPO) fund by $25 million for the 201819 fiscal year, putting it down to $400 million. The fund is used for specialized programming in school districts across the province.

Trillium Lakelands District School Board director of education Larry Hope said the cuts will impact the district’s Tutors in the Classroom Program, which received about $20,000 from the fund the past several years. The program offers tutors for students in elementary schools across the district late in the year, around EQAO testing time.

“They would be hired to support some tutoring activities and preparation work we would do around EQAO,” Hope said. “That’s about the extent of what we’ve seen (from the cuts).” The program was designed by school boards individually and allowed them to provide one-on-one tutoring for students, with a focus on literacy and numeracy skills, Hope said.

The cut means the district will not offer the program this year he said, adding it was $20,000 spread across the division’s 41 elementary schools.

“It wasn’t a huge amount of time that would be made available to each of the schools individually,” Hope said. “It would be spread across the schools for a very short period of time.”

Lafelice said the government has done a thorough review of the EPO fund.

“Despite only accounting for less than one per cent of school board funding, this funding has a long track record of wasteful spending, overspending and millions of dollars of unfunded commitments,” Lafelice said.

Hope said although the cut only represents a fraction of a percentage of the education budget, it’s not something to ignore.

“We need to pay attention to the fact that it could be the start of changes we see to funding,” Hope said.

In anticipation of further cuts, Hope said the district is carefully reviewing to find cost savings.

“We’ll have to make some decisions once we know more about what the budget is going to look like going forward. Right now, all we have is rumour and hearsay but we are trying to be cautious and careful,” Hope said. “We obviously want to protect as much as we can, particularly as it relates to the classroom.”

The Minden District Fur Harvesters are inviting people to get a first-hand look at their craft during their 31st annual winter workshop Jan. 13.

The annual event held at the Minden Hills Community Centre offers trapping demonstrations, a taxidermy display, an array of vendors and more, according to Minden District Fur Harvesters president Ted Nottage.

Nottage said the event is a way for the group to inform the public about the activities of the trappers association.

“It’s a chance to show the public exactly what trapping’s all about,” Nottage said. “You’d be surprised how many people don’t actually know trapping’s actually going on in this area. Its education is basically what it’s all about.”

The demonstrations will showcase fur handling and skinning skills for the public, Nottage said. The workshop will also feature representatives from fur auction houses and include 13-14 vendors, offering trapping-related goods and woodcrafts, he said.

“There’ll be something to do and see for pretty much everybody,” Nottage said. “Public’s more than welcome to come and see what we do and ask questions.”

Nottage said the event’s continued success has come from it being passed down between generations.

“It’s the participation of everybody. Everybody seems to look forward to it. We usually have people come from pretty much all over the area,” Nottage said. “We have grandparents bringing their grandkids. They were there 30 years ago and now they’re bringing their grandkids to see what’s going on.”

The event takes place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Jan. 13 and has an admission of $2. Non-perishable food items are also being collected for the local food bank.

Firefighters successfully put out a structure fire which fully engulfed a home on Wigamog road Jan. 8. 

In a press release, Dysart et al Fire Chief Mike Iles said firefighters responded to a call at 3:46 a.m. with 17 firefighters and seven firetrucks. Nobody involved was injured by the fire, but the house is a complete loss, with damages estimated at $250,000, Iles said. 

Iles said in an interview the residents of the home were awoken in the morning by their smoke alarm. 

“The smoke alarm did save their life,” Iles said. “They were able to evacuate the building after hearing the smoke alarm.” 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Iles said. 

Firefighters arrived on the scene at approximately 3:58 p.m. according to a press release. Minden Hills Fire Department also responded with two fire trucks as mutual aid assistance. Firefighters were able to confine the blaze to the attic and south end of the structure before putting it out. 

Although the structure was heavily damaged, the house is still standing and Iles said the family was able to recover some of their belongings. 

Iles said the firefighters battling the blaze performed well on scene. 

“The firefighters on scene did an exceptional job to stop the fire when it was fully engulfed in fire through the roof,” Iles said. 

The incident is a reminder of the importance of having working smoke alarms, Iles said. 

“I hope we can get the news out and hopefully have some people check their smoke alarms for batteries and expiry,” Iles said. “Hopefully, make the people aware.”

Minden Hills is spending an additional $140,000 to extend its letter of intent for a new arena development.  Minden Hills council held a special meeting Dec. 19 and voted unanimously to approve the letter issued to McDonald Brothers Construction and Parking Architects limited, which will extend the timeline for the validation phase for the project up until Jan. 31. The additional funding being allotted is in addition to $140,000 already allotted for the validation phase up until this point.  “The forecasted time to finalize draft of the contract as amended by Supplementary General Conditions exceeded expectations,” director of community services Mark Coleman said in a staff report. “Therefore the contract will be presented along with the validation for report to council for consideration at the January 24, 2019 meeting of council.”  In his report, Coleman said the 2018 budget had allotted $300,000 for the validation phase of the project, meaning the expenditure still falls within that budget. Coun. Bob Carter asked for clarification that council is only committing the additional $140,000 and nothing beyond that at this point.  “At this point today, right now, we’re not committed to anything but the $140,000?” Carter asked Minden Hills chief administrative officer Lorrie Blanchard said that was correct.  “I’ve asked the same questions,” she said.  At a Dec. 18 public meeting, the developers said the project would cost $12 million. The development entails the demolition of the arena portion of the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena, with a new arena being built at the same location, featuring an ice-rink, gymnasium and walking track.  Coun. Pam Sayne questioned the expenditure to extend the validation phase of the project after Blanchard noted the funding for it had been built up in reserves.  “This is a nice cushion, if you will, in case of issues we have to deal with flood mitigation, any kind of capital expenses that we might have,” Sayne said. “We’re shooting to put that money towards this verification stage, which we miss for other potential issues.” “We started this potential project three years ago,” Mayor Brent Devolin retorted. “We have every year had this conversation at budget time. This is not new news.”  Sayne later questioned the amount of money the township was proposing to put towards the project, which had its details disclosed at a public meeting Dec. 18.  “For the first time at the public meeting, we were hearing the numbers of what this arena could cost us…I cannot figure out how our community can pay,” Sayne said.  Devolin responded those questions will be addressed in budget talks.  “Certainly, as we move to the end of validation and the budget discussions that will start in the beginning of January. We’ll go through the mechanics of all of that,” Devolin said. “That will be fleshed out.”