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Acton Agricultural Society named top citizens Continued from pg. 1 "While working to establish a new building in Prospect Park they continue to build respect from the town residents," said the committee. Acton Rotary Club, which runs the Citizen of the Year Program, will present the agricultural society with the award at a banquet Friday, May 12 at Blue Springs Golf Club. Acton Agricultural Society president Dale Hewitt was surprised and pleased with the honour. "We were pretty happy about that," said Hewitt. "I was surprised it went to a group, not to a specific person." This is not the first time, however, that a group has been named Acton's top citizen. Previous winners include the Acton Citizens' Band, Acton Cancer Unit and Building Committee of the Legion Terrace. Hewitt said the group consists of 50 active members, 100 on the fair board, 16 directors and three executive members- Hewitt, first vice-president Terry Foster and second vice-president Frank Hanes. When asked how the society manages to put on such a successful fair year after year Hewitt said it comes down to "long hours and working together with everybody." Along with the fair, the society members take part in several other projects throughout the year including the annual clean up of the portion of Hwy. 25 the group has adopted. Their annual compost sale is a fundraiser for the fair, which each year brings in approximately $1,500. The society also hosts an annual community brunch and its truck and tractor committee attends other fairs and raises money with its pull boat used in the lawn and garden tractor pulls. Hewitt said the society is looking forward to the completion of its longawaited new 25,000 sq. ft. building. They hope to begin construction this spring and have the building-- a multipurpose facility-- open and ready in conjunction with the fair this September. He said the new building will replace the home craft tent currently used at the fair, and be the venue for the popular Miss Acton pageant. At the banquet cocktails will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $35 each, and available at Halton Hills Furniture, Alexanian Carpet & Flooring or through any Rotary Club member. (Lisa Tallyn can be reached at ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Acton Agricultural Society members were named Acton Citizens of the Year last week for the group's longtime service to the community. From left, are first vice president Terry Foster, president Dale Hewitt and second vice-president Frank Hanes. Photo by Sabrina Byrnes As one edition of the fair is ending want to see. Hewitt said they are already planning "One of the big attractions has been for the next year's fair. the Ken/Jen Petting Zoo," said Hewitt. "It's a year-long effort," said Hewitt. He said the horse and tractor pulls He said year after year, organizers and the Miss Acton Pageant are also line up activities and events that people popular events. Medical condition may have played a role in train-car crash, say police 30 trains a day, and the other line, the Guelph Subdivision, where Boyd was killed sees about six trains a day, Bonnette said. Bonnette said he's not aware of any other accidents occurring at the Dublin Line crossing, "but one fatality is enough." Safety gates were installed at a Fourth Line The medical condition of Heather Boyd, the 27-year-old Acton woman who was killed Halton Hills level crossing after Acton teens when her car was struck by a VIA train at a Rory Dick, Travis Toth and Mark Everson Dublin Line crossing north of Hwy. 7 last were killed when their car was hit by a train there in September 2000. Wednesday, may have played a role That accident happened nine in the crash. months after a dump truck driver "There could be medical reasons was killed when his vehicle struck an for the crash that are part of the Amtrak train at the same crossing, investigation," said Sgt. Trevor Hay causing it to derail and injuring sevof the Halton Regional Traffic eral passengers. Bureau. Transport Canada determines if Hay would provide no further safety gates should be installed at details at press time. level crossings. It's up to municipal As a result of the crash at the governments to make a formal applicrossing that was protected with RICK cation for funding for safety gates, lights and bells, but not safety gates, BONETTTE then the department determines Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette is whether the crossing meets the critecalling for Town staff to investigate whether six level railway crossings in town ria which include volume and speed of trains and vehicles, the number of tracks, sightlines, meet the criteria for installation of gates. With the town's population growing and other distracting factors and history of accimore traffic on the roads, it's time for the dents at that location. Gates cost about $250,000. safety issue at the crossings to be examined, said Bonnette Monday. --With files from Two railway lines cut through the town. Torstar News Service One line, known as Halton Subdivision, sees Mayor wants staff to investigate whether other crossings in town meet criteria for barrier arms Supporting Women's Day Carolina Anderson signs a postcard for the International Women's Day event hosted recently at the Shepherd's Crook by Halton Hills Amnesty International, to which her dad belongs. The group collected hundreds of signatures on letters and postcard appeals on behalf of women in Afghanistan, Darfur Sudan, El Salvador, China and Canada while local female musicians played to a full house. The musicians included classical wind trio Marissa Kidd, Hayley Burgess and Hjordis Stockinger from Acton High School, Wendi Hunter and her group Second Wind, and Sarah Burton of Oakville. Photo by Janet Duval