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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-01-19, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017. Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston • Associate Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $36.00/year ($34.29 + $1.71 G.S.T.) in Canada; $160.00/year in U.S.A. and $205/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Mon. 2 p.m. - Brussels; Mon. 4 p.m. - Blyth. Canada'. MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1HO email: info@northhuron.on.ca We acknowledge the (financial) support of the Government of Canada. The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1 HO Ph. 519-523-4792 Phone Fax 519-523-9140 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca .470cna �• CCNA Member of the Ontario Press Council CMCA AUDITED We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright You're bigger than they are The death of an elderly Perth County man Sunday following a collision between the horse-drawn buggy he was riding in and a motor vehicle, is a reminder for all car and truck drivers that we have a special responsibility when we share the roads with smaller, more fragile vehicles, whether they be buggies, motorcycles or bicycles. It was the second time in a month that a buggy has collided with a motor vehicle. The previous crash on Christmas Day left a teenager in critical condition. As well as the man killed in Sunday's accident, another passenger was airlifted to hospital and two others were admitted to local hospitals. The horse drawing the buggy was also killed. We've seen similar results of crashes between vehicles of unequal size before. People on bicycles, motorcycles or in buggies always come out of such collisions with the most damage, even if they survive. Such collisions aren't always the fault of the motorist. Sometimes the unexpected can happen — a horse may be spooked by noise or a flying stone, a cyclist may slip and lose balance. As the driver of a larger vehicle, it makes sense to prepare for the worst possibility, giving as wide a berth as possible when passing a slower vehicle. As the driver of a larger, heavier, more -protected vehicle, you might not have to worry for your physical safety but your life will still be changed if someone is killed or badly injured in a collision with your car or truck. Remember, you have the greater power and those with greater power have greater responsibility. — KR Build 'em up, knock 'em down Interviewed by Wendy Mesley on CBC's The National Sunday night, Rolling Stone journalist Matt Taibbi said journalists are partly responsible for the backlash that led to the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President because people got fed up with the media telling them who they could vote for. The same kind of journalistic attitude seems to be in play in some of the recent negativity toward Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Taibbi, who covered the 2016 campaign and has written a book Insane Clown President: Dispatches from the 2016 Circus, said the U.S. media has in the past destroyed the prospects of candidates who journalists found wanting, whether because they had extra -marital affairs or held views that were an anathema to the main stream media. Thus, when Donald Trump came along, many American voters were in no mood to listen to the media, no matter how erratically he acted. Here in Canada, "proper -thinking" journalists are already hammering Conservative Party leadership candidate Kellie Leitch for her views on immigration and preparing to deal with TV personality Kevin O'Leary should he decide to join the race. In the case of the Prime Minister, criticism over faults such as his cash -for -access political fundraising efforts is totally justified, but the thrill of the hunt to bring down a popular politician seems out of hand in a couple of other events last week. Blowing up the Trudeau family's hitching a ride on the Aga Kahn's helicopter on their trip to his private island for a Christmas vacation seems to be making an ethical mountain out of a transportation molehill (note to future politicians: make sure you're only friends with poor people who can give you rides in unobjectionable 20 -year-old K -cars). Almost as bad was the concentration on the phrase "phasing out" in relation to the Alberta oil -sands to make it seem the PM is out to punish Alberta, as his father was perceived to have done, even though Justin Trudeau climbed way out on a limb to approve two pipelines to get Alberta oil to market. There's something in many national journalists that is not satisfied until they humble any politician who gets elected. It's an unbecoming trait and can downright backfire, as in the case of Trump. Both politicians and journalists need to live by high standards. — KR The man had class So much attention has gone to Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president on Friday, that too little recognition has been given to Barack Obama, the outgoing President. Obama's wisdom and class brought new respect to the office over the last eight years. He leaves office with his popularity high among the American people and highly regarded by people beyond U.S. borders. There's an element of sadness to the end of the Obama presidency of course. He is being replaced by a man with little wisdom and no class. Even before he moved out of the White House vindictive Republican legislators had begun dismantling as much as they could of what he had accomplished. Obama wasn't perfect of course. His use of unmanned aircraft to attack villages in Pakistan where he thought terrorists might operate, undermined U.S. support in many countries. Still, he'll be missed — even more as we deal with his successor. — KR Looking Back Through the Years January 17, 1944 The Brussels Library was the setting for the annual meeting of the Brussels branch of the Red Cross. President Robert Bowman presided over the meeting. He stated that the year's work had been deemed "most satisfactory" by those involved. As part of the annual meeting, officers were elected for the upcoming year. Bowman, again, would serve as the organization's president for 1944. A trio of farm machinery schools were set to take place in Blyth, Walton and Ethel. The Blyth clinic would be held on Jan. 25-26, the Walton school on Jan. 27-28 and the clinic in Ethel would be held Feb. 17-18. Agricultural Representative James C. Shearer said that all area farmers were cordially invited to attend the local schools. The 60th annual meeting of the policy holders of the Elma Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company was set to be held in the Foresters Hall in Atwood on Jan. 25. A new slate of officers would be elected at the annual meeting. January 26, 1967 With the Centennial year upon Canadians, Brussels residents were on the hunt for their Centennial Queen. "Young ladies who have aspirations to reign for Come -Home Week are asked to deposit their name in the Centennial Queen box now in the window of the Baeker and Thompson Butcher Shop before 6 p.m. this Saturday," The Brussels Post reported. The list would be narrowed down to six final contestants, the newspaper reported, adding that any customer to make a purchase of $5 or more at a Brussels shop beginning the following Monday would earn the right to cast one ballot for their favourite contestant. Additional planning for the special Centennial Come -Home Week was ongoing as organizers sought people to appear in the event's main attraction: the parade. The Brussels Post put out the call for bands, baton twirlers and floats to ensure the parade would be a success. Ninety people were in attendance for a turkey banquet that marked the annual meeting of the Brussels Agricultural Society. At that meeting, Donald McDonald was chosen to lead the organization for the coming year. Jan Van Vliet would serve as the first vice- president for the coming year, while Doug Fraser would be the organization's second vice- president. Nick's Nichols found themselves atop the Brussels bowling rankings with a robust 88 points. The team led, however, by the slimmest of margins over Marilyn's Malibus with 87 points. Sitting in third place was Mel's Camaros with 82 points. Bill Stephenson was sitting atop the men's high singles league with 222 points, while Karen Hastings was leading the ladies' high singles category with 260 points. January 21, 1981 Gary Sottiaux of Londesborough needed a bit of a rest, but had completed a tremendous life experience when he finished a massive 2,600 -mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. During the experience he lost 15 pounds. Sottiaux made his way from the Canadian border to the Mexican border by way of the trail. He was first inspired to walk the trail when he read a National Geographic article about the trail and its beauty. He said he was well-received along the trail. "Everyone is so friendly to hikers along the trail," he said. The Blyth Horticultural Society held its annual meeting and found that it had a small surplus after all the accounts from 1981 were settled. Hockey action in Blyth was heating up with local businesses taking to the ice to settle the score. In one game featured on the front page of The Blyth Standard, employees from Bainton's took on those employed at The Blyth Inn. The Blyth Inn was the better team that day, winning by a score of 9-4. January 22, 1997 Heavy winds were to blame for the first major blizzard of the year in Huron County, according to The Citizen. Local weather observer Boyd Taylor of RR2, Blyth said there had been plenty of ground drifting as a result of the storm, which reduced visibility on the roads nearly to zero. OPP Senior Constable John Marshall said that despite the poor road conditions, there had been no collisions reported during the storm. The Huron County Beef Producers held their annual meeting in Brussels and elected a new executive for the coming term. Doug Howatt was named president of the organization, while Alan Powe was named the first vice-president and Cam Procter was the second vice- president. Janet Amos, known locally as the artistic director of the Blyth Festival, was set to make her mark on the CBC production of Adrian Clarkson Presents. For the program, she would be directing a workshop and presenting a reading of The Heart As It Lived by Mansel Robinson.