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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Bayfield Post, 1981-12-11, Page 1The Bayfield Post "THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE" ISSUE A-12 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1981 Editor's Corner BY Bob Burton Publishing a small community newspaper places one in an almost impossible sit- uation. In any other business one can offer the community their product or service, mind their own business, and close their doors at night to the world. Publishing a newspaper involves news, news involves people, and people involve feel- ings either happy or hurt. It's unavoid- able. When you are in the news busine9s ani involve people the problem is compounded in a small community because people in public office are so well known on a per- sonal level they are more sensitive to what is said which involves them. They are more easily embarrassed and even offended if their actions in public office are criticized. It does little good to tell them that you are not criticizing them as people but only their performance as holder of a public office. Naturally if the criticism is in the form of praise there is no problem. It's when the criti- cism points out shortcomings and deficien- cies in performance there is a problem. To expose the flaws of a village politi- cian is next to a useless task. Friends come to his or her defense because they are friends and they either forget or don't care what the criticism was about in the first place. People in small communities perhaps understandably, tend to be caught up with the people who hold public office rather than how they fulfil the duties of that office. That is why a good man or woman who holds public office in a small com- munity is an invaluable asset to that community while conversely, a person who is something less than upright and who is in public office for what he or she can get out of it, can and usually does get away with "murder". Could it be therefore that small community newspapers are only appreciated if they keep to social events and advertising messages? The Christmas issue of The Bayfield Post and Zurich News will be published and available by Wednesday, December 23. Personal Christmas Greetings must be into the newspaper office no later than Monday, December 21. We would like them in before that late date, but December 21 will be the last date if they are to be published. ,free (Copp PHONES GO DEAD Bayfield was effectively cut off from the rest of the world for most of the day on Tuesday, December 8. Telephone communica- tion ceased around 9:30 a.m. and was not restored until close to 7 p.m. Some resi- dents were still not able to place routine outgoing calls on Wednesday. What caused the problem. The paper called the telephone office in Clinton but Mel Graham could give no explanation why the disruption occurred. He did say it was not a cut cable and that the trouble originated in the Bayfield Telephone building. Mr. Graham said the problem mysteriously corrected itself. "It was a rather frustrating experience" said one businessman. "No incoming calls and no way to call out." "What if one needed medical attention or an ambulance?" said another. Cont'd on page 2 .... Print your CHRISTMAS GREETINGS to family and friends here and send back to us for publication. ($3 charge for 5 typewritten lines.) Please enclose your cheque or billing address. NAME ADDRESS EDITOR - BOLA BURTON IANAGING EDITOR - Fran Burton THE BAYFIELL) POST P.O. BOX 125 BAYFIELD, ONT. NOM 1G0 PHONE 565-2438