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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-08-18, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016. Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Lori Patterson & 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. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Ph. 519-523-4792 Fax 519-523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca Canada ..ocna CCNA Member of the Ontario Press Council We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or Department of Canadian Heritage. photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright CMCA AUDITED Living, working side by side The controversy over a proposed severance involving the Bachert Meats plant near Walton shows again how difficult it is to balance the needs among businesses, neighbours and the general public. Several neighbours showed up at Huron East council last week to oppose the severance which would create a separate lot for the meat processing plant and allow a house to be constructed on the remaining farm parcel. There was also discussion about a future expansion of the meat processing facility which worried neighbours who have complain- ed previously about the smell from waste treatment at the plant. Cross -boundary odours are a regular issue in rural areas. A decade or more ago neighbours were often protesting the construction of large hog barns and other livestock facilities. The complaints led to creation of the minimum distance standards that now require sufficient distance between livestock barns and nearby homes — though neighbours might argue that the distance isn't large enough, especially during hot weather. Meat processing facilities are much rarer than livestock barns. In fact people who are trying to make a living having pigs, cattle or chickens processed for farm gate or farmers' market sales, worry that there are too few abattoirs to meet their needs already. Farm groups have complained that increasingly onerous provincial regulations have made too many processors throw in the towel and leave the business. Here's hoping the problems between Bachert Meats and its neighbours can be solved amicably. Certainly neighbours need their rights protected but facilities like this are all too rare these days and need to encouraged. — KR Which is the greater danger? The case of Strathroy terrorist suspect Aaron Driver last week illustrates that while we'd all like to be safe all the time, there's a high price if we want greater protection from those who might do harm. Driver was killed in a confrontation with police who had been tipped off by the FBI in the United States after he had posted a video promising to set off a bomb in a public place on behalf of IS, an extremist Muslim terrorist group. Police intercepted him in a taxi cab on his way to London and he set off an explosive device, injuring the taxi driver, before he was shot. Driver had been identified as a potential danger more than a year ago when he made contact through the internet with IS jihadis in Britain. He was charged but since there wasn't evidence to convict him, he was released on a peace bond. Public reaction ranged from complaints from neighbours that they should have been informed that a potential terrorist was living in their midst to those who felt police should have had more ability to control Driver than a peace bond. The problem is most of us probably wouldn't like to live in a society where police had the power to try to prevent every potential criminal from actually committing a crime. Many of the freedoms we take for granted would have to be sacrificed for that kind of security. Perhaps police might even think that you or other innocent people might be capable of doing criminal things. The balance between freedom and security is always delicate. — KR Olympic heroes of all shapes In an era when many young people become obsessed with having a figure like some television star or model, here's hoping plenty of young people are watching the Olympic Games and learning that every body type can have its advantages. Olympic heroes come in all shapes and sizes. The kind of body required to be successful in gymnastics is entirely different than that of successful weight lifters. Rugby players look different than swimmers. Even in track and field, sprinters have different figure types than distance runners who are different than shot-putters. The one thing all these different athletes have in common is that they are incredibly fit. Now that's an example that any young person of any shape or size can emulate. — KR Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for the purpose of verification only. Letters that are not signed will not be printed. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccurate information. As well, letters can only be printed as space allows. Please keep your letters brief and concise. AMOTHER CANADIAN JUST WON AN OLYMPIC MEDAL IN RIO; Looking Back Through the Years August 20, 1970 Clifford Bray topped the Brussels Agricultural Society's field crop competition in the barley category with 93 points. His crop finished just ahead of Stewart Procter with 92 and Donald McDonald with 91, William Coultes at 90 and Graeme Craig at 89. Bray also topped the three-way mixed grain category, but it was Rae Houston who won in the two-way mixed grain category. Forty-four members of the Majestic Women's Institute enjoyed a picnic lunch on the "spacious" lawn of Leona Armstrong for the group's regular meeting. Members were still busy working on the institute's cookbook project, which was said to be progressing well. Members were asked to be ready to sell some books very soon. Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Rann were set to spend some time at home with friends, relatives and neighbours to help celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with an open house. August 20, 1986 With a milestone on the horizon, plans for a bigger -than -usual celebration in Brussels were underway as the 125th Brussels Fall Fair was only one month away. The price for tickets to the Queen of the Fair dance was set at $6 per person. The dance was set to take place just after the crowning of the queen, who would then go on to represent the community at the Miss Midwestern Ontario contest, which was going to be held in Lucknow that year. Blyth Village Council decided upon mill rate increase of 6.7 per cent to the average resident. While there were increases at the local level, much of the increase could be attributed to Huron County, where an increase of 12.9 per cent had been approved. The increase came as a result of plans to build a new Huron County Museum and undertake renovations at Huronview Home for the Aged. August 21, 2002 Ontario Federation of Agriculture President Jack Wilkinson made a visit to Huron County, hosting a meeting with several dozen farmers at the McKillop farm of Gord and Irma Pryce. The meeting served as an opportunity for area farmers to discuss issues facing farming, including Bill C15, which dealt with cruelty to animals. The rash of vandalism in Brussels was keeping OPP officers busy, as in early Brussels two businesses were targeted and on Aug. 8 damage was caused to Brussels Public School. Upon arriving at the school, police had found that vandals had shot pellets through one of the school's windows located on the east side of the building. Greg Dodds of East Wawanosh won the opportunity of a lifetime when he found out he'd be heading to a hockey camp to train with the likes of Bobby Orr and Cassie Campbell. Dodds entered a contest that had been advertised in The London Free Press and he was one of the 90 chosen to participate. Dodds was chosen from 4,500 entries. The Citizen profiled Lena Siegers of Westfield, who had just returned from a six-month stint with peacekeepers in Colombia. Siegers made the trip as part of the violence reduction group for the Canadian Peacekeepers Team. She had first trained with the group in 1993, spending three years as a full- time worker with the group. She worked part-time with the group for a short time before returning to full- time work in 2000. August 13, 2015 Tiffany Deitner was crowned Brussels Ambassador, following in her big sister Morgan's footsteps. Morgan was named the Ambassador in 2010. Morgan served as Tiffany's coach for the event and Tiffany said that her sister's experience and guidance proved invaluable. Forty -one -year-old cyclist and triathlete Julie Sawchuk from just outside of Blyth was struck by a car while cycling in Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh, paralyzing her from the chest down. Sawchuk was in a London hospital before making her way to the Parkwood Institute where she would begin her rehabilitation. As a result of the crash, Sawchuk suffered a burst fracture in one her vertebrae, lacerations on her head and chin, a broken nose, five broken ribs, a fractured skull and various road rash injuries. Paul VanderMolen and Chris Lee of G2G Inc. spoke to Huron County Council in hopes of addressing a number of concerns, both from council and from adjacent landowners and farmers, regarding the proposed Goderich-to-Guelph Rail Trail, which was in development at the time. At least 200 theatre patrons had made their way to Blyth for the Blyth Festival's annual Bonanza weekend, leading Director of Marketing and Development John McHenry to say it was a great weekend for the Festival. Mary's Wedding, the final production of the Blyth Festival season, opened to audiences and it was well received.