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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-05-07, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015. Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Lori Patterson & Amanda Bergsma The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Ph. 519-523-4792 Fax 519-523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G 1H0 Phone 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years CCNA Member Member of the Ontario Press Council 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 N0G 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca May 10, 1962 The School Board secretary announced that she had received over 50 applications for a vacancy created at Brussels Public School following the resignation of Mrs. Louise Porter, who taught the Grades 5 and 6 classes. Emily Metzger of Hanover was announced as the successful applicant. Metzger had two years of teaching experience and was a recent graduate of Stratford Teachers College. The nomination meeting for the Huron riding of the New Democratic Party would be held on May 11 in Goderich and the provincial party leader Donald C. MacDonald would be the guest speaker. Elston Cardiff, a Huron MP for 22 years, had been nominated again to represent the riding again for the Progressive Conservatives in the upcoming federal election. The 73-year-old Cardiff, a Brussels farmer, was the unanimous choice at the meeting, which was attended by over 400 people. Cardiff was nominated for the position by James Donnelly. May 9, 1979 The Brussels Cadets officially became a Corps on Tuesday, May 1 when an area cadet inspector from London approved the group. The Corps was sponsored by the Brussels Legion and the approving inspector said he would return to Brussels every six weeks or so to check in with the Corps and see its progress. Pierre De Vos, news editor of the Belgian radio station RTBF and Belgian radio talk show host Gerrard Valet were in Brussels, Ontario to learn what life was like in Brussels, Belgium’s sister city. De Vos spoke to the people of Brussels, Ontario at a special reception held at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, telling them a bit about what Belgium was like. May 2, 1990 After a debate that ranged over one hour in length, trustees with the Huron County Board of Education rejected a proposed 22 per cent increase in expenditures for the 1990 budget. A number of factors were at play with the proposed increase, including a number of special projects, overspending in 1989 and government decisions over which the Huron board had no control. Blyth/Hullett trustee John Jewitt said he wanted to see the increase much lower and suggested that anything over 10 per cent would be too much for the ratepayers of Huron. Jewitt prepared a statement for the meeting, knowing that an increase was inevitable, but saying that keeping the increase manageable was also important. “I belive that one of the most important things in life we can teach our children is to be fiscally responsible. However, one of the most important realities is that you can’t always have what you want,” Jewitt said. “While we have an obligation to our young people to help them, we also have an obligation to the ratepayers of Huron County, who I believe are not enjoying the economic prosperity of their city cousins.” A former Walton man was sentenced to four months in jail after he was convicted of assaulting his neighbour with a chain saw in a dispute over cutting down trees near the boundary of the neighbours’ properties. “You could have taken his arm off with that chain saw,” Judge R.G.E. Hunter said to the convicted man, as the victim was said to have suffered a deep wound on his arm as a result of the incident. Girls in the Gang was said to be a success once again as it premiered at the Grand Theatre in London. The play made its debut in Blyth as the musical story of the infamous Boyd Gang of Toronto bank robbers that made the rounds in 1987. May 9, 2001 Lin Steffler, Mayor of the newly- amalgamated Huron East, wrote a special report for The Citizen, saying that while there had been some bumps along the way, the first four months of amalgamation were going smoothly. One of the points mentioned by Steffler is the new OPP contract the municipality had agreed to sign for $912,000. The contract came in over $100,000 lower than originally suggested by the OPP, showing a Huron East efficiency in policing, she said. North Huron Council was busy trying to find a solution to an annual problem throughout the municipality that came along with spring: skateboarders. As the weather turned warmer, young skateboarders were on the roads and councillors were looking for a way to regulate what was happening on the township’s streets, especially in front of Blyth’s Memorial Hall. Clerk-Administrator John Stewart was quick to point out that it wasn’t a problem in character, but rather a lack of options. “They’re not bad kids,” Stewart told council. “They just love to skateboard and there are a limited number of places for them to go.” We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright A love that’s lasted Few celebrations of national or international historic moments have more significance for Huron County than this week’s marking of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of The Netherlands by Canadian troops in 1945. The events of that week, long ago, have a double importance for Huron County. First, for long-established families, probably everyone knows of a relative, neighbour or friend who took part in the long, bloody battle to free Holland from Nazi oppression. Some of the relatives of those liberators have had the opportunity to travel to Holland over the years on significant anniversaries of the liberation and experienced the love and gratitude the Dutch people continue to lavish on Canadians even seven decades later. But that connection between Holland and Canada has had a more direct effect on Huron County in the years since the end of World War II. Having come into contact with Canadians, a people they probably knew little about before the war, Canada was top of mind when Dutch people, particularly farmers, needed to make a new start after the war. Many came to Huron County. That influx of hard-working, ambitious Dutch immigrants revitalized our county with their drive and new ideas. The cultural traits Dutch immigrants brought were a perfect match for the Scottish-influenced culture that had already shaped this part of western Ontario. Huron County had gained much from this blend of cultures. World War II was a terrible, useless waste of lives and money. It’s good to know that, despite that, some good resulted in the love between two countries that was created from the hate of war. –KR So who’s middle class? As the battle lines for October’s federal election emerge, a major issue seems to be which party can do the most for the middle class. But who’s the middle class? Much has been made about the growing divide between the wealthy and the middle class (nobody even seems to mention the poor anymore). Critics of the Conservative government’s new tax proposals on income splitting and doubling the amount of money that can be put into tax-free savings accounts, claim these will help the wealthy. It seems, however, that for the truly wealthy such as the CEOs earning millions of dollars, these extra tax loopholes aren’t likely to make a big difference. More apt to benefit are the middle class households of “Sunshine list” types, those earning over $100,000 a year, whether from the public or private sector. People in this income range, of course, don’t think of themselves as wealthy. They’re just middle class, middle-income earners. For vast numbers of middle class people earning much less, let alone for the working poor and those on social assistance, these people are wealthy. If these are the “middle class” that the three parties want to help, then the gap between the upper middle class and the rest of society will grow as much as the gap between the really rich and those who just make a darned good income. –KR Are you happy now? It may be hard to believe if you hear people grumping in gatherings at the post office or the coffee shop, but Canadians are among the world’s happiest people. Canada placed fifth out of 158 nations in the latest world happiness report, which analyzes well-being through measures such as life expectancy, per capita incomes and perceptions of corruption. The U.S., which Canadians seem to spend a lot of time envying, placed 15th by comparison. This ranking comes out, of course, before Canadians endure the upcoming federal election campaign. After months of being told the country is going to hell in a handbasket (or that it will if you dare to cast your vote for one of the opposition parties) it will be hard for Canadians to feel happy about their country. But then maybe that’s where Americans fall behind. They get one election campaign out of the way just in time to start the next one. No matter they’re grumpier. –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.