HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-07-02, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015.
Writer critical of new bylaw
Family makes journey thanks to community
Breakfast
Members of the Grey station of the Huron East Fire Department held their annual firefighters’
breakfast last Sunday and fed dozens of hungry diners despite the rainy weather that plagued
the area for most of the day. (Denny Scott photo)
THE EDITOR,
I want to extend a sincere thank
you on behalf of Roxy, Brymer, Katy
and Ruby Mills. Without your help
they would have had to endure a far
more difficult journey across
country.
They are a good family who have
had some difficult times, and the
offer to take a job in Alberta was too
good to pass up. This job is going to
give them a fresh start and a second
chance to give their girls the kind of
life they deserve. Everyone deserves
a second chance, and I cannot even
begin to express my gratitude to the
people of this community for
helping to ease their burden and get
that fresh start they need.
When Roxy told me on Thursday
that they were going to make the trip
with only $700, I was worried. She
knew they needed to go, a new job
was waiting that was going to allow
them to have a better life. I gave
what I could, but my family is
dealing with some tough times of
our own, so I couldn’t do much. But
I knew that we have a fantastic
community, and I reached out for
support.
I managed to collect about $200
for them before they set out on the
road on Saturday morning. By
Sunday night, they were stranded in
Saskatchewan. They had blown out
three tires and had to replace them,
which ate up every cent they had.
They were in a small town in
Saskatchewan, nowhere to go, no
one to turn to, enough food to get
through a day, maybe two. They
spent two nights sleeping in their
van which was packed full of their
belongings. With a three and a four
year old, I can’t even begin to
imagine how difficult that would be.
I reached out again, not knowing
what else I could do. In addition to
our community, I sent an e-mail out
to the United Church in the town of
Wolseley, Saskatchewan, where they
were stuck. When the minister
received the e-mail after 10 p.m. on
Wednesday night, she immediately
went out and found them in their
van, and got them into a motel for
the night. By Thursday, we had
collected enough money to get them
back on the road. The church
offered them a second night at the
motel to relax and get some rest
before heading out again. The
church got them some hot meals,
and the money that was so
generously donated to them, was in
the bank. At that point, some of the
weight had been taken off their
shoulders.
They arrived at their new home on
Friday night. They made it there
safe and sound. Because of the
generosity of our community, they
had enough money to finish the trip
and a little left over to get some food
in their cupboards. They have
expressed their extreme appreciation
for our community and are so very
thankful to each and every person
who helped them get through this
journey.
I am amazed at the generosity of
people, so willing to help out when
someone is in need. It doesn’t
matter that you didn’t know her
personally like I do. It doesn’t matter
that her daughter isn’t your
daughter’s best friend in the whole
world, like ours are. It doesn’t matter
that you haven’t laughed together,
cried together, none of that matters.
All that mattered is that you were
told there was someone in need, and
you helped. That is an amazing thing
and I feel very blessed to be part of
such an amazing community.
Sincerely,
Kat Dreyer
and Roxanne, Brymer, Katy and
Ruby Mills.
THE EDITOR,
It would be in the public’s best
interest to be informed of the
proposed open burn bylaw currently
before Morris-Turnberry Council for
consideration. The original draft was
extremely intrusive, stripping from
farmers and rural landowners their
best option for disposing of some
non-recyclable waste. With the
rising environmental and economic
costs associated with landfills,
burning is still a very viable option
for disposing of some agricultural-
related waste.
Contrary to some information
coming from the municipality, the
proposed bylaw prohibits the
burning of material such as net wrap
left over from round bales.
Currently, there is no viable or
readily available recycling program
for such material.
Further, the harassment clause
included in it is nothing more than a
tool that expands broad police
powers to some individuals who
may use it in ways that unlawfully
remove from property owners all
right of defending their interests. In
spite of the rationalization offered
and in view of how, in the past, such
a clause has been abused (and
thoroughly documented), this is
serious cause for concern. There is a
reason that we already have a police
force.
Farmers and landowners should
get in touch with the municipal
office and their councillors in order
to become familiar with this
proposed bylaw and to register their
concerns with it. Be sure to get your
information first-hand by looking at
a copy of the draft bylaw and thus be
able to draw accurate conclusions.
We are fortunate to have a council
that, in spite of bureaucratic
pressure, has asked hard questions,
demanded significant changes, and
thus far held off on approving a
bylaw that far oversteps the
necessary.
Democracy can be tough and
messy, but the alternatives are ugly. I
believe that when proposed laws
have such a huge impact on our
lives, we have a great responsibility
to help write them rather than
leaving their formation up to
bureaucratic and executive decision.
Therefore, act on this very soon
before another intrusive bylaw is
passed, perhaps as early as July 7,
without your knowledge and input.
John Schwartzentruber, Brussels.
BIG
July 17-18, 2015
Admission:
Donation to Ronald McDonald House
519-523-4742
20th Anniversary Celebration
Food Bo
o
t
h
Guess the weight of
the tire Pettin
g
Z
o
o
Pit Stop
Challeng
e
Bouncy Castle
40356 Londesboro Rd.
Helicopter
Rides
Bigfoot In Action
Car Crushing Shows 3 p.m.
Friday & Saturday
Door Prizes
You are entering
the Independent
Republic of
Elm Tree Valley
IN THE ROAD
By Keith Roulston
Enjoy a comic look at the
rural/urban divide
in the novel
When a forgotten village finds itself in
the path of a new super-highway it tries
to attract attention to its plight by
declaring itself an independent country.
But things get out of hand when the
town drunk organizes an army and
those who have most to gain by the
highway’s completion fight back.
Enjoy In the Road
FREE
in 15 installments on our website
www.northhuron.on.ca
Letters to the Editor
#1 And We
Still Try Harder
Recent circulation figures
show The Citizen has the
highest circulation in the
northern part of
Huron County,
#3 in the entire county.
The Citizen
Proudly Community-Owned
Since 1985