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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-12-05, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013.Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Acting Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny ScottAdvertising Sales: Lori Patterson & Sue Brindley The CitizenP.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; $130.00/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 December 7, 1961 Robert Fotheringham, a 20-year- old from RR3, Seaforth, captured the top award of the year at Huron County’s 4-H achievement night, the Elston Cardiff Trophy. Presented in Cardiff’s name, the MP for Huron, the trophy is not only for outstanding 4-H contributions, but also for a positive presence at home and in the community. Sixteen-year-old Geraldine Dennis of RR1, Walton won the C.A. McNaughton trophy for the highest 4-H score of the year. Her score was 962 out of a possible 1,000 points. Dennis also received the J.A. Anstett Award for the highest score in the 4-H beef clubs. December 7, 1988 Operations on the Canadian Pacific Railway line through Walton, Blyth and Auburn were set to cease on Jan. 1. The ruling, which was handed down by the National Transportation Agency, gave CP Rail permission to abandon the line 30 days after the ruling was made. Klaus and Kristin Henschel, former owners of the Brussels Stockyards, were set to appear in Wingham court on Jan. 25 on charges of fraud. A “spectacular” fire at an Auburn- area farm caused over $250,000 in damage on the property of Siebolt and Anne Siertsema. The Dec. 4 fire destroyed a dairy barn that had just recently been renovated. The Blyth Legion welcomed seven new members to its ranks. Colleen Bell, Lorna Vincent, Al Willie, Donna Walsh, Dianna Willie, Helen Lapp and Debbie Ansley were all welcomed to the Legion at its December meeting. It was announced that the Stratford Shakespeare Festival had a surplus of over $1.8 million after the 1988 season. The 1988 season marked the fourth consecutive year that the Festival had finished the year in the black. December 7, 2006 Huron County Council was set to grow by two members after the Nov. 29 meeting. At the meeting, it was noted that both Huron East and Central Huron Councils would now have a third representative at the Huron County Council level. The county bylaw stated that municipalities would be granted a council representative for every 4,000 electors it had. After the 2006 election, Huron East boasted 8,093 electors and Central Huron counted 8,142 people. Greg McClinchey was appointed to the vacant Blyth representative position on North Huron Council. At the time of the election, only incumbent Murray Nesbitt had put his name forward as a candidate. McClinchey, who worked as an assistant to Huron-Bruce MP Paul Steckle, was originally raised in the Londesborough area and owned property in the Blyth area. Once the position was available, McClinchey, Brock Vodden, Jim Henry and John Roe all put their names forward. North Huron Council, concerned with the costs associated with a by- election, councillors chose who they felt would do the best job in an open-to-the-public session. Sharon’s Miniatures opened on Blyth’s main street, bringing Sharon Davis to the Blyth community. Several Huron County councillors who would not be returning for their next term were honoured with plaques. Among those not returning were Dave Urlin of South Huron, Doug Layton of North Huron, Paul Klopp of Bluewater, Rob Morley of South Huron, who was the Huron County Warden at the time, Ellen Connelly of Goderich and Rosemary Rognvaldson of Howick. December 6, 2012 McGavin Farm Equipment in Walton was burglarized over the previous weekend, with a number of pieces of machinery being stolen over a period of just three hours. The stolen equipment included a lawnmower, a snowblower and a chipper/shredder. The thieves loaded the machinery onto a trailer, which they also stole, and then left the scene. The Brussels Library renovation and expansion project in Huron East received one of eight Trillium Foundation grants approved in Huron County. Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson announced that a grant of $65,900 was approved for the library, which would go towards installing an exterior ramp, power door operators and a unisex washroom. The goal of the improvements was to improve accessibility at the building. Shawn Loughlin and Denny Scott, both of The Citizen, were part of a Movember fundraiser at Central Huron Secondary School. The pair, and a number of other community members, donated their mustaches to the cause, allowing students to shave them if the price was right. Bob McClinchey celebrated the release of his life story, the book Jack of All Trades, Master of None, which recounted his time at a number of different jobs over the years. McClinchey co-wrote the book with his grandson Greg. 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 Plan will force conservation Ontario’s long-term energy plan, revealed by Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli on Monday, banks on people taking conservation more seriously. When electricity rates are proposed to increase 42 per cent by 2018, there’s no doubt hydro users will look for ways to cut costs. Unfortunately, people don’t take conservation seriously unless they have no choice, and the government is giving them no choice. But while conservation is a good thing, and higher prices will accomplish that, it’s no excuse for stupid decisions unnecessarily raising the cost of electricity. Tops among these is the cynical decision by former premier Dalton McGuinty to cancel two gas plants to keep Toronto-area residents happy prior to the last election. Electricity users will have to pick up the billion dollar cost of compensating the builders of those partially- completed plants and moving them elsewhere. McGuinty’s sweetheart deal with large wind and solar companies will also be paid for by electricity users. The former premier had a vision of creating a new industry producing solar panels and wind turbines but it has been hydro consumers who have paid the price, along with rural residents stuck living beside industrial wind farms. So consumers will have little control over their soaring electricity bills other than to find ways to cut their electrical use. Unfortunately, industry has other choices which may mean moving their plants to locations where electricity is more reasonably priced. This, too, will conserve electricity, but the resulting job losses will hurt everyone. No matter what the successors to McGuinty do, they’re caught in the mess he created. Even if they no longer support those policies today’s Liberals will feel the unforgiving anger of hydro users come the next provincial election. –KR The rich get richer It would be hard to find a better example of the much-discussed “hollowing out” of our society than last week’s deal between the National Hockey League and Rogers Communications Inc. that will pay hockey teams $5.2 billion for television rights to Canadian games over the next 12 years. Under the new agreement, hockey owners will get richer. As well, because they get 50 per cent of team income, NHL hockey players will get richer. Those who can afford all the cable and satellite channels and mobile devices will get to see more hockey. Forgotten in this is the poor schmuck who can’t afford cable or mobile devices and has always depended on having a little fun in his/her life through watching hockey on free TV. Oh there’s a short-term deal for CBC to continue to carry hockey for four years on Saturday night, but with so much invested it’s likely that in the long run Rogers is going to want to get more money than that will provide. Such is our current societal attitude that it only matters that those who have, get more. If you can’t afford it, if you don’t have the power to negotiate a maximum deal, you don’t count for anything anyway. –KR The danger of being beholden The Ukraine is in turmoil these days because the democratic will of the people is losing out to the sheer power of an autocratic neighbour. On the weekend, 350,000 demonstrators protested their government’s refusal to sign a trade deal with the European Community that would bring their country closer to western Europe. The government reneged on the deal because Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened that if it signs, he might cut off natural gas supplies on which Ukrainians depend. Instead of Ukraine turning to the west, he wants to bring the supposedly independent country back into the circle of Russia, as it was when it was part of the Soviet Union. Russia’s bold move, and the dangerous position Ukrainians find themselves in, should be a warning for all countries not to become too dependant on their neighbours. A sovereign country is only sovereign when it can meet its own needs. Depending on others also depends on your neighbour’s fairness which can come and go. –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.