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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-09-20, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012.Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Acting Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny ScottAdvertising Sales: Ken Warwick & Lori Patterson 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; $115.00/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: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 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 September 23, 1965 Duff’s United Church in Walton marked its 100th anniversary with its centennial service on Sunday, Sept. 26. Former moderator of the United Church of Canada Dr. J.R. Mutchmor was the guest minister for both the morning and evening services. During his speech Mutchmor spoke of the need for a strongly organized church and a warm fellowship. Special music for the service was provided by the choir and a male quartette, while Donald McDonald also performed a solo for the congregation. Special guests at the service were Mrs. Edward Bryans, 85, of Brussels who had been a member of the church since 1909. There were several other members who had been going to the church, since they were young, for over 75 years. The Brussels Lions Club reconvened for the fall and held their first meeting of the season on Sept. 20. Roll call at the meeting was answered by 21 members. Knox Presbyterian Church also held its centennial service on Sunday, Sept. 12, marking 100 years of serving the Cranbrook community. September 16, 1987 Ontario Minister of Agriculture Jack Riddell scored a huge victory as the first person to win the newly-created Huron riding, garnering 60 per cent of the riding’s votes. Due to the restructuring of the ridings, Riddell was aiming to collect votes from the northern part of the riding for the first time, but as the results began to pour in, it was clear that he had little to worry about. The 126th annual Brussels Fall Fair was set to begin in just a few days and organizers were hoping the weather would co-operate and Brussels would retain its place as one of the best and most exciting fall fairs in Huron County. The 26th annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association was held and over 12,000 people attended the event even with poor weather. Revenue on the event’s first day (Friday) was down over $1,000 from the previous year due to threatening skies, however, the final day (Sunday) more than made up for it bringing in hundreds of people to Blyth. September 28, 1994 After a disappointing show of public interest, Morris Township Council voted to close the Belgrave Library at the Sept. 22 meeting of council. Morris Council had been under pressure from Huron County representatives to close the building due to low circulation. To keep a branch open, the Huron County Library Committee would like to have a circulation of 4,000. Belgrave’s circulation as of August was 108. In earlier meetings, residents had rallied in support of the library and council stood by them, agreeing that the library could stay open for just two hours per week. At the time of the vote, Huron County had closed 10 similar-sized libraries throughout the county to increase the system’s efficiency. “People are asking for efficiency, in spending and service,” said Huron County Librarian Beth Ross. “For that reason we are looking for places where they will get value for their money.” In order to keep the library running, however, Dorothy Coultes suggested that it be run on a volunteer basis. That, however, was not an option. At the 1994 International Plowing Match in Pembroke, Huron County Queen of the Furrow Sharon Kelly of RR4, Seaforth competed against 27 other queens and won Miss Friendship. September 20, 2007 The annual Brussels Terry Fox Run was held and breast cancer survivor Melinda TenPas was chosen to be the year’s Team Terry member. The run raised $6,810 for cancer research, a total that was up nearly $400 from the previous year according to the run’s organizer Jeff Newell. While 65 people participated in the run, Newell said that over $1,700 of the grand total was brought in as the result of a road toll at Brussels Line and Newry Road. The Huron County Health Unit was dealing with what potentially could have been its first-ever human case of West Nile virus. A woman from the northern part of Huron County appeared to have contracted the disease while travelling outside of Ontario. She then tested positive for the virus after preliminary tests conducted in Toronto. A dry summer could cause a change in the fall tree colours said Ministry of Natural Resources stewardship co-ordinator Steve Bowers. Because of the summer drought conditions, he said the heat and lack of water would “absolutely have an effect on the trees”. Hullett Central Public School welcomed a new principal in Joy Antoniuk, a resident of London who was commuting to Londesborough every day. 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 Students’ involvement is good Any time young people can get involved in their community it’s a good thing so Monday’s protests by students of area high schools can be seen as positive. Here’s hoping that the young people don’t become cynical, however, when they realize while they have been very generous in supporting their teachers, some activist teachers are using them as pawns as they grasp for a way to punish the provincial government for legislation freezing salaries and grid adjustments while also forbidding strikes. These teachers make it sound like they have no choice but to stop participating in extra-curricular activities like coaching sports teams or supervising clubs but they do have a choice. They can put their students first instead of using them as a dubious way to get people upset with the government. If the protesting students had talked to their parents about the hardship teachers are facing under the government legislation, probably 90 per cent of Huron County parents would gladly accept that hardship in return for the incomes and other privileges of teachers. Certainly it is not good for a government to step in and legislate against rights like collective bargaining. On the other hand, collective bargaining for public employees is not like collective bargaining for the private sector. Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak has a point when he calls for changes in arbitration legislation to force arbitrators to consider the government’s ability to pay. Despite the serious provincial deficit and the government’s plea to hold the line, public sector workers have continued to get generous pay increases. In the public sector, settlements are often about “what’s fair” to workers while in the private sector it’s about what the employer can afford to pay. Students who are taking part in these protests are getting a valuable lesson in democratic participation. Let’s hope they don’t feel used and retreat from participation in the future. — KR A battle of principles Residents of western democracies are shocked and bewildered at the death and destruction that has spread across the Muslim world over an obscure (until now) anti-Muslim video published on YouTube. The amateur video, created by a couple of anti-Muslim men from California, has brought attacks on U.S. embassies as protesters somehow think the U.S. government is behind what they think is the blaspheming of the prophet Mohammed. No doubt the U.S. government would like to do something to stamp out the offending video but in democracies there is also the belief in the necessity of freedom of speech. As Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” But there’s another principle western democracies believe in: that a country must control what goes on within its borders if those actions are detrimental to a neighbour. Our governments supported Israel when it invaded the Palestinian territories because they were being used by terrorists to launch rockets into Israel. Muslims may be forgiven for thinking that the U.S. is being used, via YouTube, to launch attacks on the Muslim world. It would be better if Muslims would adapt the old schoolyard saying that “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me,” but they don’t. Meanwhile idiots in Western countries spur on the idiots in the Muslim world who retaliate and spur the Western idiots again in an endless round of provocation. — KR Abusing their power Parliament resumed this week with word that the Conservative government plans another omnibus bill that will try to sneak through massive changes under the guise of being a budget bill. Prime Minister Stephen Harper abused his power previously to push through changes though without proper debate but the Canadian people didn’t make him pay a price so he’s been encouraged to try again. Two hundred years ago Thomas Jefferson said “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” It holds true for Canadian voters today. — 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.