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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-04-07, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011.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 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G 1H0 Phone 887-9114 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com 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 $34.00/year ($32.38 + $1.62 G.S.T.) in Canada; $115.00/year in U.S.A. and $175/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: norhuron@scsinternet.com April 12, 1950 North Huron MP L.E. Cardiff was the guest speaker at the regular meeting of the Brussels Lions Club. Cardiff spoke to the Lions about parliamentary procedure. Pupils of the Registered Music Teachers of Huron County were set to perform in a recital at Memorial Hall in Blyth on April 18. A number of local participants, students of Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Thompson would be performing. Admission for the event was 25 cents. Melville Presbyterian Church’s Sunday School was host to a meeting of the Little Stars Mission Band. April 3, 1974 A meeting was held at Blyth Public School regarding the potential formation of a Home and School Association. Blyth residents heard from representatives from the Grey Public School Home and School Association in regards to what an association like theirs would be responsible for. Blyth representatives agreed that interest would have to be shown before any further steps could be taken. Surveys had already been sent out and the results were going to be tabulated on April 8 at the Blyth Legion’s annual sports night. Only parents of school-age children had been contacted for the survey. The Huron County budget had been officially voted on and was said to hit the urban municipalities the hardest. At Blyth Village Council’s regular meeting on April 1, it was revealed that the Huron County tax levy would raise the Blyth tax bill from $14,562 in 1973 to $23,423, a jump of nearly $9,000. Because of the increase, the Blyth tax levy would have to be increased by more than 12 mills just to meet the Huron County requirement. In addition to Blyth being hit hard by the Huron County tax levy, Brussels residents would be seeing an increase of $7,000, the same amount that Hullett Township residents saw. East Wawanosh residents saw their levy rise by $5,000. Blyth Village Council was dealing with growing pains as the demand for building lots was higher than the number of lots that could be provided at the time. To remedy this situation, severances were being requested quite frequently, especially in the west end of the Dinsley Street extension. Because of the demand, council had received several requests to open farmland up for residential development. Blyth Council was also displaying a reluctance to go ahead with repairs for Memorial Hall at an estimated cost of $19,800. April 2, 1986 The Huron County Federation of Agriculture held a meeting at East Wawanosh Public School to discuss the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s policies on debt writedown. The meeting would touch on topics such as farm development corporations and commodity-based mortgages. A part of the Queens Hotel in Brussels was set to live on in the Huron County Museum in Goderich. The preservation of the front of the Queens Hotel was spearheaded by area architect John Rutledge, who had been working with Chris Borgal of Blyth. The pair’s firm had recently been contracted to design the new museum. Huron County Council voted to approved a recommendation that preserved Ball’s Bridge just south of Auburn for at least 10 more years. The bridge would remain as a Huron County structure, and would remain open to vehicle traffic, for a maximum of 10 years, as long as several conditions were met. At the end of the 10-year period, the status of the bridge was set to be reviewed as to whether it should continue to be maintained for an extended period of time or whether it should eventually be closed and/or removed. April 23, 2003 A medical case at Listowel Memorial Hospital that had all the makings of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), but it was found that it was actually a case of Influenza A and not the deadly disease that was sweeping through southern Ontario. Seth McCauley was put down for a nap by his mother Melissa on April 19 when he had opened the window in his room only to fall out onto the ground outside of the family’s home. After hearing Seth scream, Melissa ran to her son’s aid, only to see him standing on his feet. Police say the child would have fallen approximately 15 feet. Seth, who his parents described as a “big Irish boy” was airlifted to London for a thorough examination, but was found to be in perfect health. “We are the luckiest parents in the world,” Seth’s father, Steven said. Brussels Legion member Eric Ross was elected to the position of District C Commander. He was set to take over the position on May 14 and begin his two-year term. The Blyth Festival officially announced the launch of its new website on April 23. The website was said to offer information on plays and area accommodation. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Decisions, decisions The Ontario government’s move in last week’s budget to fund a business risk management plan for crop and livestock farmers should make for some uncomfortable moments for Conservative candidates in rural ridings for the May 2 federal election, but will it cost them votes? The Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition (OASC) brought leaders of many farm groups together to ask for an insurance plan that would help farmers get through tough times like the recent downturns in the beef and pork industry that drove many farmers out of business, and left the survivors with an increased debt load. The plan they proposed would be partly paid for by premiums from farmers, with the province putting up 40 per cent of the remainder of the cost and the federal government contributing 60 per cent – the traditional share the federal government has picked up for farm programs. With its budget, the province has come on board for its share, but the federal government has steadfastly refused to take part. One would think that might turn up the heat on Conservative Party candidates in the election, unless OASC leaders aren’t as in touch with the farmers they represent as they think they are. For instance, in mid-March the Ontario Federation of Agriculture conducted a “town hall” telephone conference call to discuss agriculture and finance. As part of the session, callers were asked to answer three poll questions, one of which was what the provincial government’s emphasis should be on in the next year, with the choices being job creation, tax cuts, deficit reduction, or reducing the size of government. Reducing the size of government was chosen the top priority by 48 per cent of the farmers taking part in the call, leaving the other three options to split the remaining 52 per cent. The party most associated with reducing the size of government (even though the talk is often better than the action) is the Conservatives. For many farmers that reduction of the interference of government is symbolized by Harper’s promise to abolish the long gun registry. So when farmers go into the polling booth to cast their ballot, which will they have top of mind: the fact the Conservatives have refused to come on board with an insurance plan to help them through rough times, or the fact that the Conservatives are most likely to reduce the size of government and kill the gun registry? — KR To do the right thing Most of us want our leaders to be principled and have little patience with them when they aren’t. Only the leaders know how hard it can be to do the right thing when things aren’t as black and white as a less- informed public thinks. Take the situation facing world leaders with Libya’s Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi and other dictators who are the target of uprisings in Arab countries across northern Africa. Seeing the harm done by Qaddafi (and tyrants elsewhere like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe or the military leadership in Myanmar) it will be inexcusable if he does not face justice in the International Court in The Hague, Netherlands, for his crimes against humanity. But that’s where grey muddies the black and white most of us see. Knowing that he faces trial for his crimes, makes a monster like Qaddafi want to hold on to power as long as possible. If he knows he will be arrested if he sets foot in most of the countries of the world, he’ll hang on. He can only be safe from justice if he can land in a country that doesn’t recognize the international court (there has been some talk Qaddafi might find asylum from Mugabe in Zimbabwe). So leaders like the highly principled Barack Obama of the U.S. find themselves in a predicament. They can insist that Qaddafi must face justice and watch as thousands more people in Libya die as he battles to hold onto power so he won’t have to pay a price for his crimes. On the other hand, they can save lives by assisting him in leaving early and find refuge in another rogue state, but undermine justice. It’s easier to be principled sitting at home than to be a leader. — 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.