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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-07-30, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009.EditorialsOpinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie GroppAdvertising, Ken Warwick & Lori Patterson The CitizenP.O. Box 429,BLYTH, Ont.N0M 1H0Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152,BRUSSELS, Ont.N0G 1H0Phone 887-9114 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.comWebsite www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years 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;$105.00/year in U.S.A.and $175/year in other foreign countries.Advertising is accepted on thecondition that in the event of a typographical error,only that portion of the advertisement will becredited.Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth.PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Letter to the editor July 26, 1972 The new Brussels Lions executive was: past president Henry Exel, president Jim Knight, first vice- president Gordon McGavin, second vice-president Jim Prior, third vice- president Ross McCall, secretary and assistant publicity chairman Cecil McFadden and treasurer Hank TenPas. Directors and other officers were: Wayne Lowe, Albert TenPas, John Bryans, George Langlois, Ken Scott and Roy Kennedy. George Penfold, 27, was appointed agricultural engineer for Huron County. Jack Thynne of Brussels, long known and enjoyed across Canada and the U.S. as The Kansas Farmer appeared as an entertainer at the Cookstown Steam Show. The accident death rate on farms was 20 per cent higher than the national average according to the Canada Safety Council. Underlining the seriousness of this was the fact that the percentage of Canadians engaged in farming was declining. The Brussels Legion’s track and field team for the Ontario provincial finals was: Wayne Willis, shot put; Colleen Raymond, 220 and 440 yards; Keith Raymond, long jump and high jump; Glenn McLean, 880 yards; Bill Boneschansker, 880 yards. Andy Adams, Raymond, Boneschansker and McLean were also to compete in the 4x100 yard relay. Mr. and Mrs. John Brennan of Kitchener took over the Walton store owned by Mr. and Mrs. Doug Ennis. The Ennises were retiring after 38 years in business in the hamlet. A dozen Granny tarts was selling for 79 cents at McCutcheon Grocery. Three 19-oz cans of pork and beans were 79 cents. Up the street at Stephenson’s shoppers could get a 32-ounce jar of Miracle Whip salad dressing for 69 cents and the 24-ounce tins of Puritan beef or Irish stew cost 49 cents. July 31, 1974 The Blyth Memorial Hall issue was likely to get a new airing at the council meeting. Tenders submitted for reconstruction of the Hall roof had been previously rejected by councillors. However, two new proposals had been submitted, one from a group of Amish workers. Many Blyth residents were sleeping better thanks to increased policy activity and decreased reckless driving activity. OPP patrols had increased after council discussed hiring a special constable and discussion of vigilante committees had been mentioned. After the OPP crackdown more than 30 charges were laid. After just one year in operation an addition to the Ontario Bean Growers Co-op outside Seaforth would more than double its capacity. The $180,000 addition would be capable of holding 210,000 cwt of beans. Architect’s sketches of the new senior citizens’ apartments for Brussels were to be viewed by council. Senior citizens were also in the news as plans for use of the CNR station were mentioned. Reeve Jack McCutcheon said that while there was no formal senior citizens organization ready to take over the building, a number of older people had expressed enthusiasm for having a meeting place of their own. Steve Nixon, son of Mrs. and Mrs. John Nixon of RR5, Brussels, returned home from Stanstead College, Quebec, where he attended the Howie Meeker hockey school. July 23, 1986 Ron Vercruyssen was chosen to try out for the Ontario Juvenile Basketball team. The 6’ 10” centre was entering Grade 13 at Seaforth District High School in September, and was hoping for an athletic scholarship. Harvey McCallum’s trio from the Clinton club took first place at the Brussels Lawn Bowling Club’s mixed trebles tournament. July 24, 1996 Blyth council got an unpleasant surprise when it was reported that $15,108.07 must be paid to the Ministry of Environment and Energy for overpayment of a sewage works program. It was an overflow crowd when McGavin Farm Equipment and Supply Ltd. celebrated its 60th anniversary. On hand to cut the ribbon was Jennie McGavin Turnbull, 98, sister of the founder Gordon McGavin. Bonnie Sallows opened Aesthetics by Bonnie. The Blyth Squirts were the first team on the new soccer field behind the Blyth and District Community Centre. The Huron County Holstein Club appointed its new princess Cheryl Franken of Brussels. Runner-up was Jessica Verhoog. Eddie Murphy was The Nutty Professor, the featured movie playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich. Morris Twp. was celebrating its 140th birthday. Events for the one- day party included a volleyball tournament, parade, memorabilia show, fiddle jamboree, barbecue and dances. Specials at the IGA included a one-litre jar of Miracle Whip for $2.49, bananas, 29 cents a pound, boneless chicken breasts, $3.99 a pound, and a case of 24 cans of Coke, $5.99. THE EDITOR, The council of the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry has read the letter to the editor in the June 24 issue with regards to the non-resident tariffs for the Wingham and Blyth Union Cemeteries. Council is appalled by the action that the Council of the Twp. of North Huron has taken. The two subject cemeteries were erected several years ago, the Wingham cemetery located in the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry and the Blyth Union Cemetery in Central Huron. There have been many years of history in both cemeteries. Significant funds from both Morris Twp. and Turnberry Twp. have been allocated to the cemeteries over the years. The addition of the non-resident tariff is discriminatory to the residents of Morris-Turnberry. It is ironic that many residents from North Huron move to Morris- Turnberry, where both nursing and retirement homes are located, to spend their aging years. The Municipality of Morris- Turnberry maintains and operates the roads that are required for access into the Wingham Cemetery. Morris-Turnberry nor the former Twp. of Turnberry ever asked for funds to offset the road maintenance costs. The Holmes Line, which is the access for two entrances into the Wingham Cemetery was improved with a ‘tar and chip’surface in 2003, with entrances improved, and Morris-Turnberry did not bill the Twp. of North Huron for any of the costs. In 1996, Morris Twp. replaced the mausoleum roof at the Blyth Union Cemetery, with the cost being $3,037.51 and erected a plaque to that effect. Until amalgamation, four municipalities, Blyth, East Wawanosh, Morris and Central Huron shared the annual net operating costs for the Blyth Union Cemetery. The grant requested in the year 2000 was $750. That request continued until 2005. Why did North Huron stop that process? In the past, Morris-Turnberry has tried to work and co-operate with North Huron, and it worked. Why is that not happening now? If costs are an issue, why did North Huron not ask the council of Morris-Turnberry to give consideration to a grant. Grants are given for recreation, which is a service. Cemeteries are a service. A precedent had already been established for grants to offset We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Are we too polite? Watching the Sebringville rally calling for financial aid to pork prod- ucers last week, a long-time Huron County farm leader said it just wasn’t radical enough. Whether it’s the need for aid to farmers or community efforts to keep schools open, are we just too polite in these parts? The farm activist, long past the age when most people take extreme action, said that tractor rallies made an impression when they were first used in the 1960s, but by now they’re old hat. Politicians more or less shrug and say “Oh, another tractor rally”. Circumstances have also changed over the years and it’s harder to get the attention of those in power. Not only are there fewer farmers these days, but there are fewer politicians. Even in rural areas, as ridings get bigger, politicians are no longer struck with fear at the possibility of losing the farm vote. Specialization in farming fragments the farm vote even further. Years ago, a majority of farmers kept some pigs as well as some cows so pork issues involved most farmers. Today, if a politician loses the pork producers but keeps other farmers happy there aren’t as many votes to lose. The enlargement of school boards has created a similar situation on the school front. With each trustee representing a wider area, it doesn’t matter if a trustee loses support in one area as long as they keep it in another. A trustee who loses votes in Blyth, for instance, but keeps Wingham voters happy, is likely to get re-elected. Besides that, many decisions are often made by the staff, either at the school board or Queen’s Park. These people are beyond fear of getting re-elected. How do you get their attention? It has become obvious that being polite is not going to get the legitimate complaints of farmers or small communities heard by the decision makers in a centralized system. Perhaps it’s time for some creative radical (not to be confused with violent) action. — KR Protecting our interests Given the amount of money Canadians have invested in research by Nortel over the years, it’s only in the country’s best interests to make sure the technology developed from that research stays in Canada to provide jobs for the future. An auction of Nortel assets following the company’s bankruptcy, included only foreign companies, with Swedish telecom giant Ericsson winning for $1.13 billion. Too often in the past Canada has let pioneering technology slip away to foreign buyers. While we play by the rules of “free enterprise”, other countries protect ownership of industries strategic to their future. The federal government must step in to keep research paid for by Canadians in Canada. — KR & Continued on page 7