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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-02-07, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2008.Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie GroppAdvertising, 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 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website 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 $32.00/year ($30.48 + $1.52 G.S.T.) in Canada; $101.00/year in U.S.A.and $175.00/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 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Feb. 7, 1962 The Blyth Union Cemetery board had to reinforce some rules. At a meeting of the board members, it was emphasized that it was prohibited to open caskets after they had been committed to the Cemetery for storage or burial. Also dealt with was the resignation of Kelland McVittie as the caretaker of the Blyth Union Cemetery. Cecil Cartwright was hired in his place. J.A. Plunkett of Auburn was making an appealing offer to local farmers. If you had recently purchased a Case tractor or combine for your farm, you were eligible for Plunkett’s Case “Showcase” Prize Bonanza. Up for grabs was $15,000 worth of Case farm equipment and a holiday home worth $20,000 to be built on your property. The contest was being held in junction with the 1962 Case Canadian “Showcase” being held at the Auburn Community Hall. A trend not seen since the Elizabethan ages was resurfacing among women. Synthetic hair-wigs were back on the rise in style, especially after Jacqueline Kennedy was spotted in Paris trying some on. The trend seemed to be rooted in Paris, inspired by a Parisian designer who began having his models wear wigs on the runway. Wigs were beginning to become status symbols, much like fur coats or jewelry. The reasons for the resurgence were vague, but some pointed out that the voluminous, bubble-like hairstyle that was in style was difficult to achieve, and having a wig instead was economically and rationally efficient. Feb. 7, 1973 The Belgrave District Credit Union celebrated its 20 years ofservice to the community. Blyth Memorial Hall was to be subjected to a thorough health and safety inspection of its entire premises, following meetings of he Blyth recreation committee and the Blyth council. Both agreed that the inspection should be carried out so that estimates could be made about the time and costs involved in getting the necessary renovations completed to get the Hall in working order again. Fire escapes needed to be installed, and electrical wiring systems were a big concern. Wiring in the Hall was long outdated, and needed an upgrade desperately. The strength of the roof structure was also being looked at with caution and worry. It was quickly agreed that experts in all fields should be notified, and every precaution taken to make sure the Hall remained safe and secure. The residents of Huronview nursing home were advised not to allow visitors for their own safety. Due to the prevalence of influenza in the area, the home physician Dr. Chester A. Archibald advised that the home be closed to visitors to avoid spread of the virus. Feb. 4, 1981 Huron County council had a large deficit in budgets to deal with. It was learned that the Huron County highways department had amassed a deficit of over $200,000. This came after a year full of substantial overruns on many project budgets. Officials from the highways department convinced council, however, that the deficit could be dealt with by the following year, and the council tentatively approved it for the time being. Feb. 7, 1990 After a year of investigation into the incident, the former owner of the Brussels Stockyards, was sentenced to 18 months in jail. The man was responsible for one of the largest scandals to hit Huron County in anyone’s memory. He attempted to make off with $790,000 from the stockyards, and flee the country. In the process, he was also involved in a web of deception, fraud, and thievery from the local farmers who did business with the stockyards, as well as dealers from as far as Saskatchewan who were conned and defrauded of livestock and payment. It was the last week in which to nominate your choice for exceptional citizens. The Citizen was still accepting nominations for its fifth annual citizen awards, awarding the outstanding and generous people in the community. Playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham was The War of the Roses, starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito. Also playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was the classic Steel Magnolias, starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakes, and Julia Roberts. Feb. 8, 1995 Concerned residents of Walton worked together to try and save a local landmark. Ideas were passed around about how to resuscitate the failing condition of Walton Hall. There were not enough funds available to support the upkeep of the building, and other sources of finance had to be sought out or the building would soon collapse into neglect. Winners of the Royal Canadian Legion Remembrance Day poster contest were: Melissa Snell, second, intermediate black and white; Tammy Walker, first, intermediate black and white and third for her poem; and Matt Anderson, who won third place for his colour poster entered in the junior division. THE EDITOR, Members of the Seaforth and District All Girls Marching Band will march to the beat of a different drum during March break this year. A performance tour with a humanitarian twist will take this well-travelled group to the Dominican Republic where they hope to make a difference in the lives of fellow students. The band will perform for guests from all over the world at the resort where they will be staying. In addition, they plan to perform, party and work at a nearby school they have chosen to assist. As well as raising funds to cover the cost of travel, members have done additional fundraising to raise money for uniforms, shoes and school supplies. Public education is free in Dominican Republic, but each student is required to have a uniform and shoes at a cost of about $80. The average daily wage is about $8, so many children are denied education. Donations from Christmas gift wrapping at Suncoast Mall in Goderich allowed the group to purchase 70 recorders at reduced cost from Pianovations in Londesborough. The girls plan to include music instruction as part of their work at the school. At present, members are about halfway to their goal of providing 70 school bags full of supplies for students at the school. If you wish to help by donating school items or cash for uniforms, please contact the band executive by phone or e-mail the band at: seaforthgirlsband@hotmail.com Tax receipts for donations are provided by Goderich Lions Club. Your support “Keeps Us Marching On”. Charles Kalbfleisch, 519-565- 2244; Sharon Thompson, 519-525-3924; Penny Breen, 519-524-9306. 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 The system’s broken The good news for consumers who shop in large food chain stores is that they are saving money from the hard times endured by their pork producer neighbours. The bad news is that the cheap pork they’re buying probably doesn’t even come from their troubled neighbours who produce pork, but is imported from the U.S. Anita Ivanauskas, director of Pork Marketing Canada, told pork producers in neighbouring Perth County last week that most pork featured in flyers from major chains is imported from the U.S. Consumers may not realize this because if 51 per cent of the value of that package is earned in Canada, it can bear the sticker “Product of Canada”. Smaller stores that buy products from provincially-inspected packing plants, might have pork (and lamb, veal and turkey) bearing the Homegrown Ontario label guaranteeing the meat is raised and processed in Ontario but large chains like Loblaw want to have one buyer be able to supply all stores coast to coast. Large American packers can supply all the needs for the company from a single packing plant. Many local people have convinced themselves they must drive to shop in large chain-stores. In doing so, they end up supporting a food system that’s helping destroy food self-sufficiency in Canada. Already these stores, because of their centralized buying systems, make it easier to buy apples from China or Washington State than locally-grown apples. It’s almost impossible to buy Canadian-grown garlic because it all comes from China. Products like honey are likely to be imported. So we, as shoppers, are turning our backs twice over on the people who help make our communities function. When we patronize the large chains, we undermine our local main streets, the merchants who pay taxes to support our community services, who donate prizes for our fundraising auctions, etc. We also don’t support the thousands of farmer- neighbours who participate in the community by coaching our hockey teams or sitting on the boards of our churches. Huron County depends on agriculture for much of its prosperity. The county produces more agricultural income than any of the Atlantic provinces. Our county has the largest number of pork producers in Ontario. If we have a system where you not only can’t buy the fresh products of these farms, but don’t even know when you’re buying foreign food, then there’s something sadly broken in our food system. — KR We’re so nice According to a series on the Alberta oil sands in last week’s Globe and Mail, Americans have discovered this massive reservoir of oil in a big way. Processors in Texas have revitalized some cities down there through refining Alberta oil. They’re reassured by what’s seen as a steady supply from a neighbour that’s not likely to get pushy like Venezuela or Middle Eastern countries. Canadians are used to putting up with grievances against the U.S. (think softwood lumber and border security) from the feeling that as the little guy next to the world’s most powerful country, we have to give in. But do we? If a large part of the most powerful country depends on our oil, maybe we’re not so weak after all. Maybe we need to flex those muscles from time to time to prevent being taken for granted. — KR & Letter to the editor