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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-07-10, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2008.EditorialsOpinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie GroppAdvertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry The CitizenP.O. Box 429,BLYTH, Ont.N0M 1H0Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152,BRUSSELS, Ont.N0G 1H0Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021E-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 $30.00/year ($28.30 + $1.70 G.S.T.) in Canada;$90.00/year in U.S.A.and $100/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 11, 1962 A unique stage design was proposed for Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. If built, the theatre would be the only one of its kind. It was to be a three-quarter open stage for classical dramas, equipped with a proscenium arch for standard plays, and a retractable 28- ton concrete shell for musical performances. Able to seat 600, the proposed theatre was to be constructed as part of Wittenberg’s planned $2.5 million music and drama facility. A German father attempted to smuggle his baby son from East Berlin to West Berlin through a tunnel. The infant was carried to safety after being pulled through the 20-inch high tunnel, dug by the baby’s father. The family became trapped in East Berlin when the ‘Reds’ closed the border the year before, and they had since been desperate to return home. American singer Connie Francis was to represent the United States at the International Popular Song Festival in Sopot, Poland. The U.S. State Department specifically requested that she attend. She would become the first American citizen to participate in such an event. July 11, 1973 A stolen car was found burned in Turnberry Twp. The car belonged to Blyth fire chief Irvine Bowes and was stolen while he was attending a regular fire department meeting. The car, found a long time after the theft was reported, was burned to a crisp. No suspects were named at the time, but investigation continued. Belgrave experienced extreme weather conditions during a severe storm that hit the area. High winds, heavy rain and large hail stones severely damaged gardens and property. Broken windows an fallen trees were reported in several areas and it was generally agreed that it was one of the worst storms in the village’s recent memory. Auditions were still being held for the youth division of Blyth Little Theatre’s first production. The play, to be prepared over the summer, would be performed in the early fall. All local high school age teenagers were invited to try out for parts. July 11, 1990 Severe lightning was thought to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a barn in Walton. The tenant of the house on the property said she had been outside minutes earlier and been caught in the downpour but didn’t see any signs of fire. Mere moments later, after returning to the house, a neighbour phoned to report the barn on fire. The five cattle being housed in the barn were rescued in time, but the rest of the structure was lost by the time Blyth Fire Department arrived, but were still able to save the nearby metal granary. About 5,000 bales of hay were lost, and there was no estimate on damage. Brussels FunFest was a big success, drawing a great turnout and hosting a lot of fun events that kept everyone entertained. Highlights of the weekend included the noon-hour parade with dozens of floats, clowns, horses and decorated vehicles joining the many musical performers such as the Brussels Legion Pipe Band and the Seaforth Girls Band. Bessie Johnson was presented with her plaque for Citizen of the Year for Brussels and area. Mrs. Johnson had headed the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre catering group ever since it was formed, and was also involved in church work, 4-H work, the Brussels Fair and the Brussels Pipe Band. Bruce Switzer and his wife Eleanor, who had recently moved to Blyth from Hensall, held the grand opening of their addition to Blyth’s business centre. Switzer’s Music and Gifts was opened on Dinsley Street. The pair had been running their own music stores since 1967. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was Jetsons: The Movie. Also playing was Arnold Schwarzenegger in Total Recall: “Get ready for the ride of your life.” June 21, 1995 An Ethel girl was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle. The girl was riding her bicycle on County Road 19, and was attempting to enter a private drive when she turned into the path of a southbound vehicle. She sustained major injuries and was taken to Listowel Hospital, and later transferred to Victoria Children’s Hospital. Her condition at the time was listed as critical. An investigation into the incident had been conducted, but no charges were laid. The first leg of the new ball diamond in Brussels got its start as community volunteers and experts installed the line to supply the drain for the park. It was to be located at the south end of the BMG arena. Several 12-inch pipes were being put in the ground, which would tie into the Nichol Drain system. McKercher’s donated the backhoe for use in the task, while many other local people stopped by later to help out. Work was to continue all the following week, with bulldozers still to arrive, but it was expected that it would be a few months before the project was entirely complete. THE EDITOR, The Twp. of North Huron recently held a series of community focus groups where people from throughout the municipality came together and provided input to a series of questions that were designed to help us decide how we, as a municipality want to be known to those outside of our boundaries. The discussions were fun, informative and friendly. As many of us including, children and youth gear up for summer, I thought it would be appropriate to share with you the responses we collected to, “The Activities I like to do in the Municipality are . . . “ “Socialize and hang out with friends. Go to the theatre in Blyth or attend an event at the Heritage Theatre in Wingham. Play soccer, baseball, lacrosse or volleyball. Go hiking on the walking trails throughout the municipality or spend some time at the East Wawanosh conservation area. Go biking, golfing or rollerblading. Go to the gym or go swimming at the pool. Go to the splash park in Wingham or the wading pool in Blyth. Have fun with neighbours and play in the neighborhood. Attend community events like: the Muskrat Festival, the fireworks, sidewalk sales etc. Join an aquafit or Tai chi class. Get involved with a poetry group, a church group or a service club. Volunteer at the Blyth Festival, with the Muskrat Festival or at any social service agency. Spend some time outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and the country atmosphere with your family. Sign up for a day camp, lifeguard camp or drama camp. Join the air cadets or any other youth group. Go camping, canoeing or fishing. Eat out, go shopping or antiquing. Attend the Threshers Reunion, the Dog Show or an Alice Munro Tea. Visit the North Huron Museum…” So parents, feel free to share this list the first time you hear “I’m bored!” Notice I only included summer activities – check back with me in the fall and I can share some winter activities. Also, be sure to check out your local websites for information on current and upcoming events – www.northhuron.ca and www.blythandarea.ca. In the mean time, on behalf of the council and staff of the Township of North Huron – enjoy a safe, happy and BUSY summer. Connie Goodall Community Development Co-ordinator Township of North Huron. 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 No compensation heals all The announcement by the government of Ontario on Monday that Steven Truscott will receive $6.5 million for spending 10 years in jail after being convicted of the 1959 murder of 12-year-old Lynne Harper near Clinton in a trial later found to be a “miscarriage of justice” may at last bring an end to the Truscott family’s ordeal. Unfortunately, the Harper family probably feels more abandoned than ever. Truscott was just 14 years old when he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang following a trial that could be most charitably termed as flawed. While his death sentence was commuted to life in prison and he spent only 10 years in jail before being paroled, Truscott has spent most of his life fighting to clear his name and living with the stigma of the conviction. Now he will receive compensation, his legal fees will be paid and his wife Marlene will receive $100,000 in compensation for her lost earnings as she fought to prove his innocence. Supporters will say it isn’t enough, and those who accept Truscott’s innocence will agree that no amount of money, coming late in life, can compensate for all that has been lost. Meanwhile the loss goes on for the Harper family — and perhaps becomes worse, because now the only person convicted of Lynne’s murder has been exonerated and compensated. They have remained convinced that Truscott, who was with Lynne when she was last seen alive, was guilty. While officialdom has now agreed with him that he was not, there is no investigation to find anyone else responsible. Truscott’s supporters over the years have come up with several other possibilities but no direct connection of any of these to Harper has ever been made. Nearly half a century later, the pain and suffering that resulted from that few minutes of violence continues to take its toll. Money may be society’s apology but it doesn’t go very far in healing. — KR Tomorrow and tomorrow . . . Leaders of the G8 countries agreed this week on a vaguely-worded declaration on cutting the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, but avoided setting medium-term targets for cuts. Cutting tomorrow is always easier than cutting today. The problem is that leaders like Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President George W. Bush don’t really believe in global warming so see little need to do more than the minimum to keep a concerned electorate from coming down hard on them. Promising to do something 40 years ago gives the appearance of taking action without taking any action that will cause pain to today’s voters. Harper’s other handy excuse is that unless big polluters like the U.S., China and India take action, there’s no sense in Canada being responsible. Delaying action, however, will only make the problem worse for those who are around come 2050. — KR &