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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-01-04, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2007.Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie GroppAdvertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry 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 ($30.19 + $1.81 G.S.T.) in Canada; $92.00/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 Jan. 4, 1950 Brussels lost yet another two train visits each day, as the local CNR station’s business continued its deterioration. Instead of an additional train from both Palmerston and Kincardine, there would be a single train from each location arriving once daily to the Brussels Station. These cuts were part of the national CNR’s policy to cut service to a bare minimum where possible. Jane Austin fanatics, often given the affectionate name of ‘Janeites’, had successfully purchased the world famous author’s home. The Jane Austen Society president, the Duke of Wellington, purchased the home, which stands on the intersection of Winchester- Portsmouth, and London roads in central England. The home was to be opened to the public as a museum paying homage to the beloved writer. Some of the original furniture and other possessions of Miss Austen’s were also planned to be included in the museum, some already owned by the Society, and some generously donated from other fans around the world. A German doctor, Dr. Max Bindig, was putting his medical innovation to frequent use. Dr. Bindig had created an “atomic ball” device which used vibrations, and atomic radiation to battle several diseases, including lung and heart. The Vibrato-Atomater was already being praised as a big step forward in atomic medicine. Jan. 4, 1961 Nearly 1,500 North American men were being employed on the Distant Early Warning line which extended 3,000 miles from Alaska to Baffin Island. Two thirds of this distance was Canadian territory, and so 1,000 of the 1,500 men employed on the line were Canadian, including 100 Eskimos. A large amount of food was required by the men because of a higher-calorie intake further up north. Critically acclaimed actor Yul Brynner was taking a year-long break from his very successful career to do some amazing global awareness work in many parts of Europe and the Middle East. Although he had an official title with the UN as a special consultant to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, he refused to be paid for any of his work. His job was to raise worldwide awareness of the 7,000,000 refugees still legally homeless, after being uprooted from their homes and daily lives by war. To accomplish these tasks, Brynner not only spent an entire year living in various refugee camps, he also compiled a book of beautiful photos called Bring Forth the Children, and also made a non- fiction film called Rescue, convincing every crew member to work without pay as well, all in hopes that the world would realize what these families in refugee camps were going through, and hopefully try to do more to help. The Guatemalan government was threatened by rebels who were extremely well armed and determined. Thankfully loyal troops successfully drove away the insurgents and captured truckloads of ammunition and weapons. Also, in Venezuela, the liberal Betancourt regime was being greatly threatened by Communist inspired riots. In Caracas, the capital, government troops opened fire on the rioters, forcing them out of the city or into hiding. Jan. 3, 1973 Winners of the annual Legion Remembrance Day poetry and essay competition were presented with their prizes at Blyth Public School. The poetry winners were Mark Battye, first place; Philip Street, second place and Jeanette Manning, third place. Winners of the essay contest were Cliff Bailie, first place; Jayne Watson, second place and Roger Barrie, third. Jan. 6, 1988 A Belgrave and Auburn native had the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch through a leg in Belleville Ontario. Marilyn Bucholtz, formerly Marilyn Wightman, also had her newborn daughter, young Krista Bucholtz, in tow while carrying out her honour. Playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham was Planes Trains and Automobiles, starring Steve Martin. Also playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was Batteries Not Included, a film by Steven Spielberg. Jan. 9, 1991 The Huron County Board of Education was expressing deep concerns in the large impact of the newly appointed GST tax on the costs paid yearly by the county school board. Upon carefully estimating total costs of the GST, including taxes on general supplies, staff travel, capital items, administration, etc., total costs came close to $1,000,000. The Wingham OPP reported that a grand total of 923 cars were stopped during a RIDE check program being held over the holiday season. Of that number, only 15 were given ALERT tests, resulting in five 12-hour license suspensions, 13 liquor violation charges and three charged for having tested over the legal limit. There were no vehicle accidents in the new year. THE EDITOR, I am writing so that the people of this area can be educated on Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics, rapid, sudden movements or vocalizations. Some examples of the symp- toms of TS are: eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging and facial grimacing; throat clearing, swearing, yelping and other noises, sniffing and tongue clicking. More severe symptoms are: jumping, touching other people or things, smelling, twirling about and, although very rare, self-injurious actions includ- ing hitting or biting oneself; uttering ordinary words or phrases out of context, repeating a sound, word or phrase one just heard, and repeatedly swearing during sentences. The range of tics or tic- like symptoms that can be seen in TS is enormous. The complexity of some symptoms often confuses family members, friends, teach- ers and employers who may find it hard to believe that the actions or vocal utterances are uncontrollable. Some other disorders associated with Tourette syndrome are: obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyper-activity disorder and depression. Amanda Schmor. 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 Poor us Never underestimate human beings’ ability to feel sorry for themselves. We were given fresh evidence of this just prior to the ending of the old year. First of all, our MPPs demonstrated their need for a 25 per cent pay increase by working overtime to make sure the increase got passed before they broke for the Christmas holidays. Though they received nearly $90,000 plus an expense package, the politicians pointed to their federal counterparts who received much more, and argued that they should be earning equal pay for equal work. If MPPs weren’t properly compensated, they argued, it would be impossible to attract good people to run for office. About the same time, a new study came out that argued doctors aren’t really that well compensated for their work. They may be among the highest paid people in society, but when you look at their responsibilities, their working hours, their education and more, they aren’t very well paid, the study suggested. If some of the highest paid people in society can see unfairness in their compensation, where does that leave the rest of us? MPPs who have said they can’t afford an adequate risk management plan for cash crop farmers, for instance, didn’t seem to have any problem affording their own pay increase. The politicians also say we can’t afford to raise welfare rates or the minimum wage, yet can afford hefty increases for themselves. The bidding wars taking place to attract doctors is the closest thing we see at the local level to the free-agent frenzy in professional sport. People who make far less than doctors are asked to make donations as communities try to outbid each other with incentives and community clinics to fill vacancies in the local pool of physicians. Both MPPs and doctors say they are attracted to their field by a sense of doing good for society. Despite that desire, they are well compensated. Such is the capacity of human beings to feel sorry for themselves, however, that people so well rewarded can still feel disadvantaged. — KR Seeing is believing Maybe it was a slow news time of year, but the admission by the U.S. government that the future of the polar bear population is endangered through reduction of arctic ice because of global warming got a lot of attention last week. It seemed to commentators that this was an admission for the first time by the government of U.S. president George Bush, that there was indeed a problem with global warming. Don’t expect the issue to be settled, however. Just as the tobacco industry argued for years that science didn’t prove a link between smoking and lung cancer, the opponents of global warming will continue to find reasons not to believe what they want to believe. Recently, for instance, Rex Murphy, CBC commentator and Globe and Mail columnist, claimed scientists can’t agree that there is in fact global warming. Most scientists do agree there’s a problem, but as long as there are a few scientists who disagree, opponents will be able to argue there is still doubt and nothing should be done. It’s a tactic tried and proven by the tobacco industry. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government, centred as it is in oil country, has been quick to play up such doubts as a reason not to take action on the Kyoto Accord. There’s too much risk to the economy to take action on an unproven theory, they argue. Sadly, by the time these people accept the evidence, it will be too late. By then, the damage will be irreparable. — KR & Letter to the editor