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The Citizen, 2007-07-12, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 12, 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 July 12, 1950 Stewart Pierce was experiencing terrifying troubles at his mining claim land in British Columbia. Pierce, who was living at his cabin in Wells, B.C., was driven from his home by bears, but not just one or two. There were so many bears, and vicious too, that he could not go anywhere near his property without a rifle. He had shot seven in total in self-defense on several occasions, but counted at least 20 more bears every night. Eventually, he left his claim after the bears even tore a corner out of his cabin. France released a new national stamp honouring the great French satirical writer Francois Rabelais. The stamp was dark red and featured the writer’s portrait and name. It was valued at 12 francs, or about three and a half Canadian cents. July 12, 1961 The crop report for the season was overly good, with corn, beans, and pasture crops showing increased health and prosperity. This could be due to the increase in rainfall. This rainfall was also causing the delay in the drying of hay, which, in connection with the discovery of Mexican bean beetle eggs in some fields, could cause concern for some farmers. English writer Irving Wallace had just released a new book entitled The Twenty-Seventh Wife, a biography of Ann Eliza Webb. Ann Eliza was known as the 27th wife of notorious polygamist Brigham Young, the Mormon Lion of the Lord. She was to be the last wife. However, after marrying Young at the age of 24, divorced him 14 years later, fleeing his “harem”. Later she would speak all over the world against polygamy, and was instrumental in seeing laws placed in several American states against it. How she finished her days however remains an unsolved mystery. July 12, 1972 Brussels village council expressed deep concerns over several incidents happening regularly around the town. The main concern was with the way the Courts of Ontario were dealing with those charged with vandalism and public disturbances. They brought this matter to the attention of the Attorney General, and instructed clerk W.H. King to prepare a letter to be delivered, emphasizing the need of full support for the local police force. These issues were raised as complaints continued to increase around the village about motorists speeding and squealing tires throughout the early hours of the morning, as well as damage being done to parks and recreation areas. The Ethel area was also having large trouble with vandalism. Several flowerbeds and gardens of residential homes were being destroyed as well as the gardens and windows of the church. Also, cars were being ransacked and elderly residents were being disturbed by noises late at night, and even people knocking at their door several times a night. Town council were also ready to crack down and do what they could to put an immediate stop to the disturbance of residents. Miss Marjorie Procter of Belgrave was crowned Miss Brussels Fair. She would go on to compete with 55 other rural fair queens from across the province for the title of Miss CNE - Sweetheart of the Fair. The contest was held on opening day of the Canadian National Exhibition, and would be the first time in 94 years that the Miss CNE would be chosen. Whoever was crowned winner would be flown to the Calgary Stampede, as well as receive $1,000 in prize money. A memorial plaque was unveiled in Brussels as part of the Centennial celebrations to honour the heritage of the village. The plaque told the story of how Brussels was founded. Taking part in the unveiling ceremony of the plaque were: Brussels reeve J. L. McCutcheon, clerk William H. King, reeve Charles Thomas of Grey Twp, reeve William Elston of Morris, MP of Huron Robert McKinley, MPP Murray Gaunt, Leslie R. Gray of the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario, Mrs. Hazel Matheson, Rev. C.A. McCarroll and local resident Walter S. Scott. July , 1988 Two former Brussels residents were being charged in the arson of the Brussels Legion building. The men were to appear in Wingham courts on charges of break and enter, theft and arson in connection to the fire which gutted the Brussels Legion building. Investigators believed the fire was started by the culprits who deliberately set fire to drapes in the basement with a cigarette lighter, after stealing large amounts of liquor, cigarettes and food from the Legion. Damage was estimated in the range of $150,000 to $200,000. Playing at Brownie’s Drive-In in Clinton was Hamburger Hill, as well as The Presidio, starring Sean Connery. Playing at the Lyceum Theatre, Wingham, was Liza Minelli and Dudley Moore in Arthur 2: On The Rocks, and at the Park Theatre, Goderich, was the classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. THE EDITOR, Brussels Homecoming 2007, a celebration of our village’s 135th anniversary, is only three weeks away. Various committees have been preparing for months now to ensure that things will run smoothly and that there are a number of events to provide entertainment for young and old. In an effort to try and make attendance to some of the events requiring advance tickets, it has been decided that the building located next to the old bank, just north of King Street on Turnberry, is going to be open for tickets sales to the dinners and dances, hopefully on Thursday, Friday nights and Saturday. For people trying to plan where to be and what to see, information on all the activities can be found on the Homecoming 2008 website — www.brusselshomecoming2007.ca The site also has a guest book. Be sure to check it out and see which old friends are coming home. Or add your greetings to welcome folks back The opening ceremonies will be held at the ball park beginning at 6:45. This will be followed by a reunion ball game against former rivals Ritchie’s Rockets and Jamestown. Two new events have been recently added to the already diverse itinerary — beach volleyball games and bath tub races. Contact people are Marc Fischer and Jason Crawford, respectively. Also, bows are still available to help you get your homes and businesses decked out in red and white for the event. Let’s all continue to pull together and make this a celebration that no one will ever forget. Gary Pipe, Homecoming Co-chair 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 price of admission One of the greatest environmental dangers in Huron County is the possibility of malfunctions in thousands of aging septic tanks buried on private property across the county and along the lakeshore. The problem for health and environmental officials has been how to get at them. Now the county has adopted a plan that will dangle an incentive of up to $75 to help with pumping out septic tanks, as long as Huron County Health Unit officials can get a peek inside the tank while it’s being cleaned to see if it’s functioning properly. It’s a good, but small, first step. Those with tanks that are oldest and most likely to malfunction would be somewhat foolish to seek a $75 grant and find out they had to find thousands to repair their septic tank but it may encourage responsible people to make the changes needed.— KR When the job is finished Canada now seems to be moving irrevocably toward ending its frontline mission in Afghanistan when its current commitment ends in the spring of 2009. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said the mission won’t be extended if there is no consensus and with opposition parties against it, and polls showing a majority of Canadians don’t want us there, he seems to have little choice but to pull the troops out of the front lines. Certainly Canada has paid a heavy cost for its commitment to helping the Afghan people build a new land with more freedom than they’ve known in the past. Certainly other countries should take their turn in the more dangerous parts of the country. But what if it doesn’t happen? Have opposition parties, the media and general public thought that through? Do we walk away, back to the comfort of Canada, and let the Taliban move back in and subjugate the people to extremist religious views that mean girls don’t even have the right to an education? Do we betray those who have stepped forward to take a leading role in a new Afghanistan by leaving them defenseless against the Taliban? If so, what does it say about the sacrifice of those 66 Canadians who have died and the thousands of others who have risked their lives in the cause of building a peaceable country that won’t be home to extremist terrorists, where people can have some civil rights? Has their sacrifice been wasted? Perspective has been sorely lacking in our view of the Afghan mission. The deaths of 66 Canadians is 66 deaths too many, to be sure. But during the length of our mission to Afghanistan, many more Canadians have been killed by drunk drivers than by Taliban bullets or bombs. Does our national media cover every step of their funeral preparations and burial? No, we shake our heads sadly and accept it as a fact of life. Police and firefighters die on the job. Do we demand their lives not be risked upholding the law or fighting fires? No. We’re sad and we celebrate them as heroes but we realize the job must be done. There’s something sadly racist in Canadians’reaction to Afghanistan: Canadians should not be risking their lives for people in a country halfway around the world who don’t live and look and talk like us. If our troops can come home with a job done, then we should all be grateful. But if we leave an unfinished job with all the advancements lost, we should be ashamed of ourselves. — KR & Letter to the editor