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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-07-20, Page 6editorial page Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 20, 1983—Page 6 LUCKNt(SENTINEL ''The Sepoy Town" Established 1873 THOMAS A. THOMPSON • Athertising'Manager SHARON J. DIETZ - Editor PAT LIVINGSTON - Office Manager JOAN HELM - Compositor MERLE ELLIOTT - -Typesetter Business and Editorial Office Telephone 528-2822 Mailing Address P.O. Box 400, Lucknow, NOG 2H0 Second Clcss Mail Registration Number0847 Subscription rate, $15.25 per year In advance Senior Citizen rate, $12.75 per year In advance U.S.A. and Foreign, 538.00 per year In advance Sr. CIt. U.S.A. and Foreign, $36.00 per year In advance BI,jE RIBBON AV/ARD Turn off fire siren Lucknow Fire Department has recently adopted a pager program to call firemen to a fire and the firehall siren has been turned off. Most departments in the province use the pager system and Lucknow is one of the last departments in Bruce county to move to the system. The major concern about calling firemen to the firehall by blowing a siren, is that it also tells everybody else in the village that there is a fire. Some people cannot resist their curiosity and insist on following the trucks to the fire. On occasion there has been as many as 15 or twenty cars between the trucks on the way to a fire. These cars slow down the trucks and at best are a nuisance. At worst they could cause an accident which would further delay the firemen. The majority of the firemen in the Lucknow department approve of the siren being turned off. They will try the pager system for a trial period and if it doesn't work they will reevaluate whether the siren should be used in addition to the beepers. A small minority of the department, only two or three firemen, oppose the pager system. They want the siren to be sounded. They want the public warned there is a fire so they will know to move out of the way of firemen who are on their way to the firehall to answer the alarm. On the contrary, the siren draws people to the street to see which way the trucks will go when they leave the firehall. Secondly firemen are not above the law and do not have the legal or moral right to race to the firehall or to the fire at speeds which would endanger the public. The sounding of a siren will not prevent an accident which could happen bause a fireman is driving hell bent for election to get to the " fltehall or to a fire. Both firemen and ambulance drivers must adhere to the traffic laws in this province. The siren should be turned off permanently. Now that our firemen have pagers, the siren is not necessary. The pager system works well in other municipalities, cities and towns and it will work here too. letters To the Editor: On June 30, the Dungannon K`inette Club sponsored a Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic. It was the first Clinic to be held in this Community and the results will determine the feasibility of holding a Clinic on a once yearly basis. The Red Cross had set a goal of 150 donors. Although this number was not reached, the response from the Community was very good and approximately 112 people visited Brookside School during the evening. As with all volunteer, non profit events, Community members and businesses are called upon for donations of time, money or specific items which are needed at the Clinic. Many area businesses, Chisholm's Fuels, Dawson's General Store, Eedy's Bakery, Erie and Huron Beverages, Hodges Milling Limited, McCormick's Cookies, Sherwood's General Store, West Wawanosh Insurance Company and W. G. Thompson and Sons Ltd., contributed towards supplying the juice, coffee, pop and cookies which are so very necessary. Others, Ashfield Service Centre, Mel Bogie Esso, Edwards Fuels Ltd., Hackett's Farm Equipment, Penny Hodges Hairdressing, Huron Landscaping Ltd., Johnston Brothers Rothwell Ltd., Johnstone and Son Furniture, Maitland Redi Mix Ltd., Nile Service Centre, Freeman Olson Ltd. Gravel Pit,, George Smyth Welding Shop, Wayne Snyder and Son Garage, Delmer Sproul insurance and Kathie Stanbury Hairstyling, purchased space in the Goderich Signal Star and the Lucknow Sentinel to advertise the Clinic prior to the day. Sherwood Transportation Inc., provided a mini -bus to transport members of the Mennonite Community to the School and the Dungannon Kinsmen Club paid for the fuel. Nurses are an important part of the rest area where a cool hand and a friendly smile are greatly in demand. Helen Rintoul gave freely of her time and energy to help at the Dungannon Clinic and to give everyone a feeling of confidence. The Huron County Board of Education provided the school facilities and Greta Smith, with her 4-H club members, babysat for parents with young families. There were many first time donors at the Clinic as well as those who are 'veterans'. One man made his 85th blood donation. He has set a personal goal of 100 before his 55th birthday. The Red Cross needs blood all year round but it is especially vital during the summer months when so Many more travellers are using the roads. Clinics are only possible when supportive Community members are willing to show that they care. Dungannon Kinette Club. Lucknow Sepoys won Free Press trophy Lucknow Sepoys won the London Free Press Trophy three consecutive years 1949, 1950 and 1951. From the left, they include, front Mascot D. Barkwell; second row, A. Chin, H. Greer, H. Ritchie, M. Stewart and G. Chin; back row, W. `Pelt" McCoy, J. Dahmer, J. Gould, R. Middlemiss, J. McMillan, E. Vaughan, R. MacClelland, D. MacDon- ald, W. Harris, L. Hall, H. Pollock, P. Hoag and M. Chin. [Contributed by Harold Greer] redtrees by don campbell By Don Campbell Doctor Cameron's knowledge of medical science (albeit primitive by modern standards) could have made him a wealthy and famous man in the urban centres of Canada. When he was once asked why he chose to endure the hardships of a pioneer settlement rather than administer to the wealthy merchants of Toronto, he replied in his firm but gentle way: "every life must have a purpose. if a man lives only to accumulate wealth, 'twould be better had he not been born. My purpose, humble though it be, is to serve the community of Redtrees. These are my people and of whom I am justly proud. Their cause is my cause and I shall remain with them whatever the outcome, for better or for worse!" "For better or for worse". This phrase is also repeated in the vows of marriage; profound and utterly unsel- fish words which are rarely fully under! tood at the time. Certainly the wife of the good doctor did not appreciate the sacrifices she would have to make when she tied herself to the handsome, soft spoken medical practitioner from the Highlands of Scotland. Yet Jane Cameron could not alto- gether be blamed for not anticipating the problems encountered by a woman who must play second fiddle to the professional devotion of the man she marries. Nor could she have foreseen the heartaches and frustrations which had to be endured amongst a people whose paramount endeavour was survival. Those born into the horn of plenty can become quickly disillusion- ed in marriage if it does not contain the comforts to which they have become accustomed. Jane's visions of marriage had been built on dreams; mere romantic and sentimental fantasies, completely out of context with reality. Sharing a bed with the doctor had brought her face to face with the consequences of her union and not a little resentment of her growing abdomen. Soon there would emerge another soul demand- ing a share of her husband's love. It has been said that "when hardship enters the door, love flies out of the window". Of all the people in the world, Doctor Cameron was closest to Jane's heart but her love was no longer strong enough to endure another long winter in Redtrees. One day in late November, Jane Cameron arrived at the general store and was greeted warmly by Kathleen Jamieson in her quaint Irish brogue. "An° sure you're a ray of sunshine for such a dull morn. What can i be after doing for the doctor's lovely lady today?" At other times Jane might have enjoyed Kathleen's flattery. She bit her lip nervously, not quite knowing how to appear casual when asking her question. "Will the carrier from Mono Mills be calling here today?" she asked in a low voice. "If so, and since this may be his last journey this year, will you please ask him to come to my house. I have two trunks which must be delivered to Toronto." As if to prevent Kathleen from questioning her, Jane walked towards the door and paused with her hand on the latch. "You might tell him that I will also be making the journey." She forced a weak smile to her face. "Thank you kindly Kathleen." Then lowering her eyes in embar- rassment she said: "You are my dear friend and I know you will not repeat what I have said to anybody but the carrier." in the late afternoon, a tired and hungry Doctor Cameron rode into Redtrees and went straight to his residence. He was not unduly concern- ed by his wife's absence since she was often away on social visits. After hurried ablutions he sat at the table and toyed with a piece of bread whilst he waited for the housekeeper to bring his meal. When she appeared with a bowl of soup she had hardly placed it upon the table before she blurted out the sad news. "Och Sir, I'm sae sorry tae tell ye that the mistress has left ye, an' she's awa tae Toronto." In her anguish and concern she nervously twisted a serving cloth in her hands and looked searchingly at the doctor's face for his reaction. "Och Sir, whatever will ye do. A man of Cameron's calibre and who constantly battles with life and death is not visibly shaken even though the person he loves dearly has left him. In any case, it would not be becoming of him to reveal his true feelings. "Do Mrs. Milne?" he said rather sharply for a man of his kind and gentle disposition. "I'm going to finish my supper and then I shall get on my horse and visit my patients. What else is a doctor supposed to do?"