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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-05-05, Page 4The North Huron itizen Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 PAID The Citizen Is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable In advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $31.03/year ($29.00 plus $2.03 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier In Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A. and Foreign. 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. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 VERIFIED CIRCULATION P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships. Spring blooms Letters THE EDITOR, I attended the well advertised meeting at the Bainton Art Gallery, Wednesday night, April 28 at which the Blyth/Hullett Landfill Committee was welcoming dialogue and direction on the future operations of the site, from residents of both municipalities. As I was early, I sat outside in my car, seeing what I thought was a good attendance of people going into the meeting. Upon entering, I was utterly stunned to find that without the principal members of each municipality, as well as learned guests, there was no more than two per cent of the population of Blyth present. The majority of the people I had witnessed going into Memorial Hall, were going to play cards. Mr. Art Clark, from Maitland Engineering Services, explained there -would be two components to the meeting. Part "A" was to deal with a proposal by Turnberry Township to ship household waste to the Blyth/Hullett Landfill Site. Was it possible that Blyth/Hullett, could receive 275 tonnes of domestic waste into their site, and would it be desirable to the residents of the two municipalities? Where were the citizens, who surely have a vested interest in the future of the site? With few people to speak to the issue of the acceptance of the waste products from Turnberry Township. I have decided to try and build a fire under Photo by Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot some of you passive ratepayers in Blyth. To be objective, our local councillors became involved in the scenario having seen dollar signs and what appears to be a tremen- dous opportunity to capitalize on a revenue making scheme. No one could blame them for that! However, with relatively all my faculties still functioning, I would be pleased to hear that no more waste would ever be placed in the Blyth/Hullett landfill site. A sponge will only hold so much. However, until there becomes a central facility opened by the County of Huron, the municipalities who established the facility, will continue to have to use it. This site has been in use since at least 1962. It is planned or calculated that it can be used for at least another 10 to 14 years — just Continued on page 6 PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1993. E ditorial Tragedy close to home The cost of domestic violence, both human and financial, was brought home to area residents Monday when normal life in Blyth was disrupted by the presence of full police resources to handle what was thought to be an armed standoff following a domestic dispute. Domestic disputes are nothing new. While there is greater awareness of them in recent years, the problems have been there for generations. What seems to be new is the number of times these disputes involve guns and the police having to move cautiously to try to remove an armed person from a home. There is no doubt who the real victims are in these cases: the family of the person who has taken such extreme action. Often this final desperate act is just part of a pattern of years of trouble within the family. The psychological scars are likely to last long after the police have gone away and the curious have gone back to their homes. Yet it's too simple to just blame the man as is so often the case by people who seek easy answers. When a person is desperate enough to threaten the lives of others and take his own life, there are deep problems that defy easy solutions. There are complex pressures in the1990s that are making this kind of situation all too common. The economic stress of the depression, the use of alcohol and drugs in a vane attempt to escape these pressures and many other hidden causes of pain are all factors in too many cases. People who reach this point should have sought help. Some won't. But those who will need to be sure there will be someone there to turn to. With our government cutbacks continuing, that may not always be the case. While we all want to keep taxes low and pay off the deficit, there are some government services we never think are important until we see a case first hand where it can help. Throughout this tragedy a word of praise should go to the Ontario Provincial Police. It was a long day for many officers, a day filled mostly with the boredom of a long wait but the knowledge violence could erupt at any moment. It's a no-win situation for police who are apt to be criticized no matter what course of action they choose. At the end of the long day they must go home and live with the tragedy they have seen. The true pain of the difficult times we live in was witnessed first hand during the incident. Perhaps the only thing that can be gained by everyone involved is a greater awareness and understanding.—KR Will hurt be shared? While many left-wing, union supporters are screaming their rage that the NDP government of Bob Rae has betrayed them, they have an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their own commitment to socialist, collective principles. If they truly believe in the principles of their movement, perhaps workers will be prepared to share the pain of government cutbacks instead of seeing it visited on the least powerful. ernment employees, took cuts, then the savings could the higher-salaried gov- be made that would keep other people in their jobs. however, is that the people who can best afford to sacrifice, those at the top of the salary scale, will insist they can't take less. Those with less seniority and less clout within the structure, will carry the whole cost. opposition, it's easy to be an idealist when there is no danger you'll have to face reality. Bob Rae has had to who say he has betrayed of idealism.—KR face that reality. Now those them have their own crisis If everyone, particularly More likely to happen, Like the NDP in of an April 21 editorial in The Council. Citizen. regarding the resignations of two councillors from Blyth Village distressed that the 1992 annual auditors statement was presented at a meeting at which they were not present, and although the presence of the auditor was added to the bottom of the agenda for the meeting rather delegations, a rechecking of reporter's than at near the top of the agenda which is the usual place for notes from the March 10 meeting (the meeting previous to the presentation of the financial statement) shows that mention was made at that meeting that the statement would be ready for error and the unfair impression that the March 23 meeting. the other councillors were trying to take advantage of the absence of their fellow councillors. —KR An error in fact was stated as part Although the councillors were The Citizen apologizes for the Apology