Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-09-06, Page 4Reach to the sky Photo by Janice Becker C The North Huron itizen Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 520-9140 FAX 887.9021 The Citizen Is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $23.00/year ($21.50 plus $1.50 G.S.T.) for local; $33.00/year ($30.85 plus $2.15 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $62.00/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 © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 + CNA BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1995 Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Stan- dard, Brussels Post and the North Huron Citizen 108 YEARS AGO • SEPT. 9, 1887 The ninth celebration of Auld Scotia's Games was played out in Brussels as part of the Caledonian Society's annual event. Victoria Square was prepared for the games, but early morning rains prevented the large crowds evident in previous years. Along with the pipers and dancers there were athletic compe- titions for all. The events included long jump, standing long jump, triple jump, high jump, heavy ham- mer throw and shot put. The Ethel Grist and Flour Mil advertised its reopening after being fit with the celebrated Hungarian grinding system, replacing the stone. R. Malcolm, undertaker and funeral director announced he was prepared to furnish funerals on short notice. "Lucy" owned by Mr. Nixon of Bluevale succeeded in taking a prize at the Seaforth trotting races and another at Clinton. An item under the Londesboro news, headed Chit-Chat read: "There are too many people in this world, particularly of the male per- suasion who think all they have to do is to ask a girl to have her. There is one lives in Turnberry of that nature and the disgraceful conduct of that man is enough to make any- one blush with shame. If he does not want his name published he had better say nothing." Under the Gorrie heading was this item: "A fashionable wedding is reported to come off in the near future. Wake up Gorrie boys and do not allow outsiders to carry of all the fairest prizes." " R. Forsyth & Son, formerly of the Wroxeter Woolen Mills, begged to inform the farmers in the vicinity that they were now operating a woolen mill in Blyth. W.H. Kerr offered readers of The Brussels Post a "golden opportuni- ty. For the remainder of 1887 The Post would be delivered to any address for the small sum of 50 cents in advance. "This is surely cheaper than pestering your neigh- bour for the loan of their's." 7 YEARS AGO SEPT. 7, 1988 Blyth and Brussels hosted a group of British investors looking to invest $30 million in Canada. Continued on page 6 PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1995. Good news, bad news The good news is that in 1999 Huron County will host the International Plowing Match. Winning the event means a huge economic boost for the county and a renewed sense of pride and community awareness. The bad news is that the match will be held in southern Huron near Dashwood instead of just north of Brussels as local boosters had hoped. There was little to choose between the three final sites in the selection process (the other was in McKillop Twp.) officials say but in the end the proximity to larger population centres like London and the hotels and motels available in Grand Bend and Bayfield, probably led to the southern choice. For Brussels this is a huge loss. The Plowing Match could have been the spark needed to revitalize the village. Just knowing that such a huge event is going to be on your doorstep spurs a community to take a new look at itself and become aggressive. The effects can last for years and turn a community's fortunes around. Towns and villages are' in danger of dying a slow, quiet death because of the changing economics of agriculture and small business unless they take control of their own destinies. That ready-made boost isn't going to be there for Brussels because of this decision. It doesn't mean that citizens, politicians and the business community can't rally to create their own boost, however. The upcoming Homecoming could provide such an opportunity. The big thing is to get people active, aggressive and working together to make their community thrive. It would have been nice to have that impetus handed to them but now Brusselsites will just have to show they can do it themselves. — KR Preserving history In an era when we've come to realize that government agencies just can't do everything, the role of individuals who help preserve our history in events like this weekend's Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association Reunion must be saluted. Many times the job of keeping the artifacts of the past has fallen to government-supported museums. In most cases the hardworking staff of these institutions has done a fine job. The problem is there are only so many of them and there is only so much money. But people who have shown their love for the equipment and cars of the past by making it their personal hobby have helped keep this equipment alive on a far wider scale than government-funded museums could ever hope to. So, as you admire the lovingly-restored steam engines, tractors and cars this weekend, perhaps you could take a moment to thank the people who laboured so many hours so we could see this piece of history alive and functioning. We all gain by the work of these individuals. — KR The real China's on view The harassment ,of visiting delegates at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing has been a wake-up slap in the face for westerners who would like to ignore the human rights violations while they pursue the business opportunities the huge Chinese population provides. Of course while they spout the dogma of democracy (always tied to free enterprise) many big business leaders don't really care what is happening to the people as long as they and their shareholders are making big profits. Indeed, many of the profits to be made in China come because of the repressive powers of the Chinese government. Though the workers are supposed to come first in a communist country, employers have little worry that there will be labour unrest or demands for higher wages in China — the government won't let it happen. The government's power also means that environmental concerns are at a minimum. If the government wants to build a new city, there are no delays to consider the environmental impact: the bulldozers start rolling at once. There has been a feeling in North America in recent years that we have somehow evolved: that we don't need legislation to protect workers and the environment. The embracing of China by big business should also warn us not to let down our guard. — KR E tutorial