HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-07-14, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1999.
Letters to the editor
Officer warns parents cph About Your
Hospital
THE EDITOR,
You may think bush parties are a
lot of fun - but think again! In
1993 eight teenagers were killed
after colliding head on following an
unsafe passing maneouver. They
were returning from a bush party.
Landowners, you could also be
held liable despite taking all the
necessary precautions.
Even if police don’t find out
about the party, how do you think
you’re going to get home? You’re
not foolish enough to get behind
the wheel after a night of drinking?
Are you?
This is an open letter to all
parents of young people
everywhere. I am writing in
response to some of the questions
you ask me daily. I am not one
police officer, but I represent every
officer in every city and town in
Canada.
You may know me only as the
cop who gave you a ticket last
summer, but I am also the guy who
lives down the street from you. I
am the parent of four children and I
share with you the same hopes,
ambitions and dreams that you
have for your children. I am faced
with the same problems as you. I
share with you those moments of
agony and ecstasy. I share with you
the feeling of guilt, shame or
disappointment when my boy or
girl gets into trouble.
The scene is a long stretch of
highway with a sharp curve at one
end. It had been raining and the
roads were slick. A car travelling in
excess of 126/km/h missed the
curve and plowed into an
embankment where it became
airborne and struck a tree. At this
point, two of the three young
persons were hurled from the
vehicle, one into the roadway,
where the car landed on him,
snuffing out his life like a discarded
cigarette on the asphalt. He is killed
instantly and he is the lucky one.
The girl thrown into the tree has
her neck broken and although she
was voted queen of the senior
prom, and most likely to succeed,
she will now spend the next 60
years in a wheelchair. She will live
and relive that terrible moment
over again many times.
When I arrive, the car has come
to rest on its top, the broken wheels
have stopped spinning. Smoke and
Volunteer offers reminder
THE EDITOR,
I am sending this letter
concerning recent complaints I
have received about Blyth. This
year, the Blyth Horticultural
Society is holding a home
beautification contest, an excellent
way to decorate an area now
booming with tourists.
Unfortunately, some people have
lots of time on their hands to undo
the work of others who dedicated
their time to improve appearances.
Foodgrains groups says thanks
THE EDITOR,
The local Blyth and Londesboro
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Committee would like to thank all
those who have contributed to the
crop growing projects just north of
Blyth and east of Londesboro.
On the 42 acres that made up the
project for 1998, $11,010.70 was
raised (grain value). The money
raised is matched by CIDA five to
steam pour out of the engine ripped
from its mounting by a terrible
force. An eerie calm has settled
over the scene and it appears
deserted except for one lone
traveller who called it in. He is sick
to his stomach, leaning against his
car for support.
The driver is conscious but in
shock and unable to free himself
from under the bent steering
column. His face will be forever
scarred by deep cuts from broken
glass and jagged metal. Those cuts
will heal, but the ones inside cannot
be touched by the surgeon’s
scalpel.
The third passenger has almost
stopped bleeding; the seat and his
clothing are covered in blood from
an artery cut in his arm by the
broken bone that protrudes from his
forearm just below the elbow. His
breath comes in short gasps as he
tries desperately to suck air past his
blood-filled airway. He is unable to
speak and his eyes, bulged and
fixed on me pleadingly, are the
only communications that he is
terrified and wants my help. I feel a
pang of guilt and recognize him as
a boy I let off with a warning the
other night for an open container of
alcohol in his car. Maybe if I had
cited him then, he wouldn't be here
now. Who knows? I don’t.
He died soundlessly in my arms,
his pale blue eyes staring vacantly,
as if trying to see into the future he
will never have. I remember
watching him play basketball and
wonder what will happen to the
scholarship he will never use. Dully
my mind focuses on a loud scream
and I identify it as the girl who was
thrown from the vehicle. I race to
her with a blanket, but I am afraid
to move her.
Her head is tilted at an
exaggerated angle. She seems
unaware of my presence and
whimpers for her mother like a
little child. In the distance, I can
hear the ambulance winding its
way through the rainy night. I am
filled with incredible grief at the
waste of so valuable a resource, our
youth.
I am sick with anger and
frustration with parents and leaders
who think that a little bit of alcohol
won’t hurt anything. I am filled
with contempt for people who
propose lowering the drinking age
This is a reminder that the North
Huron Policing Committee is a
program established for people to
look out for their community. Also,
there is the Mobile Watch Unit,
considered “an extra set of eyes for
the Ontario Provincial Police, who
can not be everywhere at once.
Hopefully community service
hours would be put in place to
those found guilty of such deeds,
instead of just the usual slap on the
hand and a fine, that parents end up
paying.
one in most cases.
This amount of grain will feed a
village of 1,700 people for a year.
This is amazing!
It is impossible to name all the
persons involved in this project as
so many contributed generously.
To show our appreciation we
would like to invite everyone to an
appreciation lunch on Sunday, July
18. The lunch event will be held at
because they will get booze
anyway, so why not make it legal. I
am frustrated with laws, court
rulings and other legal
maneuvering that restricts my
ability to do my job, preventing this
kind of tragedy.
The ambulance begins the job of
scraping up and removing the dead
and injured. I stand by, watching as
hot tears mingle with rain and drip
off my cheeks.
I will spend several hours on
reports and several months trying
to erase from my memory the
details of that night. I will not be
alone. The driver will recover and
spend the rest of his life trying to
forget. I know the memory of this
fatal accident will be diluted and
mixed with other similar accidents
I will be called in to cover.
Yes, I am angry and sick at heart
with trying to do my job and being
tagged the bad guy. I pray to God
that I might never have to face
another parent in the night and say
your daughter Susan, or your son
Bill, has just been killed in a car
accident.
You ask me, why did this
happen?
It happened because a young
person, stoned out of his mind,
thought that he could handle two
tons of hurtling death at 128 km/h.
It happened because an adult,
trying to be a “good guy”, bought
or sold to some minor, a case of
beer.
It happened because you as
parents weren’t concerned enough
about your child to know where he
was and what he was doing; and
you were unconcerned about
minors and alcohol abuse and
would rather blame me for
harassing them when I was only
trying to prevent this kind of
tragedy.
It happened because, as people
say, you believe this kind of thing
only happens to someone else.
For your sake I hope it doesn’t
happen to you. But if you continue
to regard alcohol abuse as just part
of growing up, then please keep
your porch light on because some
cold, rainy night, you will find me
at your doorstep, staring at my feet
with a message of death for you.
D. F. Shropshall
Senior Constable
Community Services Officer.
Mr. Harry Lear retired in June from the Clinton Public Hospital
Board of Directors. Mr. Lear joined the CPH Board in 1990 and
worked on a variety of committees. He held the position of
Treasurer in 1994-95, Vice-Chair 1995-96 and served a
challenging year as Chair of the Board in 1996-97. Harry is well
respected by hospital staff and board. He has been consistently
enthusiastic and dedicated in his board activities and always a
willing volunteer for fundraising and other hospital related
events. Board Chair, Peggy Menzies presented Harry with a
framed print as a token of appreciation for his contributions to
the governance of Clinton Public Hospital.
Keep in mind that the next hydro
bill contains the names of those
you can contact when problems
arise. In turn, it will be dealt with in
the best possible way.
In the meantime, keep an eye out
for one another. Thank you.
Kathy Bromley
Co-ordinator for Blyth Citizens
on Patrol.
P.S. If you wish to become
involved in this program, do not
hesitate to call me at 523-4497.
On June 23, 1999 the Huron Perth Hospitals Partnership (HPHP)
hosted a picnic for staff, board and physicians of the eight
hospitals in the organization. Part of the event was a segment
entitled "Strut Your Stuff" that invited each hospital to entertain
the group. One of the entries from CPH was the following poem
written and presented by Harry Lear. Having been very active in
board activities during the time immediately before, during and
after the formation of the HPHP, Harry provided a reflection on
those days that most at the picnic could relate to.
— -------------
Guess it was back in '96
That Mike Harris decided the health care to fix!
Decided that 'though a health crisis arose
They would find some means by which some would close
Some hospitals down, though denials were made,
He'd pass on savings along, yep he'd sure make the grade.
A DHC in place for Huron and Perth
Though from some of us here it elicited no mirth.
Soon plans were made for each of eight towns
There were St. Marys and Exeter and Clinton town
Whose fate in abeyance was held for some time,
The chance for survival was not worth a dime.
Some thought we were foolish and some even worse,
But we thought without hospitals ‘twould be a great curse.
Though suspicions were rife, working together did plod
And found new ways and means ne'er before trod
of working together a problem to fix,
With eight working together would make a good mix.
Wise and cool heads from each hospital met
With Jim Harrold to help us, a good plan to get.
The results of these meetings are before us today
I congratulate all who a big part did play,
In getting a pact their duties did not shirk
And I'm proud to believe in my heart it will work.
To fine tune the health this year and beyond.
The group turned to London, came up with a blonde.
I think they close well and so wisely too
For the health of our community, for I and for you.
the Blyth Lions Park from noon
until 3 p.m. Hamburgers and hot
dogs will be served; a free-will
offering will be collected to cover
the cost of lunch and to raise some
funds for this year’s growing
projects.
If you would like to be more
involved or would like to see this
project expanded come join us for
Continued on page 7
With Bonnie’s guidance & leadership & strong executive group
I feel certain and confident we'll not be thrown for a loop.
The plans will be made, each centre playing a part
To ensure the executive have made a good start.
We look to the future with confidence and grin.
We are raring to go, so now let us begin
To finish the task we envisioned so clearly
While retaining those services we all hold so dearly.
I wish that I had a clear crystal ball
And could make a promise to one and all
That things would go as they have in the past,
But 'tis a wish that we know could not last.
For change is a biowin' like wind o'er the plains,
This momentous beginning will bring sunshine and rains.
So to each of you here I speak of hope and rebirth
To system that well serves both Huron and Perth.
- Harry Lear