Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-04-29, Page 4Photo by Bonnnie Gropp C itizen Cn The North Huron Looking Back Through the Years May 2, 1968 A Blyth teen was the object of an early morning search by police when she failed to return home Monday night, was found asleep beneath a row of seats about 8:15 a.m. at the Belgrave Community Centre, eight miles from her home. A help wanted ad for a salesper- son for Rawleigh Products adver- tised $3 dollars per hour. Thompson and Stephenson advertised boneless dinner ham for 99 cents a pound, smoked picnic shoulders for 43 cents a pound, and sliced large bologna for 39 cents a pound. May 2, 1973 Don Scrimgeour was the proud new owner of the Butcher Shop in Blyth. A deal fell through with one he had purchased in Lucknow so he ended up in Blyth and had the store open on Saturday for business ending the meat shortage that had been caused when the meat store had closed a week earli- er. An attempt was made to interest those in the area to organize minor - soccer teams for the summer. The hope was to form at least one, and possibly two teams this year. and North Huron Citizen April 30, 1997 Jason Shortreed of McKillop Twp., a member of the Twin City Spinners, earned a gold medal at the Canadian Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Kitch- ener. Students and staff of Brussels Public School enjoyed a special time on Earth Day, when the School Advisory Council donated two Norwegian maple trees to be planted in recognition of retired teacher Jim Prior, secretary, Isabell Prior and soon to be retired princi- pal Dave Kemp. From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post Letters THE EDITOR, As Fire Marshal of Ontario, I am deeply saddened by the tragic fires that continue to claim the lives of the people of this province — particularly young children and older adults. In 1997, 154 people lost their lives to fire. In Ontario in 1998, 51 people have already died. Why do these fire tragedies happen? Most people don't realize that 90 per cent of fire deaths occur in our homes, where we feel most safe and secure. Approximately 70 per cent of those deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Never underestimate the seriousness of fire. Fire grows very rapidly and can involve the entire home in a matter of minutes, trapping the occupants before the fire department arrives. Needless fire tragedies will continue to occur unless everyone takes responsibility for their own safety. The fact is that the majority of fire deaths are preventable. The major causes of fatal fires are careless smoking and careless cooking. Falling asleep while smoking, or leaving pots on the stove unattended are all too common occurrences. Unfortunately, the victims of these fires are frequently innocent family members. The fire service is working hard to educate the public about fire safety, but we need everyone's help. You must take responsibility for safety in your own home. First priority must be given to preventing fires from occurring. In the event that a fire does start, a working smoke alarm on every level of your home will alert you and your family and will provide you with a chance to escape. Developing and practising a home escape plan will help to ensure everyone knows what to do when the alarm sounds. Remember, fire can strike quickly and when you least expect it. You may only have a few minutes to escape. Fire safety in the home is your responsibility. • Bernard A. Moyle Fire Marshal of Ontario. PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1998. P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG I HO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@huron.net Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil YERIFiE 0 CIRCULATION PAW The Citizen Is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance et a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A. and $75.00/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. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 A word of thanks There is in each of our communities, a group of people whose work we take very little notice of until we need them: our volunteer fire departments. Yet year after year these people risk their safety to fight fires and, increasingly, to help out in other areas from medical emergencies to accidents. In this latter capacity, for instance, Blyth firefighters have attended three accidents that resulted in fatalities in slightly over two weeks, as well as another accident that, but for good fortune, could have resulted in a fatality. There's no doubt dealing with death and destruction must be wearing on people who are doing this, not as a job, but as a service to their communities. When they return from these emergencies they must go back to their regular jobs, and to their lives. Yet this first response service the fire departments are increasingly being asked to undertake is a valuable service. In some cases, of course, firefighters are needed to extract people from vehicles. But even when things are simpler, their role can be important. At a recent accident scene, for instance, firemen were able to stabilize the victim and comfort him for nearly half an hour before the ambulance and police arrived. Having someone there beside you must be an immense relief when you've been injured. So thanks to volunteer firefighters in our communities. In a world where people more and more are thinking only of themselves, you are a shining illustration of people helping people for little reward. — KR Canada's strongman Prime Minister Jean Chretien's visit with Cuban President Fidel Castro was billed as an attempt to bring Cuba back into the family of nations of North and South America but perhaps, given what was happening at home, Chretien was getting tips on how to be a strongman. While Chretien was supposedly promoting the value of democracy in Cuba, back home his party whip was telling MPs not to think, just vote as the boss wanted. Any backbench MP whose conscience was bothering him or her over the government's decision to compensate only some of the victims who got Hepatitis C through tainted blood, was told to put his party first despite what he or she felt was the right thing to do. If not, retaliation was threatened. Now if this had been a matter of the government facing defeat over the Reform Party's motion to extend compensation to all victims of the tainted blood scandal, then the government's heavy-handedness might have been understandable. But Chretien needlessly made this a do-or- die vote, saying that he considered it a matter of confidence in his government. That put the pressure on MPs to toe the line or else. Chretien has repeatedly demonstrated that he feels Members of Parliament are just bodies to help him do his will, not people elected by their constituents to wisely consider, on their behalf, the great issues of the day. In this case the MPs are probably accurately representing the people who elected them in their concern that the government's policy is wrong. That doesn't matter to Chretien who only wants puppets in his caucus. It's an attitude Castro would understand. — KR Accidents do happen Canada is earning a black eye internationally this week as a Toronto- based mining company is at the centre of an ecological disaster in Spain. Boliden Ltd. maintains it followed all the rules but still a toxic soup of chemicals escaped a holding pond and entered a local river, killing all life in the water and spreading onto nearby farmland. The company claims a seismic shift under the walls of the dike holding back the chemicals caused it to collapse. Time may prove this to be correct but it doesn't change the fact the disaster happened and that the entire region will be poisoned for years to come. Accidents do happen, yet people and businesses regularly question the need for stringent regulations to prevent disasters because of the cost involved. Whenever there is a dangerous substance, however, there's potential for disaster. In Huron County we don't have many toxic chemical waste sites but we do have huge liquid manure tanks. Owners of those tanks must be aware that, like the disaster in Spain, the unexpected can happen and they must be prepared to prevent it. — KR E ditorial