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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-11-11, Page 6Seeing both sides Local Grade 7 and 8 students were given the opportunity to experience 'both sides of a real-life conflict when the Perth Foundation for the Arts' Shakespeare on Wheels visited the schools for the presentation of Happy Hunting Ground. Two actors, Rutherford Gray and Gail Fricker, portrayed each role in a dispute between an oil company and natives wanting to hunt and fish the region. The interactive production forced the children to think and talk about all the issues involved. The company visited Brussels and Hullett Central Public School Nov. 3. The pair will perform the show at 50 schools across Huron and Perth by Nov. 27. Store prices not reflecting reality SAVE up to 905° a year Having a subscription to The North Huron itizen saves you money Newsstand price - 750/week Subscription price - 540/week P Yes - I want to save money. Enclosed is $27.00 for a 1-year subscription. Name: Address. I Town: Postal Code: a Wednesday, November 11, 1998 7:30 p.m. F.E. Madill High School Wingham You are invited to attend this exciting Public Meeting to discuss the up-to-date proposals, plans, and Complex Design. The project committee will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Join in the excitement of what will be the beginning of a very important Community Project. A HURON BRUCE COMUNIlY COMPLEX Public Meeting PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1998. Writer discusses crime, punishment Continued from page 4 nice rain in August that likely helped the corn bushel weight but gave the weeds in some soybean fields an even bigger boost. The harvest season was much earlier than normal years. The yields and quality in many cases were better than expected, but some were disastrous. With all this excitement in the fields it was difficult to notice what was going on with the pig prices. However, this is even more exciting. On June 22, a 235-pound finished pig indexing 109 was worth $157.45. After the crops were harvested, if the same hog was sold on Nov. 6, it would be worth $65.69. (This includes a 20 per cent drop in the past week). A farmer finishing pigs would have paid about $50 for the weaner pigs and spent $50 worth of feed on it. That doesn't count hydro, interest, insurance, veterinary expense, building and equipment repairs, trucking, board fees, grading fees and GST. (I hope I didn't miss anybody). At the grocery store, pork products are selling for the same price in November as in June! As a matter of fact, today the dressed carcass price is 71 cents per kg. whereas in the store bacon is $7.18 per kg., loin roast is $11 per kg., even shoulder roast is $4.39 per kg. I don't work in the packing industry or the retail industry but I can tell that these numbers don't add up. A friend that does work in the retail area tells me that there will probably be more "specials" on pork and these will be better bargains. The abattoir that I deal with says pork halves, cut, wrapped and frozen, could get down to $1.87 per kg. The message here is that consumers should watch for these bargains ana tin up tneir rreecers. Meanwhile back at the farm, things are almost as erratic as the rain this summer. Some pig farmers are losing a lot of money and some are just losing some money. A lot of pig farmers the last few years have followed the advice of the experts (most of whom don't have a cent invested, and get paid no matterhow wrong they are), that told them to expand and supply the world with pork. It turns out the world can't afford all this pork, and right now these farmers are in a lot of trouble. Some people reading this will say it serves them right for being so greedy, and in some cases they may be right. However in a lot of cases those pig farmers are the hard working, honest people that you may see at the hockey arena helping coach your kids, or sitting on your local council or doing volunteer work for a local service club. They have families to support and bills to pay (lots of them). They are involved in an industry that is being manipulated more and more by forces that see the farmers and their hard work as a potential source of profit for themselves. In the U.S.A. these types of people have managed to make many farmers almost like slave labour running contract barns. Depending on how long this price slump lasts, these pig farmers are going to need some help. The forecasters are suggesting at least six months of these prices. One producer suggested that a month of these prices would put him in a big enough hole, that it would take a year of good prices to get out of that hole. Six months would take him six years. Meanwhile he can look at the more militant competition over in Quebec, they are supposedly guaranteed a floor price of $1.55. That's a lot better than 71 cents was (or even lower). My biggest concern is that if these pig farmers are allowed to disappear or to be taken over by large corporations such as feed companies or foreign integrators, then the local rural communities will change drastically, for the worse. Dave Linton. THE EDITOR, Page 17 of the Oct. 28 edition of The Citizen dealt almost exclusively with legal issues and crimes. It should be titled the "Crime and Punishment" section. The OPP report a rash of break and enters and thefts over the summer, all over the readership area. Many of the perpetrators go away and there doesn't seem to be any leads. If anyone is charged with .a crime a lot of the cases end up with suspended sentences or placed on probation. Big deal, no record, and no fines in a lot of cases. Not much punishment in my view. On the same page is the article about the Auburn man naming Goderich and the police in a lawsuit, which really disturbed me. This man was injured in a Jan. 16 accident and is blaming everyone but himself. The article does not say who was driving, Mr. Kryanowski or his friend. However, what ever happened to Legion president reminds everyone to remember THE EDITOR, As we pause this week to celebrate Remembrance Day 1998, let us also remember we are on the brink of the 21st century. The future of the Royal Canadian Legion depends greatly on its members. At the Dominion convention in Winnipeg earlier this year, the delegates voted to open membership to persons who believe in the aims and objects of the Legion whether or not their bloodlines are connected to veterans. Fraternal Affiliates as of Oct. 1 with two years service became non- voting affiliates. They all may apply to become voting affiliates with all privileges of current members. They can participate in all Legions sports programs. Please note that all affiliates must be sworn in. Blyth's first swearing-in ceremony will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. Anyone interested in joining may also attend. A potluck lunch is planned plus a games night. On Nov. 11, remember the veterans who fought for the freedoms Canadians enjoy tod4f. President RCL 420 Bob Hillis. taking responsibility for your own actions? He blames the bar for serving him when they knew or should have known he was impaired. He himself should have shown some "adult" responsibility when he drove to the bar to haVe some drinks. Maybe he should have stopped after a couple. What would his reaction have been if the bar had refused to serve him? Anger perhaps? The article also states that he had been arrested earlier in the evening for drinking and driving. Maybe he should have called for a ride home. He had been given plenty of notice (when he was charged). What kind of example is he setting for our young people? People have to take responsibility for their own actions. If he should lose his suit against the town, the bar and his "friends", and I hope he does, what is he going to do? Turn around and sue his parents for not teaching him to be a responsible person. If on the other hand the judge, jury or whomever will decide the suit grants him the money, they are basically agreeing with the plaintiff. No you do not have to take responsibility for your own actions. This will only serve to reinforce to young people . . . it's okay to drink and drive if you can blame someone else if you have an accident. The ridiculousness of some of these lawsuits has to stop. People should be made to be responsible for their own actions. Perhaps this would send a message to others. I don't mean to sound like a callous, uncaring person. I hope he didn't have a young family. But let's get real. The victim here is not Mr. Kryzanowski. He caused the accident. His "serious impairment of important physical, mental and psychological functions" started long before he had the accident. It started when he'd had one too many drinks. The message is out there, why don't people heed it? DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. Mary Sanders, Beigrave.