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The Citizen, 2001-01-31, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2001 Editorials & Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Cortipany Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $28.00/year ($26.16 + $1.84 G.S.T.) In Canada; $65.00/year in U.S.A. and $100/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 newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are Copyright We acknowledge the financiol support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS. Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northh•iron.on.ca ocna +CNA ,ICV "% .1 Member of the Ontario Press Council MitENN Not in my backyard Huron and Perth Counties produce more agricultural products than most other counties in the province but the jobs created by processing those products into consumer-ready foods usually go to the cities. When someone offers to change this circumstance, however, the not-in-my- backyard syndrome strikes. The Listowel Banner reported last week that the proposal to build a packing plant southwest of the town had been turned down by town council in an in-camera meeting a month earlier. The Oxford Packers pork processing plant would have been well out in the country, far from any residential areas yet next to the town's sewage treatment plant. Still, there had been complaints from the public about fears of extra truck traffic and possible smells. In the long run, however, it seems to have been complaints from nearby industries that spelled the death of the proposal. When industries start protesting other industries, you have to wonder why we have industrial zones. So now Oxford Packers, a joint project of Larry arid Glenn Tulpin of Norfolk Packers and Miriam Terpstra of Ethel, is seeking to locate on a site near Mitchell and at a public meeting there last week, some people were expressing the same concerns as heard at Listowel. Those 50-100 jobs would sure look good in Brussels or Blyth but if circumstances were such that the company did decide to locate in either of the villages, no doubt some people would also be opposed here too. We already have the smells of producing millions of pigs a year in Huron and Perth in large-scale, modern barns. It would seem that reaping the reward for having those big hog farms would be something the two counties would want. The message we seem to be sending, however, is to keep taking our farm production to the city for processing and let our local economy continue to struggle for lack of jobs.— KR The difficulty of making laws Anyone who thinks politics is easy need only look at the reaction to last week's Supreme Court decision on the laws governing child pornography. Those who think protecting children should override all other rights think the court has opened the door for abuse of our precious young people. Those who worry about freedom of speech, think the court went too far. The difficult problem for government has always been finding the right balance between protecting rights and preventing people from abusing those rights by preying on others. Advocates for civil rights think that freedom of speech is too important a concept to allow the government to interfere with it. They worry that the Supreme Court's decision will allow police to interfere in what could simply be an artistic process. Many artistic masterpieces could be interpreted as child pornography by police, they say. On the other hand, child advocates argue that even allowing someone to create and possess something for their own enjoyment should be illegal. "Before any sexual act is committed, it is nurtured in a private world of fantasy," wrote Lorna Dueck, a producer and broadcaster with 100 Huntley Street. Are we then to police even people's thoughts? In upsetting people on both sides, the Supreme Court probably reached the right balance. Extremes on either end probably don't work.— KR Please, not 'No' Photo submitted Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, ' The Alzheimer Society of Huron County held its sixth annual Walk for Memories event on Jan. 20. The society acknowledges the dedicated volunteers, walk participants, local business, secondary schools and residents of Huron County for the generous support of this year's event which raised $12,000 county wide. The money raised will go towards enhancing the services offered by the Alzheimer Society of Huron County which includes education, support, referral and research. Anyone wishing more information about our services, please contact the Alzheimer Society of Huron County at 481-1482 or 1-800-561- 5012. Thanks again, Cathy Ritsema, Executive Director. Looking Back Through the Years Feb. 1, 1950 The United Church Young People's was held at the home of Isabel Dennis. Scripture was given by Donna Cudmore. President was Madalon Ryan. The directors of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture held an open meeting to discuss the proposed change- in the Educational Curriculum for Ontario Schools, as proposed by the Minister of Education, the Hon. Dana Porter. The advantage of eliminating the entrance examination - was carefully presented. In Huron County, 95 per cent of all pupils who tried entrance examinations passed and 93 per cent went on to high school. In Blyth, the recent publicity given old coins had sent many people searching through their trinkets. Mrs. Harold Wodden, found among here ollection of coins a Bank of Upper Canada half-penny dated 1857, and a United States penny dated 1849. A demonstration of the Kelly Kirby Kindergarten method of teaching piano playing to children of pre-school age was given by Mrs. L. D. Thompson, at her home on Turnberry Street. Children taking part were Joan Johnston, Marion Michel, Rochele Wineberg, Reid Hackwell, Kathryn McTaggart. Certificates were presented to the children. Donald Perrie and Frances Myers, who had previously taken the course, also received their certificates. At Grewar's Groceteria in Brussels, you could get 24 lb. Purity All Purpose Flour With Linen Tea Towel $1.79. Three tins of Libby's tomato soup were 28 cents. Jan. 29, 1986 John Wise, federal agriculture minister spoke to the Huron County Cattlemen's Association in Clinton, claiming his government had cut beef imports from the European Community by half in 1985 and warning the government must get involved in free trade negotiations with the U.S. to keep beef markets open. A full house was on hand to give him a standing ovation. The Brussels council announced that those not paying their Public Utilities bills in time would be "pursued" through small claims court, not through having their unpaid bills added to taxes. Grey Twp. was spending 70 per cent more on insurance than the previous year. Conestoga College was exploring the idea of providing continuing education classes in Brussels. A local advisory committee has been appointed to help with the program. Included are: Ruth Sauve, Miriam Zehr, Alan Bragg, Tom Hanrahan and Betty Graber. Brussels Agricultural Society presented 4-H awards at its annual meeting and banquet. Award winners were Darren Johnston, Donna Lynn Armstrong of Auburn, Grant Martin, Kevin Johnston, Heather Wheeler and Dave Wheeler. Renay Taylor and Shawn Campbell were congratulated by Bon Homme Carnival after they were- chosen queen and king of the East Wawanosh Public School winter carnival. Dance champions at the Brussels Figure Skating club Championships were chosen. Winners were: Dana Mathers, Lisa Pennington, Karia King, Peter MacDonald, Scott Johnston and Stacy Miller. - Jim Mair of Brussels was rewarded for his long service to the agricultural society and the community when Brussels Agricultural Society held its annual meeting at Brussels United Church. Presenting the certificate was Murray Hoover. Rocky IV was playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham. Jan. 30, 1996 _ Poor visibility contributed to an accident about noon on Hwy. 4, just north of Blyth that sent three people to the hospital. All were later released. Police closed the highway after the accident because of the crash and the drifting snow. The highway had also been closed for a time the previous day due to poor weather conditions. Grey Twp. Fire Department picked up their new tanker from Clare Weber Fabricating in St. Jacobs. The chassis was bought in Palmerston at A & B Dobson's and is a 1986 International. Total cost of the tanker is $56, 462. It has replaced the old one, which was built in 1967. Using white face . masks and gloves a group of Grade 7 and 8 students learned black light movement during the drama workshop at Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Thursday. This session was taought by Philip McMillan, a teacher at Goderich District Collegiate Institute. Forty-two students from Brussels, East Wawanosh, Grey, Howick, Turnberry and Wingham Public Schools were involved.