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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-12-19, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2001 Editorials Opinio 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 Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $28.00/year ($26.17 + $1.83 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A. and S t00/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 S photographs. Contents of The Citizen are C Copyright We acknowledge the financial 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. 40050141 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1HO NOG 1HO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca ocna +CislA Member of the Ontario Press Council M2;11611 Grinchoof the Week Award Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, after "some drinks",proceeded to visit a homeless shelter where he slurred as he swore and yelled at residents. Next day, he declared: "I will alwa s strive to re resent m office and this •rovince with di•ni and res• ct," Looking Back Through the Years Pardon the confusion Poor parents and taxpayers in Huron and Perth Counties. The conflicting signals they keep getting about the state of education in the Avon-Maitland school district is enough to have anybody's head swimming. There was good news last week when it was announced that Grade 9 students in Avon Maitland were tops in the province when it came to math test scores. Seems like our schools are doing an exceptionally good job of teaching math skills. Two weeks earlier, however, results of provincial testing of students in Grades 3 and 6 showed Avon-Maitland students performing at below the provincial average. We're getting used to these kinds of confusing signals about the education system. For years trustees have said they can't make ends meet on the money transferred from the province. Provincial officials, including Huron-Bruce MPP Helen Johns, say the problem is with the board. Then there are the board's words about possible school closings, versus its actions. There was originally talk that up to a dozen schools in Huron and Perth could be closed to meet budgetary requirements. When the official list was announced last week only five scho, its were on the list. But are the schools that survived this round of cuts nrhv Safe? Who really knows. Democracy is about informed decision making on the part of the electorate. The difficulty for taxpayers and parents is trying to sort out all the conflicting bits of information around education to be able to make any kind of informed decision. — KR Two countries, two personalities Anyone who has wondered if there was really a difference between Canadians and Americans has had a lesson in the personality differences 6f the societies north and south of the border. Those differences were displayed again with the reaction of critics to the release of the new federal budget. South of the border, it's offensive to criticize the government when the country is at war. Opposition leaders may be grumbling under their breath about, this or that, but they know that the mood of the people is that their leaders should show solidarity. In Canada the mood seems to be the opposite. It would be hard to see what our government could do that would be right in the eyes of opposition parties, provincial premiers and media critics. A month ago provincial premiers like Ontario's Mike Harris were saying the government's priority must be security. When the budget focussed on security they were blamed with not having more money for health care. If they'd spend money on health care, they'd likely have been blamed for not making tax cuts-. What's more our efforts internationally are belittled. We'd made the third biggest commitment among western allies to the coalition forces but all critics can mention is the age of the helicopters (Has anybody talked about the age of the B52 bomber the U.S. is using to pound the Taliban?). When the government said peacekeepers wouldn't be sent until they were Welcome, critics belittled our commitment to put our troops at risk. But how many American soldiers have been put at risk on the ground? The absense of casualties seems to indicate the Americans have been letting other Afghan soldiers do most of the dirty work, yet nobody's questioning their courage or commitment. Since it was a failure of U.S. security that led to an attack on American cities, there's plenty of room for self-doubt and hard questions south of the border but it's the nature of the American people to pull together. Here north of the border we seem more comfortable pulling the scabs off our wounds of inferiority. Nothing we do seems to be good enough. We beat ourselves up even when we're doing things right, If we saw an individual who exhibited this kind of exaggerated insecurity we'd say they needed help. We have much to learn from our neighbours to the south in seeing ourselves in a more positive frame of mind. — KR Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for the purpose of verification only. Letters that are not signed will not be printed. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccurate information. As well, letters can only be printed as space allows. Please keep your letters brief and concise. Dec. 20, 1950 The concert presented by the Brussels Lions Boys and Girls Band was well received. Mary Lou McFarlane performed I'll Be Home For Christmas accompanied by Betty Cousins at the piano. The band's selections were Royal Road, The Traveller, Waltz King, Old McDonald Had a Farm and Trombone Antics. Other numbers on the program included a clarinet solo, Smiles, Robert Kennedy; duet, Elena Polka, June Hackwell and Marjorie Watt; solo, Whispering Hope, Herb Kirkby; cornet solo, Evening Song, Joan Johnston; cornet solo, Marching Song, Marion Hemingway; saxophone solo, 0 Solo Mio, Barbara Allen. Rev. G. Hazelwood, Lions president, experssed appreciation to the members for the hard work. The story went on to express an opinion. "There are some who have felt that the large expenditure necessary to support a band is not wise. They claim that in a few years, these boys and girls will be grown and a large majority of them gone, therefore their training will be of no benefit to the community. This is a very narrow viewpoint for no matter where these youngsters go they will carry with them the training they have received and will be better citizens because of it." The Voice of Temperance wrote: "Word has come up from the wouth end of the county that one of our county newspapers is advertising the Christmas Seals campaign. That is commendable. What is not commendable is that this advertising is sponsored by a brewery. This is some of the brewer's so-called goodwill advertising. How they do try to ingratiate themselves with the public." Four dozen new crop oranges could be purchased at Grewar's Grocetefia• for 99 cents. A one-pound box of chocolates, wrapped for Christmas with a greeting card was selling for 29 cents to $2.45. A proclamation from Reeve R.B. Cousins stated "In accordance with the British Tradition and to fall in line with towns surrounding Brussels I hereby proclaim Tuesday. Dec. 26, Boxing Day, a civic holiday." Dec. 23, 1981 Robin Lyons, a. young Anglican minister just starting out, was the new minister for the Brussels and Blyth congregations. He moved to Brussels with his wife Jennifer. Youngsters who sold the most tickets for the Lite up Blyth Contest were Graham Glousher, Karen Foran, Jennifer Allen, Deanna McDougall and Stephen Souch. Allen Campbell, RRI, Seaforth was returned as president of the Huron Plowmen's Association for the third term. Dec. 18, 1985 Outgoing Huron County Warden Paul Steckle presented the ceremonial key to the county' first woman warden. Leona Armstrong: The recreation agreement for Brussels, Morris and Grey became official when representatives from the three municipalities signed it. Beginning in January Brussels would contribute $8,000 to the new joint committee, with Grey giving $7,000 and Morris, $4,000. James F. McGuigan, parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources was at Blyth Public School to present prizes for the annual essay contest sponsored by the Wingham office of the ministry. Winners were: Lisa Watson and Scott Cronin". Murray Nesbitt was installed as Worshipful Master of the Hullett Masonic Lodge AF&AM 568. Sales of the Huron Atlas were over 2,500 and going strong: Elementary and secondary schools in Huron would not come under the close scrutiny 'of an accommodation review the board of education decided. The last schools to undergo such a review were Vanastra, Hensall and J.D. McCurdy Public Schools. The board made a commitment to keep them open. Only Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton was added to the list of schools which were under their minumum effective enrollment. F.E. Madill SS was also on the list. Clinton had 806 student and should have 849. Wingham's enrollment sat at 938 while the lowest number should have - been 960. Dec. 18, 1991 New Brownies in Brussels were Heather Dobson, Andrea Bernard, Sarah Seeds. Amanda Stratton, Shannon Gibbons, Judy Bondi, Amy Ross, Betty Bodfield and -Amanda Van Beek. Blyth's new council was sworn in: Reeve Dave Lee, Councillors John Elliott, Robin Lawrie, Steve Sparling, Shirley Fyle. Dec. 29, 1995 Don Scrimgeour was Blyth and Area Citizen of the Year. Author Robert Munsch visited Blyth Public School. The winners of the Brussels Santa Claus parade were: best service club. Melville Presbyterian Church; best commercial float, Little Darling's; best recreation and sports, Brussels Fair Board: best adult clown. Don McNeil: child clown. Johnathan Perrie Willie: best animal entry, Doug Mitchell family.