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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-06-19, Page 4HEY, DOC, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HURT EACH OTHER, ARE WE ?! PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2002 Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young & Mary Jean Kernaghan 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; S80.00/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 CD 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 Mall Agreement No. 40050141 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca OCna +li►CNA %We. Member of the Ontario Prev Council mMAITIMI1 P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 The Citizen P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Exercising power Many people in journalism breathed a sigh of relief when mogul Conrad Black sold his newspapers in Canada. Black had come uncomfortably close to using his massive power to try to choose the next prime minister of Canada. Little did people know the worst fears about Black would be realized in the new owners, the Asper family. The firing this week of Ottawa Citizen Publisher Russell Mills because he wrote an editorial calling on Prime Minister Jean Chretien to resign confirms the concerns that diversity of opinion and freedom of the press were endangered by the concentration of many newspapers in a few hands. The only thing different between the rich and powerful men who owned the Southam group of 14 newspapers and The National Post has been their political slant on things: Black trying to unite the right while Izzy and David Asper call themselves Liberals. It just goes to illustrate that you can be Liberal without being liberal. There's nothing liberal in the Aspers' stance that they will control what goes in their newspapers. True liberals believe in diversity of ideas and thought and the right of people even within a newspaper to express thought different than the owner. The Aspers believe in exercising their prerogative to run an entire chain of newspapers the way a small-town newspaper owner might have run his newspaper years ago. In fact both Black and the Aspers seemed to want to take us back to the bad old days of the 1800s when newspapers were started as voices of the different political parties and news coverage was designed to convince people that they should vote a certain way. Going back to the days when Roy Thompson was amassing a huge chain of newspapers there have been fears about the power a single owner could have by controlling much of the nation's daily newspaper circulation. The fears were not realized under Thompson because he was in it for the money. He once said he'd prefer his newspapers not to be so liberal in their stances but the good reporters and editors all seemed to be liberals. But Black, and now the Aspers, want not just the money but the influence too. The Aspers have already caused a stir within the journalism profession by insisting all their papers publish a weekly editorial written at corporate headquarters in Winnipeg and forbidding staffers at its newspapers across the nation to contradict that editorial in later editions. Now they've taken the situation one step further by firing a publisher who doesn't think the way they want to think. But democracy only works when there is a full marketplace of ideas, and as media chains grow-, it's even more important that diversity be allowed even within the pages of the same newspaper. This should be a concern for everyone who wants to be informed. More and more newspapers, both dailies and weeklies, are being owned by fewer and fewer people. We must either be guaranteed that staff of these newspapers will be free to express their opinions or we must do something to turn back the tide of corporate concentration. We can't continue on the path the Aspers have put us on. — KR Looking Back Through the Years Faulty bookkeeping While people continually say government should be operated more like a business, the way books are kept for government gives a faulty picture that private auditors would not allow. The provincial government appears to be taking advantage of that flaw to try to balance a budget that actually shows a deficit. Part of the revenue to pay for new spending on health care and education in Monday's budget will come from the sale of government assets. This is a little like paying the heating bill for your house by selling off the front porch. Yet that's the way government accounting goes. It was working the opposite way when governments were under attack for running deficits. Taxes could be going to buy capital assets that would be around for dozens of years, but they were all treated as if they were regular operating expenses. There's no asset column on a government balance sheet as there is in a private company's financial report, so once the government owns something there's no credit for it. Now, however, the provincial government is trying to find ways to create short-term revenue by selling off long-term assets. It hardly seems like good business. — KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, Last week while driving west of Brussels I was disheartened to see that Maitside Orchards had been bulldozed and burned. It is obvious that the new owners have a flagrant disregard for the asthetic value this property had. What a shame! Jeff Cardiff. THE EDITOR, The Alzheimer Society of Huron County would like to sincerely thank our dedicated volunteers and the generous support of Blyth residents during the 9th Annual Tag Days held May 31 and June 1. County-wide $4,589.99 was raised to help support local programs and provide "Help for Today and Hope for Tomorrow." Sincerely, Cathy Ritsema, Executive Director. June 23, 1960 The Brussels congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses had been invited to attend a four-day convention at Exhibition Park in Toronto. Lincoln Martin, presiding minister, headed the local delegation of about 15 persons. Brigitte Bardot and Jaques Charrier starred in Brigette Goes to War, which was playing at Wingham's Lyceum Theatre. The double feature at Llashmar Drive-in Theatre in Listowel was As Young As We Are, starring Robert Harland and Phillipa Scott and The Hot Angel, with Jackie Lougherty and Ed Kemmer. Machan Hardware had a special on home freezers. A 15-cubic foot freezer cost $249, while the 17- cubic foot one was $269. Seven dollars and 95 cents bought a muffler for your car, with a two- year guarantee at MacLean Fina Service. June 24, 1987 Grey Twp. hosted a ceremony to dedicate the J. Melvin Camochan Memorial Park in Ethel. The late Mr. Carnochan, who lived beside the park, took a great deal of pride in the area, cutting grass, planting trees, etc. In June of 1985, the townships purchased the property between the park and County Rd. 19 and this was added to the park. Mr. Carnochan left a sum of money to be invested to assist the future maintenance and improve- ment of the park. The celebration in his honour featured softball games, a plaque unveiling and fireworks display. Blyth architect Christopher Borgal was hired by the Blyth Festival to come up with "practical" plans for expanding the facility. June Warwick and Gerry White purchased the Brussels Inn. The hotel had been closed for nearly one year. The Blyth community welcomed a new minister. Rev. Lorenzo Ramirez, his wife Norma and their children John and Abigail took up residence in the United Church manse. Guest speaker at the Blyth Festival gala 13th season dinner was Harry Boyle. Blyth's newest shop was A Touch of Hands. June 21, 1989 Blyth officially opened its Extended Services Office. Const. Mike Alexander of the Wingham OPP was the community's liason officer. The show went on but the star of the evening wasn't on hand as Blyth Festival began its 15th season. Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander was unable to attend because the overcast skies meant his plane couldn't land. His appearance was cancelled by phone at 3 p.m. Friday. Speeches were rewritten and Dan Needles, author of the opening night play Perils of Persephone, was pressed into service as the opening night speaker for the gala dinner. Students at Walton Public School bid a fond farewell to Principal Gary Jewitt, who was leaving for Liberia where he was to be involved in a program to educate Africa's principals. Brussels EMA Foods celebrated its third birthday. Michael Schneider of Auburn received his Chief Scout award. June 24, 1992 Record-breaking weather caused extensive damage to local crops. A widespread heavy frost hit Huron, as far south as Windsor and north to Bruce Peninsula. The damage to corn, soy and white beans was considerable. The new owners at the Brussels Country Inn were Joe Springer and Helga Zimmer, formerly of Waterloo. John Harrison received recognition for his service to the Brussels Lions Club. Sandra Hessels and April Bromley operated the Blyth tourist booth for the season. June 18, 1997 Lila McClinchey, a school bus driver for East Wawanosh students for 30 years, was the guest of honour at a special assembly. McFadden Appliance opened in Blyth. The new executive for Blyth Legion was past president, Gord Haggitt; president, Bob Hillis; first vice-president, John Stewart; second vice-president, Sam Dougherty; secretary, Bob McInnis; treasurer, Colleen Bell; executive members. Susan Haggitt, Alex Blair, Leo Denine, George Ives, Clare Vincent, Ralph McCrea; chaplain, Rev. James Came; Sgt.-at-Arms, John Battye; public relations, Mary Lou Stewart; membership, Gord Jenkins; assistant poppy chairman, Pat Jenkins; track and field, Crystal Taylor; youth education, Anne Elliott; Nevada, Brad Montgomery; sports chairman, Murray Black. Auxiliary executive was: past president, Mildred Ament; president, Janice Henry; first vice- president, Brenda Finlayson; second vice-president, Betty Bowes; secretary, Val Pethick; treasurer. Debbie Stryker; executive members, Susan Hubbard, Kay Hesselwood, Edythe Glousher, Connie Shiell, Bernice Pierce; Sgt.-at-Arms, Connie Bromley; sports officer. Debbie Stryker; auditors. Betty Bowes, Renee Snell.