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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-03-26, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young, Patty Van der Meer 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; $80.00/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 financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mall Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 40050141 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 )ZE-mail norhuron©*csinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.caA°cna<gNA Member of the Ontario Press Council ■KCSMI The high price of volunteering While many of us are happy to volunteer in our community, being a volunteer firefighter is a whole different ball game, as members of the Brussels Fire Department found out last week. Called from their beds in the middle of the night to fight a housefire, they ended up taking the body of a friend and neighbour from the house after he was overcome by smoke. Certainly there are attractions to being a member of a volunteer fire department; camaraderie at being part of a team, excitement when the adrenaline is pumping when the siren blows, a sense that you are serving your community. But there’s also a high price to pay when tragedy strikes. From attending fatal car accidents to being first on the scene when someone suffers a medical emergency to tragedies like the one Brussels firefighters were part of, there must be many times when volunteers find it hard to sleep because of what they experience in their jobs. The volunteers who keep our rural fire departments running are volunteers unlike any of the rest of us. We should thank them every day for being willing to do a job that risks not only their health and lives, but their state of mind. — KR The right step on nutrient act The immediate future of small farms in Huron County and across Ontario is brighter this week after Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food Helen Johns issued proposed changes to the Nutrient Management Act. Though blasted in some urban newspapers as backing down from legislation designed to protect clean water, Johns’s new regulations will still control the large “industrial” farms that have been the focus of much public criticism. As of July i if a new bam is being built with more than 300 nutrient management units (approximately the equivalent of one cow), it will be required to meet the nutrient requirements of the act. Existing farms with 300 nutrient units or more will come under the act in 2005. Smaller farms will be covered later, some perhaps as late as 2010. The prudent changes may help prevent depopulation of our rural concessions. With farmers aging, there were rumours that many smaller operators would choose early retirement if they were faced with costly changes to meet the requirement of the act. Johns’s new plans also promise that funding to help meet new capital requirements will be in place before any category of farm is required to meet the regulations. Johns has received high praise for her handling of the nutrient management regulations. No doubt her stock will rise again for listening to the concerns of the farming community. — KR Forgetting history lessons Those who forget history may not be condemned to repeat it, but it does make for some dumb arguments. As soon as Canada declared it would not take part in the attack on Iraq, critics began to carp at the government for not joining the fray. One of the favourite complaints from people such as former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was that for the first time Canada is not joining its long-time allies Britain, the United States and Australia when they go to war. The critics seem to have short memories: the U.S. and Australia were both involved in Vietnam. Canadians was present only as UN observers. Canada openly opposed Britain when it and France were involved in the Suez Crisis of the 1950s. Despite these setbacks, we’ve managed to remain friends with all of these countries. Critics have also warned that Canada cannot afford to upset the U.S. government because so much of our trade depends on their markets. Yet when nationalists fretted, at the time of the free trade debate about Canada losing its sovereignty, people like Mr. Mulroney said Canada should have the confidence to not be afraid to go out in the world. Now that Canada has expressed its independence, Mulroney and Steven Harper and others say we can’t afford to be different if it upsets our powerful neighbours. This kind of thinking made Mr. Mulroney shunned by a large majority of Canadians. Mr. Harper may find himself in the same position. — KR Letters to the Editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, Hurray, it looks like spring. I’m glad, I think. As we headed to the United Church on Saturday with heavy hearts, a good number of people also arrived with dirty shoes. We parked our car along the street heading towards the dam, and upon leaving the car and heading down the sidewalk made note to everyone to watch where they were stepping. My tax notice informs me that when walking your dog take the time to stop and scoop. Apparently that doesn’t apply during the winter months in our village. In talking to others, I’ve been told the block from main street to the church was just as bad. I only hope that it wore off your shoes before you got to the carpet on the floor of the church. Let’s get our “Prettiest Little Village” back to looking like one. A Brussels Taxpayer. March 26,1958 Mr. and Mr. R.B. Cousins, Mr. and Mrs. John Wheeler and Alex Pearson attended a dealer-feeder conference of the Ralston Purina Company at the experimental farm in St. Louis, Missouri. On the return trip they spent a day in Chicago where Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Pearson visited the stockyards. Kay Duncan was president of the Brussels Legion Ladies Auxiliary. Readers were invited to “vote as you like - but vote.” A half-page ad supporting Liberal candidate Cochrane, explained what the Liberal program with Lester Pearson “means to you”, while the Progressive Conservatives proclaimed, “Carry on, Elston and John.” Diefenbaker’s program promised “a better life for all of Canada’s people - solid performance - not empty promises.” At the Regent Theatre in Seaforth it was Fort Dobbs on the bill starring Clint Walker, the star of television’s Cheyenne. Playing at the Capitol in Listowel was Stopover Tokyo with Robert Wagner and Joan Collins. A half gallon of vanilla ice-cream was selling for 79 cents at Cousins. Fred Campbell, manager of the Ontario Stockyards in Toronto was the guest speaker for the Huron County Beef Producers annual meeting. March 28,1968 Rev. A. Johnston of Brussels United Church would interview Rev. Russell D. Horsburgh on CKNX’s Singtime. Jack Thynne and his entertainers would present a concert at the Brussels Legion Hail. Proceeds would go to the completion of the bathhouse at the park. Specials at McCutcheon Grocery were: one pound of Maxwell House ground coffee, 79 cents; six-ounce size of Coffeemate, 53 cents; two- pounds of com syrup, 39 cents; and canned hams, $1.47. Stephenson’s Bakery and Grocery had five 14-ounce tins of creamed com for $1; a two-pound jar of peanut butter for 69 cents and three 48-ounce tins of apple juice for $1. March 28,1973 A special evening to honour William Thuell, who had recently retired after over 50 years as a Blyth employee was to be held. Thuell was foreman of the Public Utilities Commission for nearly all of its existence. He also gave a helping hand to many when they had problems with electric power. Jack Riddell went to Queen’s Park and took his own cheering seciotn. The new MPP for Huron was officially sworn in and five busloads of people from the riding were there to see it. A Toronto newspaper reported that Charles MacNaughton, the former MPP would be appointed to fill a vacancy on the Ontario Racing Commission. Blyth PeeWees won the Goderich tournament trophy. Players were: Greg Hallam, Ken Pollard, Dale Whitfield, Bob Hull, Grant Campbell, Curtis Campbell, Jeff Watson, Ken Stewart, Steve Howson, Dennis Knox, Terry Powell, Brian McClinchey, Steve Sparling, Glen Johnston, Johnnie Good and Tom Duttman. The Belgrave PeeWees won the Blyth tournament trophy and the Tri­ County PeeWee trophy. Team members were Dean Campbell, Donald Dunbar, Keith McLean, Marvin Cook, Bradley Cook, Steven Cameron, Ken Marks, Lyle Bridge, Eric Niesson, Jeff Armstrong, Howard Roberts, Wayne McDowell, Donnie Shiell, Doug Arbuckle and Gary Hopper. The Belgrave Tykes won the Tri­ County title and the Blyth Legion trophy. March 23,1988 Ontario’s Attorney General Ian Scott was the guest speaker at the annual Huron provincial Liberal Riding Association meeting in Blyth. A new business started in Auburn, Jo-Jo’s Grocery. Owners were Joseph Burbine and his father, Joseph Sr. Blyth students John Ramirez and Shane Hesch were among the prize winning artists in the Huron County Farm and Home Safety Association’s poster contest. Blyth Novices won the Blyth Little Lions tournament. Players were Darryl Shannon, Chad Haggitt, Chris Bromley, Jason Rutledge, Brad Anderson, Wes Wilson, Mike Salverda, Rob Johnston, Chris Stewart and Fred Datema. MP Murray Cardiff was the guest of honour at the official opening of the Century House Rest Home in Ethel. March 24,1993 Huronlea had its official opening. Over 130 people turned out to audition for the Blyth Community Play Many Hands. K leading meteorologist predicted lower than average corn and soybean yields for the U.S. based on weather patterns. Dr. Elwynn Taylor expected a two-thirds chance of drought in the mid-west. March 25,1998 An early morning blaze leveled a home on Queen Street in Blyth. No one was hurt. Winners of the Brussels Curling Club’s D.A. Rann trophy were Mike Alexander, Bob Alexander, Bob Steiss and Teuni Smith. Winners of the ladies Walter Scott trophy were Doris Fischer, Velma Locking, Linda Sauer and Roseanne Brown.