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The Citizen, 2000-04-05, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2000. C itizenThioNorthHuron (♦CNA P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil Member Ontario Press Council P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com 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 $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A, and $100/year in other foreign coun­ tries. 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. Publications Mail Registration No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 Stacked case on Truscott E ditorial r" : .. .....z...... ....'i CBC television’s The Fifth Estate program last week has succeeded in stirring up the 40-year-old case and once again convincing a majority of viewers not just that Truscott is innocent, but that his innocence is so obvious there must have been some conspiracy for him to have been convicted. That’s the conclusion they were supposed to draw in a program that was dedicated to giving one side of the issue. The program may have been ’ good television but it was bad journalism. The Fifth Estate reporters claimed the police ignored all evidence except that which would convict the 14-year-old Truscott in the infamous rape and murder of Lynn Harper near Clinton in 1959. The reporters then did just the opposite, giving all the evidence they felt showed he was innocent, and ignoring any that would cast doubt on the evidence. They interviewed one childhood friend who swore he saw Truscott and Harper cross the bridge near Hwy. 8, which would have proved Truscott’s story he gave Harper a ride to Hwy. 8 and dropped her off. They didn’t interview several others who claimed Harper was not with Truscott at the bridge. They called into question the damning testimony of a close Truscott friend, but didn’t let him speak for himself. They demeaned another witness without letting her speak. They quoted testimony of medical experts who questioned the validity of the medical examination, but didn’t quote those who supported the autopsy’s conclusions during the trial. They implied the original trial was virtually rigged and Truscott never had a chance, but they underplayed the fact that the Supreme Court, in an unprecedented move brought on by earlier publicity from a book by Isabel LeBourdais, virtually gave Truscott a new trial where he was represented by some of the nation’s top lawyers. The justices supported the original verdict by an 8-1 margin. Finally, The Fifth Estate reporters threw out the name of another man, no longer around to defend himself, as a possible suspect, even though they had no evidence to show the man was within 50 miles of Clinton when the murder took place. There will always be doubts about the Truscott verdict. Compared to today, police violated what would become Charter rights by questioning him for hours without his parents or lawyers knowing. Compared to today the science was incredibly imperfect — DNA evidence today would conclusively prove the guilt or innocence of the boy. Justice may not have been done in the Truscott case, though it will be nearly impossible to prove 40 years later. Just and balanced journalism was certainly not done on The Fifth Estate. X one-sided case for the defence should be made by lawyers, not by television shows. — KR So what’s a conservative The former Reform Party won the right to call itself the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance (CRCA), this week when Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley turned aside a Progressive Conservative Party (PC) protest that only it had the right to the name “conservative”. When PC leader Joe Clark protested the decision, one Alliance spokesperson said Clark’s party shouldn’t have the exclusive right to the name because it wasn’t really conservative anymore. Which begs the question, what is a “conservative” these days anyway? Certainly the people who purport to represent conservatives today are a lot different than those who were Progressive Conservatives a mere decade ago. In Ontario, the Mike Harris Progressive Conservative government has spent the last five years undoing legislation brought in by the Conservative governments of John Robarts and Bill Davis as much as that of the NDP and Liberals. Even Brian Mulroney’s record in government shares nothing of the agenda today’s conservatives promote, particularly those who support the old Reform or new CRCA. Many conservatives in the past believed in government’s role to even the scales between those rewarded most by society and those disadvantaged. Today’s conservatives seem to feel the rich are entitled to every penny they have and bear no responsibility for those less fortunate. Indeed, the rich should get richer so that, in some unexplained way, the crumbs from their table will make the poor better off. Today’s conservatives who seem to want to build a class society bear little resemblance to the conservatives of the past. — KR Photo by Janice Becker Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and North Huron Citizen April 9, 1975 A snowstorm blanketed the area, bringing a school holiday and win­ ter fun for spring. The banks were so high on the roadsides that hills weren’t needed. The blizzard hit Wednesday evening and by Thursday morning the area was at a standstill. Schools were called off on Thursday and Friday and roads were blocked. Days of freedom were over for dogs in Blyth as James Warwick was appointed dog catcher. A van belonging to George Radford Construction was stolen and taken for a joy ride by a local juvenile. The Blyth Baintoneers lost the tournament in Keedy. Of course, because of the weather they only had eight players who made it. The worry that farm damage in Hullett would suffer when the Hullett Wildlife Management Area went ahead with its plan to flood 2,000 acres of its reserve was a con­ cern expressed by many at a meet­ ing. April 4, 1990 Characters took a minute to mourn at Blyth Festival’s Medieval Feast for their parents, Queen Katherine and King Peter. The situ­ ation unfolded throughout the evening as they tried to find a new king and queen for the realm. Some of the performers were Carrie Salsbury as Princess Pristine, Duncan MacGregor as Prince Duncan, Steve Oliver as Prince Oswald and Floyd Herman as Prince Zippo. The county gave final approval to the Huronview plans. Blyth student Jodee Medd’s sci­ ence project To Bee or Not To Bee went on to the county fair in Clinton. Brussels principal Jim Axtmann announced he was retiring at the end of the year. Nichalas Wheeler, son of Scott and Lori Wheeler was appearing in the Home Promenade commercial on Kitchener and London TV sta­ tions. He was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Cec Moore and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wheeler, all of Brussels. Carmen Klaus, a member of the Maitland Motivators Toastmaster Club in Brussels won the French Canada Day speech contest in Elmira. Ross Procter of Belgrave was named Ontario Cattleman of the Year and donated his award money to the local Canadian Cancer Society. Brussels Crusaders beat Kincardine for the A division title. Brussels students Jacquie Seili and Tim Machan were set to com­ pete at the county science fair. Hullett students to advance were Chris Van Loo, Kevin Losereit, Laurel Campbell and Greg McCiinchey. Among Huron County’s top dairy producers were Lyle and Barb Martin, Ethel, Gerry Rijkhoff, RR3, Walton and Allan Martin, RR2, Listowel. April 5, 1995 Liberals in Huron County elected their provincial election candidate. John Jewitt won the nomination over Sharon Wurm, Doug Gamiss and Rick Mclnroy. Education taxes rose by 10.1 per cent. The new Blyth Business Association executive was Don Scrimgeour, Ruth Uyl, Keith Roulston, Donna Taylor, Carol Irwin, and Rick Fedorick. Crystal Semple, a student at Grey Central School was page at county council. She was introduced by Reeve Leona McDonald. Bert Elliott was sworn in as Morris Twp. reeve. Stephen Oldfield was the recipi­ ent of the Don Higgins memorial Trophy for outstanding goalie in the Brussels Minor Hockey system. The PeeWee player received his award from Terry McCutcheon, coach of the Blying Dutchmen Junior team and a former Brussels boy. Jordin Rutledge, nine of Auburn received a Junior Citizen of the Year award from Lieutenant Governor Henry N.R. Jackman at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association convention. Jordin played an important role in saving his mother’s life after she was shot during a robbery attempt. He was one of 11 young individuals hon­ oured for spirit, courage and deter­ mination. Lori Perrie of RR3, Brussels trav­ elled to Texas to train for the track and field season. Lori specialized in discus at Seaforth District High School, but also competed in javelin and shot put.