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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-09-06, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2000 Editorials & Opinions What if we gambled on us? Clinton’s bright new slot-machine casino has officially opened, giving people a chance to have some fun and, hopefully, boosting the town’s economy. Since most of the money gambled there will go out of the area to help the provincial government's revenues, however, the impact won’t be as large as if the same money was spent on local goods and services. The casino brings up a thought, however. Imagine if all the money spent on lottery tickets and other gambling in our towns and villages was spent gambling on our community instead. Imagine if we had some sort of community investment strategy, a sort of community mutual fund, that would invest that money in local ventures that would promote jobs and growth. Certainly the dream of hitting a jackpot that would change our lives with a mere $2 investment in a lottery ticket wouldn't be the same but if w'e could add up all the twoonies spent on gambling in a year, it would become a substantial sum to gamble on the bright ideas in our own communities. The potential return wouldn’t be as impressive. The actual return would be far greater. Think how little money actually comes back into our communities in lottery winnings. Think how much would circulate through new or expanded companies paying wages and taxes and buying the services of others, from builders to accountants. We in small towns lament the demise of our rural way of life, yet we add to the trend over and over again by spending on things that pump more money into the cities. If we ever want to change our situation we need to come up with some bold new thinking, some way of taking control of our lives. It’s nice to dream of winning a jackpot, but it’s a much surer thing to invest in yourself and your neighbours. — KR Democracy’s worth the fight While Canadians seem to be in an era where democracy is taken for granted, events in other countries show we should never relax in protecting this precious possession. Last week in Burma, the last elected leader of the country was stopped from leaving the capital city by the army who deflated the tires on her car so she couldn’t go farther. In an act of defiance, Aung San Suu Kyi, refused to go back to her home for nine days, before she finally gave in. Despite the fact Suu Kyi’s political party won the support of 83 per cent of the voters in the country’s last election eight years ago, the army generals refused to listen to the will of the people. Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for five years and her quiet refusal to buckle under helped win her the Nobel Peace Prize. Actually Suu Kyi is fortunate compared to ordinary Burmese. Her high profile means it’s not so easy for the generals to throw her in jail as they have with others who opposed them. Think of the bravery it takes to wear a tee-shirt with Suu Kyi’s picture on it when you might be arrested. Now think of Canadians who seem to have no time to think about what’s happening around them. Our comm­ unities are being changed irrevocably by amalgamation but few seem to care. We’re moving toward a federal election, if anyone notices. Surely this precious possession called democracy deserves more care. —KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, Thoughts, feelings and emotions. I have all of these (sometimes to the extreme). I know that I have not responded to a small town the proper way if indeed there is a proper way. However if my ship is going to sink I want people to know what my feelings are about the entire small town experience. First of all, I tried and for that I am not a failure. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Right? I am sorry to those of you in Blyth I have offended. I do not claim perfectionism but sometimes, no most times, I expect it from others. The expectation of Perfect People is perhaps one of my biggest character defects. However, I am aware of it and I am currently working on it. I suspect it will take a lifetime of trial and error to tighten that one down. All I have is life and life's lessons so 1 might as well keep working on it. When I first came to town I was greeted with open arms and the feeling was one of awe. The warm fuz/ies our family received was fantastic but somewhere between March 20 and today the fu/.zies fizzled. I’m not sure exactly what, where, why, when or even how, but something went amiss. I have seemed to rubbed a great percentage of Blyth’s population the wrong way. Once again, I am sorry for that and all can do is try not to do it anymore. I’d like to share my take on the situation. I came to town to try to build a business for the prosperity of my family and for the expansion of a great little Canadian Theatre town named Blyth. I thought there would be room for a business such as mine but my finances dictate otherwise. I spent my money locally as much as I could afford to do so and as much as any business person would do. But the output of money in the local economy did not equal the return and eventually the well ran dry. And that folks is my current situation. It is really hard for me to watch local owners of businesses where I spent my money walk by my front window to eat in other establishments. Now I wasn’t Continued on page 5 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 S27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada, $62.00/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 Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Aocna@«A .gf Member of the Ontario Press Council HZM Looking Back Through the Years Sept. 8, 1960 The new beginners in the Grade 1 class for Brussels Public School were Nancy Adams, Colleen Cardiff, Kathryn Ebel, Joan Elliott, Donald Gibson, Ken Grenke, Patricia Jamieson, Bonnie Kregman, Patricia Machan, Cheryl McCutcheon, John Wayne McDonald, Connie McWhirter, Shirley Pipe, Bruce Raymond, Doreen Riley, John Rutledge, Joan Stephenson, Rickey Somers, Brian Stratychuk, Julie Vallance, Carolyn Waite, Sharon Willis, Kathrine Work, Donna Workman. Fame of the quality of Turnbull stock spread to South America. William Turnbull of Grey Twp. shipped hogs to British Guyana. Five times at bat, five hits. That was the pace set by Gale Wilson in a game against Listowel in which the Brussels Junior Girls trounced their opponents 20-3. Back to school deals at Smith’s Rexall Drug Store included ruled ink exercise books, four for 29 cents and matched pen sets with two extra refills for 99 cents. The Brussels Lions Club executive for the upcoming term were president. Jack McDonald, first vice-president, George McCut­ cheon; second vice-president, Donald Dunbar; third vice-president, Cecil McFadden. It was double feature time at local drive-in theatres with Bottom of the Bottle, starring Van Johnston and The Last Wagon with Richard Widmark at the Llashmar in Listowel, while Robert Taylor starred in The Killers of Kilimanjaro and Dick Clark was in Because They’re Young at Brownie’s in Clinton. Sept. 10 1975 There were 195 students enrolled at East Wawanosh Public School. Rev. Harold Snell led the ecumenical service at the Blyth Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association Reunion. Sept. 5,1990 Huron voters prepared to go to the polls to elect their MPP. Brussels Reeve Gord Workman was among the politicians at the Huron County Plowing Match near Varna. Zachary Hall of Wingham won the Blyth Minor Softball Draw. He picked up a portable stereo, donated by Gore's Hardware. Leanne Whitmore of RR4, Walton was named Queen of the Furrow. Twelve girls vied for Brussels Fair Queen title. They were Tracey Fischer, Tammy Cook Stratton, Michelle Freeman, Nadine Campbell, Sue Terpstra, Mary Terpstra, Dawn Engel, Margaret Jarvis, Elizabeth Prescott, Sandy Earl, Kathy McMillan and Frances Smith. The Citizen P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Brussels Mite Girls wrapped up an undefeated season with the championship. Team members were: Crystal Semple, Tanya Franken, Christa Smith, Sarah Seeds, Anita Little, Krissy Dilworth, Lisa Coyne, Kara Lee Pepper, Heather Douma, Amber Ruttan, Amy Crawford, Jenny Gowing, Christina Befurt, Sherry Therrien, Lesley Elliott, Becky McLaughlin. Mike Harris, Progressive Conservative leader of Ontario visited the Champion Road Grader operation in Goderich. Sept. 6, 1995 Enrollment was down at many area schools with the biggest drop being at Grey Central with some 30 less students attending than in the previous year. Union Gas lines were nearing completion and would soon be ready for home usage. Four girls vied for Brussels Fair Queen. They were Denise TenPas, Teresa Bridge, Kady Terpstra and Stacy Hahn. The Blyth Mini Mart was purchased by Bruce Papple. The Blyth Mite Boys won the championship. The team members were Jamie Ross, Mark Caldwell, Andrew Toll, Cole Stewart, Chris Sanders, Justin Peters, Raymond deBoer, Kirk Stewart, Micah Loder, David Kelly, Ryan McClinchey and Corey Machan.