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The Citizen, 2000-09-27, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2000 Editorials & Opinions 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 $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 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. - Bly th. 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 The Citizen RO. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont.. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 RO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com >cna®«* > Member of the Ontario Press Council ■K0E1M Survival of the fattest High fuel prices are hitting hard at the small independent businesses rural Canada depends on for prosperity. Trucking companies are faced with higher operating costs that, in most cases, they can’t pass on to their customers because of contracts. Farmers meanwhile, already faced with low commodity prices and poor crops because of historically bad weather, also have to deal with soaring costs for the fuel for their equipment. Many people in both categories won’t make it. The theory of a free market is that the fittest will survive, but often it’s more the fattest that will survive — those companies that have stored up enough financial resources, like fat bears preparing for hibernation, that they can keep going during lean times. Small companies may be lean and mean but that doesn’t help when they’re locked in a situation where their expenses keep increaseing but their income doesn’t. We’ve seen the effect of that scenario for ;.t least 50 years in rural areas where farmers' input costs keep going up and up, but the prices for their commodities seldom do. Even if those prices do go up this year, they’ve likely to plummet next year or the year after. It's a pattern that's not sustainable and over the decades we’ve seen the number of farmers crop and drop as only those with the deepest pockets survive. In theory, the open market should create a situation like a healthy forest, where healthy young trees regularly replace large old trees. That keeps a forest, or an economy, vital. But the theory supposes everyone starts out on an equal basis, which just isn’t true. A large trucking company with cash reserves or a friendly banker will likely survive this fuel price crisis. A young person with their first truck, hoping to build a business, isn't likely to have the money to survive, no matter how efficiently he or she runs the business. In the long run, the large company, which may not be as efficient, will not only survive but benefit from the reduction in competition when the little guy goes out of business. And sq we have a system where the big get bigger and bigger, unhindered by the competition a healthy group of new businesses can provide. The theory of free enterprise breaks down and becomes survival of the richest. — AT? It takes more than money With Canada’s less than exciting performance at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the inevitable comparisons with the success of the Australians have been trotted out, complete with the fact they spend $285 million on supporting their athletes compared to $60 million here. If Canadians :hink throwing more money at the problem will bring us gold, however, they're likely to be disappointed. Australia has more than money going for it. The Aussies are a sport mad country. Canada is only fitfully interested. Imagine getting 112,000 Canadians packing a stadium twice a day to watch track and field as the Australians have. Not likely. Most Canadians couldn’t name more than one successful amateur athlete, if that. Austalia virtually stopped when national hero Cathy Freeman won the 400 metres. There's a legitimate argument for increased funding for athletes that goes far beyond the national ego-boost of winning gold medals at the Olympics. National sporting heros, the theory goes, encourage young people to become active in sports. Activity in sports promotes fitness which, in the long run, leads to a healthier, more productive population which needs less expensive health care. In Canada, though, it takes more than a few heros to turn around an entire culture. Our attitutude starts right in the schools where the mind is predominant over the body. It seems the “geeks” who hated anything physical are now running the school system. Physical education is now required for only one semester of a high school student’s career. Now with the boycott by teachers, even extra curricular activities are missing. The image of the athletic and physically fit in society, still suffers in our media, outside of the sports pages. Perhaps because so many writers and actors felt excluded from that elite group when they were young. Yes medals would be nice and some athletes have done us proud. On a whole, however, Canada as a country hasn’t earned those medals.—KR Photo by Janice BeckerA country scene Looking Back Through the Years 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. Sept. 29, 1960 Ten children received their first Holy Communion at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church: Brian Black, Nick Lefor, Michael Kemaghan, Billy De Yong, Kenneth Deitner, Rebecca Nolan, Patricia Sebastian, Rosemary Ryan, Faye Blake and Francine Forcart. The Mercy Brothers were playing at - the Cranbrook Community Centre. The laying of the cornerstone for the new Brussels Public School was held. Inspector J.H. Kinkead, B.P. Templin, architect; Reeve George McCutcheon; members of the school board, teachers and pupils were present. Rev. H. Jennings, formerly of Lucknow was inducted into the parish of St. John’s Brussels, St. David’s Henfryn and St. George’s Walton. Results of the field crop competition in com sponsored by the East Huron Agricultural Society were as follows; first, George Procter; second, Ronnie Coultes; third, John Wheeler; fourth, John Knight; fifth Jas. C. Coultes; sixth, Ross Procter; seventh, Graham Work; eighth, Cecil Coultes; ninth, Robert Procter; 10th, Harry Bolger; 11th, William Turnbull; 12th, Harvey Craig; 13th, Leonard Lamong; 14th, Robert Grasby; 15th Clem Stettler. There were 19 entries and 17 fields scored. A member of the Ethel Women’s Institute for 45 years, Mrs. Joseph Ames was honoured at a meeting of the organization. A charter member of the WI, she was moving to Brussels. The program for the Brussels fall fair began with the school parade, followed by the livestock judging, children’s races and rodeo. Oct. I, 1975 Charter member Mrs. Ed Davies and President Mrs. Ken Scott cut the 25th anniversary cake for the Auburn Horticultural Society. Members of the Hullett Central Public School student council were: Robert Plunkett, vice-president; Debbie Westerhout, treasurer; Karen Dumin, secretary and Judy-Carter, president. The Blyth Lions sponsored a w'alkathon with proceed to help the Canadian Olympic athletes for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Seven turned out to be a lucky number for seven area families when seven sisters, including the wife of former Hullett Twp. Reeve Hugh Flynn shared in a ticket for the Olympic lottery that won them $100,000. Doreen's Beauty Shop moved to a new location on Dinsley Street in Blyth. The former Huron Grill in Blyth re-opened as the Village Restaurant. Sept. 27,1990 The Citizen won a provincial award for its advertising design. It also received an honourable mention for excellence in advertising. Seven Blyth students received the Norman Garrett memorial scholarships: Sherri Howson, Jody Sippel, Mike McDonald, Brent Scrimgeour, Joel Jenkins, Krista Lawrie and Steve Souch. Winning general proficiency awards at the CHSS commencement were Jennifer Roulston, Theresa Knox, Kelly Cook and Scott Shaddick. Melame Knox won an award for Grade 10 Science and Cindy Campschroer won an award for basic food services and a scholar’s award. The Brussels Legion and pipe band members went on a trip to Scotland, where five members of the band, Mary Thomas, Charlie Proctor, Jennifer Procter, Mary Anne Scott and Murray Bone performed with the Ontario Massed Legion Pipes and Drums at the Braemar Games. Duff’s Church in Walton celebrated 125th years. Blyth Lions Club celebrated 45 years of service to the community. Sept. 27, 1995 One of the persons responsible for the robbery in July at Baintons was sentenced to one year in jail. The Union Gas lines were completed in North Huron and gassed up. In spite of rainy weather the Brussels Fall Fair was still a success. Attendance was up as were the entries in the field crop categories and number of vendors in the arena. The 4-H beef club realized animprovement over the previous years with nine calves in the show. Mischief makers torched the outhouse at the Maitland Valley Conservation Park. Damage to the building was estimated at $4,800. Norman Parks Garrett Memorial scholarship recipients at CHSS were Tina Burholder, April Bromley, Paul Hessels, Brian Machan, Stephanie Lentz, Kerry Hallahan, Joseph Fraser, Jackie Caldwell and Jennifer Stadelmann. The Brussels Mite Girls won their division A championship. Team members were Jenna Fischer, Laurie Prior, Brooklyn Wheeler, Lacey McCall, Nicole White, Katie Aitchison, Brittany Kellington, Jody Sellers, Amy Bridge, Racheal Speers, Catrina Josiing, Carolyn Exel, Angela Nichol, Catherine Cameron, Candice Ross, Rachel Elliott, Heather Little and Ashley Keffer. The Hullett Mite Girls were A runner-ups. They were: Kelly O’Conner, Kelly VanBaaren, Ashley James, Kim Veenstra, Eva Thomson, Dawn Dolmage, Tony Mason, Shan Dunbar, Lindsay Hay, Elizabeth MacGregor, Laurie VandenDool, Missy Delyea, Meagan Reinhardt, Tony Dros, Mallory MacGregor, Kelly Ann VandenDool, Alicia McLeod. Dr. Alan Kosaric joined the staff at Seaforth Medical Clinic, and was seeing patients in the Brussels office as well.