No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-12-17, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Jamie Peters and Alicia deBoer 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 $30.00/year ($28.04 + $1.96 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 Mail 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 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.caAocna®~A Member of the Ontario Press Council ■■33EMI Don’t lose local gem A recent visit to a Santa Claus parade in a distant community was a reminder how badly needed a threatened local institution is. The parade, in a town five times bigger than Brussels or Blyth, had no bands playing. In this area, particularly in Brussels, that would be an unheard of void in the parade because for generations the Brussels Legion Pipe Band has headed every parade in the village and often in nearby communities as well. Currently the band is recruiting new members because many of the older pipers and drummers have been lost along the way and younger people haven’t been coming along in sufficient numbers. Multiculturalism has been a big thing in Canada for the past 30 years but only, it seems, for more recent arrivals. The culture of the original immigrants seems to be fading. Once ' oung people took Scottish dancing lessons and learned to play the pipes. Now heie in midwestern Ontario that proud tradition seems to be fading. (Interestingly the Scottish culture in Cape Breton is having a revival despite the fact the settlements there predate those in Ontario). It would be sad to lose this proud part of our culture. Here’s hoping more parents encourage their children to carry on the traditions of their roots. Here’s hoping more youngsters might think it’s as cool to mark a local tradition as it is to imitate the latest trend from California. Here’s hoping the Brussels Legion Pipe Band goes on adding its glorious sound to local parades for generations to come. — KR Paying the price for dependency The value of competition in the marketplace has seldom been more evident than since the single case of Mad Cow Disease in Alberta interrupted normal markets last spring. While markets for younger animals have recovered somewhat with the reopening of the U.S. border to meat from animals under 30 months of age, beef farmers selling older breeding animals and dairy farmers trying to cull unproductive cows from their herds are finding what they get from selling an animal sometimes barely covers the trucking costs. In desperation, some are starting programs to donate the meat to local food banks. That’s great for the food banks and the needy who will receive the food but not for farmers trying to stay in business. Many farmers are blaming the low prices on the fact that with only one packing plant left in Ontario there is no competition to create better prices. One story goes of an auction where there was only one bidder for cattle so the auctioneer simply turned to the packing plant representative and asked how much he was willing to pay. Obviously it wouldn’t be a lot. There has been a theory since free trade, that we no longer needed to have competition in Canada as long as we opened the market up to foreign competitors. So, for instance, the proposal has been made that we don’t need five major banks anymore. Instead we should allow amalgamations so the banks can be strong enough to be major international players. The lack of domestic competition by reducing numbers would be made up, we’re assured, by more competition from abroad. This theory assumes the rules of free trade will always remain stable. It takes a crisis like the closure of foreign markets to Canadian beef to make us realize that depending on foreign markets or foreign competition can be fraught with problems. While there has been great concern lately over the fact our diminished armed forces prevent us from being a truly independent country, indepen­ dence also comes from not being dependent on another country. If we become international traders to the point we no longer have competition at home, or if we come to depend on other countries to provide food or goods we need, we’re setting the stage for future trouble. — KR Letters to the Editor Looking Back Through the Years MA’M, DO YOU BELIEVE the McMaster study WHICH SAYS PRETTY WOMEN RENDER MEN k STUPID ? —--------------------- __________________ ____.GvHAT I CAN’T BELIEVE IS THAT THEY ACTUALLY WASTED TIME AND MONEY TO CONFIRM THE OBVIOUS I THE EDITOR, It is time that we thank some people in our community. These are the people we ask to do the most thankless jobs in our community. To the nurses who plough through to the hospitals in all weather and at all hours of the day and night - thanks. They patch us up when we do something careless and care for us in often trying circumstances. To the police, of whom we ask a great deal, who enforce our laws in often dangerous, rarely pleasant circumstances, or pick us up when we do something again careless or downright stupid - thanks. On behalf of the North Huron Twp. community, we could also mention our doctors, volunteer firefighters or teachers, all of whom do without our thanks all too often. You are all appreciated. Carol McDonnell Keep up good work THE EDITOR, Just wanted to send a note of encouragement to the BIG committee. I thought the mailer introducing expatriots of Blyth to the BIG challenge and the accomplishments of the grand olde towne was a wonderful piece of marketing. Keep up the great work and good luck and success in your endeavours to re-invigorate a wonderful Ontario village. Dale and Pat Tasker. Dec. 17, 1958 Brussels council proclaimed that no dog should be allowed to run at large throughout Brussels because of the rabies situation. Mrs. Quest Dobson was elected president of the WMS of Ethel. Dec. 19, 1968 A large crowd gathered for the Santa Claus parade in Brussels. There were 41 floats accompied by the Brussels Legion Pipe Band and the Seaforth High School Drum. James Smith of Brussels, was elected president of the Huron- Perth Shorthorn Association. Dec. 19, 1973 Santa Claus paid his pre­ Christmas visit to Blyth. The Huron County Board of Education approved a program presented by D.J Cochran, director of education. The winter emergency measures program was for all schools served by buses where students might be billeted in schools overnight. The program called for all elementary schools in Huron to be supplied with a fridge, and stove. E. Cayley Hill of Goderich was re-elected chairman of the Huron County Board of Education for a second term. A naming contest held by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, resulted in 35 possible names being submitted to win a prize. Ruth Dougherty of Blyth won $1,000 from the Lion’s Monster Draw. Her ticket was the 1000th ticket pulled from the 1,000 tickets sold. The federal government approved 1,142 projects under its Local Initiatives Program, creating 9,120 jobs. Federal contribution to LIP was $23.7 million. Dec. 14, 1988 Brussels village council held its inaugural meeting immediately following the swearing-in of council and PUC members by Rev. Charles Carpentier. Four rookie Blyth councillors took part in their first meeting spending the night working slowly through a light agenda. In less than a day, the twisted mass of wreckage left behind at a farm in Auburn after a fire was cleared. About 30 to 35 friends and neighbours helped. The Brussels Girl Guides had a special guest from the Waterloo Regional Police. Const. Brenda Keffer came to give the girls some instructions for their Law Awareness badges. John Ramirez played the part of a Mexican peasant boy in the Christmas pageant held at the Blyth United Church. Mary Stretton scooped up $395 in free groceries in 30 seconds for the Brussels shopping spree. Shana Lee Ten Hag and Cindy Campschroer, both of Londesboro, were honoured for completing 12 and 24 4-H projects respectively with the competion of the program Much Ado About Meat. Niel Edgar, past president of the Belgrave Kinsman, presented the Kinsman of the Year award to Harvey Black of Belgrave. Champion Junior ice dancers, Kerrie Shepherd and Peter MacDonald placed first to capture the gold medal at the Western Ontario Sectional Figure Skating Championships in Brandford. They also won the right to advance to the Divisional Championships in Sault Ste. Marie. Dec. 15, 1993 Taxpayers of Huron County were faced with a chance of a 14.1 to 19 per cent increase in their 1994 education mill rate. About 50 people gathered at The Ark for the lighting of the first Spirit of Christmas Giving tree. In the first two weeks of the annual RIDE program. Wingham OPP checked a total of 786 vehicles in their area. Wingham OPP were busy looking for the driver of the second vehicle involved in an accident on Amberley Road in East Wawanosh. Adam McBurney checked out his bingo card and realized he had won during the Belgrave Kinsman’s Turkey Bingo. Thomas Tomes, outgoing Huron County warden, presented the warden’s pin to the newly-elected Allan Gibson of Ashfield. The new mill office and warehouse of Howson Mill in Blyth was almost ready for occupancy. F.E. Madill students received excellent results from 136 Grade 12 students who took part in a province-wide writing skills test. Dec. 16, 1998 For several years, students at Walton Public School had taken part in a special Christmas celebration. They prepared, cooked and served a turkey dinner to classmates and family. Manning’s Building Supplies in Blyth was broken into and $2,700 in power tools were stolen. A vacant building caught fire in Walton with damages estimated at about $15,000 to $20,000. Blyth Lion Bev Blair, congratulated John Battye for his first-place finish in Blyth’s first Lions International Peace Poster contest. Scott McDonald of Brussels was the lucky winner in the Brussels Agricultural Society’s very successful fundraising raffle. McDonald had the choice of a computer or $2,000. He took the cash.