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The Citizen, 2006-01-12, Page 4Publisher, Keith Rouiston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick & Marcie Riegling The Citizen 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; $90.00/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. PUBUCATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG I HO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Aocna C4P CNA :& Member of the Ontario Press Council IIMA61111.°4 'S0 We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are CP Copyright Canada. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2006. Editorials Opinions Fear of financing Huron County council's lengthy debate about rebuilding the county's financial reserves last week shows how much things have changed in government thinking over the decades. Once upon a time a regular part. of municipal politics was the issuing of debentures for the construction of capital projects but in most municipalities it's been years since most councils went into debt to finance a major project. In Huron County's case, the debate is about the fact that the county's reserve funds are lower than they should be to finance future needs. Perhaps the tidal-change in political thinking came about when the federal government's deficit became unmanageably high more than a decade ago and we saw the danger of financing today's projects with tomorrow's money. The argument often was that we were handing the debt for what we did today over to our children and grandchildren to pay. In a way, county politicians played a similar game in trying to keep tax increases as small as possible by using money from reserves to finance short-term needs. It's like paying your heating bill by using up your retirement savings. On the other hand, raising the tax rate on the argument reserves must be rebuilt is a case of asking today's taxpayer to pay for the expenditures to come in future. What's more, while the excuse for the tax increase may be a one-time need, there's no such thing as a one-time tax increase. If taxes increase five per cent this year, that increase will be the base for next year's budget. Councillors in 2007 would feel pretty good to limit a tax increase to zero but that would be on top of this year's five per cent. Rebuilding the reserves also comes at an unfortunate time for many ,elf-employed small-business people, whether main street merchants in our towns and villages or farmers struggling with record low commodity prices. Many of these people are struggling to keep going by using up the savings they've put away in the past. Now they'll be asked to help pay for future needs as well. It's prudent to put away money in good times to help offset future needs. But getting too hung up on never borrowing seems as foolish as never putting away savings. — KR The least damaging scenario With the country apparently heading toward a Conservative government, those who want a strong Canada can only hope the Tory tide is strong enough to create a majority government. While it's tempting to wish for a majority government simply to rid ourselves from another couple of years of the constant turmoil of minority government, the need goes much deeper. If the Conservatives form a minority government, who will they turn to for support? The Liberals turned to the NDP and at least there was similarity in some of the beliefs of the two parties. The NDP is so diametrically opposed to so many Tory policies it's impossible to see party leader Jack Layton offering support if Stephen Harper becomes prime minister. The only place for Harper to turn would be to the Bloc Quebecois. On most things the Bloc is just as left wing as the NDP but the one place for the two parties to agree is in diminishing the power of the federal government. The Bloc wants to see Quebec separate from Canada and in the meantime to create a defacto separate country by diminishing the relevance of the federal government by handing over as much power as possible to Quebec City. It's hard to know just exactly what the new Stephen Harper of this campaign stands for since he's been trying to prove he's not scary to voters who normally wouldn't support him, but in the past he has been adamant in the need to decentralize the country by taking power away from Ottawa and giving it to the provinces. He's been making headway in Quebec by promising to do exactly that, so a minority government position where he needed to depend on the Bloc would only speed the issue. Canadians who rejected Meech Lake and other efforts to diminish the unity of Canada can only hope for the least damaging scenario which appears to be. a Conservative majority. — KR Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, relationship that occurs between a I really enjoyed looking at the mother and her nursing baby. pictures of all the beautiful babies Nursing has numerous long-term born in the Brussels/Blyth health benefits and in Huron County. community in last week's issue. 91 per cent of babies begin their life However, I feel compelled to nursing and almost 50 per cent. are comment on the baby bottle graphic still doing so at six months. I wish to used to frame all the pictures. congratulate the mothers who have Just as women are built to be able given their children such a to carry and give birth to children, wonderful start in life. they and their babies are also built to - Kim Squire RN, BScN, IBCLC breastfeed. Using such a graphic Public Health Nurse implies that bottle feeding is the Registered Lactation Consultant norm, and undermines the beautiful Huron County Health Unit Jan.14, 1959 The annual Pollard's Chain Saw Jamboree was held once again. The events included a Bushwhackers- Dance, prize give-aways, various activities, guest speakers, musical performances and finally the crowning of a new Chain Saw Beauty Queen. The event was sponsored by the Lions Club, with all proceeds going to charity. Sixteen-year-old Ann D. Lane was crowned Queen of the Furrow at the World's Conservation Exposition and Plowing Match. Jan. 13, 1960 A photo was featured in the newspaper of a young brunette woman standing with a tropical bird in a fancy cage. The woman's name was Farah Dibah and she was admiring a bird which was kept on the property of her husband's private palace in Tehran, Iran. The 21 year- old was the new queen, and was the Shah's third wife. His second wife, Princess Soraya, was divorced for failing to conceive a male heir. She was said to have married Prince Orsini, of Roman descent. Boston Harbor residents were surprised as they experienced much higher than normal tides. A photo was featured of a man, Jack O'Leary, sitting on the top of his vehicle as the water levels rose up to the undercarriage of his small car. The tides rose about two-and-a-half feet after a wild storm had barreled into New England with sleet, snow and rain. Jan. 10, 1973 A close call on a Monday night. almost spelled a horrific end for the Blyth Community Centre. A careless smoker being entertained in the upper level of the arena dropped a lighted cigarette butt onto the wooden floor. By the time it was discovered, it had already burned a hole through the thick floorboard. If the' butt happened to have been dropped and forgotten about any later than it did, it probably would have remained burning over night, possibly causing a massive fire. Because of such a close call, arena manager Russell Cook posted 'No Smoking' signs in the upstairs quarters in order to prevent any future mishaps. Town and village councils across the county held their inaugural meetings and appointed their officials. A Blyth resident was the lucky winner in the Blyth Board's Double Your Money Draw held during the Christmas holiday season. Walter Shortreed was the winner of $100, won in the final draw of the contest. A Blyth woman was the first to receive advanced honours in the Auburn 4-H Club. Sherron Stadelmann, a long-time member of the Auburn Club, was the first of the club to receive Advanced Honours, and a silver pie-server for completing 18 projects. Joanne Hickey and Barbara Empey were also recognized and received County Honours for having completed six 4-H projects. A Clinton man pled guilty to a charge of careless driving, after _ being involved in a high-speed police chase. He was fined $100 and his licence was suspended for 30 days. During the chase, the man forced four cars off the road. He was ultimately arrested when he fled into a wooded area after driving into a ditch near Blyth. It was a lost cause since the man was being chased by a total of seven police cruisers. Jan. 7, 1985 An inexcusable act of vandalism was committed at the Blyth laundromat, owned by Mr. and Mrs. George Haines. It was unknown who was the perpetrator, but a thoughtful person, or persons took the time to rip a sink at the local laundromat completely off the wall. Such acts make it nearly impossible for the Haineses to continue keeping the laundromat a clean and tidy place. There were a number of accidents and incidents being investigated by the Wingham Ontario Provincial Police detachment. A Brussels man lost control of his 1967 Comet when it slid on the icy roads and rolled over into the ditch. The accident occurred on County Road 12 and resulted in no serious injuries. Damages were estimated at $350. Jan. 14, 1987 Blyth and Brussels skating clubs had reason to be proud of their figure skaters, especially Brussels resident Kevin Wheeler and his partner, Blyth resident, Michelle Menzies. They both did extremely well at the Central Canada Divisional Figure Skating Championships which were held in Brandon, Manitoba. The pair placed first in both their compulsory and free skate programs to take the gold medal in the Junior Free Skating Pairs Competition. Also, at the same competition, local skaters Peter MacDonald and Kerrie Sheppard placed second in the Novice Dance category to earn the silver medal. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was the film The Color of Money, starring Tom Cruise and Paul Newman. Also playing was the children's film, An American Tail. Playing at the Lyceum. Theatre in Wingham was Star Trek 11/2 The Voyage Home.