Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-03-23, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick 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 $30.021/year ($28.04 + $1.96 G.S.T.) in Canada: $90.00/year in U.S.A. and S100/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. PUBLICATIONS MALL 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 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM I HO NOG IHO Phone 523-d792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca OCna +CNA Member of the Ontario Press Council 11111211MI'ru" We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are 0 Copyright Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Oh, him? The RM. brought him back from Afghanistan to drill Cabinet on how to salute properly and not speak unless ordered to. Looking Back -Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006. Editorials Opinions A time like no other It's indicative of the seriousness of the farm income crisis that we've never seen the level of farmer protests in the past half-century as we see now. It's indicative of just how little understanding there is of the situation on the part of urban governments that those protests have brought so little action. The provincial government recently promised emergency assistance for farmers that sounded impressively large when the whole amount was announced, but worked out to depressingly little to help make up for the losses of the last couple of years. Even if the money had .been adequate, it would have only helped with the problems of last year and the year before, and not given farmers any security to plant their crops this summer. And so the farmers continue to demonstrate in one part of the province or another nearly every day. Blyth farmer Steven Webster has made. headlines and won the support of opposition leaders by living in his car at Queen's Park as a constant reminder to government of the farm crisis. Leading up to the provincial budget on Thursday there will be an escalating series of farm protests to try to get the provincial government to try to take the situation seriously, and put in place a risk management plan that takes into account the effect of international events on the prices farmers get. Our governments have left our farmers in an impossible situation because their competitors in the U.S. are getting a decent income even when crop prices are low through subsidies under the U.S. Farm Bill. Our politicians have neither been able to get the Americans to change their policies, or been willing to spend enough to put Canadian farmers on an equal footing (except for farmers in Quebec where their government is supportive). The situation goes far beyond farmers themselves. The businesses that supply farmers with their services are hurting. Many are carrying scary amounts of credit on their books. Others aren't getting business because farmers-don't have money to spend. Municipalities are at risk if farmers can't afford to pay their taxes. Premier Dalton McGuinty once spoke the obvious when he said "Rural communities cannot thrive without a healthy agricultural economy". He got it right on that point but he seems to have forgotten it since. Both the provincial government and the federal government must act quickly to keep rural Canada from going down the drain. — KR Commentary By Ron Bonnett, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Ontario farmers, working with their farm organizations, have to keep up the pressure on both federal and provincial governments if we are to have any chance of getting programs to meet our needs. There have been announcements of funding from both levels of government, but they have done little to instill long-term confidence in the Ontario farm sector. We are grateful for the support for our campaign now coming from the province's agri-business organizations, rural chambers of commerce and municipal councils. This provides living proof of the economic damage agriculture's financial crisis is having on others in rural Ontario, It's not just farmers and their families being devastated by disastrous returns on sales of produce and rising costs. The funding announcements from our governments tell us the politicians recognize the need, but the levels of support provided makes it clear they don't understand the extent of the economic loss and the value of investing in the rural economy. Agriculture's commodity organ- izations have worked hard and now have comprehensive programs designed to protect the long-term economic future of the industry. That's what farmers have been asking for - long-term programs like the risk management program to ensure they aren't facing an economic crisis every year. In fact, politicians, when they hear farmers asking for financial help on an annual basis, have suggested the industry needs to consider a long- term solution. Well, that's what has been offered by our commodity groups. Farmers and their organizations know they have better things- to do with their time and resources, so they have developed risk management and other programs that would make this annual lobby a thing of the past. All we need now is our politicians to display the political will to implement the features of the long- term programs and move us forward to a new and more productive approach to solving agriculture's economic woes. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture supports the concept put forward by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture of a long-term farm bill for Canada. Farmers in the United States are given the benefit of long-term planning for their sector with the U.S. Farm Bill. That's what Canadian farmers want. Stumbling from one ad hoc program to the next has made good economic planning impossible for Canadian farmers. Our industry has the potential to fuel the type of thriving Canadian economy our politicians give, speeches about, but it can't happen without the long- term planning our farmers and Continued on page 6 March 26, 1959 After competing against many other area high school competitors; a talented young man was named winner of a district public speaking competition. Brian Prescott, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Prescott of Grey Twp. won the speaking contest, and was entered in the finals to be held in Toronto. He was competing against students from Wiarton, Exeter, Luckow, and Listowel high schools. A rare photo was featured of a seemingly stern woman. The woman was Madame Yvonne de Gaulle, the wife of General Charles de Gaulle, the president of France. What makes the photo so special is that Mme. de Gaulle was very rarely photographed or even interviewed by any media outlet. March 23, 1960 - A photo was featured of famous ice skating champion Carol Heiss, smiling and waving. This photo was taken during a large parade held in her honour. The talented skater had then won her fifth ,successive world championship, fourth successive national title and first Olympic medal since the beginning of the year. A 49-year-old woman was released on - a $15,000 bail after arraignment on a most despicable charge. Fay Wasserman was picked up by authorities after it was found out that she was heading a black market baby operation. The,woman would come into contact with mothers who were willing to sell their infants for around $3,000 apiece. Then, she would transport the babies to a black market, baby selling ring. It was suspected that Wasserman may have sold as many as 15 newborn infants in as little as four years' time. A photo was shown of the infamous wrought iron gates that -protect the King of Rock n' Roll's home, then worth nearly $100,000. Guarding the gates was Elvis's uncle, Travis Presley, although he hadn't had much to do at that time. Why? The gates were fairly empty in comparison to the regular hoards of adoring young girls crowded around because Elvis was, at this time, serving in the army. Comedian Jerry Lewis was taking a break from in front of the camera to go behind the scenes and direct. He was busy giving his actors pep talks in the lobby of the Fontainebleu Hotel in Miami while filming his new Paramount picture, The Bellboy. March 21, 1973 The Wingham Detachment OPP were investigating two local accidents. The first involved two Blyth men in a two-car collision. The driver of -one car struck another in front of Hamm's Garage. There were no injuries, but total damages were estimated at $1,550. The second incident was a single- car crash. A Brussels man was westbound on Hwy. 86 when he lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle then struck a number of guide posts before coming to a stop near the Perth-Huron county line. There were no injuries, and damages were estimated at $125. The outcome of Huron County's by-election was one of the biggest political turnarounds in Huron County's history. Jack Riddel, a Dashwood-area farmer, piled up a 3,000-vote majority, making headlines in Huron County. March 25, 1987 The Citizen newspaper offices were forced to close for a week in order to complete much-needed renovations. These renovations included expanding the offices, as well as creating several smaller offices within the building, all to make completing the paper more enjoyable and efficient for the staff. A humorous photo was placed on the front page of the paper of four men running frantically while carrying frying pans. The explanation? A pancake flipping relay race, part of the annual Maple Madness competition at the Maple Keys Sugar Bush in Grey Twp. At the invitation of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, the operators of the bush, more than 700 visitors came to watch or even take part in the fun, as well as see maple syrup being made naturally. Internationally known figure skater Kevin Wheeler, native to Brussels, was presented with an Award of Excellence by the Brussels Figure Skating Club, Morris & Grey Twps. and the Village of Brussels, in recognition of his extraordinary achievements. Wheeler and his pairs skating partner Michelle Menzies of Prescott won a gold medal in their division of the Canadian =National Championships in Ottawa, following an impressive silver medal in an international competition held in England the previous fall. " Playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham was Paul Hogan in the classic, Crocodile Dundee. Also playing was Black Widow, starring Debra Winger and Theresa Russell. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was Michael J. Fox in Light of Day, and the horror film Witchboard. Brussels Bulls' Player of the Week was Kevin Johnston, right wing, because of his "kamikaze style".