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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-04-13, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry 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. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG I HO email: norhuron©scsinternet.com The Citizen P.O. Box 429. P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG IHO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca A9cna CNA Ad:( Member of the Ontario Press Council 1=19311N We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. I DECIDED TO PLUNGE RIGHT INTO THE RACE. CAN'T LET MY TALENTS GO TO WASTE, EH? Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2006. Editorials Opinio n s Where credit is due Dalton McGuinty's government has never had much good press but as news from Huron County council last week shows, the government deserves some credit for righting past wrongs. Almost from the moment the current Liberals took office and declared that the size of the government deficit would prevent them from carrying out many of their election promises, they have been targets of barbs in the media. When they failed to balance the budget recently McGuinty and provincial treasurer Dwight Duncan took more media broadsides. But the picture looks different if you're a Huron County councillor these days. In the past two months $6.5 million has been promised for county programs from roads to ambulances to libraries. This was badly needed money. Road work has been put off in order to bring down the size of tax increases in recent years, leaving the crucial infrastructure of the county to deteriorate. The Mike Harris government had promised to pay half the cost when they dumped the ambulance service in the laps of municipalities but that had deteriorated to less than a third. And libraries have had no provincial funding since the cuts of the Harris era. Also overlooked along the way has been the fact McGuinty has rebuilt funding for schools and hospitals. The news isn't dominated by inter- minable reports of hospital bed closings and school closings these days. There are still many problems in the province and many weaknesses (such, as agricultural funding) in the McGuinty government, but the premier deserves credit for changing the tone of the province. — KR Defending our people Assistant deputy minister of agriculture (and Brussels native) Jim Wheeler is the most talked-about man in agriculture these days following musings about government support for agriculture. Among many other provocative comments to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Wheeler said: "I think what the government thinks (is) that we make better use of our resources if those that are competitive produce it (food) and those that (aren't), don't." That mantra is part of the free trade philosophy Canada accepted in 1988. It's a false argument for not supporting Ontario's farmers. Ontario farmers are competitive. They just can't be competitive with low prices for corn and soybeans that are set in the U.S. because of subsidies to farmers there. This is not a case of farmers crying poor. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal determined there should be a duty of $1.47U.S. per bushel of corn imported to Canada because prices had been driven down by U.S. subsidies. Which brings farmers up against another government mantra left over from the deficit crisis of the 1990s: we can't compete with the treasuries of the U.S. and Europe. It's a matter of priorities. There is money for subways. If Windsor or Halifax were invaded by a foreign power, would we say we couldn't afford to fight for those cities? Of course not. But our farmers have been attacked by a foreign power in a more sneaky way. They are being destroyed by the power of U.S. subsidies and our governments say there's nothing they can do. If we say we can't afford to . defend them, what kind of a country are we?— KR Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, A sound can be heard in the distance. It's the sound of opportunity and it's knocking on Blyth's door. In the last edition of The Citizen a -report on North Huron council's reaction to a Global Battle of the Bands competition was included. This national event would hopefully bring hundreds of music lovers to Blyth for a weekend. It`s an event that needs sup- port from all corners of the community. There's no doubt the economic impact would be substantial. Service clubs have an opportunity to gain by providing food or beverages. Businesses in Blyth and surrounding communities would report an increase in sales. This is an event that would celebrate youthful enthusiasm. It's a music show that would go a long way in helping young people feel more included in the fabric of the community. Supporting a battle of the bands illustrates North Huron's commitment to people of all ages, especially youth. It's hard to understand why 10 p.m. was suggested for the concert to end when other special events like the Thresher's Association play well past midnight. While council may not like the music that may be played, hundreds_ of others do. It's unjust that one type of music can play late into the night while another is silenced at 10 p.m. The National Battle of the Bands sounds like music to our ears. For one weekend of the year, Blyth and North Huron have a chance to showcase themselves to music fans and musicians from across Canada. This seems like a no-brainer. Encouraging volunteer efforts to make Blyth a little more exciting for a weekend is needed from North Huron council and from the entire community. It's an opportunity not to be missed. Sounding Off, Mark Nonkes and Zoellyn Onn. April 16, 1959 For the fifth time in a row, there._ was a robbery at McCutcheon Motors in Wingham. Over $100 worth of cigarettes and tires were stolen after entry was gained by a smashed window on the south side of the building. After so many incidents at the same business, it was hoped that the thieves would be apprehended this time. P.C. Lewis of Wingham was investigating at the time. Playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Goderich was the winner of over 27 international, as well as seven Academy Awards including Best Picture of the Year. The film was The Bridge On The River Kwai, starring William Holden, Alec Guiness, and Jack Hawkins. It was a very emotional moment when a young woman joined the rookie class of the Washington Police after a lifetime of preparing for this moment following a tragic childhood event. Pvt. Edith C. Baum was inspired by her father to join the police force, but that wasn't all of it. Her father, FBI agent William Carter Baum was shot to death by Baby Face Nelson at Spider Lake. Edith was only 11 months old at the time. She was now determined to uphold the law, to prevent anything like what happened" to her father from happening to anyone else. Air Force Captain Robert M. White was most likely to be the man to fly the experimental X-15 aircraft. The X-15 was supposedly a near- space craft which, once delivered by the Air Force, was expected to reach an altitude of about 100 miles and reach speeds of over 3 000 mph. April 13, 1960 A former Harriston teacher was to be placed at a very new position at. Blyth Public School. Mr. Ronald Higgins was named as Blyth Public School's new principal for the new school year. Mr. Higgins would be replacing Mrs. Donald Howes who had filled the position only temporarily since September. She resigned in favour of a teaching opportunity at No. 7 School, Hullett Twp. A four-year-old genius was returned home to the only parents she had ever known after a public outcry suggested otherwise. Young Alice Marie, a girl with a near genius IQ of 138, was placed back in the custody of her original guardians Mr. and Mrs. Richard Combs of Old Bridge, New Jersey. This was despite the public's arguments that the environment the parents provided did not meet the cultural standards that were expected for an exceptional child of Alice's sort. The ruling was made by the New Jersey State Board of Child Welfare. There was a photo feature of an ancient-looking automobile parked in a parking lot beside a much more modern vehicle (of its age). The auto pictured was actually a revamped 1912 Baker Electric, which was now the first ever solar- powered electric car. A large solar panel was.placed on top of the car, and the sunlight received was converted into electrical power. April 11, 1973 The 8th Liners broomball team was successful in winning the WOBA Championship trophy. They won the trophy in an intense tournament held at the Blyth arena after it was postponed because of poor ice conditions. The team also had already won the Blyth Rural League trophy for another year in a series of wins over the years past. Members of the team were as follows: Ray McNichol, Fred Meier, John Gibbings, Murray McNichol, Murray Gordon, Glen McLean, Ken Bird, Joe Pereira, Jim Johnston, Jim Phelan, Glen McLachlan, Arnold Pease, Bob Blake, Elgin Pease, Jim Blake, Bill Phelan, Harvey Stewart, and Charlie Johnston. April 15, 1987 Blyth firefighters were kept busy battling a fire at the barn of Alex Gulutzen, near Westfield. The fire eventually destroyed the barn, despite best efforts of the firefighters. The fire spread quickly through an older section of the barn, and into a newer portion before the firemen were able to reach the scene. One sow was lost in the blaze, while several of the other pigs were thankfully saved. Luckily the barn, which usually held up to 450 pigs, was nearly empty at the time of the blaze. Playing at Brownie's Drive-In in Clinton was Lethal Weapon, starring Mel Gibson, as well as Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was Citizens on Patrol: Police Academy 4. Also playing at the Mustang Drive-In in Goderich was A Nightmare on Elm Street as well as Wanted Dead or Alive, starring Rutger Hauer. April 11, 1990 Jodee Medd, a Huron County elementary school student, was chosen by judges at the Huron County Science Fair to be the one to move on the Canadian National Science Fair competition to be held in. Windsor. Jodee's impressive project was an experiment to test the effects of commercial fruit tree insecticide on yellow jacket wasps. John Bell was the owner of a newly opened Bell's Discount Centre & Variety Store in Blyth.