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The Citizen, 2006-08-31, Page 4) EVER WONDER WHAT RETIRED TEACHERS DO ON OPENING DAY OF SCHOOL ? PAGE 4. THE CiTgEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2006. Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Rouiston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry 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 ($28.30 + $1.70 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 1H0 email: norhuron@scsInternet.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Canada We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Aocna CNA ,4I Member of the Ontario Press Council EMMEN 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 Always a hidden agenda Must we be poor but honest? It's harvest time in Ontario's farming regions and among the harvesters are police. This past week OPP pulled out about 1,000 marijuana plants with a street value of upwards of $1 million from an East Wawanosh farm. While the thought that that much marijuana was going to go up in the smoke of a police bonfire would make a pothead weep, legitimate farmers might be brought to tears by the fact $1 million worth of crop could be carried in the back of a pickup truck. It would take many semi- trailer loads to hold $1 million of legitimate farm crops. Of course talking about the street value of drugs seized is a little like talking about the breakfast-table value of corn after. it's been made into corn fl akes. Just the same, there's something ,wrong with the value society puts on a recreational drug versus food that is necessary for life. According to Jeffrey Carter, in his column this month in our sister publication The Rural Voice, Simon Fraser University Professor Stephen Easton, has put the wholesale value of the crop in Canada at $5.7 billion while the retail value was nearly $20 billion. Looking at the value of the crop alternatives, it would be tempting for farmers to take a chance on a little extracurricular crop growing. It would be illegal and it would be immoral, of course. But as Carter points out, isn't there something immoral about the fact that prices for growing legitimate crops to feed the nation are so low farmers can lose their shirts while a truckload of illegal weeds can make them rich? — KR There's turmoil in western Canada these days as the federal government prepares to strip the Canadian Wheat Board of its long-time monopoly to sell western Canadian wheat. Supporters of the wheat board call for a vote among wheat producers about whether to allow farmers to see outside the board. Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl says that's not necessary. The government made getting rid of the monopoly part of its mandate and people elected them so therefore they have people's support. How many people voted for the Conservative Party because they wanted to get rid of the wheat board compared to those who wanted to get rid of the Liberals? It doesn't matter, according to Strahl. It's one of the deficiencies of our democratic system that governments of all stripes, get elected generally for making the other guy look like a crook, but then say they have a mandate to do whatever was in their election platform, some of which might never have been publicized. It's great for politicians but only brings disrespect for politics. — KR Letter to the editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, AIDS is not over, was the general theme behind last weeks AIDS conference in Toronto. Unfortunately, they are right ... even here in quiet Huron County. I am the chairperson of the Huron County HIV AIDS Network, HCHAN. It is almost 15 years since we opened our doors, (and hearts) to people living with this disease. We have had to (and still continue to) overcome the stigma attached to this disease, the fear that it can instill, and the bias that some people carry towards anyone infected with HIV or AIDS. We have lost the battle with many good friends, but more important, we are winning with many right now. It has been a long haul for many of the team here at HCHAN. We are totally volunteer run, a small, tired group who were seriously looking at closing the doors earlier this year for lack of energy and funding. The new drugs that have been introduced to people living with HIV and AIDS have given many a new lease on life ... but they are not a cure. It has caused a serious sense of complacency in regards to this disease; many do not feel the crushing sorrows of watching loved ones pass away quickly. Unfortunately, the drugs do not work for everyone, and they are definitely not the answer for the long term, for they do not know what will be the outcome of these highly toxic drugs used over an extended period of time. What has changed our mind over closing? Not more volunteers, or time from our own small group, but the outpouring of support from the local high schools in our area. These young people have taken it on themselves to come to our aid with money raised from fundraising events they held during the year. It is this age group that we know we have to reach before they, need our agency for themselves. New infections are on the rise again. People have stopped thinking of AIDS as a death sentence, but do not be fooled. There is still no cure out there. We need to be guarding the next generation against this disease and only through education can this happen. • In saying that, we at HCHAN will be around for a few more years anyway, helping where needed, speaking where invited, quietly doing our bit to keep HIV and AIDS in the minds of Huron County and surrounding areas. For more information on helping, donations or speaking opportunities please call the HCHAN office at 519-482-1141. Sandra Garnet. Aug. 31, 1960 Two brothers native to Sooke, British Columbia were faced off against each other at the World log rolling championship. Jubiel and Ardiel Wickheim fought long and hard against each other, but in the end Jubiel kept his title as the champion. Another pair of siblings were also winning big, only in a slightly more international arena. Queens of the track world Irina and Tamara Press of Leningrad were photographed in a warm embrace after each of the sisters had scored a world record apiece. A revolutionary new vaccine for the children's disease required no painful needles. An oral vaccine for polioniylettis was being ad- ministered to children in Costa Rica by the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, operating arm of the Pan American Health Organization and Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, assisting various other countries in combatting this crippling disease. Reports of sightings of the mysterious sea monster had North American tourists flocking to Loch Ness, Scotland. " The monster had been turning up quite regularly ever since she was allegedly first discovered in 1933. A 36-year-old aeronautical engineer, Timothy Dinsdale, was said to have caught Nessie on tape. A triangular, reddish-brown hump surfaced from the water in the video, and remained still until speeding up suddenly and disappearing again under the water. Residents of the area are so sure that Nessie exists that a local circus company had offered $90,000 for the capture of the creature. Though countless efforts were made to retain believable proof of • her existence, no one yet had ever succeeded in capturing Nessie. Aug. 29, 1973 The 30th annual Plunkett family reunion was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Plaetzer in Auburn. Blyth was to have a brand new hog assembly yard opened at the southerly edge of the village near the corner of Hwy. 4 and County Rd. 25. The yard was to be operated by Ed Watson, and the announcement about the yard was made by secretary of the Huron County Pork Producers, Lloyd Stewart. The yard would fill demands for a marketing yard in the north-central part of the county. Until now, the only yard in the county has been in Hensall, meaning a long commute for farmers in this area. Among the incidents being investigated by the OPP Wingham detachment was a two-car collision involving an Egmondville man and a Blyth woman. The collision took place on County Rd 12 at County Rd. 16 in Brussels. A passenger in the Egmondville vehicle was injured and damages were estimated at $1,400. Charges were pending. Sept. 2, 1987 A local girl' was chosen as one of the talented semi-finalists in a province-wide competition. Angela Nethery, 1986-87 Huron County Dairy Princess, was selected as one of only ten semi-finalists vying for the title of Ontario Dairy Princess at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. Brussels own figure-skating champion Kevin Wheeler, had yet again brought home the gold for his home community. Kevin and his pairs partner Michelle Menzies of Preston captured the gold medal at an international competition in St. Gervais, France. Skating for the first time in the senior division, the pair were headed off to another international event in Germany after finishing so successfully in France. Blyth firefighters were called to a fire in a grain dryer at the Howson and Howson Limited grain elevators in Blyth. The fire was successfully extinguished, though total extent of the damage was unknown at the time. Passing their Bronze Cross lifeguarding tests were the following swimmers : Shaun Jacklin, Donald Hastings, Laurie Willie and Rob Veitch. Tests were administered by Paul Van Zant of Atwood, Ontario. Aug. 29,1990 Many residents of the Blyth and Brussels area were in attendance at the Sky Harbour Airport in Goderich for a chance to see a legend. The Lancaster Bomber airplane was- on display for a second time after being restored to flynig condition. The event also marked the opening of a new runway at the airport. NDP party leader Bob Rae made a brief stop at the Howick Township farm of Vic and Vivian Karpinski to chat with local farmers about issues that concerned them. Sept. 2, 1992 A 28-year-old from Morris Twp. was injured after accidentally being caught and dragged into his baler. He was miraculously found by the owner of the farm he was on, and was rushed to Wingham and District Hospital. He was then swiftly transferred to Victoria Hospital in London. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was the Disney classic Pinnochio, as well as the - action movie Rapid Fire, starring classic action star Bruce Lee's son, Brandon, as well as Powers Boothe.