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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-03-17, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2005. Editorials Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Heather Armstrong & Capucine Onn 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; $85.00/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 PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REGISTRATION NO. 09244 la«i RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO 151 FlQfl U CIRCULATION DEPT. 1<XVI<X PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scslnternet.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 RO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail ndrhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhUron.on.ca A°cna@<A ,@r Member of the Ontario Press Council MECEHB We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright It doesn’t add up Speaking at the Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s members of parliament day in Clintoh, Saturday, both Paul Steckle and Carol Mitchell, respectively MP and MPP for Huron-Bruce, said their governments are spending record amounts of money to support farmers. Meanwhile Statistics Canada figures show net farm income in Ontario dropped from an average of $311 million in the five years up to 2003 to a $36 million loss in 2004 with a projected loss of $194 million in 2005. Maybe the politicians are starting to believe the habit of governments these days in announcing the same program three or four times, but others aren’t. Wendy Holm, agrologist and farm commentator says that during the 15-year period ending in 2002, Canadian farm support dropped 57 per cent while U.S. farm support rose 14 per cent. In Ontario, the budget for agriculture has also shrunk and under the previous government county offices of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food were closed. Even Mitchell agrees something is wrong now and staff seem out of touch with the needs of farmers. Surprise, surprise! When governments do spend money they seem to design programs that don’t help farmers. The first aid package for beef farmers ended up mostly funding packers who dropped prices and scooped up the money. The Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program is a bitter joke among farmers who can’t find a way to pry money out of it even when they’re going broke. It’s the ultimate government program that sounds good but doesn’t cost anything because it never pays out. Governments must get serious because the situation in rural Canada is definitely serious. Saturday, farm suppliers told Steckle and Mitchell how badly their businesses had been affected by this crisis and how many non-farm jobs are at stake if things don’t improve. It’s great to have local politicians like Mitchell and Steckle express their concern and sympathy but it’s time for their governments to take action to provide solutions, not kind words. — KR You get what you pay for The prospect of higher air fares in the wake of the collapse of Jetsgo airlines last week has many people upset. They’ve come to see the prices offered by money-losing airlines as the prices they should be paying. Jetsgo was not only losing money on its bargain fares, but it was cutting comers on aircraft maintenance to the point that passengers’ safety was at stake. Let’s face it, it’s unrealistic to expect goods and services at less than the cost of production to go on forever. Wait a minute, it has been going on for years in many sectors of the food industry. The only problem is there aren’t as many airlines as farmers going broke so you notice when one disappears. — KR Letter to the editor i.A. NStfPOUON Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, Town and Country Support Services (TCSS) joins other Community Support Services (CSS) in applauding the Ontario government’s recent announcement of new funding for equipment for home-care services to support people who wish to live independently and participate in their community.. On March 4, the Ontario Ministry of Health announced a new province-wide investment of $9.1- million in funding to CSS and Community Care Access Centres (CCACs). This funding will give Ontarians with disabilities and frail elderly persons the opportunity to live independently with the assistance of new medical and diagnostic equipment. The money will be used to purchase home support medical equipment which will assist people in their own homes, in supportive housing and adult day programs in their community. This equipment includes mechanical lifts, bathing equipment, intravenous and feeding pumps, as well as devices designed to increase mobility and independence such as door openers and wheelchairs. We are encouraged by the government’s ongoing commitment to community health care. This funding will have immediate and positive impacts on the lives of thousands of people in our community, help them to Live independent, active and meaningful lives, and provide community programs that promote health and well being. TCSS serves a predominantly rural area, Huron County, which has been identified as having one of the largest proportions of seniors in all of Ontario. Independent living is a valued way of life in our area, with many elderly residents choosing to remain in the communities and the homes they have known all of their lives. For agencies such as ours, there are particular challenges of isolation, lack of public transportation, medically underserviced areas and hazardous winter driving condi­ tions. The Ontario government’s financial commitment is crucial to ensure that we are able to provide quality and essential services to many people in Huron County who otherwise would be without help. Sincerely Jean Young, Executive Director, Town and Country Support Services, 431 Josephine Street, Wingham ON NOG 2W0 519-357-3222. March 17, 1948 A new Young People’s class was organized for Blyth’s United Church Sunday school. Officers elected were: leader, Charles Johnston; president. John Manning; first vice- president, Marjorie Doherty; secretary. Ross Tasker; assistant secretary and reporter, Margaret Marshall; treasurer Feme Pollard; social convenors, Verne Speiran, Lois Doherty; membership committee, Don Cowan, Jim Hodd. Delores McNall. Frances Hollyman. The club name was Buds of Promise. Fire chief Herbert Dexter informed residents of Blyth that the fire siren would be sounding each Satruday at noon. Blyth Branch No. 420 of the Canadian Legion met at the Orange Hall. It was decided that a banquet and charter night would be held in Memorial Hall in the following month. R.D. Philp, Phm.B. was offering “suggestions to make you fit and keep you fit.” Specials included cough syrup for 50 cents, cod liver oil capsules for 98 cents and Buckley’s bronchial mixture for 40 cents and 75 cents. A package of Aunt Jemima pancake flour was on sale at Superior Food Stores for 17 cents. The five- pound bag of Robin Hood quick cooking oats was selling for 37 cents, while a two-pound tin of Beehive corn syrup cost 29 cents. The financial statement for Blyth Memorial Hall for the previous year showed receipts in the amount of $1,087.13 and ^expenditures of $525.92. Local movie theatres were showing: Buck Privates Come Home, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello; Erz.v/ SWe qf Heaven with Bing Crosby and Something in the Wind, starring Donald O’Connor, Deanna Durbin and John Dall. March 15,1950 The Kansas Farmer and his entertainers were set to perform a concert at the Brussels Town Hall. Three beautiful stained glass windows, a memorial gift in memory of the ' late Arthur Frederich Thomspon. a native of Derby England was unveiled at St. John’s Anglican Church by his son Louis Thompson of Brussels. Ethel hosted a skating carnival. George Dunbar was master of ceremonies. Belgrave was planning an ice carnival for St. Patrick’s Day with special prizes to be awarded. Master of ceremonies would be Tory Gregg. The Ethel Group of the Brussels Lions Club for welfare work was holding a Hard Time Dance with music by the Gorrie Orchestra. A concert and picture show was being held at Walton Community Hall to raise funds for the Boys and Girls Lions Band. The event was being sponsored by the Walton Group of the Brussels Lions Club. Playing at the Regent Theatre in Seaforth was Colorado Territory with Joel McCrea and Virginia Mayo. At the Capitol Theatre in Listowel it was Chain Lightning with Humphrey Bogart and Eleanor Parker. March 15, 1972 Carol Wheeler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Wheeler, placed second in the Highland fling and second in the Sean Triubhas when she competed in the 10 years and under novice class in the Western Ontario Highland dancing competition. D.S. Lawless of Ottawa was named director of the Ontario educational resources allocation system task force. Lawless, formerly of Brussels, was the son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Turnbull. March 21, 1973 Liberal Jack Riddell, a Dashwood­ area famer, piled up a 3,000-vote majority in the Huron riding’s by­ election to complete one of the biggest political turnarounds in Huron’s political history. Conservative candidate Don Southcott charged the campaign was the “dirtiest he’d ever seen”. In a story in the Exeter paper, Southcott said the only newspaper that seemed interested in printing his side of the issues had been The Times-Advocate, which Southcott owned with his brother. March 19,1986 Target date for operations at the new Brussels swimming pool to commence was June 1, the chair reported to The Citizen. Sharon Scott had been hired as head guard and Cindy Evans as assistant. Jack Nelemans of RR4, Walton and his stallion Lightly Sugared took part in the Quarterama, the second largest quarter horse show in the world, in Toronto. More than 2,000 horses took part. Choice steers sold from $80 to $84 with a sale to $91 at Brussels Stockyards. Tim Fritz of the Brussels Bulls was picked as best defenceman in the OHA Jr. D western division for the season. March 18,1998 After years of planning and preparation, construction of a new walking park in Belgrave would soon be underway. A Brussels Public School student had the unique opportunity to be principal for a halfday after winning a draw.- Doug and Joan Cloakey welcomed friends and neighbours to the open house for the new hog finishing barn. It was the blockbuster Titanic playing at both the Capitol Theatre in Listowel and the Park Theatre in Goderich.