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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-05-26, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2005. Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Heather Armstrong & Dianne Nonkes 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 fhe 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 1 HO email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Canada We acknowledge (hQ financial support of the Government or Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 PO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca .ocnaC-O' Member of the Ontario Press Council ■■23EWI We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Writing off the countryside A year ago Laurence Solomon, a columnist in The National Post. caused a stir in rural Ontario when he suggested a provincial government report had finally advocated what many had known for years:-that it was time to write off rural Ontario. Solomon exaggerated the message in the report — naturally, since he has been the foremost advocate of the idea a city like Toronto doesn’t need the countryside anymore, indeed that the countryside is a drag on the vitality of the city. Still, he opened the eyes of rural residents to trends in government and it’s not a pretty sight. There’s been much controversy since the provincial budget came out whether there was a dramatic cut in the budget for the ministry of agriculture and food. Minister Sieve Peters says the apparent cut is only because the province gave so much extra emergency funding last year and that actually the budget is up by $15 million. Even if he’s right, the increase would barely cover inflation in a budget that has been regularly cut by a succession of governments of all political stripes. Recently too, Michael Hart, an economist with the influential think tank C. D. Howe Institute, renewed the attack on supply management, calling for it to be phased out and free market forces allowed to take over. Except we don’t have a free market in food and agricultural products. We have a market where there are a very few powerful buyers buying from a much larger number of sellers, farmers. On the other end, there are a very few number of suppliers selling to a large number of buyers, farmers. In both cases, the few have far more power than the many and only supply management evens the scales. If Hart and other critics of supply management were to win their case, rural Ontario really would be written off. Currently with unregulated crop prices at disastrous lows and beef and sheep farmers going broke because they’re at the mercy of packers as a result of the border closure after BSE, only supply-managed farmers have money to spend in the rural economy. Take away supply management and the rural economy would be ruined. But people like Hart don’t worry about that. They see farms similar to mines that provide raw materials to fuel urban industry. As long as the industry prospers, the rural area doesn’t matter. But if all that matters is the profit level of urban industry, why not get rid of unions, bring back slavery and allow child labour again? Those things, of course, would be unacceptable because their effect would be seen in the cities. Making farmers work like indentured servants, however, is invisible in self- centred cities. Farmers and small town residents must be a lot more vigilant to prevent those who think the countryside doesn’t matter from getting their way. We’re going to have to be a lot more energetic and vocal in stating we won’t accept being written off. It’s time to get started, now! — KR How soon we forget There’s a sobering lesson for NHL hockey stars this week at the Memorial Cup in London. Fans and media are showing how easily the professional stars can be replaced with the attention paid to junior hockey stars like Sidney Crosby and Corey Perry. It’s the interest stirred up by the media which makes athletes stars, and in turn causes more media coverage. But professional athletes, surrounded by adulation, often think they make it all happen, not the other way around. So they feel they’re deserving of every penny they make. They’re victims of their own celebrity. We all can be replaced, and NHL stars are finding that out. — KR Letter to the editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, I read the article “Watford group delivers first impressions’’ in a recent edition of The Citizen and I've been doing some thinking about the storefronts on Tumberry Street in Brussels. As part of a new business in the downtown core, I would love to see more life come to Turnberry Street. So. my idea to brighten up the area is that we could talk to Brussels Public School. Grey Central Public School and Walton Little School and assign store windows to each of the various younger grades (perhaps Grades I- 5?). This way each class could work together to decide how they would like to decorate the window, using various art projects, etc. Perhaps we could even assign various themes, and rate a first, second and third prize to the window displays that look the best. I really think this would be a great idea to consider. I think it would instill a sense of community and pride in the children of our town, as well as bring some much-needed interest back to main street. I know lots of children (and their parents) would love to see their work displayed. If someone decides to pursue this idea, 1 would love to be involved in any way possible. Also, 1 thought if we decided to rate the windows, we could maybe approach a local business to treat the winning class to ice cream (or something) and possibly we could publish the winners in the paper. It’s just an idea. Thank you for the opportunity to share it. Yours from Solace, Allison Rapson. May 26, 1948 Every man. woman and child in the Blyth area would be given an opportunity for safeguarding their ., health by having a free chest x-ray when a community survey would be conducted by the Lions under the auspices of the Ontario Tuberculosis Association. A front page announcement in The Blyth Standard stated, “Because of exceptionally heavy political advertising this week, our columns are over-crowded with advertising. The condition will right itself after our next issue.” Congratulations were extended to Mrs. Watson Reid and her Hullett pupils as well as to music teacher Mrs. Wendorf for their success at the Goderich music festival. Playing at the local theatres was Greer Garson, Robert Mitchum and Richard Hart in Desire Me: Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews and Henry Fonda in Daisy Kenyon: Rex Harrison, Maureen O’Hara and Victor McLaglen in The Foxes of Harrow and John Hediak and Lizabeth Scott in Desert Fury. A three-act comedy drama was being presented at the Forester’s Hall, Belgrave by the Dramatic Club of Melville Presbyterian Church. This was sponsored by the Belgrave library board in aid of the library. May 24,1950 A relief fund headed by the Hon. R.F. McWilliams, K.C. Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba had been set up to help the flood-stricken people of Manitoba. Newspapers in Canada were doing all they could to help and launched a campaign, soliciting and accepting contributions. The London Free Press was a clearing house for London and those communities in western Ontario that wished to co­ operate. New summer specials at The Arcade Store included: men’s sport shirts, $2.98, $3.95 -and $4.50; children’s overalls, $2.59; children’s 'wash suits’, $2.98 and $3.95; children’s sandals, $1.98 and ladies loafers and oxfords, $3.95. Kathryn Grayson, Ethel Barry­ more and Jose Iturbi starred in The Midnight Kiss playing at the Capitol Theatre in Listowel. At Seaforth’s Regent, it was Yes Sir That’s My Baby with Donald O’Connor, Gloria DeHaven and Charles Coburn. May 24, 1972 Brussels was getting a new airstrip. Jack McDonald had purchased 28 acres of land at the south-east limits of town. Twenty- three acres was for an airstrip while the remaining five would be for residential development. Brussels students planted trees as a centennial project. A committee of secondary school English department heads had laid down the rules for the selection of high school English text books. May 28, 1986 Cutting the cake at the Belgrave Women’s Institute’s 75th anniversary celebration were Wilma Higgins, program convenor; Isabel Campbell, president; Sara Anderson, oldest active member and Dorothy Coutes, secretary. Rehearsals were underway for the 12th Blyth Festival season. The opening play was Another Seasons Promise by Anne Chislett and Keith Roulston. Registration for swimming lessons at the new Brussels pool topped expectations with more than 300 registered. Due to a system that the Huron County Board of Education devised the previous year which entailed switching around principals in the board’s jurisdiction, two local principals were leaving their current school. Ken Scott would replace Bill Stevenson who was going on leave from East Wawanosh. Scott from Londesborough, was principal at Brussels. Grey Central prinicipal Jim Axtmann would be the new principal at Brussels. Rick Whitely, vice-principal at Wingham would be replacing Axtmann at Grey. Earning track awards at Blyth Public School were Kevin Souch, Tammi Medd, Conrad Bos, Erin Bolger, Craig Bauman, Jennifer Allan, Darryl Elliott and Julie Bromley. It was the grand opening in Brussels of Radford Auto, Farm and Industrial Parts. Ltd. May 27,1998 For secondary school students considering university, Grade 11 and 12 marks would now carry as much weight as OAC courses. Howson and Howson planned an expansion to establish a washing facility, parking and maintenance areaTor their trucks. The committee for the International Plowing Match 1999 was meeting in Brussels. Wescast Industries Inc. earned a prestigious award for the fifth consecutive year. The supplier of the year honours given to 187 of GMs 30,000 suppliers recognized Wescast’s performance in quality, service and price during the 1997 calendar year. A thief broke into a residence in Brussels and stole an assortment of ladies’ clothes. Quadruplet lambs were bom at a Belgrave area farm. The Blyth Optimist Club held a hot dog day to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. A total of $211 was raised. Jeff Carter of Auburn competed in the Junior Optimist golf tournament in Wingham. He placed second in his division. Country music star George Fox appeared in Blyth.