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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-06-30, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 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 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 Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of 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 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Aocna®<* < Member of the Ontario Press Council MCIEMI We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Addicted to gambling Debate in Nova Scotia this week has focussed new light on the problem of gambling addiction: on the small percentage of people who ruin their lives gambling and on the addiction of provincial governments which collected billions of dollars in revenue last year. So prevalent is the gambling culture now that it’s hard to remember the time when selling Irish Sweepstakes lottery tickets was illegal in Canada. Governments switched sides and, supposedly in the interests of giving consumers a legal choice to gamble, introduced lotteries in the mid-1960s. From there the government gambling addiction has grown when lotteries multiplied and then casinos were introduced. At least Ontario has confined its slot machines to casinos and racetrack operations unlike other provinces where video lottery terminals (VLTs), with their addictive flashing lights and music, are available at every turn in convenience stores and co ncr bars. Tearful relatives told stories in Nova Scotia this week of lives oi husbands, fathers and daughters ruined by addiction to these attractive gambling machines. Yet Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm said he won’t get rid of the VLTs because this would only drive gambling underground. While he may have a point, critics charge the real reason is revenue derived from the machines. New Brunswick, the first province to introduce VLTs, saw revenues soar from $10 million the first year to $135 million last year. For a government, that’s pain-free revenue too. Unlike the outrage that greeted the Ontario government’s introduction of a tax to support health care, nobody complains about the money raised by casinos and lotteries. Governments are caught in a predicament. As the failure of a prohibition on alcohol proved 80 years ago, it’s hard to prevent people from doing what they want, .even if it’s illegal and bad for them. More recent attempts to discourage smoking by hiking tobacco taxes only bred smuggling of contraband cigarettes from the U.S. So often, as Premier Hamm says, it’s better for the government to control, regulate and tax than to try to prohibit. But where’s the limit? Last week police raided homes across the region, including in Brussels, sweeping up drug dealers. Do we legalize and tax crystal meth? Do we make prostitutes government employees? If we did, would governments then, as they’ve done with gambling, go from discouraging a former vice to promoting it heavily to gain more revenue? Where does government cross the line from being a solution to part of a problem? — KR Rights and responsibilities For decades now there has been so much focus on our rights that the other side of the coin, our responsibilities, too often gets forgotten. Take last week when Hydro One employees were so concerned about their rights that they endangered the lives of Ontarians. Striking workers from the utility blocked the entrance to the giant Ontario Power Generation (OPG) plant at Nanticoke, Friday, keeping essential workers from getting to work. As a result, OPG had to shut down six of the eight generators at the plant on one of the hottest days of the year. Had the loss of 2,000 megawatts of electricity caused a failure in the Ontario electrical grid, it’s easy to imagine that people vulnerable to heat stress would have died because of the lack of air conditioning. The right of workers to withdraw their services in order to get a fair deal from their employers should be unquestioned. The issue of workers having the right to prevent replacement workers from taking their jobs is more complicated, but this case stretches even the logic of that “right”. Hydro One employees don’t work for OPG. The workers they prevented from getting to work aren’t “scabs” taking their jobs. The rights of workers to negotiate a better deal becomes extortion when innocent peoples lives are put at stake. — KR Letter to the editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, I want to thank the members of the Blyth Royal Canadian Legion Branch 420 Ladies Auxiliary for donating a Canadian flag to Blyth Memorial Hall. The new flagpole, installed by the Twp. of North Huron and the large Canadian flag, has spruced up the look of the front of the building. Their generous donation last year helped the Blyth Festival to invest in colourful new shirts that will be worn by our volunteers starting this summer. It will be easier for our visitors to spot our ushers in a crowded room and to know where to get information. Over 62 children auditioned for roles The Thirteenth One and Eric Coates wants to thanks the many families who came to the auditions. The Blyth Festival is very proud that our service clubs in Blyth are sponsoring the world premiere of The Thirteenth One — a heartwarming story of a true family’s love, written by Denyse Gervais Regan of London. We’re delighted that many Ladies Auxiliary members from nearly branches are also attending the opening night performance on Aug. 5. Jane Gardner, General Manager Blyth Festival. June 30, 1948 The students and ratepayers of U.S.S. No. 3 East Wawanosh and Morris gathered at the school to say farewell to teacher Grace Golley who had resigned and will begin teaching near Listowel in September. At a meeting held in Wingham, barrister R.S. Hetherington was retained as president of the North Huron Liberal Association. Other officers were: first vice- president, Ross Fisher, Colbome; second vice- president, Mrs. John Howrey, Goderich; third vice-president, Brown Smyth, West Wawanosh and secretary-treasurer, Ken Hunter, Goderich. The Ontario Regional Officials of the National Employment Serv;ce made an announcement regarding the seriousness of the farm labour shortage in Ontario, in view of the approaching heavy haying and" harvest operations. Blyth firefighters and citozems were aroused when the fire bell clanged out a warning at 2:30 a.m. Firefighters were prompt in responding, but investigation disclosed that the commotion had all been brought about because a neighbour had seen smoke in extra heavy volume pouring from the chimney of a home. It was hard to imagine anyone having a fire on a hot summer day, so the neighbour came to the wrong conclusion. However, the home owners were among the most startled when they discovered the blaze was supposed to be at their home. A fire had been lit in the stove to dispose of some garbage. The largest number of students in several years were at Blyth Public School to try the entrance examinations. N.P. Garrett, presiding officer, said that there were 25 pupils writing. It was, he said, “like old times.” A brief, but severe electrical storm caused the death of a young heifer on a Hullett. farm. The heifer was ■one of the herd out in pasture at the time. During the same storm a cow from another herd was also severely injured. June 28,1950 A Brussels woman and her nephew had a narrow escape when the truck they were in overturned in a ditch. The cause was attributed to loose gravel. According to the newspaper report, the truck was badly smashed and “the escape from death of the occupants seems almost miraculous.” Newly-installed president of the Brussels Lions Club was Gordon Hazelwood. The Brussels Ladies Auxiliary hosted a garden party with over 300 in attendance. Entertainment was provided by Darlene Brothers, Mary Lou McFarlane, Clark Johnston, Cactus Mack, Karen Buschlin, Jean Cardiff, Joan Thomas and Mrs. L. Brothers. Larry Parks and Barbara Hale appeared in Jolson Sings Again playing at the Capitol Theatre in Listowel. At Seaforth’s Regent Theatre it was Richard Widmark and Lionel Barrymore in Down to the Sea in Ships. It was a two for 25 cents special at Grewar’s Groceteria. On sale were the 20-oz tin of pork and beans, 15- tin of Aylmer choice golden com, 15-oz tin of peas, eight-oz package of com flakes and the 71/2-oz size of Kraft dinner. June 28,1972 Everyone who saw the china ashtrays and bon bon dishes on sale at the Centennial headquarters admired the artistic design in the centre. The artwork was done by Connie McWhirter. Opposition leader Robert Stanfiled visited Huron. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wood, who had been in business since January of 1935 in Brussels had sold their dry-good business to Mr. and Mrs. Hacklark of Kitchener. The Homecoming committee posed for a picture. General chairman was Hugh Pearson. Other members were Vera Hastings, Sarah Stephenson, Mary Lowe, Hazel Matheson, D.A. Rann, Dave McCutcheon, Max Watts, Gord Workman, George Mutter, Ralph Pearson, Henry Exel, Harold Bridge, Ross McCall, Wayne Lowe, Jack McCutcheon and Bill McWhirter. June 25,1986 More than 100 people from across Huron County and south-western Ontario attended the premier performance of Another Season’s Promise at Blyth Festival as part of the promotion program. Ken Scott was honoured at a farewell party at Brussels Public School. The principal was moving to East Wawanosh Public School after 19 years in Brussels. A party was held at Grey Central for Jim Axtmann, who was to become principal at Brussels. Bev Elliott and Marilyn Forbes opened Christmas and Country in Blyth. Donna White became assistant clerk-treasurer at Brussels municipal office. July 1,1998 You didn’t need to be a meteorologist to know that June had been one unseasonably, hot dry month. Five educators retired at Grey Central school: principal Paul Statia, who retired in January, principal Helen Crocker and teachers Yvonne Martin, Marilyn Elgie and David Perrie. Hope Lowe received the Friend of the Lions Club award.