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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-11-10, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2005. Editorials Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick & Marcie Riegling 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. - Blytfri. 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. P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail n^rhuronOscsinternet com Website www.northhuron.on.ca >>cna<g~A @ Member of the Ontario Press Council ■■EQI3M We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Victims of misinformation Information, they say, is only as good as the source, and in recent weeks Canadian consumers have been badly served by the information they’re received from the media about the threat of avian influenza. One of the greatest faults of our media is created by the excitement of being part of the pack when a big story happens. What can be bigger than the threat of a world pandemic that could kill many millions of people? So when H5N1, a virulent form of avian influenza that had caused several human deaths in Asia, was reported to have spread to birds in southeastern Europe, panicky stories started appearing on Canadian media outlets about the danger of a world-wide pandemic. But as Al Dam, a poultry specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food said last week at a poultry meeting in Seaforth, “Avian influenza and pandemic are not interchangeable.” There’s a difference between the fear that this deadly f< rm of avian influenza might mutate so one human who got it could infect other humans and the reality that so far it hasn’t happened. “The pandemic may never happen,” Dam said. There’s a practice in journalism that you try to find a local angle for a big story. So when some wild ducks in Canada tested positive for a form of avian influenza, the media jumped all over it. While some reports shouted the avian influenza headline, then explained that it really wasn’t such a big deal, one local television station reported “avian influenza has arrived in Canada”. A form of bird flu has been in Canada for years. More troubling than just misinformation is the fact the media seems to not want to let the facts get in the way of a good story when it comes to bird flu. Dam said efforts by OMAFRA to call media outlets with accurate information have been fruitless as reporters chased the angle of the story that most interested them. “We face challenges with getting our message out if we can’t get the attention of the media,” he said. There arc-dangerous ramifi^g-feons for misinforming the public. Already panicked people in trie world’s wealthier areas have been hoarding the anti-viral drug that can help people survive influenza of all kinds. Health experts worry that people will die of milder forms of influenza because the drug that could help them is sitting unused on bathroom shelves of people who want to be protected in case something might happen. In Europe, consumption of poultry products has slumped, and in Canada we have people writing letters to the editor saying our large-scale poultry operations are the reason we have avian flu (when in fact, the high biosecurity of these operations makes them less likely to get avian flu that’s generally spread by wild birds). Canada’s poultry producers could be sideswiped financially in a panic caused by sensationalism and misinformation in our media. If a government has been as negligent on an issue as the Canadian media has been on avian influenza, the media would be demanding an investigation. But who investigates the investigators? — KR Let the dance begin Politics is a serious business dressed up as a performance art. The most entertaining aspect of the next few weeks will be watching the dance as politicians make brave noises of wanting an immediate election without getting one called at a time of the year when an irate public might punish them. It will be good theatre but will add nothing to the confidence of voters to watch parties try to avoid an unpopular election while at the same time appear to want an immediate election to punish the Liberals over the Gomery report. When we see politicians say one thing while trying to do another, how are we to trust anything they say? — KR Letter to the editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, The Canadian Red Cross Coats for Kids (and adults, too!) program in Huron County had another successful season thanks to the many businesses and volunteers who offered their time and services. We had an overwhelming response from local volunteers and businesses throughout the county to help with this program. Over 25 businesses and churches were involved by being drop-off sites during the month of October and over 1.500 items were collected. Mark’s Work Wearhouse, in Goderich, also contributed a large number of used coats that were collected at their store last November. Again (his year we had six churches offer their buildings to be used for distribution. From the six sites (Brussels, Clinton, Exeter, Goderich, Seaforth and Wingham) close to 800 items were distributed to people of all ages. Along with coats and other outer winter wear, 200 Huron County children received new backpacks filled with school supplies, all donated by Walmart. Anyone who missed distribution should still be able to find winter coats at local second-hand stores. Most items left over after distribution went to secondhand stores in the Exeter, Clinton, Zurich and Wingham areas. Plans are already underway for next year’s program so please look for Red Cross Coats for Kids signs in local businesses’ windows in early October next year. Summer Papple. Nov. 10, 1948 At a meeting of the Huron County Federance Federation, there were a number of officers elected: honorary presidents, Gordon Lamb, Jean Murray, A.T. Cooper; president, J.H. Campbell: first vice-president, Elgin McKinley; second vice- president, Roy Cousins; third vice- president, Rev. G. W. H. Medley; fourth vice-president, Mrs. George Johnston; secretary, N. T. Anderson; treasurer, Frank Howson; educational director, Rev. G. Hazelwood; youth secretary, Rev. A. G. Hewitt: chairman law and legislature, A. T. Cooper; chairman of finance, F. Howson; northern representative, E. G. Zinn; central representative, C. M. Robertson and southern representative, Horace Delbridge. County road equipment, under the watchful eye of W. J. Hallahan, was responsible for cleaning up an eyesore of a road leading to the Blyth Union Cemetery. After being so tidily cleaned up, it was desired by all for it to stay that way. Many in the past had thought of the stretch of road as a public dumping ground for various sorts of refuse, despite restrictions and rules. Now that the area has been tidied up, there was to be much stricter restrictions to the dumping of any refuse, hoping to keep the road clean, and not such an eyesore to travellers going to and from the peaceful cemetery. Nov. 8, 1972 A false fire alarm was being investigated by the police. The alarm was phoned in from Brussels to Seaforth, reporting that the American Hotel in Brussels was on fire, and also requesting help. The Seaforth Fire Brigade was called out but the hoax was discovered as the firefighters began the trip. A large post office bag containing several hundred copies of The Brussels Post were pot. delivered on the usual day. It was discovered that they were lost. The papers were placed at the Seaforth Post Office, as usual, but were never delivered. They were traced as far as Stratford, where the trail went cold. An apology was made to all who did not receive their papers, and the cause of the incident was being investigated by the Post Office. Workmen removed the front of the former Barry Marshall Store in Walton. This was done in preparation for repairs being made to the building. There were three incidents being investigated by the OPP. A Wingham man’s car collided with a cow. There were no serious injuries, and the total damages were estimated at $600. A second crash also involved a cow. A Palmerston man struck and killed a cow owned by a Gowanstown man. The driver received minor injuries, and the damages were estimated at $725. The third police investigation was as a result of a single-car accident on Sideroad 20-21, Cone. 3/4, in Morris Twp. There were no injuries, and damages to the vehicle were estimated at $600. Nov. 7,1973 The Goderich Police Department and postal officials were conducting an investigation into the vandalism at the East Street Post Office. An attempt was made to set fire to mailing bags that contained the Oct. 25 edition of The Goderich Signal Star. Employees at the Post Office called the police at 7 a.m. when they arrived to work and found bundles of newspapers, marked for local mailing, broken open and scattered across the post office parking lot. The tie string on a postal bag containing papers for rural delivery and out-of-town delivery had been burned off, but none of the papers had been harmed or tampered with. Nearby Hamilton Street had also been littered with newspapers. No suspects had been arrested in the case but an investigation was “in full swing”. Nov. 12, 1986 An auction held at the Bly n Festival, called by auctione i Richard Lobb, was very successful The event raised a total of $9,000 for future expansions of the Festi­ val. A family home was destroyed in a fire in Walton. Grey Twp. firefighters were called to the residence shortly before 10 a.m. By the time they arrived the house, while outwardly intact, was damaged beyond repair by the fire, smoke, water, and heat. The family, while heartbroken, said they planned to demolish the remains of the house, and rebuild. They were the third generation to have lived in the house. Along with the house, many antiques and family heirlooms were lost. Nov. 8,1989 Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was the Disney film Cheetah with a special added attraction Mickey the Seal. Also playing was Road House starring Patrick Swayze, and Kickboxer, starring Van Damme. Two Brussels teens were injured in a single-vehicle accident in Morris Twp. The driver of the vehicle was southbound on Sideroad 5-6 travelling, according to police 85 kilometres an hour when he lost control of the truck and entered the ditch, hitting a tree. The teens sustained minor injuries, but the vehicle was demolished.