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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-08, Page 6Page 6 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 8, 2009 www.goderichsignalstar.com Proprietor and published by Bowes Publishers, P.O. Box 220, 120 Huckins Street, Goderich, Ontario N7A 4B6 EDITORIAL Our grader builders were the best in the world More Care. Built in. It has been the mantra of the skilled and talented people of the Goderich area who built the best motor grader in the world. For many decades, people in this community have proudly produced motor graders used in over 100 countries around the world. The Champion Road Grader was this community's badge of honour and source of pride. Today, it is no more. The final road grader has been dispatched to the roadways of the County of Huron, replete with the signatures of all its employees on the machine's side panels, testimony to the skilled work of the local residents. Fittingly, their final product, of the highest quality, will work local roadways. The future for the employees and area municipalities is uncertain. A payroll of more than $30 million will be extricated from the area and the company injected another $5 million into local businesses and restaurants. The economy will suffer but the real losses involve people. As many as 500 will be out of work when the operations shut down later next year. It will close the book on a rich and colourful manufacturing saga, a story of a small town and its skilled workforce that built the best road grader in the world. Our machines had a profound impact in many corners of the world and helped in the development of remote countries. The machines built here made a difference in people's lives and helped shape their countries by opening up roads and creating new opportunities: Our people and product made a difference. Many of our grader builders represented the second and third generation in a family to work in the business. Family members, friends and colleagues learned the business and worked side-by-side. For Goderich and area, grader -building has been a way of life and it sus- tained families and helped build strong communities. The union and the company were generous in their support of community activities, programs and facilities. They cared about their community and played an integral role in its devel- opment as well. It was a company that developed and believed in its employees. It was a company that was renowned for its innovation as evidenced by the number of firsts it introduced to the road grader and the industry: The first Champion grading machine in 1886; the first motorized grader in 1928; the fust hydraulic controls; the first 11 -speed transmission and the first two -per- son training cab. The company was always at the forefront of the industry. It was a leader and a progressive builder and marketer. Sadly, the company is moving its motor grader manufacturing activities to company facilities in Shippensburg, PA and Brazil. The Champion and Volvo history is a rich legacy of great people producing the best grader in the world; ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things and shared a pride in their work. The last graders to leave town off the production line were equipped with a good measure of heart, emotion and pride in a job well done. Here's to the grader people ofGoderich. You were simply the best! D.S. N•••••• The Goderich Signal -Star published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario is one of The Signal -Star Publishing Group of Community Newspapers, a division of Bowes Publishers. The Goderich Signal Star shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad for typographical errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error occurred The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. The Goderich Signal -Star is a proud member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) and The Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). d111aowrtew Editorial Deadlines... All Advertising Deadlines... Entertainment, Births, Deaths, In Memoriams... Classifieds... Display Advertising... Friday at 2 pm 8R i AN &JRa ON THE SNAPS OF LEAFNA1104. • WELL.._ X10 wE DINT GET 'WARES, 0R THE: SwEasi Kil)51 oR AWN, REAL Soub FRS But WE 131D Gel' To S1614 A SAY tSuiJ1 AND A CouPLE 05 PuNcilrt4 b ? A66 oto SKATES th GcOLDS Kids appreciate the volunteer effort To the Editor; This letter is for the Goderich Children's Festival volunteers and supporters: My mom and dad tell us everyday to remember our manners and tell people when you appreciate them. So I would like to give a big thank -you to all the wonderful people who made this year's Goderich Children's Festival such a blast! My brother, sister and I had a great time! Bouncing, learning, colouring, splashing, planting, free hair cuts ... I could go on but I'm sure you get the picture. We had so much Friday at 2 pm Telephone Fax.... Publisher... Reporters... 519-524-2614 519-524-5145 Dave Sykes Dominique Milburn Gerard Creces Denny Scott • Letters opinion fun that I even forgot to have lunch! And when we got home, all I could do was lay my head down and dream about what we will get to do next year! Thank you so much for all your hard work — we kids really appreciate it! Love Sadie Black Auburn Classifieds & Subscription... JudyAustin Accounting... Rhoda Butt Mary Johnston Office Manager... Janet Shrier Display Sales... Advertising Manager... Lisa McLaren Keith Moreland Kevin Shrier Email... gssnews@bowesnet.corn,gsssports@bowesnet.com gssads@bowesnet.com, goderichads@bowesnet.com website... www. goderichsignalstar. com PUBUCAfONS lAsA AGREEMENT No. 40064683 PAP REGISTRATION No. 7602 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES To: Circulation Dept., 120 !iodine St., P.O. Box 120, Goderich, ON, N7A 486 (519) 524.2814 Eui*i: pssnews@bowesnet.com We acknowledge the finandal support of the Government of ing costs. Canadll Apcna