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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-08-09, Page 44 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, August 9. 1995 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 TERRI•LYNN DALE - General Manager & Advertising Manager MARY MEII.OR --Soles PAT ARMES - Office Manager DIANNE McGRATH - Subscriptions LINDA PULLMAN -Typesetter TIM CUMMING - Editor GREGOR CAMPBELL - Reporter BARB STOREY - Distribution A Burgoyne Community Newspaper SUBSCRIPTON RATES: LOCAL - 28.00 a year, in odvonce, plus 1.96 G.S.T. SENIORS; - 25.00 a year, in advance, plus 1.75 G.S.T. Goderich. Stratford addresses: 28.00 o year, in advance, plus 7.28 postage, plus 2.47 G.S.T Out -of Of-Areo: 28.00 o year, in advance, plus 11.44 postage, plus 2.76 G.S.T USA 8 Foreign: 28.00 a year in advance, plus 576.00 postage, G.S.T. exempt TES: weeky y Signol-Star Publish gin at 100 Main S. Seaforth. Publication moil registration No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rote. In the event of o typographical error, advertising goods or services at o wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely on offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliv- erable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor. Wednesday, August 9, 1995 Editorial and Business Offices - 100 Main Streef.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association and the Ontario Press Council Wasn't that a party! In the words of the Irish Rovers, "Wasn't that a party!" Homecoming '95 was a chance to meet old friends again and new friends for the first time. A thank you goes to all those people who volun- teered their time to make Homecoming '95 such a success. From the organizers to the cooks, from those who made floats for the parade to those who helped set up tables...thank you all. It was a true community effort! A special thank you goes to the members of the Homecoming committee who devoted close to three years to making Bill Pinder's dream a reality! It was a real treat to see the old photos and his- torical artifacts in displays and in store windows. Although it probably doesn't need saying again, Seaforth has a rich historical heritage. If only we could have a public museum in which every weekend could be a Homecoming of sorts. For this weekend at least Seaforth was truly 'the Friendly Town.' Perhaps we can each find ways, in our own lives, to maintain that positive spirit all year round. Thanks go to all you visitors who took the time to come back to Seaforth and for all those people who live right here and gave their time so generously. "Wasn't that a party!" It sure was!. - (TBC). Letters to the Editor Local hospitals great things Dear Editor: On a recent vacation to northern Ontario, I experienced a minor medical emergency. With an hour drive to the nearest medical centre which servied a population of 57,000 people plus tourists, I found myself waiting for six hours to be examined, treated and released. The waiting room was ,overflowing into the adjoining corridors with patients to be examined. There was only one doctor and limited assisting staff. The situation put me in mind of those movies where the spouse is taken in for a heart attack and passes away, or the little boy who fell is now paralysed just because the hospital was understaffed. All in total I spent about 20 minutes with a doctor. He assessed the situation, took x- rays, formed a cast and I was off for the hour drive back to the cottage. On my way there I realized how fortunate I was to doctor in Seaforth. Whenever there is an emergency, a doctor is there in a few minutes, if one is not already. If x-rays or blood work is needed, you can be assured it will be performed at any time of day. I know that Seaforth Community Hospital does not have the same population or the volume of emergencies that this hospital had but, in comparison, the service received is so extraordinary. I guess it just goes to show, you never know how good you have it until you neat it. Jennifer Roth Hen sal I Seaforth native thanks committee for wonderful Homecoming event Dear Editor, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to all of those individuals and groups who made the Seaforth Home- coming such a tremendous 'success. For months we have been anticipating this exciting event and you did not let us down. It was a wonderful opportun- ity to renew friendships, social- ize and meet new friends. I'd like to commend those who decorated the town to make it look so festive. The photo- graphs from the past, old yearbooks and memorabilia were a nice touch. Hours of time, planning and preparing for activities were evident in the success of everything I attended. I sure appreciate the efforts of everyone who made this a perfect weekend and I thank you. Scaforth is a wonderful town and I'm proud to call it my home. Sincerely, Trish (Rimmer) MacGregor Kippen No answers, just questions in killing My memories of Brian Smith will always be fond ones. He shared Master of Cere- monies duties at a mock awards night for journalism students at Carleton Univer- sity. He stumbled through some of the silly, pre -scripted jokes which were put in front of him. He graciously took the good-natured ribbing my journalism classmate gave him on stage as drunken students roared with laughter. Brian Smith was a class act that night. The busy TV sportscaster agreed to take part in an evening without glamour or black ties, just because he was asked. For that one night he acted like he was one of us. Now, only a cheap video- tape remains as a record of that evening and of Brian Smith. A coward with a rifle put a bullet through his head last Tuesday. A woman who is only about a year older than myself is now widowed. Why? Because some miserable piece of One View BY TIM CUMMING gepetic garbage had more bullets than brains. I did not recognize Alana's face from the front page of The Globe and Mail. The photo showed a woman cry- ing into her hands, her world destroyed. It could not be the Alana I know. The last time I saw her she was a teaching assistant in my television journalism course. She had brains, looks and a promising career as a journalist. I rarely saw her without her warm, trademark smile...except when a newscast was late. Could this be the same woman? No, it must be a cruel joke. A camera operator from CJOH-TV was the only one who adequately summed up last week's tragedy: "This is not really happen- ing." What was Brian Smith's mistake? He walked through the front doors of the televi- sion station where he worked. What was his crime? He had the recognizable face of a member of the media. I was not friends with Brian and Alana. I knew them only at a distance. But this sense- less shooting is perhaps a little bit more real to me because I briefly knew those who are affected. This bullet didn't just take away a familiar face from the TV screen. It took away a husband from a family. It took away a human being, ending his hopes and dreams forever. For members of the Ottawa media it will be a chilling era they now enter. Fear will invade their lives daily. The question is eating away at me: Why? Why? flashback Where's no better place than I know you'// like it too. Soldier greeted with party FROM THE PAGE$ OF THE HURON EXPOSITOR, AUGUST 16, 1895 Jacob Weber of Egmondville has sold the Carlin farm on the second concession of McKillop to Thos. Lane of Tuckersmith for the sum of $4,500. It is at present occupied by Charles Wright. * * * Wm. Scott, of Brucefield, shipped 12,000 pounds of wool to Lawrence, Massachusetts last week. * * * Thomas Dinsdale, of Kippen, the veteran thresher, has pur- chased one of the latest improved engines from the Leonard Company, London. * * * • R. B. McLean, of Kippen, has barley which yielded 58 bushels to the acre. * ** Wm. Jewitt, of McKillop, near Leadbury, arrived home from Algoma, bringing with him a number of samples of grain grown on the farm of Wm. Murray of Tuckersmith. * * * Mrs. Chas Lowrie, in writing from her home in Scotland, says, "Crops of all kinds are looking well; Butchers' meat is one shilling per pound; eggs, 1 s.6d per dozen; sugar, 2 d. per pound." AUGUST 13, 1920 An aeroplane passed over the town in an easterly direction about seven o'clock on Sunday evening. This was the first one to be seen this year. * * * The Farmer's Sun of last week says "J. J. McGavin of Walton, Huron County, sent in four 1150 pound steers to the United Farmers. J. H. Scott, of Seaforth, sent in 22 butcher cattle." * * * In the Years Agone The genial townsman, Robert Murdock, of Brucefield, started this week as mail carrier. The Expositor extends hearty congratulations to W. H. Kerr on having completed his 40th year as editor and proprietor of the Brussels Post, one of the newsiest and best edited week- ly papers in Ontario. * * * Tom Sills, young son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sills, Seaforth, had a leg fractured when he was knocked down and run over by another boy on a bicycle. * * * The Main Street in Brucefield has had a quantity of gravel put on it. Road commissioner McCartney has charge of the work and he well understands the art of good road making. AUGUST 17, 1945 A homecoming party was held in Looby's hall in honour of P/0 Thomas B. Melady, recently returned from two years overseas service in Afri- ca, Italy and England. Jas. O'Connor read the address and Alphonse Cronin made a pres- entation. * * * For the first time since 1942, motorists will now be able to secure all the gasoline they desire. * * * Scaforth men who have recently returned from overseas include Pte. Charles Woods, who spent five years in Eng- land, Sicily and Italy; Tprs. Arthur and John Cameron, who spent five and three years respectively in England, Italy, France, Holland and Germany; Sqd. Ldr. I. E. MacTavish, who made 67 missions over enemy territory and W. O. James D. Southgate, who made eleven missions over enemy territory. * * * A welcome home party and presentation was recently held in the Armouries in Seaforth for John J. Holland M.M. AUGUST 13, 1970 When Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Barber of Seaforth, visited their grandson recently at the Prov- incial Park at Balsam Lake, where he is Park Manager, it was an opportunity for a four generation gathering. * ** Seaforth Legion Hall was filled Saturday evening of last week as friends and relatives honoured Mr. and Mrs. Mervin Nott on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary. * * * Police are searching for thieves who gained entry into an Egmondville apartment occupied by Dr. Martin Haynes on Friday evening. * * * Town recreation director Douglas Andrews was uncon- scious for seven hours over- night Monday after he was assaulted and hit on the head while walking through Clinton Community Park. * * * Four tires were slashed on a car belonging to Maryln Krieger of RR 5 Brussels which was parked on John Street in Seaforth Monday night. Idioms throughout the ages Coup de grace The final blow: "Ne had been getting deeper and deeper in debt; the fates delivered the coup de grdce when he died." The phrase is French for "stroke of mercy." It originally referred to thc merciful stroke that put a fatally wounded person out of his misery or to the shot delivered to the head of a pris- oner after he had faced a firing squad. All things to all men (people) Saint Paul says that in his mis- sionary work, he was "all things to all men"; that is, he adapted himself to those around him in order to convert them to Christianity. Today, the phrase is most often used unfavorably about someone who is too flexible or accom- modating. Gesundheit (guh-ZOONT- heyet) German for "good health." Like the English phrase "Bless you," it is con- ventionally said to someone who has just sneezed. This reflects the superstition that a sneeze can cause the soul to fly out of the body; saying the phrase prevents this from hap- pening. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? There is, of course, no reasonable answer. Some individual was sick in the head. Society is sick in the head. Maybe we've grown too selfish. Maybe we've grown away from the land. Maybe the preservatives in our food are making us crazy. Maybe we've lost our way, our roots, our values. Maybe govem- ment funding cuts have hurt mental health programs. May- be there are too many guns. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe we have to kiss our sons and daughters and tell them we love them because there are no guarantees there will be a tomorrow. Maybe we have to live every day as if it were our last. Maybe we have to help create a kinder, gentler world. There are a lot of maybes but no real answers. Wake-up call comes for Liberals by DAVID SOMERVILLE The recent Ontario election may have given federal Liberals a glimpse of their own political future. The Ontario Liberals, of course, were blown away in that election despite beginning the campaign with an over- whelming lead in public opin- ion polls. A whole host of theories - many of them bizarre - has emerged to explain the Liberal Party's collapse. Some say it was Liberal lead- er Lyn McLeod's fault. Some say Ontarians wouldn't vote for a woman as party leader. Others say that the party's poli- cies were to blame; still others say the Liberals were just too plain wishy-washy. More likely, however, the Ontario Liberals were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The wrong place being smack dab between an easily angered electorate and an increasingly arrogant federal Liberal party in Ottawa; and the wrong time being when the whole question of gold-plated MP pensions became a hot issue. MP pensions, of course, are not strictly speaking a provin- cial matter. They are a federal concern. However, voters often do not make such subtle distinctions when they place an "X" on a ballot. To voters a Liberal is a Liberal or a Conservative is a Conservative no matter what level of government they rep- resent. In other words, provin- cial parties can get caught in a political crossfire between Ottawa and the province. That's exactly what happened in 1995 to the Ontario Liberals. The key issue was MP pen- sion reform. A recent poll showed that an overwhelming majority of Ontarians want the super rich MP pensions brought into line with what's available in the private sector. The federal Liberals, however, cynically proposed token changes that left the MP pen- sion plan an insulting outrage. Then to makc matters worse, in thc midst of the Ontario election, thc federal Liberals rammed their sham changes through a House committee after only twelve minutes of debate. Talk about arrogance. Not surprisingly, such high handed tactics angered Ontario voters. This anger was in turn focused by the group Ontarians for Responsible Government, which spent $50,000. on a media campaign urging voters angry about MP pensions to vote against the provincial Liberals. Obviously, the people lis- tened. On election day they sent a strong message to the Prime Minister. He had better heed it. Unless the federal Liberals act to bring MP pensions into line with what's available in the private sector they will mcct the same fate as thcir Ontario counterparts. /)avid Somerville is President of The National Citizens' Coalition.