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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-10-23, Page 44—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Ootobor 23, 1119S Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 TERRI-LYNN DALE - General Manager & Advertising Manager MARY MELLOR - Sales PAT ARMES Office Manager DIANNE McGRATH - Subscriptions & Classifieds DAVE SCOTT - Editor GREGOR CAMPBELL - Reporter BARB STOREY - distribution A Bowes Publishers Comniuniy Newspaper SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL • 32.50 a year, in odvance, plus 2.28 G S T SENIORS: - 30 00 o year, in advance, plus 2.10 G.S.T USA & Foreign. 32.50 a year in advance, plus 578 00 postage, G 5 T exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES- Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing at 100 Moin St., Sealoreh Pubiicotion moil registration No 0696 held of Seoiorth, Ontario Advertising -1s occepled on condition that in the event of a typogrophicol error, the odvertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with o reasonable allowance for signature, willnot be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for of the applica,ble rale. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services of wrong price, goods or services may not be sold Advertising a merely on offer to sell and may be wrthdrown of 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 oddress, orders for subscriptions and undel,v- eroble copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor. . Wednesday, October 23, 1996 Editorial and Business Offices - 100 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 527.0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address • P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK IWO Member of the Canodion Community Newspoper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association and the Ontario Press Council Editorial Preventive medicine needed for our hospital They talk about preventive medicine in health care - protect- ing yourself from ailments by healthy practices. The time is. ripe for preyentivc medicine for our local hospital. It would he nice to think that nothing is going to affect' Seaforth Community Hospital's future operations hut there arc no guarantees with the Huron -Perth DHC's task force looking at ways to cut -$15. to 20 million from, the' local health system on orders from the Ontario government. We have the benefit of watching the effects thc budget chopping process has had on hospitals in Bruce and Grey Counties. They are about a year ahead of 'Huron -Perth in their schedule. in last Wednesday's Kincardine News, the lead story on the front page announced that four hospitals would amalgamate. As of April 1. 1997, Kincardine, Chesley, Durham and Walkerton hospitals will operate as one hospital with four facilities. Each hospital will retain its doctors, auxil- iary and its current financial investments (capital).- . Thc same thing could happen to the five hospitals (Seaforth. Clinton, Go dcrich. Wingham and Exeter) in Huron. But there arc many options available and no single one has yet been identified. This is where the public steps in. On October 29, Seaforth is hosting three focus group sessions at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (A location for the discussions has not yet been named). It's the public's chance to state its perspectives on local health care and how important the presence of a local hospital is. It might be the perspective of many locally that everything is going smoothly with the hospithl and-olinic, especially with the arrival of several new doctors in the past few years. But that doesn't mean our hospital will escape cuts. If you care about local health care and don't want to see it disappear. please lend your voice to one of these three group , sessions. About .10 to 12 people arc needed for each focus group. If you're interested in participating. contact the Huron - Perth DHC at (519) 348-4498 or fax them at (519) 348-9749. For those who would like to leave a voice message indicat- ing their opinion on thc future of local health services, a toll- free number has been set up: 1-888-648-3712. Faxes will also be accepted at the above number. You can also send an e-mail message to: hpdhc@cyg.net - DWS Emotions are definitely part of the process Don't he afraid to get emotional about keeping your local .hospital. The comments in last week's paper by Huron -Perth DHC Executive Director Fraser Bell: "it is important for the public not to be emotional in their quest to keep what they presently have in the community. especially in terms of a hospital," fol-' lowed by: "a rally for the status quo is not needed. ,Unfortunately we're faced with realities that make the status quo not feasible," arc asinine. it's double-talk gobble -de -gook jargon that means "don't get upset about saving your hospital even though your hospital is not safe from cuts. and possible amalgamation or closure." if the DHC would use accessible language in their press releases and communications like "budget cuts of $15 to 20 million dollars starting next year" - (which didn't appear in their press release), instead of nonsensical phrases like "fiscal planning assumption" and "financial reduction proportions" maybe thc public (or the media) would understand where they're coming from. Luckily. the Expositor had hospital CEO Bill Thihcrt to translate the DHC's agenda into figures and words that mean something. to the average person (or "health consumer"). Try telling thc 3,001) people who showed up at the Kincardine arena a few weeks ago when they heard thcir hos- pital might close not to be emotional. It's like telling a person not to mourn the death of a family member. Speak at local focus groups or leave a voice message at thc •DHC. Now is the time -to let your opinion be heard. if not. one of the "three options for detailed evaluation" to he named on November 21 might he closing or. merging Seaforth Community Hospital with others in -the arca. Whatever the three options identified arc, Seaforth residents will be able to voice their support, concerns or opposition at the December 10 public forum at thc Seaforth Community Centre from 4 to 8 p.m. Then the "final option" (sounds like a Nazi slogan) will be selected January 22 and a press release, with hopefully concise English, will be distributed thc next day. Not all arc happy with the hospital merger in Grey -Bruce or CONTINUED on page 5 • Press releases are killing our forests 1 was cordially invited to attend a press conference Monday, September 9, 4 p.m., at Stratford City Hall Council Chamber for a major announcement concerning the "Future Directions for the City of Stratford." And I didn't go. I really couldn't have gone for a number of reasons. One being that I just found this press release October 21 under a pile of papers. And unless the future direction of the City of Stratford is to move west on Highway 8 and wipe out the Town of Seaforth, 1 probably wouldn't have gone for the free coffee and donuts. Somewhere, in an endless forest, there's a full-time army of lumberjacks cutting down trees for press releases for those public relations - type -people that exist in almost any organization imaginable. And lucky me, 1 have a copy of The Economic and Fiscal Update from The Honourable Paul Martin to the House of Commons. If anyone wants my copy of this speech before it gets per- manently recycled please call soon. I will hold onto it until Thursday, October 24 at 12 (Note:This photo doesn't accurately portray the present growth of facial hair) Scott's Thoughts by Dave Scott noon. The first lucky caller gets a free cure for insomnia. But wait! Didyou know that Tip #17 from the Insurance Bureau of Canada is "Bathroom Safety" and. includes such bad puns as: "Here's some shocking news: electricity and water don't mix." This is what happens when Insurance Bureau people have too much time on their hands. Here's a good tip: Keep your medicines organized so you don't accidentally take the wrong one. (And don't put your corrosive toilet cleaner beside your mouth- wash). After reading about all the horrible ways insurance peo- ple can maim themselves in . bathrooms, I think I'll just start showering outside in rain storms. (I haven't thought about the winter yet) And from the Ausable- Bayfield Conservation Authority, who recently asked member municipalities for almost 15 per cent more money this year over last year while everybody else is cutting back, wasted some trees with this press release: "Has a log buyer knocked on your door lately? What should you say when' a log buyer comes to the door?" You should say "Why are you cutting down all these trees for press releases?" . If you want to know what to say when you open your door, there's a day long ses- - 'sion from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 19. And they don't tell us'where it's being held (probably because they don't want any log buyers knocking on the door). But if you are genuinely interested about selling tim- ber in your woodlot, only the first 15 people to call 235- 2610 before November. I will be able to attend. Of course, it costs $30 which includes a lunch (of berries and pine combs). 1 bet you didn't know the IOOth anniversary of the dis- covery of radioactivity is being celebrated during Medical Radiation Technology Week, from November 4 to 8. -People are being encour- aged to have as many x-rays as possible during this time. The patient with the highest geiger counter reading will receive free hospital care. You can also celebrate at home by putting your face as close to the microwave and television set as possible for extended periods of time. - (Of course the above para- graph.is total fabrication and • not actually recommended' by any physician, surgeon gen eral or any person, who is actually firing on all cylin- ders). i really have to-go,t just got a two-page fax from ''The institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario." (I'm just happier knowing chartered accountants have their own intitUute). • 'No limit to the insanity of minor hockey' Dear Editor: We want our children to be good sports: not to fall apart when they lose, and not to cheat in order to win. This is a tall order if they happen to he a member of the local Minbr Hockey Association. There is no limit to the insanity of minor hockey. Weekly the conversations of parents between and during practises and games confirm parents' involvement. responsive to the needs of the insanity of it all. It is a These' positions need - each child. simple game that parents'and trained individuals. Training As a parent the question is untrained coaches so love to before they assume the posi- how do we develop our complicate. Parents and tions is essential in numerous youngsters' sense of trust and untrained coaches should be ' areas such as hockey 'skills, self-confidence amid this banned from fulfilling posi- dos,and don'ts.of coaching, double standard of -justice. tions on the bench. how to organize and utilize Indeed a challenge:- - A child should not be given practise time, players and extra privileges because they parents, as well and maybe come from a certain social most importantly to maintain circle, or because of their the goal to be attentive and Sincerely Randy Brooker 'Seaforth has been generous supporter of campaign Dear Editor: farm any part of branch For'm'any years the people finances. The amount collect - of Seaforth and area have ed in the 1995 campaign was been Most generous in con- $5,872.24 with expenditures tributing to the annual poppy during the year totalling We trust that the local citi- campaign of Branch 156 of $5,239.56. zens will continue to lend the Royal Canadian Legion. The poppy trust fund is a' their usual strong support to Funds which the public reserve from which assis- the 1996'poppy campaign boy contribute are held in trust in tance can 'be given to needy wearing a poppy and being a separate account and do not veterans and their dependants -receptive to the Legion mem- and the widows. and childien of deceased ex-service'per- sorinel.- • ' her or oadet knocking on your dont during, the poppy drive to' be held on Monday. Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. Your dona- tion will be appreciated. Errol Skillender Poppy Chairman Legion Branch 156 Federal Liberals may possibly replace old gag law with new one Dear Editor: Canada's federal gag law died recently not with a bang but, with, a whimper. The whimpering -came from those federal politicians who hoped to use this obnoxious law to stifle debate at election time. Your readers may recall that the gag law threatened imprisonment to -any inde- pendent citizen or group who First rugby team in Seaforth introduced at high school in 1946 spent more than $1.000 dur- ing federal elections to express a political belief. Challenged by supporters of The National Citizens' It's official death. however, came only after the federal government, probably realiz- ing that this was one fight they could not win, opted not Coalition, 'who saw the law to launch a Supreme Court as an infringement of free , appeal. • speech, the gag law was dealt • So the gag law is dead. a mortal blow when an Good' riddance. Alberta Court ruled it uncon- Unfortunately, it may not stay stitutional earlier this sum- 'dead. The Liberals say they mer. - are cobbling together a new gag law to replace the old. Some people. it seems. - never learn-. - - The couri realii.e it's wrong to ,ppress, fret: speech: wh don't our politi• - cians! Yours truly. David Somerville President. National Citizens' Coalition FROM THE PAGES OF THE HURON EXPOSITOR OCTOBER 30, 1896 It is evident that that there are some characters in town who should be in the Central Prison. it is only a few weeks since we referred to a burglary at the residence of Mr: James Beattie. We now have something similar to record. On Sunday night last some persons entered the res- idence of Mr. Wm. Bristou. while Mr. and Mr. Bristou were out. They gained admission by prying open a bed room window. On get- ting into the house they ran- sacked all thc drawers. turn- ing their contents upside down, and carried off a purse containing two dollars and a half. which was in thc drawer of the sewing machine. It was evidently money they were after. as in One of the drawers which they opened were several articles of jew- elry and silverware, which they had evidently not inter- fered with. as none of these articles were missing. They took thcir exit by the front door. which was locked inside, and left it open behind them; Thc floors of the house were strewn with matches with which the bur- glars had lighted themselves through the house. It took place some times between eight and ten o'clock. OCTOBER 28. 1921 The Grand Jury of the Supreme Court in session at the court house, Stratford, on In the Years Agone Tuesday afternoon returned no bill in the case of Catherine. Hastings, of the township of Logan, charged with the murder of her hus- band, the late Daniel Hastings. of the same town- ship by administering poison to him. The accused woman was taken into custody on March 25. following a con- fession made by her. She was removed from the Stratford jail only a short time ago and admitted to a hospital in London. owing to illness. * * * At the International Plowing Match, held near Woodstock . we note that Mr. Murray Tyndall was success- ful in winning a prize for tractor plowing in stubble. Mr. Tyndall• is to be Congratu- lated on his success in art entry of 26 contestants. He operated an Imperial tractor. manufactured by The Robert Bell Engine & Thresher Co., Ltd. in the particular section where Mr. Tyndall plowed there were nine other entries, and he was the only one to receive a prize in that field. NOVEMBER 1,1946 W. T. Teall was elected president at the annual meet- ing of the Seaforth Amateur Athletic Association held in the Town Hall Tuesday evening. Reports presented by offi- cials indicated a successful year's operation. During the past season the town was rep- resented by hockey. football and softball teams. * *. There are nearly halla mil - ,lion more chickens in Huron County than in any other county in Ontario. the October bulletin of the Ontario Department of Agriculture reveals. Nearest competitor for the position of top poultry producing county is Lambton. * * * The first rugby team in the history of Seaforth has been introduced by the Seaforth High School. The lack of rugby in this district has for- merly left students with an athletic handicap upon enter- ing university. The Seaforth High School will line up as follows: Centre, Don Smith: insides. Archie Hubert. Don Brightrall, Ron Sills. Francis Huisser; . middle, Jack Wallace, Walter Bosell, Howard Hackwell; ends, Bill Munn, Stewart Henderson. Joe Laudenbach; quarter- backs, Harold Knight (cap- tain); half backs, Don Stewart, Gordon Wilson, Neil Beattie, Bill Dutchart. NOVEMBER 4. 1971 Approximately $400 dam- age was caused when thieves broke into Seaforth District High School. Thursday. evening.- 'the thieves ran- sacked three Offices. dam-• aged a clock and typewriter and chipped a large hole in one of the Offices in an attempt to gain entry into the. school vault. Two dollars cash left for change for the pop machine in the teachers' lounge was stolen. The offices of the principal Lawrence Plumstcel and vice-principal. William Murdie- had papers from their desks strewn over the floor. Constable Fred Tucker of the • Mount Forest 'O.P.P. Detachment Identification Unit was at the school Friday gathering fingerprints and other identifying marks.- The case in being, investigated by Chief Gordon - Hulley. Seaforth Police Department. * *# A.-70 foot radio tower at Seaforth Community Hospital was blown to the ground, Tuesday morning by gusts of wind which reached up to 40 miles per hour. The aluminum structure used for 'radio communica- tions between the hospital and ambulance services was strewn across the hospital parking lot a! approximately 7:45 a.m. • A Seaforth Public Utilities spokesman said, that no real problems were encountered in thc area due to the storm. -