HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-02-23, Page 44-TISE HURON EXPOSITOR, , FMtiry 23, 2000
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Wednesday. February 23. 2000
ldilerfiel tad Seeleeas OMtoes • 100 M.I. 5.1•40,5•6104.16
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Publication Moa Registration No. 07605
Editorial
Expositor believes
board violated
public's
right to know
The Avon Maitland District School Board has crossed
a dangerous;line.
At risk --the public's right to know what its trustees
and local politicians are saying about public issues.
We believe that right was violated lost Tuesday IFeb.
15) when Director of Education Lome Rachlis refused to
allow the media to cover what he considered to be an
informal discussion between the board and loco)
politicians.
Politicians from each municipality in Huron and Perth
County were Invited to be at this meeting to discuss the
school closure issue.
Rachlis threatened The Huron Expositor with
trespassing twice and expelled its reporter from the
meeting, saying it would not start with the reporter in
the room.
He later barred o second reporter from entering the
room
Local politicians seemed unaware the meeting was
to take place behind dosed doors .
To us, Rachlis's defence of closing the meeting
because it was "informal' rings hollow to the the
Education Act and case-law destinction between a
public meeting and one that con be dosed
Rochlis continues to tell the public about how open
the board is and yet prevented the public from hearing
lost Tuesdays discussion.
it begs the question, What were they trying to hider
The meeting was potentially explosive with possible
negative comments being made by mayors toward
the school board.
Fear of having those comments aired publically is no
reason to dose a meeting
Often times, media ore the only ones attending
meetings but they are there representing the public,
maintaining the communitys right to know what their
elected officials ore doing and thinking
By barring reporters, Rochlis denied everyone the
right to know what was being discussed about a
serious issue that affects many of their children and
schools.
There are very specific reasons why o meeting con
be closed, such Qs to discuss a legal or personnel
issue, but last week's meeting fits none of those
requirements •
To arbitrarily be able to dedare what should be a
publicolly occurring discussion as informal and dosed
is, we believe, wrong
Rules for what constitute a meeting and what makes
it open ore in place in the Education and Municipal Acts
to ensure that the proceedings of government are
open and able to be scrutinized
Rachlis has 'set a dangerous precedent by giving a
roofn fuH of municipal leaders the impression they can
just dedore a discussion on on issue as informal and
dose it off to the public.
We believe Rachlis was being nothing less than a
bully and politicians at that meeting need to know he
was wrong.
If a situation like•this occurs again, a court
opplication will be bunched by The Expositor.
Scoff Hilgendorff
Opinion
CAA says too many people pointing fingers
while trying to find blame for gas prices
Motorists are fed up of
paying ever higher gasoline
prices while provincial
politicians, federal
politicians and oil companies
point fingers at each other,
says CAA Ontario.
"Governments and the oil
industry could reduce gas
prices. but they are too busy
pointing fingers." says CAA
Ontario, spokesman David
Leonhardt. "What amazes
me is how they can point so
many fingers and still keep
their hands in our pockets."
He says that motorists are
tired of hearing politicians
blame each other when they
could and should be doing
something themselves.
Last Tuesday, Premier
Harris blamed the oil
companies and the federal
GST for the high price of
gasoline. The federal
government blamed the
Ontario government for not
regulating the price of
gasoline. The oil industry
blamed both levels of
government for high gas
taxes.
Leonhardt told the
provincial Gas Price Review
Task Force Monday that high
gasoline prices can be
blamed first and foremost on
sky-high taxes - both
provincial and federal -
amounting to an 809E tax
mark-up, compared to a
maximum 159E GST and
PST mark-up on other
necessary products. He says
that the high world price of
crude is the second big factor
in high gasoline prices, but
that must be addressed at the
international level. CAA
Ontario is also concerned
that weakened competition
may contribute to higher
retail margins in some
markets.
During the first two days
of hearings, the provincial
Gas Price' Review Task
Force was told over and over
that the gas tax must be cut.
"We hope the provincial
Task Force will step in and
demand an immediate
provincial gas tax cut,"
Leonhardt says. "Because. as
the Premier said not three
months ago, that is the one
thing the provincial
government has complete
control over."
CAA Ontario is the
federation of Ontario auto
clubs, representing '1.7
million motorists and their
families. It is part of the 4
million-member Canadian
Automobile Association.
(Editor's note: While gas
prices have continued to
rise, even when crude oily
prices were at 1970s levels
more than a year ago, it has
been more than five years
since gas taxes have
increased.)
Tired of looking for nude celebrities?
Are you tired of spending
countless hours searching for
pictures of nude celebrities?
Well. actually. what I am tired
of is getting these bizarre e-mail
ads.
- Every day our poor e-mail is
subjected to messages that come
in amongst the recreation
column submission. letters to the editor
or press releases.
Being a newspaper with a very public
e-mail address. we seem to get on
mailing lists that would astound the
average household.
This latest offers us the chance to
purchase a CD rom filled with more
than 8,500 images of nude celebrities
from Winona Ryder to Celine Dion.
And if that's not enough, the CD rom
has a program that allows you to create
"fake photos" from those thousands of
images,
"You can come up with some pretty
crazy pies." the message says.
And they can be used for screen
savers.
You must be18 or older to order but
a handy order form is attached to the
bottom of the e-mail message and I
know technology is pretty advanced but
I don't see how this particular offer has
the ability to know if the keyboard is
being worked by a 16 -year-old or 46 -
year -old. •
Below' that, it does stipulate that the
message complies with "the proposed
United States'Federal requirements for
commercial e-mail bill"
I'm sure glad those proposed
American laws apply to us too.
Ironically, in the same week, a
message came through offering
information about a breakthrough herb
combination that can increase the size
of a woman's breast by 82 per cent.
, This one came in the form of a "press
release" from Brampton alerting
everyone to Herbal Bust Plus, a product
from Wang Products of Brampton.
"Every ingredient is 100 per cent
natural," says this press release. of the
nine magical. breast growing herbs.
It also provides relief from PMS
symptoms and postpartum depression.
About the only. thing this release
doesn't tell us is, what happens if a man
takes it?
I can't help but wonder.
If this can grow new breast tissue,
why can't they develop an herb that
could regrow an arm or leg lost to
someone in an accident?
Any given day can be n adventure m
checking the e-mail.
Often times, there are regular
advertisement for business related
products but you just never know when
a mass mailing is going to come
through alerting us to the end of
the world or to a dying child who
is trying to set a world record with
an e-mail message sent to the
most number of people.'
The dying child e-mail has
come to the office at least twice
and one from multi -billionaire
and computer guru Bill Gates has been
sent here at least six times.
It's sent by people who have been
told that Microsoft, a company Gates
owned until a short time ago. will pay
them for every reply they receive to an
e-mail message they forward as part of
a study to track internes usage.
Both the dying child and the Bill
Gates offer have been reported as
internes hoaxes that,resurface from time
to time.
If you thought the junkmail you got
at home used to be bad and you're
getting tired of phone solicitations from
various companies. e-mail can be a
whole new experience in wasted time.
All the messages have to be looked at
because one out of every six just might
be from one of our local or internet
readers with a question. comment or
submission --what our e-mail was
intended for.
It's a crazy world out there but the
internes has brought it crashing right
into our homes -
...by the way, that nude celebrities
CD rom sells for $29.95.
Boys arrive by train, kept for winter in Croinarty
February 26, 1875
The young men and women of
the Moyban Church here gave a
social benefit of the. poor. The
In the years agone...
several readings, the selections 'of music
and the entire proceedings were most
praiseworthy. '
The new Masonic Hall, Seaforth, will
be dedicated soon. It will be under the
direction of Bro. Kerr of Toronto.
Last week, a party of four boys having
through tickets, arrived in Cromarty
where they were met with every
kindness. They know very little about
work but were capital musicians. Dr.
MacTavish, Messrs. Taggart, Reading
and Wilson consented to keep t hem over
the winter. Not one of them can speak a
word of English.
A public meeting of the residents of
Blyth, was held in Slums Hotel, for the
purpose of considering the propriety of
forming a joint stock company to sink a
salt well in the village. W.W. Drummond
was appointed secretary and Mr. Logan
and Grey occupied the chair.
Owing to the severe storm, the fishing
traffic at Drysdale was completely cut
off, compelling the worthy fishermen to
store up large quantities of fish.
However, the weather has abated and ten
loads have been shipped to various
points, making an aggregate of 4,000
dozen. The wholesale price 18c per
dozen.
February 23,1900
The opening address at the recent
Farmer's Institute meeting in Murdie's
school house in .the Township of
McKillop was delivered by Master
Alexander Wright, son of Chas. Wright.
This lad is not 14 years and his address
would do credit to very much older
heads.
Wm. Scott, who lives north of
Seaforth, on the gravel road,
contemplates building a large barn. It
will be 60 X 130 feet. Mr. Doig of
Tuckersmith has the contract and is
taking out the timber in the
neighborhood of Leadbury.
The first Carnival of the season 'was
held in the skating rink. Seldom, if ever,
has such a large crowd got themselves
into the rink The ice was good, the band
was there and the customers were
numerous and original. Ladies character -
Alice Campbell; second- Alma Reid;
Ladies' comic - Annie Roberts; gents
character- H. Israel. F. Crich; Gents
comic- D. Stewart, H. Abel, John Bell.
John Rankin held the lucky number.
The 33rd Battalion Band and the
Company are preparing a grand concert,
on which occasion the medals will be
presented to the heroes of the Finian
Raid.
C.E. Mason of Brucefield has sold his
Clydesdale stallion "Union Bank" to
Messrs. Ballantyne and Richardson of St.
Marys.
Wm. Ross of Brucefield sold a 5 -year-
old gelding to. John McMann, Seaforth
for $175.
Wm. Scott of Brucefield, has disposed
of the Glasgow House to Mr. Postelwaite
ata good figure.
The ice harvest at Brucefield has
begun and Messrs. Munroe, Graham and
Snell are putting in their supply.
Mr. Holmes of Tuckersmith has
purchased a Doherty organ from C.
Hoare of Clinton.
Twelve more electric lights have been
placed on the Zurich streets.
The old and the well known post office
store in Kippen, conducted by the Mellis
family, has been purchased by John
Balfour.
February 27,1925
Ernest Adams of Londesboro in in
Toronto this week attending the Good
Roads Convention.
Miss Alma McKay of Bayfield has
been home from London where she is
attending Westervelts Business College
for a week owing to illness.
The crow and the robin have been
heard again, which is an indication that
spring is approaching.
Scarlet fever and measles have struck
the Village of Manley and are tieing tap
business to a certain extent.
The young men of Dublin put on a
splendid Minstrel Show. The singing was
a feature of the evening. Dr. Traynor,
Chas. Sills and John Flanagan were the
soloists.
W. J. O'Rourke of Dublin has disposed
of the family farm in McKillop Twp. to
Jack Murray for $8,000.
Geo. Lowry of the Huron Road,
shipped a number of ehoice baby beef to
Toronto. He also sold three head to D.H.
Stewart, butcher of town.
F.G. Nadia, Collector of Customs, is
at present ill in the hospital here.
Messrs. Stewart Bros, have had the
interior of their two large stores
decorated throughout
W.C. Bennett of Winthrop received a
car load of salt and was busy unloading it
on 'Tuesday.
e annual congregational meeting of
Egmondville Presbyterian
Church was held with a large
attendance of members present.
Arrangements were made to take a vote
on Church Union.
February 24, 1950
Mrs. Archie Somerville. one of
Seaforth's oldest residents. marked her
91st birthday. Many friends called and
wished her well,: and extended
congratulations.
A very enjoyable social evening was
spent at the spacious home of Mr. and
Mrs. Cecil Oke, in Tuckersmith when 40
neighbours and friends gathered to do
honour to Mr. and Mrs. John McGavin
on the occasion' of their 50th wedding
anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. McGavin were
presented with satin bound wool blanket
and a ball point pen was given Miss
Mary.
Seaforth and district received the first
real share of winter when the
temperature dropped to 10 degrees below
zero. Snow plows were out for the first
time this winter.
Fred Smallacombe, the man who
helped build Hensall's first ice rink and
one of the oldest sportsmen in the
community, cut the ribbon for the official
opening of the new 535,000 Hensall
Community Centre.
Senator W. H. Golding, Seaforth
moved the address in reply to the speech
from the throne.
There were 16 present at the Farm
Forum meeting held at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Oliver Anderson, Hullett.
Euchre was played.
February 27, 1975 •
Restoration work fr well under way at
the 19th Century Van Egmond House in
Egmondville. Work on the main part of
the house is going so well that the Van
Egmond Foundation has decided to go
ahead with returning the kitchen of the
house to its post 1860 shape. This will
involve replacing modern windows,
stripping he floor, taking down a wooden'
ceiling and restoring the large kitchen
fin place.'
Members of Seaforth's Day Care
Committee, Mayor Betty Cardno and
`Town Clerk Ernest Williams will meet
next Friday with the ' ttario Minister of
Social Community :.rvices, Rene
Brunel! in Toronto.
While Seaforth police constables were
investigating a fracas at iut SDHS dance
Friday night, their police car disappeared
and shortly after was discovered
abandoned behind the community centre.
•