Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2001-05-16, Page 4Opinion Letters Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Tom Williscraft - Publisher Pat Armes - Office Manager Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Dianne McGrath - Subsaiptions/C1ossifieds Susan Hundertmark - Reporter Katrina Dietz - Sales Anne Roden - Distribution Bowes Publishers Limited SJuhae7 al S. Medio Ca.forshon - A Quieroe Cn-Paay E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 32.50 a year, in advance, plus 2.28 G.S.T. SENIORS: - 30.00 a year, in advance, plus 2.10 G.S.T. USA & Foreign: 28.44 a year in advance, plus 378.00 postage, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Published weekly by Signal-Star Publishing at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Publication mail registration No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is occepied on condition that in the event of a typogrophical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be chorged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, odvertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time.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 undeliverable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor. Wednesday, May 16, 2001 Idifeeiel sad Sesleess Offices - 11 Male Sfreet.,tliesfertl. Telepbeee (519) 527-0240 fax (519) 537.3858 Manly Address - P.O. lex 69, Seeder*, Osterie, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 "We acknowledgethe financial support of the Govemment of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Editorial Community needs more than assurances Some not so satisfactory results came from Monday night's Business Improvement Area meeting where again, police were present to address concerns about arson fires set in the downtown area. For the third weekend in six weeks, fires have been set near area businesses, this time causing $25,000 in damage at London Agricultural Commodities Inc on Crombie Street and putting Town Hall at risk. Community members are pushing to see a Citizens on Patrol Committee formed but the police are worried forming one now could interfere with their investigation. Yet Staff Sergeant George Lonsbary suggested police are thrown after this weekend's fires, now not certain if there are two or maybe three groups involved. While police want a chance to do their jobs, some community members are not trusting police assurances that there are extra officers working on the case. While police can't be everywhere, a citizens' group could help increase a visible presence and potentially reduce the amount of crime currently taking place. And right now, citizens are already patrolling on their own, trying themselves to protect their businesses. It would be best to take some real steps toward forming a committee immediately and offering them training on how to work with the police rather than leave them on their own to patrol as best they can on their own. The BIA's offer of assistance doubling a Crimestoppers reward for information leading to an arrest is tied up in waiting to learn how much Crimestoppers is offering. The community needs some help and while there may be some behind -the -scenes work taking place that people can't see, they need to see a real police presence on a regular basis to help deter the crime that is taking place. When an incident happens like the attack at the Shell Station Monday, there are not enough parking places for the police in town, but that is reactionary and the community needs something more substantial than assurances the police are working on it. While there was talk of a reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprits and talk of a citizens' group, nothing has been established. The time for serious community involvement was four weeks ago, after the first attacks. Waiting any longer is putting more lives and livelihoods at risk. Scoff Hilgendorff How to access Letters to the Editor and other su It can be made to us by noon on Mondays at: seaforth bowesnet.co '. Il All letters and submissions must be si and accompanied by a day -time telepb number. All submissions are sub for both length and content. Dont forget to check out our www.seaforthh Consultant was hired to get the data people said they wanted To the Editor: In its brief history, the Avon Maitland District School Board has heard from a lot of people on a great variety of subjects. Without a doubt the subject that produces the greatest response is the issue of student accommodation. Everyone knows we have been down this road before and there is no doubt that it can be a painful path. When the decision to close schools was reached in 2000, the board heard from many people who had suggestions that they felt would make for a more acceptable process They wanted an opportunity for input that was meaningful and heard before any specific schools were considered. They wanted long term population projections that were developed by an objective source. They told us that they could live with changing schools once, if necessary, but they didn't want it to happen again. They wanted a system- wide plan that would deal with our excess space issues over a significant period of time. The board took those suggestions to heart when they made adjustments to the Student Accommodation Review Policy. `Io get the data that people told us they wanted, a consultant was engaged to prepare population projections to the year 2015. Those figures were referred to in a report that was considered by the board at its last meeting. Those figures show that the problem of excess space in our schools will continue well into the future. On the basis of those figures alone, the board voted to set up Community Accommodation Study committees which include each and every school in the district. Representation on those committees will include school council members, community members selected by the municipalities and the school principals. What we hope to have come from these committees is an idea of See HURON, Page 7 Former editor seeks McLean information To the Editor: Sarabel McLean is one of many fascinating people in Seaforth's history. She was born in 1867, Canada's Confederation year, and taught kindergarten at the old Seaforth Public School for more than 40 years. When she finally retired from teaching, in the 1950s, she was over 80 years old. I have a photo of her with the kindergarten class of 1945--- 31 feisty looking children and Miss McLean, who was only 78 that year. Miss McLean was my aunt Sarabel and I want to write her story. It occurs to me that there may be many people in Seaforth, or other Expositor subscribers, who "went to school with Miss McLean." I'd love to hear from anyone who has any memories of Sarabel, in kindergarten or elsewhere. (She also taught Sunday School at First Presbyterian Church and was a member of the library board.) Please write me at the address below or email me at: swhite@loyalistc.on.ca. Thanks for your interest and help and I look forward to hearing from anyone who has something to say. Sincerely, Susan McLean White, 91 Catharine St., Belleville, Ont., K8P 1M2 Sorry, but there just isn't any good news. People are often quick to hang on to the negative stories they read and forget about the positive ones, sometimes criticizing the media for being too negative. Particularly at the weekly newspaper level, criticism seems unfair as reporters struggle to find a balance between the interests and needs in the community and the news value of stories that develop each week. Through that, we often include photographs of events that take place recognizing the efforts of local citizens and we always try to be advocates for this community. While sometimes it comes By Scott Hilgendorff in the form of editorial page criticisms, those same editorials are often used to try and rally the'community together or to provide support and encouragement for events and people in the community. And while some front page stories may reflect negative events in the community, there is almost always a positive photograph featuring children or community events on the front page; also a conscious, thought out decision to help balance the coverage. We have often given space on the front page for feature stories of interest that would traditionally run on an inside page, as another attempt to share some of the good that goes on in Seaforth while still reporting the bad. Last year, we intentionally put out a newspaper where all of the stories on the front page were positive or features, leaving some of the drier, but necessary stories for inside, despite some of their potential for the front page. It's a detail I would imagine no one noticed while many will notice the .. negativity in this week's front page. Sadly, bad events make news. When something bad happens, it's what people talk about and we have a need and responsibility to help publish truths about what is happening out there to combat the stories that circulate on the street. It sometimes means putting more negative stories on the front page. But this week, for the first time that I can remember, we have absolutely no stories that readers would consider "good news" that outweigh the need of running the stories that appear on the See I'VE, Page 7 Stray pig wanders down Seaforth's main street May 12, 1876 Hullett: Mr. N. T. Adams of Con. 7 Hullett a few days ago showed us a specimen of this years growth of potatoes grown by him. Mr. Adams Further informed us that himself and his family enjoyed on April 5th a meal of potatoes of this years growth - they were pronounced delicious. These potatoes were not grown either in a house or under glass, but in a pit. Brussels: Mr. Peter Thompson was elected a member of the Brussels School Board; He fills the vacancy caused by the death of the late J. W. Kerr. Stanley: We are glad to see Mr. Thos. Keys of the Babylon line recovering under the care of Dr. Stewart. Tuckersmith: Mr. Pete McTavish of the Mill Road was returning from Seaforth, as he was descending the hill at Egmondville some part of the harness gave way allowing the wagon to run forward on the horses heels, causing them to kick violently. Mr. McTavish fell under the horses feet thusly suffering a broken leg. He was for a considerable time insensible and his life despaired of. Towards evening however he revived sufficiently to allow of his being removed from his home. Personal: Mrs. Robert Turnbull and Mr. Jas Nichol of McKillop and Mrs. Anderson left yesterday for a trip to Scotland. They sail from Quebec and expect to be gone several weeks. Accident: A little girl, eldest daughter of James Benson Esq. of Seaforth met with a painful accident when she fell over the stair railing striking her mouth against the coal stove. Four front teeth were knocked out and one driven up into the gum. She Years agone... was placed under chloroform and the tooth extracted. She is now recovering. May 10,1901 Huron Notes: Mr. and Mrs. James Ross and daughter left Clinton last week for Chicago, where they will make their home in future. Mr. Ross is one of the oldest residence of Huron, having been born in Stanley, on the London road, in the year 1838. His eldest brother was the first white child born in that township. Hensall: Mr. Taylor, a hypnotist, is holding meetings here this week and giving evidence in his ability in that line. Brucefield: The McCowan brothers have torn their old barns down and are beginning to build new ones. Staffa: Mr. Harry Bryan left on Monday for Petrolia where he has been engaged in a store. Bayfield: Rev. Mr. Jennings and his congregation are to be congratulated on the handsome and comfortable appearance of their church, which they have been repairing lately. Mr. D. Galbraith is suffering from blood poisoning in his right hand. Birth: Shaw - At Rat Portage, on April 15th, the wife of Mr. W. A. Shaw, of the Shaw House, formerly of Grey Township, of a daughter. Dublin: Miss Weber left on Saturday for Berlin. Mr. and Mrs. O'Leary spent Sunday with Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell. Mr. John Ryan, who has been seriously ill, is better again. May 14., 1926 Miss Mary A. Kelly, 5th concession of Hibbert, is ill at her home and only slight hopes are held for her ultimate recovery. Mr. and Mrs. Archie Jeffery are now enjoying the pleasure of a new Ford coupe. Large Boilers: The Robert Bell Engine and Thrasher Co. Ltd. shipped to large Keewanee type heating boilers to Toronto to be used in some of the public schools in the city. Tuxis News: At the request of Mayor Golding and his town council, The Tuxis Corp. will take care of the soldiers monument on band nights. Bowlers Open Season on May 24th - The bowling committee have decided to officially open the season with a local tournament on May 24th, the Queen's Birthday. The young ladies of St. Jame's Church intend giving a dance in the Parish Hall on Friday evening, May 21st when Stewart's Harmony Boys will provide the music. Mr. John Lamiman, the new leader of the Highlanders Band, has leased the residence of Mr. Adam Harp on Fast William Street, and will move his family here this week from Cheslev. Mrs. J. C. Wood is having a new verandah erected at her residence on High Street. May 11, 1951 The Lions Club is conducting its annual salvage drive on Wednesday, May 16. Huron County Fish and Game Association received its provincial charter Monday night in Clinton from the district inspector of fish and wildlife. Ford Dickerson had the tip of his thumb lacerated in a buzz saw and was treated at the Stratford General Hospital for it. Mrs. Alda Reid, Goderich St. was the winner of a basket of groceries last Saturday night, given by J. C. Stevens, marking the opening of his new store. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Hugill of Tuckersmith marked the fortieth anniversary of their wedding on Thursday evening last at their home on No. 8 Highway. Many queer sights and articles have been seen on Seaforth Main Street, but the one to surpass them all was a stray pig, which wandered nonchalantly about the street Thursday morning. Ross Pepper, Brucefield, won the $100 last game prize offered at the first Legion bingo of the season Wednesday evening which was held at the Seaforth Community Centre. May 13, 1976 People lined Main Street last Wednesday night to see the SDHS Girls Trumpet Band put on a thank -you concert to Seaforth people who helped finance their trip to play in Fort Myers, Florida in February. Some husky thieves only managed to carry away about $200 after they broke into the Topnotch Feeds Ltd. store in Seaforth and smashed the open either late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Apparently the thieves broke into the store by prying open the back door and then carried the store's safe into a building behind the store where they smashed it open with a sledge hammer. The Dublin and District Athletic Association had a fine turnout for the walkathon to raise money for park improvements in the village on Saturday. About 80 people walked from Dublin to Staffa and back in sunny but cool weather. All the walker's pledges aren't in yet and it isn't known how much the walk raised.