Huron Expositor, 2002-01-02, Page 4Opinion
4-T110 IMMO EXPOSITOR. 410exastry 10, 2001
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Wednesday, January 3, 2000
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Editorial
Trucks must
better learn
to share
winter roads
With a return to a traditionally hard winter, the
challenges of driving area highways is going to be
greater this winter.
But making it even harder is the substantially
increased truck traffic that now shares those roads.
Motorists are often asked to take care in how
they share the roads with trucks. They often follow
too close, making it difficult for truckers to know
there are vehicles behind them. They also cut
truckers off, forgetting the heavier vehicles can't
stop as quickly when a car suddenly decides to
make a tum in front of an oncoming truck.
But while motorists are asked to take care, now
it's time to ask for more care from the truckers who
are making winter roads even more dangerous to
travel.
Drivers need to be prepared for the sudden
whiteouts a passing truck can leave in its woke or
the burst of air pressure as they go by, making it
harder to keep control of a vehicle on a slippery
road. These are issues truck drivers can't do
anything about.
However, they can do something about the speed
in which they travel the area highways. When
weather conditions have left snow and ice on the
road, trucks have much extra weight that allows
them to travel more quickly without fear of losing
control. Yet several have jacknifed on area roads
and the 400 series highways as a result of
travelling too fast even for their bulk and weight.
And in their haste, trucks ore often crossing the
centre line forcing vehicles into slushy sections of
road or deeper snow on shoulders, forting them
into ditches.
They need to slow down and truck companies
need to be encouraged to cut some slack to drivers
who are hurrying to get their loads delivered on
time, no matter how bad the weather is.
Police need to get involved issuing Highway
Traffic Act tickets for 'speed too fast for road
conditions' when they see trucks barreling down
the roads rather than waiting to issue fines and
charges after the accidents.
Trucks and cars alike, all need to slow it down this
winter. There's virtually no excuse for ending up in a
ditch. Bottom line is, you were probably travelling
too fast for the road conditions.
Scott Higendorff
Letter
In an alcoholic family,
few holiday are `perfect'
Holidays bring out the
best and worst in people.
For some, the holiday
season means family
gatherings, special dinners,
gifts and lots of celebrating
and sharing with each other.
For others, along with the
fun and festivities, many
family members and friends
of alcoholics experience
drunken scenes, fights,
unhappy memories.
hopelessness, despair and
loneliness. In the real world,
few holidays are "perfect."
In an alcoholic family, it is
most likely that none are.
I remember holiday
dinners followed by games
of charades, highlighted by
my drunken mother
staggering through her turn
to play, and everyone
pretending that this is
normal. Shame,
embarrassment, futility and
powerlessness were familiar
feelings. Sometimes, we
become so completely
wrapped up in the situation,
we don't realize that we
need help ourselves. Our
own lives become totally
focused on the alcoholic - so
much so that we don't see it.
Sometimes the effects are
indirect. In other words,
although there is little or no
drinking in the immediate
family, one of the parent's
siblings or parents suffered
from alcoholism. Again,
without realizing it, this
parent may have, for
example, a deep need to "be
in control" of every
situation. The effect on his
or her second generation
family can be just as
devastating as if the
alcoholic was living right
there.
When it was suggested to
me that I might have been
affected in some of these
ways, my first thought was,
"No way! I'm not like that."
Is that what you're saying
now? Are you sure you
haven't been affected?
Would you answer some
questions to verify that
you're right? Here are
twenty of them. They may
provide some insight - they
may not.
1. Do you worry about
how much someone else
drinks?
2. Do you have money
problems because of
someone else's drinking?
3. Do you tell lies to
cover up for someone else's
drinking?
4. Do you feel that if the
drinker loved you, he or she
would stop drinking to
please you?
5. Do you blame the
drinker's behaviour on his
or her companions?
6. Are plans frequently
upset or cancelled or meals
delayed because of the
drinker?
7. Do you make threats,
such as, "If you don't stop
drinking, I'll leave you?"
8. Do you secretly try to
smell the drinker's breath?
9. Are you afraid to upset
someone for fear it will sot
off a drinking bout?
10. Have you been hurt or
embarrassed by a drinker's
behaviour?
11. Are holidays and
gatherings spoiled because
of drinking?
12. Have you considered
calling the police for help in
fear of abuse?
13. Do you search for
hidden alcohol?
14. Do you often ride in a
car with a driver who has
been drinking?
15. Have you refused
social invitations out of fear
or anxiety?
16. Do you sometimes
feel like a failure when you
think of the lengths you
have gone to in order to
control the drinker?
17. Do you think that if
the drinker - stopped
drinking, your other
problems would be solved?
18. Do you ever threaten
to hurt yourself to scare the
drinker?
19. Do you feel angry,
confused, or depressed most
of the time?
20. Do you feel there is
no one who understands
your problems?
If you have answered yes
to three or more of these
questions, it is very likely
that you have been
unknowingly affected by
somebody else's drinking.
And maybe if you're like
me when I first answered
these questions, the thought
that's going around in your
head right now is, `I've
answered yes to sixteen of
these questions, but I'm
OK!' Underneath it all,
though, I really knew that I
was in trouble and that I
needed help.
Some time went by before
I called Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA), thinking
that this was the thing to do.
They told me that there was
another program for me
called Al -Anon. "Al -
Anon?" I questioned. She
said, "Yes, Al -Anon is based
on the AA program, but it is
for the people who have
been affected by the person
who is drinking." She
explained that we are often
deeply affected without
realizing how deeply, and
that Al -Anon can help. She
also asked me if there were
any teenagers in my family
and told me that Alateen is
part of Al -Anon, and that if
the kids wanted to go, there
was help available for them
too.
Since I've been in Al -
Anon, I've discovered that
literally millions of people
are affected by the excessive
drinking of someone close.
Those of us who have found
the Al -Anon program have
learned a different way to
live. Our problems don't
disappear, but we are
provided with a wealth of
tools to help us cope.
"Thankfully someone
directed me to Al -Anon,"
one member told me. "I've
had a whole new set of
holiday experiences since
the program came into my
life. The disease of
alcoholism is still around
me, but I am getting better.
Troubles continue, but I am
learning to meet them one at
a time. Things are not
perfect today, but there is a
sense of perspective and
serenity."
Al -Anon gives the family
members and friends of
alcoholics the gift of hope.
There are Al -Anon and
Alateen meetings in our
communities, with
wonderful members there to
reach out to those suffering
during these holiday times,
and any other time too.
In 2001,, Al -Anon
celebrates 50 years of
helping families and friends
of alcoholics recover from
the effects of living with the
problem drinking of a
relative or friend. Alateen,
though it hasn't been around
for 50 years yet, has been
just as effective for young
people affected by an
alcoholic.
There are now nearly
30,000 Al -Anon and
Alateen groups in 115
countries. Could we be
doing something right?
If you think it's worth
checking out, here's where
you can find us in the area
we call Ontario South
(roughly Windsor to
Montreal, and Niagara Falls
to Timmins).
1. Get extensive
information about Al -Anon,
Alateen and upcoming
events (including our area
convention - Trillium 2001)
from our Ontario South web
site: http://an-
anon.alateen.on.ca.
2. If you are not close to
one of the local numbers
below, call 1-888-425-2666.
London: 519-672-7310
You can call our Literature
Distribution centre at 905-
770-1060.
Visit the World Service
web site at www.al-
anon.alateen.org
First snowmobile arrives in Seaforth
January 7, 1876
During the occasion of the
recent anniversary services
in First Presbyterian Church
of town, John H Broadfoot
took advantage of the event
to present to the
congregation a handsome
and valuable circular table
for use in front of the pulpit
platform.
During the past week
several farmers in the
vicinity have been plowing.
We also learn that Thos.
Govenlock of McKillop was
busily engaged in making
maple sugar.
The soiree in the
Presbyterian Church in,
Kippen was a grand
success. Rev. Mr. Cameron
occupied the choir. The
Seaforth chair was in
attendance while Miss M.
Foster presided at the
organ.
MMIss Hall, late of Goderich
Township, near Bayfield,
and now Mrs. Govenlock,
Winthrop, was surprised on
her wedding morning by a
present of a set of
handsome vases and a
letter cae from Sabbath
Gloss at Bayfield.
The elections for
councillors in this Township
of McKillop created
considerable interest. In
Word 2, John Malone was
elected by a majority of 42
over Mr. Bell.
At a meeting at the
schoolhouse No. 2
Tuckersmith, a grange in
connection with the Patrons
of Husbandry was formed.
January 4, 1901
One of the few remaining
pioneers of Turner's section
vin Tuckersmith passed away
In the person of James
Crkh. Deceased was born
in Nottingham, England.
Mrs. David Rite of Sheldon
Nb. Dark were guests of Mr.
Thos. Coleman who
enlertaned Mrs. Rife of Nis.
to a fowl supper.
Years agone...
At the annual meeting of
the ratepayers of 55. No. 8
McKillop a resolution was
passed. Mr. Thos. McQuade
for the very efficient manner
in which he conducted the
school, Mr. McQuade has
resigned for the purpose of
pursuing his studies at the
normal school.
The Grand Forks, No. Oak,
Herald makes reference to
the marriage of James
Murray, former Seaforth boy
and graduate of the
Expositor. The bride was
Elizabeth Gaffney of
Cleveland and they were
married in Fargo by Rev.
Vance.
James Archibald of town
shipped a carload of fine
horses to the Old Country.
The skating and curling is
going again at full blast.
W.Mcoougall the obliging
lessee has furnished good
ice.
The concert given by the
33rd regiment band in
Carndo's Hall on New Year's
night wds a most decided
success. Miss Grace
McFault was in excellent
voice and the solos by W.G.
Willis were heartily
appreciated. Wil Mcleod's
comic songs brought down
the house. Miss Lula Best
made her debut as an
elecutionist. An address was
made by Col. Alex Wilson.
The Scotch concert given
by Miss lila Cole at Staffa
was an entire success.
January 1, 1926
Miss Anona Dale, teacher
at No. 11 Stephen Township
was presented with o solid
leather club bog. Miss Dale
is a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. C. Dole, Huron Rd West.
There will be a
domination in McKillop as
the Reeve and councillors
were reelected by
acclamation.
Wallace Sholdice of
Walton went to Nuestadt as
relieving agent for the
holidays.
Word was received here
that Mrs. John Cameron
had been fatally injured by
being struck by an
automobile in West Palm
Beach, Florida.
W.A. Crish had delivered
to him in Seaforth the first
snowmobile to be used in
Westem Ontario.
Sunday morning last the
thermometre registered 18
below zero.
EA. McIntosh left for Peru
SA. on a business trip.
January 5, 1951
When a pole on which he
was working broke, John
Modeland well known
electrician of Tuckersmith,
was thrown to the ground.
He suffered cuncussion and
o broken jaw.
A very enjoyable euchre
was held in the Egmondville
Public School to help finance
the Egmondville hockey
team. The secretary
treasurer announced that
this money would buy
hockey sticks and a first aid
kit.
Members of the Seaforth
Fire Brigade nominated
John F. Scott as chief. The
meeting also named Frank
Case, foreman, John C.Crich
as assistant foreman, Angus
Mclean secretory and John
C. McKenzie, treasurer.
Fire destroys Hens mill.
The loss exceeds $150,000.
A new structure MI replace
i1.
•
Thos. R. Guff, son of Mr.
and Mrs. A.F. Cluff and
manager of the Dominion
Bank at Atikokan, received
honourable mention in a
newspaper article
appearing recently In the
Globe and Mail about the
town of Atikokan.
January 1, 1976
There are several
openings for an important
job in Seaforth. The only
requirements are the the
applicants be Seaforth
residents who are
interested in recreation.
Recreation director Clive
Buist and the 1975 town
recreation committee are
looking for new members.
The planning board had
star billing when Huron
County Council met for its
final 1975 meeting In the
county chambers. The
implementation of the
Countryside Planning
Reportwas the main item
for debate and it took the
entire morning for county
councillors to discuss it
Does anyone remember
David Manson? His great
grandson, David Crombie of
Maryville, California, in an
effort to find traces of his
ancestors, has addressed a
letter to the Hon. Mayor of
E
Wm. J. RR 4
Walton, was elected
president of the Huron
County Plowmen's
Association at McKillop Haiti,
Winthrop on Monday
afternoon. He succeeds
John Mork, RR 5 Goderkh.
An additional $100 is
required to meet the cost of
main street Christmas
decorations. Merchants and
professional people In
Seaforth have contributed
$490 but the decorations
cost $574.02 according to
the Chamber of Commerce
committee that was
responsible for the
decoration program.
Barry Moore, 10, of
Egmont e, had more than
usual to smile about this
Christmas. He won first
prize in the Expositor's
Christmas colouring contest.