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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-05-08, Page 10Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Tom Williscraft - Publisher Pat Armed - Office Manager Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Dianne McGrdh - Subscriptions/Clossifieds Susan Hundertmark - Reporter Katrina Dietz - Sales Anne Roden - Distribution go Bowes Publishers Limited Sy/uks7 4 S. Md a Carpwatr. - A Q otaw C apa.) 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 advonce, plus 2.10 G.S.T. USA & Foreign: 28.44 a year in advance, plus $78.00 postoge, 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 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, wit not be chorged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rob. 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 Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time.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 lou 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 23, 2001 â– dMeriml mad Sesiaess Offices - 11 Male Hreet.,Seefortlh 11 Is'hesse (519) 527.0240 rex (519) 527-2858 Menlo. Address - RO. Sox 69, feeforfh, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 "We ac the financial support of the Government of Canada, through a Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Editorial Community must come forward with arson information There is a strong possibility several people in this community know who the arsonist is or who the asonists are who have set eight of nine fires in the past seven weeks. A 17 -year-old young offender has been charged in connection with one of the fires: a small fire set in a traffic can in front of Tremeers on Main Street. But Sills Hardware was almost burned, the old Top Notch Feed Mill suffered damages and Ice Dreams suffered enough smoke damage the store has had to be closed for now. Police have admitted the possibility more than one person is setting the fires. Some of the fires seem random while others have been more calculated. And while criticism has been thrown toward the police for not having a firm handle on the situation, they can't be expected to solve this on their own. The Crimestoppers program has been established to offer citizens a truly anonymous method of providing information to police about any crime and can make people eligible for rewards., Kevin Hummel, who leads the program through the Huron OPP had recently made a presentation to high school students about Crimestoppers, encouraging youth to come forward with information they mayhave on area crimes. Since the fires, Hummel has visted the senior grades at the two Seaforth elementary schools, appealing to them to come forward with any information the students might have. With a strong possibility that youth are involved comes a strong possibility other youth know what is going on. A crowd of about 20 youth had gathered on Main Street around the time of the arrest last week. It suggests a large number of people might have already known who set at (east one of the fires. And adults might also have some information or insight about other people they know not to have been in their homes around the times of the fires. Someone likely knows something. For the sake of the community, they need to have the courage to come forward and at least make an anonymous tip to put an end to the fires and quite likely prevent huge losses in property and life if the situation continues to escalate. Scott Hilgendorff Letters to the Editor and other submissions b to us by noon on Mondays at: Orth@bowesnet.com I+irs.and Submissions must be signed itecompanied by a daytime telephone All submissions are subject to. editing nth and content. to chick out our homepage et: oithburonexpositoncom Patients not being sent to Clinton Further to a May 16 article, Patients sent to Clinton," at no time are we wanting "patients sent to Clinton." Due to the physician shortage the clinic doctors are having difficulty accommodating new patients at this time. New patients at this time. New pataients will be seen in the walk-in clinic and in the emergency department. Attempts to recruit new physicians are ongoing and we hope new patients will be accepted at the clinic as soon as the manpower crisis is resolved. Carotin Shepherd Chief of Staff Cruelty to animals legislation a concern to all farmers By Terry Otto, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Executive Committee Federal politicians have a tight time frame for getting their latest version of cruelty to animals legislation reviewed and passed through the House of Commons. This time the proposed legislation is known as Bill C-15. The previous version, Bill C-17, died on the order paper when the last federal election was called. All farmers need to be concerned with the current version, just like they were with its predecessor. Officials from the Ontario Farm Animal Council feel the legislation, as it is proposed now, would leave livestock farmers as open targets for nuisance law suits by animal rights groups and others. Farmers have no problem accepting the intent of the legislation – to modernize the law on cruelty to animals and increase penalties for cruelty and neglect of animals. However, based on legal advice, the Ontario Farm Animal Council, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and a number of commodity organizations see some glaring ambiguities in the legislation as it has been put forth. The ambiguities in the legislation could, if passed by our Members of Parliament, challenge what has historically been normal farm practices and legitimate activity by farmers. The proposed legislation offers a definition of animal that is too broad and would end up providing protection for a broad range of living organisms which have never before been protected under the law. Situations like this could have a major negative impact on modern agriculture, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture wants amendments to the proposed legislation. After attending some preliminary meetings with standing committee members in Ottawa to examine the proposed legislation, it has become apparent that some of the Member of Parliament charged with reviewing the legislation and its impacts, lack understanding of modern agriculture and what the legislation, as proposed, could do to the farming industry. That's why the OFA and the other farm organizations working with the Ontario Farm Animal Council are calling on farmers and their organizations across the country to mount a major effort to improve the understanding of all MPs with regards to the proposed legislation. Time is very limited for the farming community to get this message out. The standing committee will meet several more times before the end of May, and June 15 is the government's target date for passage of the legislation. Because the proposed legislation comes in the form of an omnibus bill covering a wide variety of issues, MPs need to understand that agriculture is only concerned with the portion of the legislation that deals with cruelty to animals. We aren't after a major overhaul of the proposed legislation. Only the part that pertains to cruelty to animals. Some government representatives at the standing committee level have said there is no intent to negatively impact livestock agriculture. They suggest the legislation should be allowed to proceed in its present form and if farmers are charged, the legislation should then be challenged. The farming industry doesn't have money for court challenges. We want to make certain the legislation, when it is passed, does not threaten the future of livestock agriculture. That's why it is so important that our legislators get it right the first time, and that's why it is so important that we, as farmers, work now to ensure our MPs and the government's bureaucrats understand the importance of the amendments we are seeking now. Seminar helped bring trade players together By Jack Wilkinson, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Trade of agricultural commodities on the international market is vital to Canadian agriculture. Because of the efficiencies of our farmers, we have a lot of product to sell to people around the world. In an effort to bring some of Canada's key international trade people together, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture hosted a seminar to take stock of trade situations, both domestically and internationally. The seminar proved to be a valuable opportunity for provincial and federal government officials who have international trade responsibilities to meet with agriculture's representatives. County federation of agriculture representatives from around Ontario attended along with representatives of all major agriculture commodity organizations. All wanted to get the latest information from the world trading scene and what is likely to happen as the next round of World Trade Organization negotiations kick off. Suzanne Vinet, Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada's lead trade negotiator, just back from a meeting of WTO countries in Europe, brought the latest information to the seminar delegates. She said three themes have surfaced as key to the WTO members: they want reforms, they want greater involvement by developing countries, and they want to ensure any form of support programs do not distort trade throughout the world. It was encouraging to hear Vinet state that the Canadian government intends to continue to work closely with the agriculture industry and push forward in presenting the Canadian negotiating position to other WTO countries. Responding to a question from CFA's 2nd vice- president, Marvin Shauf,Vinet said the WTO negotiations will aim to bring further disciplines to international trade to ensure the inequities created by high levels of subsidization are diminished. Don Stephenson, director general with the trade policy bureau of Canada's foreign affairs and international trade ministry, told the seminar that gradually WTO nations are realizing that retaliation is not the route to follow. Instead, he said, compensation is becoming the preferred approach to trade dispute settlement. Responding to a question from CFA President Bob Friesen, Mr. Stephenson said Canadian agriculture will need higher levels of support from government if the industry is to meet the goals and objectives set 'for it by governments. Other presentations at the seminar provided insight into such areas as how the European Union plans to move into the next round of WTO negotiations and what developing nations want and need to be able to participate more fully in global trade. A panel of representatives from Ontario commodity organizations outlined their goals and objectives for the WTO negotiations and how they are positioned in the global market. It is obvious these organizations have a lot of confidence in the outcome of future WTO negotiations. I believe Canadian agriculture and this country's government representatives at the negotiating table are working together 100 per cent to ensure our farmers can realize optimum returns from global trade. CFA and OFA will continue to work with our government officials to achieve greater market access for our pra1ucts, to ensure marketing boards and the producers they represent can continue to operate successfully, and that, on an international scale, subsidies are reduced as a means of leveling the trading arena floor. 26 -year-old makes impression with chopping skills May 19, 1876 Hullett: On the .13th of May, Mr. Wm. Carrol plowed on Lot 9, Con. 9, Hullett, four acres in eleven hours. If the work was well done, Mr. Carrol may well consider himself a champion plowman. Tuckersmith: Mr. James McDonald has sold his farm, Lot 37, Con. 2 LRS Tuckersmith to his neighbor Mr. Appleton Elcoat for $6, 800 cash. McKillop: The residencenof Mr. Wm. Grieve, Con 4 of McKillop had a narrow escape from destruction during the severe morning of Wednesday morning last. The fluid struck the chimney of the kitchen shattering it to pieces. It then passed through the stove, blowing the doors open, going underneath the floor and effecting an escape through the stone foundation wall by throwing a large stone out of the wall. Huron Notes: Wm. Burke of Porters Hill is not yet 27 years of age and has chopped 2500 chords of wood, split 10, 000 rails, cut 2, 000 saw logs, peeled 100 chord of tanbark, chopped forty acres of fallow and logged 35 acres. He weighs only 160 pounds. Lightning: A large barn belonging to Mr. S. Cole on Years agone... the eleventh of Hullett was struck by lightning during the storm on Wednesday morning. The loss will be about $1, 000, the barn being only recently erected and was insured. May 17,1901 Huron Notes: The Blyth council have offered a reward of $300 for the apprehension of the person or persons who have been the cause of the fires in that village. Brucefield: Mr. B. R. Higgins' driving horse became very lame last week, while driving. He was obliged to take it home on a stone boat. Bayfield: Mr. J. Donaldson left here for Bruce Mines on Tuesday. He goes by Owen Sound and takes a number of horses with him. Kippen: Mr. John McNevin is busy shipping his stock of lumber. Housecleaners, who have been setting stoves aside for the season, during the recent cold spell have had to content themselves with the smaller compartments of the home, in order to be sheltered from the elements. Winthrop: The Winthrop brick and tile yards are doing fine work this season. Mr. Govenlock has a ruching gang of men hired this year. May 21, 1926 On Wednesday night of last week, fire of unknown origin destroyed the home of Mr. Thomas Wiley of Varna. One night about a week ago, the garages of B. Berry, Brucefield, E. Epps, Varna, and W. Westlake, Bayfield were broken into and considerable goods and some money taken. May 18, 1951 Over $250 was realized from the Penny Sale held last week by the Women's Hospital Aid to Scott Memorial. On Tuesday, Mr. and Mrs. Sol Williams, Seaforth, will mark their Golden Wedding Anniversary. "Hospital Day" commemorating the birth of Florence Nightingale, was observed at Scott Memorial Hospital on Saturday. Final returns of the Easter Seal Campaign, sponsored by Seafdrth Lions Club, showed that $348.70 had been raised. Seaforth Council gave its approval to the Public School Board for the erection and equipping of a new school to cost not more then $275, 000. Harry Jacobi, a grade 12 student at Seaforth District High School, has been named by his fellow pupils as the student leader for the current year. Huron Football: Association had its spring meeting last week to elect officers and draw up schedules. Mr. A. J. Calder won forth prize in the Perch Derby held recently by Goderich Lions Club May 20,1976 The phonathon phenomena hit Seaforth on Saturday and proved that you can have a good time and raise money at the same time, as More then 700 people gave donations totalling about $23,000 to help pay for the renovations to the arena. Charlie Thomas of Grey Township helped conduct a session Tuesday in Brussels for people who will be distributing the Canada census forms. The once every five years census starts this week with local people distributing the questionnaires to all residents and picking the completed questionaires up again. Wet and colded weather has managed to temporarily stall the completion of the sidewalks along Dublin's main street. It is expected that the sidewalks which were started two weeks ago will be done this week.