HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-03-10, Page 44 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, March 10, 2004
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Canada
Editorial
Letter
Farmers, rural communities need immediate
government help, says HFA president
To the Editor,
Some points need
immediate attention to
protect the infrastructure
of rural Ontario. It is not
only farmers that are
suffering, but many
smaller businesses in the
rural communities.
What Ontario farmers
need from their
governments:
Federal - an urgent
infusion of cash to
overcome the economic
devastation caused by
ten months of BSE
impacts with border
restrictions on meat and
live animal sales and
unprecedented low
domestic values for
slaughter animals.
- income tax treatment
to allow producers to
defer taxes on inventory
sales when they can't
afford to restock their
feedlots before yearend
because of reduced
borrowing capacity as a
Will liquor
licence solve
Seaforth arena's
problems
When comparing the revenue-producing
opportunities for recreation facilities in Huron
East, a liquor licence is an obvious advantage at
the Brussels arena.
With liquor sales of over $100,000 last year,
Brussels arena staff freely admits that the
arena's liquor licence is its biggest money-
maker.
So, it's no wonder that Huron East councillors
are raising the idea of a liquor licence for the
Seaforth arena as the solution to the local
facility's growing deficit.
Along with increasing operating expenses, the
lack of a capital reserve fund at the more than
20 -year-old facility is a growing worry for board
members, especially as it continues to struggle
to regain lost ground from the chiller breakdown
two years ago.
When the Seaforth arena applied for a liquor
licence five years ago, the application was
denied after it was opposed by Seaforth
businesses, service groups and the council of
the day.
Arguments against the liquor licence at the
arena at the time ranged from it taking away
business from local bars, keeping visitors to the
arena away from the downtown core to providing
a bad example to the youth who use the arena.
Arguments were also made that Huron County
residents numbered among the top alcohol
abusers in the province.
While the current council seems to be more in
favour of a liquor licence at the arena now that
provincial downloading has caused
municipalities to feel a tighter economic
squeeze, it's hard to say if any of the other
factors have changed.
Arguments can still be made that there might
not be enough business to go around for one
more drinking establishment in town, especially
one that does not encourage traffic to the
downtown core.
And, even if an arrangement can be worked
out so that the arena bars hours do not compete
with other local establishments, the economic
gain must still be weighed against the social
costs.
Afterall, Huron County still has the dubious
distinction of leading the region and in some
cases, the province, in drinking and driving
offences.
There's no doubt that a liquor licence would
solve a lot of financial problems at the Seaforth
arena. But, the community needs to ask whether
other problems might be created in the process.
Susan Hundertmark
How to access us
Letters to the Editor and other submissions
can be made to us by noon on Mondays at: ; -
sorth@bowesnet.ro
All 'suers and submissions must
and accompanied by a day -time
number, All submissions are subj
toebOlklength and content.
forget to check out our ho
orthharon lcpt*ltor
result of BSE.
- a realistic approach
to enforcement by
Department of
Environment officials in
situations where farm
animals have historically
had access to streams
and waterways- initiate a
more consultative
approach similar to that
taken by the Department
of Fisheries and Oceans.
Provincial - an
immediate commitment
to funding necessary to
assist farmers comply
with regulations
contained in the Nutrient
Management Act.
Farmers need to know
what level of public
support they can expect
before proceeding with
plans to upgrade
facilities to compliance
standards.
- development of an
acceptable definition of
agricultural operations
for assessment purposes.
Farmers with value
added facilities as part
of their operations are
e x p e r i e n c e i n g
unacceptably high
property assessments
when such things as on-
farm maple syrup
evaporator facilities and
on-farm grain drying
facilities are assessed as
industrial.
- a willingness by
Ministry of Natural
Resources officials to
meet and develop with
Ontario Federation of
Agriculture
representatives the
necessary guidelines to
reduce predator damage
to crops, livestock and
facilities of farmers. A
more realistic level of
compensation for such
damage is also required
from the Ministry of
Natural Resources.
- OAtario farmers need
a commitment from
Ontario's Energy
Ministry that energy
rates for farm -use
electrics will be
reduced too -more closely
reflect the actual cost of
the energy supplied to
farmers, both for
transmission and the
energy used.
- retail sales tax, as it
is applied to the
purchase of farm -related
goods, needs revision,
exempting at point of
purchase a list of items
already recognized in
provinces where the
GST and PST have been
harmonized.
- Ontario's land
transfer tax system
requires amendments
that would exempt
within - f a m i l y
transacactions, similar to
sales to corporations.
Neil Vincent,
President, Huron
County Federation of
Agriculture
McGafka Pro Group supports local
effort to run Junior D hockey team
To the Editor,
We are pleased to hear the Seaforth community has
pulled together to support a local Junior "D" hockey
team.
Local support is key to running a hockey team in
Seaforth. The McGafka Pro Group from day one
recognized that to have a successful hockey team local
support would be required.
We respect the local group initiative and we feel this
would be to the best advantage to the local boys.
Rather than create a controversy and undermine the
efforts of both groups we have withdrawn our
application to the OHA in support of the Seaforth
application.
The McGafka Pro Group wishes the Town of Seaforth,
all the best in continuing their great hockey traditions.
Sincerely
Derek Askew
President
McGafka Pro Group
Seaforth Public School auditorium
crowded for public speaking finals in '54
MARCH 14,1879
The first thunderstorm of
the season took place on
Sunday evening. The
lightning was very vivid and
the rain fell heavily for a
short time.
The sleighing is all gone
but the snow drifts still
remain making travel almost
impossible as the snow is so
soft the horses sink through
it.
We learn that the title
transferring Victoria Square
to the town has been prepared
and is ready for signature.
Business has been slowed
up considerably on account
of the thaw. The road running
east and west out of Hensall
has the least appearance of
winter. Its all mud.
Nearly all the conversation
one hears about now is about
Manitoba. There are quite a
few families leaving Hensall
and among them some of our
beat fanners.
MARCH 11, 1904
Messrs. R.B. McLean and
Robert McMordie, of
Kippen, addressed a large
meeting of farmers and other
in the Kippen hall.
Darling's steam press has
been running in the vicinity
of McKillop, for the past two
weeks with Peter Gardiner in
charge.
Postmaster Kuklman has
resigned as leader of the
Seaforth band.
John Moffat, grain buyer of
Kippen, has sold his 50 acre
farm in Tuckersmith to David
Workman for the sum of
$3,100.
Wheat has now reached the
Years Agone...
$ l notch and the farmers are
smiling.
The most severe storm of
this severe winter struck on
Monday and completely
paralyzed railway traffic.
Messrs. Sam Barton and
son have in course of
manufacture a fine egg
wagon for John McNab, of
Dungannon.
The contract for the
remodeling of Seaforth
Presbyterian church has been
let to F. Gutteridge. The
contract price is $9,000
which does not include
seating or leaded glass.
C. Stelck, of Hillsgreen,
has been busy all winter
taking pine timber out of the
swamp for Alex McBeath.
MARCH 8,1929
The high gale of wind
which swept over the vicinity
last Thursday did
considerable damage. Many
roofs were partially wrecked
and chimneys blown away.
The Glee Club met at the
home of Miss Almira
Shannon, of Winthrop. •
Harold Tomlinson and
Wilmer Cuthill, of Winthrop,
treated their friends to a
dance in the hall.
We are sorry to hear that
James Simpson had the
misfortune to fall out of the
mow and fracture his hip.
Thos. Purcell, of Manley, is
billed to go to St. Louis to
bring home one of the six
trucks that the King
Construction have bought.
Mrs. David Tough and
Ron di Dave
daughter have complete a
quilt which has 975 pieces in
it.
The heavy wind storm of
last week did damage to
several buildings at
Chiselhurst. The large shed of
the United Church had the
end blown in. Lorne
McNaughton had 45 feet of
his barn roof taken off.
Joe Eckert, of Seaforth, is
busy repairing roofs that were
damaged in the big storm.
Mr. Dawson Reid who has
been collector of customs in
Seaforth for some time,
owing to the closing of the
Seaforth office, has been
transferred to Guelph.
Dr. W. C. Sproat has
purchased the residence of
Mrs. John Robb on the corner
of James and Helen Streets.
MARCH 12,1954
Seaforth Public School
auditorium was crowded for
the finals in a public speaking
contest conducted by the
school.
The hospital auxiliary to
Scott Memorial Hospital met
in the nurses' residence.
Plans for the annual Penny
sale were announced.
There were 17 tables of
euchre in play when the
Rebecca Lodge sponsored an
evenings entertainment. Mrs.
Leslie McClure was mistress
of ceremonies and the
following won the prizes:
ladies first, Mrs. Chas
Reeves; lone hands, Mrs.
Alex Bethune; consolation,
Mrs. Mae Dorrance; men's
�.ce
first, John Bach; lone hands,
Donald McLean; lucky cup,
Mrs. Ed McLeod. Proceeds
were $25.50.
James T. Scott has
purchased the residence on
James Street owned by Lou
Bailey, of Exeter, and
occupied by F.A. Dobson.
MARCH 15, 1979
A good look at Seaforth's
sewer system and pump
capacity by the ministry of
the environment could save
the town thousands in
pumping charges for water
that shouldn't be going to the
sewage treatment plant, clerk
Jim Crocker told council on
Monday night. An estimated
40 to 50 million gallons are
getting into the system, at a
pumping cost of perhaps
$34,000.
Salary increases for town
employees were approved at
council Monday night on the
recommendation of its
negotiating committee after
what Mayor John Sinnamon
called "some pretty tough
negotiating" with employees.
After nearly an hour in
closed session Monday night,
Seaforth council decided to
ask its lawyer, a Seaforth
firm, to demand payment of
outstanding hydrant rent
charges from the Seaforth
Fire Area Board from 1976 to
1978 inclusive.
Huron -Middlesex MP
Robert McKinley told a
partisan crowd Friday in
Exeter that he would seek re-
election in the new federal
riding of Huron -Bruce.
by David Lacey
HAI, and you call
yourself a
Canadian? You
can't even play
I'm first,
generation.
My parents
came from
England)
Oh yeah? Well,I
can play a mean
R
game