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Huron Expositor, 2005-04-27, Page 44—THE HURON EXPO Sl t r ;r 1.1,14 27 2005 'tx tor 4Rct,y:.11i.: Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Tom Williscroft Publisher Dianne McGrath Subscriptions/Coss:Reds Jason Middleton - Reporter Susan Hundertmark - Editor Bernie Pugh - Office/Advertising Adrienne Peckitt - Composing Anne Roden - Distribution OUEBECOR MEDIA E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES. LOC'tl 35.85 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS: - 33.85 a year, in advance, plus G.S T. USA & Foreign 35.85 a year in advance, plus $83.20 postoge, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Medio at II Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is occepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the odvertising spoce occupied by the erroneous item, together with o reasonable allowance for signature, will not be chorged, but the balance of Il'e advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rote. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at o wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Ar iv.•r tistng is merely on offer to sell and may be withdrawn ut any time. The Rutin E,. c.sitor .s not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMt- !I !t'' OF93 PAP REGISTRATION NO 7605 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CA•t 1. d•t',N ADDRESSES TO Circulation Department P.O. Box 69 Seoforth, ON , NOK 1 WO e-mail: seaforthOhowestet con. VJr'rinr'sday, April 27, 2005 Editorial and Business Offices - 1 1 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 5?.7-02.4O Fax (519) 537-3858 //lading Address - P.O. Box 69, Senfortit, Ontario, NOK IWO Member of the Canadian Cornmuniy Newspaper Association & the Onto. ;'• Co•onu: city Newspapers Association "We acknowledge tl,e fiiian( :7l support of the Government of Canada, through the Publication: ;s;ctonce Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." (,alladYi E, s itorial Workers' safety needs greater protection It may not be' popular to say so, in conservative 21st century North /=line)ic:a, but workers have rights. At least, they should have. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) declares that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. We have the right to live safely and the right to security of per.soti. Has that right been protected in the workplace? Not according to statistics shared on Sunday in Saltford as the Huron District Labour Council hosted the local observance of the National Day of Mourning for workers who have h' -en killed or injured related to their work duties. It's not leo meal -0e to expect that we will ever eliminate work-related deaths and injuries totally. Life has risks, and every employee who drives on the job, works with equipment. or works in a building for that matter, takes risks in order to collect a pay cheque. There will always he injuries. There will always be deaths. But, can a country with the tiny population of Canada's really accept in good conscience that as many as three workers will die today? And another three tomorrow. And another three the next day. The statistics for a supposedly civilized country like Canada are something one would expect of an undeveloped nation. Almost 1,000 Cartadian workers die each year according to accepted data from the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada. The number doesn't decline each year. It rises. And that figure is just the official list. It doesn't mention all those people whose deaths are indirectly caused by the stress of work or possible environmental exposure. Tomorrow, April 28, is the official National Day of Mourning for workers 'rifled or injured on the job. Please take time to think of those who died for no other reason tl tan their desire to pay the bills. Don't stop there. Consider what you can do to push the federal government of Canada and the provincial government of Ontario to change our cultural acceptance of work- related death, and injuries. We need punitive measures for large companies that continue to flaunt regulations and we need incentives for small businesses and industries to be able to meet regulations. We have to be practical and recognize the business bottom line but the real bottom line is this: we have too many workplace injuries and deaths in Canada and in the world and our programs are not working. Millions die from their work around the world. As one commentator ably pointed out, if it was terrorism causing those deaths there would be instant action. The status quo is unacceptable. Goderich Signal Star flow It) access us Letters to the Editor and other submissions can be made to u, by noon on Mondays at: seafort li (fg bowesnet.com sAl! letters and 4lrbmissions must be signed and accompanied by a day -time telephone rInutriber. All sufimkcions are subject to editing for both length and c titent. Don't forget ; r , t 1,1 r k out our homepage at: www.seafoi °:li)uronexpositor.com 1 c•ttc't Reader shares concern over global climate change To the Editor, Thank you for publishing my letter regarding Earth Day in last week's Huron Expositor. This letter came about because of an interview I heard this past February with David Runnalls, president and CEO of the International Institute for Sustainable Development. In that interview he stated, " The scientific evidence is hardening and appears to be more grim than before...we may only have 20 or 25 years to prevent irreversible damage from climate change." I found this information quite shocking and frightening and that is what prompted me to do further research about this issue. Although the issue of climate change may feel far removed from Seaforth it is, in fact, a serious problem (along with water quality, overflowing landfills, etc.) that we as both a local and global community must address. The International Institute for Sustainable Development's website states, "For development to be sustainable it must integrate environmental stewardship, economic development and the well- being, of all people -not just for today but for countless generations to come." Respectfully submitted, Terri Shobbrook RR 2 Seaforth Transports need to slow down to ensure safety on area roads It was a perfect spring day last Friday when I was singing along to one of my favourite songs thinking nothing could ruin the moment, until... A transport truck flying past me going 30 km/h over the speed limit kicked a piece of gravel up into the air with my windshield as its target. As I saw this semi -truck approaching me going the opposite direction on Highway 8, I had 'a feeling something bad was about to happen. And, for a brief second I closed my eyes while a piece of gravel flew at my windshield at what seemed to be the speed of sound. The rock hit the lower part of the driver's side of my windshield, left a half moon shaped crack and disappeared. Jason Middleton Middle Ground The words I said immediately after the rock hit, cannot be published in the Expositor, but I think the truck driver almost heard me. After I calmed down, it made me think about how frivolous we are when we speed down the road without even thinking about the repercussions of our actions. It's not strange to see people passing me when I'm driving 100 km/h on area roads. Sure that might not seem weird, but remember that's still 20 km/h over the speed limit. Sure, I've been stopped twice in my driving career (which has only spanned five years) for speeding, but I have learned my lesson. For the two years following those tickets I've been forced to pay higher insurance rates. These transport truck drivers speeding their way through town and on area highways should be stopped or at least slowed down. I think truck drivers need the same lesson. As I've driven through Huron and Perth counties, I've never seen an OPP officer pull over a transport truck driver for speeding. It's only the cars, trucks and mini -vans that get pulled over by the OPP. It's not right that transport trucks drivers can get away with driving 30 km/h over the speed limit when they can kick so much dirt and gravel into the air. Sure, there are cars, trucks and vans that drive that way faster than the speed limit, but they don't weigh 80,000 lbs. The argument could be made that truck drivers are in a rush because they're under deadline pressures. But think about it. We're all under deadline pressures. The only difference is, when I'm speeding along at my desk trying to get interviews done before my deadline, I'm not going to put anyone's life at risk. Man finds wallet in fieldafter losing it almost three years before, in 1955 MAY 7, 1880 On Tuesday the heat of the sun was so great that a window curtain in Harland Bros. Store, Clinton was set on fire and about a yard of it burnt. The sun's rays were focused by a lamp reflector. A little three year Qld daughter of Soloman J. Shannon, of McKillop was severely scalded a few days ago. She was playing with a little brother when he accidentally pushed her and she fell into a pail of hot water which had been left standing ' on the kitchen floor. A severe wind storm passed over the township of Stephen doing considerable damage. A farmer in Kinkora took pity on a tramp and gave him a few days work. Taking advantage of the farmers absence on Sunday, he took a horse out of the stable and proceeded toward Stratford making several attempts to sell it. It was not long afterwards that he was apprehended, but he took off into a bush, not to be found. The horse was returned to the farmer. The leaves are out in Stanley showing that this is an early spring. A great many farmers are short of feed in Hibbert. So much so that some cattle and horses have died of want1 The farmers around Hillsgreen are generally through seeding. 1u the Years .\tone MAY 12, 1905 The recent rains have retarded seeding operations in Lakelet and many have a lot of sowing yet to do. The old friend James Horton of Chiselhurst has returned from his trip to the west. He carries a scar from his trip, on his head when he had a bad fall, but it is hard to kill an Irishman and we are glad it is so. The moving picture show on Thursday in Bayfield proved a disappointment for the large audience. Most of the pictures, were no better than ordinary magic lantern views and the pictures were very shakey. Mrs. John Kerr, of McKillop has purchased the cottage and lot on Goderich Street part of the Presbyterian church property for $805. Two old landmarks in Egmondville are being represented, the stable in connection with Daly's hotel and the frame addition to the old William Van Egmond hotel building. The Egmondville people are having cement walks constructed from the street to their church and manse. MAY 16, 1930 The members of the Zurich Jubilee band have decided to stop playing for the summer. The reason given for such a move is insufficient local support and difficulty in procuring new members. Kruse Bros are erecting a new grist mill in Egmondville. What might have been a serious accident happened recently while Mrs. A. Johnston, Varna was cleaning some clothing in gasoline which ignited burning Mrs. Johnston badly about the hands and face and setting fire to the room. Fortunately the house was saved by kindly aid from neighbours. Quite a few anglers in Hensall have been visiting_ neighboring creeks, rivers and dams and report pretty good catches. MAY 20, 1955 A plaque commemorating those members of First Presbyterian Church who served in the Second World War was unveiled in an impressive service at the church Sunday evening. William Collings, Seaforth won 2nd prize in the fiddlers contest at Mitchell. One day in October 1953 Derk Walterbeck of Hibbert was working about the fields and lost his wallet. Along with money, some valuable papers were in it. A continued search proved futile. Three weeks ago on April 29, Mr. Walterbeck was plowing and when he looked down saw his wallet Tying on newly turned sod. Aside from some dampness, all that was contained inside was in a good shape. Seaforth Chamber of Commerce is urging the people to have their town in first class shape for the Old Boys celebrations. Seaforth District High School math instructor, Gordon F. Allison has accepted a position as principal of the Delhi District High School. Town property in Seaforth is about to have a major cleaning up, reported Town Foreman Harold Maloney this week. At the present time the four man town crew is repairing sidewalks, and cleaning up rough -appearing spots around town. Indications are that the Square in Goderich will be paved by July. MAY 8,1980 High winds that developed due to a thunder storm early Tuesday evening caused minor damage to home hydro lines in Hensall, Fullarton and northern Stratford. McKillop Township council has approved municipal expenditures of $388,683 which combined with board of education and county expenses, will cost home owners an average of about $90 more in taxes this year. "Energy Conservation — A Health Care priority for the '80s" is the message Seaforth Community Hospital will be bringing to patients, staff and the community on Canada Hospital Day, May 12. Ron di wive 5o...when we die we go to heaven...right? Only if you're If not, then you go to the other p ,..well, how long will it be till we die? Igotta be good for 70 years? I'll never make itl No...no.. you only have to be good on Sundays by David Lacey Only on Sundays? that's a relief. ...I can do that, Yeah....when Hell freezes over.