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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-02-28, Page 4Page 4 February 28, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO ger strains already In a continuing attempt to buy our way out "of a doctor shortage, Huron County municipalities are now being approached to contribute towards a CT scanner for the Goderich hospital. With the nearest CT scanners otherwise located in Stratford and London, Goderich is arguing that *the $1.5 million diagnostic equipment will reduce local wait times, serve all Huron County residents and be another recruitment tool for healthcare pro- fessionals. While Huron County has been approached for a so far "one-time" grant of $1 million this year, plans are apparently in the works to visit each of Huron's municipalities for further donations towards the $5 million project. It's tough to imagine that a warm reception awaits in every council chamber. First, the $5 million project also includes the funds for a PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System) for the Goderich hospital, a system both Clinton and Seaforth hospitals have been fundraising for during the past few years. In fact, while the. systems have just come online during the past few months at each hospital, Seaforth and Clinton -area residents will continue to be approached for donations as each hospital continues to work towards paying off the huge com- mitment made to fund the PACS system. As well, councillors in more than one municipali- ty are wondering just how many more healthcare projects they can afford with their ratepayers' prop- erty taxes. Most municipalities are already spending part of their budgets supporting local clinics and con- tributing towards funds that help to attract and retain local physicians. And, this is all being done when healthcare remains a provincial responsibility. As the number of orphan patients continues to rise, it's understandable that local leaders are look- ing for solutions that will serve their residents. But, continued and increasing pressure on the province especially during an election year - might be the best prescription in the long run. Susan Hundertmark Your Community Newspaper since 1860 E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com 0.11) 414 Canada' OUBECOR MEDIA Cana 'We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." A not -too -sappy goodbye to a small town newspaper As I write this column - which consequently will be my last - I've set out one goal for myself: to write as much as I can without get- ting too sentimental or too sappy. I also don't want to write anything that might come across even the tiniest bit corny or cliched, and I defi- nitely want to avoid simply memories. So here it goes. As you read this week's paper, I have start- ed my first week at my new job in St. Marys, reporting for the Journal Argus. There, I hope to continue to develop the skills that I was given the opportunity to begin to hone in Seaforth and Mitchell back in 2005. I wouldn't be where I am today if not for the opportunity I was given with the Huron Expositor and Mitchell Advocate, not to men- tion the career and life lessons I received from the wonderful staff at both offices. They deserve more credit (and sometimes respect), for the hard work and long hours they put in to generate an informative and compelling newspaper each week, than they sometimes get. Any ideas I had about what it would be like working in a small town, for a small town newspaper, were quickly tossed out the small wooden window of my Seaforth apartment recycling past horror where I lived for my first 10 months on the job. While I won't bore you with my memories of the late night fire alarms, or my idea that these small towns could make some serious money by offering up their main streets to Hollywood to be filmed as a ghost town in the next big movie, there are some interesting dynamics that I've learned come into play in a small town. There some issues you don't delve into, some questions you don't ask and sometimes, peo- ple you don't ask them of. I've found that loyalty is possibly these towns' greatest characteristic - which means sometimes we won't get the real story, or sometimes, we'll get the story no one else can. Either way, it creates an environment quite comfortable for an up-and-coming journalist fresh out of school. There were times I didn't ask the right ques- tion at a meeting, or didn't get someone's name for a picture, but I could always track down the person I needed the next day or leave a message that was usually returned quickly. That's what's great about working in these small towns. Maybe it's the laid back atmosphere, but I found just about everyone to be See COMMUNITIES, Page 6 I wonder how you get to be a millionaire? Well if you want to be a millionaire you'll have to go to college, study hard to earn a degree and then go into a lucrative field like law or medicine and work really hard night and day, and maybe by the time you're old and gray you could make a million dollars.. Well that's stupid! What's the point of being a millionaire if you hafta work! SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 36.18 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS; - 34.17 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Fore n: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $181.48 postage, G.S.T. exempt U.S.A.: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $92.56 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occu- pied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for sitnature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising 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. PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT 40064683 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 7605 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO Circulation Department P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK IWO Member of the Canadian CommunlryNe paper Association & the Ontario Community Newspapers Association Tom Williscraft Publisher Susan Hundertmark ditor Jeff Heuchert. Reporter Bernie Pugh Dianne McGrath Marcie Riegling Advertising / Office Front office Composing Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Main Street.,Seaforth Tetephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 60, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK MO