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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-08-07, Page 8our Letters to the edit Seeing is believing "...saw one of your unique white squirrels." Dear Editor: I visited Exeter recently and saw one of your unique white squirrels. On returning home I com- posed the following poem: Check It Out There is a little town, Exeter is its dame, Its white squirrel is renowned, For this it's winning fame. Squirrels are brown or gray, Black is common too, But never white you say - Can this possibly be true? So just get in your car, If you want to check it out, Exeter's not that far, And never again will you doubt. So come and spend the day, Bring your family and some lunch, Oh, and by the way, Bring peanuts for squirre{s !o munch. Helen 1. Smith, London it A call for blood testing ...drawing blood for testing cannot be done unless the police officer has reason to suspect drug or alcohol use." Dear Editor: Last February 17, 1995, our eldest son and his wife were killed in a car accident in Duncan , B.C., leaving twin boys eight years of age. The girl that killed them crossed over three lanes of traffic and smashed into them as they were heading out for a Valentine's weekend together. They were killed in- stantly. This has been beyond words for my family and I. The thing that would have helped me tremendous- ly would have been to know, beyond a doubt, that the person that hit them had not been involved with any kind of drugs or alcohol before the accident. I do not know this because drawing blood for testing cannot be done unless the police officer has reason to suspect drug or alcohol use. Tell me, what would make a police officer suspect drug use? I know if alcohol was used they could smell the alcohol, unless it was vodka then they could not - what of that? We need Section #256 of the Criminal Code changed to say, "When there has been a death in an accident, blood shall be drawn from both drivers and tested for drugs and alcohol." To know without a doubt if a mind altering sub- stance has been used, Section #256 of the Criminal Code needs to be brought up to the day and age we live in. We no longer live in a day and age where just al- cohol is a mind altering drug. We have cocaine, marijuana, speed and a slew of other drugs that are being used very freely and some along with alcohol. I hear that we are looking at making some changes to our Justice System. Certainly, Section #256 should be on the list. I am sure my family is not alone in this demand. If you are wanting the same done, I ask you to please write to: Honorable Allan Rock Minister of Justice, Third Floor Justice Building 231 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OH8 Even if you send a postcard saying that we need automatic blood sampling for both drivers when there has been a death involved in an accident. Nothing will change unless we get together to stake it change. Yours truly, Mrs. Alice Ward, Thunder Bay Amalgamation I attended the meeting in Exeter and was surprised at the low number of citizens in atten- dance... Dear Editor: I wrote not long ago concerning municipal re- structuring and offered support for the establish- ment of the county (and city) as the basic municipal unit outside of the Greater Toronto Area. I still sup- port this concept and add that current idiosyncratic behavior at county levels ought not to discourage people from broad regional, i.e., county -wide think- ing since a newly constituted county government would not replicate the present legislative structure. Today's letter, however, addresses the specific amalgamation propsoal which affects this area. The proposal, which has some merit, of course, is very uncertain of success at best; I suspect that the prob- ability of achieving the creation of a single munici- pality from the amalgamation of Exeter, Usborne, Stephen, Grand Bend, and part of Bosanquet is min- imal. Several factors militate against the project. One, there is no obvious popular support across the area for this particular amalgamation. I attended the meeting in Exeter and was surprised at the low number of citizens in attendance. Two, the parame- ters defined in Bill 26 seem to require submission of a developed project before the end of September; that seems to be an unachievable date. Three, the amalgamation involves two counties which adds a very significant difficulty. Page 8 Times -Advocate, August 7, 1996 C'(?MMiINTTY Rural writer has first collection published By Brenda Burke T -it Reporter CENTRALIA - Farming and Poetry. After 40 years of combining the two, Harry Schroeder gath- ered most of his writing and had a local publishing company com- pile it into a 227 page collection. Reacting to encouragement from others, including Robert Graham, who published the works in Huron Park, Schroeder decided to take the plunge with what he claims he does "basically for a hobby." A Farmer's Collection of Prose do Poetry was compiled in April and ready to sell on July 1. To date, Schroeder has sold 80 cop- ies of the book that contains his writings as well as related photos, articles, letters and illustrations. He hopes to sell 250 copies to cover publishing expenses. "I'm kind of excited about it," he said, admitting, "I never in- tended to become a writer." Schroeder, who's had his works published in local newspapers and had poems put to music, writes about everyday farm ex- periences as well as local rural is- sues, religion and what he con- siders to be social injustices. "You might as well say what you think," he explained. She Cooked the Proverbial Goose, Farming Fatigue, and Sorry About That are just a few examples of his poem titles. According to the forward in Schroeder's book, "graduate stud- ies took place on the family farm, where he learned to slop the pigs, milk the cows, clean out the barn (and) feed the chickens," after at- tending South Huron District High School where he wrote his first piece. Schroeder hopes his book will prove "farmers can do more than farm." Centralia writer and farmer Harry Schroeder has published his first collection of prose and poetry. The $20 book is available at the Times -Advocate. As I hoed potatoes, I was entertained A Song bird on a post by a field of grain, It didn't dance and it didn't shake Its' heart felt spirit gave my soul a break. No introduction as a celebrity From Massey Hall or coloured T.V., No Candelabrum or a back-up crew Solo it carolled proud and true. Vibrant Virtuoso I was its' only audience, I could see Still, others may have enjoyed its melody, Mice, insects, or a snake in the grass Our professional entertainer was real first class. I stopped my tedious task for a while Listened...Then started to smile, No King shared more wealth from his vast domain Than this vibrant bird by this field of grain. Singing from its' soul, no Bottom Line Blues Or deep depression from our T.V. News An oasis in a desert of strain Thanking God for Life, summer, sun and rain. Say that I'm silly, most all will agree Have you ever been as richly blessed as Me? On congested highways, racing along" No thank you"!, I'll enjoy Natures Song. Harry A. Schroeder (written 14 July, 1996) Your Views Letters to the editor • A lawless land "The hands of the local OPP offi- cers are literally tied behind their backs by political red tape." Dear Editor: Does anyone know what 'OPP' stands for at Ip- perwash? Take your FLA. Does OPP stand for: Obviously Powerless Police? Officially Paralyzed Police? Ot- tawa -Prevented Police? Obstructed Politically Po- lice? Only Pretending Police? One can't help feeling sorry for cops on the beat, who are supposed to enforce the law, in an area that is lawless. Rebel native groups occupy the Canadian army base, as well as our Provincial park in ipper- wash, and the Ontario Provincial Police are ordered from on high to stay out. They are allowed to stand around and watch, but must not enter this political no -man's land. People living on and off the local re- serve, who need police protection from intimidation and vandalism by extremists, are abandoned to fend for themselves. Why? Because the policies of the Liberal govern- ment dictate that Aboriginals are above the laws which other Canadians must obey. Is it any wonder that some radical native elements (and their richly rewarded consultants and lawyers) are having a field day, physically and psychologically terrorizing in- nocent people at our expense. Until the Chretien government changes its policies so that Aboriginals are bound by the same laws we are, blame the Liber- als for the underlying problems at Ipperwash. The hands of the local OPP officers are literally tied be- hind their backs by political red tape. W.H. Metcalfe, Grand Bend Pledges will fund research "...the Heart and Stroke Founda- tion can continue to fight Cana- da's #1 killer..." Dear Editor: The Huron Chapter of the Heart and Stroke Foun- dation wishes to thank Angela Lansbergen of Phy- siques Aerobics for holding Fit for Heart on our be- half on June 25 at South Huron District Secondary School. Eighteen pledging participants raised S 1200 for heart and stroke research and health promotion. We also wish to thank Becker's for the outstand- ing work they did putting together a full Big Bike Ride for Stroke team, raising $4,500 on July 26. Because of these caring individuals and because the citizens of Exeter and area supported them, the Heart and Strokc Foundation can continue to fight Canada's 01 killer by supporting world-class re- search and community education that are saving the lives of 35,000 Canadians every year. Steven Smith Area Coordinator Huron and Perth Chapters Heart and Stroke Foundation ;ffs It seems that a more achievable objective would be to proceed with an amalgamation of Grand Bend, Bosanquet and Thedford. There is already a consid- erable body of study material, reports, recommenda- tions, etc., from relatively recent exam:.tations of this possibility. It is a modest, yet reasonable and sensible amalgamation. Exeter, Usborne, and Ste- phen could pursue that equally logical amalgama- tion. These two restructuring projects would obviate the need to involve two counties. Six municipalities would be reduced to two; core structures would be in place around which future restructuring could oc- cur. For example, one could envision a refinement which would place the relevant area of what is now Stephen Township in the new Grand Bend- Bosanquet-Thedford municipality. There is, howev- er, a need to move in a direction that is both possi- ble and acceptable in the short time available. The province is bent on reducing the number of municipalities by as much as 25 per cent; such re- structuring will affect counties. Indeed, there are ru- mors about an amalgamation of Lambton and Huron counties. The two amalgamations discussed in this letter make sense whether or not the two counties re- main separate. Citizens are more likely to support modest, achievable projects which offer savings, efficien- cies, and which open the way to future modifica- tions. Instead of attempting too much and risk achieving nothing the councils of the involved mu- nicipalities should develop the two less involved amalgamation projects. J. Wooden Words on workfare While it is very laudable to give others who are less fortunate the opportunities to build their skills.. Dear Editor: When the Huron County Board of Education vot- ed recently to write a letter to MPP Helen Johns and to David Tsubouchie indicating its willingness to participate in the new workfare initiative, the execu- tive of the Huron Women Teachers' Association ex- pressed some serious concerns about its implemen- tation. While it is very laudable to give others who are less fortunate the opportunities to build their skills and self-esteem in a co-op/credits-for-service adult education model, the WTA executive feels that some very important caveats need to be consid- ered. I) It is absolutely iffrierative that a sound screen- ing process be in place for the safety and security of students and staff, and of their personal property. It is most important that an interview/screening pro- cess he in place for workfare participants who have contact with or access to our students. This is no more than we would expect of our hired personnel. The public entrusts the welfare of its little ones to the education system, and we must do our utmost to earn that public trust and safeguard our students. 2) The Women Teachers' Association is also con- cerned about the responsibilities centred around the termination of welfare benefits to individuals who do not perform acceptably in the system. Teachers do not wish to be directly or indirectly responsible for terminating the benefits of individuals, their families and their children - children who may, in- deed, be within our own education system( 3) As well, we feel that teachers, who have al- ready been greatly impacted by the whammies of an add-on curriculum in a cutback economy, will now be expected to take on yet another role - that of su- pervising workfare participants. In some cases workfare participants may prove to be a great asset to teachers in the classroom - in others, the teacher may, in effect, be adding an extra student, (albeit an adult), to her already burgeoning classroom respon- sibilities! Custodians, principals, and secretarialtechnical staff will also feel the pressures of an extra role. We feel that employees of the Huron County Board of Education should be given a personal choice of whether or not they wish to participate in the workfare program, 4) The WTA also has some ethical concerns around the governments' policies with respect to the discontinuance of family benefits (welfare) to single mothers pursuing post -secondary up -grading. 5) Finally, it Is imperative that wwos tfiiro positions neither eliminate jobs currently in the system, nor prevent the creation of new positions for which hir- ing should take place. If you have concerns about the workfare plans for our HCBB schools, call MPP Helen Johns at 1-800- 668-9320 or fax 1-519-235-4922. Willie Laurie HWTA, President