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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-02-10, Page 1010 Exoteur Jim-Ae vocallt inion& LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Wednesday, February 10, 1999 Business takes exception to article Dear Editor, We at Sound Advice would once again like to thank the Exeter Town Council for choosing to support a local business when they were in need of a P.A. sys- tjm for their council chambers. We do however, strongly take exception to the inaccurate wand unfounded facts stated in the article written by Kate Monk of the Exeter T.A. last week. The article stat- ed that the needs of the Town Council were not being met because of the poor sound quality with their system. This is FALSE. Extensive pre -tender meetings led to the Councillors and Town Hall staff choosing the wire- less system, because they wanted the option of portability. Sound Advice initially recommended the hard -wired route as being most cost-effective. This is the system that the Town Hall are now wanting to purchase. However, at that time, our clients were determined to go wireless. Because of this, as well as having budget constraints, they were not able to get industrial equipment. Even when the final quote had been put to council, they once again insisted that another $1,000. must be cut out. Most systems in these applications range from $12,000-$16,000. Council received theirs with at least a half dozen training nights for only $6,500. The fact of the matter is, the system performs per- fectly when it is used properly. Council sent the staff of Sound Advice horde at least twice, during meet- ings saying everything was fine, and admitted to using the equipment improperly. We understand that sometimes new technology can be frustrating and everyone may have to put out a little more effort to help those that it still confuses. MANAGEMENT OF SOUND ADVICE We need action now! Dear Editor, The present hog crisis is now three months old and is not over yet. Meetings and more meetings have pro- duced little except rhetoric. What we need is action, NOW! One large problem that needs to be addressed is the two levels of hog farms - one which has contractual arrangements with a packer at guaranteed income, the other with no guarantee, accepting only the floating prices, which in recent months have been disastrous. The ratio of "preferred" or "first class" hog farmers to the "second class" hog farmer is roughly one to nine. This is the current situation. On closer examination it appears that too many of the so-called first class hog farmers are also leaders in the Ontario Pork Producers, Tthis becomes a main bar- rier to solving the problem. Each and every farmer pays $150. each year to a farm organization for a busi- ness registration number. In order to insure the future of the individual farms and farmers, these farm organi- zations must act now and must act quickly, otherwise a good number of farmers who really want to farm and who are good at it will fall by the wayside. The reduction of packers in the industry from 25 to 2 in the past twenty years helped create the monopoly of power in the hog industry. This concentration allows the packer to do what is good for the packer and not what is good for the hog industry. I believe that the time has come that we must help ourselves. We need a program that is acceptable to all, wherein no one gets hurt. The idea is this: The Pork Marketing Board could collect $1. per hog marketed - a weekly amount of almost $100,000 or $4 to $5 million per year. This money would be used, interest free, to help create and expand small packing r . v mi. The maximum loan, interest free, to a packer deart and Stroke Foundation helps survivors HURON -PERTH - Stroke survivors no longer have to face the recovery from their condition alone. The Heart and Stroke Foundation's newest pro- gram, Stroke Connection, helps survivors and their families cope with Canada's most debilitat- ing disease and fourth leading cause of death. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, nearly 300,000 Canadians are living with stroke. Further, nearly 80 percent of stoke survivors return to community living, where dealing with new lifestyle restrictions becomes a challenge for them and their caregivers. The Foundation's Stroke Connection program provides information and support for stroke sur- vivors and their families. The new program includes: help in finding or creating local support groups, a peer visit program, and a "listening line" that survivors and caregivers can call to talk to someone who has been through stroke. "The Heart and Stroke Foundation provides specially trained volunteer visitors who are avail- able to visit survivors and/or their families. These visitors are themselves survivors or care- givers." To learn more about Stroke Connection, call Stroke Connection at 1-877-234-2220 or the local Heart and Stroke Foundation at 1-888-287- 7775. must not exceed 50 per cent of the total assessed value of the packing plant. The packing plants banker should secure the safety of this loan to the Pork Producers. This loan should increase in value in relation to the assessed value of the packing plant. The $1. fee per hog marketed remains the property of the hog farmer from whom- it was deducted. It would also be transferable to another hog farmer at the option of the owner for example upon death or retirement. The reason for, interest free use of the money is for simplification of administration and accounting pur- poses. ERNST BAYER RR2, Mitchell, Ontario Why are we numbering our garbage bags? Dear Sir, Has "Big Brother" come to Exeter? For the information of those residents who have not bought garbage bag tags lately, the new tags are not only much larger but are in fact numbered! Does this mean the Council want to know who throws out what and when? I personally, can't see any legitimate rea- son why anyone should want to number garbage bags, for goodness sake. Perhaps they are going to try to raf- fle bags of garbage to raise funds to meet the costs of incorporating the new town of South Huron. Incidentally, I don't know, but I suspect the Donnellys or their contemporaries might dispute last week's claim for a first ever Lucan murder. Yours, JOHN SANDERSON 38 Redford Drive, Exeter Principal's note What a week! Exams are finished. The new semester has begun. Four new staff mem- bers have been hired and final report cards are being pre- pared. Some special projects are shaping up for this semester. As the host secondary school for the International Plowing Match, we have a great deal to get ready for. Our plans for the 2500 square foot educational tent are underway. Displays of student work from JK to OAC will demonstrate clearly how "Huron students shine in '99" Videos and pho- tographs of kids doing what kids do in our schools will also be part of the display. As part of our parental newsletter being sent home on Feb. 16th attached to the report card is a letter explaining that parents must notify the school if they don't wish their child to be photographed or video-taped while at school; otherwise we assume you have no objection. As a school, we are looking forty lyd with excitement to this wonderful event. Our role in the Plowing Match, besides the creation of the displays for the educational tent also includes being part of the entertainment acts being presented in that tent and being the grounds clean up crew. With our special role in last year's Air Expo in Huron Park, we 1iave some experience under our belt in planning for and helping out at these special community events. A second special event will happen at South Huron on March 29th. Several hundred ele- mentary school students from South Huron's feeder schools will come to our school for the afternoon to partikip:lte in a Celebration of the Arts. Grade 4-8 students will be involved in choral music, drama games, dance and visual arts workshops. file day will culminate with a Mass Choir concert open to parents and the public that evening On February 25t, t1' first and hopefully annual Panther Pride Day will be held. Beginning in the morning with a staff and stu- dent breakfast the day includes an Arts cafe, an OPP versus student hockey game, a swing. workshop (the new dance craze), the school bands playing a so( k hop and ending the day with an old-fashioned school open house. Dig - out that old football jacket or cheerleading skirt, as your kids will want to wear their "red and black" for the day. School is bustling. Drop by and see us some- times; but, come to the office first as all visitors must report there. Spending an afternoon in a school of 900 teenagt rs is sure to beat a case of the winter blahs. DEB HOMUTH PRINCIPAL'S NOTE Surprise Valentine dance planned at SHDHS A busy week is ahead at South Huron. The events started on Tues. with a pep rally and assembly for the entire school: Accompanied by the Black Jazz Band, all the athletic and acade- mic teams of South Huron were recognised for the excellent efforts they've been displaying throughout the season. Congratulations to all students, involved! On Wed., Feb. 10, the "Fireworks" Dance is being held. From 7:30 p.m. - 11 p.m., while out having a blast with giant video screens, students will see the first fireworks dis- play at South Huron! Large crowds are expected. Tickets are being sold Mon. to Wed. during lunch in the main foyer for only $5.. The price is $8. at the door, so buy your tickets early. Do you have any wonderful friends and don't know how to tell them? Here's the perfect chance! Valentine's kisses will be on sale all week in the front foyer during lunch. For 25 cents students can write a per- sonal ersonal note to a friend and have it delivered on Fri., Feb. 12. Kisses even come with tasty suckers! So bring some extra change to school and treat your friends to a nice Valentine's ges- ture. Grade 11 and 12 §tudents returning to South Huron next year are reminded that course selection forms are due Fri., Feb. 12. The Blood Donor Clinic is at the school Mon., Feb. 15. Sessions run from 1-4 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Giving blood is a great way to show you care and to help those in need. For more information, listen closely to upcoming announce- ments or ask in the main office. Remember, every • 20 seconds...someone thanks you. Upcoming Events Tues., Feb. 9- Pep rally and assembly; Wed., Feb. 10 - "Fireworks" Dance from. 7:30 p.m. -11:00 p.m. in large gym,. boys' basketball teams to Madill; Thurs., Feb. 11- Girls' volley- ball teams to St. Anne's; Fri., Feb. 12- Boys' basketball teams to Goderich, midget girls' volleyball team . to Stratford Northwestern, Valentine's kisses to be handed out, during first period; Sat., Feb. 13- Curling team at Gore Mutual Regional in Clinton, Black Jazz Band to music workshop at Western in London• Sun., Feb. 14-' St. Valentine's Day; • Mon., Feb. 15- Blood Donor Clinic from 1-4 p.m. and 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., boys' basketball teams at. South Huron Tues., Feb. 16 -17- Curling team at Huron Play downs. BROOKS PANTHER PROFILE