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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-03-17, Page 9Nap Wednesday, March 17, 1999 Exeter T 'on&Forum IOYEARSAGO March 15, 1989 - Forty-four years too late, members of Lucan council have been presented with blueprints from a 1945 proposal to give the village a community centre. Lucan resident Jim Young found the plans under some floorboards and presented them to council. The elaborate design called for a skating rink, tennis courts, fresh and saltwa- ter pools, boxing and fencing rings, a running track complete with grandstands and other recreational, facilities. 20YEARS AGO March 15, 1979 - Two newsworthy events took place at Northlander Mobile Homes in Exeter this past week. On Friday, the firm. turned out its 3,000th unit since opening production at its Highway 83 east location on November 3, 1964 . When that unit was moved into the yard, it joined two recently completed units that meet CSA stan- dards which have been accepted by Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation. President Bill Smith said this move will make financing much easi- er for the young family buyer. 2SYEARSAGO • March 14, 1974 - Negotiations between Dashwood Industries Limited officials and Local 3054 United Carpenters and Joiners of America have broken off. The 185 members of the latter walked off the job four weeks ago and efforts by a Ministry of Labour negotiator Jack Hopper to get the strike settled have turned out unsuccessful. Enthusiasm for a sports complex in Exeter jumped another degree this week when the Exeter Kinsmen indicated they would be willing to spear- head a drive for funds for the facility. Canning crop growers in Ontario have been assured of higher prices for their produce in 1974, as the result of recent negotiations announced by the Ontario Vegetable Growers Marketing Board. Clarence Down of Exeter, a director of the board said this week the take home pay increase for green pea growers would be about 64 percent. 35YEARS AGO March 18, 1964 David Ducharme, 21 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Ducharrne, R.R. 1, Zurich was one of five students chosen for a University Student Council award at the University of Western Ontario. Exeter council has accepted a $22,000 budget submitted by roads chairman Ralph Bailey which includes permanent road building on parts of William and Anne streets this year. 40 YEARS AGO March 15, 1959 - A junior yearling raised by Whitney Coates and Son of R.R. 1, Centralia won Reserve cChampion Honours at the Ontario Bull Sale in Toronto recently. Exeter bowlers cantured the inter -town bowling championship by a margin of 115 points. Team members included Harold Wettlaufer, Jack Fuller, Bob Osgood, Murray Brintnell, Jack Gibson and Cap Foster. Helen Cole, grade six r id Brenda Dinney, grade five of Exeter Public School topped their grades to win trophies for the best verse speaking in the final competition. T -A sports editor Boom Gravett is reported mak- ing a fast recovery after suffering a fracture of the skull during a hockey game in Mitchell. Spring fashions focus attention on empire, shorter jackets for suits, and •hemlines at mid-calf. 5OYEARS AGO March 16, 1949 - Velma Ferguson won top place in the regional public speaking contest held in Hanover on Friday. Miss Margaret Pickard of London Teachers' College has accepted a position on the Hamilton Public School staff beginning with the fall term. Preston Dearing of Stephen was elected a director of the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association at the convention held in Saskatoon last week. The price of sweet corn has been set at $22.50 a ton. That's an increase of 0 cents per ton over last year. 75 YEARS AGO March 17, 1924 - A number from town were pleasantly entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Dearing in Stephen township on Wednesday evening of last week. ROSS HAUGH BACK W4 TIME 9_ t ; 0 THE EO:TCR lCR `LCW Memorial Cup' - a huge success Dear Editor: The Exeter Jr. 'D' Hawks and the Hensall Sr. `A' Sherwoods would like to thank everyone for their sup- port for our 1st annual "LCW Memorial Cup" game in memory of Lawrence Cole and Chris Wilhelm held March 12, 1999. To our sponsors, the workers, players and officials, our special guests, the businesses that advertised on their outdoor signs and to all that came out to show their sup- port - your kindness and generosity was overwhelming and very much apprciated by all. As evident by the crowd, Lawrence and Chris were very well thought of and in their honour the "LCW Memorial Cup" will be held annually in celebration of their lives. Thank you again for your kindness and support! We look forward'to seeing everyone out again next year. ANNE SuLw.IVAN - Exeter Jr. `D' Hawks Secretary Town of Mitchell celebrates with Homecom in Dear Editor: Greetings to all present and former Mitchell residents! 1999 has arrived and in a few short months the Town of Mitchell will be celebrating its Homecoming Reunion (125th Anniversary). Many activities and events are being finalized. Some of the events during the week of June 29 -July 4 require pre -registration. You must regis- ter and prepay for these events prior to May 15, 1999. Individuals who require further information should con- tact Homecoming Reunion, P.O. Box 609, Mitchell, ON, NOK 1NO or pelligsen@townshipofwestperth.on.ca. Mark your time for 1999! Hope to see you there! DEBRA SATCHEIL-MCCARTHY Secretary - Mailing and Registration Committee Sentences should be consecutive 'Dear Editor: Should our justice system be applying bargain base- ment principles: one price to pay, one concurrent sen- tence, for multiple crimes? A free vote in the House of Commons said "No" by giving Bill C-251 that would impose consecutive sentences, second reading. The Bill is now before the House Justice Committee where votes are not free but generally reflect government policy. The hearings undoubtedly have been scheduled over the same time period as alterations to the Young Offenders Act and being tabled just by chance. The Amendments will, however, no doubt dominate media attention. Hopefully the press will challenge the Committee to reflect the will of the Commons and encourage the citizenry to inform their Members they oppose one sentence covering all crimes and support concurrent sentences so that it can be said "You do the crimes you serve the times." Yours very truly - JOE HUEGLIN Below is an example of the issue raised above. Letters, National Post, Crime and punishment Last week, Mr. Justice Jack Belleghem sentenced Edward Samuel Schwartz to 14 years in prison for chok- ing Wendy Carroll. He received another 14 years for robbery, 10 years for assault, and three years for pos- session of a dangerous weapon, all to be served concur- rently. oncurrently. In addition, he will serve out the balance of the life term imposed upon him for two murders committed in 1973. Clearly, that term will be served concurrently with yesterday's convictions. What possible justification can there be for not making the sentences consecutive to the completion of the sen- tence imposed for the 1973 murders and making each of the recent convictions consecutive? The pre -sentence report revealed that Schwartz showed no remorse for the hideous and premeditated attack on Ms. Carroll. It should be obvious that Schwartz is a man incapable of rehabilitation and should spend the rest of his natural life behind bars. If by precedent and legislation, Justice Belleghem is precluded from imposing consecutive sen- tences, then justice demands that Parliament repeal the law and ensure that repeat offenders serve their conrt- piete sentences. 1 would suggest that eachcandidate running for federal election be asked where he stands on the issue. Burr RArttna, - Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto Election in the spring? TORONTO -- One of the best clues to when Premier Mike Harris will call an election is the departure of Al Leach, and it suggests the premier is aim- ing for spring. Leach, the Progressive Conservatives' Minister of Municipal Affairs, has announced -that he will not run again. Ministers not seeking re- election prefer tp delay announcing as long as possible because once they say it people treat them with less respect and as lame ducks. Leach partici ' would not rvant to give up an inch of stat Orly, because he exults in power and , s most overbearing minister, full of self .�.. ,, Lance and the only minister rebuked by a judge for arrogance. Leach probably could not win in his downtown Toronto riding again because he broke a promise that he would never support taxing homes at mar- ket value, which makes downtowners pay twice as much tax as owners of identical homes in the suburbs less valuable because they are further out. Harris clearly told him that if he was not run- ning he had to make his intention known so the riding can choose another candidate because the election is imminent -- that he could not wait until fall. Parris has the right to hold off until next year, because his mandate is five years, but premiers normally call elections earlier to avoid being stuck with having to call one when prospects are dim with no time to manoeuvre. New Democrat premier Bob Rae, Harris's pre- decessor, waited five years because he was con- stantly low in public favor, but an upturn never came. • But Harris has a slight lead in polls, was a strong campaigner in 1995 and the only question, asked cqnstantly, hasbeen whether he will call an election this spring or falk There are other signs that Harris is aiming for spring. Tory riding associations have been told to pick their candidates by April. Meanwhile, Harris has launched a major new theme, deploring crime, violence and rudeness among youth and urging a return to family values. Harris clearly is best served by what won for him in 1995, cutting government and taxes, which every poll shows a majority of voters feel is the right direction, but would like to widen his appeal. Family values attracts because many yearn for an era of better behaviour, but the Tories will have difficulty proving that they can secure this more than other parties and have had more than their share of sex scandals. But Harris had long toyed .with making family values an issue in an election and would not have got into it unless he was on the brink of one. The premier has outlined a new, more rigorous curriculum for high schools, which will please many parents, before some of the courses are even written, rushing to get it in the public eye before an election. As part of his election preparations, Harris has tried to look more humane by acts such as increasing compensationto the surviving Dionne Quintuplets and cancelling the spring bear hunt, and probably cannot go much further without turning off some who admire him most as a tax - cutter. Harris also has made some useful retreats like allowing municipalities to test cameras at inter- sections to catch motorists crossing on red lights, and any more and people might spot he is a flip- flopper. He•. has also delayed the opening of the legisla- ture, whichdeprives the opposition parties of a forum to criticize him, but this is not conclusive evidence that he plans an election imminently, because he also delayed it last year. Nor is his referring on radio to a "spring elec- tion" -- politicians make so many slips of the tongue it would be unwise to rely on it. But Harris's party had cameras recording gov- ernment pre -budget hearings last week to be used in an election to show Tories listen. Harris still has the option of postponing an elec- tion if he runs into problems, but he would be left with some wasted preparations and reels of out- of-date tape. ERIC DOWD A VIEW FROM QUEEN'S PARK