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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-04-14, Page 9Wednesday, April 14, 1999 Motor Thnes.Advsaila Opinion&Forum 9 1 OYEARS AGO April 12, 1989 - Murray Cardiff, Member of Parliament for the riding of Huron -Bruce has been sworn in as a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture. Exeter Optimist Club president Jim MacGregor reported Monday morning that the week- end Home and Garden Show was bigger and better than ever with attendance well over 5,000. The first quilt show organized by the Homecraft Division of the Exeter Agricultural Society was an unqualified success. About 1,000 persons paid admission during the two day show at South Huron District High School. The Exeter Mohawks won the all -Ontario Senior "B"championship in Lucan Sunday night as they disposed of the Dresden Lumberkings in four straight games. 20YEARSAGO April 13, 1979 -One of Dashwood's most famous landmarks was completely destroyed by fire late Thursday evening. Zion Lutheran Church and its distinguishing steeple was apparently hit by light- ning sometime before. the fire was spotted at 11:50 p.m. Gale like winds reported to be in excess of 150 kilometers per hour sent the fire out of control in minutes. 30YEARS AGO April 11, 1969 - The Ausable River Conservation Authority 'vegan filling a new reservoir at the Parkhill Dam. The water was reported to have risen two feet overnight. A Clinton jury ruled that the death of a Parkhill man was accidental, due to a faulty revolver the man was carrying. The gun went off, shooting him in the heart. 35YEARSAGO April 12, 1964 - Principal H.L. Sturgis announced seven new teachers have been hired to replace four resigned bringing the high school staff up to 30. 40YEARS AGO April 13, 1959 - Jack Drysdale, past president of the Hensall Kinsmen Club was selected zone winner of the Kinsmen of the Year award at the conference in Hensall, Sunday. The cable tool rig on the Du -Mar well near Crediton is being dismantled this week in prepara- tion for its replacement by a diamond drill this spring. Canadian Canners Limited of Hamilton announced this week that they would be re -opening its plant in Exeter. Peas and corn will be packed this year Donald G. Graham will be the new manager. 50 YEARS AGO April 11, 1949 - Joe Creech was named manager of the Exeter baseball club for the 1959 season. Harvey Sparling, teacher of Winchelsea School and students motored to Toronto in a Guenther bus and visited Maple Leaf Gardens, Casa Loma, the Parliament buildings and Union Station. 60YEARS AGO April 12, 1939 - Believe it or not, Exeter council voted to reduce municipal taxes, dropping the rate from 34 to 33 mills. Although GM and Ford had tried to discredit Chrysler's hydraulic brakes of the early 1930's , Chevrolet was now advertising its cars with "perfect (Quadro Action) Hydraulic Brakes. 7SYEARSAGO April 13, 1924 - Mr. Andrew Boa of Hensall is to be congratulated on winning the Webster prize in Old Testament History at the Weslyan. Theological College. Mr. Earl Guenther has purchased a new Ford truck. 80YEARS AGO April 13, 1919 - A public meeting of the citizens of Exeter was held in the town hall last Monday night to discuss the building of a permanent Main Street in Exeter. The reeve stated that It would be impossi- ble to do the work this year, but suggested it would be a good idea to proceed with the building of a cement curb and gutter from the south boundary to the Presbyterian Church. Another fantastic report suggested a railway tun- nel could be built under. the Bering Strait to connect Russia to Alaska, with the idea that a passenger could make a rail journey from London to Canada, the United States and South America. WGH SACK IN T*1! T rp. `• ry,, Why Is Tuckersnith Council changing tradition? It has been the custom o Tnekersmlth Township, when a vacancy has occurredewithin a councillor's term, to offer that vacancy to the highest defeated councillor. This occurred when Rob McLeod replaced councillor Doug Smith. Recently, in 1998 councillor Rob McLeod resigned and Paul Spittal, being the defeated councillor in the previous election, was approached, accepted and was appointed to fill the vacancy. With the death of our. previous Reeve there is at pre- sent a vacancy on council. Bernie McLellan was defeated in the last election when he ran for deputy Reeve. According to tradition, should he not be accorded the same opportunity as the aforesaid coun- cillors to fill this present vacancy as councillor. In the latter part of the recent council meeting held April 6 in the Seaforth town hall, when all but three of fifty-five taxpayers had departed the meeting, the busi- ness of filling this vacancy was approached. Bernie McLellan's name was brought forth as a candidate. Reeve Bob Broadfoot stated he did not think he would be an acceptable candidate. When questioned by councillor Doug Vock as to why he held this opinion, he said he was against this appointment because he felt, concerning amalgamation, McLellan favoured going with the west. Does our reeve wish to handpick a councillor to ensure the vote goes where he wishes? Paul Spittal, who obtained his seat on council in the manner previously mentioned, also voted against giv- ing this similar candidate the same opportunity he had received. Do these actions show integrity or manipulation? In this most important decision-making process of amalgamation, we as taxpayers expect and deserve to be treated with openness and fairness. Only by being treated in this manner can we continue to have trust and respect for our local governing body. Only with taxpayer participation can this be solved . to the satisfaction of all. Does council have the courage to lay all their cards on the table for all to see before the hand is dealt? MATT HANEY AND BOB FOTHERINGHAM All -Years Reunion planned for year 2000 Dear Editor: Remember when we were in high school and our family told us "high school days are the best days of our lives"? Did we believe them? Now, as we reflect back to those days, we realize they certainly were the "best days of our lives". For myself, I reminisce of the football games; the pep rallies; those high-pressure volleyball matches and the camaraderie our team shared; those cross country meets where Mr. Fulop brought out the best in each one of us and Ms. Rowe's badminton trophies created from egg cups. Add to these events the scholastics: Mr. Brooks' humorous antics, Mr. Connor's `varmit' years, Mr. Aunger's entertaining science experiments and Mrs. Young's idiosyncracies. Combine my own personal reflections with your thoughts and recollections and we must admit 'those were the days'. All students at South Huron District High School now have the chance to rekindle.. friendships, allow the school's walls to bring back memories and to show their children where all their trials, accomplishments, happiness and even heartache occurred. A hardworking and diverse group of committee members is busy organizing a special event. A festive, fun -filled and nostalgic "All Years Reunion" is planned for the weekend of June 30 to July 2, 2000. This reunion is planned to celebrate the opening of the new South Huron District High School in 1950. Book your holiday now! We need YOU to assist us in commemorating our school's history and. anniversary. To register for this special weekend or m keep up-to- date on all the planned events, visit our website at www.avonmaitland.on.ca - click onto South Huron. Registration forms are available at the following. Exeter businesses: Heal First, Times Advocate, RSD Authentics, Exeter Towtjalt or SHDHS. if you require more info or have any questions please call Kendra Arthur (519) 235-4006 (11), 235-4587(W) or Pat Rowe (519) 236-7167. Mark your' calendars and huge that song... "Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end." Dss bona - Publicity Chaarman Harris flexible? TORONTO -- Premier Mike Harris is showing that he can be as flexible as an Olympic gymnast as he moves into an election, but he is putting a strain on his credibility. The Progressive Conservative premier, who established his reputation by being hard-nosed, cutting gov- ernment and taxes, is now handing out largesse and con- cessions wherever he goes, and voters are bound to ask which is the real Mike Harris. Harris has announced that he will protect another 2.4 million hectares as public parks — the biggest tract ever designated in one swoop, overriding opposition in his party and industry — and environmentalistsin return have virtual- ly designated him a tree -hugger like themselves. The turnaround was remarkable by a govern- ment whose record on the environment mostly has been firing inspectors and going easy on violators. Harris also banned the spring bear hunt, which conservationists considered barbaric because it left many cubs without mothers, and offended hunters and outfitters who tended to support him. He has also promised to find tens of millions of dollars more over the next few years, with the precise figure still to be calculated, to help the homeless, and particularly provide housing. This is the same premier who stopped building social housing as one of his first priorities, and once shrugged off the homeless by saying many of them chose to live on the streets. As well, Harris has taken steps in health, including promising to hire 12,000 new nurses. although it is not long since he said some nurses would have to lose jobs as they went out of style. And he found money so mothers and their newly born children — "moms and newborns," as he warmly put it — will have the option of staying in hospitals up to 60 hours after births and nurses will check them later in their homes. More recently, Harris said he will provide funds so outpatients do not wait longer than 15 minutes for assessment in hospital emergency rooms, although for years many waited hours in overcrowded clinics while he could not pre- scribe an antidote. Harris also will pay municipalities half the cost ($300 million a year) of their ambulance and public health services, after first saying they had to pay the whole shot. The premier who cut welfare benefits for many single recipients to $520 a month, and stopped a food allowance for pregnant recipi- ents saying they might spend it on booze, is showing a kinder, gentler side, but it is difficult not to associate it with the imminence of an election. Harris has about 43 per cent in polls, almost enough to win a majority, and some who liked his tax cuts but worried he lacked enthusiasm for tackling social.problems may feel that he has reformed enough they can vote for him. But Harris's changesin direction are.. so close to the election that others will regard them as not his true feelings but aimed solely at winning votes. Voters took this view of two other recent pre- miers. Liberal David Peterson in the 1990 elec- tion campaign offered to reduce the provincial sales tax from 8 to 7 per cent if voters re-elect- ed him. • But they turned him down, seeing this as a desperate, last-minute attempt by a slumping premier to hang on. Harris, however, is not tumbling in polls and his reversals are not as dramatic and he made them before the cam- paign officially started. The last Tory premier before Harris and fel- low right-winger, Frank Miller, tried to stave off losing his. majority in 1985 by promising tighter rent controls and pay equity in government and appointing the first woman deputy premier, Bette Stephenson. But many felt these were death -bed repen- tances, out -of -character and. designed merely to win votes and rejected him, and they could feel the same way about Harris. ERIC DOWD A VIEW FROM QUEEN'S PARK