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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1984-11-14, Page 29Times -Advocate, November 14, 1984 Page )7A V�st majority in area poll favor capital punishment Whether or not to reinstitute capital punish- ment has been the topic of a great deal of discussion in the news media, over cups of cof- fee in the neighbourhood restaurant, and around the family dinner table since public awareness was heightened by the killing of six policemen within a short period of time recently. The last executions in Canada took place in Toron- to in 1962. The death penalty was suspended in practice in 1963, and legally abolished in 1976. The question is complex, and can not be answered with a simple "yes" or "no". Almost 16 years ago while a graduate student at Western, Father Joseph Nelligan collected data and wrote a thesis on capital punishment. At that time, the present priest of Mt. Carmel adn Precious Blood parishes was very opposed. He has since modified his views. According to Nelligan, capital punishment has three purposes - deterrence, punish- ment and protection of socie- ty. Though the concept of capital punislunent is "repug- nant to all the values I hold in my heart", Nelligan believes the possibility of rehabilitating some killers is so remote as to be almost impossible. On the other hand, Nelligan says society is presently be- ing hypocritical, wringing its hands while equipping its police forces with guns and depending on them "to do our executing for us". Policemen are left with the responsibili- ty of deciding whether to ex- act immediate justice. Nelligan advocates an honest airing and full debate on the matter. Exeter Police Sgt. Kevin Short does not want capital punishment re-enacted into law until all aspects have been thoroughly examined. Short is in favour of state ex- ecution for premediated, calculated killings of police officers or any other victim, but only if the system is charged to incorporate severity, certainty and im- mediacy of punishment. "There's no point in a token political gesture, in reinstating the previous system for awhile to see if it will work", Short said. Short believes present discussions are focusing on only one facet, the severity of punishment, and the other two equally important areas are being overlooked. Speaking from experience, Short said the present system is not a deterrent. "When we arrest people, 90 percent of the time they are not concerned about being jailed, almost considering it a break", Short elaborated. Short would like to see a reasonable limit on time allowed for appeals, citing the cases of convicted killers whose subsequent legal ac- tions have dragged through the courts for years. Short is certain a revamped system of capital punishment would act as a deterrent. If someone thinking of murder was certain that if convicted he would be executed quick- ly, he would have second thoughts about following through with his plan. A long delay between crime and punishment blurs the connec- tion between cause and effect. Police may need the deter- rent value of a reinstituted death penalty for cold- blooded killers more than other professions, Short con - ON PARADE — Members of the R.E. Pooley branch Legion set out for the church service at Trivitt Memorial for Remembrance Day, Sunday. Following in behind were the Cadet Corps and the local youth groups who also braved the inclement weather for the short parade. The cenotaph service was cancelled and the wreaths were placed during the church service. Our Lady of October 31, Mt. Carmel School held their annual Hallowe'en Party. It was at- tended by the students of Grade 4-8. The Student Coun- cil organized various ac- tivities such as: costume judging, apple eating, apple bobbing, pumpkin carving contest, scavenger hunt, and finally the dance. The first event was the costume judging. All the con- testants formed a circle and paraded around the gym. The teachers judges had a dif- ficult time judging. There were four categories and the winners were: the funniest - Sheri Brennan, dressed as a clown, the scariest - Eugene Hartman, disguised as a van- pire, the most original - Jeff O'Brien, wearing a lion's costume, the most fitting - Sean Martens, dressed as Robin Hood. The apple eating activity followed. There were apples hanging from each of the basketball nets. Representing Grades 3 and 4 was Shannon Brennan, Grades 4 and 5 were Sharon DeBruyn and David Andrews, Grades 6 and 7 were Nicole Vanneste and Kristi Van Dongen and Grade 7 and 8 were Shelley Uniac and Rob Glavin. The object of the game was to be the first one to take a bite out of the apple The overall winners were Nicole Vanneste and Sharon DeBruyn. The next highlight was the apple bobbing. The students representing each class were to attempt to take a bite from an apple floating in a tub of water. The following pupils were involved Jodie Glavin. Julie Kaak, Shawn Gillespie. Sean Martens, Wanda McCann, Julie t'niac, Clint McCann, and .laimie Wulterkens. Father Nelligan. the judge of this event, nam- ed Jodie Glavin and Julie Kaak as the Junior winners it was a "Splash" of an event. Various sized carved pum- pkins were brought to school to be judged hy Mr. Birm- ingham. First prize went to Sisamay Sengkhounmany, se- cond prize to Kim Roane and third prize to Vicki Roane. Mr. Wilhelm announced the winners of the scavenger hunt next. Each student was given a list of items for which to hunt. The first place winner was Deanna Olmsted. The highlight that followed Mt. Carmel was the dance. During the dance a bag full of candy was broken open. A big garbage bag full of candy, sitting in a basketball net was poked at with a stick, allowing the can- dy to fall. Everyone received some candy. Fun was had by all! Wanda McCann and Darlene O'Rourke GETS LEGION AWARD - Cliff McDonald received an award for outstanding efforts in the community at Saturday's Remembrance Day banquet at the Exeter Legion from past president Norm Ferguson. HOLIDAY NAME TAGS -- calligraphy name cards to Liz eter UCW bazaar. Maxine Seredo sells a Varley at Sbturday's Ex - T -A photo Gd COLONIALS ---- These fine players finished in second place in the first divi- sion this year. Shown after their annual banquet are in the front left to right, Alex Harrett, Greg Ryan, Barry Bauer, John Michielsen and Tony Mennen. Back row Dave Michielsen, Kevin Simmonds, Nick Vandenberk, John Vanderburgt, Bill Vanden berk, and Bill VandenBygaart. Missing is Peter Backx and Peter Grootjen . "War" As the raging battle grew in its' fury, all I could do was watch and pray like a young child, helpless and alone. The brutal seige on innocent families, my fellow compa- nions, whose bodies lay sprawled among the victims, are all sights of this blood stained battle. I lay exhausted in my trench with no will to survive the treacherous mission, yet the powerful agony of defeat was pounding in my mind. Terror stricken, I leaped from my trench and sacrific- ed my life for my country. The blast of a gun rang in my ears, I lay on my death bed in silent slumber. All the terror and agony was over...War is hell! Erika Coeck, Grade 8 Mt. Carmel School Destruction of Lives for Freedom The day I said good-bye to Mom and Dad i remember it was all quite sad Mom and Dad both said to me Stand proud and careful be Dont forget your family and friends We'll all be waiting when the war ends. In a few days i was sent out to fight To fight for my country day and night Men killing each other, what a horrible scene We're all human beings, how could men be so mean All these men dying for the freedom of family and friends Why can't we just stop and think and make amends. But we keep on fighting on the blood-stained grounds While the canons and guns keep making awful sounds Now the war has ended and the surviving have gone home And the dead men have been buried in field that roam Now in Flanders Fields where the poppies grow We go and grieve in dreadful sorrow Christine Nirta, Grade 8 Mt. Carmel School Remembrance i)ay Sights and sorrow of Remembrance Day The guns and tanks roaring away Airplaines soaring through the sky Soaring, soaring way up high. The tanks and bombs booming away Remember the soldiers that died by the day The squeaking of the small young rats The shouts and yells of mens' spats The guns not stopping, day after day No one, no one moving out of the way Please remember the young men who died For our country which never cried. Adam Smith, Grade 6 MI Carmel School eluded, as they have the responsibility for bringing this type of person into the justice system. Lawyer Elmer Bell is for capital punishment for premeditated homicide, and would like to see it reinstated. Although ,not a criminal lawyer, Bell said as he understands the sentence was imposed for planned murders, or on someone arm- ed to rob a bank with the firm intention of using his weapons if he had to. No one was sentenced to death for a crime of passion. "In my opinion, there was a discretion allowed in courts and juries which should be preserved", Bell said. He recalls that on average eight people were hanged in the whole Dominion in a single year before capital punishment was abolished. Bell said Clifford Olson is an obvious case of someone who "shouldn't be around at all." Mayor Bruce Shaw staun- chly supports capital punishment. "I'm not convinced it's a deterrent, and not po primitive I think we haven't emerged beyond the revenge motive, but in most cases murderers don't deserve to live and bleed society while kept in prison", Shaw said. "We must have law, and safeguards for society. Peo- ple who hold our law in con- tempt deserve to be treated in kind. We are too good to the criminal element." South Huron Distric High School student council Susan Birmingham disagreed with her principal. She says it is not right if someone kills so- meone and then you kill them. The teenager believes killers deserve punishment; however, their lives should not be taken. She suggests locking murderers away with no privileges and "make them suffer". She concedes that in a minority of cases of cold-blooded murder, the killers do not deserve their lives. Bruce Pocock, Anglican Church rector in Lucan also has mixed feelings about capital punishment. Being in- volved as a legal killer is a dreadful responsibility, Pocock says, but comes down on the side of capital punish- ment, with qualifications. He believes the death penalty should be imposed for first- degree murder, but not for crimes of passion which hap- pen on the spur of the mo- ment. "Justice should always be tempered with mercy" are his last words on the subject. An informal poll was con- ducted among 20 people (10 men, 10 women) along Ex- eter's Main St. in answer to the question "How would you vote if a referendum was held on whether to reinstate the death penalty?" nineteen said they would vote "yes" for ex- ecuting those responsible for premeditated murder. Some thought punishment for crime is becoming too le- nient, one man said something had to be done to stop what's going on, and another cited the Biblical penalty for murder. One woman who answered with an emphatic yes said her hus- band is a policeman. Get ready for winter We all know it -- winter is just around the corner. it's time to start the yearly ritual of "getting ready to cope with another long, cold Canadian winter". There's Dad, with a little help from the family, clean- ing up the yard. Rakes, hoes and fertilizer are stored and snow shovels, sand and salt appear in their place. The chore of replacing weather- stripping on doors, or caulk- ing and putting plastic on win- dows has been completed. There is the satisfied feeling that the home will be snug and warm again this winter. Soon furnaces, fireplaces, wood -burning stoves and kerosene heaters will be operating to capacity. "This is the time to beware", says Cindy Curik, Health Educa- tion Consultant with The Lung Association. "Malfunctioning non -electric furnaces, water heaters, stoves and fireplaces may produce combustion pro- ducts which can he deadly if trapped inside the home." The Lung Association of Huron -Perth is concerned about this home hazard and how exposure to deadly gases can harm the lungs. Homeowners are urged to have a furnace expert check all vents and pipe connections to ensure that they are in good working condition before the heating season begins. "We want you to be well and healthy during the winter season." The lone dissenter wants to bring back the lash, but not the noose. In a telephone interview MP Murray Cardiff said he would like to see a referen- dum held across Canada. Many people have written or spoken to him asking for a 44! return to the death penalty. Cardiff said he believes a referendum would be the fairest way to decide the issue. He is in favour of capital punishment for premeditated murder, so he would vote "yes". "Our judicial system should make it clear that the penalty for this type of murder ,is severe", Cardiff said. If the death penalty Is not reinstated, we must have a system that keeps this type of killer out of society. Maybe the whole parole system should be reviewed." Daily Rentals Example Chevy Celebrity, air conditioned Only 24.93 per day der. oft. easter 235-0660 FAIR SiNGERS — Providing some musical assistance during a skit at Tuesday's an- nual meeting of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies District eight were Exeter fair board members Pauline Simmons, Ray Cann, Barb Passmore, Bob Hern and Maxine Sereda. T -A photo FIRST WAR VETS — Only three veterans from the First World War were able to attend Saturday's Remembrance Day banquet at the R.E. Pooley Exeter branch 167 of the Royal Canadian Legion. From the left are J.K. Cornish, Joe White and Norm Norry. T -A photo Tuckersmith considers upgrading and history Tuckersmith Township council met last Tuesday afternoon with Tom Moran, Toronto, of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Hous- ing, to discuss the township's proposals on how it will use its $175,000 Ontario Neighbourhood Improvement Grant in upgrading the hamlet of Vanastra The only information given the press was that a com- munity plan was being developed and that it would be released to the public when completed. Following dinner the coun- cil continued its meeting with the press present. Gwyn Whilsmith of Grand Bend, who is editing the Tuckersmith Township history book which has been researched and written by five area residents, attended the council session to discuss the publishing of the book. Council decided on the type and size of the print, on the possible number of pages, and pictures that it will be a hard -cover book to be printed nack Box ,,, .. - $2.55 rifty Dinner .4( hr Len ,, rot htFM. „•A,,,� l ,i• 1L.. i.. ,w,Ikesl s in Exeter. Council agreed that the book will have patrons; eligible will be Tuckersmith or former Tuckersmith residents. The book is ex- pected to be on the market in the spring. Mel Graham and Lloyd Ferguson of the Tuckermith Telephone System attended to inform council of its proposal to make the system a private telephone patron system rather than the present four - party. Graham said the changeover, which would start with its Clinton area, could cost about $600,000 with the work to be carried out over a period of six to seven years. Council was invited to at- tend a public meeting called for November 12 to discuss the program. Clerk Jack McLachlan reported that Bell Telephone is planning to put underground its lines in Vanastra. In answer to an inquiry from Huron County, council decided it will continue to col- lect its own tax arrears and will inform the county of its decision. Passed for payment were the following accounts: Day Care at Vanastra, $7,568.41, Special Day Care at Vanastra, $4,710.62, Vanastra Recreation Centre $12,521.80, roads $24,530.50, and general accounts $35,064.17 for a total of $84,393.50. New season • coming soon The Theatre Circle, which won praise from audiences and critics with its first season last spring, has an- nounced a new, two -play season for the spring of 1985. Keith Roulston, producer of the company, announced Carol Bolt's comedy -thriller, One Night Stand will lead off the season, opening March 7 at Blyth Memorial Hall. Dinner TOT Wine 3 Pieces Kentucky Fried Chicken Creamy Cole Slaw French Fries Grecian Bread • DONATION — South Huron Hospital administrator Roger Sheeler (left) accepts o $1,000 cheque from Exeter Kentucky Fried Chicken store manager Brian McGregor acting on behalf of the Col. Harlan Sanders Charitable Organization. The money will be used to help set up a day care/day hospital for seniors and homebound residents in this area. Bad Rad? Radiators Repaired, Recored or New Canadian Tire 235-0160 rr -- (pnp0ip0 ppf Budget Rent A Car Low daily and weekly rates Special weekend rate Friday 6 p.m. to Monday 10 a.m. 559.95 including 200 free km's. Hensall Motors Ltd. 262-3331 - DRYSDALE MAJOR APPLIANCE CENTRE LTD., SALES WITH SERVICE The Place To Buy Appliances NEW AND USED Hensall 262-2728 Closed Mondays Let Jack Do It All types of Iplumbing.. .,., •f�r & heating;;r��;�-•; Jack's Plumbing & Heating (Jack Mauer) 246 William St., Exeter 235-0581 HELIUM BALLOONS ...Just For The Fun Of It CRS J ROMPS EXETER 233-2330 1