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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-05-29, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, May 29, 1996 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business Manager, oort,.smw, Production Manager. Deb Lord A deeds ing; Barb Consltt, Chad Eedy News; Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke prahuetion; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transportation; AI Flynn, Al Hodgert Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple The Exeter Times -Advocate Is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and Information leadership • • inion Pu Neadolls MMI iNOaretton Nu ntw 0388 Om year rats foe Oatlllio subasdbees • 435.00 + Olt Two you rate foe Ontario subaoibers , 403.00 + OST CAMISMARISSIMAKINRILDNIAKKI Om year subsoelption - 463.00 + O=T Two par setbectlptlon - 013.9.00 + OST OntgaBAIll Outside Canada -+ OST Published Oath WsbaNdeyet 424 Mein $t., Exeter, Ontario, NOM In by L � PckMsatloas Ltd. Telephone 14111,2*5.1331 • flax: 615,215471 8.1.T. looN I:l)I I OI.I \I ti Trouble in Goderich lthough residents in the south- ern part of Huron sometimes feel isolat- ed when it comes to county politics, re- cent serious allegations regarding the way county business is conducted de- serve investigation. The Times -Advocate, along with other Huron County media and a varie- ty of individuals concerned about the county have been on the receiving end of many serious charges. Two packages including pages of items depicting a tightly run county office with serious problems have been delivered by mail. The allegations, by the nature of the information included with them, ob- viously originate from more than one individual.They attack the integrity and slam the reputations of some of the more senior staff in the county adminis- tration. If even a small percentage of any of the alleged activities listed are true, our county elected officials should be calling for an investigation that would either repudiate or substantiate serious charges of abuse of power within the administration. So far, the vicious mailings have been ignored by all county media, and have not received confirmation from anyone in authority. We apologize to our readers, who are also Huron County taxpayers, becau`e we are not ; able to release any of the information. It's interesting; it's potentially explo- sive; it's certainly career damaging, and it looks like a conspiracy to seriously hurt several top officials in Huron. It also stinks....because the author or authors do not have the courage to link their names to the most critical doc- ument we've seen in years. Surely those behind this massive smear campaign must believe the damning allegations they are distributing throughout the county are true. Some charges go as far as reflecting a personal rage and hatred. Others indicate a real concern for the way decisions are made at the county level. We invite the individuals hiding be- hind the secrecy of brown manilla enve- lopes to show the courage of their con- victions and come forward. Up to this point, all the mailings by unknown au- thors have accomplished is establishing a commitment to condemn without the courage to stand up and be counted. For the moment, all we know is something certainly is rotten within the corridors of the Huron County building. If any of the charges are ever proven to be true we can be sure some heads will roll. But it is doubtful this will ever hap- pen because secret, anonymous criticism does not deserve credibility. Until those making the charges show the courage to come forward, any mail-, ings we recei in future will get tht treatment the?deserve a'quick trip to. the garbage pail. Plan to attend School Advisory Council To full realize the benefits of living in a smaller community, particularly in the economic climate.... Dear Editor: The Hensall community has been given an oppor- tunity for dialogue, an opportunity to discuss and express our wishes and our hopes and there is the possibility of realizing these wishes and hopes. This opportunity comes to us in the form of a School Ad- visory Council. In April 1995, the Ministry of Edu- cation and Training issued the requirements for these School Councils (PPM#122). It is a Council to encourage cooperation between the community, the school and your home. Hence, the makeup of the Councils are such that they include community members, with or without children, teachers, non teaching staff, students and parents. To fully realize the benefits of living in a smaller community, particularly in the economic climate we live in, we need to accept this opportunity. Believing every person has an opinion, every per- son has a valid point and every person have some- thing of worth to share with the rest, I encourage you to set aside Thursday June 11 at 7:30 in the pub- lic school library to attend a formation session of the Hensall Public School Advisory Council. Your at- tendance is for information, not a commitment. Feel free to drop in or leave as your schedule permits. Your children and your community need your sup- port! Sincerely, Jayne Fragiskatos 262-3544 Safe sun tips for summer weather After a hot and sunny long weekend, many of us came back to work on Tuesday ,I;with a painful sunburn and, once again we need to be re- minded this kind of skin dam- age can lead to skin cancer. It is estimated one in seven Canadians will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime and one serious sunburn can double this risk. ' An estimated 62,500 cases of non -melanoma skin cancer will occur in Canada in 1996 and there will be approxi- ; mately 640 deaths from mela- noma. Melanoma is a more serious type of cancer and can spread quickly to other parts of the body through the lymph system or the blood. There are determining fac- tors such as heredity and the environment including eleva- tion, latitude and cloud cover that impact risk for skin dam- age. However, the total amount of sun received over the years as well as overexpo- sure resulting in sunburns can cause skin cancer. It is estimated most people receive 80 per cent of their lifetime exposure to the sun TORONTO — They talked about potholes in the legislature the other day, and nobody laughed. This was something of a novelty, because MPPs traditionally have felt themselves above discussing mere holes in roads. They prided themselves as elected to de- bate the bigger picture, more uplifting issues like the economy, taxes and national unity and occasionally further -flung matters like civil rights in South Africa and freeing Ontario of nuclear arms. • About the most disparaging description one MPP could apply to another was being a "pothole -fixer" whose sights therefore were set on the parochial and mundane rather than lofti- er issues. AH this has changed as MPPs have told a series of harrowing stories about roads badly in need of repair and problems they have caused constituents. Potholes as an issue are now ac- ceptable and even big-time. Liberal John Cleary described Real and Nathalie Campeau driving their light truck along Highway 401 near Long Sault in eastern Ontario and hitting several huge potholes in succession. Two tires burst, they lost control and their vehicle hit the median, overturned and was a write-off. Nathalie could not take a job, because she had no vehicle. Cleary had a long list of constituents with similar woes. Liberal MPP Dominic Agostino was driv- ing on the Queen Elizabeth Way near Hamilton when he found the highway blocked because three vehicles in succession hit potholes so big their tires burst. New Democrat Floyd Laughren told of a northerner who drove from Chelmsford to Otta- wa and hit a pothole that wrecked a tire and damaged the wheel rim. He changed it, but a few miles further on ran over another pothole which destroyed his spare tire and wheel, and has put in a claim to the province for $585 compensation, which does not cover his lost time. by the time they are 18 years old. For this reason, it is es- pecially important parents protect children from . sun damage. Last week Barb Munro, chair of the Huron -Perth branch of the Canadian Can- cer Society, gave Exeter Pub- lic School students a Sun - sense presentation. As the ozone layer decreases, she explained, more of the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays reach earth. The effect of these rays can be seen in sunburns and premature aging and they can also contribute to skin cancer and cataracts of the eyes. The Cancer Society sug- gests several guidelines to avoid skin damage such as re- ducing exposure between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., finding or creating shade, wearing clothing to cover arms and legs, wearing a wide - brimmed hat and using a sun- screen of SPF 15 or higher. Sunscreen should be reap- plied after swimming, active sports or continuous exposure throughout the day. Babies under one year Rough rides Liberal deputy leader Sean Conway, who drives to and from his riding in the Ottawa Val- ley, said that on parts of Highway 401 "I thought it was some place near Gary, Indiana -- pothole central." Ontarians used to boast their highways were much superior to most in the U.S. and anyone crossing the border immediately no- ticed the difference, but this is no longer true. Liberal Mike Colic has asked residents to send in entries for a "Pothole of the Year Con- test," but not yet picked a winner, because the competition is so intense. Another Liberal, Rick Bartolucci, has asked the government for a list of drivers who have had vehicles damaged by potholes and sent it bills for compensation, but the Tories have not responded. Most of the complaining naturally has been by Liberal and New Democrat MPPs, but much of the deterioration in highways took place when their parties were in power over the past decade and found it more palatable to chop should be kept out of direct sun. People with fair skin and hair or who have previously ha¢ skin cancer atelalso Vine created risllr" bf developing skin cancer and should avoid exposure. The sun's rays can penetrate water, so a water-resistant sunscreen should be applied frequently while swimming outdoors. Ultraviolet rays can also pass through most standard window glass. There are several common myths surrounding sun expo- sure such as the belief a tan offers protection from sun damage. A tan is only comparable to using an SPF of 3, which is quite minimal. According to the Cancer Society, a tanned or dark skinned person can still burn and a tan many only give a false sense of security. As well, tanning parlors or sunlamps are not a safe way to tan and should be avoided. For more information about the the sun and skin damage contact the Cancer Infornia- tion Service at 1-800-263- 6750. funds for highways than for higher -profile so- cial needs. But the Progressive Conservative govern- ment elected last June has added some bumps of its own by delaying repairs to help fulfil its promise to cut both the deficit and taxes. The Tories have now been forced by the clamor to promise to spend $140 million more repairing highways this year than last year, but this will be nowhere near enough to bring all highways up to scratch quickly. Transportation Minister Al Palladini, who still sounds like he is running his car show- room, has not inspired much confidence by ap- pearing on a highway in overalls and hard hat, carrying a shovel and saying he will personally. fill any potholes his staff miss. This type of antic may sell cars and fridg- es, but it is not the sort of iron -clad warranty a, minister can be held to, and drivers and the To- ries should reconcile themselves to some con- tinuing rough rides.