HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-01-14, Page 4l'r ge 4—CLINTUN NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1987
The Clinton News -Record Is published each
Wednesday of P.O. Ron 39, Clinton, Ontario.
Canada, NOM 1LO. Tel.: 482.3443.
Subscription Rate:
Canada• 831.00
Sr. CltIzen • 718.00 per year
U.S.A. foreign $60.00 per yew
It Is registered as second class mpll by the
post office under the permit number 0819.
The News -Record Incorporated In 1984
theHuron.Ur,ws.Record, founded In 1001.
and The Clinton News Era, founded In 1865.
Total press runs 3.700.
r–
Incorporating
THE BLYTH STANDARD
ANNE NAREJKO - Editor
FREDA McLEOD - Office Manager
SHELLEY McPHEE HAIST - Reporter
DAVID EMSLIE - Reporter
JANICE GIBSON - Advertising
LAUREL MITCHELL - Circulation/Classified
GARY HAIST - General Manager
A
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1985;
Display advertising rates
available on request. Ask for
Rate Card No. 1 S effective Or•
toborl,1984.
You can make a difference
Here's your chance.
Residents of Clinton now have the opportunity to have their say in set-
ting taxes, constructing bylaws, putting town improvements on a priority
list and making the town a better place to live.
The Town of Clinton is presently looking for a person to fill a vacant
'"'council seat. This person must be a resident, submit a written application
aid .brief resume to the clerk and be prepared to answer a few questions
as to why they think the town would benefit from their presence on
Council.
The applicant need not coli ct 10 supporters' names as they are re-
quired to do in an election.
Although sitting on council st sometimes cause frustration, there
must also be a certain amount 'f gratification in doing so.
As a councillor, you hear co plaints, but when you get the town on the
move again, such as the begs ings of an industrial mall, it must bring
about some compliments as wee,,1.
So, instead of sitting back and ipnriering why council doesn't do this or
hat, join them and find out for yoi.aself exactly why they dont or can't. -
by Anne Narejko
Buckle -up on buses
An accident which occurred near Swift Current, Saskatchewan just
before New Year's puts new emphasis on the point of operating buses on
the highways without seat belts.
Four young hockey players, travelling with their team, were killed
when the bus in which they were passengers flipped over on the icy road-
way and crashed into a ditch. Others were hurt, but not fatally.
Why on earth do we continue to expose bus passengers, particularly
children on their way to and from school, to this unnecessary risk. If seat
belts are so important to personal safety that it is illegal to operate one's
own vehicle unless driver and all passengers are belted in, why cl,l we con-
ti$ie to ignore the obviously much more serious risk in our buses?
If you are the parent of youngsters who have to travel in a school bus,
you should be roaring your head off before it is too late. - from the
Wingham-Advance Times.
Reader .urges residents
to speak out about services
Dear Editor:
i would like to draw attention to the Letter
to the Editor from Dr. Harry Cieslar which
appeared in the Focus on December 9, 1986.
if you happened to miss it or didn't bother to
read it, i strongly urge you to do so,
especially if you are at all interested in the
future of health services in Huron County.
Dr. Cieslar had been Medical Officer of
Health in Huron County for five years prior
to his resignation in July 1986. After five
years of experience, I am sure most would
agree. that would provide him• with a good
understanding attic, programs and services
provided as well- as the ones that are needed
in the county. He • would also be
knowledgeable about the organization and
functioning of the Health Unit and the pro-
vincial legislation that regulates this body.
Any group, whether it be a business or a
community group needs strong leadership
and good organization. Without these
basics, the services provided could be
decreased and the morale of the providers
could be diminished. 1 feel these things are
slowly starting to happen at the Huron Coun-
ty Health Unit. It has been six months since
Dr. Cieslar resigned and there is still no per-
manent Medical Officer of Health that has
been educated in and who is committed to
Try it, you'll like it
I refused ,two or three times, but reluc-
tantly gave('in, and boy, I was glad I did.
- I've driven cars, trucks and motorcycles,
but never before had I been directly behind
the steering mechanism of a snowmobile un-
til a few weeks ago.
Even though I was told it would be the
easiest thing I would ever drive, I was teary.
Colin and I headed up to his sister and
brother-in-law's place just outside of
Gowanstown on a chilly, yet clear Sundaya,
Colin informed me that they had just pur-
chased a new snowmobile so part of our
day's activity may include a ride.
Sound'e'd good to me, as long as all 1 did
was ride, not steer.
Anyhow, my plan to remain a passenger
lasted for the tour around the fields and
when asked if I'd like to try out the nbw
machine, (a one seater), I quickly declined
the invitation.
We then set out for the Palmerston
Snowmobile Trails, Don on his new
snowmobile and Colin and I on the older one.
(Of course I was the passenger.)
Being a passenger isn't as easy as it looks.
You get bounced around, you bang your
helmet with the driver's helmet, and you
basally hang on for dear life. However, I
thought it had to be better than driving.
We rode over open fields,"thrpugh wooded
areas and over frozen streams. After'awhile
I even learned how to stay on the seat of the
snowmobile a bit better!
Then it happened. Don, who was the
leader, stopped to see if we would like to
continue further or head for home. Of
course, always ready for adventure, we
decided to continue, but this time Colin
wasn't going to let me squirm my way out of
driving.
After politely asking if I'd like to drive, he
hopped on the snowmobile seat behind me,
and with Don already on his way, I had little
choice but to grab the handle bars, push the
little throttle mechanism and pray, .
They hadn'been lying to me - it really
was easy andle. There was no clutch for
shifting , ears and you very seldom had to
use the brake. My biggest concern was
keeping a good grip on the handlebars so the
snowmobile didn't take off in its own
direction.
Then the real test came. The open field
was coming to an end and a wooded area
was quickly closing in on us.
This would mean I'd have to actually
rnanoeuvic tilos vt;Wcle around trees, over
tiny bridges and, my worst fear, stay ona
narrow path.
I was cautious and slow: I watched every
inch of trail that came before us. I held my
breath when the path .weaved around trees
and I prayed that_ ve wouldn't have to cross
any frozen streams. •
We made it out to another open field
without hitting any trees or near misses,
and much to my surprise, I soon found I en-
joyed the challenge of weaving around the
trees and carefully watching every inch of
the trail better than seeing how fast the
machine could go in the open field.
And also to my surprise, I found 'driving
was a lot easier than being a passenger. You
actually have something solid to hang onto
when you're driving. When you're a
passenger, you just wrap your arms around
the driver and hope he doesn't fall off.
The scenery added to the day's event as
well. I saw country I had never seen .before
and would never have seen if I weren't on a
snowmobile.
All in all, my first experience driving a
snowmobile was very enjoyable. And the
next time someone says to me, try it, you'll
like it, I don't think I'll resist as much.
i?E(v)ENJBER UJNEN THE-
$A/D THE GREAT /AKE�
'WATER LEVEL WAS JUST'
.9NQ7NER crcLE ?
puouc health. Possibly no one has been win-
ing to put up with the present county`
situation.
The Health Protection and Promotion Act,
1983, governs the function of the Health Unit
and county policy and practice, in regards
to the Health Unit, has been in direct con-
flict with the Act since its inception. How
can this be allowed?
The Ministry of Health has known about
this situation since at least the fall of 1985
when it carried out a provincial organiza-
tional audit, but still nothing has been done
to rectify the situation. The Minister even
resides in this county which makes his lack
of action even more difficult to understand!
1 think it's high time that the people of
Huron County speak out about their con-
cerns. Nothing will ever change unless you
do something about it! Please call or write
your local or provincial politician and let
them know how you feel.
Sincerely,
Shirley Chalmers, P.H.N.
Process upsets reader...
Dear editor.
As an observer of the Huron County
political scene, 1 would like to share with
readers some thoughts about last year's
events, especially concerning the Huron
County Library Board.
1 am amazed at the ignorance of most peo-
ple concerning the political process and
their apathy towards local municipal af-
fairs, It seems events such as hotel fires and
kidnappings, things we have no direct con-
trol over, are easier to comprehend than
how we govern our own communities. At
various times I've heard comments sueh as,
"Oh well, as .long as my library isn't af-
fected, or "what's the problem, do you need
more space?"
The County's position, that they are
perceived to be in ctontrol of the libraries by
the local citizens, is a fallacy promoted by
the administrator and certain reeves. Dan
Murphy, the library board's solicitor (as
well as the county's) told the board em-
phatically it was a legal, autonomous cor-
poration which handled the day-to-day af-
fairs of the library and county council and
the administrator legally had no authority
in making decisionssfor the board. In fact, as
many of u$ know, county council's influence
is not subtle and the board is represented by
a bare majority of reeves resulting in coun-
ty policy often being served through the
Shelley McPhe Ilaist
library hoard.
County reeves and their relationship to
Mr. Hanly remind me of the story "the
Emperor's New Clothes". In regards to the
Library Board, he allowed minutes to be fil-
ed as secret and confidential documents. He
also neglected to name the warden to the
Library Board but let council protest that
the warden sits as exofficio member on all
committees, but not on all boards. When
these problems were corrected no one seem-
ed to question the clerk whose job it would
seem is to inform council of how boards and
committees are different. Reeve Tom Cunn-
ingham eitpressed in amazement last fall
that council didn't realize that the board
wasn't a committee and by asking for
special powers under )'R No. 7 they could
legitimize a system they had worked under
since the Board's inception in the sixties.
Imagine! the council is unwilling to admit to
their own nakedness and failings instead
they choose to shoot the messenger!
is it the Board's fault that the reeves, by
admitting their own stupidity and ignorance
of the law, should be made to suffer. Collec-
tively are they not mature enough to admit
they didn't know and be humble enough to
work within the confines of the Libraries
Act. Apparently not for they have struck out
at various players and place no blame at the
Turn'to page 5
Peace
"Wanting peace is not something which
comes naturally, but rather something
which has to be learned. Each of us must
discover in his own way what peace really
means."
Those are the words of Canadian
astronaut Marc Garneau.
Ho is -.one of the Order of Canada reci-
pients so has contributed an essay to an
impres9ive collection entitled "What Peace
Means To Me."
Published by External Affairs Canada,
this 107 -page book features a collection of
essays,'press and art work. It was produced
in connection with the International Year of
Peace, proclaimed in 1986 by the United
Nati ons.
The book includes essay from 30 Order of
Canada recipients. They represent a cross-
section of Canadians, professions and opi-
nions, Among the contra. 'iters are classical
guitarist Liona Boyd, former hockey star
Bobby Orr, artist Alex Colville, the late
Margaret Laurence, His Eminence Paul -
Emile Cardinal Leger, The Very Reverend
Lois M. Wilson, Toronto businessman Ed-
win Mirvish, Nobel Prize for Chemistry win-
ner, physicist Gerhard Herzberg. The im-
pressive list goes on.
As well, the book includes the winning
essays and posters from a contest sonsored
by the United Nations Associ tion in
Canada. The competition was divided into.
three age categories and features writings
and art work from those aged under 12 to
over 18. In total, nearly 900 essays and over
1,700 posters were submitted for the contest.
The words speak best for themselves.
Nicholas Matthelw Kot of Weyburn,
Saskatchewan won the essay competition in
the 12 and under age category. In part she
wrote, "World peace, which sounds like a
.fairy tale, couldeasilycome true if we could
learn to love and trust each other. We should
unlock our hearts and minds, starting with
each family from every country in the world
and the world powers would soon be a world
family. Wouldn't it be wonderful if, in the
future, we would have to look up the mean-
ing of the word "war" in our dictionaries
because we'd forgotten what it meant?"
Claude Pegeon of Squatec, Quebec, win-
ner in the 13 to 17 essay contest noted,
"Peace will come when every one of the
world's nearly five billion people can get up
in the morning and say, "What a beautiful
day! It's a joy to be alive."
The words and pictures in this book are
both thought provoking and inspiring.
"What Peace Means to Me" is one of the
best publications to be put out by the federal
government in recent years.
Allow me to give you some more excerpts
from this book.
Solange Chaput-Folland, journalist,
author and lecturer wrote, "Believing in
something bigger than oneself does not only
mean congregating in the cathedrals of
Christianity or in the magnificent mosques
of the East; it means loving one another in
the dignity of the human condition, and,
therefore loving the freedom of others and
its continuity. The world is others. Its ex-
istence hinges on whether the men and
women who are the highest expression of
otherness will make Peace a daily reality."
Margaret Laurence was one of Canada's
best novelists. She was also a strong oppo-
nent of the nuclear arms race and lobbied to
make Canada a nuclear -weapon -free land.
She wrote, "....nuclear weapons are putting
all of us in greater jeopardy every day. Both
superpowers now have enough nuclear
arms to destroy all life on earth several
times over. Both are paranoid, filled with
fear and suspicion of the other. Millions of
ordinary Americans and Russians, far from
politics, must feel as I do, a sense of terror
at the intransigence of both regimes. The
simple and difficult. truth is that whole
populations are not "evil Godless com-
munists" or "cruel grasping capitalists."
Most ordinary people everywhere just want
to live their lives, do their work, have homes
and food and a chance at educations, be free
of the threat of nuclear or any other war.
People everywhere justly desire the life that
true peace could mean."
Internationally acclaimed jazz piAist
Oscar Peterson wrote, "We are the primary
architects of our future destiny, and as such,
can also be the physicians that are capable
of initiating the healing process that our
world so desperately is in nee i of. I myself as
a citizen of that same world look forward to
the time when the medication of brotherly
understanding and respect begins to make
its effect felt, and the world is on the road to
good health! Peace."
Honest Ed himself, Edwin Mirvish noted,
"I do believe if the world is ever to be
reconstituted it will be accomplished by the
ordinary people."
Sylvie Bernier won the gold medal in
women's three -metre diving in the 1984 Los
Angeles Olympics, making her the first
Canadian to win a gold medal in diving and
the first Quebec woman to win an' Olympic
gold. Her exciting career has taken her
around the world, and she wrote, "During
my eareer I have visited many different
countries on both sides of the propaganda
barrier that divides humanity. I never felt
that there was a difference between a soviet
diver and myself, between an East German
athlete and me. We' both have the same
hopes, the same joy and the same pains."
Jean Vanier, a spiritual leader who has
spent his lifetime working with the han-
dicapped and the poor wrote, "My friends,
do not think that our world can escape
another holocaust unless each one of us, you
and I, today, is ready to give room to those
who are less fortunate, unless yve learn how
to share our hearts and our goods with them..
,`Turn to page 5