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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-12-30, Page 4Page 4 —CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1987 The Clinton News -Record Is published each Wednesday at P.O. Boa 39, Clinton, Ontario, Canada, NOM 1 L0. Tela 412.3443. Subscription Rate: Canada -921.00 Sr. C191aen - 911.00 per year U.S.A. foreign 910.00 per year 19 Is registered as second clan mall by the post office under the permit number 0017. The News -Record Incorporated In 1924, the Huron News -Record, founded In 1001, and The Clin- ton News Era, founded In 1009. Total press runs 3.700. Incorporating THE BLYTH STANDARD ANNE CHISHOLM - Editor FREDA McLFOD Office Manager SHELLEY McPHEE-HAIST - Reporter DAVID EMSLIE - Reporter GAYLE KING - Advertising SANDRA BELL - Circulation/Classified GARY HAIST - General Manager A Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. 15 effective Oc- tober 9,1914. A brand new 12 months are ahead Another year has come and gone. As we reluctantly say good bye to 1987, we should look ahead to 1988. While some look to the upcoming year with great anticipation, others are more reluctant. Perhaps it's the fear of another entire year ahead of them with the unknown having 12 full months to trick, delight or frustrate them. But just think, with the new 12 months comes Valentines Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Remembrance Day, Christmas and summer holidays! That doesn't include birthdays and all the other special occasions we tend to celebrate. 1988 brings with it the Free Trade Agreement, a new reeve for Huron County, concerns over our landfill site and the possibility of Sunday store openings. 1988 will also mean a fall municipal election which will force our present councillors, mayors and so forth to either seek re-election or step down. Along with these already slated events, there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of both large and small unexpected occurrances. Looking ahead, 1988 should be an interesting and eventful year. We at the News -Record look forward to your continued co-operation in 1988 and hope the new year brings you all much happiness. - by Anne Chisholm. Rural Canadians must stand together against Canada Post Dear Rural Citizens, I, Lynn Nichol, a citizen of rural Manitoba, am writing this as an appeal to suggest that all rural Canadians stand together to oppose what Canada Post Cor- poration is trying to do to our country. As you watch your TV and listen to your radio you keep hearing about another rural post office in rural Canada being closed. No doubt, you think as I did that it wouldn't hap- pen in your community or town. Well it has now happened in our village and it will pro- bably happen in yours. Do you realize that Canada Post is just waiting for your postmaster to die, retire or move so they can strike again? In some cases they don't even wait for that. They've probably already been to your village business people to try and get them to sign a contract to take over the postal work for them. Canada Post tries to sell the idea that the service will be just as good and in many cases with extended hours. However, I feel very strongly that the ser- vice cannot be as good and I do not blame any business person signing the contract for this. The business person would work on a commission basis for doing Canada Post's work. We continue to pay the same price for the service while Canada Post cuts their costs. In Wilno, Ontario the salary went from $9 as a postmaster to $1 an hour as a contract person (Wpg. Free Press Nov. 12, 1987). If I was getting $1 an hour I would cer- tainly be putting my more profitable A ear to reflect on One of' the main events for the season is over as we try to fit into our clothing after enjoying all of the turkey, stuffing, potatoes and treats that accompany Christmas. For the majority of people, all of the presents have been opened, put in their pro- per places and the colorful wrapping paper thrown away. For a few days, everyone will head back to work, anticipating the next celebration - New Year's. Believe it or not, 1988 is just around the corner. Another year has flown by and we are now preparing to greet a new one. My how time flies! Looking back on 1987, I think of a busy, yet happy year. Other than work, wedding plans occupied a great deal of my time. They cer- tainly gave my mother and I a lot to discuss. And then there were my twin nephews who arrived just in time for my birthday present. As their mother said at Christmas, "Don't expect the same present this coming year." I'm sure everyone has a lot of good and bad, happy and sad memories about 1987, but as they say, life goes on no matter what. Around this time of year, people not only reflect on what happened, but they also prepare for the upcoming year. These preparations are commonly known as resolutions. I'm not a great resolution maker. I think that if something is important enough to change, you should do it at that time instead of waiting until the end of year. However, if you are trying to kick certain habits, such as smoking or what not, it's as good a time as any. If I was forced to make one resolution, it would be to keep my office here at the News - Record a :little more orderly. It's not in that bad of shape, it just seems that every Christmas so many papers, pieces of copy and other items get dumped on my desk and I just can't seem to keep up with it. When something comes in the mail, I'll think, "Hey, that looks interesting, but I'm not sure whether there will be space for it in the paper." So, instead of setting it immediately, I put it aside - just in case. Generally, I know exactly where everything is on and around my desk, but it doesn't look too good. Oh well, that will give me something to work towards. New Year's Edition This is the paper we call our New Year's Edition. As you can tell, or will be able to once you flip passed this page, the majority of copy has been taken from the 51 other papers we put out this year. We refer to it as "The Year In Review." All though there is very little "current" news, you must remember, we just got over Christmas and public activities were kept very minimal so people could spend the time with their families. Therefore, this 52nd regular paper for 1987 will let you reflect on what has happened throughout the year. Hopefully we didn't miss any major events. Hope 1988 is good one for you and yours. business ahead of looking after someone's mail. In rural Canada we have strong ties with neighbors and friends so Canada Post can play on the emotions of the business peo- ple by implying that if they don't take the contract, the customers will end up with superboxes only. Canada Post claims that rural Canadians are costing them money. They claim that 85 per cent of their revenue comes from businesses (naturally located in cities). If we, rural Canadians, end up with no address the businesses would have no place to send their letters, flyers, etc. In a supposedly free country, I feel that our human rights are being jeopardized - we will not have the right to have our mail handled by someone who is paid to give it their undivided attention. I feel that if rural Canadians get together and let our government know we will not be treated as second class citizens while pay- ing first class, they in turn will put a stop to what Canada Post Corporation is doing. I appeal to you, as rural citizens, to let our government know that we will not be treated in this manner. Your rural friend, Lynn Nichol. 1988 resolution to help others should be made Dear Editor, This letter is sent in the hope that readers will seek a new and worthy goal in the com- ing year. Much effort has gone into the pur- suit of happiness and joy this holiday season. We have purchased the latest pro- ducts to make us comfortable and tem- porarily happy. However much this nation has been blessed with material wealth, we have not been able to relieve poverty and hardship. The United Nations declared 1987 the International Year Of Shelter For The Homeless. It is hard to believe that we still have more homeless in our streets than ever before. The streets of Toronto contain many destitute people. It will be a long winter for many, while for some it will be their last. In 1987 the world's population passed the five billion mark! The phenomenal growth will certainly put a strain on the earth's natural and human resources. Homelessness will increase, food supplies are already inadequate, and natural resources will be depleted. Jesus said, "the poor are always with us," even when governments make heroic efforts to (relieve their plight. We long for the capacity to feed the multitude like Jesus did centuries ago. We should realize, however, that the tnuu bread from heaven is God's Word "that is able to make us wise unto salvation". The wonderful characteristics that Christ exhibited are rarely seen. There are many today for whom this time of year conjures up only illusions of Santa Claus. Has this myth replaced the Son of God? Has the Messiah of the Old Testament been replaced by materialism, self-interest, and insen- sitivity to the needs of others? Have we forgotten the rightful heir to the throne in Jerusalem who will be king over all the earth? (Isaiah 2:4) This hope has been replaced by a religious community whose leaders confuse the joy of future peace on earth by offering good peo- ple a fantasy in the clouds at death. Nowhere does the Bible teach that heaven is the reward for righteous people. In the oft - repeated Lord's Prayer we are taught to ask that "God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven". Unfortunately, familiarity with the Bible, as well as reverence for its authority, have gone by the wayside. its influence certainly has waned as acts of kindness and love to our families and neighbors are neglected at- tributes. In 1988, let us endeavour to read the Bible to learn of spiritual matters and to find the path of wisdom, before God's Son returns to the earth. The signs are there — the establishment of the State of Israel (almost 40 years ago), the rise of Soviet power, and widespread moral decline, all confirm God's prophetic message. The issues are vital and the times are urgent. May it be our New Year's resolution to prepare for Chirst's return. It is not too late to evaluate our lives and to commit ourselves to Godly values and purposes. Sincerely, X.R. Curry and J.P.Wisniowski apt"; "'a`:. The first Blyth Beavers were in Goderich to pre- sent toys to the Toy Box at McDonalds. Toys dropped at McDonalds are used throughout Huron County as part of the Huron County Christmas Bureau which helps needy families in the county have a merry christmas. Presenting toys were: back row, left to right, Joey Schmidt, Jamie Taylor, Tim Caldwell, Shane Hesch and Allan Gibbons; second row, left to right, Peggy Rivers of Huron Country FCS, Connie Bromley (Beaver leader), Diane Higgins (Beaver leader), Sharon Wilson (Beaver leader) and Maria Lourenco (McDonalds CPR); third row, left to right, Dennis Hig- gins, Ryan Montgomery, Justin Sauve, Brent Sauve, Jason Fidom, Aaron Bakker, Russell Bromley -Bowes; front row, left to right, Ross Clark, Dean Wilson, Kevin Bernard, and Matthew Clark. (photo by Lon -Ann DeBruyn) Has government lost touch? Open letter to: Right Honourable Brian Mulroney: Is it really possible that you have lost touch with the voting public? Is it really possible that you have lost touch with your friends from Manicouagan? Is it really possible that you have lost touch with your own backbenchers? Is it really possible that you have lost touch with the needs of Rural Canada? When the mail was transported by train, it took four days for a letter to reach Van- couver from Halifax. In urban areas we had two mail deliveries a day and one on Satur- day. Christmas cards were being sent for two cents. All employees were proud to be part of the Canada Post Office Department: most rural postmasters worked on weekends without pay, "the mail must go thru". Rural post -offices have always been the heart of a community where people met to pick-up news and exchange news. Those were the days. Then came the boxes identifying a deadline for mailings in order to enjoy the best of service; then, the boxes sorting the "in town" and "out of town" mailings in order to enjoy the best of service; and now, you have the "superboxes" in order to enjoy the best of service. The result, two days local within a city, three days between ma- jor centres in the province and four days between major centres from province to province. Have you already forgotten the rural service? Now, the greatest invention is serving the needs of Canada Post Corporation: publici- ty. You are spending millions of dollars with the media, telling the Canadian voters how good of a service you are committed to pro- vide. In the meantime, jobs are lost all across Canada: the most devastating results are felt in rural communities, where a local voter must provide the postal service at a loss in order to maintain postal service in their community. Going back 40 years. Why would Canada Post cause such a tur- moil and lose credibility? All Canadians are asking for is: service -- service — service. Provide the postal service from east to west and west to east, and, from north to south and south to north and L will pay the going rate, be it by government subsidy or by in- creased postal rate. I object paying 38 cents just to increase the ivory tower executives: I will gladly pay 50 cents for real service by post office employees, who could still be pro- ud of their job. J.G. Gelinas (a rural Canadian) Box 373 Alfred, Ontario KOB IA0 The new year By Helen Owen The old year was weary, his back was bent His face was lined, and he heaved a sigh. His term of office would soon be spent, So he waited and watched the minutes tick by. The new year stood, eyes bright and clear As he faced the path which he now must tread His back was straight, and he showed no fear Of the challenges which lay ahead. Close at his side stood Father Time, Ancient recorder of mankind's fate Waiting for midnight's echoing chime And the entrance of nineteen eighty-eight.