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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-10-21, Page 4PAGE4 -- rODERIdHSIONALnSTAR, WEDNESDAY, O OBER21,1001 dave sykes BLUE RIBBON AWARD Second class mail registration nymber-0716 I don't want to play anymore. I am road, sad, dejected, disconsolate, sombre, cheerless, gloomy, angry and a lot • of other words this family newspaper either can't spell correctly or won't use as a matter of good taste. Hopefully my feelings refleett the sen- timents of millions of other Gana ' s. The Montreal Expos were denied their first trip to the World Series by a single run Monday at a time of year when most sports en- thusiasts are calculating the Maple Leafs chances of making the playoffs. It. doesn't seem quite fair and while this country is relati"sty new to the Sport on a professional -basis, ball fans have heaped admiration upon a group of boys who generally call Florida, Iowa or;Kentucky' home, and called them our own. Their exploits have been seriously followed with fervor for four years and when the team .finally made a challenge a 20 -year old Mexican kid, with the physique of a slob three times his age; proved you don't have to speak English,' to excel in the great Anneri4 an past time, That was one of the interesting aspects of the series. Baseball is all-American and yet an impoverished Mexican kid, unable to speak the language becomes a national hero, will siphon a million or two from the - game and perhaps even marry the girl next ' door. As far. -as the Canadian entry goes, well I'll bet any money that league and television, network officials were nervouisy chewing. their jockey shorts in the hopes the World Series wouldn't have to go to Montreal. I doubt that we're a saleable product south of the Mason-Dixon Line. While the World Series is heralded as the fall classic by zealous television moguls, their vision of autumnal splendor does not include baseball m Montreal in sub -zero weather. I'm sure Americans are clinging to the fallacy that Canadian boys are skating on frozen ponds and the Expos are an in- trusion on their baseball championship of the world. I would have given anything '$o see Howard Cossell freeze his toupe off in Olympic Stadium announcing the World Series between the Expos and New York Yankees. But then the sports mouthpiece would only have berated league officials for allowing a piece of Americana to slip north into frozen tundra. If there was anyone who did not maintain at least 'a mild interest in the fate of the Montreal Expos, then I would suspect they were at home with my wife. Let the premiers and Prime Minister Trudeau hassle over constitutional issues, but there is nothing to unite a country like a damn good baseball series involving Les Expos. Throw uniforms on the premiers and set them out on a ball field and Canadians may get worked up about constitutional debate and patriation. If Peter Louglteed can't slam a 3-1 pitch into the left field corner for extra bases, then he isn't likely toget a second look in September or October. While the sudden demise of the ball team on chilly October afternoon stunned many Canadians who jhould have been at work, it's will not dampen', enthusiasm for the game. Next year will be a new season and box. scores will be followed with more fervor than interest rates. Let's not kid ourselves and pretend that baseball isjust a game for men who never grow up and that its rele• once to life is suspect. Lougheed is probably working out a deal for a major league franchise is Moose Jaw. with a dream of spawning the first Canadian World Series winner. ssmasselic.,c SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT Founded in 1545 and publish. every Wednesday at Ooderich. Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OWNA. elver thing rates on request. Subscriptionspayable in advance °15.54 In Canada, '33.54 to U.S.A.. 15.55 to all ether coun- tries. single copies SN. ONpiay advertising rates available on request. Pleas* ask for Rate Card No. 11 effective Oc- tober 1. 1551. Second claw mall Registration Number 5715. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the event of typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonably, allowance for signature, will not be'charood for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the ap- .pllceble rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or cervices at o wrong price. goods or services maynot be told. Advertising Is merely an offer to sell. and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star Is not responsible for the toss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing pur. Poses. PUBLISHED BY:SIGNAL-STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT Cr. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor P.O. BOX 220. HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL,PARK GODERICH N7A 486 da6aet. S\G FOR BUSINESS OR. EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 524-8331 I• Youdfdrtf. The people living in'the area served by the community hospital have reason to feel a bit complacent this week. anddefinitely Proud. ' ' There existed a definite need in this community for •' improvements to the Intensive Care Unit at Alexandra Matin and General Hospital and you generously ndedto those. needs. Ittitaitrattritetheliethiltiniii fbllowini'g.the or^to WoT danvaas M Godericli and Goderich Township and the goal of $250,000 was exceeded by $45,000. At press time, the pledges totalled $295,605. It is refreshing to note that during a time when people are concerned about inflated prices and interest and iiortgage . rates, concern about adequate .health care takes precedence. The fact that the campaign exceeded the goal by a healthy margi!', richly affirms that a genuine community spirit exists. The entire community and surrounding area served by the hospital supported the campaign in one way or another. Whether it was a donation or pledge, volunteer canvass work or assistance of any kind, everyone was involved.,. This community has, at one time or another, appealed to the public for monetary support. The most recent community projects included the reconstruction of the arena and grandstand: The public responded to those appeals and supported the recreational needs of the community. But this cam- paign was radically different in that there was no denying the intrinsic need for a new ICU facility. The need was recognized, a subsequent plan and appeal was made and the job was done. While the community deserves credit for its monetary support, plaudits must also be directed to the fund raising corrimittee. Under the sedulous leadership of Bob Dem- psey, an articulate and intrepid chairman, the lofty goal was reached in a most efficacious manner. The plan was meticulous in detail and broad in scope, involving every segment • of society in this area. The committee and medical staff laid the groundwork through personal presentations, advertising and left the ultimate, decision with the community: The planning and the presentations involved months, of "woi i, "Ondless'ingifi%°meetings, �t rile` o fItom 'Wait for many con1mitteememberratl'd°a'substantial measure of personal sacrifice for the conununity. Dempsey and his committee members deserve much of the credit. They were diligent in their efforts and untiring in their commitment to a cause. The months of planning and meeting reached an apex with the two-hour television specialaired on cable television channel 12 Thursday. Again it was a community effort from set .design and production to directing and camera work.. • . The fine entertainment portion of the show was produced by Harvey Graff of Toronto and host Tun Balzer and co -host Gloria Zamin also -donated their professional service to the production. The local portion of the live telecast was under the direction Of Hugh Oliver and Bill Metcalfe and a host of volunteers. GibsonShaw Visual Productions produced some taped portions for the show and provided equipment and personnel for the live segment. As Dempsey is well aware, when a project is successful it reflects on the character and integrity of the volunteer workers°and community. The list of,thank yous is endless considering the magnitude of the project and the effort expended by so many people. Except for the bricks, mortar, medical equipment and beds, the job is done. The community can be proud.' Colborne takes the lead Colborne Central School principal Ron Jewitt should be commended for taking the leadership in initiating a school bus monitor safety system. On a school bus, five senior students are designated monitors and are familiarized with emergency procedures in case of an accident. the monitors learned about artificial respiration, how to control bleeding and how to handle a person in shock. They will also be responsible for the safe exit of other students in the event of an accident. The system has been operating in other counties and police would like Huron schools to be involved in the monitor project. Colborne took the lead. The fact that students have some knowledge of emergency and safety procedures could be a big boost in the event of a school bus accident. Even if the system is responsible for saving one life, it can be considered a success. D.S. 1 saw something on the late news last problems having heroes. week that doesn't seem to want to dislodge Imagine! There is a man who is brave itself from my memory. enough to walk right up to a great huge It was a strange evening all around, which metal fan, eye it right in the blades, and resulted in my stomach feeling like a pond of stick his head in. The man must know no Newfie Screech with jube-jubes floating fear. I mean, if he thought for a second his around in it. I came home, fixed myself a head might get sliced 'n' diced in the old fan piece of toast with jam on it (to soak up the there, he wouldn't do it. - pond) and turned on the Global news. It was i didn't tune in soon enough to find out how 11:23 p.m. (I know what time it is because I or when he started sticking his head in fans. wrote it down. I•write everything down.) Was it a dare? Was it for money? Was it a They were featuring a man on the news divine mission? Was it an accident? I hope it who sticks his head in fans. Apparently, it wasn't an accident. That would ruin doesn't hurt him. Apparently, he -makes his everything forme. living doing it. He was sticking his head in a It occurred to me that a man who sticks big metal fan on purpose and he wasn't his head in fans for a living probably has no screaming at all. 1 couldn't figure out why. fear of death. 1 admire that very much. I Perhaps his brushcut is extra hardy stuff refuse to deal with death. I don't relate to it that protects his head or something. very well. For example, I have this group I think that the man who sticks his head in insurance policy where somebody gets 10 tf 1 kick of. ,The way 1 see it, him to be my hero, although I nave somebody will be rewarded for my death utumnal splendor by Dave Sykes AFS READERS BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER Every day, the 'editor of. a weekly newspaper gets a myriad of mail. Most. of it ends up in File 13, but some of it makes its way to what is known in the business as a "fill folder". This week, I was cleaning out one of these fill folders. As I sorted through it, I thought to myself, "If only the public knew what a valiant effort the government is making to keep people informed about this and that .... and how little taxpayers generally care about what's . going on." . It's been my experience that most readers are much more concerned about the scores of the baseball games or the price of roast beef than they are about the government's latest programs. ' 'But I could be wrong, of course, so this week I'm going to let you decide. Pm going to take you quickly through the fill folder and give you some insight into how some of your provincial tax dollars are spent. First of all, there's 'something in the works known as BILD the Board of Industrial Leadership and Development. According to Ontario Premier Bill Davis its "an action program to create dynamic growth through the 1980s" that was contained in a "$1.5' billion economic development strategy".. Most of the funding was provincial but some was federal It went for things like nuclear hydro generation projects, electrification of the GO transit system, a new $90 million intermediate which isn't at all reassuring. I wonder what sort of insurance policy the man who sticks his head in fans has. I'm sure the company who insures him slipped in a clause that says, "Death by sticking head in fan renders policy null and void." I don't think that would upset the man too much since he obviously believes he won't die. I also wonder if the man has a wife. If he does, she probably isn't too wild. about having a husband who sticks his head in fans - unless he's her hero. But that isn't likely. A husband is rarely his wife's hero. That's because she sees him in his underwear. I hope if they have children, they are all quite small. Then they'd have no problem seeing their dad who sticks his head in fans as a hero. But if they are teenage rs, they are probably embarrassed by him. 1 mean, can you imagiue fi}lig .. 13 high school file card and putting udder capacity transit system tor downtown Toronto, a resources development program for the agricultural, forestry and mineral industries, several new research 'centres; training systems for Ontario citizens, community services Then . there was the study by Frank Drea's office into the franchising practices of Mac's Milk and Bedters,Milk Industry. No mention of cost. Another story I liked was the one about Ontario Revenue Minister Lome Maeck who unveiled a new policy on books and records retention which will result in a significant reduction hi paper burden for the Ontario business community. There was a story about a $42 million provincial no -interest loan program to stimulate private rental construction in areas of low vacancy rates. One was an account of the $582 million tran- sferred unconditionally to the municipalities of the province during 1981. I learned too, that the province increased. by $1.5 million its total commitment to the municipalities under the Resource Equalization Grants program. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources announced that because peat is considered a future fuel and energy source, an amendment was made to the The Mining Act to exclude peat deposits from staked mining claims. And, as part of the province's total com- mitment to municipal governments, Tom Wells, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs an- nounced that per capita grants for policing were 'Father's Occupation', 'He sticks his head in fans'. You'd probably write it very small and barely legible, So there you have my problem with heroes. I tend to be the type who reduces people and situations right down to the underwear of the matter and the worship disappears. Even though he can't be my hero, 1 still say the man who sticks his head in fans has changed my life. It is hard to worship a man who embarrasses his children, but the fact is, I still haven't figured out why he sticks his head in fans. And I probably never will. It will remain the one true mystery in my life, unless I meet him and he tells me which probably won't happen. It would be nice if I could stick my head in a fan like the man on Global news at 11:23 last Wednesday rri -ht. But I wouldn't want to embarrass anyone. increased in 1981. I. There was a limit put on the number of moose hunters in Kapuskasing`'and Chapleau this year. That was to relieve hunting pressure on the herds in that part of the province, • The Ministry of Consumer Affairs through the Ontario Racing Commission developed a program this year to provide tax relief and in- centives to generate, higher purses for horse racing and breeders' associations, to stimulate • the horse breeding industry in Ontario. There was a story about one of Frank Drea's main concerns - illegal odometer rollbacks. The ministry's Business Practices Division and local, police forces throughout the province laid 189 charges in 1980., 70 more than in 1979. ButDrea says the illegal practice is still going on: . An interesting story was about a made -in - Ontario device by whichthe deaf can "read" phone calls. According to the experts, it is headed for world-wide usage. Here's a bit of good news. A massive, 15 -year redesign of Ontario's land registration system will be entirely self-financing after four years. On that bright note, it seems like an ideal place to stop this column ....' and put an end to your misery. See? I told you. The majority of the people want a rundown on this week in Dungannon .or who held the winning hand at the bridge club last Tuesday. Who really cares two hoots how our tax dollars are spent. 0r why? cath wooden 0