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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-12-05, Page 4ti e=' rya 4 PA.QE 4 -GODERICIH SIGNY , S• TA, t, WEPf�• SYKES 1 1' �I • ."nl. / lily f WF k 1j�1: 141 Craig McTavish was a blue-chip) hockey prospect wilit, the Boston Bruins of Axe NattonalHQckey League.. '- A young man enjoying a modicum of success in a young man's game, his life held all the promise financial security, a measure of celebrity status and all the fringe benefits and perks that come with the territory of playing a boy's game for a living. In short, his life may easily Piave been held aloft in exemplary fashion for all youngsters with aspirations to emulate. A decent young man who worked hard to achieve those goals and realize those aspirations, McTavish seemed to have the world by the tail.. But his life changed in an instant, when he slammed into a vehicle killing the occupant, a young mother, after a few beers ,with his Bruin colleagues. Now, six months into his one-year sentencefor vehicular manslaughter, McTavish has come tb grips with Abe fact that he may very well have jeopardized that almost idyllic career and lifestyle. Those few beers and the tragedy that ensued will be wit he Young man for the rest ofhis life. Til §alessuess of .theta w .. aunt forever 'but as. ' part'140 his sentence, he is; giving ppf his thne to talk to high schoolers around the B,ton are of New England. He has a story to tell,a painful one, but one that he hopes will e Qf some service to the generation that loop to him for example. The former, hockey player wasn't exactly falling over.drgnk that evening. A few beers with the boys and a careless, inattentive moment behind the wheel claimed the life of a human. While he has obviouse regrets and remorsb over the anguish he caused not only the victim, but the families and friends involved. His story is one that is repeated thousands of times on our highways each year. More and more, alcohol is involved in accident related deaths. This week is Safe Driving Week m Canada' and the Canadian Safety Association is focusing on the problem of the drinking driver. These parapgraphs are not intended to be a self-serving, pious or sanctimonious ♦ u• damnation of all drinkign driver.' HQil,r 040 percentage of th >,- has' driven'+after a few.: drinkO Suri even go so far as to brag about theird>t'Mfl't. prowess while under the influence. - `11 ` Contrary to popular opinion, one's+dtivifig capabilities do not increase directly; in proportion with the amount of alcohol consumed. In fact, most of us probably wouldn'tthlnk twice of driving with a few drinks In the tank. Or even several drinks. Probably the greatest fear is that of being caught, apprehended and treated' as .. a common criminal: But the McTavish story, at least serves to illustrate that a few careless seconds can take a life and change life. And we can never recover what is lost in those careless moments. During the Christmas season, there will be countless gatherings, soirees, office parties and other reasonable excuses to celebrate and drink. But, the least we can do, is take some precautions. So, let's be careful out there. 'THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 Founded in 1848 and published every 1Nedneedey at ®oderich, Ontario. 'Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Subscriptions payable in advance '20.95, (Senior Citizens '17.95 privilege card number required) in Canada, '55. to U.S.A., '55, to oil other countries, Single copies 506. Display, National and Classified advertising rates available on request. please ask for Rate Card No. 15 effective October 1, 1984. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising apace occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goada or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely' an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing purposes. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIEK - President and Publisher DON HUBICK - Advertising Manager DAVESYKES - Editor P.D. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH, ONT. N7A 406 ct,V3a,,er Member: CPCNA ' CCNA Second class mail registration number 0716 FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleaee phone (519)524-2614 Board was justified The Huron County' Board of Education has finally made a tough decision and fired mathematics teacher and anti-nuclear peace activist Joanne Young. In view of the circumstances, the decision was a necessary and proper one, albeit a dif- - ficult one for the board. On two separate occasions, Young was absent from the classroom to participate in non-violent demonstrations. She was suspended for her actions both times and it was made clear to her that while her committment to nuclear disarmament was commen- dable, she had obligations to her employers. In essence her employers are the taxpayers of Huron County, and while many of those same taxpayers may be in full agreement with her views and admire her dedication to the cause, she had a responsibility to her employers and the students she taught. A story in the paper detailing her firing quotes Young as saying that "I feel very strongly that I was performing my duties as a teacher." In fact, Young was acting on her own strong conviction and for a personal cause. It should not be mistaken that her personal beliefs and actions were an integral part of her professional career. Her views and opinions on nuclear arms were not the issue in this case. The board has acted in a fairly responsible manner in the matter, twice suspending Young for her actions. The board's position was quite clear and Young's refusal to acknowledge those warnings showed that she valued her ideals More than the teaching, job. The trustees of the Huron County Board of Education were left with no choice and the termination notice should have been given sooner. Young should not have expected anything but termination. D.S. Safe Driving Week The Canada Safety Council has launched its 29th annual Safe Driving Week campaign from December 1-7. This year, the Council has chosen "ImpaireeDriving...The Social Dilemma" as the theme for the campaign which it hopes will e'njoy broad public support to reduce the number of accidents and related injuries and deaths. Recently there has been great initiatives and awareness campaigns undertaken by goverment agencies and citizen groups to reinforce the harsh realities of drinking and driving. Alcohol is involved in more than 45 per cent of all accident related deaths in Canada anda,n alcohol-related crash occurs ever five and one-half minutes. So thi ear, the Canada Safety Council is focussing on the drinking driver. Society is becomi g less tolerant of the impaired and drinking driver and the Council hopes that its Safe D 'ving Week Campaign will bring more attention and 'kupport to counter the serious p blem. Merry Christmas to our war veterans by Joanne Buchanan POSTSCRIPT JOANNE BUCHANAN Why is it that we never appreciate our good health until we get sick? Probably by the time this column appears in the paper, I'll be feeling fine again. But at the moment of writing, I am feeling lousy. It all started with an attack of lethargy. I'm not the most energetic person in the world but I was really beginning to think my 'get up and go' had 'got up and went.' Then came the inevitable sore throat, cough and stuffed up head. "It's not fair. I started taking vitamins a month ago and look where it got me," I wail- ed to no one in particular during one of my fits of feeling sorry for myself. It's lucky for me that I have never ( touch wood) spent a day in the hospital. I would make a terrible patient. I am a real suck when it comes tobeing sick: During my various childhood diseases - mumps on both sides, measles, chicken pox and even a bout of hepatitis -I think I just about drove my mother insane. When my brothers got sick, they would just curl up and go to sleep. But not me. I milked it for all it was worth. I would moan and groan and toss and turn. I kept my mother busy trotting from the kitchen to my bedside with glass after glass of ginger -ale, a cold cloth for my head, or special foods I just happened to crave. I loved the attention from friends too. They would bring get well cards and gifts and all the gossip from school which I was happy to be missing anyway. As an adult, I don't find much sympathy when I am sick. I usually drag myself into work no matter how bad I'm feeling because I'm sure that the place lust can't function without me. Then I go around playing the martyr. I tell everyone just how terrible I feel, - throwing in a few coughs for effect. They tell me I should go home to bed. But, no, I tell them. I'm tough. I can hang in there. I have to help get the paper out no matter what. The show must go on and all that jazz. , Instead of convincing them of my dedica- tion, I'm sure they are just annoyed that I am spreading my germs around. I know when the shoe is on the other foot, and my fellow employees are sitting around coughing and sneezing, I, f ind it very hard to empathize. All I can think is, "They've got something and I'm going to catch it." Having a cold isn't as bad as some other things you can get but it's amazing how bad a dumb little virus can make you feel. One day, you're on top of the world. Next day, you're down and out. How can a few measly germs do this to a person? What's worse is that there isn't a darn thing you can do except to let the cold run its course. You can call your doctor though. I've found from past experience that as soon as I call my doctor, I start feeling better, and by the time I get to his office, my health is restored and I feel like a hypochondriac for being there. It must be one of Murphy's Laws. Another of Murphy's Laws regarding colds is this: The minute you start bragging to friends that you haven't had a cold all winter, is the minute you will come down one. It's like those little germs can hear you and will deliberately invade your' body to show you who is boss. So keep your big mouth shut. I think colds were invented by Kleenex companies to keep them in business. I can have a box of Kleenex sitting around at my place for six months and never use one. But as soon as I get a cold, l can empty that box in a mere two days. How is this possible? And why is it that we cough more when we are lying down? I'm sure there must be some kind of medical explanation. All I know is that it is damned annoying when you're trying to sleep and you keep coughing yourself awake. So on top of feeling sick the next day, you're tired too. And have you ever noticed that when you have a cold, it's usually the busiest time of the year at the office and youbave deadlines to meet and appointments that you simply can't break even though all you want to do is take a day off and lie down. It's even worse though, when you have a cold while on vaca- tion. I guess, what I'm trying to say, is that colds have rotten timing no matter when they come. They have absolutely no con- sideration for your schedule. This column is going to end here -a bit shorter than usual. But after all, you 't expect a sick person like myself to e reams of copy. Besides, since I can'.t e. ' much sympathy _from my co-workers, ' I have to go and telephone my mother. Mothers always sympathize. Maybe she'll bring me a bottle of ginger -ale. When my last week's column had passed the point of no return I concluded with regret that I had made a mistake. I misinterpreted one point in the county council's recent motion concerning the fate of the Pioneer Museum. Correction: it was not just a clause of the committee's recom- mendation that was referred to the local councils, but the whole subject of the pro- posal and its financing. The council's intention had been clear enough, but as to the steps actually taken at the meeting, I was hung up on some technicalities involving the items, clauses and clauses of clauses which had been read separately. I am now convinced that I was mistaken and I apologize to the readers as well as to the county council and administration. There is a lesson in it for me. I should " add that this past Misunderstanding has no bearing on one's reaction to the general direction the county has taken in this matter. It continues to be my opinion that when the county council ar- rived at the decision-making stage it was a mistake to refer the subject to the local councils. It is a serious abdication of the meaning, authority and responsibilities invested in the county and it blurs the clear and clean lines between two distinct forms of -government. I 5 i3erit. The county council is not simply a body with the mandate to carry out the wishes and decisions of local councils with narrow local concerns. The county's purpose and justification is to have broader horizons and wider interests. The reeves and daputies who do not master the art of wearing the two hats in a responsible fashion cannot con- tribute constructively in the county chambers. The museum is there; the county owns it and has to do sornething with it in the future. Should the majority of local councils oppose the recommended renova- tions, where does it leave and how does it bind the county council? Are there con- structive suggestions for better alter- natives? Within the confines of narrowly parochial thinking it is easy to say no to things for which one is not responsible. Did some reeves and deputies hope to add weight to their own negative views? Does this case indicate a new trend on the county council? So far the restoration plans have been turned down by a number of municipalities with interesting observations. Clinton Town Council is said to have stated repeatedly that Goderich gets the visitor benefits. It was ignored that a) Goderich is part of Huron County, b) Goderich is the biggest contributor into the county municipal Goderich from helicopters in the sky. Hay Township Council would give (can you believe this?) the Huron heritage ar- tifacts to museums in otherounties. Its members regard the attendance of more than a hundred people at the public meeting last summer as proof of insufficient interest in the museum: In the same township the reeve took office by acclamation in the last election. No evidence of public interest there. Yet the reeve presumably does not feel that he is an irrelevant formality of no consequence. And so it goes. We too can make our views count. On Monday, December 10, our town council will vote on the proposed museum plans, after being addressed by the county property committee chairman, Reeve David Johnston of Bayfield. This will be an excellent occasion to show our interest and support by attending. Incidentally, the coun- cil of Bayfield has voted in favour of the recommended plans. The realization of the museum plans as presented would cost six dollars a year, for five years, for each person ii Huron County. 1 am told that on a Friday night many peo- ple spend more on beer. There, is no par- ticular message in this bit of information, but it seems to be useful for keeping things in realistic perspective. mase33�affeII°a;=xisite>� do not li.�og_ir►ttio ELS,L\ HAYDON 4