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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-07-22, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1987 The year was 1972, perhaps a year most memorable for the Canada-Soviet ---Itltim to l eekey surainit •but•for•a-grou '— of young men, it was .a year of • - beginnings. It marked the beginning of college life for a group of us, and while it was a life punctuated with frequent bouts of im- maturity and good times, we realized the 'time had come to make serious decisions about careers and responsibility. No-one took that responsibility more seriously than Neil, who would dutifully pick up three of us ,in his vintage Rambler each day and head for Con- estoga College. And I had to make sure I was at the prescribed stop because he was never late, except when he was forc- ed to wait for one of us. Neil was depen- dable and he was always prepared to ac- comodate our schedules.. They were relatively carefree days; days when we worried more about DAVE SYKES whether or not we could scrounge up enough money for beer at the conclusion of classes than about pending assignments. He was a reserved, straight -forward guy and as far as we were concerned, fai• toss,,seriotts end •sensibleefoe-a younneii an of 19 or 20. We tried to draw him out of that reserved state and into our own in- ane way of living. The fact of the matter was that he was simply more mature. But there were times when he relented and lot himself go and indulged in our primitive styles of having fun.. The eighth and final game of that '72 series comes to mind vividly and after Paul Henderson scored the winning goal, the goal that saved Canada's hockey im- age, we piled into Neil's car and with many of us hanging precariously out the windows, we shouted and hollered at passersby and were generally filled with delirium while driving to the pub. 13ut more often in that old car we'd talk about -our hopes, dreams and aspirations after college. And often we'd wonder out loud if we had the skills, capabilities or could develop the professionalism to be successful in our careers. A student -in: t? e radio and te1ewd iDp... arts program, Neil Stevens went on to work at CKVR television in Barrie, CBET in Windsor and finally, he worked as the anchorman for CFPL television in London. Last Friday Neil died on a lonely stretch of highway near Alvinston after his car struck a tree. Even in his college days, Neil was the consummate professional, a young man who paid attention to the small details because of a penchant to deliver quality. He demanded that of himself and it was evident in his work at Channel 10, both at the anchor desk and on his weekly „public aff airs., program. Once while on vacation near Barrie, I watched Neil fumble through a newscast and finally stop reading. He laughed and said to the telelvison audience, "I knew Opt would happen to me some day." I recall receiving a press release and phottegraph in the mail about his appoint- • ment-as'anchorman = r' Channel 10'k FYI -- newscasts. 1 had always intended to con- gratulate him on the appointment, know- ing it wai what he wanted, what he had worked for, what we had talked and dreamt about in his car on our way home from college. The sad irony of it is that 1 had always intended to go to London and visit Neil, to reminisce about those frivilous, carefree days and check out the facilities at his, new job. Of course we tend to get wrapped up in our lives and those kinds of impulsive gestures get tossed aside too easily. We should pay more attention to those im- pulsive urges. We should take the time. As a friend, a person and a newsman, Neil Stevens was the consummate professional. Opinion THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 the� EBT ALL POUND COMMUNITY NE WEPAPES 1N CANADA Goderich poison Cass 3500 45001C L D Beer NewwoDe^.Comwuuon 1984 SIGNAL S. TAR f • P.O `20 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK COOERICH, QNT. N7A 4B8 PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 18.48 end published every Wednesday at Doderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Subecrlptlone payable In advance 022.00, [Senior Citlaens 019.00 privilege nerd number required] In Canada, 060.00 to U.S.A., 060.00 to ell other countries, Single maple.. BOC. Display, National end Classified advertising rotoe available on request. Dionne oak for Rete Cord No. 16 effective October 1, 9986. Advertising la accepted on -the condition that In the event of a typographical error, the edvertieing apace occupied by the erroneous, Item, together with the reasonable allowance far elgnature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of typogrephlcal error advertising goods or aervlcee at a wrong price, goads or services may not be said. Advertising le merely en offer to Bell, and may be withdrawn et eny time. The Signal -Starr is not responsible for the loos or damage of ,unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materiels used for reprodueing purpoeem. \� General Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER Editor DAVE SYKES Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...[gleaae phone [519)524-2894 Second class mail registration number 0716 Member: PCNA Talking. things out. + The meeting between Huron,County council's executive committee and the mayors of the five county towns in Goderich last week was a step in the right direction in establishing good relations between county and municipal governments. To his credit, Warden Brian McBurney, called the meeting to air concerns before they ap-, • peered in the press.. • The two groups discussed a number of concerns including, urban representation on coun- ty council, planning matters, the pursuit of economic development and opening the lines of • communication. . The ]payors, who have been meeting as an ad hoc committee for the past several months, talked openly about their concerns, aspirations and hopes while adressing council's ex- ecutive committee in.a sensible, intelligent and. open manner. It is premature to speculate on the ultimate success of the meeting, but any time two par- ties speak frankly on issues of mutual concern, it is bound to lead, at the least, to -some understanding. Open discussions will at ,ieast serve to illustrate each other's problems, needs and limitations. It helps each council understand the other guy's problems. Hopefully the two groups will meet again because the mayors have a different perspective to offer county council on issues of mutual interest. Open dialogue is a healthy approach to any conflict or adversarial situation .and it can lead to resolution and understanding. Without it arfimosity and distrust tends to creep into the relationship. The two groups can help each other and the dispensation of government .in the county, which,will help the residents and taxpayers.ol Huron in the end. D.S. Been there before Like most issues„ the idea of having .a concession booth available at St. Christopher's Beach depends a great deal on how you look at it. Goderich Town Council, with the aid of recommendations from their Administation and Parks and Waterfront Committees are now in a position where they have to get together on a collective viewpoint about development of the beach. Council has referred their latest re- quest for a license to operate a food wagon at St. Christophers to a joint meeting of those two committees. Perhaps if they let their minds wander back just a few years they would not have bothered. Only a few summers ago, a food wagon was a fixture on The Square. While it was well - patronized and obviously popular, it was eventually ordered moved for largely esthetic reasons. If such a facility could not be operated in an environmentally acceptable manner downtown, how could anyone expect it to be done at the beach? Presently, a food stand exists at the main beach, just a pleasant boardwalk away from St. Christopher's. Most people use St. Christopher's beach for sunning and swimming. As Mayor Eileen Palmer pointed out, if they wish to eat they usually bring a picnic lunch. Council and the committees should be very cautious when considering what could be the start of commercialization at one of the few non-commercial beach areas on Lake Huron.- P.R. Maybe I'm from the wrong generation. Maybe I'm not imbued with a strong sense of history. Maybe I'm just not sen- timental enough. Who knows? Whatever the reason, I just can't seem to get myself excited about the prospect of yet another visit from British royalty to Canadian soil. It's not that I have anything against the English, or their royalty, I just can't figure out why the mere presence of anyone regal rates front page coverage in all the dailies and at least 10 minutes of air time on the nightly news for the en- tire duration of their visit. Without even paying close attention, I have already learned more about the itinerary of The Duke and Dutchess of York on their present Grenadian excur- sion, than I can remember about the last Holiday I took. To me, royalty is a titsr� is bore. They show up, wave to the crov�d, say a few i symbolic yet unsubstant 1 words, and it gets reported verbatium, complete with fashion momentary in every publication and on every newscast in the country. John Turner and Ed Broadbent com- bined couldn't garner that much attention if they met in a live televised nude mud - wrestling competition - and they live here. I wouldn't even mind all this coverage of the palace -dwelling set if it only took place during their visits. But even when they spend an evening by the hearth in merry old Windsor castle, we are inun- dated with second-hand speculation repfiinted from British tabloids (sort of snotty National Enquirers), about the possibility that Margaret has been spik- ing her hot chocolate with rum again, or that Chuck and Di's romance has cooled and they are now dating Joan Collins and John Travolta respectively (or the other way around in some•of the racier tabloids). It's just kind of tiresome. <59 %,• (• ,- n •�. Sof t\�kttz;:is Y 7i -IE Loo'( OF TH1t4&S, BETTER DROP ME OFF 00 A CAf'IADIA(`) '1-iORELIrIE aro • j®;uv • ••••••••••••,,,,,,"...- ., `*..dY.....�1'(�l\\ \ \\\ 1\ " \\� \\\ill\\\\\•. • .. Highway reconstruction was slated to begin in early 1963 25 YEARS AGO JULY 19, 1962: Reconstruction of Highway 21 from the north terminal of the new Maitland River, crossing north to Sheppardton is slated to begin in early 1963. The five and one half mile stretch of roadway will be widened, graded and resurfaced to complete the im- pressive north approximately to Town of Goderich. Down on the Saltford "flats"the DHO field used during the two.year con- struction of the valley crossing, will re- main in operation at engineer head- quarters for the new project. The new roadway will ' be a welcome change from the rough and somewhat narrow surface now being used. The route is an important sector of Highway 21, known as Bluewater Highway and used extensively by traffic between Sarnia' and Tobermory. Summer visitors from the U.S. are an appreciable - part of this traffic. Six year old Marie Betties, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Betties, Goderich Township, was an excited little girl last week when the postman brought her a $10 cheque from Tuckey Beverages, as first prize in the under eight years section of the Kist wildlife coloring contest which ap- peared in the Signal Star's May 17th issue. According to registration at the Goderich information booth, the devalued Canadian dollar has no effect on the number of U.S. tourists calling at the kiosk. During the week of July 1-7, a total of 51 U.S. and 104 Canadians registered for a total of 155, just about average for this part of the season. Things reached the height of silliness when Fergy and Di were reproached by the world-wide press for having a playful shoving match on a ski -slope in some Scandinavian .country or other. I've per- sonally seen the news clip of that incident at least a dozen times now. Meanwhile, I could go out and throw my brother-in-law off the very tip of Mount Everest (and don't think I haven't thought about it) and all the ink I'd rate would be a couple of paragraphs on the back page of my hometown weekly. While I find kings, queens, princes, princesses, dukes and dutchessedlabout as interesting as watching skin peel, It have to admit they have a tough j must be a royal paid_ in that portion of the anatomy which most commonly comes in contact with the throne. Their frequent sojourns to foreign coun- tries could hardly be classified as true holidays. How would you like to have to wave to an adoring crowd every time you LOOKING BACK 50 YEARS AGO JULY 23, 1937: The Goderich baseball team held grimly to a second place tie with Zurich in the Huron Perth league when the Exeter jinx caught up with them in a game at Agricultural Park on Tuesday and the result was a 7-7 tie. Exeter defeated Goderich 4-3 in their first tilt. Goderich was leading 7-2 entering the sixth inning when the bottom dropped out of the field and the visitors with only two hits, scored five runs and tied the game. The Goderich lads tossed the ball wildly all about the in- field in an effort to deep the Exeter run- ners on the bases. Pitchers became un- nerved, three being required to complete the nightmarish innings, in which there were five innings. Four walks helped the visitors along: The Goderich Summer School concluded its course for 1937 on Sunday last, the week's program having been carried out in what was considered a highly successful manner. The school this year had an ex- ceptionally fine class of students, and the leaders were specialists in their special areas of study. The Friday night concert brought into evidence splendid talents in music, drama and elocution and a large number of visitors enjoyed the evening with the school. Saturday evening brought the first rain of the week and the large din- ing hall was transformed into a splendid from this angle Patrick Raffia <1.2124.5 sunk_a putt during a game of mini -golf while on vacation? Or how would you feel if the media criticized you for wearing a pair of raggedy cuttoffs and a paint - stained T-shirt in public one Saturday afternoon? You and your spouse can have a knock - d'1t i At this meeting the cer- au or um. , tificates were awarded to.those who suc- cessfully covered the prescribed course. The shield which each Year• is presented to the charge having the largest attendence was awarded to Kirkton Charge and Perth Presbytery, which had seven delegates. 70 YEARS AGO JULY 19, 1917: The annual meeting of the United Patriotic Society of Goderich township will be held at the home of Mrs. Thos Cox on Wednesday, July 25. Yearly report will be given and officers for the coming year elected. A full attendence is requested. At the last meeting, this society donated $100 to French soldiers. The society realized $40 from sale of rags, rubbers, etc. and would like all interested to continue saving such articles for future shipment. Two boys were taken before Magistrate Kelly last week for breaking one of the electric light lamps on the bridge bill. They were fined 75 cents each to cover the cost of the lamp, and will have to report weekly for eight weeks to the agent of Children's Aid Society. Thursday, July 26, is the date of the an- nual garden party and bazaar under the auspices of the church's women's guild of St. George's Church to be held on the rec- tory grounds. Tea will be served from five to seven o'clock and there will be a booth for the sale of ice-cream, candy and fancy work, a fish pond; and other attractions. Musical program afternoon and evening. Admission to the grounds, 10 cents, admis- sion and tea, 25 cents. down drag -out spat over a burned dinner or a missed appointment and the press is usually none the wiser. Life's net so sim pie for Chuck and Di, or Andy and Fergy. Unless they're viewed holding hands and cooing at each other constantly, the rumors fly that it's all over between them. What relationship needs that kind of pressure? In my opinion, the only member of the imperial tribe that ever had any sense that wild and crazy King Eddy, who got out of being monarch just by dating a woman his family didn't approve of. I£ the whole lot of them up and ab- dicated at once, it wouldn't bother me a bit. The Canadian taxpayers do con- tribute part of their ridiculous salaries - and over in. Canada you say, we've got a lot more important things to spend our tax dollars on. After all, I hear Brian and Mila are thinking of redecorating again.