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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-30, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1987 This past year has been an eventful one, both in Canada and throughout the world and as 1987 draws to a close, let us reflect on some of the happenings which received wide -spread media attention in the past year. One of the most attention -grabbing in- cidents revolved around an 18 -month-old child named Jessica McClure who, after being dropped down an uncovered well pipe while playing with two small friends, was trapped underground in an abandoned well in Midland, Texas for 56 hours. As rescuers worked feverishly through the night in an effort to reach her and bring her back to the surface, lit- tle Jessica could be heard singing nursery rhymes. As news of the rescue attempt spread, crowds began to gather near the site and television stations began covering the event in great detail. When the little girl was finally pulled from the earth amidst rousing cheers, there wasn't likely a dry eye among those who had been waiting to see the Lou -Ann DeBruyn tiny child. Jessica survived her ordeal with only a scarred forehead and damag- ed foot due to poor circulation. All that really matters is the fact that she is alive. In October, Baby Gabriel was born to Barrie -area couple Karen and Fred Schouten. Earlier in the pregnancy, they had learned their first child was anencephalic — lacking part of her head and brain and unable to live for more than a few hours or days — yet they went ahead with the birth in an effort to help another family. Baby Gabriel was the firt anencephalic baby put on life-support for the purpose of organ donation, a step that opened the door on infant transplants yet also raised ethical con- cerns. Within days of her birth, and subsequent death, Baby Gabriel's walnut - sized heart was beating in the chest of four -hour -old Paul Holc, who would have died without the transplant. From what would have been two infant deaths, one child was being given a chance at life. In December, Fred Schouten died of a heart attack at age 36. In November, the Olympic flame arriv- ed in Canada from Athens, Greece its way to the Winter Olympics 1988 site in Calgary. A total of 6,520 people will have carried the torch 18,000 kilometres by the time it reaches its destination February 18. Three Goderich residents, Judy Watt, Tanya McCuspey, and David Holl- ingworth were chosen as torch bearers and will be carrying the flame. January 3-4. Last January, Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite disappeared in Lebanon after going to the city on a mission to negotiate the release of hostages. Although no-one has heard from him since his disappearance, a recent report said Waite had been seen by a U.S. spy satellite permanently positioned over Lebanon where 20 foreigners are missing after being kidnapped. And then there are the three United States scandals — Rev. Jim Bakker and Jessica Hahn, Oliver North and Fawn Hall, and last, but certainly not least, Gary Hart and Donna Rice. Bakker was thrown out of the PTL club; he and wife Tammy Faye lost their home; — and all over a claim that Bakker had slept with then virginal Jessica Hahn seven years earlier and had supposedly paid her over $200,000 in hush money. Bakker and Tammy Faye are trying to rebuild their lives while Hahn sold her story and semi-nude pictures to Playboy to try and cleanse her soul. Colonel North, 011ie as he came to be known, was investigated for being involv- ed in the Iran Contra Hearings. Assisted by his pretty secretary Fawn Hall, 011ie shred documents pertinent to the Iran Contra Scandal. And then there's the married Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart who thought a little boat ride to Bimini on a yacht by the name of "Monkey Business" and townhouse visit with an unmarried, buxom blonde by the name of Donna Rice would go unnoticed by the press. How f r from the truth, Gary! Hart stepped own from the race but has since re-ente d — because who Turn topage5e THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH, ONT. N7A 466 Gorier ® Fal m)UNMNITY NEWUPA/1111M CANAM 7' ill/EST A61 Aum CL,, 35LXO COM45cXJUC C N.4 Bona New�pCurpvunai 1984 SIGNAL -STAR - e PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 1848 and published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA, Subscrip- tions payable in advance 523.00, (Senior Citizens 520.00 privilege card number required) in Canada, 560.00 to U.S.A., 560.00 to all other countries, Single copies 60c, Display., National and Classified advertising rates available on re- quest. Please ask for Rate Card No, 18 effective October 1, 1987. Advertising is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with the 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, goods 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 forlthe loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts photos or other materials used for reproduc- ing purposes. ' • General Manager Advertising Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER DON HUBICK News Editor . Features Co-ordinator Sports PATRICK RAFTIS LOU -ANN DE BRUYN TED SPOONER FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICE...please phone (519)524-2614 Second class mail. registration Member: +CNA number 0716 CCNA C,PLULA110� PAIO Time for reflection The final edition of the °Sign -Star for each year hirtikiitionally been a reflective issue — one which looks back over the past 365 days and re -hashes the highs and lows. Elsewhere in this issue you will find 1987 remembered in both words and pictures. On this page and the opinion page which follows, this publication and our readers have debated, often heatedly, the issues of the past year and it seems fitting to add some comen-- tary in this space to our year-end remembrances. Some congratulations are in order. The Huron County Museum Committee deserve a laurel for their efforts in initiating the massive renovation project which will make our local museum a showplace of local history. The Mayors of all five Huron towns should be congratulated for their part in convincing the the Ministry of Transportation and Communicatons to improve access to this area by widening Highway 8. To the volunteers of the Goderich Aquatic Centre Committee, a vote of thanks for their a€ - forts to convince Goderich Town Council of the need for, and feasibility of, constructing such a facility here. To the council goes a dart, for salting the committee's report away in a file to collect dust. At the same time, our local council should be applauded for the many progressive measures it has'taken on behalf of the taxpayers and for keeping the town moving forward without incurring huge debts; 1987, like any year, had its moments both encouraging and discouraging. Let's hope that 1988 brings more of the former, than the latter. — P.R. Finally sinking in In recent years, lobby groups, businesses, producers of alcoholic beverages and various levels of government have spent huge sums of money on public -education advertising cam- paigns using a variety of means to get across a single, simple message — "Don't Drink and Drive". It is now beginning to appear such efforts have not been wasted. The message is finally sinking in. Over what Goderich Police Chief Patrick King described as "an excellent holiday season for policing," not a single motor vehicle accident occurred in Goderich and only one motorist was found to be in violation of laws prohibiting drunk driving, out of several hun- dred stopped by local police in their annual Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) program. Last year, on New Year's Eve, Goderich police checked a total of 87 vehicles for liquor violations but found no infractions. Statistics like these show a heartening trend toward sobriety on the highways. People are at last learning that the consequences of drunk driving far outweigh the convenience of travelling home from a party in their own vehicle. It's just not worth it. Of course it never has been worth the risk, in terms of the potential danger to the impaired driver not to mention the innocent motorists who must share the road with him. Yet, it seems, it took the instigation of constant random spot checks and ever -stiffer penalties to get the message through. The spectre of highway tragedy should have been enough. Impaired driving, while drastically reduced in recent years, is far from obliterated. It's up to everyone to drink responsibly, use designated drivers or taxi service when there is any question of impairment and make sure the trend toward safer motoring continues. Let's start with this upcoming holiday. Have a happy, and safe, New Year! — P.R. It was to be my first time and I was a little apprehensive to say the least. From what 1 had heard though, everyone is a bit nervous their first time. I had the usual reservations. Would I accomplish the task properly? I really had no clear idea of how to go about it. I could only hope that I would perform satisfactorily. What made matters worse, is that I had no formal introduction to the intend- ed receipient of this act — the computer banking terminal at my local branch. In the past, I had always done my banking the personal way, with deposit -slip -to -pen contact with a living, breathing bank teller. This way seemed so impersonal. As I approached the terminal and fumbled in my wallet for the necessary device - my newly -acquired "convie- nience card" — I had time to reflect upon the events that had led me to this situation. ®i/Ew /2/7 7' 700, 7.41 6'511 KINDA HOT /9r 77/I E s Improved mail service for out- going mail comes to Goderich 25 YEARS AGO January 3, 1963 An improved mail service for Goderich, particularly for out -going mail, will go into effect on Monday, January 7th, postmaster A.M. Homuth announced on Wednesday. Not only will outgoing mail leave here Monday to Friday at 4:45 pm but another one will also leave at 6:15 pm. Closing times to catch these mails will be at 4:15 pm and 5:45 pm. This added service will enable business establishments in Goderich to get their late afternoon mail out on the same day and not be held over until the following day as has been the case for a very considerable volume of such mail. From January 7th on, about 95 per cent of outgoing mail will leave the same day as it is posted rather than having much of it carried over at the Goderich post office until the following day. An increase in the value of building per- mits issued in Goderich during 1962 amounts to $163,000 according to the year- end report issued by E.H. Jessop, building inspector for the town. Otherwise, the comparative figures for the past two years are remarkably similar. A total of'146 per- mits for 1962 compared to the 47 for the previous year. There were 43 dwelling per- mits issued as against 90 in the preceding It was actually my regular teller's idea. Perhaps she had grown tired of deciphering the scribbled messages I cryptically scrawled on my inter -branch banking forms. Perhaps it was the cons- tant necessity of reworking my mathematics that drove her to it. Who knows. Whatever the reason, one day not too long ago, she finally came right out and said, "Have you ever thought about get- ting one of these cards, so you could use that machine OVER THERE!" She even went so far as to offer me a bribe. Just by applying, she said, I would get a chance to win $10,000. Needless to say, I didn't win the 10 grand and now I'm stuck with this card. So, after giving the plastic teller a cou- ple of weeks to form -fit itself to the inside of my wallet, I finally decided to unleash it the other day. I needed to make a deposit and the line for the real tellers in- LOOKING BACK year, with the value increasing from $445,600 to $589,600 a large apartment building being responsible for the in- crease. Only 14 commercial permits were issued, with a value of $589,750, only slight- ly higher than the preceding year with value at $570,650. Permits for alterations amount to 89, one less in the preceding year, with the value almost identical -$56,925 in 1962 and $57,025 in 1961. 50 YEARS AGO January 6, 1938 On Tuesday evening, Dec. 21, the Gully schoolhouse charmingly decorated for the occasion, was crowded for the annual Christmas concert and tree. With Mr. Greenslade as chairman a varied program prolonged by numerous encores was listened to with enjoyment. It consisted of "The Light in the Manger" a sacred drama of song and story enacted by the pupils and ex -pupils in picturesque attire: four humourous dialogues played by the pupils: "Buying Eggs," "The Christmas Crazy Class," "Old Mr. Particular" and "Carving the Christmas Chicken." Also included is a Jumping Jack drill by four of the smallest children all complete in their boxes; a pretty Christmas tree drill put on by seven girls in white with red capes and baskets and cedar garlands and "The Christmas Clowns," when the seven clows start off with a prim march, put the audience through several breathtaking (or mirthful) moments and make a crashing finish in a heap on the stage. 70 YEARS AGO January 3, 1918 There was a large gathering at the town hall on Monday evening for the municipal nomination proceedings. After the hour of- ficially appointed for receiving nomina- tions had passed, Town Clerk Knox read the list of nominees, and Mr. J.E. Tom was then voted to the chair. Mayor Mannings took the floor and gave a review of the past year's work. The council had started the year, he said, with an overdraft of $30,000 and a further heavy obligation during the year was the county rate, which had trebl- ed in four or five years. At the beginning of the year, the town was in a bad way and people were leaving owing to the un- satisfactory industrial conditions. side seemed prohibitively long. I inserted my card into the appropriate slot and waited for futher instructions. They came. The machine wanted to know my secret personal code number? So did I. I couldn't remember the darn thing. Fortunately, I had defied the instructions that came with my card (warning me to destroy the number, before the forces of evil got hold of it) and wrote the secret number on a piece of paper which I now triumphantly produced. I then proceeded to inform the machine that I wanted to deposit $100 in my che- quing account. That part went well enough. Then the machine got impatient. After giving me a piece -of paper which outlined the details of my transaction, the • machine began to beep incessantly and demand that I insert my envelope con - from this angle Patrick Raffia twining the cash into the specified slot. This, I did not like. At no time had the machine asked me for nay account number, or even the tran- sit number of the branch to which I was hoping to make a deposit. This made me uneasy. What would become of my hard-earned cash? Would it end up in the clutches of some Colombian dope smuggler, or, worse yet, the federal government? How could I be sure? I wasn't even sure how I could get out of this sticky situation. I couldn't just walk away from the machine, leaving it's gaping jaws snapping hungrily at my envelope. Or could I? Then I discovered the safety valve — a button marked "Cancel". With one touch of this button I voided the entire transaction. The machine looked hurt. It dispensed a piece of paper which said, "Transac- tion cancelled at your request". To my surprise, it did not add any sort of ad- monishment like "You coward!" I was about to admit defeat and go about making my deposit through more Turn to page 5