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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-04-19, Page 44 tit 'Wittig = 2 j1fltt --e ttn to Published each Wednesday at: Box 390, 5 Diagonal Road, Wingham, Onta io NOG 2W0 Phone (519) 357-2320 Fax: (519) 357-2900 J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 We aro: Jim Beckett - Publisher Audrey Currie - Manager Cameron J. Wood - Editor Norma Colley - Ad. Rep. Jim Brown - Reporter Stephen Pritchard - Comp. Eve Buchanan - Office Louise Wel wood - Office • Memberof: OCNA CCNA The W inghamAdvance-Times is a member of a family of community newspapers pro- viding news, advertising and information leadership. Letters to the Editor All letters to the editor must bear the writer's name, telephone num- ber and address. Tate. Advance -Times wel- comes letters. We re- serve the right to edit, but will endeavor to preserve the author's intent. Deadline forlettets is Monday before 10:00 a.m.. Some exceptions Fax: (519) p3517 2900 ormail to: P.Q. Box 390, Wingham, Ontario, NOG 2W0 • w • Edit°dal Viewpoint Offthe ryll he sttation surrounding the Wingham Centennial Pool is a dilemma for both the Town of Wingham and the Parks and Recreation Department. Without the money to completely fix the pool this sea- son, council is concerned that they may lose the support of local service clubs. And in order to proceed with a ret- rofit this year, council must either add another five per cent to taxation, or select which road project will not get completed. So which is more important? As Mayor Don Carter said to council, "That depends on whether of not you're a kid with a swimsuit." Our recreation facilities are tremendously important to the community. Yet, it seems that when the comunity wants a facility, the responsibility falls on the shoulders of our elected representatives. That position, in these times of economic ingenuity, is old and stale...and thankfully identified by Councillor Doug Layton. Layton has developed into a sound voice of reason on council, often looking much deeper at issues than just at the heat of the moment at the council table. And Layton has a strong belief the project can proceed with the help of the community. First and foremost, he pointed out, council must inves- tigate what it is the service clubs would like to do with the pool project. Council was warned that some significant fi- nancial support would be gone if they did not proceed with the project in 1995. But will it? There wasn't any word from the clubs interested in working on the pool re- vitalization project at the meeting. No word on what their club target is; nor do we know just how long the total pro- ject would take. We do know that regardless of money, the renovations can't take place until the fall. And that means time. Time to meet with both the service clubs and the guy who looks after all this stuff. Who better to make recommendations to council than the Facilities Manager? Secondly, Layton pointed out cominunities smaller than Wingham — including that one just to the north that seems to irk a good number of locals — have successfully built community facilities without council bucks. he is orking hard to erase that attitude of "This is Wingham, it can't be done" and has recommended council discuss the pool future with the service clubs. Solid thinking, since too often council decisions appear to be made with only minimal input and investigation...not to mention po- litical posturing to appease a significant few rather than a voting majority. We need communication on issues like the future of the pool. And we need to be a community — not just a collec- tion of individuals living behind a sign that says Wing - ham, Population 3100. Good roads mean strong business. Good people mean strong communities. Let's hope we can share in both. -GJW FISH STOCKS 0 0 alma FISH TALKS A19,1995 X93" •�\��.�`� • \; Many thanks to Michelle Kennedy and everyone who put in all the hours to make the Wingharn Spring Trade Show a resounding success. Good work, everyone. er APRIL 1948 Ontario holds its third provin- cial election in six years on Mon- day, June 7. Premier Drew sur- prised the Legislature with the announcement last Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Smallman have sold their residence on Frances Street to Mr. and Mrs. d Malcolm McCammon of Toronto and are moving to Grand Bend, where Mr. Smallman has pur- chased a business. The family of Mr. and Mrs. h Cletus Rettinger was well repre- sented at the music festival held at s Bluevale last week when William, e Frances and Arlene were among h the prize winners, The Wingham Softball Associ- ation gratefully accepts Charles h Crossett's offer to sponsor the pa Wingham Hurons. su Residents of Wingham were in grieved to hear of the sudden T. death of Fenton Barnes, killed al- most instantly when struck by a w car near the MacKetezie Bridge. A jec veteran of World War 1I, Mr. ne was employed by Western Foundry. APRIL 1961 The Morris Township School Area Board has resigned over a dispute over building an addition to the Walton school. Over 100 ratepayers attended a meeting of the board last week to protest the construction as costly. A nomina- tion meeting has been scheduled for April 28 with an election, if necessary, slated for May 6. The director of safety for the Ontario Ministry of Transport strongly urged the establishment with Margaret Stapleton Thursday night to discuss the for- mation of a Business and Profes- sional Women's Club in Wing- ham. ince ham. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gib- son Rintoul, John Street, suffered heavy damage in a fire which broke out about 6 p.m. last Fri - ay. APRIL 1971 Kevin Adams of Wingharn was the winner of the gun -safety course conducted by the Wing - am Boy Scouts. Close to 33 years on the main treet as a butcher will came to an nd May 1 for Percy Deyell, who as sold his business to Mr. and Mrs. John Green of Paisley. 'A committee of local people as been working quietly for the st three months on a project to itably recognize the warm feel - g of the community toward W. "Doc" Cruickshank, founder of CKNX Radio and Television, ho died earlier this year. A pro - t will be decided upon in the ear future. William A. Heughan, who cele- brated his 85th birthday last Tues- day, says his fingers are still nim- ble enough to sew a piece of harness. He has been in business on Wingham's main street for 33 years. APRIL 1981 The executive of the Wingham and District Heritage and Histori- cal Society has received a contri- bution toward the publication of a book about the community, Mu- seum Musings, based on John Pat- tison's newspaper column. A new doctor has applied for ages at Wingharn and Dis- Hospital. Dr, Walter Wong be joining Dr. John Ping at Wingham Medical Centre. Members of the Wingham smen Club heard a proposal to a food booth -washroom fa - at the Josephine ball park. of a driver training courses. Carl privil Laybourn said the course would ' trict target young people and could be will offered through the local high the school. A number of Leading business Kin and professional women from build Lucknow and Wingharn met last cility Everybody's gone surfing; or have they? 0'° ceive. what a tangled Web weave when electronic formation we try to I went surfing the other day. Not the. California -Beach Boys style, but the Internet kind. That style of surf - we in- re - ng where you don't get wet and never leave your desk chair. 1 might have been better off with the Big Kahuna instead of the World Wide Web. , There has been a great deal of de- bate over this electronic superhigh- way and I felt compelled to explore it after this newspaper went online. It would be a good opportunity to see what all the fuss is about I said to my doubting wife as I handed over the last phone bill. I'm still see- ing. . :.:,.: The Internet is about as confusing as a Rubik's cube — the uninitiated will never solve it, and only a select few can do it under two minutes. And with the never ending avenues to explore, I doubt the system will ever completely take over our lives as some first feared. Even getting access is a trying ex- perience. Several decent articles I used as resources pointed out that for the most rewarding experience, I needed a good browser.' Huh? The guy at the pet store gave me a weird look over that one. Obstacle one: what the heck is a browser. Well, in layman's terms, it's another piece of software that e will allow the user to see all the I wonderful graphic images pasted on the network. Without one, the user is b The Outer Edge Cameron J. WOOD restricted to a world of writing. I stuck with the writing because after my attempt at downloading the free browser software, I swore someone in Indonesia received a file thanks to me. The scary thing is, I consider myself fairly computer literate and have downloaded files from various other networks without an interna- tional nternational cultural experience. The i got to the actual stage of where to get on this superhighway. I was discouraged by the talk of go- phers. I didn't know the 'Net was an animal rights proponent. I was wrong. Then carne the big spider...the World Wide Web! This is probably what most people think of when they think of Internet. This segment is the populous sector: filled with marve- lous forums and discussion groups. Why I even found one on 'spanking' (and we're not exactly talking about the form of discipline most of us ex- perienced in our childhood, if you get my drift). Yes, the whole world opens up to the surfer on the Web. Mind you, there is more to it than xplicit tales of consentual acts, etc. discovered a section on fly-fishing. Much more personally educating, ut somewhat less descriptive than the afore mentions discussion group. But then with fly-fishing, you know what kind of waters you're, venturing into. I e-mailed fellow journalist Bill - Bean of the K -W Record after read- ing his article bn the amazing suc- cess and slaying. power of Sesame Street. Mind you, the hour it took to find the newsgroup alt.tv.muppets, I might have .been better off relying on Canada lost to said my message. In my next experience, I chose to follow the more journalistic ,ap- proach. Sticking` more, .anything me= dia 'related, I felt safe venturing forth. I found little more than a hand- ful of world dailies on the Web — of which most are old news (some old- er than event eh news transcribed from our little weekly newspaper onto the Wingharn Home Page by the folks at Steffen Open Systems) Upkeep is no doubt a major concern with the electronic world. The alter- native forums change faster than the real news, which may lead one to ex- amine just where the true interest lays: There are several academic ave- nues to be explored, leading to li- braries and business information that may be of a more mainstream use. It is doubtful that those who fear the 'Net have anything to truly be - afraid of. And with a local host at S.O.S., it's an asset to doing busi- ness in a rural community under this ;global umbrella. But personal expe- rience has indicated so far that the Web may remain tangled...unless, of course, you're into that... Voters may pi ck Lyn Who TORONTO — Cana woman most people can't even recognize win an high-tech elections when huge alien - election? tion is .focussed on all parties. News media have been reporting , Peterson was recognized as oppo- that few voters can identify Liberal sition leader by only 25 per cent in ea leader Lyn McLeod since the day E Gallup poll two months before the 1985 election in which his party got she vas chosen in 1992 and implied this is a giant obstacle to her win- more votes than any. ning - - it has become almost an ob-Tory premier John Robarts was session with them. Fro �� Palrle recognized by only 32 per cent in a poll shortly before an election in But the Liberal party has re 'mained far ahead in polls, usually in 1967 which he won by a landslide. A leader also needs to be liked as 50 per cent or more, which calls into w i i C D (� 1 well as known. The fact that voters question the assumption drawn from him by announcing more concrete recognize politicians does not assure her lack of fame. policies, talking tough and stunts, they will vote for them_ McLeod had held only second- not always successful, as when he In 1985 Tory premier John Rob - ranking cabinet posts under former trotted out a woman who quit her job erts was recognized by 65 per cent premier David Peterson and polls for high -paying welfare and was . of voters, but a few months tater was quickly said that only 17 per cent seen as endorsing her. out of office_ could identify her as Liberal leader Rae and Harris also are known be- About 90 per cent of voters know compared to 80 per cent who recog- cause they have led in election cam- Rae because he has been an interven- nized New Democrat Premier Bob paigns, Rae in three and Harris in tionist premier who has had a wide Rae and 25 per cern who knew Mike 1990. impact on people. Harris, leader of the smaller Progres- McLeod is partly to blame for not But no-one would seriously sttg- sive Conservative caucus, being known because she has held gest that anywhere near' this number The polls in the past year have back policies until recently, is most- will vote for him and the wider ex - driven een 19 ly t d 30home that per cern of only voters know pears r o have negleas a cted ter and o learn a pectaa closerso the 19 on is that er cern the NDP had in the McLeod while 90 per cent know Rae musical instrument. most recent poll and wind up a poor and 45 per cent Harris. McLeod is She has said her low profite is a third' still being called Another Joe Who? disadvantage and she is trying to be 'V'oters often remember politicians and The Anonymous Leader. come known. If voters read all the precisely because they are annoyed Rae is recognized because every- reports that fern can recognize her,at They may know Rae and thing a premier says affects people she would be the best-known liti- His and have decided not to vote and is reported and he has gone out cian in Ontario. for them. of his way to drum up extra attentionBut the alarms do not take account To know politicians is not neces- by such ginirnicks as piano -playing. first off the record that a leader can sarily to love them -- the Liberals Harris has forced voters to notice • become known instantly in today's can Harriswin even if their leader is not a • -� howin name.