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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-05-03, Page 4Orbe .7=utsbant Sabbante -Chug Published each Wednesday at: Box 390, 5 Di*nal Road, Wingharn, Ontario Phone (519) 357-2320 Fax (519) 357-2900 J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 We are: Jim Beckett - Publisher Audrey Currie - Manager Cameron J. Wood - Editor Norma Golley - Ad. Sales Stephen Pritchard - Comp. Jim Brown - Reporter Margaret Stapleton -Reporter Eve Buchanan - Office Louise Welwood - Office Member of: OCNA CCNA The Wingham Advance -Times is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership. Letters Policy All letters to the editor must bear the writer's name, telephone num- ber and address. The Advance -Times wel- comes letters. We re- serve the right to edit., but will endeavor to preserve the author's intent. Deadline for letters is Monday before 10:00 a.m. Some exceptions may apply. Fax: 519-357-2900 or mail to: P.O. Box 390, Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 41 • Editorial Viewpoint nd so, wt the insanity begins he jury selection process for the Paul Bernardo trial marks a significant page in the book of Cana- dian justice. The page is titled Insanity. Anyone who caught the television film of the first day of jury selection must surely think that it can't be any- thing but insanity; over 1,000 potential .jurors and an equal number of journalists lobbying for position in downtown Toronto. Bernardo himself safely tucked away in a comfortable hotel room; a far cry from his soli- tary prison cell. Then there was the American reporter interviewed on CKCO-TV. He wasn't aware Canadian laws prevent the media from interviewing potential jurors in legal cases. Nor did he care that his station was violating that law. The whole process is ridiculous. Our own version of O.J. Simpson. -We now know the police have video tape and photo- graphic evidence of the two slain St. Catharines teens. He warned the potential jurors they would see such graphic evidence. And by doing so, let the cat out of the bag for the rest of the public to start screaming and hol- lering about our right to know. Who the hell wants to know what horrors those girls went through. That has nothing to do with justice. The whole fiasco simply reveals that our justice sys- tem is out of control when it comes to being in control; and underscores the need for reform when we discover our most notorious criminal (alleged at this point) gets such comfortable digs for the day as a posh hotel suite. A step closer Wingham is one step closer to having a community hall. When the Knights of Columbus proposed building a 500 -seat hall in the southeast section of town, there were some concerns regarding neighbors and how such a de- velopment would affect the area. Thankfully several supporters have come out of the woodwork to endorse the Knights plan. The hall is long overdue in Wingham; and seldom do such buildings come at no cost to the taxpayer. Let's hope this development will proceed with a posi- tive atmosphere, and that the neighbors concerns are ade- quately addressed. We can't afford to let this slip away. A. reason to smile Wingham The students from Madill who were honored for Excellence in Education. We may bash our education system and teachers, but who can complain when they prove us wrong. er with Margaret Stapleton MAY 1948 Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Cowan of Centre Street announce the en- gagement of their daughter Phyl- lis Wanda to Kenneth Elgin Sta- pleton, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Stapleton, Wingham. The to take place this marriage is month. Considerable discussion took place at Monday's meeting of town council regarding traffic at the intersection of Highways 4 and 86. It was decided to request the Highways Department to in- stall stop lights. John W. Hanna of Wingham, MPP for Huron -Bruce, was the unanimous choice of the Progres- sive Conservative Party at a con- ventibn held last week at Luck - now. The provincial election has been called for June 7. "God of the Atom", a feature film depicting atomic problems, will be shown at the Wingham Baptist Church on May 11. MAY 1960 Jack McDonald of Brussels an- nounced this week that a new re- tail lumber firm will be started in Turnberry Township at the north- erly limits of Wingham. Mr. McDonald's brother-in-law, Jack Hodgins of Montreal, is a princi- pal shareholder and will be mov- ing to Wingham May 15 with his wife and three children. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bradley of Benmiller announce the engage- ment of their daughter Barbara Joyce to Murray Walter Shiell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shiell, Wingham. Officers of the new Wingham Business and Professional Wom- en's Club are: president, Yvonne McPherson; first vice president, Mrs. W. M. Connell-, second vice president, Mrs. J. E. Ostrom and secretary, Marion Simpson, ' A delegation from the newly - formed Separate School Board at - tended the May meeting of town council to ask for help in opening Cornyn Street and installing water and sewer services to the board's property. Robert McKenzie of Edward Street has purchased a variety store in Ailsa Craig. He has sold his house to Mr. and Mrs. Jack McKague of town. MAY 1971 Dr. Bruce Green commenced work this week with Dr. S. G. Leedham and Dr. A. E. Strong at the Wingham Veterinary Clinic. Wingham Councillor Jim Cur- rie unveiled plans for "Project '71" at Monday's meeting of town council. Under the plan, the horticultural park will be land- scaped as the southwest corner of Josephine and AlfredAstreets as a lasting tribute to CKNX founder W. T. "Doc" Cruickshank. "Ontario Place" has gone from dream to reality in two years. The 96 -acre complex, adjacent to the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, opens this week in To- ronto. Barry Wenger, publisher of The Advance -Times, will be the escort of the "Friendship Tour" to Hol- land, Germany, Austria, Switzer- land, France and Belgium this summer. MAY 1981 A new dentist will be opening his office in Wingham within a few days. Jim Hall announced last week that he will open for busi- ness at 356 Josephine Street. Dr. Hall is the son of Jim and Donna Hall and grandson of Stanley Hall, former Wingham high school principal. Plans are nearly complete for the 125th anniversary of Howick Township this year, reports Cam. Edgar, entertainment chairman., Western Foundry is relocating its Kitchener pattern making shop to Cambridge. • NE$DAY MAY 3 P Cruickshank Family Honored...G. W. "Bud" Cruickshank of Wingham and Lois (Cruickshank) McCall of Brussels were honored by the Wingham Barn Dance Foundation for the con- tribution their father, CKNX founder W. T. "Doc" Cruickshank, made in starting the original Barn Dance radio broadcasts almost 60 years ago. Earl Heywood of Wingham made the presentation to Mr. Cruick- shank and Mrs. McCall on behalf of the Barn Dance Foundation. Lead doesn't mean a win TORONTO - Being far ahead in the polls going into an election is not to- tal bliss - - it could even give Onta- rio's Liberals a few worries. The Liberals in the latest poll have 51 per cent support compared to the Progressive Conservatives' 25 per cent and governing New Democrats' 21 per cent and another poll put the Liberals at 48 per cent. Either fevel of support in an elec- tion would. secure them a huge ma- jority in the kgislature. A party naturally wants to be first in polls: But those that were far ahead at the start crashed heavily in twoof the last three elections. The Tories under premier Frank Miller had what many considered an uncatchable 50.5 per cent in poll just a few days before calling an election in 1985, but eked out only 37 per cent in the vote and were quickly on their way out of goyernment. The liberals under Premier david Peterson had 50 per cent in a poll go- ing into the 1990 election, but wound up with 32 per cent and were also gone. Peterson led handsomely both in polls and an election in 1987. But there are indications ,that a dominat- ing lead that gets talked about and becomes an issue can be a handicap. Miller's lead began eroding be- cause he refused to debate on TV with the opposition leaders and his reluctance to risk comparison and seeming impregnability in. polls. with Eric Dowd combined to create an image of a premier who felt he was untouchable and did not have to answer to voters. Peterson called the 1990 election after only' three years, prompting voters to question this haste on top of his rushing through of the Meech Lake Accord, his rich -and -famous lifestyle and the polls' claim they were bound like sheep to re-elect him no matter what. Appearing unassailable in polls helped both parties acquire reputa- tions for arrogance that brought their dowitfall. Voters are also wellknown these days for their animosity to politi- cians of all parties and particularly governments (a reason Ontario elected three different parties to gov- ern in only five years) and the NDP has borne the brunt of these knocks. But the NDP was written off as a government three years ago and the Liberals have been top of the polls for so long and are so entrenched federally that some voters may start soon to think of them as an establish- ment that needs to be taken down a peg. A party so far ahead becomes more of,a rget for rivals. Premier Bob Rae and Tory leader Mike Har- ris already have recognized they can not gain much by belittling each oth- er and are concentrating on tripping Liberal leader Lyn McLeod and the polls will spur them to gang up more on the Liberals. News media will scrutinize more closely the Liberals' policiesmany of which are flimsy, because the polls say they are the next govern- ment. The Liberals will be watched more for any hint of a slip, as they should. Media will also talk of a Liberal 'coronation' and 'anointing' and vot- ers will resent this notion they are being asked merely to go through a ritual. Liberal campaign workers may feel encouraged to relax with victory appearing in the bag. But the biggest danger to the Liberals is that they will look smug. The party when led by Robert Nixon in an earlier election was ahead in polls when an aide revealed that his job was to 'assist Mr. Nixon in his transition into government' and the conceit helped turn off vot- ers. The less the Liberals talk about being sue of government the better for them.