The Wingham Advance Times, 1995-07-12, Page 4M
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he Towne of Wirighaxn i� getting, closer towards the
year 2000 with• the latest decision to install a new
office. " is computerized accounting system at the municipal
The simple reasons behind the decision are obvious:
more efficient and consistent accounting, the potential to
print tax bills and save the cost of contracting the -job, a
data. base of municipal information, a data base of
cemetery records, a business data base, etc. It makes
sense to move ahead with this project, especially at a
time when computers play a growing role in how we live
our daily lives.
It also makes sense, in what finance and management
committee chairman Ward Robertson says, in that the
municipality as its own entity often suffers in terms of
capital proJects. Money usually ends up going towards
roads, pitperty, recreation or airports. Last year,
renovations were completed on part of the town hall, but
again, this qualifies more as property than the business
side of running Wingham'
By directing funds into the computerization of the
municipal accounting services, business should run
smoother and faster.
However, the decision to move ahead with this project
also opens a vast array of doors of opportunity for
Wingham...especially when one begins to look at the
marketing and networking potential offered by the
Irternet.
Municipalities worldwide are leaping onto the global
etwork to expand their marketing opportunities. Many
ffer what are known as "home pages", a place where
eople can obtain pertinent information about the
ommunity and what it has to offer. Material such as
emographics, real estate availability, industrial land
ase, major employers, etc. can be found, making it
mple for those shopping around for a new location to
uild. Thankfully, in Wingham we have a local server at
teffen Open Systems, which means the door opens even
ider when one examines the . potential without the ,
pense of long distance server rates.
Wingham has struggled with trying to find innovative
ays to promote itself both in terms of business and
urism. By looking down the road at the potential to
ucate the investors in Ontario as to what Wingham can
ffer, the municipality may even make that incredible
ap towards complete automation — networking of all
unicipal services (and perhaps even regional) so that
formation can be shared on a grander scale.
Granted, the town is simply looking at developing a
re consistent and modern approach to accounting at
sent. But by looking at the ,growth potential in this
w computer system, the Town of Wingham should be
e to see a future thatinvolves positive growth for the
mmunity as a whole...and an opportunity to attract
erest worldwide. — CJW
SOA JULYi , ig95
Pe ~' in baht
ance -Mateo
Published each Wednesday at:
Box 390,
5 Diagonal Road,
Wingham, 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
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SICK.
A reason to smite Winggiarri
Turnberry Township...for airing their dirty laundry in
public. Most councils discuss personnel matters in closed
session. Makes you wonder what, it's like working there.
z
Member of:
OCNA
CCNA
The Wingham Advance -Times
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Deadline for letters is
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Fax: 519-357-2900
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P.O. Box 390,
Wingham, Ontario
NOG 2W0
JULY 1948
The Wingham Lions Club host-
ed a successful summer frolic last
week, including a midway, a bin-
go and softball games each eve- I
ning.
Doug Richey, son of Mr. and
Mrs. C. E. Richey, returned on c
'Friday after attending Cadet e
Camp at Ipperwash. Doug was the s
only cadet representing Wingham B
and reported a splendid time. t
Elgin E. Coutts, son of Mr. and
Mrs. R. A. Coutts, was successful
in passing with honors his second n
year at Osgoode Hall Law School. tur
Mr. and Mrs. George W. Kerr lo
were pleasantly 'surprised at their w
home in East Wawanosh when on
the occasion of their 40th wed- co
ding anniversary, the family gath- w
ered to extend best wishes and an
present the couple with a lovely di
lamp, -table and a Targe mirror.
Wingham's prize young fisher- be
man, Byron Adams, 5, son of Mr. in
and Mrs. Alton Adams, was suc- he
cessful in landing 30 perch while co
at Amberley last week. M
JULY 1961 85
Dr. A. R. DuVal has purchased pas
the John McKinnon house on we
John Street immediately behind Do
the new Toronto -Dominion Bank.
He intends to remodel the house
to accommodate his own needs in a r
the chiropractic profession and firm
provide office space for at least are
one other business. is
Mrs. Ruth McDonald, Wroxet- spo
er, who has taught for 13 consecu-
tive years in the Gorrie Public mak
School's junior room, was hon- pre
ored at a picnic in the community Eas
park. R
Harold Remington's IGA store luck
presents a nice appearance after sion
the installation of a third cash reg- sore
ister -exit and check-out counter, tion
as well as the complete rebuilding
of the meat department at the quee
back of the store. Hoe
Peter Carmichael has been ap- Kim
with Margaret Stapleton
pointed supervisor of the summer
recreation program, which runs
from July 24 to the latter part of
August. He will be assisted by Ju -
ie Cruikshank and Ruth Hotch-
kiss.
Mr. and Mrs. John White, Kin-
ardine Township, announce the
ngagement of their daughter, El-
ie Irene, to Earl Jenkins, son of
orden Jenkins of Wingham and
he late Mrs. Jenkins. '
JULY 1971
Premier William Davis an-
ounced in the Ontario Legisla-
e on Monday that an act to
wer the "age of majority" to 18
ill be introduced at once.
The grand winner in' the baby
ntest last Friday night in town
as Robbie Lauzon, son of Mr.
d Mrs. Andy Lauzon of Kincar-
ne.
Mary A. Lee of Wingham has
en advised she was successful
a -recent examination following
r participation in an extension
urse in nursing administration.
rs. Lee was top of the class with
per cent. Others successfully
sing the same examination
re Sophie Foran of Blyth and
rothy Finlayson of Lucknow.
JULY 1981
Wingham town council passed
esolution Monday night con-
ing a recommendation of the
na board that the sale of liquor
not to be permitted during
rting events at the arena.
The Town and Country Home-
ers have bought their office
mises at 92 Victoria Street
t in Wingham.
od Wraith of Wingham is the
y winner of a portable televi-
set, first prize in a draw spon-
d by the minor ball associa-
eather Brent was crowned
n of the Wingham Western
down. Christine Kissner and
McGregor were runners-up.
The challenge not to drink
Tthat we have published a
his week, our readers will see
poem; which is something that
we traditionally don't do. But after
reading the submission from Lynne
Magee and the fact that summer is
upon us, 'we felt it would be an addi-
tion to our pages that might spark
some thought and discussion.
The poem is about the victim of a
drunk driver. A year ago Mrs. Mag-
ee and her family lost their son and
brother to a drunk driver. Kevin Rin-
tout, another local teen lost his life in
the horrific crash on Highway 86,
west of town.
Coping with the loss of a loved
one is difficult in the best of times,
but to have someone dear snatched
from life so suddenly is a tragic situ-
ation to say the least. It creates a
hole inside a person .that often never
completely heals.
As a member, of the volunteer fire
department, I remember the night of
that crash and the expression on the
faces of my comrades in the emer-
gency services. For most, 'it was an
expression ,of heartache and confu-
sion.
When you have been at the scene
of any tragic accident, the impact
only comes later — for me it usually
hits me when I'm at home with my
new bride. For others, it's when they
look out the kitchen window to
watch their kids playing with a new
puppy. For others, it's when they
visit the graves of those they have
lost along the way.
The
Outer
Edge
Cameron J. WOOD
Regardless, you can't go through
life without these having some im-
pact on you sooner or later. And no-
body asks questions when that guy
with a new baby tells his volunteer
fire fighter comra4es that this time
he just can't get o the truck and go
to the call.
When we respond to these kind of
calls, all we can do is simply go
about our duties the best we can and
cope with the situation at the scene
as professionals. Some in the field
say the best fire department is the
one that is never called upon.
Unfortunately, that never happens.
All too often fire departments, po-
lice and ambulance receive calls that
could have been avoided with a little
personal thought.
I still remember vividly the -first
losing a son, a family lost their fa-
ther. He was returning from a party
marking the end of harvest.
It doesn't take much — less than an
instant — to change the path of hu-
man existence.
Time and time again we have all
heard the routine about drinking and
driving. So much so that many of us
have become too desensitized to its
reality.
Most of us have probably pushed
the limits of common sense at some
point in our lives and said "I'm o.k.
to drive, I only had two." But then,
those of us who share these thoughts
have run the gauntlet, challenged the
situation and somehow emerged on
the positive side of life.
We do it with everything, we
weekend warriors...career decisions,
athletics, even parenthood. Life's
challenges often spark us to move
forward. That's what keeps us going,°
the challenge to succeed.
Patrick and Kevin may have had
at teenage bravado — the feeling
at at 17 they would live forever.
t neither had the chance to fulfill
it destiny.
Somewhere in the scheme of
ngs there are two holes: for those
o boys, fresh off the field from a
y of haying, were victims of cir-
cumstance; powers beyond their own
control. That night, one year ago,
Bone else held the bottle while
y held the keys...he paid for his
ision but in doing so took two in-
ent lives.
th
th
Bu
the
drunk driving fatality I responded to
as a volunteer fire fighter. I was thi
working down country in the tobac- tw
co belt at the time. A pick-up truck da
had left a county road, travelled
some 30 feet in the air (height, not
distance) off the should
road som
and struck a tree. The truck exploded the
upon impact and the driver was dec
killed. Instead of a mother and father noc
Smaller means heavier load
TORONTO -- Mike Harris has tried
to show he is serious about cutting
government by unveiling his incredi-
ble shrinking cabinet, but it is not as
clever a trick as it sounds.
The Progressive Conservative pre-
mier elected on a promise to reduce
government appointed a cabinet of
only 19 members including himself.
Harris boasted that it is, the small-
est in more than 30 years and he is
quickly fulfilling his promise and he
has to be given credit for having
eight fewer ministers than the New
Democrats whom he defeated.
Tory, Liberal and NDP cabinets in
recent decades averaged 26-27 min-
isters and were bigger than needed
because premiers crammed in repre-
sentatives of every geographical area
and ethnic group as well as MPPs
who helped them become party lead-
er.
The biggest by far, although Har-
ris neglected to mention it despite
having been a member, was the last
Tory cabinet under premier Frank
Miller, who had 33 ministers includ-
ing virtually every MPP who sup-.
ported him.
There was no indication that Mill-
er's huge cabinet functioned better
than its predecessors, although it was
not around long enough for much of
atrial.
The smallest recent cabinet was
that of Liberal David Peterson, who
had only 23 ministers for much of
his tenure and was down to 21 for a
time. Despite its size, it produced
giant legislation including pay equity
and banning extra -billing by doctors.
The biggest concern expressed
about the downsizing of Harris' cabi-
net is that Ernie Eves will be over-
worked as deputy premier, finance
minister and government house lead-
er.
But others have carried compara-
ble workloads and been effective, in-
cluding - Liberal Robert Nixon, min-
ister of finance and revenue and
house leader all at the same time.
Harris also was given a head start
on cutting. because the NDP already
had abolished some ministries but
greedily left six of its MPPs as min-
isters without portfolio so they could
continue collecting ministers' sala-
ries.
All Harris had to do was abolish
these sinecures and make some natu-
ral mergers such as municipal affairs
with housing, natural resources with
northern development and mines,
and economic development and
trade with tourism and he had his
19 -member cabinet.
This has . eliminated eight minis-
ters and their personal staffs hi it
under the NDP commonly ran to 15-
16 people, and should facilitate more
cuts because branches such as those
in communications and promoting
French services and freedom of in-
formation will be duplicated when
ministries merge.
But it is still a long way short of
cutting into the huge mass of the
public service, which Hams must do
to make savings that are significant.
Harris like his predecessors tried
to make a point in announcing his
cabinet -- that he stands for smaller
government.
The New Democrats announced
their cabinet in 1990 in a university
hall where niore ordinary folk could
applaud and later the staid legisla-
ture rang to the singing of Solidarity
Forever instead of George Drew
Knew My Father.
This was supposed to demonstrate
that the perennial outsiders, union
stewards and factory workers, were
in the corridors of power at last, but
soon many of them were parading
out in the cold again because the
NDP broke promises.
The Liberals in 1985 unveiled
their cabinet for the first tithe on the
legislature lawn 'Where anyone could
watch to symbolize they had anopen
government ' without walls,' but later
a small clique made many decisions
in back rooms.
Harris sounds more like he means
what he says -- but cabinet swearing-
ins& have not always been an accurate
guide to a government's perfor-
mance
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