Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-08-02, Page 4e ;;= roar 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 silfaaaataiiaanariaaaaa Iiaaaaaaaaaaal Z a O Member of: OCNA CCNA The Wingham Advance -Times is a member of a family of community newspapers ,providing news, advertising iaand 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 A .. pr 6•: t h at t Editorial Viewpoint s ere here is Wingham, one might ask these days? If it wasn't for the Ministry of Transportation signs indicating the town and population, no one would know. And the problem is even more compounded with the removal of signs by the town indicating just what this • small urban grouping is called in midwestern Ontario. �Wingham has struggled for years to gain a reputation. . With only one major employer in our industrial base, the economic development committee under the previous council toiled to get an information file established at Queen's Park for potential investors in Ontario to access. They went to great lengths to promote North Huron as a centre filled with promise when the federal government was seeking a location for its new Prison for Women — now located in Kitchener. The committee erected a billboard at the intersection of Highway 4 and 86 indicating available industrial land for budding manufacturers. Yet, more confusing in the matter of romotion/demotion, the town still does not budget any significant funds to increasing awareness of what the community has to offer. The council can find additional funds to purchase a grass catcher for the new lawn mower — even though Reeve Bruce Machan questioned the logic of a catcher in times of composting and mulching. Some $4,450 in fact. Wingham remains a community torn between development and complacency. It seems we want to grow, but are unwilling to create the tools necessary for the job. Removing the signs at either end of Highway 4 is an is c e wnsignificant action in, terms of municipal politics. The igns are weathered and in desperate need of repair. owever, there is no money to do so. Why? Primarily because it seems the council of the day, like those who ave passed before it, seems intent that the world will ome to Wingham instead of the reverse. Many centres province -wide employ a full-time economic development officer. This person travels xtensively to meet with potential investors and manufacturers to sing the praises of the community inm which they work. Winghaerects billboards and argues hether or not the welcome signs should be repainted n m d updated — but then unanimously agrees there is no oney for the project so pull down the old and let people `Wntinue their guessing game, of here is Wingham'. Our community will remain stagnant in these regressive. days of economic renewal. Why? Because he attitude, despite that some say it has changed, simply as not. Nicely manicured municipal grass certainly is" an tractive feature. But who cares when no one addresses he more important need of getting people here to see it. — CJW P sr $ Os. Co st reason to smile Wingfram The excellent work our parks and recreations department staff have put into entertaining the kids this summer. Makes you wish you were young again. Great job! er AUGUST 1948 Telford Cook, a Belgrave dis- trict farmer, narrowly escaped death early Monday when he was knocked to the ground by an infu- riated bull at his farm. He was res- cued by two neighbors, Thomas Thompson and Lewis Cook and rushed to Wingham General Hos- p pital with severe bruises and C shock. d Mrs. E. S. Lewis and son Jack attended a school on floral design held last week at the Ontario Ag- ricultural College at Guelph. p Mr. and Mrs. George Griffith p announce the engagement of their o youngest daughter, Susan Eliza- C beth, to Glenn Allan McKercher, D only son of Mr. and Mrs. Allan Ji McKercher, Jamestown. On July 30, Prime Minister Mackenzie King formally accept- ed Newfoundland as the tenth province of Canada. Dorothy Ross, young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ross, RR 2, Wingham, had her tonsils re- moved in Wingham General Hos- pital Thursday last. AUGUST 1961 The Farmers' Outfitting Store on Wingham's main street was sold last week by William Gordon of Strathroy to Jack Hayes of Agincourt, who took possession on Tuesday of this week. The Hayes family, consisting of his wife and four children, will move to Wingham as soon as acconuno-' dation is available. Joining the staff at CKNX in Wingham is Gerald Belanger, a native of Wallaceburg and a for- mer Sarnia radio station employ- ee. Following a meeting of the Wingham Separate School` Board on Monday, it was announced that all children who will be attending the separate ' school will com- mence studies in the basement of Sacred Heart Church in Septem- with Margaret Stapleton ber. Classes will continue there until the new school is opened probably about the first of Octo- ber. Keith McLaughlin has taken on the Wingham dealership of Surge Milking Machines from Lovell H. McGuire. Three other Surge em- loyees will operate dealerships at Linton, Walkerton and Kincar- ine. They are Roy Cullen, Ron McKnight and Ken Martin. AUGUST 1971 Murray Gaunt, member of the rovincial Legislature, presented laques marking the long service f three of Wingham's firemen. apt. Harvey Aitchison, Chief ave Crothers and Deputy Chief m Carr all received recognition. Thirty-two members of the Community Friendship tour, sev- eral of them from Wingham and area, returned home last Wednes- day evening after 21 days spent in six European countries, The tour escort was Barry Wenger. Rev. J. Rea Grant of London has moved to Listowel with his family to take charge of the Cal- vary -Zion parish of the United Church of Canada. A native of the Fergus area, Mr. Grant is married to the former Hilda Grant of Wingham. AUGUST 1981 Wingham Town Council has rejected a bid by developer Hans Kuyvenhoven to buy back a strip of land in First Bush bordering on the Maitland Estates subdivision. First Bush is seen as an environ- mentally -sensitive area and there would be no way to protect it against encroachment by future homeowners. Rennie Alexander, recreation director for the Town of Wing - ham, will be leaving next month for Chatham where he has been hired as director of parks and rec- reation. Mr. Alexander has been in Wingham for four years. mammy, y AUGUST 2, 1995 Doesn't anyone care about the kid phone call after phone call, I've heard about how people are concerned with the coverage given to one of the most sensational court cases to hit Wingham. Phone call after phone call I've patiently listened to these concerned citizens debate our coverage of the child abuse case in which a father pled guilty to abuse and a doctor and two nurses still face charges of fail- ing to report the abuse. Now, bear in mind those three re- main innocent until proven guilty in our fine judicial system. But, phone call after phone call not one' member of the public has ever asked me how the eight -month-old child is doing. Sense my frustration? Good. This case has been dramatic in that we rarely have any sensational court news in our quiet community. In this, what I'm beginning to learn is that with a significant amount of property damage cases and petty crimes, people in this area have lost sight of how to be compas- sionate for the victim. Take this recent case. My frustra- tion is evident because all I have heard from the readers is how they are concerned about the doctor's rep- utation and the impact the coverage may have on Wingham's ability to attract a new physician to town. To me this is all quite insane. Should we not also care about the impact on the life of this eight- month -old child? Have we grown so cruel in our lives that one's public The Outer Edge Cameron J. WOOD image surpasses simple humanity? The facts remain before the court: the father admitted his guilt in court and at Wingham and District Hospi- tal. Some might say that latter fact is untrue. It was not disputed in court when presented as evidence by the Crown Attorney. I like'to think that my kids will be in good, caring hands when they go to see the doctor, the dentist, the principal, the priest, the police chief, the fire chief...heck, even the guy who stuffs our mail into our little metal box on the post office wall. Never did I think that my kids may grow up in a heartless commu- nity that is more concerned with rep- utation than human suffering. It is obvious to me that the people who have called to express concern in this case are friends and co- workers of those implicated in the matter. In sharing my frustration with my co-workers, we wondered if such endorsement would be forth- coming if it was a different physi- cian; or say it was a PUC commis- sioner implicated? Or the guy who pumps gas, loads the grocery cart...or even the newspaper editor? But, in terms of the public's right to know, should we not expect all of the above to be more aggressive in child abuse cases? The Child and Family Services Act is very specific about handling any suspected abuse not just for the medical communi- ty, but for all youth workers. Do those who have small children in need of medical attention not have the right to know if the policies and procedures at a hospital are strictly enforced? Or the taxpayers whose money goes into that hospital? Our expectation in the news me- dia is that the facts are presented in the best possible manner to inform the public on what is happening. In addition, we can only report what in- formation is presented. If nothing is disputed in court, then one has the expectation that the facts are as pre- sented. The victim in this case has been shuffled aside by all those quick to point out that what was published "isn't the whole truth". The truth? An infant was so badly abused that the child had to be trans- ferred to London for treatment and admitted for several days. The ambu- lance attendants were the first to as- sume responsibility for contacting authorities on the abuse, despite the father's admission of guilt at WDH. London City Police made the arrest. The truth? The truth is most of us have simply lost our sense of com- passion for the victim in favor of how we appear to others. Shame. Will any provide ide o osii on TORONTO -- Mike Harris is domi- nating Ontario politics so thoroughly there is concern whether there will be any real' opposition'to him in the legislature. The Progressive Conservative pre- mier won 82 of 130 seats in the June 8 election and the Liberals and New Democrats swept away by the Tory tide have remained almost sub- merged. The public's interest is naturally in Harris, because he is new and in rap- id succession has formed a cabinet, reorganized the top civil service, started cutting spending and ended photo radar and the former NDP government's version of employment equity. For six weeks the NDP uttered scarcely a word of protest while the Tories scrapped some of their cher- ished programs. Leader and former premier Bob Rae has a part-time job as a university teacher and may be too busy preparing lectures on the role of the opposition. Liberal leader Lyn McLeod is similarly preoccupied planning her exit, although a couple of her MPPs individually have attacked the To- ries. Both opposition parties have ap- pointed critics for ministries, but they have not done much criticizing. The opposition parties may have rationalized that in the early months® of a new government the public is not interested in hearing from any- one else. There are criticisms of Tory poli- cies worth making and most have had to come from organizations out- side the legislature such as munici- pal heads, tenants and anti -poverty groups, who sometimes have rolled up to confront the Tories. The opposition parties also are so weakened with the Liberals down to 30 MPPs and NDP to 17 that there are questions how effective they will be in the longer term. Both will lose leaders. Rae has re- inforced the belief he will go by tak- ing part-time work, which an opposi- tion leader serious about his job would not find time to do, and as an effective parliamentarian will be missed. McLeod could never have expect- ed to stay after being handed a sub- stantial lead and losing. Being with- out permanent leaders for as long as a couple of years also will hamper the opposition parties in finding firm directions. Parties have had smaller caucuses and provided spirited opposition. '' The NDP with as few as seven MPPs but quality members including Stephen Lewis gave a Tory govern- ment uncomfortable times in the 1960s. But one concern is whether the opposition parties ;will still have the heart. They have to feel disillusioned that after 10 years out of government the Tories who ruled for 42 years un- til 1985 are back in full force as if it was their divine right. Will it take that long to get rid of them again'? The Liberals have had stuffing knocked out of them because polls suggested they were almost assured of retrieving the government they lost through poor strategy in 1990. Will they find the determination to climb hack knowing their capacity for stumbling near the peak'? Their best performers in the legis- lature, deputy leader Sean Conway, who raised thoughts he should have been leader every time he substituted ih McLeod's absence, and ringwise house leader James Bradley, pon- dered retiring before the election -- will they have enthusiasm to plug away again? The NDP through previous dec- ades in opposition was buoyed by belief that some day it would form a government and create a workers' paradise, but it has had its chance and paradise was lost, so the hope no longer exists. But there are straws opposition parties can cling to. Leadership races can bring out the best in them. Vot- ers remain volatile with Harris a prime example because he ran only a feeble third in the previous election. Last time Harris was in the legisla- ture no-one called him a world- beater.