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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-08-30, Page 4erbe indent bbance m ime 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 Cathy Hendriks — Ad. Sales Stephen Pritchard Production Jim Brown — Reporter Margaret Stapleton—Reporter Eve Buchanan — Office Louise Welwood — Office iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Z O Ct. 0 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. $ox 390, Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 . 1 A ir•- alting r it With the hype surrounding the Paul Bernardo trial at a crescendo, it seems more and more reason- able people are beginning to discuss a matter that has been a source for political debate for several years — capital punishment. The coverage of the, trial has without question led the media and the public into a new relationship. Prompted by our American neighbors, court coverage has become more intimate and revealing. The people, in general, -are seeking greater demands for the nitty-gritty of the pre- mier cases in the courts; and to a lesser extent even in our provincial court in Wingham. Take for example, the O.J. Simpson case. There seems to be much less concern publicly on guilt right now than the over -abundance of coverage. It Teems almost every channel we turn to, there is more O.J. CNN, out of Atlan- ta, has made the case its personal mission for the past several months, and one can hardly look anywhere with- out seeing something about O.J. In Canada, Bernardo pushed the limits of coverage. With the publication ban placed on evidence presented at the trial of his estranged wife, Karla Homolka, the public and media began to demand more. Why did we know what was happening every minute in trial in California, but in our own backyard, we knew little. Finally, when the details came out in the Bernardo trial, even the most passive of individuals began to speak of the need for serious judicial reform: no more plea bar- gains like Homolka's; and surprisingly, a call for capital punishment for the acts committed by the unemployed accountant from Port Dalhousie. The whole matter has sparked the coffee shop debate about the nature of our justice system; and to certain ex- tent, fairly criticized a faltering system. Canada, federal- ly, needs to re-examine how we handle such significant cases. Most frequently, citizens are calling for the death sentence to be returned to Canada...a more significant punishment for evil crimes. Yet, despite our misgivings about how we sentence of- fenders, Canada also has three recent cases of wrongful conviction: all of which may have resulted in death sen- tences for the alleged perpetrators. Guy Paul Moran, Da- vid Milgaard and Donald Marshall all received severe sentences for murders they allegedly committed. All eventually were turned free after their innocence was proven. But some criminals, like Clifford Olsen continue to stretch our willingness for compassion: those who profit from their heinous crimes. Calling for capital punishment is a far cry from deliv- ering that verdict. But when usuallykind-hearted, law- abiding citizens begin to make street corner offers of be- ing the 'axeman', there is an obvious need to take a long hard look at how we deal with our serial rapists and kill- ers...before the justice leaves our courts and lands on our streets. — CJW Sta. 1,4-.44NONEW 91 reason to smile Ptingfiam The organizers of MADD could use some support on September 12 with the Huron -Bruce chapter meeting. Drinking and driving is something we could use Less of. with Margaret Stapleton AUGUST 1948 The record-breaking heat wave, which gripped Ontario for the past week, ended on Sunday in this area. Last Wednesday was the hottest day here when the temper- ature reached 96 degrees. Thurs- day and Friday recorded tempera- tures of 93 and Saturday, 92. The degree of Doctor of Philos- ophy has been conferred by the University of Massachusetts upon Edith Weir, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Weir of Turnberry. Mrs. Dr. F. A. Parker enter- tained at her home on Centre Street last Monday afternoon in honor of her daughter Patricia, whose marriage to Dr. John Hay takes place on Saturday. The flood relief campaign con- ducted by the Wingham Lions Club has been concluded with $2,1052 paid out in relief. AUGUST 1961 Mr. and Mrs. Lovell McGuire and their six children will move to Whitby on Saturday. Mr. McGuire will manage the Canadi- an Tire Store there, one of the most up-to-date in Canada. The McGuire family came to Wing - ham 10 years ago from Ripley and has been active in community affairs, particularly as members of the Wingham United Church. The Wingham Sunocos have again entered the OASA all - Ontario 'C' playoffs. Coming through with timely hits to win Zone 5 were Carman MacDonald, Barry Fryfogle, Ken Saxton, Mur- ray Shiell and Ken Cerson. John Isaac has joined the staff at the Toronto -Dominion Bank as an accountant. The Isaac family will move to town from Elmira as soon as accommodation becomes available. Mr. Isaac replaces George Stokes, who has been pro- moted to bank manager at Sudbu- ry. Pamela Porter, a student of the Wingham District High School, has been awarded an Ontario Scholarship of $400, Principal F. E. Madill announced last week. These scholarships are awarded to students in the province who ob- tain an average of at least 80 per cent in Grade 13. She also re- ceived a $500 bursary for en- trance to the University of Toron- to. Pamela is the daughter of Mrs. Louise Porter of Brussels. AUGUST 1971 The Preston Junior B hockey club has invited Bill Brown and Jeff Lockridge to attend its train- ing camp and a similar invitation has been received from the Brant- ford club. Greta Harris' stationery store soon will have a new look. Owner Al Watson has squared out the corners and 'made a new entrance at the north side of the store in the old Queens Hotel block. Those folks who delayed their holidays until the end of August have suffered some disappointing weather conditions. Lots of rain and very chilly evenings -- partic- ularly for those who are sleeping under canvas. AUGUST 1981 Book lovers who patronize the Wingham Public Library are go- ing to have to resign themselves to seeing fewer new selections on the shelves. Despite boasting the third largest circulation in Huron County, the Wingham Library has by far the smallest quarters of any of the five town libraries in the county. From all appearances, there is little chance the problem will be solved soon. Margaret Carter and Isabel Kerr, sisters who reside at the Brookhaven Nursing Home, turned 94 and 92 last week. Rev. Jack Marentette arrived last week to take over duties as priest at Sacred Heart Church in Wingham. GUS 1995 11111li �i� Cricket song and bright white shoes Growing up, this was just about my favourite time of year. Many of my friends thought I was insane, as a new school year was just days away and the freedom of shoeless afternoons and tree - climbing evenings passed again into oblivion. As summer wound down and fall fast approached, people seemed to be filled with new life, busy with ac- tivity and the world around me once again opened up from the passive dog days. For my brothers and I, this time of year meant new stuff: unsharpened pencils, bptnd new erasers, a rte , pack ofaurentian pencil crayons — the kind with the colors printed on the side for those with a 'visual color challenge, an untarnished carrying case, new clothes and brand new shoes. In fact, the playground the first day of school resembled a Japa- nese monster movie — rank with kids in unfaded, clean blue jeans, scuff- ing the bright white leather tops of sneakers, stomping on each other like Godzilla and The Creature from Planet X. No more were the words "Whatta You wanna do?" and the applicable "I dunno, whatta you wanna do?" re- sponse. The banter turned to "Who'd you get this year?" in reference to which instructor would lean over you, glaring down at the doodles which would soon fill the cover of the pink exercise book. The Outer Edge Cameron J. WOOD The August humidity lessened into pleasant evening breezes and cricket song. Life almost seemed to begin again — second chances, so to speak: new classroom, new teacher, new subjects. The srnell of the school itallway of4er a ten -week piat,us,,wfst jike 1Ji tarot exotic op ylm, Glen:, filling, your , sinus with a familiar aroma and your head with incredible visions and dreams. Going to school on the first day after summer holidays was like entering a shrine; sacred ground which would soon unveil immense secrets. The people were familiar, yet different. Everyone had grown, both physically and spiritually: re- freshed from experience outside the confines of walls and strict rules. Routine became commonplace. My own parents would make my brothers and I begin going to bed at our "school night" hours a week be- fore the doors opened, just so we could get "our systems adjusted". I later discovered this was actually so they could get a few final summer evenings to themselves to quietly enjoy the cricket song in the back yard. Parents often have such ploys — concepts you only realize much later in life. Some, .I have heard, even moved the clocks ahead so the kids would be fooled into thinking that bedtime hadn't changed at all. It seemed most parents grew anx- ious as the final week of August rolled around. Then, on the first Tuesday after Labour Day, the corps would march from the subdivision and trek to the great mecca of learning. Walking that treacherous trail was an education experience in itself. I loved the walk to school much better than the walk home, despite die same' surroundings. The• dawdle there — with the threat of that bother- some bell ringing prior to your arri- val — was captivating. Life at eight o'clock in the morning is much more exciting than at three -thirty in the af- ternoon. The dew worms were swol- len and moist — yet uncooked by the midday's sun on the sidewalk. A slight mist hovered above the wet grass, which glistened in the early light. I especially enjoyed the feeling — the atmosphere — of those mornings. ,The sound of an active school yard gripped me as I approached, almost telling me that I was missing some- thing if I didn't get there soon. Then, without fail, the 8:50 bell would ring and life would return tb normal. Order had been restored for those four feet tall and under. Oldpipe dream revived at QP TORONTO — The old pipe dream of Ontario's two parties of the left unit- ing to get rid of the Progressive Con- servatives is being revived, but it would be rash to start guessing at wedding dates. The idea has been resurrected by no less an authority than former New Democrat premier Bob Rae after he and the Liberals were trampled in the June election by the Tories led by Mike Harris. Rae said he would not rule out the possibility of the opposition parties realigning because they have to do everything in their power to ensure Harris with his' unprecedented cuts in services is not elected for another term. Rae pointed out 55 per cent of votes were against the Tories and urged they should not be allowed to "return to the divide -and -conquer politics" that helped them inrthe past. Because the vote against them was split, the Tories governed for 42 years until 1985 without once ob- taining a majority of votes. The thought they could be defeat- ed if the NDP and Liberals com- bined in one party was expressed of- ten during this time, although not at as high a level as party leader. But Rae is about to step down and there- fore free to muse in far-flung direc-' tions without his party being com- mitted to anything'he says. - The most persistent earlier propo- nent of opposition parties uniting was an NDP MPP of the 1970s and early 1980s, George Samis, who suggested it annually as theonly way they could pry the limpet -like Tories from power. The Liberals and NDP did enter into an alliance of sorts in 1985, af- ter the Tories under premier Frank Miller were reduced to a minority. The NDP provided the votes that put the Liberals in government and supported them for two years in re- turn for enacting specified policies. But the parties otherwise acted inde- pendently and the arrangement fell short of what could be called a coali- tion. The NDP also felt the Liberals profited too much, because with the help of NDP ideas they came out smelling rosy enough to win a large majority in the 1987 election. One barrier to the NDP and Liber- als merging is that they tend to dis- like each other more than they dis- like Tories, partly because for so long they were rivals to replace the Tories. Many New Democrats lack re- spect for Liberals, feeling they are' Tories., trying, to hide their identity, while real Tories at least can be ad- mired for fighting under their true colors. The opposition parties are widely separated by policies. The Liberals opposed the NDP government's run- ning up huge deficits to maintain and expand services and laws giving more power to unions, cutting public sector pay and attempting to extend family including adoption rights to same-sex couples, as just a few ex- amples. Rae was fond of calling Lib- eral leader Lyn McLeod "Dr. No" on the claim she always criticized but lacked policies and a "prophet of gloom and doom." The Liberals in the election had policies including placing priority on balancing the budget, abolishing em- ployment equity quotas and cutting welfare for those refusing to work or retrain which the NDP would have difficulty accepting. A unified Liber- al -New Democrat Party would not be assured automatically of getting more votes than the Tories. It would have to combine some policies of both opposition parties and therefore be considerably to the left of the present Liberals so that some on the Liberals' right wing might find Harris more appealing. Some Liberals and New Democrats' also will recall that only a few months ago Harris was thought to have so little chance some Torie suggested their party should change its name -- they may feel their 'own fot`tdites could improve just as quick- ly.