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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1967-02-23, Page 2PAGE TWO ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 19*7 al Coot mm w (BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER, CITIZENS NEWS COLUMNIST) Top Level Forgetfulness -- Big Nuisance There's the story about the man who said there were three signs of olcl age— loss of memory , . . and . . he's for- gotten the other two. We're wondering now if this little anecdote is somewhat appropriate with reference to the principal of South Huron District High School in Exeter. L. D. Palmer doesn't look to be so elderly that he should suffer from loss of memory, but judging from happenings of the past week we can only surmise that his recollection powers are not as keen as they might be. Last Thursday morning, February 16, residents of the area woke to a violent storm. Visibility was from poor to nil in most districts and decision was made, wisely we thought, by L. D. Palmer to keep the school buses off the roads. Credit must be given where credit is due: we were impressed by his desire to protect the taxpayer's dollar. Mr. Palmer notified the student body via radio that pupils should not go out to meet the bus but should wait by their radios until 8 a.m. or shortly thereafter for definite word from him. He indicated the buses might run an hour. or so late—good thinking we thought—should the weather clear. Alas, the storm blew and Mr. Palmer advised Earl Guenther and the students there would be no school that day. The buses were put away, the bus drivers went home and the students settled clown for an unexpected holiday. Friday classes at the school went on as scheduled—but Mr. Palmer had a prob- lem. He couldn't seem to remember why there had been no students at the school the day previous. There had to be some explanation, so the principal ordered all boys and girls to be certain to bring a note on Monday from their parents stating Tea - sons for their child's absence on Thursday! Mother and fathers must have been a little surprised by the odd request—but dutifully, most notes were written, we imagine. en the theme that no school buses had arrived to pick up the children. We appreciate the fact that it is Mr. Paimer's jk b to know where SHDHS stu- dents are during school hours on a school day—but we suggest that when he ,himself has given the word that school buses will not operate on a given day, he should realize that students will not break their necks to get to class, even if the sun beams brightly just minutes after the an- nouncement. As they say in the bakery business, that's how the cookie crumbles! People Are the Government Chat recently with "some -one -who - know," revealed that Canadians are either pathetically ill-informed about local, pro- vincial and federal government affairs, or they ar esynical. Not a very pleasant thought any way you look of it, is it? We seriously doubt if we can lay all the blame for this sickening situation at the feet of government officials. While it is certain that honesty, wisdom and sincer- ity are three virtues not all elected men and women possess, it is also •a fact that for the most part Canadian governments are well-run, orderly operations. We can- not believe otherwise. Maybe John Q. Public has grown a little apathetic over the years, until now he has little more effect than a leaky water pistol! If that's the case, it is his own fault. When people absent themselves from local nomination meetings, political rallys in the area, candidate meet -the -people events, polling booths, etc., they are silent- ly lending their approval to the wishes of the majority. When Canadians cry for better roads, higher pay, lower costs, cheaper housing, finer schools and reduced taxes in the same breath, they are encouraging officials to stretch the truth to suit the listener. Those who want more hours to play and less time at work are pushing legis- lators to implement machines to get the job done, means to keep the jobless fed and the restless entertained and ways to hoodwink the voter into thinking he's get- ting what he thought he wanted. People are the government, not one man in a riding •or a group of souls round a discussion table. Fortunately—and unfortunately—peo- ple come in all sizes and shapes. If the larg- est percentage is patient though alert, un- derstanding though discerning, watchful though wise—government will be good. Government — any government in a democratic society—is what the people make it. If there is something amiss, may- be not all the people are taking the time to be heard. County Centennial Celebration, Please The March session of Huron County council isn't that far off now, and we are hoping the members will have given some constructive thought to ways and means to celebrate Canada's Centennial Year. At the January discussions, the best anyone could suggest was a divine worship service. We are not knocking it — we are only pointing out that such gatherings are planned for most communities some time during Centennial Year. Surely our county councillors can come up with something more original that will bring recognition and maybe even dollars to Huron. Towns, villages and hamlets in the county are coming up with first-rate ideas. Visitors are going to attend, spend money, take away impressions. Residents are going to enjoy, work co-operatively, feel civic pride. Since 1967 is also Huron County coun- cil's 100th anniversary, double effort should be spent by county •officials to make the celebration super special. None of us reading this today will see the opportunity for another Centennial celebration roll around. It's a once-in-a-lifetime deal — and it's here right now. We suggest that residents in Huron should take time to write to their repre- sentatives to county council with their thoughts about a twin birthday party. Let's not allow the chance for a coun- ty -wide fun fest to slip through our fingers. It is time Huron citizens got together for a real look at themselves, their county, their government and their elite position on the national ladder. Getting Older ? You are getting old if — you can remember when people who wore blue jeans worked. —you can remember when a baby sitter was called mother. —you can pass a watermelon patch and not think of buckshot. —you have baldness, bridgework, bifocals, bay window, and bunions. —you think the village square is a place instead of a person. —you are grateful when a girl says no. —you think that the thinning of your hair is only a temporary matter. —you would rather not have a good time than have to get over it. —you think that in a week or two you will feel as good as ever. —you think middle age is ten years older than you are now. —you know how to take care of yourself and plan to one of these days. —your narrow waist and your broad mind begin to change places. —a vacation is what you need after you just returned from a vacation. —all women look the same—great, —The Nanton News Zurich OWS PRIN'T'ED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS LIMITED, ZURICH HERB TURKtdEiM„ Publisher J E. HUNT, Plant Superintendent Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa and for payment of postage in cash. Member: Member: Member: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives Subscription Rates: $3,00 per year in advance, in Canada; $4.00 in United States and and Foreign; single copies 7 cents, A couple of experiences re- cently have confirmecl some thing I've long suspected. People spend far too much time going to the doctor, Most doc- tors would probably agree. My wife, who could go 15 rounds with Cassius Clay and not breathe hard, goes to the doctor about twice a month. He says, "Well, you're certainly looking in fine fettle", gives her a bottle of pills and sends her about her business. My experience with doctors has been on two levels, the so- cial and the professional. So- cially, you can't beat them They like a drink, a good story, good company. Professionally well, let me tell you. Just after the war, the medi- cal profession told me I had tu- berculosis. There was a shad- ow on my chest x-ray. They pumped out my stomach and poked among the horrors ex- humed. They vampired blood out of my arm. They sucked marrow out of my breast -bone. Ever so often, a specialist in reading x-rays would show me the "shadow" on my lung. There were about 484 shadows on the x-ray. I'd nod intelli- gently, though I'll swear it was a different one every time. I still think --they got a fly- speck on the •original x-ray. But I bear them no grudge. This used to happen to me during the war. We'd be flying form- ation, on a mission, heads swivelling, wildly to watch for German fighters. Suddenly, I'd spot a whole gagle of the foe and holler over the radio, "Enemy aircraft, above, 10 o'clock!" After a frantic silence, in which everyone else swept the sky with his eyes, a sardonic voice would announce, "Smil- ey's got oil specks on his wind- screen again. So I forgave the does. In 12 months, they couldn't prove, at least to my satisfaction, that I had TB. But they needed the practice, and I bore no ill -will. About eight years later, I had a very sore back. Could hardly straighten up. L went to •a spe- cialist. He took. $28 worth of x-rays and a ten -dollar fee. poked me painfully, and on the second visit informed me that I had a "severe" irritation of the lumbar region. I was pretty scared and asked him what it involved. "To put it in lay- man's language," he pontificat- ed, "you have a sore back". Couple of years later, I hob- bled into another doctor's of- fice. My knee was acting up. A Gerinan feldwebel had tried to kick the kneecap off, one day in 1944, and every so often it went on the fritz. The doc twisted it until I screamed, told me it was very painful. He took x-rays, wrenched it until I was bathed in sweat, and told me I had a bad knee and should. be careful with it. Recently, 1 went to the veter- ans' hospital, for my regular chest check-up. The doc couldn't find the scar on my x-ray, and had to ask me which lung it had been. I didn't know. The other day I went to an eye specialist. I can see fine, but my wife thought I should go, I haven't had my eyes checked since another eye spe- ialist, 15 years ago, prescribed the glasses I wear for reading. Well, this young fellow the other day, who can give you an appointment within four months of the time you call, told me I didn't need glasses. Said the ones I had were as useful as window panes. He didn't realize I had them renewed at about $25 a rattle, four or five times since the original prescription, whenever I'd broken them or lost them. Well, I'm going to fool him. I'm going to go right on wear- ing those glasses, if only to hide the bags under my eyes. Doctors! It's not that I'm pre- judiced. Some of my best friends are doctors, But how would you like your sister to marry one of them? 0 CTV's presentation of "Hall of Kings", a drama -documentary piece seen last week in color, was refreshing and no doubt reminded many of the viewers of their English history classes in school. James Mason hosted this 900 - year -old subject—Westminster Abbey— and portrayed poet Robert Browning with Irish ac- tress Siobhan McKenna appear- ing as Elizabeth Barrett Brown- ing and Mary, Queen of Scots. One highlight was the appear- ance of Lynn Redgrave (star of the hit film "Georgy Girl") who gave us an excellent interpre- tation of the young Queen Vic- toria reminiscing about her cor- ornation. • The cameras toured the Ab- bey, coronation site of all but two English monarchs, to view the Poets' Corner, the memor- ials to Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, •and the tombs of some of the 18 sovereigns who are buried there. Production and direction by Harry Rasky were excellent and the music by Clinton Elliot was superb. Last week we discussed the ever-changing television sched- ules and immediately after it was written there was a rumor from New York that CBS will drop "What's My Line?" We should congratulate the network for leaving it untouch- ed for 17 years—a record in TV. Only Ed Sullivan beats it by a year and a half. It's rumored that this popu- lar panel show" will be replaced by a Western. Come now, you network bosses can do better than that! N E W ! - Shur -Gain Beef . Silasupplement "A" Increase daily gains from corn silage. Feed 40% Beef Silasupplements "A". This new beef supplement is designed to supply the pro- tein required when feeding corn silage which is higher in grain and energy content. Beef feeders using silage as the main ration owe it to themselves to learn all the details about SHUR-GAIN 40% Beef Silasupplement "A". feed service M. DEITZ and SON DIAL 236.4951 ZURICH Froin My Window Every time I lick a federal postage stamp purchased at a federal post office wicket from a federal postal clerk I wonder that the federal department of health doesn't descend on the federal postmaster and strip him of his federal mail bag. Heaven knows the federal government has time to inves- tigate all the smutty, sordid skeletons in the closets of each and every House of Commons member, who might pose a threat of some kind or another to the party's future; peek into the recesses • of every taxpayers pocketbook to ferret out every last penny of his income the government can claim; dig to embarrassing lengths into a person's private life to deter- mine whether or not he or she is deserving of financial assis- tance a year or two ahead of pension age. One would think that with all these government inspectors about the country, someone in- fluential would have noticed that postage stamps are always slid—gummy side down—across a public counter which has been fingered by everyone from sticky Mary •Chocolateface to smelly Charlie Garbagecan. I ani not suggesting that peo- ple who haven't washed their hands in the last five minutes should keep their paws pocket- ed until they leave the postal premises. It would be imprac- tical to expect the garage me- chanic to scrub his fingernails before picking up the carbur- etor bolts which have arrived in the mail at the last minute. It does seem to me that with all the modern advances in the world today, there should be some way to dispense postage stamps one at a time without picking up every kind of germ By Shirley Keller the human hand can deposit. Certainly, the more finicky postal customers may get their stamps at a machine which doles out some denominations of stamps like cigarettes or candy bars. Still there are times when one must 'consult with the postal clerk and pur- chase stamps individually and I, for one, am not particular about getting my Centennial commemorative issue with the smell of turpentine and the taste of duplicating ink. Maybe Mr, Cote and his stamp designers could come up with a stamp which adheres to an envelope without being wetted; or a kind of cafeteria -style stamp bar which would cut down on the number of persons handling the stamps; or a dial- o-matic stamp robot which spits out just the correct stamp in a sanitary protective seal, A simpler solution, of course, would be to make it a federal offence punishable by 20 strokes with a stamp cancellation ham- mer for any postal employee to slide a stamp across any public surface while the stamp has its gummy tummy down. 0 Renew Your Subscription Now BOB'S Barber Shop MAIN STREET, ZURiCI Open Tuesday and Friday Nits. s BLUE WATER REST HOME ZURICH, ONTARIO Brand new 65 -bed Home with qualified nursing and medical staff, and fully equipped, has rooms for immediate occupancy. Cost: $6.00 Per Day For Further Details — Contact the Superintendent BOX 220, ZURICH TELEPHONE 236-4373 Business and Professional Directory OPTOMETRISTS J. E. LONGSTAEF OPTOMETRIST SEAFORTH — Dial 527-1240 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 12 noon CLINTON — Dial 482-7010 Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Norman Martin OPTOMETRIST Office Hours: 9 -12 A.M. — 1:30 -6 P.M. Closed all day Wednesday Phone 235-2433 Exeter ACCOUNTANTS Roy N. Bentley PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT GODERICH P.O. Box 478 Dial 524-9521 FUNERAL DIRECTORS WESTLAKE Funeral Horne AMBULANCE and PORTABLE OXYGEN SERVICE DIAL 236-4364 — ZURICH HURON and ERIE DEBENTURES CANADA TRUST CERTIFICATES J. W. fABERER Authorized Representative 6V4%n FOR 3 YEARS 6% -- FOR 1, 2, 4 & 5 YEARS DIAL 236-4346 — ZURICH AUCTIONEERS ALVIN WALPEII PROVINCIAL LICENSED AUCTIONEER For your sale, large or snta}4., courteous and efficient service at all times. "Service That Satisfies"' DIAL 237-3592 DASHWOOD LEGAL BELL & LAUGHTON BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & NOTARIES PUBLIC ELMER BELL, Q.C., B.A. C. V. LAUGHTON, Q.C., LIB, Zurich Office Tuesday Afternoons Grand Bend Saturday Mornings by Appointment PHONE 519-235-0440 EXETER. INSURANCE For Safety .. EVERY FARMER NEEDS Liability Insurance For Information About Ali insurance -- Call BERT KLOPP Dial 236.4988 .--. ZURICH Representing CO-OPERATORS INSURANCE ASSOCIATION J. W. Haberer insurance Agency "All Kinds of Insurance" DIAL 2364391 .- ZURICH