The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-09-29, Page 44 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday , September 29, 2004 =CNA TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the Financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing casts. Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Deb Lord Production Manager Published by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Iletroland i 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIALS Attend water meeting South Huron water customers will have the chance to get involved this Thursday when the municipality hosts a public meeting on proposed water and sewage rate increases at the South Huron Rec Centre. As has been documented many times in Times -Advocate, the municipality found its water system $600,000 in debt and recently added a retroactive $10/month surcharge to help pay off $150,000 of the debt. Another $150,000 was paid off by the Exeter Community Development Fund (money from the sale of the former Exeter PUC). The $10 surcharge will continue until the end of this year, when new rates are scheduled to kick in. And that's where you come in. The munici- pality has hired Dillon Consulting to develop a long-term financial plan for South Huron's water system. That plan includes new rates, which, while not determined yet, will see some customers paying more. A preliminary presentation to council a couple of weeks ago showed one proposal under which small resi- dential and commercial properties in Exeter, large commercial properties in Stephen and Huron Park and Stephen cottagers will see their rates go up. Others, such as small resi- dential and commercial properties in Stephen could pay less. Council has made no decision on what the new rates will be. Thursday's public meeting at the Rec Centre at 7 p.m. is your chance to ask questions and provide input about the direction council decides to take and how the new rates should be implemented. If you bring your water bill, individual questions and concerns can be answered. If you have any complaints, criticisms or questions about the new rates or the future of South Huron's water system, be at the meet- ing. Too often, ratepayers complain about municipal actions after it's too late. This week's meeting gives you a chance to let council know what you think they should do. Of course, each regular council meeting is also open to the public, although attendance is usually sparse. Be proactive, not reactive. Editorial Opinion NIS ROOKIE OPPONENT IS RJGI1T' HANDED, BUT NITS WITH HIS LEFT,.. Lots of alternatives to the NHL Now that Canada has rightly reclaimed all the major international hockey championships (with the exception of the World Juniors), Canadians find themselves without their beloved professional hockey. For anybody living under a rock for the last couple of weeks, the entire NHL season is in doubt after the owners locked out the players when the collective bargaining agreement expired a couple of weeks ago. The question is: does anybody care? I've decided I don't — at least not yet. My addiction to hockey is well documented, but I just can't get myself wrapped up in a fight between billionaire owners and their millionaire players. Which side are we sup- posed to feel sorry for? The disgustingly rich, or the obscenely rich? The NHL might not like to admit it, but it's not the only game in town. Canadians need- ing their hockey fix can follow dozens of MIL and CHL teams across the country. Locally, the area has its share of teams offering a high level of the game, including the Exeter Hawks, the Lucan Irish, the Hensall Sherwoods and the newly -formed Lucan Ilderton Jets. The NHL owners and their players may find fans aren't exactly crying for the return of a game they can't even afford to go to. And in the U.S., where NHL and World Cup games get smaller television ratings than championship poker and bowling, fans may not return once the NHL and its players reach a new agreement. Of course, for many Canadians bemoaning a watered-down league with too many teams and not enough quality players, this is good news. Hopefully teams in places like Nashville, North Carolina, Florida, Phoenix and California will fold, getting rid of some of the less -talented players. Hey, if hockey -mad places like Quebec City and Winnipeg can't have NHL teams, then those south- erners who worship NASCAR, the rodeo and possum pie shouldn't have any hockey, either. This NHL lockout will end someday; in the mean- time, life will go on. Heartfelt thanks Finally, I want to personally thank the coward who damaged my car in the public lot behind the Exeter Parkette Sept. 20 and then took off without leaving a note — you've reaffirmed my belief in most people's hon- esty and integrity. Quite frankly, the world needs fewer peo- ple like this. This is the third time (and the second hi Exeter) I've had a parked car dam- aged. Each time the guilty party took off (in broad daylight). Nice honest people. Great drivers, too. Listen, if you don't know how to properly back your car out of a parking spot, at least have the decency to offer an apology to the person whose car you damaged. Just to review — you can't drive, you damaged someone else's property, and then you decided to get the hell out of there. Thanks for the positive contri- bution to the community. And don't get me started on the people in this town who don't know the difference between two- way, three-way and four-way stops. Watching some drivers try to navigate the streets of Exeter is proba- bly more entertaining and horrifying than it should be. Can I suggest driving lessons? SCOTT NIXON AND ANOTHER THING About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. Contact Us By Phone or Fax Classified ad & subscription sales ....(519) 235-1331 24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336 Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $37+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $68+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $104 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $10.00 for 20 words, 20(r for each addition- al word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15.00 + GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes- sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 4 m. -mail Us Website: www.southhuron.com TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher/Editor Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Michelle Sereda ext. 110 Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 REPORTERS Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Mary Simmons ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Carol Powe ext 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 114/103 Sharlene Young, Diana Hardy ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 Marg Pertschy ext. 208