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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-12-22, Page 5a considerable benefit to a large consumer and it is no surprise that the rate per quarter in 2005 reduces to $2144 from the 2004 rate $2979. The major reason to the reduction in rates was a decrease in sewage rate of 118.9 per cent to 77 per cent of the water rate. • It would indicate that the large customer using 2000m3 will pay approximately $1.07m3 for water and waste water and the residential customer using 50m3 will pay approximately $3.64m3 for water and waste water. Approximately slightly over 42 per cent of a cus- tomer billing that uses 50m3 is flat rate that does not provide actual water, while the customer with 2000m3 has approximately 3.5 per cent of his billing that does not provide actual water. • The benefits are apparent. H.L. DAVIS, Exeter Best wishes to all Dear Editor: As the Minister of Agriculture and Agri -Food, I would like to offer my best wishes to all for this holiday season. As 2004 draws to an end, I want to express my appre- ciation to the thousands of Canadian farmers and farm families from across the country Thanks to your efforts, Canadians enjoy an abundance of nutritious food that is produced with the highest standards for safety. The Government of Canada recognizes the impor- tance of a strong and prosperous farming community. I remain committed to working in partnership with you to create an environment that provides Canadian pro- ducers the opportunity to earn a living, allows our agri- food sector as a whole to be profitable, and ensures that our rural communities are sustainable. I would also like to recognize the important role pro- ducer organizations play in providing farmers with the knowledge and ideas that allow them to improve their productivity and increase their profitability. I wish you a safe and joyous holiday season. ANDY MITCHELL Wednesday, December 22, 2004 Exeter Times–Advocate 5 Opinion Forum News ROSS HAUGH BACK IN TIME 10 YEARS AGO Dec. 21, 1994 — Cha -Co Trails have announced that on Jan. 15 they will be discontinu- ing the London to Owen Sound bus route which goes through Exeter. Bill, Les and John Coleman of the Kippen area won this year's oats division at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. They also were winners in the barley competitions in 1993, 1989, 1985 and 1982. The new Hensall village council includes reeve Cecil Pepper and councillors Jeff Raeburn, Dick Packham, Butch Hoffman and Steve Towle. Saturday's Santa Claus parade in the village of Lucan was the first in that municipality in 31 years and was a huge success according to orga- nizer Janice Bullock. 20YEARS AGO Dec. 20, 1984 — Local area residents receiving Bi -Centennial awards were Marian Dougall, Isabel Miller, John Broadfoot, Benson Tuckey, Valentine Becker, Doug O'Brien, Donald McAdam, Fred Bowers, Ivan McClymont, Gordon Hill, Elgin Thompson and Bill Gibson. After a tense four ballot vote on Monday, Stanley Township reeve Paul Steckle was elected as warden of Huron County. 25 YEARS AGO Dec. 23, 1979 — Former Centralia College of Agricultural Technology Jim MacDonald was honoured at the Pineridge Chalet on Sunday. He has moved to the top spot at Ridgetown College. In attendance were students at the college when it opened in 1967, Bev Shipley, Bob Drummond and Betty and Jim DeBlock. Getting shields as the top students in Grade 13 at South Huron District High School were Doug Scott, Brad Taylor, Marian Martens and Robin Little. Susan Zielman of RR 2, Dashwood has been named Huron County Dairy Princess by the milk producers of the county. The Kippen East Women's Institute celebrated its 45th anniversary Thursday night. Cutting the cake were 1934 president Carrie Graham and current president Ruby Triebner. The South Huron Panthers won the Huron - Perth junior football championship recently. Captains are Bill Glover, Dale Kerslake, Guy Dietz and Dave Shaw. 35 YEARS AGO Dec. 21, 1969 — Exeter council has held pay increases for employees to a minimum for 1970. Clerk Eric Carscadden's salary will rise $400 to $7,400 and police chief Ted Day's increase will be $200 to the same rate as the clerk. At the final meeting of the year of Exeter coun- cil for 1969, Mayor Jack Delbridge said, "We should have had a woman on council years ago" as Coun. Helen Jermyn passed around home- made cookies and cake. 45 YEARS AGO Dec. 24, 1959 — Charles Kyle, a young busi- nessman from Tavistock won the $500 first prize in the recent Exeter Kinsmen's Grey Cup raffle. The winning ticket was sold by Les Parker of Exeter. 55 YEARS AGO Dec. 19, 1949 — Edward "Ted" Chambers of Crediton has been reappointed as a trustee on the Exeter District High School board. 60YEARS AGO Dec. 23, 1944 — The top students in each grade for the past year at Exeter High School were Donna Bowden, Patsy Hay, Peter Fraser, Laurene Zurbrig and Marie Fletcher. 80YEARS AGO Dec. 21, 1924 — On Tuesday evening, a horse driven by Benson Tuckey on Main Street became frightened and started to kick, getting one foot caught in the shafts of the dashboard. The cutter was badly broken and the horse's leg was cut. Mr. Mitchell has disposed of the Metropolitan Hotel to Mr. T. Cameron. Mr. Mitchell has been the proprietor for the past 10 years. 1 I OYEARS AGO Dec. 23, 1894 — Smyth Brothers big white steer which took first prize at the Guelph show will be turned into Christmas beef by Snell, the butcher. A Christmas message Pastor Scott Stein EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH Christmas is a family affair. My wife and I moved to South Huron just over four years ago now. Even after all this time, I am still discovering (even as recently as this past Sunday) people's family connec- tions. As someone who did not grow , up in South Huron, it almost seems like everyone is somehow related to everyone else. Family ties run deep here and I think that is something which is very valuable in our day and age, giving people a real sense of connectedness with the community. When one feels con- nected to family it is an absolute blessing. It provides a sense of identity and belonging. The truth, however is that many of us do not enjoy the warmth and blessing of family con- nectedness. Whether because of broken rela- tionships, distance, or the tragic loss of loved ones �1 many of us feel "de-familied", and this is never more keenly felt than at Christmas. And yet the truth is that Christmas, as the cele- bration of Jesus birth, means that every- one can enjoy the blessing of being a part of a family. First, as we reflect on the birth of Jesus we realize that while being every bit the Son of God, Jesus also became every bit a human being. "The Word [Jesus] became flesh..." (John 1:14) Why would God's Son become one of us? Well, the first thing the Bible tells us is so that Jesus could die to bring forgiveness for our sins. f (Hebrews 2:16-17) The second thing we learn from the Bible is that in bringing us forgiveness, Jesus also brings us back to a family relation- ship with God. John 1:12 says that "...to all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." When we ask Jesus to forgive us, and receive Jesus as our Savior, we become children of a Father in heaven to whom we relate and even intimately call out to him as our "Daddy." The third thing the Bible tells us is that in becoming God's children, we become a part of an even bigger family, namely the church. Now I know that making reference to church for some is even more painful than making ref- erence to family because they have received such hurts in the past from "the church". The rea- son for this is that the church is made up of people, and sometimes people (even in church- es) do not always live according to the princi- ple of love that Jesus gave his followers to live by: "A new command I give you: Love one anoth- er. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34,35) But when Jesus rule of love does govern the way God's children live together as church, it is the most wonderful, beautiful thing. Jesus came at Christmas to restore us to a place of family relationship to God. Through Jesus we can know the joy and blessing of being a part of family where God is our Father and his children our brothers and sisters. My prayer for you is that you will know this joy at Christmas this year. OPINIONS AND LETTERS A sincere thank you Dear Editor: The Exeter Branch of the Huron County Christmas Bureau which was located at Precious Blood Catholic Church would sincerely like to thank all of the area businesses, schools, churches, and individuals for all their generous donations of food, clothing, toys and stuffed animals Special thank you to all of our volunteers who helped make Christmas 2004 a brighter and happier one for the many families that came through our doors and left with a piece of our hearts. May your families and friends have a Christmas filled with good health and happiness. Remember: Your time and attention to others is a gift! All the best to everyone in 2005. JoAN AGNEW, manager WENDY MEIDINGER, assistant manager Items of interest Dear Editor: The second report by Dillon Consulting of Dec. 6 contains some items of interest to consumers of water in Exeter: • First report for water and waste water for a house using 50m3 (cubic metres) was 152.76 quarterly (water only 80.40). • Second report for item #2 has rate at 182.62 (water only 103.35). • Both reports indicate the existing cost in 2004 for water consumption of 50m3 and waste water quarterly at 161.44. This would have a quarterly increase in 2005 of $21.18. • I would suggest the existing rate in 2004 for water consumption of 50m3 and waste water is 125.76 and the quarterly rate increase in 2005 is 56.86. A consid- erable difference. • In their report for large consumers it has 2000m (44,000 gal). This, of course, should be 338,000 gal. It is apparent that the revised rate of $0.66m3 to $0.57m3 is