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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-06-01, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, June 1, 2005 Opinion Forum News Water testing bill Dear Editor: This letter is regarding the item in last week's paper about the testing and results that were done at Huron Street West and the Corbett Line. I feel the person who did all the complaining, (that being Pete Armstrong) should foot the bill of over $1000.00 not the taxpayers of South Huron. He was the one who stated "he was mad as hell and charges should be laid," He started the ball rolling so now Pete the ball is in your court so pay up. All his remarks were printed in your papers. One other thing, I'm surprised he is aware of back roads in South Huron, but at certain times its hard to call them roads. Stephen Township at one time had the best back roads in the entire area but since we are now South Huron they are a disgrace. Don't tell me it's lack of funds, with the taxes we pay we certainly are not getting our moneys worth and I see by your last paper the taxes are going up again. RUTH HAIST R.R.#2 Centralia,On Special tradition successful Dear Editor: Re: McHappy Day® 2005 On behalf of all of us at McDonald's®, I want to personally thank this community for helping to make McHappy Day 2005 such an outstanding success. On May 18, McDonald's restaurants across the country rS joined together with our employees, our customers, our ./ suppliers and other special guests to raise money to help children in need across Canada. The incredible generosity of our customers, the enthusi- asm of our employees and the support of our celebrity volunteers helped our restaurant support the activities of The Exeter Lions Club and Easter Seals Camp Wood Eden. Their efforts directly impact the lives of many children in this community every year, and we're so proud to be able to provide them with some assistance. We hope you are as delighted as we are to be a part of this success. We look for- ward to continuing this special tradition in the years ahead. Writer shocked and disturbed I was shocked and disturbed to discover that the Huron County Historical Society plans to parade re -enactors in "authentic" Nazi uniforms at their Annual Dinner Meeting Oct. 28. I quote their Spring Newsletter 2005, "There will be authentic Nazi uni- forms being worn by some of the participants — WE WILL EXPECT THE UTMOST COURTESY TO BE GIVEN TO THESE MEN AND WOMEN. They are portraying a role — they are not German soldiers." In light of the recent Nazi style swastikas appearing on buildings in Exeter, I believe it's time for Huron County Historical Society members (and the Exeter offenders if apprehended) to meet with residents of this county who faced Nazi horrors first hand. Only then will they fully understand the conse- quence of their actions. Members of the Huron County Historical Society have a responsibility to ensure that their organization is following proper moral, historical and ethi- cal guidelines. As history enthusiasts, surely they must be aware that four WWII military facilities were constructed in this county to train air force per- sonnel from around the world to defeat those who wore the Nazi uniform. They are also aware of the names on local cenotaphs of Huron County resi- dents who never returned home to enjoy the freedom they fought and died to preserve. I suggest they invite veterans who fought and defeated the Nazis to their dinner meeting and thank them like our Dutch commu- nity recently did in Goderich. Funny, I didn't see the Nazi re - enactors marching in the Dutch- sponsored parade or at any VE - Day celebrations. In this Year of the Veteran, I would think the Huron County Historical Society should focus its efforts on interviewing surviv- ing WWII veterans while they are still with us. After they finish that project, maybe they could assist with repair of the crumbling Lette to the Editor Yours sincerely, ROB AND MICHELLE REID Owner/Operators, McDonald's Restaurant Exeter "Memorial Gates" at Vanastra and a plaque to recognize the fact that Huron County was home to the only radar facility in North America in the early days of WWII. How insulting in a year dedicated to veterans that parading Nazi uniforms is the best program they can come up with. W. PETER FYDENCHUK Crediton Annual formal for graduating students this week The big event at South Huron this week is the annual formal for graduating students. This year's dance will take place Sat., June 4, start- ing at 7:30 p.m. in the large gym. This event is eagerly anticipated by the graduating class, and the planning and preparation have been going on for several months. The highlight of the formal will be the announcement of the male and female students of the year, as selected by the senior students. Each year the graduating class selects candi- dates who have been very involved in school activities and who epitomize the Panther spirit. One male and one female are then elected as the students of the year. The nominees will be honoured and the winners announced just before 11 p.m. Parents are invited and encour- aged to attend the ceremony. The nominees for this honour are all excel- lent candidates who have contributed to life at South Huron in a variety of ways. Any of them would be excellent choices as student of the year, and they should all feel honoured to have been selected by their classmates. The nominees for the females are: Lindsay Allen, Shan Cooper, Marcia Melick, Shelby Musser and Julie Prout. The male nominees are: Nick Anstett, Tyson Breuer, Zach Dougall and Fragiskos Fragiskatos. You can find out more about each of these students in an article elsewhere in this week's edition of the paper. I would like to add my congratulations to each of these students on being nominated, and I look forward to seeing them all at the dance, where they will be congratulated by their peers for having helped to make life at South Huron a wonderful experience. The formal is a wonderful event that provides a fit- ting end to the high school careers of the graduating class. However, there is one aspect of this dance that always troubles me, and that is the notion that the dance can't be enjoyed without some drinking before- hand. For each of the past three years I have met with the students before the dance and outlined my expec- tation that they not drink before the dance. And I have to admit that the situation has improved each year, but there are still too many students who feel the need to drink before arriving at the dance. Last year I warned (some would say threat- ened) that I would have a breathalyser at the door, and I made arrangements to do so, but at the last minute, the breathalyser was not available. Some accused me of making an idle threat. That is not the case, but there is no use arguing the point now. I have served notice to the students this year that we now, in fact, have a breathalyser of our own. We used it at the last regular dance of the year and it worked very effectively. The breathalyser will be at the door this year, and any students found to have been drinking will be refused entry to the dance. Those who have had more than a drink or two will be kept at the school until parents can pick them up: we will not risk their health and safety by turning them away if they have had enough to drink that they might be pose a danger to themselves or others. Many students, and some parents I am sure, will think this is a heavy-handed approach to a minor problem. I have often heard the argument that there is no harm in a couple of drinks, and "Hey, this is JEFF REABURN PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE Huron County after all." Well, first of all, the Provincial Code of Conduct for schools is clear that students are not to consume any alcohol before coming to a school event: it does not say that they are not to come drunk, but not under the influence at all. And as for the "Huron County" argu- ment, that is simply an unacceptable excuse. Unfortunately, the stance we are required to take is not supported by all students, or by all parents for that matter. In fact, I have heard on numerous occasions that the alcohol is often supplied by the parents them- selves, and I have been in the uncomfortable position as a parent of witnessing this myself. I am not opposed to the consumption of alcohol and like a drink or two on occasion myself, but the rules set down by the province are clear, and, as principal, I am required to uphold them. Besides, few of our students, even among our gradu- ating class, are old enough to legally consume alcohol. So please assist me in making this event an alcohol - free one. If you are hosting a dinner before the dance, please do not permit the students in attendance to drink. If you feel they must drink to enjoy the evening, then encourage them to do so after the dance, but encourage them to use common sense and moderation and to look out for one another. The night of the for- mal is one of the longest nights of the year for me, and I dread listening to the news the next day in fear that some of our students may have been in an accident. I want the formal to be a fun -filled celebration but a safe one also. As I have told the students every year, if we can't have a school dance without drinking first, then maybe it's time to stop having the dance. I ask all parents and students to help me avoid having to make such a decision. POLICE BRIEF Exeter break-in streak EXETER — Four break-ins on Main Street in Exeter had police on the move during the morning of May 24. Officers were called to New Orleans Pizza where someone tried to force open the safe. Three more calls were received within the hour. Doors were forced open at Take Two Hair Design, Greeting Card World and Esso Gas Station. Thieves took cash, jewellery, hair care products, watches, razors and a quantity of cigarettes. Later that morning, Huron OPP arrested two males on London Road in connection with the break-ins. An apartment was searched and most of the stolen property recovered. One suspect was also in possession of crack cocaine. Police have arrested three men: two 24 -year-olds from South Huron and a 33 -year-old from London. The trio faces a number of charges. Cocaine _possession GRANTON — On ay 15 an OPP officer observed two motor vehicles in a parking lot on High Street in the hamlet of Granton. After further investigation, the officer located drug paraphenalia and cocaine in both vehicles. The occupants of one vehicle, a 24 - year old male and 17 -year old female, both of Granton Line, Lucan-Biddulph, were arrested and charged with two counts of possession. Two occupants in the second vehicle, a 17 -year old female of Granton Line, Lucan-Biddulph and a 19 -year old male from Granton, were charged with one count of possession. Hydro one targeted SOUTH HURON — A Hydro one substation, located on London Road near Centralia, was broken into during the night of May 13. Someone entered two trailers in the secure compound. The thief took a Compaq laptop computer, printer, microwave, television and three large yellow Hydro one bags containing tools like wrenches, sock- ets and hammers.