Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-06-22, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, June 22, 2005 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 under 30 and most likely a teenager. He may be well dressed, wearing a recognizable uni- form or a suit jacket. It will more than likely be broad daylight. The typical burglar does not want to harm you, just get into your home, steal what is available and valuable and get out as quickly as possible, unobserved. Away from home It is important to take extra care in securing your home when you are going to be away for any length of time. Not only should your home be secure but it should also appear lived in. Prevention tips Secure all windows, doors and garage before you leave. Leave a radio playing to indicate that someone is home. Leave one or two lights on, preferably timers that turn on according to how dark it is outside. Discontinue mail, milk and newspaper deliveries. Arrange to have someone pick up any newspapers or mail that are left on your step. Leave a key with someone you trust. Let your neighbours know you're going to be away, for how long and where you can be contacted if necessary. Safety on the street If street crimes (purse snatching, robberies, assaults) are a problem in your neighbourhood and you have a fear of being victimized, there are ways in which you can reduce the risk of victimization and increase your sense of personal security. Prevention tips Walk only in well -lit areas. Do not burden yourself with packages and a bulky purse. Never display large sums of money in public. Go shopping in pairs or in a group. Walk in the centre of the sidewalk, away from alleys and doorways. If you suspect you are being followed, cross the street, go to the nearest home, service station or business and call the police. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid areas that increase your chances of being assaulted. Report problem areas to police. The police welcome the information and can also advise you of prevention methods. Safety in your vehicle There are some common sense rules that motorists should follow under certain conditions. Rely on your judgment and assessment of the situation to tell you what you should do. Prevention tips Remember to keep your vehicle locked at all times, whether moving or parked. If you are driving at night, use well -lit streets and parking lots that are open for easy observation. Be cautious of any stranger approaching your vehicle. If you feel you are in danger, press the horn repeatedly in short blasts; this will attract attention. If you think you are being followed, pull into the near- est gas station or safe place. Do not drive home. Plan and know your route before you leave, whether it is for a short drive in the city or a long trip in the coun- try. Do not pick up hitchhikers. View the interior of your car before getting in to make sure no one is hiding inside, even if the doors are locked. Have keys in hand so you do not have to linger before entering your car. What if Your vehicle breaks down in an isolated area. Pull your vehicle off the road so you will be out of the traffic; Turn on the emergency (four-way) flasher; Raise the hood of your vehicle; Then stay in your car with all doors locked and win- dows rolled up; Wait for help to come to you - a patrolling police car or another motorist; Should a passing motorist stop, stay in your car and ask him/her to send help back to you (you must use your judgment in this situation.) The guppy Whales have calves, Cats have kittens, Bears have cubs, Bats have bittens, Swans have cygnets, Seals have puppies, But guppies just have little guppies. Dinner auction is huge success Re: The SPCA Animal House Dinner Auction, Fri., une 17 Re: The SPCA Animal House Auction, Fri., une 17 This letter is written to acknowledge and thank the generosity of the community and the tremendous support that was given to the SPCA fundraiser that was held this past Friday night. Your amazing donations and your attendance at our event ensured that our Dinner Auction was a huge success, raising over $45,000 for the SPCA animal shelter in Huron County. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) does not receive any government funding. In Huron County in the last 12 months alone, we have responded to over 100 official cruelty complaints for both domestic and farm ani- mals and found loving `forever homes' for over 300 dogs and cats. The Auction Committee would like to extend our sincere thanks and admiration to „0•00011111110" Stephanie Mandziuk who volunteered her time as our Emcee and represented your newspaper with such professionalism, �, class and poise. Stephanie ran the evening flawlessly and we are thrilled that she has agreed to work with us again next year. Bob Heywood, from Bob Heywood Auctions and Royal LePage Heartland Realty also donated his time and incredible talents as the evening's auctioneer. Bob's sense of humour and quick wit kept the audiences attention and kept the bidding on the rise. This event could not have happened at all without the countless hours spent by the many volunteers, who believe that cruelty to animals is not acceptable, and worked so hard to see that our event both raised public awareness and money for our shel- ter. To all who volunteered, thank you. In closing, we would like to thank the Times Advocate for your on-going support of our fundraising efforts. Letters to the Editor Looking for information from Dashwood rainstorm Dear Editor: One of the mandates of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) is to develop and implement programs for the purpose of reducing risk to life and prop- erty damage from flooding and erosion. The ABCA has a Flood Forecasting and Warning system in place however, our monitoring network for precipitation and stream flows is most useful for widespread precipitation events. The intense localized thunderstorm events of the past two weeks did not occur in areas where we have automated monitoring stations. Therefore we are unable to accurately define precipitation amounts that might have fallen. This year we will be implementing a volunteer rain gauge network to help address the gap in our monitoring system. Following the June 9th rainfall and flooding south of Dashwood, we are collecting information which will allow us to develop tools for the future to be better prepared in dealing with the types of intense storms occurring frequently in our watershed area. We are asking for assistance in providing any rainfall amounts collected dur- ing this storm so that the amounts and extent of precipitation can be proper- ly documented. We would be interested in the amount, timing and rain gauge location. We would also like pictures which were taken showing flood- ed road crossings or watercourses. If you have information that you would be willing to share, please contact Brad Dixon at Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority 235-2610. Thank you for your help with this project. ALEC M. SCOTT, P.Eng, ABCA Water & Planning Manager Sincerely, KATE MCKENZIE, Auction Chairperson (236-4044) KARA GOSLEIGH, Branch Manager, Ontario SPCA Huron County Branch 519-440-0250 Sobriety tests reduce deaths Dear Editor: The Canada Safety Council applauds the June 16 ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada that authorizes police to conduct roadside sobriety tests without first informing drivers of their constitutional rights. In 1998, two Manitoba drivers were acquitted of impaired driving charges on the basis that their right to counsel was infringed because they were not told of their right to legal counsel prior to roadside sobriety tests. The men were informed of their right to counsel after being brought to the police station, where they were given breathalyzers which they failed; this is a normal process for such criminal charges. The Supreme Court ruling is in line with other court decisions which have upheld the legality of various measures against impaired driving. The courts have consis- tently upheld the legality of sobriety checks. A ruling in favour of the accused would have jeopardized the future of impaired driving enforcement. Roadside sobriety checks prevent impaired driving. They work because they pro- vide a highly visible police presence. People are far less likely to offend when they believe they will be caught. Over the past few years, Canada has seen an impressive drop in road fatalities involving a drinking driver —from 1,296 in 1995 to 850 in 2002, a drop of more than one-third. Traffic enforcement using roadside sobriety tests is one of the most effective weapons in the fight against impaired driving. Their legality must be upheld. EMILE-J. THERIEN, President, Canada Safety Council, Ottawa, ON Exeter volunteers collect over $1000 Dear Editor: The Alzheimer Society of Huron County would like to sincerely thank the many dedicated volunteers and the generous support of the Exeter residents during our 12th annual Tag Days held June 3 and June 4. Exeter volunteers collected an amazing $1,080.63. Countywide $6,864.81 was raised to help support local programs and to provide "Help for Today and Hope for Tomorrow" for those affected by Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. Thanks for your support. • Notheu uteri Matt Matt is one of our fun Little Brothers who is 13 years old. Matt likes cars, drawing, dirt bikes, camping and swim- ming. He also enjoys music, playing the guitar and video games. Matt's favourite sub- jects in school are math, gym and art. Matt has a great CATHY RITSEMA, Executive Director Alzheimer Society of Huron County sense of humor! Matt hopes to have a Big Brother because he would like to have some- one to do things with, to listen to him, and to be a friend. Matt is looking forward to playing games and sports with his Big Brother. Matt is one of our great Little Brothers who is look- ing for a mentoring friend- ship. FOR INFORMATION ON OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, CALL OUR OFFICE AT 235-3307 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.shbbbs.on.ca.