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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-08-23, Page 76 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, August 16, 2006 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 • Quiz yourself before keeping an item: When did I last use this item? Am I going to need this item on a spe- cific date in the future? Does this item have a legal or tax purpose? How hard would it be to replace this item again someday if I need it? In what way is this item making life better? Gannet News Service Curiosity gets drunk skunked: A drunken man got more than he bargained for when he picked up a skunk by the tail, got sprayed, and then he passed out in some bushes in Dryden last weekend. Just before 11 p.m. Saturday, officers with the Dryden Police Service extracted the passed out man from some bushes along Government Street in Dryden and were immediately overwhelmed by the odour of fresh skunk spray. The man told police a family member had told him if you pick up a skunk by the tail, it couldn't spray you. Unfortunately, the man had the opportunity to test this theory -- and found it didn't work as promised. The man, who had been walking home under the influence that evening, carne across a rogue skunk. He told police he picked up the animal by the tail, only to be sprayed point blank in the chest and face. The skunk spun around and bit the man on the hand causing him to drop the enraged animal. He then fell into the shrubbery and passed out before being roused by police. As a result, the Dryden Police remind the public that, for those who have heard this "urban legend," they should reconsider picking up a skunk -- by any method. By Kenora Daily Miner and News Down on the Farm: Safety message to Rural and Non Rural People! Look Up, Look Out, Locate Respect the Power on the Farm. Check for power -lines on the farm. What is the Risk? Power -lines around the farm may have no protective insulation. This can make metal objects a direct conduc- tor of electricity, and increase the potential for electrical arcing when objects come in close proximity to them. How to Avoid Risk? Look UP! When operating and/or repairing and main- taining farm equipment. Locate overhead power -lines where you will be working before you start. Always stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power -lines when working with farm equipment. Also, keep a lookout for supporting guy wires used to brace hydro poles and lines - treat all power -lines as if they are high voltage. What is the Risk? Aluminum ladders, ladders with metallic parts, or pipes will act as conductors of electricity if they contact overhead power -lines. How to Avoid Risk? Look UP! Always be aware of overhead power -lines. Ladders and other long objects such as pipes should be carried horizontally. Always check above prior to extending a ladder or section of piping. What is the Risk? Downed power -lines may be live! Accidents involving downed power -lines and vehicles represented 11% of power -line fatalities over the past 8 years. How to Avoid Risk: Look Out! Treat downed power -lines as live. Stay at least 35 feet away from downed power -lines - and note that the ground around these lines may be energized. In the event of a power -line emergency call 911. If you are in a vehicle that has contacted a power -line stay in the vehicle until help arrives. If there is an immediate fire danger you should jump out of the vehicle landing with your feet together without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time. You should then shuffle away without raising your feet off the ground - ensuring that your feet are always touching one another. For more information on this subject, visit www.esasafe.com HowWe Count:What Needs to Change in our Communities? Women and rural communities need to work together for: • Good jobs at living wages • An effective child benefit system • A universally accessible system of quality early learning and child care • A significant expansion of affordable housing • A renewed national social safety net Women who came to the workshops had many ideas for change: "We need more flexible approaches for women to combine work and children." "We need some money to manage." "We need a `navigator' who pulls all the pieces togeth- er - services and professionals that tie it all together." "We need universal programs that don't single out poor people." "We need support from family and friends - people are the safety net, not organizations." "We need men to take more responsibility for the work and expense of raising children. Find Out What a Lifetime of Disease Feels Like: You Need a Simple Drinking Straw; Place it in your mouth while you pinch your nostril shut. Now keep an eye on the clock and breathe. The first few seconds are fine but you have nearly a minute to go. At 15 seconds your palms start to get clammy and your chest feels tight. Keep breathing. At 25 seconds you realize how unbearable each moment is. You're not sure if you can make it. At 40 seconds a sense of panic fills you. You can't get enough air. 50 seconds: you close your eyes, your breathing is shallow, your heart pounds. 60 sec- onds: remove the straw; release your nose, breath a sigh of relief. What you experienced lasted only (1) one minute. Many people with Cystic Fibrosis experience it every day of their lives. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes the body to produce abnormal mucus. In the lungs this mucus creates an environment for bacteria and leads to cycles of infection and inflammation. The result is per- manent lung damage. As they approach their 30's, peo- ple with Cystic Fibrosis often find their lung capacity National Family Dinner Night on Sept. 21 I am writing to share with your readers a unique ini- tiative organized by M&M Meat Shops, which encour- ages families to come together and build the bonds; bonds that are the cornerstone of our communities. On Sept. 21, families across Canada will be coming together and celebrating National Family Dinner Night. As a father and as a grandfather, I greatly value the time spent with my family. In this busy day and age, it is important to make family time a pri- ority and to make the most of each opportunity that we have to spend with our family. Today, due to our busy lives, most families are apart during the day and running extra curricular activities such as, sports or music lessons in the evening. Unfortunately, this means that time around the dinner table is at a premium. The National Family Dinner Night is designed to help make family time a priority; while also helping those impacted by Crohn's and Colitis. I would like to extend my personal appreciation to all those who have helped organize this event and to all those who register for National Family Dinner Night online at www.mmmeatshops.com, as M&M Meat Shops will be making a one dollar dona- tion to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada for every person who registers. I would once again like to express my best wishes to everyone who participates in this memorable and worthy pursuit. Sincerely, PAUL STECKLE, M.P. Huron -Bruce Huron OPP 9-1-1 calls are climbing HURON — Huron OPP responded to their 600th 9- 1-1 call Aug. 11. Police received a 9-1-1 call from an elderly person advising police that there was water in the basement of the residence in Goderich. A large majority of these cases involve a person actually misdialing a number or causing the emer- gency number to be dialed due to a speed dial setting. In a number of cases children playing with tele- phones have been identified as a cause for the call. When a call is placed to 9-1-1 it is treated as an emergency call for help. If no information is available on what services are needed, as is the case if the caller hangs up, or says nothing, then police will be dispatched to the location where the call originated to ascertain if help is need- ed. This call will result in two officers being dispatched and becomes a priority call. False calls could result in a delay of service to someone who is in actual need of assistance. diminishing. Some will consider the terrifying prospect of lung transplantation. Despite the medical options, many will die in their 30's. The outlook seems bleak, doesn't it? Well, not if you know how far we've come. In the 1960's children with CF weren't expected to live beyond the age of 4. Thanks to advances in research, medication and physiotherapy, the median age of survival has increased over 8 times since then. Our hope is that the more you can relate to people with CF, the more you can do to help find a cure. Amazing what a drinking straw can do. Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 800-378-2233 or visit www.cysticfi- brosis.ca E-mail info@cysticfibrosis.ca Community Care Access Centres: (CCACs) are independent, non-profit agencies accountable to the Ministry of Health. CCACs provide one-stop access for people who need in-home health services and support or accommodation in long-term care homes. CCACs assess your needs or those of your loved one and determine eligibility for a long-term care facility or funded in-home health care. They also manage or arrange for the following: • The transition from hospital care to in-home health care • Admissions to long-term care homes • The provision of visiting health and personal support services in peoples' homes Community Care Access Centres also provide infor- mation and referrals to other community services including: • Information on retirement homes and supportive housing alternatives • Programs for people with physical disabilities • Community support services such as Meals on Wheels, Friendly Visiting, transportation services, day programs and care -giver respite programs • Volunteer -based community programs Local Community Care Access Centres are Huron County (519) 527-0000, London & Middlesex (519) 473- 2222, Perth County (519) 273-2222 or visit www.oac- cac.ca The Golfer and the Dentist: A man and his wife walked into a dentist's office. The man said to the dentist, "Doc, I'm in a real hurry! I have two buddies sitting out in my car waiting for us to go play golf. So forget about the anesthetic and just pull the tooth and be done with it. We have a 10:00 AM tee time at the best golf course in town and its 9:30 already. I don't have time to wait for the anesthetic to work!" The dentist thought to himself, "My goodness, this is surely a very brave man asking to have his tooth pulled without using anything to kill the pain." So the dentist ask him, "Which tooth is it sir?" The man turned to his wife and said, "Open your mouth Honey, and show him." Two Men are approaching each other on a sidewalk. Both are dragging their right foot as they walk. As they meet, one man points to his foot and says, "Vietnam, 1969." The other points his thumb behind him and says, "Dog crap, 20 feet back." Goodbye Summer! EXETER — We are now into our last week of the South H u r on Playground Program. We had a great time at Fleetway in London where we enjoyed a game of bowl- ing as well as some Glo Golf. We also went to the Fanshawe Pioneer Village. We were blasted to the past where we visited a community as it would have been over 100 years ago. We met a scary schoolmaster and even participated in his classroom. To finish off the summer we will be having celebrations Aug. 25. Please be pre- pared for a day of fun! It's hard to believe the summer is almost over! We have had a great MAGGIE MILLER EXETER PLAYGROUND LEADER summer and would like to thank all of the children who have attended the program. We were lucky to have a group of enthusiastic and fun mem- bers who will be greatly missed during the school year! Our play- ground co-ordinator, Kelli Fulton will also be greatly missed. This is her last of nine great years working at play- ground. Thanks Kelli and good luck in the future!