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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-11-05, Page 44 Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 5, 2008 CGNA f Editorial Opinion °crust° n = IIMZEM TIMES -ADVOCATE PUBLICATION MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs. Canada CO Zift etroland Media Group Ltd. Deb Lord — Manager Scott Nixon — Editor CNA 2007 BLUE RIBBON The Times -Advocate is owned by Metroland Media Group Ltd. 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • 519-235-1331 Doug Rowe - General Manager, Southwestern Ontario Division EDITORIAL Recognizing young leaders With national elections in Canada and south of the border recently, newspaper editorial teams have spent a lot of time covering the political leaders in their respective communities; it only seems appropriate that we are now turning our attention to the young leaders of our area. That s why the Times -Advocate strongly supports the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards so we can provide recognition for outstanding young people who are, and will continue to be, leaders in our area. The awards program is co-ordinated by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA), of which we are a member, and sponsored by TD Canada Trust. Any Ontario resident aged six to 17 is eligible to receive an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award. Please help us by nominating an individual in one of four areas: • A person involved in worthwhile community service; • A special young person contributing to their com- munity while living with a physical or psychological limitation; • An individual who has performed an act of hero- ism in the past year; • Good kids who show a commitment to make life better for others and do more than is normally expected of someone their age. Each nominee will receive a certificate of recogni- tion. Up to 12 of the nominees and one group will be chosen as the final recipients of the provincial award and invited to a special ceremony held in Toronto in the spring of 2009. Your vote counts with this newspaper. Nominate an outstanding young person today and we will per- sonally present them with a certificate of recognition and showcase their contributions in this newspaper. Help us to pay tribute to our leaders of today and tomorrow. Nomination deadline for the 2008 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards is Nov. 30. Nomination forms are available at www.ocna.org or by calling the OCNA at 905-639-8720, ext. 228. THE NEW CONSER\EATLVE CABINET! Cellphone ban: it's your call Electronics devices such as cellphones are so useful at times. Most cellphones today feature Internet, built-in cameras, text messaging, music and other features. This is why police will not permit cellphone use while driving if a bill introduced last week by the Ontario government is passed into law. The proposed law would not allow cell- phone use while driving. Portable items like video games and DVD players will not be allowed either. Transportation Minister Jim Bradley em- phasizes this is an important law that should be passed for the safety of all Ontario driv- ers. If the law is put in motion, people could could find themselves paying up to $500, as reported by the Windsor Star. T.J. University professor Dave Strayer said, ZIELMA The reaction of a 20 year old with a cell- phone, is approximately the same reaction as a 70 year old without a cellphone. Research by the Journal Publisher s Human Fac- tors and Ergonomics Society says that approximately 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries are caused by cell- phone distractions in the United States every year. In comparison, that is like the amount of people who live in London. With the new law, police believe they will be able to detect cellphone use with no complications; for instance, if a driver is stopped at a traffic light and doesn t move when the light turns green, that could be an indication that they re using a cellphone. Even new Bluetooth technology being introduced which allows you to plug in your cellphone and re- turn calls by voice may not be a good alternative. Conventional wisdom would suggest that it would be safer, but studies say it is just as dangerous. At a Canadian Association of Road Safety Profession- als conference, Yoko Ishigami, a Killam scholar said, Talking and listening are such complicated tasks, especially if you re thinking ahead to what you re going to say. Which leaves me to believe that driving, talk- ing and listening are difficult to do at the same time. My understanding is the conversation is the main point and that is why it s being dis- cussed by the government. So far, this ban is just a proposal for the prov- ince of Ontario. Nova Scotia, Quebec, New- foundland and Labrador have all prohibited cellphone use on the road but according to Sci- N ence News, the Bluetooth technology has seen sales grow in abundance. Ultimately, cellphones in the car are a distraction and should be extinguished. People should phone or text someone when they have the time and are not focused on other tasks. I understand the tendency a person gets when they have a message or call is to answer it, but is it really worth the risk of being in- jured or killed? I personally don t see logic in this. Now since the weather is getting colder and the winter temperatures are arriving, roads will become layered with slush, snow and ice and it will be more difficult to pick up that cellphone and maintain con- trol of the vehicle. So think a second time when that phone rings and you have that urge to pick it up be- cause the result could ultimately change your life. About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Time -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 519-235-0766 Fax number for accounting dept. 519-235-2449 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $42+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $75+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $160+GST Call 519-235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $13 for 20 words, 20¢ for each additional word + GST. Notices (births, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $16 + GST for up to 50 words. All ads must be pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10:00 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, 519-235-1331 weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or evenings 519-235-1336 (leave message) or toll free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Friday @ 2:00 p.m. Website: www.southhuron.com E-mail Us TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. For example, Deb Lord's e-mail address is dlord@southhuron.com Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team MANAGER Deb Lord ext. 103 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 CUSTOMER SERVICE Jennifer Skonieczny ext. 101 COMPOSITION Nikki Cyr ext. 101 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 102 EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105 REPORTERS Pat Bolen ext. 113 Ben Forrest ext. 114 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Marg Pertschy ext. 108 Heather Clarke ext. 111