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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-04-12, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018. Editorials Opinions Sadly, it's needed President: Keith Roulston • Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld • Heather Fraser The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $38.00/year ($36.19 + $1.81 G.S.T.) in Canada; $160.00/year in U.S.A. and $205/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Mon. 2 p.m. - Brussels; Mon. 4 p.m. - Blyth. Canada MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1HO email: info@northhuron.on.ca From service clubs to hockey teams to chairs of committees of last year's International Plowing Match, many groups and individuals have been coming forward to support the Tanner Steffler Foundation and its goal to provide better mental health and drug addiction treatment for Huron County youth. Sadly, such treatment services are badly needed in the county. Drug addiction, often starting with misuse of prescription drugs, continues to be a problem among young people and with the spread of cheap and deadly opiods like Fentanyl, is becoming more dangerous by the week. Often the root cause of drug use lies in mental health issues. There are currently few places in Huron where a young person experiencing mental health problems can turn for help. Last fall, Huron County Council, constantly dealing with increased expenses with reduced resources, turned down a request from the Tanner Steffler Foundation for financial support. Despite that, the need among youth goes on for the services the foundation hopes to provide. Hopefully generous donors can fill the gap. — KR In charge of a deadly weapon There's not much most of us 1,000 miles away can do about the tragic accident that took the lives of 15 people in Humbolt, Saskatchewan last week except to remember every time we get behind the wheel of any vehicle, large or small, that we control a potentially deadly weapon. Nobody set out to take the lives of those young hockey players or team officials who died. It wasn't like the gunman who went to a Florida high school in February hoping to kill as many people as possible. Still, the result was much the same — more than a dozen young lives snuffed out and the futures of survivors, family and friends altered forever. The scale of the loss of life in Saskatchewan was so great because the team bus was struck by a large transport truck which missed a stop sign, but anyone who drives a car, van or truck can possibly ruin the lives of family, friends and complete strangers. The danger posed by vehicles is illustrated by the fact cars and vans have become frequent weapons in terrorist attacks. Just last Saturday a man drove a van into people sitting peacefully in a sidewalk cafe in Germany, killing two and injuring 20. The cause of the Saskatchewan tragedy — a vehicle that failed to halt at a stop sign — is an all -too -familiar scenario in rural areas like Huron County. Sometimes the lay of the land or the design of an intersection can contribute to the danger, but too often it's just a case of someone being impatient or inattentive. The prominence of cell phones, combined with an assumption that driving is something that can be done while we multi -task, is also a bad habit just waiting for a bad ending. When you drive, remember the power you hold and the responsibility you have to make your first priority to your passengers and other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Perhaps if we can learn from Humbolt's pain and suffering and take our responsibilities seriously, we can save lives and gain something from this terrible loss. — KR Tough guys knock heads While two sides, one led by a man with absolute power, one led by a man who'd like to have it, knock heads over trade issues, the rest of the world can only hope that somehow the issues can be resolved without too much collateral damage to the rest of us. American President Donald Trump likes to negotiate from strength so two weeks ago he precipitously announced plans to slap $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports. China, led by President Xi Jinping who was recently given more power than any Chinese president in decades, answered with $50 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods, specifically targeted at farmers and manufacturers in states that supported Trump in his 2016 presidential election campaign. Always seeking the upper hand, Trump then announced a further $100 billion in tariffs. China's response had not been announced as this was written early in the week. For once it's easy to sympathize with Trump's frustration with China's trade record. Not only does China sell more to the U.S. than it buys, but it practises unfair industrial policies that lock foreign companies out of crucial sectors as it tries to create domestic champions. A good part of the trade deficit, however, is caused by U.S. companies that want cheap goods or manufacturers like Apple that want their products made by inexpensive Chinese labourers. The U.S. also accuses China of stealing technological secrets from such companies to help Chinese manufacturers catch up with American companies. No matter who's right or wrong, two tough -guy leaders of the world's largest economies who refuse to back down put everyone in danger, first of a trade war and then who knows what if each still wants to deal from power. We can only hope these guys are as smart as they think they are and find a peaceful resolution to their problems. — KR We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. KATHLEEN WYNNE will leave a huge DEBT to your children! The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1 HO Ph. 519-523-4792 Phone Fax 519-523-9140 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca �ocna M Member CMC AUDITED CCNA Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright DOUG FORD will EAT your children! won't SOMEBODY Uhihk of the children? 1• Looking Back Through the Years April 9, 1958 The recent canvass for the Red Cross campaign netted just under $250 locally and organizers felt it was another successful year. The canvass was sponsored and carried out by the Brussels Legion and Legion Ladies Auxiliary. The North Huron Junior Farmers wanted to improve the look of area farm gateways through their farm gateway improvement project. The organization said that a total of $75 in prizes would be up for grabs and it would be open to anyone in East Wawanosh, Morris, Turnberry and Grey Townships. Organizers said that pictures of farm entrances would be taken on May 1 and then again on Sept. 1 once improvements had been made. Judges would then look at the pictures and come to their decision. April 12, 1978 Jim Armstrong was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the West Wawanosh Federation of Agriculture. With the International Plowing Match set to be held on Armstrong's Wingham-area farm, he spoke to the federation members about the history of the match and what they could expect at his family's home farm in September. Huron County School Board trustees voted to put a tentative agreement in place after 33 hours of marathon bargaining they hoped would put an end to the teachers' strike. Just 295 people voted in a referendum in Morris Township on liquor sales. The voter turnout was small compared to the 1,230 eligible voters, but those who did vote cast their ballots to keep the township drY. Fifty-five per cent of those who voted wanted to see liquor sales in the township, but a 60 per cent vote was required to change how the township was run. Five tombstones were discovered broken at the Blyth Union Cemetery. Caretaker Earl Caldwell discovered the damage and Goderich OPP estimated the total damage at the cemetery to be approximately $1,000. With a federal election looming, nomination meetings had been set for the community. Robert McKinley, Huron - Middlesex MP, would be seeking re- election as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the riding, while Paul Carroll would be seeking the nomination for the New Democratic Party. Three candidates were seeking the local Liberal nomination, including Graeme Craig of RR1, Walton, Jean Adams of the Goderich area and Grant Chisholm of the Lucknow area. April 17, 1991 The Village of Blyth ended 1990 on a high note with a surplus in excess of $45,000. It was Paul Seebach of Vodden, Bender and Seebach who delivered council the good news. Seebach said that much of the surplus came as a result of the Pride program, which saw more grants come the village's way over the course of the year. Goderich OPP were busy investigating a potential murder in the Dungannon area. Police found the body of a man who had been shot in a pickup truck near the village and were in the process of determining whether it was foul play or not. After much discussion and deliberation, members of the Cranbrook Women's Institute decided it was time to disband the organization. The final meeting was held at the home of Lois Hart on April 2, 1991. The Huron County Federation of Agriculture held a special meeting at Blyth Public School and many of the 40 people attending were concerned about the Environmental Bill of Rights that was being proposed by Ontario Minister of the Environment Ruth Grier. Dona Stewardson, executive director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, was the guest speaker at the meeting. She was on hand to pass on all that she knew about the bill. However, at the time, she said she didn't know much. Sixteen -year-old Brett Lee of Walton placed first in the 16C class in a motocross event held at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Lee's father, Chris, also placed second in the 40Plus class at the same event. April 17, 2008 A male young offender was facing charges stemming from a fight at Central Huron Secondary School, but police and parents were more concerned with the fact that the fight had been broadcast over the internet via YouTube. The video was taken by onlookers with their cell phones and was then posted onto both YouTube and MySpace. The video was eventually flagged and then taken down. North Huron's community development officer Connie Goodall said that 2007 was a good year for Blyth with 10 businesses opening their doors over the course of the year. In Wingham, she added, five new businesses had opened and even East Wawanosh had seen some development.