Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-02-22, Page 2x,ur •111301 ARV 1983 Since 188o, Serving the oonFjit �n Incorporating '�Bt'usscIs Pohl', "x 12 Main St, dl Published at SEAFORTH, ONTARIO every yeednaeday morning: ..•„JOCEI.VN A. 8HRIER, publisher x • . RON WASSINK, Editor ,,; KATiEO"LEAKY„Advertleing Repreaentative Member .n d#an C,omnfitnlly�'N.w114' IR r A�1 Ontario, 4 aptrhr niryNewepap.rAae . 1 #fjld ri uditBuraltiau of altcufflt. A mtimber pi th• Onfa io Preae CounQti .. subecrjptt6n:r40e, , ': c ttganade S18;75* Yellitt(In ad'vance)•. • Outalde Canada S55.00 a year tin Advance) • SingIe Coplee +50 cents each • i ' SEAFORTH, ONTAIUO, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1984 Second olaee mall registration Number 0688 A conflict? • Ever since the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act received Royal Assent one year ago, most municipal councils in Ontario have taken,the act seriously. If there's a hint of doubt there -could be a conflict, councillors are quick to declare it. Seaforth-is no exception. However there are tithes when councillors fall Into a grey area. Despite declaring a Copt -flat, there Is the occasion when a conflict of moral values are involved.. Although the conflict of interest act is quite lengthy, In brief, a conflict is declared when a member of a council receives monetary gain through or from the municipality he or she serves. As a result a council member, who has declared a conflict, cannot take part in discussion or vote on any question in respect of the conflict matter and cannot influence voting on any such matter. In the past, .Seaforth councillors have declared their conflicts at regular council meetings. However, there is the occasion when although a conflict is disclosed, a conflict of moral values remains. At the February meeting of Seaforth council, two members raised concerns of the fact that councillor and lawyer Paul Ross was representing ' two McKillop township landowners who owned property required for an access road to the proposed landfill site in that township. And as a result would be paid .proportionately by the participating municipalities, - including Seaforth. At a previous council meeting, Seaforth council had approved an option agreement between the two landowners and McKillop township. One section stated that the township would pay all reasonable legal fees Incurred by the property owners relating to the granting of the option agreement. At that council meeting, Mr. Ross declared a conflict of Interest. But at the February meeting, councillors were concerned that because the town of Seaforth paid councillor Ross for legal fees Incurred, questions could arise. They felt the property owners should have been paid, wildIn turn would pay their lawyer Mr. Ross. Aside from this, onewonders about a moral obligation. Can a member of council, who represents the taxpayers gf his municipality and receives remuneration for his duties; in'turn-act eaalawyer and represent someone, who in a tense Is' working 'Venal t1'Id"rtiutift 1pallty served—by that councillor? The proposed landfill site is a delicate situation. It's a proposal that deals with personalities. It's something that takes a lot of planning, time and money on the part of Seaforth, McKitirip!and Tuckersmlth township. When dealing with such a proposal, local pofiticians perhaps should not become too personally involved. Mayor Alf Ross has saidhe is uncomfortable with the situation. But It's a situation, that In thefuture, should be avoided for the simple reason that to remain credible a municipal council must ensure that the representation its members provide their taxpayers isnot diluted by subservience to opposing interests. R.W.. Moving back MAK/14G COOKIES' Is one of the more ' delicious parte of )eine a pioneer say • Students of St. -;lames Separate` School alter studying• pioneers. Shawn.. Calvert, Justin Rodney 'and Jett Denys 'fielded” makte4the' • cookies. diundertmark photo)`'' Missing -.without a trace Each year hundreds of Canadian children disappear - they are declared missing, without a trace. And despite concerns of parents, kids continue to disappear. The most recent caseinvolved several teens in British Columbia who disappeared. Following a lengthy investigation andd the confession of a kidnapper, ra ist attd murderer, pplice officials found the k ds. But ail; h id beerrldlied.11,09. syo cid ever, se)urg ast'web mutt biiettbt ap nity to sit through a two hour, full -lea movie with a group of friends. It was my, first viewing in the privacy of one's home. The movie,lt'+as, shown on a rented video recorder,;: r, tlje fore, there were no commercial b break that is necessary after eon countless cups of coffee. The movie, entitled, "Missing, without a trace" dealt with a single parent And six-year-old son in a New York setting. Leaving for school early one spring morning, the young bay said goodbye to his mother and his dog and started on his daily walk to school. It was the Last time the mother saw her son. The police department were convinced the boy had been kidnapped because he was under seven years of age. A detective stated that onee a child is over seven years old, police don't get too excited because there is So/� �f�1•, grau r C t:l ll t d Nomagns6 ' organixea aoout three Yeate ago. P dpA4- GoSJ-RW 'azzli ll} ' lace• a 550/50 chance that a child ran away frons was, based on a novel. In the real World, hem,. ntany.child ren never, return haute. They are As the movie. progresses, 'it's apparent never found. Oat poiieae - don't have a single thread of • TY THANKS • ten,no clues, no witnesses.• lint even -it ' T ^mmovie'bght to mind Me time I 8ptt 'did eceiv'e.a tip nliattr B ed ort V,o Ales tea* -enG loom a w kiiowwr y a; t"W 20 a4 ienftal chooi air° Tk _ ignored y .s : AS?* '46ri;t"yeltit” tt "'tl'n' ' g beY. s di'dn'tcoate p fhe,wo, dew Since the 1970's, small towns In Canada have been growing. Instead of continuing the generations -old population pattern of moving to urban centres, Canadians have been flocking to rural areas at a rate of 14.3 per cent between 1971 and 1981 as opposed to 12.4 per cent who move to cities. One of the reasons for this swing back to the country is increased job opportunities. There has been ati upswing in coal mining and other energy development and the decentralization of industry, but many of the reasons are social, say the experts', Small towns are good places to raise children, retire, enjoy beauty, clean water, fresh air, less crime and a slower, less stressful life. Towns like Elora, Ontario have enjoyed renewed growth with a revitalization of its businesses. Social scientists say this trend should continue except in towns that can't provide Jobs, adequate shopping areas or attractive living environments. The challenge facing Seaforth is to meet the requirements to be included in this recent rural growth. The beautiful old homes and tree -tined streets of Seaforth make it an attractive place to live. Add the parks, the hospital and the brand new facilities at the Seaforth and District Community Centres, and the attraction grows. The Heritage plans for revitalizing Main St. will also add to the appearance of the town. Stores on Main St. supply all the basic needs of any shopper and merchants are eager to tet shoppers know that they fan order almost anything they can't find on the shelves. But, several empty stores en Main St. are a reminder of the work to be done to promote Seaforth. While Seaforth offers alt the social benefits of small town life, .its main stumbling block is employment opportunities. And, to attract industry and create jobs In town, Seaforth's citizens must actively promote themselves. They must support the good ideas corning out of the LACAC and the ,recreation conference and tet other people know why Seaforth is such a great place to ,ve. - S.H. phoned the .entrents continually repeated the hazards of he asked the opting a ride from • • sfranger. They Up her son. ed me, underino trema, get in a a neigibour . - cm, just say, "No " and run -Bite tallert.by a you've neverrun before. led someono to • At the time it was serious, but we laugh invalid mister. .today at the time when I was offered a ride, in a cattle truck truck and leased WithUsing . 4"e btuatar a '' relief. Viewers, after being one sense and anent warnings, refused. I bad to refuse. about three tints before the driver drove off, Tact STS A ' 4T For kids raised in a rural setting, the threat of getting into a Strange. Car stili exists. Especially now when farm nelghbairs are far and Yew between, But with the continual Warnings, we our kids will be safe. Inc same driver obvious` the gip wetchin the had picked up cattle at our farm on rep the uettcotne- There numerous occasions. But trim grade siiept 1to9r two hours, began discussing the nmrie the end, there were exclama- tiolfs ofhh Ibe mem and son would react. Sortie said the og would be the first to greet the boy. Another said, "She'll drop her onto the street." And when she aleped both db groceries and purse, it was But the movie "Misspass ing, wit�� box. In Seaforth; a Bleck Parent was ing Parents p, a red and white sign°, in their window which`tells:a childBie• amain to that home if- they are in trwtble, Hattan Clerk, a Block Parent, says children Tuve come to Iter•• deer on three occasions, but potter anything serious. One time a boy was .chasing another child; a kindergarten Student once said he was lost; end s•gitiifoundrefugeafterbeing chased by; a•gscltp,af`v. :�S Ir Theptier4,thaut `" the yp� :have he, ballet ii! sr'-' says, Marian. ;4111-411111 It This bean,; i hn d lilac a 'cornrnunity vatic :a Bioclr: Parent greup does cult• t have asnuma, problems as.i train] that doesn't.'" Before such a group ,'was formed in London, parents took down license late numbers of cars which were'seen txpg; Slowly down sidestreets. Yilamori Par t' 1 Caine to London, the cars disc nt . were found in rural areas. Blois Paren t :vas crpanded. So far, there hasn't b a probte%m of missing kids- in Seaforth. "The Block, Parent Idea was so we • would never have that; problem," says Matnart. < So far, we've been fortunate.But' continued warnings and ' Block Parent support are needed to keep it that way. Education experts have made a mistake Having lived through the death of a school in my community once in my life, I• can understand what permits feel when they see their community schools threaten- ed by declining enrolment and rigid government regulations on minimum sixes for schools. Back in my home town. I was part of the last graduating class from the local high school before it was closed and amalga- mated with a nearby mega -school. This was in the long -ago days before county school boards and all. So the decision by cur local school trustees, all part of the community served by the school, must have been extremely painful. They could- n't make a cool, reasoned, distanced decision. They had to face people an the street when they made the decision. In many cases their own children were affected. The trustees had held out for a long time against pressure from ministry officials in Toronto. The school, with about 250 Thanks for your support Bear Lion Supporter: The Seaforth Lions Club in co-operation with Mitchell and Dublin Lion Clubs win be holding our third annual TV Auction on March 24. We need the support of the business community to make this event possible. The Seaforth Lions are soliciting your support for this project Every merchant who donates goods or services to be auctioned will be assured of having their business mentioned several tithes doting the telecast. The auction proved to be popular in past years and we are hoping to make tars year's even more successful. Seaforth Lions raised approximate 'S1200. last year. The funds raised were used to make improvements at the flour Parr. We intend to make further improve- ments with the money raised this year. A member of the Seaforth Lions Club will be calling on you between Feb. 20 and March 1 foe your donation. Thank you fiat your cooperation. TV Auction Committee HaroldTurinbull genitalia Hal Claus the oc@rm students, was not economic they said. alternating with threats of grants being cut Those were the days when the government off, the trustees agreed to close the school. was sure that bigger was better, a thinking I wasn't in the new high school to know that saw one -room country schools sinal- for sure if the quality of education was ganiated, then those made larger again_ It better with those flashy new labs, that was a time when architects made fortunes whole wing of industrial shops and designing new schools and enlarging old commercial lasses. 1 suppose some ones. it was s time when the° bureaucrats students certainly were helped• were dreaniing rip county boards of But for all that wasgained, 1 think education to create more buteaucrafts. something was lost 'tin. In flux tray tittle The trustees at our school were told they school we were very much part of our were hutting their students because they community. We Learned how we had to - weren't able to attract the beef teachers. ` play our part, how site had to interract to They were told the students were suffering make a small community work- We added because they didn't have as good equip- something to the community and the went in the shops, labs and gyms. community gave something to us. ):many sifter years of such advice Because we didn't have to worry about stop dumping on the Smileys, Listen, Lord, enough is smuts�h We've Sugar and �gt an beard of the Year of the Great f'Iagne, or iFFllli ea The Year of the %costs, or some men, with who's going to be interested in The Year of Satilby the Stnileys. Oh, I know we've had a few ming a certain awe, but from a safe distance. But altercations in the past, when I've fairly humbly suggested that You stop dumping ran- or snow on us for 40 days and 40 nights But I 'didn't think you'd start a personal vendetta. I thought you were above that sort of thing. Live, and learn, It started in August. My son, Halmost ugh,... a tted to type who - merit, tate at night, two g ,, , and a girl, who'd come Ifo "visit" ate . cue 0 them slightly, and asked then/afar toppers iRe doesn't dunk bad a After a while aard,they'weke ' , to tip off his guitar. He said cit no you te not and bit hims�the d with the One they leave. WhIfhe e helms unconscious, Or elate enough, ate' Of the others bit him on both knees with a hammer. The younglige of the group heatedwated and leaned ' b ling water over hisface, thestand back. toOk hiestetak and anything else that eve sell quickly on the slrtett, and lent. Somehow, some hours later, he managed to lurch and stagger to an emergency ward of a hospital, in shock and great pain: He's back in pretty good shape six months later, with sore knees and burn scats. Why? Who knows? They were probably lookiing for something they could sell , tobuy drugs. Or they were animals, bighandlookingfor alittle "fun" as well as profit.' That's what fife in the big cities cif -Canada is becoming. A month later; Lord, I fell down a stairs and broke My shoulder. I'm not saying had anything to do with it. I don't dare$ one of your chesunt ims or seraphrms might have been hying td 'catty a little favor. Irve -never fallen off anything but the wagon before in tom life. - ' months rater (a couple of weeks, the dOcters iI can't open a jar of tl aladewiihout severe pain, and I can , Wire peidnds ally With greet este. TwoMenta later, ray Rife, in her prime, stroaogandhealthy, fell dead litMed of rue. 1 long bus rides, we played a much more playing role in extracurricular activities the ssehool boil ands. teams, joining clubs and o our own Ives and to the life of the school and the who" etit an` toat wasthe big school un3ost tO the �dtheey had tails or could arrange transportation after school: I think the experts in education made a mistake. I think back then especially (and maybe now too), the experts were too interested in the flashy things in education, the bricks and mortar. the gleaning test tubes and retort stands in the labs, the whirring machines in the shops, the blinking, bleeping computers. Bat in the final analysis, education comes down to a human interaction between a student and a teacher. Educa- tion is also more than you learn in a classroom, it is learning about your place in society. When schools are taken out of the community, that is lost. Lord My daughter went home to Ottawa with the kidsand found her apartment ransacked, stereo and other vahuabi begone, after her Christmas with me. At least, she said wryly, they hadn't taken a hatchet to the piano. And it's pretty hard to heist a piano out of a basement apartment. Another Canadian city. Great place to live. We might as well all move to Detroit. However, there's no personal resentment, Lord. I know you have to test the faith once in a while; cif "once and a while", as my English students prefer. Look at what hap enol to Job. At least you haven't given rile S g of boils, what's happened to my alii! • to steep the clock around? It's very nice, being retired and not having to slam that alarm clock off at 7:15 and get up hi the dark. , But I Can't sleep. Not in a bed. Only in a chair. I go to bed ata reasonable hour, 11 to 12, and nothing happens. I just lie there, my mind whirling with all the things I haven't done or should do. I turn on tie light and read. Try again- Nothing. Read some more. About daylight i go into a corns for four oe five hours. Maybe I'd settle for a boli or two. However, I can't complain. It's a fairly good life, being a retired widower, once you've established a pattern. Pie and ice cream and cheese for breakfast, at noon. Soup and scrambled eggs for lunch, about four p.m. Frozen chicken pie and banana for dinner, abort eight. And the days have a certain soothing rhytitni, Ionday. Wednesday and Friday I g'oftephysiotherapy to Brutal Brian. it used. tobetaited fn the old days, the Inquisition. l don't scream when he takes my shoulder ort of the socket, but l TuesdayThutsdays are bad days. I have: to set the alarm. After an hour's sleep, on Tuesday I must put out the garbage. On Thursday, after an hour's sleep, I Must welcome the lady who comes to clean up the mess I've made, and try to gine her some coherent idea of what to do. And every day, str71, come warm and Riving letters from old friend and column readers, to giVe me a little weep. All m all,ittit a bad life. But, Lord, if you canfind something else to do, stop dumping on the Smiieyis.