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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1988-01-27, Page 2Huron - .xpoitor SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST Incorporating The Brussels Post ED BYRSKI, General Manager HEATHER McILWRAITH, Editor Anti -tobacco published in Seaforth, Ontario Every Wednesday Morning 4 .f L The Expositor Is brought to you each week by the efforts of: Pat Armes, Nell Corbett, Terri -Lynn Dale, Dianne McGrath and Bob McMillan. Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. 't - Ontario Community Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commonwealth Press Union international Press Institute Subscription rates: Canada '20.00 a year, in advance Senior Citizens • '17.00 a year in advance Outside Canada '60.00 a year, In advance Single Copies - .50 cents each Second doss mail registration Number 0696 Wednesday, January 27, 1988 Editorial and Business Offices - 10 Main Street, Seaforth Telepha: (519)527-0240 Mailing Address - P.O. Pox 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NON !WO Share the flame As a non smoker there was a time when I absolutely deplored the smoking habit. I couldn't stand to be around people who smoked and . absolutely bored certain members of my family by harping on them to quit. I was the first one to jump on the bandwagon to enforce the rights of non smokers. Well, I still deplore smoking - but, for myself in particular. I've learned over the years to respect the rights of those people who smoke, and at the same time hope they, in turn, return the respect. Most do. Now, that doesn't mean I approve entire- ly - I don't, I still think smoking is a stupid, expensive and potentially dangerous habit - but aren't a lot of habits? That's why I find it hard to believe the re- cent move by Health Minister Jake Epp to beef up the federal government's anti - tobacco legislation. I have no problems with the fact Mr. Epp came out with new measures to discourage cigarette sales to minors, and that he wants more detailed warnings ielside cigarette packages to complement the brief warnings outside. What I can't fathom is that he would insist tobacco com- panies not be exempt from lawsuits from people harmed by smoking. That to me, seems a ridiculous state- ment. Why should the tobacco companies be responsible for what the government egislation is ridiculous says are tobacco -related deaths, when the decision of whether or not a person smokes, is one that is left entirely up to the in- dividual?. In this day and age, there's no way smokers can claim ignorance about the detrimental effects of smoking. Even non smokers know the Surgeon General has declared smoking MAY be bad for your health. Well, alcohol has proven to be just as dangerous, and I have yet to read a warn- ing from the Surgeon General on a bottle of beer. The facteltere is no warning about the detrimental effects of alcohol may be even more criminal in this case, since the government itself is the greatest beneficiary of that industry. But obviously, the government doesn't see it the same way. Whether or not a person smokes is a per- sonal decision. The government has no right to make the tobacco industries take on the responsibility for the lives of those people - unless of course it is willing to set an exampleby increasing its own respon- sibility towards those people who chose to drink. True the government has enforced stricter legislation' to help combat the pro- blem of drunk drivers, but the Canadian breweries and distilleries have not been penalized for the part they play in creating and nurturing those drunks - even when one of those drunks kills an innocent bystander. So why should the tobacco industry be penalized?. If with one habit the government Is going to pass legislation that would make the in- dividual responsible for his/her own ac- tions - as in the case of people who choose to drink - then it doesn't seem fair that in the case of the other, people who choose to smoke, the government would pass legisla- tion to make the supplier the responsible party. . There's just no logic in that thinking. No, I don't advocate smoking, but I do think the government should be fair and just when passing legislation about smoking. The Town of Seaforth has been fortunate to have been the hometown of a number of people who have gone on to illustrious careers in the field of sports. In the past, Seaforth has been noted for the youths who have garnered success in such sporting areas as hockey and golf. Now once again, the tovvn of Seaforth has been brought into the limelight, thanks to the special skating ' .gents of world class athlete Lloyd Eisler. The 24 -year-old Seaforth native and his -17 -year-old partner Isabelle Brasseur of Quebec, finished second last week in the Senior Pairs competi- tion of the Canadian Figure Skating Championships. Their performance stunned spectators and competitors alike, since it represented the first time the two had skated together in a national competition. Their partnership was only formed last January. But Eisler has had many other successes in his skating career. Four years ago he combined with Katherina Matousek to win the Canadian pairs title, and the following year the duo was ranked third in the world. Quite an accomplishment. • Yet despite his successes, and the fact his career has taken him all over the world, Eisler still claims the tiny Seaforth as his hometown. And by do- ing so he has been a better ambassador of this town, than any of the town officials or any of the people still living here, could ever hope to be. By link- ing the name Seaforth with his own, he has ensured that whatever suc- cesses he has, they reflect on the town of his youth. In a couple of weeks Eisler will be in Calgary to represent Canada in the 1988 Olympic Games. But he will be representing Seaforth as well, and we know that no matter how he fares, he will do this tiny town proud. For that reason, and because we have done it for so many of our other athletes, it's time Seaforth residents let Eisler know just how proud we are of his accomplishments, and just how excited we are about his participation in the Olympic Games. There is a move afoot to organize the sending of a huge telegram to Eisler once he reaches Calgary. That telegram would convey the best wishes and luck of the town, and anyone wishing to add their name to the telegram would be able to do so at a minimal cost. More details about where and when that can be done, will be released at a later date. Lloyd Eisler has done more for Seaforth, simply by claiming it as his • hometown, than we can do for it ourselves. Surely it wouldn't hurt us to thank him by sending our well wishes and good luck. This is our opportunity to Share the Flame. - H.M. LETTERS TO THS EDITOR +f( + k flit' M ` S, .1 __ _ �: M PUC billing policy ridiculous Dear Editor: As a new member of the Seaforth Com- munity it is with reluctance I write this. However I live at 105 Goderich St. East which as you know is the Harvey Dale apartments. Every month we receive a P.t.J.C. bill con- taining our electric and water consumption charge and a municipal sewage charge of $8.40, which I understand is a basic rate for everyone billed. Since there are 11 apart- ments in the building, which 16 persons oc- cupy, that means a total of $92.40 per month for the P.U.C. Now assuming the average household oc- cupancy rate would be 4 and each home owner receives a bill for $8.40 why is it, that every one bedroom apartment in this building received the same bill. I honestly don't believe we should be required to pay such a ridiculous amount. In figures, we amount to 4 households not I1, which in dollars means a difference of $58.80 per month or approximately $5.35 per unit. $64.20 per apartment per year. Now $64.20 is hardly what the average person would donate to charity, but if I m going to give to charity I would prefer to choose the organization. I think the public would be interested in knowing who created this billing policy and why. Also are there any chances of changing this policy? Signed Financially Drained, Paul Marasse Musical movements maddening I was brought up sometime between the emergence of Coke as "The Real Thing," and the appearance of "The Pepsi Genera- tion". Consequently, I never really ac- cepted the former, nor became a member of the latter. I drink whatever cold beverage I can get my hands on. - I was too young for the Peace movement of the '60s, too old for the Punk movement of the late '70s and am still completely baf- fled as to what's going on in the '80s. The only regular movement I can be sure of is the one your family physician will advise you is essential for general health and well-being. I've never been too sure how all these movements get started. I recently tried to initiate my own movement, but it never got off the ground. My regular readers (mostly bored individuals with time on their hands such as men at sea and The Maytag Repairman) will remember my column urging the foundation of the YUK- KKIE (Young people who Kouldn't Rare less about Rondos, or proper spelling) movement, as a way of ending the reign of the ultra -successful YUPPIES (Young Ur- ban Professionals). Since the movement didn't catch on, I can only believe that it was missing an essential element — most likely music. Every good movement seems to be mingl- ed with and remembered for the prevail- ing music of the day. The Beatles, for examples, were largely associated with the Peace movement and the whole "Hippie" phenomenon. Unfor- FROM THIS ANGLE by Patrick Rafts tunately, the remaining members of the band seem to have joined another move- ment as they grew older. They have become yuppies. The band has stated that a reunion is impossible because of their "business differences" — a strange posi- tion to be taken by a band who once preached "All You Need is Love". George Harrison, perhaps, has travelled furthest from the group's original ideals. As a former member of a band that in - 'listed "Money can't Buy Me Love," it's hard to reconcile that position with Harri- sion's new single, which states he's got his mind "Set on You," but continues that "It's gonna take a whole lot of spending money, to do it right". Since the Beatles themselves appear to have sold out to the "establishment" they once condemed, they can hardly complain now that Michael Jackson has bought the rights to most of their songs and is turning a big buck selling them for use in catchy commercials aimed at the Baby Boomer set. Aside from turning the "Fab Four" into a prominent -team of jingle writer's, Jackson seems to have taken an unusual position in regard to his own image. When someone like rocker George Thorogood sings that "He's Bad to the Bone," you tend to believe him. Converse- ly, when Jackson goes on the air profess- ing to be "Bad," the immediate reaction is to say, "Keep trying Mike. You're bound to get better". Jackson is only kidding himself with his professed new image. If there were such a thing as a "Badness," scale, the man would rate only slighter higher than Pee Wee Herman. With so many musicians today sending out confusing signals, it's tough to pick one individual or group to epitomize your movement. I had thought about asking Bruce Springsteen to be the offical yukkie spokesperson, since he alrear' d--Mses like one. However, The Bo. is into megabucks and probably has more con- dominiums and European cars than most corporation heads these days. And so, the search continues. Right now I'm leaning toward an up and coming (or is that up and munching) group called "The Fat Boys". I've never seen or heard them, but just the name tells me they probably aren't into yuppie -type fads like "working out," and eating granola. Score one for our side. McKillop boy trapped in pig pen 25 years ago JANUARY 27,1.•: The Ament brothers of Brussels have pur• chased Smith Brothers saw mill in Grey and intend running it in connection with -their works in Brussels. May success attend them. The farm on the Base Line, Hullett, belonging to the late Thos. McLaughlin jr., was sold by auction at Clinton, on Saturday last week, Mr. John J. McLaughlin being the purchaser, at $4,925. It was sold three years ago for $7,000. The first carnival of the season took place on the rink on Friday evening last. There was a large crowd present, and the ice was in fine' condition. On account of the lack of competitors the fancy skating competitions were called off, but the three races were close and interesting. The gentlemen's race was won by E. Brisbin, Mitchell; W. Fairley, Seaforth lnd. The boys' race was won by W. Charters, Hensall; J. Rose, Seaforth 2nd. The barrell race was won by W. Charters; Geo. Ewing, Seaforth 2nd. Five young men from this town, Messrs. Charles Gibson, Alex. McLeod, Joseph Abell, George Cant, and Robert Steele left here this week for Decatur, Alabama, to push their fortunes int the new south. If they IN THE YEARS AG®.� \ E send back good reports many moreewill soon follow. They are all steady, industrious young men and will, we have no doubt, do from the Archives their native country credit wherever they go. JANUARY 24, 1913 The Post has it on good authority that the Dominion Government plans erecting a drill hall and headquarters for the militia of Brussels Company. The site will likely be near the Town Hail. Brussels should go in for a new post offic building as well. The following are the municipal officers in Hensall for the current Year: J.L. Scott, clerk, salary $65; F.W. Smallacombe, treasurer, $40; W. H. Harbourne, assessor, $30; A. Murdoch, collector, $25; auditors, W.E. Hemphill and C. Cook, $10 each; con- stable, fire chief and vanity inspector, T. Palmer, $40; pound keeper, George Todd; Revds. Hicksu, Smith and W. McKay were appointed on the library board, with the Reeve and G. C. Petty on the Board of Health, with Dr. McDiarmid, Medical Health Officer. New Industry -We are informed by Mr. James Wright, who has been an employee of the Bell Engine and Thresher Company in this town for the past seventeen years, that he intends severing his connection with that company with the view in the near future of starting in business for himself. He has leas- ed a space in the D.D. Wilson block on Main Street where he intends opening an automobile and general repair shop. JANUARY 28, 1938 The annual Burns night of the Seaforth Lions Club was held on Monday evening in the Commercial Hotel, when in addition to the members of the club were some 25 visitors present. Following the publication in the S. C. I. Alumni Year Book some weeks ago the story of Clifford Carmichael and his world's largest stamp club, leading daily papers have played up the story with resulting publicity to the "Stamp King" and 'to Seaforth. Despite the fact that the Fall Fair lost over $100 last September, all prize monies were paid in full. Members of the Seaforth Agriculture Society attended the annual meeting in Carnegie Hall on Friday, and made plans for a better shownext year. The infantile paralysis epidemic is blamed for the poor attendance in last year's show. A cold storage plant for Cenforth is a possibility in the near future, if enthusiasm shown at a meeting of interested persons, held in the Town Hall on Friday, can be taken as an indication. JANUARY 24, 1963 Mary Sills, 12, and Bruce Brady, 14, representing the Seaforth Figure Skating Club, won the first place trophy for the ovice Pairsievent in the Western Ontario Fr ting Championships at Galt on e Friday. Seaforth's first winners in any Western Ontario Championship event. battle. Traffic is still moving over all main roads and most secondary roads, although motorists in many cases have been forced from the roads when blinding snow reduces visibility to zero. Condition of Roy Beuermann, 18 year-old McKillop youth, who was injured when trap- ped in a pig pen by a heavy pieceiof con- crete, is somewhat improved. He s a pa-. tient in London with a fractured leg and in- jured knee. Doctors said he would be in hospital several weeks. The accident occurred two weeks ago when he was cleaning a pig pen at 1e Beuerinann's east farm, four miles east Winthrop. In some manner a piece of con- crete abutment fell across his leg, trapping him in the pen with 12 pigs. rbr an hour and a half the lad protected himself from the pigs as he battled to free his injured leg. He was released by his brother Donald who was sent to find him when he failed to come home for dinner. Removed to his home, he was suffering from severe shock. He was at- tended by doctor E. Malkins and taken to Victoria Hospital. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Beuer• mann, RR 1 Dublin.