HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1986-11-12, Page 2:Huron
(AI .xpositor '¢e�
SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST
Incorporating
Brlli.c . Post
10 Main Street 527-0240
Published in
SEAFORTH, ONTARIO
Every Wednesday morning
ED BYRSKI, General Manager
HEATHER McILWRAITH, Editor
The Expositor is brought to you each week by the efforts of:
Pal Acmes Bessie Broome. Marlene Charters. Joan Guichelaar, Anne Hull. Joanne Jewitt
Dianne McGrath. Lois McLlwam. Bob McMillan and Cathy Melody
*CNA
BLUE
RIBBON
AWARD
1985
cn
"• C
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Ontario Community Newspaper Association
Ontario Press Council
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986
Sec,,nd class mail registration Number 0696
OPINION
Reporter's life misconceived
There am around
a lot of myths, legends and just FROM THIS ANGLE
general nonsense floating about just
what goes on in the field of journalism.
Nobody minds these misconceptions, espe- by Patrick Raftis
daily not the journalists themselves. Atter
all they add some mystique to the business.
Anyone who took in the Goderich tittle
't'heatre's latest production, "The Front
Mage" probably saw every fallacy ever
perpetuated about the lifestyle of a reporter
enacted on stage. After seeing the play
myself, 1 feel compelled to offer some
clarification on these misconceptions, based
en my first-hand experience in the business.
Myth number one, is the dress code.
There is to my knowledge no newspaper
anywhere, which requires its reporters to
wear either a trenchcoat, or a fedora. It
wouldn't be practical in fact, to wear any sort
of hat which could be blown off one's head
while standing on the sidelines at any number
of the sporting events which reporters are
required to attend. One would hardly feel
justified in holding up a game while a
wind -tousled scribe retrieved his chapeau,
Besides, they look euty.
Another myth which has no basis in fact is
that a good reporter, on the job (wolf, is never
without an adequate supply of liquor on his
person. in the aforementioned play, one of
those cute little metal flasks, purportedly full
of booze, was produced and passed around
among the reporters at appropriate moments
during the show, In reality, I don't even know
where you can buy flasks like that.
Certainly journalists, like manyothers,
enjoy the odd stiff drink and even occasional-
ly crave a cold beer or hot toddy while on
duty. But as a rule, we abstain. Editors tend
to take a dim view of fuzzily -focused pictures
taken by equally fuzzy -focused photograph-
ers. Likewise one's ability to remember
where he was, let alone what was said, at a
given meeting is not up to par if he has been
nipping from the legendary pocket flask on
the way.
It always amazes me, when watching old
movies like "Deadline USA" to see a bar full
of reporters sucking back shot after shot of
whiskey -• always straight up, these guys
don't even use ice cubes. Usually after
half -a -dozen shots, somebody rushes in off
the street to announce the Mayor tor someone
equally significant) has been shot. Every
reporter in the place, instantly jumps up and,
with nary a stagger, rushes off' to cover the
story.
What I want to know is, how do they get
there? They don't drive surely? Certainly not
if the RIDE program is in effect.
And why is every reporter in the city in that
bar in the first place? Have they all said to
their respective employers, "I'm off 'to get
screaming drunk, call me if a big story
breaks?"
Fictional reporters also curse and swear
and generally use abusive language a great
deal more than most people. What warped
psychology this idea is based on, I can't
Imagine? i shudder to think how difficult it
would be to get the necessary information out
of a hesitant interview subject after having
just called him a $?(!X$! IOW LIFE!
Of course, there are some myths with a
grain of . truth to them. For instance, the
popular perception that reporters are paid
large sums of money. in one scene from "The
Front Page," which is set in 1928, a reporter
announces he is off to the big city to take a job
in journalism for$150 a week. Today, it is still
possible to obtain employment in the field at
that same princely sum, Fortunately, things
have progressed to the point where these jobs
are no longer the prime opportunities, but
they are still out there.
No wonder reporters drink and curse so
much!
The annual horror stories related by Auditor -General Kenneth Dye
about government spending errors and waste are almost as predictable
as the outcome of the annual Rocky movies.
However, for the first time In many years, Dye indicated there is some
element of optimism and he has a "sense that there Is an interest in
better accountability and better management."
Whether that interest can generate some meaningful changes in the
mammoth goofs that cost Canadians millions of dollars each year remains
to be seen, but at least there is some hope.
In the past, beleagured taxpayers have assumed that the change
depended to a great extent on the civil service, but Dye explains in this
year's report that many of the decisions which waste enormous sums are
made for political reasons by elected officials.
One of the most glaring this year is the decision to build a $68 million
prison in Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's riding. Not only is. that cost
almost $16 million more than the estimate for the original site, but Dye
claims the correctional institution Isn't needed at all because the nation
has a surplus of jail cells in Quebec.
No doubt some wag could suggest who could fill those cells in view of
the pork barrel politics which appears to be replacing mismanagement as
public enemy number one in Ottawa.
— Exeter Times -Advocate
Impoverished family sent
NOVENA BFJRI2, 1tMSS
On Friday some of the farmers who live
near the old Brussels tollgate where the
Holliday family have been living lately.
although for some nights they had been
sleeping in the fence corners. came to
Brussels and laid information against them
before A. Hunter for vagrancy, the different
municipal officers in adjoining municipalities
having refused to dA anything for them when
asked. They were sent to Goderich jail for six
months so that they will have a comfortable
home for the wintee.
A meeting was held in the school house in
Section No. 1,4. Stanley to take into
consideration the advisability of introducing
music into the school, Mr. Reed, one of the
Trustees, occupied the chair. Mr. McKay.
music teacher. addressed the meeting,
shedding considerable light on the subject.
The Brussels Post says, and we think so
too. the very least the council can do torah the
trouble and expense occasioned by the iron
bridge bangle is to remit a proportion of the
county rate this year. It will take hundreds of
dollars to put the back streets in the same
state of repair they were in before they were
so badly cut up this fall owing to the Main
Street being blocked.
`NOVF.MBFRi10, 1911
The auction sale of faun stock and
implements held by Mr, A.D. Armstrong, on
Int 23, concession 23. Tuckersmith, on
Remembrance Day
PAYING TRIBUTE — Members of the
Seaforth community braved miserable
weather conditions to pay homage and to
attend a Remembrance Day ceremony held
Tuesday at the Victoria Park Cenotaph.
Mel 'wraith photos
Everyone catching knitting -mania
i think it has become a gaze • if not
everywhere then at least in and around
Seaforth 1 don't believe I've ever heard so
muds talk generated by a single topic •• and
certainly not • knitting.
Now instead of being limited to discussing
the fine art of knitting with my mother I'm
finding it impossible to avoid the topic - no
matter where 1 happen to be. And. what
might have been in the past a simple
comment on a sweater. and a "did you make
V" now comes complete with an entire new
entourage of questions Now one is more
likely to he asked. "what kind of yarn is
that^- "was it hard to make?" and "can f
borrow the pattern.'"
Everyone i( seems, has taken up knitting.
and those who haven't - want to Taik on the
street. in the stores. over the telephone and
even over a cup of coffee seems to include
such terminology as knit and purl. garter and
stocking stitch
Knitters of all experiences seem engrossed
in the intricacies of such things as the moss
stitch. They discuss the advantages of
working on round needles as opposed to four
straight needles, and wonder over the
effectiveness of grafting and the how-tos of
fair isle work.
Beginning knitters seek out the advice of
those more seasoned at the task. and it is not
uncommon to see them and a co-worker
huddled over a piece of work during a slack
pari of their day in an effort to determine.
where. if anywhere. a pattern might have
been screwed up
SWEATSOCKS
Heather McIlWraith
Teens and adults. caught up in the mania.
are taking up needles and knitting virtually
anywhere they can get away with it
it is absolutely unheard of in knitting
circles for television to be watched empty
handed and husbands and children are
finding =fliers more intent in watching e
bail of wool grow into a sweater than a piece
of meat grow into a meal.
Bags cif wool and needles are all part and
parcel 0 seems. for a trip to the doctor or
dentist, or a visit to the neighbors.
Enitting needles can be seen protruding
from beneath the desks of local workplaces as
coffee breaks and lunch hours become seized
opportunities to complete a few rows of
knitting, in what might otherwise be a
too -hectic day.
You see knitters at hockey games. the
beginning ones truing desperately to get the
body of a sweater knit. so they can tackle the
fair isle work around the neck at their next
class - the only hint that they aren't at home.
the occasional pause in work to watch a puck
go into the net. or a fight erupt
Even in such settings as the dressing room
(after ladies broombafl on Wednesday
nights( jock talk has been set aside to make
room for discussions on knitting.
No longer do the team members go into
explicit detail about the high and low points of
the game Instead talk centers on how far
each one has progressed on their sweater.
and with what areas they have encountered
the most difficulty. Post game socializing
fosters much the same discussion as players
launch into a tirade over the ribbing. and
wonder if they might he better off to pay
someone to complete the work for them.
late hours are being kept and sweaters are
being churned out by the dozens. as each new
knitter becomes more and more incensed
with this useful, productive and practical
hobby.
W hat they don't realize perhaps. is that the
addiction never ends, but only gets worse,
until you can no longer keep up with it.
f can attest to that.
Myself, like other knitters with some years
under their belts continue to be obsessed with
knitting. So much so. in fact. that I'm being
oven n by yarn. closets full in fact, all bought
on the intentions of turning it into garments
of sorts.
And, someday, with a little luck -- and
spare time — maybe 1 will.
The problem is. there are always new and
fancier yams being marketed.
to jail in 1886 to avoid the ills of winter
Monday last. was a great financial success.
despite the unfavorable weather and the
small attendance.
one three month old con sold for $98 while
a four month old one sold for 5118. Cattle,
too, brought prices beyond Mr. Armstrong's
expectation and the other articles went
proportionately high. An unusual feature
about the sale was the fact that seven men did
all the buying and the stock went entirely to
Hullett and McKillop. with the eseeptinn of
one colt which went to Stanley township. The
proceeds of the sale amounted to $1,000.
On Hallowe'en night several picturesque
survivals of the Gothic ages serenaded the
citizens of St Colurnban. The advance guards
of the invading army of merry -makers began
to arrive about eleven o'clock. At 11:30 the
concert was in full swing. Fog horn
serenaders from McKillop, Hibbert and
Tuckersmitlh rent the clouds with volley after
volley of cat calls,. college yells and
war -whoops, ail sung to the accompaniment
of hooting owls and screeching hens. This ear
torturing strife lasted for 15 minutes. 'then
some of the town sentinels began to exchange
shnts with the leather lunged vocalists who
were making frantic offortn to murder Annie
Laurie, The ()1d Oaken llueket, and Did
Anybody Here See Kelly.
On Sabbath morning Met, in the early
hours Mrs. Jatnco H. Moore had a very
narf»w eseapt from being ferffttc`ated with
IN THE YEARS AGON_ E
from the Archives
1
mal gas. It appears that in the putting up of
the coal stove. the pipe had been pushed in
too close to the chimney. causing the gas to be
forte bark into the roan and bad net Mr.
Moore been amused very early that
no doth
owing to a coughing : Mrs. Moore
aggravated by the escaping g
would have slept away, for when Mr. Moore
noticed her, she was quite enconsdote, and
she remained in that state for a number of
hours.
N(WEMBER 13, 1936
A more rigid inspection of persons wishing
to lake out a transient traders license was
proposed at a meeting of the town council
Tuesday evening.
Councillor J.E Keating, in bringing the
matter to the attention of the until. stated
t ted
he was not speaking p h
to as
how it affected the businessmen of the
town generally. As itis now, anyone wishing
to dear out cut rate goods, can pay $100,
dispose of their stock and move on, he said.
OnlytWo families are on relief Mayor A.D.
Su'therland told council Tuesday evening.
g.
Relief cost for October arm -tinted to $24.35,
This compares favorably with October of
1935, when nearly $100 was spent.
latest reports from representatives show
that the winter feed situation is Tess favorable
than a year ago. The total production of oats.
barley, spring wheat and mixed grains is
estimated at 112,393,000 bushels or 19 per
cent below the figure of 138,080,000 bushels
harvested a year ago.
On Tuesday evening November 10. the
girls of the YPA of Northside United Church
entertained the boys of the congregation.
Miss Ruth Thompson, president, had charge
of the meeting and responsive reading. Miss
Helen Moffat read the scripture.
NOVRMMDR 9, 1961
The third majorbridge structure to be built
in Hullett Township during the past five
years, the Quigley bridge, was opened
officially at a short ceremony Thursday
afternoon.
Seaforth firemen were called to the
residence of Mrs. Gordon Dick, Main Street,
Sun'daymotning when fire developed in an oil
stove. There was no damage according to
Chief J.F. $eott. -
Sitting as a court of revision on the
assessment roll, McKillop council Monday
granted a reduction of 525 on the assessment
of Joseph tittle, concession B. Reeve Dan
Beuermann presided.
Wong's Restaurant, in the Canino Block,
has been sold to J. E. W . Soong Yook.
effective. November 1.
Mr. and Mrs. Soong Yook who. with their
two daughters, come here from Lindsay, are
now in possession. The Wongs who operated
the business for a number of years, have
moved to London.
Hockey is about to begin in Seaforth,
except for a handful of boys that are too old
for their last year's team. Several boys are
now eligible for midget hockey. but such a
team doesn't exist in Seaforth, as yet.
Officials are striving to find someone to
help them out, but as yet have had no luck.
Needed is a sponsor, a manager and a coach.
in collision with a passing car as he ran
across the highway west of Seaforth late
Tuesday afternoon, Paul Southgate, 10,
received a fractured arm and cuts and
bruises. He was removed to Scott Memorial
Hospital and on Wednesday was taken to his
home.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. W .E. Southgate,
Paul was playing with David Langstaff
opposite the Longstaff residence, on Goder-
ich Street West when the accident occurred.
exelietweleseetiiiis