Loading...
The Citizen, 2008-08-21, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008.EditorialsOpinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie GroppAdvertising, Ken Warwick & Lori Patterson The CitizenP.O. Box 429,BLYTH, Ont.N0M 1H0Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152,BRUSSELS, Ont.N0G 1H0Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.comWebsite www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years Member of the Ontario Press Council 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 $32.00/year ($30.48 + $1.52 G.S.T.) in Canada;$101.00/year in U.S.A.and $175/year in other foreign countries.Advertising is accepted on thecondition that in the event of a typographical error,only that portion of the advertisement will becredited.Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth.PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Letter to the editor Aug. 22, 1962 Seaforth 4-H member Majorie Papple was one of two Ontario girls selected to participate in a special global event. She was chosen by the Marketing Board of the Ontario Department of Agriculture to assist with the Ontario exhibit at the British Food Fair in London, England. The Ontario exhibit was part of a much larger Canadian Food exhibit and was aimed at promoting the use of Canadian foods abroad. The girls would be educating audiences through food samples and answering questions, and would be representing their province proudly. One year had passed since the completion of the Berlin Wall in Germany, separating the free from those under Soviet rule. Time was taken to consider the reasons behind its construction, those involved, and what could be done in the future to improve the situation. The wall began when East Berlin Communist boss Walter Ulbricht, stung by the exodus of more than two million East Germans fleeing Soviet repression from 1953 to 1961, began a barrier to plug the stream of refugees to the West, which was an area free of the Soviet grasp. During the first year of its existence, the barbed wire-topped concrete came to symbolize the brutal repression of freedom, earning the title “Wall of Shame.” Silver screen siren Marilyn Monroe finally saw her last resting place as she was buried in a crypt in Westwood Memorial Park, California. The hearse which carried her body was trailed for miles by mourning crowds, creating a slow and somber procession to the cemetery. Dr. Frances O. Kelsey, the Canadian-born medial officer who blocked the general sales of child- deforming drug thalidomide, was awarded the highest civilian decoration, the President’s Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Medal. Aug. 25, 1976 Construction had begun on what would be the new Blyth and District Community Centre and Arena. Completion was expected by the end of November, said representatives from the Guelph construction firm awarded the $368,000 contract by Blyth council. Attendance at the Blyth Summer Festival was well up for its 1976 season, averaging 53% of the Memorial Hall’s seats full for every performance. Tthe Horticultural Flower Show, held at the Blyth Memorial Hall was deemed a big success. There were 217 entries from 25 exhibitors, as well as a good attendance. Aug. 19, 1981 A pancake breakfast kicked off a series of fundraising events sponsored by the Londesborough Lions to help the Clinton hospital fund. Also planned was an auction sale as well as a dance. A barn fire killed 70 pigs at a farm in Hullett Twp. By the time firefighters arrived at the blaze the barn was too far-gone to save but they were able to salvage a $100,000 combine parked nearby. The smoke and heat from the blaze was so severe that one volunteer from the area helping out had to be resuscitated. Neither damage estimate of cause of the fire had been determined, but there was only a small quantity of hay and straw stored in the upper part of the building, leaving most of the damage in the lower levels. Playing at Brownie’s Drive-In Theatre in Clinton was Disney’s The Fox and the Hound, as well as Jim Henson’s The Great Muppet Caper. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was An American Werewolf in London from the directors of Animal House, as well as Heavy Metal: “A step beyond science fiction.” Aug. 23, 1995 Over 6,000 spectators were in attendance at the fourth annual TransCan National Motocross Championships held in Walton. The quality of the event had much improved in its short existence, but this year was particularly smooth because of help from local Optimist Clubs and other community groups. Though final numbers were not yet in, it was safely assumed that it was the event’s best showing to date. A West Wawanosh farm would be the centre of activity for the Huron Plowing Match. The property of Ron Pentland had been chosen for the event, and already the activities were underway, with the upcoming crowning of the Queen of the Furrow. A fashion show presented by the Blyth Festival Art Gallery showcased the region’s most talented designers. Celebrity commentators would be featured as local models sported local creations to the tune of Celtic music. Linda Lentz, development co- ordinator of the Blyth Festival, and Gwen Papple, treasurer of the Festival’s board of directors, gratefully accepted a donation from the CIBC. The $5,000 was a contribution towards the Blyth Festival’s capital campaign Complete the Dream. The campaign had finally been re- activated in the spring of 1995 following an 18-month freeze. The CIBC donation represented one of the largest contributions to date. THE EDITOR, On behalf of Epilepsy Huron- Perth-Bruce, we would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the community for its participation during the recent Glad Day campaign in Blyth. Special acknowledgement goes to our co-ordinator Hillie Van Amersfoort and to all of the volunteers who work so diligently year after year. Thank you also to the Post Office for graciously allowing us to sell on their premises. Heartfelt appreciation to all those who purchased gladiolus, raffle tickets or made a donation during this campaign. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders affecting members of our community. The funds raised by this event will be used by our agency to continue to provide information, counselling and educational programs to those with and affected by epilepsy. By raising funds, we have also raised awareness about epilepsy and helped to eradicate some of the commonly held misconceptions about the disorder. For more information about epilepsy, please feel free to call us at 519-527-0033 or e-mail us at epilepsy@tcc.on.ca Once again thank you. Your support is much needed and most appreciated. Yours truly, Epilepsy Huron-Perth-Bruce staff We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Enough’s enough Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week complained that parliament is so dysfunctional that he might have to call an election this fall, even though he has legislated a set date for the next election of fall 2009. Though most Canadians are probably tired of a minority government they should be wary of giving Harper the majority he dreams of. The minority government is like a test drive of a government but after watching these people lately, this is a vehicle we shouldn’t buy. There’s a belief among the Harperites (not even shared by all Conservatives) that they have a true vision of what Canada should be and they have the God- given right to bring that vision to reality for the good of us all, even if we’re foolish enough not to recognize we need to be saved by them. Because the majority of people don’t know what’s good for them, the Harperites must do whatever it takes to get power so they can implement their agenda. So while they were winning power in the last election by pointing out the Liberal Party’s unscrupulous dealings in Quebec and promising that they would clean up the the situation if they were given the chance, they were also cheating on Elections Canada funding rules themselves. When the chief electoral officer blew the whistle, they denied his right to do so. When the ethics committee of the House of Commons decided to investigate, Tory witnesses refused to show up. Earlier, the Prime Minister’s office created a manual for Conservative heads of parliamentary committees telling them how to disrupt meetings so they could control the agenda. Even more disturbing is the lengths to which the Harper government has gone to undermine the farmer-controlled Canadian Wheat Board out west. The government doesn’t believe in this agency, which controls sales of western grains, and has done everything from firing its chief executive officer to altering the list of eligible voters to get the people elected who would support its vision, to trying to change the legislation without having the changes passed by parliament. The Harper group within the party does not trust democracy because too often the majority of people don’t agree with what they know is the best for the country. Given what they’ve done, or tried to do, even while handcuffed by a minority government, it’s frightening to think what would happen if they are rewarded with a majority. — KR Power vs. the people From Russia’s invasion of Georgia to the killing of aid workers by the Taliban in Afghanistan, there have been plenty of examples of the use of raw power recently. In every case, the party using the power claimed justification. Russia said its soldiers were “peacekeepers” in the breakaway Georgian state of South Ossetia and were protecting Russian citizens there when they over-ran two-thirds of Georgia. Many observers feel the real purpose was to show Russia’s new power and warn NATO away from expanding its membership to countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. The Taliban said it was taking revenge for the accidental killing of innocent civilians by Canadian troops when it killed the aid workers who turned out to be Canadian. They warn that unless Canada withdraws its troops they will continue to target Canadian civilians. It seems obvious that Canadian aid workers who help girls go to school, as these did, will be targeted whether we have troops in Afghanistan or not. Whether they are rebel terrorists like the Taliban or hard-line leaders like Russia’s, ordinary people will always be victims of those who think they have the right to impose their will with violence. — KR &