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The Citizen, 2007-01-18, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2007.Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie GroppAdvertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry The CitizenP.O. Box 429,BLYTH, Ont.N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152,BRUSSELS, Ont.N0G 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website 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 ($30.19 + $1.81 G.S.T.) in Canada;$92.00/year in U.S.A.and $175.00/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: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Jan. 18, 1961 Quick action from caring neighbours saved a family farm from being destroyed. A neighbouring landowner to the East Wawanosh Twp. property, Thomas Lawrence was driving by the home when he noticed a small fire had started on the roof. He quickly notified another neighbour who then got the word to the family and called the Blyth Fire Department. By the time the firefighters arrived the fire had already been extinguished by a group of neighbours who had been quickly dousing the flames with buckets of water. If the fire had not been put out as fast, the house would certainly have been severely damaged. It is possible the barn might have caught on fire as well. Sparks from the chimney were thought to be the source of the fire. A 47-year-old "minister" of Los Angeles, Glynn Wolfe, was married for the 13th time to a 20-year-old. His new wife, Sherry, turned out also to be his 11th wife. They decided to remarry after listening to evangelist Billy Graham at a convention in Las Vegas. President John. F. Kennedy had a slight interruption to his new conference. Kennedy's three- year- old daughter, Caroline, made her way right to her father during a conference wearing a pair of her mother Jaqueline's high heels. After being warmly acknowledged by her father, Caroline wobbled back out, and the conference continued. Jan. 15, 1969 Blowing winds and thick falling snow caused several accidents across Huron County. One driver reported seeing 12 cars and four trucks stuck on the shoulders of the road and the ditch just on Hwy. 4. Plowing became impossible, and the last plow to make an attempt finished at 12:45 p.m. Vehicles of all kinds began to pile up in Blyth, trying to take refuge from the storm until it passed, filling the Blyth Inn at an unbelievable rate. With three weeks of snow passed and counting, Blyth residents were beginning to think that the year would boast a record snowfall. Vera McVittie, Blyth resident, informed The Standard that she heard crows cawing at her home, and guaranteed it to be a sure sign of spring to come. However, a weather specialist had predicted several more weeks of heavy snowfall. Jan. 19, 1972 The Brussels Lions held their highly successful winter event, with the biggest attractions being the talent contest and the Polar Daize Queen competition. Winners of the talent show were: Sharon Langlois, solo dancing; Carol Wheeler, and Caroline Cardiff, group dancing; Donelda Stiles, instrumental; Julie McCall, solo singing; Susan Cardiff and Vicki McCall, duet singing and Dianne Willis, Jackie McWhirter and Rhondo Keffer, trio singing. Bonnie Pennington of Brussels was crowned Polar Daize Queen, with runner up being Joan Elliott. Another most popular event of the Polar Daize was the polar dip in the Maitland, although the cold temperatures eliminated most of the possible contestants. Nevertheless, two brave Brussels men were not holding back as they made the dive into the icy water of the river. They not only jumped in, but swam several lengths before quickly getting out and seeking the refuge of a warm vehicle. The Brussels firefighters were successful in their annual Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser, raising $280. Jan. 20, 1988 A Belgrave woman remained in serious condition at Victoria Hospital in London after being transferred from Wingham and District Hospital following a two-car crash on Hwy 4, just north of Belgrave. The Wingham Ontario Provincial Police detachment reported that the victim was a passenger in a car driven by her husband. He received minimal injuries when he lost control of the vehicle and veered into an oncoming pick-up truck driven by a Wingham man, who was not injured. The car was completely demolished in the crash while the truck received minor damage. In yet another accident, a Goderich man also received major injuries and was also taken to Victoria Hospital in London. The victim, who was driving, lost control in poor visibility and icy road conditions and swerved into a pick- up driven by a Listowel man. The accident occurred just west of the Maitland River bridge on Hwy. 86, just south of Wingham. Both men were taken to Wingham and District Hospital, where the Listowel man was treated and released. The Goderich man, who was later transferred to London, was in serious condition. His vehicle was demolished in the crash, while the truck sustained major damage. No charges were laid in either of the crashes as they were blamed on horrible visibility and dangerously icy roads. Playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham was The Running Man, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was Throw Mama From The Train, starring Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal. THE EDITOR, Having recently moved here from a larger community along the beautiful Grand River in Brantford, our family has become quite unpleased with the lack of protection to the environment we now choose to live in. Burning garbage in barrels in your backyard should be banned immediately. Not only does burning plastics cause cancers but it also contaminates our air and water, the Blyth Brook and all our wildlife and surrounding water, rivers, streams and brooks. How do we educate small town people into recycling, not burning? When will bylaws for both noise pollution and air pollution be put into place? Angela Giacomelli, Blyth. 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 Where there’s a will . . . Ball’s Bridge, the Auburn-area bridge with 120 years of history, now has a future thanks to the diligence of the Friends of Ball’s Bridge for standing up for its preservation, and the willingness of local politicians to look for alternative solutions. Huron County councillors, at their January meeting, agreed to transfer ownership of the bridge to Central Huron and Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh, along with $250,000 to help repair the bridge for light traffic. Who could have guessed, six months ago, that such a solution could be found to preserve the heritage bridge but also get it out of the county roads system where it really no longer belongs? At the time, several vocal councillors were calling for the bridge to be removed because it had been replaced in 1986 by a modern bridge on County Rd. 15 to the south. Some councillors grumbled that if councillors hadn’t responded to the protests of supporters of keeping the bridge 20 years earlier, the structure would have been gone and they wouldn’t have had to deal with it now. Well they got a taste of what their predecessors faced two decades earlier when the Friend of Ball’s Bridge was formed, quickly assembling a petition with 10,000 names calling for the bridge to be put back into use. Despite their support, they were up against the reality the bridge wasn’t really needed in the county roads system and there were other priorities for the money needed to repair it. But they got the sympathetic ear of councillors at Central Huron and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh and the seeds of a solution sprouted. Enough county councillors wanted to find that solution that a plan was created for people to come together to make it happen. So now the county is rid of the bridge, though it has provided a $250,000 dowry for the new marriage of the volunteers of the Friends of the Ball’s Bridge and the lower-tier municipalities. There’s still much to be done but hopefully the joint efforts of the bridge’s supporters and the new municipal owners will lead to the kind of lasting partnership that can keep this unique part of our history viable, and attracting tourists, photographers and painters, for many years. Meanwhile all involved need to be congratulated on their hard work and creativity in finding a workable solution. — KR They’re on their own? U.S. President George W. Bush came up with his solution for “winning” in Iraq last week, proposing to send yet more troops to the violence-torn country. The only problem is the official government of Iraq doesn’t want them. No problem, apparently. The U.S. troops are going anyway. Early this week two former aides to Saddam Hussein were executed before their appeal period was completed. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed concern over the situation but said it was a matter for the government of Iraq. The problem for the U.S. is — how do you make the people of Iraq think they really have their own government when you override their wishes on sending troops, but you claim the government is on its own when they make a decision you don’t like? — KR & Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, On behalf of the five country Christmas bureaus, the Agency, and the families served over the holidays, thank you for your newspaper’s coverage and the community’s generous support. Across Huron County the number of children and families who received help was up very slightly over 2005. With your help 451 families and 992 children received gifts of new toys, new clothing and food. In the Wingham/Brussels area, 80 families and 179 children were the recipients of the community’s gifts. With sincere thanks to everyone who made it possible for struggling families in our midst to enjoy the holidays. Yours truly, Sharon Kirkey, Chair, Huron County Christmas Bureau Christmas Bureau chair extends thanks for support