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The Citizen, 2007-05-24, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 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 May 24, 1950 A relief fund had been set up by the Honourable R. F. McWilliams, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, to raise money to support those severely affected by the wide-spread floods that were taking place in Manitoba. Newspapers in Canada were doing their part in the fundraising by launching a campaign to solicit donations from the people of rural communities across the country. It was stressed that the need as a result of the floods was urgent as “dreadful havoc” had been wrought by the rising waters of the Red River. People had not only lost their homes and possessions, but many had lost any possible resources for personal recovery. It was hoped that this fundraising campaign would help support these disaster-stricken people with “the hope and faith in our Canadian way of life that they will try to rebuild after suffering the devastating loss of their life’s work.” Hollywood actor Johann Peterson was preparing for a new role in a prehistoric times-themed film. The actor, fairly new to Hollywood, was well known for his height. Standing at a staggering eight feet, two inches, Peterson joked that he left his native Iceland because “the big boys were always beating me up”, and that the only thing he finds wrong with Hollywood is that “clouds get between my eyes and the ground.” May 24, 1961 The Blyth Lions Club was holding a banquet for the Midget hockey team they sponsor, an evening which would feature a very special guest. Famous NHL linesman George Hayes would be the guest speaker at the event, a guest which the entire community was very excited about. Hayes was said to be possibly one of the best known officials in the NHL, and his abilities to call close plays and break up fights made him a standout among other officials. United States President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline held a large garden party at the White House in honour of discussions over educational exchange programs. Nearly 1,000 guests attended the event, including students from around the world (from a total of 74 different countries to be exact). What these students had in common was their concern about the depletion of the student exchange program at many schools. British diplomat George Blake pleaded guilty in a London, England court to charges of spying. Blake confessed that he had been spying for Russia since emerging from Communist North Korean captivity eight years before. He was serving as vice consul in Korea when invading North Koreans interned him in July 1950. He was sentenced to 42 years in prison, which was the most stern prison sentence ever imposed in British peacetime history. May 24, 1972 Plans were being made for Brussels to have an airstrip. Jack McDonald had purchased several acres of land on the east limits of the village and stated that he was planning to build an airstrip on the majority of the newly-acquired property. Residents were told not to worry about noise disturbance that was associated with an airstrip, as the aircraft would be taking off and landing over river and wooded area only. Students of Brussels Public School were responsible for the planting of nearly 100 new trees on the school property. The rejuvenation was part of the ever nearing Brussels Centennial celebrations. May 25, 1988 Local elementary school student Tammi Medd was the winner of three top awards from the Canada- wide Science Fair, held in Winnipeg. Medd, a student from Blyth Public School earned the silver medal in her junior life sciences division overall, as well as both the Brandon University Award for the top junior agriculture-related project and the Dr. Grant McEwan Nature Protection Fund Award for the top junior conservation-related project, all for her project entitled “The effects of insecticides on soil.” Winona McDougall was nominated Blyth’s Citizen of the Year. McDougall was nominated for her devotion to teaching music as well as organizing several Huron County Music Festivals and membership in the Music Teachers Association. In addition to her many musical contributions to the area, she also served years on the Blyth Public School Board as well as several other boards at the Blyth United Church, including time as president of the United Church Women. May 25, 2006 A rabid skunk was found near Brussels. Local pharmacist Dan Taylor anticipated a 20 per cent reduction in income if Bill 102 passed. At issue was the money which generic drug companies provide to pharmicists for using their products. Huron East issued a watering ban. Plans continued for the eagerly anticipated Blyth youth activity park with a fundraising walk-a-thon scheduled. THE EDITOR, My involvement with the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life began as an opportunity for me to spend some quality time with a very good friend of mine. Little did I know that this event would become a very important part of my life. Relay For Life is the Canadian Cancer Society’s unique, 12-hour, overnight fundraiser. Teams of 10 people take turns walking, running and strolling around a track from 7 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday. I officially caught the Relay For Life bug when I first joined a team in Stratford. When it was suggested that Relay For Life come to Listowel, somehow I became chair and the rest is history! This is our second Relay For Life in North Perth (Listowel). The opening ceremony takes place at 6:30 p.m. June 8 at the Listowel Agricultural Fairgrounds. The Survivors' Victory Lap, the first lap of the relay, is one of the highlights of the event. Survivors of all ages take to the track at 7 p.m. for an inspirational lap before the rest of the participants join in. The Luminary Ceremony takes place at 10 p.m. Luminaries are special candles purchased in honour or in memory of someone who has been touched by cancer. As darkness falls, our track is illuminated by these candles, each bearing a message of love and support. In addition to North Perth’s event June 8-9, three other communities in Huron and Perth hold a Relay For Life: Stratford is June 1-2; Goderich and area is June 15-16; Wingham and area is Aug. 10-11. To learn more, register your team and collect pledges, visit www.cancer.ca/Relay or call the Canadian Cancer Society at 1 800 294-0086. What started for me as a night of friendship has become a family volunteer event with my husband and three children now involved as well. It’s an emotional evening but also fun-filled with entertainment, food and laughter. Accept this as your personal invitation to participate in the inspirational. It’ll be a night you will not forget! Pauline Daugherty, Canadian Cancer Society outreach volunteer and chair of the Relay For Life in North Perth. 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 Fair is fair as prices rise Farmers have been going about their usual spring routine recently, dodging the weather to get their crops in the ground. There’s one thing this spring that’s unusual compared to recent years, however: this year there’s a decent chance they may actually make a profit from those crops. Prices for corn have rebounded dramatically because the explosion of production of ethanol, particularly in the U.S., has greatly increased demand. As corn became more profitable, the price for other crops like soybeans had to increase or farmers wouldn’t plant them. It must be bitterly ironic, then, that the production of ethanol has come under attack in the media of late. Certainly, it is legitimate to question the environmental efficiency of producing ethanol from grain, since the amount of energy required to grow corn and convert it into fuel means there isn’t a lot of real energy gain. But a growing number of critics are focussing, not on this justifiable question, but on the morality of using a food crop to create fuel and the fact increasing prices for farm crops from the ethanol boom, could increase the cost of food. None of these critics seemed to care when farmers were going broke getting rock-bottom prices for their corn and soybeans. In fact, some have the temerity now to complain that the ethanol boom has greatly increased the price of corn, not recognizing the fact the price they’re making the comparison too was an unsustainably low return for farmers. When farm prices are low, many voices in the media say that farmers must learn to live with market forces and shouldn’t expect taxpayer subsidies to prop them up. When farm prices rise, the media gives voice to those who complain the price of food is too high. There may be a case against the environmental benefits of ethanol, at least until ethanol from fibre crops is fully developed, but arguing against it on price — that the cost of food will go up enough to give farmers a living wage — is bogus and outrageous. — KR So much to offer One of the most inspiring stories in the dozen inspiring stories of 2006 Ontario Junior Citizen Award winners came to a sad end last week when 15-year-old Maddison Babineau of Hamilton died. Maddison’s life was full of tragedy and triumph. Her father died of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) when she was only six, but from age four she was involved in fighting that disease, emptying her piggy bank on the MS Telethon to inspire others to give. She continued the fight after he died. At age 12 she was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. She got her class involved in walking all night in the Relay for Life, raising thousands of dollars for cancer research. When the Children’s Wish Foundation gave her the opportunity for anything she wanted, she asked the money be used to build a school in Kenya. So much good done for the world in one short life. That life should make the rest of us re-examine our lives and contributions. — KR & Letter to the editor