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The Citizen, 1991-07-10, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1991. Editorials Fill us in It would be interesting to see if you could crowd the 6000- 7000 Huron County residents who read The Citizen weekly into one room, how many would raise their hands if you asked who knew what the Huron County Study is all abouL Probably not many. Aside from a select group of politicians and people involved in the preliminary preparation of the study it would be unlikely that very many people know what is happening with the study. Even most people in the media don't know much what's involved in the study yet. We know that the study was the answer to pressure from the provincial government (under the former Liberal government) to study restructuring. We know that the government may have changed but the mandarins in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs who have previously convinced both Liberals and Conservatives that local government must be reorganized are still in office. We know that county councillors who reluctantly commissioned the study would be just as happy if there were no changes coming from its recommendations because generally they like the county the way it is. We know too, however, that the study has been taking place so far with little groups directly involved in the provision of services in the county, from clerk-treasurers to professionals to recreation and cultural services. But the public doesn't even know that. The county has promised plenty of public input into the study but the first chance the public has had to get involved is a series of open houses planned this week and next. The trouble with open houses is that they must involve very few people on a one-to-one basis to work. It would seem that in setting up only four open houses the county anticipates very few people will get involved. An open house also is a difficult place for information to be exchanged. For one thing, in order for the public to comment intelligently, it has to have some knowledge of the subject. The public, as mentioned earlier, knows next to nothing about the Huron Study. The study could become the focus of a lot of bitter feelings if it came out with the kind of recommendations the study in Bruce county did to radically alter the face of the county by reducing the number of municipalities: in other words setting up a regional government without using that dreaded name. County officials can be pardoned if they don't want to open that can of worms, especially when most (of the politicians anyway) want the study to change as little as possible. Still, openness is usually best. People need to be given as much information as possible about what is happening with the study so they won't get suspicious that plans they mightn't like are being hatched. Reeve Bill Mickle of Exeter called for more public input into the Study before a report due this fall is issued. Unless the Study committee has a lot more public participation planned in the future, he's definitely right. Four open houses at this point are inadequate. The wrong way to do it The current situation in the Balkans is a stark warning to Canadians as to what regional and ethnic rivalry can grow into. The state of war (civil or otherwise depending on your loyalty) in Yugoslavia, shows how nationalism and long-standing bitterness can erupt at any time to cause death and destruction. The declarations of independence by Slovenia and Croatia and the determination of the Serbian majority in Yugoslavia that the two parts of the country not be allowed to break away bring history back to life. It was these same rivalries that provided the trigger for World War I nearly 80 years ago. The comparison of Yugoslavia to Canada seems stretching a point but if we allow our regional rivalries to grow, who knows where the end might be. If Quebec decided to separate from Canada there seems little chance peace-loving Canadians would chose weapons to try to prevent the issue. But what about Quebec's claim to Labrador? If that claim was pushed might the already hard feelings gel that much harder? What if some parts of Quebec wanted to separate from the new country and join Canada because of their predominantly English populations? What would happen if Quebec resisted that separation? It's hard to know just where hatred can lead once it is unleashed. Canada has come to its current sorry state because of misunderstandings and abuses of the past Today's politics is still being shaped by the Plains of Abraham, the Riel Rebellion, Conscription, the War Measures Act. In giving vent to their anger and frustration, in demanding independence in Quebec's case or saying "hell let them go" on the other side, Canadians just don't know what they may be starting. The fascination of water Looking Backward ONE YEAR AGO JULY 11,1990 Organizers of Brussels FunFest said the event proved to be a suc­ cess as community groups banded together to run a host of activities to raise money for community pro­ jects. Lightning was thought to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a bam full of hay, just west of Walton, on property owned by Ken Shortreed. Bruce Switzer opened his music store in Blyth in The House on Dinsley Street. Rev. Cam McMillan and his wife Barb were hosts to a special visitor. Paivi Vilppara, 18, of Finland arrived as part of the Lions Interna­ tional Exchange Program. Royal Homes in Wingham laid off 45 production workers. Grey Central School received a new primary reading program, thanks to a contribution from the Brussels Legion. Blyth Legion contributed to the purchase of new uniforms for the Bantam girls softball team. THREE YEARS AGO JULY 6,1988 As if Huron Country farmers did­ n't have enough to worry about, with the crops suffering the effects of the worst drought since the "Dirty Thirties", many fields in Huron Country were hit with a killing frost that left plants twisted and seared. Floyd Courtney of RR1, Dungan­ non was killed instantly when his motorcycle collided with a car in East Wawanosh township. OPP from the Wingham detach­ ment charged a Baden-area couple and their son with cultivation of a narcotic after finding 800 marijua­ na plants, with a street value of $150,000 in a secluded area in Grey township. The Willie family took over own­ ership of Snells Grocery in Blyth. After taking a year off, the Hul- lett Days celebration resumed, big­ ger and belter than ever. Glen McNeil of Heather Holme Farms, RR6, Goderich, returned from Japan after judging 174 head of cattle al the Spring Show Obihi- ro, on the island of Hakkaido. Bodmin Lid. of RR5, Brussels, look first place in the Ontario Pork Congress carcass competition. FIVE YEARS AGO JULY 9,1986 Neil McDonald was selected to fill the vacancy on Brussels coun­ cil. Ron Nesbitt of RR2, Auburn was injured in a swimming accident, near Amberley. Mr. Nesbitt struck his head on a rock, while diving and was taken to University Hospi­ tal in London. Mary Vair of Belgrave was named chairman of the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation. The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O Box 152, BRUSSELS. Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 The Citizen Is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $19.16 + $1.66 for each month after March 31/92 + G.S.T. for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A, and Foreign. 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