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The Citizen, 1997-05-14, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 14,1997 The North Huron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 itizen P.O Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A, and $75.00/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. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 Acting against ourselves A reader recently brought in a copy of a speech by Wendell Berry, a farmer, philosopher and community activist from Kentucky. While Kentucky seems a long way away from Huron County, the realities Berry talks about seem as much a part of life here as in his part of the world. Berry says: "Loss of farms. Loss of dealerships, repair shops and stores. Loss of local schools, churches and other community institutions. Loss of political representation. Loss of doctors and other professionals. Loss of subsistence economies which kept country people going through earlier hard times. "This is the history of rural communities, not just in the United States but all over the world, and it has been going on for half a century. "The rural people who remain in the rural communities and economies are always travelling farther and paying more for essential goods and services. Some of these goods and services once were provided by their own farms and communities as a matter of course at no monetary cost. The country communities are thus always more vulnerable to the economic shifts and trends that are never in their favour. "And those of us who have observed closely the life of a rural community know that there comes a point in this history of loss and decline when the community begins to chose against its own best interest — against itself (our emphasis). Starting perhaps in small ways, a small purchase here and there, people begin to prefer to do business away from home. They choose Kroger (a large grocery chain store) over the local grocery, and Rite Aid (a chain drugstore) over the local drugstore and Walmart over a whole set of local shops. And in doing so they chose, ultimately, against themselves. "I remember speaking with the owner of a small, independent drugstore who told me that he had seen his customers drifting away to the chainstores, but they remained his faithful customers when they needed medicine late at night. That is to say that they were members of the "market economy" when they wee looking for a bargain, but they returned to membership in the local community when they needed a neighbour — a fickleness that obviously cannot be kept up indefinitely." Many people think it's an "outing" to drive 20 miles or even 50 miles to shop for bargains. If by doing so, they destroy the local stores for lack of business, will they think it's such an "outing" to have to drive 20 miles for the bare essentials in an emergency? — KR Four more years of chaos? The results of the June 2 federal election will provide a reading on just how much suffering Canadians are willing to create for their neighbours in order to get a tax cut for themselves. Two of the parties, Reform and the Progressive Conservatives, are running on a platform of further slashing government programs in order to give Canadians a tax cut. They differ only in approach. The Conservatives would borrow the money to give Canadians a tax cuL Reform would slash government spending even more than the Liberals have, so that they can balance the budget sooner, then give a tax cut. But after a decade of cutting government, first under the Conservatives and more recently, and more seriously, under the Liberals, do Canadians really want to continue this round of chaos even longer? With the federal government ahead of its own targets for slashing the deficit, there seems to be an end in site to downsizing under the Liberals. The two right-wing parties offer four more years of uncertainty. Is it worth it? Perhaps it depends on who you are. In our increasingly individualistic society, those who have money demand tax cuts. Those who have most been rewarded by our society feel they are mistreated by having to help out those who have been less favoured. But you never know where the effect of tax cuts, paid for by further slashing of government, might hit. How much more will health care have to be cut? (part of the problem of hospital closures is already because of federal transfer payment cuts to the provinces). How about cuts to education? Old age support? Do you want four more years of such turmoil? — KR Blooming spring _ ___________________________ Photo by Janice Becker Letters THE EDITOR, I am writing this letter to inform the community of the upcoming HAWK (Hill-Atchison-Webster- King) First Annual Memorial Slo­ pitch Tournament which is being held May 30-31, at the Clinton Arena. This tournament is being organized to commemorate Brian Hill, Neal Atchison, Mark Webster and Pam King who died suddenly in a car accident on Nov. 24, 1996 near Varna. The organization of this annual memorial slo-pitch tournament is just one way to remember our dear friends, as well as to provide an opportunity to give money to the AHK (Atchison-Hill- King) Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Stratford Chef School in memory of Mark Webster. The tournament will involve a maximum of 16 co-ed teams who may register by calling Lesley Dalzell at 482-3196, Chris McGregor al 482-7539, Mary Ellen at 482-7919. Registration of your team must be paid in full by cheque or cash (cheques may be post-dated until June 2). If you are registering by cheque please make cheques payable to HAWK Memorial Fund. A full registration package will be given to the team captain upon registration. We, the HAWK committee, are anticipating registration to fill quickly so gel your team and money together as soon as possible. The tournament will begin Friday night a the Clinton Arena ball diamonds and will finish on Saturday night around 8 p.m. There will also be a pig roast dinner at Jonnymores starting at 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The dinner is open to the entire community as well as ball players, who will get a ticket for the dinner when they sign up for the tournament. This is a great opportunity for those who do not wish to participate in the tournament to become involved with donating to both memorial funds. Dinner tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12 years of age. You may purchase tickets by calling Lesley 482-3196, Chris McGregor at 482-7539 or Mary Ellen at 482- 7919. Once again we are anticipating a large crowd so you may want to get your tickets early. Finally, there will be a dance held at Jonnymores on Saturday night in Clinton starting at 9 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door as well as calling Chris, Lesley and Mary Ellen. The cost of the tickets is $5-or a donation. We hope that this tournament meets with great success so that this may be an annual event. We have had a number of sponsors donate many things and without the help of the community we could not have organized the tournament. If you wish to be a sponsor for the tournament please contact Mary Ellen, Chris or Lesley at the numbers mentioned above. We appreciate all the interest and help that has been given to us in these early stages of planning and hope that the HAWK tournament meets with great success. Sincerely, Lesley Dalzell and the HAWK committee. THE EDITOR, The Huron Women Teachers' Association is taking an active part in helping the flood victims of Manitoba as they attempt to reclaim their homes and their schools. The association voted to send $1,000 worth of bleach, soaps, towels, linens, beddings, paper products and cleaning tools to Manitoba Flood Relief through Harriston's Friends for Caring and Sharing. Susan Wyatt, a Brookside Public School teacher whose sister is a Winnipeg resident and teacher, has been instrumental in purchasing the materials for the Women Teachers' Association. These items will be shipped through Friends for Caring Continued on page 6