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The Citizen, 2001-03-28, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2001 Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil 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 $28.00/year ($26.16 + $1.84 G.S.T.) in Canada: $65.00/year In U.S.A. and $100/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 newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are C Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mall Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mall Agreement No. 1374990 Member of the Ontario Press Council iN11122EZNI P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont: BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1HO NOG 1HO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsInternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca ocna +TA The Citizen So what's efficiency? The thing about efficiency is that what's efficient depends on who's determining what efficiency is. The word last week that municipalities will have to change the century- old names of some• streets to suit the efficiency of 911 emergency calling is a small case in point. It probably won't kill us to change a few names, but it's being done in the name of putting in place a system that we really didn't need in the first place. The 911 system was put in place in urban areas and, because of urban media domination, rural and small town people Were eventually convinced we were missing something because we didn't have it. Generally people were getting along quite well calling their local fire department if they needed help or the local police. There were few foul-ups that endangered life or safety. But we bought into the idea we needed the system and spent a small fortune putting it in place. Each of us pays a surcharge on our telephone bill to support the service. Now the system is telling us what to do instead of us telling the system what to do. And what's the efficiency? Calls that used to be handled locally are now being channeled through Ottawa! Local dispatchers used to know the community they were dealing with. Now dispatchers can be confused by having two towns with similar street names within the, same amalgamated municipality. What's more, dispatching jobs that used to stay in our own area are now going to some far off city. The efficient 911 system often sends fire departments to accidents as a first response, a service some volunteer fire departments are finding too onerous to handle. And the idiocy multiplies when Canada Post gets into the act. In some places in Canada the post office now insists rural residents use their 911 address on their mail instead of their rural route number. Again, some deep thinker in a city sees the country as just an extension of the city. Greater expense. Greater inconvenience. Higlier local taxes so more money can be saved somewhere else. It's a sign of too many things that are happening in our rural areas. If we don't stand up and take control, things will get worse. -- KR Painful but necessary Prime Minister Chr6tien wishes the controversy would go away over his lobbying for the Federal Business Development Bank to give a large loan to a hotel near a golf course he once owned. So, probably, do most Canadians. It's easy to feel the opposition parties are being too petty or too eager to breed scandal in their pursuit of the prime minister. Their viciousness brings back memories of the Republican's attempts to impeach Bill Clinton. But we must also remember people wanted the press and opposition to just let the Watergate issue die a quarter century. Like Chretien, Richard Nixon was even re-elected by the public before his crimes were exposed. So, painful as it is, the investigation must continue until the truth comes out and the prime minister clears himself or is proven guilty.— KR Drop off point Photo by Vicky Bremner Looking Back Through the Years March 26, 1986 Damage was already extensive before Blyth firefighters reached the scene of. a house fire Sunday afternoon east of Londesboro. Although they were able to prevent the building from being destroyed, damage was estimated at being "beyond repair". The family of Robert Kiddy was left homeless by the blaze which started from a trash fire. It was.a day to break out the Easter bonnets at Callander Nursing Home in Brussels. Showing off their creations were: Stella Winn, Jonathon Trollope, Olive Dunbar, Pearl Stevenson, Frank Dunn, Audrey Seaton and Marlon Leatherland. • Nine F. E. Madill students from The Citizen's coverage area were among 46 winners of a trip to Expo for two in an art contest. Lucky local winners were: Shelly Bray, Ethel; Heather Morton, Belgrave; -Linda Thyssen, Brussels; Cherida Garniss, 'Brussels; Giselle Kelly, Blyth; • Karen Knight, Brussels; Patrick Cull, Belgrave; Tom Bailey, Blyth and Rhonda Bakelaar, Brussels. Ladies from the Ethel Women's Institute served pancakes and sausage at the pancake day at Maple Keys Conservation Area near Ethel on Sunday. Beautiful weather brought a large turnout of people who were able to see maple syrup being made in methods from Indian times to the present. Lisa Boonstoppel of Auburn won a trip to the United Nations in a public speaking contest sponsored by the Oddfellows and Rebekahs in Clinton on Friday night. The Dictionary was the topic of her winning speech. Bruce Brown and Terry Pierce were among the employees at Radford Construction-taking a turn at the griddle serving hot dogs for the first anniversary celebrations at Radford Auto, Farm and Industrial Parts Limited •in Myth. A large crowd took advantage of the free food and a chance to see the new equipment rental division. March 27, 1991 Sisters Amanda and Candy Bearss were enjoying the bright, cheery atmosphere of the new Blyth Library, located in the north corner of Memorial Hall. Minor renovations and installations were- completed early the previous week and librarian Pat Brigham was back in business. There was plenty of space in the new facility and even a special corner for children. Area youths demonstrated their technique during the Video Challenge in Brussels. The event was sponsored by the Optimist Club and winners advanced to the zone championship in Blyth on April 14. The first Blyth Optimist Club Video Challenge drew a large turnout at Blyth Public School. The winners were: Tristan kiting, Tyler Wilson, Jenny Ritchie, Stephanie Oliver, Adam Blair, Joey Sykes, Jeremiah Hamm, Russell Riehl, Mark Lewis, Anthony Wilkinson, Jason McDougall, Darryl Shannon, Thomas Schroeker, Jason Clark and Susanne Schultz. The Ontario Public School Teachers' Federation petitioned Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and the government urging them to establish a Royal Commission on Violence Against Women. In a letter to Mr. Mulroney, OPSTF President Bill Martin stated that it was his understanding that the first report on the Royal Commission on the Status of 'Women was published 20 years ago and at that time did not address this issue. The front of the new Belgrave Arena was demolished by a team of volunteers to make way for a new community hall being built by the Belgrave Kinsmen. There when the sign was removed were: Kevin Pletch, arena board chairman; George Michie, one of the volunteers who originally built the arena; Reeve Ernie Snell of East Wawanosh; Clarence Hanna, another of the volunteer builders; Reeve Doug Fraser of Morris; and Gordon Bosman, another volunteer builder. Sue Gowing presented the Brussels Ladies Curling Club championship trophy to the winning team at the club's annual banquet in Brussels. Members of the team were: Evelyn Blake, skip; Bonnie Cole Arnal, second; Bev Stevenson, lead; and vice, Mary Bernard. Bob and Olive Cunningham discussed changes at the Ethel post office with Jim Craig, Canada Post community relations officer, following a meeting in 'Ethel. The Ethel office became a retail postal outlet in June. Esther Buck, dressed in old- fashioned costume, showed how pioneers used a yolk to carry two sap pails in a demonstration at Maple Keys Sugar Bush. Guided tours explained to visitors how syrup making had evolved over the years. The Brussels Sprouts defeated Zurich and Blyth to win the WOAA Tyke championship by outscoring their opponents 23-2 in the tournament. The Brussels Sprouts had done a remarkable job that season as they only lost one game and tied one game. Blyth Festival unveiled its poster for the upcoming season on Monday. The artist is Goderich resident Doug Darnbrough with sponsors Norris Peever, manager of West Wawanosh Mutual Insurance, and Randy Hutchison, manager of Howick Mutual Insurance.