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The Citizen, 2000-05-17, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, MAY 17, 2000 E ditorials & 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 $27 00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/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 © Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 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 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com J^pcna <*cna Member of the Ontario Press Council Moving in for the kill There’s a phenomenon that anyone who has ever kept chickens knows that when one member of the flock is weak, others seem to move in for the kill. That seems to be the case with the Progressive Conservative Party when it comes to the media. News reports from this past weekend’s Conservative convention didn’t focus on policies the party hammered out but on the raids by Alliance party candidates on Conservative members. The idea of witnessing the death of a party so old that it predates Confederation, seems irresistible to the pack journalists from the Ottawa press gallery. The pack is being led by writers from The National Post which has brought back a tradition nearly as old as the Conservative party — the newspaper whose sole function seems to be to promote the agenda of a particular political party. In fact, not content simply to support an established party, Post publisher Conrad Black has been attempting to invent his own “unite the right” party, building on the old Reform Party base to bring in a new party to promote his right wing agenda. To succeed, of course, the Conservatives must die, and such is the nature of pack journalism, that if other reporters think The National Post is onto something, they’ll rush to follow. This is the situation Joe Clark is fighting as he tries to keep alive the party that brought us Confederation. Most of the media doesn’t really care about the outcome, they just want to cover the fight. — KR No heroes here There’s something about Canadians that doesn’t like heroes, particularly Canadian heroes, as shown again in recent focus groups considering various suggestions for Canadians — real or from literature — to commemorate on Canadian currency. Terry Fox, a courageous battler against cancer? He may end up on a bill but the focus groups felt “saturated” by the image of him limping across Canada and that “too much is known about his abrasive personality”. Lester B. Pearson who won the Nobel Peace Prize, started Canada’s tradition of peacekeeping, gave us the Canadian flag, and brought in national medicare? A “partisan politician” the groups sniped. The paintings of the Group of Seven painters? Unrealistic. So how about some images from our distant past — say the adventurous voyageurs who explored the unmapped continent in canoes? “How tacky can you get?” was one response. One of the few suggestions to pass muster with the groups was that of the Famous Five women who fought for the definition of “person” to include women, yet even there some thought they had already been given enough attention with the statue that is being erected in Ottawa. Canadians, it seems, are sure what they don’t like, but do they like anybody? — KR How can mothers be for guns? Photo by Bonnie GroppNesting Looking Back Through the Years Hundreds of thousands of mothers marched in Washington on Mother’s Day to protest the easy access to guns in the U.S. and the death and destruction i‘ brings. As interesting was a smaller group of women who marched in a separate demonstration in favour of the status quo. Women in the U.S. have, for decades, watched their children and their neighbours’ children shot down because of the wide use and abuse of guns. What was remarkable was not that those mothers against guns outnumbered those supporting them, but that there were any supporters at all. — KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, Following the deaths of the three young people in Barrie, it is difficult not to feel sadness and helplessness. Indeed, every single day there are injuries that occur and cause profound suffering for families. Fortunately, most of these injuries are predictable and therefore preventable. The question is: rather than feeling helpless, would you like to be part of the solution? The Huron Perth Injury Prevention Committee started in 1995. We are the group who brought you the Ontario Provincial police RIDE Reward Card Program during the past two Christmas seasons. We also provided a “Safe Harvest” farm safety and traffic safety campaign last fall that included our exhibit at the Plowing Match. We provide bicycle safety resources annually to our schools and communities. Our most recent media coverage has been for the Please Help Me, I’m Falling skits performed throughout Huron and Perth counties to help seniors to prevent injuries from calls. We need new members as well as businesses and individuals who will support us. This spring we are particularly keen to recruit people who wish to lobby for better bicycle safety regulations. We welcome both ongoing members and those who wish to work on just one cause or project. Can you help? The next meeting is June 7 in the Seaforth hospital boardroom. Contact me at 482-3416 or 1-800- 265-5184 for further details. Sincerely, Marguerite Thomas, Chair Huron Perth Injury Prevention May 14,1975 Rene Brunelle, Minister of Community and Social Services announced, effective May I, that a number of steps are being taken to improve the situation for recipients of family benefits and general welfare assistance. With the new rate a mother and three children aged 10- 15 would receive $45 for a monthly total of $423. The Singing Edwards and Rev. Gerald Harding were performing at the Huron Men’s Chapel in Auburn. Two groups of young people went to Huronview to show their talents in entertainment. Vocal numbers were done by Trudy Nykamp, Gingrid Damsma, Irene Heykoop, Rene and Audrey Roorda and a vocal solo was done by Christina Bylsma. Playing wind instruments were Cathy and Steven DeBoer, Jim Klutzinga, Leonard and Raymond Greidanus. Roller skating at Blyth arena cost 50 cents. Jean Pattison, Karen Richmond, Charlene Campbell and Christine Chalmers received county honours certificates for 4-H. Marg Franken was the only 4H member at the Blyth achievement day who received her provincial honours certificate for completing 12 courses. The movies playing in the area included: Murder on the Orient Express, The Towering Inferno, Four Flies on Grey Carpet and Shanks. May 14, 1986 A hard-working volunteer who had given long years of service to many Blyth-area organizations, Evalena Webster was named Citizen of the Year for the Blyth area by a committee of local residents. The old Huron Produce building on main street in Brussels caught fire and burned to the foundation, after which a huge power shovel did the rest. Brussels Army Cadets held their inspection parade with several award winners. Award winners were: Cadet Corporal Jody Boynton, Jr. W. O. Award; Cadet Chris Mathers, Most improved Cadet Award; Major Frank Goulding, inspecting officer; Cadet Lise Glanville, M. W. O. award and certificate for service and Cadet Mike Vader, Level 1IV Gold Start Certificate and W. O.Award. The Brussels Lion’s Club celebrated its 40th anniversary. Eighty-four students from Blyth Public School participated in the “Jump Rope For Heart”. The movies playing in the area included; The Money Pit, Cocoon, Pretty In Pink and Command. May 17, 1995 Kevin McDougall, a corporal in the Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Dragoons Armed Regiment at CFB Petawawa, returned from a peacekeeping mission in Croatia. It was a group effort when students from Blyth Public School had a car wash. Jamie Taylor, Matt Sherred, Jon Kochis, Shawna Stryker, Allan Gibbons, Bob Higgins, Jamie Black, Crystal Taylor and teacher Pat Taylor were among the many who participated. Mrs. Tena Empey and Mrs. Ethel Ball return from a two-week trip to Holland. The 50’ long, 30-seat Big Bike Ride for Stroke pedaled its way through Goderich raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The final service at Trinity Anglican had a large attendance of many people showing their respect for the church. The Blyth Festival Theatre applied for a liquor license. Mr. and Mrs. Don Scrimgeor presented the Blyth Public School with a cheque consisting of $611 that was collected through grocery tapes. Sandy Wilson’s musical The Boyfriend was playing in Stratford with Brian Macdonald directing it and Berthold Carriere directing the music. Rob Roy starring Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange, was playing at the movie theatre.