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The Citizen, 2006-02-09, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick & Marcie Riegling The Citizen 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 $30.00/year ($28.04 $1.96 G.S.T.) in Canada; S90.00/year in U.S.A. and Si 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 NOG 1110 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 867-9021 E-mail norhuronescsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca lkocna. ENA Member of the Ontario Press Council 1•114111M1 We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscrlpts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright CanadIg. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. IIIIIAT, ME WORRY ? Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2006. Editorials Opinions Taking on the challenge Huron County's new warden Rob Morley should be congratulated on setting up the Warden's Economic Development Task Force to focus county-wide efforts on building the county's economy. The county hasn't played a large role in economic development in recent years, aside from facilitating the creation of the Huron County Business Centre in Seaforth. As Goderich councillor Deb Shewfelt noted, the county hasn't had a business development officer since the 1970s when one was hired initially to try to find uses for the former air force base at Clinton, now known as Vanastra. That cldsure caused a crisis in the county. There's nothing so dramatic today but we're facing perhaps a bigger challenge. Huge economic changes are underway. As Shewfelt pointed cut, farming, the backbone of the economy, is under serious stress as farmers are asked to compete against subsidies to their neighbours across the border without a similar support from our governments. The retail sector has suffered because of the shift to regional "big box" stores which cuts the heart out of many small main streets, and loses jobs at the local level. People who lost their jobs on the farm or in local retail businesses often turn to industry but global economy trends and the rising Canadian dollar has cast a shadow over the future of many industries. When places like China and India offer a low-cost labour alternative, can we count on highly-paid industrial jobs for long? The economy that built this county was created by local decision- makers: farmers and merchants and entrepreneurs who were committed to their home region. In today's world, crucial decisions are not within our control. It's a huge challenge to get Toronto-based, and even more, foreign-based, decision-makers to see the potential of areas beyond the corridors of Hwys. 401 and 400 burst with activity. Co-ordinating the efforts of local and county officials is essential if we're to overcome the odds and prepare for the future. — KR Rights versus insanity Where does an individual's right clash with reality? That fine line was tested recently by an Ontario superior court judge. • The judge ruled a man was the victim of racial profiling because police went to a land registry office to look up purchasers of rural properties who had Vietnamese-sounding names. The police then watched the man's house and eventually got enough suspicious evidence to obtain a search warrant. They found a marijuana growing operation. So the man was guilty but he's not guilty because police were proved right when they suspected someone with a Vietnamese background who bought rural property might be worth investigating. Hmm. — KR Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, The article from Paul Mistele, vice:president of OFA prompts me to comment, especially to the last paragraph, wherein he states that grassroots involvement will be critical if they are to be successful in lobbying efforts. I served for about six years as director for North West Huron and was director when we organized the School Tax Revolt in 1970 which resulted in the farm tax rebate and rate reductions on farm land ever since. We would not have been successful if farmer members all across Ontario had not supported us in large numbers in withholding school taxes. No other activity by farm organizations has since actually put significant money in farmers' hands. It must amount to hundreds of millions of dollars since 1970. I was of the opinion then that we had proven that real results only happen when we stop pleading with politicians and take direct unified action. Governments don't act, they only react under pressure. The present financial state of agriculture is much more serious than at any time I can remember. Even in the depression, a bushel of corn would buy 10 litres of gasoline, now it takes 27 bushels of corn. Most commodities are in the same situation, except for dairy and poultry who are protected from cheap imports because of supply management legislation. The real reason why the present crisis has happened is because we let it happen. And if we continue to let it happen it will continue to worsen. Cheap imported produce is becoming increasingly available. We have organizations in place which we are supporting with membership dues annually. The officers and staff cannot succeed on our behalf without strong indication • of willing involvement from the members at grassroots level. Mr. Mistele has said that rather plainly. On Friday. Feb. 10 meetings are being held in Hensall and Blyth by Huron Federation of Agriculture in which farmers are invited to participate and voice their concerns. They need to be well assured that we as farmers will give them enthusiastic support in whatever they-decide is required. I am suggesting that every farmer who can, should make the effort to attend. Huron County led the way in 1970, and we are needed now. If we are serious about Maintaining family farms and rural communities, now is the time to contribute whatever it takes. Respectfully, Mason Bailey. Feb. 12, 1959 A special celebration was being held in honour of • Valentine's Day,`Cupid's Capers' at the Wroxeter Community Hall. The events included special dances, a Cupid's draw, as well as a performance by Elliott Carruther's Orchestra, and an abundance of snacks. The event was sponsored by the Wroxeter Hall board. A contest was being held by the local Lions Club. As the winter cold deteriorated, so did the layer of ice on the Maitland River. A bright red barrel was placed just upstream of the dam at the river and the person to guess the exact time at which the barrel went over the dam would win a great prize. The contest was organized at a supper meeting of the Lions Club. Feb. 7, 1973 There were a number of minor traffic accidents reported by the Wingham detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police. There was a two-car collision that occurred on Conc. 10-11 at Sideroad 30-31, in East Wawanosh Twp. involving a Seaforth man, and a man from Port Carling. Fortunately there were no injuries. Damages were estimated at $600. A Wingham man and a Belgrave man were involved in two-car collision that took place on Hwy 4, just south of Huron Road 20. There were no injuries and damages were estimated at $550. A Wingham woman was involved in a single-car accident when her vehicle hit a tree on Sideroad 25-26, north of Conc. 10-11, in Turnberry Twp. The woman was not injured and damages to her vehicle were estimated at $300. The Wingham Lions Club was planning to host a talent night. - Feb. 11, 1987 Plans to rebuild and renovate the liuron County Pioneer Museum went into high gear when the committee received a generous provincial grant of $1,171,300. The money would go towards the cost of the first phase of the reconstruction. To start, the old Central School, built in 1856, would be retained as the main entrance to the buildings but all existing additions would be demdlished with new construction as part of the first . phase. The estimated cost was set at approximately $2.2 million. The second phase would include renovations to the school building and landscaping, bringing the estimated total cost to be between $3.5 million and $3.6 million. The countryside around Blyth was alive with the roar of snowmobile engines as a popular annual event was held. Nearly 300 snowmobilers took part in the Blyth Snowtravellers Poker Rally. The set route took participants from the Westfield area as far south as Londesborough. Kevin Wheeler, son of George and Shirley of Brussels, came home from the Canadian National Figure Skating Championships in Ottawa, a triumphant winner, bearing gold and silver medals. The pairs figure skater and his partner's first and second place finishes were the latest in a string of victories for the 21-year- old. • Mr. Wheeler and 14-year-old Michelle Menzies of Preston placed first in both their compulsory and freeskate programs at the Ottawa Civics Centre to make a clean sweep for the gold medal in the Junior Pairs Skating division. Regarding their victories, Wheeler said "We're just relieved it's over. It's a lot of training and hard work, and we're glad it paid off." A special winter carnival was held at East Wawanosh Public School, and a snow-carving contest produced some fine sculptures. The winner consisted of a number of students who contributed to completing a large snow duck. The artists were; Alicia Potter, Steven Marks, Crystal Black, Ryan Cook, Wayne Fenton, Heather Keller, Tracy Robinson, Chris Piluke, Brent Robinson, Nancy Darlow, Aaron Barlow, Monica Walker-Bolton, and Rob Johnson. The carnival lasted a week and also included the crowning of the Snow King and Queen, Douglas Rivest and Jackie Cook. Jan. 31, 1990 Blyth's main street got an upgrade when improvements were made to the Festival buildings. Trusses were added to the top of the Festival's administration buildings as part of the $1 million renovations being carried out on the Blyth Memorial Hall_ A man was sentenced to 18 months in jail after defrauding Canadian cattle producers of over $750,000. The accused was the former owner of the Brussels Stockyards and would be able to enter the temporary absence permit when he was eligible. An unusual but delightful occurrence happened at a local cattle farm. A cow belonging to Bert and Susan Buffinga gaye birth to triplets. The triplets were reported as being very healthy. They had been named Peter, Paul and Mary. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was a star-studded film, Steel Magnolias. The movie starred Sally Fields, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts.