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Huron Expositor, 2001-01-17, Page 44 -TNS IIIIIION EXPOSITOR, offeassary 17, 5001 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Terri -Lynn Hart - Publisher Pat Armes - Office Manager Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Diane McGrath - Subsaipions/Classlieds Susan Hundertmark - Reporter Katrina Dietz - Sales Anne Roden - Distribution Bowes Publishers Limited s.+.rt .f Sao ALS ri'..n.. - A Q.i.r Co‘ossl E-mail us at seafortObowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 32.50 a year, in advance, plus 2.28 G.S.T. SENIORS: - 30.00 a year, in advance, plus 2.10 G.S.T. USA & Foreign: 28.44 a year in advance, plus $78.00 postage, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES: , Published weekly by Sgnol-Star Publishing at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Publication moil registration No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rote. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the lou or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies ore lo be sent to The Huron Expositor. Wednesday, January 17, 2000 &Warfel ..d lad.$..OIIIi.. - 11 M. Intrisest.,S•aferile 11•1$y0$.e (519) 527.0240 Pax (519) 527.2e58 M 4iir$.. - RO. Se: 49, OM.A., NOII[ 1 WO Member of the Conodian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 "We ocknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our ma&tg costs.' Editorial Snowbanks a dangerous place to play for area kids Snowbanks, the higher and bigger, the better, provide a great place to play --from a child's perspective. In a town where there are few places for sledding, they provide about the best ride they're going to find for their snow racers. They're a place to build forts and start snow wars. They're great for climbing and conquering. But they're incredibly dangerous too. Although there have been no serious injuries reported to police yet this winter, one that sees some of the biggest snowbanks in years, children need to keep off of snowbanks along roadsides and in parking Tots. That doesn't leave too many to play in but they're safety is more important. A child taking part in a snow fight, running from bank to bank alongside the highway, is oblivious to the transport trucks and cars going by. And too many drivers are oblivious of the need to slow down when they see kids at play. Snowbanks are unstable and can easily send a child at play sprawling into traffic. Caves they might build can collapse and trap them with no air or crush them under the weight of the snow if they have dug down deep enough. It's hard to tell kids not to play when so often they're kept inside by the lure of video games and the internet but parents need to keep a careful eye on their kids and make sure they understand they shouldn't play on snowbanks beside the road. Scott Hilgendorff How to access. us Letters to the Editor and other t ' r 11 n can be made to wt by noon on Mondays at: sesforth@bowesnet. In I It All leets and submissions must be and accompanied by a day -time telephone number. All submissions are subject to editing fad** kalgtb and content. beistfrriget to check out o r W%o►' ►bowesaet.co& Opinion Commentary Farmers anxious to do their part improving the environment, but everyone should share the cost By ioo p offActure Ontario farmers have been told there will be provincial nutrient management legislation to govern how they deal with the nutrients they produce and use on their farms. The concept moved closer to reality a year ago when a provincial task force of environment and agriculture officials toured the province to listen to farmers and their organizations on the topic of intensive agriculture in Ontario. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, working through the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition, provided input to the task force and has continued to meet with government officials on the topic. OFA wants to be sure the interests of farmers are reflected in any legislation the government may develop. Initially, legislation was going to be introduced six months ago-, and then the deadline was moved to late last year. Still there is no word on when the legislation will be brought forward, and now the government is talking about presenting a discussion paper that would be used to gather further input from farmers and their organizations. OFA is fully supportive 4f as much discussion and input collection as possible before legislation is brought down, but there are other forces at work. In anticipation of the legislation, some municipalities have introduced interim bylaws to control the expansion of existing farming operations, or the development of new and large farms. This has placed undue hardships on a lot of farmers and their families. Farmers find themselves forced to expand their operations as a means of surviving economically. As well, expansion is often necessary to bring a new generation of farmers into the business. If they happen to live in a municipality that has imposed a freeze on growth or expansion, they are being penalized for something beyond their control. OFA has promoted the value and need of uniform regulations across the province, and as long as the nutrient management legislation is delayed, farmers in different areas of Ontario will continue to be treated differently. That's not right, and we have made that known to the government. Municipal and provincial government officials must accept the fact that farmers should not be expected to stand still in their operations just because of delays in development and introduction of legislation. Such delays cost farmers in their ability to earn income and their ability to plan for the future. We're not suggesting a reckless rush to get legislation in place, but the economic and environmental concerns of farmers have to be considered. We have also made it clear to government that any capital expenditures made necessary by nutrient management legislation will have to be accompanied by government programs to help meet the requirements. Farmers are anxious to do their part to protect and improve the environment, but OFA feels society in general will be the one to benefit, and should, therefore, share the costs. Facility upgrades and new equipment are likely to be costly, but to ignore the protection of the environment would eventually be more costly. Snowbanks .were dangerous but so much fun I can remember, as a child, flirting with death in snowbanks several times but never realizing until looking back as an adult. The winter of 1977 saw snowdrifts like I had never seen before, or have seen since. Our backyard was filled with snow so high you could cross the backyard fence into the field behind our house without knowing the fence was there. In fact, the garden shed out back was completely submerged in snow. But what a great place for tunneling. The neighboih kids and myself dug an amazing system of tunnels under the backyard snow and, even more dangerously, I think we had started work on larger "rooms in which to play. It felt warm under there and we could play for hours outside yet in shelter from the harsher cold and wind. We never once thought that the whole pile could come crashing down on us while some of us played on top, sledding down the drift. Snowbanks just made incredible places to play for kids with even the tiniest bit By Scott Hilgendorff of imagination. While the back was for tunneling, the front was for building forts between our driveway and theirs. It set the stage for some of the best snowfights ever. Never mind scrambling down the sides and sliding into the streets. It was a quiet street so, looking back, luck was on our side and we never came into contact with a car (accept for the occasional vehicle we might take by surprise and pummel with snowballs from our hidden fortresses). When you're seven years old, it doesn't seem like assault or doing anything wrong, especially if you don't pack the snowballs hard. A couple years earlier, I remember the lure of the snowbanks causing great concern for our parents and teachers. The one neighbour boy and I would walk to kindergarten together, and we pretty much played the whole way. One particular day, we decided to walk alopg the snowbanks, climbing up and down them at driveways and sidestreets. It never seemed like it took the entire morning to get to school because of how much fun we were having just playing on the banks. I remember my kindergarten teacher being almost angry with me when I finally arrived because she was so worried. (although the school hadn't called our parents yet as far as I can remember.) We got there for storytime, the last thing we do before going back home. Know what we did going back? The exact same thing. It was just too much fun climbing what, to our tiny size, were mountains of snow. Then there's the winter of 1980 when we lived on a country road and the snowbanks were plowed even higher. It was back into the fort building with myself and another neighbour. What we didn't realize was that, where the snow was highest, was also over top the ditch. • We kept digging down, creating footholds in the snow walls to get back out. If that isn't a recipe for disaster. But again, luck was on our side. Water started seeping in to one corner and we realized our mistake in time. We had just about run out of snow and reached the unfrozen water that was sheltered by the snowbank in the ditch. And, again with luck, the footholds we created held out long. enough for us to get back out. Both of us actually realized how close we came to drowning, freezing or getting stuck in there and were too scared of what we knew was a deep ditch to go back into our fort again. It's hard to get children to see the dangers in the games they play which is why we all need to watch out for them this winter as we go driving by the walls of snow. There's no telling how many forts have been built inside. Architectural advisory committee forms January 14, 1876 At the annual meeting of the Seaforth Fire Brigade, the following officers were elected: Jas. A. Cline, Captain; D. Hogan, 1st Lieut.; W.H. Cline, 2nd Lieut., Geo. Sills, Secretary and C. Armstrong, Treasurer. A son of Samuel Halls of Usborne was using an axe when it slipped out of his hand and cut the main artery of his left arm. The tea meeting at the Walton Methodist Church on New Years Day was a very successful affair. Addresses were given by Rev. Stafford of Brussels, Rev. Buggin and Wm. Hill of Seaforth. The choir of Seaforth Methodist Church was present. January, 11, 1901 Wm. Rae, B.A. of Walton, who is attending the school of Pedogoie in Hamilton has been spending his holidays at home. A number of men who were working at the big drain during the summer have been engaged by August Hicknell to cut cordwood on his new farm. Miss Beatrice Purchard of town has been engaged as teacher of a school near Grand Bend. The ice harvest has commenced and we are now drawing ice from the Egmondville dam. The election for public school trustees in Seaforth resulted in re-election. A.P. Joynt for the south ward and Years agone... the electors of John Rankin for the east ward. James Lockhart, ex -reeve of McKillop left for Madoc. Thomas Dodds of Fessenden, N. Dak. is spending some days with friends in this vicinity. Mathew Habkirk of McKillop drove to Brussels and while there, his horse got sick and he had to leave it there for some days. Fred Bonthron has returned from a visit to the south and has resumed his position as a bookkeeper at Bell's Foundry. January 8, 1926 Several sleigh loads of Brodhagen young people paid a suprise visit to Joseph Simon of McKillop, who is the new blacksmith. An interesting event took place in North Broadview Church when miss A.I. Petrie of Sault St. Marie and Robert Allan of Brucefield united in marriage. The managers and trustees of Hensall United Church are busy making improvements to the manse property. John A. McRae passed away following an illness of two years. Miss Jean Stewart left to take a course in the Shaw Business College, Toronto. Two rinks of curlers composed of G.D. Haigh, R.E. Bright, J. Beattie and Ross Sproat, skip and O.Dick, C.A. Barber, G. Bethune and W.E. Southgate, skip were in London taking part in a Bonspiel. January 12, 1951 Employees of the Robert Bell Industries Ltd., marked the retirement from the firm of a valued employee by the presentation of a floor lamp to Robert Smith. The presentation was made by Earl Robinson and the address was read by Wm. H. Hodgert. Miss Shirley Bennewies entertained at an informal dinner in honour of Miss Joyce Oliver, bride of last week. She was presented with a number of towels. The Cancer, Polio and Tuberculosis Committee of the Rebekah Oddfellows Lodges sponsored a euchre. Mr. and Mrs. Roy McMane of Egmondville have purchased a house and six acres of land at Pine River, and will remove there s h o r t 1 y. January 8, 1976 Some very tentative motions toward a plan that would recognize and try to keep Seaforth's Main Street intact were made at Monday's council meeting. Council had agreed to have its finance and general government committee look at forming an architectural advisory committee to designate buildings in town which have historical or architectural importance. The committee would try to make sure that changes made to these buildings were compatible with the orignal design and council could delay demolition of a designated building for up to 90 days. Organizers from the Fort Myers Florida Edison Festival of Lights were at SDHS Tuesday helping to plan travel arrangements for the girls trumpet band. The band is now looking at taking a bus to play at the festival which runs from Feb. 7-14. Seaforth council supported a resolution from the Township of Stephen asking the Porter Commission to look at the effects of a nuclear power plant on agriculture, health and local government costs before a plant is approved for Huron Monday night. Concerned about the cost of maintaining roads and replacing bridges, Tuckersmith Township Council discussed the merits of closing some township sideroads in the future. Councillor Robert Bell said that with gravel becoming scarce, he thinks the time will come roads have to be closed because there will not be gravel available to keep them in condition.