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Huron Expositor, 2002-03-06, Page 10Commentar y Opinion Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Terri -Lynn Hart - Publisher Pot Armes - Office Manager Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Dianne McGrath - Subscriptions/Classifieds Susan Hundertmark - Reporter Kotrina Dietz - Sales IllAnne Roden - Distribution Bowes Publishers Limited Sulsrdrary 45.. Maga Coloratun - A L4., , to -pun) E -M911 us at seaforth@bowesnet.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 Signal -Star Publishing at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Publication mail registration No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is occepted 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 rate. 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 Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time.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 loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor. Wednesday, February 21, 2000 Editorial and Business Offices - 1 1 Main street.,seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, liealortit, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 "We acknowledge the financial support of the Govemment of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward"our mailing costs." Editorial Strong stand needed with OPP contract When a new poli a services board is forme, it needs to e prepared to take a strong stand with t e police. Contracts for OPP policing are turning out to be more expensive than expected. Promises made when municipalities first egan pursuing contracts tor provi9cia-I policing no -longer exst. For example The assurance of dedicated officers fo each area was a promise OPP ri inally mace when pursving their first contracts amid concernsfrom residents they would ose officers tamil'ar with the communities and the people. Regardless of the kind of contr ct Huron East accepts tor policing t e municipality, the board needs fo e strop d i istent that the contract is thQroTighIy fo llowed. It one is a ected that provides more th n drive-bySol'cing, the board needs to a especial firm with the police on en orcement issues. During thepast contract, The Expositor learned tat otcers were bored working in Se forth because there weren't many calls. But why are police waiting to be called? While a OPP summary of call doesn't refect an ccurate picture of how man time police interact with the communi y, it shws police responding to 552 ca I for_police assistance in 2000 compared to 721 in 1999 and 420 in 1998. When negotiating acontract, OPP offer as urgnces ot proactive policing . Its ofti ers are not busy in Se forth when thenepolice services board rms to andle e contract, it needs to stressthe need for proactive polci Ratr than officers being bored' -they houl be receiving p essure rom the poar to a ctorce w at seem to be r ott n Hig , ay Tra fic Act laws; laws that �lo o ticer•s to ,give tickets to people who run red lights and stop sl ns. .PP also agree to enforce bylaws w ich would include sto pi n snowmobiters driving around oh side streets where they are not allowed to be. To do II this, the officer need to b on atro , a great way to kill time and qct II a proactivewhile waiting for the to exciting cals to come in. Scott Hilgendorff How to access us iters to the Editor and other submissions can be made to us by noon on Mondays at: seafol th @ bowesnet.com All letters and submissions must be signed nd accompanied by a day -time telephone bet: All submissions are subject to editing both length and content. Dont forget to check out our homepage at: wrl'w.boweslneLcomfexpositor/ OFA hopes for good exchange with new agriculture minister By Jack Wilkinson, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture After my first face-to-face meeting with Ontario's new Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Hon. Brian Coburn, there appears to be a lot of common ground for us to cover in future meetings. Our first area of discussion centered around the urgent need for a cash injection to help ensure the province's crops producers can put a crop in the ground this spring. I left the meeting with a positive feeling about the new minister's understanding of the situation and the need for Ontario's participation with the federal government to complete the scenario. Minister Coburn is preparing to attend the upcoming meeting of federal and provincial ministers of agriculture where details of safety nets and disaster assistance programs will be determined. For more than a year the provincial government's Healthy Futures for Ontario Agriculture program has been in place,'but agriculture's utilization of funds available under that program has been low. We examined a number of areas for possible change to the regulations that would encourage more use of the program by farmers. The minister assured me . that changes are being made to the program because he understands the importance of the role farmers can play in water quality and quantity issues. There is a good understanding of the importance of the Environmental Farm Plan program, and the need for new funding to ensure the program is extended beyond its current expiry date which is only a few weeks away. Following comments by the Hon. Lyle Vanclief, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada, at OFA's annual convention in November when he expressed his desire to see Environmental Farm Plans on every Canadian farm within five years, there seems to be reason for a lot of optimism in this area. The question is: where will the funding come from? Minister Coburn agreed that any consultation leading up to the introduction of provincial legislation to govern the management of nutrients on Ontario farms has to happen soon. When farmers get busy on their farms in the spring, there won't be any time for meetings to discuss this important legislation. With his background in municipal politics, Minister Coburn was quick to acknowledge the need for local advisory committees at the municipal level as part of the Nutrient Management Planning process and any legislation that's going to be effective. Some of our meeting time was devoted to examining the agricultural model in Quebec where farmers find their stability protected with cost -of - production regulations. Although a lot more time is required to explore ways to make this model work in Ontario, there is a willingness to further explore the possibilities. Because of OFA's extensive local network including county federations and member service representatives across the province, we believe there are a number of areas where the ministry and OFA can share resources. As well, the new minister is willing to meet on a regular basis to get OFA's input on a wide range of topics. With such an ongoing exchange of thoughts , we should be able to look forward to a long-term and productive working relationship. March is Epilepsy Month in Canada Epilepsy Canada declares March, Epilepsy month. Approximately four million people in North America have epilepsy. In many cases, it is a life-long condition. People with epilepsy have an increased risk of serious injury and death. Their chance of dying is three times higher than people without seizures. Uncontrolled epilepsy can lead to severe adverse social, psychological and economic consequences. Uncontrolled epilepsy in childhood can lead to permanent brain damage and learning impairment. Seizure disorders are becoming an increasing cause of disability among the elderly. The incidence of epilepsy is increased in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. The cost of epilepsy, at least $12.5 billion per year in the US alone, could be reduced substantially with effective action. Epilepsy can be controlled in many people with currently available treatment; however, a large number continue to have seizures despite optimal therapy. Better epilepsy treatment could permit- more people to realize their full potential, with economic benefits for the community as well as for themselves. Neuroscience research promises further advances in patient care and, for the first time, offers the possibility of a cure for epilepsy. Yet, patients and health care providers too often believe that seizures cannot be fully controlled and that patients must "live with them." Funding for research on epilepsy is lower on a per capita basis than that devoted to many other less common and less burdensome disorders. People with epilepsy in North America have unequal access to necessary care. Socioeconomically deprived groups such as inhabitants of inner cities, and indigenous people are particularly neglected. We call on governments, private organizations, care providers and other concerned individuals: To provide uniform access to optimal care, including specialized centres and surgery where medically indicated. To improve training in epilepsy for specialists, primary care physicians and other health workers. To ensure that people with epilepsy and their families are fully informed about the disorder. To educate teachers, employers and the general public about epilepsy, in order to reduce stigma and prejudice. , To promote the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data necessary to implement and evaluate public health programs related to epilepsy. To increase basic and clinical research funding. Three-year-old bull goes for $7S in 1876 March 10, 1876 The lot of Main Street, Seaforth sold for Mr. Crawford by public auction on Saturday last, was purchased by Mr. Robert Reid, of Stanley for $480. This is a very fair price, considering that the lot is only half the usual size. Mr. Robert Winters, last Monday, shipped a load of cattle from Seaforth station, comprising 20 head. One of the animals, a three-year- old bull, weighed 1,960 pounds. This animal was purchased from Mr. Alex Sparks, of Stanley, for $75. The remaiming 19 head averaged 1,200 pounds each and were purchased on the aggregate at $42 a head. One day last week Mr. George Plews, of Tuckersmitli, caught a large bald eagle in a trap. The trap had been set to catch a fox and instead of a fox he got an eagle. This bird measures six feet nine inches from tip to tip. The eagle was given to Mr. George Whitely, of Seaforth, who has it in a cage and intends keeping it for a pet. A social dancing assembly will be held in Town Hall, Seaforth, on the evening of Friday next. A large number of invitations have been issued, and will, no doubt, be very generally accepted. The committee of management are determined to leave nothing undone which will tend to make the occasion pleasant to those who attend, and in every respect eminently successful. The complimentary .supper given` in Williams' Hall, Kinburn, on Thursday evening of last evening of last week in honor of Mr. Robert Thompson, who has been for 19 years a merchant and Post Master Years agone... at that place, was one of the most successful and pleasant affairs every held in this section of the country. At the appointed hover the company numbering about 200 sat down to a most magnificent repast which had been provided by Mr. John Williams. March 12, 1926 The local bonspiel of the Seaforth Curling Club for possession of the handsome Silver Trophy presented to the club by Mr. W. D. Stewart, of St. Paul, was held in the rink on Wednesday afternoon and evening of this week with six rinks in play. On Tuesday afternoon of this week, some boys playing with matches set fire to the truck owned by the G. D. Ferguson, hardware store, in the frame garage adjoining the old Royal Hotel barn. Luckily it was discovered before much headway had been made, and aside from burning the top and cushions of the truck, not other damage was done. Mr. J. B. Henderson, who spent the winter with his daughter Mrs. Alex Watt, of Guelph, returned to his home here this week. Mr. Henderson has been a continuous subscriber of The Expositor for 50 years. Mr. Alex McKenzie, of Kippen while working with some harness. slashed his finger almost to the bone, and was required to seek medical attendance. While' this accident will not prevent Mr. McKenzie from carrying on his work, it will prove a handicap for some time. W. J. Johnston, of Gladstone, Manitoba, is bringing a load of good well broken horses to Walton on Wednesday, March 17. Any person needing one, ring 27-5, Brussels phone. March 9, 1951 The Seaforth Horne and School ' Association reorganized after 15 years of dormancy under the impetus of Dr. P. L. Brady, a member of the school board. F.E. Willis, chairman of the board, said the club would be most helpful due to the fact that the building of a new school was in the offing. Norman Miller, Huron County clerk, was killed Saturday afternoon when his car crashed into a road grader about eight miles south of Goderich on Highway 21. Livestock, implements and chattels on the farm of Harold Wilson. of Dublin, brought $38,400 in one of the largest clearing auctions ever held in the district. John Kellar, lineman for the McKillop Telephone' System, suffered a broken arm recently while attempting to recover a saw which had slipped from his grasp while pruning a tree. The accident occurred in a field of Thomas Scott. Last Saturday morning a cow belonging to John Flannery, of Egmondville, gave birth to twin calves. Mrs. Flannery says this is a stroke of good luck, while Mr. Flannery's only comments were "that the whole family is doing well." John J. McGavin, of Walton, quietly marked his 86th birthday on Wednesday when he was entertained at a dinner party at the hone of his son and daughter-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Gordon McGavin, of McKillop. Work on the new hydro sub -station at the corner of Gouinlock and Chalk Streets was started this week by the Seaforth Public Utilities Commission. This project, when completed will be an integral part of the 'hydro frequency standardization program now in progress in Seaforth and district. March 4, 1976 Seaforth escaped the worst of a freezing rain storm that blankets western Ontario. But, in southern Tuckersntith Township and Hensall and Zurich, hydro was off for several days, with streets littered with broken branches and downed trees. Jim Cunningham, general manager of Topnotch Feeds gave Mayor Betty Cardno a cheque for $3,500 towards the arena's renovation fund, bringing donations up to the $14,000 mark. The unexpected high costs of winter snow removal delayed the paving of Road 19 from Ethel to Highway 86 for another year. The Huron County board of education predicted a 20 per cent tax rise. In discussing possible cats to the budget, chairman Herb Turkheim said he didn't want to see the quality of education deteriorate. 'Health Minister Frank Miller said Clinton Public Hospital could remain open if Huron County hospitals could get together to agree on bed cuts and budget reductions, equalling the $800,000 the province hoped to save by closing the Clinton hospital. ,