Loading...
Clinton News-Record, 1985-6-26, Page 4Page 4—CLINTQN NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26,1985 Tho Clinton NewaRosord 1p published each Wodnosdey at 9.0, Pox. 39, Clinton. C{ntarlo, Canada, NOM U.0. Tel.: 4823443. Subscription Rota: Canada 819.75 Sr. Citizen 516.75 per year U.S.A. foreign • *55.00 por year It :is registered as second claim moll by the post office under the permit number 0817. Tho itews-Record Incorporated in 1924 the Huron News -Record, founded in 1881. and Tho Clinton News Era, founded in 1865. Total press runs 3,700. Incorporating (TIIE BLYTH STANDARD) J. HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher SHELLEY McPHEE - Editor GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager MARY ANN HOLLENBECK - Office Manager • A MEMBER MEMBER Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. 15 effective October 1, 1984. Protection needed from senseless terrorism How can we stop this madness? In the past, Canadians have watched on as neighboring United States and other nations around the world have been brutally attacked by senseless terrorism. Now Canada has met terrorism face to face. This past weekend Canadians became more than concerned bystanders in the deadly game of terrorism, they became the victims. Officials believe that the Air India flight that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Ireland was downed by an explosion. The flight, which originated in Toronto, ended in the deaths of all 329 passengers and crew. Most of them were Canadians. In what appears to be a related incident, a CP Air flight from Van- couver to Toyko closely escaped a tragic ending. Luggage taken, from the flight exploded at Toyko's Narita airport, shortly after the flight arrived. Two baggage workers were killed, four others were injured. The two weekend tragedies not only appalled Canadians but it puts this country in a precarious situation. Canada is being used as a pawn in dead- ly terrorism warfare and only through close scrutiny and intensified security can such acts of senseless violence be halted. While other countries throughout the world feel the effects of terrorism frequently, Canada has been free of su"h fear and danger. Perhaps that is why terroristshave chosen to use our country, for their crimes. Canadians can no longer ignore terrorism and can no longer believe that it won't happen again. The first instinct is to seek retaliations on the people and the countries that have perpetrated these acts of violence, but irrational retributions will not solve the problem. It would only risk the lives of more innocent people. Intense, direct retribution must be sought against the extremists who have been directly involved in terrorist actions. Punishment of these in- dividuals must be stringent and unyielding. Canadian airports have taken measures to combat further terrorist ac- tions by heightening security at international flight check -ins. Despite the inconvenienc'"to Sortie travellers, this is a neccesary I , Leasure and anyone who complains about the time taken for the intense inspections should be reminded that this is a life saving precaution. The intensified security measures and government controls must not be loosened. Terrorist actions may be senseless and cruel, but the ex- tremists are skilled, relentless and well -organized in' their worldwide campaigns of violence. Specialists on terrorism and nuclear.arms believe that terrorists could obtain nuclear explosives with relative ease and it reay only be a matter of time before they do. Canada can no longer be complacent to terrorist actions. It will take the combined, intensified efforts of governments around the world to protect our countries and our people from further terrorist violence. - by Shelley McPhee. Behind The Scenes By Keith Roulston More rule, few rules With the flood of ceases being argued before the Supreme Court underthe Charter of Itights,, Canadians have become im- mersed in talk about individual freedoms. Ironically, more and inure We are turning to the government to protect our freedoms at the sante tune We are arguing fur less government. 11 is probably the same urge that has made us want to rid ourselves of govern- ment bureaucracy that has led us to demand fur individual freedom. Mankind has always Lid ed rules As we grow older as children, \R,e have successive periods of rebellion. Any parent can tell you about the terribl,. twos, that period about 'age five when children want to assert their independence and of course the teenage years when suddenly if the parents say it's right, it must be wrong. Most of this century has been spent rebelling against the rules of the Victoria age. 'There was really few laws before the turn of the century. Our lawmakers found sitting in Parliament of the Legislature a very part -t uue job, not something to give up a good law practice for. There was pl my of individual freedom. Industrialists were left to their own con- sciences on how to treat, workers and too many of them proved to not have much con- science at all. As Dickens showed in his books. often the laws were designed to help those who didn't really need any help: to help the rich take even more advantage of the poor. But the rules we rebelled against were really social ones. People just. 'didn't like having tradition and mores tell them what was and wasn't acceptable. People didn't like being told they should go to church on Sunday and do little else for the day. Women didn't like being told what was proper behavior for them, etc. One by one these unwritten laws of how we were to behave broke down. The irony was that at the same time these rules broke clown we were becoming a more urban society. If people don't rub against each other much then there aren't many rules needed. If only one person in Huron County owned a car, we wouldn't have to have thousands of pages of traffic laws. But the more people crowd into towns and cities the more the right of one person can wrong another. i may have the right to smoke my cigarette but if it means I pollute your air, you have the right to have clean air to breath. 1 may be considerate enough not to blow smoke in your face but there will be thousands of others in a big city who will not observe such decencies and so you soon de- mand a law to protect you. Hundreds of chemical manufacturers may he ethical and find safe ways to dispose of dangerous waste but one manufacturer may be greedy enough to dump his in the water supply and endanger millions of peo- ple. There is a demand for a law to stop him. We've found out the sad fact that if we don't have moral standards and community -approved standards then we will have wrriten laws. Just as a child grow- ing learns you can't escape some rules no matter how old you get, so has our society. Book sale raises over $1,600 Dear editor, I am writing as coordinator of the Blyth Centre for the Arts recent booksale to thank the people of Huron County for their - generous support of our event. We were par- ticularly heartened by the number of people who donated all sorts of books of good quali- ty to the sale and who took the time to deliver them to its as well. We had more such donations this year than ever before! A big thank you as well to the many who came June 1st and 2nd to buy books and at- tend the readings given by Micki McClear and Gisele Ireland. We were very happy with the attendance, and are happy to report that the event raised over $1,600 for the Blyth Centre for the Arts. We certainly appreciate the enthusiastic response of the public to this annual event. Sincerely yours, Marian Doucette Board of Directors Blyth Centre for the Arts Kqlei'doscope My friend John was one of the lucky ones. Seriously injured in a swimming accident several years ago, today he is fully recovered. The pool accident which left him with a broken back remains only a faded memory and the occasional ache and pain. Today John is in excellent physical condi- tion. On his road to recovery he started ex- ercising through martial arts. Today he holds a black belt in karate. John was fortunate but many others aren't. The Ontario Medical Association estimates that each year in Canada there are more than 1,300 deaths recorded through drowning, approximately 140,000 worldwide. With summer here, it is good time to think about water safety and the simple precsju- tionary measures that can be taken to avoid tragic accidents. Perhaps the worst thing about water ac- cidents is that it happens because people are having fun. They happen because people are careless, inexperienced or because they're showing off. Some of the most tragic accidents, the ones that leave people paralyzed and in wheelchairs, happen around boats and water in a moment's high spirited burst of carelessness. The Canada Safety Council has chosen Ju- ly 1 - 7 to represent National Safe Boating Week in Canada. The theme of this year's campaign is "Boating and Alcohol Don't Mix.' For many people, booze and summer fun go hand in hand, but when it comes to boating and water safety, the two make a By Shelley McPhee dantPrniic rnrrmhenatinn Arrnrrlino tn On- tario Coroner's reports, 48 (or 44 per cent) of the 109 boating deaths in Ontario in 1980 were alcohol related. Some 72 per cent of the victims had blood alcohol levels above 0.08 per cent, the level at which a person is con- sidered legally impaired. The number of alcohol-related boating deaths increased frcm the previous year, when 36 (or 32 per cent) of the 113 boating deaths were alcohol- related. When persons are impaired by alcohol they may endanger everyone's safety. Too much booze affects a person's awareness and can lead some to take dangerous risks. It impairs vision and co-ordination. Alcohol accelerates body heat loss which shortens the length of time a person will survive in cold water. It can effect swallowing and breathing and slow reflexes in even the best of swimmers. The bottom line is, if you want a cool beer or a tall gin, enjoy it on shore, but don't com- bine it with swimming or boating. It could ruin your summer and your life. Here's some more advice for summer safety: • Wear a lifejacket. The law requires that a Transport Canada approved lifejacket or lifesaving cushion, in serviceable condition, be provided for each person aboard. Non- swimmers and children should wear theirs at all times, and others when water condi- tions warrant. • Remember that children require constant supervision around water, in their backyard pools and at the beach. Accidents involving children can happen within seconds. Don't Sugar and Spice Curse of the 20th century A newspaper article the other day remind- ed me of one of the inexorable laws of modern life: Things multiply in inverse pro- portion to their use. It is a simple fact, and we've all been through it; that there are certain 'things in life that multiply like rabbits, and others that invariably disappear forever. No matter how hard you try to get rid of pennies, they just build up, and if you'carr'y your loose change in your pants pocket, as I do, after a week you are listing heavily to the right..You pile your 18 pennies on the top of the dresser and start again, and a week later you have 22 pennies in the same pocket. Another multiplier is the single sock. Start out a new year wick 12, pairs of socks. In three months you'll have six pairs and six single socks. After years of suffering this, I've counter -attacked. I now buy 12 pairs of identical socks, so that after six months, at least I have six pairs of socks Ladies used to have the same problem, before the invention of panty -hose. 'But this discovery hasn't lessened their problem. In the old days, if they got a run, they usually had a spare single to match the good one with. But now, if you get a hole in one leg of your panty -hose, you're scuppered. Out they go, the intact one with'the bum one. Women also have other multipliers in the singles division: earrings and gloves. How many women in this fair land have seven or eight exquisite single earrings and four or five superb single gloves? It's quite fashionable these days for a man to wear a single earring, and a practical chap who lost a glove would wear the other and put his bare hand in his pocket. But women don't think that way, and the gloves and 'earrings proliferate in their solitary leave them unattended. • Don't swim alone. It's an age-old rule that we've all grown up with, but it's one that should never be ignored. • Know the water rules, in boating, swimm- ing and rescue techniques. Safety courses are offered locally and through the Red Cross, the St. John Ambulance. Precautions may seem tedious and un- necessary but they could mean the dif- ference between a summer of happy or tragic memories. 10OF BEEF DRAW Ed Burt of Seaforth was the winner of a quarter of beef in a draw held by the Clinton IOOF Lodge. The draw was held on the weekend of the Klompen Feest celebrations and the Lodge members thank everyone who took part in the beef draw. Star Wars Testing The first in the Star Wars research testing took place in the U.S. last week. A pencil - thin beam of light stabbed 355 kilometres in- to space from a mountain in Hawaii and targeted in on a small mirror on the space - shuttle Discovery. The test was the first suc- cessful Star Wars experiment using the Earth -orbiting shuttle. The test proved that fast moving objects can be tracked and experimenters hope to determine how well a more powerful laser can track a warhead. The successful testing may be a great ad- vancement in space technology, but it also marks the first major setback for the sur- vival of humankind. The score so far in this dangerous game is Science 1, Humankind 0. By Bill Smiley glory. Old keys multiply at a fantastic rate, until cupboard drawers and plastic bowls are overflowing with them. We have a huge col- lection of car ]teys going back to our fifth- last car, every key to the house before we changed the locks, and enough skeleton keys to outfit James Bond on one of his capers. New keys are diminishers. I have lost two sets of keys to my present car, and sometimes search for half an hour to find one of the new sets I had to order. The new keys'to the new locks disappeared, and I had to take off the locks and go to the key man for new ones. I wonder where they are, at this moment? The new ones that is. Paper is definitely in the multiplier list, especially if you are a writer and/or teacher. I sit to write this column in a sort of tunnel between two massive piles of paper higher than my head. Makes me feel like an old badger. Bottles, particularly those on which there is no deposit return, pile up about as fast as you can empty them. But prepareto take back your beer -case of empties, and there are always two missing. Where did they go? Is there a guy, or a dame, hiding behind the furnace who sneaks up when you are beddy- byes, drinks two of your beers, then eats the bottles? For the ladies, the wrong shades of lipstick and half -empty bottles of nail polish multiply, along with saucers for which the cups have disappeared. Wire coat hangers reproduce like rats. The other day, while attempting to get my coat out of the closet, I knocked down six empty hangers. I carefully fished them up from among the parts of the vacuum cleaner, took another 40 empty hangers off the pole, tied them all together with cord, ®®letters to the editor marched calmly into the basement and hurl- ed them into the woodpile. Two weeks later, I knocked down eight hangers while getting my ' coat, and sat down' and wept tears of fury and frustration. ' Pencils multiply, but there's never one in the house when you are trying to take down a long-distance phone message. Odd buttons multiply until it seems like a button factory. But when you need two the same size and color, forget it. You have 6,000 buttons, no two alike. You think you don't take many snapshots. Been to the attic lately? There are 12 boxes of them up there, right from your own baby pictures, through your courting days, into your own children at everylstage, and about 500 of the grandchildren. But just try to find that especially good one you want to send to-- - Aunt Mabel. Completely vanished. Shoes multiply. My wife had about 36 pairs, most of them out of style, just like that outfit she had to get the shoes to go with. She had to tear my comfortable old shoes out of my hands to put them in the gar- bage. I go to a half-price sale, buy three new pairs, and they sit there, stiff and stark, while I goon wearing the old shabby ones. Stamps run out; magazines pile up to the ceiling. BilLs and receipts multiply while bank accounts diminish. Pornography flourishes as sex drive diminishes. Televi- sion channels multiply while their contents diminish in quality. Workmanship dinfinishes as cost of it soars. And I've just touched the surface. How about acid rain and fish? Or safe, salted highways and holes in your car? Was it always like this, or is it just a curse of the twentieth century? Make up your own list; two columns, one headed Multipliers, the other Diminishers. It will shake you. MMIr Clinton replies to disturbing letter Dear Editor: We would like to express our pleasure and gratitude for the splendid and enthusiastic coverage which Anne Narejko gave to the opening day at Clinton Raceway. This was fantastic publicity for the track, and we hope will draw more Clinton and area fans to the races, as many people are scarcely aware of the "Big Business" which goes on here every Sunday. it is impossible to estimate the income generated to the town by the racing in- dustry, but the track is surely the biggest tourist attraction in Clinton, drawing anywhere from 700 to 1,600 paying customers each week. All profits from this operation are re- invested in capital improvements to the track or to Clinton recreational facilities, or donated to local charities such as the Clinton Hospital or MS Society. The track is manag- ed by a volunteer committee made up of local businessmen, none of whom receive any remuneration for the countless hours they donate to this public service each year. Watch for announcements of the second annual "Clinton Hospital Day" later on this summer,: last year, the Raceway Commit- tee was able to donate over $3,000 to the hospital, because YOU helped make it such a huge success! Sincerely, Toby Rainey, Secretary, Clinton Raceway C'omrnittee Clinton Raceway is 'big business" Dear Editor: As the senior employee of the Town of Clinton Recreation Committee I submit this letter on behalf of all Clinton Recreation employees in response to the disturbing "Mr. Ron McKay" letter. The letter receiv- ed by Mr. McKay, suggesting in threatening terms for his resignation from the Clinton Recreation Committee, has prompted me to express the employee voice. The letter smacks of simply ridiculous and illogical statements. Mr. McKay has proven time and time again his devotion to the entire Clinton community through his years of volunteer work. From the Central Huron Hockey School to Clinton Town Coun- cil to the Annual Spring Fair, Mr. McKay has given Freely his time, capable skills and support. His role within the Clinton Recreation Committee is to serve as chairman. He guides the Recreation Committee always towards decisions and policies benefiting the Clinton community. The insinuation that his position has influenced (decided) the hir- ing of his daughter, Susan is entirely out -of - context. Miss McKay has proven to the public and the Recreation Committee her abilities to supervise the Clinton Swimming Pool. Furthermore, Mr. McKay did not par- ticipate in summer staff interviews. Then why the letter? Most individuals if concerned about the Recreation delivery system either contact the Recreation Office or are invited to attend any regular Recrea- tion Committee meeting. In fact many former concerns have resulted in highly successful and efficient Recreation pro-, grams and services. I offer for example the Power Skating and Ballet - Modern Dance Programs, Clinton sport days, Clinton senior games, Clinton Recreation Guides and the establishment of an Arts Committee. People wanted these programs and/or services, and in turn the Recreation Committee has seen to meeting these expressed interests. When you criticize and fault Mr. McKay you are in fact doing same to a vibrant and healthy municipal .service. This service is endeavouring to meet expressed interests and needs, without creating a considerable tax -base burden. Clinton is no different than any other small Southwestern Ontario municipality and is demonstrating an abili- ty to respond and grow with the future of Clinton. Mr. McKay is fulfilling his role as Committee Chairman in a proper and im- pressive manner, bearing in mind at all times his responsibility and obligation to the Clinton community. It saddens me and has frustrated my staff to see such an attitude towards Mr. McKay and the Recreation Committee. We hope that our continued work and service to our public will change this attitude. Safety and justice Dear Editor: Are your loved ones safe today? Currently our Canadian court system is backlogged, a problem that has been compounded by the implementation of the Young. Offenders Act. (YOA) Under the YOA, even the most violent criminals could spend less than three years in a detention centre only to be unleashed upon society once again. Similar to most Submitted on behalf of Clinton Recreation Kevin M. Duquay Recreation Director legislation, there are many grey areas lett, to the judge to interpret. Acts of violence have no age limits! A crime is still a crime. Close the loop holes and bring safety and justice back into our society. A petition has been started by con- cerned citizens to have this legislation changed. If you care and are willing to help, contact: Barbara Campbell, Sheila San- some, Box 47, Lombardy, Ontario. KOG 1i O. 1