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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-09-22, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNALeSTAR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,1982 DAVE SYKES T- / e. I am rather despondent. And the source of that despondency is the empty lined playing fields in•my life. ' Let the troubles of the times pile up around me, they seem to pale by com- parison. It matters not that inflation declined.this month, that Premier William Davis has introduced wage controls or that the residents of Ontario are now the proud owners of two water bombers instead of an executive jet. I haven't time to burden my mind with lesser concerns. For the moment, I am suffering from a severe sports void and the disease is inflicting intense pain on my psyche. My ball team . has been summarily disposed of in local league play and my mind refuses to adjust to, the fact. Is there life after slopitch? The uniform hangs limply in the closet, exchanging longing glances and rekindling memories ot pulled muscles, twisted knees and the jocularity of the lengthy post mortems. Not to mention the pressure of playing under the threat of eviction by managment after an edless string of weekend tournaments. It all makes for an interesting summer. And newsroom colleagues shake their heads in amazement when this flacid fielder suddenly breaks into a run at the office, glancing upward as if tracking down a long fly ball near the fence. Withdrawal is beyond their comprehension. And, while the pseudo sporting scene is all but neatly tucked away, sports freaks could always feast sumptuously on the television offerings of the professional gladiators. But that too has been unceremoniously siezed from the sedulous sports who meticulously follow the professional scene. Is there life after the Montreal Expos? I dare not even contemplate such a life. For years tics agent has pleadingly urged the Canadian namesake of professional baseball to overcome adversity, and a Tug McGraw srewball, and lay claim to the championship of The American game. But day by day those prospects grow slimmer and the American players, adopted as Canadian sons, will be spending their large supply of dollars in some exotic resort area while we wail gnash our collective teeth. Life is cruel for the avid sports fan. - and it is difficult to believe that a pennant race will go by the way without this viewer yelling at the television screen in desperation or elation. And finally, is there life after football? While the amateur scene dissipated on a dark and soggy field and even, with the Expos in left field, there was always a myriad of football games to consume on fall Sunday afternoons. and if council relented on occasion, there was Howard Cassell to jeer on a Monday evening. But, alas, the pigskin has also been plucked from the hands of the sports -fan. The American gridiron gladiators have gone on strike against; the odvners of National Football League teams, in search of a bigger piece of the television revenue. \What will football fans do with this spare time on Sunday afternoons and Monday evening's. Will we be forced to engage in stimulating conversation with spouses, perform menial but necessary tasks around the house, perhaps, even play with the kids? It is a prospect that all football fans must face in the weeks to come. Will family life come back in vogue? Can a football fan actually enjoy Sunday dinner without the television on? It remains to be seen but life will be tough for all sports fans. If I get itchy on Sunday afternoon, it would be consoling to call another fan. eNA BLUE RIBBON AWARD Second class .mail registration I numimber=0716 -- SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT Pounded In 1114$ and published awry Wednesday et Ooderlch, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OWNA. Adger- , tieing rates on request. Subscriptions payable In advance .19.011 In Canada. '5S.$S to U.S.A., '51.11 to ell other coon- , tries, sinal. copies 51°. Display advertising rates available on request. please ask for Rate Card No. 11 effective.Oc. tabor 1, 14$1. Second clan mall ■ealstretion Number 1716. Advertising 1s accepted on the condition that In the event of typographical error, the advertising span occupied by the erroneous Item, together with reasonable aallowance for signature. will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the up- pliable rata. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services st e wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising Is merely en offer to sell. and may be withdrawn et any time. The SIgnal.Sta, Is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materiels used for reproducing aur. t poses. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED.. ROBERT G. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor P.O. BOX 220. t�1e QQ HUCKINS ST. O40 L. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH. N7A 486 • S\G FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 5244331 A hasty- decision? Rarely has towel council pushed itself into a project without detailing the financial,burdens of the project on the taxpayer. However, council's decision to apply to the Ministry of the Environment for a grant towards the construction of a water tower and improvements to the water distribution system, may be the exception. The financial details remain in limbo. The town will have to pay $1.1 million to complete the necessary work. The methods of raising that money haven't been deter- mined. What has been determined to this point, is that the taxpayer will provide the money. The town of Goderich is in need of a more adequate and . modern water storage ..system. That fact has been documented by study after study since 1976 and never disputed. The present water tower has a capacity of 1.5 million gallons and a regeneration time that varies with each expert. The demands placed on the water distribution systemin the summer can reach three million gallons a day, which, by simple mathematics, ihdicates our water system is inadequate. If there was a major fire, our firefighting capabilities are reduced to say the least. So far, whether by good management or good luck, the town has limped along on the present system. There is the annoying need for watering restrictions in the summer months, and yet the system has survived despite the six- year old knowledge that it is antiquated, inadequate and perhaps a future threat to iiffe411—`property. , It is not that threat that prompted council to commit taxpayer funds to the project. It was more the threat and contrived speculation that if the grant was not applied for and accepted now, the ministry would grow increasingly suspect of the town's motives in future. The ministry , imposed an unbearable deadline of October 1 upon the town to apply and rather than working out a systei4natic game plan, council chose to react and commit the future councilto a $1.1 million debt. The water storage system will have to be built but, a delay to probe the proper financing could have saved the taxpayers some money. In total, Goderich residents will pay, close to $2 million for the water tower, including • principal and interest on the debenture that the future council will have to secure on behalf of the Public Utilities Commission. - By waiting and building up reserves, which in turn could be invested, the project would have been less of a burden. Right now the financing will be passed off like a burden to a new council. • The reserve fund for the newtower sits at $189,000 and by the time construction begins the town will need at least $700,000 to $800,000 in debentures. Depending on the in- terest rates payments Gould be as high as $180,000 an- nually in principaland interest. • • Those paymens will likely be met through simple in- creases in the water rates. The PUC says it can raise $125,000 a year by raising the water rates 23 per cent which would increase the average resident's billto $137.60 a year. The PUC will undoubtedly have lo raise those rates beyond the 23 per- cent to cover for annual increases in the cost of waterdistribution. • It will undoubtedly push the water of Goderich to the top of the heap in Ontario while Lake Huron sits on the doorstep. • . Since 1976, the town has known that the water storage and- distri-lution system. is inadequate. NOW there is a sudden urgency \and immediacy to the problem of upgrading that system. Perhaps $2 million is a small price to pay to ensure the residents of this town have adequate fire fighting protection. But the present council is passing on the results of poor preparation to the next council. Perhaps the 1983 council should have been extended the courtesy of planning the development from start to finish. D.S. Museum should stay The decision by Huron County council to investigate the structural soundness 4f the former radar school in Vanastra is puzzling. At its September meeting, council endorsed a motion calling for a joint committee to proceed with a structural analysis and an operational cost study of the former radar school building in Vanastra. If the reports are favorable, the county may purchase the building and perhaps, relocate the Huron County Pioneer Museum. The Township of Tuckersmith is willing to let the building go for a mere $75-,OOO. The township purchased - the property two years ago and the taxes and- interest .o•utstanding amount to_$186,000 _ ....._.. ___ It is interesting to try and speculate on the workings of the minds of county councillors. Earlier this year they were informed that repairs were needed to present museumbuildings, but balked at the idea of establishing a reserve fund. Instead they appear willing to purchase a monstrous building in desolate area which the Ministry of Govern- ment Services said could be restored to original condition for only $932,000. Moving the museum to the Vanastra location would serve no useful purpose, except, perhaps to contribute to the eventual demise of the museum. To suggest the proposed location would be as lucrative for the county in terms of traffic is ludicrous and wishful thinking. The town of Goderich is a port, the county. seat and a tourist town along the lake. Simply by virtue of geography, the town attracts tourists in the summer in great numbers and the museum benefits greatly from that traffic. The town also benefits from the museum,no doubt, but realistically, it,s a reciprocal arrangement and both sides prosper. If the county proceeds with the purchase of the former radar school, it is not likely the historical artifacts con- tained in the museum could possibly consume the floor space available. What would the county do with the remaining floor space or would this move mark the beginning of the decentralization of county government. Would other county departments move to Vanastra? The possibility exists. It was pointed out at a local council meeting that the donors of many of the historical artifacts • would take of- fence to a change in location.. Perhaps, many of the existing fragile e*Tiibits could' not- tenlerate a change in venue. The museum is a county showpiece and project but it is also an integral part of the town of Goderich and always has been. The building was formerly used as a school. The county's intentions are serious considering it has commissioned a structural engineering analysis and an operational cost study on the vacant building. But any money spent on studies, the purchase of the building and subsequent improvements that are needed, could be well spent on improving the existing museum facilities.. Legion Week By Joanne Buchanan DEAR READERS SHIRLEY KELLER Beirut. In the news daily now. Tragedy heaped upon tragedy. Who can understand it all? Or really explain it to the satisfaction of everyone? As an outsider looking in, I've been trying to unravel the mystery of the unrest there for months. The more I read, the more confused I become. But there is no doubt the whole world is in- censed over the latest massacre of Palestinian refugees there. Whether they comprehend all the ancient hatreds andtraditional disagreements or not, they are outraged that any human beings, no matter how provoked they have become, would wantonly murder men, women and children in such numbers and with such lack of dignity. - ' For me, one of the most disturbing aspects of it all is that innocent Christian people the world over are being tied into this hideous crime against the Palestinians. It is understandable the masses are eager to pin this atrocious act on somebody, but it isn't reasonable to charge as some people do, that it is the Christian way to persecute, plunder and murder other humans not in agreement with their teachings. Nothing could be further from the truth. It may be time for Christians everywhere to examine that word Christian. Just what is a Christian? Do Christians understand what it means to be Christian? Why do so many people profess to be Christians and deliberately ignore Christian teachings? Are only good people Christians? - I admit it is a heavy subject for a weekly newspaper column, and 1 do not intend to inflict on you my perception ot the various religions of the world. You wouldn't really care anyway. But I do intend to dispell for readers of this column at least, some of the incorrect assum- ptions made by people concerning Christians. For I believe that not all' people who claim to be Christians have any idea what that designation implies. Christians are, purely and simply, followers of Jesus Christ and His teachings. They are•people who believe that Jesus is also God, and that He died on a cross so that all those who believe inn Him and His sacrfice will have eternal life in heaven with Him. , , There are Christians in a great many religious denominations or churches. And there are non- Christians in every religious denomination or church. Chrietians are ordinary people who are subject to ordinary problems, weaknesses and limitations. They aren't perfect, nor do they live perfect lives. There are Christians who are murderers and thieves, drug addicts and alcoholics - the whole miserable gamut of stinking human behaviour. While Christians should be motivated by Christ's commands, including the one to love one another, they sometimes fail miserably in their actions. Although Christians should stand out from the crowd of good citizens, it is sometimes difficult to tella Christian from a non-Christian. That's why.it is possible that Christians could have been at the bottom of the atrocity in Beirut, but it does not necessarily follow that they were acting on Christian principles and according to Christ's example. To say for instance, that all white people are heroes because white man Terry Fox was a hero, is just as ridiculous as saying because a group of Christians killed several hundred Palestinians, all Christendom is perverse and untrustworthy - and that Christ's teachings are subversive and dangerous. Christ loved with a perfect love. He was gentle. and kind, yet fair and just. His will is that His followers would be like Him. Christ -like. But people are people, and no one knew that better than Jesus Christ. He knew that people would fail because thof are mortal, not holy. They have wills and minds of their own. So His plan was to save His people, those who Would have faith in Him. He, the perfect one, would suffer the consequences of sin (death) for them all. Hewould pay the penalty for all time for all people. I know this sounds foolish to non-Christians, but that is the true difference between the Christian and the non-Christian. The distinction between them is not so much in what they do or how they live, but in what they believe - and in Whom they place their trust. So , dear readers, especially all those who profess to be Christian, it isn't really all that attractive by today's standards to be a follower ' of Christ. Today's Christians don't get thrown to the lions as they did centuries ago, but they sure get their share of ridicule from folks who don't know what a Christian is - and can't comprehend it or ac- cept it even when they are told. It wasn't a Christlike (Christian) act to kill those poor refugees in Palestine - but God forgive them, Christians may indeed have pulled the triggers and wielded the clubs, Referendum would drive arms under Dear Editor, Ref. to Global Disarma- ment in Small Communities: This is a very emotional issue. Are we going to let emotions dominate common sense?.. Theta isn't any question in my mind that the decision would be an overwhelming majority in favour of same. I do not believe that anyone who has all their mental faculties or even part of them, would vote for their own 'extermination, so let's assume that the vote is a world-wide success, and that the major powers have destroyed their niielear LETTER stockpile. Let's begin to manufacture atomic bombs. weigh the pros and cons. Bear in mind that all the The next thing the super- nuclear stockpiles would powers would have to con- have been destroyed, made tend with would be to install neutral, or defused, and to an international police force bring them back into service to monitor the actions of the would take a considerable nun.erous radicals that we length of time. have in the world. Pe- The major powers have atomic reactors that Nave the technical knowledge to been sold by , Canada to register an atomic explosion numerous countries, contain anywhere in the world, but the necessary components to would this technology be effi- tient in registering miniature atomic explosion that was surrounded by a lead es re-nt?- I understand that the technology they use, to the best of my knowledge, alerts their inonitors by registering.. radioactive fallout, and if a miniature atomic explosion occurred in a lead encase- ment, it would be sometime before it would register on the detective devices. As of ' now. they inav have more sophisticated ways of detec- ting atomic explosions. The gist of it all, is that once the major powers an- nounce disarmament, the radicals would be tripping Over thefnselVes "to obtain an atomic arsenal.. The way it is now, it is in -the open, burif— he —pro moted disarmament, it would be driven underground. The _overbalance of the. ecology poses just as big a threat as nuclear armament. The most immediate threat is the volcanic action in Mex- ico and Washington, which scientists claim isgoing to prolong the cold weather when it begins this year. They base their assump- tions on previous conditions that occurred in 1912. Sincerely, N.J. Minaker.