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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-11-18, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1987 It's Friday night and you're looking forward to going out for a social evening on the town, whether it be with the boys, the girls, your date, or your spouse. More likely than not, you will have a 'drink at the dinner table, at the dance or at the bar. Not just any drink, but an alcoholic one. Alcohol, when abused, is an addictive drug. Many people probably do not con- sider alcohol to be a drug. However, it is easily the most abused drug in this country. Sunday marked the beginning of On- tario Drug (Addiction) Awareness Week (November 15-21). Designated as a na- tional event by Health and Welfare Canada, this week constitutes a part of the new National Public Awareness and Information Campaign on Alcohol and Drug Abuse –a component of the fedi ral government's National Drug Strategy. "Action on Drug Abuse" is the national Lou Ann DeBruyn drug strategy program. It focuses on changing Canada's social environment with respect to alcohol and other drugs (its treatment and prevention), through public awareness and information, com- munity action, education and training, research and data needs, and cost sharing. This week in Ontario, many events will be held in conjunction with Ontario Drug (Addiction) Awareness Week in the hope of motivating people to seek solutions to reduce alcohol and drug problems. Alcohol is a definite problem in our community. It is not only a problem associated with adults but with teenagers also. According to statistic, the average star- ting age of alcohol users is 11.5 years. In a survey conducted two years ago, it was noted approximately 60 per cent of males aged 15 and over were abusing alcohol; "abusing alcohol" meaning the amount being consumed was detrimental to their health. Needless to say, alcohol consumption is a problem in today's society that needs to be combated. If alcohol is such a problem, then why drink? We drink because it makes us feel good. But because of the ease with which' alcohol changes moods, it is a difficult drug for some people to use in a controll- ed manner. Even if a person doesn't develop a physical addiction to it. a psychological dependency can develop. It is this good -bad attitude that can lead to some interesting yet contradic- tory statements. For example: Although it can make you feel less in- hibited and more at ease socially, did you know to much alcohol can make you more aggressive and set you up for social indiscretions? Did you know that while alcohol can help induce sleep, it interferes with the phase of sleep that lets you get a satisfy- ing rest? You might think alcohol raises your sense of courage or bravery when facing tasks but did you know it impairs your ability to carry them out? Did you know that although alcohol helps you cope with stress in a short term manner, in the long term it hinders your ability to deal with the sources of stress? It's important to know what alcohol can do to the individual. However, it is more important to know what alcohol cannot do for us. Alcohol cannot make us more attractive, more socially adept or solve our problems. When we expect alchol to do that, we turn it into a problem for ourselves. Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying we should not drink and I am not saying the occasional drink is bad for us. What I am saying is, with this being Drug Awareness Week,it is only fitting that we take a few ininutes to think about the problems associated with the misuse of alcohol and other drugs. INN MI �n�on THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK OODERICH, ONT. N7A 486 Goderic` SIGNAL-STAR REST AU. ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA (Civietm Claes 35064500) C.C. N.A Better Newspaper Corpesson 1984 PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 1848 and published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA, Subscrip- tions payable in advance $23.00, [Senior Citizens $20.00 privilege card number required) in Canada, 560.00 to U.S.A., 960.00 to all other countries, Single copies 60C. Display, National and Classified advertising rates available on re- quest. Please ask for Rate Card No. 18 effective October 1, 1987. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with the reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that 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 Signal - Star isnot responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, pihotos or other materials used for reproduc- ing purposes. General Manager Advertising Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER DON HUBICK News Editor Features Co-ordinator Sports PATRICK RAFTIS LOU -ANN DE BRUYN TED SPOONER FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICE...please phone (519)524-2614 Second class mail registration number 0716 Member: GNAWA CCNA O CUL AO CIRCULATION Wise decision They say that power corrupts; and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Given this reasoning, Goderich Town Council probably made a wise decision at its Oct. 26 meeting, in voting to oppose any delegation of authority for planning functions from the pro- vincial govenment to Huron County Council level, at this time. Huron County Council has requested that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs delegate authority for five planning functions to their jurisdiction. The request, made at the October county council session, would see the county given final approval rights for subdivisions, condominiums, part lot control, road closings and zoning comments for all municipalities in Huron. The request comes at a time when urban municipalities, noticeably Goderich and Exeter, have been making known their objections to the current rural -dominated stucture of county council. Exeter recently went so far as to attempt to end county involvement with planning functions within the town altogether, prefering to operate through their own municipal plan- ning department. The request also comes in the wake of recent criticism of Huron County administration over allegations of interference in the operation of the Huron County Health Unit and the Huron County Library Board – bodies which are structured to be answerable at the provin- cial, not the county level. The Huron County Department of Planning and Development contends the delegation of authority would speed up the approval process for the five aforementioned functions. And well it might – but at what price? One of Goderich council's concerns with the proposal, was .that if authority for the five functions requested were delegated, there would be nothing to stop County Council from seeking authority for other, even more vital, functions such as official plans and amend- ments. Should a county govenment, set up to provide select specific services to a widely diversified group of municipalities, be given the authority to rule absolutely on the way in- dividual municipalities grow and develop independently of each other? Not likely. Another possibility, one denied by County Planning Department officials, is that addi- tional staff might be required to handle the extra workload created by the additional authority. County officials may not now believe that would be necessary, but they have not yet tried to do the extra work with the current staff. Why risk burdening the taxpayers with the extra costs for staff that is not now needed locally? There are a wide range of considerations to take under advisement, before giving addi- tional authority on any matters to county council. The possibility of creating a monster department into which even the most routine municipal matters must be fed is too real. So is the possibility of previous local conflicts affecting the impartiality of decisions. Currently, no county government in Ontario has the authorities requested by Huron. While some regional governments do have such authority, it mustbe remembered that regional government is of an entirely different composition than county government. Perhaps at some time in the future, when the structure of county government in Huron is updated to reflect the nature of all of its member municipalities, the delegation of some planning functions may indeed expedite the approval process. However, for the time being, Goderich Town Council's cautious approach to this proposal is the correct one. The involvement of provincial authorities as a mediator and second source of consultation in planning matters has kept disputes over such things to a minimum in the past. Why ask for trouble in the future? Building, and construction made a sharp increase to exceed $1 million 25 YEARS AGO November 22, 1962 New construction and building altera- tion and repair in Goderich has made a sharp increase this year and now exceeds a million dollars in value to date, it is revealed by the building inspector's representative tendered the regular meeting of Goderich Town Council Friday night. Actual value of current permits totals $1,032,950 compared with $466,295 at the same time last year. Most substantial increase is in industrial and commercial projects, chiefly those undertaken by Sifto Salt Mines, Ltd, Goderich Manufacturing Ltd., while dwelling construction is also up, valued at $552,600 compared with $385,500 last year. Alterations and repairs are slightly down at $49,600 compared with $53,340 last year. It was a much superior Owen Sound team that downed the Siftos 5-2 last Friday night before a crowd of well over 800 local fans. This game was the worst exhibition of hockey by the Siftos on local ice this year. In previous games, they moved like a well oiled machine but in this contest there was no organized attack put together by any time for at least half the game. The Greys struck early when after just 22 seconds of play they put one behind Sinclair in the Goderich net. Graham stop- ped one shot off Perry who was open in front of the net but sprawled on the ice, he couldn't save the rebound that was lifted over top of him. This early goal seemed to have a stunning effect on the locals as throughout the first period they were never any match for the Greys. Owen Sound worked hard for their edge in the play however as they checked hard stopp- ing any Sifto attack before it really got The Canadian Football League is sick and will, in all probability, die in the near future. If the league does kick the bucket, the funeral services will probably not attract a large crowd, given that two CFL playoff games played on the weekend' drew only about half -capacity crowds. That, incidently, is a sure sign that sup- port for the league is wavering. The CFL has always been scoffed at by fans who prefer the National Football League variety, but when push came to shove and the playoffs rolled around, it seemed that interest was always renew- ed. Many a "fan," of the league, in- cluding this one, has been heard to claim that he only watches the playoffs and, of course, the Grey Cup. Ironically, as long as this was happen- ing, the league had a chance for survival, because it doesn't take long to figure out what kind of revenue it means for a team to draw in excess of 50,060 spectators at today's ticket prices, even if only for a couple of games per year. With interest in the playoffs waning, the league has had it, unless some changes are made in a hurry. Part of the problem with trying to run a pro -football league in Canada, is the at- tempt by owners -and organizers to mimic the American game. Oh, I know, the field's a different size and there is one less down and one more player in Cana- dian Football, but those differences don't affect how the game is packaged. The CFL's problem comes from trying to sell their players as sports celebrities of the same stature as the NFL stars. The difficulty here, is that Canada doesn't have a high-profile college foot- ball system comparable to the USA. Every sports fan south of the border can name the top 10 college players (read prospective NFL stars) and even non - fans probably know who the Heisman Trophy candidates are. Top NFL pro- spects rate the kind of ink that only potential National Hockey League first- round draft picks rate here. So, in order to compete with the high- profile NFL stars, the Canadian League has been forced to import name players from the American College ranks. In order to get them to forego or delay an NFL career to play football in a land where nobody cares about it, big bucks (American bucks, thank you) have to be shelled out by the Canadian teams. Football is one area where free trade has been in effect between Canada and the United States for years. Any player is free to sell his services to the highest bid- der, resulting in a financial crunch for the CFL. Football also sells the idea of violent confrontation between large men. That's a large portion of the attraction for the average fan. If that's what they want, it makes sense that Canadians are unwill- ing to shell out the price of a ticket to see LOOKING BACK started. By the end of the first period, Jack Evans' team was facing a 3-0 deficit as the Greys added two more to their early tally, one at 5:15 and again at 16:36 by Stephen- son and Mills respectively. Shots on goal, for Goderich, 37 and for Owen Sound 44. 50 YEARS AGO November 24, 1937 A November record for some years past was established last weekend when a total of 14 and one half inches of snow fell in three days, blocking town and county roads and reducing traffic to a minimum on highways. As the snow became hard -packed and icy, both walking and driving became treacherous, but there were no accidents with serious consequences. The only highway mishap of the district occured on the Holmesville hill on Friday evening when one of Baechler's log trucks of Goderich, lost traction on the highway sur- face and rolled over in the ditch. No one was hurt. The ladies of Goderich are determined to invade the inner sanctum of the Town Council chamber, and at a meeting of the executive of the Local Council of Women on Monday chose Mrs. Jean Hetherington as their representative to be placed before the electors at the nominations meeting on Friday night. Mrs. Hetherington will represent several hundred Goderich from this angle Patrick Raftis heavily -padded men bump into each other, when they have the option of view- ing the armed assault that takes place in any hockey rink in the country every night. The CFL's only hope for survival is to become a truly Canadian League. Forget women who are members of the 10 societies affiliated with the Local Council of Women. They reportedly will be solidly behind their chosen representative. The. coming municipal election will be quiet as any on record. The ladies choice is the only known opposition to an all-round acclama-' tion at present. The majority of members of the 1937 county council are optimistic as to the out- come of the forthcoming elections and many of them speak of acclamation, although they say anything may happen yet. Reeve George Feagan, of Colborne Township, is the only one who comes right out and admits the likelihood of opposition and Deputy Reeve Thos Lovell, of Hor- wick, is the only one speaking of retiring. 70 YEARS AGO November 22, 1917 The Victory Loan Campaign is making good progress and although there is still much hard work before the canvassers it is hoped that the objective for this county will be reached by the end of the month. Up to Wednesday night of this week, the sum of $1,021,000 was announced as the total of the subscriptions to the loan in Huron County. Now the canvassers are starting on the second million which Huron is ex- pected to raise and as the time is growing short those who can subscribe in any amount, large or small are earnestly re- quested to let the canvassers have their applications at. once. A new scheme has been adopted whereby persons who are not in a position to invest a large amount of money at once may make payments on the installment plan—$5 down and $1 weekly. the imports and play with Canadian talent, which in this field comes a lot cheaper than the American variety. Fans just might come out to watch some homegrown talent playing their own game. The next step would be to make it our own game. Drop the number of players per side to nine, thereby opening up the field to a more skilled game. Reducing the number of linemen would allow teams to develop more intricate and ex- citing plays, similar to the recently popularized Arena Football, which is a fast -paced and interesting game. The CFL has to realize it will never replace NFL Football as the real thing as far as purists are concerned, so play the game on Saturday afternoons, when no one else is playing football. Offer the fans something different and they might respond. If not, then let the whole idea of a separate Candian league rest – in peace.