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Page 6 Halton Hills This Week, Wednesday, July 1, 1992. EDITORIAL Innocence lost When Keith Bettridge allegedly pulled the trigger that sent the fatal shotgun blast into the face of Kimberly Thompson, he did more than allegedly murder his common-law wife — he introduced Halton Hills to the violence that surrounds this community. Until this weekend it was easy to breathe something of a sigh of relief and say that violence was happening ‘‘in the city’’ or “Sust a bit too close to home.”’ And while residents here get upset about such things as the April murder of Burlington’s Kristen French or the odd brawl at a local drinking establishment, we — as a community — have been pretty lucky when it comes to violent crime. Halton Regional Police statistics from last year show that while Halton Hills had more attempted murders than any other part of the Region, the rest of the violent crimes stats were below — in many cases well below — our regional neighbour’s totals. But in just one weekend, the community has seen an alleged murder and the beating of a man who was new to town. The argument against this community being so isolated when it comes to crime is that it is a small town, but given its prox- imity to Peel, Guelph, Toronto and Hamilton, it is surprising that we are not faced with more violent crime. Unfortunately — as we have seen this weekend — the begin- ning of Halton Hills’ exposure to “‘big city’? crime may have started. We hope that this is an isolated incident and that life in Halton Hills will continue on its relatively violence-free path. Violence of any kind against another human being is in- tolerable and when it is in a community such as ours it is more than frightening. hen Keith Bettridge allegedly pulled the trigger this weekend he not only took another life, he took away a com- munity’s innocence. E That was then... The Feed Mil on Guelph St. at Mill St., Georgetown. Now abandoned, it was the Herald office for many years. - Photo courtesy of The Esquesing Historical Society . ee Country cA out of “tisiies READER DISMAYED ssa sais Dear Sir: asked themselves if jobs would have been lost by their actions in this case also. The Halton Hills Town Council were elected to make the best pos- I read with dismay your article 1s Halton Hills despite the fact they ¥ ae were the lowest over the winning _ sible decisions for the community contractor by over $22,000. In fact 4S a whole. They were not elected it was the third lowest bidder who 0 take the easy way out or listen was awarded the contract! only to special interest groups. If this tender award is an exam- to open themselves to le of their fiscal Jeronay “‘the biggest dog’s breakfast” by _ then we are all in trouble allowing substitutions and that Yours sincerely, ge was no ‘‘fair’? way to make Don White sees between the predie Senet of the questions Council PAPER THANKED should have asked themselves To the Editor: before taking the easy way out On behalf of all those involved were: with the Love In Christ Food Bank - will denying this award to the _I would like to thank you for your lowest bidder — a local business — i cause the loss of jobs in Halton _editon of our newest community Hills? asset. It is through willing contri- - would awarding this contract butions like that story that we are to a local business create jobs in _able to make others aware of our Halton Hills? needs. - do we have so much money sa we can ae to throw away r $22,000. thout, at least, taking an effort Pe investigate? ~ could we not make a com- parison by requesting a list of the substitute suppliers pptaicioal customers and few phone calls and Boe a pertinent question: In va time of severe economic conditions with hundreds of business going under and thou- sands of people losing their jobs does our Town Council make the tough decision? Of course not, they take the easy way out and pay $22,000. more than they need to and let over a quarter of a million dollars flow out of the local economy! This is the second time in the last few months that the Halton Hills Town Council has treated a local business shabbily. They actually appeared to be trying to drive extend our sincere good wishes for the growth of your newspaper in our community and look forward to your weekly news on the life and activities of all its individuals and organizations. We wish you much a in your ative publication: Sincerely and in God's blessing. LAURA ELLISON Love In Christ Food Bank Sa rl tee Neel CONFUSED READER Dear Edito: I would lke to share the follow- ing with y When he new newspaper came out on Wednesday my daughter eg asked, ‘‘What’s the ne of he new paper?’ I plied, “Halton Hills This Week? She said, aM 's it going to be called next we Sincere Mrs. Chitige Buikema Emerson Halton Hills This Week is thrilled to have Wheldon “Steamer” Emmerson writing a weekly column. Steamer’s lotes are always entertaining and usually full of insight into life’s lighter Wheldon “‘Steame moments. Loo! jteamer’s ““Have You Got A Minute” every week in this ly heart went out to Lady Di the other day, when she broke down and cried. When her emo- tions got the best of her I could feel the soft trickle of tears on my cheeks. It Lay back a painful memory t ‘Uninsentienally I dethroned a king. It was all over in five minutes. Shock waves swept through the crowd at the Ontario Plowing Match, in Woodstock, and peren- nial emcee Vince Mountford blabbed it to thousands. He knew the both of us, the king and I. The king of the furrows was Wilson, Ontario cham- an County champion several times and was looked upon as the Wayne Gretsky of plowmen. That was un- til I got into the act. a teammate in a plowing con- test I-was a disaster. Frankly I don’t think Spencer ever ae rom his experience with m When he bought the “i927 Model-T car and put on a high hat I knew he suffered more than he let on from our incident. Look at Pioneer Days and you’ll see Spencer with his car. Don’t bring up the mention of me as a plowman, it might set him back. itario Plowing Match has a class each year for mayors. It sounded like fun and Woodstock was only a short hop from town so I filled in the form and started preparing for the big match. Naturally I needed a tractor and plow. I knew just where to go, Spates of course. He agreed to ach mi Heavens to Betsy, I was excited, I had the best rig —a Massey Junior 101— and the king of plowmen to teach me the tricks of how to plow in one easy lesson. Before the actual contest there is an afternoon parade within the grounds; bands, farm equipment, antique cars and so on. Unknown to me there was a wagon with chairs for the visiting mayors. In front of each chair was your name and town. Les Duke from Acton, Brian Best from Milton, Jimmy Archdeacon oe Bramp- ton were all next to It was fun, people ee peanuts, insults and one fellow yelled “when did I give up the organ grinder.”” ‘‘When my monkey died”’ I replied. With the parade over, Spencer took me to the proper spot for our plowing match, told me the plow was set at regulation depth of six inches and while I was plowing he would ‘‘put the foot to it.”” This is an expression used by plowmen to mean they will put their foot on the furrow to make it look neat and straight. In the excitement and noise I misunderstood, and thought he meant to put the foot to the ac- celerator. Goodness, I looked back and there was poor old Spencer “putting fe. foot to it”, he was us- ing both fe He looked like Arthur Duncan thee you got a Minute? of the Lawrence Welk Show tap- dancing to ‘‘Shuffle Off To Buf- falo’’. Some spectators thought he was dire need of the men’s facilities. When it was all over we were paraded to the platform and there was our old pal Vince on the mike. As the winners were announced Vince gave them a line or two, pat- ted them on the back and couldn’t wait to get at Spencer and yours truly. Since I had embarrased my friend Spencer, Vince bellowed to the crowd about how Spencer was a true champion and he picked a bent mold board when he picked me. Vince, always quick with quip, said: ‘‘Spencer’s wife Kay has taken up bird watching. She wat- ches him like a hawk Turning to me he bellowed into the mike: ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, my old ‘friend Steamer finished dead last “He. a ruined the reputation of the king of plowmen. You did a fine’ job on poor old Spencer. Whatever you do, ladies & gentlemen, don’t applaud, he started at the bottom of the ladder of success and stayed there’’. Then I fell down the stage steps. I don’t go to plowing matches anymore. And Spencer, I saw him with the Queen at Pioneer Da’ ays last. week-end. He looks fully r Duncan recovered. Letters Welcomed Halton ae This Week welcomes your letters. Letters must be signed and inelile your full name and address. Names will be withheld on request. Halton Hills This Week reserves the right to edit, revise, or reject any letters on the basis of factual errors, punctuation, spelling errors or as. a result of space limitations. ga eur letter to: The Halton’ ‘Bills This Week 232 Guelph St., Unit 9 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 ag [HIS WEEK Halton Hils This Week is published “wery Wednesday at 232 Guelph St., Georgetown, Ont. L7G 481, and is printed in Cake by QE, Web Printing (ot typographical error 9 Be mtiegs Ken Bellamy Scott Kline at any time. poe ESTATE MANAGER: Kathy Tott IRCULATION MANAGER: Marie Shadbolt HALTON Hee he WEEK IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & Prgeinllns PHONE: 873-2: X: 873-3918