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UTTER FOLLY We're not sure what exactly y was going through the heads of the governors of the Nati when the decided to relax the rules about wearing helmets while playing the world's fastest sport in the world's premier league. Until now, helmet wearing has been mandatory, except for those players who, play without helniets prior to 1979: Even somebody remotgly familiar with the sport would agree that hockey is the kind of sport that demands maximum protection. To go put onto the ice, surroanded by wooden boards, where players fire a solid rubber disc at 100 MPH dnd carry.wooden sticks, without protective head-gear is sheer stupidity. They said it had something to do with the need for more "player recognition." Does Joe Montana lead the 49ers without a football helmet? Does Joe. Carter go to the plate for the Blue Jays without a batting helmet? Are they suffering some kind of complex over lack of recognition? Hardly. Some critics of this rule change, and there are many at all levels of the game, say it will set a horrible example for young players who emulate their heroes in everything. That may not be the case. Don't expect minor hockey organizations anywhere to let 11-year olds on the ice without a helmet just because the NHL does. But the real danger could be in the "trickle down" affect. How long, for example, will it be before Major Junior Leagues in the country start looking seriously at what the NHL is doing. After all, these leagues are the last stepping stone to the pro Tanks, and their purpose it to prepare under 20-year olds in every way for a pro career. If the Junior Leagues relax helmet rule in a few years to follow the example of the L, the same thing might occur with elite Midget age d¢ams which feed players to the Junior ranks. Far fetched? Perhaps at this time it-is. But up until a couple of weeks ago, the notion that the NHL would relax the mandatory helmet rule was also far-fetched: We don't expect to-see too many NHLers doff their helmets this coming season, but there will be a few, for 'whatever reasons. Some say that helmet wearing is the main cause of*high sticking around the head that is ruining the game at all leyels. Don't believe this for a moment. High sticking has rifthing to do with a helmetless player crashing head first into the boards, or stopping a 95 MPH slap shot with his forehead. High sticking, ike any other infraction, can and must be controlled by rules strictly enforced on the ice by the guy in the stripes and in the front office of any league. What is really strange about this mule change (aside from the fact it could cost some player his life) is the fact the NHL adopted it in the first place. This is forward inking? This is the kind of mentality that is supposed to take the NHL through the 1990's and into the next century? This is a major step backwards. The danger is not so much that 10-year olds are going to throw their helmets away because the super stars of the For the third year in a row, Don A Dale Sultan Dixie was judged the grand champion in the annual Ontario County Holstein Show at the: Port Perry Fair. This four year old is owned by Cecil Snoddon and family's Sunnyfield Hosteins of Sunderland. That's Mr. Snoddon on the right accepting trophy from Robert Flett. The cow was shown by brent Snoddon. In the long history of this show, only two other cows have won grand champion ribbon three years in a row. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Concerned over 'eye-catching headlines' To the Editor: I read the letter to the editor in the August 25 Scugog Citizen by Dianne Wilson and sympathize with the situation in her neighbourhood. It is unfortunate that with so much effort in opposing the minor variance which was granted to the owner of the property in question, they were not successful. I feel this letter has been grossly mis-represented to -the readers by the heading which says "Reader upset over response to by-law enforcement." The context of the letter refers to actions taken by the Scugog building inspector and decisions made by the by Committee of Adjustment and the Ontario Municipal Board, with no references to by-law enforcement or the lack of response. Perhaps the person responsible for writing such an eye-catching headline should be more familiar with with administration of municipal government before making accusations towards the local by-law department and its employees. Do you agree that by being accurate in head-lining the writer's concerns, it will provide more effective results for both reader and writer? Darlene Barker, RR 4, Sunderland. Editor's Note: Agreed»The headline over the letter did not reflect the contents of the letter. Our apologies to the by-law department and its employees. Region using questionable substances To the Editor: On Monday, Aug. 17 I detected the unmistakable odour of chemicals' while starting out for work that short while later I NHL did. The danger is that the for this ch will "filter down" to the leagues just under the NHL level. "We can only hope it doesn't take an on-ice tragedy (remember Bill Masterton of the Minnesota North Stars) before the people who run the NHL come to their senses and put an end to this. Or maybe they would like to stand at centre ice to test this "r factor" 5 without a helmet, of course. The NHL has been around for better than 75 years. For the first 50 or so of those years, nobody wore helmets and the League was fortunate not to have a player killed from ahead injury. There were numerous close calls. The one death in 1968 (Bill Masterton) led many players to start donning helmets without any prodding. By 1991, the number of players without helmets could be counted on one hand. Why the change now is beyond comprehension. discovered the source of this Sdonz on Regional Road 2 at eagrave--weed spraying along the ditches. I could only think of who might be sleeping with open windows on thdt humid morning, unaware of the dangers to health or which chemicals 'were being released. , 1 was able to find out that 2- 4-D, sometimes known as "Killex" was being spewed forth from a Durham Region 'Works truck. In case you don't know, 2-4- D has been banned in the sted by Sg Citizen Publishing Ltd. GG United States and has been linked to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (cancer of the lymph glands) by Health and Welfare Canada since 1988. Why are we still using this? y are we not informed ahead of time when spraying is to be done? Why are not looking for*environmental alternatives such as cutting or learning to accept a few wi 14 one can deny the fact that cancer, asthma and auto-immune diseases are ori the rise in this country. Individuals suffering from chemical sensitivities are now being acknowledged by the medical profession. That threat is real. Let your elected rep know that health is more important than weed RADIAN COMMU GQ s ma2eas as30CK "Provd Canadians proud to call Scugog Township home." free ditches, parks, church and school grounds. In Durham MP Ross Stevenson's latest newsletter under the heading "Enviro- tips," he states that there is no herbicide registered for use in wet areas. Come on, Ross, whatsdo you call a ditch, 1100 feet from the Nonquon River after-all the rains we have had this summer? Unless you write a letter, or make a phone call to, protest, chemical spraying will continue. Let's help make Durham Region a safer place to live and breath in. Bill Stevenson, Sedgrave, Ont. 36 WATER STREET, PORT PERRY, ONT. LSL1)J2 phone : 985-NEWS fax : 985-1410