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Our Opinion Tuesday, March 4,2008 The Nipigon-Red Rock Gazette is published each Tuesday by Lakeshore Community Publishing Ltd. 38 Front Street, Nipigon, Ont. P0T2J0 Phone 807-887-3583 Fax 807-887-3720 2nd., class mailing permit #0867 Subscription Rates: Seniors (65+) $28.00 Local $38.00. Outside 60km $51.00 USA $67.00 (please add 5% GST) Memberships and Associations The Canadian Community Newspaper Association, The Ontario Community Newspaper Association Columns Policy - Letters to Editor The columns and letters accepted by this newspaper for publication, appear at the discretion of the Publisher. Names, signatures and phone numbers must accompany each submission for verification purposes. It is assumed that each submission fairly represents the opinion of the writer. E-mail address nipigongazette@shaw.ca Advertising and General Manager Linda R. Harbinson Reporter Photographer/Circulation Pamela Behun Managing Editor Paulette Lalonde Forsyth Publisher Linda R. Harbinson ‘We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program ‘PAP Registration No. 9030” toward our mailing costs.” Canada editorial... Here we go, Marching along into a new month with the hopes of an earlier spring. And just to give us a little taste, we will be turning our clocks one hour ahead on Sunday (or before bed on Saturday night!!) This time change has always puzzled me, despite the reasoning that it’s geared to conserve energy. Whose energy? Mine never seems to improve; whether we put the clocks back or ahead one hour makes no difference to me! March is not one of my favourite monthsâ€"in fact, I don’t like it at all. It’s usually windy and cold and blah and long. However, this year, we have Easter in March so that will surely lift the spirits (amazing what a chocolate egg will do!) and make this month go by much more quickly than usual. Here’s hoppingâ€"I mean, hoping!! In the meantime, what a shock to see that the Stephen Harper government is in trouble over some sort of bribe for a vote. It’s hard to believe that the Prime Minister could possibly have knowledge of such shenanigans occurring in the House, especially after the Mulroney fiasco that just took place. Really now, do they think that we are all that gullible? These little leaks of corruption within the government are just the tip of the iceberg that has not yet been fully exposed, and possibly never will. Let’s face it, it’s just another face, marching to a different tune, all the way to the bank. If you listen closely, you can hear the money jingle as it leaves to a secret destination, never to be found. Letter to the Editor: Close to Home.... Dear Editor, It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since the devastating Mill Fire changed the lives of 130 people who were employed at Multiply Forest Products. On the morning of February 6th, 2007, it was just a typical day. After working the night shift my husband opened the door to come inside the house, the creaking sounds woke me up. I rolled over on my side, facing the alarm clock, to check on the time. It read 7:15 a.m., the thought raced through my mind, no sense in trying to get an extra fifty winks, I might as well get up and turn off the alarm. Still feeling tired from a restless sleep, I stumbled out of bed and walked into the hallway where I was hit with the foul smell of dry veneer wood and stinky ponds. Sometimes, the smell was so strong it sickened me. I would yell at my husband to throw his dirty work clothes in the laundry basket and take a shower. There was no way he was going to sneak a kiss out of me unless he had a shower first. He would smile at me in a joking way and say “that’s the smell of money love”. Obediently he would take off his dirty work clothes and take a shower. “Coffee’s ready love, thought I’d put it on for you before I take a shower and go to sleep” he said. “Thanks” I said, as I grappled a cup of freshly brewed coffee and asked him how his night was. “Oh, not bad, same old things, the company is thinking about buying some new equipment and I spoke with David again about getting back on day shift. These night shifts are killing an old bugger like me”. He headed for the bathroom to run the shower. Raising my voice, I yelled out to him that I was going to Red Rock to conduct interviews with some of the Tourist Operators and should be back in the office around lunch time. I kissed him good night before he crept into the bedroom then I slipped on my winter boots and jacket and went outside to warm up the car. The air was crisp and cold. After I started the car and scraped the frost off the windows, I went back inside the house to grab my purse, lunch bag and brief case and off to work I went. Jolene was sitting in her usual spot by the window, reading the newspaper quietly, when I arrived. “Good morning,” I said to her, while I made my way to my crowded desk to search for a few more questionnaires. “Good morning Leona! Look at this! Another mill is closing, 250 more people will be out of a job, I don’t know what these people are going to do when there is no work, “ she said. Leaning over her shoulder to get a glimpse of the newspaper, I shook my head and exclaimed, “When will the government finally step in to help”. Jolene and I stressed a little more over the dying forest industry in our region, then it was time for me to leave for Red Rock. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining bright on the drive over. The 20 minute drive gave me extra time to plan the interview. Upon arriving, I found myself in a totally strange environment; no longer was the smoke coming out of the stacks from the Red Rock Mill. This small community that once was thriving with prosperity was laid dormant and gone to sleep. In the heart of the community, a snack bar that served the best homemade burgers and fries ever tasted and sold by the kind women who you might run into at your local church group. Standing across the small counter was a man wearing a blue ski jacket and hat. He had sandy hair and he smiled at me when I walked up to the counter. He extended his hand to give me a firm handshake; we exchanged introductions and seated ourselves at a nearby table by the window. The radio was blaring loudly in the background and it was difficult to hear him. I leaned a little closer to him to get the information I needed and asked him if he would fill in the rest of the survey. Suddenly, a special news report interrupted the regular scheduled program which was playing on the radio and announced, “An early morning fire started at the Nipigon Plywood Mill and fire crews are on the scene. There is no word on where the fire started, please stay tuned for further updates.” From inside the snack bar, you can look directly across the harbour and see Nipigon in a distance. In the far corner, tiny clouds of smoke filled the sky where the mill was located. At the Continued on Page 6 ComParrot by Bonnie J. Malcolm Can you spot 12 differences between these pictures? Solution: 1. Pocket on lady’s vest is missing. 2. End of hair dryer is missing. 3. Armrest on chair appears. 4. Strap on backpack is hidden. 5. Tuft of boy’s hair is missing. 6. Pedal on chair is colored in. 7. Heel on shoe is colored in. 8. Outlet on wall has moved. 9. Bulb beside mirror has moved. 10. Neckline on lady’s vest is different. 11. Stripe on backpack is different. 12. Time is different.