The Huron Expositor, 1975-01-30, Page 1I
Whole No, 5577
Jle 116th Year THE HURON EXPOSITOR, THUISI
.t:
AY, JANUARY 30, 1975 16,P.ACiiS
$10,C)9A YeafirtitdvaPce
, Single copy X15 cants '
&horse show and rodeo will be
a highlight of Seaforth's
.Cenennial activities, it • was
decided at a Centennial
committee meeting ,here
Thursday night. A committee
headed by Doug Riley of
Doug Riley of Winthrop will plan
the show, to be held Saturday
afternoon, June 28. •
Ontario's Lieutenant Governor
Pauline McGibbon will be invited
to open the Centennial
festivities.
A fairly complete program for
the big Centennial weekend has
been finalized. It will include a
Friday night dance with The
Stampeders and Lincoln Green, a
Saturday night Centennial Ball
with the new Modernaires when a
Centennial Queen and a Senior
Citizens Queen will be chosen, a
concert Monday, night with Ian
and Sylvia and a dance Tuesday
night featuring the Carleton
Show Band.
Admission prices for all four
• dances and concerts was set for
$4 per person. .
• School reunions will be held
Monday, June 30 at all Seaforth
schools, and Monday morning
will start with a Pancake
Breakfast.
Big parades are planned for.
Saturday and Tuesday
afternoons, and a, bike rodeo, a
car rally, a drum-head service and
a soccer tournament are also in
the work • .
• Sunday evening, June 29, the
Seaforth Old Timers will meet the
CKNX Try Hards in a baseball
game at the Optimist Park.
The Centennial Committee will
decide later in :the spring about
holding a tractor pull at the arena
grounds on Tuesday,. July 1. Ken
Coleman explained to the
meeting , that a big pull,
a THE JOYS OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVING — Back in
1947 when Scott Habkirk's school bus-business was
new, this part of Western Ontario had its fiercest
snow storm ever. This photo of a school bus going
through mammoth drifts about four miles north of
Seaforth wa s taken in March of that year.
Rodeo planned for
Seaforth Centennial
sanctioned by the Ontario Tractor
Pulling'Association would be very
expensive.
A sanctioned pull necessitates
a' clay trackhich would cost at
least $3,000 and involved' about
$4;500 in prize money. • Mr.
Coleman felt that.a less elaborate
amateur pull could be a drawing
card for the Centennial weekend
but thought the Committee
should investigate and see if
there were tractor pulls planned
at other towns in the area on the
July I holiday. .
Tickets h ave gone on sale for
the 1200 club. Only 1200 of the
$10 tickets will be sold. First prize
is $1,000, second is $500 and
there will be 5 prizes of $25. each.
Leo Teatero is in charge of the
draw and tickets are available
from him, from Centennial
Committee members and from
local, merchants.
1200 club tickets have eon'' out
to about 1,000 former residents of
the town' along with invitations to
attend the big weekend. Mrs. Pat
Bennett heads the committee in
charge of getting in touch with old
residents.
Centennial decorations will be
going up ,along Main Street
shortly and the committee h opes
to have' signs advertising
Seafoarth's Centennial at both,
,Highway 8 entrances to the
town. As the Centennial weekend
comes closer, it is hoped that local
residents will join in the spirit of
things and decorate their houses.'
There may be a community
musical show, put on by amateur
talent at the Band Shell on the
Friday night, June 27, if local
people are interested.
Anyone whrtW,ould like to work "
on any. part of the Centennial
organizing activities can call Clive
Bulk at 527-0882.
Big dogs running at large in the The presence of two principals-'
school yard at St. Patrick's as observers at tote.. ,board .
School, Dublin, are worrying meeting, Adrian Pontsioen of •St•
reachees_and parents, —Sister —Josephls,- Clintoneand-PauleNietel
Florence Kelly, prireeiPal of the of St. . Ambrose, Stratford,
school,- told members of the prompted Trustee Looby to say
Huron Perth Roman CAtholic that he thought it would be a good
Separate School Board in a letter idea for principals who attend
read at the board meeting board meetings to be invited to
Monday night. speak.
Children have been knocked "They could come prepared to
over and in one case a child was talk about their schools, what
bitten. they like and don't like", Mr.
Board members decided to Looby said, and expressed the
send a letter to Hibbert Township concern that a lot of the principals
Council asking them to prohibit' were just names and were not
dogs running at large in the known to board memberS
,village of Dublin. "That ought to personally,
solve things," trustee Joe Looby Chairman Teahen told Mr.
of Dublin commented. • Looby that the principals were
In a Committee of the Whole just at the meeting as spectator's
session after the regular meeting and actually didn't have a right to
board members formed a. speak. "We should change that,"
committee "to study alternatives Mr. Looby said, adding that he
for board office facilities in the - did not want them to answer
future," Board Chairman David questions . . "I'd like to hear
Teahen of' Stratford said. The
board's present lease on its office
in the Seaforth property owned by
R.S.Box expires on January 31,
1976.
Members of the committee are
chairman 'Michael Connolly,
Kippen and Ron Marcy, Stratford
and Bill Kinahan, Kingsbridge.
Tuckersmith hires
Eisler to tag dogs
CAVITIES ARE MEAN, SO KEEP YOUR TEETH
CLEAN — That's' what the poster for Dental, Week
says that these . St. James' School students are
holding. Dental Week starts Feb. 2 in Huron County.
Nurses from the Huron County Health Unit were at
(gird hears about dogs in school yar
the school last week showing a film and showing the
children howt-to brush their teeth properly. Holding
the poster are, left, Mark Mero, Jimmy Plas,
Corinne De Corte and Debby Barry, all of Seaforth.
(Staff Phot4).
Egmondville
ready in 1977:
Bus company in new firm
An old Seaforth firm is one of
three Ontario bus companies who
have joined together to form a
new firm called United Trails Inc.
Habkirk Transit, the Seaforth
Company which how forms part ,of
United Trails is headed by Les
Habkirk of town. It had its
beginnittgs when Les' father, the
11, late Scott Habkirk, started a fleet • .
oftwo school buses in 1946. The
late Mr.Habktrk ran the Supertest
gas station for many years on the
coiner of Main and Goderich
Streets and had a Chrysler and
Plymouth dealership there.
Mrs. May' Habkirk said her
• husband was the second titan in
Seaforth to run a school bus.
Frank Grieve had one bus in 1946
end Mr. Habkirk acquired his runt
in 1947. In the 1950's Mr.
Habkirk moved his school bus
operation to Habkirk Transit's
present location, across from the
Library on South Main Street.
When Scott Habkirk died in
1963 his son, Les, took over the
business. A younger brother,
Brian, is in charge of a Windsor-
Leatningtoil suburban bus line
that Habkirk Transit runs and a
sister, Jaqueline Melanson, is in
charge of the Seaforth Office,
During -the 1960's, the
company ran a public bus service
between Seaforth and the RCAF
base at Clinton. A suburban bus
line between Leamington and
Windsor was started in 1971.
The company is licensed to
operate dharter bus service from
Windsor, Leamington and Huron
(Continued on Page 5)
Gaetan Blanchette and Mr.
Pontsiden.
treport from Francis Hicknell,
Chairniatie, f the kistee Zlergy ---
Relations - committee was
discussed in committee of the
whole and , details were not
released to the press. Als,o in
committee pf the whole, the
committee which will interview
and .hire another Assistant
Superintendent discuSsed the
procedure they will fo ow and
said-no interviews ha een held
yet.
The board learn that John
Vintar, formerly Supe tendent
of Separate Schools •wil now be
known as Director of Education,
to conform with a change in
provincial statutes. Mr.A ssVisintat nart.
that cssaaunipdebrein
called Superintendents.
Superintendents probably now
Tuckersmith Council will
employ Dick Eisler to locate and
license all the dogs in the
Township, they decided at their
I'uesday night meeting. Although
councillors expressed some
concerti at the fact that 't11 dog
problem had not been very well
taken care of since Mr. Eisler was
hired last May, they agreed that
he continue as animal control
officer. $700 per year.
Councillors authorized
payment of the final $200 of that
amount to Mr. Eisler when they
met with him. Mr.Eisler said he
e would sell dog tags in the
township and bring receipts and -
money to Tuckersmith Clerk Jim
McIntosh every week.
"I'll start at Vanastra, then go
'°to Egmondville and then the
country," he said. Dog owners in
the Township are supposed to
have tags by February '28. 1975.
"It could take all year to get them
all (registered)," he said, "but
then you have thitn for next
year."
Dog tags will also be available
from members of council and the
clerk. Ylit'S been a complete
failure the way it has been.''
Elgin Thompson conincented.
Mr.Eisler told council that jail
can result if dog owners ignore
repeated warnings to buy a dog
tag. He said he gives owners of
unregistered dogs a day to buy a
tag "and then I lay a charge."
Salaries for municipal
employees and clerical assistance
for the township road
superintendent will be discussed
at a later council meeting when all
members are present, council
decided. ' CounCillor Bert
Branderhorst was absent and
Couhcillor 'Cleave Coombs had to
leave the meeting early because
of illness in his family.
On 'the advice of their auditor
Council will ask the Vanastra
Recreation Committee to keep
close track Of income and to
provide an itemized financial
statement. Clerk McIntosh saic
that this control, would be
especially important once the
swimming pool -there is in
operation. The Rec Committee is
a committee of council and the
reeve and deputy reeve are
(Continued on .Page 5)
A Recreation Committee tor
the Township of McKillop was
formed at a public meeting last
Tuesday.
Rev. Allan Campbell acted as
chairman and Donald Reid was
present from the Ministry of
Community and Social Services to
outline the duties of a Recreation
-Committee.
The majority of those present'
indicated that they were in favour
of forming a Recreation
Committee for McKillop.
The following motions were
passed - subject to approval by
council - that two members of the
Couneil'of McKillop and 10
residents of the Township who
are qualified to be elected as
members of the council be
appointed to the Recreation Parks
anchCommunity Centre Board for
a one year term.
They are William Seimon, Bob
Regele, Jack Horan, Graeme
Craig, Laverne Godkin, Ron
Ryan, Gordon Pryce, Dan
Murray, Kevin Kale and Ken
Murray.
The next committee meeting
will be held on Wednesday,
February 5 at 8 P.M.
Developer
to stop work
at Vanastra
An apartment developer who
has been converting one of the
former officer's quarters at
Vanastra into apartments,
without a Tuckersmith building
permit, . and in contravention of
the zoning by-law which clases
the building al.„ifistltutional, was
told at Tuatersmith Council
Tuesday night that a stop work
order will be issued against him.
Developer Peter De Groot said
he had rented one apartment
(Continued on Page 8)
Construction of • sewers for
Egmondville may not be too far in
the future, according to a report
from the Ministry of the
Environment tabled at
Tuckersmith council Tuesday
night.
The report, requested by the
council in January, 1972', was
completed this month. The
Ministry estimates that the neW
sewage system could be in_
operation by May, 1977 at the
earliest.
The total cost, including a stage
2 construction pf an additional 10
acre lagoon cell was estimated at
Workers at Seaforth's Geneks co
Shoes, the town's largest industry
were laid off at the end of last
week for 'two weeks according to
Seaforth plant manager Bob
Walters. Workers will be called
back for, three weeks and then
there is a possibility of another
lay-off in MarCh the Manager
said.
The factory, which employs
about 135 people, has 'been shut
down completely, Mr. Walters
'Said. He cited the lack of snow
this winter and the general,
unstable economic Situation as
the two reasons for the layoff.
"There is no snow in the cities
arid shoe stores there ait ju t not
selling winter wear. Because of
the economic situation, stores are
being cautious about increasing
their inventory", he said.
Stores like the Genesco
product, Mr. Walters said, and as
soon as they release their orders,
the local factory should be busy.
The Seaforth Genesee plant' has'
enough orders to keep busy for
..th,e_three weelcs_after .theia_yoff,„
Mr. Walters said. After that it
depends on how fast the situation
improves. "There could be a
Ross Scott
given 50
year jewel
Members . of Brucefieid,
Oddfellows hdriored a long time -
member when they presented
Ross Scott, of Brucefield witha 55
year jewel, The presented& was
made by district deputy Ernie
Chipchase of Hensel! and the
award was pinned on himmby.his
son, Kenneth Scott.
treaasurer was W.Cuthill who
reported that the society had
turned a deficit of $2670.93 with
which they began the year into a
year end profit of $417.41. The
-successful financial picture came
about despite losses suffered in
June when the Society introduced
a horse show which' failed to
attract the public.
$986,000. 75% will, be paid by the
province.
The system would Involve
expansion of the existing Seafprth
lagoon facilities, two pumping
stations and an emergency
overflow to the Bayfield River.
Connection( charges were
estimated at either $200 when• the
sewers are built or $20.45 every
year for 40 years, The Mittis1ry
estimated that the average charge
for a typical home would.,-be
$185.35 per year.
The estimates are all based on
the 1976 dollar.
week or two off in March; he said, ,
"Put we're hoping there won't be
another layoff".
Once the winter and spring
seasons are over the manager
sold the local factory will be busy:
In normal years the factoryht,.s l.
quite often had an. annual lay
of a week or two in April, he saki
The local factory has been lucky
because shoe factory employees
have only been laid off a total of 3
or ,4 weeks itethe pbt four or five
years, Mr. Walters said. "A lot of
people- in our industry and in _
other industries have been laid off
a lot more".
Tuckersmith
investigates
light request
A request, from residents in
Harpurhey for street lights in
their hamlet has been followed
IfYITIckersmith •Council. Reeve
Elgin Thompson reported at
Tuesday night's meeting that a
contractor's estimates on 18
lights would be available at next
week's council meeting.
Council is also investigating the
installation of two m ore lights in
Egmondvile, near the Seaforth
boundary.
Clerk Jim McIntosh said the 18
lights in the village of Brucefield
which is totally owned' by the
Township costs $279 a year in
operating costs. 64 lights it
Egmondville which are rented
from Ontario Hydro at a flat -rate
cost over $2,000 per year.
Rental agreements with Hydro
for street lights, are ' no longer.
available, '
$4,000 profit
The past year was one of the
best in the long history of the
Seaforth A Gricu It ural Society
members were told as they
attended the annual meeting in
Seaforth . Public School
Wednesday evening.
Under the direction of
President Alf Ross and an
enthusiastic group of officals the
In Dublin
them talk".
At a future meeting, Mr. Loobr
concluded, he would like to see
principals invited to talk about
their schools.
The board agreed to appoint its
Personnel committee to represent
them in contract negotiations with
the Huron-Perth Unit of the
Ihttario English Catholic
Teachers Association. Personnel
committee members are
--Chairman----Virree-fif Tolinig-Tand
Arthur Haid, Francis Hicknell
and Howard Shantz. Negotiating
for the teachers will be Clem
Steffler, presided of the Huron .
Perth OECTA, Don Farwell,
•
McKillop has .
Rec. group
Agnculturai Society has over
SERVICE AWARD — At the Seaforth Agricultural
Society's annual meeting last week the 1074
president .Alf Ross, left, presehted an Agricultrual
Service Diploma to Arthur Bolton, a long time
Society member, right. •( Staff Photo)
Gen4e-sco staff on
two. week lay off
In the absence of Mrs. John
McCowan Ladiesf presentative
for District /18 the Ontario
Association of -" Agricultural
Societies, Mrs. Ken Campbell
read her report. Mrs McCowan,
for the past two years has had 14
fairs in her jurisdiction - 8 in
Huron County and 6 in Perth
County. During her term in office
she has visited each fair: In
reporting she said: "Each fair is
a meeting place of old and young,
rural and urban people. A
showcase of agricultural products
and commercial exhibits, 4-H and
Women's Institute exhibits and
showmanship with cattle and
horses. Special attractions are
the queens of thefairs, the .
children and, we ' trust of
educational value to one and all."
In ,summing up, she continues,
"At each fair there is some One
Ailing and many things that set it
apart and yet all fairs are a
summation of our work and
harvest."
Mrs. John Campbell, president
of the Ladies Ilivision, reported a
most successful year with 41 new
exhibitors. She attributed the
gain to the new form of prize lists
twitich enter so many homes and
to the increase in prize money in
some departments. She felt that
other departments 'should also
increase. Vegetables and flowers
were excellent and increase ,was
also shown' in th(art section. The
"Queen" contest was the largest
yet with nine entries. Miss Matt
;Itinsen was chosen Queen, As A
centennial project the ladies have
decided to concentrate on renova-
tions to the "Roundhouse" Which
• (Continued on Page 41
t
• .