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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1969-01-30, Page 22 Clinton News -Regard, Thursday, January 19:,"199 Editorial comment Open doors It may be time to stop lamenting the fact that few, if any, citizens attend meetings of the Clinton Town Council, Why? Because the council this month' made it clear that its public sessions do little more than ratify decisions reached at ' closed "committee" meetings. The council meets twice a month -- once on the scheduled second Monday with the public invited and, a. week earlier, in an off-the-record ,gathering with the doors closed, if there was any doubt that the meetings which count are the private ones, it was removed recently when a councillor was heard to scold his. colleagues for not following the script agreed on in committee: He then suggested that a better record be kept of decisions reached in committee so that "anything to be passed" would be sure to come up at the public meeting and be handled as planned. Mayor Donald Symons • at one point. ' • proposed doing away withthe committee • meetings and holding two. public meetings each month, but in the next breath he remarked that private meetings do enable councillors to "have • the format for the (public) meeting pretty well .laid out." If this is the basis on which council functions, if the vital debate is left in the back room and only a finished product exhibited in public, then there is little reason for anyone to attend a meeting of the Town Council. 'We would like council to defend its policy of closed -door meetings and.tell us why the public should hear only; the formal reading of motions and not be entitled to the reasoning and deliberation which •go into decision-making. Next month council is expected to raise its own pay. There need be no fear of exorbitant salaries — the maximum allowed is only $350 per year we are told, but it is a good opportunity to note that councillors compute their pay according to the number of meetings they attend. They are fined`for rliisslnfmeet) C ,J We may � have.::more.,. tr��say.�aora,�thitsa�,�,r.., whole subject inthe future, but for a start we submit that only open meetings should be counted, with the exception of those rare occasions when sensitive personnel questions, land acquisition or similar matters require some secrecy. Snowmobiles This week's mail brought two conflicting announcements about snowmobiles. One was from the Ontario Safety League which offers its "considered opinion" that snowmobiles ."should not be operated on public thoroughfares where a dangerous conflict with auto traffic could occur." The other is from ' the ,Dept. of Transport which says the gasoline engine -powered tracked vehicles may now be driven on highway shoulders. "On ice -covered or hard -packed snow surfaces," found on most roadways' where it is possible to operate a snowmobile," the OSL says, "these machines are very difficult to control in all aspects of their operation stopping, turning or even accelerating - and at high speeds they become practically uncontrollable." in addition, the OSL contends that the small size of snowmobiles makes it difficult for auto drivers to see them and creates extreme danger for snowmobilers. In view of the results of five years of OSL research, we believe the Dept. of Transport should again bansnowmobiles from highway shoulders. One man, died this week already when his snowmobile rammed a parked car on an .Ontario highway, Those. winter carnivals, ls, Canadians, unlike .Scandina- ;least a month after that, we vians, don't commit suicide didn't hate each other. during the long, cold, dark winter months. At least not g more than the usual number. Instead, they just half -kill themselves by attending a win- ter carnival, This makes thein feel so rotten for the following week that they're so glad to be alive again that:they wouldn't even contemplate suicide. I've seen people age 50 years during a winter carnival. Don't talk to me about the October beer -fest in Munich, or the carnival of the bulls in Pamplona, or the Mardi Gras to New Orleans. Those things go on for a week, or a month. and there's a lot of indiscrimi- nating kissing, and dancing in the streets, and drinking. We Canadians, hardy lot that we are, compress the whole Bacchanalian orgy into r weekend: the winter carnival, Every self-respecting Cana- dian town has a winter carni- val of some sort, and if the government had any brains, it would declare a national festi- val for about the first week in February. It would be a great pres- sure -reliever. No work, all play. We'd get rid of our win- ter frustrations, our hatred of cold and snow. We might look and feel like skeletons when it was over, but we'd be purged of our hang-ups. Personally, I'd be willing to. kiss practically anybody, and dance in the streets should it be 12 below, and drink al- most anything except anti- freeze, if I had a week's carni- val to look forward to. and back on. It would break the bony, ri- gid back of winter. We'd just be climbing back into our 'ruts aboutValentine's Day, and there would be spring, right around the corner. Two 'years ago, as a . centen- nial project, our school• had a Frosty Frolic. It was beautiful. There was no organization at all, which is the secret of a good time. One bright, white February day, we marched down to the park, teachers and students in step for once, be- hind an impromptu band, and • had* a hell of a time, Ski-doo • .traces,,, tug,o wars, and teachers beim( overpowered by mobs of kids" and having their faces well washed in snow. For at 1 went in the snow -shoe race and • finished 21st. Went in a tug -o -war and was dragged 40 yards through the snow by exuberant, yelping students. Three Years ago, son Hugh, laden with school work and music, and not doing too well in either, begged to be allowed to go to the Quebec winter carnival. He was only 17. After the usual soul -search- ing, hedging, and predictions of disaster, we let him go, He was entranced, All those Que- becois dancing in the streets, being merry, loving one anoth- er. He came home, went to work, pulled up his marks by 12 percent and pased his per- former's music exam. Therapy. Now Kim has been invited to a winter carnival, at a universi- ty, by the jail -bird I mentioned recently. Should she go? She's 18, or near enough. In another country, she'd be married, with at least one kid. In Canada, she's just a baby, with years of education ahead of her before she could even think of marriage, let alone babies. It will all sort out, but I think the winter carnival is a great institution. When it's all over, there are husbands look- ing for wives and vice versa. There are people who have gone through the ice in a Ski- doo and saved their lives only by a hasty application of toddy to the tummy. The winter carnival has something for everybody.. For the kids, there is the excite- ment and the colour and the chance of being run over by a snowmobile. For the swinging set, there are wild rides through the woods, and the parties, and the breaking of bones on the ski hill. For the middle-aged, there is curling and companionship and re- membering the good old days before those noisy damned snowmobiles were invented. Long live the winter carni- val. But let's spread it out a 'little. Forty-eight.hours of kiss- ing, ,sand dancing and drinking., brttrgseven, a sturdy Canadian les tb s knees. See yeti' `at the' carnival. From our early files 75 years ago THE CLINTON NEW ERA January 26, 1894 This evening Laing Bros., of Acton, will give a phonographic concert in Turner's Church, Tuckersmith, and on Monday evening next a similar concert will be given in the Ontario Street Church. These entertainments are unusually interesting and are well received everywhere. Jack Cooper, eldest son of Mr. W. Cooper of town, who is the able editor of several trade . journals in Toronto, is also filling the position of secretary to the Canadian Press Association and is thus brought into close touch with the eminent "moulders of public opinion." He will soon be — in fact he already is — one of the influential pressmen of the city and will yet attain a, high position in connection therewith. y,7'I • THE CLINTON NEW ERA January 29, 1914 Mr. A. J. Cantelon of Goderich Township and his sister, Mrs. Webster, went down to Toronto on .Tuesday. Mr. Fred W. Watts for years a well-known resident of Clinton, but latterly with the Great Northwestern Company, Toronto, has been compelled to relinquish his position for the present at any rate, owing to protracted ill health, a fact his old friehds will regret to learn. Dun's Bulletin says financial conditions are Clinton News -Record THE CLINTON NEW ERA Established 1885 Ahnalip aamelted THE HURON NEWS -RECORD 1*24 Eetabllehed 1881 Published Emery T'hureday At The Heart Of Huron Cdunty Canton, Otrtaarlb,, Cahatta Population *75 ERIC McCUINNESS -- Editor J. WARD AITkEN General Manager Authorized as second class mail by the Pbst Office Department, Ottawa and fbr payment of postage in testi SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Payable in advance'- Canada and Great Britain: $5.00 a yeer` United States and Foreign: $6.00, Single Copies: 12 Cents steadily improving and manufacturers and dealers are a little more cheerful. A second January thaw occurred last Friday and _Saturday. 40 years ago THE CLINTON NEVE-RECORD January 31, 1929 Mr. A. Mitchell- has sold his poolroom business to Mr. Morgan Agnew. Messrs. Stevenson and Harris have taken an option on the vacant lot north of the Clinton Flour Mill and will probably build a factory there in the spring. Mr. Wilbur Ford of London and Miss Clete Ford of Alma College, St. Thomas,' were home this week attending the wedding of their sister, Jean, who was married yesterday to Dr. W. C. Procunier of Dorchester. 5 years ago THE CLINTON NEWS -RECORD January 27, 1944 Mrs. Moffat Aiken spent the week in Delhi with Mrs. George Crooks. Mrs. F, J. Picot, sixth concession, Goderich Township, spent last week at the home of her daughter, Mr. and Mrs, Murray S. Pollick. LAC Kenneth Colquhoun who is finishing a bombardier's course at Winnipeg, Manitoba, is now in hospital there with a broken collar bone suffered during a station hockey match. FO Thomas Cooke sent his parents Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Cooke a cable informing them that he iS now stationed at Reykjavik, Iceland. 15 years ago THE CLINTON' NEWS -RECORD January 28, 1954 Miss Vera Murch, Sarnia, spent the weekend with Misses Hattie and Sybil Courtice. Mr. and Mrs. John A. Cook and daughter, Janice, Ingersoll spent the weekend with the former's parents; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cook, coming to be present at the golden wedding celebrations of uiium1111n11ui11nlin11il11unu1MMIO nIONIN lww OOMOuulruillOONOINIIMM ipllluWIM _ 1 Th e p ew 1_ By W.JeneMiller 1111111111111110101111111111taillii illili11iliiiiii eliiiilliiiiI iiiiiia111111111111t11111ti1111t111u111111111 W. JENE MILLER, The, wheels of history are powered by principle, and they roll on the highway, of expediency, This concept marked the great difference between Judeao-Christian faith, and the "pagan" philosophers. Judaism taught, and Christianity lived, that God was at work in the affairs of men, and God had greatness in mind. Men, however, _tended to buildtheir lives on expedient rewards — which the Bible called idols. St. Paul pointed out that covetousness was really idolatry. The question before the American republic and every other nation, for that matter — is whether we shall be blinded to the future by our concerns for the present. Faith offers being crucified to the world in order to live to God. It means above all that we shall determine within our hearts where our loyalties really and truly are. The choice of action is entirely up to man. The consequences are totally up to God. In Lawton, Oklahoma, the people became so worried about a long dry spell that they Balled for all the preachers to conduct a day of prayer for rain. The rain began descending before the prayers ascended. And, there was su much rain that parts of the area were flooded. Yet, the exact same day had been designated a day of prayer for peace.. in Vietnam, And, the descending rain in Vietnam is mixed with MRS. E.S. JAMIESON Mrs. Effie Selena Jamieson, 91, of Clinton died in Clinton Public Hospital Iast Thursday after a lengthy illness. A native of Tuckersmith Township, she was born February 19, 1877, daughter of the late 'r•nomas and Mary Ann Carter. In 1905 she married William H Jamieson of ;,„McKillop Townshlp.4,Ii<Ir. Jamni`esan died�in 1934. 'In 1945 Mrs. Jamieson retired to Clinton. She resided at Huronview prior to her death. She was an active member of Ontario Street United Church, and belonged to both the Clinton Women's Institute and the Clintonian Club. Mrs. Jamieson was the last member of her immediate family. She is survived by three nieces and two nephews. Funeral service was held last Saturday afternoon at the Beattie Funeral Home in Clinton with the Rev. G. L. Mills officiating. Interment was in the chapel at Clinton cemetery. Pallbearers were Arnold Jamieson, Hiles Carter, Len Evans, Elwin Merrill and Ernest Brown. Relatives and friends attended the funeral from Preston, London and Toronto. JOHN ZWAAN John Zwaan of RR 5 Clinton, died at Clinton Public Hospital last Saturday after a two-year illness. He was 57 years old. He was born in Holland on October 27, 1911 and came to Canada in 1950 with his wife, the former Hilda Tugen'nnn. He was a member of Bethel Reformed Church, Exeter. Besides his wife, he is survived by his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Meurs of Holland; three sons, John of RR 1, Brucefield, Peter of Brucefield, and Alfred of the home address; two daughters, Mrs. Laverne (Ema) Ackersviller of Stratford and Mrs. Sam (Tina) Lawrence of Goderich and 10 grandchildren. A funeral service was held Monday at Beattie Funeral Home, Clinton, with The Reverend Harmen Heeg of Bethel Reformed Church, Exeter, officiating. Interment was in Baird's Cemetery, Stanley Township. Pallbearers were Don Glen, Robert Glen, Fred Gibson, Geroge Cantelon, Hank Excel and Klaas Staring. the former's grandparents, Mr: and Mrs. J. E. Cook. Mr. and Mrs. George Lindsay and. Carol, Paris, spent Sunday with the former's mother, Mrs. George Lindsay, Bayfield. 10 years ago January 29, 1959 Mrs. E. Iry Porter, RR 5, Clinton, returned home last Friday from Spending two weeks hi Windsor~ Junction, Nova Scotia, descending bombs. Death and violence 0: ark the agonized land. Newspapers and television stations gave great tribute ' to the power of prayer in Lawton, Oklahoma, but they didn't mention the prayer for peace. The fact is that man could do very little about the rain situation, but he makes the absolute decision about war. And God gets the blame in both eases. Until man comes to realize that the great concerns for human relationships of justice, mercy, freedom, compassion and dignity are the province of man, God will still be the scapegoat for wars. And, history will be chained to its bloody past while the great potentials for creativity and constructivity in human nature will be wasted on the e xpedient profits of fears, racial prejudice exploitation. There was no Superman to prevent Gethsemane and Calvary, but men could have. war, and To the editor: With your permission I would like to direct the following question to the parents of children attending the Clinton Public School: Would you stand in the middle of a King's Highway and try to direct traffic without the proper traffic control devices? , If your answer is negative, then how can you allow your children, being members of the safety patrol, to do virtually the same thing on the streets of Clinton? No traffic control is 100 percent foolproof but for a few dollars spent, fluorescent belts and hand stop signs could be purchased making traffic aware of these children. This would be a fair start. May I say that it is not my intention to criticize our town police who indeed for many people would be an easy scope goat. In my opinion they function adiriirably ' with the 'facilities' and manpower :'at their disptifal"' r %:rix;rzcaa yt: My concern is that our children be able to walk and cross our streets with the protection they deserve from some of the careless maniacs of the road. For your child's sake please do something before it's too late. The next time your phone rings could it mean the loss of your child? A person concerned about your children Clinton, January 23 An open letter to every minor hockey coach The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association Minor Hockey Committeee suggests that every coach of a minor hockey team ask himself this question: "What am 'I trying to do?" — Am I trying to give kids a chance to play hockey? - Am I working to keep kids off the street? — Am I really interested in boys? — Am I really trying to develop better citizens? Am I really teaching my boys the fundamentals of good sportsmanship? — Am I giving every boy an equal chance to play hockey? Am I trying to see that the boys have fun playing hockey? OR — Am I trying to win games to bolster my own ego? — Do I say "I won eight games" or "My kids won eight games"? And then ask, "which is most important?" * The Minor Hockey Committee suggests that every minor hockey coach might well decide early What his objectives are. We further suggest that the good coach, the coach who is sincerely interested in the welfare of boys, will try to make sure that every boy has fun; that they are reminded constantly that they are playing a game, and that play and game means having fun, Then add instruction in sportsmanship and good citizenship. Whorl these' lessons have been learned, the boys Will be ready for further teaching of the fundamentals of hockey. Remember -- enjoying the Ohne is more iMportant than the soon 'forgotten championships. Teach the PON-damentals. :...."%\.... • ............. l usinoss and Professional Directory OPTOMETRY J. E. LONGSTAFF OPTOMETRIST Mondays and Wednesdays 20 ISAAC STREET For Appointment Phone 48? -7010 SEAFORTH OFFICE 527.124710 R. W. BELL OPTOMETRIST The Square, GODERICH 524-7661 RONALD L. McDONALD CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT 39 St. David St. Goderich 5246253 4( 411,74\i. g ; '2I: li Il�garn(I, INSURANCE. K. W. COLQUHOUN INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE Phones: Office 482-9747 Res. 482-7804 HAL HARTLEY Phone 482-6693 LAWSON AND WISE INSURANCE — REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS Clinton Office: 482-9644 H. C. Lawson, Res.: 482-9787 J. T. Wise, Res.: 482-7266 ALUMINUM PRODUCTS For Air -Master Aluminum Doors and Windows and Rockwell Power Tools . JERVIS SALES R. L. Jervis — 68 Albert St. Clinton -- 482-9380 • SERV1C Attend Your Church This Sunday 1 1 1 1 I ONTARIO STREET UNITED CHURCH "THE FRIENDLY CHURCH" Pastor: REV. GRANT MILLS, B.A. Organist: MISS LOIS GRASBY, A,R.C.T., SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd 9.;45 a.m.—Sunday School. 11:00 a.m. — Morning Worship EVERYONE WELCOME Wesley-Willlis — Hoimesvilie United Churches REV. A.J. MOWATT, C.D., B.A., B.D., D.D., Minister MR. LORNE DOTTERER, Organist and Choir Director SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd WESLEY-WILLIS. 8:00 a.m. — Men's Breakfast. 9:45 a.m;--Sunday School. 11:00 a.m. — Morning Worship. Monday, February 3 — 7 o'clock Annual Congregational meeting and Pot Luck Supper 44,0L,MESVILLE 1:00 p.m. — Worship Service. 1:45 p.m. Sunday School. CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd 1'0:00 a.m.--Morning Service'— English. 2:30 p.m. - Afternoon Service — English. Every Sunday, 12:30 noon, dial 680 CHLO, St. Thomas listen to "Back to God Hour" -- EVERYONE WELCOME — ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The Rev. R. U. MacLean, B.A., Minister Mrs. 6. Boyes, Organist and Choir Director SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School. 10:45 a.m. — Morning Worship. Everyone Welcome MAPLE STREET GOSPEL HALL SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd 9:45 a.m. Worship Service. 11:00 a.m. — Sunday School. Thursday, 8 p.m. — Prayer meeting and Bible Society Prayer meeting and Bible Study ST. PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH - The Rev. J. S. Sharples,- M.A., Minister SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd — - Morning Service and Sunday School -- 10:00 a.ni. PENTECOSTAL CHURCH Victoria Street W. Werner, Pastor SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd. 9:45 a.rh. Sunday Schoo). 11:00 a.'m, — Worship Service, 7:30 p.ht. -- Evening Service.