Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1969-07-31, Page 1Clinton received.. the contract for the project after submitting a low tender of $39,477.50. New traffic patterns, streetlights, traffic signals, sidewalks and park area should emerge and CFB Clinton's centennial gift to the town, a large radar antenna, will then be installed atop a concrete base south of the Main corner, between Victoria and King Streets.—Staff Photo It took more than a year from the time local officials pressured the province to agree to reconstruction of the intersection of Highways 4 and 8, but work finally started last week — and the pace was fast and steady. Traffic — both pedestrian and vehicular — will be disrupted at least through August, but indications are that the Sept. 1 deadline will be met. Levis Contracting Co,, of Lions frolic, kids pain t in Bayfield • 0 • Judging by theigrinS, these two baCkWoodi types were in good spirits at last Week's gayfield Lions Club frolic Maybe because they were into the spirits in those kmarked jugs, Stewart turner and John Graham won'a prite fot their hillbilly costumes*, ,-Photo by gellchamber Six.year.old Michael Latet of RR 5, Clinton, hit by an auto near the main Corner in Clinton last 5aturday eVening, is carried by Maynard Hynners to a Oar waiting to take the boy to the hospital. A citietor has already examined the boy and said it was safe to move hien. The boy was released from the hospital the following day.-,..Staff Photo Linton 104th YEAR — NQ, 31 CLINTON, ONT.AMQ THURSDAY, MY 190. PRICE PER COPY 15c Huron MP fears CFB Clinton will be shut down, sees • base at site of $5.5 million DOT school CFB Clinton may "very likely" be one of several defence department bases slated to close as the government tries to cap defence spending, Huron MP Robert McKinley told The News-Record this week. The compact base which began as a vvartime radar training station 28 years ago this month has for quite a while been on a list of bases whose futures were being "reassessed," said Mr. McKinley, adding that "I think Clinton is very likely to be closed." Two weeks ago Mr. McKinley wrote to Defence Minister Leo Cadieux and urged that "everything possible" be done to keep CFB Clinton operating. He also sent Mr. Cadieux a copy of a July 3 letter he wrote to Transport Minister Donald C. Jamieson. In the letter to Mr. Jamieson, the Huron MP suggests that CFB Clinton could serve as the site of a Transport Dept, air services training school for which a $5.5 million 'building is to be erected at Uplands in Ottawa. Initially, said Mr. McKinley, the Uplands school is to accommodate some 300 to 400 students at a time on a year-round basis and is expected eventually to expand both its air and marine instructional programs. Calling the facilities at Clinton "ideal" for the federal transport ,school, Mr. McKinley noted that sod-turning on the project is set for spring, but as yet no tenders have been sought. The Huron MP said he has known for some time that CFB Clinton was on the reassessment list, but had been "sitting still hoping it would not be 'one of the ones'elosed." Reports that up to 15 bases will get' the chop were discounted last week by Mr. Cadieux as an exaggeration. It is understood about half that number ,-would be closer to the truth. In addition, a number of bases will be cut down in size, Cadieux was to have announced the base closures by the end of this week, but final cabinet approval of plans prepared in the defence department was delayed and it may be as long as two weeks before an announcement is made. Speaking by telephone from his office in Ottawa late Tuesday, Mr. McKinley said that, in spite of his hopes and although there was still no official word, it appeared "practically 'certain" that the minister's announcement will sound the death knell for the base here. Rumors that the Summerside, P,E,I. base will be among those closed prompted a Prince Edward Island delegation led by Premier Alex Campbell to visit Ottawa Monday to see Mr. Cadieux and plead for retention of the base which is said to pump $10 million annually into the provincial economy. Military personnel at Summerside number 1,056; their dependents, 3,000. Civilians employed at the base number about 275. Another base that has figured in advance speculations about the coming closures is the one at Rivers, Man. CFB Clinton, by Canadian military standards a medium-sized establishment, housed about 700 military personnel with 280 civilian employees last February, The bulk of personnel training at Clinton is for n o n••o f f leers primarily privates —, in electronics and radar. At least 1,700 men a year were being graduated from the school's courses when the personnel statistics were disclosed by the base commander, Col. E, W, Ryan, at the Clinton Industrial Committee dinner in February. Armament officer and aeronautical engineering officer training, involving about 20 instructors and about 60 trainees a year, was shifted to CFB Borden in recent months. The communications officer training program, involving about 40 graduates a year, remains here. As a result of a general reduction in the size of the armed forces, the Radar and Communications School remained at about one-third its normal level last year, but added few more students earlier this year. The basic instructors' course at the School of Instructional Technique is increasing its operations steadily in order to train about 1,000 instructors a year and a new Canadian Forces Warrant Officer School is to open here' this fall. Lt., Cmdr, P. A„ Scott of CFB Cornwallis is to be the first commandant of the school • whose opening is slated for Nov, 7 with a ceremonial parade and aircraft flypast to be attended by senior military personnel from Ottawa and from Training Command Headquarters at Winnipeg. There are to be about 26 instructors and administrators and about 100 students at a time will take the six-week course. Students will all be of sergeant or warrant officer rank and will be preparing for the higher ranks of master or chief warrant officer, On July 18, during a question period in the Commons, Me, McKinley asked Mr. Cadieux ..if he would give advance notice of base closings to members whose •• constituencies would be affected and Mr, Cadieux said that was the normal procedure. The closedowns will be staggered over a period of years, informed sources said this week. In this way the economic impact is expected to be eased. It is anticipated that a minimum one-year notice will be given, with some bases being put on two years' notice and others on three years' notice. Defence department sourceS say a comprehensive program has been prepared for helping civilian personnel thrown out of work by the closedowns to find alternative employment. This program is to get under way when the closedowns are announced. Attempts will be made to relocate affected workers within the department, Where this is not possible, the civilians will be offered other jobs in the public service. The program will be carried out in co-operation with the federal manpower department and regional development boards. Personnel teams will be at the various bases earmarked for liquidation to interview affected personnel about available openings, the sources said. At the industrial committee dinner in February, Charles S. MacNaughton, treasurer of aOundtarimop,p formlb Huron, ofister urged eco that nomics the federal government play a bigger role in redeveloping deactivated military bases. He promised that if the base here were to close like the one at Centralia did in 1966, the' provincial government would s'o'alguatiinon."adBdurtesshe siatseidllite htoopeda that a harmonious arrangement with the federal government could be arranged because the province "can't go on investing in deactivated air bases." He pointed out that lack here of hangars and other facilities boasted by Centralia made the Clinton base less desirable for industrial deeelopment and he suggested that a community college or other educational institution might be created here if the base closed. The first column Monday is Civic Holiday and most stores and businesses will be closed. A. E. Ball, postmaster, has announced that there will be no wicket or rural route service. Street letter boxes will be cleared at 4:15 p.m. Mails will be received and despatched at 6:45 p.m. The lock-box lobby will remain-open as usual for the full 24 hours. The News—Record office will not be open Monday. Classified advertising will be accepted until noon Tuesday and display advertising until 6 p.m. Tuesday. Correspondents are urged to send in their news copy as early as possible. • The town swimming pool will be opeiron the holiday. * * * This week's 'item for the cloud-with-a-silver-lining department concerns the Hotel Hensall whose help wanted advertisement appeared on our classified page in the employment wanted section last week. Despite the mix-up, one of our Clinton readers responded and was hired. * * * Do a good deed and it will get you in trouble. That seems to be the moral to be learned from what happened to town clerk-treasurer John Livermore one day last week. • John was on vacation the day he parked his car on Albert Street near Anstett's and put a penny in the parking meter. When the Meter dial registered a whopping 36 minutes instead of the usual 12 minutes, John decided that holiday or not he would have to take the meter head off and replace it with one working properly. And he did. But he forgot to put in another penny and the new meter stood there with its red flag up until Constable Clarence Perdue happened along and slapped a ticket on John's car. * * * A twilight meeting on crop production will be held today at 7 p.m! at the farm of Jack Peck, 1.25 miles west of Kipper', Thismeeting is sponsored by the Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Assoeiation in co-operation with Jack Peck and the Ontario Department of Agriculture and Food. Weather 1969 1968 LO HI LO July 22 82 57 76 60 23 86 58 78 57 24 85 62 77 50 25 79 58 76 51 26 75 , 69 78 56 27 74 58 77 55 28 75 61 10 58 Rain 1,06" Rain .07" Janet Huntley, Barbie Sims and Jeanette Reynolds. Floats — 'Phillip Turner and Chris Tonkewicz; Guest, Hutchinson and McCauley children; Andy Webb and Andy Laudenback; and Ann Hew, Wendy Penhale, bale Elliot and Ricky Penhale, • Decorated cars — Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Brown and Buffy; Walter Erickson and family with Andy Sturegon; Pat Graham and Kelso Fitzsimmons; and Mr. Conkey. Costumed pedestrians— (Adults) Joan Merner and pedestrians. Williams; (children) Pam Hookings, Wanda Botly, Doris Steadman, Janice Steadman and John Steadman, Andrea Morrison, Tom Morrison, Christihe Downie, Jocelyn ownie, Andy Rogers John-David RogerS, Laurie McCardell; Jeffrey Merner, Susan Robbie and Pat Eynon, Decorated bikes - Crystal Huffman, Shirley Brandon, Clay McCardell and Bonnie Makins. Decorated tricycles John Dowson, gobble Siertserna and Totrinhy Owens, Miscellaneous carts John Graham and Stewart Tutner; Jenny, Jill and Jainie. Grant and Jay Lapp and The McAuley ganiily with Elizabeth Walden, The Zurich Centennial Band _played during the parade and later in the park. ' Winning ticket holders included; Mrs. June Humphries, Bayfield; Blair Bender, Bayfield; Mrs. F. LeBeau, Bayfielcl; Barbara Graham, Bayfield; E. Pongracz, Detroit; Trudy Hill, Varna; G. Foden, Woodstock; Jack Hammond, Bayfield; Jake Reder, Bayfield; Barbara Martin, Bayfield; Dave Trudgeon, Ridgetown; Robbie Lawrie, Blyth; Paul Kerigan, Clinton; David Powell, Strathroy; and Stan Johan, Sarnia. Gate Prize winners Were — Dale Martin Of ,Detroit and Mrs. Gordon Scotchmer and Mrs. Arnold Makins, both of Bayfield. PAINT-IN Bay field's third annual "paint-in" attracted almost 70 young artists July 23. The children made serious fforts to record their impressions of the village and area, but we were a little sari:Wised to note that the recent rrioon.walk did not inspire any of the works. This year sever an improved "canvas" in uSe -- over 'I00 feet of whitewashed plywood provided by Will Diann. Organize]' of this popular event were once again, Mrs. R. 0. Hunter and Professor KalbfleiSch, BY AUDREY BELLCHAMBER Almost 1,000 people enjoyed the Bayfield Lions Club's 23rd annual frolic at the fairgrounds last Friday evening and Harold Weston, Lions president, called the event "very successful." Winners in the carnival parade included; Pony with rig -- Valerie Merner. Horse riders Dayle Scotchmer, Patricia Payne and Michelle Flowers. Pony ciders -- Dianne Sims, Boy runs in front of car, but is not seriously hurt Michael Lazet, 6, son of Mr. and Mrs. Art Lazet of RR 5, Clinton, came close to serious injury when he dashed into the path of an auto on Huron Street just west of the main corner last Saturday evening, according to town- police. The boy was hit, lost one or two teeth and suffered scrapes and bruises, police said, but was released Sunday from Clinton Public Hospital where he was taken for treatment after the six o'clock mishap. Driver of the car was Mrs. Nora M. Enzensberger of Goderich. She was not charged and, witnesses told police she came .through the intersection onta green light. Police were told that the boy was crossing with his mother to the family's car which was parked at the side of the Royal Bank building. The youngster reportedly pulled free of his mother's grasp and darted in front of the car. Dr. R. W. Street of Blyth was at the hospital and went immediately to the accident scene, examined the boy and advised that he could be transported to the hospital by car. Maynard Hymers picked up the lad and Dave Ball drove to the hospital. Early Sunday, at 1:15 a.m., an auto owned by Mary Boyce of 114 Nelson St., Goderich, was found crashed into a hydro pole on Orange Street south of Joseph Street. The car's front end was badly damaged and a transformer on the pole was jarred and started, to • drip oil. Police did not know who had been driving the'' vehicle until Mrs. Boyce's husband, Norman, reported to the police office later in the day. Sunday evening, at 7:40 In fair condition in London's Victoria Hospital with severe face cuts inflicted by a bottle-wielding assailant last weekend is 19-year-old James Patrick, Gautrau whose family moved from Adastral Park seven months ago. The young man's father, Norman G. Gautrau, then Sgt. Gautrau, was stationed at CFB Clinton for about a year before he retired last January to take charge of food services at Ford's Talbotville plant. The family then moved to London. James was the victim of a savage attack on Langarth Street Sgt. Gautrau's son attacked in London o'clock, autos driven by Cornelius Devries of RR 4, Goderich, and Steven Jenkins of RR 1, Clinton, collided at Huron and Albert Streets. Police said, they were still investigating and did not know if any charges would be laid. Damage estimates and circumstances of the crash were not immediately available. No one was hurt. Town police also received a Please turn to Page 3 in, London early last Saturday as he strolled home after a date with his girlfriend. His throat was badly cut and facial nerves severed when the bottle smashed against his head. Doctors spent three hours on emergency surgery Saturday. Police said the attack was unprovoked and a warrant has been sworn out for the arrest of a London youth in connection with the attack, Police said the suspect they are hunting was apparently at an outdoor beer party at the foot of 'Langarth Street prior to the assault. Please turn to Page 3