HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1971-02-11, Page 1st
Column,
It's carnival time again and if the weather
is good it should be every bit as successful as
lest year. A complete schedule of events is
included In an advertisement in this paper
for your convenience.
* * *
Overlooked in the deluge Of Other things
that happened during the storm was the
arrival on the scene of a new correspondent
for the News-Record, Mrs. Bert Shobbrook
will glean the news in Londesboro for tit
from now on after the death of Mrs, Bert
Allen. She has already been doing an
excellent job for ti-e last two weeks and
1.emidetboro area residents can help her do
even better by letting her know What's going
on. Give her atoll at 523.4250,
* * *
Students at the high school are planning
their yearbook again this year but are
planning an extra special year book this
year. The students are trying to include a
history of the school in their book but need
the help of the public to gain all information
possible and old pictures of the schodl. A
letter to the editor this week inside will
explain how you can help the kids out in
this worthwhile project.
*s= 01:
Clinton Police have decided' o crackdown
oh dogs running loose in town. The law
states that all dogs mutt be kept tied at all
times or the owner may be charged and
fined tip to $50. The number of complaints
police have been receiving has been so
numerous they are forced to take action
they don't partitelady like.
Police are investigating a break in that
took place February 3 at Cook Florists, A
Window in the back door was broken to gain
entry and the burglars took about $no in
cash and another $200 or more in
non-negotiable cheques, as well as making
off with the business' books.
*
An accident on Euton Street on February
8 resulted in injuries- to Daniel P. Donnelly
of Hertel Street, He Was the driver of a ear
that was'in collision With another ear driven
by William MeAsh of -Gordon St, Mt,
Dettnelly :suffered an injured elbow.
A section of the roof of the fernier Clinton Lions arena collapsed
under the weight of accumulated snow last week. Several of the
timbers• on the east side of the old building were reduced to
splintere. The building is nottit being used to Store machinery:
Get ready for the carnival, .••• Details on page 6&7
imsiomulutioniummiluoitmlimunimmomounimosniummootimmilimmoimoilionwiliommumilownimillimminwiwommuomionoutimiimolounimolioomoillimotoommoilliwoommommmilimilmiliouilliformilmIliomoutioniummoilloulmolitiome
(;li i 1)1# ()trio rio 15 ces,ts
Weather
1970 1971
HI LQ HI LO
Feb. 2 7 -5 39 33
3 19 -2 21 3
4 30 13 11 -13
5 41 27 30 10
6 28 22 33 5
7 24 ' 4 31 21
8 22 17 33 10
Rain 1.55" Snow 2"
Snow 5"
106 Yevrr - No. 6 'Thu rs(1(ly, Febro(try 11, 19 71
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Tax date choice will cost $12,000
e.`
Anne Marie Hall gets help in trying on her costume for the 1971 presentation of Ice Nicks
at the Community Centre tonight (Thursday) and Friday. The Clinton Figure Skating
Club's 130 members will take part in the show, Anne Marie is helped by Donna Holmes.
Council wants community
BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER
The Huron County Board of Education
will collect taxes from the municipalities
twice during 1971 — on June 30 and
cember 15,
Even though Superintendent of Business
ffatrs Roy B. Dunlop estimated it could
ost the board of education a minimum of
12,000 or a maximum of $24,000 to
ollect taxes on these dates as opposed to
ay 17 and November 8, the board
embers agreed by recorded vote — 7 votes
o 6 — to collect taxes June 30 and
ecember 15.
Those in favor of the May 17 and
ovember 8 dates were Mrs. J. W. Wallace,
arnet Hicks, Dr. A. B. Deathe, John
Constable Wayne McFadden of the
Clinton Police Department has been cleared
of charges that he had assaulted a prisoner.
The young police officer's case was
dismissed in court in Clinton on Friday by
Judge Alan Stewart of Owen Sound after a
complaint had been laid by Wayne Riley, 25,
of Londesboro, who said the constable had
punched him in the face and stomach "six or
eight times" while police were questioning
him at Clinton Police station on November
27, 1970. Examination later showed that
Riley had a broken jaw.
Constable McFadden testified that he had
arrested Riley at gunpoint earlier in the
morning after stopping a car wanted in
connection with some breakins in Dublin
ahtl'13badh'agen, Riley had surrendered while
two other occupants of the car escaped.
But Constable McFadden denied he had
ever punched the man. He said that he had
felt Riley tense as he escorted him into the
cells as if he were about to turn around. He
said he shoved the prisoner into the cell area,
forced him down on the floor and put an
armhold on him.
Three other police officers had been in
the jail during the questioning that night.
Constable Lloyd Eisler of Seaforth Town
Pollee, Constable Ray Primo of the Ontario
Taylor, James Taylor and Mrs. Warren Zinn.
Those who voted for the later dates were
John Henderson, Dr. Alex Addison, Don
McDonald, Clarence McDonald, .Alex
Corrigan, Mrs. Marilyn Kunder and Wilfred
Shortreed.
It was Dr. Deathe who asked for the
recorded vote.
"I would like to represent the taxpayers
to the best of my abilities while I am on this
board," stated Dr. Deathe. "There is no way
I'm going to throw away $24,000,"
"You wouldn't be throwing it away,"
retorted Dr. Addison. "The same ratepayers
are involved and what is lost in one place
will be gained in another."
"There is no reason for us to be
inefficient." continued Dr, Deathe. "list
Provincial Police and Sgt. Leroy Desch of
the Clinton force all testified that Riley had
complained of cuts in his mouth and asked
to see a doctor but had not mentioned the
alleged assault to anyone but Sgt. Oesch.
Sgt. Desch said Riley complained that
Constable McFadden had "hit him in the
guts," but never said he had been hit in the
face.
All the policemen had been at the Clinton
station that night, investigating the breakins.
Riley, along with Samuel Shipp, 19, and
Keith Harkes, 17, both of Clinton, was
charged with break and enter.
Riley is awaiting trial by judge March 26.
The other two have been convicted.
The police witnesses said that while they
had noticed what appeared to be a small cut
because the municipalities collect taxes on
those dates. Let them change their collection
dates. 1. understand there is some chance that
all municipalities in Ontario will go to four
times a year collections in the future."
Dunlop told the board that collecting
twice annually on May 17 and November 8
would be as helpful to the board as quarterly
collections would be. He said that the
teachers are given three cheques in June to
cover June, July and August. He said that if
the money from the municipalities does not
come in until June 30, it is necessary for the
board to borrow one and a half million
dollars to cover the cheques.
Board chairman Robert Elliott said that
June 30 and December 15 were a "long
ingrained set of dates" for payment of taxes
on Riley's chin, and some remembered he
had been dabbing at wounds in his mouth
with a tissue, they did not consider him to
have been seriously injured.
W. G. Cochrane of Goderich, the Crown
attorney, said that while there was no doubt
Riley's jaw had been broken sometime that
night, it was up to the court to decide how it
had been broken.
Judge Stewart said there was no evidence
to collaborate Riley's testimony. lie said he
found the testimony of the police to be
"nearer to the truth" than the story told by
Riley.
"It would be improper, dangerous, and
very unfortunate to convict on the evidence
in this case," he said in dismissing the
charge.
some of the experiences of teachers who
were responsible for students stranded in
schools.
Cochrane was especially complimentary
of the persons who assisted the teachers at
the schools by bringing food and blankets to
make their unexpected "holiday" as
comfortable as possible.
He also noted that the storm had fostered
some suggestions which would be useful in
event of another such emergency. Among
the ideas, said Cochrane, was the need for a
two-way radio system in the event that
telephone service was interrupted for a long
period.
Dr. A. B. Deathe, Goderich, thought it
would be wise if students with particular
health problems requiring regular special
medication would be registered in the school
office so that principals and teachers would
know a problem could exist if the student
was stranded overnight,
Wilfred Shortreed felt this would just add
unnecessary paperwork for the teachers. lie
said that concerned parents would see to it
that theit children received medical
attention if it was required.
in the municipalities. He said the
administration was not involved politically
as are members of the board and he added
that board members would expect no less of
the administration than to be advised how to
operate as economically as possible.
"It is for this board to decide whether it is
more interested in public relations or the
board of education's interest payments,"
concluded Elliott.
Reports showed that of 23 municipalities
who asked for the twice annual tax
collections, only 12 (or 42.9 percent)
specified the June 30 and December 15
dates. Three municipalities in Huron had not
made any suggestion to the board
concerning tax collection dates.
"What if you couldn't reach the school?"
asked Dr. Deathe.
Shortreed replied that if the parents
couldn't contact the school or go there it
would likely be just as impossible for the
school to get the ailing child out or medical
attention in.
The board also discussed the fact that
some parents were extremely critical of the
schools when children did not get home
during the storm. John Cochrane told the
board that principals after consultation with
the school bus operators had the privilege to
send children home if the weather was bad.
He also said that seeding the children home
did not affect the grants. He said grants were
paid on enrolment, not on per diem
attendance. lie noted as well that teachers
are paid whether school is open or closed
during a storm.
The director also said there was no truth
to the rumor in some parts of the county
that the Easter vacation would be curtailed
because of time lost during the storm. He
said the break would be during the last full
week in March and that schotil would let out
March 19 and begin again March 29.
Clinton town council decided Monday
night that it would like to see fireworks in
town but in the right place and at the right
time.
Mayor Don Symons brought up the
question of the annual problem of fireworks
on the May 24 holiday. The mayor said that
the holiday still seemed a long way off but
the time to act was now.
Speaking at the close of a council session
that had fewer fireworks than any in recent
meetings, the mayor suggested that the town
get behind the organization of a planned
fireworks display on the holiday in an effort
to cut down on the amount of careless use
of fireworks that are let off every year.
The council agreed to ask the fire
department if they would organize the
display and ask service clubs to canvass the
town for funds to pay for the big display.
Councillor Joe Atkinson, chairman of the
Protection to Persons and Property
Committee was asked to approach the fire
department. He stated on Tuesday that the
firemen were in favour of the display if the
service clubs agreed to raise the money.
Council also gave final reading to the
zoning by-law which now will go before the
Ontario Municipal Board for approval. The
01V111 will hold a further public meeting
before the by-law becomes law.
A letter of thanks was received from the
Huron County Board of Education praising
the work of public works crews in aiding the
schools during the recent storm.
Council also voted to enforce the by-law
that requires all cars to be off the streets
after midnight in order to facilitate snow
removal. Cars will now be tieketed and
towed away if they interfere with work of
the crews.
Public works and the police department
will get together to take a look at various
signs around town and decide whether stop
BY ERIC EARL
Bayfield council decided Monday night to
try to make some arrangement with Ontario
Hydro for trouble shooting in the village to
guard against long electrical interruptions.
During the recent severe storm some
homes in the village had been without power
for long periods. Families with electricity
were called on to take in those from homes
without power.
A preliminary copy of the official plan for
the county of Furore was examined and
discussed. A detailed study will be made at a
Special meeting to be held hi the near future.
The fee for trailers that axe still in the
Chairman Robert Elliott had to use the
gavel to bring members of the Huron County
Board of Education to order following a
heated discussion Concerning future
academic plans for education in this county.
The administration had listed several
items for discussion including libraries for all
elementary schools, conversation French in
all elementary schools, speech therapy
available where needed, psychological
services and provision of on audio-visual
centre for the county.
Board members were not agreed on which
items had the highest priority and their
varied opinions formed the basis for the
or yield signs should be used in each case.
Councillor Atkinson was appointed to
serve on the Midwestern Ontario Regional
Development Council's Huron Zone. The
zone is comprised of representatives of the
conservation authorities, the Federation of
Agriculture, the Trades and Labour Council
and the municipalities.
Wes Holland was named to the Clinton
Cemetery Board and the Recreation
Committee of Don Kay, Jake Irwin, Don
Jefferson, Andy Peterson, Ken Clynick, Len
Fawcett, Percy Livermore, Frank
MacDonald, Gerald Holmes and Clarence
Neilans was appointed.
Open House
at Centralia
Dr. D. N. Huntley, Executive Director,
Agricultural Education and Research
Division, Ontario Department of Agriculture
and Food, will be guest speaker at the
opening ceremonies of the open house at
Centralia College, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m,
The college of agricultural technology is
expanding its open house this year with the
public invited on February 18 from 1 p.m.
to 10 p.m. and February 19, from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m.
Displays and presentations will be
underway during the event illustrating the
theme "College. A pattern of the future".
Visitors will have a chance to get further
information on courses offered at the college
including Agricultural Business Management,
Home Economies and Animal Health
Technology.
Village is to be increased substantially so
that payment will equal taxes paid by
residents in permanent homes. The Village
Zoning Bylaw now prohibits any additional
trailers in the Village, but it was felt that the
existing trailers are not dairying their share
of municipal costs and school charges.
New additional official traffic signs will be
installed this coming spring so that the new
Traffic By-Lase can be enforced by the
Ontario Provincial Police and the By-Law
Enforcement Officet.
New lighting le to be installed in the
corridor of the Municipal Building.
discussion.
Director of education, John Cochrane
stressed that he and his staff did not expect
the board to make a decision on all or any of
the proposals. tochtane said the subject
matter was presented to the board only aa-a
matter of information, a guide to •determine
those things ill which the board was
interested and those things for which it had
small concern at present.
No priorities webe set before Elliott's
gavel signalled the end of discussion. It is
understood the board continued the subject
at a later committee-of-the-whole meeting
"in camera" without press coverage.
BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER
The Big Storm of 1971 will long be
remembered by the administrative staff of
the Huron County Board of Education as
well as the 14 trustees who represent the
ratepayers.
At the suggestion of Chairman Robert
Elliott, the board will send scrolls to each
school where staff were involved during the
storm with stranded students, commending
each principal and teacher for his or her
actions.
Mr. Elliott claimed he was completely
satisfied with the way the situation was
handled throughout the blizzard, He said he
was confident that the safety of the county's
children was uppermost in the minds of
county school staff and that the very fact
that all principals and teachers could contact
the board office 24 hours a day for advice
and comfort was a tremendous advantage,
John Cochrane, director of education for
Huron County, said he was never prouder to
be a teacher than he was during the storm.
He told the board he was thoroughly proud
of each and every teacher in the county and
has begun to compile a book recounting
harge dropped against Constable McFadden
Big storm leaves memories for staff
Judge Stewart said he found it "most
extraordinary" that Riley had not
complained about being beaten up to
Constable Primo, who Riley had said he fireworks display
trusted among all the police.
He said he doubted if Riley knew his jaw
was broken until told by doctors.
Riley appeared with written testimony he
said he had prepared the day after the
incident.
Constable McFadden had continued as a
member of the Clinton squad on active duty
since du_ charge had been laid. Police Chief
Lloyd Westlake had said at the time the
charge was laid that after he looked into the
case he believed his constable's story and
would not suspend him unless he was found
guilty when the case came to court.
Bayfiehi moves to protect
electrical supply in storms
Future plans are hot subject