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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1971-04-08, Page 4TI-48 CLINTON NEW ERA Amalgamated THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1665 1624 Established 1881 Clinton News Record A member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and the Audit Bureau of CirculatiOn (ABC) Published every Thursday at the heart of Huron County Clinton, Ontario Population 1,415 THE HOME OP .RADAR IN CANADA KEITH W. ROULSTON Editor J., HbWARb AITKEN — General Manager second east mail registration number — 0817 SUBSCRIPTION RATES.: (in advance) Canada, $6.00 per year; U.S.A., $7$0 4 Clinton News-Record, Thursday, April 8, 1971 EditOriai comment, A job well done Huron County CoUncil can be proud of the job it has done in preparing the new county plan, The new county plan balances delicately between our dreams for an expanded county and our needs for stability. It- promises protection for rural municipalities from residential and industrial sprawl which could harm agriculture. Yet at the same time, it leaves plenty of room for growth among the urban areas, Clinton, for instance, is shown •as having a growth potential of doubling its present size by 1985. This is not a gyarantee the town will become that big, but it says that the town could handle that amount of growth without major problems (after planned expansion of sewerage facilities is completed). If the Canadian Forges Base is replaced with some alternative tenant which used the full facility, this could give the Clinton area a population of nearly 10,00a But in connection with the base, the report is a major disappointment. It is as if the authors of the report didn't know it existed or that it had dropped off the map. Here is a facility that is potentially one of the biggest assets of the county and the planners ignore it. Still the plan on the whole is good, it offers us reachable goals to aim for. After all, few of us want to build cities in Huron, we just want jobs and services for our people that only growth can bring. The biggest drawback One of, the stories we carried recently told of the decision by the Huron Board of Education to lengthen every second Meeting. The members will meet early in the afternoon, deliberate until the supper hour and then go back into session for the evening. Although the spirit of the board members is commendable and their willingness to devote the additional time to the interests of Huron taxpayers and students is laudable, the necessity for such a move is disturbing. How long can we expect to attract good, solid men and women to the board when so much of their time is required? The once-a-month meetings to which we have referred are only a part of the schedule which faces the board members. The second meeting of the, month will take a full evening and committee meetings will presumably be almost as frequent as ever. Several former board members in this and nearby counties based their decision to drop out of the, running on the tremendous amount of time required. If this continues to be the case, board of education representation will eventually be supplied by retired people or the few who have extra time on their hands. Although we have lots of capable retired people in our midst, a Murder is murder Opinion., seemed to differ greatly depending which side of the U.S.—Canadian border you were on this last week. Most Canadians were shocked when President Nixon stepped in the case of Lt. Calley and the Mai Lai massacre while Nixon gained praise in the U.S. for the same action. It is odd to hear all the voices in the U.S. on the same side for a change, Strangely, the radicals who usually brand every action of the government "Facist" were quiet last week, at a time when the U.S. bore more resemblance to Hitler's Facist Germany than any other. For the Mai Lai massacre was exactly the same kind of war crime that the Americans tried German officers for at Nuremberg. Pleas that they were only following orders didn't do the German fairly high proportion of those who make up the board should be persons who either have children in school or who have particular experience in educational matters. ,This same aspect of representation is what disturbs us most about all forms of regional government. When the total problems of a large area are deposited in the lap of a central body, agendas for the meetings can grow to frightening proportions. As the demand for discussion time increases the importance of purely localized problems diminishes in the eyes of those who are still trying to make intelligent decisions when the hour ,grows late. Perhaps this is a situation particular to the early years of centralized boards and councils. On the other hand it may prove to be a prime drawback to the entire system. We would hate to see county school boards and regional municipal councils so bogged down in policy-making debates that there would be no time for "private members' bills". Admittedly many of the parents' complaints and problems seem trivial — but in a democracy they deserve attention. That's the, name of our particular game. —Wingham Advance-Times. officers much good but they won Calley almost hero status in the U.S. Perhaps there is a difference between American murderers and German and between Jewish victims and Vietnamese. Certainly there is sympathy for Colley because he is, to a certain extent, a scape goat for his superior officers who condoned such action in the field but denied it in public. But if three men commit a murder while they are robbing a bank and two get away while the other is caught, the sentence on the man caught isn't lighter because he is a scapegoat for the ones who got away. If Nixon's "Silent Majority" have now spoken for the first time, most people around the world are probably hoping it is the last. They would like to keep some good impression of America. Make use of the grant Now that County Council has indicated that it will not use its option to get federal government grant money for a spring job program, Clinton town council should make use of the money available. The program gives a grant of one dollar for every citizen of the municipality to hire unemployed persons. That would Illogical logic Sometimes the logic of the people who run county business is a little amazing. At last month's Huron County council session it was announced that headquarters for the county library would have to be moved so that the hew county plaiper and his staff could have the old library office. McKillop Reeve Allan Campbell then suggested that since the library was going to move anyway, it might as well move to a location more central to the whole mean close to $3000 is available in Clinton. Lord knows there is enough to be done. The town can always use a general cleanup in the spring and probably the public works crews could use extra hands. But fast action is needed since all application must be in by the end of the month and the program ends on June .80. county. This, Clerk John Berry explained, was impossible because the present trained library staff lived in Goderich and would have to move if the headqYarters were moved out of the town. Yet at the same meeting, it was announced that the County Development Office was to be moved from Clinton to Goderich, despite the fact that the personnel who man it are residents of the Clinton area. fide/X/544z w/4,4. ir afuevex E,vo? Fr/qv v/t7.4Jvii, 7Ve /Ts rhie // /PP if S STj A OW ,/j 7 710411e 7 741X 41Ai ex rie0CY oric rik ack Cornes P! If :.:•::::),:•••••,::kw:::••••• .1 ...*:::: :::•:::::::::ev:45SZ) 0.."" When you're reedy toe. riaint the day—see the beautiful, If he says so it musi be true The super mice _ . Last week, when we closed down "Four Winds," the ski cabin we'd rented for the winter, a long-forgotten quotation came leaping like magic to my mind. "When man invents a better mousetrap," it went, "Nature will invent a better mouse." This can be the only reasonable explanation for the casual way in which the mice took command from the very moment that we moved in. Each night when we crept into our sleeping bags it was the same. Since this was very seldom later than nine o'clock, due to the soporific effect of mountain air and the exhaustion of trying to master a practical joke known as The Wedeln Technique, the mice put in extremely long hours and no doubt were being rewarded in time-and-a-half cheese. This was a small fantasy on my part arising from my conviction that never before in the animal world had there been such a highly organized group of marauders. The man who rented the cabin to us had warned us that the mice were in residence, as well as two squirrels who live in the eaves and who have the habit, when the moon is high, of re-running the Queen's Plate across our galvanized iron roof. What lie didn't tell us was that this was a gang of super-mice, crafty beyond imagination, bold as Bengal tigers and as light-fingered with a trap as any international jewel thief. Oh, we had the traps, sure enough. I have a thumb the size of a banana and a deep, mottled Take my advice. When your kid comes home from school and says breezily, "Hi, Dad, I have this project to do . .", don't take the bait. Don't say a Word beyond "Hrummph" as you flip your newspaper up for a shield, or better still, head for the bathroom and lock yourself in. Never, ever, reply, "Well, what's it all about?" or "Is there anything I can do to help?" If you do, you'll discover, inevitably, that you have a project to do. Projects are alt the rage these days, in education. Give a kid a project and he'll learn everything there is to know about the Persian Gulf, the origin of sand-paper, or the sex life of the blow-fly. He may never learn anything else in school, a strong possibility, but he'll always be an expert iii one field. For the test of their lives, these kids will find some way, at cocktail parties Ole formal dinners, in casual conversation, to drag in the Gulf, the sand-paper or the blow-fly, Which is good, Most people know practically nothing about practically anything. Thus, they can easily be put down by a forthright statement like, "But that's exactly what I've been saying. The whole thing is in direct contrast to the solemn, sedate, secretive sex life of the blow-fly." They simply can't field that one, if it's properly delivered. And you can 'alt. eys change your adjectives to suit the situation. It could be, "The wild, exotic orgies of the blow-fly, which conies In beat only on leap-years." maroon in color to show how sensitive they are. I proved more than once that these traps are deadly against the 190-pound male. One that we kept up in the loft, which appeared to be their brigade headquarters, would spring with a heart-stopping whack if you dropped a shoe downstairs. But the super-mice just laughed. Night after night I could hear that squeaky "tee-hee, tee-hee" as they expressed their merriment. It got to be a routine. For exactly one minute after I'd turned down the old reliable Colemans there'd be the blessed stillness, the utter vacuum of silence in the soft insulation of deep snow. Then they were off and running. In the precious, motionless moment before the mice ball, I came to have a vivid mental picture of them in their briefing quarters, circled about their leader, accepting their assignments for the night, jauntily butting their last cigarets and then setting off on their missions, perhaps with a farewell salute of "Geronimo!" At that moment they created a din. Writers for centuries have been talking of the "dry rustle" of mice. But these, being a mountain breed, gave the effect of having strapped on their crampons. The particularly daring volunteers with jobs to be done below had to come down a flight of stairs on a cant as steep as a ship's ladder, I marvelled that these tiny creatures could create such a curious clumping effect. Actually, projects are nothing new, although some young teachers act as though Moses had just been up the mountain again and collie down with a great stone slab inscribed "Projects." We had projects when I was a kid. I remember one in agriculture. I chose to build a model of a hen-house. Wisely, as I was perfectly aware, even at that tender age, that I couldn't nail two boards together without making a hand sandwich, And equally aware that my father Was a master craftsman. Even so, it took a lot of time. I had to spend about five evenings in his basement workshop, praising, admiring, and 'Melling cups of tea, before the job was done. It was a beautiful little hen-house, with windows and a swinging -door. I got an A-plus. Despite my experience of the whole fiasco of projects, I 'got myself hooked recently. Daughter Kim was home from university. Out went the bait. "Dad, I have to do a project in anthropology, Sounds interesting." Warily, ready to run, I asked what U was, fairly secure in my utter ignorance of the subject, It turned out to he a project on folklore, any area. I breathed easier. I was still swimming free, She let out a little more line, Said she'd considered doing •0118 on the legends of the Ottawa Valley lumbering days, with particular reference to my great-uncle, Mountain Jack Thompson, reckoned to be the toughest lumberjack in the Valley, reputed to have killed four men in fist-and-boot fights. I got excited, nibbled the bait "Wooden-legged mice," my wife moaned one night and this, indeed, was the impression they gave. On several occasions, having a flash-light beside my bed, I was able to actually observe the downstairs mice stripping the trap that I'd put under the stove. It was, I think, the same robber baron mouse night after night, since he changed in appearance only by a tendency to increasing corpulence from too regular a diet of LaFine Bouche Petit Camembert which, experimentation proved, was his weakness. Caught in the full glare of the light, having followed his unstealthy progress down the stairs and past my bed to the trap, this Jimmy Valentine of the gang reacted in a most un-mouse-like way. Raising his head from his delicate work he would first flash a look of annoyance at the interruption, then, with a fatalistic; shrug and a rubbing of the tiny paws to warm them for the task, he would return, unconcerned, to working out the combination. We finally gave up and, indeed, in the last couple of weeks in "Four Winds" had become as reconciled to the patter of little pink feet as we were to the dripping icicles or the soft thud of the snow sliding from the roof. The fact that I am shopping around for a better mouse-trap for next season is really just to offer them a new challenge after a long, boring summer. and began spinning yarns about Mountain Jack. She responded with the appropriate, "Wow! That's really great, Dad." Then it emerged that she had to g0 direct to human sources, not the prieted word, and we realized there wasn't time to round up all the relatives and talk to them. Both downcast. Suddenly, tinder the influence of the excitement and too Many coffees, 1 came up with a new project and tossed it at her, "The Curse of the Great Lakes!" She raved. That was IT. She'd been both and raised on their shores, and of course I knew all sorts of interesting old-times, don't you Dad? We talked long and feverishly, and it looked better and better. I bad swallowed the bait. All she bad to do was set the hook Next morning the whole thing looked insane. But when I started to swim 'quietly away, I found I still had the hook in my mouth. And The line was taut, Hundreds of miles and a couple of weeks later, we had talked to regional historians, commercial fishermen, light-keepers and lake captains. Kim had a stock of stories: ships sunk without trace, Indian legends, mysterious murders and exotic anecdotes, like the pianos floating ashore at Duck Island. Must admit I enjoyed every minute of it. Old friends were generous with time and invaluable with memories that reached far back into the 19th century. But it's my last project. At least until my first 'grand-child sidles up and says, "Iii, Grand-dad, have this project at school — 10 YEARS AGO April 6, 1961 Mr. and Mrs. Harold Disney, Kildeer, Sask., were welcomed on Tuesday to Clinton by Mayor W. T. Miller, Mr. Disney was born in Goderich Township and lived on Highway 8 on the farm now owned by George Potter, He left for Western Canada in 1910 and this is his first trip back east. Mr. Disney is a first cousin of the famous cartoonist Walt Disney. We understand that the Horticultural Society, which has done yeomen service in beautifying many parts of the town is quite interested in the restoring of the old fountain to its place in the centre of Library Park. First steps in this direction are to be made at council meeting on Monday. The Rev. D, T. Lane will make the presentation of the society. Master Robert and Mary Lane Thompson, Kitchener, are spending the holidays with their grandparents, Rev. E. T. and Mrs. Roulston of Wesley-Willis manse, Townsend Street. 15 YEARS AGO April 5, 1956 Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Gliddon were honoured at a family dinner at the home of Mrs. Frank Lawson, London, by their daughters, Mrs. N, Brown, Detroit, and Mrs. Lawson, on Sunday on the occasion of their 30th wedding anniversary. The Gliddons reside in Hohnesville Two new official positions were filled on Tuesday night, when the Town Council appointed a weed inspector in town and also a trench inspector. Constable C. Perdue will fill the first position, while Fred Travena (streets foreman) will also be the trench inspector. We're thick in the middle of one of the better Colts' series . Real good game last night a little rough . Fast .. and we won! But even had we lost, the game was good — . and there'll be at least one more right here in Clinton, 25 YEARS AGO April 11, 1946 It was "Scottish Rite Night" at the regular meeting or Clinton Lodge No. 84, A.F. and A.M. Friday evening last when officers and members were host to visiting Masons from Western Ontario mitres numbering upward of 100. The occasion was the visit of the officers and members of the Lodge of Perfection, Scottish Rite, London, to Clinton Lodge. Daylight saving is a live topic in many Canadian cities and towns, but so far nothing has been heard about it in Clinton. Mitchell, Wingham and Seaforth have the matter under advisement, Rural residents, generally speaking, do not take very kindly to the idea, which has some influence on the actions taken by adjacent towns and cities. About SO friends and neighbou.s gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Noble Holland to honour Mr. and Mrs. Carmen Haines, formerly Miss Betty 'Orkin 40 YEARS AGO April 9, 1931 Mr. 'Clifford Castle, who has been taking the winter dairy anise at 0,A.C., Guelph, has returned home. Mr. Castle tame first at the dairy competitions, took fourth in his exams and took second as an all-around Student. He has resumed his Letter to the Editorr. The editor; I would like to take this opportunity to thank the citizens of Clinton, and Districts of Varna, Brucefield, Bayfield, Hohnesville and Londesboro, for the wonderful response we received, during the Ability Fund (March 'of Dimes) Campaign. Also thanks to the Service Clubs and Organizations who sent in donations. A very special thanks to the Marching Mothers, who braved the terrible weather conditions, to make this canvass so successful. To date, I have sent $1,062.80 to our Campaign Secretary, and I will be happy to forward any more donations I receive. One lady who was in our hospital at the time of this canvass,' mailed direct to the London Office a $2.00 donation, which gives our canvass a total of $1,064.80 to date. A most sincere thanks to you all on behalf of the Campaign. Sincerely,. Mrs. Bert Garrett, Campaign Treasurer, for this District. position with Clinton Creamery. At the home of the bride's parents, Sidebrook Farms, Stanley Township, on April 4, by the Rev. E. A. Poulter, Florence Catherine, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Johnston, was'wed to Melvin L. Webster, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Webster, all of Stanley township. Mr, W. Mutch, who has been a member of the Royal Bank staff for some years, starting as a junior, left Wednesday for a position in Midland. 55 YEARS AGO April 6, 1916 Rev. Dr. T. S. Boyle, who is leaving Toronto College, where he has been the dean of faculty of Divinity, to assume the leadership of King's College, Truro N.S., was formerly rector at Wingham before Rev. C. E. Jeakins. He is well-known to many Clintonians. The annual convention of the Canadian Order of Foresters, had to be cancelled on aeeouht'at of lack of hotel accommodation. It will instead be held in London at a later date. Today, Thursday, April 6, will long be remembered by the citizens of Clinton and the adjoining townships, when Huron's first Battalion will mobilize for recruiting purposes in Clinton. The soldier boys will go through their drills in the morning and it is expected that Col. Shannon D.O.C. of London, will be present to take part. 75 YEARS AGO April 8, 1896 The News-Record Sanctum, for the first time in its past history, was yesterday visited by Mr. T. T. Wright, the popular and affable proprietor of the Point Farm Summer Resort, The gentleman was on his return from a visit to Hamilton and dropped off here to see his niece. April will long be remembered as stormy, windy and frosty during the first week, A quarter of a century hence April, 1896 will be referred to as a sample of the winter in olden times. The weather last week was not such as to encourage a large attendance at the magnifieent and up-to-date displays made by Clinton merchants. There was, however, a good attendance and great interest was manifested in the 1896 fashions no town in Western Ontario shows, more attrative, liner, or cheaper array et goods than Clinton merchants. • RAINBOW WEBBIllin LINE NVITATIONS AND .ANNOUNCEIVIENTS ANSTETT JEWELLERS, LTO. .k` Clinton Walkerton And Seaforth 45 *••• \VVIMM.$5 482, 4Veg