HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1970-01-15, Page 1A
Clinto
CLINTON, ONTARIO — TH LIRSOAY„ ,JAN OAR Y 15, 1970,
Miss Dominion of Canada, Jacquie Perrin of Toronto, will attend the official opening of the
Clinton Winter Carnival on Saturday, February 14. This year's carnival will feature a parade, figure
skating, minor hockey and snowmobile races.
Fire leaves family homeless
lQSth YEAR — NO. 3
Although supporting the
greater efficiency of regional
government, Mayor Donald
Symons said in his inaugural
speech to. Clinton town council.
Monday night, that he does not'
agree with all the policies of the
provtecial government in
municipal. affairs,
"I persorially feel" the mayor
said, "that we all are riot
interested in a network of
administrative diStricts operated
by the provincial government,
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and we, the local •elected people,
if we survive, Collecting taxes at
their demand,"
While attacking, the loss of
autonomy forced on
municipalities by the proviecial
goyernment, the mayor warned
his council not to blame the,
senior governments for all
problems.
"What have we done locally
to arrest the decay that is
existent?" he asked and went on
to urge a united action by the
council, it's committees and
utilities, the chamber of
commerce service clubs and the
youth in the schools.
"We must be ready for a
restructuring program of our
local government so as to fit into
a wider concept of local
government, This will assure us
of a survival in the severities.
"May I point out," the mayor
went on, "how quickly we have
been to condemn regional
government but we were not
robbed of our local autonomy;
rather we sold it for goods and
services in exchange for financial
assistance to meet the demands
(not wants) of the local citizen
and with that aid went our
ability to manage."
No longer can we solve our
problems with a homey chat in
the coffee shop on the street
corner, the' mayor said. We now
must have efficiency. But he
warned against thinking that
regional government is that
solution to all the problems that
now inflict small towns.
"All our problems which we
now have will not change with
regional government alone.
Certainly we do not need any
more levels of government
whose boards and commissions
delay, discourage and frustrate
many town officials. Most local
problems can be solved by our
Own councils who are closest to
the problems faced, In any
thoughts of reconstructing local
government, it must not he
allowed to perish es a local
unit."
Mayor Symons outline.d
idea of what government should
do,
"I think the kind of place I
have in mind is one with an
economical system of taxation,
clean air, adequate disposal
(sewerage) system, a system
-whereby our taxes are based on
need and unconditional grants
administered at the local level
with such monies applied to
decrease taxes on
owner-occupied homes only.
"Education is, indeed a very
essential part of change. Soaring
educational property taxes are
due to tvio factors, excessive
expenditures and insufficient
provincial and federal assistance.
"Establishing county and
regional school boards has
aggravated both to a point of
being almost intolerable (salary
schedules are one example). •
"To be workable, I feel our
province should assume not less
than 80 percent of the cost. If
they dictate the kind of
education required and type of
administration to operate, then
they should share the payments
of them.
. "The assessment function
which as of-January 1, 1970 is
to be handled by the province,
should be handled by
municipalities, . especially
• regional and counties and .cities.
These are the units most capable
of handling their own:
"The authority - of local
vice-president with Mason
Bailey, RR 3, Blyth, becoming
the second vice-president.
A recommendation that
invitations be sent by the
secretary to all direct service
members of the Ontario
Federation of AgricnIture led to
friction when Bob Broadfoot of
Brucefield stated he had nothing
against inviting individual
members to the meeting but
could not support letting them
vote at the meetings.
Direct service membership .at
$25 per person, was intrOduced
new dump was in turn made
necessary' by orders from.
provincial authorities which
forbade burning of refuse at the
local dump.
"All I ask is that people show
a little patience," Councillor
Cook said. "Everything will
Work out once the system is
given a chance to operate."
Councillor Norman Livermore
called for action to tut Own the
amount of careless driving and
noiseinaking by snowmobiles
within the town limits,
"Snowmobiles shouldn't be
travelling On the sidewalks," he
fetid, "ft makes them terribly
slippery and dangerous to °Icier
people,"
He also urged a Unit limit be
placed• on their use in town.
"When they are out eft& 11
o'clock they should have
cetincils , is :limited, Municipal
councils are not "masters of
their own house," The majority
of the tax - dollar is spent by
authorities over which the
elected council has little or no
.control, (Children's Aid, Police
Commissions and county school
areas are examples). This I.
;would like to see changed 'so
that we„ the elected people, are
able to share in decision making
with our provincial and federal
governments, not just Observe.
"In order to attain this
objective, I feel we must be full
partners. Security is the rights to
having a part in shaping our own
destiny and these are Some of
the problems facing us today."
Fire destroys
local barn
Clinton Fire Department
fought their second fire in four
days Saturday morning When a
large pole barn owned by
Norman Dale, RR 4, Clinton,
went up in flames.
Lost , in the fire was a
60-by-60 foot pole barn only 15
years old. Loss was estimated at
$5,000 to $6,000.
The fire was discovered about
10 a.m. by Mr. Dale's son
Kenneth, 9, shortly after his
father had left the barn. Forty
head of cattle were saved, but
1,200 bales of hay were lost.
Firemen succeeded in saving a
supply of corn and Mr. Dale has
feed in two other barns which he
is using at the present to feed
the cattle.
Cause of,the fire is unknown.
The Dales are already planning
to rebuild.
last summer to keep individual
farmers in close contact with the
provincial organization.
Mr. BroadfOot argued that
one township grant to the
county' federation might amount
to $1,000 giving that township
one vote, but with individual
memberships of $25 each, such
persons would receive a vote.
Mr. Broadfoot warned that
allowing these individual
members, to vote and sending
invitations might load the voting
at meetings in favor of direct
members.
•
Past President Elmer Hunter,
RR 3, Goderich, said it had been
decided at, a recent executive
meeting that the question of
voting rights would be decided
by a motion at each meeting.
While Mr. Broadfoot argued
against voting privileges for
direct service members, others
claimed there would be no
incentive for these members to
attend the meetings if they
could play no part in policy
making. One member warned
that if the direct service
members were not integrated
into the county federation they
would break away and form
their own group.
- • Ontario {Federation of
Agriculture fieldrnan Gerald
Carey of Cromarty, stated that
42 new members to date had
joined the Huron Federation
under the direct service branch.
He said he considered this
response promising in light of
the fact that the drive for direct
memberships has yet to get
underway.
Formation of an "Input
Please tern to Page 2
alternate way home other than
roaring up and down the
streets," he said.
The council Was informed by
Councillor Russ Archer that a
Meeting of all snowmobile
Owners and operators had been
called by the Recreation
ComMittee for the Community
Centre on MOnday night,
peeve Harold Lobb stated he
hoped the meeting was a success.
"It's better if they Can &nitrol
themselves rather than for us to
have to make by-laws," he said.
A letter from R. IL Anderson
Associates Ltd. informed council
that the final report on the
expansion of the sewerage
system should be ready by the'
end of the month.
A letter from the' Ontario
Housing ConiniitSion informed
the council that OHO had
Fire destroyed the home and
nearly all the personal
possessions of Mr. and Mrs.
Donald Lobb, RR 2, Clinton,
Janmary 7,
Mr. Lobb had gone to work in
the bush, about a half mile from
the house when his son Steven,
8, returned from school about 4
p.m. and discovered the fire in a
woodshed attached to the rear
of the home. He ran a half mile
to the home of his great uncle,
James Lobb, who pet in, the
alarm. Mrs. Lobb was away from
home at a meeting and two
other children, Robert, 2, and
David, 5, were visiting relatives.
Clinton fire department
answered the alarm and,
according to Fire Captain
In his inaugural address
Monday night Mayor Donald
Symons said acquiring some
facility to replace the CFB
Clinton when it is phased out
will head the list of priorities in
1970 for his council.
"Our major concern at the
present time is the phasing out
of the Canadian Forces Base and
whether it appears to you, the
citizens of Clinton and Huron
County, that little action is
being taken, I can assure you we
are very definitely keeping in
contact, with every avenue of
possible development to replace
the base."
Other programs proposed by
the mayor include sidewalk
extension, continuation of the
approved the purchase of two
lots in Clinton for a senior
citizen's home and would soon
begin surveying for the building.
Mayor, Symons said he
understood surveying was
already underWay but that the
building could not be started for
sometime becauee of the freeze
put on funds for housing
projects by the Central Mortgage
And Housing Corporation.
Council' appointed fernier
mayor William J. Miller as its
representative on the Maitland
Valley Conservation Authority
for 1970, '71 and '72,
A grant of $2000 from the
budget for the year Wasgiven try
the Recreation Committee:
Appointed to the toininittee
for the year were ben 1<ay$
Doug Thorndike, Len Fawcett,
Pero Livermore, Robert Mann,
Kingswell, had the fire under
control until the 500-gallon tank
on their truck ran out. They
tried to get water from a
spring-fed creek three-quarters
of a mile "away but could not get
the water in time.
Firemen were able to save
only a filing cabinet filled with
personal documents and a
collection of children's
phonograph records. Everything
else was lost. Damage was
estimated at $12,000 to
$15,000.
The Lobb's have a house on
another farm which they were
planning to renovate and move
into in a year or so. They are
street rebuilding program with
emphasis on Queen St. and
Townsend St., planned
streetlight rebuilding,
reorganization of the Chamber
of Commerce (which has not
been active for several years),
expansion - of industrial and
planning boards, construction of
a senior citizens' home and
completion of the rebuilding of
the downtown roads with work
on the north end of Highway 4.
Another priority will be the
continued study of the
feasibility of amalgamation of
water, sewage and public works.
He said the amalgamation might
not be feasible "but I assure you
we will investigate it fully in
order that we may better assess
the recommendation of same to
the people for their approval and
,lack Irwin, Clarence Neilans,
Don Jefferson, Andrew Peterson
and Frank MacDonald.
Representing council on the
committee will be councillors
Archer and Cook,
Arnold Dale and Milford
Durst were appointed to the
Clinton Cemetery Board with
Reeve Lobb and Countillor
Livermore representing council.
A ,report, of the Special
Committee advised the setting of
standard rates for all officials
going • out of town on town
business. Ten cents per mile per
car will be allowed in travelling
eXpenSes, with meals allowed at
eight dollars per day and $20 per
day allowed for loss of wages
while off the job, Robins and
registration will be at Cost, The
Medan was approved by
Contra.
now staying with Mr. Lobb's
father, Mervyn Lobb„ until the
house can be renovated.
•
The fire is believed to have
been caused by a wood furnace
in the basement of the home.
The pipes from the furnace run
under the floor of the
woodshed.
Many thoughtful donations of
clothing have been received by
the family and Wednesday Mrs.
Lobb was guest at a surprise
shower held by the women of
her church,
A benefit dance for the family
is planned for the auditorium of
the Central Huron Secondary
School, Friday night at 9:30.
Concern over the growing
number of complaints about
snowmobiles has led the Clinton
Recreation Committee to call a
meeting of all snowmobile
operators and owners to attempt
to form a snowmobile club,
At their regular meeting last
week, the committee decided to
call for the gathering in hope of
getting the owners to organize
themselves and prevent some of
the actions which are causing
complaints from homeowners in
the town.
"If they organize and police
themselves, then perhaps town
council won't have to act to
The report of the striking
committee was' received and
adopted. The following are the
committees for 19'70 with the
chairman the first member
nemed in each case:
Special — Reeve H. Lobb,
COuns. F. Cook and C.
Denomme.
General Government — Court.
N. 'Livermore, Deputy Reeve G.
Lawson and Conn. C. Proctor.
Executive and Police — Mayor
D. SymoriS, Couns. F. Cook, C.
Denornine and Reeve H. Lobb.
Ptiblic Works — Reeve H.
Lobb; Couns, R. Archer, F.
Cook and C. Procter:
Health and Welfare COun,
C, Proctor, Deputy Reeve G.
Lawson and Coun, N.
Livermore.
Protection to Persons and
Property — beputy Reeve'
P.RIQR P,13. _copy 1.5p
Beauty queen
,to visit
carnival
This year's edition ,of the.
annual Clinton Winter Carnival
Will have some very attractive
attractions.
Most attractive of all is bound
to be Jacquie Perrin, Miss
Dominion of Canada, who will
attend the official opening of
the carnival on Saturday,
February 14, at 2 p.m.
The opening will follow the
carnival parade which will kick
off the weekend's activities,
But • the carnival will
unofficially have started long
before that. A bingo on Monday
night, February 9, will start the
fun and activities which will be
taking place every night until the
windup of festivities on Sunday,
February 15.
Minor hockey will be featured
throughout the Week. There will
be a draw for a snowmobile.
Climax of the carnival will once
again be the snowmobile races
on Sunday afternoon, Last year
they proved a big drawing card'
and plans have been laid to make
them even better this year.
Miss Perrin will be on hand to
add a little glitter to the scene.
The 5'5", 115 pound beauty was
chosen Miss Dominion of
Canada in the competition held
annually at the Sheraton Brock
Hotel in Niagara Falls.
She is 21 years old and in her
final year of a Bachelor of Arts
Degree at York University in
Toronto. She is a professional
model who hopes to work in
advertising one day.
Nurse's aide
wins bursary
Miss Joy Finnie, 18-year old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vic
Finnie, Base Line, Clinton, has
been awarded a $75 bursary by
the Women's Auxiliary to the
Clinton Public Hospital. Joy
commenced her 10 month's
course as a registered nursing
assistant last October at
Freeport Sanatorium.
A graduate of St. Joseph's
Separate School, she 'attended
the Central Huron Secondary
School, Clinton for three years.
For a total of 19 months she
assisted as a nurse's aid at
Huronview.
,The announcement of the
award was made by Mrs. Brock
Olde, convener of the bursary
committee of the auxiliary.
force them off the streets," said.
Don Kay of the committee.
His words were given
reinforcement at a meeting of
town council Monday night
when several councillors
discussed the need to take some
action to cut down the amount
of noise and dangerous driving
by careless snowmobilers.
Action by the council was
delayed pending the outcome of
the upcoming, meeting.
Anyone interested in
snowmobiling is invited to
attend the meeting which wilt be
held Monday, January 19 in the
Community Centre at 8 p.m.
Lawson, Couns. F. Cook and M,
Steep.
Finance — Couns. R. Archer,
C. Denomme and Reeve ft
By-laws Coiths. M. Steep,
R. Archer and N. Livermore.
Sanitation and Waste Disposal
Coun. F. Cook, Deputy Reeve
G. Lawson and Coon. O.
Proctor.
Industrial — Coun. C.
Denomme, Reeve H. Lobb and
Coml. M. Steep,
Cottrt of Revision Couns.
M. Steep, R. Archer, C
Denonirne, Deputy Reeve O.
Lawson and Coun. C. Prodeer.
Cemetery Road Reeve Ii.
Lobb and Coen, N. Livermore,
ftedreation CamMittee A--
61MS. R. Archer and P. Cook,
If you think your Christmas
bills were too much, consider
the problem of Mrs. Joe
Nelischer now living in Zurich,
Switzerland, but formerly of
Clinton. Recently she informed
the News-Record that nearly all
her friends here in Canada think
that postage to Switzerland is 6c
or 8c. Actually, surface mail
requires 12c and air mail 15c.
The result is that she has. to pay
postage due on nearly every card
and letter that she receives from
Canada. Can you imagine what
that must have been like at
Christmas? It's enough to make
you say Bah! Humbug.
The problem is Mrs. Nelischer
not only has to pay the amount
her friends forget to pay but has
to pay double before she can get
her letter out of hock. And she
has to go all the way downtown
to the central post office to get
it. That's almost enough to make
you wish you didn't have
friends.
• If you're one of the guilty
parties, don't feel bad. She had
to bail out the last
correspondence we sent her
from the News-Record and we
sent it surface mail so it took a
month to get there instead of
four days as it would have air
mail.
* * *
- A newspaper without news is
e only something to weep the,.
garbage in and without our
correspondents the News-Record
would often find it hard to get
enough news to fill our pages.
Now ' and then we lose a
correspondent who has been
performing this often thankless
job and we have to start the
tough search for a new one.
Right now the News-Record is
searching. We need
correspondents to cover the
news in Holmesville and Blyth so
that we can give our readers the
most complete coverage
available of all area news.
If you know of news in your
area, whether or not you are •a
correspondent, send it in. We
always need news because we
don't want to be relegated to the
town's new dump as a container
for garbage.
* *
The danger of owning a small
foreign' car in the winter is that
you might wake up some
morning and not be able to find
your car under all the snow that
fell overnight: • With that in mind, your editor
looked over the showroom well
before he chose his new car last
year. He chose red so he could
easily find it in case of
emergency. But When he awoke
last Friday morning it was a
good job he remembered where
he had parked the thing the
night before or he might have
been walking till spring. Between
the snow that piled up around it
on the ground and the snow that
settled on top of it, there wasn't
much red left showing.
He took a picture so he could
prove the fact but it came out
looking like a picture of a white
cat in a snowbank so he gave up.
If you don't believe him, Come
around the next time we get a
big enowfall. He'll let you help
shovel. Although most citizens are
Of course there are advantages eb-Operating, there still is
to owning a small car in the opposition to the requirement
winter. Our editor, dairies he can that all garbage be wrapped for
stand half in and half out of the pickup, Councillor Praha Cook
car and sweep the snow Off both said at Monday night's ebuncil
the front and back endt without meeting•
having to venture out into the Councillor Cook, chairman Of
the Sanitation end Waste
Committee said he had teceiVed
several bitter telephone calls,
One which was eety abusive.
"I've taken just about all
dare" he said but mid he woUld
not resign.
ft was reported that most
pedple are now co-operating
with officials to wrap garbage in
ight packageS as required by a
by-law ,passed in 1966. The
bylaw was niet ittletly enfotted
until use of the new landfill
dumping project at HOlineaville
made packaging necessary- The
Directors of the Huron
County Federation of
Agriculture chose a second
president in just over a month
when they met in Clinton town
hall :Thursday.
John Stafford, RR 1,
Wroxeter, formerly first
,vice-president under Robert
Henry of Blyth, was elevated to
the presidency after Mr. Henry
submitted his resignation
because of health problems.
Tom Cunningham, RR 1,
Auburn, formerly second
vice-president is the new first
John Stafford, RR 1, Wroxeter, was named president of the
Huron County Federation of Agriculture at a meeting
Thursday in Clinton. He succeeds Bob Henry of Blyth who
retired because of ill health. — Staff Photo
Mayor wants local. autonomy
Huron Federation elects Stafford
Mayor sets priorities for 1970
in this way prove we are challenge of demonstrating our
interested in keeping step with a efficiency."
Snowmobile' meeting Monday night
Snowmobiles, garbage topics at first council session