HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1970-01-29, Page 1This picture of Miss Katherine McGregor in her capacity as
president of •the Huron Unit Cancer Society presenting
Kenneth Flett with a scroll honoring his, seven years as
treasurer of the unit, appeared in the News-Record only last
November 27. Saturday morning she was found stabbed to
death in her home.
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Minot Hockey night saw Many local youngsters on the be at
th0 Community Centre. One of the youngest was Michael
Clifford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Clifford. a staff photo,
Clinton ord
1051h YEAR 5 CLINTON, ONTARIO — THURSDAY, JANUARY :29, 1.970,
PRIPE PE.R COPY 15q
Clinton '-woman slain in home Roy Wescott Wescott
acclaimed Warden Clinton Town Police and
Ontario Provincial Police are still
investigating the murder of
70-year-old Miss Katherine
McGregor of 54 Whitehead
Street, Clinton.
The crime apparently took
place some time before
midnight, Friday evening
according to police. The bbdy
was not discovered until 1.0 a,m.
Saturday, January 24 and time
of death was estimated from the
temperature of the body.
No arrests have been made as
this paper goes to press but
Clinton Police Chief, Lloyd
Westlake said more news would
probably be forthcoming within
24 hours.
Miss McGregor's body was
found by her sister-in-law, Mrs.
Frank McGregor at 10 on
Saturday morning. She had been
stabbed repeatedly through the
chest.
Mrs, Frank McGregor had
driven over with a neighbor to
see why Miss McGregor had not
answered her telephone the
night before.
On the final afternoon of a
two and a half day session of
Huron County Council,
members gave approval for up to
$20,000 to be set aside in the
1970 budget for preliminary
study and development of
Canadian Forces Base Clinton.
Girvin Reed, chairman of the
county development committee
which brought in the proposal,
said the money would probably
be used to set up an office at
CFB Clinton and hire someone
to "show people around".
Former Warden James Hayter
told council the committee
would have something more to
report at the 'February session
and suggested it may be possible
at that time to announce the
name of the person who will be
working tn., the CFB Clinton .
office. He declined to elaborate
further.
During the session, council
The first
column
Several people got cold
turkey Saturday night when
they were named winners of the
draw for five frozen turkeys at
the minor hockey night at the
Community Centre.
Winners were, Howard
Cartwright, Londesboro, Harry
Worsell, Goderich, Paul
Wettlaufer, Mrs. Ron Sander and
Robert Taylor, all of Clinton
The meeting of the
Snowmobile Club heard 'several
suggestions made Monday night
to help cut down the number of
complaints made about
snowmobile operators in the
town.
Suggestions include:
1. Speed on all town streets
be kept to 15 rti,p.h. after dusk.
2. The Hospital Zone be out
of bounds for snowmachines at
all times,
3. No snowmobiling on the
race track after 11 p.m.
4. No snowmobiling after 11
p,m. in the town limits unless
going directly to your place of
residence.
5. Keep your snowmachines
off of the sidewalks.
6, No snowmobiling on
private property without owners
consent.
7. No snowmobiling by
underage drivers On the highway.
8. Obey all Highway Traffic
Laws.
*
This week's balmy Weather
seems to have people thinking of
spring already. Radford's Garage
in Londesboro will be showing
garden tractors as part of their
open house February 4,
Weather
1070 1960
Hr L4l HI IM
plan 20 -5 34 13
21 6 -8 38 23,
22 11 -10 38 29
23 18 4 41 35
'24 19 -26 42 25
25 33 18 14 7
26 33 21 19 8.
Snow 7" SOW 7"
A brother, William, of
Montreal had tried to notify
Miss McGregor of the death of
his wife • and have her MOW
arrangements for the funeral to
be held in Clinton,
When William .couldn't get in
touch with Miss McGregor,. 'he
phoned another brother, Frank
and asked him to see if anything
was the matter,
Neighbors said that the lights
on Miss McGregor's house,
which usually burned no later
than 10 at night, were seen ,as
late as 1;30 a.m. and as early as
6 a.m. in the morning.
Mrs, McGregor contacted
Clinton police when she fonnd
the body and they contacted the
Identification Branch of the QPP
at Mount .F,orest and Inspector
L, G, Lyle of the Criminal.
Investigation Branch in Toronto.
Miss .McGregor was very active
in community affairs. She was a
member of the Wesley-Willis
United Church, was active in the
United church Women and was
elected president of the Huron
Unit of the Canadian Cancer
Society only last September.
heard Wednesday morning from
T. E. McLaughlin, Development
Associates Ltd., Ottawa, who
attempted to sell council on the
idea of an industrial
commissioner for the county.
The firm offered. to set up an
office and hire an industrial
commissioner and clerical staff
for the sum of $42,000 per
annum, The contract, which
would be for three years, would .
have a 90-day cut-off clause in
the event that either party was
unhappy with results.
One spokesman for the firm,
Bill Anderson, formerly of
Goderich, said the county would
actually get not just one
industrial commissioner, but
eight qualifedi industrial
commissioners since the
M-cLaughlin company is
comprised of seven top-notch
'men who do nothing but hunt
out industry looking for areas in
which to locate, relocate or
expand. ,
An alternate plan offered by
Residents of Clinton will feel
no relief from tax burden in the
new policy of property tax
rebates announced last week by
the provincial government but
for other residents of the area
the situation seems a little
better.
Municipal Affairs Minister
Darcy McKeough said:
"Although there have been a few
problem areas, the program -has
worked well since it was
introduced in 1968, Research
shows that, in the present
circumstances, this program is
the most effective way available
to the Government for directly
relieving the burden of property
taxes on homeowners and
tenants in the Province."
The Minister added that "if a
more flexible system of personal
income tax can be introduced in
the future, it is possible that the
burden of property tax could be
mitigated through a closer
Clinton Retail Merchants
committee meeting was held at
Town Hall, Clinton, 8 11,m.
Janitary 22..
Men and women representing
12 businesses in Clinton Were
present.
Chairman Bob Campbell
reported that 94 letters had been
Sent out to members of Clinton
BuSinesi Community asking
their support for the Winter
Carnival committee and the
activities planned for 'Winter
Carnival Week, Also included in
letter Was the annual assessment
by the coirmittee of its
membership,
Treasurer Art Aiken noted in
his report that, receipts to date
had made possible the payment
Of the committee's outstanding
accounts pertaining to the Santa
Claus parade and treats and that
a balance of just under $600 was
She was born in Stanley
Township in 1899, a daughter of
the late Mr. and Mrs. Neil
McGregor. She attended public
School at S.S. No. 1, Stanley
Tovvnship, and Went to Clinton
Collegiate Institute, She
attended the University of
Toronto and became a teacher
of modern languages, teaching in
Newmarket and Wingham before
she retired to Clinton in Sept.
1959.
Surviving are four brothers,
William of Montreal, Frank of
Clinton, John of Stanley
Township, and Gregor of
Brucefield; and one sister, Miss
Margttret of Toronto.
Funeral services took place
from Wesley-Willis United
Church with the Rev. H. Wonfor
and Dr. A. Mowatt officiating.
Temporary entombment was in
the Clinton Mausoleum.
Pallbearers were six nephews,
Neil McGregor of Montreal, Fred
McGregor of Brucefield, Donald
and Jack McGregor of Stanley
Township, Robert McGregor of
Acton and Bill McGregor of
Stanley. .
McLaughlin's firm was $35,000
per annum with McLaughlin
supplying the industrial
commissioner and Huron
County providing the office,
equipment and staff.
A third proposal would cost
$25,000 per annum in which
case Huron would provide the
office, equipment, clerical staff
and the industrial commissioner.
McLaughlin's company was
first summoned to the area by a
group of Clintonians who were
attempting to, get something
going at CFB Clinton before it is
phased out in 1971. Several
county councillors attended the
Clinton meeting and it was after
that gathering the McLaughlin
company representatives were
invited to attend the January
session of county council.
Wednesday afternoon, Milt
Phillips, the new manager of
MODA, Stratford, addressed
council. He outlined MODA's-
plans for the year and requested
that council again take
towards the cost of all municipal
integration of the personal
income tax and property taxes."
Experience has shown that
the "basic shelter exemption" as
recommended by the Ontario
Committee on Taxation tended
to give proportionately more
relief to those areas where
property values and the level of
local taxes are low, Mr.
McKeough said.
To provide more equitable
assistance, particularly to
residents of Municipalities where
the average tax burden is
highest, the method of
calculating the amount of the
reduction has been changed. In
future, the tax reduction will
be calculated by using a simple
two part formula. For 1970, the
tax reduction will be a standard
sum of $30 plus 10% of the
average residential tax paid by
householders in that
municipality in 1969,
_tow on hand.
The methods of support for
the Winter Carnival outlined in
the letter, were reviewed by
Chairman Campbell and the
following were adopted:: 1,
merchants and staff in Clinton
Stores dress in sports Wear for
Carnival Week, the brighter and
More colorful, the better; 2. the
committee endorse and support
the idea of floats for the parade.
It was decided that a minimum
of three floats, the combined
effort of businessnten from
different Sections of tOWti be
prepared for the parade and
more if posSibley The committee
' proposes to order and 'make
available to its members, pper
pennants imprinted with
"Clinton Winter Carnival" for
store decoration and is also
looking into the possibility of
securing plastic pennants for
outdoor use,
Flowerbearers Were husbands
of two nieces, .1\lurney Twitehell
9f London and Gerald Horton of
Stanley Township,.
Police believe robbery was the
motive although they could not
determine if .anything bad been
taken from the tome,.
A butcher knife, believed to
be the murder weapon is in
police possession, Chief Westlake
refused to say where' the knife
had been found but when asked
when it was uncovered he said
that "It was never really lost."
No signs of forced entry were
found and little in the house
seemed to be disturbed except in
the bedroom where the body
was found and where the bed
was upset and' the mattress
thrown against the wall, The
body was fully clothed.
Chief Westlake said that very
few residents had come forward
with any voluntary information.
He asked anyone knowing
anything about the crime to
come forward.
"This is a vicious act," he
said, "and we need all the help
we can get."
membership in MODA at a cost
of $5,001,
Phillips said that MODA's
benefits to Huron County were
somewhat, difficult to pinpoint
because results obtained by
MODA are sometimes disguised
as part of some other
development.
Reeve James Hayter pointed
out that MODA had been at the
bottom of the development at
CFB Centralia but that this fact
was not widely known. He said
he was convinced that through
MODA, Huron County could be
heard by government.
Colborne Reeve Wilmer Hardy
reported that the Carlow
Christmas Fair was sponsored
entirely by MODA for the first
two years it was in existence.
"I admit, it is a small thing,"
Hardy said, "but it has provided
income for our area." He 'said
about $5,000 was realized by
artists and craftsmen who set up
booths at the Carlow event.
Thursday afternoon, council
Mr. McKeough said the basic
sum of $30 represents a standard
contribution by the Government
services while the 10% of the
average taxes paid gives a greater
relief to the residents of
municipalities with relatively
high tax rates.
"The majority of taxpayers
will receive a greater benefit in
1970 than they did in 1969.
However, there will be some
taxpayers whose tax reduction
in 1969 was considerably more
than the rebate due -in 1970
under the new formula," he said.
Last year the average
residential tax in Clinton was
$237 with the average rebate
being $63.75. Under the new
system, the rebate for the same
taxation would be only $58.75
or a reduction of $5 per rebate.
Those in Blyth can also
expect a drop of $5 in their
rebate from the $59.74 they
were paid this year. -
Elsewhere, however, the
homeowner can expect a
brighter picture. In Bayfield last
year the average tax paid was
$149 with the average rebate
being $35.58. If the new
formula were applied to last
year's situation, the rebate
would jump to $43.16.
In Hensall, rebates would
increase from $43.58 to $45,36
if the new system were applied
to last year's average residential
tax of $154.
In rural areas the rebates seem
to be 'on the way up. In Hullett,
where the average tax last year
amounted to $397, the new
system would increase the
average rebate from $57,58 to
$65.07.
In Tackersmith, the average
rebate would din% from $41.64
to $65.11 if the new system
were applied to last year's
average tax of $383,
The new system could see an
increase in the rebate hi
Goderich Township from $36,99
to an average of $50.87. In
MeXillop, with an average tax of
$492 last year, the new system
would see an increase in the
average rebate front '$46A& to
agreed to shelve the proposals of
McLaughlin and his associates and
to take out membership in
MODA for 1970,
County representatives to
MODA for 1970 will be the
warden, Anson McKinley, Jack
Alexander, Girvin Reed, Charles
Thomas, president of the Huron
Home of MODA and James
Hayter, member of the executive
The possibility of
amalgamation between the
Health Unit in Huron and the
Health Unit in Perth 'looms
larger after the January session
of Huron County Council.
A committee will be
established to study further the
amalgamation of the two units.
This committee will be of equal
representation from both Units
and consist of five members of
$61.32.
"In •order to avoid an undue
reduction in the amount of the
payment, it is proposed that no
taxpayer will lose more than '$5
in the rebate as compared to
1969. Similarly, it has been
decided to place a ceiling of $15
on the amount of the increase in
Lax reduction payable to any
taxpayer. These proposals are
based on reductions for a full
year. Proportionate adjustments
will be made for householders
entitled to the benefit for part
of the year only," Mr.
McKeough said.
As in 1969, no taxpayer will
receive a tax reduction
exceeding 50% of his taxes for
any property.
Under the program, total
payments will increase by 9%
over 1969 to an estimated $136
million in 1970.
The program will continue to
be administered through local
municipalities. Mr. McKeough
said that he expects most
of MODA.
In other business, the county
development committee received
permission to send 'delegates to
the Ontario Plowmen's
Association convention.
He said he was convinced that
through MODA, Huron County
could be in Toronto with a view
to securing a plowing match for
Huron in the near future.
the Board of Health plus the
Medical Officer of Health and
the secretary-treasurer. ,
A letter has been sent' to the
Minister of Health with a copy
going to Hon. C. S.
MacNaughton indicating Huron
willingness to negotiate with
Perth in the matter of
amalgamation but that any
satisfactory agreement would
involve equal representation
municipalities will have made
their calculations by the end of
March. Special arrangements will
be made with his Department
for areas such as Niagara and
Thunder Bay in which the
municipal structure was
substantially changed during the
preceding year.
To be eligible under the tax
reduction system, a tenant or
home-owner must occupy a
separately assessed dwelling.
Home-owners who make
regular payments for taxes to
their mortgage holder will, as in
prior years, have these payments
adjusted to give effect to the tax
reduction.
Tenants will continue to
receive their reductions from
their landlords. Landlords must
pass the reductions on to tenants
on or before December 31,
1970. Tenants who move in or
out of an apartment during the
year will receive a proportionate
amount of the reduction based
Upon the length of tenancy.
throughout Southern Ontario, a
mare descriptive name has been
introduced to allow for a wider
range of retail merchandise.
Capital also announced RS
1970 projections of a total of 45
Pricegard' stores to be operating
by year end. Retail sales are
projected from the present four
million dollars to more than
eight million during 1970.
Pricegard atores are presently
located in Hamilton, Brantford,
London, Strathroy, Windsor,
Ridgetbwri, Clinton, Seaforth,
Aylmer, St. Mary's, Chatham,
Sarnia and St. Thomas. The
growth of the retail chain front
nine 8tores in 1968, to the
present. 28 has resulted in
employment for 200 people,
Pricegard Will service its stores
from its Landon based
distribution centre located in the
Weattninister Industrial Park,
BY SHIRLEY J. KELUR
For. the second year in a row,
Huron County's warden has
been elected by ta clamation. He
is Usborne Township Reeve Roy
Westcott who first came to
county council in 1967.
Warden Westcott was escorted
to the chair by the 1969 warden,
James Hayter, reeve of Stephen
Township. In presenting
Westcott with the chain, of
office, Hayter told the new
warden that he (Hayter) had
been known as the smiling jolly
warden.
"As I look at you," quipped
Hayter, "I can say that hasn't
changed much."
The 197Q warden, a past
chairman of the Huron Crop
Growers' Association, told
council that agriculture is the
best industry Huron County will
ever have. He said that any
industry to be sought for Huron
should be compatible with the
agricultural aspects of life in this
county.
Westcott did predict bigger
and better things for the tourist
industry. He said the three-day
30-hour week forecast for
U.S.A. workers in the
foreseeable future "leaves a
pretty good weekend."
The warden's family, his wife
Elsie and two daughters, Joan of
Kitchener and Cheryl, a Grade
13 student at South Huron
District High, School, were on
hand for the ceremony. A third
daughter, Mrs. Bruce (Carol)
Casson, 'London, arrived for the
from both Huron and Perth
counties.
The Perth Board has asked for
six members with Huron having
only five members. There also
has been indications that Perth
would like to see the offices
located in Stratford.
Huron County favors locating
the office in a more central
location to both counties.
Seaforth has been mentioned' on
several occasions.
A hearing 'was held Jan. 13 in
Toronto establishing the
Canadian Union of Public
Employees as bargaining agents
for all staff of the Huron County
Health Unit with the ,exception
of the MOH.
The county is attempting to
have the director of nurses and
the chief public health inspector
also exempted from the
contract, As well, the county
would like to have two union
contracts proposed, one for the
nursing staff and one for all
other employees of the health
unit.
Donnelly and Murphy are
acting on behalf of the county in
the union negotiations.
It was learned that the public
health nurses at Clinton are now
quartered in a house adjacent to
the nurses' residence at an
annual rental of $2,400 plus
telephone and caretaking. The
Wingham unit works out of the
former nurses' training school
and rent there is $183 per
month plus telephone.
warden's reception in the
evening,
The last warden to be elected
from Usborne TownshI, was
Hugh Berry in 1948,
Judge R. S. Hetherington
administered the oath of office
and Rev. G. L. Royal, Knox
Presbyterian_ Church, Goderich,
conducted the brief meditation.
Goderich Mayor G. Frank
Mills brought greetings from the
county town. He urged council
to work toward "the same
economic equalities for Huron as
enjoyed by inland counties."
The mayor indicated there had
been some instances in the past
three years when Huron did not
receive its full share of provincial
and federal attention, and sited
the proposed closing of CFB
Clinton and the decision by
Conestoga College officials to
locate outside the county, as
two examples.
In his closing out remarks to
county council, 1969 Warden
James Hayter said administrators
must be willing to change with
the times.
"We can only go forwards or
backwards," Hayter told the
assembly. "If we are not willing
to change, we can only go
backwards."
Four new members were
welcomed to county council
including Bayfield Reeve Ed,
Oddleifson; Turnberry Reeve
Ken McMichael; Ashfield
Township Deputy-Reeve Eugene
Frayne; and Clinton Reeve
Harold Lobb.
During the session, the
striking committee selected the
following committees. In each
case, the first person mentioned
is chairman of the committee.
Roads: Elgin , Thompson,
Harry Worsell, Elmer Hayter,
Joe Hoffman and William
Elston; Huronview, Wilmer
Hardy, Borden Cook, Harold
Robinson, Joe Dietrich and
Hugh Flynn.
Health, Everett Mcllwain,
Roy Westcott, Roy Cousins,
Derry Boyle, John Morrissey
(appointed); library, Walter
Sheardown, Harold Wild, Eugene
Frayne, Stewart Procter, Duff
Thompson and Geo.
McCu tcheon (last three
appointed).
Property, Allan Campbell,
Roy Pattison, Oliver Jaques,
John Flannery and Ken
McMichael; planning, Anson
McKinley, Geo. Lawson, Charles
Thomas, Ed. Oddleifson, Mery
Cudmore and C. Laithwaite, W.
Brock, Cal Krauter, Ian
McAllister and R. Jewell, all
appointed.
County development, Girvin
Reed, Wilmer Cuthill, Alex
McGregor, Bill Jenkins, Harold
Lobb and Don Pullen, Jim
Brintnell and the management
forester, all appointed;
executive, J. P. Alexander,
Lloyd Hendrick, Gordon Hess,
Mel Allan, James Hayter and
Bob Lyons.
A special committee to be set
up in 1970 to deal with salaries
and wages as well as fringe
benefits will consist of the
warden, Jack Alexander, and
any other members of council
the warden so selects plus
administrative staff where
necessary.
Clinton merchants
to help carnival
J-L Vitamins and Cosmetics
Limited is changing its name to
Pricegard Limited.
Bright orange Pricegard signs
have been installed at the 28
discount health and beauty aid
stores, owned by Capital
Diversified Industries Limited of
Londbn. One presently lights up
the main intersection in Clinton,
0, 1-1. Swift, ?resident of
Capital, said the search for the
new name and preparation for
the change, has been going on
lot over a year, The new name
more adequately describes the
Company's sales- polity. "We
intend to wahine to sell
nationally advertised brands at
discount prices and to continue
to provide the shopping public
With the best posSible values at
, lowest prices", Mr. Swift said.
Although the J-L, Vitamins
stores have beconie well-known
'20,000 set aside for development of CFB Clinton
Up in Hensel!, Bayfield and townships
New rebates little help in Clinton
Name change
for discount stores
Committee to study union