HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1972-01-20, Page 1Thursday, January 20, 19 72
107 Year - No. 3
1972
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1971
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BY SHIRLEY J, KELLER
What had the outward
appearance of a lack-lustre first
session of. Huron County
Council may turn out to be the
basis of one of the most
important decisions members
will make thiS year,
On Wednesday, at Huron
Council's first business meeting
of 1972, Walter Gowing,
executive director of Midwestern
Development Council; James
Hayter, MDC president; and
Peter Branch, co-ordinator of
services for the provincial
department, Treasury and
Economics, worked together to
present a brief to council which
would convince members to
support MDC (MODA) again this
year.
The entire morning session of
council was taken up in the
presentation of the MDC brief.
Only the last 20 minutes or so
was devoted to questioning from
Huron members to MDC
officials. At noon, warden Elmer
Hayter advised the delegation
the matter would be taken to
the planning and development
committee for study and
recommendation to county
council.
IVIDC officials were called in
when it became apparent that
some members of county
council were dissatisfied with
the results achieved by the
organization first formed in
1956. Membership in MDC last
year cost Huron taxpayers
$6,100. Fees for the coming
year will be collected again in
March and a decision about
Huron's membership will have to
be reached by that time.
Walter Gowing quoted many
statistics for the enlightenment
of council and even traced the
growth of MDC through 16
years. Still he was hard pressed
to impress Huron County
Council with the progress report
which remained intangible and
beyond touching or mentally
grasping unless there had been
personal involvement.
He attempted to explain that
the near $1,000,000 Waterloo
and South Wellington Study to
be released about the end of
February, had very definite
implications which would affect
Huron County. He predicted
fantastic growth in the coming
years in the Waterloo-South
Wellington area and suggested
that planning was underway to
ensure that westerly counties
including Huron would provide a
vital role in supplying auxiliary
services to the boom area.
The provincial government,
Cowing said, would play a larger
supporting role in MDC's
planning and it was important
that every district within the
four county region of Waterloo,
Wellington, Perth and Huron
would have a voice — an
opportunity to take part in the
decision making of the province.
Cowing outlined MDC's
importance as a liaison between
the grass roots people and
province of Ontario. He said that
in the coming year, it was hoped
MDC would work more closely
with county councils — perhaps
through a representative from
each county council sitting on
the regional council in Stratford
and through a proposed plan for
MDC officials to meet on a
regular basis with individual
county councils in their own
chanibers.
The executive director also
explained the difficulty in
attracting industry to the region
and more particularly, to an
essentially agricultural county
like, Huron. He said that MDC is
working with industrialists
throughout North America and
in other countries, to acquaint
them with the advantages of
business in the midwestern
Ontario region.
Part of MDC's work is to
assist existing industries in this
region to grow and expand. He
spoke about the Council's new
magazine — MID — which is
extolling the virtues of the
region to people in all walks of
life in many, many places.
But it was Peter Branch who
got down to brass tacks. He said
he was concerned about Huron's
seemingly disenchantment with
MDC and said MDC officials
were "rather hurt" by Huron's
attitude.
"If you are not
over-enthusiastic about' MDC tell
us what are the alternatives,"
said Branch, "What does MDC
not have that some other
organization might have? Where
can the council serve you
better?"
Touching on the importance
of regional co-operation through
MDC, 13ranch said that from the
10 regions across the province,
the government received "10
viewpoints, not several hundreds
or thousands",
President Jim Hayter summed
up the presentation with a few
well-chosen words from MDC's
standpoint.
"We need your support," said
Hayter, "not just your financial
support but we need the support
of the people. Send us your
problems. Telephone us in
Stratford."
One question from the floor
was how MDC planned to deal
with the new owner of CFB
Clinton, John van Gastel, Galt.
Would MDC assist him in
securing industry for his
investment?
Gowing answered that MDC
planned to do everything
possible to assist Mr, van Castel
in the Clinton operation. He said
MDC recognized the sale of CFB
Clinton as just the "first step up
the ladder".
Gerry Ginn of Goderich
township asked a question
concerning MDC's interest in the
agricultural industry. He
wondered what plans MDC had
to put the rural economy oh a
par with industry.
Ginn was told that for the
first time, agriculture is a
priority item with MDC and that
an agricultural section of MDC
will take the problems of
farmers to government in an
effort to encourage fair practices
and better incomes for rural
People,
Ed Oddliefson, reeve Of the
village of Hayfield, outlined the
poor system of communication
in Huron County and suggested
that a better road system is
necessary if Huron is ever to
provide services for industry, see
tourism grow or help the farmer
to better markets for his
products.
Gowing said that MDC sees
the need for an extension of
Highway 401 from the
Kitchener-Waterloo area to
Goderich. He said that as
conditions change in the
Kitchener-Waterloo area such a
highway would be a valuable
asset to the region.
With regard to the
transportation hearings being
hosted by a committee of the
federal government in this area,
Cowing said that MDC is
preparing a brief to be presented
at the hearing in Stratford on
January 26. He indicated that
the content of the brief would
suggest to government alternate
methods of public transport —
such as air service — could be
established within the area in
which passenger train service was
discontinued. Gowing also
suggested that some form of
government subsidization for
such a transportation service
would 'likely be appreciated.
Also in the audience was
Spence Cummings, development
officer for the county of Huron.
Towards the end of 1971,
Please turn to Page 2.
County council's discussion of MDC could affect Huron's future
Rick Kinsman of the Trampchamps, touring trampolene
performers, awed several hundred students at Central Huron
Secondary School on Friday afternoon .performing amazing feats
on the trampolene. He and his partner Durangb Coy made many
acrobatic moves nearly at the ceiling of the big gym. They
combined their, athletic prowess with a good deal of clowning to
provide an interesting hour-long show.
One youth is in custody and a juvenile is
being sought following a Monday night spree
which saw six local businesses broken into and
an attempt made to gain entrance to a seventh.
Thomas Keith O'Connell of Erie St. will
appear in provincial court on Feb. 2 in
connection with the charges, Police say they
are seeking a juvenile who may also be tied in
with some other unsolved break ins,
Break ins occurred during Monday night or
early Tuesday morning at the Clinton Public
Utilities Commission, D. A. Kay and Son,
Beatties Furniture, McAdam's Hardware,
Jervis Studio and an attempt was made at
Bill's Bowling and Billiards,
A drill, a hammer and a pinch bar were
taken at the PUC and these were found
abandoned at the scene of the later crimes.
Little was taken from the other businesses,
Youth arrested, ..another
sought after break-in spree
1 St Column Huron Board studies
development of teachers The Home Economics Branch of the
Ontario Department of Agriculture and
Food is sponsoring a Homemaking Club
Project this spring entitled "Sleepwear".
The construction of sleepwear and
loungewear from suitable fabric will be
highlighted in this project.
Miss Catherine Hunt, Home Economist
for Huron County, will be conducting the
following Training Schools: Exeter, Monday
and Tuesday, Jan. 24 and 25, at Exeter
United Church; Clinton, Thursday and
Friday, Jan. 27 and 28, Wesley Willis United
Church; Seaforth, Monday and Tuesday,
Jan. 31 and Feb, 1, Seaforth Legion Hall;
Wingham, Thursday and Friday, Feb. 3 and
4, Salvation Army Corps, Wingham (for club
leaders west of Wingham); Wingham,
Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 7 and 8,
Salvation Army Corps, Wingham (for club
leaders east of Wingham).
If you have a daughter who is twelve or
over by March 1, 1972 and you do not know
who the local leader will be in your area,
please contact Miss Hunt at the Ontario
Department of Agriculture and Food,
Clinton — Phone 482-3428.
* *
The snow storm last Thursday caused
cancellation of the annual meeting of the Huron
Central Agricultural Society which was to
have been held that night.
The meeting will be held this Thursday night
(tonight) at 8:30 in the cafeteria of Central
Huron Secondary School. Everyone is
welcome.
* * *
Clinton police investigated two snowmobile
accidents in the town in the last week.
On Friday night a taxi driven by Harvey
Ashton was in collision with a snowmobile
driven by John Timmermans, 18, RR 3, Kippeh
at the corner of Rattenbury and Shipley
Streets.
Timmerman's helmeted head smashed the
windshield of the snowmobile but he was not
taken to hospital.
A second accident, this time at the corner of
Fulton and Dunlop Streets, did injure Danny
Johnson who was treated in Clinton Public
Hospital. About $1200 to $1500 damage was
done when the snowmobile and a car driven by
Maitland Falconer collided.
Opinions
of students
on Huron
sought
BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER
Grade 12 students in Huron County will
have an opportunity very soon to tell the
world what they think of Huron County.
C. T. M. Hadwen, Department of
Sociology at the University of Guelph and
Henry Wiseman, Department of Political
Studies, University of Guelph, have received
permission from the Huron. County Board of
Education to carry out a survey among the
Grade 12 students of this county, The object
is to learn, what young people are thinking
about Huron, its successes, its failures, its
future.
The University of Guelph has been
carrying out an interdisciplinary study of
attitudes towards social change in Huron
County. This study, which is based upon
interviews with adult heads of household, is
intended to result in published information
on the views of county. residents which will
assist in the development of appropriate
social policies for the future.
"As this work has progressed, the
researchers have come to feel that it lacks
sufficient input from the youth of Huron
County," a brief before the Huron board
stated.
The researchers told the board they were
looking for a -"solid piece or rural Ontario"
for itt survey. They wanted a mainly
agricultural area with a stable economy, not
too wealthy and not poverty stricken, and
within easy driving distance of Toronto.
"Huron was one of three counties with
these attributes but it was the closest to
Guelph and so we chose Huron," admitted
the two professors,
The survey for the students, they
reported, will be of a very general nature and
"not, as surveys go, a hot One".
They reported they already have about
25,000 punch cards of information to be fed
into a computer. It is hoped the results of
the survey will be abailable by fall, to
anyone in the County of Huron.
BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER
The subject of professional development
for teachers in Huron County was explored
in depth Monday as a group of teachers sat
down with members of the board of
Education to discuss the present system for
teachers to update themselves, as well as to
make suggestions for the future.
Gordon Phillips, F. E. Madill SS in
Wingham, was the committee chairman.
Those working with him were Mrs. Barbara
Golding, South Huron DHS, Exeter; Gina
Jenkins, Hullett CPS; John Ross, Wingham
PS; and Al. Taylor, Usborne CPs. Trustee
Garent Hicks sat on the committee too, as
did J. W. Coulter of the board office who
was absent on Monday.
It was shown that professional
development is "that which in any way
furthers the professional competence of the
teacher to communicate knowledge or to
communicate the means by which
knowledge is obtained".
The teachers' brief pointed out that some
opportunities for professional development
require financial backing. Mrs. Golding, who
is also the professional development
chairman for the secondary school teachers
in the county, said there is "not one penny"
presently available to teachers for an
on-going kind of professional development
in Huron.
The report noted there is $10 per teacher
at the elementary level and $25 per teacher
at the secondary level for travelling and
conventions etc.; and a total for all schools
of $36,500 is available for university
courses. For short term educational leave an
amount of up to one-half of one percent of
the total teaching salary cost for the county
is set_ssjste,. ti
"There are not insignificant amounts'and
the board is to be complimented for their
forethought," the report stated.
However, Mrs. Golding said that if $5 per
teacher was made available for an on-going
type of professional development from
which all teachers could benefit - not just
the few who were lucky enough to be
chosen for special courses and seminars .- it
would be a valuable addition to the Huron
system.
She said such a fund could make it
possible for special speakers to be brought
into the county, for instance, as benefit to
all teachers who would attend the lecture.
Special workshops or subject seminars could
also be arranged, she said, through this fund,
The discussion showed that professional
development is encouraged by the board of
education in Huron but that some Schools
do not take advantage of the opportunities.
"Where does the push come from?" asked
Mollie Kunder, Seaforth. "Is that a board
responsibility?"
The committee advised her that it most
certainly was not a board responsibility to
see to it that its teachers were concerned
about professional development. The
committee agreed the teachers should be
concerned about their own betterment, and
should take advantage of any opportunities
offered by the board.
R. M. Elliott, chairman of the board,
suggested that the Department Heads in all
schools should accept more responsibility in
professional development for the teachers in
that department.
Bruce Shaw, representative of the
Teachers' Federation who sits in on all
sessions with the teacher committees, said
the Federation is taking a more active role in
professional development of teachers, too.
There was considerable discussion
surrounding the professional development
day in Huron County - a special day set aside
for teachers to use for improving themselves.
Chairman Elliott saw great merit in these
days being held in Huron County with
Huron teachers from various schools meeting
together and exchanging ideas.
Some members of the committee, on the
other hand, argued that more professional
development could result possibly if each
school was free to use the professional
development day as the staff deemed
necessary - maybe inside the county and
maybe outside the county.
Al Taylor said a specific school might
require a very special form of "recharging"
which could only come from visiting a
specific school or centre. He felt that
opportunity should be available to a school
not wanting to take part in a Huron County
Professional Development Day.
Eight recommendations were put forth
by the committee to the board. There were:
1. School should be closed early on
occasion for the staff to hear a particularly
good speaker.
2. New teaching methods should be tried
out before fellow teachers with an
evaluation of the method used to follow.
3. There should be an allowance for
released time, other than an official
professional development day, for staff
members to travel to other schools in or out
of the county to observe.
4. Professional Development Day should
be scheduled so that individuals or groups
may plan independently of others.
5. When people are requested to attend a
conference, seminar or workshop and are
expected to be a resource for the county, it
is recommended that the present policy of
underwriting all expenses be continued.
6. Funds should be available to subsidize
professional development and it is
recommended that a policy be adopted
whereby a professional development fund of
$5 per teacher is established, the fund to be
administered by a committee of teachers or
by the board.
7. Consideration should be given to
replacing, from time to time, Department of
Education courses with board sponsored
in-service courses.
8. That all professional development aids
already established by the board be
continued in Huron,