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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1972-05-11, Page 1Clinton's Picadilly Circus A tittle bit of old England came to Clinton On Tuesday when a double- Gelling and Bruce and Dianne I. obhiravelted to Halifax to pick up the decker bus arrived in town, the property of Mr. and Mrs. Bob IAA Off a ship at the eattern port and drive it back. Aside of a couple Stephenson of BrieSt. The couple and their friend& Hank arid Beryl of breakdowns, the trip was acbornplished without incidence, Red' Rath, retires Grant "Red" Rath, fire chief of the Clinton Fire Department for the last 25 years and a member of the department for 30 years, submitted his resignation to Clinton town .council Monday night, Mr. Rath, who has also served as the town's building inspector, gave no reasons in his letter of resignation read in council. Mayor Don Dymons said "I'm sure we have all appreciated what it is to have a very good fire department. In addition, he has been our building inspector. It's with deep regret we see this resignation." Robert Draper was named to replace Mr. Rath as fire chief. Hector Kingswell is the new deputy chief and Gordon Dalgliesh was named fine captain. Building permits will be issued by Mrs. Rath for the time being with the inspection being done through the town clerk's office. May 2 71 58 64 43 4 44 38 5 59 30 6 69 45 7 51 .37 8 56 42 45 35 47 33 54 30 61 34 65 45 67 30 71 45 107 Year - No. /9 Recreation assoc. to be formed A meeting of all persons interested in recreation in Huron County has,been planned for Clinton on May 15. The object of the meeting, according to Spence Cummings, Huron County Development Officer, is to form a sports association for Huron County. Mr. Cummings pointed out in an interview last week that many areas of the province have associations to promote sports within their county and he feels it would he beneficial in Huron. The Development Officer has been active representing Huron on a regional recreation association for western Ontario in the last few months but feels a person nominated from a Huron association would provide a better representation of sport in Huron. One of the accomplishments of the regional representation has been the hiring of Mrs. Moira Couper of Hensall as children's recreation co-ordinator for Huron, effective /May 15. She was hired and will be paid by the Youth and Recreation Branch of the Ministry of Social and Family Services. The proposed Huron association would have two objectives. It would assemble information on such things as facilities required in the county, funds presently required to maintain sports programs and what funds are needed in Huron's towns and villages to maintain present facilities. If this information was obtained. the second objective of the association would he to decide what should be done with the information gathered, To further the development of sports within the county should he a major objective of the organization, Mr. Cummings said that one of the greatest problems in forming an association has been trying to convey to people just what the organization would be. He said he does not see it as a governing body of sports in the country, nor does he see it as a branch of county government. In no way, he said, will it be a county-sponsored recreation department. He indicated that he himself would withdraw from the organization once it was formed so that it would have a separate identity but that through his office he would do everything possible to help it achieve its objectives. He said the association would be a method of enabling competition in many sports which are not played beyond the local level. For instance, he said, such a group might be able to organize a county summer garnes from which winners would go on to compete at the regional level. Mr. Cummings said that with the present organization in most sports in Huron, government funds that are available are being gobbled up elsewhere with no benefit coming to this area. Such an association, he said, would be a spokesman for area sports and recreation and able to get more of this money into Huron, He urged anyone interested in sports either for recreation or competition to attend the meeting at 8 p,m.. May 15 at the Clinton Community Centre. Huron-Perth, school board hears report on recreation A Clinton resident has applied to the Air Transport Board for a charter to operate a Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) route to link Elliott Lake, Gore Bay, Toronto, Stratford, Goderich and Owen Sound and back to Elliott Lake. Carl Powell a pilot living on Albert Street, made application for the charter and for charters to transport persons into and out of Elliott Lake lodges and to train people in flying in February. He found wide support for his proposal in both the north and the south. The idea started out, he said, as a shuttle service to transport hunters and fishers into northern lodges. He quickly gained support from the lodge owners for this part of the project. His flying instruction gained support of flying students who knew him in the north from his previous work in the area. But the big part as far as the local area is concerned is his proposal for the STOL service which developed as an off-shot of the original idea. 1 St Column The championship tournament of the Clinton Minor Basketball league will be held at the gym at Central Huron Secondary School on Thursday night, beginning at 7 p,m. Four boys teams, composed of 50 boys are in the running for the Clinton News-Record bowl, for the championship of the league. This year a girls league is also in operation and the public is invited to come out and see how well the girls are advancing in the sport. Everyone is welcome to view either girls or boys activities. + + + The Koffee House will be open Saturday night with special entertainment from Toronto, The group will be the three-member band, Maxima Pax, a gospel-rock group, The show begins Saturday night at 8 p,m. As usual when there are special groups, a small admission charge of 25 cents will be in force. + + + Many tires representatives of a club or organization ask this newspaper to send a photographer to cover an event. If the event is of interest to a majority of our readers, we are happy to comply. If you are in charge of getting coverage for an event, however, please don't step your activity once you have contacted us. It would help the photographer very much if you could tell him the best time to be there to get pictures, and meet him at the door and assist him in setting up the pictures when he arrives. You can also help in identifying club members in the pictures. In this way. you can get better coverage. STOL service for western Ontario has been discussed for more than a year but nothing has come of it. Mr. Powell says the problem was that no economically viable route had been found. However, by linking the south and the north in a circular route, he thinks he has found a money-making route which would mean daily air service to this area as well as the north. He has won local support for the project from Clinton and Goderich town councils and from John van Gastel developer of the former Clinton Air Base who told him in a letter: "This is a tremendous step forward and I am sure that such a service will be beneficial, not only to the area, but to my development of the Base and to the firms that are locating here." Robert McKinley, M.P. for Huron has promised aid in doing everything possible to gain the charter for Mr. Powell as has John Lane, M.P.P. for Algoma-Manitoulin. Mr. McKinley said in a letter to Goderich town council recently "I can assure you that we are prepared to do anything in our power to be helpful to him in establishing any air service between the suggested areas." Mr. Powell said the approval of an application for and air charter usually takes six months and so far his application has been making record speed through the process. The oil is back ... Some Clinton residents will be happy this year, and some will be angry because oil has returned. Councillor Russ Archer, chairman of the Public Works Department told council Monday night that it has been decided to use oil on some town streets again this year. About 2,4 Miles of streets will be treated he said. Oil was used on Clinton streets until a few years ago when complaints caused the Public Works department to change to calcium chloride for the streets. Since calcium has been used, there have been many complaints that it does not sufficiently settle the dust in the summer. Some calcium will still be used this summer, councillor Archer said. Travis Contracting is to he given the contract to repair the paved portions of Princess, William, Rattenbury and John Streets at a cost of $7850. Council is to meet with Charlee MacNaughton on Thursday (this morning) to seek aid in financing sewerage extension, and to see if the processing of the town's official plait can he speeded up by the Ontario Municipal Board. Several councillors Were unhappy with delays in the sewerage program which had caused increased expenses. They reluctantly voted to pay an additional $8000 in engineering fees which brought the total fees to $22,000 so far. Tenders have now been called on the project but no completion date has been revealed, BY WILMA OKE At a meeting of the Huron-Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board in St. Michael's School, Stratford, Monday night reports were given on the meeting organized by Spence Cummings, Clinton, regarding the sports complex at the former Canadian Forces Base near Clinton. Trustee Chris Walraven. St. Marys, said he believed the meeting of interest to Huron County residents but not to Perth, Trustee Vincent Young of Goderich said he did not believe it concerned boards of education but seemed to be an attempt to have a Huron County recreational area formed. Five trustees indicated their interest in attending the annual convention of the Canadian Catholic Trustees Association in Vancouver on September 21,22 and 23—Board chairman James Morris of Stratford and trustees Howard Shantz of Stratford, Vincent Young of Goderich, Francis Hicknell of R.R .5, Seaforth and Chris Walraven. Superintendent of Education, John Vintar. said that it was important to keep updated: "If you don't keep up to date, you fall behind." Reservations will be made in June when it is decided who will attend. Mr. Vintar reported an invitation from the Huron County Board of Education for trustees to attend the official opening of the new addition at the Seaforth Public School which will be held at 8 p.m. on May 29, James Morris, Francis Hicknell, Michael Connolly, Joseph Looby and Vincent Young said they expected to attend, Mr. Vintar reported letters from two students who shared in the $75 scholarship from the board tc the Kiwanis Music Festival in Stratford--Susan Trethewey and Douglas Bell, both of Stratford. It was also announced that open house will be held at St. Mary's Schdol in Hesson on June 4 from 12 noon,to 2 p.m. to insped't the recent renovations made at the school. The Board granted authorization to the Superintendent of Education to approve texts and materials to be used for special education purpose's in courses where these are not supplied. Vincent Young. chairman of the building and property committee, reported his committee was budgeting the amount of money available for repairs, such as roofing, windows, painting, fencing and asphalt, and then they wilt decide which schools need which. A meeting is to be requested with the Wingham town council to seek a remedy for the dust situation on the road to Sacred Heart School in the town. Mr. Young reported a standard trophy case is being installed in Immaculate Conception School in Stratford and one will be installed in any school needing one. Mr. Walraven was authorized to arrange during the summer to have fill put on the section of the school yard'at Holy Name School in St, Marys where it is needed. Arthur Haid, R,R.4, Listowel, chairman of the transportation committee, reported on an advanced bus driver's course at Fanshawe College in London, Jack Lane, Business Administrator, reported he hopes to show a film, The Broken Bus, at the next meeting of the board to demonstrate what can happen in an accident to student passengers. Michael Connolly, chairman of the personnel and salary negotiating committee, said that negotiations with the teachers' committee are underway, Shoppers on Clinton's main street were taken aback on Tuesday morning when a double-decker bus, looking like it came straight from Picadilly Circus, drove down the street, turned around and came back up to park in front of McAdam's hardware store. They weren't having illusions. The scene was real. The bus stopped and out popped Hank Gelling and Bob Stephenson, two of six people who had driven the bus back from Halifax where they had picked it up from a ship from England. The bus belongs to Bob and his wife. They were in England last fall and saw a similar bus decorated with signs such as "Jesus Loves Me" and used by young people for evangelical work. Because they were involved in similar work at home, they began to think what an impression a similar bus would make in Canada, When they returned home, Bob began writing letters in November to see where he could buy a bus. He finally was able to purchase the vehicle and have it shipped over this spring. The Stephensons, Hank and Beryl Gelling and Bruce and Dianne Lobb made the trip to Halifax and drove the bus back. They had only minor mishaps, breakdowns to the bus, One occurred while visiting relatives in Ottawa and the other came at Dublin, just a few miles from home. A friendly farmer helped them tow the bus off the road and let them keep it in his yard, They were able to get the needed part and bring the bus home on Tuesday. The Stephensons are keeping the bus at their Erie Street home at present. Soon, with the help of some willing youngsters, the bus will be scrubbed down and outfitted for the future role as a base for touring evangical work. It is hoped the bus will be repaired in time to enter it in the Clinton Spring Fair parade in June. After that it will be used to take groups of singing teenagers to parks and beaches this summer to spread "the Word." A young local group, Maranatha will also be taken from place to place by the bus. Pineridge gets ODC loan Brightening Clinton Clinton took a step to adding beauty to the boulevards on Albert Street Monday when a number of potted maple trees were planted. Here Gee Hallam and Dave Ball, Public Works Foreman (standing)make sure a tree is securely in the ground. Doug Kennedy of the Public Works Department also helped out and Councillor•Jim Armstrong was in charge of the operati Clinton man applies for air charter A new transit system for Clinton? No, these people aren't lining up to catch a double-decker bus in London, England, they're right on CI inton's main street. They were among the curious onlookers who viewed a daub le- decker owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Stephenson of Erie Street when it arrived in Clinton Tuesday morning. Double-deckers cause double -takes with Clinton shoppers A snowmobile park near Hensall has become one of the first tourist attractions in the province to receive an Ontario Development Corporation performance loan, The Honourable Charles MacNaughton, MPP for Huron and Chairman of the Ontario Government's Management Board, has announced that Pineridge Chalet will receive $15,500 toward the expansion of its facilities and services. In 1172, the types of loans available to the tourist industry through the ODC were extended to include performance loans to major attractions capable of benefiting the local tourist industry and lengthening the Season for resorts providing guest accommodation in the area. Performance loahs are interest-free and forgiven over six years if the borrower meets the conditions of his agreement with the ODC, Pineridge's expanded facilities include an extension of the lodge, additional storage space, new trails and a parking lot. The park will help meet an increasing demand from sitowmObiler8 10 Southern Ontario and Northern Michigan.