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The Citizen, 2009-05-07, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009. The Friday night euchre at the Cranbrook Hall was hosted by Marion Harrison,Adrian and Shirley Verstoep. There were 5 3/4 tables at play. Share-the-wealth winners were Norm Dobson and Adrian Verstoep. The travelling lone hand was won by Norm Dobson. Other winners were: ladies’ high, Helen Dobson; ladies’ low, Shirley Verstoep; ladies’ lone hands, Viola Adams; men’s high, Judy Hahn; men’s low, Murray Hoover and Delphine Dewar, men’s lone hands, Adrian Verstoep and Jim Minielly. Lucky tally winners were Leanne Minielly, Keith Turnbull, Jean Dewar, Neil Hatt, Myrna Burnett, Verna Crawford, Joan Jacobs, Allan Edgar and Linda Minielly. The next card party is on Friday, May 15 at 8 p.m. at the hall. It is the end of another chapter in the history of school buses in our rural area of Walton/Winthrop. The Winthrop Bus Lines were officially acquisitioned into the Murphy Bus Line family as of the first of May. The drivers and routes will remain the same for the current school year, then some changes will occur in the summer. It was in the late 1950s that Russell and Nelson (Dick) Marks of Walton, started busing children to the area schools. They would pick up children in a blue van and take them to the two rural schools of the area. In 1962, the new larger Walton Public School was opened for the 90 students and three teachers. At that time, the contract they had covered busing students in from parts of Grey and Morris Twp. about 70 kms. a day for $5,000. A larger Volkswagon van and a regular bus were had by then. Russell Marks died in 1967 and Watt Bewley began to drive full time. In about 1969, kindergarten was started and Watt drove those students to the Ethel school for two years. He picked up students on the 16th of Grey and the 8th of Morris, while Dick picked up the students on the boundary, the 17th of Grey and the 9th of Morris. In time, another bus was needed and in 1971 Ross Bennett started driving full time and the Marks bus fleet had expanded to three buses. Over the years, drivers for Dick included Watt, Ross, Wendy Noble, Pat Nolan, Marie Coutts, Rev. Ed Baker, Harold Bolger, Doug Schroeder and Karen Hoegy. Some were full time and others part time. With the changing times and expansion of areas, changes included the busing of students to the high schools in Seaforth and Clinton. The buses would meet in Walton, then Ross Bennett would head to Clinton with students for the schools there. Dick and Watt would head for Winthrop, exchange students with other buses, then Watt would head back to Walton and Dick to the high school. At one time, there were nine buses converging at the Winthrop yard to exchange students and not once was a child left behind. Dick drove bus for over 20 years, Watt for nearly 20 and Ross for 13 years. In 1989, Dick decided it was time to quit. His daughter, Sharon and her husband Brian Pryce were approached about taking over the family business. Not wanting to go it alone, a partnership was formed with Doug and Gail Schroeder and Winthrop bus lines was born. Again with the changing times, changing boundaries, new schools being opened, Winthrop Bus Lines had to expand. In 1971, a bus was needed to pick up students that then would meet another bus heading to Stratford and St. Mike’s. In 1995-96 the new St. Anne’s Secondary school opened in Clinton and another bus was needed. The fleet grew to five buses. Students went by bus to St. Mike’s Catholic High School in Stratford, Seaforth High School,Walton Public and Seaforth Public, Clinton Central Secondary School and St. Anne’s Catholic High School, Clinton. In 2000, Walton Public School closed so there was one less stop at Walton, as students were then bused to Seaforth. In the 20 years of service to Grey, McKillop and Morris Twps. the village of Walton drivers have transported the youth to school. Driving over the years for Winthrop Bus Lines were Sharon and Brian Pryce and Doug and Gail Schroeder. Doug has been driving since 1988, a friendly face many children recognize. Another husband and wife team is the Hoegys. Karen Hoegy drove for many years and her husband Barry spared. Brian and Susan MacDonald also took up the challenge of driving during the last 20 years at some point. The latest two drivers for Winthrop are John Gillis and myself. Every company needs spares, and Carl Merner and Jim Bosman have filled the roles well in the last few years. It has been a pleasure driving for Winthrop Bus Lines and the great owners. It is like everything else in these times, the big companies get bigger and the little guy gets lost. We are now part of the Murphy Bus Line family and a fleet of over 400 buses. When speaking with Sharon and Doug, they both said it felt different driving on Monday morning. Congratulations to the Pryces and Schroeders on successfully and safely transporting the precious local cargo for the last 20 years. 5 3/4 tables in play at Cranbrook euchre April shower bring May flowers or so the saying goes. We certainly had enough rain during the last week of April and I will say that my daffodils have exploded out of the ground and are blooming beautifully. Unfortunately, it is too wet to work in the flowerbeds, because I also see weeds and grass popping up as well. May means it is also the beginning of ball season. Men’s fastball has set its schedule, and Tri-County’s was set a couple of weeks ago. This week the ladies’ slow pitch league got its schedule done. It is hard to believe but there should be games on the diamonds next week. Hopefully, it will dry up and warm up. Walton is hoping to have minor ball again at the Walton Ball Park. We have been lucky enough to have two former Walton ball players volunteer to try and encourage softball for the younger children.They are hoping children betweenthe ages of six - 12 will come out onMonday nights just for fun. Theywill learn the basics of ball,throwing, catching, hitting, havingfun with no pressure of winning orlosing or travelling. Boys and girlsare welcome and thee is no cost toanyone. The only equipment they will need is a ball glove. We are asking if anyone has any gloves around that are too small for anyone at their house, that maybe they would be willing to let these new children to the game of baseball use them. The men, Ron Stevenson and Blaine Marks, are hoping to start Monday, May 25 and run through until mid-August. They would accept any offers of extra helpers from other parents and of course they hope for lots of children. In a five-mile radius around Walton there are probably 40 children, so the more the merrier. More information about the, Basics of Baseball on Monday Nights is available by calling Ron at 519-887-6677 or Blaine 519-522- 0592. There is no registration, just come out and have fun. Home for his spring fling and to visit the family is Neil McDonald from Vancouver. He is checking out his mother Leon’s new place in Brussels. The rainy weather put offhis help in the farming area for thefirst part of his stay, but he has hadtime to catch up with the visiting ofrelatives and old friends.Hopefully the weather will changeand he will be able to help with thespring planting.A group of Walton ladies met atthe Walton Inn to have a “you have moved party” for Leona McDonald on Friday morning. There were a dozen ladies joining her in the morning for coffee and cake. The cake was provided by Kathleen Williamson. Patty Banks presented the address and small gift to Leona. The other ladies enjoying the morning chat were Helen Williamson, Margery Huether, Heidi McClure, Cathy McClure, Marjory Humphries, B.J. DeJong, Judy Lee, Helen Craig and Jeanne Kirkby. Leona thanked the group and invited them to drop into her new place if they can find her at home. It was birthday party time for Betty McCutcheon on Friday. The group of ladies travelled to the Wingham Golf Course for an enjoyable luncheon. Helping her celebrate were Isabel Wheeler, Betty Knight, Dona Knight, Nora Stephenson, Fran Bremner, Donna Knight, Yvonne Knight, Mary Huether, Margery Huether, Leona McDonald, Merle McIntosh and Bev Smith.The ladies completed their theirafternoon festivities at the home ofJim and Dona Knight and enjoyedbirthday cake and ice-cream.There was a great crowd at thebuck and doe for Ken McCallum andMeagan O’Reilly at the SeaforthCommunity Centre on Saturdayevening. They report a great time and their wedding is planned for this July. There was lots of fun for all and one of the interesting prizes for the evening was a miniature motorcycle. The prize was won by Bonnie Glanville. Our condolences are expressed to the family of Alex Cameron, who passed away last week. The Cameron family lived in Cranbrook for many years before moving to Atwood. I know the Cameron family before moving here. Our sympathies to Joyce and children Lynn, Roger, Sandra and Barb and families on their loss. Celebrating birthdays this past week were John Huether, Dave Lewington, Joe Steffler, Deborah Wey, Chris Holmes, Hayden Kelso, Chad McCallum, Judy Valley, Bev Fraser, Mitchell Godkin, Lori Nolan, Annelies Ringgenberg, Andrea Humphries, Joe Ryan, Veronica Grobbink, Pat Melady, Armand Roth, Gerry Sullivan and Brian Workman. ANNUAL MEETINGS Clinton Public Hospital St. Marys Memorial Hospital Seaforth Community Hospital Stratford General Hospital THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009 at 7 p.m. MITCHELL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Annual membership in each hospital corporation shall consist of persons interested in furthering the corporation’s mission, vision and values and whose application for admission as a member has been approved by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Members are entitled to attend and vote at the annual meeting, on business such as changes to by-laws and appointment of auditors, and to receive financial information. No member shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Members of the Corporation unless the Member has paid the annual fee in full at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting. A person is eligible to be an Annual Member where he or she pays to the Corporation the annual membership fee of $10.00 and where he or she meets the conditions outlined in the By-laws. Annual Memberships in the Corporation are effective from April 1 in one year to March 31 in the following year. Annual Memberships can be purchased from the Business Offices at the hospitals no later than May 15, 2009. For further information, please refer to the By-laws which can be viewed at www.hpha.ca. Andrew Williams Secretary, Board of Directors Congratulations to Bridget Kellington who is graduating from Nipissing University’s Arts and Science Honours Program. Bridget graduates with a Biology degree and a minor in Geography. Bridget will be attending Nipsissing University’s Bachelor of Education Program in the fall. Love from Dad, Brandon and the Kellington families. We are proud of you! Graduation NEWS FROM WALTON By Jo-AnnMcDonaldCall 887-6570PEOPLE AROUNDWALTON Era ends for Winthrop Bus Lines Classified advertisements published in The Citizen are now available on our website at www.northhuron.on.ca Learn how to talk to others about their smoking. TOLL-FREE 1-877-513-5333 BE A FACE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER BECAUSE CANCER IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, SO ARE WE. Open your door and give generously when a Canadian Cancer Society volunteer comes knocking this April. www.cancer.ca HELP US MAKE CANCER HISTORY.