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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1973-03-01, Page 19' Snow Weather, ,i973) 1972 HI ,L0 HI LO FEBRUARY: 20 26 25 12 0 21 30 38 11 22 32 7 20 -3 23 27 2 21 24 25 16 29 6 25 19 -4 24 -2 26 22 3 25 .2 Clinton, Ontario 20 Coots 108 Year - No. 9 1973 Thursday, March Clinton News-Record 42-9 vote County Council to tear down jail wall Just the foundation was all that was left of the 60 foot by 60 foot barn on the farm of Gerry Greydanus on the Fourth Concession of Goderich Township after fire swept through the barn Tuesday morning. About 50 head of cattle were saved and Clinton Fire Chief Clarence Neilans estimates damage at about $40,000. (News-Record photo) Fire guts area barn an;M:MaNilt,aMtd'mvi. The children of the kindergarten class of Clinton Public School entertained their parents and fellow classmates with Pioneer Day at the school last Friday. The children wore old costumes and delighted everybody with old songs. Left to right are David Pullen, Andtea Smith, Cecilia Chiu, Susan Beukema, Henrietta Sneider, Mts. Dorothy Williams, Jerry Pickett, Craig Bowker,, Beecher Menzies, Steven Hearn, and Brian Young. (photo by Lee Allison) Children display old pioneer art Discussion raged for more than two hours at the February session of Huron County Council on Friday but in the end the councillors agreed by a 42-9 recorded vote to continue with plans to tear down one wall of the 131 year old Huron County Jail. Following the decision spokesmen for Save the Jail Society, who had delegated the meeting asking the councillors for more time, announced they would continue their fight and seek a court injunction if necessary. In their delegation to the meeting the society said they needed time to meet with the county Property Committee to discuss possible solutions they might have to suggest. They also, noted they needed the extra time to fully research these proposals. Bayfield Reeve Ed Oddleifson tabled a motion to turn the matter back to the property committee until next month but s was defeated. The final vote approved a property com- mittee requisition to go ahead and apply for the necessary permit to destroy the wall. The recommendation followed a three page report which outlined in detail 30 Sandy,, elephone system BY LEE ALLISON Clinton residents will soon discover that the Clinton's Police Department's bite is worse than it's bark. Starting on March 15 Clinton police will begin a house to house check for dog licen- ses and will fine all defaulting owners un- der the by-law concerning the keeping of dogs. A 1964 by-law states that all dogs are to be licensed, the cost of a license being for a male, $2 and for a female $4. The police have the right under the by-law to impose the licensing fee. As of March 15, said Police Chief Lloyd T Westlake, the by-law win be enforced. There have been numerous complaints from Clinton residents about dogs running loose in the town. The police are planning to make a search for tagless dogs, and the by-law clearly states that they may destroy the dogs at their own discretion. Even if the dogs do have current tags, they are still not to be let loose to run. Dogs should be kept on a leash or under the direct charge of a person when not on the owners' property, Otherwise, the dogs are to be kept on the owner's property at all times. All dogs must have current tags on them or will be picked up as strays. The new tags are $2 for a male and $4 for a female. For an additional male dog, the cost of a license is $4 and for a female $5. If an animal has been spayed the license cost is the same as that of a male if the owner has a veterinary certificate. In the 1964 by-law, the fine for not having a license on your dog or letting it run loose, is up to $50 for each offence. Police Chief Westlake said however that the fines will be increased. At the moment it has not yet been determined how much the fines will be increased. Judge Glenn Hays will set the fines. 1 St Column BY J.F. Don Armstrong of Clinton is looking for help, Clinton has recently joined the Huron Minor Soccer Association and Don wants Clinton to enter a team in the Lon- don and District Soccer League this year, but he needs help and lots of it. To see if there is sufficient interest, Don is having a meeting this Monday night, March 5th in the Clinton Town Hall at 8:30 p.m. All those interested in either playing, 'sponsoring or helping in any way are invited to attend, You can get in touch with Don at either 9478 or 9528, There will also be a junior team for boys between eight and 14 and all those in- terested are also invited to attend. Tonight all Clinton and area voters will get a chance to hear all three candidates at once, in one place as the Huron County Federation of Agriculture sponsors a meet the candidates night, at Central Huron Secondary School at 8:30, All people are invited to attend says president Mason Bailey . Don't forget to look inside for the '"Gress who it is contest," The Colts see action tonight against Milverton in their play-off series continues. The Colts currently are playing a 4 smooth, fast-paced brand of hockey The Junior Mustangs also see action Friday night as they face Exeter in a "do or die" contest, The Bantam Tournanient will finish this weekend with the championship games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Check in- side the paper, Subscribers of the Tuckersmith Municipal Telephone System voted last Wednesday to have a four-party line ser- vice (four subscribers per line) hi all rural areas at their 64th annual meeting held in the IOOF Hall in I3rucefield. Private and two-party service will also be available to anyone desiring it and willing to pay the extra rate. Due to increased demands for reduced subscribers on the multi-party lines, the need for upgrading the system had become necessary. Another change in the system will be the removal of the telephone rates from the tax roll. The rates will be billed with the long distance tolls on a monthly basis. To proceed with the four-party line ser- vice it will require the installation of ap- proximately 68 miles of cable in all rural areas of the system. This will provide the necessary outside plant to facilitate all sub- scribers with the service. It is estimated the cost for the cable and installation costs will amount to about $85,000, The changeover to the monthly billings will require another $40,000, for a total of $125,000. Votes from the 58 subscribers at the meeting, plus 110 proxy votes, gave the commissioners authority to request the Township of Tuckersmith (the initiating municipality of the Telephone System) to issue debentures in the value of the $125,000 needed. Mel Graham, 13rucefield, secretary- treasurer of the system, said that as soon as Tuckersmith gives approval of the request and issues the debentures, then work on installing the cable will begin, with completion expected by January 1, 1974. Mr. Graham said that studies indicate that to retire the debentures in 20 years it will be necessary to increase the four-party rates by approximately $1 per month higher than the multi-party rates, Elgin Thompson, R.R. 3, Kippen, named chairman for the meeting, said as reeve of the initiating municipality, his council was concerned about the $329,000 debt his township would be underWriting — $125,000 plus $204,000 debt from a previous issue of debentures. "Have we assets worth $329,000?" he asked. Mr. Graham assured him the auditor's report valued the system at $515,750. Others in the audience said as the sub- scribers owned the system, they were responsible for the debts '.of it, not the township, In his yearly report Mr. Graham said the total revenue for 1972 was $107,502, with expenses at $97,453, giving a net surplus of $10,049, an increase of $2,916 over 1971. There are 123 'I/4 miles of poles and 5,212 miles of single wire in the system which covers the rural areas and some urban areas in Stanley and Tucketsniith Town- ships. There are 534 telephones in Bayfield, 420 in the Clinton area, 461 in the Homan area and 433 in Seaforth area for a total of 1848 telephones, This in- ductee subscribers, renters, extensions and pay phones. This is an increase of 88 over 1971, Mr, Graham said the seasonal service to cottagera (about 110 hi Bayfield and south (COntittUed on (Age 7) By Lee Allison Fire gutted the barn at the farm of Gerry Greydanus on the Fourth Concession of Goderich Township, Tuesday morning but 50 cattle in the barn were moved to safety in time. Mr. Greydanus noticed the fire while in the barn about 8 a,m. while feeding the cows and immediately phoned the Clinton Fire Department. Clinton volunteer firemen responded quickly to the call at R.R. 1 Bayfield and hurried to the scene with the fire engine and tanker. Two adjoining sheds were saved from fire damage, but it is not yet known if contents of a 20 x 50 silo were damaged. In the course of the fire, the tanker had to return to Clinton for water because near zero weather had frozen some of the pum- ping equipment. By 9 a.m., the fire had leveled the building with only a few flames burning in the foundation. Mr, Greydanus said that there was Fewer at church BY WILMA OKE Membership in the United Church in Huron and Perth Counties in 1972 was down by 2,235 people it was revealed at the February meeting of the Huron-Perth Presbytery in Seaforth last Thursday. Total membership was 21,509, The num- ber joining the church liy profession of faith was down by 95 and Sunday School atten- dance dropped 1,316 to 5,771 last year hi the two counties but the United Church Women increased their membership by 466 to, a total of 4,607. The number of marriages performed in the church was off by 50, Rev, Frederich Feist in handing over his gavel of office to Mr, Warren said that as chairman he was often in a bind to know Whether the Presbytery should be struc- tured to program or business. He said at the end of the Presbytery meeting there was often a feeling of frustration, when there should be a.feeling of inspiration, He suggested that at Presbytery's there should be more program, then business could be continued on page ? the committee's stand on the jail issue. The report, presented by property com- mittee chairman Harold Lobb, said that the committee had spent many hours con- sidering the problems related to expansion of the Assessment Building and the proposal to remove one wall of the jail which would expose one of five courtyards. "There has been a great deal of publicity against the proposal to remove the one wall," he said. "Unfortunately, however, the press have never at any time published or printed the proposed outline of the building and what effect it might have on that immediate part of the jail property." "People have signed petitions," he noted, "and the property committee is quite sure a great many have no idea of what is in- volved, on the other hand we commend the people who have been willing to organize the light for what they believe," Mr. Lobb asked if anyone had deter- mined the cost of operating the proposed museum. "Does anyone realize there will be demolition of walls inside the building in order that there can be proper traffic flow and crowd control?" he asked. He said renovations could run as high as $25,000. "These costs," he suggested "'will stable milking equipment in the barn and Fire Chief Clarence Neilans estimated the damage at $40,000. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. BY LEE ALLISON Home-made butter, oatmeal cookies and long dresses and hats were all a part of Friday's activities in the kindergarten class at Clinton Public School, All last week the children in the class brought old things from home and each new item was the topic for a class discussion, The highlight of this Pioneer Week was Friday when the children came dressed in pioneer eostutne. Invitations were extended more than likely be born by the Town 01 Goderich." "We have been criticized because the Assessment building is even located at its present site," he noted. "The building was constructed for the purpose of the County Assessment staff which contained 15 em- ployees and the second floor was added for future needs of the County." "At the time of building there was no in- dication from the Province that the assessment department would be taken over Provincially and that the Province would be interested in the County building. County ups Despite considerable debate concerning the real necessity of an increase Huron County Councillors voted themselves a pay raise 41-10 at the monthly session of coun- cil last Friday, The raise will increase their per diem rate for regular meetings and committee sessions to $32 from $28.50. In addition to the rates will give councillors $25 for any half day meeting, a session ending before noon or beginning after 1:00 p.m. Reeve of Bayfield Ed Oddleifson led the argument against the increase terming it "an increase for the sake of an increase." He said he did not think the councillors came to the meetings for the money, "but for the good of the municipalities. We should be prepared to make sacrifices." Harold Lobb, Clinton Reeve, sided with Mr. Qddleifson's remarks and went so far as to say he was willing to go without pay for the work he did on council. The portion of the rate increase which brought the most criticism from councillors was the new $25 half day rate which many felt was excessive and should be dropped or at least reduced, Goderich Reeve Deb Shewfelt, in suppor- ting the increase, said that many felt county council was a closed shop and that the average working person could not af- ford to run for office. "The only way to overcome this is to keep the pay scale up to date," he said. He also said that the raise was justified because of the "heavy year long demands of the job. Reeve of Grey Township, Charles Thomas, said that according to his calculations a county councillor could earn about $8,000 but th , the money made up for income lost wh a serving. Many of the councillors agreed that they could no longer replace themselves at home for the amount they could two years ago. Reeve John Flannery told council that inflation had to be stopped and suggested that turning down the wage increase would be a good place to start. In other matters arising from the Executive Committee report council to the mothers to come for tea and to try Grandma's oatmeal cookies, home made jam and of course, the school-made butter. Each child had a hand in making the butter, The milk was poured into an old mile!' jar, and everyoae, even some of the mothers took their turn shaking it, Perhaps some people remember the old readers like The Ontario Reader series and Maybe eveil the Red Letter Primer, Some of these books were on display as well as old jeWelery, shoes and hats, Some of the more interesting hone in. However once the Provincial Assessment Departments were established, the Province asked to rent our building and bought all the furnishings." "When we first opened negotiations to consider expanding," Mr. Lobb explained, "the building, various aspects were discussed and one was expanding to the west. The committee felt there was no need to buy extra property when ' land was already owned by the County so that ruled out moving west. continued on page 7 own pay ratified the committee's recommended composition of the Tax Review Committee, Anson McKinley was replaced by Deb Shewfelt, Goderich Reeve, with the other committee members • being Charles Thomas, chairman, Gerry Ginn, Cecil Desjardine, Joseph Kerr, Frank Cook and Warden Roy Pattison, ex officio member. In their budget report the committee brought down increases across the board. The budget for members of council was in- creased from $41,450 in 1972 to $53,700 in 1973, It was explained that much of this in- crease resulted from the additional mem- bers of council. In general administration, the clerk treasurer's department, the budget in- creased from $93,200 last year to a projec- ted $104,850 in 1973. This budget includes the cost of operating the clerk treasurers department as well as such items as legal and audit fees and insurance on liability. The committee noted in its report that in- creased salaries accounted for much of the budget increase. County plan passed The official Huron County Plan, which has been under development since 1969, was finally given approval by the county councillors at the February meeting on Friday. The plan will give the county planning board and county council an ad- ministration set up to direct and oversee the future development of Huron County. The plan sets up an overall outline of planning for the whole county but leaves it up to the local municipalities to set up area plans that will compliment and follow the county guidelines. Of late.,approval for the plan has been held up because of working problems and on arguments that the plan was too rigid in certain areas. Policies in connection with mobile homes were pointed to most specifically in the latter case. dude kerosene lamps, an old coal oil stove and an old butter churn, The children were delighted with all of the unusual additions to their classroom but they were par- ticularly amused with the old bells. Some of the other classes came to tour the kindergarten display and were equally enthused with the unfamiliarity of Many of the objects and clothing, In spite of what looked like a lot of work for both Mrs, Williams and the mothers, everyone enjoyed the week's activities. Marshall Young, chats with Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake last Tuesday afternoon after Clinton Firemen extinguished a small blaze at the house he rents on the Bayfield Road, a mile west of Clinton. Firemen were called to the scene when a passerby spotted smoke seeping from beneath the house. An overheated wood stove was blamed for the cause of the blaze. The house is owned by Elmer Trick of Clinton (News-Record photo) Police to bite local dog Although the by-law has not been enfor- ced over the past few years, the Clinton Police Department seems determined to play dog-catcher to put an end to the com- plaints of stray dogs. Dog owners Would be well advised to get their pet a license and keep it off the streets, otherwise they will risk either pay a a heavy fine or lose their dog. approves service BY WILMA OKE