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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