Clinton News-Record, 1974-02-28, Page 1Clinton, Ontario
Thursday, February 28,1974
20 Cents
109th Year - No.9
Weather
1974
' 1.0
.FEBRUARY
1973
HI 1.0
0 38 29 33 23
20 33 23 36 25
21 38 22 30 8
22 45 30 32 7
23 31 14 27 2
24 17 7 25 16
25 21 6 19 4
Snow - 3"
Snow - 9"
rain - 1.97"
Dekicions
eating
"Ikty are HMO IVO good,`' Was a common o*prellion among tha kiridargarttin kith at St,.
Joseph's 'apatite. tchbot In Clinton last Tuasday as they Marked Shrosii Tuesday by having,
pancake lunch, cooked by tits grade eight student*, Olbat.Wile NOM the bottom Of the' picture''
are ktargatat HOW, Lauri* Grit Limp Doltarty, Kerry Schmidt, Robbis AtnistrOng, Tracy Mid-
'Makin and John Strutorte (Nauts--Record photo)
PS* • I *AI ••••• • • ••14..14.1.
Most county Budgets increased
guards
The three new crossing guards went into action in Clinton on Monday and will be operating
every school day. Here Torn Twyford leads a group of children across the intersection of Albert
and Rattenbury Street. All three crossings will be manned between 8:20 a.m. and 8;50 a.m.;
11:40 a.m. and 12:50 p.m.; and 3;40 to 4 p.m. Council are still looking for another guard to man
the Ontario and East Street crossing point. (News—Record photo)
Hunting season still out
As well as these races, the Centennial
Cro Shill Pace Stakes with a purse of $1,500 will be
run again this year. The Ontario Harness
Horseman Stake will also take place with a
purse of around $6,000. '
There will be thirteen racing days, one
each Sunday, with the operation closing on
September 22.
Some of the year's budgeta nave been
Presented to Wren County Council and ac,
cording to Administrator Berry, there
may have to be extra dollars raised to
finance the 1974 commitments,
Half in jest and half in sincerity, Berry
told county councillors that when, all the
budgets are totalled together this year-the
outcome may require some changes in the
county mill rate,
'During 1974, general government will
cost $65,400 including the Warden's salary
and eanenses at $0,400; county- council
sessions at $24,000; county committees at
$15,000; and conventions and 'delegations
at 13,500,
General administration will take another
$118;200 with $80,000kequired for salaries
in the clerk-treasurer A department' along
with $5,000 for telephone bills; $1,500 for
posti4 e; $300 for advertising; $7,8n0 for
• legal, audit and insurance fees; $4,500 for
travel ,And conventions; $700 for- work-
men's compensation;. and $8,000 in em-
ployees benefits,
No change was reported in the grants to
patriotic and eductional funds. These total
' $11,040,
The budget for the Erriergency Measures
department was set at $800 with the
province paying $720.
'
The Social Services Committee budget
'was brought in and accepted by council at
$453,250 with .a county share of $94,130.
Last year's county share was $72,551. The
increase in the budget can be attributed
to the increase in general assistance
By Shirley J. Keller
While rumors have been rampant •
Hunan County since the provincial by-
election in 1973, *at 'F1'iliO*1#10'fii*
time there was any official indication that
a nuclear power station is. planned by On-
tario Hydro • for this area.
At Huron County Council's regular
February session in the council chambers
at Godetich Friday morning, however, a
hefty delegation of Ontario Hydro
representatives spilled the beans and con-
firmed what the public and press has been
surmising for months.
Two Hydro spokesmen, Att Mosher, F.
Eng. for right-of-way planning and Al
Nevill, systems planning division, commen-
ted on the planning for a station in Huron
along the lake.
It was Ed Oddleifson, reeve of Bayfield
and a former Hydro employee, who pressed
Nevill for details.
Nevill told council that while "no
definite site has been established" it would
probably be "within 20 or 30 miles of
Goderich." He said the plant is expected to
be operational 'by 1985 and would supply
hydro to mainly the southwestern region of
the province, London, Windsor, Sarnia
with some hookup to _the Kitchener-
Waterloo area.
Rumors about the possibility of a nuclear
development for Huron County caused
quite a stir in March of 1973. At that time,
New' Democratic Party candidate, Paul
Carroll, Goderich, lashed out at Ontario
Hydro for not approaching Huron County
planning officials with some notification of
intentions.
• By J. F.
Clinton firemen Tuesday night answered
a fire call at the home of Joseph Fabian oh
High Street. It was only a Minor chimney
fire and no daMage resulted.
* *
Our writer of the story in last week's
paper on the Centennial Band got a little
carried away. The Band will be going to
the Pops Concert in Goderich, they won't
be playing in it,
* *
Unless the Mustangs pull tip their'. boot
strings, the hockey season in Clinton will
be over very soon, The Colts were
eliminated last week, and the 'Stang& face
the Same possibility tonight as they battle
the Hawks here in Clinton tonight at 8;30
pin Should the 'Stange win, the 'rubber'
game will be held on Friday night at 8 p.m.
in the Clinton arena,
* * *
The News-Record has had the pleasure
this week of having a young female jour-
nalisrn student decorating the office, Ann
Dtirrell, a second year student at Western
has been learning the interesting but
sometimes hectic pace required to put out
Weekly newspaper.
benefits effective January 1, said chairman
Reeve Charles Thomas,
Indigent funerals will cost more in 1974,
The basic fee to funeral directors .has been
increased from. $300 to $425 and the
maximum allowable for a funeral has been -
increased from $ 000 to $750.
Library services in the county will cost
$218,050 with, a county contribution of
$183,950.; In 4973, the county share wag
"As in all budgets for 1974, the main in-
crease is due to the necessary salary adjust-
ments which also reflect the increase in
employee benefits," said Chairman John F,
Flannery.
For the third time in the past year, coun-
cil was forced to re-orgenize committees
By ANN DURRELI..
Clinton Kinsmen Raceway will be star-
ting their fourth season on June 30, With
the hopes of having as much success as• last
year. •
Last year, the betting and attendance
was considerably higher than the previous
year. The average attendance was 1,623
with average betting being $57,889 per
program.
An all time record was set last year on
September 22 when 2,125 people bet
$81,800 through the rnutuels.
To insure a successful year this year,
perhaps even more profitable than last,
Although defeated at the polls in that by-
election, Carroll has remained interested in
the environnientel ftepects -.of.-the produc-
tion of iincleati' energy, and has, beeri
keeping in Close touch with all phases of
the questions through membership in a
committee calling itself CANTDU and en-
compassing five committee people from
Goderich and area.
One member of that committee is Mrs.'
Patrick Shanahan of Goderich. When con-
tacted concerning the official sounding
news of a nuclear development in Huron
County, Mrs. Shanahan commented, "I
would hope that Ontario Hydro's plans
don't become reality."
CANTDU has made its feelings known to
Member of Parliament for Huron, Jack
Riddell. Contacted at his home Saturday
morning, Riddell confirmed the truth of
the statement in county council session
Friday that some nuclear development is
planned for Huron County in the near
future.
"I would say there is no question about
that," said Riddell.
When asked for his comments concerning'
the announcement, Riddell admitted he
had mixed emotions.
"If in fact, Huron is looking for more in-
dustry, there is no question that a power
plant will entice new industry," said Rid-
hecattee of a death. among county courK.
cillors Roy Allin, deputy reeve of .Colborne:
Township, died suddenly recently,ReeVe •
Everett •44011witin„ reeve of the Township -
of Goderich, was named to complete Mr,
two year term on the :Planning
„Board and the new deputyreeve of ,
Colborne, not yet appointed, will become a,'
member of the library board,.
The steering committee for the UMBA:,_ •
(Urban Develepment in Rural Areas) study
will be. Warden Bill Elston; ',Janie* A.,
Mair, chairman '• of the planning board; .!
Cecil Deejardine, planning hoard member;;.
and. Roy Westcott and I. Haytet, both
of the land division committee: • 4 The study team will be Warden Elston,
Mr. Mair .and Planning Director
Davidson, • e
they have added the Ontario Sired Stake
series to their agenda.
This new stake consists of four races
each with a total purse of $9,500, No
specific dates have been set for the recce or
the conditions of the stakes.
dell. "But we don't know what we're
heading for when we look at it from the
long range point of view."
"We have rid Idea Whatpotential.,
dangers there are in connection with these
power plants," said Riddell. "We are
being self-centred. We are not thinking of
what future generations will have to con-
tend with because of our, decisions."
Riddell suggested that not enough gover-
nment money is being spent to investigate
the alternatives to nuclear energy - tidal
energy, wind, solar energy, geothermal
energy.
But if Ontario Hydro is determined to go
ahead with plans for a nuclear power
development in this area of the province,
Riddell is working to ensure that it does
not eat up "prime agricultural land".
"This can be avoided," said Riddell.
Riddell spoke of a brief drawn up by the
Bruce-Huron Hydro Negotiating Commit.
tee which was presented to Hon. William
A. Stewart recently.
This brief, having direct relation to the
Bruce Nuclear Power Station at Douglas
Point, was presented to Huron County
Council Friday. It deals specifically with
the power corridor from Douglas Point to
Seaforth through parts of Huron and
Bruce.
Farmers along the proposed corridor,
After January's discussions at Huron
County Council concerning wolves and
deer, three representatives of the Ministry
of Natural Resources attended the
February session of county council. They
were Rene Jones, district biologist; Herb
Clark, recreation supervisor; and Roy
Bellanger, predator control officer,
Huron County councillors wanted the
facts about deer and wolves here, but much
of the news they received was not all that
well accepted.
For instance, Jones told council that in
his opinion there were between 2,000 and
3,000 deer in the county, Reeve Anson
McKinley, Stanley, disagreed.
"I would think there's not anything like
that many deer in the county", argued
Bomb hoax
A bomb scare lag; Friday at the two
plants of Bendix Home Systems Ltd. of
Hensel' sent about 300 employees home for
half-day holiday.
Exeter detachment of the OPP said that
an unknown person phoned the plant's
switchboard on Friday afternoon about
12:20 p.m. and told them there was a bomb
hidden in one of the plants, which
manufacture motor homes, trailers and
mobile homes.
Police from the OPP searched the plants
but could find no bomb. The incident is
still under investigation.
Andy !manse, plant manager, said the
scare was ,a serious matter as it Meant a
complete production shutdown and the loss
of thousands of dollars, both to the cotn.
pony and the employees.
He' aid that from the moment the threat
was phoned in, they viewed it as a hoax,
but had no choice but to think of the etn-
ployees" safety and evacuate the plant,
MCKinley. "I would say there were more
hunters than there were deer."
By way of explanation, Jones told
McKinley that in the Bruce Peninsula,
where there is a deer season every year, not
many deer are visible. •
"I've spent two hunting seasons there
and have yet to see a deer," said Jones.
"But they take a lot of deer there every
year."
The numbers of deer in the county are
estimated by other means, Jones said.
Road kills, for instance, is a valid' in-
dicator. In 1970, 13 deer were reported
killed on the toads in Huron but in 1973,
the number had more than doubled at 30.
Deer tracks also are a reliable calculator
when estimating population in Huron.
Bellanger said that in Hay and Stanley
Townships, the home territory of Reeve
McKinley, there are many deer.,
"Just walk the river flats," Bellanger
told •McKinley. "There are more deer than
you think."
Bellanger went on to say that there is
illegal hunting going on in that area of the
county as well as other districts.
The 4aet rieer season was in 1971 when
56e hunters spent 800 days in the fitifl.
They saw 200 deer, shot at 100 and har-
vested 51.
Ministry officials felt there were "suf-
ficient deer in Huron to warrant a season."
They suggested a season for archers from
October 29 to November 25 or a gun season
from November 11 to 13.
Officials said it would permit hunters to
take deer legally and would provide
"recreation for a segment of the
population".
"Who causes the most damage?" asked
Deputy-reeve Gerry Ginn, Goderich Town-
ship. "The deer or the hunters?"
Ginn was told the only way for farmers
to keep hunters off their land was to post
signs which may be seen from any point of
entry. Most courteous hunters ask per-
mission before entering a farm, however.
Council learned that the Ministry has
the authority ,to announce a deer season,
but added that in most cases, the approval
of the municipalities involved is desirable.
Council registered no further opposition to
the proposal.
The conversation then switched to
wolves. Here again, council was surprised
to learn that in the opinion of the Ministry
officials, the wolf population is not all that
high.
While the Ontario government has
discontinued wolf bounty, it was pointed
out, it does compensate farmers for loss of
livestock if it can be proven the damage
was done by wolves.
Bellanger said that when an animal is
found, the farmer should call the Ministry
of Natural Resources at Wingham (Zenith
92000). An inspector from that department
will examine the carcass to determine
whether or not a wolf was the killer. If so,
a stock evaluator is called in to estimate
the value of the animal lost and a claim
filed with the government.
There were no claims in 1972 or 1973,
said Bellanger.
Last week, 74 employees who were laid
off after Christmas were brought back to
work to bring the plant back to full produc-
tion.
Clinton hospital
gets new head
Clinton Public Hospital will have a new
administrator, He is Douglas S. Coventry
of Nipigon Ontario and he will replace Or-
ville Engelstad, who is stepping down from
the post after four years.
Mr. Coventry has been the administrator
at the Nipigon Hospital for the past three
years and he is married with three
Children, Re cornmerices his duties on April
1, 1974,
The hospital also announced laiit
Tuesday that it has found a new
physiotherapist who will start On March
16. He is Syed Huq from Liiitnwel.
said secretary Dave McCallum, have raised
several thousand dollars out of their own.,
pocketi to-COmpi le theSibbeld Study WhiCh
sh‘Ows that the" 08-mile corridor will con-
some many acres of valuable farmland.
"According to the brief, for every mile of
900 foot corridor, the loss will be 108 acres,
for every mile of 540 foot corridor, the loss
is 80 acres.
It has been estimated that if a power line
crosses a 100 acre farm, as much as one-
fifth of the farm could be lost to some
aspects of agriculture.
"Since we have an international protein
shortage and agricultural products are in
great demand, the price of productive land
has doubled and tripled," said the brief.
"This has happened since this lirie was
planned. We think this corridor needs a
fresh approach."
"Ontario Hydro maintains they are
listening to the views of the people," the
brief went on to say," but we have very lit-
tle evidence to substantiate that they will
co-operate with public opinion for change."
According to the brief, the route chosen
by Ontario Hydro for its line passes
through prime agricultural land.
"Although it may be more economical to
construct a power corridor on the excellent
Conditions of classes one and two farm
land, we contend that the extra expense in
Stakes to highlight races
Huron to get nuclear plant in 10 years
construction would be well repaid in the
productive land saved," the brief read.
"This concerns us even more' after the.
''recent annouricenienrof the doubling of the -
Bruce Generating Station when even more
land may be required to convey power,"
the brief continued. "We ask you to con-
sider that this nuclear power complex will
replace agriculture as the major industry in
our counties."
Figures pregented by the committee of
farmers indicated it would cost about
$4,000,000 more to build the power line
through the corridor suggested by the com-
mittee than through the corridor proposed
by Ontario Hydro. According to the com-
mittee that is "not enough money" to
justify using up prime agricultural land.
The route proposed by Hydro uses up
153,112 lineal feet of Class 1 land and
13,200 lineal feet of Class 6 land according
to the committee. The route proposed by
the committee takes 75,856 lineal feet of
(continued on page 6,
Severences costs
to be increased
People applying for land severences in
Huron County after June 1 this year will
pay more. In the past, land severences have
cost the applicant $40; now it will cost $50.
This charge is made upon application
and has no bearing on whether or not the
severence is granted,
Revenue for the year was estimated at
$14,000 based on $40 each for 350 an-
' plications. The county share is estimated at
$25,000.
Reeve Charles Thomas, Grey, said that
since the county is subsidizing the program
by "more than half" it may be a good idea
to increase the charges to the individuals
who are using the services of the land
division conatnittee.
Cal Kreuter, a former county warden, is
chairman of the land division committee.
1 1 clears plant