Clinton News-Record, 1974-04-11, Page 1Safety
award
For the tenth year in a row, the Clinton area office of
Ontario Hydro has received a one year safety-free
award, The award was presented last Friday night in
Clinton by Al Perttula right, operations manager for the
Western region to Bill Chessell of Varna left, a 30 year
employee and Bonnie Upshall, the newest staff mem-
ber. (Photo Art Services photo)
Clinton seeks SWEEP
109th Year - No. 15 Thursday, April 11 74
"11.1•11111111•11•1111111101ONI11111.1111010100111110111111INANW
20 Cents Clinton, Ontario
Rain 2.26" Rain 1.29"
Weather
1974 ,
APRIL'
1973
HI LO
2 53 33 49 35
3 63, 38 40 34
4 65 43 42 35
5 44 30 43 30
• 6 38 26 50 39
7 42 32 48 37
8 33 20 45 32
Lloyd George Salter, 39,
RR3, Kippen, was acquitted
last Thursday of a charge of
non-capital murder in the Oc-
tober .5 slaying of a 93-year-old
widow.
An all-male Ontario supreme
court jury deliberated in
Goderich for 3 1/2 hours at the
end of the' nine-day trial.
Mrs. Jane Burton McMur-
trie's nude body was found in
her bed. Evidence during the
trial showed she had been
sexually assaulted and
strangled. Salter was arrested
November 20.
Mr. Justice Thomas Zuber
described the case as an
unusually long and difficult
one.
"I am happy you did not
allow the finger of suspicion to
point too strongly," he told the
jury. "The case aroused' feelings
and passions..
"I'm happy you could pay at-
tention to the legal aspects."
In his charge to the jury,
lasting more than an hour, Mr.
Justice Zither said there was no
doubt the woman was mur-
dered and by someone who cut
telephone wires before entering
the house,
"The person meant, to do it ...
or cause the bodily harm that
brought about her 'death," he
said.
He warned the jury to be
,cautious of evidence given by
Thomas (Smitty) Rutherford, a
co-worker of Salter's. He said
there were many contradictions
in Rutherford's testimony.
Defence counsel J.M. Don-
nelly in his 70-minute sum-
mation' of evidence, questioned
the adequacy of the police in-
vestigation into the case.
He said no fingerprints were
found in the entire McMurtrie
home despite the presence of
about 16 persons the day the
woman's body discovered.
He also said technical
evidence given during the trial
was inconclusive.
"The Crown has failed to
fulfil the burden of proving
guilt," Mr. Donnelly told the
jury. "Thus, Lloyd Salter
O utwit backs Plannin
School play well received
Hullett accepts drain tenders
By the News-Record critic
The auditorium at Clinton Public School
was transformed into a minor version of
Walt Disney's Fantasyland last Thursday
and Friday evenings. The Occasion was the
two-hour stage shoW "Tribute to Disney',
presented by the intermediate and senior
grades at the school. It delighted all ages,
but particularly the little ones who were
fascinated by the projected images of Peter
,'Pan flying around, the darkened room, and
by a realistic and friendly Mickey Mouse,
played by Paul Newland.
The program opened with the 65 voice
senior choir performing under the direction
of music teacher, Mrs. Bonny Jewitt, with
Mrs. B. Bosman accompanying, They sang
several numbers, "Eidelweiss", "Climb
Every Mountain", "The Impossible
Dream", the theme from "The Poseidon
Adventure", the "Mickey Mouse March",
all of which suited their youthful voices.
The choir was followed by excerpts from
"Peter Pan" presented by Mrs. Jewitt's
and Mr. Matthies,' grades 6 and 7 classes.
Costuming and back drops were excellent
in both this and the other scenes which
followed with some excellent Indians, and
absolutely frighteningly - rough-looking
pirates. Equally as realistic were the
sooty-faced chimney sweeps in "Mary Pop-
pins" which followed. It was performed by
Mtg. Charter's grade 5 class, ,• • ** •
* Next came ,a,,;.grade 5„,v,ersiori, of ,"Srinw
White" by Miss Wilbee's class. In each
case, the class acted as chorus while as
many as possible individual class-mates
were given starring roles, whether as a tree,
a wood-pecker, "Little Phew" - the skunk,
etc.
Fill-ins between acts were ably handled
by the school cheerleaders giving a sam-
pling of their cheers. Their outfits and
paper "pom-poms" and vigour of their
cheers made their performance as realistic
as if they had actually been cheering at a
game.
The gymnastics display, done on the
stage with a mini- trampoline, box-horse,
and giant size gym mat pleased the crowd,
with some of the flips and other
movements looking extremely difficult in
the limited space. The participants had
chosen gymnastics as one of their elective
subjects, under Mr. Millsen's guidance.
Both the grade 8 girls and boys modelled
in the all-inclusive "Fashion Show" which
saw some Disney characters on stage, some
fashions of days past, the present, and
By J. F.
Tomorrow, April 12, is Good Friday and
most stores in the area will be closed for
the day, to reopen on Saturday, As well,
there will be no mail delivery on the rural
routes and no wicket service at the post of-
fice, Service returns to normal on Saturday
and Monday, with the normal Sunday
pick-up.
* * *
We see in one of our bowling reports that
the News-Record's own "Scoop" and
"Mike" of Brucefield won the skunk
awards ih the Molson's Crown Mixed
Bowling League for being the worst
bowlers in the league,
The Clinton Minrst:rial Association is
holding their special Interdenominational
Church Service Good Friday in Ontario
Street United Church at 8 p.m. Everyone is
welcome to share in the fellowship of the
combined service and choir.
If you have forgotten 'write this down on
the back of your hand "must attend the
Clinton Centennial meeting next Wed,
nesday night April 17 at the Clinton Town
Hall at 8 nat."
***
The Clintoh firemen answered two calls
this week. One was to a report of smoke at
the garage of Russell Jervis on Princess
Street on Tuesday night, and the other Was
to a grass fire on the Seranus Martin Partin
on the Maitland Concession, Goderich
Township north of Rolmesville on Wed-
nesday morning,
• *
An ad in last Friday's London Free Press
erroneously gave the News-Record's phone
number as a plate to call for information
on Blue Anchor's Marina in Bayfield. The
News-Record is not connected with Blue
, Anchor or the Marina in any way.
some fashion-fantasies of the future.
The whole program moved at an ex-
cellent pace, with none of the usual lulls
between scenes which typified all of the
shows we adults ever participated in, This, ,
together with some other good touches,
such as well-organized ushers, very com-
petent lighting and stage-hands, some
minor acts which "clicked", all contributed
to a rather highly-polished show which
made us think we must have Walt Disney
himself in charge.
Actually, the able directors were French
teacher, Mr. D. DeGregorio and music
teacher, Mrs. Bonnie Jewitt. The parents
and friends present, about 550 of them for
the two performances, were justly proud of
the young participants. '
The area around Clinton's sewage treat-
ment plant could be turned into a small
park if Clinton Council's plans are carried
out.
Council decided last Monday night at
their regular monthly meeting that they
would ask the Ausable-Bayfield Conser-
vation Authority to consider Clinton in
their summer project for students.
Known as Students Working for En-
vironmental Enhancement Program
(SWEEP), the program could be used in
Clinton to cut down old trees on the town's
property and clean the site up for a
possible park. Councillors Ruth Roy, Don
Hall and Reeve Harold Lobb will meet
with the Authority to discuss the project.
Council will also try to get the SWEEP
students in from the Maitland Valley Con-
servation Authority to clean up Cardwell's
pond behind Central Secondary School. A
SWEEP crew had started the clean-up two
Mullett Township council at their
regular meeting last week accepted three
tenders for two municipal drains in the
township.
Posthill Tile Drainage of RR 3, Clinton
received the nod to build the tiled part of
the Medd Drain at a price of $5,889 and R.
Nicholson Construction Co. Ltd. of RR, 1,
Sebringville received the tender for con-
struction or the open part at a cost of
$6,150,
The open Kennedy Drain will be con-
strutted by Radford Construction Ltd., of
t3lyth for a cost, of $5,800. All tenders were
the lowest submitted.
In other business, council accepted the
revised report on the Beane Drain No.
and set May 6th as the court of revision, A
tile drain loan applieation was also accep'
ted and granted severance to Lenard
The Clinton planning Board are enfor-
cing Clinton's official plan to the letter and
Clinton. council Monday night backed theta
,on several -fronts.
In one letter from the Planning Board to
council, the board waft not in agreement
With a proposed subdivision plan submit-
ted by Deb Shewfelt of Delbar Investments
• of Goderich. The board will meet with
• INN))) County planner Gary Davidson arid
then go back to Mn Shewfelt before a
decision is made.
The Board also was against re-zoning of
a lot on Victoria Street at Gordon Street,
Which is owned by Lorne Brown. The Plan-
, tling Board thought there should be some
definite plans laid before them before the
zoning is changed,
Clinton council also concurred with the
Planning Board's decision to turn down an
application for repair garage on ,Princess
Street in a zone that is presently residen-
tial.
The Planning Board also asked the
council to pass an amending by-law tQ
- straighten up the eight objections against
--the town's plan by residents brought out
during the Ontario Municipal Board's
hearing in Clinton last fall. A by-law will
be drawn up for next Tuesday night's
special council meeting, which his been
called to open`tenders on the 1974 street
reconstruction program.
Cost of the reconstruction program on
',Dunlop, Joseph and Orange Street is expec-
The Clinton Lions Club held one of their
most successful Rural-Urban nights in
recent• history last Tuesday night when 102
farmers, Lions and guests packed the St.
Paul's Anglican Church Parish Hall.
Huron MPP, Jack Riddell was the guest
speaker and he presented a strong case for
the farmer getting a better return for his
investment, Mr. Riddell, a former auc-
tioneer, also helped in the auction of farm
produce at the meeting which was brought
in by the farmers under the organization of
Clinton Lion and Hullett Township farmer
Hugh Flynn,
more ambitious and meaningful
celebration during 1975.
A spokesman for the ways and means
committee Don Hall, said that for the sale
to be a success, residents of Clinton and the
area are being asked to donate something
for the sale. He said there is almost
nothing that is old that wouldn't be in-
teresting and valuable to sornebedy.
He said that the more valuableAt,em
could be offered to the committee on a con-
signment basis, with the committee keeping
25 per cent of the sale value.
The event., Mr. Hall 'said, would be ad-
vertised over a large area, including parts
of Michigan, ensuring a good attendance
from both dealers and buyers,
ton: was: reread, .tOR kai00.104:04r.t* -tWO:
years ..aWr ..0914Pla ti
about .polluting' a stream
Councillor -Pon: Hall of GeneratOrw.rn,
ment told council that the new carpet 'has,
been laid in the clerk's office and new tile
laid .in the front foyer of the Town nail, He
also said that .souvenir matches
proclaiming Clinton Centennial, have been
received.
Building permits- were: issued- to R. 'Mit-
chell and P. Jensen, a house worth $80;009
and to Maroon Ready Mix, a storage shed,
$10,000.
Also present at the dinner were six Lions
from Seaforth who were making an inter-
club visit and Zone Chairman Bill Pinder
of Seaforth, who paid his annual visit.
Entertainment for the evening was
provided by,Clinton's Bradley Bunch and
Jack Riddell, who sang the "Auctioneer's
song."
Past-president Glen Price brought in a
new slate of officers for -the coming year.
Election of officers takes place in two
weeks. Harvey Howard of Clinton is the
out-going president.
, Anyone who wishes to donate or consign
articles for the sale may deliver them to
the arena any Monday or Thursday from
now until the sale, between the hours of 1.
p.m. and 4 p.m.
Anyone with a donation or a consign-
tnent who would like further information is
akked; to contact the Clinton, Arena at. 482..
7.731, Lorne i rouyii,,Motors• at_ 482-774,1;:.
Afistett Jewellers at 482-9525f Don Hall at
482-7220; or Skip Winters at 482-6619.
Mr. Hall said the committee was anxious
to assemble and catalogue the items as
soon as possible, so they hoped that
donations and. consignments would start
coming in immediately.
should be acquitted."
Crown Attorney William
Cochrane, who spoke for about
half an hour, said Salter had
the opportunity to murder the
woman.
He said technical evidence
pointed to him. He said his con-
duct after the body was
discovered, including conflic-
ting statements of his
whereabouts, pointed to his
guilt.
The entire day of the trial
Thursday was taken up with
summations from the two
lawyers and Mr, Justice
Zuber's charge to the jury.
Mr. Donnelly did not call
defence evidence in the trial.
Disneg
tribute
The tribute to Walt Disney put on by the senior students at Clinton Public School lest Thur-
sday and Friday was well received and generously applauded by the 550 persons who atten-
ded. Here the actors and the directors of the successful play wave during the grand finale
of the play. (News-Record ,photo)
years ago, but nothing was done last year.
In other business, two taxi licenses each
were issued to Harvey Ashton and Andrew
Berg of Clinton. Both had been approved
by the Police chief,
Mayor Don Symons promised to look
into a request from R.V. Anderson and
Associates, tie town's engineers on the new
sewage project, who requested 'an increase
in the contingency fund for the project. The
letter said there was only $1,760 left in the
fund and $7,300 was needed.
The fund, used for miscellaneous items
during construction, was originally set at
$29,000, but Mr. Anderson said that was
depleted by $17,000 because of the delay in
awarding the contract.
Council, in other business, approved
severance to Raymond Dupee to close a
lane between Rattenbury and Huron
Streets and to Margaret Hale for a
property on Pugh's Terrace,
The first major project to raise funds for
the Clinton Centennial next year were un-
veiled last week.
On June 29, 30 and July 1st of this year,
, ;:,,the ways and means committee of the Clin-
ton Centennial Committee are planning to
have a giant three day antique auction and
flea market in the Clinton arena,
• .4:ViliOireria noel- will be-divided into
stall's' for ',antique , dealers to offer their
goods and a section at the north end of the
area will be reserved for the Centennial
committee to run the auction.
The': committee said they hoped that a
sizable sum of money necessary to finance
the Centennial could be raised at the auc-
tion and sale, enabling them to stage a
Bakelaar of the Maitland Block, Lot 4 and
suggested there be a written agreement
signed on line fences.
Building permits were issued Terry -
Taylor, pole barn; and Torn Duizer, a
house.
At a Special meeting on March 27,
Hullett council agreed ,to let Don Watson
open up the village of Alma on his property
And allow him to build houses on it.
Hullett also agreed to open up parts of two
streets in the village which exists only as a
registered plan at present.
Council also issued building permits to
David Livingstone and Joe Gibson, subject
to Hullett by-laws and Huron County Flooded Health Unit approval where applicable.
A tile drainage loan was approved and
Hallett set a 25 tent per head rate for the 18 0 d
Warble fly spraying.
tad to be around-020,000 and Clinton 'has
Applied to the -Ontario Ministry of Trio,
sportation and. Communication.* for n. 50;'
Per pent subsidy on the project and, also on
A $40,000 road maintenance budget.
Council received a 15 name petition from
residents of a gravel portion of Isaac Street
asking council to oil their street this sum-
mer rather than put calcium on it to keep
down the dust,
Public Works chairman Ernie Brown
promised to talk with the residents and
Wanted any other town residents who want
oil instead of calcium on their street, Clin-
Lions stage big night
First Centennial project planned
Kippen man acquitted of sex slaying
After list Week's heavy rainfall, the Beyfiefd River oVerflOWid Mr blanks and fioOded hue,
dreds of acres of NM, this picture, taken lust east of Clinton shoWs the effect Of the
flooding. The elver is eXpedted to be near Oetfeet, However, for this rridey'e lifyliski Lioni
denoe Rade Whidh will get underway at the Hully Gully at 11 CM. end finish at the baylisld
Bridge. (Noors ,Record photo))