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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1963-03-07, Page 1MISS MARY TAPP Mometary inattention blamed for .train crash Kids lose .Ninetieth Yea r Price Per Copy 10 Cents EXETER, ONTARIO, MARCH 7, 1963 First two stages this year N NEW MAIN ST. DRAINS castiet Hensali's ..utility map, ErneSt Davis, sn144110, a..Ohildrefe4 snow "pastle"-Tuesdp., With a shovel, he wrecked the tunnels And. ?"rooms! greeted by youngsters in the munleiP41 snow PileS at the CNR yards. The action resulted.. from A complaint presented by Petin-. eillor Lavender Monday night that the "castle" had reached the dangerous stage, Small children who worked their way through the tunnels. Into the pits had been unable to climb out without the assistance of older children, he said, council ordered the "castle" wrecked. visibility was very good. "A person dMving on that road, should be able to see that train a quarter-of -a-Mile". He testi- fied that there Was no evidence on the road that brakes had been applied before the car collided with the train. When ql4estioned by Crown Attorney W. Q. Cochrane, QC, about other accidents at that particular crossing, Constable Ried said that he knew of only one other which occurred 2 and one-half years ago. It happened in a similar way and involved a car travelling in the Opposite direction at about the same time of day, he stated. Coroner Dr. J. G, Goddard, Hensall presided over the in- quest and Jurrbrs were: Clif- ford Russell, Shipka, forman; Harvey Ratz, Shipka; Earl Neil, RR 1 Exeter; Earl Deitrich, Centralia; Verne Weido, RR 2 Dashwood. New lighting at south end car approaching the crossing when they were about 900 feet away, Both stated that there was no indication of a collision when they saw the pan Mr. McDonald, who is also a quali- fied engineer, was driving the train at the time and said the train was travelling at between 30 and 35 m.p.h. Mr. Luty said that the whistle was sounded, as usual, about a quarter-of-a-mile away frern the crossing and was sounding when they reached the crossing. He said the engine had 4 foc- cupied the crossing" and the first box car was partly across when the car struck the train, that the brakes were applied at about the same time as the car struck. PC Harry Reid, who investi- gated the accident, said that the crossing had been freshly salted and described the rest of the road as "centre bare". He said year cost $1,300. "We won't make a decision on what will be done until we receive the plan for the rest of the town," he said, Wooden indicated the engi- neer reported he had completed most of the work for the overall plan, which should be ready in a month or so. The five-stage plan for Main St. includes: Stage one--From Alexander to Anne St.; estimated cost $10,000; town's share, $3,500, Stage two--Anne St. to San- ders; $10,000, town's share, $3,500. Drains committee recom- mended Monday night that town council undertake the first two stages of a $100,000 storm sewer project for Main St. this year. The work involves installa- tion of 27 and 30-inch concrete tile from John St. south to Alexander to carry surface wa- ter into the Anne St. drain, Coast for this portion is estima- ted at $20,000. The other three stages of the plan, submitted by Engineer B.M. Ross, Goderich, cover the remainder of Main St. north to No. 83 highway. Total estimate is $98,000. Drains chairman Wooden said the department of highways will absorb up to three-quarters of the cost of the work, if approved. The proposal to proceed with the first two stages was con- tained in the committee's budget request for $12,000. The budget breakdown: Main St. storm sewer -- $8,000 (town's portion). Other new drains--$2,400. Maintenance of existing drains--$1,600. Council turned the requisition over to the finance committee for consideration atbudget time. Decision is not expected until the mill rate is struck. Hensall to rebuild ten village blocks Hensall council decided Mon- day night to excavate and rebuild 10 blocks of streets and cut down on paving work this year. Council agreed not to hardtop the co-op road, which was re- built last year, because there are no houses on it which would be bothered by dust. It will be covered with a four-inch layer of gravel. The resultant saving in cost will be directed to the rebuilding of more than the usual amount of roads in other sectors of the village. Streets slated for the work are partly in the north-west area and partly east of No. 4 highway. The program includes Brock, 600 feet; Mill, 100'; Elizabeth, 132'; Queen 660'; Queen, east of No. 4, 132'; N. Richmond east of No. 4, 132' and Lorne, 1,200'. Estimated cost of the work is $6,500, Discussion was lengthy on the selection of roads to be excavated and paved over the two-year period. Reeve Jones Town council Monday night tentatively approved PUC plans for improved lighting on Main St. at the south entrance to town. Estimated to cost $4,600, the lighting project will conform to plans for the new highway en- trance and, through relocation of existing fixtures, will benefit other areas in the town. Eleven 6-foot power-groove luminaires with underground wiring will be installed between Huron and Waterloo streets. At the request of the depart- ment of highways, they will be placed on the property side of the sidewalks on "goose neck" concrete poles which curve to- ward the highway. "We have suggested 6-foot units in order to have this area harmonize with the street ligh- ting that has been planned for the business area north of Huron St.," said PUC Manager Hugh Davis in a letter to' council. "The lights south of Huron will have staggered spacing to match those proposed for the business area." The PUG proposed that the six 4-foot luminaries already installed in this area be re- located. Several streets were suggested --S her w ood; Main north of Gidley, and Sanders between William and Andrew. Council turned this decision over to committee. HIGH POINT Stage three--Sanders St. to the river; $63,000 (town's share to be determined). No instal- lation was proposed for the block between John and Sanders since this is the high point in which part of the area slopes south and the other part north to the river. The water from this block will be picked up at catch basins at John and Sanders. Stage four—From George and Alexander south to the river, $8,000. Stage five--From No. 83 to the creek just north of Alex- ander, $6,000. Some consideration was given to the period of time over which the five stages would be com- pleted and it ranged from five to 10 years. Clerk Pickard pointed out the highway offi- cials felt Main St. pavement would stand up for another 10 years and suggested it would not be practical to tear up any more pavement than necessary before that time. SEEK APPROVAL McGillivray students present spring festival McGillivray central school pupils presented a variety concert to capacity crowds Thursday and Fri- day night at West McGillivray. With each of the grades performing, the program included a "Peter Rabbit" operetta, play, musical drill, humorous TV skits, dance numbers, choruses and songs by various groups including a triple double trio. Above, the senior choir performs under the direction of music teacher Mrs. Clarence Hardy.Board chairman Arthur Simpson gave the opening address. felt that the east end of town should be attended to since the dust was quite heavy in this section. GRANT ARENA $1,000 A grant of $1,000 was made to the arena board to cover repairs to the compressor and building. Councillor Harold Knight re- ported the board had hoped to complete the year without ask- ing for assistance but the con- dition of the arena was such that it must be repaired. The seats needed painting and the boards are in bad condition. The compressor, he said, had had two breaks and the estimate for repair was about $600. The machine was a rebuilt one and not heavy enough to keep the ice in shape in the warmer weather, according to Knight. Councillor Lavender said: "This was always a lemon and there should be better equip- ment in there, especially with so many surrounding areas using, the arena. Other business: Utility man Ernie Davis was named weed inspector. David reported there had been furnace trouble in the town hall and the pipes in the outside washrooms had frozen during the first thaw, Reeve Jones felt that resi- dents should replace trees that had been cut down recently. Council requested a correc- tion in the report of the last week's meeting to show that the firemen's new rate of pay is $2.50 per hour on a call and $2.50 per practice. Permits were granted to James Bengough for renovation to his house and Clem Christie for installing cupboards. SHDHS raises salaries, teacher shortage 'worst' Study radiant heat under Main St. here However, the program met no objections from council and members authorized submis- sion of plans for the two-stage storm sewer project to the high- .• ways department for approval. The Main St. sewer is the f i r st development resulting from council's decision last year to undertake a planned pro- gram of drainage installations and improvements. The deci- sion followed a stalemate over proposals made for the instal- lation of several drains, which some councillors felt were not as vital as others. Besides requesting plans last year for the Main St. sewer (part of which will be done in connection with the new highway entrance at the south), council requested Engineer Ross to prepare an overall drainage picture to serve as a guide for future installations. In an effort to attract and hold teachers in what is de- scribed as the "worst short- age there has ever been," SHDHS board approved a $100 across-the-board increase in its salary schedule and a re- tirement gratuity plan Tuesday night. Principal H. L. Sturgis term- ed the situation "very grave." He said all of the 400 graduates of the Ontario College of Edu- cation could be absorbed by the Toronto schools alone. Some boards are holding re- ceptions at universities in step- ped-up efforts to entice gradu- ates to the teaching field. Osborne pays claim over sheep damage "We feel that the accident was due to momentary lack of at- tentien :of the part Of Mc, Dowell", 4 corer' er' S jury stated in Exeter Tuesday fel- lowing an inquest into the fatal collisiOn between the car driven by LAC Paul Winston McDowell, RCAF Centralia, and a CNR freight train at the south Cen- tralia road crossing Feb, 16. McDowell died because of a massive internal hemmorhage after his car collided with the side of a moving freight train and he was somehow thrown to the other side of the moving train some 20 feet away from the side of the road. His son, two-year-old David Guy Mc- Dowell, a passenger in the car, was also killed. Witnesses stated that they were not aware that the child was in the car until just after the accident when he was dis- covered by a railway employee. It is believed that he died in.- sta.ntly. Cpl. G, B. Brown, RCAF Centralia, who was travelling "five or six hundred" feet be- hind the McDowell car, said that he concluded from his own speed that the other car was travelling at below 35 m.p.h., that at one point he expected the car ahead to turn off to the right at an intersection before coming to the railway crossing. "After the intersection his car seemed to wander over to the left side of the road. He was going slower. I fully ex- pected him to stop" (at the crossing). Cpl. Brown stated that the victims' car was com- pletely in the west-bound lane at impact, that the front of the car was dragged south by the train and the back whipped into the train and then the car landed in the south ditch. He stated that he then ran to the home of Fred Howe, some 250 feet west of the intersection where he phoned for help. He said Mr. Howe hurried over to the scene of the accident carry- ing blankets. Cpl. Brown noted that the day was clear and sunny and that the road was snow-covered on the east-bound lane, clear on the west-bound lane. He said he did not hear the train's warning signal but that both his car heater and defrost were opera- ting and that they made quite a bit of noise. He further testi- fied that he had driven to work with McDowell on a number of occasions and as a driving in- structor had no criticism of Mc- Dowell's driving ability. He said that both ambulance and doctors arrived within a few minutes of the accident. F/L K. B. Mellor, practising physic- ian on the station testified that the ambulance was there when he arrived shortly after 12 pm. Dr. M. Gans, Exeter, was also called to the scene. Dr. Mellor said he considered McDowell to be in a very serious condition when he first saw him. "He was conscious but not ra- tional. I immediately gave him a sedative and then got a number of people to help me put him on a litter and transfer him to the ambulance." He said he admini- stered first-aid at the station and then accompanied him in the ambulance to Westminster Hos- pital, London, but that he died before reaching the hospital. Andrew Luty, London, engi- neer of the train and J. B. Mc- Donald, Dorchester, brakeman, both testified that they saw the Bailey apparently made the proposal at the joint meeting of drains and roads committees (which have identical member- ship) with Engineer B.M. Ross. "The engineer is going to look into it," said Bailey. "I know it works and I think it will do a good job and not cost too much." Wooden said Montreal was experimenting with such instal.; lotions and pointed out that radiant heating is being used in some private driveways. Bailey mentioned the idea du- ring his submission of the roads budget, which came to $22,000, the same as in '62. "We figure on following the same pattern this year," Bailey said. "The cost will depend to some extent on the condition of roads in the spring. We are considering a rebuilding job from Anne to John streets." Installation of radiant heating under Main St. pavement is being investigated as a means of reducing snow removal costs, town council learned from Roads Chairman Ralph Bailey Monday night. Bailey's proposal, which came as a surprise, would in- volve the placing of heating pipes near the curbs when the Main St. storm sewer is in- stalled. The road chairman felt only modest, low - pressure boiler facilities would be required to provide enough heat to melt the snow above the pavement. He even suggested that wood from the town's annual tree- cutting program could be, used to heat the boiler. "Isn't this a pipe dream?" asked Taylor. Wooden: "Apparently it's not ' as crazy as it might seem." OTHER DRAINS? Former drains chairman Taylor, whose proposals last year were turned down, asked what improvements were being planned this year in addition to Main St. "I don't think that while we're spending$80,000 or $90,000 on Main St., we should let other parts of the town waddle around in the mess they have." Wooden pointed out the $2,400 in the budget for new drains would provide for some im- provements, noting that the one drain council did put in last stead will be offered a voluntary contributory type of pens io n plan. ADVERTISE FOR THREE The board authorized the principal to advertise for three teachers--one for home eco- nomics, one for math and science and one for French and Latin in the junior grades. One resignation has been re- ceived from David Boyle; G. C. Koch will retire at the end of the term, and Mrs. B. D. Perry will not continue in the home econo- mics department. Mr. Sturgis said he knew of no other pending resignations although he was aware that several members of the staff have had interviews with other boards. PROPOSE "SHOP" ADDITION Considering a request for a five-year capital expenditure forecast, the board provided a "guesstimate" that it would require approximately $100,000 in 1965 to add a technical shop, room to the school. The estimate was based on the principal's proposal that the --Please turn to page 14 Cardiff nominated Huron PC's formally nominated veteran MP Elston Cardiff to run again in the April 8 federal election at a nomination meeting in Clinton Friday night. Cardiff was unopposed. His only opposi- tion in the riding to date is the Liberal standard-bearer, Gor- don McGavin, Walton. See Story, page 5, --Doerr Vote backs compulsory hog sales Stephen aids butter fight tremely close, the Stratford office of the dep't of agricul- ture reported Wednesday that 22 hog board supporters in Perth were elected and only four Free Enterprise men made the grade. This result is almost the exact reverse of last year's election. This indicates Free Enter- prise support, which appeared to reach a peak last year, is Compulsory hog marketing again has stood the test of op- position from the Free Enter- prise organization. In the committeemen elec- tions Tuesday, hog marketing supporters won all the seats in Huron and Middlesex and scored a big victory in Perth, the FE stronghold. Although the returns were ex- Another local township has supported the Huron County Creatn Producers' Association campaign to prevent the color- ing of margarine to imitate but- ter. Stephen council Tuesday pas- sed a tesolutiOn to the pro- vincial goVernntent oppo sing any move to permit yellow mar- garine on the market. The dairytnen are fighting consumer pressure at the proVincial level, which has been getting stronger in recent months. A petition from Ross Picker- ing, lot 11, cone, 12, for drain- age work was approved by coun- cil and will be forWarded to En- gineer J. A. HOWea, OLS, Lis- towel. Contract for the 1963 supply of warble fly powder was let to Rats Feed Mill, Shipka, at its tender price Of $4.50 per 15-pound bag. Township's 1963 road budget has been increased by $4,000 to meet additional maintenance eXperiSeS. The new bylaw calls for the expenditure Of $57,000 On roads; $19,000 for construe- Hon, and $38,000 for Mainten- aride, The increase is required for MaintenanCe. Connell apprOVed the transfer of the properties Of Harvey Wainer, concession 22 and Sauble concession froth Ste,- phen to' McGillivray school area, The 'UM-Wet IS subject to MeGillityray'S approval. Murray Abbot was appointed road foreman for Centralia, replacing Michael Kelly who reSigned: Grant§ to library boarda eluded $100 td Centralia; $126 to Credit& and $50 to Wall. ,Please turn tei page 14 Seaforth, 707;. A. H. Warner, Hayfield, '706; Ross Love, RR 2, Hensall, 698; Lloyd Stewart, RR 1, Clinton, 696; Gordon Elliott, RR 5, Seaforth, 691; Ross Lo- vett, Londesboro, 688; Elmer Harding, RR 1. Gorrie, 688; Carl Govier, RR 1, Auburn, 68'7; Raymond Finnigan, RR1, Dun- gannon, 686; Robert McAllister, RR 2, Auburn, 683; Harry Mul- vey, Wroxeter, 683; Hugh Run- dle, RR 1. Centralia, 682; Alex McGregor, Kipper', 666. Losing Huron candidates and their votes Were: Ronald Mc- Gregor, Tucker smith, 415: Charles Coultes, East Wawa- nosh, 403; James Adams, Mor- ris, and James Doig, Tucker- smith, 394 each; George Adams, Turnberry, 389; Mel Lamont, Grey, and Gordon Wright, How- Ia., 375 each; Andrew Grozier, Hullett, 371; Alex. Pearson, Grey, 365; Ed Wightrna.n, East WaWatiosh, 363; Hugh Johnston, Grey, 360; Jack Duncan, Us- borne 354; Gordon Nicholson Morris, 353; Melville Grub, Stephen, 352; Stephen Dunda.s, Stephen, 346; Milford Prouty, Hay, 343. TOPS MIDDLESEX Heading the Middlesex poll was Hamilton Hodgins, RR 3 Lucan, with 331 votes, fcillowed by Joseph Conlin, RR 1 Clande- boye, with 318. The other win - flora were: John McLean, RR 1, Glencoe, 317; George Scott, RR 1, Delaware, 31'7; Etnereon Crocker, RR 1, Mossley, 316; John E, Mitchell, RR 2, New- bury, 316; Thomas McCallurn4 RR 2, Appin, 314; Norman Viet- cher, Aft 1, Glencoe, 311; Her- bert Shore, RR 3, London, 311; Harvey 1<ennedy, RR 3, Gran- ton, 306; Stewart Pierce, RR, 11 Walkers, 303; JamesS McQuade, Thorndale, 296. on the down trend. The FE opposition now has suffered nearly half a dozen defeats at the polls in one form or another. In Huron, all 19 candidates who supported compulsory pro- ducer marketing were elected with a wide margin over their FE opponents. Board men re- ceived from 666 to 726 votes, while the totals for FE can- didates ranged from 343 to 415. All 12 board supporters in Middlesex also were elected, the dozen opponents all losing their bids. The principal revealed the dep't has suggested that grade 13 students may be hired to teach physical education and other non-academic subjects. SHDHS raised its minimum starting salary from $4,600 to $4,700 and the , minimums in each category went up $100 to $5,000, $5,400 and $5,700. This will provide members of the staff with a $400 raise, including the annual $300 in- crement. The board's management committee originally recom- mended the starting salary re- main at $4,600 but this was raised when it was shown that a number of district schools, including Clinton and Goderich, have established the $4,700 mi- nimum. Based on the present staff of 29, the increases would amount to $11,800. After considerable discus- sion, the board adopted a re- tirement gratuity plan which provides for a "bonus" of half a year's salary to any staff member who has spent the last 10 years at SHDHS and has 100 days of accumulative sick leave to his credit. The gratuity is scaled down proportionately for those with less than 100 days accumulated sick leave. The plan comes into effect Sept. 1, 1963, for all "salaried members" of the staff, includ- ing non-academic members, and is not retroactive. A number of veteran SH teachers will be excluded from the plan because it is not retro- active. It is designed to induce those with 10 or more years left before retirement to re- main on the staff. Hourly employees, at first included in the proposal, in- the ownership or locale of the dog alleged to be lately worry- ing his flock. Etherington made a written statement to council in support of his evidence concerning the owner or harborer of the guilty dog and council approved amo- tion "that steps be taken to notify the alleged owner that the dog was worrying sheep and should be disposed of." APPOINT INSPECTORS Council appointed Allan Flet- cher and Hubert Hunter as war- ble fly inspectors for 1963, to be paid at the rate of $1.10 per hour and mileage at town- ship rate while engaged in duties. With no appeals against It, the Keller municipal drain by- law in which Exeter property owners are involved Was given its final reading. A complaint from G e r al d Prout about the condition of the Taylor municipal drain was ac- cepted and referred to Engineer J. A, Howes, OLS, Listowel, for a report. W. H. Westlake's complaint about stoppage of the tile por- tion of branch one of the Cann- Mitchell drain was accepted also and referred to Howes for advice about repairs. A bylaw setting the 1963 road budget at $40,000 was approved. It includes $20,000 fOr con- struction and $28,000 for main- tenance. Reeve George Freya° pre- sided and all councillors were present. Next meeting Will be held April 2. In a sequel to a recent court case here, U sbo r ne council Monday agreed to pay claims for damages by dogs to sheep and to take steps to order the disposition of a particular dog which has been worrying a flock. The actions resulted from discussions with R. D. Ether- ington, who claimed damages, and livestock valuer Harry Coates. Council agreed to pay an earlier claim but requested Mr. Etherington to allow time to consult the veterinarian called in by council to investigate the condition of the animals in a further claim. Mr. Etherington agreed but made claim for flock damage of unstated amount. The livestock valuer made a written report to council that in his opinion, as of March 1, there was no flock damage. Mr. Etherington was given a copy of the report and was examined by council as to his knowledge of Blind camp Lions' topic Celebrates 90 years BAAN TOPS POLL Martin Baan, Walton, topped the Huron poll with '726 votes, followed by Robert P. Allan, Brucefield, with 721. Elmer Ireland, Wi righ am , president of Huron Federatibn of Agricul- ture, placed third with 717. Other successful candidates and their totals were: A. G. Bacon, Belgrave, 71.4; Leonard Fisher, RR 4, Goderich, 708; William Coleman, RR 3 Kipper, 708; G. R. Campbell, RR 1, Exeter Lions Clublearned all about the Lake Joseph holiday camp for the blind Thdrsday night. The CNIB camp Manager; Tom Trevelyn, Toronto, de- scribed the operations Of the Centre and showed slides de,- picting its construction and fa- cilities. Other CNIB Official8 at the Meeting Included Ed. Wheeler, field secretary, London; his assistant Bill Murdock, and hand teacher Doris Merkesity. In addition, guests Included CNIB campaign chairman here, S. B. Taylor and several dis- trict asstatanta, Mrs. Nan DOticla and Mrs. A, IL JOhnstaii, RCMP' Centralia, acid Mr: and MrS. Lertie Finkbeiner, Credi- ton. Mao Present Were bra IL Aldis and James kinoald, detierieli CM. official's. President Pred Darling doh- ducted the tneethigi Leave key, invite theft Annetinedinents. 12 church Nantes. r .11 r 12 Coming Events. , 12 Editorials.. . . . 4 Farm News..;,,.,: Perninine Pacts 'N Fancies. 6 tleilgall 4 v 4 • 4 .4 e ildatii t t W t 4 11 . 4 fg Sports. 1 4 4 V 4 it if It 48it Want Ada, 11 Motorists Who leave their keys in parked cars are just asking for trouble, EXeter Nike Said this week after in,‘. vestigating thefts of three cars. In each ease, the owner left the key in a convenient 064 sortie right in the Fortunately, the Stolen data were found iii Other 'parts of the town but police 'Warned that dam age -or actual loss is Often the result of thefts. Miss Mary Tapp, a life-long resident Of Exeter celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday at MrS. L. DeSjardine's Even- tide Rest Home, Main St. Miss Tapp lived at her hone on Waterloo St. until moving to the Rest Heine five 'ears' ago. She has one brother Thomas Tapp, Detroit. A number of friends called On Miss Tapp in lietior Of her birthday and She was the reef., plant of two birthday Bakes and Many other giftS and Cards, serving the callers with cake and led cream were Mrs, Allan PraSer, Gordon Wadi and Mrs. DoSjarditte. General shows h011/ mobile ,home features to dealers 'General Coach WerkS of Canada Ltd,, ...entail ) played host IMoliday to A 064 of Eastern Canada dealers who were shown new models and new features in the HenSall plant before attending a sales Meeting at London. Above plant .stiperintendein Ernie Cliipoliate and production manager Blab Baker demonstrate the new foldWay front end of a Genera MOM to a '0'60 of Quebec dealerS, --Doerr