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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1969-09-04, Page 4Years of frustrations ahead Drivers in Exeter apparently face Many years' of frustration — and possible damage to their cars — by the fact some of the entrances onto Main St. present a situation where cars drag on them, Councilor George Vriese was of the opinion that the problem indicated an error on someone's part, and we find it difficult to argue with that theory. The engineers say it wasn't an error on their part, and they also indicate that the contractors built it to the specifications, so they can't be responsible, However, it does appear strange that the engineers deny any fault on their part in the construction. If in fact it was built according to their plans, then the fault does appear to rest with the engineers, Members of council witnessed a practical test at a special meeting last week that proved beyond any doubt that cars do drag. Gouges in the sidewalks indicate many motorists can attest to that fact also. As Councillor Helen Jermyn noted, council members do not have any engineering abilities, and therefore have to rely on the engineers to draw up plans that will prove practical. Apparently they did not. If the contractor had made a slip in installing the sidewalks, he would have been required to rip it out and do it properly. Why don't the same set of guidelines apply to the engineers? The situation warrants further investigation by council, Some members suggest that educating the drivers will suffice. That is not only impossible but also a rather foolish situation to face after having spent such vast sums in constructing a new street that is supposed to make travelling more of a pleasure. Trio for safety You don't have to remind motorists that school has started again. They have noticed the big yellow buses on the highways and they have probably growled through clenched teeth at the inconvenience of waiting behind a set of flashing red signal lights until the bus has loaded or unloaded. Here in the local newspaper office we have noticed an alarming number of traffic summons issued against motorists in the Exeter area who have not obeyed the new highway regulations covering school buses. In an effort to review them, we called the local office of the Ontario Provincial Police where Cpl. Mitchell is in charge. The Corporal set us straight on a few things. Most of all he reminded us that the motorist does not bear the entire responsibility to see that his car gets stopped behind a school bus with its signals flashing. Said the Corporal, "Some bus drivers just don't realize how much responsibility they have!" Cpl. Mitchell noted that the bus driver should be constantly aware of the physical lay of the landscape, the weather and road conditions etc. when turning on the flashers before stopping his bus. It is the duty of the bus driver, said Cpl. Mitchell, to provide the motorist with a reasonable warning that the bus will stop. The motorist deserves adequate notice of an upcoming stop so that he can safely halt his own vehicle. At the same time, the motorist must be alert when approaching a school bus in motion. A wide-awake motorist, the Corporal noted, would adjust his speed to suit the location of the bus. If the bus was travelling in an area where there were no laneways and no children waiting at the side of the road, it could be considered safe to pass. On the other hand, if youngsters are in sight or if there are laneways in view, the motorist should be prepared for all eventualities. Cpl. Mitchell also advised bus drivers to take a second look before opening the bus door to let out passengers. He said if a car is approaching at a rapid rate of speed, it would be wise for the bus driver to keep the bus door closed either until the car has passed or until it has stopped. Children riding school buses have a certain responsibility too, remarked Cpl. Mitchell. They should always be watchful as they get down from the bus to make absolutely certain it is safe. We think Cpl. Mitchell hit on one of the most dangerous aspects of our modern-day school bus transportation. He said it becomes "very routine" to motorists, drivers and passengers. Routine is apt to become like a habit and habits breed indifference and carelessness. School bus safety is a three-way street. Motorists, drivers and students must all be mindful of their responsibilities so that no horrible tragedies mar the school year. PLANNED INSURANCE PAYMENTS CAN HELP Here's a tip from your Kemper Insurance agent: You pay for your telephone, your electricity and many.. other necessities by the month—budgeting for them because you know they're coming up. Why not pay for your insurance in this same planned way? You can with the Kemper Insurance. Plan which we offer. Under this Plan you can have budgeted insurance protection for your horne,•your car, and your pos- sessions through one agent and one company—all with one small monthly payment. Phone or.write for full details ... LARRY R. JOHNSON R.R. 1 Hensali INSURANCE Phone 262-5388 (Y_OUR INSURANCE PROBLEM-SOLVER) representing Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company a division of Toronto 1 EXETER PLUMBING HEATING Commercial Industrial and Residential FREE ESTIMATES Phone 235-2670 NOTICE TO OWNERS OF DOGS and CATS Prevention of Rabies The Health of Animals Branch of the Canada Department of Agriculture in co-operation with the Huron County Health Unit will hold a FREE RABIES CLINIC Fri., Sept. 12/69 1:00 — 8:00 Arena Vaccination against rabies will be provided for dogs and cats three months of age and over. Owners who require certificates of vaccination for export or other purposes should consult their private veterinary. No certificates will be issued at this clinic. Help prevent human exposure to rabies, take advantage of this opportunity to have your pets immunized. A booster shot each year is recommended. Now Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 torefeames-Aimocate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., 0.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Publishers: J. M. Southcott, R. M. Southoott Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Phone 235.1331 fit.,A;AM814111111111111101M1111MMONI Amalgamated 1924 oho o,f1A01 11. r Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1968, 4,520 RATES: Canada $6.00 Per Year; USA $8.00 Mass corriniunity newspapers SUBSCRIPTION -2 1;•:ov::ei• Put your money into our guaranteed investment certificates now paying the never-before interest of eight and one half percent. VG The senior Trust Company devoted entirely to serving the peinlk of Ontario. VICTORIA and GREY TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1889 197 Bay Street T-A photo GETTING LESSONS FROM A QUEEN — Canada's Teen-Age Queen of 1969, Miss Jewel McAvany spent the past holiday weekend in Exeter visiting her sister, Mrs. Brian Sweitzer. In the picture above, Jewel is helping her 14-month-old nephew Darryl Sweitzer get into the rodeo mood with his toy rifle. Boys flip better than girls About garbage and all that The summer holiday season ended on a busy note for area residents, and it may take a week or so for some of us to get caught up after the hectic schedule of the Labor Day weekend activities. The Exeter Board of Trade Fun Day was an unqualified success. Enthusiasm ran high among the youngsters who competed in the various events. Spectators at the chuckwagon races were treated to thrills and spills galore, and the flap-jack flipping contest and' pistol drawing event were equally entertaining. Four-year-old Franky Giffin won the hearts of the crowd in the pistol event, and also won third prize as he out-drew a couple of lads several years his senior. This was the highlight of the day for yours truly, and anyone who failed to see the competition missed out on a highly entertaining and realistic event. Surprisingly enough, the boys outshone the distaff side in the flap-jack flipping contest, a fact the gals will have a hard time to live down. All in all, the day was most enjoyable, and the merchants have to be given full points in promoting the annual event. It's mostly a public relations venture and we imagine area youngsters and shoppers alike appreciate it. * * * This year's version of the rodeo was also extremely successful, and the only complaint one could air about the weather was the fact it may have been too warm. The local contestants in the rodeo actually provided a major share of the excitement in this writer's opinion. The lads who risked their necks in the little britches steer riding in particular deserve some recognition for the intestinal' fortitude they exhibited. We imagine a few spectators gasped a bit when they saw the size of the calves the boys were riding — or in most cases, attempting to ride. The novice bronc riding also included several members of area saddle clubs, and the boys proved almost as skilful as some of the seasoned competitors. Some of the area cowboys also tackled the Brahma bulls lawyer and any policeman knows it. If you're a dumb kid from Newfie, or an Indian who got drunk, you can rot in jail for a month or two before your case is even heard. If you're a middle-class doctor or businessman, and you have the money and the right connections, you're home free and everything is hushed up. For instance. Poverty. Twenty million people living in one of the biggest countries in the world, with enormous natural resources. And millions living in sordid, squalid poverty. For instance. The Church, Again with a few notable exceptions, it does not face life. It wrings its hands, or washes them, Pilate'fashion. You don't see many preachers charging into a finance company and brandishing a whip these days, do you? For instance, This column is about garbage. And I just remembered this is garbage day and I forgot to put mine out, and came up with some good rides. At future rodeos, it appears fans will have a few local contestants for whom to cheer and this should add to the enjoyment of attending the rodeo. * * * Once again, we were disappointed in the long delays between some events, and in general the entire show dragged out too long. The heat no doubt made this more noticeable, but the ,organizers are faced with the task of correcting this situation. We wonder if this would be aided to an extent by having some of the events intermingled, rather than running one complete event at a time. For instance, a couple of Brahma bull rides run off between some of the calf roping events would keep the action going a bit faster. Delays in the little britches event could have been avoided by running them off two at a time, and then switching to another event while the calves were moved into the chutes for the next two little britches competitors. We fully realize the problems encountered in getting the stock ready for each event, but if the 50 YEARS AGO The milliners returned from their holidays and have re-opened their millinery parlours. Miss Armstrong, Miss Curtiss and Miss McDonald with assistants are busy with the Fall creations. Mr. John Hockey of town underwent ' an operation in Victoria Hospital on Monday for the removal of his tonsils and adenoids. The operation was successful. Mr. T. A. Powell of the 14th concession of Hibbert has sold his 150 acre farm lately owned by Wm. Ward to Mr. T. L. McCurdy for $13,000. Miss Gladys Kestle left Monday morning to resume her teaching duties near Hamilton where she formerly taught. Miss Etta May Bowey was operated on at St. Joseph's Hospital, London, last week for throat trouble. 25 YEARS AGO Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Pryde have received word that their son Ray, who is overseas with the R.C.A.F. has been promoted from Pilot Officer to Flying Officer. Mr. and Mrs. Geo, Jaques on Friday last observed the fortieth anniversary of their wedding. Over the weekend they visited with Mr. and Mrs. ha. Francis of Tavistock, Mr, Joseph Senior, photographer, who has been longer in business than any other person in Exeter, is giving up his studio at the end of this month. Congratulations to Sgt. Leonard Harvey who graduated as a Wireless Air Gunner and received his wings at Fingal on Friday, August 25. events were split up and run off when the stock was ready it would not only alleviate the delays, but would provide a fast-paced action event. That 15-minute intermission shouldn't be permitted to run three times that long either. * * * The final event on our busy weekend of events was the fire at Whalen which completely destroyed the mill there. Some of the onlookers suggested there should be a story in this week's issue about the editor not having enough gas to get home again, in addition to the fact he showed up with his shirt inside out. Obviously, stories of that nature just don't make it. After all, we would hate to create the impression that we are ill-prepared for covering emergency events. However, while some of the onlookers chided yours truly about having his shirt labels showing, we should point out that we chaps who insist upon clean living, are in bed at 1:30 a.m. and not sitting around fully dressed as some of the other people appeared to be. Errors made while one is not fully awake should be excused. 15. YEARS AGO Exeter Public School officials expect a slightly increased enrolment of 440, largest in the school's history. Guenther-Tuckey Transports Limited of Exeter now has 39 units in operation and is adding a new 12% ton insulated van and a large dump trailer for moving bulk salt. Thirty-seven men are on the payroll. Les. A. Parker and Wm. Tuckey, of Lakeview Hatchery recently completed a four-day short course in poultry diseases and management at Dr. Salsbury's Laboratories, Charles City, Iowa. Basil Preszcator, Exeter, and Jack Boa topped all Huron entries at Grand Bend Rural Days horseshoe doubles tournament on Wednesday. 10 YEARS AGO Mrs. Andrew Johnston, Deborah and Ian returned Sunday after a two month visit in Mymegan, Holland. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Turnbull of Grand Bend held open house for relatives, friends and neighbors Tuesday evening on the occasion of their golden wedding anniversary. South Huron Hospital in common with many others is having difficulty meeting demands f'or accommodation. This week 45 of the 50 beds are occupied, the five empty being in the children's ward. Zurich may start off the next decade as an incorporated village. Barring serious difficulties, the change may become effective January 1, 1950. Allison Clarke, a 1959 s.H.D.1-1.8. graduate has qualified for an Ontario Department of Education Scholarship valued at $400. Summer wanes, and so does the sky, and so do I. How and why do we wane? The summer wanes with sadness and dignity, as is her custom. The sky wanes regularly. And I wane Violently. Some people grow benevolent and kindly as they get older. I just get more violent. I hope I turn out to be an Angry Old Man. And I know I will, if I can just hang on long enough to get old. It's a world to turn anyone, even a gentle, sweet chap like myself, a bit savage. Don't think that I'm just getting crotchety. I've been crotchety for years. You hear people going around all over Canada saying, "My, isn't that Smiley crotchety?" And others replying. "Yes, crotchety is the word. If there's a word for it, it's crotchety." Mind you, I love the world around me, and up to half a dozen people, and I laugh like a mental case at some of the things I see, But there is a limit to the amount of garbage I can stand being thrown in my face day after day in this year 1969 A,D, That makes me just like the Prime Minister. For instance. We have so much surplus wheat that we have a national hernia, trying to lift it from here to there. Politicians go white trying to figure out what to do with it. Why don't we give it away? I don't mean the farmer. I mean Canada. Pay the going rate to the farmer and give it away to people who are starving. Up go the taxes. So what? They go up anyway. For instance. Our educational system caters. to the mediocre, to mass-production of the mediocre,just like big industry. The intellectual elite among our kids are starved to death, that is, bored to death, and the kids who are below average are swept under the rug. This means our schools are full of fat, lazy kids who are there only because they don't want to face the lean, cold world. I'd turf out on his or her tail, at 16, every kid who Wasn't interested. And I'd let him back in, with generous help, when he became interested. For instance. Daily newspapers lie daily. Not downright lies. They merely slant, distort and colour the "news" depending on their policy and politics. However, it's a free country, and I guess they're free to lie. For instance. Television could be a tremendous force for spreading peace and love in the world. What it does is spread jam on cake, and violence on ignorance. With a few notable exceptions, it serves its patrons garbage in a fancy wrapper. Its entertainment does not entertain. Its news seeks out the sensational or the silly. Its commercials are aimed at a world of morons. Do you really believe, for example, that a certain brand of beer is making Canada famous throughout the world? Or that you can get clothes cleaner in cold water than in hot? Or that you'll never make it if your armpits sweat? And for all this obscenity the three big U.S. networks last year split over two billion dollars in profits. The CBC, which gives us the same refuse, generally, came up with its usual deficit. This shows the superiority of Canadian television. Somehow. For instance. There are two laws. One for the rich and one for the rest of us. And any