The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1972-12-14, Page 1Santa Claus handing out treats after Saturday's parade
Ninety-Eighth Year
Increase in authority budget for 1973,
to continue erosion program at GB
AUTHORITY MEETS •— The annual meeting of the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority was held
Monday. Shown above are London Region director Bill Charlton, Authority chairman Bill Amos,
vice-chairman Elgin Thompson and Resources Manager Roger Martin. T-A photo
Price Per Copy 20 Cents
A $335,950 budget for 1973 was
proposed Monday for the
Ausable-Bayfield Conservation
Authority, an increase of $67,952
over this year, due mainly to
continuation of the authority's
capital spending programs.
The authority proposes to
spend $50,000 in 1973 on land
Winter driving conditions
prevailed throughout the area
this week and police report it was
a contributing factor in most of
the eight accidents,
In seven of them, only one
vehicle was involved.
A Sarnia woman, Dorothy
Hookey, sustained a fractured leg
• when a car driven by her husband
went out of control on Highway 83
just west of Dashwood and
smashed into a tree, Tuesday.
Mrs. Hookey was taken to
South Huron Hospital and later
transferred to Sarnia,
Damage to the car was set at • $1,800 by Constable Bill Lewis.
The driver reported some snow
under the accelerator caused it to
stick.
There was one accident Friday,
it occurring at 8:05 p.m., when a
car driven by Oral Knox, Exeter,
went out of control on the Kirkton
Road at Winchelsea and hit a
highway sign.Damage was set at
$50 by Constable Ed Wilcox.
There were three accidents on
Saturday, all early in the mor-
ning.
At 1:15 a.m. a car driven by
le
Richard Quesnel, Crediton,
collided with a hydro pole on the
Crediton Road, A passenger in
the car, Robin O'Brien, Dash-
wood, received head injuries.
Damage was set at $800 by
Constable Frank Giffin.
A half hour later, a car • operated by Valerie Regier,
Zurich, skidded out of control on
Highway 83 west of Exeter and
collided with a tree. A passenger,
Diane Klopp, Zurich sustained
• Can't recreate
Huron hanging
There will be a five-way race
for the Warden's Chair in Huron
when County Council convenes in
January.
Those men who will aspire for
the highest county office will be
Reeve Ed Oddliefson, Hayfield;
Reeve Hugh Flynn, Hullett;
Reeve Harold Lobb, Clinton;
Reeve Roy Pattison, East
Wawanosh; and Reeve Everett
Mcllwain, Goderich Township.
Flynn and Pattison have bah
been candidates before.
Retiring members of county
council spoke briefly. One
purehases for its conservation
program. It has budgeted $10,000
this year but only $1,766 was
approved by the ministry.
Another major budget proposal
next year will be $60,000 for the
engineering phase of an erosion
control project at grand Bend.
Tenders have been called and the
minor injuries and damage was
listed at $1,700 by Constable Bob
Whiteford,
At 1:35 a.m, a car driven by
Roy Allan Becker, RR 1, Dash-
wood, went out of control on the
slush covered Highway 83 west of
Exeter and slid into the south
ditch, Constable Whiteford set
damage in that one at $150.
A 1973 pickup driven by
Douglas Russell, RR 1 Dash-
wood, sustained damage of $1,000
Monday after it went out of
control on concession 16-17 of
Stephen and rolled over in the
west ditch. The vehicle came to
rest on its wheels on top of a farm
fence owned by Stewart Webb,
Grand Bend,
The driver sustained bruises in
the mishap, which was in-
vestigated by Constable Dale
Lamont.
At 7:20 p.m. Tuesday three
vehicles were involved in a crash
near the Highway 4 and 84 in-
tersectionin Hensall. Drivers
were Patrick O'Brien and James
Randall, both of Hensall, and
William Bell, RR 1, Hensall.
Total damage to the car and
— Please turn to page 3
Okay lottery
for K-W hall
Usborne council meeting in the
final session for 1972 heard that
about 88 per cent of the 1972 taxes
had been received. Clerk-
treasurer Harry Strang said
collections to date totalled
$245,812.24.
Approval was given to issue a
lottery licence to the Kirkton-
Woodham Community Centre for
a raffle up to a value of $600 in
connection with the upcoming
Winter Carnival.
Three tile drainage loans in the
a Motint of $12,100 were approved.
A land division application
from J,Tomlinson for part of Lot
13, S.E.B. Concession was given
approval.
A number of grants were ap-
proved by council. The Kirkton
and Exeter Agricultural Societies
will each receive a grant of $100.
The Salvation Army and St.
John's Ambulance will each get
$25 and $15 goes to the Huron
County Historical Society.
Appointments were made to
the two Conservation areas which
are a part of Usborne township.
Roy Westcott was re-appointed to
the Ausable-Bayfield Con-
servation Authority and Ken
Duncan to the Upper Thames
Conservation Authority. Both
appointments are for three year
terms.
Council decided to offer the
present Kirkton library building
to the Kirkton-Woodham Com-
munity Centre Board for $7,500 if
the facilities are replaced by a
suitable room in the proposed
new Community Centre building.
member, Deputy-reeve Eugene
Frayne, Ashfield, said that he felt
the men sitting on council this
year should elect the warden for
1973.
"It is those who have sat with
these men and heard them speak
and watched them work who are
best qualified to elect the war-
den," claimed Prayne. There
was no further comment from
council.
Also in de-until Friday Were
many of the new reeves and
deputy-reeves who will he
members of county council for
authority is currently awaiting
provincial approval for the river
Project upstream from Highway
21,
Other capital spending
Proposals include: continuation
of a Port Franks erosion control
study, $15,000; development of the
Parkhill conservation area,
$10,000 development of the Port
Blake conservation area just
north of Grand Bend on land
leased from the Lake Huron
water supply plant, $7,500;
development of a conservation
area in Stanley Township, -
$10,000; gully control in the
The Huron County Federation
of Agriculture agreed Thursday
night to support the Huron
County Crop Improvement
Association in.disputing weather
forecasts.
A letter from the Crop
Improvement Association was
read at the regular meeting of the
Federation which claimed far-
mers had suffered crop losses
this year because of the inac-
the 1973-74 term, All spoke and
expressed their desire to work at
the county level
In that connection, Reeve Paul
Carroll of Goderich made a
remark during his parting ad-
dress which is pertinent.
Reeve Carroll urged all
Members of county council — old
and new — in 1973 to leave their
urban versus rural feelings
outside the county chambers. He
suggested that council members
work together with a broad
outlook for the future of Hurtle
County and all its citizens,
Hayfield area, $5,000; head office
expansion and renovation, $3,500;
development of a new con-
servation area in the Clinton-
TuckersMitb area, $3,000; and
sundry conservation land pur-
chases, $8,000.
Administration costs of $130,650
are budgeted for 1973, an in-
crease of $13,950; maintenance
expenditures are to be held to this
year's $22,000 figure, as are day-
to-day dam costs, at $2,900. Major
dam maintenance will require an
increase of $2,900 to $7,900 for
next year.
curacy of weather forecasts
eminating from the Mount Forest
weather station via local radio
stations.
The Crop Improvement
Association has sent letters to
Robert McKinley, M.P. for
Huron, the weather station and
CKNX radio complaining about
the service.
The complaint said that the
forecast often said farmers could
expect 24 to 36 hours of good
harvesting weather before a
weather front would move in
A Stratford man, James
Reuben Roberts was fined $300 by
Judge Glenn Hays in Exeter
court, Tuesday, after pleading
guilty to a charge of failing to
stop and offer assistance at an
accident in which he was in-
volved.
On November 30, Roberts was
following a car on Highway 83
and he struck the rear end of the
other vehicle when it was turning
into a laneway.
The accused said he panicked.
He later admitted his in-
volvement in the accident when
confronted by a policeman.
Judge Glenn . flays said the
incident showed a great lack of
responsibility on the part of the
accused.
Roberts' lawyer pleaded for a
restricted licence. suspension,
that . as a life insurance
salesman, the accused would be
put out of work without a driver's
licence.
Crown Attorney W, G.
Cochrane said it seemed ironic
that a man selling life insurance
should be involved in such an
incident.
After fining the man $300,
Judge flays prohibited him from
driving for six months, except
When driving in his work from
7:00 a,m. to 7:00 p.m,
Two area drivers who fell
asleep and were involved in
while stations in the Detroit area
were saying it would be only six
to nine hours before rain could be
expected.
Many farmers went ahead with
operations such as bean pulling
only to find that the Detroit
forecasts were unfortunately
more accurate than those of
Mount Forest. The letter claimed
many beans were lost because of
this.
It was felt that the forecasts
came from Toronto and were
— Please turn to page 3
crashes were each fined $100 on
charges of careless driving.
James G. Hewitt, Exeter was
charged after his car left High-
way 83 on November 22 and
struck a tree, while John R.
FIodgert, Kirkton was charged
after his car struck a tree on
October 29 in Usborne Township.
Two Crediton residents were
fined a total of $125 after pleading
guilty to making false statements
with regards to the Traffic Act,
Robert W. England was fined
$75 and Elaine Foran paid $50,
They were both in a car in-
volved in an accident and police
received contradictory
statements as to which was
driving the vehicle,
In other offences under the
Highway Traffic Act, Judge Hays
and Justice of the Peace Doug
Weda l ke handed out the following
fines:
Arnold W. Martin, Hayfield,
was fined $20 for driving a car the
wrong way on a one-way street in
Exeter on November 10.
Ronald E. Ferguson, Usborne
Township, $20 for failing to stop
before entering a highway,
Edgar' Thompson, Parkhill, $13
for speeding at a rate of 43 in a 30
zone.
Dwight J.Etherington, Hensel',
$60 for a Speed of 90 in a 60 zone.
— Please turn to page 8
-Two young Lucan brothers lost
their lives early Sunday morning
but two sisters were rescued
when fire broke out in the kitchen
of their home on Market Street.
The two boys, 12 year-old
Joseph Clayton McIntyre and his
four year-old brother Joseph
Sean were found in the living
room of the brick house by
firemen, the victims of
asphyxiation. They were
pronounced dead on arrival at
University Hospital in London.
Rescued by Ontario Provincial
Police Constable William Disher
and ambulance attendant Bill
Haskett were Cheryl, 11 and
Connie 9. They are the children of
Mr, and Mrs. Joseph McIntyre
who were visiting relatives in
London at the time of the
tragedy.
At the time of the fire, the
McIntyre's were visiting at the
home of Mervin Haney, 203
Oxford Street West in London,
Mr. McIntyre had talked to the
_oldest boy Joseph Clayton by
teleplohe at 12:30 a.m, about an
hour before the fire broke out and
reported all was well at home.
Inspector Robert Kauffman of
the Ontario Fire Marshall's office
said the fire started in a two-foot-
by-four-foot kitchen cabinet. The
kitchen was destroyed and the
ground floor of the home was
badly charred.
OPP Constables William
Disher and Neil Campbell tried to
enter the, house through the front
door but were forced back by the
thick smoke,
Constable Disher heard the two
girls screaming from a bedroom
window and with the help of Bill
Haskett climbed to the roof of the
front porch and carried the
Bible canvass
nets over $1,000
The Exeter and area canvass
for the Canadian Bible Society is
expected to bring in about $100
more than any previous year.
Campaign chairman Meine
Eizenga of Exeter said this week
the total received to date from
Exeter and Huron Park was
$1,077.34 with a few more
donations on the way,
Anyone wishing to add to the
cause is asked to leave their
donations with the treasurer Mrs.
Carl Turner at the Bank of
Montreal.
The canvassing was handled by
members of all churches in town.
Mr. Eizenga said "canvassing
was an easy job, because we
ulerepresentworldj, the, best selling book in
pyjama clad girls to the police
cruiser.
Disher said the smoke was so
thick he bumped into Haskett
before he could see him while
rescuing the girls,
The two men searched the
upper floor for the boys but were
unable to find them. Later,
firemen also searched the up-
stairs bedrooms for the boys.
One fireman found the family
dog, a chihuahua, and bundled it
under his arm, but when he tried
to get back out a bedroom win-
dow, the dog escaped. It was
found dead later in one of the
bedrooms.
Wesley Hickson, chief of the
Constable Bill Disher
... rescues children
Lucan-Biddulph volunteer fire
department said the firemen had
attended a banquet in the village
a few hours earlier and that most
of the men arrived at the 174
Market St. home in the centre of
the village within minutes of the
alarm at 1.30 a,m.
About 15 firemen battled the
fire for more than an hour and
several suffered from smoke
inhalation, he said.
Firemen wearing gas masks
found the boys near a living room
chesterfield. The eldest boy was a
Grade 6 pupil at nearby Biddulph
Central School. The two girls also
attend the school.
Inspector Kaufman, who
credited the action of Constable
Disher and Mr. Haskett with
saving the lives of the girls, said
the cause of the fire is a mystery.
There were no electrical wires
leading to the cabinet and Mr.
McIntyre told a reporter only
fruit preserves were stored in-
side.
The house which the Mclntyres
had been renting for the past year
from Basil Nagle of 894 Elias Se,
London, was heated by fuel oil.
Mr. McIntyre, a truck driver for
the past five years with a London
— Please turn to page 3
One more 1$410.
for current year
Next week's issue Of The TiMee
Advocate will be the last for
the year 1972.
The issue will again contain
Christmas features prepared by
school children in the area and
will include drawings, poems,
stories and letters to ..Santa.
It will be the final issue of the
year as there will be no
publication during the week
between Christmas and New
Years,
After the December 21 issue,
the next issue will be Thursday,
January 4.
Persons planning special
events during that period should
have advertisements included In
the Christmas issue,
Cutbacks halt
SHH plans
Hospital bed cutbacks by the
Ontario government are not
expected to have much effect in
Huron County, but ad-
ministrators admit the five
percent ceiling on budget in-
creases will make things "tight."
Hospital administrators said
their small size, combined with
the large area they cover makes
cuts in the number of beds
unlikely.
Alice Claypole, administrative
head of South Huron Hospital,
said her 1973 budget will be
"very, very tight."
She said the cutbacks in
provincial spending forced the
cancellation of a $700,000
program to upgrade emergency
x-ray and administrative
facilities at the hospital. This
program will be delayed for at
least one year, she said.
As of yet, however, "we've had
no specific cut-backs because I
haven't got the budget in yet,"
said Miss Claypole,
She said she has been
receiving another letter
everyday about the cut-backs.
Last week, for example, the
hospital was told it could raise
rates on semi-private rooms.
This week, the hospital was in-
formed it couldn't raise these
rates,
The budgets were supposed to
be submitted by October 31. "But
we can't do anything until they
make up their minds just what
they want to do," said Miss
Claypole. "I don't think any
Huron hospitals have their
budgets in yet," she added,
The 54-bed hospital has an
over-all budget of $600,000 this
year.
Dismiss charge
of pointing gun
A charge of pointing a fire arm
against a Crediton man was
dismissed by Judge Glenn Hays
in Exeter court, Tuesday.
Harold Bruce Pratt had been
charged on September 18 in an
incident involving a number of
young people after an evening of
roller skating in Zurich.
Several witnesses were called,
but none could state positively
that the object pointed was in fact
a gun.
Pratt, in his own defence,
stated he pointed a piece of
rubber hose at the car in which
the other witnesses were riding.
OPP Constable Bill Glassford,
who was apprised of the situation
by the other witnesses, said he
arrested Pratt and laid the
charge of pointing a firearm. He
said at the time he saw a shotgun
on the table of the Pratt home
and the latter's mother brought
two more guns to the officer and
asked him to take them as she
didn't want them in the house.
Defence lawyer Dan Murphy
pointed out the matter of iden-
tification of the object pointed was
the most important factor.
Crown Attorney W. G.
Cochrane noted the accused had
waited until several days after
the incident to show the piece of
pipe to police and wondered why
he hadn't done so at the time of
the police investigation.
Judge Hays, in dismissing the
charge, said it was very close to
the line but he was not satisfied
beyond a reasonable doubt that a
firearm had been pointed.
If there were no descendants in
Huron County of the man who
was the victim in the last public
hanging at the former Duren
County Jail, permission may
have been given last Friday by
Huron Council for the production
of a documentary film at the jail.
However, the Executive
Committee in conjunction with
• the Property Committee,
recommended that Conestoga
College be denied the right to
make the film at the jail because
"in the opinion of both 'com-
mittees this type of documentary
is not in the public interest".
Only one member of council — • Reeve Paul Carroll of Goderich
— argued in vavor of the film
being made.
Carroll said that such historical
happenings as the bloody Riehl
Rebellion have been recorded in
filmed documentary form,
"I accept such things as a
matter of historical fact," said
Carroll. "I think it is in the public
interest from time to time to
show that we are not too proud or
too prim to explore those periods
of history. We shouldn't deny that
request."
• Ice, slush and rain
plague area drivers
Five candidates bidding
for Huron warden seat
BEST PARADE FLOAT — Stephen Central School won first prize in the best decorated float
competition at Saturday's Santa Claus parade in Exeter. Shown in the school house of yesteryears are
Terry Bender, Ann Marie Brand, Scott Dinney, Trevor Boyle, Faye Geiser, Terry Lynn Witherspoon,
Dean Boyle, Eugene Glanville and Wendy Beaver. T-A photo
Farmers cite forecasts
for harvesting problems
Penalized $300 for
leaving crash scene
EXETER, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 14, 1972
Lucan boys suffocate in fire;
two sisters c rried to safety
PEPSI AND SORORITY COMBINE Second prize in Saturday's Santa Claus parade went to a float
supplied by Tuckey Beverages and decorated and manned by Exeter's Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. The team
of horses was driven by Robert Tindall of Lucan. On the float are Mrs, Tindall, ,Bev Delbridge, Brenda
Balaton, Pat Fletcher and Dorothy Balsdon, T-A photo