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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1974-03-21, Page 4It was one of those incidents that was almost incredible. Yet it occurred in our so- called civilized society here in North America. A couple in their 90's, living in poverty in Schenectady, New York, was found dead recently — evidently having frozen to death because they had not paid power bills of about $250. The couple had lived in their rundown cottage for 40 years. But because they were behind in their payments for a few months the power company cut off their electric power. This, in turn, caused the gas furnace that heated the house to stop operating. The two old people froze to death in temperatures of about 12 degrees above zero. Who is to blame for this needless tragedy? Partly the power company. of course. But essentially it is the impersonal, urbanized society which we have created, and in which many millions of us now are forced to live. The crew that was ordered to cut off the power almost certainly had no idea that two helpless old people were being con- demned to death, a horrible death by freez- ing. It is all very well for a local person to say that the couple, Frank and Katherine Baker, had been fiercely independent. The truth is that after 40 years in one home, they did not wish to leave. In a more normal, more humanistic society, a way would have been found to pay their outstanding power bill. As the Western world moves into a troubled 1974, perhaps it ought to take another look at the less affluent, traditional societies of Asia and Africa where human values differ. Can we call ours a Christian society when two old people are allowed to freeze to death in their house because they owe $250 to a power company? —Contributed A court case in Exeter this past week reypaled some rather startling informa- tion, According to evidence given at the trial of a young Parkhill driver, the tractor which he was driving was equipped with im- proper lights. The startling aspect of the situation is the fact the tractor was comparatively new and the lights were described as "standard equipment" for the tractor in question. The conclusion to be reached is that many farmers in this area may be operating tractors equipped with improper lights for night driving or at other times when lights are required. Unfortunately, they are the ones who will suffer the consequences while the manufacturers will apparently experience no repercussions although they are obvious- ly the ones at fault in the situation. A fatality was involved in the case heard in the court session last week, so the seriousness of the matter is clearly evident. Farmers would be well advised to check the regulations regarding lights if they plan to operate their tractors on roads after dusk. Equipment manufacturers and their dealers should at the same time be required to inform purchasers whether the lights are up to the standards required by the Highway Traffic Act. Most farmers would naturally assume this to be so when they buy new tractors, while the court case last week indicates this may be an incorrect assumption. One red light is required showing to the rear of the tractor and it must be discerni- ble at a distance of at least 500 feet. We suggest the matter is one which farm groups in this area should study to see if they can correct the situation before further serious accidents arise involving their members. A civilized society? "Oh well, it wasn't loaded anyway." Extensive planning essential N' ow oecceu MME POOH, 11uT 71415 15 iiIplcutoust —amasoomenzfearanuereatur&i.a=gmaaaT,,,lazzaincxxszczastivernmormwsio Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 Ike Cxefeaimes-Atmorate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND 0.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Crass Man Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation, March 31, 1072, 5,037 SUBSCRIPTION 'R ATES: Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $11,00 aLIZZ;;;C;,..WIEELVEllv,.AteMBIEMERVWsZragralata Phone 235.1331 10, .—r "Tales That Have Been Told By REV, 'DUNCAN McTAVISH An interesting new book of lively accounts by this well known minister, a number of them about this area. You may order a copy ($3.00) by contac- ting Rev. Harold Snell, Startling in ormation Memories are marvellous Leaas6aff. Wo'rld tan crumble in Weak A personal touch Just back on the job after a week in bed with the doctor, as the old gag has it. Actually, it was a particularly virulent flu I was in bed with. I was so sure I was going to die that I even cancelled my curling dates. Still weak and shaky, but I'm glad I got back on my feet, When a guy is not on the job, even for a week, his whole world starts to crumble around him. At school, my students, without my firm hand on the helm, were wallowing in a sea of silliness. They had discovered they could get away with murder with a substitute skipper, and I found it necessary "to flog six of them at the mast and keelhaul a few more to get them herded back into the fo'csle. They're reasonably subdued again, but there is still some friction. Because the sun is shining, and it's a few degrees above freezing outside, they want all the windows open. Because I still have a fever and don't want to be in a draught, I want them closed. We compromised. We closed the windows and opened the door. At home, things were in even a worse mess, when I struggled back to a modicum of health. My family had robbed me blind. Almost literally. Daughter Kim was home for a visit with fat and saucy Nikov Shen. The visit coincided with her birthday. My wife, in a state of euphoria and grandmotherly gormlessness, gave Kim a cheque that made my eyes water, with real salt tears, when I heard the amount. Kim escaped with the biggest ripoff of 1974 before I was strong enough to do anything about it. When I was able to bellow outrage, my wife tried to soothe. "Ies just to help the young folks out. After all, you can't take it with you." My response: "Who the hell helped us out when we were the 'young folks'? What do you mean 'take it with you.' There won't be anything left to take. Besides, I wasn't planning on going just yet, whatever the rest of you had planned for me." That was bad enough. Worse to come. Son Hugh came home to see his beloved parents before embarking on a pilgrimage to Israel. Every time son Hugh comes home, I put both hands on my wallet and brace myself. He's always just 'a little short'. He's practising to be an extortionist, and promises to be one of the great ones. Sure enough. He had saved enough for the return air fare, but needed some bread for eating and sleeping in the Holy Land. I almost said something blasphemous about what he could do with his pilgrimage, but bit my lip, reminded him of previous "loans", and told him I might as well take the money and throw it off the end of the dock as give it to him. His logical reply was that there was still ice on the bay, so it would be a pointless gesture. Left to chew on that, I regained my cool. I thought, "Well, I've given money to some pretty crazy causes in my day. I may as well subsidize this disciple as he walks in the steps of the Master, or whatever. He looks a bit Jewish with those dark eyes. Maybe he'll lose his papers, as he usually does, and the Israelis will draft him into the army for two years." So I told him how much he could have, adding, "That's my first and final offer." He ac- cepted with the equanimity for which he is noted. I retired to my sick bed. Lying there in a fever, I thought I could hear his and his mother's voices going on and on, but I wasn't sure and was too sick to care. Next morning I was told by my wife, with a certain uneasiness, that she had raised the ante a bit. "Just enough so the poor kid doesn't starve." The "poor kid" is twenty-six, and with his abilities as a con artist hasn't the remotest possibility of ever coming with in hailing distance of starvation. With real trepidation I enquired how much. I came very near to having a stroke when I learned she had almost doubled my bid, which I had thought was in trumps. After years of paying interest and mortgages and banks, I had finally got clear, and even had a few bucks ahead. I was looking around for somehwere to invest it, with the hope that I might have a few dollars extra for the odd box of beer when I arrived at the bread-and-water existence level of the old age pension. And there I was, wiped out, practically, in one weak week. Moral. Never have a joint ac- count with your wife. My only consolation was that if I'd invested in something, we'd have had an instant depression, and I'd have lost every nickel. That would be a sure thing, with my luck. Talk about a sports complex for the community continues to warm up, and proponents must have been cheered to learn this past week that the Exeter Kin- smen and Lions were prepared to lend their support to such an undertaking. That, of course, is only one small part of the overall con- sideration, although the Kinsmen did indicate they were prepared to spearhead the canvass for funds. A sports complex, judging from the one we have visited at Tillsonburg, would be the largest undertaking ever considered in this area. The figures being touted for such a facility range from one to two million dollars, depending on what is to be included, and cer- tainly that staggers the imagination of most of us. The very size of such an un-;r dertaking requires that it., be.. given a vast amount of con- sideration and planning before any decisions are reached. We note that in Kincardine the committee in charge of fund raising have suggested they will build the entire complex planned or nothing at all. That attitude is not practical, Raising money for such projects is difficult, but it is even more difficult to return monies that have been raised. In fact, we suggest it would be impossible. One of the basic considerations must be the ability of the com- munity to finance such a project and in fact a blitz for pledges would appear practical before final designs are considered. The writer is among those who think it would be tremendous to have a sports complex in the community, but he is also among those who can vividly recall the problem experienced in raising enough funds to build the swimming pool. Some local men held notes at the bank for a long time before the debt was finally cleared. When you start talking about a sports complex, you are talking in money terms about 10 times greater than that required for the pool, Any project of this scope and the subsequent fund-raising must be considered most carefully and we think it wise to have the present investigating committee explore all details before any action is considered. ~' + + + However, we do suggest that Exeter council must give some consideration to the fact that land will be required for such an undertaking if it is to be built in town, and personally, we find it difficult to imagine the complex being practical in other than the most populated community in the area. At the present time, vacant land is located adjacent to the community park and it would appear wise to consider taking options on some of this land so it would be available when required. Even if the sports complex doesn't become a reality for some years, the land acquisition should be considered now while it is available, because a new arena will soon be a necessity, The community park is the ONLY logical place in town in view of its proximity to both schools and there appears no question but what extra land will be required for playground and recreation purposes as time progresses. TO wait until thb adjoining land is developed for other purposes would be costly and obviously senseless when it is now apparent that additional land is required for recreational purposes. + + + One of our cohorts in the newspaper business is still Back a fighter. 50 Years Ago Messrs. Thomas and Harry Coates and Verne Pincombe returned home Saturday, after spending some time in Detroit, Mr. Wes. Simmons, who left a few weeks ago for Fillmore, Saskatchewan, to settle his business affairs there, returned to Exeter on Monday and will resume his business, which he recently purchased from Mr. D. Russell. Mr.Northcott has installed a radio. Mayor W.J. Heaman was in Clinton on Friday night. Mr.BensonTuckey has secured a position with the Rayleigh Drug Company of London, and has left for that city, 25 Years Ago Ed Hunter-Duvar has com- pleted the erection of a motel, comprising four cabins on the property purchased just south of Exeter on the highway. W.C. Van Camp and the personnel of the Centralia Air- port are this week celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Mr. & Mrs. Rufus Kestle were honored by a gathering of the community in the Hurondale school prior to moving to Exeter, Mr. & Mrs. L.J. Penhale returned home Saturday after an extended visit with their son-in- law and daughter, Mr. & Mrs. Keith Colby, Victoria, Australia and their two grandchildren which they saw for the first time. 15 Years Ago Damage totalled $16,000 in two early morning fires which destroyed farm buildings in Usborne two, this week. A large barn owned by Fred Knip was lost, along with contents in. eluding a new combine and Over wondering what goes on at some of those 4-H meetings which are reported to,him by members of the clubs. He recently received a com- prehensive report as follows: "the meeting was held at the farm of prominent Holstein breeder Mr. X and after listening to instructions by the Agricultural Representative, members inspected the girls' calves", No doubt the attendance of male members hit 100 percent for the next meeting. + + + More than just calves are up for inspection these days as "streaking" has taken over as the newest 'fad, practiced priinarily by the university br high school set. Some locals have even engaged in the ridiculous past-time and we hear that a youth "streaked" his way along Main St. Friday evening, much to the amusement (and consternation of some) of onlookers. You won't find any pictures on the front page, primarily because we happen to think those engaged in this type of stunt should be pitied and not encouraged. The fad will soon go the way of coonskin coats, goldfish swallowing and telephone booth filling. Meanwhile, some of the par- ticipants are going to catch colds! 125 pigs. At about the same time a driveshed and colony house owned by Gilbert Johns, Elm- ville, went up in flames, causing the loss of equipment and 500 chicks. Miss Sheila Fahner, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Harold Fahner, RR 1, Exeter, won a $50 music scholarship in the clarinet class at Stratford Kiwanis festival last week. Richard Stade, Zurich goalie, and Craig Chapman, Hensall defenseman, were judged the best individual players in the third annual shamrock tour- nament in Lucan. E.D. Bell, Q.C., outlined father and son arrangements for family farms at a South Huron Junior Farmers meeting. The Exeter lawyer described the services available to farmers for establishing agreements for the transfer of property. 10 Years Ago Acknowledging all con- tributions and pledges to date, the district swimming pool committee announced over $14,500 had been raised, Co- chairman Mel Gaiser said con- struction could start within a few weeks. Chief of police E.R. Davis was guest speaker at the St. Patrick's meeting of the 1st Hensall Brownie Pack held in the United Church. He spoke on "Safety." I Described by government officials as one of the most modern processing line for turnips, the installation at Exeter Produce and Storage Limited washes, dries and waxes turnips in a continuous process. The line accomplishes in seven minutes what formerly required 12 to 18 hours to complete by the con- ventional rack drying method. A large daily newspaper in the South is currently running a series of columns by readers about the church they've liked best. Some of those taking part seem to remember best the church of their childhood. The articles evoke memories for me for the church that stands out most vividly in my mind is the one I attended as a child. It wasn't a magnificent structure of stone or brick with stain glass windows or music rolling from a pipe organ. Rather, it was just a simple frame building with uncovered plank floors and only an upright piano to lead the singing. But I now know that many of the things that happened there played a great part in the fashioning of my life in later years. Just getting ready for church was a thrill; for this was the day to put on your best yellow dress with the frills, the brown leather polished shoes and the white sailor hat with navy ribbons reaching down your back. I remember the sense of pride I had in the church. Proud that my grandfather had sawed many of the boards, and hammered nails that went into its making. It also made me feel good that my father was one of the pillars and I was pleased when it was his turn to take the collection up to the front for the minister to bless. The great peace, that fell over me as I sat between my parents with their heads bowed in prayer is another precious recollection. Even though I couldn't read yet I remember holding my hymn book and pretending I could because Iwantedto be part of the glorious singing. The minister's words usually went over my head but from the look on his kindly, solemn face I felt sure what he was saying was good and I was happy and secure. By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235.2715 or 235-2474 We are people who depend largely on prescribed medication for the treating of our ills. We do not feel treated if the doctor in our life does not end each in- terview with a notice for our druggist. And we cheerfully pay much for this treatment. In most cases help is forthcoming and we say "Thank you" to the medical practitioner for his care of us. We also know the collection of drugs of one consistency or another spilling from our medicine cabinet, our "hall closet" so to speak. We are told that all drugs should be labelled — and indeed they are when they leave the druggist's hands, They are to be used as directed and in most cases the directions seem clear enough. Bottle caps are especially designed to discourage the curious child and to further provide discouragement we are advised to put bottles and boxes "out of reach", Increasingly we heard the advice - Old prescriptions, unused medications, collected medicines should be destroyed. Death lurks in our medicine cabinet! These warnings and precautions do not cover the whole problem of prescribed medication. In a current research project at Victoria Hospital, London, it was shown that a third of discharge patients failed to follow directions and that a majority of these upset the established pattern of their convalescence, It has been speculated that failure in this matter has led to re-admission of a number of patients. The study has been co- ordinated by David Hannay, a. pharmacist with Victoria Hospital. Recently he was honoured by the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. Over 180 patients will have been involved when the research has been completed. It is hoped that certain questions will have been answered. Does it help to have another person as a "reminder"? How do social and economic I remember, too, the Sunday School teachers who faithfully told us the Bible stories, coached us in memory work and listened as we recited the shorter catechism. Then there were those memorable Sunday School picnics, the Christmas concerts, and the annual fowl suppers. I can still smell the aroma and see the men carving up turkeys and the women heaping the plates high with steaming sage dren- ched stuffing, potatoes, turnips and hot brown gravy. With the best of intentions many parents to-day are saying, "We're not going to raise our children in any church. We're going to wait until they're able to decide for themselves which religion (if any) they want to choose." These are the often the same parents who will sacrifice themselves in order that their children have music lessons, ballet lessons or skating lessons. They will get up at all hours of the morning to take their sons to hockey practice and drive hundreds of miles in a season to transport the young players from match to match. They want only the best for their children yet they are depriving them of the happiest of memories. Parents are not stifling their offsprings' in- dividualism by giving them a religious background. As a child matures he will choose his own philosophy and he may choose a pattern different from his parents. But he will still be a better human being for having experienced the beauty of those early days in the church. In the anguish of this very troubled world it may be the memories of asking for God's blessings in church that will carry your child through some of the most difficult times he'll face. factors bear on the problem? Do older people provide the worst problem area? Cost is certainly prohibitive for many. Fully 31 percent of those interviewed could not afford the prescribed drugs. For some, drug costs reached $25 to $40 monthly and for people on pensions this is out of reach. Many take the chance and do not renew the prescriptions. Certain patients have few symptoms when under medication and for some time after stopping i t.So they stop thus saving money. Another problem is simply that the patients do not understand why they are receiving various drugs. More time, it seems, should be spent to explain why each drug is prescribed, its importance in the patient's treatment, and the regimen to be followed in the taking of the medicine. One of the results of Mr. Hannay's project is simply that some patients are being taught self-medication while they are still in the hospital. Home con- ditions are taken into account, The pharmacist spends time with the patients for several days preceding discharge. Needed precautions are explained. However we explain the misuse of drugs, whether it be a lack of communication between doctor - pharmacist and patient, or a simple forgetting, or financially straitened means, or a lack of understanding concerning the importance of the medication, something should be done to ensure patient compliance. The study included patients ranging from executives to welfare recipients. It seems that no social class is exempt from errors in this area. One result of this project was the renewal of the knowledge that personal contact is most im- portant. Mrs, Moore, the nurse making follow-up calls in the homes noted, "A lot of pensioners were over-joyed just by the visit", It may be just that personal touch, that extra interest, which is the answer to our problem with prescription drugs.