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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-02-19, Page 4Arena will One of this area's most used buildings officially closed this week. The Exeter Arena has been shut down because its old timbers do not meet with provincial safety standards. It's a building thatwill be truly missed in this community and it creates a situation that leaves our of- ficials with two probable courses of action. It's possible the old building could be repaired to bring it up to a condition where it could be described as a "safe structure." This could be done for much less money than the second choice of erecting a new building, but would this be a move in the right direction? If the decision is made to pour tax- payers' money into the old building some assurances should be made that these new repairs will last a reasonable amount of oe missed time, It would be foolish to sink thousands of dollars into a building that might be con- demned again within the next few years. No doubt a study will be conducted to find which is the best route to take regar- ding the provision of recreational facilities in this town. It's probable that a variety of suggestions, ranging from repairing the present building, to constructing a brand new recreational complex to service the needs of residents of Exeter and surroun- ding communities will be presented to council. No matter what decision is reached, it's going to be costly. In these times of restraint let's hope that the final decision is one that truly gives us the most for our money. Consumer greed As Ottawa unveiled the details of its anti-inflation program just before Christ- mas — a program designed to regulate the earnings and spendings of most Canadians — consumers continued to push their way through the turnstyles and crowd the es- calators of the nation's stores. buying as if there were no tomorrow. In our greed we have demanded more from the system we live under than it is capable of producing — high wages, high profits, more goods and services, and, above all, more gadgets and comforts than we can possibly use. The work ethic has become an object of ridicule. The family is under constant assault. Morality is antiquated, if not ob- solete and evidence of a lack of self- discipline is everywhere. In its belated attempts to restrain ram- pant consumerism. the federal government has attempted to legislate inflation and greed out of existence. But government controls at every level of our existence only serve, too often, to divert us away from at- tacking the social sins that are manifested by greed and waste. Restore some sense of discipline in all areas of our lives, a discipline motivated by a sense of co-operation and responsibility and we would be in a better position to at- tack the awesome problems that are facing us in the last half of the 1970's, To continue to have all restraints on our lifestyles legislated from above gives us no motivation to do some honest soul- searching and to reaffirm man's essential need to practice his own self-discipline and constraint. Drinking drivers One hundred and forty-three people were murdered in Ontario in 1973 i the last year for which statistics are available) and the cry of "hang the murderers" reverberates throughout the land. But perhaps the most dangerous murderer of all goes about its deadly business in the country's towns, cities and highways accompanied by a lack of con- cern and an air of fatalism that is ap- palling. In 1973 in Ontario alone. more than 917 alcohol-related deaths were recorded — the ratio between these and deaths by murder speaks for itself. The breathalyzer test has been a dis- mal failure in preventing — or at least cur- bing — drunken driving because of loopholes in the law and difficulty in enfor- cing the system. Many people who should not be behind the wheel of a car because of impaired ability are able to evade even the test because it is cumbersome and awkward. The Ontario government this year begins to reduce highway speed limits and make the use of seat belts compulsory. For this it is to be commended even though energy shortages as much as human lives may have been the motivation, However we suggest that the latest campaign showing smashed up cars on television, ID cards for minors and far- reaching powers to detain drivers who may be impaired is a punitive approach, one which is far less likely to work and which gives even greater powers of arrest to police. When our governments recognize that alcohol abuse has reached epidemic proportions in this country and are prepared to tackle it with the same zeal that might go into eradicating any other disease then a major step will have been taken. Then we can have new and searching programs to understand the problem and provide broad public education to get at the root causes. Otherwise we are merely treating the symptoms while those afflicted with the disease continue their paths of destruction. Smiley's et r "Could you hold off on that order or a while?" it Jim Beckett's MU nay Comment Bad news for this area There's nothing like a real cold snap to make you realize how fragile is our civilization, We had a dandy recently, with tem- peratures far below zero in real tFahrenheit x degrees for quite a few days. It brought the usual plethora of dead batteries, burst water pipes. and ancient furnaces giving up the ghost. I am firmly convinced that if Canada had a solid month of 30- below temperatures, the country would fall apart, physically. mentally and morally. There's something insidious and fearful about a prolonged cold spell. You sense that some giant beast is outside there. creeping implacably nearer. silent and monstrous. until the final moment of horror when claws of cold steel will clutch your throat, and your eyeballs will pop out and hang on your cheeks like frozen grapes, Times Established 1873 Our house is normally a toasty one. The merest touch of a finger to the thermostat, and we laugh at the cold. Not so this time. First it was a draft around the feet. We threw an old coat down at the back door, where the beast was intruding his icy tentacles. The temperature went down. Next, while the thermostat read 70, the thermometer read 55. and wouldn't go higher. We closed off the back kitchen, where there is a sink and a johnny. It got colder, We retreated upstairs to the TV room, and plugged in an electric heater, and waited for the cold spell to end. The thermometer plunged. The icicles on the south roof took on awesome propor- tions. During a foray to the kitchen for food, I checked the downstairs powder room In the sink, where the tap habitually drips, there were a perfect stalactite and a Advocate Established 1881 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter Ontario Second Coss Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid tt- Adaa-ce C rculatio September 3C '975 5.420 SUBSCRIPTION RATES. Canada SP 00 Per Year USA 511.00 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A and ABC Published by .1. W. Eedy hblicot torts Limited Editor Jim Beckett — Advertising Manager Women's Editor.. —Gwyn Whilsmith Plant Manager — Les Webb Cornpotition Manager — Dave Worby business Manager Dick Jongkind Phone 235-131T Our response to now By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235-0560 Alternatives_ presented Something beautiful for God perfect stalagmite, not quite meeting. In the toilet bowl, there was a sheet of ice, glare, six inches thick, and two black squirrels, forced out of the attic by the cold, playing their version of road hockey. Outside lurked the Abominable Iceman. Downstairs the furnace coughed valiantly, like a man with emphysema and one lung. The thermometer read 56. Beginnings of panic. The furnace-men weren't coming until next Thursday, You make appointments with them months ahead. like a dentist. Call the plumber. "Nape, nobody here on a Saturday, and besides, we don't do furnace work any more. Call your oil dealer." Called oil dealer. Situation getting grim. Thoughts of moving to a motel. Certainty that car wouldn't start, and taxi as easy to capture as lost virginity. Oil dealer chuckles jovially. Amalgamated 1924 People in this area now have more reason than ever before to be suspicious of Friday the 13th. It was last Friday morning that news of closing the Exeter arena swept across the town like a black cloud. The building that has served this community so well for many years, in fact, right up until a special meeting of council and representatives from the Ministry of Labor, Industrial Safety Branch, may now be nothing more than an empty shell. Today it is standing empty with the doors locked. A considerable number of people I talked to last week agreed the arena could stand quite a few repairs but thought it was not nearly as bad as the experts would have us believe. People involved directly with the operation of the arena and whomust bear the responsibility for any accidents that could happen are convinced that the arena must be closed im- mediately for safety reasons, "It could be compared to a house of cards," was the way ' RAP director Jim alcKinlay described the structure in a telephone conversation with the Times-Advocate Friday af- ternoon. McKinley added that the decision made Thursday night was not a popular one but he felt that the wise choice was reached. "The building could stand for years without having any un- fortunate events happen," he added, "but on the other hand the possibility exists that a tragedy like the one that snuffed out eight lives in Listowel a few years ago could happen here." Drawings and engineering reports back-up the decision to curtail activities at the arena. I asked the RAP director if it were not possible to have the arena operating on a part-time basis when there wasn't a lot of snow on the roof. Impossible . was the feeling expressed by McKinley. He cited responsibility for any misfortune that could result would fall directly on those involved with any decisions of this nature. It's highly unlikely that any insurance company would continue to give liability coverage for a building that has earned such an unsatisfactory report from the experts that have examined it. This writer does not envy the position of the people who were faced with the ultimate task of cutting off the major centre of recreation in this town, par- "Are your filters clean?" "aly what?" "Your filters. If they're dirty, your furnace can't breath." Ask wife. Filters clean? She says the furnace man usuaThy puts new ones in. but last year he said they didn't need changing. Tell fuel dealer. He chuckles heartily. "They should be cleaned once a month. Try taking them out altogether for a while, and call me back." "How do you take them out?" Diagram given over phone. By some miracle, I find and remove the filters. They are black as Toby's you-know-what. An hour later, temperature up to 58. Another hour later, up to 60 Cheers of victory. Put electric heater. face down. in toilet howl of downstairs johnny Emerge from TV room redoubt. Four p rn. Saturday. Sun shining. Venture forth. Car starts. Go downtown, Everyone Please turn to Page titularly right in the middle of hockey playoffs, When you look at the evidence presented to council and the RAP members it's not hard to realize that they didn't have much choice in the matter. Even if the odds were a million to one against the roof falling in on our young people it would be hard to vote to leave the old structure open. If the building was kept open for a few extra hours until the official letter of closure was received from the government officials and anything did hap- pen, it would be easy to accuse local officials of negligence. And the accusations would be correct, When you're faced with facts like these and the knowledge that the arena will be ordered closed in a few days anyway, the action to close the building immediately doesn't seem so abrupt. McKinley has been criticized in certain areas for focusing at- tention to the arena situation in the first place. His interview with the London Free Press last week probably resulted in action being taken more quickly than usual. Once the information about the condition of the building was public knowledge it was plain to see that the building was living on borrowed time, You can't blame the safety inspectors for getting into the action and recommending the closure of the building. Afer all, it's their job to look after our safety . . even if some of us feel we don't need so many regulations to live with. McKinley's detractors will believe he is a publicity seeker because his actions brought the arena problem to light. 50 Years Ago Mr. E. C. Harvey has taken over the agency for the Mutual Life Assurance Co. of Canada for the Exeter and St. Marys area. - Mr. & Mrs. Victor Snell are moving to Lucan where Mr. Snell will take over the Ford agency. About twenty young people gathered at the home of Mr. & Mrs, E. Wethey last Friday evening for a surprise party for Helen Wethey who will leave shortly for a probationary term as a nurse in Orange, New Jer- sey. Mr. Roy Taylor left on Monday for his home in Richmond, Quebec after visiting with his brother, Mr, S. B. Taylor. 25 Years Ago it was announced that hydro power in the South Huron District will be converted to 60-cycle over the coming summer. A double-header, sudden- death playoff held in St. Marys Friday saw the Senior girls and Senior boys basketball teams from SHDHS walk away with the championship after defeating Mitchell. Although the community of Grand Bend wilt be incorporated as a Village on May i4, it is still undecided which county it will become part of. It presently straddles the county lines bet- ween Lambton and Huron counties, but upon incorporation will have to choose one or the Other. The workers of Guenther Trucking have rejected unionization in a vote held Saturday. My opinion is that he saw a problem and did what he could to correct it. The experts in this field seem to substantiate his actions. Others will say the end of ac- tivities at the arena will give more fuel to the fire of bringing in a new recreation complex, a building that would provide much more than the limited recreation that was offered by the old structure. It's questionable as to whether or not the residents of this community feel they could afford a new centre like the one that could be proposed. However, all talk of a new centre doesn't help solve the unfortunate situation confronting those active in sporting ac- tivities in town. Arrangements will have to be made to get ice time from neigh- boring arenas. Several events will have to be cancelled because it would not be practical to hold them out of town. Even though the ice surface at the arena is now sitting unused, it still leaves us facing two cold hard facts. Hundreds of people in this area will be inconvenienced and the remedy of this situation will cost us thousands of dollars. The result of the arena closing will leave taxpayers with two choices. Repair the present building, a measure that appears to be possible and much less costly than the second choice of replacing it with a new centre. One thing is certain, It could be a long time before the sounds of pucks hitting the boards or the voices of cheering fans will be heard in Exeter. 20 Years Ago Over 120 members of Exeter's new teen-age club enjoyed themselves at their first big party held last week, The party was sponsored by Tuckey Beverages, Mrs, Bert Borland of Centralia was crowned queen of the Snowball Frolic sponsored by the Laides Auxiliary Tuesday night. She succeeds Mrs. Lee Learn, the 1955 queen. The Honorable Paul Martin, minister of national health and welfare termed South Huron Hospital one of the cleanest facilities that he has seen in his tour of 400 hospitals across Canada. Bob Herm RR I Hensall, winner of the Queen's guineas in 1951, has taken a position as herdsman with one of the oldest purebred Hereford farms near Sirricoe. 10 Years Ago Approval has been granted for the Ontario Municipal Board in Toronto for the calling of tenders for the new addition for SHDHS. Beangrowers in Ontario turned down a proposal from the Ontario Beangrowers Association for the construction of new facilities in Huron County froth a proposed increase in revenue garnered by raising the annual licence fee, 13. W. Tuckey said that it is "bu.sineas as usual" despite the truckers strike which is affecting many communities in Ontario. Mr. Tuckey, owner of Guenther- Tuckey trucking. claims he has many trucks running in and out of Toronto daily without trouble. The cost of sending students from Exeter to Clinton has been increased by the Central Huron Secondary School Board. I love the titIe Malcolm Muggeridge gave his book about Mother Theresa . "Something Beautiful for God." Surely the most important thing that any of us could hope to achieve svotild be to do something beautiful in God's eyes. Not always are the big things the most beautiful, or the flamboyant and exciting the most exquisite. Sometimes the perfume from a tiny violet is much loyelierthan that coming from a larger more brilliant flower. And so, what we do for God need not be of great magnitude to be lasting and beautiful. It seems, too, that our attitude to what we do plays a large part in how beautiful it is, This came through to me loudly and clearly last night after a telephone conversation with a woman who called to speak to me primarily about an article in the newspaper. In the course of our con- versation she began to talk about what she did with her days. What enthusiasm . . I have hardly heard the like of it! She told me how privileged she was to be doing the work she has to do, how much she is learning, how she believed the Lord had just opened up this avenue to bless her. And what kind of wonderful work is this? you ask. Well, it's looking after two aged ladies, one bed ridden, the other blind and hard of hearing. Caring for them is hard work. There's heavy lifting, commodes to be emptied, much washing and special meals to prepare. Not exactly what most of us would call a blessing from God. But to suggest that many might The hue and cry against The Honourable Frank Miller is loud in our ears. Our hospitals are near and dear to us, But the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario is not one of the pack thirsting for Miller's blood. Rather they are seeking to present alternatives to, what is termed, our over-use of active treatment hospitals and physicians. Public Health nurses are in the communities and the Victorian Order of Nurses have an active home care program, These support services could be used more efficiently than at present and our dependence on more expensive health care could be diminished. If people were only assured of community support, many sick and elderly would receive warm family care rather than im- personal professional and in- stitutional attention. The RNAO is looking forward to public meetings in various localities in an attempt to present their viewpoint. + + + The Ontario Nurses Association has presented a brief to The Honourable Darcy McKeough with various proposals for the cutting of health costs. Two of these proposals are mentioned following. The one proposal that hospitals carry on active treatment seven days a week would cut down an expensive and needless use of hospital beds over the week-ends, The present system of grants based on patient census enourages such overuse. The suggestion that hospitals require fromdoctors full histories including lab reports on all patients for whom admission is sought, would cut down on over- use of expensive hospital labs, Often tests are repeated needlessly, It seems evident that more should be expected from our health care delivery system. The present revolution is an opportunity to Set new primates, remove some traditional Met- ficiencies, and implement community and institutional care which does not over-burden the whole of society. + + + One psychiatrist looks upon credit card companies as being very similar to drug pushers. They both overwhelm potential customers with promises of the good life. Usually these customers are those who can least afford such extravagance, "A standard Mafia technique," averred Tar. John Cumming of B.C. Thus short term highs are offered with little thought for the long-teethed consequences. find such work sheer drudgery astounds my friend, "How could they?" she exclaims. "These dear ladies are so wonderful and teach me such a lot. They are continually educating me from their store of knowledge." . She went on to explain that one lady is well educated and widely travelled and from her vast store of experience she shares her insights and understanding. "Why", says my telephone friend, "She tells me things I would have never known if I hadn't met her. I thank God for bringing her to me to open up a whole new world about things I always thought were beyond my grasp and comprehension. From both of the ladies I get far more than I ever give them. They talk about the past, the present and the future and pass unto me some of their strength, serenity and wisdom." With a little probing, I found out that not only does this seemingly unpretentious woman love care for her two elderly charges but it seems her house has an open door for any who wish to come, whether they be a widowed neighbor needing friendship and sympathy, or a little child in search of a cookie and a bright smile. Even animals are made welcome. Two birds and two cats have found a new home when their former owners_ could no longer keep them. Does she talk about the bother of cleaning out messy cages and litter boxes. Of course not, "They're lovely," she says, "such a joy to have." Drudgery? Or Something Beautiful for God? You he the judge. To pay off credit card debts must approach the bitterness of being hooked on drugs. + + + There seems to be a discernible trend away from the TV set, according to Mr. Ide of the Ontario Educational Com- munications Authority. For many years it has been pointed out that our youth spend more time watching television than in any other single activity. By high school graduation time most ydung people will have watched the TV for 15,000 hours. Until recently all signs read "Go" for the television industry, Lord Thomson claimed that owning a television station was "just like having a licence to print your own money," But this optimismis now being replaced by much grumbling about unfair competition. The old viewing habits are falling to some degree. There were more than 12 million fewer half-hour viewings per week in the early fall of 1975 than in the comparable period for 1973" in the Toronto area alone. No doubt we will see feverish activity in the television industry in an attempt to off-set this trend. And again, no doubt many people will be relieved by these statistics. New approaches to the lack of television viewing will probably include programming of a more serious nature. Playhouse tour James Murphy, Huron Country Playhouse Artistic Director, uncovered plans for the second Annual School Tour. . The tour will take the Playhouse Young Players throughout Southwestern Ontario. as far as Windsor and Tober- mory. Schools in Middlesex, Bruce, Grey, Wellington, Lambton, Essex, Elgin, Perth, Huron, Kent, Waterloo, and Oxford will receive the company of five actors, tinder the direction of Mr, Murphy, Toronto's Jim Saar, recipient of the Ontario Arts Council Playwright's Grant, wrote both plays, Fantasy, for grades kin- dergarten through four, is a tale based on the delightful works of Lewis Carroll, and is a dramatization of Alice's ad- Ventures iii Wonderland,_ and through the Looking Glass. Circus! for the senior elementary grades 15-8), depicts the ex- citement and glamour of circus life, anti attempts to trace the history of the circus ill Canada. Both productions will incorporate a great deal of magic, mime, dance, music, and student audience participation. adownt menrkory bane I)