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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-02-17, Page 4Those winter blues Challenges are issued- SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Editor — Bill Batten Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Advertising Manager -- Jim Beckett Plant Manager — Jim Scott Composition Manager Harry DeVries Business Manager Dick Jongkind Phone 235-1331 "ar .ihru....sur.maeokonZAMI Law smONO IMMO= ••••• 7.11 g SIM 'avulsing Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second'Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September'30, 1975 5,409 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $11.00 Per Year; USA $22.00 Page 4 Times-Advocate, February 17, 1977 Students at South Huron District High School have every right to be upset over the fact that their winter weekend movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was closed down following complaints made by some concerned citizens through the local police department. However, most of them are directing their attack in the wrong direction, The "culprit" appears to be the distributor who advised them that the movie was not restricted. Unless there has been a recent change in the rating by the Ontario Censor Board, the movie indeed is rated as restricted and therefore no one under the age of 18 can be admitted. The movie was rated as restricted when it played in London last year and was still given that rating when it was shown at the Starlite Drive-In Theatre in Shipka this past summer. While we agree with some students that it was unfortunate that the complaints While most people welcomed the first thaw of winter this week, their enthusiasm was dampened by some thoughtless drivers, For some strange reason some vehicle operators appear to have difficulty realiz- ing they are sharing the roads with pedestrians as the snow has not been mov- ed from sidewalks. While some take .that into consideration and slow down so they don't spray that salty slush, there are many more who show no such consideration, There appears little doubt that the slush will continue into the weeks ahead as There's a story about a businessman setting out on a major trip. He checks his suitcases: "Socks, underwear, clean shirt, shaving gear, lunch...that'll get me as far as Mirabel..." The stories,,„about e, federal government's latest white etepllant of an international airport squatting in' the lush farmlands north of Montreal would be fun- ny if they weren't so indicative of the cast of mind that permeates the bureaucracy at the Ministry of Transport. Mirabel took over 80,000 acres of farmland that were needed, the •MOT ex- perts said, because Dorval was over- crowded and couldn't handle the traffic predicted for the late seventies and eighties. Over the protests of Ste. Scholastique farmers, prime land was ex- propriated far beyond the needs of Mirabel and the enormous facility started. Much of the expropriated land is still vacant. Farmers can't use it. the airport is almost useless. In order to beef up their predictions, (which have proven in- correct), MOT officials are deliberately diverting traffic from the much more con- venient and inexpensive Dorval. Mirabel is taking flights from overseas that airlines would like to see arrive in Toronto, Toronto airport, according to independent studies, is not overcrowded, as MOT claims, it is merely under-utilized and only over- Ah, the little ironies of life. Had a letter from son Hugh the other day, complaining gently about the heat in Paraguay. Said it was between 90 and 100 in the shade every day and only decently livable at night. Last night it was 30 below around this burg. And that's real temperature: Fahrenheit, Today it was about 20 below all day, and is heading for another 30-plus below as I write. As of today, we've had 142 inchesof snow,IVligawd,tha Vs just short of 12 feet, and winter just begun. Who says we aren't a hardy race? Or are we just stupid? At the moment, I'm a little short of breath and temper. I've just come in from wrestling two cars to life, shovelling enough driveway to get them off the street and hitting the side of the garage another belt when I slipped sideways. My garage is one of those ancient wooden structures in which those realistic car owners of the '20's and 30's used to jack up their Fords and Essexes and McLaughlin-Buicks and leave them sensibly suspended for the winter. A modern car, even an old battle-wagon like my AO Dodge, has about an inch and a half clearance on each side, if you weren't received earlier so another movie could have been scheduled, the fact remains that the objections were well founded if the movie's rating has been un- changed since it was released. It was unlawful to allow persons under the age of 18 to see the movie and obviously people must adhere to the law, , At last week's 'sportsmen's banquet, the main speaker pointed out that our society is in real danger unless people start to sup- port the law, and we find it extremely dif- ficult to be critical of the complainants for their actions. The students should direct their ire at the film distributor or perhaps at the movie censors if they feel they have been handed a low blow, Comments from some of the students would also indicate that foul language is an accepted way of life with many of them even in the halls of SHDHS and if this is the case something is drastically wrong. the mounds of snow melt and surely drivers can show some common sense in slowing down when they approach pedestrians. They should also be reminded that pedestrians often are required to detour around puddles and this necessitates them being farther out onto the travelled portion than usual, Due to the conditions that prevail, the roadWays belong as much to people on foot as to those in cars and some extra care and courtesy will be required to avoid problems and even tragedies. crowded at certain peak periods because of poor scheduling. Anyone who has had the misfortune to use Mirabel or the outlandish facilities foisted on Air Canada at Toronto's Ter- , minal Two cannot help but wonder at the' slavish commitment that .the federal government has to air travel in this coun- try. It was former Transport MinisterJean Marchand who said the MOT was a mess. Since that statement almost four years ago Mirabel has been built, Pickering narrowly and probably only temporarily postponed, the rail travel further diminished by the bureaucrats who make the real decisions at MOT Every other• major industrial nation in the world, faced with rising fuel costs, air congestion noise, pollution and the need to move people efficiently is turning back to the cheapest and most effective way for medium and short distance - the train Canada's policy commits it to bigger and more expensive terminals, gobbling up prime farm land in rural areas while our railways decline to the point where few people can use them even if they wished. This deliberate policy of denigrating rail travel while promoting such monstrosities as Mirabel calls our whole transport policy into serious question. Contributed don't have to cut wood all sum- mer to stay warm all winter. I have a wife who wants to drive the car that is working, the one in the garage, when the one behind it won't start, but at least I don't have to hang her washing out in this weather and have it turn into instant white boards, as I used to have to do for my mother back around ought-34. I'm a school teacher, in my spare time. But I don't have to trudge two miles to the school, with snow to my navel, light the fire in the old boxstove, and sit there shuddering with cold until the students arrive. I just get to school as best I can, and the students don't arrive at all. Half of them come by bus and the buses can't get through the storm, Half of the remaining half look out the window, say to hell with it, tell their mothers they have the 'flu and roll over and go back to sleep. Oh, she was rugged, in those old days, in a winter like this, with home-made insulation and red-hot stove-pipes. No wonder many of the oldtimers never got out of their long johns from October to May. That's why we moderns feel the cold so much, We don't have a half-inch of personal insulation, Made up of If you missed last week's sportsmen's banquet, you missed hearing a couple of the most in- spiring addresses you'd ever hear at such an event, The first speaker on the program was Whipper Watson, one of the most famous Canadians ever, and as usual the former wrestler made a passionate appeal for assistance for the nation's handicapped. While Whipper works mainly with crippled children, he ex- plained that Canadians must show compassion for all people who are handicapped and he probably surprised the audience when he reported that the figure included almost 3,000,000 people. In citing some of the ac- complishments of .the han- dicapped he provided an. insight into the amount of determination and courage they display in over- coming their problems in an ef- fort to contribute to the society in which they live, Certainly some of the examples he related about the achievements of the handicapped in their summer olympics program at Etobicoke has •to make "normal" people realize how far they have fallen below their potential. He provided other examples of how the handicapped have been able to take their place in the work force when they have been given the opportunity, although unfortunately too few are given that opportunity to prove their worth. * * * Whipper Watson is not a man who is attempting to merely use his popularity to champion the cause of the handicapped. While that helps, of course, Whipper really knows what it is all about and that's why his story is so believable. A few years ago he was seriously injured in an automobile accident that ter- minated his wrestling career and he had to spend many agonizing months in rehabilitation to over- come his injuries. He still hurts, but you never hear him com- plaining about his pain or the loss of his lucrative wrestling career. Come to think of it, the com- plaints heard from the han- dicapped are few and far between, although they often become embittered because their fellow citizens fail to give sweat and skin and dirt, under the underwear. What really baffles me is why the very first settlers of Canada stayed here, after experiencing one winter. Things must have been pretty rotten, back in France and England and Ireland, to make them tough it out in this "few arpents of snow," as Voltaire dismissed it so casually. And what completely stymies me is that the first white settlers found anybody alive in this country, when they first arrived. I simply cannot understand how the Indians survived a winter like this, You think your arthritis is bad, Aunt Mabel, How would you like to live on corn and sex, in a tepee or a longhouse, for five months, with a little, smoky fire burning on the floor and 12 feet of snow outside, And no television! Do you realize your great- grandfather, when grub got low, probably had to walk eight or 10 miles to the nearest store, and home with a sack of flour on his shoulder and a package of tea in his pocket? On the worst of days I can battle my way four blocks to the supermarket and come home laden with grapes and oranges and fresh meat, and if I've had a big day on the stock market, even a pound of coffee. Oh, we have it soft, soft, compared with them, Tomorrow morning, I may be as surly as my grandfather was, if the car won't start. But tonight, I'm going to eat a gourmet dinner (stew, I looked in the pot), and sit in my warm house watching, in living color, a movie about the South Seas. What a rotten spoiled lot we are! them the opportunity to take their place in society. While Whipper's talks may change some attitudes, perhaps he should try a few half nelson's on those of us who fail to give the handicapped the assistance and opportunities they deserve, With the Easter Seal campaign approaching, plus the Crippled Kids' weekend at the Pineridge Chalet, all area residents have an opportunity to provide some monetary assistance to the han- dicapped. Whipper Watson wouldn't like it if you failed to assist, and anyone who saw him last week in Exeter can vouch for the fact he is still quite capable of looking after himself. Few area residents at the dinner knew what to expect in the address given by former National Football League referee Tommy Bell. What they received was about 30 minutes of anecdotes and jokes that proved most enjoyable and 10 minutes of a hand-thumping, thought- provoking challenge about our roles as citizens in a democracy. The latter was not quite as en- joyable, because this gifted speaker pointed out in no uncer- tain terms that the great nations of Canada arid the U.S.A. are in -Huron Hope newsletter Dear Parents and Friends: Four of our pupils were among over three hundred children from fifteen schools in Southwestern 'Ontario who participated in the Winter Special Olympics at the University of Western Ontario on Saturday, February 12. After the opening ceremonies at which Russ Jackson, coach and former football player, spoke to the audience, signs were held up to identify each school and University students from the Faculty of Education located their friend for the day. The children were accompanied by students who stayed with them for the entire day and took them to the various events in which the children were competing. Eloise, Eileen, Becky and Larry competed in their own divisions in skating. Larry won a gold medal for first place and Becky a blue medal for placing second. Lunch, with a choice of hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, jello, milk and cake was served in Somerville Hall. Following lunch our junior toboggan team (ages 8-12) flew to a first place victory on a borrowed toboggan with some energetic pushing from two chaperones. Assistance by two persons was allowed up to the starting line. Our team covered the distance in 5.38 seconds with all three team members still on the toboggan at the end of the course. (In order to place, two members had to be left on the toboggan when it crossed the finish line.) Each participant received a ribbon for each event she lhe en- tered and each received a Winter Special Olympic crest to sew on his or her coat. The gymnasium at Thames Hall was kept open all day so that the children had a place to return to, to rest or play. They received a drink and a doughnut here before going home. It was not until it was time to board the bus to go back that the rain poured down, Don't just sit there. Do something. pannaParnon Fitness. In your heart you know It's right. serious trouble because the citizens have failed to accept their responsibilities to get in- volved in preserving those things which have made them great. The three main ingredients, as outlined by the Kentucky lawyer, are respect for free enterprise, respect for law and order and respect for God. While he noted that there were probably few in the audience who wouldn't agree with him, he emphasized that agreement with the needs was not enough. It will take an active involvement on the part of the citizens of the two nations to get them back on the right track to ward off the im- pending fall of two great societies. It was explained that for too many people the work ethic appeared to be dead and governments were not helping the situation with their massive welfare systems. We were rather amused at Tommy's suggestion that people should be put to work, even if it involved digging a ditch that was covered over as soon as it was dug. Readers Nay, recall that this newspaper suggested such a seherne to ;get the Grand Bend sewer . installed, although the suggestion would be of more value than merely digging a ditch to have someone else come along and fill it in. But there is little doubt that this country is in trouble when those on welfare or unemploy- ment benefits find it is more economical to stay on poggie than attempt to find jobs. However, free enterprise will continue to have a tough time fin- ding jobs for those people as long as they have to meet the high costs of taxes placed on them by governments. In the matter of law and order, the popular referee gave some hair-raising examples of the dangers that exist on the streets in many cities in the two coun- tries. However, he quickly pointed out that unless people started to get involved and backed law and order, the same fate would soon befall smaller communities and it would be unsafe to walk the streets anywhere. Few of us could imagine not being able to walk around Exeter after dark (or even in the daylight) but we obviously live under a false sense of security to assume that the hoodlums will not spill out of the cities if they continue to perpetrate their foul deeds while citizens turn their badks rather than get involved. We already see chilling ex- amples of this within 100 or so miles from our area in Toronto and Detroit and the only way it will avoid this area in time is for everyone to accept his respon- sibility. If you don't stand for something . , you'll fall for anything! That was the point made by the dinner speaker and it should provoke us into action. Jesus must have raised several guffaws when he painted the word picture of the hypocritical scribes and pharisees carefully straining their wine through gauze to avoid swallowing a microscopic gnat and then going on to swallow a big, dirty camel. (Matt 8:24) In vivid language he pointed out the impairment of their spiritual vision, and also, their insensitivity to what they were swallowing. They were men who had completely lost their sense of proportion. The practice of gnat straining and camel swallowing is still very much alive in the 20th cen- tury. It seems especially prevalent among us Christians. Most of us have the intrinsic ability to spot blemishes before we spot the beauty in a neighbor's life; we walk in the posture of humility while looking with cold contempt on someone we regard as a sinner. We fail to see the arrogance of our own opinionated views but despise another's action and opinion just because it's different, We miss the depth and breadth of God's grace and spend our lives as gnat inspectors while omitting the weightier matters of justice, mercy and faith. Sometimes we go to church and miss the blessing because the minister's sermon was too long, the choir sang off key, an elder's son's hair too long or his daughter's dress too short. Gnats for the most part. I heard recently of an elder who, when he entered the church recreation room and saw the young people playing Parchesi, stormed out in a huff because 55 Years Ago Miss Lila Taylor, daughter of Robert Taylor, of Zion, who is fast gaining a reputation as an artist, held an exhibition of her paintingslin Senior's hall Friday :and Saturday last. Miss Taylor is a pupil of McGillivray Knowles, of Toronto, Mr. W. J. Beer was in London, Tuesday and Wednesday, taking some advanced work in con- nection with Masonic work. Miss Gertrude Winer left Monday for Kitchener to take a position as milliner. Messrs. R. N. Creech and J. M. Southcott were in Clinton on Friday attending a meeting of Huron County publishers. The Epworth League of the Main Street Methodist church held a successful valentine social Tuesday evening. Mr. W. H. Johnston gave an excellent talk on Valentines.' The principal item of interest was a debate "Should the modern woman make the advances." On the affirmative team were Misses Rose Lamport, Greta Mawson and Edna Follick. The negative was taken by Benson Tuckey, Howard Dignan and Lyle Statham. The young ladies won. 30 Years Ago Over 400 attended the annual at home dance of Exeter High School, Thursday night. The Jones, MacNaughton Seed Co., has moved into their new building and commenced operation this week. H. H. Whyte, superintendent of rural hydro for the Lucan district, who was an active Scoutmaster of the Exeter troop while here, is reviving Scouting in Lucan. Miss Lenore Norminton of Hensall won the shield for girls in the Lions oratorical contest for this zone. W. H. Hodgson has been ap- pointed secretary of the Exeter Public School board at a salary of $175 per year. they were playing with dice, Gnats, gnats, gnats, Some folk are thrown into a pious dither because communion wine is served instead of grape juice, or because the church walls were painted green when they would have preferred blue. The affliction spreads, The liberals call the evangelicals narrow, and the fundamentalists brand the social minded liberals as humanists. What a waste of time. Some of the problem of gnat straining arises because we tend to turn needful vigilance of our own faith into unnecessary suspi- cion and make non-Biblical matters a test of faith and spirituality. We often magnify form and tradition as a substitute for per- sonal relationships with Jesus, 4110 Thus, we are actually saying, "No one can really be spiritual unless he adopts my life styles and practices." It could be that gnat straining is a cover for our own personal spiritual deficiencies. Hyper- criticism of our brothers could just be a smoke screen to hide our own frustrations. The cure is Christ. When we focus our energies on Him we become far less occupied with the minute differences and failures of those around us, When we respond to Him we find the mundane and the trivia less at- tractive and are able to exercise a proper perspective. There's certainly nothing wrong with straining out the gnats, in fact it's often recommended; but not to the ex- clusion of being able to recognize the camels in our lives. 20 Years Ago A dog knocked over a coal-oil lantern in the loft of Roy Mason's big hip-roofed barn in StephenAlli township, Monday evening and set off a fire. which• razed the building in half an hour, For the second year in a row, The Times-Advocate has been judged the best weekly newspaper in its class in Ontario. McKerlie Automotive's new branch opened in Exeter on Friday. The branch is the fifth in the McKerlie organization. Students moved into the new addition to SHDHS this week and relieved the congested conditions which existed in the original buildings. Exeter Boy Scouts and affiliate groups in this district took part in a world-wide observance of the 50th anniversary of the birth of the movement Sunday at special church services, 15 Years Ago " Crossbar switches, the latest type of equipment to handle telephone calls, takes over Sunday and will automomatically do the work that 12 operators have done in the past. Winners of The Times- Advocate's mathematics com- petition held at Exeter H&S Ass'n meeting Tuesday night were, first, Richard Ashton; second, Marcia Sauder; and tied for third, Gail Lennox and Larry Skinner. Lloyd Miller, RR 1, Staffa, is home from hospital recovering from exposure after he was nearly buried alive in his silo last week., The area was hit by its worst storm of the season, Tuesday, when over eight inches of snow fell and mixed with freezing rain. The popular dance craze "The Twist" was an added attraction at the Junior Farmers' meeting Wednesday. The prize winning couples were Frank Kints and Darlene Frayne; Marlene Frayne and Sam Kingma, and Eric Kints and Margie Oke. Amalgamated 1924 Another problem Mess grows worse want to put it in the garage. And I do. In the summer, the birds poop all over ,,,the windshield if I leave her out, In the winte, Winter poops all over the whole thing with ice and snow if I leave her out. So I put her in. But that clearance is pretty skinny. The two-by-four that supports the joist or whatever that supports the roof of my garage is no longer a two-by-four. My wife and daughter have no idea whether the car is four feet wide or six. Accordingly, that two-by-four is now about the thickness of six toothpicks, and any day the whole structure will cave in. I have, for the moment, two cars. They are located in one garage, and directly behind it, one driveway just as long as a garage. This morning, the car in the garage, the 10-year-old, started like a rocket heading for Mars, The new one, the five-year- old, groaned twice, grunted once, and died. There I am, with one perky car hamming merrily in the garage, and one great lump of cold, dead metal sitting right behind it. it's enough to Make a saint swear. And I ain't no saint, But then I think of how lucky I am, compared to Our ancestors. I have an oil furnace that is practically supporting the entire province of Alberta, but at least I times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 exeferZimes-ibuocate Criticism misdirected Gnats and camels 1.