HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-10-13, Page 4:,...moLunrsm..msozzamerzromixim.,
Comment from...
*WO *urati MiStritt•
*id ii•cboot
BY RON BOGART
Page 4
Times•Advocate, gtolzrer 13, 1977
"Nimrod had a hunting accident last week — he shot a duck!"
: ... 1.1."
Getting sick of the news
siei;;;slip:ism;•
`fie exeterVinesaboxafe
SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
C,W.N.A., 0.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 Betkett
Plant Manager — Bill Weekley
Composition Manager Harry DeVries
Business Manager — Dick Jongkind
Phone 235 ,1331
+CNA
•
CCNA
R1UF RUMOR
AWARD
IVA
Published Each Thursday Morning
at Exeter, Ontario
Second Class Mail,.
Registration Number 306
Paid In Advance Circulation
Septernber 40, 1075 5,409
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $11,00 Per Year; USA $22.100
•
.... ........
Football injury risk — Small? Great?
A debt pdid off
News of the impending arrival of a
shopping centre in Exeter has resulted in
mixed reactions.
For the majority of local businessmen,
it is the apparent arrival of a threat-real or
imagined-and it is naturally being viewed
by them with considerable consternation.
On the other hand, many shoppers have
expressed pleasure in the news; an attitude
fostered on the belief-real or imagined-that
Morearetail competition will result in lower
prices and greater selection for them,
Neither group will have their fears or
hopes confirmed until more details of the
planned commercial development are
released and the centre actually opens its
doors for business.
Existing retailers have cause for con-
cern, although the size of the centre as out-
lined at present suggests that only a few
will face direct competition from the new
arrivals. It can't help but hurt them,
because there are only so many shopping
• dollars avai a 1 in the community. For the
businesses not facing direct competition,
the new centre may well prove beneficial
by drawing additional customers to Exeter.
While many local businessmen are
prepared to meet the competition, one of
them has pointed out that it is a rather
strange situation that most people in the
community think it is good to have new
competition for businessmen. He notes that
many of those who greet the news
enthusiastically and have even endorsed it,
are people who don't have to worry about
competition in making their livelihood,
such as those in teaching, civil service jobs
or those backed by strong unions. He
suggests, quite fairly, that perhaps those
people would have a different attitude if
their jobs were thrown open for competi-
tion periodically and only those who excel
or cut their wage demands could hope to
win.
In fact, the majority of local
businessmen don't need any more competi-
Fire prevention week is half over. That
scarcely matters: it merely serves as a
reminder. In this country, the threat of fire
is greatest during the cold months, when
heaviest demands are made on heating and
lighting systems.
In Ontario last year fire caused the
deaths of 265 people and property losses
totalling $143,102,417.
Fire could cause death or injury in any
of our families or destroy our homes at any
time. The saddest thing about such losses
of life is that often they need not have
happened. Children should never be left
alone, nor allowed to play with matches or
fire. Adults should not re-enter burning
buildings to remove money or valuables.
Just three minutes in a smoke-filled room
results in unconsciousness. Most deaths in
fires are the consequence of smoke inhala-
tion.
Though fire may occur for no discerni-
ble reason, they are usually preventable.
Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits,
careless smoking, mishandling of flam-
Boy, I get sick of the news
sometimes, don't you?
Unemployment and inflation are
up. Housing is scarce and mighty
expensive. The idiots in Ulster
are still blowing each other up.
The various pipeline debates go
on and on. And everybody is
scared stiff that Quebec will
separate. Boring, boring, boring,
It becomes difficult to remain
a positive, concerned citizen of
this country of Ours when the dai-
ly news is nothing but bad.
Madness and senseless violence
and fear of involvement seem to
be all about us.
It's highly doubtful that any
Canadian hockey club can beat
the Russians. Toronto Argonauts
and Toronto Blue Says are the
worst teams in their respective
leagues. My friends are getting
old and sick. I have to have a
tooth extracted tomorrow, And
the bricks on my house are
crumbling, just like my teeth.
Just try to keep a stiff upper lip
when you haven't any teeth with
which to stiffen it.
Canadian women are living siX
and half years more than Cana-
dian men. Juvenile delinquency
is increasing at the tate of 6.1pet
cent annually. And my bursitis is
playing hell with my shoulder.
TaXes in Canada are higher
than they are in Britain. Two
guyS trying to fly the Atlantic in
a balloon Melted in the sea near
Iceland. And some poor turkey,
fishing in the Niagara River, Was
drowned When his tackle-box fell
tion. They have enough trouble now with
the competition that exists within the area
and also through the close proximity to
major shopping centres in London and
Stratford, as well as mail order firms.
Sure, most of them make a good living.
But, is it any greater than the majority of
area residents who don't face the problems
of competition or the investment and
management woes of today's small, in-
dependent businessman?
Members of Exeter council may be
correct in pointing out they can not stop a
shopping centre from being built as the
land is properly zoned. But they must also
remember that they have a considerable
voice in how land is zoned in the communi-
ty, By the same token, businessmen had
ample opportunity to express their views
over the zoning as it has been designated
for commercial use for a long period of
time. The time for action on that matter
has passed.
However, council, the planning board,
businessmen and all local citizens will soon
have the important task of deciding on how
much more land in the north end will be
zoned for commercial use and also the
equally important task of ensuring that
decay is avoided in the downtown area.
Those are matters which will require
some diligent deliberation as major
changes take place in the community, It
must obviously result in an overall better-
ment and orderly growth.
Commercial development brings
employment and other development, but it
has a saturation point, and that is certainly
one of the most difficult points to ascertain
in planning because it depends on a great
number of factors, some of which are
beyond local control,
Local residents who fail to voice their
opinions on this community's new official
plan and zoning bylaws are abdicating a
very real responsibility.
mables, spontaneous combustion of oily
rags and mops, heating units or electric
light bulbs in contact with combustibles —
these cause fires every day of the year. A
house or any other building that is well
maintained, clean, and free of trash is less
vulnerable.
What happens in the first few seconds
after fire erupts is crucial. Sometimes a
small localized blaze can be quickly
smothered by a heavy rug or chemicals
from a fire-extinguisher. If this doesn't
work, everyone should go outside at once.
The emergency call should be made from a
neighbour's home, The telephone number
of the fire department or rural fire area
service should be 'on the wall beside the
phone. It's not easy to recall in an
emergency.
Every member of the house should
know exactly how to escape from any room
in the house. Take time to talk about it.
Deaths and property losses through
fire are preventable. Attitude makes the
difference.
and a body falls through the bot-
tom, that'll be me, running my
old car until it disintegrates.
However, there's an out. I can
buy a Turbo Commander ex.
ecutive jet that will Fly Above
The Weather, for only $160,000.00
Trade or finance. I think I might
have to finance that one.
Ottawa recently floated a bond
issue of one billion dollars with
remarkable ease. Authorities
are "enthralled" with the ease
with which the bonds are sold.
Why not, they Say, cut personal
taxes and cover the enlarged
deficit with increased.
borrowing? Why not, indeed?
They only have a debt now of six
and a half billion dollars.
Peanuts.
What in the name of all that is
weird has happened to this coun-
try in the last three decades? We
came out of World War It with a
proud war record and fourth in
the world in gross national
product. We had a surging
economy, a vibrant industrial
health, and all those natural
resources. We were united and
free and strong. The future was
rosy.
Thirty odd years later, we
can't sell our precincts because
our prices are too high. We have
one of the *drat records in the
World for industrial and civil
strikes. Out postal System is
. rotten, Our railways don't carry
passengers, Factories are ties,
It may be a fact of life that
people with short memories
never get rich, particularly if
that short memory causes them
to miss out on collecting old bets.
Fortunately, their only salva-
tion may be in the fact that some
of the losers of those bets have a
better memory and also an
honest disposition.
That was the situation with the
writer this week, when former
Exeter Deputy-Reeve Tom
MacMillan handed us a five
dollar bill while we were
awaiting service in a local bank,
The first thought that crossed
our mind was that Tom must
have mistaken us for one of the
tellers, but he pointed out that
the $5 was for a bet we had made
several months ago during a pre-
council discussion of the rec cen-,
tre.
On the particular night in ques-
tion, Tom said he'd be willing to
bet that the town would end up
debenturing $200,000 for the new
facility.
"I'll take $5 of that," the,
writer can recall saying, and'
despite a memory lapse, we're
now a little richer.
"That's a bet I don't mind pay-
ing off," Tom commented this
week, no doubt sharing the opi-
nion of most of us that it's a
great feeling to have most of the
centre paid off without any huge
debenture debt.
However, there is still money
needed to finish the project and
hopefully those who have not yet
donated will come forth and do
their share,
There is little doubt that the
timing of the canvass was ideal,
ing down right and left. The
Maritimes are a disaster area.
And Quebec is practically dic-
tating its own terms, with a
shattered Dominion in the offing.
Maybe we came . too quickly
out of the national short pants
into the overalls. Maybe we got
greedy and lazy and soft. Maybe
we had third-rate leadership that
sold out our water and our
energy and our other natural
resources for interim political
prestige.
Whatever happened, we have
something very close to a
national disaster on our hands.
Our dollars is weak, Our young
people have little faith in the
future. Our middle-aged are
suspicious and cynical. Our
system is riddled with the worst
aspects of bureaucracy.
Thirty years ago, I'd have said
to any of my many friends from
the Commonwealth: Britian,
Australia, New Zealand,
Rhodesia, "Come to Canada;
that's where the future is;
greatest country in the world."
I'd have difficulty in pronoun-
cing those words today. I could
say we have the hest unemploy-
ment premiums in the world,
great health plans. But there's
not much room here now to build
a future, Pity.
and most area residents would
probably agree that trying to
raise $254,000 this year in view of
the crop situation would be vir-
tually impossible,
Indications are there will be
some unusual fun for local
anglers this fall as the large
salmon make their way up-
stream into the Ausable River.
A 15 and 22-pound specimen
were pulled out of the hole below
the Exeter dam last week and
more are expected to be landed.
as the kids will be lining up to try
their luck.
Normally, the equipment used
by most local youngsters
wouldn't be sufficient to land
such monsters, but the Chinook
salmon being hauled in have lost
most of their fighting power as
they have spawned and are in
their final death throes.
Even if some of the fish aren't
edible, it's still a big thrill to haul
one ashore. Some of the
specimens are still firm enough
to eat and it apparently depends
on how soon after spawning the
fish are caught,
*
Speaking of kids, it is en-
couraging to note that a Big
Brothers organization has been
established in Exeter to serve
the community.
Goals of the Big Brother move-
ment are outlined as follows:
— Provide guidance for boys in
sound character develop-
ment.
— Thwart behaviour patterns
which could lead to delin-
quency.
— Through friendship, allow
boys to reach highest
physical, mental, emotional
and spiritual development.
Dear Sir;
Once again I am approaching
the Hensall area businesses in the
hope of finding financial support
for the town's minor hockey
program.
Last year we had good
response and it was through the
generous donations of local
businesses and a lot of effort by
volunteers that we were able to
meet our financial obligations,
This year ice rental has in-
creased from $20 to $30 an hour,
and we will require $1,500 more
for ice time alone. We have a big
target this year, but one I am
sure we can reach with your help,
As secretary of the Hensall
Minor Athletic Association and
on behalf of all the boys involved
in the program, I would like to
thank everyone who contributed
last year. Your support this year
will be welcomed and ap-
preciated by all concerned.
Yours sincerely,
Bill Taylor,
Secretary,
Minor Athletic Association
— Match fatherless boys with
volunteer Big Brothers, to
form the friendship teams.
Little Brothers are not delin-
quent boys, but rather fatherless
boys from six to sixteen who lack
adult male companionship in
their lives.
They are boys entitled to the
childhood right to love, un-
derstanding and example of
worthy men.
We would imagine that
mothers of such boys would
welcome the opportunity to have
their sons involved in this.
program and those who are in-
terested should contact the Rev.
Glen Wright at Exeter United
Church.
By the same token, there are
no doubt several men in the com-
munity who could provide the
other half of the team and they
too are encouraged to contact
Rev. Wright,
It is an extremely important
organization to have within a
community and we heartily com-
mend those who have taken the
interest to get it established.
* * *
The weather, of course, has
been the chief topic of conversa-
tion in the area for several weeks
now, and some readers of this
column may recall that back in
early September we suggested
there should be a prize for
anyone who could come up with
some method of extending the
summer season.
The point made was the fact
that summer always appears to
be the shortest of the seasons.
Well, Jim Fitzgerald of the
Clinton News-Record has come
up with what he terms the
"perfect solution" and is now
requesting the prize.
Jim's answer is to simply
change the calendar over to the
metric system, like everything
else seems to have been of late,
and have 10 months instead of 12.
He would eliminate January
and February and tack those ex-
tra days onto July and August.
Jim certainly has something
going there, but before we can
award the prize, he will have to
provide some assurance from
Mother Nature that we won't end
up with snow and ice storms in
the two summer months by
transferring those January and
February days.
Once that assurance has been
received, Jim's prize will be on
its way.
Just to provide him with a hint,
the package will contain two long
pieces of fir wood and two
shorter pieces of bamboo with
steel points on the end,
After all, we won't be needing
our cress country skiffs if his idea
works outl
Amalgamated 1924
In a published report, Timmins
chiropractor Anthony Martin
said most high school football
injuries can't be detected. I-1e
cla imed spinal problems,
ligament and muscle injuries
can't be seen by X-rays but come
back to haunt players later in life,
Area high school officials scoff
at this suggestion.
Martin added that bones are
not completely formed by the
time the boys reach high school
and damage can become per-
manent by alteration of bone
structure, He suggests soccer
replace football as a school sport.
Dr. George LeMasters,
chairman of the Ontario Medical
Association's sports medicine
section disagreed with Martin.
Dr, LeMasters stated there is no
scientific evidence that injuries
are more frequent or serious in
football than in any other high
school sport.
"Anyone who plays football
knows that there is a certain
degree of risk." "I played the
game in high school and
university and if I had it to doall
over again, football would be a
high priority," "My son plays
and I wouldn't dream of not
allowing him the experience." I
believe the risk to be relatively
small for a serious injury.
I have never had any ex-
football players come back
complaining about old injuries.
They all loved it and wish they
could do it all over again.
Rules and regulations of
today's amateur football make
the game as safe as it can be. It is
compulsory for each player to
wear a mouth guard --- moulded
to fit his teeth.
This certainly prevents tooth
damage, although in 18 years of
coaching I cannot recall anyone
ever losing a tooth in football.
Wearing the mouthguard should
also reduce the possibility of
concussion caused from blows
under the jaw. The mouth piece
gives a cushion between the teeth
and absorbs a lot of the shock
from teeth smashing together.
Officials are better trained and
must attend clinics to upgrade
themselves. Rules now enforce
head blocking and head tackling.
It is illegal and carries severe
penalties or expulsion from the
game with repeated abuse.
,Rules demand that all shoes
have short, rubber, moulded
cleats to prevent ankle and knee
twists. The shorter cleats allow
the shoe to move on the ground
and not stick when contact of a
block or tackle is made.
Helmets must be safety ap-
proved and stamped as such.
Within a very short time all
55 Years Ago
On Tuesday of this week, the
Exeter Times purchased the
Hensall Observer printing plant.
The first snow of the season fell
on Wednesday but soon disap-
peared.
The hot fowl supper served by
the ladies of the Trivitt Memorial
Church in the Dome Rink on
Wednesday evening was a
decided success. Following the
supper, the choir of the
Presbyterian Church, S eaf or th
put on musical entertainment of a
high order.
Caven Presbyterian Church
held a successful anniversary
service on Sunday last. The
church was filled in the morning
and the evening service was held
at Trivitt Memorial Church. A
union choir composed of mem-
bers from the different choirs of
town furnished some splendid
Music. Rev. C. E. Evans of St,
Marys conducted the services,
, Rev. C. W. Down of the
Saskatchewan Conference was a
delegate to the General Con-
ference in Toronto,
30 Years Ago
Exeter Public School trustees
have secured an extra room in
the Exeter Legion Hall to relieve
the congestion in 'the over-
crowded classrooms of the
school.
Boy Scouts under their leader,
Ted Buswell, gathered eight tons
of scrap paper on Saturday.
The Athletic Society of Exeter
High School held a sweaterSWing
in Exeter Arena to pay for the
athletes' trip to the W,O.S.S.A.
meet in London.
Evelyn Desjardine, Grand
Bend, carried off the gold medal
in elocution at the contest
sponsored by the
A meeting to wind up the
operations of Exeter District War
Tithe Committee is being held in
the council diatribes on Friday.
20 Yeats Ago
The opening of the new $125,000
Remelt Public School Friday
evening was attended by
students, parents and interested
citizens. A former teacher, Miss
Mettle Ellis, With 36 years of
equipment will be safety ap-
proved. At South Huron we feel
all our equipment is as safe as it
can be. What else can be done --
except change it to touch football,
We feel we train and condition the
players for this contact sport, We
teach the prescribed methods of
blocking and tackling,
To date there has been no talk
of dropping the sport in the area,
I think there are no more injuries
in football than there are in
soccer, basketball, badminton,
hockey or even bicycle riding. A
recent report stated there are
more accidents caused from bike
riding than from football,
Football is a contact sport, but
playerS are protected ac
cordingly,
Football causes a lot of pain ---
it has caused me a lot of pain,
both on and off the field and as a
coach and player --- but it has all
been worth it. The feedback you
get from the boys and about the
relationship with other players
and other teams--the rivalries
with other schools—the the wins,
the losses--the championships,
These make it all worth while.
Football like no other sport
develops trust in others and
lasting friendships which no
other sport can boast. You
remember those guys that
struggled in the field with you. It
seems to be a friendship that
lasts forever. I have been in-
volved in other sports--baseball
and softball, hockey, volleyball,
track, basketball, badminton, but
none as far as I am concerned
can hold up to football and what it
means to have played the game,
I would hate to see football
dropped from the program. For
approximately 70-80 boys each
fall it means a great deal. They
know the risk---they take the
chance and very few of them are
very sorry that they participated
in this great game.
COMING ACTIVITIES
Mon., Oct. 17
- Blood Donor Clinic, afternoon
and evening.
Grade 13 Geography field trip
to Northern Ontario.
Tues., Oct. 18
Basketball and field hockey,
Medway at South Huron, 3:30
p.m.
Wed., Oct. 19
Huron-Perth cross country
meet, Benmiller
Thurs., Oct, 20
Fastball at Goderich, girl's
basketball at North Western,
field hockey North Western,
boys volleyball, Wingham
Fri., Oct. 21
- Grade 13 science studepts, U. of
Waterloo
service in the teaching profession
had the honor of cutting the
ribbon to the new school.
Joseph McCann, 34, RR 3,
Dashwood, was seriously injured
Saturday morning when he was
run over by a tractor. His left leg
was fractured and he received
numerous cuts about the head
and right leg.
Principal' Greta Lavender of
Zurich Public School cut the
ribbon to officially open a new
$40,000 two-room addition to the
school.
Bill Batten was elected
president of the Mid-Western
Zone of the Christian Young
Councillors Convention at a rally
in Owen Sound this weekend,
15 Years Ago
Exeter District Co-op an-
nounced this week it plans to
erect a new store and office
facilities at its location near the
CNR station. A 30-foot extension
will be added to the new
warehouse, erected last year on
the east side of Station street.
Harvey Pfaff, Exeter, post-
master, has resigned as area co-
ordinator for the emergency
measures organization.
John Shell, president of the
Exeter teen town was named
editor of the Ink Spot at an
election held among the students
at SIIDIIS Tuesday. The 17-year-
old son of Mr. and Mrs. Russ
Snell Will head the nine-member
executive who will handle the
work of the school's annual year
book,
A private airplane flipped on its
back Wednesday while Making a
landing on the Haigmeier farm
south of Grand Bend. None of the
occupants Was injured. The craft
came from the Tillsonburg area
and mechanics flew up to
disassemble the craft.
eone.,1114
Mired reactions
Matter of attitude
in and he jumped after it. He
probably had a mickey of rye in
it,
Another big (really big)
cabinet minister resigns from
the government. George
Chuvalo, at 40, wants one last
fight. A CBC drama shows Alber-
ta and Ottawa getting a royal
Screwing from U.S.-based oil
companies,
And my wife wants to buy a
whole lot of new furniture for the
living room, despite the fact that
the stuff we have is only N years
old, and perfectly good, if you
like leaning lamps and rumpspr-
ing chairs.
We've got enough natural gas
to last us for years, but we won't
be able to afford it. The weather
is absolutely rotten. So is my
car, which is about ti dis-
integrate in a cloud of rust-dust,
Should anyone give it a kick.
In Quebec, the English-
Speaking are taking a hosing,
While in the rest of the country
Various guys called Goyer,
Chretien, Lalonde and Trudeau
are telling us what to think. And I
never did get the stain on my pic-
nic table,
Nothing rein& Wrong with the
big banks, of course, There never
Is. Why, one Of there has slashed
its interest rates. on loans for
new cars from 13,6 to 12.5 in-
terest. Quelle benevolence!
Who needs it when the price of
cars has gone up abed six per
cent? If you see a car going by
you seine time in the next year,
Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881
I would rather sit on a
pumpkin and have it all to myself
than to be crowded on a velvet
cushion.
.:'Thoreau
The tree of liberty grows only
when watered by the blood of
tyrants,
-tlettrand 8erefe