HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-12-14, Page 4Times-Advocate, December 14, 1978Pqge 4
Good system, if used
Chief Ted Day was quite proper in
setting Exeter council straight over the
attendance of Constable Kevin Short at
a special course on fraud at the Ontario
Police College.
Several members of the previous
council had suggested the Chief had
over-stepped his authority in the
matter and, while that may have been
true to a point, he gave legitimate
reasons why the decision had not been
discussed with the police committee.
While the matter has now been
straightened out to the apparent
satisfaction of all concerned, a couple
of things are worth noting to ensure
that similar unfortunate situations do
not arise.
Checking back over notes of the
meeting in which the issue was
originally aired, we see that police
committee chairman Ken Ottewell had
suggested the matter be turned over to
his committee for study and
recommendation.
That was logical and could have
ended the debate without members
sticking their foot in their mouth by
making comments regarding a con
tract of which some admitted later
they didn’t know the contents.
The committee system is certainly
an effective way to deal with business,
but too often council members fail to
take advantage of it, choosing to debate
items that more properly should be
turned over to committees for study
and recommendation.
On the other hand, it is evident that
council committees must have regular
contact with department heads to
make the system efficient.
Chief Day noted he took the deci
sion upon himself because the chair
man of the police committee was on
vacation. During the year, he explained
that the committee had met on only a
couple of occasions.
Ideally, committees'should meet
on a regular basis so department heads
have a set schedule and know when
they can make requests or recommen
dations.
As council embarks on a new term,
the experience gained in the police
course incident will hopefully prompt
them to see the value of using the com
mittee system more effectively in the
months ahead.
I
j
a
Buying jobs
This year, buying jobs for Canada
should be number one on everybody’s
list.
There are two big advantages in
selecting Canadian-made products for
gift giving, says the Retail Council of
Canada which is co-operating in a
“Shop Canadian’’ advertising and
promotional program with federal and
provincial governments. The first is
that it helps create jobs needed now to
contribute to economic revival; the se
cond is that shoppers can realize excep
tional value in domestic goods because
of the devalued Canadian dollar.
As part of the “Shop Canadian”
philosophy, manufacturers are being
urged to mark their products as “made
in Canada” and many have agreed to
do so. But because it will take time for
those items to reach the retail store, it
may not be easy to identify merchan
dise of Canadian origin right now.
Customers should ask sales staff for
assistance in finding and comparing
Canadian goods.
The retail council points out the
significance of purchasing Canadian
goods: A pair of Canadian-made work
boots costing $66 will buy six hours of
work for Canadians; $25 spent on
Canadian-made stuffed toys will buy
one hour; a Canadian-made ladies’ lux
ury gown, priced at $50, will produce
five hours of work for Canadians; and
$24 spent on a Canadian-made circular
saw will buy 1% hours of Canadian
jobs.
If each family in Canada purchases
enough Canadian-made merchandise to
create one day’s work in Canada, we’d
be giving ourselves 32,000 full-time jobs
for Christmas...and giving ourselves a
much more .prosperous new year.
Shoppers should show their in
terest by actively seeking Canadian
made Christmas gifts and urging
merchants to get involved.
Perspectives
School bus drivers are a
special breed of people.
I doubt very much that
there are many other jobs
that entail quite so much
responsibility for so little
pay. Perhaps that is why it’s
so hard to get drivers these
days and why some of them
only last a couple of weeks
at it even though they’ve
already spent a considerable
amount of time and energy
in getting their license.
Incidentally that license
has the most demanding
physical standards of any of
the special licenses the On
tario government has set up
for drivers.
The new buses can hold up
to seventy-two children,
packing them in at three to a
seat. A few of the kids ride
almost an hour before they
get to school, a long time for
them to sit still and to be
reasonably quiet.
Experienced drivers know
that the most critical part of
their job is maintaining dis
cipline. It’s hard enough to
drive on a foggy morning but
doubly so when the kids are
acting up behind you.
It’s a demanding job,
sometimes scarey.
A driver just new to a
route had stopped, his
flashers going, to let a small
child off. Just behind, a
large gravel truck came to a
halt. The bus driver had the
door open, the little girl got
out, and a car came flying
past at a speed of about
eighty miles an hour. Three
seconds later and the little
girl would have been killed.
Another driver, a lady
with several years’ ex
perience, told of coming to a
railroad track in the fog,
opening the door and listen
ing then proceeding across.
Just behind by no more than
a few feet the train whistled
through. Since then, fog
stops the buses. No ifs, ands,
or buts, Better to come in an
hour late than not at all.
With winter coming on,
life gets a little more ex
citing for the drivers.
Sideroads in some places
are like narrow tunnels
where the bus touches both
sides at once and where tur-
narounds in a laneway
become almost impossible
with a forty foot vehicle.
Other times the visibility is
almost zero.
Yet it becomes routine to
a certain extent and the
drivers get used to pushing
the buses through drifts up
to the axles or easing them
over icy roads that even the
farmers won’t go on in their
four-wheeled vehicles unless
they’re forced into it.
And to give credit where it
is due, the accident rate for
school buses has been ex
tremely low, an amazing
fact considering the tremen
dous number of miles put on
daily by them.
Considering too that many
car drivers give the school
buses a hard time, ignoring
flashing lights, tailgating
them when they are un
loading or unloading, and
becoming so inpatient that
they pass foolishly.
So next time you see one
of those big yellow boxes on
the road ahead of you, try to
remember that inside the
box are a lot of little
‘goobers’ depending on you
and a slightly harried driver
to get them safely to their
destination.
Take it easy, eh?
Peace on earth and goodwill towards
men!
While that’s one of the prime aims of
the Christmas season, a few people in
this community apparently haven’t
been able to grasp it yet.
Last week, members of the South
Huron rec centre board came under
fire from some quarters over the
manner in which they staged a Christ
mas party. It just proves that old adage
about being damned if you do and
damned if you don’t.
In one of their periodic attempts to
raise funds for their budget, the
member^ decided to stage a party, to
which area firms would be invited to
host their employees in an open ban
quet, followed by a dance.
The idea was to provide a location
for smaller groups to join together to
mark the season. The board would
provide the meal, dance band and bar.
Their invitation was accepted by
several groups. In fact, close to 500
people were in attendance and from all
reports, thoroughly enjoyed
themselves. In many instances, those
groups wouldn’t have been able to
stage such an event on their own due to
the lack of a facility of a reasonable
size.
The problem arose when some
organizations were not extended an in
vitation and a couple of board
members in particular have been sub
ject to some severe criticism.
In fact, those members were the
ones who went out and promoted the
event by contacting firms. That they
were unable to contact everyone should
be understandable. It should also be ob
vious they had to cut off the invitation
list when the number reached the
capacity point of the hall.
It is understandable that some peo
ple were upset over the situation in
view of the good time enjoyed by the
participants.
However, their criticism of the
board members who worked hard to
make the event successful is mis
directed.
Perhaps next year, there will be
enough response to stage two such par
ties, and those interested would be well
advised to make their wishes known
now to board members so they can be
accommodated.
Those who have been critical of not
being invited should be reminded that
the board has staged several other
functions which were publicly adver
tised and which attracted only a hand
ful of people. They can hardly be
^Ghastised for extending personal in
vitations to ensure that the Christmas
party didn’t suffer the same fate.
★ * *
Readers no doubt have seen those TV
commercials for headache tablets
where the coach of a minor hockey
team is shown in the need of some pain
reliever. There are times when some
coaches probably need such assistance.
It’s not usually because of the kids, but
rather his own high pressure tactics.
Most kids still enjoy the game for
what it is and we had ample evidence
last week that given the opportunity, it
is number one on their list of priorities.
After our weekly practice with our
team of six, seven and eight-year-olds,
Wednesday, the lads serenaded the
kindly old coach on the occasion of his
birthday.
When they completed their rendition,
we suggested that in view of their ex
cellence it would perhaps be more ap
propriate that we form a boys’ choir
rather than a hockey team.
“Well,” commented seven-year-old
Doug Clark in a rather brusk tone, “no
one would come”.
So, while you may not have the op
portunity to hear the Waxers in song,
you can watch their exciting style of
hockey on December 26 and 27 as they
perform in the annual novice tourna-
ment at the rec centre. We can assure
you that it is well worth the price of ad
mission.
Last weekend, the novice squad
played in the Parkhill tournament, and
one of the duties of the coach is to
make out the lineup sheet. The hockey
moguls also dictates that each player
must sign the sheet, which of course is
a rather trying experience for some
kids who are just learning to print and
haven’t mastered the task of spelling
their own names as yet.
The problem is compounded by the
fact that the space allotted for the
signatures is only three-sixteenths of
an inch high and one and a half inches
long. Any kindergarten teacher will
quickly advise that such space is far
from adequate and most kids have to
cut off their surnames after the first
couple of letters.
They obviously realize the stupidity
of the whole exercise. Due to an early
Christmas celebration at his home,
Rob McLean of Grand Bend was late
arriving for one of our games. He was
handed the sheet to sign as he dashed
through the lobby and quickly wrote
down his first name. “You can sign my
last name, I don’t have time,” he said
and handed back the sheet as he rushed
in to get his skates on.
Another problem the coach has is
remembering the lads’ sweater
numbers, due in no small part to the
fact we prefer to call them by names
rather than numbers. This usually re
quires that we ask each player his
number as his name is jotted down.
“What’s your number?” we asked
six-year-old rookie Allan Blommaert.
“235-2012.” came the quick response.
Who says coaching kids isn’t a lot of
fun?
$5 Years Ago
Mr. John Hunkin held his
annual live bird shooting
match on Friday afternoon
last. Two events were run
off, the first on the jack
rabbit system and the second
for the birds alone.
The members of St. Marys
Church, Brinsley held a bee
on Monday afternoon of last
week and made great im
provements by gravelling
the roadway to the shed.
Morrison Foster, Granton
a student of the local high
school sustained painful
injuries at the school during
a practice football game.
Foster was in a scrimmage
for the ball when he was
kicked on the leg with such
force that two bones in the
right leg were broken.
Major J. W. Heaman was
in Clinton last Wednesday
attending a banquet in
celebration of the
organization of the 161st
battalion which took place
December 6, 1915.
Among those who are
prominently mentioned as
Warden of Huron County
next year are the reeves of
two townships adjoining
Exeter, William H. Coates of
Usborne and Alex J. Neeb,
Stephen.
30 Years Ago
An all-day show marked
the opening of Valentine
Becker’s new International
Harvester building at Dash
wood on Tuesday.
Over 600 public school
children were entertained at
Leavitt’s Theatre Saturday
morning and afternoon.
Ontario’s first turnip club
for Junior Farmers held its
Achievement Day meeting in
Exeter on Monday night.
Applications for water
service in Hensall were slow
in coming in although the
water should be ready for
use next week.
The auditorium of the
Trivitt Memorial Church is
being redecorated and it is
expected that the re-opening
will take place January 23.
The unusually mild
weather for this season of the
year has not been conducive
to the best of health.
20 Years Ago
Mrs. James Earl who
moved to Exeter from
Usborne about two months
ago received a pleasasnt
welcome from town mer
chants Saturday when she
won the $100 draw in the
Christmas jackpot.
George E, Rether won
Exeter Council’s sixth seat
last week when a recount
gave him 463 to 460 for in
cumbent Claude Farrow.
Judge Frank Fingland
presided at the three-hour
count which broke the
deadlock. Rether is vice-
president of Exeter Kinsmen
Club.
Lorne Dundas and Jim
Prout were in an unusual
predicament Saturday when
a gun-toting hitchhiker held
a gun at their heads for three
hours. A. Jack Harness, a
native of Exeter identified
himself as the hitchhiker
when he gave himself up to
an Ottawa reporter Monday.
Students at Whalen under
the direction of Mrs. Charles
Gowan, teacher, entertained
the community with a
variety Christmas concert
Friday night.
15 Years Ago
Scout Jim Johnson of the
First RCAF Centralia Scout
Troop has been selected as
one of five from the Blue
Water Region to attend the
fifth National Jamboree of
the Boy Scouts of America in
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
next summer. Jim is a troop
leader at 15 years of age.
Rev. Ross MacDonald,
minister of Carmel
Presbyterian Church,
Hensall and Knox
Presbyterian Church,
Bayfield, for the past two
years has accepted a call to a
three-point charge in Elgin
county, composed of chur
ches in Kintyre, New
Glasgow and Rodney,
Hurondale school held its
last Christmas concert last
week. The long tradition of
concerts at the one-room
school will stop as it is ex
pected that Usborne town
ship’s new central school will
be ready for next year.
Donald Cann, 19, of Exeter
will be an unique member of
Older Boys’ Parliament
when it convenes at Waterloo
Lutheran College Boxing
Day. He is the first
representative to win his
seat by election,
The Year Scrooge Took Santa's Place
BY ANDREA PEARCE
Grade 6
Exeter P.S.
T'was the night before
Christmas Eve and Santa
wasn’t feeling well. He kept
worrying about Christmas
because he wasn’t sure the
children around the world
would get their presents.
Meanwhile on the dark
side of the North Pole lived
an evil man that didn’t
believe in Christmas. His
name was Scrooge. One
night when he was in bed
sleeping a fairy fluttered
over to him and sprinkled
Friendly Dust on him.
When he awoke in the
morning he seemed to be in a
happy and friendly mood. He
☆ ☆
then decided to go for a walk.
Back at Santa’s workshop
the elves were busy working,
but Santa was still sick. Then
Santa called for Mrs. Claus
and asked her to write a
notice for the newspaper, to
see if anyone would take
Santa’s place on his sliegh.
When Ebenezer Scrooge
got his daily paper and saw
the notice, he set out to the
nice part of the North Pole to
answer Santa’s offer. When
he arrived at Santa’s
workshop, Santa was very
pleased to see Ebenezer
Scrooge so happy and willing
to take his offer. On
Christmas Eve and the rest
of his life Scrooge was
always happy and friendly.
☆
The First Christmas For Two Animals
Tinies Established 1873
imes
Advocate Established 1381
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Weddings.
Not many of you readers have
attended one of the many wedding
ceremonies of Elizabeth Taylor, right?
You and I don’t exactly travel with that
jet set crowd, right?
Well, you’re wrong. I recently
attended one of the marriages of
Elizabeth Taylor. And I didn't crash it;
I was invited. And I hope it's the only
one she ever has. It was her first.
No, no. Not that fat, beautiful, silly
Elizabeth Taylor, the movie star, who
by now has pledged to love, honor and
obey, in sickness and in health, until
death do them part, about six or seven
guys.
I mean the real Elizabeth Taylor.
Liz, the kid who was a close buddy of
my daughter Kim from about Grade 5
on, whom I taught in Grade 10 and
Grade 12, who became somewhat of a
second daughter to us when her mother
died, who dropped in to the Smileys’
every vacation home from college to
regale us with her ups and downs.
She’s now a young Phys. Ed, teacher,
and a darn good one, I daresay,
because she's always been a good
athlete, and has had a way with kids
since her camp counsellor days. She’s
also now a young bride, and 1’1 take this
opportunity of wishing her a happy
married life. I could scarcely get near
enough at the wedding to say it, so
many guys wanted to kiss her.
Usually, I hate weddings, and avoid
. he hates them
them whenever possible. But I enjoyed
this one. The church service was a mix
ture of traditional anglican and swing
ing modern, with a mod choir playing
guitars and belting out the Word in
close harmony.
My old lady and I were so moved that
we actually went up and took commu
nion for the first time in years. Even
more unusual, my daughter joined us.
Great reception afterward: free bar,
magnificent roast beef dinner, good
and brief toasts, and a party afterward
with dancing for the Young Turks, of
whom there seemed to be many.
It must have cost her old man a
small fortune. But it was worth it. He's
two down, and only one daughter left to
marry Off, out of the three of them.
But you must wonder why I hate
weddings, Most meh do. Why? Mainly
because of the women involved. And I
don’t mean the bride or the
bridesmaids, or the brides’s mother or
aunts. I mean one’s own women-folk.
As long as two months before the
wedding, they start panicking. They
have a feeling that they will be the
cynosure of all eyes, even though they
know in their hearts that all eyes will
be on the bride.
There are infinitely lengthy and inef
fably boring talks about what to wear
to the wedding. Sensible women will
drag out that long gown they wore to
the Christmas dance last year and
Wear it. But I don’t have any of those.
Not long gowns. Sensible women.
It must be something new and strik
ing. This results in one of two things:
even more agitated shopping excur
sions, as the big day nears; or, if your
wife sews, as mine does, even more
frantic searching for material, sewing
and ripping, tears and anger and
frustration and, finally, triumph. At
which point the hapless male, who is
merely going to wear his good suit and
shine his shoes, is expected to rap
turize over the “creation”. By the
hour.
I swear my wife was working on the
final touch, a white hat that looks like a
longshoreman’s cap, until two hours
before we took off for the wedding.
This time it is more complicated.
She also had to improvise an outfit for
daughter Kim. The latter is not sensi
ble in the opposite way. She’d turn up at
a formal wedding in a turtleneck
sweater, ragged jeans, and sandals.
Bringing along her husband, who Would
arrive in a sweater with the elbow out,
even more ragged jeans, ahd work
boots.
You can see the predicament my old
lady was in. She not only had to get
herself looking like the Queen of Sheba,
but she had to get her daughter’s outfit
BY CHERYL DOWSON
Grade 6
Exeter P.S.
There were two little
animals sitting on there bed.
They had heard people
talking about Christmas.
The one animal was a mouse
the other was a rat. Both of
them asked each other what
is Christmas?
The Rat “said” is it
something to eat or drink,
the mouse “said” lets go and
find out. So when they were
out of their hole they saw two
children putting decorations
on a tree.
Mouse “said” it looks fun,
do you want to try it? He
agreed. They started to
collect leaves, branches,
twigs and a hole lot of other
things. They were almost
finished. Finally ’they were
done but they did not have
decorations. Rat moaned
now what will we do.
Mouse had a plan, he told
Rat he “said” it is a great
idea, so they went ahead
with it. There plan was to
borrow the peoples
decorations for the night and
thats what they did, and the
two animals had the most
joyous Christmas ever.
lined up, including the loan of shoes and makeup, ensure
that Kim’s Don wore something decent, and choose the
shirt and tie I’d wear. Tough,
Another reason I hate weddings is the cost. That one Set
me back about $200, minimum. About 30 bucks for long
distance calls, discussing who’d wear what. Another 40 for
gifts, (My wife was unable to make the shower for the
bride, so had to take a shower gift plus a wedding gift).
Eighty bucks for motel rooms. Yeah I got stuck for two of
them, plus cots for the grandboys. Twelve bucks for snacks
(nobody else seemed to have any money). Twelve bucks
for the baby-sitter, who told us rather tightly that they
were the worst kids that she ever baby-sat. Another 10 for
gas and oil. Another five for tips. And lordy, lordy knows
how much my wife spent on materials for her outfit.
One more reason I hate weddings. They always interfere
with the things you’d rather be doing. If they’re in June,
you d rather be out trout-fishing. If they’re in November,
you d rather be at home watching one of the final football
games,
Ah, WotheheH. We had a good visit with the grandboys,
Liz got herself a nice fella, there isn’t another wedding in
the offing, and my daughter is coping with a 16-hour day
without going around the bend. It was worth it.