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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 vocate Wee 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 Editoi* — Bill Battan A**i»tdn» Editdr — Rais Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Composition Manager —« Harry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jongkind 235-1331 ^►CNA suist Amalgamated 1924 Publilhed Each Thur*dfty Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Cla»i Mail Regiifration Number 0386 ilUjiMH II Uf fllldu SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $TI .DO Per Y*ar,- USA $22.00F 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.