The Citizen, 1993-01-06, Page 1
The North Huron
itizen
Vol. 9 No. 1 Wednesday, January- 6 1993 60 cents
Shared joy
A shared smile between Robert and Yvonne Wilts reveals the special joy they feel as first-
time parents as the new family gets photographed for having the first baby of 1993 for The
Citizen readership area. Their daughter, Vanessa Amber, arrived into this world Jan. 2 at
11:32 p.m. after putting mom through 21 and a half hours of labour at Clinton Public Hospital.
New year brings new life
Blyth mourns passing
of Franklin Bainton
FRANKLIN BAINTON
Franklin Totten Bainton, a man
never large in physical stature but
who cast a long shadow over the
village of Blyth through much of
this century, died suddenly at his
office at the Bainton Limited Tan-
nery in Hullett Township on Dec.
22, 1992.
Blyth firemen were called to the
office after Mr. Bainton collapsed
but were unable to revive him. He
was 82 years of age. His death, at
his workplace, was typical of the
drive that helped make his compa-
ny one of the best-known producers
and retailers of leather products in
all of Canada.
His death shocked the communi-
ty. He leaves to mourn his passing
his wife, the former Cenetta Jewell
and his daughter, Glenyce, and her
husband Richard Snell, RR I, Blyth.
Also surviving are four grandchil-
dren, Franklin Snell, Jayne and her
husband Mark Marquis, Amanda
Snell and Richard Snell as well as a
number of nieces and nephews. He
was predeceased by his sister Mar-
jorie, Mrs. Ebb Ross, and his broth-
er Aubrey Bainton.
Mr. Bainton was born in Blyth on
Nov. 4, 1910, the son of Allan Bert
Bainton and the former Amanda
Dolly Totten. Eventually, he suc-
ceeded his father as president of the
family business that had been
established in Blyth in 1894 by
Allan Bert Bainton, Frank Bainton
Sr. and their sister Jen Bainton. The
company had operated as a tannery
and wool pullery, manufacturing
leather mitts, gloves and leggings.
An addition in the 1920s added the
manufacturing of woollen blankets,
auto robes and yards. The company
was called Blyth Woollen Mills
until 1959 when the name was
changed to Bainton Limited with
Franklin T. Bainton as president.
In 1963, because of the lack of
sewage facilities in Blyth, the tan-
nery portion of the operation was
moved to Hullett township but the
downtown location continued to be
a busy retail outlet, famous across
the province.
Continued on page 3
Looking back
A quick review
of the people and stories
who made the news in 1992
See page 6
Sports
Blyth Bantams compete
in Kincardine's
Silver Stick tournament
See page 10
Feature
Clinton author's book tells
of an era when it was
train time — any time
See page 18
RIDE program nets
few charges in area
The message is getting through.
That, according to a spokesper-
son from the Wingham OPP, was
the feeling regarding the success of
this year's RIDE program in the
detachment area.
Throughout the month of Decem-
ber, and including New Year's,
members of the Wingham detach-
ment checked a total of 1,438 vehi-
cles, down slightly from last year's
total of 1,543. Of those stopped
only one person was given a 12
hour suspension compared to five
people in 1991. As well, only one
driver was charged with impaired
or over 80, down one from last
year.
In addition, OPP report only
three liquor license violations for
the 1992 program, which was down
two from 1991.
Besides running the spot checks,
OPP were kept busy on Christmas
Eve day as winter brought snow for
Santa making roads slippery and
driving hazardous.
The first accident occurred in
Blyth at noon, when a 1986 Chev,
driven by Jerrod Button, 16, of
Blyth skidded into a cement pole
while attempting to maneuver a
curve from Mill St. onto West-
moreland, the OPP spokesperson
stated.
Mr. Button was not injured.
At 1:40 p.m. a three vehicle acci-
dent occurred on Highway 4, in
East Wawanosh Township, just
north of Morris Conc. 2/3. .
According to police, a north-
bound vehicle driven by William
Hetsler, 39, of Walkerton attempted
to stop behind a car driven by Mary
Keller, 40, of RR1, Belgrave,
which was slowing to turn left. The
Hetsler car slid across the the road
to the west shoulder where it was
struck by a southbound van driven
by Sheila Cousins, 26, of Brussels.
There were no injuries, police
said, and all the vehicles were driv-
en from the scene.
Later in the evening three people
were injured in a single vehicle
accident in East Wawanosh Town-
ship.
According to OPP, a 1992 Ford
Ranger pick-up driven by 21-year-
old Matthew Robinson was travel-
ling west on Conc. 4/5 when it slid
on the icy road and entered the
south ditch.
Mr. Robinson and two passen-
gers, Jo-Anne Mason, 13, RR1,
Belgrave and Dean Whitfield, 21,
RR3, Blyth were thrown from the
vehicle as it rolled several times,
before coming to rest on the west
side of Sideroad 39/40, police said.
All three sustained major
injuries, police said. Mr. Robinson
was taken to Wingham and District
Hospital, then taken the following
day to St. Joseph's in London,
according to a hospital spokesper-
son. The Mason girl was taken first
to Wingham but was transferred
immediately to St. Joseph's. Both
have since been released.
Mr. Whitfield was taken to Clin-
ton Public Hospital and was
released on Dec. 27, a spokesper-
son from that hospital stated.
Nurses and doctors were very
busy at two area hospitals this year
as unborn babies chose the first
week of 1993 to be born.
In Clinton Public Hospital, two
babies were born Jan. 2 with two
more coming Jan. 4. Registered
Nurse Marg Draper said 15 expec-
tant mothers were due between
Christmas and New Year's.
At Wingham Public Hospital,
one baby was born Jan. 2 and two
more on Jan. 3.
However, Listowel Memorial
Hospital, Seaforth Community
Hospital and Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital in Goderich are
all waiting for their first arrivals.
The first baby of the new year for
the Citizen's readership area was
born to Robert and Yvonne Wilts
of RR 1, Auburn.
Vanessa Amber Wilts was born
Jan. 2 at Clinton Public Hospital at
11.32 p.m. She weighed eight
pounds, four ounces and was 22
inches long.
The dark-haired darling is their
first child.
Mother Yvonne says her "little
miracle" has been sleeping most of
the time after taking 21 and a half
hours to be born. She was due Dec.
30.
Robert, 26 and Yvonne, 21, have
been married for a year and a half.
He is from RR 1, Auburn while
Yvonne comes from the Blyth area.
Robert works at Radford Farm
Equipment in Londesboro as a
mechanic while Yvonne is a part-
time supply staff person at Clinton
Co-op Childcare Centre.
Their baby is the first grandchild
for Henk and Anneke Pardys of
Blyth and the second for Martin
and Janie Wilts of RR 1, Auburn.
Vanessa is also the great- grand-
daughter of Antje Verburg of RR 1,
Auburn and Maria Wilts of RR 1,
Auburn.
Though Vanessa Amber is the
first New Year's baby for the Citi-
zen's readership area, the first New
Year's baby born at Clinton PtLblic
Hospital was born to Denise and
John McCarrol of Zurich. Their
baby girl, Leah Janine was born
Jan. 2 at 1:58 p.m. weighing nine
pounds and 10 ounces.
The first New Year's baby born
at Wingham and District Hospital
was born to Emma and John Miller,
an Amish couple residing at RR 2,
Auburn. They had a baby boy at
11:01 a.m.