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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1997-03-05, Page 4411.4$N MOON 1131P0saos, MSM* s, iw Your Community Newspaper Sina 1860 TERRI-LYNN DALE General Manager 8 Advertising Manager KEVIN CARDNO • Advertising Sales PAT ARMES • Office Manager DIANNE MCGRATH - Subscriptions & Uauifieds PAVUCOTT • Eciaor G GSR c m& - Reporter MILE= • distribution A Bowes Publishers Community Newspaper 511QS(RIPTHON RATES tOCAt - 32.50 a year, in advance, plus 2.28 G.S.T. SENIORS 30.00 o year, in odvonce, phos 2.10 G.S.T. USA 4 foreign 28.44 o year ,n advance, plus 578.00 postage, G.S.T. exempt 5UBSCRiPTION RATES Published weekly by Signol-Ston Publishing 01 100 Main St., Seaforth. Publication moil registration No 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario Advertising is ocospird On condition that in the event of a ypographucal error, the advertising spots occupied by Ilse erroneous item, together with o reosonoble ollowance 10 signoMxe, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at o wrong price, goods or services may not be sold Advertising is marsh/ on oiler sell and may be withdrawn at any time The Huron Expositor is not responsible for Ole bis or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliv- erable copies ore b be sent b The Huron Expositor Wednesday, March 5, 1997 Editorial and Business Offices - 100 Main Street.,Seaforlh Telephone1519) 527-0240 fax 1519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. sax 69, Seaiorlb, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association and the Oniono Press Council Views expressed on our opinion page(s) don't necessarily represent those of The Huron Expositor or Bowes Publishers. The Huron Expositor reserves the right to edit letters to the editor or to refuse publication. Editorial Ontario Hydro could learn lesson from public utilities How can a small puhlic utility balance its books when it only gets to keep 15 per cent of the rate it charges to cus- tomers for hydro and 85 per cent goes to Ontario Hydro'? And how can Ontario Hydro be billions of dollars in debt? Last May, the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy (MOEE) released the Macdonald Report which is a frame- work for competition in the province's electricity system. It recommends that Ontario Hydro (OH) be absorbed into the local utilities and the distribution of power be reorganized at the local level. This could be good news for rural customers paying high rates for hydro. The group of 17 Huron -Perth PUCs recently decided on hav- ing a single utility for each of the two counties. A recently commissioned report by the Huron -Perth group revealed the opportunity to save money and reduce hydro rates anywhere from 16 to eight per cent with the inclusion of customers now being served by OH in the two counties. That decision and report is being forwarded to the MOEE. No action is likely to happen until OH can be brought into negotiations.. What this all boils down to is the small utilities have been working EFFICIENTLY with LESS for years, keeping their rates low and their customers happy. Utilities in the two neighbouring counties have been purchasing as a group for several years as well. Compared to health and education in Huron and Perth, the utilities are light years ahead in effective cooperation. If the Ontario government really does have any common sense. it will adopt the recommendations of the Macdonald Report and begin the long process of making Ontario Hydro accountable for its internal gluttony. And give rural customers a well-deserved break on rates after years of unnecessary dis- crimination. - DWS Letters to the Editor Player deserving of more coverage Dcac Editor: Congratulations to the Seaforth Do -It Centre. They seem to be the only ones in the town to acknowledge the accomplishments of Kathy Devereaux on their sign out- side thc store. 1 was quite disappointed to see what little coverage Kathy received in last week's edition of the Huron Expositor in comparison to that which hockey players have received in the past. Few people in the town know of Kathy's achievements for after one quick glance at the paper, her article could have easily been overlooked. Kathy survived cuts from 360 players from across the province to thc team roster who competed in P.E.I. She also averaged a point a game to help the Ontario team win a silver medal at the Midget Nationals for women's hock- ey. This success story surely deserved more than one small article in the middle of the community sports page. It is true that we have a lot of hockey talent to be proud of in this town -Driscoll, McLlwain, Watt, Devereaux, Murray, et al. Now I think it is time we add, another Devereaux to the list. Way to go Kathy, we ARE all proud of you. Yours truly, Susan McLachlan Editor's Note: Kathy Devereaux had not yet returned from the Maritimes as of last week's press dead- line. The Huron Expositor was the only paper in the atva to carry the story until last Saturdays (March 1) edition of the London Free Press, which carried just one para- graph on Ontario's silver medal win. For the love of hockey in 1923 Of all the wonderful stories Pat Bennett recently shared with me, one that really struck a heart -felt chord was the story .of her brother Vincent, who died at the young age of t7 near the end of February 1923. Vince was a year and a half older than Pat but the two were about the same size and shared their first pair of skates - blades rivetted to a pair of Vince's old shoes. They also both shared a love for the game of hockey. Vince, a fiery red-headed youth, quit school at the age of 16 and went to work for the Bank of Commerce. He was well known and popular in business and the social life of the younger set and took a great interest in athletics, according to the large tribute in the Expositor following his death. He was active in both lacrosse and hockey for Seaforth. It was his love of hockey which led to his untimely passing. Popularity of Hockey, Hockey was hot in Seaforth at the time. Seaforth player Bill Montgomery was play- ing in the Western Pro League and Ted Bullard, also from town, was on the Notre Dame university team. New leagues were being formed and there was a lot of enthu- siasm amongst the young players. Like Vince, Cooney Weiland also abandoned his studies at Seaforth Collegiate Institute the year before, in 1922. Weiland was then play- ing for the Owen Sound Greys, who would go on to win the Memorial Cup that 1923 season. (He was about four years away from the beginning of a Hall of Fame NHL career). Game in Brussels Nets Govenlock and Kenny Bennett (Pat's future hus- band) knew Vince was a good hockey player and a game was coming up against Brussels, a hard team to play. "How 'bout getting Vince? We'll have a better chance of beating Brussels then," Pat recalls Kenny saying. Vince was so anxious to get going after work he just ran in the door, threw down his papers from work and told his mother and two sisters, '1'm away to Brussels to play hockey with Kenny and Nels. And I don't know whether we're coming home tonight or tomorrow." Cutter Ride to Game Being a typical headstrong 17 -year-old, Vince didn't think of bringing a change of clothing or an extra sweater to keep hien warm on the trip. They rode to Brussels in a horse and cutter and played in the open air on the river. - Sadly, they lost the game. From a combination of sweat and snow, Vince's clothes were wringing wet by the end of the match. The trio loaded up the cutter and headed back south. From Brussels to Walton, Vince didn't say too much, he was too busy shivering. Ken Bennett knew someone they could stay with in Walton. He roused the Johnston household with a knock on the door and the hockey players spent the night in warm, dry surround- ings. "The next day they had to drive him back into Seaforth. He had an awful cold. Mother said why don't you stay at home and get rid of that cold. Oh no, he was alright." Moccasin Dance Although he should have been in bed resting, Vince's destination that Friday was the moccasin dance. The February 16, 1923 Expositor announced the event simply as follows: "Local Briefs - A moccasin dance will be held in the Palace Rink, Seaforth, on this Friday evening. Music will be furnished by the Highlanders Band." At an event like this, people would wear moccasins and dance on the ice surface of the rink to the music of a live band. Many dances then didn't have a definite closing time. Some advertisements for dances simply stated: "Dance will end when the band stops playing." Vince had a girlfriend in Egmondville and nothing was going to prevent him from going out. "Of course a cold couldn't stop you from going to a moccasin dance. So he went and danced all night on ice," says Pat. Then he walked her all the way home. His girlfriend told the fami- ly afterwards, "you know Vince spit up blood that night." "He came home after the dance and said, 'you know, 1 think I'II stay in bed and try to get rid of this cold.' So mother never called him Saturday. Sunday came around. He had to go see his girlfriend Sunday night," says Pat. "You try and tell a 17 -year- old he can't go. You couldn't tell him anything." Monday morning there was no response when his mother went to call him. Temperature of 103 He could hardly talk. The family called immediately for Dr. McKay. Vince had a tem- perature of 103. "You're not going any- where," he was told. "Everyday his temperature kept going up. They brought him downstairs so mother wouldn't have to climb up the stairs. There was no air conditioning then. They'd raise the window just a hit. As soon as they did he'd know it. When he'd go to sleep, they put the window down every so quietly. Then five minutes later he couldn't get his breath." - On Thursday. he developed pneumonia. He died Saturday morning. "That a boy, strong and ath- letic, in the morning of life, CONTINUED on page 5 Disappointed with Stratford Hospital Dear Editor: 1 wish to convey my feel- ings about the whole health care system in Stratford. I feel I should do this at this time as many small hospitals in towns such as Seaforth are losing out to the big time wasters iri Stratford. More should be invested into keep- ing small town Ontario healthier closer to home than forcing people to go all the way to the "big city". I would first like to address the psychiatric services department of the Stratford General Hospital. As some- one who has had family members involved in this shamble of a system, I am left feeling very angry and concerned. The psychiatrist my family members have had has been doing a fine job. My anger lies with the nurses and staff who work there. Instead of helping people, they are more. of a hinderance. Listening to- what -many peo- ple have been put through is appalling. Instead of making mental illness accepted. they make it something to be ashamed of. That sounds pretty prejudicial in my books. People who go to the daycare program must suffer every day; Instead of treat- ment they are treated like children. Often, many people are too scared to complain and that is not right. In the area of physical health, things don't seem to be any better or any more efficient. Someone I know was told they had cancer late last year and to this day noth- ing has been done to treat them. Their doctor said the cancer could be dissolved, why has this not been done? They are left on the edge of their seat wondering what they should do. Another per- son I know was told they had diabetes and not told what to do in the way they eat or monitor their blood sugar. This same person was told that in a few years they will be practically crippled. Now what kind of bedside manner is that? We have become so sick and tired of what is going on with doctors in Mitchell that we have started to sec a doc- tor in Seaforth. Now I see the Huron -Perth Health Council is limiting the Seaforth hos- pital's role. We will not go to Stratford for medical treat- ment of any kind. No one outside the city should he made to have to go there when in most cases they send you to London anyways if things are really bad. But for most medical needs, the small town hospitals need to be there for all of our medical needs. Randy White Mitchell, Ont. Train marooned near Kippen in 1947 FROM THE PAGES OF THE HURON EXPOSITOR MARCH 19,1897 ANOTHER PIONEER PASSED AWAY - Mr. Robert Barbour, sr., of Seaforth, passed peacefully away to the better home at the residence of Mrs. Yeo, Egmondvillc, on Saturday, March 13th, after an illness of only six days. Mr. Barbour was born at Old Glenless, Parish of Kells, Kiroudbrightshire, Scotland, in the month of June, 1817, and was the second son of thc late James Barbour, of the farm of Ringower, Parish of Kclls. In 1841 he was mar- ried to Jane McGhie, of the Parish of Borguc, Kiroudbrightshire, Scotland, and on April 4th, 1845, he emigrated to Canada with his wife and two children. MARCH 10,1922 Hockey Season Closes - The Junior hockey tcam jour- neyed to Stratford by motor in a sea,of.mud to complete their Northern League fixture with the Midgets. Hockey was out of the questions; it was a scramble in slush and water. Stratford managed to bat in six goals, while our bathing beauties notched three. Stratford thus contin- ues in the race for the cham- pionship by two goals over our boys. The greatest credit must be given to the mem- bers of the Junior Hockey Club for the brand of hockey they have displayed this sea- son, and Seaforth is justly proud of their efforts •to J In the Years Agone uphold the old tradition that we have one of thc hest sporting towns in Ontario, bar none. THE TELEPHONE - Thc inconvenience caused by the severe ice storm of last week on the telephone lines, shade trees, apple orchards, etc., has been partially relieved by thc satisfaction we men of ,Tuckcrsmith get from the fact that the women talk to us more this week than former- ly. It's an old-time saying that the men get too much talking from the housewife; but there's a great deal of satis- faction in coming into the house and finding your wife looking over Eaton's Catalogue or Ladies' Home Journal, than to find her quar- relling over the telephone with her next d neighbor about her hens, r telling her how she's goi g to trim her last year's hat for the coming season. Usually, while she talks your dinner is burning on the stove. On the other hand, if she's talking to you there is always a chanceof getting an occasional word in and reminding her of how you like your dinner. • MARCH 14,1947. 'twenty-nine dog-tired rail- way mon Thursday fought their way to London down the Huron and Bruce line of the CNR from a 20 -foot drift north of Hensall which had marooned their plow since Monday of last week. Nine of them were Londoners, the crew of a CNR combination of plow, two locomotives and a caboose. Thc others were Hensall and Clinton district section men. With scarcely a break, these men - and others - shovelled snow into the boilers of two locomotive tenders after water was exhausted. To dump fires in the freezing weather would have ruined both engines. While they fought their three-day round with Ontario's worst storm, an elderly farm couple. Mr. and Mrs. James Mustard, of Kippen, fed at least nine men at every meal. The crow slept in fits and starts, two hours here and there, until boilers required more snow. . Monday morning the train swung out of London and punched its way through growing.drifts north into Clinton. A dozen times the .crew tried to free the equipment and snow gradually drifted.to the caboose roof. Doors couldn't be opened; the only entrance -Was the cupola on the roof. MARCH 16, 1972 Plans to preserve and reno- vate the Van Egmond proper- ty in Egmondvillc have advanced a stage with the announcement that a charter incorporating the Van Egmond Foundation had been issued by Ontario Minister of Financial and Commercial Affairs. Activity in connection with the proposal has been carried on by a committee named at a puhlic meeting last December. Preliminary con- sideration concerning thc property was given by provi- sional committee which was appointed at an initial meet- ing called by Seaforth and Tuckcrsmith and held here last October. Reeve John Flannery headed the provi- sional committee while James Doig of Tuckcrsmith is chairman of the present com- mittee and one of the three provisional directors named in the charter. The other two arc Dr. Roger Whitman and Mrs. Edith Baker of Seaforth. CAT TROUBLE - A power blackout affecting about 10,000 area hydro customers resulted when a cat climbed a transformer at the Ontario Hydro Station , cast of Seaforth, early Monday. In addition to Seaforth..dis- ruptions also occurred in Clinton, Brussels, Blyth, Walton and surrounding rural areas from 12:30 to I a.m., Walter Palmer, manager of the Clinton Ontario Hydro station said.