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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-09-16, Page 44 -THE HURON IMPOSTOR, SEPTEMBER 16, 11196 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Terri -Lynn Dale - General Manager/Ad Manager Scott Hilgendorff - Editor Gregor Campbell - Reporter Larry Dalrymple - Sales Pat Armes - Office Manager Dianne McGrath - Subscriptions/Classifieds A Bowes Publishers Community Newspaper SUBSCRIPTION RATE: LOCAL - 32.50 a year, in advance, plus 2.28 G.S.T. SENIORS: - 30.00 a year, in advance, plus 2.10 G.S.T. • USA & Foreign: 28.44 a year in advance, plus $78.00 postage, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing of 100 Main St., Seofarth. Publication mail registration No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. 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Wednesday, September 16, 1998 Editorial and losisess OMees - 100 Maim Straot.,Sea/erftr Telepbono (519) 527-0240 h: (519) 527-2956 M.Iliq Address - RO. lox 69, faatierllr, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Camnwnity Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association and the Ontario Press Council Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 Johson gets it wrong, we can make issue out of politics Education Minister Dave Johnson has things a little backward. Last week, he was criticizing teachers for making a political issue out of changes in legislation that would see them teaching seven out of. eight periods instead of six. Teachers are upset about the loss of preparation time. With the extra class, there will be Tess time for them to prepare their lessons, meet with parents or help students. At the same time, ali'teeChBrs;' Whether theni are in separate br public school boards, are negotiating new contracts. Some teachers in certain boards are on strike, some are working to rule and others are still plotting a course of action against the government. The government is counteracting all this with advertising campaigns supporting the changes being made to curriculum and how students receive their education. However, Johnson has made a big mistake suggesting -teachers back off until election time to protest changes with which they disagree. He suggested that the appropriate time to argue and debate policies is when there is an election and people are taking a look at a party's political platform. . Statements like that also suggested that the feeling is, once someone is elected, they are free to set policies and make changes regardless of public feedback. it shouldn't work that way. Once again, the government is showing an attitude toward the ,public that it knows what's best and doesn't care what other people think. During the last teacher squabble in the fall, Premiere Mike Harris had made statements more strongly than Johnson that teachers didn't have the right to take action against him. Whether any action teachers may take is just or wrong, they have the right to protest and try to make change. Everyone does. And everyone has the right to be insulted and outraged against statements that suggest otherwise. Everyone has the right to be heard but apparently in the minds of our politicians, that still doesn't mean "listened to." STH How to access us utters to the Editor and other submipsions cadbe made fit Al l 11 n c n it It History books miss some characters History books catalogue the life and times of the famous...but sadly there are so many characters that die off and leave us, with no record of the many. delightful and captivating things that made them characters. The fascinating and often amazing facts and humourous incidents in their lives are forever lost. I was asked to speak at Irene's funeral. I suppose because I had known her longer than her other friends and colleagues in the Ontario government. She was 83...and she loved good Scotch whiskey. George Drew and the Tories took over Queens Park in 1943 and the province was blue for the next 42 years. For all that time Irene Beatty was on the staff of the Premier's office. Her stint in government is probably a record for Canada. She worked closely with Premier Drew and through the regimes of Tom Kennedy. Leslie Frost, John Robarts, Bill Davis, Frank Miller and David Peterson. Seven Premiers....and all tories but one. I knew her well. I think I first met her in 1945 - as far back as anyone can remember she was the office administrator. She considered herself the watchdog of both the office of the Premier and the cabinet office. Can you imagine someone saying "I'm sorry Mr. Premier but I can't approve your expenses"...she did. Premier John Robarts was once heard to say, "make sure that damn thing is right for I sure as hell don't want another lecture from Mrs. Beatty." Since the 1950s she has been known as "Lady B" - short for Lady Beatty. A name given her by Premier Frost, probably because of the regal way she walked...and her Brit accent. She spoke in a distinct, measured way and sounded remarkably like the Queen Mother giving her radio message at Christmas. Even at 70 she had a trim figure and she always wore a dress. Anglican clergyman and Legislature speaker Wally Downer said to me one day as Irene walked down the hall in the east wing, "I bet she was a real "looker" when she was young." I called her Reenie...or sometimes just Beatty. We worked together back as far as the 50s getting the Queen's Park Credit Union underway and we spent a lot of time building up a strong government employee "Quarter Century Club" within the Ontario Civil Service. We were both on the executive for years and each of us served a term as President. Although we were longtime friends the friendship didn't protect me from her haranguing lectures on economy and her constant reminders that we were the guardians of the public purse. She once told provincial auditor Harvey Cotnam that I should get the Nobel Award for fiction for my expense accounts. There was a noticeable contrast between Irene and husband Bi41 on many levels. He was a dour Willy Loman while she liked to be upbeat, chic and in style. Irene was interesting, lucid and bright and spoke with authority - while Bill could clear a room in seconds with "did I ever tell you about the time I....?" She was devoted to him. But he knew in spite of his tales of personally winning the war...he never got beyond second -in - command at home. , ` t Early in the 1970s I . was awakened by a phone calls from Irene...the call came at 2:00 a.m. It was an Irene I had not encountered before, she was sobbing and her voice had lost the commanding sovereignty I was so accustomed to hearing. Bill had just called her from Thunder Bay. He was in jail. After coming out of a bar he was stopped by police as he started his car. I recall the charge related to drinking and was further complicated because police found a loaded gun on the back seat. I got a lawyer friends out of bed who managed to get Bill released on his own recognizance. A I recall the case was later dismissed as he had not actually driven the car - but not before he suffered through a lecture from the judge on the evils of southern amateurs coming to the north unaware of the simple protocols of gun ownership and control. This , was particularly humbling, for Bill considered himself an expert in all things, especially guns...and a moose, hunter on a par with Davy Crockett. Not long after this happened Irene took me to the Arts and Letters Club for lunch to thank me for helping Bill. By 2:20 the dining area was cleared except for the two of us. She insisted on buying me a third beer...two was my absolute noon -hour limit. I lost count of hers...and she was drinking scotch and water. Still very proper and with perfect diction she leaned forward and said something like, "Let me tell you a sforyL.." There was no slurring of words although the scdtch had indeed loosened her tongue, "I finished a business course and worked for a couple of years in London but in the mid 1930s I had a wish to travel and see Europe." She lit a cigarette and CONTINUED on Page 5 There's a chance to help mothers, sisters To the Editor: We are writing to let your readers know of an exciting opportunity for them to make a difference in their community. The Ontario Breast Screening Program Community Advisory Committee is looking for volunteers able to give just a few hours of their time to help their mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. In 1997, an estimated 7300 Ontario women developed breast cancer and 1950 women died from it. In 1995, Letters, cancer screening for women 50 years and better. Deaths' from breast cancer could be reduced by 30-40% through an early detection program such as the OBSP. here were 49 and 28 women The success of OBSP diagnosed with breast cancer depends upon community respectively in Perth and 'P White the -program works closely with the Canadian Cancer Society, Huron County Health Unit and Perth District Health Unit, community volunteers are needed to help reach all the women in Huron and Perth counties. Huron counties. Approximately 75% of all cancers are found in women over the age of 50. The Ontario Breast Screening Program offers organized, evaluated, quality breast The next meeting will be held at the Listowel Hospital, Outpatient Clinic on September 30 at 5:30 p.m. For further information, please contact Lynn or Sandy at OBSP (1-800-461-0640), Irene Wheeler at Perth District Health Unit (271- 7600 ext 285) or Marguerite Thomas at Huron County Health Unit (482-3416 ext 247). Sincerely Marguerite Thomas Huron County Health Unit Cheese factory ships its product for eight cents September 6, 1898 Mr. Innis of Stanley, whose barn was destroyed by fire a fortnight ago, has had to pull down the walls. David Beacom of Hullet had a narrow escape from having lost his bam, thirteen hundred bushel of grain, etc. The threshers had completed the work when the roof was noticed to be on fire. With great exertions they managed to have it controlled and no damage was done. Messrs. Alexander Mustard, Robert Ross, Thos. Gemmill and Wm Forrest of Brucefield are each erecting a large silo. Coleman's salt works of Seaforth are earning an enviable reputation for their table salt at the Toronto Exhibition, butter salted with Coleman's salt received five prizes. Wm.McDougall of Egmondville has purchased the buildings on the Collins property and his having them removed. T. R. Case of Seaforth is opening a meat store in Clinton. The Winthrop cheese factory have sold their July cheese for 8 cents and shipped it out on Monday. The deputy returning officers for the taking of the plebiscite vote in Seaforth have been appointed and are as follows: Wm. Elliott, Edward Cash, O.C. Willson, Loftus Stark and John Rankin. The 33rd Battalion Band will start to serenade the town to raise funds for the purpose of providing new instruments. At Wm. Nicholl's threshing, a part of a set of harness was found in his wheat stack. How it came to In the Years Agone i be there was a mystery. C. Aberhart of this town has completed the erection of September 21, 1923 his summer home at Alex McKenzie of Kippen Bayfield. It occupies the is having a nice, new fence finest site in the village. put along the front of his Mr. Wm. Taylor of Varna, residence. who recently lost his fine Rev. Mr. Jundy of Kippen buildings by fire. has already has treated himself to a new started preparations to Ford Coupe. rebuild. Mrs. Jas. A. Bell of Hensall had her collarbone September 24, 1948 broken recently when a horse When Frederick Lorne she was helping to unhitch Hutchison graduated from pinned her against the wall. Osgoode Hall, about the Wm. Manley of Manley happiest person at the had a bee pulling peas last convocation was his 84 year week. old mother, Mrs. F.D. Two apples/were brought Hutchison, formerly of into the Expositor office, a Seaforth. Northern spy and a Russet, Mrs. Thos. Barton and which were picked last fall in Miss Evelyn Shade of the orchard of John Egmondville, were Attcheson in McKillop. successful exhibitors at the There were both sound and Seaforth Fall Fair. Mrs. R. firm and of excellent flavour. Dalrymple had a very One of the best fields of interesting collection of fall wheat•we have seen this artificial flowers and shells. autumn is on the farm of Seveniy-five neighbors Geo. Leonhardt, the blades and friends of Chiselhurst being 12 inches in length. Church met at the home of Misses Laura Swan and Mrs. J. M Glenn to honor her Grace Addison of Brucefield daughter, Margaret with a are attending the school of miscellaneous shower. Commerce in Clinton. Mrs. - Jane Hood of Mrs. James McKay's Tuckersmith celebrated her Sunday School class in 85th birthday at the home of Egmondville Presbyterian her daughter, Mrs. P. Church presented her with a McKenzie. handsome umbrella and an Dr. Everatt Rivers of St. address prior to her removal Anitas, Calif. was a guest to her new home in Toronto. last week of his parents, Mr. W. L. Keys of this town and Mrs. James Rivers. received two cars of Alberta Mrs. D.H. Wilson and Mrs. coal this week, which is H.E. Smith were in Toronto meeting with ready sale. this week attending Grand Ted Merner, who spent the Chapter of the Eastern Star. summer on one of the CPR passenger boats is spending a September 13, 1973 short time here before Seaforth Council learned resuming his stbdies in Monday evening that the Toronto Dental School. costs invovled in bringing "5', the Seaforth Community Arena up to government safety standards could run has high as the cost of building an entire, new structure. The information came as the result of a study by James F. MacLaren Limited ordered by the town as a preliminary to considering plans to remodel the lower floor of the arena. Seaforth Council, Monday evening passed a bylaw authorizing the erection and maintenance of equipment for cable TV in the Town of Seaforth Seaforth coffers will be,/ enriched this year by windfalls totalling over $5,000. As' a result of enabling legislation passed by the legislature recently, the town passed a bylaw levying a tax of $50 for each of the 44 beds in Seaforth Community Hospital and this will raise $2,200 which the hospital in turn will recover from the province. The members of the hospital auxiliary, Tuesday got off to a brisk start for their fall season when they approved the purchase of a new Isolette for the nursery and a blood pressure machine for the maternity ward. Jane Davidson, Brucefield farmer, world traveller, and mother of five, (not necessarily in that order) is looking for soya beans. Not a whole field, or anything like that but a bushel or two or a sack full. You see, she's just returned, with four of those five children, from a year spent in India at S.t Alphonsus School for Boys in Kurseong, a city of 5,000 in the mountainous Nepali region.