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Huron Expositor, 1999-05-19, Page 44 -THS HURON EXPOSITOR, May 19. 199! Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Terri•Lynn Dale - Publisher Scott Hilgendorff • Editor Susan Hundertmark - Reporter Larry Dalrymple - Saler Pat Armes - Office Manager Dianne McGrath - Subscriptions/Classifieds Bowes Publishers ` Limited A subsidiary of Sun Mala .CorporationCompany ca,.b. E-mail us at Seaforth Obowenet.com SUBSCRIPTION RATEST 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,yeor in advance, plus $78.00 postoge, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Published weekly. by signal -Scor Publishing at 100 Main St., Seaforth. Publication moil registration No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. 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N: 69, Samford', Ontario, NOK IWO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspapers Association Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 Editorial School board failing to listen It's ironic an Avon Maitland District School Board ad hoc committee looking at ways of improving communication with the public has made recommendations to the board that would reduce the public's access to the board at its meetings. One member said people have plenty of opportunity to contact trustees and board members by telephone, saying he doesn't need to hear from 12 different people saying the same thing at a meeting. 1 If the board accepts the recommendations, only 10 people would be allowed to speak at a meeting and instead of having 10 minutes to speak, they would be allowed to talk to the board for five minutes. While the board would increase the number of its meetings from two a month to three, public presentations would only be allowed at one. How much more time does the board need to shave from what it gives to concerned parents and groups? They already seldom take the time to respond to any delegations with so much as a question or an assurance that an issue raised or a request made will be discussed or considered for a course of action. In fact, a delegations proposing a recreation complex at the local high school, wasn't even told their presentation would receive no discussion from board members unless they also submitted a written request. The group left the meeting thinking the board would be discussing the proposal. Whether members of the public repeat themselves or not, when an issue is big enough to bring more than 10 people to a meeting, wanting to be heard,'they deserve to have their elected representatives listen to them. Yes, there have been some pesky issues, such as the potential closure of the high school or cancelled funding for a marching band, that brought crowds who may have repeated themselves. But, the public deserves more from the board than limitations because some of its members feel inconvenienced. STH New asphalt layed on May 18, 1899 Edmund Cranford, of Hullett, was very much surprised when he went 7n the stable and found a Young foal with only three legs: one of the fore legs was wanting from the knee down. Peter Cameron, who was emploved at Simon McKenzies, met with a verypainful accident. He was leading a horse when it reared up, striking him on the shoulder, breaking it. John Walker of Roxboro, was the recipient of a pair of very handsome sleigh robes. The mbes were made by the Indians. Miss Bertha Dal); organist in St. James Church, entertained. the members of the choir at her home in Egmondville. Rev. Colin Fletcher, pastor of Thames Road intends leaving for the Old Country where he will spend the summer. John Allison of Farquhar met with a serious accident by falling from his wagon. A vers' pleasant event took place at the residence of Alex Gordon in McKillop, when his daughter, Mary Ann was united in marriage to John Little. Wm. Bedard of St. Joseph has opened up a boot and shoe business and seems to be doing a good business. The brick lavers are hard at work on Mr, Confines mammoth brick block. Some of the cross walls had to be taken down as they were injured by frost. He has a force of men at work fixing his lawns around his dwelling house. Ben Nicholson of Walton has engaged with Thos. Ryan for a term of months. The many friends of Mrs. Chas. Routledge of Tuckersmith will be pleased to learn that she is recovering. There was a severe frost on the weekend, in some places there was ice on the water that was standing in the open. • Opinion letter Dog accused of killing Smokey To the Editor: .Smokey was an old cat, he had no teeth, and his body was sagging. His wants were few, he was satisfied with whatever food you gave him, and he loved to have his long grey and white fur brushed. I believe I was the third person that Smokey had owned, and he has resided with me for nine years. Smokey was a sociable fellow, and many knew him by name, both adults and children. On April 28, Smokey was attacked by something unknown, his stomach was chewed and he was badly bruised. With the expert care of Seaforth Veterinary Clinic we began the process of healing. On Friday, May 7, between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. Smokey was once again attacked, his attacker driven off of my property by my neighbour. •Smokey's wounds were consistent with the first attack, only much more severe. We assume his attacker came hack to finish what he had begun the first time. Smokey's attacker is a dog. This dog needs to be stopped. If he had killed another dog he would be hunted down, but because a cat is deemed of little importance, I feel this will not be resolved. I believe this dog to be dangerous and now that he has the taste for blood his next victim may be your cat, your small dog, or God forbid a small child. Smokey suffered severe internal injuries and on Saturday, May 8, we put him to sleep. Goodbye old friend. P.M. Reid Dinah Mary Wood Sills was war bride (The following letter was written in response to an article about war brides appearing in Focus News Magazine. a sister publication of The Huron Expositor) To the Editor: My wife, Dinah Mary Wood Sills was from a small village outside the city of York in the county of Yorkshire. She had a job working for a lady barrister when war broke out. She had already taken a course in taw from the University of London England and passed it. With war declared she decided to join up in the services and chose the new arm of the air force called Radar. It required quite an extensive knowledge of radio and some electricity which also required schooling. She was going to be an operator so much of her training could be on the job. I too had decided on radar as a mechanic which necessitated taking a course at the University of Toronto. 1 passed the course and was sent to a Radar station in Yorkshire England. It turned out to be the same one as Dipah, a little later. She was one of five girls who joined the Navy as Radar operators and were all sent to our station. The,sergeant said to me, "Go in to the transmitter room and teach them everything you know about the transmitter for radar." 1 did this and found them to be a very eager and knowledgeable group about the subject. I was particularly impressed with Dinah with her knowledge as well as her beauty. poise, manner, appearance and conduct. She was everything that I wanted in a future wife. As a result, when that test was over I said to the sergeant, "When you are drawing up the next new watch' for this station I would like to be on watch with that girl," and pointed to Dinah. - The next week he did what I had asked and I was very happy. We got along together like a house afire. This went on for several weeks and we got along very well so I took her out a few times when we were both off duty. I got shipped away from Ireland for a few weeks but came back to her all in one piece. Over the year 1 got sent on two other invasion plans - North Africa and Naples and then the Anzio Beach head and the invasion of the Riviera. Each time I came back to Dinah in one piece. We kept up a terrific correspondence, talked of marriage and decided we would do it the first opportunity. I had already checked with her parents and my own. Everything was all right all around. One obstacle was we .were two different religions. This didn't stop the marriage so we pursued everything. Oddly enough Dinah was the one who went to the priest and asked to become a Catholic. I was overjoyed at this good fortune. By this time the war was almost over and I was being sent home. Dinah had two days to go and say goodbye to her father and mother and report to the boat in Liverpool. I too, received my marching orders. When I feported to Liverpool and was climbing the gang plank to the boat I looked up and there was Dinah standing up on deck. None of the married people could travel in the same stateroom. Wives and children were together. We didn't have any children then so that didn't bother us. We could meet on the,main deck during the day and at night Dinah went to A deck•ar,d I slept in a hammock. The war was still on but we dildn't have any trouble with u -boats. We arrived in Halifax all in good order. There we went aboard a train with bunks. They were all old coloured settler cars that had been cleaned and varnished and were quite pleasant. Here we could sleep together. We made various stops at stations and; the girls, having lived on rations so long took every opportunity to get out and get some ice cream or silk stockings and fill up on things they hadn't had for several years. At Three Rivers, Quebec 1 had to hand in my webbing equipment and at Montreal had to so some other paperwork and finally got to Toronto to change to a train to Seaforth. Two of my brothers in the services met us and climbed aboard for our trip home. It was a lot of fun as they were both great teases and enjoyed doing that to Dinah who took it all in her stride. Finally,home and met by all the rest of my family, including mother, father. uncles, aunts and cousins. 1t was a great time and a wonderful chance for Dinah to wonder what sort of peopleshe had married into. Evidently, she had no complaints and the big meal we piled into without any wartime restrictions all went to giving a better feeling to Dinah about her new in-laws. I think -my family passed with flying colours. The neighbours all flocked around too so that made things even better. Dinah has been dead 20 years but she left me six children and 16 great grandchildren. A wonderful girl who fit right into the life of being a Canadian, a good one. She was a wonderful wife and mother. God has been good to all of us. Since Dinah died, I have had an accident to my head which has deprived me of a lot of my sight and memory but 1 get along reasonably. I get around not too badly but I'm no longer able -to work up at our store and working around the house is almost beyond me. I'll be 90 next June 5 so I really can't complain. Having had Dinah for a wife has much more than paid for any troubles that I have had and 1 thank God every day for having that privilege. Good luck to all of you and thanks for your interest. Frank Sills Board under review, resident urges public to appeal for a better chance to be heard To the Editor: The Avon Maitland District School Board under review by the Education Improvement Commission. The AMDSB will soon undergo an extensive review by Ontario's Education Review Commission. Areas to be covered in the two day. May 26th and 27th review will include, amongst others, both governance and administrative performance. It is certain that the people of Huron County and Perth County will also be pleased to know that the Board's communication and Community Relations records will be put under scrutiny by the EIC. The EIC will conduct a series of discussions with various stakeholder groups. For one of the meetings, the EIC has instructed the Board to select community members to meet with the EiC. The process to select the community members has not been well defined, but the Director of Education has commented that the Board has "gone to the schools" and "asked for partners from the community". I understand only 10 or so community members will be accommodated at the discussion which will last about one hour. The past year and a half has seen unprecedented outcry from the Huron Perth community as outrage was expressed with the Board's plans to close schools, cut programs, and sever community ties while continuing to pamper and praise its bloated administration. Recognizing the history of high levels of tension and contention in the Avon Maitland School District. perhaps our community should appeal to the EIC and the Board to provide a greater forum where the EIC could receive an extensive briefing of past and present community concerns. Ten representatives is not many, especially when we do not know the criteria for their selection. One hour does not seem like much time to express the magnitude of our Soe COMMISSION, Page 5 M ain Street. in 1924, foal born with only three legs In the Years Agone May 16, 1924 Edgar Butson of Staffa was kicked by a horse which broke one of his ribs. Ben Riley of Constance is erecting the cement foundation for Wm. Trewartha's mew barn at Winthmp. Ed Pryce of Hullet has 50 head of young cattle, on the pasture lots which he purciuised fmm Mr. Irvine. Miss Emma Dickson, who was called to the home of her sister, Mrs. Geo. Glenn, London Rd. has again resumed her position as assistant in the Hensall Post Office. The many friends of Con. Eckart are very pleased to see him again after his recent illness. The brick has all been removed from Main Street and the cement foundation covering the mad found to be in excellent repair, The work of laying the new asphalt pavement is expected to be completed in two weeks. F.S. Savauge of town is moving his jewelry store into his new premises in the Cardno Block where he will have one of the finest most up to date jewelry store in Western Ontario. May 20, 1949 The CWL of Canada in the Diocese of London elected Miss Alice Daly of Seaforth to the office of president. Ronald Sills was recently chosen as student leader at the Seaforth District High School area. He is the son of Mr, and Mrs. C.P. Sills and throughout his high school years has taken part in many activities. Fire of an unknown origin burned three large holes in the roof of the frame Township Hall at Varna. The hall was almost filled with school children who were being shown films and when the alarm sounded, marched out in orderly manner, Joseph Chapman of Walton has an unusual experience when he was gathering eggs. He discovered a pullet egg with four yolks that measured 5 1/2 inches one way by eight inches. Ken Doig, who has been in Scotland playing hockey; has returned home. While overseas he had the misfortune to have his collar bone broken twice. Mrs. Roy Dungey had the misfortune to break her ankle in three places. While preparing to water some new lawns, she stepped in a hold and fell backward. May 16, 1974 Reeve Elgin Thompson of Tuckersmith Township informed members of council following a special meeting Monday night that Vince Fowlie of Vanastra had handed in his resignation as councillor to Clerk James McIntosh earlier that day, The Huron -Perth County mman Catholic Separate School Board Monday turned down a proposal by a vote of 11-2 to hold school board meetings in the 19 schools in the two counties oda rotating basis. Seaforth tax rates for 1974 as they apply to commercial properties are increased by nearly 2 mils in the case of Public School supporters and by 4 mills for Separate School Residential. A delegation of persons interested in having a day care centre met with Seaforth Council Monday night to ask that council make an early decision regarding support for the opening of a day care centre in the new Optimist building being constructed on the Seaforth Recreation Gmunds.