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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-11-25, Page 1Farewell to dedicated politician The life of one of Ontario's most influential politicians over the past 30 years ended Tuesday, November 17. Charles Steel MacNaughton passed away in Exeter at the age of 76 years after a lengthy illness. He withdrew from active public life af- ter suffering a series of strokes -some eight years ago- During an all -party salute Wed- nesday morning in the Ontario Leg- islature, Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell called MacNaughton ,"one of the leading figures in Ontario politics". Riddell who took over the Hu- ron -Middlesex seat in a by-election in 1973 after MacNaughton retired went on to say "Charlie was a solid constituency man and was responsi- ble for establishing Huron Industrial Park and housingand Centralia Col- lege of Agricultural Technology af- ter the Centralia RCAF station was closed. These developments came about because of his foresight and -determination. _ The present ag minister went 911. to say," He served as minister of nine different portfolios and to the best of my knowlege no other mini- ster has been able to equal that record.He was one of Huron coun- ty's finest sons and worked hard for the riding. He was certainly instru- mental in getting regional govern- ment off the ground." At Friday's funeral service at Ex- eter United Church, Rev. George Goth, former minister of Metropoli- tan United Church in London and a personal friend of MacNaughton's said it all in a few words, "He was a good man." Former Ontario Premier Bill Da- vis attended the funeralserviceand - said, "Nobody had a bad word for Charlic.He had great leadership qual- ities." His long-time friend and former president of the Ontario Conserva- tive Assocation, Exeter lawyer El- mer Bell continued the accolades for MacNaughton saying, "He had great abilities and was a very sympathetic person. Everybody's problems were his problems. A native of Strasbourg, Saskatch- ewan, MacNaughton grew up in Brandon, Manitoba. He came cast to Exeter in 1944 and established a seed business which he sold in 1960. He was active in local affairs as a school -board- member and _was. a_ founding director of South Huron Hospital.. MacNaughton began in provincial politics by winning a byelection in 1958.He defended his scat in general elections in 1959,1963, 1967 and Please turn to page 2 C.S. MacNaughtorr at opening of Lake Huron Water System * Ice King puts Exeter on map 5 * Career Days 7 * EPS choir to . sing at Blyth 13 * SHDHS bond sells pizzas 15 * Figure skating photos 2A * Exeter Co -Op reports loss SA Serving South Huron, North Middlesex Editor named citizen of the The recipient of the 1987 town of Exeter Citizen of the Year award was described as the conscience of the town. The award goes each year to a citizen who has shown dedicated ser- vice usually for a large number of years and this year's winner is no exception. Receiving the plaque was Times CITIZEN OF THE YEAR- Times Advocate editor Bill Batten was named Citizen of the Year at the town of Exeter Appreciation Night held Thursday at the South Huron Rec Centre. Above, Mayor Bruce Shaw at the left makes the presentation. MINNIMISMemommurentiWKINMPROsammansaMENNeue Advocate editor Bill Batten. In making the presentation, Mayor Bruce Shaw said, "Most councils are like the province of New Brunswick in that the only op- position we face is from the press." The mayor continued,"A press representative is the voice of the people and must Present the view- point of the community." Shaw added,"Over the years a great many ideas and initiatives have been begun by Bill. He has been fair to us. Sure at times he ap- peared he was giving us a hard time, but rest assured the citizens of Exet- er have been given the service they deserve." In accepting the award, Batten who has been on sick leave since late July said he was truly honoured to be chosen as the top citizen in Exeter. He went on to say,"It's an impor- tant job of a weekly newspaper to not only keep councils honest , but to provide the proper balance be- tween the taxpayers and the elected officials." In addition to his dedicated service as editor, Batten served the commu- nity in many other ways. In his ear- lier years he was a valuable member of a number of Exeter high school sports teams and local hockey teams. In later years he coached several minor hockey teams and was a valu- able asset to the Shamrock Minor Hockey Association in producing schedules for all age categories which is a very difficult job. Constable George Robertson, the senior member of the Exeter police department was honoured for 20 years of service. The presentation' was made by chief Larry Hardy. Mayor Shaw also paid tribute to former police sergeant Kevin Short who is currently a student at the University of Western Ontario in a law and busincss course. Assisting Shaw in introducing special guests who included mem- bers of all appointed boards were Reeve Bill Mickle, Deputy -reeve Lossy Fuller and councillors Ben Hoogenboom,Morley Hall, Dorothy Chapman and Tom Humphreys. Mayor Shaw also paid tribute to Rev. Rick Hawley and his wile Lin- da and to Rick and Susan Graham for their many contributions to resi- dents of the town in numerous ways. year In opening remarks, Shaw ex- plained the annual banquet is an op- portunity to thank the people who volunteer much time to make their community a better place in which to live. After a delicious dinner and the awards presentations, the evening concluded with entertainment pro- vided by the South Huron District High School band under the direc- tion of Rob Robilliard. VETERAN POLICEMAN HONOURED - Constable George Robertson received a plaque for 20 years of service at Thursday's Town of Exeter Appreciation Night banquet. Making the presentation are at the left police cofnmittee chairman Dorothy Chapman and police chief Larry Hardy at the right. Mixed reactions on free trade talks An Ontario Legislature comittee holding hearings across the province on the controversial subject of free trade has received mixed reactions. Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell who has joined five other Cabinet Ministers on the committee said on the weekend ,"Many of the steel producers and petro -chemical com- panies tend to favour free trade as many are multi -national companies based in the United States." Riddell continued,"The textile and shoe industries could be in trouble if free trade goes ahcad and most un- ions are against it.Thc problem in the textile factories is most employ- ees are women of ethnic origin and they would have difficulty getting other jobs." As far as agriculture is concerned Riddell said, "Red meat producers are in f; vour, but grape growers are very i.ruch opposed.Fruit and vege- table growers have been protected by seasonal tariffs and these would probably be eliminated. Minister of Industry and Trade Monte Quinter is chairman of the committee: The others in addition to Riddell are Consumer and Com- mercial Relations Minister Bill Wrye, Minister of Culture Lily Munro, Minister of Energy Bob Wong and Minister of Labour Greg Sabara. The committee has held hearings r in Ottawa, Kingston, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, St. Catharines and Windsor. They continue this week in Toronto. 101311 Gets marketing award A brochure on WG Thompson produced by the company's in-house advertising agency took the "Best of CAMA" award at the annual Cana- dian Agra Marketing Association awards night held this year in the Skyline, Toronto, on November 13. Thompson's advertising co- ordinator Ann Thompson Fisher, a graphic artist by trade, was on hand to personally accept the plaque. Ann came to the company last year after 10 years in the advertising field, and set up the in-house adver- tising department in Thompson's head office in Blenheim. She said she is "thrilled that small towns like Blenheim can succe"sfully compete against big centres like Calgary and Montreal". Ann, a member of the Thompson family, joked that she deserves a big pay raise. The WG Thompson advertising department serves the company's 13 branches across Ontario. To remember Charlie Only. a few'ys after his death plans are underway to perpetuate the memory of Charles S. MacNaughton.. South Huron District High School principal Bruce Shaw announced Monday that he has received a considerable amount of money from the community to be used for a C.S. Mac - Naughton Scholarship fund. The Huron County Board of Education will act as trustees for the scholarship fund and re- ccipts for income tax purposes will be available Principal Shaw in co- operation with members of the MacNaughton family will set , up the criteria to be used in se- lecting worthy students each year at South Huron, Anyone wishing to make contributions to the Mac - Naughton Scholarship aro asked to contact the high school at 235-0880. FINGERPRINTING - Const. Rick Sinnamon takes Daniel Kinsman's thumbprint when children from the Sunshine Nursery School visit thc Ex- eter OPP office. - Vehicle catches fire Officers of the Exeter detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police in- vestigated seven motor vehicle mis- haps this week including a fire. The Crediton fire department ex- tinguished the fire which started in a vehicle driven by George Wales of Crediton while travelling on Con- cession 6-7 of Stephen township about two miles north of Credi- ton,Wednesd<ay morning at 7 a.m. Damages were listed at $2,800 when vehicles driven by Chau Buu- Cuong, Exeter and Victoria Geof- frey, Zurich collided on Highway 4 on Friday. The same day, vehicles operated by Barbara Overall, Huron Park and Laurel Nickles, Huron Park were in collision on the Emab parking lot at Huron Park. The third Friday accident occurred in Zurich when a vehicle driven by Victor Bisson, Zurich struck a parked vehicle owned by Maurice Semple, also of Zurich. Only minor damage was repotted. A vcnrctc driven by Robert Erb, Hensall and the Hensall village snowplow operated by John Baker collided Friday with damages listed at $500... Saturday, a pickup truck operated by Paul Campbell, Hensall went out of control on Mill street in Zu- rich and struck a fire hydrant. Dam- age was set at $1,050. • Damages were estimated at 53,000 when a vehicle driven by Tho Somphothirath, Clinton went out of control on Highway 83, cast of Exeter on Saturday and struck a tree. During the week OPP officers laid 45 charges under the Highway Traf- fic Act along with four Criminal Code charges, one impaired driving charge and issued six driving licence suspensions of 12 hours each. Exeter detachment officers remind motorists to he sure that the rear lights of their vehicles arc clear of snow prior to travelling on the highways. Four fined on various charges Justice of the Peace Douglas Wed - lake levied fines in Provincial Court in Exeter on Tuesday, No- vember 17 against four persons on charges laid under the Highway Traffic Act and the Liquor Licence Act. Jeffrey J. Caldwell, RR 1, Hen- sall was fined $175 for displaying liquor in a public place. The inci- dent occurred November -7 during a football celebration at a Hensall body shop. Police had three dealings with the accused that evening, but only one charge was laid. Although Caldwell had previous liquor convictions on September 7 and October 4, 1986 and September 11, 1987, JP Wedlake treated this as only a third offence saying, "You should have used common sense and healed police warnings." - A fine of $53.75 was levied against Michel Sirois of Rivicrc Du Loup, Quebec after pleading guilty to using a licence plate not author- ized for vehicle. After being stopped by police No- vember 5 on Highway 4 in Exeter because of no front licence plate, the accused admitted to having pur- chased thc vehicle in Ontario and using his Quebec plate. Wedlake fined Gerald Salvatore of Scarborough $33.75 for travelling at a speed of 100 kilometres per hour in an 80 zone on Highway 83, cast of Exeter on September 18. The accused said he thought the speed limit was 90. He felt he was not doing 100 kilometres per hour because a windsurfcr he was car- rying on the roof usually vibrated at 95 and he didn't notice any prob- lem. Salvatore indicated hc had a clean driving record and didn't want a tick- et to spoil his six star insurance rat- ing. Karrena J. Foster of London was final $128.75 for driving without a valid licence. When stopped for speeding on August 19 on Huron road 5, she produced a temporary expired licence saying she just got a new licence , but didn't have it with her. The CPIC check was slow so the officer let the accused go. About 10 minutes later the information came through showing her licence had in- deed expired. McGillivray council At the regular mid-November meeting, McGillivray township council members noted with regret the passing of a senior past Reeve Cecil Elwood and were advised con- dolences had been extended to the family. Council received and tabled for further discussion the suggested sharing of cost of a Parkhill Reser- voir Sediment Contributing Arca Study proposed by the Ausable Bay- ficld"Conscrvation Authority. They/ instructed clerk Shirley Scott to prepare a draft bylaw desig- nating Maple Lodge School as a Heritage site. Tentative approval was given to a draft agreement which would trans- fer to Stephen township responsi- bility for water lines on Stephen roads 1 A and 2. The salvage yards bylaw v as re- viewed and the clerk was instructed to prepare a draft bylaw to incl ide additional terms recommended h township solicitor C. Little Two tile drain loan appl. were received and approved. Reeve Charles Corbett an 1 hc would be a candidate for ow of lice of Warden of Middles( Count) when the annual clectior, are held on December 3. During their monthly history les- son, council !carne. ti. •lie town- ship received the sun of : -ounds from John Harv.. t c rcasurcr at London for expcnk,rtures , ., town- ship roads during 1845 The follow- ing year the grant had been increased to 100 pounds and was forwarded to the treasurer in Godcrich.