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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-01-08, Page 1JANUARY30 II 33 32 - 2 37 26 30 10 Snow 6"o 354 *93 [1 5,11.9.W 4" Reln . '..• lC .wnier,,returns' Clinton and area are enjoying its first real winter in four years as heavy snow and cold temperatures have been. prevalent since a week before Christmas. Here John McGregor, of 54 WhiteheadStreet moreels awathan2 inches (30, soiree of last Sunday's six inch accumulation•So far this week,ore em) has fallen, with more on the way. (News -Record photo) • people. elbowed their way b " into the, Nearly ll� Saitford Valley Hall Tuesday night to support a carnalunity effort 10 reverse the decision by the Ontario. Minister of. Health. Frank`Miller to.clQse •!:.the Goderich Psychiatric hospital. The gathering of hospital employees, concerted citizens of the area and ' representatives of nearly every' organisation working in the three counties served by the Goderich hospital witnessed a steady stream of elected and appointed officials from Huron. Bruce and Perth counties extolling the virtues of the hospital and offering evidence why it must remain oven. Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell offered some consolations to the audience saying that his private discussions with Frank Miller have indicated that the "door is not com- pletely closed yet". Reading from a letter written by`him to the minister, Mr. Riddell said that he failed to see the logic in closing down the hospital considering the capital expense that will be lost and the tremendous success the hospital enjoys. He said that the hospital is the most modern of its kind in the province and with between 50 and 60 admissions a month it has one of the highest admission rates of any hospital in the province of equivalent bed size. Council to try and fix Town Hall 0 iu4.„ ?ir. Riddell .said that he had worked received from this area regarding selV with medical and administrative regional government and the Mustard yatplf of the hospital and prepared a factstard a • Mills said the letters "dlstwrbed sheet Which indicates the informationMr. destroyed" the implications of those Marx. Miller used' to justify closing the hospital was erroneous: He said that the two provincial government projects. He r added that in the field of health, people ,atinister s suggestion that GPH was 'operating at 60 percent capacity was seem to have become dollar signs to the 'Wrong, pointing out that the hospitalities ministry of health and if those dollar never operated below 78 percwit signs have to be erased, they are. capacity and generally runs about'He pointed out that the decision to 90� percent with 1.500 out-patients Handledclose GPH was made without contacting each month as well as the 230 beds in the anyone working in the field of health in hospital. , He strengthened his point Huron, Bruce and Perth counties to try to determine the effect such a closing fitting Ontario Public Service Employeesto have on consumers here. 'unioft president Charlie. barrow's Mayor Don Symons of Clinton suggested to the audience that it is time statistics showing that d $3 million payroll would be lost to the community gg and $60,000 would be taken out of the the province learned that people in small pockets of local merchants. towns and communities do know' what • The MPF pointed out, however, that they are. talking about. Mayor Syinons Mr. Miller has based his decision On said that people in small localities knoW these facts and figures and has not made what they want for their community and a political judgement. Mr. Riddell said are willing to fight to ensure they get that the minister told hitnthat the4 Lownsor Symons and villages of ded that in the�eoe unty "politically . I' m probably treading where _angels fear to trod but technically I feel I'm right The Huron -Middlesex member told the F• that a delegation consisting o audiencei of "Ars himself; Ross Bryant, the GPH ad - Considered themselves somewhat in independent but that time has passed and Huron is a better county for. it. "1 would like you people to' know that the town of Clinton is right behind you all the way and may be running up your back if you don't move fast enough." said Mayer Symons. Doctor Michael Conlon. past ad- ministrator of GPH and now medical director at the hospital, - told the audience he was very sympathetic to any people facing a loss of employment butpointed out that the sympathy must be transcended by him to express a care ,for only' the patients of the hospital. He said he had devoted 10 years of his life in Goderich to caring for the mental health of over 150.000 people in Huron, .,Bruce and Perth counties, adding • that the services of GPH were accredited by the Canadian Council on Hospital Accreditation as a model for the rest of the country. "No illness is so deprived as mental (continued on page 7) t 1976 baby arrives • ministrator; Prank Mills, the Huron Dianne Elizabeth Ross, born at 3:40 County Medical Officer of Health and a.m. January 1, was Clinton's New some of the staff of the hospital was year's Baby. The first child of Jim and meeting with Mr. Miller prior to Wed - to Betty Ross, RR 1, Brucefield, she nesday.'s. cabinet meeting to tryarrived one hour and 17 minutes behind convince him of the error of the decision. the first, Year's baby of Huron He said that Mr. Miller has promised County, born in Win$ham. that if he is proven technically wrong in d l ower plant in the decision, he will tell the. cabinet he • L Clinton's old Town Hall will undergo some more restoration this year, budget permitting, town council decided, last. Monday night: tc..... They decided at their meeting get estimates on adding two washrooms to serve the meeting room`; WhIch is also used as a court room, and general meeting place for such groups as the Senior Citizens', Club. Council also hopes to renovate part of e.k alt room `behind,the clerk's office, and will look into a suitable use for the old police office, once they are into their new quarters in The renovated old fire hall. • StanleyTwp.. apt year, council approved fight a' propose nucear p I into a Po Huron County. Although tto vote was has reversed tithsuggestion to close e innate decision to renovations of the old fire hal lice station, and- approved the span- taken, council was noticeably divided on GPH and leave ding of several thousand dollars to have whether to eoPP scent back heavy sn©wfalls, the If the cabinet hears Mr. Millerin he the bricks on the town hall pointed With (remortare snowplowing was a hot topic at .the is technically anciding to cease dcision, theywill ply wrong concur and "Wee should set this as our number one meeting with council thecommercial leave GPH oopen," aid Mr. Riddell. priority," Deputy -Reeve. � Frank Cook plowing private lanes a owners He added that the political overtones., said, "to show the townspeople we are district, and warning property air.' (wishes (a reference that it is illegal to shovel snow out on to of the' s sue were created locally all05 and was at carrying out,th public property such as sidewalks and "appalled to a referendum in December of 1974 to P dwa s inane a political issue" save the 90 -year-old structure). y • with the lives of people seeking the Concerned was also expressed'tt1u t at" "You don't torr Reeve Harold Lobb, who is se g few • merchants are not keeping the . for the sake of pofitieal expediency, L Tuesday. January frontf theirbusinesses said the MPP`. number of 55 tickets hadbeen g• n petitions •nn a by-law vasa approves grants As the first baby born at the Clinton rRubiic Hospital in 1976, Dianne and her parents will be given - numerous gifts from the local merchants. The first baby in the area for '76 was Warden's chair next sidewalks in o Perth county MPP. 13 brought the subject up in the first cleaned,and council learned that a Hugh Edighoffer, place, saying the washrooms were badlyk luau out echoed Mr. I neoDl's comments adding th rads of people will sig p needed.. by police to motorists igno g Council unanimously endorsed a letter is supposed to prevent overnight parking the which artee counties. now ciHerculating said petitions protesting the closing of the Goderich on any Clinton Street, anytime between carry some weight in. Queen's Park but Psychiatric Hospital and sent several December 1 and April 1st.. thi, biggest effect will be had if the same councillors to a special meeting in the petitidns write in- Goderich lasi,Tuesday night. rCouncil also Comm tine to closewith the ., people signing letters to Mr. Miller. 'The 'letter was .sent by Stan Falcone ,the Centennialloss. "The letters are what seem to have the wiishi Council has gra• nted of Clinton, president of Local 122 of the books, and pay any biggest effect on MPP's working. in Stanley Tai P Ontario Public Service 2 2 employees, monthly al ni meetings, ago iand Mayor Don Toronto,'"nue their twice - said Mr. Edighoffer. • the War Memorial Children's Hospital Union, pointing out that 4 p Y Y P % Salvation Army, 5100 and Mental manyfrom Clinton, would lose their Symons expressed regret that more Huron Dr. CountyF,ranMills enlarged cru the cal officer of $35, the Sal Health of Ontario, 535 at their first jobs• parsons weren't watching the top of the health of 1976 held Monday night. in other business, council tabled a league Clinton Mustangs and other effects • a barrage of mail has on the "meeting _ , u. 5.. -�• controversial resolution from the hockey teams in town which he said was tPhreohuge volume of mad the government Jan fit overnment citing the effects - Council has also given approval for the Township of Stephen seeking support to "the best entertainment in town. Clerk and the Reeve t0 borrow up to $210.000 for Township needs, until _ the taxes come in. In - other business, Stanley Township Council . has applied to the Ministry of nation and Communications for Trans po the balance of their 1975 road subsidy. Council' has also endorsed the resolution from the Township of Stephen - opposing the construction of a nuclear - generating station in Huron County. By Jim Fitzgerald Sorry we missed you last week, but deadline pressures knocked outhe columo. So a belated Happy New Year! 4-++ Right off thebat, we would like to wish Clinton Reeve Harold •Lobb all the best as he seeks the Warden's seat at Huron County council next Tuesday in Goderich. As the race comes down to the wire. it looks like the congenial Reeve has a very good chance. lit been 41 years since Clinton has hada Warden. Tuckersmith may have to By Wilma Oke Concerned about the cost of maintaining roads and replacing bridges, Tucker- smith Township Council Tuesday night discussed the merits of closing some township sideroads in the future. Councillor Robert Bell said that with gravel becoming scarce he thinks the ill Come when roads will have to time ver be closed because there wia not be gravel available to keep them in con- dition. .Fred McGregor Limited at a cost of for the Brucefield Water system from Councillor Bert Branderhorst said that $I 1,0,d. The firm is no longer in business. with the cars today, the mimerous passed for payment were accounts sideroads built for the horse and buggy totalling 526,315.92, including general days"are not all necessary. He suggested accounts amounting to 54.353.50; roads. that the closed roads should be returned X6.,787.55,; Vanastra Day Care, $1.659.65: to farmland as each one and one-quarter and Vanastra Recreation. 513.515.2"...- miles of road would make an acre, of Appointed to the Vanastra Recreation Reeve- Elgin Thompson and Deputy farmland Committee were: Reeve Elgin Thom - Reeve Ervin Sitlery agreed that some psora, Deputy Reeve Ervin Sillery, Dick Lehnen. Wilfred Schneider. Barryroads could be closed in the township .Davis, Bruce Collins, Eldon !'ting .and .and portions of some roads could Robin Gates, subject to confirmation by become private taneways to farms. Robin members. Clerk James McIntosh and township i With the skies literally Council passed a bank borrowing by- law for up to 5250.000 to permit payment of bills until taxes and ottu'r revenues are received. �- An application for a building permit from John Segeren.r RR 2, Seaforth, for w an implement shed as approved. Mr. McIntosh reported that during 1975, 90 permits valued at 5732,779 were issued in the township. Council purchased parts and supplies Appointed to the 7 -member Day Care Centre Board: Councillors Cleave Coombs and Bert Branderhorst, Carol Monroe. Margaret Rogerson. Arthur Forcer. Barbara Hodgins and Doris 1ley opening up in road personnel will all receive a ten the last two weeks and dumping all that rcent raise in salary snow on us, one wonders if there will be , Per cent any left for the upcoming Clinton and Mr. Siliery remarked" 'that Reeve Thomson was entering his 20th year an 1, which gets P District Winter Carniva council. underway in about,. three weeks. No atter thou h,, the Winter Carnival ivieaWimmittee i finalizing plans for the ' 11 t pelc is big success, because of service clubs' hlp ° event and a full program should' announced in next week's paper. They next have another meeting * set forWednesday night at 8 p.m. at the arena. • +. + + Still talking about snow, the Ontario Weather Centre said on Monday that December was slightly, colder and with more snow than usual, following the warmest November on record. Over all, 1915 was slightly warmer and wetter than aver'a'ge. •} + + • The Clinton fire brigade was called out � . to a minor car fire in the wee hours of New Year's moaning on Highway 8, just west of Clete -Vu. The Meals on Wheels Committee would like to thank the groups that have made such -generous donations. These ° include Huronlc Rebekah Lodge. Beta Sigma Phi, the Royal Canadian Legion. the Summerhill Ladies Club. and the Eastern Star. , A large and recurring expense is the purchase of containers for the meats. The soup. the main course, and the dessert each 're mire a separate foil. container, and these cost money. - However, thanks to the generosity of the close roads another girl, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cowan, RR 5 Brussels. She was born at 2:57 a.. m. at the W ingha m and District hospital. A baby girl born at 5;55 a.m., January 1 at the Alexander and Marine Hospital. was Goderich's first baby of'1976., She is the daughter,' of Shirley and Brian Stothers, RR 6 Goderich. . As of Monday. January 5, Seaforth and Exeter hospitals reported that the stork hadn't yet made an appearance. l ,.tntcluu, uxeilfrnatian by members. Council expressed annoyance that a • newspaper correspondent had reported last week the population at Vanastra was approximately 1.000 when the Assessment Office on .October 27 reported 763 persons at Vanastra. She reported 23 businesses at Vanastra whereas Council has about eight listed. Where's ihe stork? rhe Clinton New Year's baby, Dianne Elizabeth Ross of RR 1, Brucefield is presented a silver cup from the president of the Hospital Women's Auxiliary,, 'Mrs. Ted Davies: Holding Dianne, is her mother, Mrs. Betty Ross, and leaking on is Mrs. .Jamieson, an RN at the Clinton Public Hospital. (News -Record photo) , Clinton backs in town nursery ,•st..,a on Wheels are "out of the red; . The co-ordinator, Mrs. W.' Colclough. reports that the service can ac- commodate more customers. as some of the regular recipients have moved--tn Huronview. The meals are prepared at the hospital and the price of a meal is ;1,25. which o h s the amount the committee pays hospital. No profit is made on the meats s. If you need to use the services of MI on Wheels. please phone liss Marie Elliott at 482- .816. . • By Jim F• itzgera ld The Early Childhood Living and Learning Centre in Clinton was given moral and some financial support by the Clinton Town Council last Monday night at their inaugural meeting of the year. Council made their move after a meeting with a eight person delegation of parents and representatives of the school on Monday night. The 'nursery school, operated in the basement of Wesley -Willis United Church in Clinton. had requested sup- port last month from councili from a staff member, Mary Ann Bakker. Ms.. Bakker, in her letter, said the four-day a week nursery for pre-school children was forced to pay the mimiun wage and was short on supplies to run the centre. Sally McNichol. supervisor of the . centre. told council Monday night that they receive no outside governmerft support. and the 53 per half-day charge covered all their expense. with Ms. McNichol stressed. along -several parents that the nursery was not a' baby sitting service because the children were only -there 2 1,,i hours a day and, they had a great deal of teaching as well.. The centre was also heartily endorsed by Liz McHugh, a public health; nurse -with the Hu on County Health Unit, who said "it's great at what it does for these children." • Currently. the nursery has 37 pre- schoolers enrolled, with many only coming for a half day 'add 10 enrolled for the full four half -dans allowed. Council decided to give the nursery $100 as an interim payment until they get the 1976 budget drawn up. • Mayor Don Symons said that municipal councils are being forced to drastically - curtail their spending and council just couldn't commit anymore money at this time. - "! know it doesn't seem like much:** Deputy -Reeve Frank Cook 15" id. (when"but wait until after .January ' Clinton finds out at a meeting in W ingham just how much their grants wilibe increased) in another Move connected with the tax base. councilendorsed a resolution from the Town of Port Hope call'ng for the Provincial government to give municipal councils permission to ieject an education tax l tke of more than -le per cent. Currently. the county board of educations - draw up their :own budgets and then "tell the municipalities what they must pay. After some debate. council deOded to continue a years -old tradition of lowering the assessment on vacant farmland in town. In previous years. council has only....... The first regular meeting of the boar( 12. collected about 35 per cent of total taxes in1976-will be held January on those lands. meaning a Toss of about $1,000 a year in taxes. • Council decided to reduce the assessment for the last time, as market value assessment comes into force next year and those vacant- lands in town will be taxedon what they are worth as serviced lots. • Da try farmer iwads • V H -P separate board A 48 -year old Mornington Township dairy farmer, Arthur Haid of RR 4 Listowel, was acclaimed chairman of the Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board at the inaugural meeting of the board in Dublin Monday - night: He was vice-chairman last year. He succeeds David Teahen of Strat- ford. Ted Geoffrey of RR ''. Zurich, became vice-chairman by acclamation. Both Mr. Haid and Mr. Geoffrey have been members of the board since it was forine4 in 1969. Rev. J. Durand of Zurich, Dean of the Huron -Perth Deanery. expressed a 'fev comments . and led the devotiono 8xercist S. A borrowing i e -law was pass t for $' million.