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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-02-17, Page 4PAGE 4--CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1977 What we 'ink, Let's start squawking It has become more apparent in the last few weeks that for the most part, wehere in Huron County are stoics. We have a "grin and bear it" attitude that seems hard to ruffle, but in fact, it could be costing us real dollars and cents. From reading the other papers in the area and talking to colleagues_ in the newspaper business, it has become obvious that Huron, Bruce and parts of several surrounding Counties should be•decIared disaster areas, and make us eligible for assistance. From all this talk, we have con- cluded that we up here have indeed got as much snow as Buffalo, and far more than the Niagara Peninsula, and yet we hardly say a word, just because we are used to heavy snows. But basically, it costs just as much to move a foot of snow in Huron as it does in Welland, but they squawked, and got provincial aid, and had the roads cleared up here, immediately, while up r here, whole township road budgets are completely shot in three months, while the province refuses to send in extra aid to help 'the already overworked highway road crews. While further south of the Clinton area, blowers are cleaning up the shoulders with the paved portion already long since cleared, we here in this area were forced to drive on shoulders in narrow roads for two weeks, an extremely dangerous situation when the two-day thaw set in last week. Why can't this equipment be moved up here? Even though local MPPs Jack - Riddell and Murray Gaunt have gone to bat in our favour to try and get more provincial subsidies, they need more - voices from individuals and local municipal governments. Or does it only snow in Tory ridings, as the Blyth Standard publisher Keith Roulston said recently. Run, Bossy, run It seems that your ordinary, hard - working, milk producing cow has quite a bit in common with a human being. We reported in this space a year or so ago that agricultural researchers had found that a cow was much happier, milked better, and had fewer troubles if her udder was supported by, a "sling". Although Playtex failed to make any inroads into the local Holstein sales market, a researcher at Utah State University has discovered another ailment of cows; they're too flabby. Robert Lam, working for the U.S. department of agriculture, noticed dairy cows confined to drylots began to take life too easy. All they have to do is eat, drink, sleep, produce milk and - once a year - have a calf. After a while, Lamb learned that Bessy grows fat, her . muscles get flabby, her blood no longer stirs at the sight of a fine young bull, and her feet hurt too. So Mr. Lamb has designed a jogging machine for flabby cows. His machine amounts to moving tailgates which force each cow to walk around a fenced ring, a mile or so each day. .A Says Lamb, with academic caution, "the results are promising." Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smi. ey Winter Blues AH, the little ironies of life. Hada letter from son Hugh the other day, complaining gently about the heat in Paraguay. Said it was between 90 and 100 in the shade every day and only decently livable at night. Last night it was 30 below around this burg. And that's real temperature: Fahrenheit. Today it was about 20 below all day, and is heading for another 30 -plus below as I write. As of today, we've had 142 inches of snow. Migawd, that's just short of 12 feet, and winter just begun. Who says we aren't a hardy race? Or are we just stupid? At the moment, I'm a little short of breath and temper. I've just come in from wrestling two cars to -life, shovelling enough driveway to get them off the street, and hitting the side of the garage another belt when I slipped sideways. My garage is one of those ancient wooden structures in which those realistic car owner's of the '20's and 30's used to jack up their Fords and Essexes and McLaughlin- Buicks and leave them sensibly suspended for the winter. A modern car, even an old battle -wagon like my 1967 Dodge, has about an inch and a half clearance on each side, if you want to put it in the garage. And I do. In the sum- mer, the birds poop all over the windshield if I leave her out. In the winter, Winter poops all over the whole thing with ice and snow if I leave her out. So Iput her in. But that clearance is -pretty skinny: The two-by-four that supports the joist or whatever that supports the roof of my garage is no loner a two-by-four. My wife and daughter have no idea.whether the car is four feet wide or six. Accordingly, that two-by-four is now about the thickness of six toothpicks,. and any day the whole structure will cave in. I have, for the moment two cars. They are located in one garage, and directly behind it, one driveway just as long as a garage. This morning, the car in the garage, the 10 -year-old, started like a rocket"heading for Mars. The new one, the five-year-old, groaned twice, grunted onoe, and died. There I am, with -one perky'car humming merrily in the garage, and one great lump of cold, dead metal sitting right behind it. It's ,enouggh- to make a saint swear. And I ain't rnb sailnft. But then I think of how lucky I am, coriipared to our ancestors. I have an oil furnace' that is practically supporting the entire ,province of, Alberta, but at .least I 'don't have to cut wood all summer to stay warn$ all winter. I have a wife who wants to drive the car that is working, the one in the garage, when the one behind it won't start, but at least. I don't have to hang her washing out in this weather and have it turn into instant white boards, as I used to have to do for my mother back around ought -34. I'm a school teacher, in.my spare time. .But I don't have to trudge two -miles to the school, with snow to my navel, light the fire in the old box -stove, and sit there shud- dering with cold until the students arrive. I just get to, school as best I can, and the students don't arrive at all. Half of them come by bus and the buses can't get through the storm. Half of the remaining half look out the window, say to hell with it, tell their mothers they have the 'flu, and roll over and go back to sleep. Oh, she was rugged, in those old days, in a winter like this, with home-made in- sulation and red-hot stove -pipes. No wonder many of the old timers never got out of their long johns from October to May. That's why we moderns feel the cold so much. We don't have a half-inch of personal insulation, made up of sweat and skin and dirt, under the underwear, What really baffles Me is why the very first settlers of Canada stayed here, after experiencing,one winter. Things must have been pretty rotten, back. in France and England and Ireland, to make them tough it out in this "few arp,ents of snow," as Voltaire dismissed it so casually. And what completely stymies me is that the first white settlers found anybody alive in this country, when they first arrived. I simply cannot understand how the Indians survived a winter like this. You think your- arthritis is bad, Aunt Mabel. How would you like to live on corn and sex, in a tepee or a longhouse, for five months, with a little, smoky fire burning on the floor, and 12 feet of snow outside. And no television! Do you realize your great-grandfather, when grub got low, probably had to walk eight or 10 miles to the nearest store, and home with a sack of flour on his shoulder and a package of tea in his pocket? On -the worst of days-, I can battle my way four blocks to the supermarket and come home laden with grapes and oranges and fresh meat, and if I've had a big day on the stgck market, even a pound of coffee. Oh, we have it soft, soft, compared with them. Tomorrow morning, I may be as surly, as my grandfathe' was, if the car won't start. But tonight, I'm going to eat a gourmet dinner (stew, I looked in the pot), and sit in . my warm house watching, in living color, a• movie 'about the South Seas. What a rotten spoiled lo't'we are! "This car already has one." Odds 'n' ends,. by Elaine Townshend Unwelcome' neighbour You've been my neighbour longer than I care to remember. From my second floor window,..I've watched you creep closer and closer. You arrived in late November as a mere skiff, making the whole neighbourhood look clean and bright. But you hauled in load after load of white stuff. Then you brought a friend - an exterior decorator, who arranged and rearranged your crystals. For diversity, he gave each of your four walls a different appearance. The back sloped ruggedly, while the front featured a sheer drop ; one side had a smooth surface, the other was adorned with bumpsand hollows. He rounded your split-level top, leaving one end a foot lower than the other. When he achieved the desired design, he mortared your exterior into a solid, impregnable, uncompromising mass, and you posed haughtily in our midst. Although you were a newcomer, you wasted no time in asserting your authority in the community. You claimed as your own anything that got in your way, including a car, a child's toboggan, a red wool scarf and one green mitten. You also covered ak slab ot.er1'lent which, if I remember correctly, was called a sidewalk and was known as public property. You were entertained by the children who attempted to climb to the top of you. Just when they thought they had made it and were beginning to feel like the conquerors of Mt. Everest, you sent them sprawling head over heels to the bottom with a smirk. Our neighbourhood is not unfriendly. nor discriminatory, but we tried every possible means t� run you out of town. You were tickled by the shovel; you were challenged by the plow, blower and blade. Undaunted you stood your ground, dwarfing your adversaries. Gazing at you'now from my window, I marvel at your dominance over me and all the other people around you. If I didn't know better, I'd think you had become a permanent resident. It's difficult to imagine, but I know the same mastermind that built you is going to break you. Someday soon the sun and the rain are going to get you, Little by I•ittle, you'll shrink under their merciless assaults. Your imposing white walls will turn to a sickly brown shade. The roof of the car will reappear,.and later the fender will emerge. When the vehicle is removed, you'll lose your composure completely, and your sides will cave in., After a little more sun and a little more 'rain, the toboggan, scarf and mitt will be pried from your grip. The slab of cement will once again become a public sidewalk, and between its cracks, shoots of green grass will peek. You'll be evicted, unwelcome neighbour! From our early files • 10.YEARS AGO v February 16, 1967 Clinton's Public works chairman, Councillor Jim Armstrong tendered his resignation from Clinton Town Council at Monday evening's regular meeting of council. There was no reason given in the letter and Mr. Armstrong was not present at council; he had at- tended the council's' committee of the whole meeting the previous Monday. Mayor Don Symons, who ap- parently had been talking to Councillor Armstrong, said the decision was final. The mayor explained that ari editorial in last week's issue of the News -Record had prompted the resignation. The manager of Beatty Farm Service Centre in Clinton, Russ Arche has emerged as Clinton's chamon snooker player. On Tuesday evening he defeated Frank Radford in a five game series played at the two local billiard halls. Mr. Archer was the winner of an elimination tourney at Bill German's Billiards and Bowling and Mr. Radford had won a smaller tournament at Gordon Lawson's Billiard hall on Huron Street. The Clinton champ now meets winners from other Western Ontario towns. Some of their future games will be televised over CKNX-TV. Instead of buying and ex- . -changing Valentines this year, many of the rooms at Clinton Public School collected funds for Clinton's new community centre fund. The monies that pupils would normally have spent on Valentines was brought to school on Tuesday. This money will be turned over to the community centre fund on Friday. '-'Clinton Ponies, the Kin - sponsored, all-starr pee -wee hockey team, eliminated Mitchell -pee-wees, Tue„„sday evening, February 14, when they shut -out the Mitchell team 5-0 in the deciding game of a best of three series played at Clinton Lions Arena. The Ponies had two wins, a tie and a loss in the series. 25 YEARS AGO February 14, 1952 Repairs to the town lock-up, -located in the rear portion of the main floor of the Town Hall, are badly needed Chief of Police Joseph Ferrand stated in his monthly report to 'Town Council Monday evening. ' `The Chief said, that it was so insecure that a couple of recent prisoners had' to be taken to the County Gaol at Goderich, oc- casioning loss of time and money The wooden door needed to be replaced by an iron door, and he complained that the public could not be kept out atthe present tinme. Bylaw No. 6 for 1952, to appoint certain officers for the elasped year was passed by Clinton Town Council at its February meeting in the Council Chamber Monday evening. Officials and salaries - most representing considerable in- creases over last year - are as follows: M.T. Corless; clerk and treasurer, $2,5"00; Joseph Ferrand, Chief of Police, $2,800; James Thompson, Day Con- stable, $1,800; J.W. Manning, Assessor and Collector, $1,000; Edward Cram, Cemetery Superintendent, $2,000; W.J. Nediger, Sr., Weighmaster, one- half fees; Frank Fingland, QC Solicitor, no fixed amount; Monteith and Monteith, Auditors, $500; Robert Freeman, Town Hall Caretaker, $1.700; Mayor, $7 each council meeting attended; Councillors, each $5 each council meeting attended. Since his death Wednesday morning last, residents of Clinton and district have mourned sin- cerely the death of His late Majesty King George VI. But they are happy indeed to have a young Queen on the Throne, Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to whom they extend their most royal devotion. . • Arrangements for a Day of Mourning, as decreeed by the Federal Government, on the day of His Majesty's funeral, have been going forward steadily. Acting on the advice of the Town Council at its February meeting Monday evening, His Worship Mayor G.W. Nott has proclaimed a "Day of Mourning" for tomorrow (Friday), February 15. ' 50 YEARS AGO February 17, 1927 Clinton's oldest native born citizen passed away on Monday morning in the person of John Gibbings, who, had he lived until the 18th of March, would have rounded out eighty-eight years. Mr. Gibbings was a son of one of the piprfeers -of the district, Jonas Gibbings, who came here when this section was still a wilderness and whose son William, an older'brother of this sketch, was the first white male child born in the "Huron Tract." The home where Mr. Gibbings died, .was built on part of thcl property originally purchased from the Canada Company, which has remained in the possession of the family ever since and the original deed, made in 1837, is still amongst the family • • papers. Mr. Gibbipgs, who spent ' his whole life here, could tell many an interesting story of the early days in Clinton, when it was still "Vanderburgh's" or "Rattenbury's Corners." Superintendent Chant of the Public Utilities takes exception to the, stand taken by Clerk Mac- pherson, as set forth in the report of the last council meeting regarding the management of the town waterworks. Mr. Chant says the commission is conducting the system according to the Provincial law governing public utilities. Mr. Macpherson's chief objection was that revenues from the waterworks were used to extend.the plant, instead of being used to reduce taxes. Mr. Chant says this is not the case, that there has only been a surplus during the past couple of years and that when these ac- cumulate sufficiently they will be returned to the users of water, who only are entitled to them. YEARS AGO February,14, 1902 The other day, three young ladies—were viewing the inside of the new Wesley Church, and passing complimentary remarks thereon, when one said: "I have heard that Mr. Thos McKenzie has promised -to-give $50 to the first couple who are mahere. ' "Thatrried so?" remarked both the others. "Well, I heard it," continued the first charmer, "and' I'm going after that money right away." J.A. King, baker, who recently put in machinery to facilitate his work, has got -the same all fitted up and in ,working order. It consists of gasoline engine and • • • What you think Rescued. Dear Editor: On Wednesday evening, Jan, 20th, 1977, I had the misfortune to plow into a large snowdrift during a 'whiteout' just a mile or so south of Clinton. By the Grace of God, a man who came from a farm on the right hand side of Highway 8 ,and some distance from where I came to grief, rescued me and took me to the hotel in Clinton, I was so cold and upset, though I thanked him at the time, I neglected to ask his name. I would appreciate it if the editor would be so kind as to print this letter, that hopefully my benefactor will see it. I have thought of hien many times since and want him to know that for me, this was a new and frightening experience but to him, I am most grateful for his kind- ness. Sincerely, John W. Ostler, Milton Life saved M • Dear Editor: At about 11:45 a.m. on Jan. N 28, during a snowstorm whiteout, I v'as involved in a multiple vehicle collision in the south end of Clinton. I suffered a concussion and was bleeding from • severe• facial and scalp lacerations, A "Good Samaritan;" Ken Reidy, delivered my • passenger and me to Clinton hospital in his own car. When safely enroute to the hospital I thanked God it was stillopen since I realized I could not long survive my rate of blood loss. Weather and road ,conditions that day made transportation to any other hospital virtually im- possible. During the two-hour operation to repair my in- juries, excessive blood loss resulted in hypertension in spite of blood transfusion. As a teacher, much of my energy is devoted to en- couraging students to act responsibly and in- dependently, to develop self- reliance rather than depend on big government to take care of them. I can think of no better model for my students mechanical mixer, which saves a than Clinton 'Public Hospital, great deal of hard labor, does the the board, administrator and work much quicker, and avoids frequent handling. The "mixer" handles - if we can use the phrase - about 21/2 barrels of flour at a time, and will convert it up into dough ready for the pans in about 15 or 20 minutes, whereas this formerly required the time of a man for about two hours, andwas exceedingly laborious )as well. , The machinery has been in operation for about a week, and produces excellent results. Mr. King intends to produce different kinds of bread, as the mixer makes a finer quality of dough than is possible by hand. Mark Twain tells a story of a man who received a telegram telling him that his mother-in-law had, died, and asking: "Shall we embalm, bury, or cremate her?" Twain says he wired back: "Yes, and if these fail, try dissection." 100 YEARS AGO February 8, 1877 During the discussion at the Council board on Monday evening, about the appropriation for the building of the high school house, it was stated that the in- come derived from all other sources was sufficient to pay the salaries of the two teachers during the past year, with the exception of the small balance of $8, so that the town had en- joyed the labors of those two teachers- for that small sum, it having only to provide school accommodation and that amount. It is both hoped and expected, that under the operation of the new .law, that equally as good a showing will 'take place at the close of the present year. staff. I understand it was built land equipped at local initiative,without provincial funding and that it is among the most efficient in the area of operating costs. I can ' attest to the proficiency, tenderness and consideration of the staff, in spite of difficult cir- cumstances'° and long hours imposed by the weather. Clinton Hospital is a community project of which the community is justifiably proud. It would better serve as a model for other com- • munities to avoid big government than as part of a cosmetic approach to fiscal restraint. As a taxpayer, I am sym- pathetic to the government's claimed objective of minimizing expenditures, I cannot agree that the proposal to close Clinton Hospital was a rational one. Anyone who participates in any action to close a medical facility in such an area without living through one 'of their frequent paralysing snow storms is acting callously and irresponsibly. Row well will • the politicians sleep if they close Clinton Hospital and itecan subsequently be established that even one life is lost as a result? C. Willat'd Long Ingersoll • • Member, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association The Clinton News -Record is published each Thursday at P.O. Box 39, Clinton, Ontario, Canada, NOM 11,0. It M registered as second class mail by the post office under the permit number 0817. The News -Record Incorporated In 1924 the Huron News -Record, .founded in 1881, and the Clinton New Era, founded In 1885. Total press run 3,100. Clinton News ecor 1 A Member Canadian Comnmunity Newspaper Association Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. 7 effective Oct. 1, 1976. ,4111 * ABC General 1Vibnager - J, Howard Aitken Editor - Jkmes E. Fitzgerald ' Adhertising Director - Gary L. Habit Asaistirnt editor • Chris Zdeb Office Manager - Margaret Gibb Circulation • Freda McLeod Actounting-Marian WWraa Subscrlptlon Rates: Canada - $12 per year U.S.A.-$15.50 Other -S8 Singles Copy - 25c Y�5 A 0 w