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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-04-07, Page 4PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1977 What we think Good and bad news It was good news for Huron tax- payers when the Board of Education discovered, „that two major ad- ministrative positions that had been filled at an annual cost of $72,000 were unnecessary and were being eliminated, says the Seaforth Ex- positor. The positions involved are those of a superintendent and of the assistant to the director. Th1e encumbents are being appointed principals to fill vacancies that will exist. Because of built in staff guarantees which prevent adjustment to the salary levels to which the encumbents will earn in their new positions, it will be at least another year before any actual dollar savings result. Despite the deferred dollar benefit, the average Huron County citizen will hope that the board's move is but the first in a series of objective looks at the overhead costs of education in Huron. Now that these two senior positions have been eliminated, the public quite properly may ask what is so different today from a year ago, or for that matter two years ago, that suddenly makes the positions redundant. Was there a real need to commit the public to an annual salary bill of $72,000 in the first place?,1t1 at have these two men been doing that' can be so quickly divided up among other staff? The assistant to the administrator, position at $33,000 salary was created just two years ago. The public may pe excused for wondering whether the job, s._ was necessary. Certainly there is a smaller enrollment in Huron classes than has been the case previously, but this has been an ongoing condition and one which some among the administration could have foreseen. Surely when these added top administrative positions were established so recently there was someone among those in charge who might have questioned the need in the light of a decreasing student load and a steadily increasing budget. But all this is in4he past. The money has gone and whether the positions were needed or not is academic now. What is important and hopefully is the beginning of a trend, is that the board and administration are beginning to look more carefully at administrative costs. Sugar and Spite/By Bill Smi ey Sour notes Don't expect the usual collection of op' tirnistic opinion, cheery chat, and happy household hints normally found in this space. I'm feeling really mean this week. If St. Francis of Assisi himself showed up, I'd probably snarl, "Stop feeding those bloody birds! All they'll do is dump all over us." My normally sunny nature is soured by a sore back. It started out as just a little pain, like a breadknife going into my kidneys. You know. The sort of thing that makes you emit a startled "aarf ! " when you straighten up after brushing your teeth and spitting in the sink. Lots of guys have that. It goes with the territory. Then my two, grandboys came for the weekend. They weigh about fifty pounds between them. There's a certain amount of jealousy. Nobody can play the same tunes on their fat necks that Grandad can, by simultaneously sucking and blowing. As a result, no sooner do I get one kid grinning and giggling, and plunk him down, than the other is standing there, arms extended. As any grandfather knows (grannies are smarter and threaten to wash their faces and the kids run), it is literally impossible to ignore the upstretched arms of a tyke. Consequently I reckon, roughly, that I lifted about a ton and a half of grand- babbies off the floor over the weekend. Another forty -odd times I leaned far over and separated them when mayhem seemed im minent. As any old codger with a slipped disc or crumbling vertebrae can tell you, this is known as the poor way, one of the worst, of curing a sore back. The other poor way, the absolutely worst, I won't tell you, as this is a family journal:- To ournal:"To top it all, I have a week's vacation coming up. I have a fairly grim certainty that I'm, going to be spending it, and a couple after it, flat on my back. Put you to bed. That's what doctors do when you go to them with a sore back. First they poke you hard a few times in the sore back and ask, "Does that hurt?" Of course it does. Then they feel your belly, which is not the greatest erotic experience in the world. They tell Soil°'cake a deep breath. They tell you to cough. They seem fairly sure you have a hernia. In the back? "Can you move your legs?" they ask, ignoring the fact that you walked from your car into their outer waiting -room, and from there into the torture chamber. "Does it hurt to sit for long periods?" Damn right. You've just sat in the waiting -room for an hour . and a half after your appointment time, and almost fainted when you stood up. Then, non-plussed as usual, they take off their glasses and nod solemnly. "Yes, it seems sore all right. We'd better get a picture of -that." Translation; I haven't a clue, but maybe it will go away by the time you, get it X-rayed and the prints get back to me. -A -bout 48 hours. They give you some painkillers "in case you have some pain." At this'point.tears as, big as tea -bags are spurting out of your eyes from pain. You emit something bet- ween a groan and a squeal of pure pain as you clamber down from that jeesly high bed in their office. Pain? Migawd, my wife came up this morning to see why I hadn't come down for breakfast. I was lying on the bedroom floor, weeping. I'd just tried to put my socks on. Twice today, a,police car pulled up as I was trying to get out of my car. They'd seen the door open and one leg emerge. Two minutes later another leg hove into 'view. After three more minutes,, a crouched, swaying torso followed. They thought I was plastered.. I was merely trying, to straighten up without screaming. All right? We know where we stand? Don't expect any sweetness and light in this column. Now. Let's deal with that young rip, Margaret Trudeau. My wife is on leer side. Newspaper columnists have been generally kind. I asked a young person the other day for an opinion on Margaret's shenanigans, and got the predictable answer, "Sheez oney crooner own thing. Snuthin wrongth that." I heartily disagree. There's such a thing as responsibility, though the word makes people cringe these days. If you can't stand the heat, fine, get out of the kitchen. But don't run into the public square and whine that you're just trying. to find yourself as a person. That's juvenile. I have never been a fan of her husband, but I admired his domestic loyalty on this undoubtedly painful occasion. Speaking of the Trudeau's, I'd love to ' disinter a column I wrote a few months back, when the Liberals were on the ropes, and the political vultures were swarming to pick the bones of the P.M. But that would be saying "I told you so," one of the nastiest sentences in the English language. A prophet is indeed without honor in his own country. Sometimes in his own kitchen. Good for Harry Boyle, head of CRTC. He has made it clear that our national broadcasting company, whatever its faults, is not merely a tool for keeping the Liberal government in office, contrary to the opinions of some Cabinet ministers. About sweet teeth. I've never heard such absolute crap as the banning of saccharine because some mice got some cancer when they were stuffed with the stuff. Far better, I presume, to die of cigarettes or booze than to expire from drinking two or three hundred cans of saccharine -sweetened drinks a day. I guess diabetics and fatties don't swing much weight at the polls. There. I've vented some of my venom, and my back feels better already. Instead of feeling like Prometheus, with that vulture tearing out his liver, I merely have the more moderate pain of a dog excreting razor blades. Member, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association The Clinton News -Record' is published each Thursday at P.O. Box 39, Clinton, Ontario. Canada, NOM 110. it is 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 prexs run 3,100. Clinton NewsRecoi 1 Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association Display advertising' rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. 7 effective Oct. 1, 197. General Manager • 3.'tt6Ward Aitken Editor -.lanes E, i' itsgerald AdverttstnsDttectof -tilt ry L. H'iiat tssktjit editor:Chris Zdeb Office Manager Margaret Glib Ch-catatlon - Freda McLeod . iccounting - Marian'Vlif ikon Subscription Rates Canada -512 per year U.S.A. -115:50 Other -118 Single Copy • 25c t r AOC 4�5 / l' r ��';iff�"•"t��r. `.. \ \ `` \ 1 :ffff�' :r •r, \ 1 I/ / 4 / 1 �/ f':�,:jr::~:� f irrr''?:;!i"rr��'y \i \`i.i `' 1 /1 ) il \ \\\ \ \r'..... l / / 1 l \ \\\\,--.:_-_-_-_-_----,/,/ --_--// / \ / ,/ \ \- �-_�� \/ / �,. ... �- _ i — --_.____, ' / / /___ _ ____-- Odds 'n' ends,. by Elaine Townshend Where violence begins The public worries about the TV violence that children are exposed to. As a result, most channels feature an early evening "family time" with good, clean, wholesome shows. Meanwhile the toddlers, who are too young to un- derstand the television programs, are tucked into bed and told little ‘:stories called nursery rhymes. For example, a big bad wolf chases three defenselesslittle pigs. He .huffs, and he puffs, and he blows their houses down. If not for their fast get-aways and a lot of luck, the pigs would become his dinner. Our three heroes finally end their dilemma with a pot of boiling • water. Another mean old wolf almost fools Little Red Riding Hood, who walks through the woods to take a basket of goodies to her grandmother. The wolf, disguised as the grandmother, waits for her. "Oh, Grandma, what 'big teeth you have," says Red innocently. "The better to eat you with, my dear," growls the wolf as he springs from the bed. If a passerby had not heard the little girl's screams, she would have suffered the same fate that was intended for the three pigs. Meanwhile, Hansel and Gretel's father is too poor to feed them; he abandons them in the forest to fend for themselves. Their hunger leads them to a ginger- bread house, wihich turns out to be a `rap. The wicked witch catches them, and prepares to eat them. Fortunately, they were too thin to be .eaten im- mediately, and before she can fatten them up, they manage to escape. Even lovely Snow W,11Le is haunted by a jealous queen, who hires a witch to kill the Seven Dwarfs' friend with a poisonous apple. Action is more vivid in the story of the three blind mice that chase the farmer's wife and ultimately have their tails chopped off with a butcher knife. When the children grow beyond ' nursery rhymes, th'ey become fascinated with TV cartoons, in which someone is always being pushed off a cliff, rammed through a wall or batted over the head. Elmer Fudd hunts Bugs Bunny with a vengeance, even though the cool rabbit outsmarts him every time. Chopper is continually called upon to rescue his pal, Tweety, from a conniving Puddy Cat. Meanwhile, Wiley's only goal in life is to stop the Road Runner dead in his tracks. He drops boulders onto the road; he paints tunnels on mountainsides; and he shoots cannon balls. Each plan back- fires, and Wiley, is the one that sees stars. A little girl I know doesn't like to go to sleep, because she's afraid the cookie monster will eat her up during the night. The cookie monster, is not a character in an adult TV show ; he is part of a highly - rated children's program. If our desire to protect children from the influence 'of violence is sincere, we should consider all the sources. Adults watch Starsky and Hutch, who are out to get the.bad guys, at 10 p.m. at noon, children watch Wiley, who's out to get the Road Runner In the evening we concerned adults wish the youngsters sweet dreams after telling them about a big bad wolf or a wicked old witch. No wonder kids have nightmares! From our early files . • • • 10 YEARS AGO April 6, 1967 Wayne Gornall, a Grade 10 ' student at Citral Huron High School, won 'a free trip to the United Nations in June. The UN trip is his prize for winning the annual UN Youth Pilgr.immage Public Speaking Contest sponsored by the South Huron District Rebekahs .and Odd Fellows. Wayne is a son of Mr. and Mrs. D.E. Gornall, Winter Court, • Clinton. A CHSS graduate, Gordon Tebbutt has been awarded a $3,000 special scholarship by the, National Research Council of Canada. This is the second national research scholarship he has won, as well as other scholarships in high school and university. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Irvine Tebbutt, RR 2 Clinton. . Total monies subscribed to Clinton and District Community Centre Centennial fund now stands at $12,797.67. During the past week canvassers collected $2,233.65. Included in this week's con- tributions are some donations from former Clinton residents. Over 100.letters have been sent to Clinton natives now living around the world, and persons who at one time were residents here... Construction on the $225,000 community centre and arena is right on schedule; the roof has now -been completed and brick and block' laying is now being done. Ratepayers are again reminded of the official cor- nerstone laying on Saturday, April 15, at 2 p.m. The regular monthly meeting of the Huron Fish and Game Conservation Club was held Monday evening with a good attendance on hand for the election of officers. Results were: president, Frank Sommerville; past president, Stu Taylor; treasurer, Don Jef- ferson; secretary, Mait Falconer; first vioe-president, Lloyd Butler; second vice- president, Murray Holmes. 25 YEARS AGO April 3, 1952 Following a request by the teachers for an increase in salaries to keep pace with the cost -of -living index, members of Clinton E istrict Collegiate institute Board considered the matter at their April meeting in the school last evening. Trustee Dr. G. S. Elliott, Clinton, headed the Study and Welfare Committee the other members being D. McKenzie, Morris, and R. L. McEwan, Clinton - which 'submitted the recommendation which finally was adopted. Trustee Elliott's motion was to the effect that Board pay each teacher $200 cost -of -living bonus, in addition to $200 annual in- crement, according to the schedule now in effect between the Board and the teachers. A branch of the Association of Kinsmen Clubs of Canada has been organized ii Clinton, with personnel drawn from the town and RCAF Station. Charter membership is 22. Officers of the new service group are as follows: president, F -L T. B. Ianson, RCAF; vice- president, George E. •Rumball, Clinton; secretary, Bob Fletcher, RCAF; treasurer, P. J. McCauley, Clinton; directors - James Clark, RCAF; Stewart Schoenals, Clinton; Ken Scott, Brucefield. Ratepayers of the Town of Clinton will pay the same tax levy in 1952 as they did in 1951, providing, of course, that their assessments have not been raised in the meantime. Town Council at a special meeting in the 'Council Chamber -Monday evening, discussed the estimates at length in committee, and then came up with a 55 -mill rate, the same as last year. 50 YEARS AGO April 7, 1927 The council is planning im- provements to public property thi$- edr. The office of the town clerk is being' fitted up, a new counter having been built in it, and estimates allow for the laying of new patent rubber flooring in the council chamber. The most important items in the routine of business transacted by the Clinton town council on Monday evening was the fixing of the rate for 1927 at 45 mills arid the decision to pave Huron Street from the Royal Bank corner to the western '"town limits. All members were present at the monthly meeting on Monday evening, Mayor Jackson in the chair. The public school estimates, amounting to $10,500, were presented. These were cut down by balance on hand, fees and grants to $7,123. .. A letter 'was received frilm the secretary of the Collegiate board explaining that the $3,000 item in their estimates was for necessary equipment for the new school. Mayor Jackson said he had been talking to the chairman of the board and found that the item was for permanent equipment and should riot come out of current revenues, that deben- tures would have to be issued for it. Mr. A. O. Pattison, who was knocked down by a bicycle on the front street on Thursday last, receiving a nasty cut on his head, is able to be out again, his friends are glad to see. A public meeting will be held in the town hall on Tuesday evening, April 19th at eight. o'clock when graduation eker- cises in connection with the Clinton Public Hospital will be held. Mrs. Aikenhead, Miss Ross and Miss Menary are the graduates. This is the first public graduation to be held in con- nection With the Clinton Hospital and it is hoped the friends of the hospital will keep the date • in mind and attend this interesting function. Everyone is invited. 75 YEARS A.GO April 4, 1902 The season has arrived for cleaning up the yards and outhouses and our citizens should be prompt in the matter as they have been in the past. By our people helping along in this by cleaning up in' front of their residences will go a long way in making the town in general have a good appearance. The weighing of the mail matter at the post office has been concluded. The work hasbegun by order of the postmaster - general on Feb. 24th and was to end on March 24th but only three week's weight was kept. During the three weeks, 3,957 pounds of mail was despatched and 6,189 pounds received. The quantity despatched each week was 1,167, 1.343 and 1,447 pounds respec- tively and mail received 2,173, 1,986 and 2,030 pounds each week respectively. Mr. H. Carr, of Wingham, a well-known builder and con- tractor, who had occasion to be in town last week, made a visit to Wesley church for the purpose of inspecting it. After he had gone carefully over it he expressed the opinion that for cosiness and general attractiveness it was one of the best he had ever seen, and surpassed by none that he knew of. Dr. Towler, also of Wingham, stated that it was beautifully arranged andvery comfortable. Whaf ! Y 0 Kids Dear Editor: I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who helped make the Nursery School Fashion Show a success. Without the co-operation of many, many people, it would never have been ac- complished. A special thanks to the children and parents who made it all possible. . ?ours truly, Sally McNichol, Supervisor Human rights Dear Editor: Much has been heard recently about "Human rights". In fact, President Carter is quotedas saying: "I will not modify my human rights stands." (Washington 0 (AP) March 31, 1977) England's Manchester Guardian is reported to have said: Once upon a time, the United States and others saw the United Nations as the champion of human rights and impartial defender of general faiths." For many years people admired the U.N.'s famous Declaration of Human Rights as a model forts freedom. "But now" says the Guardian, ''disillusionment has set in: Why the change? Well, some accuse the U.N. Commission on Human Rights of behaving contrary to its intended purpose. For example, when the America* representative returned from the commission's 1976 session in Geneva, he was indignant. over what had happened there.' In a public protest on April 1,' 1'976 he made some startling accusations. First, he charged, a proposed declaration on religious freedom "is slowly taking shape as a twisted text designed to limit religiou'a freedom and individual belief on the pretext that religion* breeds intolerance, racism, and colonialism, causing threats to peace and ... state security." The delegate, Leonard. Garment, asserted that the declaration as now worded "can serve to undermine the "legitimacy of religious organizations and religious practices, and may indeed be. -used to legitimize their repression." Second, he attacked another resolution recently adopted at the 1976 session on the "right to life". This resolution's true import, he charged, is that "if the state determines in some manner that it is not 'secure', or...that there is a 'threat to peace,.', then it can now, with an formal endorsement of the U.N. Human Rights Com- mission suspend all other human rights - speech, religious exercise, assembly, emigration - until the supreme -threat to the supreme 'right ' to life' passes." Hence, Mr. Garment complained, this resolution ".permits human rights crimes to be committed openly, even proudly, in the name of peace and in- ternational security." (Press release, United States Mission to the United Nations, April 1, 1976.) . Those' are some strong charges. Will future events bear out Mr. Garment's fears, or are these U.N. resolutions only empty, N political puffery that have no real force? A year has passed since the above-mentioned press release. What will coming years show? 100'YEARS AGO Aprils, 1877 The town assessors have finished their labors, and find that the town Contains 2,538 inhabitants, and property to the amount of $529,470, an increase over last year of over $30,000. While riding a horse on Monday a person was pitched head- foremost into the mud. His feet remaining in the stirrups, he was in an awkward position, but his horse standing, and assistance being rendered, he was unhurt beyond getting a liberal coating of mud. Mr. T. W. Pemroy, the clair- voyant doctor, was summoned by ,Mr. Smith, a detective employed by the Medical Association of Ontario, for practising medicine without a license. He was taken before Mr. Crabb, Goderich who fined him $50 and costs, in all $62. Conservation Authority honors five On March 31, 1977, at the Municipal Slide Tour held at the Conservation. Authority headquarters in Exeter, three Ausable-Bayfield 'Con- servation Authority members were presented with scrolls in appreciation of their valued service over the years. John Stephen, • represen- tative cif Blanshard Town- ship, has* served on the Conservation Authority 25 years. Frank Muma, represen- tative of Warwick Township, has served 13 years, and Harold Lobb, reptesentative of Clinton, has five' years of service. WAKE-UP! SHAPE UP! WALK! 444 Walk a rikll'WI,tlidtay. N C. F. Barney, Clinton News -Record readers are encouraged tq express their opinions in letters to the editor, however, such opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of the News - Record. Pseudonyms may be used by letter writers, but no letter will be published unless it can be verified by phone. Smile Once a family was con- sidered shiftless if they lived from payday to payday. Now they're good managers. • -1- y- + You know you're getting on when you realize that the last place anybody would look for you is where the action is.