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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-06-23, Page 4PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1977 Wbqtw?jhin...k • Well worth it Often this space is used to criticize, chastise, and belittle, but the true purpose of an editorial is to express the editor's and sometimes the paper's position on a myriad of things that affect our community. So it is often said that all too seldom, we don't praise good things when they happen, just report the bad things. Well, there are still many justices that need correcting, but this week, we have nothing but praise, for the people of Clinton and area. The praise and congratulations go out to the hundreds of people, who, when knocked down, came back up fighting. They have proved themselves twice in the last year or so, first with the fight to save the hospital, and most recen- tly, the fight to save the grand- stand. Although the grandstand was saved in a literal sense, a new one was built in record time, and the brand spanking product of the local people's sweat will be unveiled this weekend at the opening day of the harness races. Only through the nearly unbelievable co-operation of town council, and their. employees, a dozen contractors, hundreds of volunteers, and last but not least, a very active Kinsmen club, could such a massive project be completed in only three months. Everyone had•to pull his weight, or the project would have fallen through. They all deserve hearty congratulations. We said it before in this space, but it bears reporting: community spirit is not something one can see or buy or sell, but it is something as valuable to the town as all the buildings put together. This untangible commodity turns a mere group of houses and stores factories and schools, into a thriving, happy community. Congratulations Clinton, you've proved yourself. Sugar and Spice/By Bill SmI ey The heat of the moment This was supposed to be a probing inquiry into what laws Canadians break most, and why they break them. But it's too danged hot. What a country! Just a few weeks ago, you could get free ice -cubes from those 10 - foot icicles hanging from your roof. Today the refrigerator can't keep up with the demand for thein. That horrible heat wave we've ex- perienced coincided with a visit from The Boys. The combination practically put Gran and I on our knees, and we're just now recovering gingerly . from an ordeal that would have put us in our graves, had we been 10 years older. It's not that we can't stand the heat. And goodness knows, The Boys are a treat. But because you can stand driving doesn't mean you want to drive 800 miles a day. And because you enjoy ice cream doesn't mean you want to eat nothing else for two weeks. 9 Mother of The Boys, our Kim, was in the process of writing the last of her university essays and thought she'd pop up home, have a visit, get some free baby-sitting and finish her essays. A nice thought. But The Boys had other ideas. After being cooped up in a city apartment for the winter, they wanted some action, and there's always action at Grandad's, at "the big house," as it's known. Little Balind, the younger, was supposed to be quiet and convalescent after a serious illness. Little Ba4-n-d, after about one day; was as quiet and convalescent as a Mack truck with Dr. Jekyll's alter ego at the wheel. After about three days, he had pulled a lamp over on himself, put a permanent gouge in the coffee table, knocked over the fire screen (twice), fallen off a bed on his face, lost a knob off the TV set, sprinkled a can of talcum powder over. the entire up- stairs with a triumphant grin, and smashed several dishes by hurling them to the floor from his high chair, his signal that the meal was over. Of course, after his illness he had practically no appetite, so feeding him was no problem. It only took. the three of us adults, one cooking, one shovelling it in, and one cleaning up the debris, to stave off his hunger. He'd start off with a banana to keep him from perishing while you were cooking his bacon and eggs. Then it was a scramble to get his"'t'oast and honey ready while the eggs were vanishing. Licks off the honey, hurls toast on the floor, stands up in his high chair and wipes hands on Gran's newly -decorated wall. Then out of the chair and on to Grandad's knee for a few more bites of egg or muffin or whatever. This would go on all day, punctuated by apples, cookies, swigs of apple juice and bits of cheese to keep his stomach from rumbling. I made the mistake of sticking my little finger in his mouth once. Thought he was getting some more teeth aiid'that I'd give the gums a little rub to ease the pain. He dam' near took the end right off my finger. That kid is a natural for the wrestling ring or the football field. No such problem with the other guy, Nikov. He is a dainty eater, can feed himself, and sits up at table, propped on a fat hook. No problem at all. Except that he won't eat. Meal time is a gart'ie. If he gets wieners and beans, he wants milk on it, then it's too cold. If you're out of eggs, he wants scrambled eggs. If you have apple juice and fresh grapefruit, the only thing he can stomach is orange juice. He can make a half-hour ceremony out of eating one strand of spaghetti. There's no malice in it. He just enjoys -manipulating three fairly intelligent adults, like three puppets, one'cajoling, one threatening, and one furious. We took turns. Occasionally whisked. off to bed without any dinner, he'd be quiet for a few minutes, then paddle downstairs and say he wanted his supper. But he wanted ,chicken, and you'd had -stew. At first they were a little peeved that Grandad had to go off to work every morning. The old one wanted me to take hint to the car wash, one of our favorite excursions. The little one just wanted me to take him and yelled. So I instituted "Kiss Time." I lined the whole gang up, wife, daughter, two grandboys, got them to pucker up and went down the line with a kiss for each. Very popular routine. You have to be crafty with kids. For a few days, the weather was cold, and all they could do was make the inside of the house look as though Attila and his Huns had just laid waste a village. Then the heat wave struck. Their mother is one of those new-fangled ones who think that children should be allowed to express their creative faculties regardless. The Boys poured into the back yard like the Saracens pouring into Spain, and created. I'll say one thing for them. They didn't set fire to the stoop, or the' fence. They couldn't have. They discovered Grandad's hose, and where to turn it on. Everything was so wet after a few minutes, you couldn't have started a fire with gasoline. I'd come home from work, and there'd be two naked tots, soaking, mud from head to toe, watering each other, their mother, the lawn furniture and any stray animal, - human or otherwise, that came in range. It took only half an hour to clean up. That, along with two hours at feeding time, and about two hours at bath and story time, and an hour to recuperate, took a fair chunk out of the day. Now they're gone` and I miss them terribly. Nobody to run over, jump on my arthritic foot and butt me in the' stomach. Nobody to make me read the longest fairy story in the entire book. I can hardly wait to see them again. Maybe Christmas? For a day? Member, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association The Clinton News -Record Is published eaph 'Thursday at P.O. Box 39, Clinton, Ontario. Canada, NOM ILO. 1t is registered as second class mall 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 NewsRecor(1 Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association - Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No► 7 effective Oct. 1, 1071. General Manager - J. Howard Aitken Editor - James E. Fitzgerald Advertising Director • Gary L. Hoist News editor - Shelley McPhee Office Manager -Margaret Glbb Circulation - Freda McLeod ` Accounting Marian Wj11soh Subscription Rates: Canada - $12 per year U.S.A. $18.50 Other - $18 . Single Copy - 25c aN "THIS is what we fought all that traffic for?" Odds 'n' ends,- by Elaine Townshend Long distance mom On an American TV program a few weeks ago, Margaret Trudeau talked about the break-up of her marriage, her children and her plans for a career in photography. She mentioned that she talks to the three boys on the phone every day, and she added, "I am still the mother of my children. For as long as I live, I will be their mother. But I don't think they would be happy knowing I was unhappy and feeling unfulfilled. I feel they are well -adjusted and can understand what I'm doing.. They're proud that Um a photographer." I must be old-fashioned, unimaginative or just plain"dumb, but I can't understand how a mother operates by long-distance. I also have difficulty realizing that youngsters aged five years, three years and one year com- prehend the burning desire of adults to "fulfill ourselves." One of the things I remember from my childhood days was coming home from school, grabbing a cookie, perching on a chair and talking my mother's ear off. She might be ironing or washing win- dows or baking, but she was there, and she always had time to listen to the events of my day : "I got ninety-four in Spelling and ninety in English. We played baseball at noon, and my team won. We clobbered them! The score was fourteen to eight. Bob and Jim had a fight. Bob got a bloody nose. Boy, was the teacher ever mad! Somebody threw Sandra's lunch box into a tree. And, oh yeah, I got sixty- eight in Math." Have kids really changed that much? Some family structures have certainly, changed. ' Working mothers, single - parent familites, day-care centres and baby-sitters are commonplace in today's world. Some mothers are forced to work for financial reasons; others chose employment outside the home for a variety of reasons. All of them make arrangements that they feel are suitable for their children. a I'm not criticizing working mnth,rc T admire women, who are successful in business and careers, and families, who are happy living new lifestyles. But I also admire the mothers who stay at home. Their job is nonan easy one. Unless things ,have changed drastically since I was a youngster, mothers still have to break up fights, bandage skinned knees, lug tricycles out of the basement, button dolls' clothes, praise the virtue of sharing toys, explain how long an hour is and answer the question "Why?" fifty times a day. , , For some mothers, raising a family provides complete fulfillment. Others feel a need to fulfill themselves in other ways, but they have decided to postpone their aspirations until the children are grown. When I remember my happy childhood, I experience a twinge of regret because many of the simple concepts of family .life have disap- peared. Some children and long-distance moms are missing an important part of growing up. From our early, files . • • • • • • 10YEARS AGO June 22, 1967 A 75 -bed, $750.,000 addition l;o Huronview was officially opened last Wednesday afternoon, June 14, by Nobel Drew, Toronto, director for homes for the aged branch Ontario Department of Social and Family Services. Mr. Drew speaking in the absence of the Hon. John Yaremko, who is the minister of that department, said that Huron County has been an example to the province of Ontario in recognizing its duties to its elderly population in moving progressively with the times and providing good homes for the aged accommodation. "Records show," said Mr. Drew, "that Huron was one of the first counties to establish a home for the aged. The heavy rain of last Friday evening and nearly all day Saturday did not dampen the spirits of Goderich Township residents as they carried out all events and activities of their Centennial Weekend: The variety concert Friday evening was cut. short and completed on Sunday evening. Saturday's huge parade went off as scheduled and the barbecue in the evening was moved to Clinton's new community centre where over 1,650 persons had their chicken dinner. At the regular council meeting on Monday evening two petitions were presented to council requesting some action be taken regarding the nuisance created by drivers of motorcycles and cars, stressing the need for in - "creased policing. Cpl. A. Hardy of the Goderich detachment of the OPP was present at the request of council and addressed council as to what action could be taken to curb that alleged nuisance. He made it clear that. the OPP would act if those complaining would supply licence numbers, identify the driver and support charges. In respect of the noise problem, he mentioned that, effective July 1, two types of mufflers noted for their special sound effects will become illegal. 25 YEARS AGO June 19, 1952 It was generally agreed that Air Force Day, held at the Clinton St.a,tion in 1952, was the largest. and most successful such func- tion since the inauguration of the idea back in June 1997. Saturday last was a lovely day for it, although a very hot one, the mercury rising to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the relative humidity coming a close second. However, it was estimated that close to 5,000 people flocked to the Station to enjoy the 'varied exhibits and activities of Air Force Day. Clinton Races held on a fast track in Clinton Community Park yesterday afternoon, attracted a record crowd, which filled the grandstand and overflowed into auxiliary stands and along the rail at both ends of the covered stand. Total attendance was variously estimated at from 1,500 to 2,000. In any case everyone seemed to enjoy the racing, competition being keen and clean, with 39 horses running in the five races. 50 YEARS AGO June 23, 1927 Final arrangements have been made for Clinton's celebration in commemoration of Con- federation to be held on July 1st. The committee in charge has been very busy preparing for this Diamond Jubilee celebration and about all that is Left to be desired is a fine response from the weather man.• The day's program commences at 9:30 a.m. when the grand parade will take place. The various classes are as follows, 1 with generous prizes. Gentleman`s driving outfit of 1867, gentleman's driving outfit of 1927, decorated cars, trades floats, farmer's turnout, organization floats, decorated bicycles, comic ' floats, jazz bands, best clown. From July 1 a two cent excise stamp will be sufficient on any cheque, no matter what the amount it calls for, but don't forget that you must put one on. 75.YEARS AGO June 20, 1902 A few "nights since four boys maltreated a cow belonging to Rev. J. Greene. They thought it was just fun to tie a tin pan to her tail and pelt her with stones and otherwise maltreat her. Mr. Greene was not anxious to prosecute the, boys, but thought some example should be made of them, as they were old enough to know better, On Friday they appeared before the mayor, who assessed them 75 cents each for present damages and they signed a bond that should the cow die within a reasonable time as the result of its injuries, they would be responsible for its value. The phone list in Clinton is growing rapidly. This week the following have had new ones installed - Fred Jackson, Broadfoot and Box, Mrs. Moggeridge and Wesley church parsonage; W. Brydone is having the new desk system put in his office. The total list in' Clinton now is 108, and is reckoned to be one of the best services in Western Ontario. The granolithic walk on the east side of Huron St. has been finished, as far as the west side of Erie St.. and men are now at work on Orange St. between Huron and Princess. Petitions have already been received for more walks, one for nine feet widd in front of the Commercial Hotel. A short time ago the Board of Health issued a circular asking the co-operation of the people in. cleaning up yards, looking after out houses and matters of a general nature. We are glad to note thatso many have responded and are sure they will be amply repaid not only by having the premises in a purer condition but by the appearance of them as well. Everybody has his theory as to the cause of the leaky condition of the clouds this past few weeks. There are those who attribute it to the recent volcanic erruption at St. Pierre; others to the direction of the windon.a certain day; still others to some par- ticular time a couple of months ago, while others suggested that perhaps it was a baptism after the elections. However that may be, farmers say that the growth of nearly all kinds of vegetation has been phenomenal. Nothing has suffered as yet from too much rain, unless perhaps corn on heavy land. Hay, wheat, barley and other grains have done well though all could do now with more sunshine. 100 YEARS AGO June 21, 1877 Last week a band of Italians visited town and perambulated the streets, favouring our townspeople with strains musical and otherwise and raking in the coppers quite freely. The harp and violin were their assistants. While Dr. Fraser of London was visiting some patients one night last week, his horse was stolen from a tie post. On Monday morning the animal was found tied to a bush in the vicinity of Seaforth, but the thief was non est. Some scamp, apparently much in need of funds, took the liberty of supplying his wants last week, by a midnight visit to two of our town churches. On Wednesday night someone entered the Presbyterian church by raising a window, afterwards forcing an entry into the vestry by prying open the door. Here they found the collection boxes of the Sab- bath school and in the most deliberate manner they were opened and the contents taken; the sum stolen being estimated at between $25 and $30. The Methodist church was also visited, entry being similarly obtained and the case in which the Sabbath school boxes were kept, pried open, when the contents of one or two were removed. The thief was not so successful as in his visit to the Presbyterian church, for it is supposed he only obtained about $1. On Monday a 'youth named Harvey was arrested in Goderich on the charge of being the thief. A number of coppers wore found in his possession, but the silver had been disposed of. The cir- cumstances leading to his arrest were that a resident of this town was in Goderich-and spoke of the robbery saying the thief' would likely be detected by trying to exchange coppers for value or paper. This coming to the ears of Mr. Trainer, he put himself on the watch for the thief and soon had the satisfaction of spotting the party. He then telegraphed to Clinton the fact and Mr, Paisley went there for him, so credit of his detection and arrest is due to Mr. Trainer and his assistant Yuill. War Dear Editor: It is seventy-five years since the Peace of VEREENIGING brought the Anglo -Boer War to a close. The Boer War was the oc- casion -of Canada's first - major overseas military campaign, and relatively little has been written about the participation of, the Canadian contingents. I am engaged in resear- ching the role of the Canadian forces in this conflict, and I am anxious to get in touch with surviving veterans or with relatives or friends of veterans. Volunteers from Ontario were especially prominent in the Canadian contingents in South Africa. I will be travelling and researching throughout Ontario during the next few months and I would be most grateful if readers could assist me in this project. I am especially anxious to I gain access to papers in private possession pertaining • to the War. Should readers be What you think Canadian Dear Editor, "I Speak Canadian"- In view of the recent con- troversy in Canada over the language issue and Quebec separation, I would like tq express nay opinion about it. Recently, I was present at an assembly, composed mainly of children. There were four peop e from another country als , present. Their hostess said, "They speak the same language that we do. What is that?" One boy from the back of the room, piped up, "Canadian!" Initially I laughed at this seemingly "silly" , answer, but after thinking about it, it seems to me that this is .the real key to the chaos that is breaking out throyghout the country. The English- speaking Canadians think they are being dominated by the French and vice versa. So Quebec is thinking of separating from Canada. "Well, what of it?", I hear some of you saying. "Let them go! Who needs them?" My answer to that is, "We do! We as Canadians, need Quebec. We don't want our country split in half." Furthermore, this is a free country. Whatever our race, creed, color, sex, religion, or language - we are still Canadians. As such, we. should work together to keep Canada united and happy. If I am ever asked what language I speak, I will proudly say, "I speak Canadian". What will you say? Heather Fothergill, Londesboro, Ont. Bureaucratic Dear Editor: I am not discussing an election nor criticizing any individual political party. I want to bring our so called democratic but very bureaucratic system in Canada to our readers' at- tention. Number one, what private business could survive running at a deficit both federally and provincially like our country does, yet gives literally millions to so called poor countries? Also in the same status, three so- called poor provinces are given millions from three soy called rich provinces, one being Ontario. We also know which province is the biggest benefactor. Number two, why is the unemployment so big if the federal government has control of about four of ,the largest organizations in the country and the people em- ployed in these organizations are some of the most highest • paid unions in Canada? With strikes, they have put the country in layoffs and cost the taxpayer a fortune while their services get exceedinly worse instead of better. This kind of high wages have forced private en- terprise into bankruptcy or into getting their work- manship done cheaper in other countries and selling • their products under their own name here. It has also put those on low and fixed incomes in the povj;rty level or lower. Number three, we are always well informed as to (continued on page 7. to A fs w sa • • aware of the existence of letters diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, paintings or any other pertinent material, I would be most appreciative if they would write to me at the address below as soon as 1 _ possible. In addition to the troops, there were also Canadian correspondents, doctors, nurses, priests and teachers who went to Couth Africa. Arty information about these participants would also be greatly appreciated. Hugh Robertson 2245 Springfield Road, Ottawa, Ontario. KIM OK9. News -Record readers are encouraged to express their opinions in letters to the, editor, however, such opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of the News - Record. Pseudonyms may be Mai by letter writers, but no Wever will be published unless Si* be verified by sibene._ • M