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