HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-08-11, Page 1Clinton, Ontario
25 cents
Victim of circumstance
Although it may look like Troy Bran's is trying to bring Joh; McLeod back to life
after a possible drowning, the boys are actually practic.ag their life saving
prozedures while instructor Elizabeth Thompson and Kevin Armstrong look on.
Lift. saving procedures is one of the many lessons taught at the Clinton pool.
(Ne Ns -Record photo)
Thursday, August 177
Council hears proposal
112th Year -No. 32
Seniors want rec. centr
A group of Senior Citizens headed by
George Rumball were present at Clinton
Council Monday evening to discuss the
possibility of a Recreation Centre for
their group.
Al Sinclair of the Ministry of Culture
and Recreation Branch in Hanover
attended the meeting to advise Council
and the seniors of the choices they may
have regarding such a centre.
Although the group hoped for a centre
primarily for seniors, Sinclair pointed
out that such a project could hot be
supported by Wintario or the Com-
41Many pay last respects to Joe Murphy
Friends, relatives and acquaintences
filled St. Paul's Anglican Church last
Friday to pay their respects to Joseph
*Hubert Murphy who dierd in Clinton
Public Hospital on August 2, following a
lengthy illness. He was in his 60th year.
IM Mr. Murphy Was a lifelong resident of
the Clinton area. He was born on
November 12, 1916 in Goderich Township
to the late Mr. and Mr. Hubert Murphy.
In 1943 he married Mary L. Howard in •
Goderich and the couple took up
residence in Clinton.
Along with being the president of J.
find T. Murphy Limited, Mr. Murphy is
also remembered for the volunteer work
and many contributions he made to the
community. Mr. Murphy was the past
People's Warden of St. Paul's Church,/
the past president of the, Lion Club, the
past chairman of the Clinton- Public
Hospital board, a Legion rnnmber, the
former municipal chairman of the local
Progressive Conservative Party, the
past chairman of The Clinton Public
School, a former member of the Clinton
Volunteer Fire Department and he is
remembered particularly for
spearheading the RCAF Reunion which
took place in conjunction with the
Clinton Centennial of July, 1975.
Surviving Mr. Murphy are his wife and
four daughters, Miss Diane Murphy,
London; Mrs. Linda Reid, Clinton; Mrs.
Ruth Percy, London; Mrs. Kathryn
Westbrook, RR 2 Clinton.,Also surviving
him are one son, William of Clinton, a
brother Thomas of London and four
Education trustee resin
grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2 pm on
August 5 from St. Paul's Anglican
Church with 04. Sharples in charge. He
was assisted by Rev. John Oestrei.cher
and Rev. George Youmatoff.
I'n place of a eulogy a poem by Ten-
neyson, "Crossing The Bar" was read by
Rev.Oestreicher.. '
Pallbearers were Royce Macaulay,.
Ken Cooke, Maynard Corrie, and Barry
Young from Clinton, John Longstaff
from Seaforth and Tom Cooke from
Sault Ste. Marie.
Flower bearers were Bob Homuth of
Clinton, George Smith of London, Dick
Box of Seaforth, Ed Wood of Hamilton
and Dwayne Foreest of Maple.
Interment took place in the Clinton
Cemetery.
Blyth trustee, John Elliot resigned as money we are spending," he said. Mr.
chairman of Huron County Board of Elliot said the unbudgeted expenditure
Education's budget committee Monday. was for supply teachers to replace those
Mr: Elliot's resignation at the 'end of that are away on the field trip.
r the Board's regular meeting Monday Over the year a lot of funds are spent
afternoon was obviously unexpected by that aren't budgeted. Trying to set an
other board members. Board chairman accurate buctget was an ' 'in -
'Herb Turkheim asked Mr. Elliot to ' surmountable , task" for the budget
leave the matter for the Chairman's . committee, Mr. Elliot said.
advisory committee to consider. D.J. Cochrane, director of education,
"I think the chairman's advisory said the money wasn't totally un -
committee should appoint another budgeted as it was included in the supply
member because I am not going. to . teacher's budget. The board bases its
reconsider," Mr. Elliot replied. supply teacher's budget on how much
Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Elliot had cost they had the year before.
trongly objected to the Board ap- The board approved the three ap-
proving three field trip applications plications for field trips. Trustee Shirley
which he said were "unbudgete.d ex- Hazlitt said the board should look at the
penditures". number of field' trips taken and the
"That •is roughly $440 of unbudgeted benefits derived from them as well as
OPP arrest area men
. ,
with stolen goods
An early morning search in Clinton led of Kinburn, bothln-their early 20's were
to the arrest of two men after they were arrested after their homes were sear`
found in possession of stolen property., ched by OPP's from the Goderich
Raymond Howard' Riley, 199 Town- detachment and the Shelbourne detach -
send Street, Clinton and Clayton Riley meet.
Both men " were found to be in
possession of $1,184 worth of building
materials which ' were stolen from ' a
building site in Shelbourne, Ontario, on
July 6, 1977, •
Some of the material was recovered in
Hullett Township and the rest was
recovered at 199 Townsend Street.
The search warrants were executed
'early Monday morning.~
• The men are to appear in provincial
court in Orangeville, next Tuesday,
August 16.
The investigating officers were
Constable J.C. Crowe of the Shelbourne,
detachment of the OPP and Cons,ables
Lorne Carter and Bob Roberts, both of
the Goderich detachment of the OPP.
The Clinton police had a reasonably
quiet week with the exception of .an
accident on August 9 which caused
damages of $600 each to the two vehicles
involved.
The accident occurred on East Street
when a vehicle driven by Philema•n
Bisback, 55 Goderich Street, Seaforth
met in a collision with a car driven by
Bonnie Van Riesen, 98 East Street,
Clinton. •
The Bisvack car Was westbound on
East Street when it was in the accident
with •the Van Riesen car which was
backing out of a driveway.
A car owned by Ken Steep received
damages valued at $250 when its tail
lights, head lights, and wind shield were
smashed.
SI CoIiiinn
by Shelley McPhee
Although the recent rains have been a
little more than passing showers; this
has not deterred our editor, Jim Fit-
zgerald who is spending a week of
holidays, shingling his house. .
+++
And what rains we have had, when it
pours, it pours. We sure need that
illprecipitation for as soon as the down-
pour is over the ground quickly laps up
the water and in no time the land is dry
again.
+++
It's interesting to watch the reaction of
people on the streets When the rain hits.
Without any „preli.niinary warning the
downpours have begun and most people
look like natives of the tropics who have
never seen snow before. Our overly dry
weather has • seemed to lessen our
• memories of what real rain is like.
+++
It is nice to see that the grass behind
the town hall has finally been cut. Things
look .much better there now and I dpn't
have to fight my way through the
Chickory and long grass to get my car in
the parking lot there.
The Clinton Raceway is bound to be
alive again this Sunday when Goderich
Day takes. place. It should be interesting
to see some Of Ontario's top jockeys at
the reins.
A car had been parked on • private
property near the Post Office when the
August 4 incident occfred, sometime
betvteen 12 at 8 a.m.
s post
the financing.
A > three member committee . was
established to -investigate the matter
with Mrs. Hazlitt as chairman
munity Centres Act, "our ministry does
not fund projects for specific groups," he
explained, "it must be public since these
grants can only be paid to a municipality
not a private group."
He did suggest that if this building was
needed, perhaps alterations and
renovations could be made to .existing
structures, whereby the ministry could
support it through - the -New Horizons
Grant. He also noted that the Ontario
Ministry of Community and Social
Services does have a special section for
seniors, but he warned that funds may
not be available from them.
He also reminded the seniors that
space requirements, responsibility of
upkeep, programming and scheduling
(if its made available to others) and
operational costs must also be con-
sidered.
Councillor Ron McKay asked whether
the payment of upkeep could come from
the tax dollars. Sinclair explained,
"Sure, but it's a question of talking tax
dollars for only seniors, others may feel
they have a right to use it too."
A number of alternative buildings
were mentioned: the ' arena.. was
suggested, but the seniors noted that it
was too far for most people to walk to
and there were too many stairs; the
upstairs of the town hall was mentioned,
but again stairs would be a problem and
it was questioned whether renovations
would be too costly.
Rumball noted that what the seniors
would like is a central location, with.
space for parking, outdoor games,
wheelchairs ramps and a split level
structure for those against stairs. He
noted that a piece of property, owned by
the town, across from the Post Office
would ,be an, ideal location.
Mayor Harold Lobb agreed that the
property suggested • would be an ideal
spot.
"They -want a place to call their own,
where the ladies can set up their quilting
frames and men can do their wood-
working," Mayor.Lobb told Council.
The 'discussion of the possible location
for a seniors centre prompted council to
look into the Heritage Foundation plan to
renovate the town hall.
"We haven't kept this building in good
repair," admitted Mayor Lobb.
On a suggestion by Councillor McKay,
council decided to contact the Heritage
Foundation, as well as get an opinion
from a lady in Godyrich who is presently
working under an Experience ' '77
program to help the Historical Com-
mittee in that town to secure and
maintain worthwhile buildings.
"Personally, I think the library is a
beautiful old building, too," Mayor Lobb
added, "but the cost will be the deciding
factor, if these can be repaired_"
It'was also noted that in the heavy rain
on Monday, there weren't enough pails
to catch the drips in the town hall.
Although tenders have been called for to
repair the roofs on both the town hall and
the library, council decided to hold off on
their,. -.decision to accept a tender until
they have received an opinion `from the
Heritage Foundation.
Councillor McKay noted, "If these
buildings can be designated as heritage
buildings then we can get ,help, but this
has to be done very soon."
The outcome of the decision of the
Heritage Foundation, will be discussed
with the senior citizens committee. Until
that time the group are hoping to have
plans 'drawn up of the centre they would
like to have andwill. be looking to the'
Ministry of Community and Social
Services for possible grants.
Rumball and his group agreed that,
they would be willing to•share a portion
of the proposed centre with other
organizations in the town as long -as it
could be used With . respect and the
seniors would have a permanent spot to
set up their crafts and work.
Sign of the times
Miles is now a term of the past and. in its place the new
measurement Km. orKilometre is. gracing the signs
throughout the area. The change in the signs began on
oad, si.
by Shelley McPhee
When you read the highway mileage
signs from now on', be sure to check the
small print below them, it will likely
read km.
Km., better known as kilometre is part
of the new change over in traffic signs to
the metric system. The metric
measurement change -over began on
August 2 when the Ministry of Tran-
sportation and Cotnmunication, out of
the Stratford districtoffice started to
change the highway signs.
f3ill Howe, services supervisor for the
district noted that only, the mileage signs
are being changed at this time and legal
s'ignS, which " inclucled '• speed
requirements will change on September
64
s
August 2 and at the ,first of Septembet regulatory signs,
which include speed maximums will be changed. (News-
Record,photo)
o metric
Howe noted that there are some 6,000
to 7,000 miles to cover in the district with
the new additions to the, signs and there
is a mid September deadline for com-
pletion. The changes are being made by
overlaying and rolling on the new
numbers.
• Presently the alterations are being
made on one highway at a time but Howe
advises, motorists to keep their eyes
open for the changes.
According to Board of Education
Superintendent, Jim Coulter there will
be little problem with the young people
trying to adjust to the new system.
"It will be easy once we learn to use
it," he explained, "people will just have
to accept it,."
Coulter "aid that the metric system of
measurement has been in the public
schools throughout the county for the
past four years, from kindergarten on
up.
He explained that metrics are not
taught through conversion but as their
own separate system of measurement.
However some problems still exist
with the change since most of the high
schools don't use metrics, other than in
science since the present math courses
don't call for its use. Also some text
books, especially geography books that
are still used to measure things in miles.
Attempts have been made by the
Board Of Education to introduce the
public to the metric system,, night
schools for parents as well as courses for
teadhing staff have been held in the past
to introduce them to our new method of
measurement.
Aug
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
eather
1977 1976
HI 10
80 53
78 56
85 60
82 63
77 62
78. 6.1
79 66
Rain 3-04"
HI 10
68 46
�6 44
78 51
73 61
68 49-
66 52,
75 64
Rain .26"
Dick Dixon
Postmaster
dies Tuesday.
Clinton's. friendly postmaster, R.J.
"Dick" Dixon died here in hospital on
Tuesday, August 9 at the age of 55.
He became the head of the Post Office
in Clinton in May, 1971 upon the transfer
of his predecessor, Art Ball ter Kin-
cardine. Mr. Dixon was well known for
his courteous service and contributions
to the town.
Surviving him are his wife,.Marie and
two sons, Richard of Spryfield, Nova
Scotia and Jeff of Vanastra.
Funeral 'arrangements' are in the
hands of Ball Funeral . Home where he
will rest after 7 p.m. Wednesday, August
10 from 2-4:30 and after 7 p.m. until
Thursday, August 11. Services will be
held this Friday at 2 p.m.
Kirk. Street
gets gutter
by Shelley McPhee
Kirk Street has been faced with water
problems for some time now. However
on Monday evening , Clinton Council
decided to rectify this problem.
"I think a gutter is needed very badly
there," noted Councillor Ernie Brown.
Mayor Harold Lobb agreed with this
and said, "It would certainly save that
road." .
Council decided to accept the tender of
Lavis Contracting at the cost of $2095 to
put a one -inch layer of asphalt on Kirk
Street, from High to Victoria Street..
Insulations of asphalt curb and gutter
'will be put in on the west side of Kirk
Street for 300 feet. •
In other Public Warks business, Jim
Edwards was given a fu.11time position
with the town following his six month
probation peripd. • His wages will in-
crease accordingly, effective on August
15.
Deputy -Reeve Frank Cook was asked
to check with the police, regarding. a •
controversial stop sign on Isaac Street.
In. -correspondence received, a
Stratford man told of how he scratched
his car on the sign, located near the old
pool hall, while he was backing out of a
driveway.
He suggested that the town have
parallel parking instead of angle, for a
better view. He also thought that the stop
"Sign could be moved to the middle of the
road, or have a barrier,placed around it,
Although there have been bumper
stops located there in the past, according
to Councillor Ron McKay, "you can
drive a vehicle between the sidewalk and
the sign now."
"Clerk Cam Procter noted that this
problem has been discussed ih the past
and a flashing light has been suggested
for that spot.• --�
While the street is presently a,one-way
route because of its narrowness,
Councillor Frank Van Altena felt that
there should be parking only on one side.
Despite considerable discussion on
this, the opinion of the town police will be
heard first before anything is done with
this sign.
Mayor Harold Lobb (or Dan Wilson as
the letter was addressed to) has been
invited ' to partake in the Town of
Ingersoll's Ancient Sport of Stomping. •
The invitation was received from the
alltime stomper, the mayor of Ingersoll.
Along with the stomping contest the
event includes a parade, i'eception and a
number of activities.
Mayor Lobb gracefully declined the
invitation noting toouncil, "To tell you
the honest truth, �tm not much of a
stomper."
Building permits were granted to Don
Gautreau, an addition for $5,000 and to
Green and Parent, storage tanks for
$6,000.
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