HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-12-15, Page 4PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWg-RECORD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1977
Whatwethink
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A dangerous cutback
' The announcement last week that
Huron County's child abuse program
will have to be sharply curtailed is
deeply disturbing. Reason' for the
cutback lies in the new limitations
which have been placed on availability
of provincial government funds.
Obviously the government's in-
tention 'to bring provincial spending
down to reasonable limits is something
most sensible people can applaud; but
at times the priorities seem to be
forgotten. Surely, if there is enough
money to provide healthy grants for
new arenas there should be enough to
look after the needs of abused children.
The fact that provincial lottery
money, must be spent on cultural and
recreational programs seems less than
important. Perhaps the legislation
should be amended to allow for in-
stances such as this.
Every time government feels the
need.for frugality it seems that it is the
social services which suffer first. But,
of course such things as family
counselling and child abuse programs
don't win too many votes at election
time, whereas new arenas and smooth....
highways are right there in" public
view.
Child abuse is a social evil which we
should loog since have corrected. It is a
crime far more widespread than most
people realize, and one which should
shock every citizen into demand for
action. Doctors often treat the helpless
little victims of adult cruelty or adult
insanity.
Most doctors hate to become in-
formers, so the responsibility lies -with
the social service agencies to discover
and take action in every possible case.
Without adequate funds and staff they
cannot fulfill that responsibility. - from
the Wingham Advance -Times.
Don't leave it to chance
As soon as they put away the elf
costumes, and park the fairyland floats
after the Christmas parades, the big
stores begin to plan for next year's
parade. The countdown to the next
Christmas begins that soon.
We all have an appointment with
Christmas and our personal countdown
is under way. No other event in the
year gets as much advance planning
. .and effort. Like the parade planners,
for some a year or more in advance is
hardly enough. Each of us has a list of
things to, do, a schedule to meet,
presents to buy, tree to get baking to
do, invitations and cards to send out.
We have learned to leave little to
chance when it comes to Christmas Yet
there is one thing that is often Left to
chance • the renewal of the Spirit of
Christmas within us, says the United
Church.
Actually, some feel that the renewal
of the Christmas Spirit ought to be
unplanned, a spontaneous thing,
catching us unawares. Sometimes it
happens that way. In the words, the
pageantry, 'the colour, the message of
Christmas touches the deep roots
within us and warms our spirits. In-
spired by the message of the Christ
Child, we learn to care about others,
we catcha vision of a peaceful world, a
world where love reigns and people
count. This vision renews us and
enriches us. In the long run, these are
the things that make Christmas im-
portant. The trees, the presents, the
food, all that is just extra.
A young woman, by chance, found
herself at a special Christmas service.
She left with a smile on her face and a
tear in her eye. Until that moment, in
spite of her preparations for Christ-
mas, she hadn't felt the Christmas
.Spirit. Attending the service was a
blessed accident.
It's a shame to plan everything and
leave the renewal of the Spirit to
chance. Each of us can plan to take
time to get in touch with the real
Christmas Spirit., Christmas is not
about things, . or even, about what
happened long ago. It is about
something that can happen to each of
us today.
Don't leave Christmas to chance.
Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smi
ey
The boys are here!
We got an early Christmas present at our
place . this year. My daughter, who is
training to be a teacher, was heading into a
hairy week of practice teaching real kids in
a real school. My wife, in a sudden burst of
compassion and stupidity, volunteered to
take The Boys for a week.
At time of writing, we've had them for
three days. And nights. It hasn't seemed an
hour more than three years.
My old lady has aged a decade, hasn't
spoken a civil word to me for 48 hours, and
is threatening to move into a hotel and
leave me stuck with.the pair.
This morning, in' a desperate effort to
obtain a little peace, she got up at six
o'clock and went downstairs to make a 'cup
of tea and read for a few minutes, in blissful
solitude. She'd just settled in a chair when
she heard this horrible, familiar sound: the
thump! thump! of tiny feet descending the
stairs.
It was No. 2 son, armed with a big grin, a
loaded diaper and a hearty appetite for
breakfast. Her groan awoke me, all the
way upstairs, where'I was trying to snatch
40 winks after sleeping, or attempting to,
with No. 1 son. He sleeps crossways, upside
down, or kitty-corner, and kicks the clothes
off both of us every five minutes.
It's not that they are bad boys. It's just
that there are two of them. Either, by
himself, is a delight to have for a visit. But
when they're together, it's like a one armed
man trying to cope with a cage of monkeys.
We brought two large boxes of their
favorite toys and teddy bears and puppets'.
They can litter two floors of the house with
these in two minutes;'then ignore them
while you pick them all up.
It''s more fun getting into Gran's in-
numerable cupboards and drawers and
nooks and crannies, and dragging out
everything that is not nailed down or
cemented over.
On my desk, as I write, are: one baby's
bottle, one large strainer from the kitchen,
one fire- iron, and our only flashlight,
carefully taken, apart. On the floor behind
me is my chess set, 80 spools of Gran's
thread, mainly unwound, and the baby's
potty chair, completely virgin.
I am away behind with my mail, and I
haven't read a paper since The Boys
arrived. Trouble is, it takes one of us to
police them, while the other is frantically
trying to get somethin-g essential done, like
ironing a shirt or cooking some grub:
It isn't that they fight a lot. They fight all
the time. The older one is very intelligent
and very curious. He'll find something like
the short step ladder, climb it, and see how
hard he can jump on the floor. The younger
one tries to emulate him, gets in the way,
gets a kick in the face from big brother,
squeals in mingled rage and pain, bites his
brother on the calf, and they're into it.
Last night, after dinner, they wanted
their mitts on. One of us wearily struggled
them on, anything for peace, and the two
immediately started boxing. For real. The
little guy would absorb a punch on the ear,
go down laughing, struggle up, rush his
brother, and overwhelm him with a flurry
of punches. He's two years younger, but
just as strong and twice as pugnacious.
This sort of thing is hell for a mild,
middle-aged couple who believe that little
children should be kind and sweet and
generous with each other.
I was almost drowned the other night
when I tried to give them both a bath at the
same time. I ,used to bath them singly when
they were tiny, and it was a lovely ex-
perience, being so gentle and careful that
the little heads didn't get a bump, or the
eyes get soap in them.
Now it's a cross between catching a
greasy pig and being an octopus with six
tentacles missing. They wrestle at one end
of the tub and do belly -flops. They have
splashing matches in which both get soap in
their eyes and yell fiercely. It ends only
when one or other slips on the soap and
cracks his noggin on the tub.
It isn't as though we aren't used to
children. We had two of our own, and while
they were trying at times, they'd get a slap
on the bum if they tried to be as boisterous
as The Boys.
But this is the new generation which
thinks that a kid's whole being is warped
and stunted if he gets an occasional belt on
the backside. They think the little 'guy
should be allowed to go bare bottom a
couple of hours a day, so he won't feel
repressed by his diaper, or something. So
he promptly stands in the middle of Gran's
newly -cleaned rug, gets a faraway look in
his away look in his eye, and pees a golden
stream. Put him on his pot, of course, and
he just grins.
And this crowd is not taught any respect
for 'property, They are used to banging
around in rented quarters, and their
parents haven't anything ,worth breaking
anyway, so they are given free rein to that
vandal that is hidden in all of us.
Thank the dear goodness I have to go to
work every day and have eight hours of
comparative peace. But I'm worried about
Gran. Another couple of lamps knocked
over, another box of oatmeal sprinkled into
the downstairs john, and she's off to the
bug -house. 7
"Ah, the sounds of Christmas ... the ringing of cash registers!"
Odds 'n' ends - by Elaine Townshend
Being your own boss
Some people think it would be great to
work at home and be your own boss.
You'd have no one breathing down your
neck or watching your every move, no
one telling you to hurry up or bawling
you out for a mistake. You could work at
your own pace, and if you slacked off for
awhile, no one would ever know but you.
I found out as a teenager that being
your own boss is 'not always what it's
cracked up to be.
I studied by correspondence for two
years. English was usually the first
lesson completed each week, because I
enjoyed it; Math came last because I.
detested it. The instructor, a faceless
person whom I knew only by initials, was
hundreds of miles away - too far away to
push me. If I wanted to learn anything
from the course, I had to push myself.
I did learn a few things such as, what
a dangling participle is, what happened
to Romeo and Juliet, what an obtuse
angle is and how to spell vinegar in
French. How long I stored these facts in
my memory bank and what use I put
them to are different matters.
Now I am working at home on my own
again, and it is not always easy.
For example, I can think of a dozen
things I'd rather do right.now than write
this column. I could leave it until
tomorrow morning, but that would mean
cutting the .mailing deadline rather
close. I find it more difficult to write
when 'T know I'm running out of time
than when I have a few hours to spare.
If something came up at the last
minute and I missed this week's
deadline, what would happen? The
editor might too. easily find something
else with which to fill this space, and
worst of all, I wouldn't get paid.
Of course, working at home has its
benefits. I have privacy and peace and
quiet when I want it. If I wnt to take a
day off 'during the week, I can make up
for it at night or on the weekend. If I
don't feel like working in the morning, I
can work later at night.
But regardless of when I do it, the
same amount of work has to be ac -
complished'in a certain length of time.
I don't have anyone to answer the
phone, the doorbell or other in-
terruptions that occur. Furthermore, I
can't blame the boss for a mistake, call
her dirty names for making me ,work
late, make jokes about her, or give her
dirty looks behind her back. I've tried
using a morror, but it doesn't make me
feel any better.
One thing that irks me a little is the
attitude of a few people. They seem to
assume that, unless a person goes town
office or a store every day, he or she is
not working. They are probably the
same people who think housewives do
nothing but watch soap operas all day
and farmers take coffee breaks every
hour.
A coffee break every hour would land
yours truly and a lot of other folks in the
poorhouse within two weeks.
I adhere to the same theory for wat-
ching soap operas as I do for smoking: If
I never start, I'll never have to kick the
habit. •
From our early files .
• • •
• • •
5 YEARS AVO
December 14, 1972
if you get a brown envelope in
the mail from the Town of Clinton
in the next couple of days, don't
throw it out. It's very valuable.
It contains the Town of Clin-
ton's Planning Act and map as
the town fathers and the Planning
Board have drawn it up.
The Town has submitted the
plan to the Ontario Municipal
Board, but before they can get
approval for it, it is necessary for
the people of Clinton to voice any
objections to it, in writing. If
there are enough objections, then
the OMB will set up a hearing
next year in Clinton.
The Huron County Federation
of Agriculture agreed Thursday
night to support the Huron
County Crop Improvement
Association in disputing weather
forecasts.
' A letter was read from the Crop
Improvement Association which
claimed that farmers had suf-
fered crop losses this year
because of the inaccuracy of
weather forecasts from the
Mount Forest weather station via
local radio station.
The complaint said that
forecasts often said that farmers
could expect 24 to 36 hours of good
harvesting weather before a
weather front would move on
while stations in the Detroit area
were saying it would be only"six
to nine hours before rain could be
expected. Many farmers went
ahead ' with operations such as
bean pulling only to find that the
'Detroit forecasts were un-
fortunately more accurate than
the ones from Mount Forest. The
letter claimed that many beans
were lost because of this.
The women of the Wesley -
Willis Church soothed the sick at
Clinton Public Hospital last
Tuesday night as they toured the
hospital wards singing Christmas
carols. This is the seventh year in
a row that the ladies have sung to
the patients. Each member
carried a candle and one patient
remarked that he was glad to see
someone outside the hospital
taking interest in sick patients.
There is no truth to the rumor
that the Town is planning a big
party and are building a giant
tank to hold all the liquor they
will be serving. Actually, it's a
new 65,000 gallon settling tank at
Clinton's new sewage treatment
plant, Work is proceeding on
schedule for the $270,000 project.
10 YEARS AGO
December 14, 1907
Clinton store -keepers say they
are plagued with shoplifters -
they blame children from 8 to 18
years old - and that it is a wor-
sening year-round problem.
Paul Greer, manager of
Stedman's Variety Department
Store, probably hardest hit. by
shoplifters complains, "It's a
real problem, Last Saturday we
caught -three kids shoplifting. But
how many more we didn't cat-
ch?" They'll steal anything they
can get their hands on,"
Police Chief Russell Thompson
says he is aware, of the problem
and that it is difficult to control.
Last week, Mr. Newcombe of
W.C. Newcomble Drugs, said he
displayed a new line of men's
cologne, priced at about $1.
Someone stole the displayed
bottle.leaving the box behind.
Santa Clause needed all his
famous charm last Saturday
when he arrived at Clinton Town
Hall without the promised candy
for 1,200 children.
While Chief Russell Thompson
tried to solve the case of the
missing candy, Santa Claus
beguiled the children with tales of
Toyland.
For 45 minutes, Chief Thom-
pson doggedly tracked the 1,200
bags of candy, finally cornering
them at the Huron Conservation
Club house on Alma Street where
they had been packed by a group
of volunteers. Someone had
forgotten to deliver them to
Santa.
25 YEAR AGO
December 18, 1952
For garden produce picked late
in the season, we believe that
Miss F. Cunninghame, Huron
Street has all gardeners beat.
Last week on December 11 she
was able to pick two large bun-
ches of blue grapes from her
vine, lovely texture they were too
and as sweet as summertime
ones. And that same day she
picked Christmas roses. Usually,
Miss Cunninghame says, they
have to be picked, but this year
they were able to bloom iri the
open air.
President by acclamation of
the Canadian Legion, Clinton
Branch No, 140, Frank M.
McEwan steps up from the office
of vice president to lead the local
Legion for 1953.
The first meeting between the
Bell Telephone Company
Officials, the Telephone Com-
missioners and the Township
Council which came as a result of
the vote on November 4, took
place in the Township office on
Thursday evening when Messrs.
Patton, Cowley and Symonds
were present to open,.
negotiations.
Robert Dalrymple, road
superintendent of the Township
of Tuckersmith for the past 28
years, tendered his resignation at
the regular meeting of township
council on Monday, December 15.
Council accepted the resignation
with regret as Mr. Dalrymple
served most efficiently during his
tenure. He is forced to give up his
position because of health
reasons...
50 YEARS AGO
December 15 1927
Messrs. W.H. Robertson of the
Goderich Signal and W.F. Naftel
of the Star were in town
yesterday morning, having
ridden down in one of the new
Ford cars which the dealers were
demonstrating.
It was a nice looking car, low
bodied and graceful, this one
being of very warm, soft grey,
desert sand, it is called, The
model is about as much''unlike the
old Ford car as anything wJl
could be, which was of course
Ford's idea. Whether it will fill as
large a place in the lives of
common people as the old one has
done remains to be seen.
It is expected that hydro will be
turned on at Londesboro and
Auburn next week.
In each place most of, the
businessmen and many of the
householders are installing light
and several of the farmers are
also installing light and power.
The handsome blue stage
curtains have been put up in the
Collegiate assembly hall and add
greatly to the appearance of the
stage.
This week we present . our
Special Christmas number. We
have endeavored to assemble in
it much of interest in both picture
and story and we commend it to
our readers.
The advertising is especially
commended, do not miss reading,
every advertisment; they are
inserted by merchants who are
desirous of serving you; who
have gone to much trouble and
great expense in gathering
together the goods which they
believe will serve your needs and
who now ask you to look over
their stocks and choose what best
suitsyour requirements. You will
be serving your own interests as
well as theirs by calling on our
advertisers for your Christmas
needs.
The junior room of the Bayfield
school was dissmissed on
Tuesday, owing to the illness of
the teacher, Miss Anna Woods.
Miss Catherine Park of
Bayfield had the misfortune to
have her ankle badly sprained on
Thursday last. She was closing a
door which opened outwards
when the strong wind caught it
and blew it open at the same
time, throwing her out on the
lawn.
News -Record readers are en-
couraged 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 used by
letter writers, but no (tatter
will be published unless it can
be verified by phone.
What you
think
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Girls
Dear Editor:
The following statement was
released by the Ontario Minor
Hockey Association on the 8th
of December, 1977.
The statements in the press
and by other sources, which
charge that in the Wiarton
pee wee situation, the
O.M,H.A. is in violation of the
order handed down in the
case of the Human Rights
issue in Huntsville, are
irresponsible and totally
incorrect. (A girl has been
banned from playing with
Wiarton.)
The Huntsville order does
not become final and binding
on the O.M.H.A., or make its
rules invalid, as long as an
appeal of the decision is
before the courts.
An appeal is presently
before the courts.
If the people making these
statements, whatever their
involvement will take time to
seek legal advice, as did the
O.M.H.A., they will find that
the O.M.H.A. is conducting its
business \well within the
existing laws as it is legally,
and rightfully entitled to do.
The O.M.H.A. will continue
to enforce the rules, and
discipline all transgressors as
dictated by the more than
2,000 teams, which form the
association.
Hugh Hodges,
Chairman W.O.A.A.,
minor hockey,
Clinton
Driving tips
Dear Editor:
When road conditions are
slippery and your engine is
running at a fast idle because
it is cold, it is difficult to stop
quickly. If you have an
automatic transmission in
your car, select the neutral
position as you approach the*
stop ahead and pump your
, brake pedal.
You will find stopping will
be much faster with more
control, due to your engine no
longer driving your wheels at
its fast idle speed....It Works.
Please DON'T call the
Ontario Provincial Police for
road and weather conditions.
CLIP THIS OUT AND PUT
NEAR YOUR TELEPHONE:
For weather forecast's and
conditions call the weather
station Goderich 524-9331 ;
For Provincial highway
condition's call MTC Stratford
271-3550.
The Ministry of Tran-
sportation and Com-
munications (MTC) in
Stratford receives reports
from all of its agencies in this
area every few hours when
road conditions are, bad and
are prepared to give ,you up-
to-date road conditions.
The OPP cannot give' you
these reports as it is not their
function. Don't waste a call -
'call the above numbers.
An informed public is a
safer one.
R. W. Wilson,
,. Provincial Constable,
Community Services Officer,,
Goderich, OPP.
Smile
One good thing about
higher Christmas tree prices -
it's a lot easier to reach the
top now than it used to be.
' Member, Ontario Weekly
Newspaper Association
The Clinton Nows-Record Is published each
Thursday at P.O. Box 39, Clinton, Ontario,
Canada, NG'M 1LO.
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 10111, and The
Clinton New Era, founded in 11163. Total press
run 3,300.
Clinton News -Record
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General Manager - J. Howard Aitken
Editor • James E. Fitzgerald
Advertising Director • Gary L. Heist
Nowa editor - Shelley McPhee
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