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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-01-05, Page 4PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1978 What we think 111110111110111011111110111111101111111111101111111111111110110111111011010111010011 Time to clean-up Every community has its eyesores and residents in every town, village and hamlet in this area can note more examples than they likely care to admit. To turn a blind eye to these properties is to ignore one's respon- sibility to.their community and for too long too many people have looked away. The purpose of our editorial is not to condemn but rather to offer by example, and if necessary, by forceful persuasion that something can be done to improve the quality of every local community. Individuals and groups are making the effort but as these people offer new vitality to their communities others detract from the accomplishments of their neighbours by allowing their properties to fall into disrepair. There are many who set outsdanding example t for others to follow. In particular, the local youth have un- dertaken projects that have provided an inspiration for all - Not to be forgotten, however, are the private individuals and businesses who have added a coat of paint, fixed a peoperty in disrepair or undertaken major • renovations to improve not only their personal holdings but the entire image of their community. Unfortunately, there still remains a group of homeowners and businessmen who display a complete lack of concern for their own holdings and those'of the rest of the community. Their lacklustre attitude shapes the opinions of so many people—opinions that reflect not only on the individual property owner and his lifestyle but on the entire community. Cleaning up the appearance of a private home really takes little effort, and being neat and tidy rarely amounts to little more than cutting the grass, making certain everything is, put away in an orderly manner and applying the occasional coat of paint to the exterior of a building. For those who are more ambitious, there is assistance availabje from all levels of govern- ment for the purpose of repairing and updating private homes. This assistance is not charity, it's spending money that government learders have allocated for a need that they feel is very worthwhile. If property owners refuse to make the changes that are required, it is high time that government officials at all levels took the necessary steps to set the example and to get the wayward members of our communities headed in the right direction. Each little town, village and hamlet in this area has much to offer. It is unfortunate that our communities, located in the heart of one of the most attractive and popular tourist areas in the country, can not offer our visitors a refreshing look that would complement this beautiful setting. (from the Georgian Bay Beacon) Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiley Modern society Don't you get a little tired of the touchiness of modern society in which„ no matter where you step it's on somebody's toes, no matter what you say or write, it's a slur on someone's background, color, creed or convictions? About the only areas left in which one. may chance a remark without fear of in- flicting a wound are politics and sex. It's extremely difficult to inflict even'a bruise on a politician. He must have a fat ego in the first place, and r he quickly acquires a brass hide to go with it. Add an ability to talk out of both sides of the mouth at once, and a certain skill in straddling fences, and you have cabinet material. - In the field of sex, there don't seem to be any limits any more to what can be said, presented or simulated. Movies, magazines and theatre club us over the head with raw, unembellished sex, or seek to titillate the spook in each of us with highly - embellished, freaky sex until the whole once -exciting -subject has become a crashing bore. Aside from sex and politics then, there is scarcely an aspect of the 'human scene where even angels fear to tread, lest they step on someone's sensibilities, Ethnic jokes are out, black is beautiful, gefillte fish is glorious, Rhodesia is rotten, poor people are more noble than rich people, gay is gorgeous, and the only real,. sin is to be old. Lord forbid that we should ever go back to the days when a Catholic was a "mick" or a "dogan," a black person was a "nigger," an Italian was a "wop", a Ch,inese was a "chink," and so on. But I do get heartily sick of a society in which you have to tippy -toe all the time for fear of offending some touchy minority, or trespassing inadvertently on someone's weird religious affiliations. We are developing into a society with a snobbish sort of reverse prejudice in which everybody is leaning over backwards in order to appear not even to be breathing on anyone else. As a result, we are losing much of that good old Canadian crustiness and turning into a nation of nice nellies in whose mouths margarine wouldn't melt. Even our media refelct this trend in our society. With few exceptions, our newspapers are as bland as blanc mange. The letters to the editor have more bite, and are often 'better written, than the Our magazines are either tiresomely "liberal" or narrowly nationalistic, or both. Tied in tight bundles, they make better firewood than they do reading matter. Television and radio news reportinif, most of it culled from the late editions of newspapers, is incredibly unimaginative and repetitious. TV programs, on the whole, are pure pap, offensive by being so inoffensive. Public figures are so frightened of of- fending somebody or losing a few votes, that their public utterances come out as mush wrapped in marshmallow. What this country, and this society, need is - a' 'good dash of cold water from somewhere, to wake us from our mind - numbing, paralyzing "niceness." We need a Bob Edwards or a Grattan O'Leary to jblt ..us with some honest vituperation, some colorful' name-calling, some hard facts„ and some common sense. We need some politicians with guts, who don't give a diddle for the popularity polls, and who would give us the facts of life without any sugar coating. e need some educators with backbone 1 the people w claim that erry Finn is acist and The Mer - ice is an i-semitic and Catch-22 viners is disgusting, to to • 1 Huckl chant of is dirty, and T go fly a kite. We need about 10,000 fewer smart -ass commentators on what is wrong with this country, and a few hundred honest men or women to tell us what is right with it. We need.far fewer "reasonable" people and a heck of a lot` mire' "unreasonable" people, who would refuse to accept something just because it' -s --always been • done that way, or someone might be upset if things were changed. We need some thundering editorials, some pulpits pounded, some stiff jail sentences for racism, some honesty in high places. We certainly don't need a "good war'' or a "good depression' to make Canadians stop whining and bitching and mealy - mouthing, but we certainly need a "good" something to turn us back into the sturdy, individualistic people we used to be. I haven't the answers. I'm no prophet. But I'm sick to the ears of a society that thinks: old people are a nuisance; young people are never a nuisance; supermarkets are sexy; social workers can make miracles; and everybody is as good as everybody else. Perhaps if you agree with me to Ipme extent, you would enjoy' reading The Golden Age of B.S. by Fred C. Dobbs. It's rambling and it's coarse in spots, but it's right on. The Clinton News -Record Is published each Thursday at P.O. 0os;30; Clinton, Ontario, Canada, NOM 11.0. Member, Ontario W..kly Newspaper Association It Is registered as seccind class mall by the post office under the permit number 0017. Th. Nevirs.Record incorporated In 1024 the Huron Newt -Record, founded In 1001, and The Clinton New Era, founded in 1063. total press run 3,300. Clinton News-Reembd *CNA Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association Display advertising rates available on request. .Asli for Gird No. 0offottlint Oct. 1, 1477. General Manager • J. Howard Aitken Edit& ferns, 1. Itzgerald Advertising Director • Gary L. Halt Nowt editor • Shelley MtPtstin Offito Winnow • Margaret Gibb Circulation • Freda McLeod AttatinfIrtir Marlon Willson SubtolptIon Rates Canada • 413 per yeah U.S.A. • 'MOO Other. '10.00 A, s "One thing you'll have to say about this government — what they lack* in intelligence, they manage to make up for in stupidity." Odds 'n' ends - by Elaine Townshend The good side of winter Well, it's over. The anticipation of ticket to Hawaii for me this Christmas, Christmas and New Year cheer has I'll have to make the best of another climaxed. The • excitement, surprises winter in. Ontario. I'm going to try to and nostalgia have come and gone for push aside thoughts of white -outs, another year. The rush ha's died down, spinning tires, Slithery sideWalks, snow and even the indigestion has worn off. in my boots and .a runny nose. Instead The presents.have been put away; the I'll concentrate on the good side of misfits have been exchanged. The winter. Christmas tree, like our enthusiasm,There is nothing lovelier than a seems to be a little wilted. If the cards hili'''' sparkling with white diamonds 'and decorations haven't disappeared under a sunny blue sky or a grove .of already, they soon will. evergreens with their branches bowing What we are left with is a let -down under bundles of White fluff. commonly known as the January blah. To a poet or, an artist, there are few For many of us, the Christmas things more breathtaking than a blazing holidays are. the highlight of the season, sunset reflecting on a field of white with and for the first time in weeks, we can sit back, put our feet up and think about the long winter ahead of us. By now my faithful readers, all three of you, probably understand that winter is not my favourite season; in fact, it ranks about fourth. But I'm not alone in my feelings. Old Man Winter lost a lot of fans in '77. Since Santa didn't come across with a the wind blowing pink sprays of snow ,from one drift to another. Two, years ago I captured such a scene wiTh my camera, and I almost froze in the progress. . To ,a romanticist, there is nothing cozier than a log crackling in a fireplace while snowflakes drift past the window. Ther is nothing' more invigorating than awalk on a starry night with the snow crunching under your boots. To a skier, there is nothing more thrilling than a downhill glide; to a snowmobile'', there is nothing more .inviting than acres of uninterrupted snow. To a hockey fan, nothing is more ex- citing , than a good, hockey. game. Incidentally, my definition of a good, hockey game is one I can watch on tv in the comfort of m,y living room and one that Toronto wins. With those- thoughts in mind,„I have almost convinced myself that winter isn't such'a bad time after all and this _one promises to b,e special for me. My oldest nephew is itching to hitch his two- year-old colt to a cutter, and he insists that I will have the honour of the first ride. But sometimes his offer sounds more like a dare than a,p.honour. To all you readers who have aban- doned your fellow Ontarians for the sunny south this winter I say, "Eat your heart out!" From our early files . • • • • • • 5 YEARS AGO c January 4,1973 A newly modified federal riding of Huron could wind up with added areas, but with the new name of Huron -Middlesex - Perth, if the incumbent member, Bob McKinley has his way. The riding will be increased to include a population of 70,038 if recommendations of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Com- mission for Ontario are adopted. Before the changes become official, there will be formal hearings and the Commission will submit its proposals to the Commons where MP's may request changes. Final 'decision, however on where the boundaries lie, rests with the Commission. Clinton Reeve Harold Lobb is seeking the Huron County Warden's seat next Tuesday in Goderich and has asked that the people of Clinton come t6 the meeting and support him. There will be no more catalogues or order forms for Freda Schoenhals, who retired Tuesday after 31 years as manager of Clinton's Simpson - Sears order office. Miss Schoenhals started the office 31 years ago in Clinton and was honored at a surprise party by the company on Wednesday. Mrs. Florence Chuter will be the new manager. The queen for the second an- nual : ayfield Winter Carnival hel t weekend in Bayfield was pretty Sharon Bunn, 13, of Bayfield. She will reign until next year. The Lions, who sponsor the event, said the Carnival was successful and netted them about $300. Flooding was a common oc- currence last Sunday as Clinton was deluged by nearly four in- ches of rain that flooded streets, and basements throughout the town. 10 YEARS AGO January 4,1968 A Voung man brandishing a sawed-off shotgun stole $9,000 from the Brucefield, sub -branch of the Bank of Monti-eal in a lightning pre -noon raid last Wednesday. Witnesses said the robber parked his brown and yellow getaway car beside the bank, staged the holdup in less than three minutes and drove east at high speed. Police road blocks failed to catch him. There were two customers and two employees in the bank at the time of the robbery, CpI. Wash- burn said. we described -the bandit as about 20 -years -old, sik feet, one inch tall weighing 160 pound's. When the bandit entered the bank, he levelled the shotgun and tossed a ,blue and white plastic bag over the counter, ordering teller Bill Merrill, 19, to fill it with cash. After the teller complidd, the bandit herded the two customers and the two employees into a janitor's storage cupboard before making his escape. Murray Hiliker, 21, was officer in charge of the bank when the robbery took place. Auburn's first hairdressing salon was opened a eek ago by Miss Jannett E. in the former Bradnock bari shop. Miss Dobie graduated in 1964 from the K -W School of Hair- dressing in Kitchener. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Dobie and is well known in the community. We welcome her baCk and wish her every success in her nw shop. Eric Earl and Bob Turner saw a Snowy Owl one day about three weeks ago. They were delivering a load of lumber to a lot on the Snowden sub -division, five miles south of Bayfield. Evidently, the big bird was disturbed by the truck and took flight. A few days later, Adam Flowers saw one on his "Pon- derosa". 25 YEARS AGO January 8,1953 On New Year's Day, at seven o'clock in the evening, d'daughter was born in Clinton Public Hospital too M`rarid Mrs. Anthony Rau, Zurich. Thc. wee girl weighed seven pibunds, four ounces which bids fair for a good start in life. L. Douglas 1-iblland, Goderich took full charge of his duties as clerk and treasurer of. -the Town of Clinton on January 2. Since he has been working along with the retired clerk, M.T. Corless, since Ottob'er 16, he is however, quite well conversant with these duties. Mr. and Mrs. John E..Robinson are pictured here ,shortly after their Wedding which took place in an all,white setting in Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Clinton, on Saturday afternoon Jamiary 27. The bride is the former Margaret Colquhoun, daughter of Mr. Eind, Mrs. E.W. Colquhoun, Clinton. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Robinson, R.R, 1, Zurich. Upon their return from a wedding trip to Northern-Ontari& and Ottawa, the young couple are living at R.R. 1, Zurich. Mrs. Robinson is continuing on the staff of Clinton District Collegiate Institute as t English Specialist. Robert Allan, Brucefield, was chairman of the Junior Farmer public speaking finals held Tuesday afternoon in the King Edward Hotel, Toronto, when Ruth Keyes, R.R. 3, Seaforth, a member of the Seaforth Junior Farmers and Junior Institute was selected among the top five of the 25 young people competing. Ruth Keyes did very well on the finals Tuesday evening, although she did not achieve first place. The subject of her talk was "Building a Better World". She is to receive a gift from the T. Eaton Co., Toronto as a runner- up. 50 YEARS AGO January 5,1928 Mayor -Elect Col. Combe says he believes that Clinton should have a real live Chamber of Commerce or Board of Trade, working with ' the council to promote and encourage industry and to build up the town. He thinks the work of the Hor- ticultural Society should be en- couraged, as it has done much to beautify this town and much more might be done. Mr. Harold Bogie, Auburn, is in a very severed predicament at present. During last week the river broke up and following that, Works Dear Editor: You may be interested in the latest information regarding the "Canada Works" program. On Tuesday, December 20, 1977, the Honourable Mr. Cullen, minister of employment and immigration, announced a change in the timing of the Canada Works program. Applications for the next phase of the Canada Works program will be available in early April 1978 with the deadline see for June 24, 197.8. Approved projects. may Start September 1978. For more ,Information regai'ding possible. program changes, consult our officein April. The "Young Canada Works". program is designed to create summer .em- ployment for students.. Projects should provide skill development and community benefit. The program has been revised and will now run a maximum of eighteen (18) weeks. As a minimum, three .7. What you think minummimmomminitionimmilimiimmiim Prison "Dear Editor," "I'm presently in: carcetated in a Federal Correctional Institution and ,have lost all contact with the ., 7 outside world. Would .you please help me by publishing this letter in your paper as maybe one of your reade might see it and like to write It gets very lonely in a place like this and a Single letter would brighten up my lonely day. "My name is Paul Laney, I'm 24, 5-'9", 135 lbs., black hair and brown eyes. I enjoy basketball, music, travelling, photography, and am athleticly enclined. "Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my letter. Sincerely, Paul Laney No: 29336-117 Box 1000 Oxford, Wisconsin, 53952 heavy snows filled the mill race with ice and slush and he has been unable to operate the grist mill, which is run by water power. He is at present digging out the race, but with the con- tinued stormy and cold weather it is some contract. , On writing to renew his sub- scription to the News -Record, Mr. Andrew Porter, Customs Collector at Goderich, but a former citizen of this fine town, wished "The News -Record a Happy New Year for 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931 and 1932." We rubbed our eyes and looked again. Yes, that's what the letter said and we looked again, but no, "Andy " had only enclosed his sub. for 1928. We'll leave it to anybody, shouldn't" he have sent us five years' subscriptions ahead, if he's bound to be so forehanded with his compliments? The big snow plow has been clearing the highway this week, scattering the snow in all directions. Wanted, this month, 1,000 pounds of Goose Feathers also 500 pounds of Duck Feathers. Enquire for prices. Always in the market for Poultry and New Laid Eggs. - Clinton Poultry House, N.W. Trewartha, phone - 214j or residence - 214w. (3) people must be employed for at least six (6) weeks. Approved projects may begin as early -as May 1, 1978 and must -finish by September 8, 1978. Please contact us in order to receive a Young Canada Works application form. We would be pleased to discuss Young Canada Works proposal with you. Yours truly, Wilm Bolton Project Officer, Job Creation Branch,, , London. Dear Editor: The staff and student council of St. Joseph's .School wish to express their thanks for the full page covering our Christmas Concert. We appreciate the fine Christtnas p,resent the News- Reeord gave us. Si cerely, A. PontSioen, Principal. Rent Coverage Dear Editor: I have enclosed ‘a newly published booklet on Ontario's Rent Review Program and would b grateful if you could advise your readers that it is now available to anyone calling or writing to our Rent Review Office at 80 Dundas Street, London. - The booklet • contains valuable information for landlords and tenants, many of whom, may not know about recent changes to the Residential Premises -Rent Review Act. Some of the highlights are as follows: On October 27, the guideline for rent increases was lowered from eight to six percent to conform with the guideline for wage increases set by the Federal Govern- ment's Anti -Inflation Board. Landlords seeking rent in- creases above six percent must now apply for rent review. Tenants may apply for review of any increase. The Rent Review Act has been extended to December .31, .1978 and landlords may charge only one increase in a 12 -month period. This applies to an increase authorized by a Rent Review order .or to an increase within the guideline limit that can be charged by a landlord without going to Rent Review. Any proposed increase must be based on the last rent lawfully charged before the increase takes effect. A landlord must give a .enant written reasons for any proposed increase at the same time as he gives his 90 - .day notice of the increase. If the increase is above six percent, the landlord must apply for rept review at least 60 days in advance of the effective date of the increase. Tenants wishing to apply for rent review must do so within 60 days of receiving notice of the proposed in- crease. The time for filing a notice of appeal with- the Appeal Board has been extended to 21 days. After a notice is filed, a landlord or tenant has a further 7 days to' notify the other party. Parties unable t attend the hearing may now apply to the Appetal Board for permission to appeal an order. It is now an offence to charge or attempt to charge more than one rent increase during a 12 -month period; to collect rent in excess of the amount ordered by the Rent Review Officer or the Appeal Board, or to refuse to file an application when ordered to do so by a Rent Review Officer. Sum -nary conviction of these offences could result in a fine of up to $25,000 for corporations or $2,000 for individuals. The penalty provisions remain in force beyond December 31, 1978 to ensure compliance with the legislation. Yours sincerely, Lesley Hdris (Mrs.), Senior Inquiry Officer. WE WELCOME LETTERS TO THE ----- EDITOR