HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-05-11, Page 3People in Profile: Jogging John, in shape
by Shelley McPhee
If the blue jeans, T-shirt, sweat shirt
and track shoes don't give it away, then
within minutes of talking to John
Lawson, it's clearly evident that he's a
physical fitness buff.
Ask him a question, about any sport
and almost any athlete and he'll have an
answer. Whether it be weight lifting or
table tennis, basketball or figure
skating, John knows about it.
Although John follows most sports on
the television and in spring he is not an
armchair athlete but has participated in
' a great variety of sports, almost too
numerous to mention and has coached a
number of teams as well. While it is
impossible for John to be actively in-
volved in all his sport interests, mostly
due to lack of time and age, he's now 49 -
One daily activity that is a ritual with
tis Clinton man is jogging.
Like clockwork a passerby is likely to
see this slender man, about 4:30 p.m.
following his day's work at the
Bluewater ; Centre, heading out to
Debbie's Custard or travelling around
the track at CHSS. John jogs five miles a
day to keep himself fit.
"I find jogging to be a great relaxer.
The world's greatest tranquilizer I call
it," he noted with enthusiasm. "It sure
beats working."
Enthusiasm in fitness and sports is
probably an understatement when it
comes to John. He's a firm believer in
the activity and once onto the topic, it
seems like there's an endless supply of
information and knowledge of it stored
in his mind and body.
"I'm dedicated but I'm not a fanatic,"
he claimed. "I run in all kinds of weather
but I'm not stupid enough to run in a
blizzard."
To further prove his point that he isn't
a fanatic John noted that he occasionally
smokes and said in his evident English
accent, "I love me glass of beer and I'm
not a health food nut."
Although John indulges what is
thought by some as careless habits, they
have not hurt his ambition or athletic
talents.
One wall in his Victoria Street home is
filled with pins and trophies that he has
accumulated over the years for his
athletic endeavours. Many of which he
recieved during his service with the
Royal Canadian Forces (RCF) include
swimming awards, boxing, soccer, table
tennis, track and field, sportsmanship
and an array of others.
Presently, John is involved with
coaching hockey and soccer in Clinton
and offers individual coaching for track
and field to anyone who asks for it. As
well, he instructs a men's gym -swim at
Townships and council agree..
• from page 1
elsewhere in town, perhaps at Bartliff's
corner where it would be more beneficial
with bus travellers.
Approval was given to the PUC by
council to install new street lights as
follows: Maple Street, from Mill to
Whitehead Streets, six units; Walker
Street, from Highway 4 to James Street,
four units; Walker Street, six. units;
Gordon Street, from Matilda to King`
Street, four units; Townsend Street,
from Ransford to Smith Street, 4 units.
Some question rose amongst council
ia members regarding the street lights
after it was learned that two different
types of lights will be used. Some will be
$200 a unit while others will cost $300.
"I suggest that we give the PUC ap-
proval, but make all the lights the same,
suggested Councillor Ron Mckay.
He added, "It just doesn't make sense.
We ask people to clean up their property
to make the town look nice and then we
stick up different poles here and there."
Councillor Ernie Brown noted, "There
must be a reason for what the PUC is
doing. These "guys know what they're
doing."
For the industrial committee report,
Councillor Garon told council that he had
been speaking with Larry Daw at the
Ex -Cello company and learned that the
plant has 10 acres and only uses two of
••
them.
"Perhaps we could use some of that
land for another industry," Councillor
Garon suggested, "we need a letter from
the town sent to Ex -Cello to see what
price they'd want per acre."
Several applications for severance
and minor variances were recom-
mended for approval by Clinton council
to the committee of adjustment. They
included: minor variance, Iner Smith,
101 Southw inter Court; severance,
Norman Knapp, lot 170, Ontario Street;
minor variance, severance, Mr. and
Mrs. Baker, part lot 19 East Street;
minor variance, Robert Langdon, High
and East Streets.
Goderich to go ahead with grandstand
BY DAVE SYKES
The Goderich Sports
Committee will proceed with
plans for a new grandstand
and lighting improvements
for the soccer field and two
ball diamonds at Agriculture
Park at a cost of $306,000.
The committee passed a ' Larry Jeffrey, said the total
motion at a special meeting cost of the project would be
last Wednesday to proceed $306,000. That includes
with all proposed segments at $255,000 for the grandstand,
Agriculture Park and $40,000 for new lights at
maintain responsibility to Agriculture Park, $5,000 for a
raise $120,000, which is the
community's share of the cost
after grants. The committee
will ask council to underwrite
a commitment for interim
financing until grants are*
received.
Committee chairman,
new fence on the softball
diamond, $2,000 for im-
provements to the hub rail
and $4,000 in engineering fees
to the firm of Hill and Borgal. '
The committee decided to
upgrade the soccer and ball
diamonds at Agriculture
Park while they were raising
funds for the grandstand. The
proposal includes lights for
the soccer field, lights for the
hardball diamond and a new
fence and additional lighting
for the softball diamond.
The cost of lights for the
soccer and hardball
diamonds averages $19,000
each and the committee
decided to revamp the sof-
tball diamond so the field
measurements conform to
OASA rules. The fence at the
diamond will be moved back
and replaced with a six foot
high fence . and additional
lights will be required in
Turn to page 2
Stuck in the middle: Mum's Day
by Shelley McPhee
Through the years I've been faced
with the irreversible fate of growing
up and with that fact the adult world
has come closer and closer to the
point that I'm now in it with both feet.
I've been through the novelty stage
of babysitting and thinking how
marvellous little kids are. They were
just like a toy to me and I never let
dirty pants or overwhelming screams
deter me, especially from the
television program or gossip on the
telephone with a girlfriend.
But now, although I haven't
reached that stage in life yet, where
I'm a mother, I'm beginning to see
how the novelty wears off quickly and
although I still love kids, I, don't know
how mothers do it.
Big ones, I'm not so fond of, but
little ones I like. Yet I wonder how
much patience I would have, getting
up at three in the morning to feed a
cranky baby or soothe a sick little
body. (I have trouble as it is waking at
9 a.m. in the ,Horning, that is if I don't
sleep through my alarm and I wonder
if I'd be the same way with my child.)
It drives me crazy when the
inquisitive little darlings get to the
"What's that" stage. Every other
minute, the same question over and
over again and if you don't answer, it
will continue. How do mothers do it?
Don't they ever run out of simple
answers, comprehendable to the mind
of a three year old or do they just
make up a story.
On and on the struggles seem to go
until teenage years arrive and then,
the battles usually begin.
Now I understand why my mother
used to say, "Is it any wonder
mothers get grey?" as I went racing
off in the family vehicle with a
carload of girlfriends, CKLW on full
blast and half -a -pack of cigarettes to
choke on.
Being a "Miss Know It All" getting
into mum's lovely makeup and
perfume, dramatically running away
from home every other day, staying
out late at night, falling in and out of
puppy love every other week, playing
loud music and wearing my skirts too
short and my pant legs too long were
just part of my average life as a
teenager.
To me, at the time, it all seemed
right and I was having a .ball and
couldn't understand why my mum
was always worried about me, mad at
me or just generally disgusted with
my behaviour.
I doubt if many teenagers could see
their parents point of view in the art of
growing up and I like countless others
would claim to my mother, "Don't
worry I'm old enough to look after
myself."
So much for the rebellion stage of
life. It's passed, and I'm settling into
my "tranquil twenties".
And as I gf-ow up I realize that being
a mother is probably one of the most
demanding jobs there is.
I'm sure my mum must have
wondered at least once why she
bothered to have a family instead of
becoming a world traveller. And just
like her, I'm sure I'll ask the' same
question when and if my turn at
motherhodd comes around. Yet I, nor
anyone else has a guarantee that they
will be a good mother or even have
normal, healthy children.
With mum's guidance and my own
apprenticeship with growing pains
and experiences with parental
authority I hope that I will be able to
raise children as well as my mum did
and that someday I too may be
thanked for my efforts.
At one stage in my life, as a
teenager, I was convinced that I was
invincible, that I wanted to try things
on my own, make my own decisions
and shut off motherly advice or
criticisms. Although I don't think I
was completely wrong in my way of
thinking and enjoyed my freedom and
learned a lot from it, some good, and
some disappointing, I also appreciate
that my mother put up with my often
exasperating behaviour and stood by
me without stifling me completely.
Although I might have said and
believed in a rage that I could get
along on my own, in truth everyone
needs a mother even a rambunctious
teenager or a noisy two-year-old.
Happy Mother's Day, mum.
sin 2E
will give you better beans
...more easily
Afesin 2E is a clear4liquid
herbicide that's given excellent
results as a preemergent spray
for over seven years now.
It can be used alone or in
combination to give you control
of broadleaf weeds and grasses
in all major bean* and potato
,crops ...the easy way.
White beans *Lima beans
`Soybeans *Snap beans
`Kidney beans *Yelloweye beans
Now available at your Pfizer dealer.
Agricultural Chemicals & Seed Division,
1 Wilton Grove Road, London, Ontat-io N6A 4C6
Telephone (519) 681-2173
n Afpxin i4 a RFK TM of Ho•chat M;
r
the Vanastra Rec. Centre.
"We train we don't strain," claimed
John of his class.
"When people are out of shape they're
embarrassed to show it, especially men.
Their egos are too much and they say I
could do this when I was 20," he added.
John's knowledge of fitness and
exercise is genuine. While in the ser-
vices, during 1958-59 the 5BX plan and
the 10BX plans were brought out.
Although many younger people probably
don't know what this means, the famous
plans which are still available were
baisc exercises for men and women.
John along with 14 other men from the
RCF across Canada were selected to
form a team to present the exercises at
the CNE. Following that, they travelled
to Montreal where a movie was made by
the National Film Board of Canada.
"In the military the big reason for
sports is for moral. Sports always come
atter hours," John explained.
Now John doesn't have to worry about
the moral in the forces, but he's still
involved in sports. Although he says it's
a habit, he also will tell you that it makes
him feel good.
"There's a healthy person and a fit
person. You can be fit but not
necessarily healthy, like the best runner
who dies of cancer," John explained.
"There's a point in time," he went
on, "when you look in the mirror and it's,
all there, but you still don't feel good."
Winning is not the most important goal
for John, but just the fact that he started
off and did it.
This can be illustrated when in 1970,
John joined the OXFAM walk from
Goderich to Holmesville, but instead of
walking, ran the 25 mile course in a few
hours. He ran the distance on a dare
from the other officers at the Forces
Base in Clinton. -
"When you do something like that it's
not to win, especially when kids, a nun
and a parapalegic are also on the
cqure."
Yet despite his modesty, John is also
quite proud of his achievements and
justly so. Although 'he may tend to
overwhelm you with his enthusiasm in
sports and may just get you down on the
floor to try an exercise, his modesty is
always right behind him.
"I get a sore back once in a while, I'm
not invincible," he explained.
CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, MAY 1.1,1878PAGE"3
•
"I always talk when I workout and guys ask me how ',can talk and run a mile at
the same time. That's how you get your oxygen," claims John Lawson who faith-
fully jogs five miles a day. Jogging is only one of the many athletic activities and
interests this physical fitness buff has. (News -Record photo)
Separate Board moves teachers
by Wilma Oke
Seven principals and 11
teachers in the Huron -Perth
County Roman Catholic
Separate School system will
be transferred from their
present schools to other
schools in the system in the
next school term starting in
September, 1978.
Board chairman Donald
Crowley of RR2 Gadshill said
of the wholesale moving of
principals and teachers, "It's
a strengthening move for the
system."
Superintendent Joseph
Mills explained: "It is the
first time it has been done in
the system. It was done to fill
vacancies, to strengthen the
system and to make the best
use of personnel."
Mr. Mills said all the
principals and teachers to be
moved have been told.
The seven principals to be
transferred are: Gary Bir-
mingham to Our Lady of
Mount Carmel, RR3 Dash-
wood from St. Aloysius
School, Stratford; Larry Cook
to St. Patrick's, Dublin from
St. Mary's School, Goderich;
Don Farwell to St. Joseph's
Clinton, from St. Columban;
Michael Dewan to
Immaculate Conception,
Stratford from St. Joseph's
School, Stratford; Sister
Audrey Dumouchelle to St.
„ Michael's, Stratford from
Immaculate Conception;
Adrian Pontsioen to St.
Joseph's School, Stratford
from St. Joseph's at Clinton;
Sam Alberice to St. Aloysius,
Stratford from St. Michael's
School, Stratford.
Two vacancies for prin-
cipals have resulted with the
resignation of Sister Florence
Kelly at St. Patrick's, Dublin
and Sister Viola Feeney at
Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
RR3 Dashwood.
Principal's positions at St.
Mary's, Goderich and St.
Columban are still open.
The eleven teachers being
transferred are: June
Holmes from St. Columban to
Kindergarten at Exeter, half
days only; Patrick
Shaughnessy from St.
Columban to principal's relief
and music at Seaforth and St.
Columban; Helen Ryan to
half days Kindergarten at
Our Lady of Mount Carmel;
Barry Linden from Ecole Ste.
Marie, RR2 Dashwood to
Precious Blood School,
Exeter; Doreen Nogale now
full time Kindergarten at St.
Patrick's, Dublin to Kin-
dergarten half days at St.
Joseph's, Clinton and at
Dublin, Ralph Weishar from
Immaculate Conception
School, Stratford to St.
Patrick's School, K inkora ; A.
Gaffney from St. Joseph's,
Clinton to principal's relief
(40 per cent) at St. Colum -
ban; Martin Skillen from St.
Mary's, Goderich to Sacred
Heart, Wingham; Gary
Prince from St. Boniface,
Zurich to a school yet to be
named; Brian Morrissey
from St. Michael's, Stratford
to Immaculate Conception,
Stratford; and James
(Sandy) McQuillan from 'St.
Joseph's, Stratford to St.
Aloysius, Stratford.
Four teachers have been
given a reduction in time
beginning in September as
follows: M. A. Johnston, St.
Mary's, Goderich froin 50 per
cent to 40 per cent; T.
Wilhelm, St. Boniface, Zurich
from 100 per cent to 90 per
cent; Mary Kinahan, Sacred
Heart, Wingham from 100 per
cent to 50 per cent; Lillian
Simpson, music frum 40 per
cent to 10 per cent.
In other business at the
meeting which got underway
at quarter to ten following a
committee -of -the -whole in
camera session which began
at 8 p.m. the board heard a
presentation from seven
members of the Parent-
Teacher Association at
Precious Blood School,
Exeter in changes that would
improve the school. No
details of the brief are known
because of the in camera
meeting but the board
members will be studying the
presentation.
Turn to page 2
There's a
Summer Place
for your furs...
at Clinton
Dry Cleaners.
our fur storage
CLINTON
DRY CLEANERS
158 BEECH ST. 482-7064