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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-07-06, Page 3• • • People in Profile: 14 Minister settles down by Shelley McPhee After 41 years of worlting and travelling, Rev. Edwin Stephens .and his wife Maartje may be ready to settN down.' Their latest move to Beamsville is more than just taking up a new home in a new community for the couple. Their new home is in the Albright Gardens, a United Church retirement .centre for 'former ministers. Rev. Stephens is looking forward to this move, despite the fact that he had to give uplis charge at Brucefield and Kippen. He said that he has many old friends at the retirement centre. Undoubtedly Rev. Stephens has many friends through Es work and the communities he has lived in. Following his ordination from St. Stephens College, University of Alberta in Edmonton, Rev. Stephens took his first full -tilme charge near Jasper in the coal inlne district. Then he went on to Hamilton where he had a charge near the harbor front area7It was there he worked with ethnic groups such as the Japanese, Chinese, Italian and Ukranian people. In Fort William, his next position, Rev. Stephens was the superintendent of the' head missions and lookedafter all the missionary work in the area. After four -and -a -half years there he went on to Sturgeon Falls and from there on to Cochrane. Lloydminister, Alberta came next and it was followed by charge's in Bruce Mines, Burgessville and then to Brucefield in 1975. "I don't think you can s4 that one place was more interesiting than another. You make friend in every place and it's hard to leave each community," the 65 year old minister explained. Like many other ministers, Rev. Stephens has a full travel and work record. He explained the reasons for his moves . They come after you've done all you canfor the particular church and congregation. "A new man has to come in with a new challenge." he noted. ' Rev. Stephens is used to the changes; in fact, he's made many changes in his life. When he initially started university, Rev. Stephens studied medicine but after three years decided to go into the ministry. "Medicine just didn't offer what I was seeking.. I went into the church because it was really the. agency that was doing social service work," he said. However it seemed inevitable from the start that the Saskatchewan native would end up in the ministry since his father was a United Minister, along with members of his family, two generations before. "Bcking a minister was the last thing I thought of doing." Rev. Stephens laughed. One of the Stephens' five children, Tom, also studied theology but after one year gave it up. The children are spread across Ontario. Tom lives in Bellesville; Judy M,cGinn's in Blind River; Delmer lives in Sault S. Marie; Jane West- moreland lives in Sweaburg and John,1 the youngest, lives in Brucefield. "-We've really enjoyed the friendship of Kippen and Brucefield," Rev. Stephens admited about his two most recent charges. "It's nice to be able to come into the church and say, 'Hi Bob, hi Doris, how are the kids?' We have that intimacy and the closeness of the families here," Rev. Stephens went on. "In the country and the smaller towns religion is important. It's pretty well held its own and I've been for- tunate enough to be in these spots," the Reverend added. He went on to say, "The pendulum has swung, it was ,the popular thing to stay away from church but now many people realize that they need some basis, some foundation for when they meet a crisis." One aspect of the churches Rev. Stephens is especially fond of is the fact that most congregations are willing to try new things. He remembered that 10 or 12 years ago he had drums and guitars in the church. , "-We tried it with fear of what the old people would think, but they loved it," he laughed. Perhaps some of Rev. Stephens easy going, open-mMded-personality rubbed off on the people he was working with. The Stephens have no particular plans for the future, but it is unlikely that they will be sitting idly. Along with meeting an entire new community of people at Albright Gardens, Rev. Stephens has his rock collecting and polishing along with his music to keep him occupied. He plays the piano and organ and has a degree in music. His wife and he share a common interest in gardening and Mrs. Stephens knits and crochets as well. Winter very easy on county budget BY JOANNE WALTERS A report from the Huron County Road Committee presented to County Council last Friday, revealed that weather conditions in the county last winter resulted in a saving of $60,000. The winter control costs from January to April 1978 totalled ap- proximately $240,000. Allowing $150,000 for the remainder of the year, which is the most that has ever been spent for the same period in previous years, still allows a reduction of $60,000 in the county's winter control budget. The Road Committee's report also indicated that the Ministry of Tran- sportation and Communications will be allowing a supplementary subsidy allocation toward municipal drainage assessments' which, it is estimated, will mean .an additional $20,000 in revenue Laws are seldom made for law-abiding people. Compare Our Prices on the New WOODS "Energy Saver" FREEZERS *11 Standard 18 cu. ft. '330. • *345. Standard 22.1 cu. ft Deluxe 27.1 cu. ft. '405. ITCHELL'S FAMILY MARKET LONDESNORO . 4$24451 Or 523-447a to dr for the county. This additional revenue, states the report, along with a reduction o/f expenditures has allowed the 'committee to forecast a surplus at the year end of $95,000. The Road Committee recommen.de to county council that this surplus be placed in the Highways. Reserve Fund and be used in 1980 for the recon- struction of the Auburn Works'Garage as programmed in the Urban Needs Study. By holding these funds now and accumulating surpluses to that time, the County Road Committee will be able to carry on a highway recon- struction and resurfacing program as well as rebuild the Auburn Garage without having to borrow money in those years, , the report maintains. County council has agreed to the committee's recommendation. !IA The well-knowh face of Rey. Edwin Stephens won't be seen in Brucefield and Kippen on a regular basis anymore as the United Church minister who has worked in this area for three years has decided to give up the pulpit. Rev. Stephens and his wife Maartje have moved to a retirement centre for former United Ministers in Beamsville. (News -Record photo) uronview seeks more beds Huron County Council learned at its June 30th meeting that the Committee of Management of HuronvieCik has instructed the administrator to prepare a brief for presentation to the Ministry of Community and Social Services requesting that an additional 20 beds be made available for Extended Care Services at the Home and that ,the provincial subsidy allotment be ad- justed accordingly. There appears to be an increasing need for Extended Care Facilities, a report from the management com- mitteestated. Of the 310 beds in the Home, 156 are used for 'Extended Care residentThere 00/11 LOther residents .in the Home and at leasi five peopleon the waiting list who. would probably, qualify for this type of care,.the report went on to say, Further in the report, it was stated that the Steering Committee of the Huron Day Care Centre has requested more accommodation for the Centre. At present, the daily attendance is limited to 12 participants and there is a waiting list. The management com- mittee has approved the removal of a partition between a storage room and the office presently used by the Centre provided removal does no damage to the remaining structure. The committee has authorized the purchase of a statkinary Mechanaid Ambulift to replace a Hoyer Lift, at the quoted price of $1,290. This item has been approved in the 1978 budget. The Ministry of Community and Social Services has advised that Huronview maximum subsidy en- titlement for the period April 1, 1978 to March 31, 1979 will be $1,234,271 and that the budgeted,per diem rate for the same period 'is $16.67 per day. The actual per diem rate in effect May 31, 1978 was $16.48 per day. The committee will discuss increasing the fee at the next meeting the report stated. ;4( CLINTON 1%,MWS-12 ECORD, THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1978 --PAGE 3 County could change building code -here BY JOANNE WALTERS Huron County councillors were told at last Friday's council meeting that they. could tailor a proposed bylaw to enforce the Ontario Building Code to suit their own areas. The bylaw sets minimum building standards across the province., Turnberry Township and other townships have been objecting to the bylaw saying that it would be ex- tremely difficult and expensive to enforce with many portions of it being unnecessary or inappiwriate for their areas. They also felt that the bylaw was overly restrictive for use in , an Agriculturally oriented municipality. Gary Davidson, Huron County planning director, explained however that the municipalities could modify the blitw. to, make it less restrictive. For example, he said, the bylaw allows municipalities to inspect home inprovements but they need not carry out the inspection unless they feel it is necessary. But he cautioned county councillors to have their lawyers check any changes they make to the bylaw to ensure it still meets all the minumum requirements laid out by the building code. A request asking that county planner George Penfold be granted a one year leave of absence to upgrade his education, met with some opposition at Friday's • county council meeting. Several councillors expressed concern over how Mr. Penfold's work on several county plans would be com- pleted in his absence. Mullett Township Reeve John Jewitt said, "In my opinion it is not a 'good time for him to go." Stephen Township Reeve, Cecil Desjardine agrited. "It is not a good time for him to leave to complete his education. That would be like me leaving home in the haying season." However, Mr. Penfold was granted an education,' leave • with a salary continuance of $6,500 inctuding com- prehen'sive benefits based on that salary. His tuition and relatedfees totalling $863 will also be paid by the county. Mr. Penfold has greedo return to the county -for a minirnurnf two years and to pay back to the County of Huron. th'e total expended on a prorated basis if employmelt terminates within the two-year perOd. Planning director Gary Davidson explained that Mr. Penfold's upgraded education will allow him to become a professional member of the Canadian Institute -of Planners. He will also receive more training in development control and will be able to give testimony in front of the Ontario Municipal Board, Mr. Penfold will continue to attend evening meetings and will complete the county plans he has started on with Mr. Davidson's assistance. County to 11,elp Goderich hospital In a close vote at last Friday's Huron County Council meeting, council agreed to pay 25 per cent of the ap- proved excess of actual costs over estimated "costs to Goderich's Alexandra Marine and General Hospital building fund in addition to the $282,395 already paid over the last two years. The estimated balance owing by the county (25 per cent) is $37,030. The total expenditures submitted.to theTrovince of Ontario for approval amount to $1,277,700 and.include $9,600 of'interest which may not be approved. County. Clerk -Treasurer Bill. Hanly assured the county councillors that council was not under any obligation to contribute to the $236,000 deficit the hospital has accumulated over the past 15 months. The county's only obligation is to the building fund, he said. Several councillors expressed the feeling that the $282,395 already con- tributed by the county was enough and several also said they worried about setting a precedent: However, Hanly and otheliscoUncillors explained that the county had pledged 25 per cent of the total cost and council is only living up to that agreement. • ' stuck in nitihe by shelley mc phee I first came into contact with the phrase tractor pulling when I met Harvey Holland for an interview. Although he explained in detail the entire contest and its objectives, I must admit...that 1 didn'A really have a clue what he was talk ing-about-.- At the Clinton Spring Fair, I got a chance to see my first pull and • although I went to the event with some reservations, I must admit that they a' re really exciting. I had a chance to attend another pull in Auburn over the weekend and this time I went a little more willingly, not with the impression that I had before. "What do I want to see a bunch of tractors for? Jim's more interested in this kind of stuff," I pouted to, myself as I strode to Clinton's first pull. As ,I drew nearer to the site, an overwhelming roar of an engine filled my ears and as I looked ahead a big puff of charcoal black smoke shot up into the air. "Oh boy, this is big stuff. A tractor's blown up or somethingyll .get some great pictures," I thought as my feet started to pick up speed. Unknowing as I am about tractor pulls and to my great disap- pointment nothing blew up, but still these pulls looked rather exciting. There definitely is an excitement about the pulls that can't be cap- tured,on the camera but can be felt when you're standing on 'the -track and a giant machine lumbers by, struggling against the weights that will eventually bring it to a stand- still. It' §' a real show of power and I presume some skill. (I haven't picked up on the finer aspects of the event yet,) In fact there's a lot I still have to learn about tractor pulls. As an amateur viewer I'm really only impressed with the super modified machines, the hot rods of tractor pulling. I doti't even understand the mechanics of them and probably never will, but they sure are fun to watch, with the dust and smoke filling the air, the flames shooting out, the deafening sound of the engines and the driver pulling wheelies down the track with the weight of the load that's behind him. I'm definitely not a true tractor pull enthusiast I guess; only a sensationalist because un- fortunately, I haven't much interest in the field tractors. It's not that I don't care, but I just don't understand what is involved in the load that they pull or how much strain a 4430 John .Deere (whatever that is) can take. I never really was into tractors when.. I was small, even though I came from a farm. Barbie dolls and coloring books wer,e more up my line. I had one attachment to a tractor though, our little grey Fel guson. Dad used to let me bomb around the, fields injt until the day that I ran in through the fence, and would have gone through the side of the barn if it hadn't been for Dad's quick steering manoeuvre. But that experience hasn't "driven me away" from tractors and I'm willing to' go to more pulls and learn more about the machines. Now I just wonder if Harvey would let me take his super modified, "Easy Rider," out for a spin? My days of the Ferguson are long gone and I'rn ready for bigger and better things. Includes *luaublazers', skirts, pants, Well known makers. OUR REGULAR SIZES 10 TO 20. OUR REGULAR PRICES '27 TO '51 Large group. Sizes 8- 20. Not every size in every colour or style. Also includes a group of long"dresses. PREVIOUSLY PRIED AT '30 TO '125 OPEN 9 A.M. TO 6 P.M. FRIDAYS 4 A.M. TO *P.1%.