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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-07-20, Page 4PAGE-CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, JULY 2Q, 1978 Be a Big Brother, Be a big help Now that the soil has been turned only the workers are needed to make the Clinton and area's at- tempt at setting up a Big Brother organization a success. Obviously there is a need for such an agency since there are some 35 fatherless boys in the Clinton and ,a.nastra vicinity. Hqwever those boys will remain fatherless and perhaps friendless, without any guidance or companionship from an older male, unless some of the local men step forward. Anyone who understands and appreciates the feeling of friend- ship must know what many of these boys are missing and what many of 'them want. Through the Big Brother Association young boys, up to the age of 16 are given teaching and fellowship from a' male counterpart. Although there are obviously responsibilities involved in being a Big Brother, it is actually quite little when compared to many other hobbies and interests. Even the busiest person could probably find three or four hours, once a week to go to a baseball game or a movie, have a picnic or go to the beach, help with some homework or eat some french fries with some lonely little boy. The Big Brother Association is a valuable and successful organization. They have been in operation since 1913 in Canada and since then have amalgamated with the Big Brother of America as a legally autonomous group. Today Big Brother has at least 135 agencies set up in various com- munities through Canada. It has been through Big Brothers that many confused and distraught young boys were helped, shown different ways of life, given love and some sense of responsibility. Through this help and by teaching the boy to return the same feelings and favors that he is given, these youngsters will grow to be responsible, worthy men in our society, rather than bewildered people with little direction or goals. This so often happens in our society, but through the help from the men in this community the next generation of adults will benefit. What's your opinion? write a letter to the editor today and let us know what you think. "But Eunice, you can't stay up there THAT long — the kids don't go back to school till fall!" Graduations During the last week in June, I went to two graduations. My niece graduated from grade eight in a London , school and my youngest nephew from kindergarten. On Monday evening, the one- frandred-and-fifty grade eight graduates were treated to a banquet prepared by the grade seven mothers. Then they endured a long picture - taking session, and finally they filed solemnly into the packed auditorium of a nearby secondary, school, while the Boring talk Canadians, on the whole, are probably the most boring con- versationalists in the entire world. I don't say that idly; merely to put backs up. I say it from agonizing personal experience. It's not because we are a dull people, though we are. It's not because we're stupid, because we aren't. It seems to be based rather on a sort of philistinism that labels interesting conversation as a "cissy" pastime, fit only for dilet- tantes, idealists, Englishmen of a certain background, educated Europeans and other such intellectual trash. Next time you're at a dinner party or any similar gathering, lend an ear. The dialogue will depress you deeply. Perhaps the real fault lies in the fact that we are basically a nation of materialists, and that we have become more and more so, with the withering of the churches and the increasing affluence of our society. Our topics of conversation change with the decades, but remain awesomely inane in their content. A few decades ago, men could talk for hours about cars and hockey, while women chattered incessantly about children and recipes. Nowadays, the men talk about real estate and boats, and women go on and on about Women's Lib and the trip abroad they have just taken or are just about to take. And they all say the same thing, or near enough. All of them, especially the men, are absorbed by their vocations, the sadistic cruelty of the revenue department, Stand their latest acquisition, whether it's a power cruiser or a swimming pool in the back yard. Get a gaggle of editors together "and they talk shop, golf, and how much advertising lineage they carried last year. Seldom a word about a powerful editorial, campaign they are going to launch to halt an evil or promote a good. Digupa deliberation of doctors, put a glass in each hand and listen to the drivel about the iniquities of medicare, the ingratitude of patients, the penal taxes they pay, and the condominium they just bought down south. Not a Best or a Banting in the bunch. Lawyers are just as bad. They may be a bit more sophisticated than the doctors, but they're just as dull. Dropping hints of inside dope on politics. Obsessed by the possibility of getting a judgeship or.at the very least, a Q.C. Criers of the blues about the taxes they pay. A party of politicians is even worse. Jostling for attention, back-slapping everything that is warm and breathing, needling the enemy, seeing everything in black and white. "They're black; we're white." Joe Clark likes westerns on TV. It figures. The big shoot-out, and let the bodies of bystanders fall where they may. Behind the politicians, but not far, are the civil servants. Empire builders, defenders of the status quo. Everything in quadruplicate. Ev-erything secret. The public is the enemy. Always go through channels. Keep your nose clean. Don't get a black mark on your record. Dull, dull. Ah, ha! The farmers have been sitting back enjoying this. They're every bit as bad as the rest. It's the government's fault. It's the chain stores' greed. It's the fickle public. It's the weather: too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet; or, if the weather is perfect the crops are superb, it's taking too much out of the land. Business men are just as culpable of devastating dullness in their con- versation. Too many forms to fill out, Lazy clerks. Second-rate workmen. Those dam' shopping plazas on the edge of town. Manufacturers are in the same boat. Wages are too high. Can't get parts, what's the matter with those people? Too much absenteeism on Monday morning. Profit down .03 percent last year. Can't compete with those lousy foreigners who work for peanuts. Too much government interference. Dentists ditto. They, are just as dull as the others, but they commit the crime of asking a particularly dull question when your mouth is so full of junk that all you can do is grunt, and then think you are interested and agreeing with their platitudes, when what you are trying to say is, "Shut up, turkey." As you know, I always save the best to the last. When it comes to dullness supremo in conversation, 1 have to hand it to the teachers. They go on and on and on about some kid who just won't do his home*ork, or some meaningless memo from the office, or some student who decided to spend a nice June day it ei3bd's great 'out-of- doors instead of the dull classroom with a dull teacher. Maybe I've been harsh in this somewhat blanket condemnation. Certainly none of my' friends are full conversationalists. Maybe that's why I have so few friends. Or perhaps my remarks are based on pure envy. I haven't ' got' a con- dominium in Florida. I haven't even a row -boat, let alone a crUiser. I haven't a' t"' oacar 'garage, though I have two ca ; eighteen years old between theta. That's it. Jealousy. I don't have a swimming pool or a little place — just forty acres, mind you — in the country. My wife is as near to nuts as can be. One kid is a missionary in Paraguay, the.other can't get a job. That's why I can't stand around with the doctors and lawyers, etc., and commiserate with them on thefact that the price of steak is going,absolutely out of reach of the ordinary professional man making only forty- five thou a year. grade seven band played and the audience made up of parents, friends and relatives stood watching. The girls wore long sweeping gowns, and their hair showed the rewards of hours spent in beauty shoppes. The boys wore suits, and a few .brave souls had even consented to wearing ties. The valedictorian took a few parting pokes at his teachers and fellow classmates that he hadn't dared to take earlier in the year. And there wasn't a dry eye in the house when he thanked the parents on behalf of all the students and the class rose to give their parents a standing ovation. As their names were announced, the graduates made the long walk up the stairs and across the platform to receive their diplomas, and at the other end, they were blinded by flashing cameras. For some of them, the official ceremonies, were just dull details that e,.had to be endured before the important part of the evening began - the dance. On the next afternoon, my youngest nephew marched into the gymnasium of the public school with the rest of the kindergarten graduates. They wore red caps with gold tassels, and they filed in even more solemnly than the grade eights. They sat on benches in front of the audience. Parents and grand- parents were the only invited guests, but I noticed a few brothers and sisters and at least one aunt who had gate- crashed. As their names were called, the graduates hurried up the steps of the remembering our past 5 YEARS AGO July 19,, 1973 A well-known Clinton native, John Samuel (Jack) Scruton, who was in the oil business in Clinton for nearly 50 years, died suddently last Thursday July 12 on his 63rd birthday. Mr. Scruton, who was born in Clinton to the late Jean and Edward Scruton on July 12, 1910, started off in the oil business when he was still a teenager, driving an oil truck for the Canadian Oil Company, who were bought out by Shell some years ago. In 1963 Mr. Scruton became affiliated with the Shell Oil Company and moved to the Albert Street depot, which is now ,run by his son, Don Scruton. Besides his business interests, Mr,. Scruton was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a past -president of the Clinton Lions Club and he was a past -president of the Clinton Colts Hockey Club during the late '40s and early '50s. Clinton Mayor Don Symons welcomed Claude Bennett to Clinton last Monday, when the Ontario minister of labor and tourism stopped in Clinton as part of his 45 - day tour of the province. He toured the Wil- Dex plant as well. Greeting the minister as well were Industrial Commitee chairman Bill Stauttener and Huron County Development Officer, Spence Cummings. Bayfielders give a very special welcome to Eric and Kathe Krohmer and family who have just built a beautiful new Bavarian Inn in our neighborhood and recently opened for business. A Clinton native, William Nediger, now of London, has been appointed as registrar of the University of Western Ontario, Dr. D.C. Williams, president of the University an- nounced last week. Born and raised in Clinton, Mr. Nediger is the son of Mrs. Greta Nediger and the late John Ne Iger. Married to 'the former Phyliss Hanley of Clinton, Mr. Nediger takes over his new post on January 1, 1974, 10 YEARS AGO July 18, 1988 Provincial police from Goderich are continuing their search for the bodies of two Seaforth area men believed drowned after their 10 -toot boat capsized at Bayfield about a mile from shore early Sunday morning, Jack Dallas, 31, of l.R. 1, Brucefield and' Ferguson Coombs, 39 of Eg ondville disappeared in the waters of Lake Huron platform to receive their Bachelor of K, BKGN,Again camerasindergarten flashedDegrees, recording a once. -in-a lifetime event. Then the class entertained the audience by singing three songs specially selected for the occasion - Little Green Frog, Winnie The Pooh and Small World. My sister and brother-in-law ' must have felt old as they watched their "baby" shake hands with his teacher as they watched their oldest son drive their daughter to her graduation. If they're getting older, it means yours truly is too, and remembering my schooldays don't make me feel any younger. When I was five years old, kindergarten didn't exist, at least not in• the rural area where I lived. , When I was in grade eight, a bus came to all the public schools in the township and gathered up the graduates for a tour of the local high school in which we would all get lost in September. My Whole class went; yes, both of us. On the last day of school, I was handed a report card which carried some kind remarks from my teacher. Her message seemed sincere, but I'm not sure whether she was sincerely glad to 'have taught me or sincerely. glad to get rid of me. Shortly after I completed public school, the one -room schoolhouses disappeared but the fact remains that I grew up in another era - one -room schools, no kindergarten and no grade eight graduation dance. after their fibreglass motorboat flipped around 1 a.m. Their three companions managed to swim to shore by clinging to the overturned boat and paddling. A new company which provides im- mediate employment for eight men and office staff with good prospects of ex- pansion, has commenced production in the recently completed manufacturing centre 11/4 miles south of Hensel' on Highway 4. The Big -O Drain Tile Company Limited is producing a revolutionary plastic tile to , drain farmlands. A group of Western Ontario farmers and business men formed the company late last year. As a result of the national postal workers strike, service at the Clinton Post office and rural route distribution ended at 5 a.m. Thursday. Subscribers to the.News-Record may pick up their paper, which will be addressed as usual, at the Clinton News - Record office. The News -Record in co-operation with the Huron Expositor in Seaforth are attempting to arrange delivery of papers on rural routes served by the Clinton post office. 25 YEARS AGO July 23, 1953 Dr. J.W. Shaw, Rattenbury Street, East is celebrating his 92nd birthday today. His daughter, Mrs. H.R. (Madeline) Kilty, Toronto, with her husband, have been visiting with Dr. and Mrs. Shaw and will be here for the big day. His son, Prof. Harry Shaw of Dartmouth College, N.H. was home earlier this month for a vacation and has returned to his own home. Dr. Shaw is believed to be the oldest of Clinton's citizens, and is amongst the oldest doctors practising in Canada. Dr. Shaw is active in the community works as well as within his own profession. He has served as councillor, mayor, member of the PUC, president of the athletic association and in many other local organizations, including service as president and chairman of the hospital board. A sense of humour means different things to different folk. Someone recently felt it was a good idea to ride motorcycles into and ar6und the wading pool at Clinton Corn- niunity Park. Members of the Clinton Turf Club have, good,reason to shake their heads when the weatl>r is mentioned. Plans were com- pleted, plenty of horsemen had entered their prize pacers and trotters, everything pointed to the biggest and the best harness racing meet that has ever been staged in Clinton When boom - out of somewhere in Manitoba a large weather disturbance occurred, pushing heavy rain soaked clouds over Western Ontario and the meet had to be postponed due to the inclement weather. Officials of the club have rescheduled the meet for next Wednesday and have their fingers crossed that their luck will not be as bad as that of the Clinton Spring Fair Board. 50 YEARS AGO July 26, 1928 The fountain in the,Library Park has been given a new coat of paint. Leonard McKnight left this week to take a position on the office staff of General Motors, Oshawa. Clinton came out from the rear, as it were, winning a baseball game from Exeter on the home diamond by a score of 8 - 6. Stocik, for the home team, pitched a wonderful game with good support. Elliott made a hit scoring two runs. Hawkins and Draper played a fine game and VanHorne on first did some beautiful work. The' Clinton Presbyterian congregation has extended a unanimous call to Rev. .Me. Currie, Lindasy. 75 YEARS AGO July 23, 1903 Pope Leo died on Monday afternoon and thus has passed away one of the greatest in the long line of Popes. On receipt of the news the corporation flag of Clinton was placed at half mast on the town hall. This year's crop of cherries is the best in the memory of the local buyers and the season has been nearly three times as long as the average. The fruit has been well saved and we are so informed, is of a better quality than usual. Mr. Harry Peck of Stanley and Mr. Nichol Robson of town\ happening in Fitzsimons' butcher shop on Friday. Mr. Fitzsimons suggested a „test of weights, when it was ; found that Mr. Peck tipped the beam at 261 pounds and Mr. Robson at 254. Mr. Peck Is only, one of the big men of Stanley and a lightweight as compared to Mr. Thos. Willey, the genial tax collector Q of the township and its "little man." - Conservation Dear Editor: I read with interest the letter in this week's paper (July 8) regarding conservaticr, of our resources. The matter of conservation' is in many people's minds. A cartoon in the London paper was of interest to me as it depicted the wanton slaughter of" whales. Ayoung whale is shown telling his mother that a great dam project has been halted to save the snail - darter, a three inch fish in danger of extinction. But poor mother whale is floating with a cruel harpoon in her back. When will the nations ever get together to ban the wanton killing of these magnificent creatures? At the recent world conference held to discuss this matter, the Greenpeace organization asked for a 10 year ban to give the whales a chance to replenish. But of course that couldn't be allowed. The result is that a very small reduction Was made, making very little difference in the wholesale slaughter. Perhaps when the last of these won- derful mammals is killed, there will be a great outcry. Too late. If the world scientists would apply themselves to finding more protein food in other sources, and finding less means of obliterating ourselves -- the" world would be a better place than it is now. Sincerely, Mrs. G. Graham, Bayfield Memories Dear Editor: I read, with great interest, the ac- count of Sgt. Cooke's nostalgic reunion with his friends in .Clinton. My wife, Winnie Stevenson was one of the first group of "English" wives at Clinton. Others in the group were Kitty (Sgt. Jimmy Yeoman) Trudie (W. -O Morgan) and Chris (Sgt. John Hoskins)". Unfortunately we are unable to remember the name of the fifth lady. We stayed with Mrs. Epps along with the Yeomans and Hoskins. We made friends with Mae and the late Fred Hanly and have since remained .in touch. Some three years ago we holidayed in Canada and spent some two weeks with Mae Hanly in Hamilton. We paid a brief visit to Clinton and Goderich but time has taken its toll. Our daughter Penelope was born at Goderich Hospital 28 April 1944, Mae and Fred were godparents. When the RCAF took over at Clinton I, was posted to 31 ANS Goderich and we moved from Mrs. Epps to an apartment in Goderich. When our baby was three months old I was posted back to England and my family followed a few weeks later. While in Clinton my wife worked at Cooper's store. I wars . a nursing orderly but will be better remembered by my efforts on the pianos in the various messes and in some homes in Clinton. . We would be pleased to hear from any of the "Epps English Colony" and would like to take this opportunity, of expressing our thanks and ap- preciation of the manner "in which we were received by the folk of Clinton. , Sincerely, Dennis Stevenson, Melrose, 4 Lancaster Drive, NORTON Stoke -On -Trent A nur?tber of rigs came into Hayfield last Sunday to spend the day at the lake. Miss Clara Sterch, the efficient milliner at Newcombe's has gone to her home in Detroit for her holidays. An old land mark, a very large poplar tree in front of Ed Appel's residence in Zurich, was cut down or rooted out last week, as it was almost in the centre of the space required for the new cement walk in that part of the village. It was a good specimen of its kind, was healthy, and seemed good for another century at least. Quite a number of villagers were present and by means of a long rope helped to lay the giant low. 100 YEARS AGO July 25, 1878 On Friday last, Drs. Stewart and Hurlbert of Brucefield, assisted by eight other doc- tors, extracted from the abdomen of Mrs. Bannerman of the Sauble Line, near Bayfield, a tumor which weighed about 25 pounds. It had been growing for more than three years and had caused excruciating pain. The operation took over two hours. Some hopes were entertained that she might live and get well, but these hopes were not fulfilled as she died on Tuesday morning, aged 38 years. The tumor was the largest ever taken out of any person in this section of the coutry. On Thursday evening a double rig driven by a lady and the horses, a very lively little span, commenced dancing and prancing, when the driver pluckily arose from her seat and bracing herself, drew the team almost upon its haunches. We notice that the Fire Committee of our council are advertising in the Globe for a new or second hand steam fire engine and appurtenances. Mr. Fuke of Exeter carried 21 pine boards on his shoulder for about 250 yards. 'life boards were dressed pine, measuring 12 feet. What is the use of dray horses? In every section we hear of cattle dying from eating potato tbps on which Paris green has been sprinkidd tokill bugs. • • • •