HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-10-12, Page 3•
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Boardto keep buses
BY JEFF SEDDON
The Huron County Board of
Education decided recently that rather
than sell six of its surplus buses it
would offer them to its secondary
schools for in-house use.
The board hopes to cut costs at the
secondary school level by using board
owned buses, driven by teachers from
the schools, to transport students on
field trips and school teams travelling
to other schools for athletic .com-
petition.
A year long experiment at Goderich
District Collegiate Institute proved
that costs can be cut by locating a bus
at a secondary school and making it
available to that school and elementary
schools near it. GDCI principal John
Stringer asked the board in October of
1977 to give the school a surplus bus on
a trial basis to see if money could be
saved from the school's field trip and
transportation budget.
In a letter to the board Stringer said
the bus had travelled 3,492 miles since
it was delivered to the school and that it
had been used by Goderich Collegiate,
Colborne Central Public School, Exeter
Public School and two elementary
schools in Goderich. The principal
indicated that maintenance costs on
the vehicle had been high for the year
but noted that some repairs were ex-
tensive and that the bus should be safe
from major repairs for the next several
years.
Despite the unusual costs the board
owned bus was cheaper than the
conventional method of hiring a bus
and driver for field trips and athletic
events. Stringer pointed out that the
availability of the bus has enabled
elementary , schools to retain wor-
thwhile fiteld trips and has made the
outdoor education program at GDCI
much more effective.
The principal told the board the bus
"remains a valuable asset to the GDCI
students and the elementary schools
that use it".
Seaforth trustee John Henderson
asked the board to give Seaforth
District Secondary School one of the
better buses to permit that school to
operate a program similar to Goderich.
Henderson asked that the principal of
the school be given the chance to have a
bus if he wanted it stressing that it "be
one of the better buses".
Exeter trustee Clarence McDonald
told the board that when the program
was first suggested he fought it but said
that "if this is the way we are going to
go we may as well have one at South
Huron in Exeter".
McDonald suggested that each of the
secondary schools be offered a bus
stipulating that if the principal took the
vehicle costs to maintain and operate it
would come out of the school's field trip
budget.
Director of education John Cochrane,
suggested that the board "put this can
of worms to bed once and for all". He
asked if the board intended to make it
policy to give each school a surplus bus
rather than sell the vehicles by tender.
"I can't see us keeping a whole fleet
of surplus buses," commented
Colborne trustee Shirley Hazlitt.
Board chairman John Elliott
reminded the board of the. financial
problems it is plagued with. Elliott said
the board faces restraint in many ares .
adding that it already had mai;
delegations of department ds
requesting more money for academic
areas in schools. Elliott said it was
obvious that something had to be
sacrificed to provide funds for board
priorities and asked trustees if surplus
buses was a priority the board wanted
to establish.
"Are we going to expand field trips or
back up and use the money
elsewhere?" he asked. "Where's our
priorities?
Henderson pointed out that the move
may be saving money the board is
going to have to spend anyway. He said
many elementary school students are
being bussed to secondary schools for
shop and home economics at a cost of
60 cents a mile. He said with a little co-
operation and management the surplus
buses could be used to gain big savings
to the board.
"The board provides buses this year
and has to make cuts next year and
may be forced. to cancel field trips,"
said Elliott. "Are we going to cut
academic costs for more recreation?"
Separate schofl trustee Eugene
Frayne pointed out that the only cost
to the board was for the bus. He said
the buses may have brought $700 to
$1,000 through a sale but that money
would have been used for field trips for
Goderich.
"It appears Goderich made it work,"
said Frayne.
Board transportation manager R. L.
Cunningham pointed out that the
maintenance costs were absorbed by
the school but that the board main-
tained fleet insurance on the bus. He
said the insurance cost about $250 a
year.
Elliott suggested that the bus located
at the school didn't save a lot last year
when everything is considered. He said
the school may save standing time
costs for a driver by having a teacher
operate the bus but suggested that the
board paid a supply teacher to fill in for
the one driving the bus. He said the
supply teacher costs the board quite a
bit more than the four dollars an hour a
driver costs.
"I'm pretty sure that a principal
would not, take a teacher out of a
classroom when he can get a driver for
four dollars an hour," said Henderson.
"I'm pretty sure they're broader
minded than that."
It was pointed out to the board that
much of the success of the surplus bus
program depends on luck. If the buses
can be operated without major repairs
the board will realize substantial
savings. If costly repairs are needed
obviously those savings will be
reduced.
Zurich trustee Herb Turkheim told.
the board either "all the schoolsthave'a
bus or none have one". He said it
wasn't fair to discriminate and offer
Goderich and Seaforth a bus and the
remainder nothing. He said the board
has to decide to offer a bus to each
school or sell the buses and forget the
program altogether.
"I fought against the program at the
time because I knew this would hap-
pen," said Elliott.
• I'v'e caught the fever that's hitting
Many people in Canada and the
United States these days.
"Roots Fever" is what I. call it.
The first symptoms are easy to
detect, the victim has an un-
controllable urge. to learn more
about the past, particularly his own
personal history. As the fever in-
creases the victim can be found
spending the most part of his spare
time wallowing through old
newspapers, library books, walking
through cemeteries and looking at
old municipal records.
Then come the notes, the
inevitable piles of notes that ac-
cumulate at a high• rate of speed as
sufferer continues. If the fever
holds, the victim may have the
desire.. to combine his notes into a
book form, but if the fever breaks,
the gathered information is liable to
be packed away in some dark closet
for the next 20 years.
The symptoms are clearly evident
and the only/real sure cure is to let
the
e fever tun its course. What
•
baffles most victims however,' is the
cause of "Roots Fever."
There is no clear; cut explanation
why people become obsessed with
discovery of their family's past.
For some it's a hobby of sorts, for
others it's a proud discovery of a
fascinating past filled with unique
characters from a nearly un-
believable , age. Researching the
past is an ego boosting experience
for some, especially when they find
that some great -great-uncle was an
important figure in the founding, of
an area. Some delve into the lives of
their descendents to search for a
sense o security and a reason for
their own existance.
Despite the number of individual
causes of "Roots Fever," a common
concern with most people today is
the preservation of the past.
Instead of ignoring yesteryears;
people are finally realizing that the
past is equally important asthe
future. Th'e memories and souvenirs
of the past are just as valuable as the
blueprints for the future.
YAMAHA '79
• all heie.
The F•:\.•ilrr 440 ha'. %hal
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ful. rrliahle. economical.
cit. tuallv indestructible
machine ' x•ci1tcall� cic
sigocd 10 go "Iter( c011 "ant
'100 (fl and (1(1 \vhal ��►u
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F..\citer 4.40 !oda at •
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lif
50 year
couple
Ever since they won a bet with another couple 50
years ago, Olive and Guy Ives of Holmesville claim
they've been on a winning streak for five decades.
The couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary. (News -Record photo)
Court costs Riddell $8,450
Huron -Middlesex MPP
Jack Riddell said last
week it has cost him
$8,450 in legal expenses to
defend himself against
charges related to the
recent 162 -day strike at
Fleck Manufacturing
Ltd.
That figure could go
higher, even though the
United Auto Workers
union earlier this month
dropped a charge of in-
terfering with a trade
union, laid under the
Ontario Labor Relations
Act, against the Liberal
MPP.
Still outstanding is a
notice of intent filed by
the UAW against Riddell
under the Libel and
Slander Act over
remarks made by . the
MPP in connection .with
the controversial strike.
Cost aside, however,
Riddell continues to
maintain an unwavering
conviction that he, as a
provincial legislator,
should never have been
put in a position of having
to defend himself a
ga it
ns
the charges by the union.
"I feel as strongly
about this today as I did
then (when the strike was
.still in progress)," he
said. "When MPPs start
to avoid taking a stand on
an issue because they
think they may be sued,
well, that doesn't speak
too well for our political
system."
It's a point Riddell
intends to pursue when
the legislature recon-
venes next month,
bolstered by what he
describes as "a lot of
public support over this
issue. The people have
been writing letters
saying it's a crime if a
, member can't speak up
on an issue without being
.'taken to court."
Along with the support
have come donations —
approaching "nearly
half" of his expenses,
says Riddell — to him
personally and to the
Huron -Middlesex Liberal
"Association, from con-
stituents, non con-
stituents, private
organizations anc
"people I've never met."
The donations have
ranged between $25 and
$10p but a few have
"exceeded $100," admits
Riddell. He said he saw
no conflict in accepting
the donations because
they "were completely
unsolicited."
Liberal caucus
colleagues and
secretarial assistants
also have contributed
about $3,000, Riddell said
in an interview Tuesday.
Apart from about $1,000
which he has had to pay
out of his own pocket, he
expected the remainder '
would be paid by the
Liberal party, with the
party eventually reim-
bursed by private
donations.
The bulk of the $8,450
legal bill will be paid to
Sarnia lawyer James
Bullbrook, a former MPP
who represented Riddell
at the legislature's
procedural affairs
^^m mittee hearings and
supsequent hearings held
liy the . Ontario Labor
Relations Board.
Riddell sought a ruling
from the committee that
his privilege as an MPP
had been violated by the
union's intent to sue him
for libel and slander and
its application for consent
to prosecute Riddell
under -the labor relations
act. The - libel matter
involved remarks made
by Riddell to newsmen
outside the legislature
which the union con-
tended were
"defamatory and false."
The legislature com-
mittee eventually
decided on a 4-3 vote that
Riddell's privilege as an
MPP has been breached
by the UAW, although it
recommended no action
be taken by the
legislature against the
union.
The committee report
is expected to come
before the next session of
the legislature and that's
when Riddell intends to
demand some type of
action to protect MPPs
from similar instances of
legal suit outside the
house.
The labor relations
board granted the union .
consent to prosecute
Turn to page l3•
A TOUCH OF CLASS
In the tradition of Anstett Jewellers Limited, you are cordially
invited to a preview of this seasons newest
additions to a fine jewellery wardrobe
entitled "A Touch of Class".
Classic diamonds for daytime, nightime, or anytime.
Karat gold, by the yard as chains, fine timepieces,
earrings and bracelets to adorn and
accent falls newest fashions.
Engagement and wedding rings adhering to tradition
and breaking it, and custom designs by Anstetts
creative craftsmen, when nothing less will do.
Remember, Anstett is your American Gem Society Jeweller.
Fine quality jewellery, advanced equipment and
extensive gemology examinations make Anstett
professionals, people you can trust when
investing in fine jewellery,
The Anstett family looks forward to this informal and informative
occasion to introduce "A Touch of Class" jewellery
fashions on Saturday October 21 from 12 to 9 p.m.
and Sunday October 22 from 1 to 6 p.m., at the
River Mill of Benmiller Inn.
P.S. Royal Doulton of England will exhibit a selection of their
most prestigious figurines for your aesthetic appreciation.
ANSTETTS
p. bPc,ti
eo n►k '°in . ro
, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1.2 1978,PAOE 3
uy an
ve won bet
in race to the alter
, by Shelley McPhee
Warm'southern breezes and a bright
sun shone in Leamington on October 10,
1928. The weather that day was similar
to that day 50 years later when Guy
Ives and his bride Olive Marion Fox
celebrated their 50th wedding an-
niversary.
Comfortably situated in their home
overlooking the Maitland River at RR
2, Clinton the couple had little trouble
fondly remembering their wedding
k day.
Mrs. Ives in fact wore a dress for
their anniversary, similar to the one
she was married in, featuing a full
pleated skirt.
"It was pale blue," she remembered,
"And Guy wore a dark blue suit. I still
have his tie somewhere, it was a silk
knit one."
"We took off in a 1927 Model -T sedan
and we were so proud of it," Mr. Ives
added. The young couple went to the
United States for a honeymoon.
"It was a big trip. It took us a week.
Today we could do the same trip in a
day with the car we have now," he
laughed.
The young couple made the wedding
plans a fun and adventurous event. A
bet was made with another engaged
couple as to who would get married
first.
"We changed the wedding date,
bought the ring in Kingsville and the
wedding license in Essex to keep the
date a secret," Mrs. Ives said.
The Ives won, and from what they
say the couple seems to have held that
winning streak for the past five
decades.
"Ours has been a 50-50 partnership,"
Mrs. Ives explained. "We never argued
in front of the kids."
Their daughter, Laverne Colclough
added," You always, told us, never let
the sun go down on your wrath."
According to Mr. Ives, the reason he
has stayed . with his wife is because
she's a good cook and a good nurse.
Despite the fact that Mrs. Ives was
left with a house full of children while
her husband served overseas during
the Second World War, their life has
been a good one and both heartily
agreed that they'd do it all again.
"I had my ups and downs, but I had
In
lots of good friends, good neighbours
and family," Mrs. Ives remembered.
Neighbours and friends are an im-
portant factor in the happiness of the
Ives. "When we were young a gang of
us all stuck together," Mr. Ives
recalled.
Mrs. Ives said that they danced a lot
and every Friday night they would take.
turns holding parties at different
houses.
"The depression years were good
too. People had , to share food and
clothes and it made for a better
fellowship. We were taught to share
and not waste anything," she added.
"We'd pool the food together and
have a picnic or have parties a lot," she
continued.
In the winter, the couple often skated
on Lake Erie. They'd ride an old
motorcycle across the smooth ice to
find a place to skate.
"I'd skin my grandchildren today if
they did that," Mrs. Ives stated.
The Ives family and many relatives
keep a close eye on each other and
remain in contact. The Ives' four
children: Donald, Brussels; Mrs.
Shirley (Ken) Staples, Port Colborne;
Mrs. Laverne (Dave) Colclough,
Clinton; George, Blyth along with
grandchildren, sisters, brothers,
cousins and even Mr. Ives'mother and
aunt all helped the couple celebrate
their wedding occasion over the past
weekend.
Mrs. Ives and her sister have
celebrated their anniversaries together
for years. Her sister, who was married
on October 17 has been wed for 53
years. Another sister has also been
married for over 50 years.
The honeymoon is not yet over for the
Ives. Avid travellers, the couple hopes
to go back to Newfoundland with their
camper and Mr.' Ives wants to head
back to the Mediterranean again.
The days aren't long enough for the
energetic couple and they both claim
they never get bored. Along with
travelling • extensively throughout
Canada and abroad, Mr. Ives does
woodworking for a hobby while his wife
collects stamps and knits.
At the rate the Ives are moving, it is
more than likely that they 'will be
celebrating their 60th year together.
anon, stiff competition
blamed for raceway decline
Inflation and competition for the
entertainment dollar are being blamed
for a reduction in attendance and
watering at the Clinton Kinsmen
Raceway this summer.
Racing ended on October 1, and
though the final figures won't be known
for several months, profit will be down
somewhat, says raceway chairman
Paul Kerrigan.
Attendance this year dropped 14 per
cent, while the rnutuel handle was only
down four per cent from 1977, which
was the best ever for the service club
track.
"We're pretty pleased though, said
Kerrigan, although he said the club
was disappointed in several Sundays
where crowds were down
dramatically, even though big stake
races were scheduled.
Mr. Kerrigan also said the two -night
Thursday racing experiment was' also
a disappointment, costing the club
$5,500.
This year, not counting the Thursday
night meets, a total of 19,979 people
went through the gate on 15 Sundays for
an average 1,436 per program, com-
pared to 21,624 and 1,545 in 1977 in only
14 programs.
The fans bet a total of $1,069,032 this
year in 15 Sunday programs, or an
average of $73,918 per card, compared
to $1,042,034, or an average of $74,431 in
1977.
Mr. Kerrigan said the club will likely
continue in racing next year, although
they will have to take a hard look at
expenses, as it appears harder to get
more fans out, with the stiff com-
petition from other nearby tracks
racing on Sunday.
THE NEXT ELECTION...
for municipal councils and school boards
will be three weeks early this year.
It will take place throughout Ontario
on Monday, November 13,1978.
This earlier date means that the time available for enumeration and
the preparation of the Preliminary List of Electors was shorter than it
has been in the past. Also, the time allowed for the Municipal Clerk to
revise the list has been cut back as well.
To make certain that you get your vote on November 13 in the correct
poll, please be sure to go and check the Preliminary Lists of Electors
which the Municipal Clerk will be posting soon. Watch your news-
paper for an advertisement telling you where and when the Lists
will be available for revision.
Separate School supporters should also make a point of checking
the lists. The way you are shown will not only determine which school
trusteos you can vote for, but may also affect the direction of the
education. part of your property tax in 1979.
The municipal clerk has a list of people entitled to direct school taxes
and this list can be 'revised up to Friday, October 27,.1978. There will
be an advertisement in. your newspaper informing you where and
when this list can be inspected.
Ontario
Ministry
of
Revenue
e
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