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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-10-26, Page 44-0 PAGE 4 —CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1978 Happiness or apathy Acclamations really never prove anything except apathy, and ex- cept for a few instances, public apathy seems to have reached a highpoint in the area. There will be few elections in the district, but overall most can- didates for the various municipal posts were acclaimed, and in several other cases nominations had to be re -opened, after in- sufficient names were offered the first time. Some say acclamations means the electors are happy with the present state of affairs, and the only time there are races, is when +the general public are upset or dissatisfied with incumbents ac- tions. Perhaps. Others argue that the elections are too early this year, unlike other years when they were held in December. They say the farmers are too busy with the harvest, or people are just• getting over the Thanksgiving, or whatever. Perhaps. But the fact remains that all the moaners and complainers had their chance to express them- selves, and blew it. Most of us will have to wait another two years before we have a chance again. But every cloud has a silver lining, and according to one ac- claimed candidate: "Not having an election will save the taxpayers a mill on their taxes." Unlike the past three elections here in Clinton, there seems to be a few issues, little controversy, and hence little interest. In fact, there won't be an election of any kind in town for the first time in many years (unless more than one candidate steps forward for the remaining PUC seat). Many electors argue: "Why have an election when those presently on council are doing such a good job?" And the record of Clinton council in the last two years is certainly a good one, no argument about that. A few accomplishments in the last two years include continuation of their street rebuilding and reconstruction program; complete backing of the new tennis courts and a new grandstand; the setting aside of a $60,000 reserve fund to restore Clinton's town hall; the purchase of a new grader and tractors and street sweeper for the public works department; initiation of the start of the arena floor replacement construction; and last but not least, a full-time mayor, who believes in fairness and is always around to listen to anyone's problems, no matter how big or small. But the icing on the cake is that council did all these things and still ran the„town without raising the tax rate. In fact, in their first year in office, they actually lowered it. About the only promise they didn't live up to was their promise to build an off-street paved parking lot behind the town hall. (sugar andspice Voting time - About this time of year, reporters for community newspapers are ri sriiffing around the town hall, trying to drum up a hot story about the coming municipal elections. It'sabout as rewarding as looking for diamonds in the Arctic. All they come up with are pompous cliches, evasions and half-truths. Almost invariably, the Mayor, unless he's been caught with his hand in the till, or been discovered in flagrante delicto in a motel room with somebody else's wife, is going to run again. "Yes, I believe I owe it to the people of our fine town to carry out the many progressive programs inaugurated during my years in office." Translation: I like having my name in the paper every week, and if those jackasses of councillors would stop arguing with me, we might be able to screw enough money out of the government to start building that new community centre, which will be called after me. Reeve Djmlylit: "What we need in our fair town is leadership at the top, something we haven't been getting. Yes, I will probably be a candidate again for municipal office, but I do not yet know in what capacity." Translation: If that turkey, the Mayor, has a heart attack, I'll go after his job. He gets the chain of office, the cocktail parties, the headlines. I want them. Deputy -Reeve Durnly: "There seems to be a strong ground -swell, among the voters for new blood at the top, a vibrant leadership that would make Pokeville the thriving community it could be. But I have not decided yet. Let the people speak." Translation : If the Mayor makes a terrible boo-boo, and the Reeve suc- cumbs to cirrhosis of the liver, which he's working hard at, I'll go for the top, if I can find two guys to nominate and second me. Councillor Doakes : "Yes. Well, as the voters of Ward Four well know, I have been their ardent representative whenever their best interests were at "Do yoit have any experience?” "Of coure — I've been on 'strike many times'," odds 'n' ends Just before Hallowe'en `Twas the night 'fore Hallowe'en, and all through the house Not a creature was stirring, 'cept a bat and a mouse; The pumpkins weird faces to scare Any visitors that night just might venture there; The children were nestled all warm in dispensed by bill smiley heart, and I know they are behind me 100 percent." Translation: 1 voted against every improvement in town, unless it was in Ward Four, and I squeaked in the last 'times bff"vur votes. Councillor Blank : "Well, I just don't know whether I'll run again. The position takes a terrible toll of your time and energy. I'd like to spend more time with my family. But you do feel a sense of responsibility to keep Pokeville progressing." Translation: Jeez, I _ only missed three committee meetings last month. Holy, Moses, if I'm turfed out, I'll miss that $8Q a year, and I'll have to stay home with Gladys and those rotten kids every night. Please Lord, don't. let Joe Glutz run against me. He'd wipe me out. Councillor Klutz: "I honestly haven't decided yet. I have served the good people of Ward Two for twenty-eight years, unstintingly, regardless of race, creed or colour, and I believe, with all due modesty, that I have served them well. Look at. the new sewage line on 11th St. Remember the maples I had cut down to accommodate a fine new service on 8th St. And don't forget the modernization I brought to Ward Two: a barber shop, two pizza parlors, and a chicken palace. I stand on my record." Translation : Some of those dang communists are still sore at me for cutting down those 25 maple trees. Some of them others is mad because they got pop cans and pizza plates all over their front lawns. If anybody runs against me, I'm dead. Otherwise, I'll be back on the band -wagon. But we must avoid being cynical, rnusn't we? Those municipal lioli-ticians are more to be pitied than scorned. If they fail to be elected, it's a serious blow to the ego. If they succeed, they are stuck with two years of mind - numbing meetings, and the constant obloquy of the public they serve. Unlike their brethen in provincial and federal politics they cannot put a certain distance between themselves and their masters, such as a secretary. They are apt to be pilloried in the local paper, belligerently confronted in a The Clinton News.Record Is published each Thursday at P.O. Sox 39, Clinton, Ontario, Canada. NOM 1LO. Member, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Assocldtlon eNA It is registorod as second class mall by the• post office under the permit number 0117. Th. News -Record Incorporated In 1024 the Huron Nows-Record, founded in 1811, and The Clinton Now Era, founded In 1U43. Total press run 3,300. Clinton Dews -Record Member Canadian ' Cotnntunity Newspaper Asietiattoit Display advertising rates avallsble on reigtylekt, Ask for Recti Card Na. 4 efffrctive Ocf. 1, 14111. General Manager . J. Howard Aitken Rdlfdr•.rdntelf fhsrgerold Advertising Director . Gary r.. Habit Newt editor gh011oy McPhee Ottice Manager • Margaret Gibb CtrcuIdflon . F?.de M tied Subscription Rates Cando."14.00•pat year. tr. Milken '12 per year U.S.A. ak foreign. '31 pet year were cut with coffee shop, or phoned at two in the morning to settle a drunken argument. Such is the lot of the municipal politician. i 'Nor can we blame them too mupft fob�,'' r. being shifty when asked whetheor nfdt they are going to stand for election. They have learned that shifty footwork, that sparring for advantage, that gouging and butting in the clinches, from their provincial and federal counterparts. And they have, of course, that great master of the ringing phrase,, the double talk, the double think, the swift change of course, . Pierre Elliott Himself: the man who was going to wrestle inflation to the ground; who abhorred price and wage controls, then clasped them to his bosom; who steered through the end of capital punishment, and now might, just might, hold a referendum on it, provided enough people vote for him in the next election which might, just might be held next spring. Or next summer. Or next fall. No, we can't blame our local politicians for issuing evasive or cowardly statements to the press. They've been too well trained from the top. their beds, While visions of goblins danced in their heads; And Mom in her rollers, and I in my cap, Had •just settled down. for a snug autumn nap, When outside the house such,a wind, I jumped from my bed caused the din. Away to the window I stumbled and moaned, Tore open the curtains and threw up the storm. The full moon on the naked branches and mud Gave eerie shapes to the shadows and stuff When, what to my watering eyes should appear, But a corn stalk broom and a cat, black "Was could be, ,With' i the driver, so evil and thin, I.kpcw in a moment it must be a witch. there arose to see what More rapid than a jet her broom it cam's,.: And she screeched, and howled, and called rats by name; 'Now, Troller! Now Franken! Now, Jekyll and Hyde! On, Goblin! On, Coffin! On, Ghosts up so high! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, Get away, Get away, Get away all.' Like the wind that whistled round the rickety house, The skies were all black, and the cat chased the mouse; So up to the housetop the broom it fast flew With the cat on the back and Witch ie - poo, too. And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The thud of -her broom, the bound of her boots; As I drew in my head and was turning around, Down the chimney she came with a swooshing sound. remembering our past 25 YEARS ACO November 5, 1953 Clinton District Collegiate Institute's Redmen and Seaforth High School battled through 60 minutes of torrid football yesterday afternoon on the Exeter grid -iron with neither team scoring a single point. The 0-0 stalemate' leaves the two evenly - matched teams still deadlocked and forces another sudden -death game, which will be played in Exeter, on Friday afternoon. Clarence A. Trott, Queen Street, Clinton, was among the many graduates who received a Bachelor of Arts degree at the 161st Convocation of the • University of Western Ontario, London on October 23. "Are you in favour of the Town Hall of Clinton retaining the old school building for Municipal Offices and renting the remaining available space?" is the question which will be placed before the property owners of the town of Clinton on December 1. The vote on the above question will be taken on the same day as the general election, The fine community spirit of the kind neighbors of Kenneth Vodden, Londesboro, who is a patient in Victoria Hospital, Lon- don, was well displayed last Thursday when 14 tractors were used to do his fall plowing and five more circled his wood. Three per cent interest on savings,. Open a savings account in Clinton Community Credit Union today. Children's accounts welcomed. Savings doubled in case of death. Loans at reasonable rates. W.V. Roy, manager. • H'allowe'en pranksters this year appeared less anxious than usual to create a nuisance, However, one large car did find its way up on the front steps of Gray's general store in Rrucefield., several tractors took up their positions on the lot in front of the CNR Station and a "wee hoose" was much in evidence on the sidewalk in front of the manse on Sunday morning. The Bayfield Lions Club has organized a drive for funds to complete the Bayfield She was dressed a 1 in black from her head to her foot And her clotbes wererall covered with ashes and soot; A big old kettle she hd slung on her back, And a ladle for stirring s sack. e drew from a Her eyes - how they squinted; her skin - how it cracked; Her cheeks were so"hollow, hr nose it was flat! Her dry little mouth was drawn tip like a prune, The square of her chin was like log newly -hewn; The butt of a cigar she clamped in \l\er teeth, ' And the smoke it encircled her hed like a shield; - She had a hard brow and a lip that was\, tight, Her voice, like a hinge, creaked in the night. , She was long and lean, a real scary old elf, And I shuddered aloud, in spite of myself ; A blink of her eye and a twitch of her head, For a moment I felt nothing but dread; She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work, Blew out all the pumpkins, then turned with a jerk And straightening the cap on the top of her head, And giving a nod, up the chimney she fled; She sprang to her broom, to her cat gave a cry And away they all flew like the sweep of a scythe; But I heard her proclaim ere she flew past the moon, "Trick or treat to you all, and I'll be back real soon." (Oops, 'I've got my occasions mixed. What can you expect from someone who just had the wits scared out of her by a four -foot Count Dracula who couldn't wait until October 31 ?") a look through the news -record files community centre. Some friends have already made some donations to this worthy enterprise. Great was the surprise of two in- dustriously soaping youngsters doing a remarkably thorough job on the window at Clayton's Ice Cream Bar on Hallowe'en night when they heard a voice behind them say, "Mighty fine job." None other than Constable Timleck himself had been wat- ching them really get the job done. Then the constable stood by, while the young ones went in and got a pail of water from the restaurant and washed the windows spic and span again. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Westlake Turner were married last Saturday, October 21, in the Wesley Willis United Church, Clinton by Rev. H.C. Wilson. The bride is Lillian Alice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford J. Stewart, R.R. 5, Clinton and her husband is the son of Mr. and Mrs, John P. Turner, R.R. 3, Bayfield. After a wedding trip to the United States, they plan to live in Bayfield. 50 YEARS AGO November 1, 1928 First prize for honey at the National Dairy Show held in London, England, last week, was awarded to Messrs. Watts, Cudmore and Scribbins of Clinton. There were seven entries and all three prizes came to Ontario. This is a notable triumph for the Clinton bee men and hearty congratulations are in order. The trustees of SS No. 9, Hullett built a neat, roomy new school house during the past summer, which was officially opened recently by an evening gathering of about 100 ratepayers and friends, who came together for a little community social time. A new two -cent stamp is out. Itis quite the same color as the old one, but the design is different. It show's the King's head almost full face and not as familiar looking as the old one but the wreath of maple leaves is missing. No particular advantage is seen in the design except that the figure two is Appalled Dear Editor: The article in today's paper regar- ding the slaughter of the geese, has left me appalled. What type of mentality can justify this cruel and wanton act? No wonder there is so much violence and disregard for any type of life, when children see such barbarous killing?? Any disparaging remarks made about hunters always brings long harangues about the hunters' care and concern for wildlife. I submit the following which is a quote from a letter in today's Free Press from R.G. Gowan, Executive Director, Ontario Federation Anglers and Hunters. quote: "Certainly no one condones the senseless crippling or wasting of any bird or mammal. That is why responsible hunters spend so much time on target practice. They respect wildlife, probably more than any other single group does." It would be funny, if it weren't so tragic. Evidently, these "concerned" hunters respected the geese so much couldn'tslaughter them. The lettereferred to was deriding Tom Hughes of the Ontario Humane Society for his remarks regarding uncaring hunters. Unfortunately, the laws seem to favour the hunters and anglers. My sympathy goes to Mr. Potter, his family and the people who enjoyed seeing the birds that are no more. Audrey Graham, Bayfield. Help Coins dropped in the familiar black and orange UNICEF boxes carried by young "trick or treaters" at Hallowe'en have far- reaching beneficial effects often in simple ways. One of these is the provision of clean water in projects supported by UNICEF Canada° in different parts of the world. -Clean, safe water, an accepted convenience to Canadians, is an urgent problem in the developing countries, where less than 20 percent of rural populations has access to water suitable for \ drinking, cooking and washing. And ' to further complicate the Situation, fresh water is unequally distributed around the globe. Some regions have too much rainfall and experience disastrous floods, while others have too little and suffer repeated droughts. larger. But it is a change and humans seem to like changes. The farmers with good beans in Kippen are very fortunate this year as beans are a splendid price. One man recently sold 250 bushels at $3.50 per bushel. 75 YEARS AGO November 5, 1903 Colonel Varcoe of the Huron Regiment has been placed upon the retired list, having reached the age limit. Major Young of Colborne succeeds to the Colonel, while Captain Dudley Holmes of Wingham and Captain H.B. Coombe of Clinton will be Senior and Junior Majors respectively. For some time past it has' been regarded as a certainty that Major Coombe would receive the appointment on the resignation of Mr. Coats. He is a native of Clinton, a property owner, public spirited, able and genial. In addition to these qualifications, he has municipal experience and as a member of the council has been foremost in ark'= vancing the town's interests. He would make an excellent clerk and his ap- pointment would be a decidedly popular one. Charlie Dunlavy, whoa few years ago was a well-known 1oca1 character died in a benevolent institution in London on Tuesday. He was about 70 years of age. n The stables of Rev. J. Kennedy find Rev. J.A. Hamilton of Londesboro were broken into on Saturday night last and the tails of the horses docked and hair shaved off. There is a suspicion as to the perpetrators of the outrage which is supposed to be in retaliation for the active part Revs. Ken- nedy and Hamilton have taken in the agitation in favor of local option for this township. One of the oldest settlers of Constance was called to the unseal world,. in the person of Mr. Wrim Sr., on Thursday last. The deceased leaves a wife and a large family to mourn the loss of a loving husband and. father. The funeral was largely attended on Sunday afternoon. The Clinton blacksmiths have followed the example of smiths in other towns by ad- vancing thel 'prices. Their raw material costs th4m more, they say, hence the change. The new schedule for horseshoeing as compared with the old is as follows: remove: was 10 cents cash or 121/2 cents booked; now 13 cents cash or 15 cents booked. New shoe: was 25 cents cash or 30 cents booked; now 30 cents cash or 35 cents booked. Dressmakers are unusually scarce in Bayfield. Miss Cartney is quietly dropping her customers and giving up dressmaking. We shall add our congratulations later on. 100 YEARS AGO October 31, 1878. On Thursday night last, Constables Dickinson and Paisley arrested at his home a young man named D. Lavis on the charge of forgery. On Friday he was examined before Messrs. McGarva and Searle and pleaded guilty to forging a note of $16 on Mr. J.L. Courtice of Goderich Township and disposing of the same. The youth is very respectably connected, and, until recently, had a good reputation, but, of late he has manifested a degree of recklessness and fast living not to his credit. As soon as it was known that he had been arrested, Constable English of Brussels came here and wished to take him back there (Lavis having been living at that place for the summer) several serious charges having been laid against him, but this was not granted. The sad part of the affair is that Lavis does not seem to realize to any great degree, the serious nature of this offence. A snake over six feet long was killed in Exeter. It is reported that persons are going through Goderich Township, selling at a large figure, what they term Egyptian wheat. This is an old fraud, and has before been noticed in these columns, but it seems there are still those who will permit themselves to be gulled. We congratulate Dr. Dowsley, of Clinton, on the splendid bargain he made last week in purchasing that beautiful driving mare, Nell, from Mr. T.M. Elliott, 5th con., Goderich Township. This is one of the nicest little beasts in the country and has taken between 10 and a do eprizes at the dif- ferent shows held in tll he County of Huron within the last four years. Not long, since a merchant in town hearing a noise in the vicinity of his premises at an unreasonable hour of the night, hastily lifted a window and discovered that a man was tiptoeing across his yard. Asking him what he wanted, the fellow deigned no reply, but hastily left, joining his companion on the street. . Mr. Alexander of the Huron Road, near Seaforth, informs us that he was recently offered the sum of $7,000 cash for his farm of 100 acres. Mr. C. Dale of the Huron Road was also, we understand offered $13,000 cash, for 200 acres, but he wanted $14,000. Both properties are well situated and have good brick houses thereon. These figures will give some idea of the value of land in this county. • • • •