HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-11-30, Page 1p.
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With the arrivai of winter over the past several days,
motorists have begun their annual rituals of battling the
elements on area roads and highways. But the younger set
can always have some fun in a bad situation, and for these
kids playing on Wellington Street last Saturday, sliding on
Won't use Vanastra
the slippery surface of their driveway is just one of the
many treats of winter. Left to right are Ken Wiggins, 9,
Robbie Wiggins, 10, Rhonda McLean, 10, and little Ricky
McLean. (News -Record photo)
113th year -No. 48 • Thursday.,. November 30, 1978
Three pupils hurt in bus crash
Icy roads have been blamed as the
cause of a car and school bus accident
that sent three children to Clinton
Public Hospital on Tuesday morning
with minor injuries.
The Goderich OPP reported that
Bruce Dale, 13 of R.R. 4, Clinton; Brian
Dale, 12; and Paul Farquhar, 13, R.R.
1, Clinton were taken to hospital by
their principal Angus MacLennan of
Hullett Central school and, were
treated and released.
The 8:30 a.m. accident occurred
after the bus, filled with 36 passengers
and the driver Frances Palmer, 47,
R.R. 1, Clinton, was attempting to
make a turn in a private lane en High-
way 8, just east of the Constance Road.
The bt' %owned by the Hullett Bus
Lines, b& out onto the highway and
came in collision with a car travelling
down the road, driven. by Kenneth
Nigh, 20, Seaforth. Nigh was unhurt.
Damage to the car was set at $500
while the left rear corner of the bus
received $200 in damages. No charges
Townspeople, want own pool, committee hears
A highly emotional gathering en-
dorsed fixing Clinton's 25 -year-old
swimming pool, if possible, rather than
use the year round facilities of
Vanastra.
The meeting which
attracted about
75 people to the town hall last Thursday
night, was called by the Clinton
Recreation Committee to decide the
fate of the Clinton pool.
The rec committee has to decide this
year whether to carry out extensive
renovations to the old pool, build a new
one, or use the indoor year-round
facilities offered by the Vanastra
community, three miles south of town.
Chairman of the meeting, Dean Reid,
who has resigned his post as a volun-
teer member of the recreation
com-
mittee, effective this month outlined
four alttfiiialw���innn i
mers.
He said ,the town could renovate the
existing pool, providing studies shows
it's possible, at a cost of between
$84.000 an4.6,990. the solution that the
gatherinOlapy weed upon.
Mr. ReiitAaid the, concrete decking
was in poor shape, the piping system
had completely eroded away, and the
chlorination system would need
replacing...
John Orr, a public health inspector
for Huron County, said that once
renovations to the new pool had been
started, then the whole pool would have
to be brought up to 1978 standards.
"The plans must be approved first by
the ministry, and then we (the county
health unit) enforces those standards,"
Mr. Orr said.
He said that his experience with the
Clinton pool showed the filtration and
chlorination system to be in poor
condition but the change rooms were in
good shape.
Steve Campbell, the pool supervisor
last summer, 'suggested in a letter to
the rec board that a three to six inch
skin of concrete be poured on the walls
and the bottom to seal off the cracks.
Mr. Orr explained this would only be
first
column
possible if the pool met certain stan-
dards such as a maximum depth at the
shallow end, and the degree of slope to
the deep end.'
Mr. Reid told the 11/4 hour meeting
that the town could build a new pool at
a cost of between $103,000 and $170,000,
depending on the size and type of
construction.
In either renovation or building a
new pool, Mr. Reid said the
chlorination system we have to be
moved 'above ground. " - "
The other alternative, and the one
fought against by most people present
was the suggestion of busing the
children to Vanastra, on the invitation
of their rec director, Diane Durnin. She
had written the rec committee in
September inviting them oto use the
`' arr'titiiid_ ' raci'iities of "70"nasttra,
rather than make a major capital
expenditure in Clinton that would only
be used two months of the year.
Not only does the Vanastra Centre
boast of a heated indoor pool, Mrs.
Durnin wrote,but also has a gym-
nasium, a sauna, a health spa, as well
as a canteen, kitchen facilities,
dressing rooms and locker rooms.
She said the centre offers 'fully
acredited swimming instruction, and in
fact many of the staff have also worked
at the Clinton pool.
-Mr. Reid said the children could be
bused out to Vanastra for two months
each summer for swimming lessons.
The buses, which would depart ,every
hour on the hour from 8:30 am to 4 pm
would cost $100 a day, or $5,240 a
summer, including insurance and a
qualified driver.
To purchase a bus would cost the
town $19,000 plus insurance, main-
tenance, and a driver, and the very
considerable added trouble of getting a
public vehicle license.
Percy Brown and Stu Taylor, who
are running the service club's Bingo
held every summer, were insistent that
the $29,500 raised from the Bingos be
put towards Clinton's own pool.
Where oh where has November
gone? Here it is December already,
and I haven't got used to the fall
weather yet! The snow has come,
and there's only 20 shopping days
left until Christmas !
Contrary to popular opinion, there
are not 32 days in November as
shown in our front page dateline last
week. Although it would be nice to
have a month with a couple of extra
days in it, November isn't one of
them. July or maybe August, but not
November. That little transposition
of numbers is what happens when
the gremlins get arguing in the
typebox and scatter letters and
numbers every which way.
-I- + +
Yes, she's finally come, much to
the chagrin of the snowmobile and
cross country ski enthusiasts. Old
man (or lady we're not chauvanists)
winter arrived in full dress on
Monday, and ane -he also brought
along his -her friends, rusty and salty
who are now busy feasting them-
selves on the undersides of
thousands of area cars and trucks.
+ + +
It's a wee bit earlier than we had
planned, but our f1rSt annual
gourmet *cookbook is inclu' ded with
this week's edition, and we'd like to
thank all those who contributed to it.
'Many °Cate recipes arrived too
late for 1rIclusjui, 11* CAIS year's
edition, so some of them will be
published in the paper during the
Christmas season, and all will ap-
pear in next year's edition in what is
so successful that it will become a
yearly project.
+++
The Fitzgeralds drove by the site
of the International Plowing Match
site last Sunday before the
snowstorm, and unless you knew
where to look, or somebody told you
it had been there, it was nearly
impossible to tell that a plowing
match had even been there, 'hlong
with some 250,000 visitors. Nothing
remains of the `Match, just a plowed
field. No roads, no signs, no
equipment, no hydro poles. The
clean-up crew have certainly done
their job well.
+++
A local girl watcher tells us that
you can't judge a girl by her clothes
anymore; there really isn't enough
evidence.
+ + +
The Londesboro Lions are going to
continue their project to collect old
newspapers for recycling, and will
be holding their regular, monthly
pick-up.here in,town, tend will be out,
in full force this Saturday mailing.
Please have your newspapers tied
and bundled, at the curbside by 9
a. m.
"The boys and girls only have to get
on their bicycles to to to the pool, " Mr.
Brown said.
Mr. Taylor said that the original pool
was build by the service clubs in the
town at no cost to the taxpayers, and
the Bingo committee was formed in
1974 to raise funds for a new pool or to
fix the old one up.
"If it comes to pass that we board up
the pool then we might as well close up
the park," said Mr. Taylor, who added..
that all 14 of his grandchildren had
learned to swim in town.
Last summer, Mr. Reid said 277
persons were enrolled in swimming
lessons in Clinton, while about 700
persons per week used the pool. The
pool co ,t the town $10,000 to operate. -
Red Garon "'Wondered why the arena
employees couldn't also look after the
pool in the summer, like they do in
Seaforth.
"Let's fix the pool and get on with it,"
said Bill Counter.
But may be last
r,
"We curl out of town, we golf out of
town, and the theatres are all out of
town, said Coleen Phillips, "why can't
we swim in town."
Councillor Roy Wheeler argued that
with the burden of coming up with
money to fix the pool next year on top of
the $45,000 still needed for the arena
floor fund, it would be too hard on the
taxpayer.
"Can't we use the Vanastra pool for
just one year until we can fir our own
pool," Mr. Wheeler asked.
Ree member `Dennis Jewitt
reminded the gathering that the rec
committee was just an unpaid
voltiinteer group seeking the opinion of
the people. ,
"We can see what4l veopl`'e want,
-and* we appreciate the people coming
out tonight and letting us know," Mr:
Jewitt commented.
"We're not all bad guys," said
council's rep on the rec board, Ron
McKay.
have been laid.
The Clinton Police reported that
Ellen Mero, 27, received minor injuries
after the car she was travelling in
struck a parked truck and house.
The accident occurred of November
27 after Keld Christensen, 21, Clinton
lost control of the car he was driving
and hit a parked truck on Victoria
Street. After hitting the truck owned by
Hyndamn Transport of Gorrie, the
Christensen vehicle bounced off,
crossed the street and hit the corner of
Dr. Brian Baker's house at 69 Victoria
Street.
Damage to the Christensen car was
set at $1,500 with $200, damage to the
house.
No injuries were received in a
November 23 accident after a vehicle
35 cents
driven by William Henry Palin, 80 of
R.R. 5, Seaforth and a second vehicle
driven by Irene Thalen, 42 of Blyth
collided.
The Thalen car was southbound on
Albert Street and the Palin car was
leaving a parked position on the same
street when the two collided.
Damage to the Thalen vehicle was
set at $900 with $50 damage received by
Palin's car.
Chief Lloyd Westlake reminds all car
owners that the no parking by-law on
town streets between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m.
will be strictly enforced.
The by-law is particularly enforced
during the winter monthssince snow
removal on the streets is done in the
early hours each morning. Anyone
breaking this by-law will be fined $4
Vandals hit Hensall
Another costly incident of vandalism
has occurred in the area, in Hensall,
leaving a trail of damages estimated to
be about $7,700.
The Exeter OPP reported that on
Saturday night vandals smashed the
windows at the Hensall abattoir, along
with two sets of weigh scales. An
amount of money, some knives and
sharpeners were stolen. The damage to
the meat processing plant was set at
about $5,000.
At the community centre, a few
blocks from the abattoir, 45 tires on 20
vehicles were slashed. The vehicles
belonged to people from across South-
western Ontario who were attending a
hockey tournament and dance at the
centre. Damage to the tires was set at
$2,700.
Two Huron Park youths aged 18 and
16 have been charged with break, enter
and theft and also face public mischief
and liquor charges. As well, the-- ' .-
year-old faces a charge relating to
damage to the cell at the Exeter OPP
office. A juvenile has also been � e n charged
with publics mischief, . break-in and
theft.
A court date has not been set for the
juvenile, but the other youth will ap-
pear in court in Exeter on December
12.
In Clinton, police are still in -
Spring Fair to hold 125th
The Clinton Spring Fair, will
celebrate its 125 anniversary next
June, but unless the sponsors of the
Fair get some new volunteers from
Clinton and surrounding areas, it may
be the last Fair to be held in Clinton.
That was one of the comments made
after the Fair's sponsors, the Huron
Central Agricultural Society, held its
annual meeting last Wednesday.
Despite the biggest prize list on
record, and excellent weather, at-
tendance at the "B" Fair in 1978 was
down, and secretary -manager Bob
Gibbings thinks the Society needs some
new people with some new ideas to get
the Fair rolling again.
The annual meeting heard from
guest speaker Jack Klassen secretary -
manager of the: highly successful
Brampton Fair, who described the
fair's methods and activities.
Harold Parkinson of Brampton,
general superintendent of the
agricultural division of the Candian
National Exhibition was also present.
Roy Wheeler of Clinton was elected
to a two year term as the new president
of the Society, succeeding Bill Flynn,
while Dave Dalzell of RR 5, Clinton is
the new vice-president, and Jack
r
Weather
1978 1977
NI LO HI L(
Nov. CC FF
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
—1 —7
1 —4
6 —1
5 0
1 —3
7 —7
—4,5 —7
Rain 14.2
Snow 10"
53
35
38
38
33
36
33
34
30
29
32
28
22
18
Rain .30'
1
The new president of: the Huron Agricultural 5.odety, Roy Wheeler, centre,
rehtits with guest. speakers 'Harold Parkinson, left, of the • CNg and Jack
" I: Issen� tight.; it the Brampton fi ii falr.;vli:lr OOotd,pho ) • '
Mayhew
o-
of RR 3, Clinton is the new
second vice-president.
Mrs. Dorothy O'Connell was elected
the women's president, Marie Flynn
was elected first vice-president and
Mrs. Susan Brandon was elected
second vice-president. '
Elected"directors were Harold Lobb,
Jim Snell, Ross Lovett, Tom Leiper,
Greg Brandon, Fred Vodden, George
Colclough, Eric Switzer, Larry Lovett,
Bill Flynn, Elgin Thompson, Roy
Wheeler, Frank MacDonald, Tom
Feeney, Dave D,,alzell, Ron McKay,
Jack Mayhew, Bob Vodden, and Doug
Farquhar.
Named associate directors were
Paul Wheeler, Ton O'Connell, Len
MacGregor, Harold Gibbings, Don
Young, Harold Wettlaufer, Garnet
Wright, Dick Lobb, and John Gibbings.
Arena floor
now ready
In less than three weeks, the ice plant
will be turned -Tin in the Clinton arena,
and skaters will take to the new surface
about seven days later, barring any
problems.
Workers from Dafoe Metallcrete of
London, finished grinding the new floor
on Friday night, after working non-stop
around the clock from Tuesday mor-
ning at 8 a.m.
The new floor went in very well, a
spokesman for Dafoe said, and there
weren't any major problems.
"It's a'real good floor," he said.
Meanwhile, the canvass for the arena
floor lids nearly reached a standstill,
and only $1,600 came in this week,
bringing the total to $50,274, $40,000
short of the $90,000 total needed.
Here is the list of this week's givers
Gerofsky Brothers Ltd. $100.
Eccello Corp. of Canada Ltd. $500.
Mr, and.Mrs. L. G. Winter $500.
Hurool Fuel Injection Equipment $100.
f,lititrk and Sherry Reid $50.
�aot'utorf :'uels Ltd. $300.
Clinton Christian Reformed
Young Peoples $50.
Total t irlate $50,274.
Watefes only, Reg Hart
vestigating the November 19 incident
of vandalism when 42 stop, yield and
street signs were broken off.
Meanwhile, five youths from the
Hensall and Brucefield areas have
been jointly charged with wilful
damage done at the Excello-Wildex
property in Clinton. As well, the youths
threw a picnic table from Wildex into
the,Bayfield River.
Clinton police are also investigating
a November 25 incident of wilful
damage.
At 2:20 am on November 25 the
Clinton police descovered that the glass
door at the Brewer's Retail Store on
Mill street had been smashed in with a
liquor bottle. Damage was estimated to
be at least $50.
Chief . Lloyd Westlake said that the
Brewer's Retail has now been the
recipient of wilful damage four times
this year.
•90,000
Arena
floor.
canvass
'75,000
'60,000
'45,000
0
'35,000
'22,000
'10,000