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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-02-15, Page 1Charlie East, centre, talks to Clinton fireman Craig Cox as they watch all of the East's family possessions go up in flames in a fire last Saturday morning at -the Hullett township farm, 21/2 miles northeast of Clinton. The fire was too far advanced whenfiremen" arrived, and the ast family got out with only the clothes on their backs. (photo by Steve Cook) Tuckersmith gives employees raises By Wilma Oke Tuckersmith Township council turned down a request last Wednesday from the Vanastra recreation centre for authority to add $200 to the annual rent which the Vanastra day care centre pays for use of roomy the recreation building. (An explanation of the recreation and the day care centres: several years ago a committee of Vanastra businessmen and residents bought a former church located on the site and turned it into a community centre auditorium and added an addition for a covered swimming pool, dressing rooms and washrooms with the help of several community centre grants and covered pool grants. Debentures for $130,000 were issued to be paid by the residents of Vanastra only, to cover the rest of the costs not covered by grants. A curling rink was bought along with the church and is part of above figure. At present time the debenture is down to $119,000 with a payment of $14,602 this year being paid by Vanastra residents through their taxes, towards paying off the debenture. The Vanastra Recreation Centre is thus owned by the residents of Vanastra- who are responsible for the $119,000 debt against it. However, the full Tuckersmith council acts as a committee at this time to manage it along with the management of the Vanastra day care centre where two council members and three local women form a committee under ., council to supervise it. Sports store entered Clinton Police have recovered $1,000 in merchandise stolen in a February 8 robbery at Crown Sports on Huron Street. A 20 -year-old Clinton man has been charged in connection with the rob- bery. The incident occurred about 2 a.m. on Thursday night after the robber pushed a window in at the front door and will be tried in Goderich provincial court on February 26. In other news, the police reportea that on February 8 the high school was entered. Nothing was stolen, but several filing cabinets had been pried first column open in the marketing room and office. A tape deck was stolen out of a car, owned by Robert E. Johnston of Londesboro on February 11 parked near the arena, after its trunk was pried open. Snowbanks, -hampering 'the view of oncoming cars was the cause of a February 10 accident resulting in $1,800 damage. A car driven by Steve Gibbings, 21 Clinton received $1,500 in damages and a second car driven by David Bartliff, 21, Clinton received $300 in damages when the two collided on Whitehead Street. Most people seem resigned to a dollar ' worth only 83 cents, an in- flation rate of 10 per cent, and temperatures of minus 30 below, but to have our beloved hockey team beaten by a bunch of heathens from Russia, well that's another matter. A Canadian is a quiet complainer at the best of times, but that quick three game series with the Soviet Union sure has heated things up in the middle of winter. The country may be going to pot over a language dispute .and very few people really care, but let our heroes be trampled on like a bunch of grapes, and the whole country is ready for revolution. Although the Challenge Cup Series was supposed to pit the best of the National Hockey League against the best from the USSR, in our hearts, we know it was another round of democracy versus the red hordes. And we lost - at least this round. As NHL team captain Bobby Clarke accurately put it: "We learned that skating and passing and shooting• are still the name of the game." +++ No, there isn't a gas war on in town if you see gasoline on for 21.3 cents. Harold's Shell Service in Clinton became the first gas station in town to go metric on Monday and now a customer will pay 21.3 cents for a litre of regular gas, while no lead is going for 22.4 cents a litre. It takes 4.54 litres to make a gallon. The conversion of the gas pumps has again stirred some opposition to metrification, with some people claiming that 80 per cent of Canada's ,trade is with the United States, who are still on the old system, so Why bother switching. Personally, I find it very hard to adjust to the new system, as does everyone over 10 years of age, but unless we stage a minor revolution, metric is here to stay, and we better soon learn it. • If it isn't hockey we have to talk about in Huron County, then it's the weather, and man, have we been by jim fitzgerald getting it socked to us. First it was the storms, and now we're getting cold weather almost unprecedented this century. Our official weather watcher, the - Bairds out at Brucefield, report that the thermometer hit minus 32 C (- 25.5 F) on Sunday morning, and minus 30 (-22 F) on Tuesday mor- ning. In fact, the temperature has been below zero F every night for the past seven consecutive nights. Better call the oil man again. -}r -1- + Despite the recent rise in beef prices, we still enjoy the cheapest food prices in the world. For in- stance, in England, according to a recent article in the daily papers, the citizens pay $7.15 for one pound of sirloin steak, $3.30 for a dozen eggs, and $2.10 per pound of turkey. We get our eggs `from a loc- farmer for 75 cents a dozen, and . sirloin for $2.99 a pound from the store, while 98 cents will buy a pound , of turkey. We can't foresee Clinton or any of the local township councils. passing this bylaw, but in Quebec City, the council down there recently gave first reading to a bylaw requiring all horses drawing carriages to wear "diapers". Actually, the diapers are fiberglas dung -catching devices which were developed in the United States. What I'm wondering though, is -what will • the kids use for hockey pucks in the winter, and where will the sparrows dine out, when the bylaw is put into force? +++ I'm willing to bet that most of the area's automobile drivers are hoping that the last two weeks of February are warm, as many of them will find themselves standing outside in long line-ups to get their licence renewal stickers. Local agent Phyllis ;Butler reported on Wednesday that only 10 per cent of the 3,000 stickers had been issued, and with only two' weeks to go, the wait could be a lengthy one. 4 The Vanastra day care centre was started -by -the same Vanastra com- mittee. The east end of the church was remodelled, and a new addition was built to house the day care centre --all paid 100 percent by provincial day care grants. Also paid in full by the day care grants were the changes to the recreation centre heating system to accommodate the day care area - the lighting system for the day care; a new kitchen in the day care with stove, refrigerator and other furnishings; play equipment and toys and all other furniture and equipment necessary in a day care centre, including such things as soap and paper towels. The Vanastra Day Care is reported to be one of the last such centres con- structed, funded 100 percent by provincial government grants.) In 1978, the day care centre paid rent of $700 per month for a total of $8.,400 per year to the recreation centre for the caretaking, heat, light water and in- surance provided, which actually amounted to about a total of $8,000 last year. The recreation manager uses two" or three areas of the day care fo.r groups using the complex, such as the Vanastra Lions club for meetings, youth groups for meetings for which no chargbe is made. However, she charges rent of $25 each for two of the day care rooms, the kitchen and also the large room immediately behind the auditorium used to enlarge the dance area for large groups renting the auditorium. The recreation centre keep the rent from the kitchen, but the dre for the large back room is ucted from the $700 rent paid by the day care to the recreation ' centre, according to the rental agreement,. Last year with the back room rented 40 times, this helped cut the rent for the day care centre by $1,000. Even with this help, the day care centre ended the year with a deficit of about $6,000. For 1979, recreation manager, Mrs. Durnin had asked for an additional rent of $200 raising the rent to $8,600 a year, and she asked that the recreation centre keep the $25 rental fee paid by a group for the day care rooms, as well as to continue to keep the $25 rental fee for the use of the day care centre kit- chen. At a day care board meeting January 30, it was voted that the rent remain the same as 1978. When presented for final consideration by Tuckersmith council Wednesday night, Councillor William Brown made a motion that the rent remain the same as in 1978; seconded by Councillor Frank Falconer. Deputy Reeve Robert Bell and Councillor Robert Fotheringham (who is also the Turn to page 3. Tuckersmith won't raise rent By Wilma Oke Tuckersmith Township Council set salary rates for its employees at a meeting Wednesday, a meeting .delayed because Reeve Ervin Sillery and deputy reeve Robert Bell were at a convention of Rural Ontario Municipal Associations, the first part of the week. The salary for clerk -treasurer John McLachlan was raised to $19,000 from last year's salary of $18,810, plus a car allowance of $1,500. His assistant will continue to be paid at the rate of $3.50 per hour but this is under review. Fire burns family out A Hullett Township family lost everything but the clothes on their back after a Saturday morning fire destroyed their mobile home. Charles and Shirley East and their four-year-old son Stewart escaped uninjured in the blaze that completely gutted the mobile home, behind the Jim East home at RR4 Clinton. The fire broke out about 11:45 a.m. when Mrs. East tried to relight an oil space heater in the trailer, but ap- parently the oil was seeping out and set fire to the back of the trailer. Mrs. East grabbed young Stewart and rushed over to the main house where they phoned the fire depart- ment. When they rushed back to the trailer to try and save some belongings, they were met with a wall of fire. Charles East then returned from work just ahead of the Clinton volun- teer fire brigade but he too was forced back by the flames. Damage in the blaze was estimated at about $20,000 but Mr. East said he had only $8,000 in insurance to cover the loss. The family is living with the Jim Easts for the time being Read superintendent Allan Nicholson will receive $15,000, up from $13,405. Road grader operators will get $6 per hour, up from $5.48; mower employees will be paid $5, and labourers, $4. Female employees of the township were awarded increases amounting to eight percent--Vanastra Day Care Centre Director, Karen McEwing, $11,051 up from $10,233; her assistants, Debbie Denomme, $8,640, up from $8,000 and Beatrice Thomson, $7,674 up from $7,106. Vanastra Recreation manager, Diane Durnin, will be paid $12,960, up from $1,2,000 paid last year. Her part - 'time assistant manager, June Tomkins vyill receive $4,680 up from $3,760, an increase of percent because of more hours put in at the recreation centre. While the three councillors held their allowances to $40 per council meeting, the same as last year, reeve Ervin Sillery will get $55, up from $50 per council meeting fast year; and deputy reeve Robert Bell -will get $45 a meeting, up from $42.50. The rate for non council meetings such as fire board, hospital board or committee meetings have not been set yet. 114th year -No. 7 Thursday, February 15, 1979..- 35 cents Clinton to get packer service By Shelley McPhee As a business, garbage collection seems to ,be picking up in Clinton, judging from the number of con- tractors who applied for the job. Clinton council received 15 ap- plications for the garbage collection service in Clinton for the next two years. Out of those, council decided on Monday night to accept the fourth lowest tender of Bud Chamney, Auburn. Mr. Chamney and his crew will collect the garbage in Clinton beginning March 1 at a cost of $22,800 per year, up from $17,500. Councillor Rosemary Armstrong explained, "We didn't pick the lowest. Mr. Chamney is well recommended. He picks up the garbage in Bayfield and Tuckersmith Township presently. He has packer trucks, is well insured and has a man available to start im- mediately. I think we're quite lucky to get him." The rest of council readily accepted Councillor Armstrong's recom- mendation, since the 'application had been discussed earlier in committee of the whole. Other prospective bidders included: Dennis Hallam, Brucefield, $17,000 plus $20 for every new house; Ken McLellan Disposal Services, Mount Forest, $20,245 in 1979 and $20,990 in 1980; Joe Steep and Elden Schmidt, Clinton, $21,500; Bill Chesney, RR,, 5, Seaforth, $23,400; Laurence Young, RR 5, Clinton, $24,000; Charles East, RR 4, Clinton, $24,000; Don Greidanus and Wayne Kennedy, RR 1, Londesboro, $24,440; William Stewart, Goderich, $24,800; David Livingston, RR 2, Seaforth, $25,000; Larry R. Rutledge, RR 5, Clinton, $25,500; Wayne Layton, RR 4, Seaforth, $26,500 in 1979 and $27,000 in 1980; Joe Atkinson, Clinton, $28,000; John E. Smith, Clinton $33,000; MacDonald Sanitation, RR 1, Crediton, $39,600. The tenders -were asked for after the former garbage collector Randy Glew resigned. In other business, a delegation from the Clinton Early Childhood Education Centre approached council, asking for a grant to help run their co-op daily nursery school held at the Wesley Willis Church. The ladies explained to council that the non-profit school is run by parents and two teachers and their only financial support comes from the children's registration fees and money gained in projects such as bake sales and raffles. Barb' Hicks explained that last year $500 was spent on mats and this year the school hopes to buy materials and supplies so parents can build climbers and other equipment. "Do you have any idea how much this will cost?" Councillor Roy Wheeler questioned. "It depends on how much money we have to work with. We're unlimited in whar-we`could buy," Mrs. Hicks ex- plained. She noted that on their small budget, a full-time and part time teacher must be paid, along with insurance and monthly rent to the church. "Then you're barely keeping your, heads above water," Reeve Royce Macaulay noted. Mrs. Hicks said, "I reel with envy when I see all the supplies they have at the Vanastra daycare centre arid no kids to use it. It's too "bad to see those facilities just sitting there." Council later agreed to give the school a donation of $200. "This can be reviewed again in the fall,.if they need more help," Councillor Wheeler noted. Town helps Spring Fair by Shelley McPhee To help Clinton celebrate its 125th spring fair this year, the town council decided Monday night to grant the Huron' Central Agriculture Society $1,000. Councillor' Roy Wheeler, ag. society president, was instrumental in pur- suing the donation for the upcoming fair. However, he noted that he had no real conflict of interest since he would not directly benefit from the financial Weather 1979 1978 N1 LO MI LO Feb. C C F F 6 —10 —19 8 —8 7 —4 —12 14 —1 8 —11 —19 24 —10 9 —15 —26 21 —15 10 —13 - 20 25 5 11 —17 —32 26 —1 12 —11 -- 24.5 25 16 Snow 9.0 cm 1 No Snow 1 support given by the town. "Unfortunately we do have a debt of $14,000 for an outstanding loan," Councillor Wheeler said, "and we are in a bit of a bind." He went on to say that the ag. society hasn't received all their incoming grant money yet, but when it arrives, the debt will be cut back to about $6,000. Councillor Ron McKay, also an ag society member added, ''Unfor tunately the fair board work hard but you can't get people out, not even Clinton citizens. I know it's a hard statement, but there's not much sup- port from the town." "The fair's akin to the town of Clinton and we don't want to lose it," Coun- cillor Wheeler went on, "we're trying hard and we've got a big parade and fair lined up. But, we've got to get help from the town and the surrounding communities to make it go." Councillor Rosemary Armstrong intervened, "You've got to spend money to make money. I know I'm not interested in just looking at cows and pigs. I'm on the parade committee and before we got $500. Some bands cost nearly $1,000. Last week it was seven loose cattle, and this week it's loose ducks, as the Clinton police department were called out on1Tuesday on another "round -up". Here pollee chief Lloyd Westlake herds one duck down Albert Sfreet... ... but the duck remakes a flying escape behind chief caught the duck three blocks away. The police cruiser before Chief Westlake had him Record .hotos) the printers. Minutes later, the duck left his calling card in the safely at an area farm. (News- ,