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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-02-22, Page 1Record cold snap ends An unprecedented cold snap finally abated in Huron County, and much of the northwestern half of North America on Tuesday, but not before it left behind a legacy of broken records, ice covered lakes, frozen pipes, un- startable cars, and expensive heating bills. On Wednesday (yesterday) the weatherman promised the tem- perature would get above freezing for the first time. in 23 days in what has been one of the coldest Februarys on record. Tony Chir, a meteorologist at the Goderich airport, said that cold snap has set at least a dozen records, many of them going back 150 years in some localities. Mr. Chir said that the ten-day period from February 8 to 18 was the coldest such span with a mean temperature of, only -18.4 degrees C (-1 degree F') and the five day span of February 13-18 set a new record with a mean temperature (the average of daytime highs and nighttime lows) of -19.0 degrees C (-2 degrees F). As well, several new nighttime minimums were broken on February 17 when the thermometer dipped to -32 degrees' C' (-25 degrees F) and on February 18 when the mercury stopped at -28 degrees C (-20 degrees )r•). The maximum kr February 17 of -18 degrees C also broke a new record. On the old Fahrenheit scale, there have been 13 out of the first 19 days of February when the temperature was sub -zero at night and 19 days so far in Weather 1979 HI 10 Feb. _ C C 13 —1,5 —28 14 —13 —30 15 --12.. —15 16 —14 —20 17 —18 —32 18 —12 —28 19 — 7 ._20_ Snow 2.cm n 1978 H1 l0 F F 28 13 17 —10 23 —5 24 -14 20 9 21 5 19 —18 Snow 1" 1979 when the mercury dropped below the 0 degree F mark, eclipsing an old mark set back in 1934. So far in February, the mean is -14.6 degrees C compared to the average of - 5.6, said Mr. Chir. 'A very rate weather phenomenon occurred, said Mr. Chir, when the barometer set what he thinks is a new all-time record high, hitting 10504 kiilopascals (31.00 inches) on Saturday morning, February 17. It was just a little over a year ago when the all-time record low barometer was recorded, dipping below the 95 kilopascal mark (28 inches). The cold has caused minor hardship for most people in the area, according to a News -Record survey, except for those who have frozen and burst water pipes, or a car that won't start. ' According to Larry Lovett of Kingswell Welding, the company have been run off their feet travelling around the country thawing out frozen water pipes, mostly under lanes bet- ween houses and barns. Larry was too busy to talk to the reporter, but his dad Ross said Tuesday they had about 25 calls in the last week and had a backlog of six at the time. Guss ' Boussey, manager of the Clinton Public Utilities Commission, said the PUC has had about 12' to 15 calls' already to thaw out frozen lines, and he says many of the calls are from people who never had trouble before. "If it gets real cold again, we advise customers who have had trouble to leave a water tap running slowly, and if there's a significant rise in the water bill, then we'll make an adjustment," Mr. Boussey said. But he wasn't too optimistic that the troubles would go away with the rise in temperatures. "We seem to have more problems when it first turns mild and the frost comes out of the ground," he said. It's been so cold, in fact, that ac- cording to the National Ice Observation Centre M Ottawa, all of the five Great Lakes are frozen, except for a narrow strip in Lake Ontario: The lakes have only been frozen over twice in the last 100 years; in 1893, and in 1934. Although the cold weather has been tough on untuned cars with weak batteries, there have been no reports of major frostbite, as most persons dressed for the cold when outside, but many area bird watchers say the cold has killed many birds, and many others aren't attending bird feeders at all. One item that most homeowners will feel the pinch on will be heating bills higher than normal. Don Scruton of Scruton . Fuels in Clinton was one of the fuel oil dealers who reported they were run off their feet keeping up with the demand for heating oil last week. At one point on Sunday, they were nearly a day behind in delivery despite overtime, but had everything caught up by Monday afternoon. Mr. Scruton said the last three years have been cold, but 1979 takes the record so far. As of Tuesday morning, the Clinton area had piled up 5,842 :-degree days compared to 5,500 for the same period last year. A normal heating season is about 7,000 degree days, a measure of the mean tem- perature difference from 65 degrees F. About the only positive thing to come out of the cold snap, according to Mr. Chir, is with Lake Huron frozc,n over: "we won't get very many snow squalls off the lake." Spring can't come soon enough for some people, especially those on the Base Line, on the north am out- skirts of Clinton who have snow piled nearly eav strough high around their homes. One resident Ila Cudn.Jre, says But $400,000 taxes unpaid the snow was much higher in 1971, but her and husband Reg are avid gardeners and would just as soon be working in the garden. (News -Record photo) Tuckersmith surplus ends year Tuckersmith Township ended with a surplus of $71,880 for 1978. "It's been a fairly good year for the township," auditor Mike Meyer of the firm of Diegel, Malcolm and Hagey of Stratford informed council at meeting in Brucefield Tuesday night. As well, he praised the work done by Jack. McLachlan, clerk -treasurer for the township. Town washrooms vandalize Close to $300 will have to be spent by Clinton in order to repair' the public. washrooms, council learned on February 12. Councillor Ron McKay stated that the washrooms located beside the police station, had been vandalized. "Vandalism is running rampant back there," he said. Local plumber Frank MacDonald was called in to estimate the cost of the damage. The hinge on the outside door had been broken off, leaving the .door', open. The heater was off and the tank was frozen and broken. "It ticks me off," Councillor McKay stressed. "You try to provide a public service. At least they could take care of it." Care of the downtown sidewalks in Town tree planting program iffy by Shelley McPhee Some Clinton councillors feel that the $1,600 revenue from the wood sold from some 100 trees cut down last spring should be placed back into the pur- chase of replacement trees. Discussion on the subject came at the Clinton council meeting last Monday night after a letter was read from the Clinton Horticultural Society, noting that the trees cut down throughout the town late last winter should be replaced. Councillor Roy Wheeler noted, "Budget wise we have an arena floor and a pool to pay for and a planted tree could cost between $30 and $35 each." Councillor Ron McKay replied, "If we brought in $1,600, at $30 each, we could buy 80 trees. It should be provided in this year's budget and done this fall." "You just don't go out and plant a tree. It involves a •program that has to be co-ordinated and it's no good putting them where they were before," Councillor Wheeler explained. He suggested that replacement trees should be placed on private properties, away from hydro wires and possible salt and snow damage. Councillor Wheeler went on to say that permission must be given from each property owner involved and that certain trees can only be planted in•certain areas for maximum growth. "Most people want red maples on their property," he explained. "I'm all for Councillor McKay's suggestion that the planting be done," added Councillor Chester Archibald. "It should be an ongoing thing, done ,each year so there aren't too many to replace at once," Councillor Rosemary Armstrong suggested. "Let's get at the job and get it done right," Councillor McKay stressed. Council agreed, and appointed Councillor Wheeler to look into the project, discuss the prospects with the horticultural society and locate some landscaping and nursery services. '' In other business council agreed to help the horticultural society with their hanging flower pots again this year. The pots, hung in the downtown business section will be watered regularly by the town's public works department. He reported the taxable assessment for the township was $4,014,000 for 1978 compared to $4,385,000 in 1977. He said of a total amount of taxes, $604,000 for 1978, $401,916 has not been paid for 1978- 77-76-75 compared to total taxes of $652,000 in 1977 when $369,781 in taxes was unpaid; In presenting the 1978 financial report for the township, the auditor included among the many details that dhe population of the township is 3,189 )ersons, down 140 from 1977; and that .here are 842 households, up eight from 1977. He said the accumulated deficit for the Vanastra Recreation Centre was $125,584 at the end of 1978, reduced from $160,930 in 1977 by a Wintario grant. Council will have an engineer assess the needed repairs to the road 'surface of the Vanastra Road bridge as requested by the Ministry of Tran- sportation and Communication. Council will arrange a meeting with Engineer Russ Jackson of Stratford office of • transportation and com- munications to inspect the bridge (Crich's) on sideroad off No. 8 highway to consider replacing it. Council con- siders this a dangerously narrow winter is another area that Clinton council feels is being neglected. our merchants had any pride in their town, they'd keep their sidewalks cleaned off," Councillor and businessman Joe• Atkinson said. "It leaves a very poor impression for our shoppers, and for our senior citizens it's bad." Councillor Chester Archibald added, "It's too late to, pass an effective bylaw this year, but we should have one drawn up and ready for next year." Councillor Frank Van Altena, also a businessman noted, "I'm only open three days a week. What if a storm comes up on those other days? Do I clean it, or does the landlord?" "Well, you do have some obligation," Reeve Royce Macaulay suggested. Councillor Atkinson noted that for unoccupied buildings it should be, the landlord's responsibility to keep the sidewalks clear. Council agreed that a letter should be sent to the Clinton Business Association, expressing the council's concern over the treacherous sidewalks and asking for the association's suppot't. "The businessmen are always asking favors of the town," Reeve Macaulay noted. bridge, especially in winter when it is covered with snow or ice. It is centred between two steep hills. Council will attempt to show the engineer the need to replace the old iron bridge. It is on a school bus route. This year, council will charge a rent of $22 per hour for grader and operator for work on private property in the township, up from $18 last year. For grass cutting on private property, council will charge $12 per hour for tractor and mower with operator. Council will investigate the costs of a new heating system for the newly purchased township office building at Vanastra and new storm windows. It is presently heated by electricity, but the small heaters are not enough to supply comfortable heat to the office of clerk and the Huron Federation office which rents office space in the building. Council will ask the Huron Federation of Agriculture for an- in- crease in rent - $125 up from $100 as of April 1. Council will ask the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority to have its summer work team clean up the Bayfield River banks out from Egmondville as it is arl unsightly mess of weeds and wild shrubs. Stanley gives 5 grants It was grant giving time at the February meeting of Stanley township council. Receiving the largest grant was the Huron Country Playhouse which pocketed $100 from the township. Picking up $50 each were the Huron County Plowmen's Association and the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The Bayfield Agricultural Society was given $75 by Stanley. Granted $25 was the Huron County Historical Society. The township has made application to the ministry of transportation and communications for the final payment of the 1978 road subsidy totalling $75,800. The ministry has informed the township the total subsidy for 1979 will be $86,100. New info centre opens at Vanastra by Shelley McPhee A $28,393 Canada Works grant has been given to set up a Huron Infor- mation and Multi -Service Centre in Vanastra. • February this year is turning• out - to be a month of freaks of nature, between the record low temperature readings, the record high barometer readings axid an even rarer phenomenon, a nearly total eclipse ,pf the sun this coming Monday here in Ontario. Although Clinton and area will. only see about 75 percent pf totality, it will still be a strange treat to see the sky darken slightly in the middle of the day. The next eclipse around here won't be until 2017, at which time I'll be drawing the Old Age Pension, that is if the government hasn't gone broke first. In Clinton and area, the eclipse will begin about 10:52 a.m. with the sun covered to its maximum at 12:08 with the shadow of the moon leaving the sun completely by 1:25 p,m. Although daylight will not diminish significantly here, looking at the sun during the partial eclipse could result in severe damage to your eyes,' so experts are advising everyone to watch this astronomical event on TV to be really safe. Everything else, such as pin hole cameras, welders' goggles and developed, exposed film can be misused and hence is ndt advised. + + 4 - It's been so cold here in Huron Comity lately, that one informant tells ug several denizens now have neutered brass monkeys outside their homes. + + + Further information has come forth on the Clinton Police Depar- tment's duck round -up last week.,It seems there was more than one duck and even some geese involved, and all were apparently scared out of the Fish and Game preserve by some 'loose dogs. - Several boys also broke into the preserve and killed a couple of chickens. -�-++ Now that February is nearly at a close, the number of social activities is starting to reach a fever pitch again, what with all the euchre parties, skating parties and dances scheduled for the area. , One of the more fun events set for this Saturday night is ttie Kinsmen's Las Vegas night which has proved to be a lot of fun in the past and Inex- pensive too, because you only gamble with play money. One of the organizers, John Kassies, informs us that local merchants have donated over $1;.000 in prizes to be auctioned off at the end of the night using play money. All the proceeds go to the arena floor fund. +++ Middle age, they say, is when you feel like the morning after the night before, and -you haven't been anywhere. 44. • ciP Is It $2.10 or 21.0 cents Thnt'sj the que tion many motorist: might ask if they didn't read the fine print on th new pfd ' signs at several area gas stations, as metric conversion has hit town. The pc of 21 cents a litre first appeared at Harold's Shell Service lost week. (News- ecord photo) The centre employs three people, who along with a board of directors will offer a meeting place for clubs, develop a directory of social services in the county and hopefully form a debt counselling centre. "Already people have been calling our office, looking for counselling, but we can't provide it," project manager Carol Mcllveen explained. A proposed debt counselling service must be conducted by a specifically .qualified person. Such a person and service can only be set up after an area survey is conducted, showing the need for this service. 'There's no debt counselling in Huron," Mrs. Mcllveen explained, "and it is one of the few counties who don't have it." She noted that along with Huron, Bruce, Grey and Halton counties are without a counselling service. Residents in these counties are not allowed to use the services elsewhere. "Huron County Council didn't think a counselling service was necessary here. Murray Gaunt and Bob McKinley have supported us, but they can't fund us," she added. If a need Is shown for such a service, $10,000 will be needed to operate it. Sixty per cent of this can be funded through the provincial government, leaving 40 per cent or $4,000 to be raised in the county. "Until we have the $4,000 there's no point going to the government," Mrs. Mcllveen admitted. Along with that, the centre is looking for another $1,000 in donations to cover their own operating costs. Mrs. Mcllveen noted that the Canada Works grant must cover the salaries of three employees for the next, year, along with $30 a week, per employee for rent and office supplies. "That's a pretty tight budget," she said. As well, there is a possibility that Huron county council will be re - approached this year by the centre, asking for their financial support. Last year they were approached with the proposal of a $5,000 grant for the in- formation directory and counselling service, howtever the centre was refused the money. Although financial difficulties -are present, 'the centre, located in the A4 townhouse in Vanastra, has been operating for a few weeks now. Already the local Community Association is holding their monthly meetings there, the teen clubs gather, ladies are holding quilting and ceramic classes and children's . movies are shown each Friday afternoon. A library will be established in one room. It will include a variety of fiction and non-fiction as well as reference books. Many books have already been donated and a book exchange service may also be offered, Aa Well, the Huron County Health Unit holds clinics once a month and the centre will be used on a part-time basis by • Huron's family t and children's services department and . the social services department. Many of the services offered by the new centre are those handled by the Resource Centre before. However, Mrs. Mcllveen said that the old Resource Centre will still operate and the board of directors there will be responsible for the new multi-service'centre. The new centre is open each day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has room available for other group activities or servites. Also with the help of one of the mployees, Mrs. Mcllveen, Jade Gull 'ault and Nancy Anstett, 1the. cent a can also be utilized in the evenings.