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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-03-01, Page 3• People in Profile: Rosemary wears many hats By Shelley McPhee She always finds a moment to stop and listen. It doesn't matter whether you're old or young, a concerned citizen or a sports enthusiast, Rosemary Armstrong will likely be interested in what you have to say. "I just love people. I can never say no to something that's worthwhile," she said. Rosemary rarely stops. When she's talking herself, she's usually listening, caring and working with others. Rosemary's obsession for helping others covers a broad field. First comes the family, her two children and husband Don. After that, the rest of her interests are equally important, from municipal politics, working with senior citizens along with badminton, bowling and darts. Her involvement doesn't end there. She used to be a policewoman, a Guide leader and coached soccer. "Sometimes I think I should quit something, but I don't know which one," Rosemary laughed. It is unlikely that she will give up any of her interests. With her children now teenagers, and her husband working shifts on the Clinton police force, Rosemary has partially let go of her life as a mother and housewife and has re-entered the world as a concerned citizen. "The family's in school now and they have their own interests. I used to spend every night at home, watching the television or reading. I don't believe in doing housework all day and when the kids were out all the time I thought that it was stupid for me just to sit at home." In 1977, Rosemary decided to get out of the house and look for a part-time. job. Now she is the assistant co- ordinator and volunteer co-ordinator at the Huron Day Centre for senior citizens. "It's absolutely fantastic," she en- thused about her work., "I never worked with old people before. I didn't even know any old people." Now, Rosemary will readily talk on for hours about her work and the value and need of geriatric centres for the homebound. "There's such a need for it, especially since the hospitals are .now closing beds. It also helps to stop loneliness amongst the old people," she went on. While working with seniors at the centre at Huronview, the telephone rarely stops ringing. Calls about • MOH says bed... • • from page 1 treatment". He said each board has its own approach to the problem but "Seaforth, Exeter and Clinton do not appear stressed whereas Goderich and Wingham feel their hospitals won't'be able to give adequate service", said Dr. Lynch. The MOH did not say it was im- possible to save money in hospitals but did say that the way the minister of health chose to administer the bed cuts was wrong. He said he felt hospitals were already operating on "no fat budgets" but added that with an op- portunity to sit down and plan how to better use hospital facilities the bed cuts could be handled. He said there was no opportunity far hospital boards to do that claiming the' ministry order was not a "very sensible way" to deal'" with the matter. Dr. Lynch told council that when the present government was seeking election it promised universal health care. He said it appeared as though that was only a promise aimed at getting votes'. He added that the government "should not be reluctant to listen to physicians, who are looked on with suspicion by the government, or people who work for hospitals". He added that it appeared the government had no intention of heeding arguements put forth by doctors claiming the only people the government would listen to were "the people that elect govern- ments". Reeve Elston compared hospital bed cuts to similar decisions made by the province in education matters. Elston said the government planned to cen- tralize education to improve it and "kept taking and taking and taking until we had nothing left but big schools that now they can't operate". County, will help airport BY JEFF SEDDON Huron County council begrudgingly agreed 'Friday to pick up a larger ,chuck of the operating deficit ' 'f r Sky Harbour airport in Goderich. Council was split on the increased costs for the airstrip at its last meeting but agreed to take a second look at the issue before turning it down. That second look was Friday and despite -strong objections from some members council voted to extend its share of the operating losses for Sky Harbour from $16,000' to $23,000. The request for the money was brought tb the county by Goderich town council. The town, which owns the airstrip', reminded county council that it -was obligated to pick up a share of any operatingdeficit at the airport by virtue of a contract between the county and the Crown. Goderich reeve Eileen Palmer told council that the request for more money from the county should not be looked on.as a favor, to Goderich but rather as a benefit to the entire county. She said the county agreement with the Crown requires Huron to pick up a share of the operating deficit q Sky Harbour to a° maximum of $16,000. She said all Goderich was asking for was.$i .000. The G lerich reeve explained to council that the extra money would be needed • to cover ad- ditional operating, costs brought on by the pur- chase of three lakefront lots adjacent to the airport. Shesaid the three lots .were needed to permit construction of a new paved runway. . Exeter deputy -reeve Donald MacGregor, who opposed the request for more money a month ago, told,.council he did not see how the town could include land costs in its operating deficit. He said land purchase was a capital expense and should not be in- cluded in the operating budget. MacGregor pointed out' that without those land costs under operating expenses the deficit at the airport would not even be $16,000. Goderich clerk - treasurer Larry McCabe, brought in by Palmer to. field questions from council, said the land costs were put under operating expenses to allow the town to stay away from long term debentures to buy the land. McCabe said the land costs amounted to a bookkeeping entry telling council the deficit it would be sharing in would be an airport deficit rather than an operating deficit. McCabe added that the decision council was making boiled down to support or non-support of the airport: Exeter reeve W.E. Simmons told council he did not want to "run down" Goderich airport but he said pilots "may as well fly off a flat top". Simmons said Sky Harbour had trees at one end, a highway at the other and was surrounded by built up areas adding that he "couldn't see us (county council) wasting money on expansion". Turnberry reeve Don Eadie told council Goderich had done a lot of work -on Sky Harbour and that the airport was "much improved" over what it was when it was purchased. Eadie said he had looked at the financial status of the airport and it appeared as though it would be operating at a break even point in four or five years and that the finances were "looking better every year". Morris reeve Bill Elston suggested that the county give the extra money being requested to the hospitals. Elston said he felt "hospitals are more important than airports". Council voted 25 to 19 in favor of increasing the county share of the operating deficit. garbage pickup, plans for the spring fair and parade, upcoming meeting dates and a variety of other municipal concerns continually flood her. "I swear that somedays I'll end up with a phone attached to my ear," she joked. Rosemary is serving her second term on Clinton council. Unsurprisingly it was her avid flair for talking that got her involved. Frank Cook, a former council member, got Rosemary into the race for a council seat when he told her to put her money where her mouth was and presented her with nomination papers. She recalled, "At my first council meeting I was scared to open my mouth because the press was there. Now if I feel strong enough about something I'll say what I have to say." "You think that you'll solve all the town's problems but we discuss some issues for months. It's frustrating," she anxiously stressed. Like any politician, Rosemary has aims for the municipality, "I've reamlined the garbage. That's what they gave me to do, so I did it. I want to see the town hall restored, if, it's financially possible, and I would like to see all the roads paved in town." Unlike many politicians, Rosemary is sometimes faced with a stumbling block, being a woman. "I object to them (the Rale dominated council) always being aware that I'm a woman. Like when they apologize after they swear. Why don't they just stop swearing rather than excuse themselves." "I'd rather be treated as ari•equal," she pressed, "But I don't go for all this chairperson and chairlady stuff." This is not the, first time that Rosemary has encountered sexual differences and prejudices in her wort C. In the late 1950's Rosemary was a bit of a revolutionary especially as far as. her mother was concerned, when she left her small Scottish hometown to become a policewoman. "It was much to my mother's horror, but I loved it," she noted. "I wasn't really a liberated woman. I was considered as a woman doing a man's job, but we never got to do the same work as the men." Rosemary remembered that it was nearly impossible for her to handle a big man. For that reason women of- ficers were always accompanied by a male officer on the night beat. "I enjoy being a woman," she assured the reporter. In fact, Rosemary enjoys just about anything, as long as it involves lots of conversation. "I'm an awful talker," she admitted, a distinct Scottish accent seasoning her voice, "but I'm also a good listener. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, MARCH 1 , 1979—PAGE 3 It's hardto determine who gets more enjoyment out of the Huron Day Centre. The homebound senior citizens who come to' the centre undoubtedly like to have a day out, but so does the assistant co-ordinator of the centre, Rosemary Armstrong. In an attempt to get out of the routine of a housewife, Rosemary took on the job, along with council work, badminton, darts and bowling. (News - Record photo) Police dispatch system ready for April start The central dispatch system to be used by the police departments in Goderich, Clinton, Seaforth, Exeter and Wingham came a few steps closer to operational - reality recently when a chief dispatcher and four other dispatchers were ap- proved and hired for the system-: Chief dispatcher will be Kenneth Anderson of Goderich. He will be directly responsible to Goderich Police Chief Pat King. The two grade one dispatchers hired were Mrs. Lorna Dale of - Exeter and Mrs. Phyllis Hoggart of Wingham. The two grade three dispatchers hired were Miss Lori Biggin of Clinton and Miss Barbara Tilley of Seaforth. The grade three dispatchers have less experience than. the grade one dispat- chers. They will all be responsible to the chief dispatcher. The dispatchers were chosen from 15 applicants interviewed by a com- mittee consisting of the five police chiefs, Mayor Darry Boyle of Exeter and Reeve Royce McCauley of Clinton. It is co -incidental that one dispatcher thosen from each of the five stuck in the middle "Oh dear, She's got that camera pointed at us. Let's move on." "Hey look at that lady, she's taking pictures over there. Come on, we can get ours taken too." What is it about that little black box that I carry around? Why do people get so excited when they see me aim the thing at them? Maybe I'm just too used to a camera to appreciate the unique sensation that some people get when I attempt to take their photograph. There are a mixed bunch of reactions, ranging from fear to outright fascination when I point the camera at some. It's hard to believe that I can have that much power under the weight of one little finger as it sits, waiting to press the shutter. In some cases, it would be more worth my time to go to a wax musebm and take pictures, instead of trying to capture the real thing. Some people have a tendency to freeze when I yell the word "cheese". They stand, or sit, staring at the camera, lips parted, teeth exposed, frozen for a moment. Others just turn and walk away when they see the camera a.imed in their direotion. Do they think my camera is a secret weapon; loaded Shelley by mcphee with knives, poisonous gases or bullets that eject into their innocent faces when the shutter is released? Really, the worst that could happen is that they might blink after the bright flash goes off. - On the other hand, there are people, especially kids, who can't wait to get their grinning mugs on film. Any attempts to sneak up and take' an impromptu shot of such people is nearly impossible. As soon as they see me, .,coming a dozen prospective models rush in front of the lens, usually blocking the in- tended subject. Many claim that they take terrible pictures and the camera brings out the worst in them. I wonder how they can live with themselves year after year? Do they avoid• mirrors as well? The camera only sees what's there and with- any luck, you won't have a ridiculous expression on your face, your eyes will be open and I may take a photograph that will boost the old ego a little. I'm just a photographer, not a magician. So, next time when you see me corning, camera in hand, don't freeze, don't run, don't try to be overly photogenic. I'm not trying to condemn or praise you. I only want a picture. All colours and sizes reduced! Savings up to '27.00 per case. T.V. AND APPLIANCES 10 HURON STREET CLINTON 482-9414 31 Albert St., Clinton 482-9351 towns, said Chief King. The dispatchers were approved by a super- visory committee con- sisting of. Goderich mayor Harry Worsell, Exeter mayor Darry Boyle, Clinton reeve Royce McCauley, Seaforth councillor Robert Dinsmore and Wingham councillor Allan Harrison. The .dispatchers were further approved by the Goderich Police Commission at a meeting on February 20. The dispatchers will work shift work to man the dispatch system 24 hours a day. The Goderich Police Com- mission has agreed to the salary package for the dispatchers which has been nut together by the interviewing and supervisory committees but the commission has also agreed that the benefit package should be reviewed and possibly incorporated with the Town of Goderich em- ployees' benefit package. The actual starting date of work for the dispatchers • will be dependent upon Canadian General Electric, the company which -is in- stalling the system. The provisional date -for in- stallation is between April 1 and April 15. At the Goderich Police Commission meeting on February 20, Judge F.G. Carter expressed his concern over the exact location of the system, which is to be housed in Goderich. "A certain amount of chatter will be audible over the radios and we'll want a private room for it," he said. Since the central dispatch system is being housed, in Goderich, control of the system has to come under • the Goderich Police Com- mission according to the Ontario Police Com- mission which is providing a grant of 75 per cent for the in- stallation of the system. The other 25 per cent plus the ongoing costs „_of the system will be shared by the five municipalities on a per capita basis.. Each of the five town councils have passed motions agreeing to the cost sharing . and vesting authority -in the Goderich Police Commission. Since the ongoing costs are of great concern • to the five municipalities, a committee consisting of representatives from each of the five towns AFTER FOUR YEARS OF PREPARATION. '7L1T OF 71115 WORLD 4VINGS" j LEMON TIME ONLY HOT.LEMON7MEDCINE 6 Pouches CLAIROL CONDITION SHAMPOO 450 ml. � 9 ONLY • BAN BASIC DEODORANT lOOml. $1 ONLY • COLGATE TOOTH- PASTE 100 ml. ONLY 9 9 GILLETTE GOOD NEWS DISPOSABLE RAZORS 4's 194 'ONLY 160 SHOP THESE WEEKLY STAR STUDDED SPECIALS 9.41 r TRIANGLE DISC sro.ts r 58 The Square, GODERICH/Main Corner, CLINTON/Main Corner, SEAFORTH "OUT OF THIS WORLD SAVINGS RIGHT IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBOURHOOD". -'A