HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-03-22, Page 4PAGE 4 --CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1,979
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Member. Ontario Weekly
Newspaper Association
The Clinton Nows.R.cord 1, published each
Thursday et P.O. Doe 30. Clinton. Ontario.
Canada. NOM ILO.
•C A
It 1s registered es second class itwll by the
poet office under the permit number 0417.
The News -Record Incorporated In 1024 the
Huron News -Record. founded In 101{1, end The
Clinton New Ora. founded In 1443. Total prow
run 3.300.
Clinton XewsRecord
'iMomber Cenedlan
ComMunity Newspaper
Association
Display advertising rates
gvolloble on request. Ask for
Rat. Cord No. 0 effective Oct. 1.
1970.
•
General Manager . J. Howard Aitken
Editor - James 1. Fitzgerald
Advertising Director - Gory L. Hoist
News editor - Shelley McPhee
Office Manager • Margaret Gibb
Circulation - Freda McLeod
Subscription Rote:
Canada -'14.00 per year
Sr. citizen -'12 per year
U.S.A. & foreign -'30 per year
Help horticulture
With spring now officially here
and all the green thumbers about to
come out of hibernation, now is a
good time to give the local hor-
ticultural group a big boost.
The Clinton Horticultural Society
is one of 250 such societies in On-
tario who boast a membership of
more than 55,000 gardeners, or
near gardeners. You don't have to
be an expert to join however. In
fact, a ardener just starting up
would be well advised to join the
local society to get advice on any
plant problem.
And too, the Clinton Society is
one of the more active branches in
Ontario with not only monthly
meetings that feature a wide range
oftopics for the expert as well as
the amateur, • but alsoa •strong
commitment to beautifying the
town.
Their work around' town on
dozens of beds and gardens is self-
evident throughout the whole
summer, as the members pour
hundreds of volunteer hours into
placing and caring for thousands of
plants that make the town more
attractive to residents and visitors
alike.
The society also sponsors several
competitions during the year that
afford not only members but the
general public a chance to show off
his or her best horticulture in-
terests.
So why not sign up for the $1.50
membership to the Clinton Society
and help gardeners of all ages
improve not only their own
grounds, but in the long run, the
whole town.
"If only" not needed
'If only' are two of the most used
words in the' English language
after spimothing unpleasant has
happened.
They are usually coupled with
some action that should or should
not have been taken, such as "If
only I'd had that headlight fixed",,
"If only I'd slowed on the curve",
or "If only I hadn't had that last
drink".
The rather pathetic "if only"
teaches two things: most of us have
20-20 hindsight vision, and most of
us know how to prevent an accident
from happening. We know what we
should have done, but we didn't do
it.
April is "Traffic Safety Month"
in Canada, and the Canada Safety
Council has chosen "Prevention is
the Cure" as the theme for the
safety campaign.
Drivers can prevent accidentp.
They can ensure their vehicles are
in sound condition. Those who use
self-service gas bars must also
remember that a greater onus is on
the driver to watch for things that
might otherwise have been spotted
by an experienced person. Drivers
can learn accident avoidance
techniques by taking a Defensive
Driving Course in most major
centres. Bicyclists and parents of
young bicyclists can ensure that
their vehicles are in sound
operating condition. And everyone
can be courteous to other road
users. That breeds a good attitude.
Drive friendly...and don't force
yourself to say "If only...".
"If we want to re-establish your credibility, we'll have to avoid embarrassing
foul-ups such as lost luggage ... Joe?"
odds 'n' ends
Some myths exposed
On March 7, the, CBC aired a
program called "Exploding the Myth."
Hosted by Warner Troyer,,the film was
prepared by, _the Ontario Association
for the Mentally Retarded and the
Ontario Ministry of Community and
Social Services. Its purpose ' was to
refute some of the incredible myths
and prejudices much of thepublic feels
toward the mentally handicapped.
Two myths that were exposed were
"institutions are the best places for
Mentally retarded persons" and
"institutions have always been a part
of society".
The truth is institutions began in
Canada 125 years ago. They started as
schools to give special education and
training to mentally handicapped
people.
What began as a good idea was
turned into tragedy by a minority. of
ignorant people, who convinced the
rest of the public . that mentally
retarded persons would endanger
society if allowed to roam around
freely.
Schools became institutions with
locked doors, fenced yards and strict
supefv•ision. As the number of patients
grew., larger institution's were built.
Many staff members wanted to help
and to teach their patients, but thev
just didn't
training.
"Exploding the Myth" compared
putting a mentally handicapped person
in an institution to taping a bird's
wings.
The public's fear was gradually
countered by the hard work of
associations for the mentally retarded;
many were made up of parents of
mentally handicapped children.
Integrated schools, workshops and
group homes are signs of progress.'
A teacher at an integrated school
explains that students learn from each
other. Mentally handicapped children,
V: abandon some abnormal habits when
they realize they are not done by the
other students, while non -handicapped
children learn there is no' need to fear
the mentally retarded.
Employers discover mentally
hanlj1icapped employees carry out their
i $ reliably, and need .no special
eatment; they need only to be treated
the same as all the oth,,r employees.
Famous People's Players is a suc-
cessful puppet troupe that works the
tough entertainment circuit in Las
Vegas. Half its members are mentally
handicapped; all its members are
professionals.
A group home is a healthy alter-
native to an institution. A man, who
was institutionalized for 27 years,
recalls living under constant super-
vision and not even being allowed to go
by
Blaine townshend
have enough time or
outside unless a staff member was able
to take him out.
Now he is enjoying -lie freedom and
independence of a group home and
explains that residents of group homes
learn how to manage for themselves
and how to get along with others. Most
important of all, they realize they are
adults, not children, and need to be
treated as adults. He stresses the
urgent need for more group homes.
A young girl compared being in an
institution to being treated like a
criminal, even though she had never
committed a crime:
Integrated schools, sheltered
workshops, outside employment and
group homes are signs of improvement
for the mentally handicapped. The
progress has been painfully slow, and
unfortunately some of the public is still
"hamstrung by ignorance", which
a QWs, itself. in remarks, such as "An
in`tegrat'ed school is fine as long as my
kids aren't in it" and "A group home is
a great idea but not in my neigh-
bourhood."
"Exploding the Myth" presented a
good case for the mentally retarded.
Now the onus is on the public to realize
the progress of the mentally han-
dicapped, as well as other handicapped
groups, is impeded not only by the
individual's handicaps but also by
ignorance, which has been the public's
handicap too long.
sugar ondspice
Speaking of travel
I've been helping a student, the lively
and lovely Julie Noack, to prepare her
speech for the Lions Club public
remembering
our past
a look, through
the news -record files
5 YEARS AGO -�
March 14, 1974
The Clinton Public Utilities Commission is
planning to celebrate their 60th anniversary
on March 29 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of
the founding of the PUC in Clinton.
Sandra Fremlin was crowned Queen of the
At Home Dance at CHSS last Friday night.
Miss Fremlin was picked from 25 entrants
and was crowned by Karen Tyndall, who
stood in for last year's Queen, Brenda
Colclough.
Bayfield village council is proceeding with
the controversial expropriation of about 2.3
acres of property, commonly called the
river flats on the north side of the Bayfield
River.
Mrs. M. G. Bell of Maria Street in Clinton
was spokeswoman for a group protesting the
moving of a former railway car to the Gulf
Station lot on Victoria Street. The car has
been rived to the site of Dean Reid who will
use it for storage parts for the Chrysler
Automobile Dealership which is opening
there.
10 YEARS AGO
March 13, 1909
Karen Jennison, last year's queen,
crotivned her successor Bev Lee during
CHSS' At Home Dance last Friday night.
Bill Vincent was Miss Lee's escort.
The board of trustees at the Clinton Public
Hospital this week received the town
council's guarantee of financial support for
a committee to set up to investigate the
possibility of getting another doctor to
establish a practice in town.
Maureen and Ron Samways recently
purchased the Bayfield golf course,
changing the official name from the
Bayfield -Clinton Golf Course Ltd., to
Bluewater Golf Course Ltd. The Samways
are partial to the cities of London, having
lived in both London, Canada and London,
England prior to moving to Bayfield with
eir two sons, Gary, 4, and Paul 6. •
Mr. and Mrs. Patri k Graharn are the new
wners of Mitchells General Store in
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Bayfield. A branch manager of the Bank of
Commerce in London for 10 years, Mr.
Graham is no stranger to the village. He was
a Bayfield resident from 1939=1943 when his
father, the Rev. John Graham was rector of
Trinity Anglican Church.
25 YEARS AGO
March 18, 1954
Can you keep a secret? Well, the cells are
painted pink too.
Dressed in traditional Chinese costumes,
the very junior members of the Clinton
Figure Skating Club have shown great
promise of providing excellent ice shows
fere in the future. The members are
Stephen Cooke, Rolphe Cooke, David
McRae, Kenneth Smith, Brian Levis,
Borden McRae, Diane Garon, Linda Cooke,
Denise Smith, Peggy Frazer, Patricia
Reynolds, Linda Murphy and Margaret
Addison.
Clinton citizens proved their interest for
activities on ice last, Friday when they
flocked to the Clinton Lions Arena to view
the first annual presentation of the Ice
Capades. Lions officials were forced to turn
away scores of1folk who had not purchased
advance tickets and even those provided
with them were unable to find seats in the
packed arena.
50 YEARS AGO
March 14, 1929
The severe storm of Wednesday night and
Thursday last did considerable damage
here and there, taking two lives, delaying
ttains, blocking roads and doing damage to
many buildings.
Herbert McLean of Goderich was killed
when he was carried with the roof of a
building which he was endeavouring to
secure and hurled with the wreckage to the
top of another building.
Mrs. D. Tough and daughter of Brucefield
have completed a quilt with 975 pieces in it.
The pattern is called The Last Children.
75 YEARS AGO
March 17, 1904'
Owing to bad roads and storms, the (mail
matter in Auburn has been very scarce the
past month.
Mr. Dan Gliddon from Goderich Township
lost a cow recently which was valued at $40.
Some of our Varna neighbours had rather
an interesting time while returning from
attending a wedding near Kippen one night
recently. The rain made the road so soft in
some places that the horses were unable to
get through with the cutter attached so had
to be unhitched. The gentlemen got the
horses through as best they could while the
ladies drew the cutter.
On February 5 Mr. A. Hooper of town gave
Mr. Mullin of Seaforth a cheque for $15 as
compensation for a sprllined leg, received
while walking along the road. On March 10,
Mr. John Sterling received a cheque from
same source for $8.55 as compensation for
lost time after having slipped on the door
step and received an injured arm. Needless
to say these men carry accident policies.
100 YEARS AGO
March 27, 1879
In response to advertisement, seven
tenders were received for the erection of a
brick Methodist church at Holrnesville. The
trustees had calculated that $1.,800 of $2,000
would complete the building, but the lowest
tender was $2,300, thej, �ore, they decided
not to do anything furthe-in the matter just
at present. We understand that sub-
scriptions to the extent of $1,700 have been
made. If a larger sum is raised we presume
the erection of the church will be proceeded
with.
A few days since a gentleman in town lost
or had his pocketbook which contained over
$70 stolen from him. Some days after he
found the pocketbook in his front garden,
minus the money, where it had been thrown
by the thief.
No less than 10 tramps found lodging in
the town lock-up during the past week.
Wagons came into use again last week in
town while on some of the country roads the
snow was almost five feet deep.
speaking contest. She wrote it; • I just good meal, at home.
listen and make critical comments. Then there's the mark-up on drinks,
We've had a few laughs. Her speech anywhere from one to two hundred per
is in praise of travel in Canada, instead cent. Don't believe me? Check it out. A
of taking our lame dollars off and bottle of beer at home costs about 35
spending ° them on the often spurious cents. In a restaurant it'll cost you
attractions of other countries. about one dollar. A drink at home will
It's a sort of travelogue of Canada, cost you approximately 45 cents for an
and sounds pretty good. But at one ounce and a half, with free tap water
point she broke me up. We have just thrown in. In a bar or restaurant the
crossed the Ottawa River from Quebec same drink will cost you from $1.25 to
and are cruising around the capital, $1.60 , depending on the decor, for an
"where dwell," according to the ounce and a quarter. And if you prefer
speech, "our Prime Minister, am- wine, they just triple the price.
bassadors from all over the world, No wonder so many restaurants and
and..." She slurred the "ambassadors" bars go broke: The business is so
a bit, and it came out, "Our Prime profitable that too many people want
Minister, bastards from all over the into it, and the law of supply and
world..." I couldn't agree more. demand looks after the rest.
Another one that shook me up was Travel in this country is equally
when she said that, "Canada is more unappealing. Internal airfares are
than 'a few acres of snow', as the ridiculously high. It costs almost as
French writer, Voltaire dismissed it." much to fly from Toronto to Vancouver
Voltaire came out as Volare. The as from Toronto to London, England, a
powers of television! thousand miles or more. Trains are a
However, one point in her speech got dying species. They have lost their old
me thinking along a different track. grace of service, good food and ex -
She pointed out 'that, despite the vast citement, cut off all their branch lines,
variety of vistas this country offers the and become a rather wistful
tourist, it is expensive to travel in this anachronism for people who like rough
Canada of ours. Too true. road -beds, frequent breakdowns and
Hotels and motels are ridiculously abandoned stations.
costly. Many of the big new hotels in Buses are better. Some have even
the cities want an arm and a leg for a crept into the twentieth century, with
place to lay your head for a few hours. air-conditioning, heat in the winter,
Motels want from $20 to $36 for a plastic and fairly punctual time -tabling. But
room, no room service, often not even all this is ruined by the bus depots,
a place to get a cup of coffee, and get which are pure 1970s Sleaze, dirty,
out by one p.m., no matter what time impersonal, and with the inevitable
• you checked in.' drunk sounding off. Or throwing up.
Restaurants in this country are Another aspect of traveling in
equally usurious, with a very few ex- Canada that puts people off is the
ceptions. I don't mind going out and service, or lack of it. There's very little
spending a day's pay at a good service with a smile. Too often it
restaurant, with suave service, food ranges from grudging to surly. from
carefully chosen and cooked with care, indifferent. to sullen. Waitresses slop
and nobody hustling you out the minute coffee into your saucer or wipe off your
you've sipped your last drop of fifty- plastic table with a dirty damp rag.
cent coffee. Waiters stand With their backs to you
But it burns my butt to be served a when you are in a rush to catch a plane.
leathery omelet with the inevitable Hotel doormen are all smiles when you
piece of limp lettuce, the inexorable are checking in, and non-existent when
one slice of green house tomato, and you are struggling out with three heavy
the ubiquitous helping of French fries, bags.
none of which you want, and charged Hotel clerks are almost invariable
enough to feed a fair-sized family a Turn to page 14 •
Delisting ground
Dear Editor:
If your letter column' is fated to
become a forum for debate on the issue
of book -banning (or "delisting"), the
debaters should meet on common
ground. That is unless people on both,
or all, sides of the question agree on the
most basic issues at stake, theedebate
will get nowhere. The problem with last
year's public hearing at CHSS was that
those for and against the banning of
"The Diviners" and other books did not
meet head-on.
One thing that people can't agree on
is the purpose of literature. Literature
is an imaginative key to life. As such it
is to be played with, not accepted at
face value. The Bible is essentially a
work of literature: it contains revealed
truths in an imaginative way. Jesus
explained the parables to his disciples,
but the rest of us have to work at it.
This is why we have rational and
imaginative faculties. Not to play
round with ideas is a dereliction of
duty. Also at stake here is free choice.
Since each individual is responsible for
his own actions, the raw materials for
decision-making must be open to
everyone.
That is, open to every adult. In this
sense, I think that almost all 18-year-
olds are adults. Those who themselves
feel not ready to read a certain book
should not read it. (The course in which
"The Diviners" was taught is optional;
even so, the teacher is required to offer
an alternative to any student who
wants it.) I repeat, by the age of 18
most people are quipped to fight moral
struggles; their moral code has
already been shaped, for better, or
worse, by their home environments.
Don't think that a novel in English
class will have the most profound effect
of all experiences at the age of 18.
Last year, after I had written some
editorials in the "Chronicle" on this
subject, I received a letter from a
"Concerned Mother" in Clinton who
did not reveal her name. One of the
many illuminating things she told me
was that I would surely burn in Hell if I -.
didn't mend my ways. My answer to
those who feel that way is to say that
the sin of pride, by which one presumes
to judge others, is the most spiritual
and therefore the most deadly of the
sins.
Compared * with pride, the "dirty
stuff" in "The Diviners" is child's play.
But the letter I received was not meant
to be reflected upon. It was meant to be
accepted as truth.
It is therefore more obscene than
anything to be found in "The
Diviners".
Philip Street,
Toronto, Ont.
Sink or swim
Dear Editor:
The Clinton Council thinks they have
procrastinated long enough on building
a new swimming pool. When are they
going to get their priorities straight?
We have lived here 30 years and even
yet we have no black -topped road. It is
a sea of mud every spring and fall.
Then comes the oil season and oil
tracks in on carpets and on clothes. We
haven't any sidewalks and the street
light, which frequently is out, came,
I'm sure, from Noah's Ark.
'We've watched new subdivisions get
all these new facilities, and still we
wait.
Councillor Ron McKay says, "The
taxpayers shouldn't be too upset". He
obviously hasn't talked to many irate
citizens who live in the forgotten
regions of Clinton. Rosemary Arm-
strong is the only council member who
shows restraints on this never ending
spending spree. I want to give her a
vote of confidence.
Let's .put them cart before the horse.
Fix the disgraceful streets, build
sidewalks and install better street
lights before building luxuries we can
ill afford.
Sinking deeper every day,
North Street, South,
Clinton.
Hospital blues
Dear Editor :
I am very much dismayed by the
attitude or stand taken by our Clinton
District Hospital „Board by attempting
to abide by the guidelines and the or-
dering of all hokpitals to reduce active
treatment beds to 3,5 per 1,000 by 1981
and..the deterrent payment fee for all
chronic patients after 60 days of care in
psychiatric and all hospitals under
OHIP.
Wingham and Goderich district
hospital boards, and committees set up
by private citizens, are cpnducting a
very active campaign to keep their
present facilities of treatment and bed
care and their budgets plus installation
increase.
Dr. Brian Lynch, Huron County
Medical Officer of Health, warned that
the lives of patients could be jeopar-
dized if bed cuts are implemented in
the snow belt area of the County of
Huron.
The staff of hospitals accepting the
cuts in budgets will be reduced and will
increase the unemployment ranks still
more, which is at an all-time high.
Mr. D. Timbrell has bee.n'enforcing
these demands on our hospitals by Mr.
Wm. Davis' Conservative caucus and
by pressure from Dr. F. Miller, Ontario
Finance Minister. This is an attempt to
close our small economical com-
, munity hospitals and centralize our
Turn to page 14 •
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