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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-04-11, Page 4PAGE 4 —CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1979 The Clinton News -Record 1s published each Thursday et P.O. Sos 39. Clinton. Ontario. Cawede. NOM 1LO. Member. Ontario weekly Newspaper Association It Is registered as second class mall by the post office under the permit number 0817. The News -Record Incorporated In 1924 the Huron News -Record. founded In 1881. and The Clinton New Ere. founded In 1805. Total press run 2.309. iMermber Canadian Community Newspeper Association Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. 0 affective Oct. 1. 1978. General Manager - J. Howard Aitken Editor - James E. Fitzgerald Advertising Director - Gary L. Halst News editor . Shelley McPhee Office Manager . Margaret Gibb Circulation - Freda McLeod Subscription Rate: Conado-'11.00 per year Sr. citizen • 92 per year U.S.A. & foreign - '30 per your Another one down There has been some questioning in the past around here of the so- called highly trained experts' opinions on certain matter's, particularly the recent con- demnation of arenas. Rather than dispute the engineers' findings on such structures and take a chance on safety, people have instead torn the buildings down and built new ones, with generous financial assistance from the provincial government. Nearly every community has been hit, including Bayfield, Hensall, Seaforth, Brussels, Blyth, Goderich and Exeter, and now Vanastra. Their curling club building has been declared unsafe and has got the hundred members of the fledgling club hopping mad. The Vanastra Curling Club has only been going two years in the building leased from the township that had been vacant since the base closed in 1971. • And now the members have been told that the building will need $105,000 in repairs or must be torn down and rebuilt at a cost of $300,000. Many members said the engineers' report is too presump- tuous and in fact the building is made and sitting on a strong foundation. The building didn't blow down last weekend during the 70 mph hurricane force winds, and in fact no snow ever stays on the roof because it's heated the whole winter. But the engineers are always right, and it looks like the Vanastra curlers will be out of a home unless some benefactor steps forward with a tall sum of money. Could it happen? Pennsylvania may appear to be a long way off for most area residents, but it came alarmingly closer as fears of an explosion at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant filled the news media. While there were only vague suggestions of radiation clouds heading in this direction, many thoughts turned to the north-west winds that would certainly en- danger this locale through similar problems at the nuclear plant aloj. the Lake Huron shores att7'1<in- cardine. Despite pronouncements from officials in this country that ac- cidents of that nature would not happen, there are enough experts disputing that claim to indicate that there is cause for concern and anxiety. The problems at Three Mile Island, which fortunately appear to have been resolved without major consequences, have led to a significant distrust of all nuclear plants and no doubt we would be surprised to learn similar U.S. facilities are even closer to Western Ontario. One of the most perplexing results of the Pennsylvania ac- cidents is that throughout the entire danger period, the public was. fed a barrage of conflicting statements about the inherent dangers and the safeguards that were brought into play. It prompts that question as to whether anyone really does know what dangers man has created for himself. There nuclear have been 10 previous accidents around the world, some which have had devastating results, both short and long terms. Could the next one be at Kin cardine? That may be a question we'd just as soon not have an. swered.—from the Exeter Times Advocate sugar and spice Who cares? Does anyone in this country even care any more whether the federal election occurs in April, May or June? Does anyone even care any more whether there is a federal election, in which we might exchange a right-wing reform party for a right-wing party, either winner being at the mercy, in a vote, of a right-wing left-wing party? Day after day of listening to the news, and watching the news, and reading the news, has created in me, at least, the greatest sense of apathy I've ever experienced in my life. And I have a hunch that millions of Canadians agree with me. Does anyone care any more what Margaret Trudeau, a rather silly woman with verbal dysentery, among other ailments, has yet to reveal? Not me. Does anyone care any more how many Christian Arabs in Beirut killed how many Muslim Arabs in Beirut? Not me. Does anyone care that Prince Charles was seen jogging on a beach in Australia, that Pierre Berton has written another book, that Canadian writers and artists and theatres and publishers all claim they need more of our tax bucks to survive? Not me. Only they. A colleague of mine desct'ibes an organization at the university e at- tended. It was called the Apathy Club. It put out notices like these: "The Apathy Club will not hold its Usual ra- 1 DECIDED To PAY M' Th LS WITtI A Snit: THIS PERK, 6UT TH 'f INSISTED on CASH "Let's see, dependents —wife, two children, Poh'sar, Otto Lang, the Olympics, odds 'n' ends Surprise, surprise! You hid behind the skirts of March; which carne in like a lamb and went out: like a lamb - an unusual phenomenon for the month.. You tiptoed through the flowerbeds and smiled when you saw the tulip and daffodil stalks pushing strongly through the earth. You smiled even more broadly as you watched gardeners preparing to set out plants and farmers pulling plows out of sheds. You chuckled when humans packed away their winter coats and boots. I'll het you laughed out loud when yours truly left her good hoots in London the other day and thought, "I probably won't need them anyway." You grinned when motorists replaced the winter tires on their cars with summer tires, and you rubbed your hands together gleefully when you spotted sun-tanned vacationers returning home. You smirked when we complaine4 about the mud, because you knew we would have more than mud to contend with before long. Earthlings have such short memories r You knew you 'could rely on Candu . . us to forget the April blizzards of recent years. We looked at the calendar, the sun and the grass, listened to the birds and assumed spring was here to stay. You played with us one day by •.sending a sudden burst of wind and snow, but the snow melted within a few hours. "That's the.tail end of winter," we sighed. "Glad it's over. . But ,two or three nights later you jumped from a corner of the dark sky, howling, "Surprise, surprise!" From your bag of tricks, you pulled thunder and lightning. A thun- derstorm in spring is not unusual, but lightning that slashed through steady snowflakes was a unique sight to most human eyes. After the thunderstorm, you sent a vicious wind to howl and prey and lash. It blew tree limbs onto power lines throwing thousands of Ontario households into darkness and cold. To add loo, the fun, you made the • snowflakes almost as hard as hail, and for a while, threatened to coat the whole dreary scene with ice. The night passed to reveal a white hazy dawn that we had not expected to See until January 1980. You cracked the whip with vengeance causing trees to sway and houses to creak. When you spotted a hapless motorist remembering our past 5 YEARS AGO April 4, 1974 Former Clinton Public Utilities manager Jahe,. Rands, who worked for the PUC for more than 40 years. pulled the cord last Friday afternoon that unveiled a corn- ntentoratr\e plaque that marked the Diamond Jubilee of the formation of the Clinton i The Omani) Supreme Court refused to grant ,in injunction to the Village of Bayfield gist Thur scl.iy to stop Blue Anchor Invest- nients 1 td from -proceeding with its marina project on the r r\er- fists at the mouth of the 13,1, field 1l r\ ( r Nle . Just is e tied Frase, ih handing down the de( swan. said the N, :nage had no legal rights on w hi(h 14) base the application. meeting this month." Or, "True to its convictions, the Apathy Club failed to elect a new president, when no one ran for the office, and no one showed up to vote for those who did not run." I have a feeling that Canada is tur- ning into one vast Apathy Club. Oh, we're not yet quite completely lifeless. You can see this by reading the Letters - to -the Editor columns, where all the cranks, quacks and bigots are given a chance to sound off. But when all the news is had news - unemployment, falling dollar, violence, threat of wars - we are in- clined to tune out, and to tune in to some sort of escapist entertainment. This apathy is reflected in all sorts of phases of'our society. It's considered a big deal if there is a 60 per cent turnout for an election. Outside the larger cities, where there is constant hype from the sports writers, sports are dying out. Small towns and cities that used to pack their arenas and baseball grandstands to watch home boys fight off those infidels from the next town, draw only handfuls of spectators these days. Well, what's the cause of all this apathy, you might ask. I believe it is the result of modern communication systems, which are supposed to bring the world closer together, and are, instead, making individuals harder and more self-centred, as they find themselves drowning in a flood of world-wide miseries which they feel helpless to alleviate. Does anyone really care about the killing of baby seals except tho0 directly involved: the Newfie hunters trying to supplement a meagre living;. the protestors who enjoy the publicity they get; and a number of old ladies of both sexes who compose ferocious letters to the editor condemning the hunt, while downing a few slices of spring lamb and mint jelly? Not me. My sympathies are com- pletely on the side of the sealers. It's hard, dirty work they do, and they don't do it because they are sadists, any more than the killers in a slaughter- house enjoy knocking sweet little calves 'over the head, so that you can have your veal and your calf -skin gloves. When it is proved to me that the harp seal is an endangered species, I'll join the protestors. Not before. Where were all these silly twits when it was not baby seals that were being slaughtered, but baby brothers, and uncles and cousins and fathers, during the Great Wars? 1 don't remember too many letters to the editors in those days. The same sort of people who write protesting lcttq.rs today about the seals, are probably the spiritual descendents of those nasty old women (of both sexes) who went around pinning white feathers on guys in civilian clothes during W.W. I. And gave you surly service and short measure in W.W. Ii, always ac- companied by the snarl, "Don't you know there's a war ori?" This to guys in uniforms. Ah, dear, it's an age when some people seek to swell out of their little selves, to engorge themselves, on publicity. If it were not for the ubiquitous media, ever seeking to Turn to page 5 e on the road, you played a game of now you see the road, now you don't with him. You listened with glee to the hodge podge of radio reports of schools closed, buses returned, meetings postponed and spring teas cancelled. I'll het you chortled when Bell Canada officials pleaded with shut-in residents to restrict their long distance phone calls to important ones and emergencies. In our panic to talk to someone, anyone, we overloaded phone lines and threw ourselves into the danger of being without com- munication as well as heat and light. Weather reports on alt local radio stations sounded the . same: "Cold howling winds and blowing snow have reduced visibility to nil; roads are snow -packed and slippery. If you don't have to go out, don't." "Snow accumulation could reach 12 to 15 centimetres; no let-up is in sight for at least 10 to 12 hours." One radio personality saved a lot of time and breath by reporting: "The news to the hour. The weather? Bad!" Some people were saying this was the worst storm of the winter. Two days earlier the same people thought spring was here. But you knew better. Surprise! Surprise! a look through the news -record files Blue Anchor operates a trailer park and tourist business on a bluff above the flats and wants to build a 100 -boat marina on land the village is trying toexproprrate. The village contends ownership of the land has been obscured for generations. 10 YEARS AGO April 3, 1969 Jim Roy, a member of CHSS' drama club, was ',circled as best actor for his portrayal of Where's Signarelle at the fifth annual Huron -Perth District Collegiate Drama Festival last weekend. Linda East, who reigned as last year's Clinton ice carni‘ al queen presented a prize to her successor, Patti Kay, 12, chosen last weekend at the annual event which marks the end of w inter recreation. Bill Boussey, 16 -year --old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Boussey of Clinton, and a Grade 11 student rt CRSS, topped a field of nine speakers last Friday to win a trip to the United Nations in New York. The contest was for the 20th annual Oddfellows United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth. 25 YEARS AGO April8, 1954 Riding like a bird on the waters of the Hayfield River last Friday, the 14 -ton sic( I tug, Maymac, first of its kind to he built in Bayfield, was ample proof of the skills of the Bayfield -men wiho engineered and executed the plans for her building. Her towner, Captain R. L. MacMillan built her himself during the past winter, with the able assistance of Merton Merner, whose expert welding helped to complete the job for which he had drawn up the plans. Did you ever hear of a penny sale? That's what the ladies of the Clinton Hospital Association are planning in conjunction with their Monster Bazaar this fall. Sssh, here's a secret. 1 he calls are not pink. Here's hoping we'll never have an enforced visit and he able to tell you just what color they are. Now, one of the last of the Donnelly clan has passed along the way. Rem em her the 1)ernnellys'' Well, if you don't then your daddy will. Down near Lucan they lived, some 60 -odd years ago and they brought their feuding habits, from auld Ireland herself. Perhaps not all of the things for which they were blamed could he laid at their door-, but enough of them apparently to rouse the entire neighbourhood into a posse ..that wiped out almost the entire family. Jim, who was the one that escaped, ended his life at Geraldton. He had conk home to his hachelor cabin and apparently unable to find his key, he swung at the lock with his ,ixe and died of a heart attack. The Dutch Reformed Church ( on);r'gm inn made the only offer for the old prrhhc school property on which the town council called for tenders last month. The. offer of $9,000 was made on the entire property, including building and Tots and an Offer of $3,250 was made for the lots at the rear- of the school alone. At t.ARS AGO April 4, 1929 This is clean-up time. Let every citizen held to make Clinton the most attractive town in Western Ontario. Mr. ,lack Armstrong, Londesboro's genial storekeeper, has a broad smile these days, it's a girl. Some of the gravel pit owners approached Goderich Township Council, asking that the price of gravel he advanced to 15 cents. The council however, decided to leave the price the same as formerly, namely 12 cents. A very amusing play entitled, Three Hats, W ill he presented by the AYPA of St. James' Church. Middleton, in the basement of the church on April 12. 75 YEARS AGO April 7, 1904 Mr. W. W. Farran, who owns 50 acres of orchard, is a heavy loser by the ravages of the ground mice which have stripped the branches as well as the trunks of hundreds of his trees. A large number of the trees destroyed tiave been planted a dozen years. The old Jer\ is homestead on the 12th concession of Goderich Township was sold by ,ruction last week, the purchaser being Mr. "Thos. Putter and the price, $3,310. The executors of the estate are Messrs. Elford and Tehhutt. A meeting of the officers of the 33rd Regiment was held at the Rattenbury House on Wednesday of last week, among those present being: Major Combe, Captains McTaggart, Rance, Shaw, A. Wilson, McPhail and Chaplain Hodgens. Mrt S. S, Cooper has now a number cif men •• at work making the cement blocks for the proposed King Edward Hotel. S. S. proposes pushing forward the work of construction in his usual vigorous manner. He has also broken ground for the addition to the House of Refuge. Several new phones have recently been installed at the residences of Inspector Torrance, R. Graham, C. C. Rance, J. Scott, Dr•. Hamilton and J. E. Hovey and also at the knitting factory, A. Couch's Shop and the new office of Molson's Bank. 100 YEARS AGO April 7, 1879 There resides •in this town, a lady over 80 years of age, who has kept her eyesight so well that she can read ordinary print, knit, sew, etc., without the use of spectacles, never having used a pair. Maple syrup sold in town this season at 12 cents and 15 cents per pound. in a little hamlet in this county, a gen- tleman states that last year he lost fully $500 by had debts. This is a large amount for a small place, but we are afraid that similar amounts were lost by others in business elsewhere. The sooner a strict cash system is introduced, the halter. Clintunian wives beware of the night tread of tramps. We are minus our pants, socks and shirt this week. The beef displayed by our butchers last week was of a kind of quality and quantity that would he very hard to excel. The animals, of improved breed, had been brought to a high state by careful fattening and when dressed were almost enough to tempt the palate of even a strict vegetarian. Great race Dear Editor: On behalf of the Kinsmen Club of Clinton, I would like to take this op- portunity to thank all those who helped make our Canoe Race last Sunday a success. A special thank -you to the Fish and Game Club for the use of their hall and equipment; Top Notch Feeds for the use of their van for Registration; The County and all Landowners whose land we trespassed on; The Auburn Lions Club for use of their lunch booth; and the Seaforth Optimists for their cooking grill. The draw prize winners were: 16 -foot canoe, Bob McDougall of Goderich; life jacket, Craig Bowker of Clinton; canoe paddle, Pat Mann, Clinton. The trophies were sponsored by the local businesses as follows: A full class of six trophies: Jellystone, Fleming Feed Mill and The Royal Bank. A half class of three trophies Clinton Chrysler, Hotel Clinton, Wiseway, Travel -On, Koma Boats, Bank of Montreal, Clinton Credit Union, Kerrigan Fuels, Ball and Macaulay Ltd., Vanastra Factory Outlet, Mer- ners Construction, Archers Farm Sales and Service and Morgan's Mobile Homes Ltd. Despite the cold snowy weather the project was very successful. All proceeds will be donated to The Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation. Yours sincerely, Arnold Riley, Chairman of Maitland C.F. Pace canoe race Ten will die Dear Editor : Somewhere in Ontario, ten children will die in the coming year at the hands of their parents. Six thousand will be abused in a way that should attract outside help - but probably won't. That was the message of a two-day workshop sponsored recently by the Canadian Home and School and Parent-Teacher Federation which wants attention focused upon the abused child during the International Year of the Child. To create this focus, the national Home and School body has published a brochure with basic information about the problem and has plans for original research on several aspects of child abuse: verbal abuse of children at home and school; educational programs for parents; and research relating to child abuse and neglect. Discussion leaders for the CHSPTF workshop were Dr. Herbert A. • Sohn, co-ordinator, Child Abuse Program, Ontario Ministry 'of Community and Social Services ; Barbara Morrison, Special Projects Officer, Social Ser- vices Division, Health and Welfare Canada; and Steven Rootman,' Program Supervisor, Saskatchewan Social Services. Dr. Sohn emphasized that the problem cannot be quickly or easily solved. However, the group accepted guidelines for Home and School in- volvement which should be known nationally, according to the workshop. They • include: lay -volunteer programs to assist professionals in- - volved in the prevention and treatment of child.abuse and neglect; developing awareness programs in the local Home and School associations to sensitize the public to the problems and frequency of the situations; and to encourage establishment of multi -disciplined teams of professionals to deal with victims (both children and parents) and to seek the co-operation of the media in publicizing these attempts at assistance. If ever the abused child gets a better deal, it will happen during.the Inter- national Year of the Child or not for a long time after, the workshop con- cluded. The Canadian Home and School movement is determined to see something happen this year. Boys' brigade Dear Editor, The Boys' Brigade in Canada is celebrating its 90th year of working with boys in many churches across Canada. Over these years, many boys have been involved in the program conducted in their local church. Former members referred to as "Old Boys" have entered many walks of life and have moved to many parts of our country. There are also many Old Boys now living in Canada who were members in some of the 63 other ,,puntries around the world where Boys' Brigade Companies are Operating. In this special year, we are therefore trying to locate as many of these Old Boys (former boys and officers) as possible and enter into communication with them. We also would like to get many of them together if possible. We would appreciate your assistance in reaching these Old Boys by asking your readers to write to us at Brigade Headquarters, 115 St. Andrew's Road, Scarborough, Ontario, MIP 4N2. Many thanks for your co-operation and assistance. Yours sincerely C. D. (Danny) Reesor Executive Director