Clinton News-Record, 1979-06-07, Page 1114th year -No. 23 Thursday, June 7, 1979
35 cents
Windows smashed
A tragic crash instantly killed a young Belgrave man on
Saturday morning. Daniel Lamont, 20, of Belgrave was
travelling west on Huron County Road 13 just west of
Clinton when his car went off the road on a curve and struck
a hydro pole. The Goderich OPP said hydro service to the
immediate area was temporarily interrupted.(News-
Record photo)
Fair attracts record 9,000 persons
by Jim Fitzgerald
The 125th anniversary of the Clinton
Spring Fair was a huge success, say
officials of the Central Huron
-Agriculture Society. Fine weather, an
excellent program, and added at-
tractions combined to bring in over
9,000 people to the three-day event.
Secretary of the Fair, Bob Gibbings,
credited the sunny, dry weather with
luring crowds to the Fair, which
celebrated the anniversary of its
founding. He also commended the hard
work done by all of the volunteers on
the committee.
One of the highlights of the Fair was
the 45 -minute parade on Saturday,
which attracted the largest numbers of
entries in a decade, and featured the
Ontario Massed Pipe and Drum Band,
which is composed of Legion Bands
from Southwestern Ontario.
Parade organizers Erie Switzer and
Dr. Ken` Wood were` complimented•
many times for the fine military
precision in getting the parade down
main street without a noticeable hitch.
Carol Jewitt, 19, the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. John Jewitt of Londesboro
was. crowned Queen of the Fair on
Friday night. Pam Baker, 21, of
Brucefield was picked second, and
Cheryl Sutherland, 18, of Clinton was
chosen third from the nine entries in
the contest.
The Huron County Holstein Club
show was also the best ever, attracting
a record 94 entries to the Friday af-
ternoon exhibit.
Jim Seili of Wroxeter had the grand
champion cow, while Cliff and Glen
McNeil of RR 6, Goderich had the
reserve champion, the junior cham-
pion, and the breeder's herd.
Hol -Den Farms of RR 1, Clinton took
home both the Premier Breeder and
Premier Exhibitor awards, and won
first place in highest composite BCA
test.
In the Ontario Spring Jersey Show
held at the same time, John A. White
and Son of St. Thomas had the grand
champion female, while Dave Hon-
derich of New Hamburg had the
reserve champion, and Brian Sayles of
Paris had the junior champion female.
In the heavy horse class, which was
well entered -again this year, Russell
Teeple of Paisley was judged to have
the best heavy horse on the gronds,
while Tom- Penhale of Bayfield had the
best heavy team in harness, and
Charles Halliday of RR 2, Chesley had
the best four -horse heavy hitch.
In the light horses, Linda Hall of
Bright gathered the most points in the
Arabian, American Saddle Bred or
show horse classes.
In the Sunday horse show, Caroline
Watt of RR 1, Blyth took home the
trophy for being the best rider in
the saddle class.
Smith Brothers„of Mildmay had the
grand- champion beef .herd, pnd the
grand champion Shorthorn herd, while
Bodmin Ltd. of RR 5, Brussels had the
top Shorthorn breeders herd and the
top bull.
In the Hereford class, R. and F.
Farm of Ailsa Craig had the grand
champion female, while Sandy Ridge
Farm of West Lorne had the top bull.
Mike McCart of Appin showed both the
top female and male in the Aberdeen
Angus class.
Bradley Falconer of RR 4, Seaforth
was the best under 14 years showman in
the market class, while Brian Falconer
was the best showman in the over 14
years class, and had the top 4-H steer
calf. Les Falconer won the 4-H beef
showmanship award.
There weren't any entries in the
swine section this year, and major
winners in a depleted sheep class in-
cluded Driscoll Brothers of Elora, H.
M. Lee and Sons of Highgate, Rusell
Daw of Bowmanville, James Snell of
Hullett, and Gord Schweitzer of West
Montrose.
In a prolific rabbit class, major
winners included Donelda Reiley of
Finally, the week is nearly over,
and what a week it has been. Both
Shelley and I have been nearly run
of our feet covering that fantastic
spring fair on the one hand, while
trying to juggle our regular duties on
the other.
We've tried as hard as possible to
cram as much of the Spring Fair
coverage as we could into this issue,
but something had to be left out, and
some of that will appear next week.
I must compliment the Fair Board
for the excellent show they put on. It
makes me proud- to say I'm from
Clinton. But there's more on that on
the editorial page.
+ + +
And thank goodness the weather
decided to be nice for a change, and
put on a smiling face.
According to Graham Campbell,
keeper of the records at th`e
Goderich Weather Station, except
for seven days, May was one lousy
month with below normal rainfall,
and slightly above normal tem-
peratures. But the mean . of 11.6
although a half a degree C above
normal was not indicative of the
kind of month we had. It was a
month of contrasts, with snow being
seen on the 5th, while by the Ilth, the
high of 28.9 was recorded.
The last frost in Clinton was
recorded on the 22nd, and we
received slightly less than normal
sunshine. "It would be best to forget
about May,” Graham said.
+ + +
In baseball, if a batter hits over
.300, than he's considered an ex-
cellent player, so the fact that I'm
batting .666 on my predictions of late
can't be all that bad. As many of you
-
may recall, I correctly predicted the
outcome of the Stanley Cup, the
federal election, and that MP Bob
would be returned handily.
However, 1 said that Mr. McKinley
would get a cabinet post, but Prime
Minister Joe let me down when he
named his new cabinet on Monday.
Joe, it seems, is so busy putting non-
elected Quebecers in his cabinet,
that he's ignoring experienced
members.
+ + -1-
Another
Another Canadian dollar is in had
shape joke: Father to another, "I've
finally taught my son the value of
the dollar and now he wants his
allowance in Swiss Francs."
+ + +
As an added service to our readers
and the general public, the News -
Record has available at our office a
number of pamphlets on drown -
proofing your family. At this time of
year when so many of us are near
large bodies of water, it's knowledge
well worth having.
+ ++
In the story on the history of the
Clinton Spring Fair in last week's
edition, we mistakenly left out the
name of Bill Flynn as a recent past
president of the Spring Fair, Bill has
worked hard for the Fair Board, so
we apologize for the oversight.
As any of you backyard gardeners
and forest workers know by now,
Miss Quitoe and her friends are hack
with us for another summer, and the
cold winter doesn't seem to have
depleted their numbers or their
fervor.
Owen Sound, and Andy Riehl of
Goderich.
Tony McQuail of Lucknow and
Orville Rodges of Goderich were the
top winners in the goat class, while
Clifford Pepper of Dashwood, Andy
Riehl of Goderich and Orville Shewfelt
of Kincardine were the top winners in a
large poultry, and pigeon class that
attracted over 300 entries.
In the mini -tractor pull that brought
in a great deal of attention on Friday
night, Al Holmes of Cambridge won the
1750 and the 1550 pound modified
classes, while Jack Nagel of Fisher-
ville pulled the most in the 1200 pound
open class.
In the Fair parade on Saturrda-y, the
Kinettes won the prize for the best club
or organization float, the Clinton Wheel
'N' Dealers won the best commercial
float, while the Taylor and Murray
.Families bast the b .st-c lcaticxntr. ........,
The Huronview float was picked the
best institution float, while the Clan
Hospital Candy Stripers was named the
best junior float.
Tom Penhale of Bayfield had the best
horse drawn float, Don Gower of
Clinton had the best antique car, the
Mitchell Legion Brass Band was picked
the best band, and the Kirkton
Majorettes put on the best marching
display.
In the homemaking section, which
didn't have as many entries in some
classes as other years, Rhea Potter of
RR 3, Clinton was the overall winner in
all classes with the most points. Debbie
Flynn of RR 4, Clinton was the top
junior exhibitor, while mother Mrs. Bill
Flynn had the most points in the arts
and craft section.
In the sewing section, Grace Potter
of Londesboro had the most 'points in
the boys and men's classes, while Rhea
Potter was the top sewer, followed
by Isabellas MacDonald and Mary
Marsh of Clinton.
Irene Shipp of Clinton was the top
point gatherer in the knitting and
crocheting section, while Dorothy
Marquis of Clinton was the winner of
the quilt needlecraft section, and Mrs.
Wes Heimpel was the top overall
winner in the the neddlecraft section.
Rita Powell of Clinton and Mary
Thomson of Kippen tied for the most
points in the baking section, while Mrs.
Ken Johnston of Clinton picked up the
most points in the floral division.
Vandals leave destructive trail
In the past few days, cases of un-
necessary vandalism have felt Clinton
people upset and put three girls in
hospital.
The Clinton police reported that a 15 -
year -old Clinton juvenile has been
taken to a detention home in London
after stealing and completely
demolishing a 1974 Monte Carlo.
The car, stolen Tuesday, was
recovered in Stratford after a high-
speed chase with the police. Although
the youth was not injured, three
teenage girls from Monkton were taken
to Stratford General Hospital. The
girls,. who had been hitch -hiking before
,they were picked up by the thief, are
not in serious condition. One was
treated and released, while the two
other girls remain in hospital after
undergoing surgery.
Clinton police explained that the car,
owned by Dan Colquhoun of Clinton
was taken from the Clinton Public
Hospital. The youth drove the car to
Seaforth where he filled it with gas at a
service station and left without paying.
The service attendant notified police.
Sebringville OPP spotted the same car
travelling about 100 MPH along High-
way 8 near Mitchell and pursued it.
The chase took the cars into Stratford
where the stolen vehicle smashed into a
1,011;r•lr. on T-Itirnn Ctrrs't thnn onntinued
on to Foreman Street where it struck
another vehicle and then crashed into a
utility pole.
Police were able to apprehend the
juvenile when he tried to leave the
scene on foot.
The Clinton police said that charges
are pending. In the past the youth has
faced similar other charges and is
presently on parole.
In Clinton over the weekend, vandals
went on a window smashing spree.
George K. Elliott, Princess Street
reported that a battery had been stolen
out of one of his trucks. Later, the
windows were smashed out of the same
trucks, parked behind his home. The
vehicles have been stored there for
years since Mr. Elliott retired from the
construction business.
The shop, K -Decorating on Huron
Street had its front, plate glass window
smashed sometime over the weekend.
Owner Shirley Kay said that the
vandals did not gain entry into the
building, but shattered glass lay from
the front to the back of the store. The
window, valued at several hundr
dollars was broken with a beer bottle
Mrs. Kay was quite upset about t
senseless incident.
Regarding the vandalism which
occurred at the Elliott property, Mr.
Elliott voiced, "The parents of children
that have been breaking and
destroying windshields and windows in
the doors of my trucks will be severely
dealt with. Please warn your children
to stay off my property."
He added, "The party who removed
the battery from my yellow truck had
better put it back as we have your
licence. We also know who you are."
In other news, the Clinton Police said
that Jack Cook, a Clinton man, ap-
peared in Goderich court on Monday
and was given three days in Stratford
jail for a February charge of stealing
$1,000 worth of merchandise from
Crown Sports in Clinton.
The police explained that Mr. Cook's
sentence was lessened by one day for
good behaviour and he remained in jail
Tess than 24 hours.
Concurrent with the sentence, was a
previous unpaid fine for $54. He only
had to pay $10 of this since his brief
stay in jail covered the remainder of
the fine.
Chief Lloyd Westlake went on to say
that Mr. Cook still owes two out-
standing fi"nes totalling $325. If they are
not paid he will face 20 days in jail. One
fine resulted in a March 1979 charge
while another dates back a year and a
half to a January 1977 charge.
The faces of these two young lads mirror some
apprehension, as the their controlled journey in the
Helicopter Ride at the Spring Fair gets started. The
midway attracted a large crowd again this
year.(News-Record photo)
Arsonist burns township office
by Wilma Oke
Because fire caused heavy damage
to the McKillop municipal office
Sunday, council held its regular
meeting on Tuesday in the road
superintendent's office at Winthrop.
Council has rented a 32 x 10 foot
trailer, two rooms, for the clerk to use
during the renovations. Rent will be
$175 monthly for two months, plus 95
cents per mile cost to deliver it to
Winthrop from London on Wednesday.
The fire was set during a break-in
through a rear window on the weekend.
Reeve Allan Campbell estimates the
loss to the single -storey brick building
built during Canada's Centennial year
in 1967, at $22,000, including contents. It
is believed about half the
municipality's records were destroyed
by the flames, heat and water, and the
other half will all have to be re -written.
The Ontario Fire Marshal's office and
Goderich OPP investigated.
Reeve Allan Campbell praised Mr.
and Mrs. Douglas Schroeder, who live
north of the office, for their alertness in
noticing the 'smoke coming from the
vents and for investigating and
notifying the Seaforth Area Firemen.
Mr. Campbell gave praise to the
firemen for putting the blaze out and
others who worked at the scene.
The township building inspector,
'Eugene McAdam, who attended the
meeting to give his monthly report, 16
building permits were approved by
him, was presented with an application
for the renovation work in the office.
Clerk Marion McClure was given
permission to buy replacements for the
Young Jennifer. 10 months, was more enthused with some item that caught her
eye rather than the fact she had been chosen as hest baby at the Clinton Spring
Fair. Jennifer is the daughter of Bob and Marsha Szusz, RR 1, Blyth and mom
had a hard time keeping her �Oungster still for her first publicity shots.(News-
it4'cord photo)
Weather
1979 1978
May
29
30
31
June
1
2
3
4
NI l0
13.5 5
15 7
23 4
office including an electric typewriter,
photocopier machine, adding machine,
desk, paper, stamps and other office
supplies. Mrs. McClure was also given
permission to hire a student typist from
the Seaforth High School, preferably
from McKillop Township to assist her
in typing up new records.
Passed for payment were road ac -
.counts amounting to $33,795.88 and
generalaccounts, $20,166.58.
A grant of $360 was approved for the
Seaforth Community Hospital, based
on $3.00 each for the 120 patients from
McKillop who were treated at the
hospital in 1978.
A land severance application for a
150 -acre farm was approved with 100
acres to be retained and 50 acres to be
separated.
HI LO
29.5 13
28.5 18
23 11
No Rain Rain 2.05 mm
BY JEFF SEDDUti
The Huron County board of education
stood its ground Monday afternoon
telling the Concerned Citizen's Group
of Huron county English literature
texts had been approved according to
board policy and that was that.
In a clash with about 15 members of
the group trustees defended board
procedures used to approve a list of 22
English books and told the parents no
changes would be made to the list.
Not only did the board refuse to alter
its decision on the books it told the
group nothing could be gained by sit-
ting down to discuss the controversy
and unanimously chose not to have a
special meeting with the group.
The board's approval of the list of
books was sandwiched between a brief
presented by the citizen's group ex-
pressing its dissatisfaction of the
Turn to page 3 •