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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-08-23, Page 4PAQE 4 —*CLINTON NEWS -11 gCORD THURSDAY, AUGW4T 4, 1979 TheIntOn hlevil-Detord I pobpshod .00 ThATIOPY at :P.O. Doit 39. Clinton, Qatari* Cnnodo• NOM 1LO, Member. Ontario WeehlY Newspaper Association (CNA Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Cord No. t effective 00. 1,• NMS. it is reVirnr•O OP second ckut mall by the Poof offIc• under the pimlt number Th. tiernOrncord. Incerporatod. In 1924 the Kara!! NAVA/4a;ard, fonnOnd. In rail- and Th. Clinton. New Era, founded in 136.3. Total press. run 3,399. General Manager • J;Iloward Aitken Editor • James E. fitsgerald Advertising Director , Dory L. Hoist News editor • Shelley McPhee Office Manager • Margaret Gibb Circulation • Freda McLeod Subscription Rote; Canada -44.00 per your Sr. citizen .92 per year U.S.A. & fogeigp • 'TO per yecir .:••••••, •••••••"••• Who's to blame? Whenever some terrible tragedy happens, many people look for a place to lay the blame, and such is the case after the recent devastating tornado that destroyed parts of Woodstock and Oxford, Norfolk, and Haldimand Counties. Although miraculously only three people were killed during the storm that 'caused $100 million in damage, many people are shouting obscenities at the weatherman calling for his skin, and asking why they were given no .warning. Well, they were given warning that afternoon that a severe storm watch was in effect, and a severe storm •watch means that heavy thun- derstroms, with possible hail and high winds, are possible with the outside chance of a tornado. In fact, the weather office frequently issues those warnings • othroughout the season from May to September, and indeed, every time a • thunderstorm comes up, there is a chance of a tornado. However, because of the Lake ef- fect, much of the punch of the storms is sucked out by the water, and only about 200 tornadoes are even sighted . in Ontario in a year out of the •thounsands and thousands of thun- derstorms spawned, and only one or two of them even touch down, most of the time for a few seconds A major tornado such as the one that hit Woodstock is a once in 50 year thing, and if the weatherman cried tornado everytime a thunderstorm came along and no tornados were seen, it would soon be, like the boy crying wolf, and after a few months, the people would soon ignore the warnings anyway. , Another defence for the weather- man is communicating the warning to the people. A tornado is a very capricious phenomenon and comes and goes in - minutes and eyen seconds. If the weather man tried to warn residents via radio or television, he" would have to phone at least two dozens stations (in Woodstock's case,), because that's how many different stations people were tuned to at the supper hour. The task would be impossible. Mother nature, although benevolent; - most of the time in Southern Ontario, is under close scrutiny every second by the weather office, but when she puts on. her.ugliest face; 'all .we..can. do -- is watch. • '—:"C$.&*7--,,c-•:-,..--Z"-*" • tr • • • .1.6e.t "Mv lawn's doing so poorly this year, even crab grass would he welcome. remembering our past 5 YEARS AGO August 15, 1974 Lady Luck was with Fred Dutot last Sunday afternoon, as Clinton firemen and neighbors were able • to extinguish a stubborn, smouldering fire in the hay loft of the Dutot barn at RR 3, Clinton. Mr. Dutot smelled smoke on Sunday morning and summoned the Clinton fire depart- ment, and with the help of about tiAro dozen neighbors, who forked out several tons of hay from the mow, they were able to put out the fire before it spread to the rest of the barn. Clinton's first arts and craft show is ready to roll, according to one of the organizors, Rita Ryan of Clinton. She was so enthusiastic about the show, saying that • it would be the best in the area. that one can't help but believe her. The show, known as "Clinton '74, Potpourri" will he staged at the arena next Friday and Saturday. • August 14, 1969 • Caqadian FoFccs Base Clinton will close „ Der erke Minister Leo Cadieux announced yesterday afternoon in Ottawa as the base commander, Col. E.W. Ryan, broke news locally to vrritlitarY personnel, Clinton civilian and and Goderich Our odd weather Hot nuff fer ya? By the time this appears in print, I may be looking through. drawers for my longjohns. • That, would be typical of the weather in this Canada of ours. But as I write, holed up in my study with the drapes drawn and the fan blowing, we're well into the second week of one of those scorching summer sessions that we masochists in this country endure and even enjoy, in a perverted way, . We suffer, but we suffer with a certain pride. One wilted citizen will say'to another dripping one, "Ain't it a corker?" And the other will respond, almost joyously, "Never seen the beat of it." On the streets of our towns and cities, we duck from one air- conditioned haVen to another, cat- ching our death of cold in the process. Smart people take a heavy sweater to the supermarket so they won't freeze their extremities, and peel right down to those extremities as soon as they get back into the street. What a crazy way to live. Six months ago, and six months from now, we'll be doing the opposite, • ducking from one over -heated place to another and bragging about the cold, I wonder if there is another nationa in the world that talks as much about the weather as does ours. I doubt it. Perhaps it is because we are rather shy and inarticulate when it comes to opening a conversation. As a result, we commence with, "Cold .nuff fer ya?", or, "Hot nuff fer ya?", and can nearly always be certain that the , person spoken to, even a complete stranger, as long as he's a Canadian, 'will- respond with something like, "Real brute, izzen it?" This retort covers extreme days in either winter or summer. If an immigrant, unfamiliar with our opening gambits, makes a sen- sible remark about the weather, Such as, "My, it is unpleasantly. -,warm toddy, is it not?," we go right on the defensive, with, "Ah, this is just right, Wait'll the real heat wave hits, It'll slaughter Sta." Or if- a simil rly untutored foreigner, just tryirg to be pleasant, . says in February, "MeanGott, zis is a cold country in vinter, Hein?", we .snarl, "Nah, she's tnildithis year. Ya shoulda 13011,here last Winter. Potty, , •itelovitiii three weeks. straight."' •' • ,)" .„ . . Yes, there is a certain arrogance in Canadians when it comes to •our weather. Nobody much likes rain and wind. But when it comes to hot and cold, we are fascinated by tem- peratures. We exchange weather reports. We remember winters and summers as far back as thirty years. If some unusually urbane Canadian ventures to utter a, "nice day, eh?", we usually come back with a yabbut. "Yabbut there's a big blizzard cornin' in from the West." Or, "Yabbut it's supposed to rain all next week." Canadians know, without being told, that if a winter week has been sunny and sparkling, it's going to snow and blow on the weekend. They are positive that, if the summer has been ideal, warm and dry and delightful so far, it will be cold and wet when it's their turn to go on holidays. The weather is so much a part of our national psyche that it's a wonder it hasn't crept into politics. On second thought, it has. Elections are carefully geared so that they don't occur in midsummer, when nobody gives a damn about Politics, nor in mid -winter, when it's too cold to get • ou to Vote. One of these days, so enthralled are we with the weather, that we'll probably have a couple of guys running .for prime minister who are weather forecasters. And the one who gives us the most horrendous forecasts will win in a walk. . I am not sneering at my fellow Canadians obsession with the weather. I am asbad as the next. There's nothing I enjoy more, on a 'winter day, than blustering in from the cold, tearing off my boots and overcoat, and asking all and sundry, "Did you ever see such a rotten winter?" And sure enough, someone will retort, "Yabbut we had two feet more snow this time last year." In summer, I sizzle around the golf course (my body, not my score) and whine with the best of them, "Isn't this brutal? My ,lawri is baked black. It was 98 in our bedroom last night." And de of the foursome will come back with, -"Yabbut remember last summer, when we hadda play in rubber, boots and mackinaws?" You can't win. One of the few Canadians who do sn't care about the weather is my wi . When fre had babies, she'd pop int ,the off ce in the middle of bli iard. "What in the Sant 14111 ar yo' 'doing ou on a day like this'?" rid !d diseover that she'd though the baby needed some fresh air, and pushed the carriage through the snow for half a mile. Her indifference to our great national conversation piece infuriates me. We had a bitter quarrel just this week. I'd been out in the car, and told her the guy on the radio said it was 96 downtown. She said she didn't believe him. With a touch of warmth, I repeated what the guy on the radio had said. Ninety-six degrees. "It couldn't be." "Why not?" "Because , it doesn't feel that hot. And what does it matter, anyway?" You can see why I blew my top. Matter?..What could be more im- portant? There is no single element in this country that is more important to us Canadians than our love -hate relationship with the weather. In fact, it may be the only thing that will hold this country together, when all the referendums have been taken. 7 9 a look through the news -record files officials and newsmen gathered orCthe parade square. If no other government department or civilian agency is interested in CFB, Clinton's facilities will close, said Col.. Ryan, quickly adding- that non-DND agencies have \already shown interest in the extensive training and support facilities at the base. Today's the first day that Mrs. Florence Killer (nee Garrett) of RR 3, Clinton and her elder sister Mrs. Margaret Jones of Nottingham, England, meet after a separation of 35 years. Funeral services will be held. in London this afternoon for Mrs. Arthur E. (Ruth) Elliott of Bayfield. She died in Victoria Hospital as a result of •head injuries sustained in an August 5 accident when she was struck by a bicycle on Main Street in Bayfield.. Mrs. Elliott, 50, was the owner of the Little Inn in Bayfield. A native of London, she -had been a summer resident of Bayfield for many years and purchased t4 ,?Ptfire inn 15 years ago• • =. , • 25 YEARS AGO August 19, 1954 The painting job is now complete at the • St. Paul's Anglican Church in Clinton. The hard-working parishioners applied some 18 gallons of paint, working 29 nights during the past two months. Now the job is done and the spire has received a new set of shingles too. Working for five days pn this, alone, M. McAdam and his men did the ticklish' job. They found that the top of the spire is just 1.00 feet off the ground. Work is continuing along the two-mile stretch of county •road west of Middleton Church on the Bayfield Road. When work is completed; as presently planned, the Bayfield Road will no longer join the Blue Water at the bridge, but will come out at Deer Park Lodge, instead. Clinton should be well in line for the medal offered for "most taxis in towns of 2,600 population,'' if such a medal is of- fered. There are at present 14 taxi cabs operating out of Clinton through four establishments. This probably means employment (full or part-time) for about 25 men. 50 YEARS AGO August 15, 1929 Various stories come regarding the earthquake shock Monday morning. Many citizens Were -awakened by the tremor, others who were awake but still in bed felt it distinctly, the motion being from north to south. Those walking about felt it less but objects were seen •to sway with the motion. This was the first disturbance noted since a slight tremor felt in the autumn of 1925 and scientists assure us we need fear no severe shakes.' Threshing is the order of the day in Goderich Township. Just now the wheat is running from 30 to 35 bushels•per acre. • Hot Time. The hottest thing out since the Chicago Fire will be a barn dance on Friday, August 16. A good floor with a snappy orchestra 'makes an enjoyable evening -at A-E : Finch's new barn, Victoria Street, Clinton. Come, bring a friend and I spend an evening with the Clinton Fire Brigade. Gentlemen 35 cents; Ladies, 25 cents. 75 YEARS AGO August 18, 1904 A big band of Indians are on the rounds in quest of flax pulling and we hear they have got a big job from Mr. Forrester of Mitchell and have camped in Logan Township. Next Thursday afternoon the Holmesville WMS will hold their sewing circle at Mrs. W. IVIulholland's. A number of young people from Bayfield and yisitors enjoyed a trip to the Bend on 'the streamer Petrie last Friday. • -- Alf Butt of Summerhill was quite ill fora few days last week and. typhoid fever was feared, but we are pleased to learn, that he is about all right again. We are glad to report that Master Lloyd Hayter of Stanley Township, who un- derwent an operation for appendicitis last week, is improving now and there are good hopes for his recovery. • 100 YEARS AGO August 21, 1879 • Boys and girls who are in the habit of playing around trains as they shunt here, should be stopped at once, before we are called upon to record the almost inevitable accident therefrom. If no other rneans can be adopted the station master should use a horsewhip. The weather of last week would have suited October better than August. Fourteen trains call at Clinton daily. Mr. Alex Taylor contemplates the erection of a brick house on his property on the Bayfield Road for his own occupation. Miss Foxton, 9f this place, has been appointed teachet in School Section No. 10, Tuckersmith, at a salary of $315 a year. Mr. J.B. Atchison, of The Expositor staff, visited Sarnia on the excursion last week. Does this account for the presence of eight constables on the same train') R.M. Racey, Importer of carriage and builders' hardware offers special bargains in revolvers. Full -plated seven shot, for $2.50. Having been made expressly for the English, Russian and American armies. Only a limited quantity at R.M-.-Racey's. Last week two sons of Mr. Geo. Oaks of the Maitland Con. in Goderich Township pulled 113/4 acres of Peas in three days; This is considered good work. • Knock, Knock A grandmother was entertaining her two grandchildren, aged six and eight, with tales of her girlhood. Horse and cutter rides-mith-blankets wrapped around her and a red-hot brick shoved under her feet brought grimaces, but walking to school in the summertime in barefeet produced envious grins. The kids weren't interested in what she learned in school, what she sat on, - what she wrote on or what books she read, but they wondered, "Did you have recess back then?" Next they wanted to know what the children did at recess and noon hour and what game, they played. Grandma thought for a few minutes and memories began drifting back of simple games of tag among the trees, hide andseek and kick the can. There was also "ring around the rosie" and "London bridge is falling down" as well .As "May I", "Simon Says" and "Red Light -Green Light". Girls skipped rope and played hopscotcl. , while boys played Catch.. Baseball was popular as well, "You played baseball?" the ItlidS' eyes popped. I • Some of the games were familiar to the children, because they've • changed little over the years; others sounded new and strange to them. Suddenly they changed the subject and wanted to knoW what Grandma and her friends talked about when theyweregreleinttel%tion •seems to have its private stock of "in" words and jokes. Grandma remembered 'the fun she and her friends had with a certain kind of joke and she wanted to.share it with her grandchildren. It took her awhile to recall one, but finally she 'said, "I've got a joke for you. Knock! Knock! Now you say..." But she 'didn't have to explain. Two toothless grins asked in unison, "Who's there?" "Gimtne.',' "Gimmewho?" • "Putcha arms around me , and, gimme a kiss." funnytGrandma," confided Susan, knplvc12,s there?,, that," piped up Bobby. "no, The grins faded. "That's not very • "I know one a lot funnier than asked Or4ndtria, wondering 4ow the tables could turn that qui kl "IVIos ulto." "Mos tilt° whO?" • "Mosquito bit me. Knock, knock." • "Who's there?" asked Grandma, wondering how long this could go on. "Andy." "Andy who?" "Andy did it again!" The knock -knock joke, like the yo yo, always comes back. It faded away for awhile but was not forgotten. Today it's enjoying a resurgence in popularity • unsurpassed even in Grandma's day. The knock -knock craze is being turned into a ring -a -ling phrase by an enterprising U.S. telephone company. If you watch some American television stations, you know what I mean. You may pot like knock -knock jokes, but they seem to be here to stay, At least, you've got to admit they may help to bridge the generation gap. • Knock, knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who? Banana man. knock, kno&k. Who's there. Banana. Banana who? Banana nand knock, knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orang you gladi n't say banana? That's called a triple knock -knock joke. Don't get triad at me. I didn't make it up; I just repeated it. • .1 Flying. taurine write letters Dear Editor: How, time flies! Already we're nearing. end of another summer, • —At this time we wouId like to extend a sincere "Thank You" for using the services of the Canada Employment Centre for Students. The work that you were able to provide for the many.high school and post -secondary . students we had on file will help cut educational cots for • many in -the fall. For most students the jobs you provided gave them encouragement and the incentive to use their time constructively. The Student Offices will be operating again from February to September in 1980. We invite you to continue to make use of our services at that time. In the meantime, the regular Employment Centre is available to help you with your student mappower needs. Thank you for your support. Yours very truly, Susan H. Freeman Student Placement Counsellor, Goderich. Special thanks Dear Editor: As our season draws to a close I want to take a moment to thank you for the coverage the paper has given to the Blyth Summer Festival. Thanks also for the bits • of in- formation, favours and most of all for your support this season. It's really nice to know that there are people out there who care what you are doing. We've had a very good season this year, both in audiences and in critical acclaim. Thanks to you, Shelley, and the rest of your staff for your part in that. Yours Brenda Doner Publicist Blyth Summer Festival Safety concern Deaf Editor: In concern for persons' lives and personal safety, I would like to inform the people of Huron County just what is happening on our highways (which involves every road the public has access to including gravel roads). On the rural highways of Huron, County alone • .not jrictuding town streets) there have been 544 accidents investigated by the Ontario Provincial Police for the seven month period ending July 31, 1979. Last year for the same area and the same seven month period 481 accidents were investigated by the Ontario Provincial Police, which I believe should alarm any driver with com- mon sense. Out of the total number of accidents for the seven month period ending July 31, 1978 there were 12 persons killed in this county. " Out Of the total number of accidents for the seven month period ending July 31 of this year there were 15 persons killed in this county. Approximately half of the accidents involve one car running off the road and turning over or striking something. There are many reasons such as: speed too fast; inexperience, inattention, alcohol etc. In multi -car accidents all of these plus following too close, improper turns and failing to stop where required, are all responsible for accidents. - To help ' reduce this dramatic in- :rease in accidents radar will be used more extensively in Huron County. The Huron.. County Court in its desire.to curb accidents has increased the speeding.fines. Also, since liquor abuse plays such a role in Huron County, the Court has set no out-of- court settlement for minors charged with liquor offences, and raised the • fines from $54 to $104 including costs , for those of age. • All OPP Detachments in Huron • County are experiencing increased liquor violations and some over 100 percent increases from last year at this time. The Ontario Provincial Police are definitely thinking of your safety and are enforcing YOUR laws to PROTECT YOU. If you are the type of person who only thinks of the money angle, the new fine system should encourage you to abide by your laws, for example, if you are driving with open beer in your caranddriving 120 km in an 80 km zone Ur fine ,would be $100 plusicostdemeforritthepoliinqtusor against your t plus costs for speeding, totalling $207, plus s'x licence. Driving is a full time job. Drinking liquor is for relaxation. Drive and play safe. R.W. Wilson, Prov. Const. Community Services Officer • Do you have an opinion? Why not write us a letter to the editor, and , let everyone know. All letters are published, providing they can be autheraticated, and pseudonyms are allowed. All letter , hoWever, are subject to editing for length or libel. • • •