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Clinton News-Record, 1979-09-13, Page 1d D o By Jim Fitzgerald An extremely dry summer in parts of Huron County has proved to be both a boon and a bust for farmers, depending .on what crop they grow. . While, the cash cr"oppers, and in particular the white bean growers, have wercorp d the dry weather to help them .harvest this year's crop, fruit and vegetable growers -near the lake are suffering badly from one of the driest summers in 40 years. Art Bell, who along with his two. brothers have one of the biggest or- chard set-ups in Huron, have had to purchase irrigation equipment this summer to water some of their apple - trees, or risk losing the entire.;°rep of. some "vari;eties, particularly the spies4 Mr. Belt said they haven't had any significant rain since July 9, over two months, and he said he has had to water the trees, a very unusual cir- cumstance in Huron, or lose his crop because of its small size. Brown Lindsay, another fruit grower at RR 2, Bayfield, said he's never seen it so dry in all his years in the business, and the drought is causing the McIntosh apples to mature earlier and drop off. Only two miles away, however, its a different story at Stewart Middleton's pies, he is just underwayY . • Because of mold, bean beetle, an f1 other troubles, the .yield varies from ps beans .weather. . 'Pool orchard, where showers have been recorded all summmer, the crop is sizing well and the trees are in ex- cellent condition. Aon Pullen, agricultural rep. for Huron,...said the dry weather has helped the white boon harvest, which 'olztcran.� neededt wo council seats open If you've wanted to get involved in municipal affairs in clinton, if you support Clinton council, or even criticize it, now is the time for you to take action. Clinton council is now short two members with the recent resignation of Councillor Joe Atkinson ' and Monday's resignation of six-year veteran, councillor Roy Wheeler. Both men eited ill health as their reasons for giving up their council seats. Although council still has enough for a quorum, they are now looking for two new members to complete the council roster for the remaining tern -1, which will end with an election in 1980. A-t.Monday night's council meeting an apPlication to sit on council was received from Frederick "Doc"Jackson, a two-year resident of Clinton. However, council has made no appointments yet until more ap- plications are received. If no one offers to fill the vacant seat, then council itself can approach eligible candidates from the Clinton public and appoint th-em as coun- cillors to fill the term of office. However, council is hoping that some interest will come from the Clinton ratepayers themselves on this present shortage. The hockey season started for many boys on Monday as the Clinton recreation department opened their first hockey school, and for some lads, like five year- old Jeff Weber, it was the first time on skates. Instructor Dennis Martin helped Jeff for a eouple of rounds until he got his feet.under him. More than 70 boys are registered in the school. (News -Record photo) Mayor to rest The Clinton council chambers were silenced on Monday night when Mayor Harold Lobb revealed that he will resign his position if he has not received a written apology froth News -Record editor Jim Fitzgerald. Mayor Lobb stated, "If the newspaper, wants to run the town there's no need of Me being here. If I have not received an-apolo-gy frbm Mr. Fitzgerald by the next council meeting (set for October 8) I will resign." Attempts were made by council earlier in the evening before the meeting to dissuade Mayor Lobb from making such a decision, but Harold Lobb remained firm and put his position ,,as mayor of Clinton on the His decision to resign came after an editorial, criticizing council, written by Mr. Fitzgerald in the August 2 edition of the News -Record. Council, unhappy with the editorial, informed , reporter Shelley ',McPhee that they wanted a written apology for statements made. In turn, Miss McPhee related this news to Mr. Fitzgerald. In the editorial Mr. Fitzgerald said that council held secret meetings and stated that they did not represent the public since they were acclaimed to their•positions on council in the most recent election. The minutes of that August 13 meeting stated that no secret meetings had taken place and Mayor .Lobb- personally- wanted a public apology to the town council. While Mr., Fitzgerald still opposes closed council meetings, he regretted that the statement regarding council's ac- clamation was unjustified and said the editorial had been written in anger, followjng news that the council had discussed the 1979 budget in a closed session and passed it without public knowledge. "Technically council does represent the public and even though they vvere acclaimed, nominations were held. It may be only due to public apathy or satisfaction with the job done that no one challenged the present council," Mr. Fitzgerald reasoned. "However," he went on, "I still believe the council has too many School addition in sight At the final meeting of the current executive of St. Joseph's Catholic Parent -Teachers Association vice- president Carol, Kerrigan gave a report -on a meeting held.last month in Queen's Park rwith the minister of education the Hon. Bette Stephenson and a combined delegation of the Huron -Perth Board of Education on the St. Joseph's C.P.T.A. executive. Mrs. Kerrigan said the results of this meeting were most encouraging and highly favorable to the goals of the C.P.T.A. in having an addition made to the existing St. Joseph's school. A further information meeting will be held at St. Joseph's Parish Church Hall on Wednesday, September 19 at 8:30 p.m. The guest speaker at this meeting will be Bill Eckert, Director of Education for the Huron -Perth Separate School Board. It is hoped that a large number. of parents will be in attendance, since this is a very important milestone in the development of St. Joseph's School and in the education of your children. Thanks is extended to ' Sharon McClenaghan for a lovely lunch served and the use of her home for our meeting. 11 With the unveiling in the next couple of weeks of the new television series, there has been numerous rumors drifing around these parts that CBC is shooting a strew on the Zurich Bean Festival which will be called Pork and Windy. There is no truth to those rumors, as far as we can tell. Can winter really be far around the corner? It doesn't seem fair, but a trip to the arena will convince one that the snow and ice are not far off after all. The freezing tempertitures, and the kids all bunidied up in their hockey equipment for the hockey school Eire sure a contrast to summer-like teniperatUres outside. And too, minor hockey regiStration takes place this Sattirday, September 15 from 11 am to 2 pm at the town hall. The Minor Illockey Association's annual bake stile And equipment eXchange Will • r. also take place at the same time. Everrthough winter is still a long way off yet, several areas in these parts, particularly low spots like Holmesville, experienced a killing frost on Sunday morning. No reports of wide -spread damage have been received, however. After nearly two weeks of school, I'm sure many teachers will agree with our main street witis joke this week: "Little boys are like canoes. They'behave better if paddled from the rear." And the subject of canoes brings us around to Tony Gibbings and Rick Xloss, t WO local lads who have paddled their way to fame in Ontario all sumtner. tast week, they Wo the Ontario Junior pairs title i0 ramptotr toto cap off a very success ul season. Cobgratulations boys! • 114th Year No. 37 Thursday, September 13,. 1979 35 Cents Because over the past two years, however, combined with the hire of better paying crops, the beari acreage has slipped to about 30,000.acres, says Mr. Pullen, about half of last year's 60,000 acres. Prices are reported to be " around the $30 per hundred weight mark. Except. for corn on the sand, ' the crop looks "prothising," Mr. Pullen said, although it will need several more weeks of sunny, warm, frost - free ' weather to mature properly before harvest. The dry soil conditions have delayed fall plowing and the sowing of winter wheat, Mr. Pullen..added, but he didn't expect it would 'cause much problem, yet. The crop is usually sown in the middle of September. Huron's newest crop, the soybean, is progressing well, except for some fields which are suffering from white mold damage, a disease not listed in any book. "It's too bad soybeans can't read," said Huron -Perth soils and crop specialist, Pat Lynch at a recent bean day at Centralia. Weathera---Th 1979 1978 I41 Lo HI Lo SEPT. 4 25 11 22.5 4 5 30 13 27 11 26 12.5 30 16 8 17 7 22 13.5 9 19 0 22.5 10.5 10 22 6 25.5 12 Rain 8 min Rain 24.5 mm t editor doesn't apolo closed meetings. This does not mean that I don't respect these people. I think they are a hard working, con- cerned council but most of what they discuss could be done in the open, particularly the budget, as most other area councils do." • "I have no quarrel with Harold Lobb or the rest of council. We've worked side by side in, community projects and I've enjoyed socialiZling many with them. I've always thought that Harold Lobb has been one of the best mayors for Clinton. He has proVed to 'be an accessible, un- derstanding and concerned man in the past. Unfortunately I think he has taken my opinion too personally when I never intended it to end up like that," Mr. Fitzgerald offered as apology. Mr. Fitzgerald felt that an ex- pranatory statement was necessary to clear the situation between council and the press after further fuel had added to the continuing debate at Monday night's council meeting following comments on an article written by Miss McPhee, which ap- peared in last week's News -Record. The lengthy article dealt with closed sessions; how other area municipalities and the government handle them, how their budgets were dealt with and Clinton's councillors personal views on closed meetings. Miss McPhee explained, "The article was definitely not meant to harass council as Mayor Lobb said it has, , nor was it meant to be a malicious stab at council. The article, which began. to research sometime ago, was intended as an information report to show council that closed meetings are not necessarily a standard procedure. When I called each of the Clinton councillors I ex- plained that I was writing an vticle Clinton has lowest taxes by Shelley McPhee Clinton Council has compiled figures using the 1979 mill rates to prove that Clinton does have the lowest tax rate of the five towns in the county. 1 A taxpayer living in -Clinton with a $3,000 assessment wilL pay $56-2,37 in taxes. The same resident living in Goderich will pay the highest rate in the county of $673.95, $110 more than Clinton. Next in line to Goderich is Wingham, where taxpayers face a bill of $628.80, while in Seaforth $594.15 is paid. Exeter ratepayers with a $3,000 assessment will each have a tax bill of A comparison of mill ratels in the five towns also shows the djfference. They are, from lowest tol highest: Clinton, 187.457 mills4 Exeter, 195.230 mills; Seaforth, 198.050 mills; Wingham, 209.690 mills; Goderich, 224.650. It should be noted that these rate comparisons only reflect the five .largest Municipalities in the county. This does not mean that Clinton has the lowest tax ratei throughout the rates are traditionally lower because ' they don't have police tind reoreation detiartiiients to support. Of on council meeting procedures and wanted their views on closed sessions. Everyone was willing to offer some -I really don't think council has anything to hide," Mr. Fitzgerald added. "But, in principle their closed meetings are basically ;ran un- necessary traditien, other than for "- delicate issues such as r,eal estate transactions or personnel problems." He went on, "My reporters and I have nothing to personally gain by having more open meetings. We work en straight salary so there is no monetar. gain for working the extra hours. We would prefer being with our families or enjoying our personal lives in the evenings. I'm sure that some councillors feel the same way about meetings and perhaps they should re-evaluate the meeting procedures to eliminate or shorten some of the closed sessions and make open council meetings more efficient. This does not mean that Clinton council is incompetent. I am only seeking itnprovements for eveyone's behalf and there is always room for improvement in any organization." Mayor Lobb voiced particular concern over one portion of last week's article that said that 'Clinton enjoys one of the highest tax rates in the county." To prove this wi-ong the press was presented with figures showing that out of the five large municipalities in Huron, Clinton has the second lowest tax rate this year. However, Miss McPhee has noted that the statement made was not her own, but a direct quote, clearly marked as such in the article, from Mr. Fitzgerald. After seeing the current tax figures Mr. Fitzgerald admitted his facts were wrong and explained that he was looking at figures compiled by the News -Record two :years ago. The paper had no updated figures. The conflict betWeen council and the press was broadened on Monday night when Miss McPhee left council Bell workers okay pact Bell Canada's striking telephone installers and technicians voted 7,590 to .1,994 in favor of" accepting a con- tract settlement, local president David Handley said Sunday. The 15,000 members of the •Com- munications Workers of Canada, including the 20 men working out of the Clinton work centre, had voted on the contract Thursday and ballots were counted in Ottawa Sunday. The vote ends a series of rotatihg strikes and lockouts throughout- Ontario and Quebec which began June A, full- scale strike began Aug. 13. Union executives recommended that membership accept the set; tlement, although they said the three- year contract term was too long, the wage gain too small and the agreement did not offer enough protection against compulsory The agreement includes a 10.5 per cent wage increase retroactive to - 1979; and nine per cent on Dec. 1, 1980. In tbe third. year, salaries' would be indexed to the cost of living if that rises above eight per cent. An in- staller in the top wage category would be' making $385.10 a week. ze chambers during the session. Only moments before, when a member of the public attending the meeting was allowed to direct a question to the News -Record reporter, Reeve Royce Macaulay interjected with the request that the discussion be discontinued at that time in open council. .1 "I tried. to. explain that the story I had written on closed meetings was not meant as negative criticism against council, but only to offer some information." Miss McPhee noted. "I told Mayor Lobb that the News - Record had no personal complaints against council and overall we felt that they were doing a good -joh of Turn to page 3 • Recollections p. 5 Housewives win p. 6 Tournament held P. 7 Go cart crashes p. 10 Bayfield Baptist news p. 11 Auxiliary busy p. 16 Huronview news p. , No football p. 23 Festival program p. 24 fun for MOSt kids, especially for those Who for the first tithe, As is the,tase tvith many at the Clinton Eitrly Childhood learniti .hoot ',slots of f the -Children have enrolled, but there is plenty oi rtitti tet'for he 60 op school run by parents. Pasting pit ures tire, left to tight, Trable Carter teacher Mrs. Sly Me filial, photo)