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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1980-04-03, Page 4PAGE 4 ON NEWS -R COR AP4IL 19801 r,/ GD tun not cilotoSt Sows-irogot4I potollskO4 stock Thwisat P.O, " 0101110,1. °Made, . NOM fts' ir lot itto • Ot fs rookitere ihscoma 4to men .,4y lb* P01' offIcts/intier the permit nkatilikg The Pfes,e,ftesprol ingq4peNto# MA MO Soron)14,100.11ocar0, lountlod 114111• On4 - (11.1,Oton Now Erik loontloal 9n t1144,_ tetta prom ton 3..30. Clinton News-Recorid ,A4prOperteftedian „iCootosottity Nowspopor AisoglotIon Olsplay advertising rotes Ovolloiths on,roluost. Ask for tete Carti No. 10 effective Sept. 1,111711 • General Monolog,. • J. Howard Aitken 'Editor • James E. Fiticlorald Advertising Dlrector • Gary 1.. Hoist NOVO editor • Sholloy mobs. office Meleager Margaret G1bb • Circulation - frodo NItLead SobsoriptionfiNcto: CoWschl.115.00 Sr. Citizen . '13.00 per veer U.S.A. 41, foreign. *30.013 per year Reme er As others see us "I'm a big fan of the community newspapers," claimed CFRB com- mentator Bill McVean recently. Here's what the popular Ontario broadcaster said:, "This is Bill McVean. Take a memo about an old-fashioned custom that's coming back - small community newspapers. You get your pencil and be right back. "I'm a big fan of the community newspaper. Large papers are necessary and OK because we do live in a global village and only the big 'ones can keep correspondents in MOSCOW . But although I may, be in- terested in what the Ayatollah'said•to the other Ayatollah, I'm more in- terested in whether they're going to rip up the QE again, or whether they're going to build an atomic energy plant across the road! ° "It stands to reason that I'm more interested in somebody I know than somebody I don't know so I'm less intrigued by a -4tory about a mass murder in Texai than the news that Cec Rodney had a heart attack. "For a long time now we've assumed that big was good. Big newspapers, big radio stations, big everything. Perhaps it is in many ways better. Small neighborhood papers are aware of what's happening in the big world, but they relate it to how it is going to affect you, and the guy next door. I've often wondered whether small papers are really small enough. They usually serve a community of several thousand. Why not, for instance, an inex- pensive, giveaway paper to serve an apartment building'? Great project for somebody! I'm sure the local merchants would buy space at rates appropriate to the circulation. This is probably being done now. I'm sure there are papers serving groups of hundreds rather than thousands. I'll also bet they are doing pretty well. What's SQ great about big? Smaller cars have been sensible for 25 years - it's only now that they're accepted. What about economic growth? If a village doesn't show 'growth' they vote out the mayor! What's so great about increasing your size And newspapers - what's so great about stories about a two -headed calf born in Australia? I'm more interested in the.fact that the Clark's cat, down the street, finally had her kittens. "Sign that Bill- McVean and sen -a copy to the Community Newspapers Association!" "Normal/, I hate beer, but at the first sign of a beer shortage, I develop an insatiable thirst for the stuff." remembering our past 10 YEARS AGO April 2, 1970 Firemen from Clinton and Brucefield- acted fast and saved* a piece of Clinton's history in an early -morning fire Monday. ' Two passing strangers driving on High- way 8, east of Clinton, notice flames corning from the barn owned by Idella Merle Willis. With little chance of saving the building, the firemen concentrated on saving the clocktower located beside the barn which holds the old Clinton post office clock. An overnight snowstorm last Wednesday night left, Albert Street looking like one large pile of slush, forcing cars in some cases to park far from the curbs. The slush also clogged storm sewers and left huge puddles on the street. Thursday night saw even worse weathe'r with winds up to 70 mph. 25 YEARS AGO April 7, 1955 • About 246 pupils of Grades 1 a4i-1 2 in Clinton -Public School and from rural public schools in the district received March broke? Well, admit it, sourptos, been a great winter, hasn't' it? 'January, unbelievable. February cold but clear. About half the amount of snow of an average Canadian winter. My snow removal bill is about half what it -was during a normal winter. And that makes me wonder. What are all those towns and cities and villages who put aside in their budgets so much for snow removal and disposal going to do with all the money they haven't spent?. I'll tell you. They'll switch it to come other department, and spend it on something equally as non - producing as snoW removal: so much for straightening bent parking meters; an allotment to the fire department for three new checker- boards; a little dispensation to thp Parks Board to repair vandalism; a portion to the Board of Works to pave over some grass for new parking meters; expenses for a councillor go to to a convention in Hawaii to study racism. You name it, but it won't be a refund to the taxpayers. By the time -this appears in print, the March Break will be over. This annual affair, which used to -be known as the Easter Holidays, has grown into a gross exercise in lowering our national balance of trade with the U.S. It involiies hundreds of thousands of Canadians, parents and children, students, school teachers, in a massive airlift to the south, where the,y spend several Millions of our sick Canadian dollars getting a sunburn. Somebody should put a stop to it. It's a waste of energy, with all that oil and gas going up in smoke. It's a waste of money. And it's a waste of time. Maybe yflu think I'm just jealous, when all the teachers, and half the students, tell me they're 'off to Jamaica, Hawaii, Florida, the Barbados, Texas, for their one-week break. I am. But I'll be diddled if I'm going to spend a thousand bucks, and another on my wife, to line up in confused air terminals with all the other peasants, fly down south at some ungodly hour, stay in some hotel that has about as much style and class as a McDonalds' hamburger joint, be ripped off for everything I eat and drink, and come home Poke and exhausted and peelitigr Not when I can.do the same thing for about two dollars, four ,months later, and not be burned, ,frustrated, or even tired, by just driving out to the beach, opening the thermos, gently brown, swim in clean water, and ' come home relaxed. People who can't cope with March by staying in Canada for the March Break should be picked up at the border, locked into box -cars and sent up to James Bay. And that's exactly what I con- ternplate, as I write,. Instead of heading for the sunny south, and a sybaritic week pretending I'm -rich and elegant and swinging, I'm planning to head for the frosty north, and a frigid week pretending I'm poor, tough,. and hardy. It takes a lot more guts than flying to Barbados, bolting rum punches, and getting stung on theloot by a sea urchin. I'll be training to Moosonee, bolting rum punches, and getting squeezed all over by human urchins. My grandboys. It's only a twenty-four hour ride on the Polar Express, and I love trains. I can sleep and read and contemplate the inanities of the human race -far better than on one of those great cattle'cars they call jumbos. There's a four-hour stop in Cochrane, and I doubt that I'll have to line up.to see the sights there. I won't have to stand in a sweaty line to catch the last four, five or six -hour train ride to"Moosonee. Instead of having to fight for a 'taxi, I'll be met at the station by a snowmobile, inexpertly driverf brtt daughter. whistle out to her house, teeth chattering, not with cold, but fear, as we circumnavigate tractor trailors, trucks, and Indians under the influence. I'll be greeted by bone -wracking hugs, and mis-aimed kisses by two little blonde boys who love the north, and haven't had a cold since they went up there. (When they lived in the city, they had eternal runny noses and chest barks.) I'll put out some presents and be the centre of attention, which is good for the soul of a grandad. I'll have the odd skoal with the neighbours and venture into town to see whether it's true that the Hudson Bay Company is gouging the natives, as it has since the time it was formed by Prince Rupert in the seventeenth century. If it's a clear day, I'll holler "Hello, boy!" acrOss the 300 miles that separate rr y dpughter and my brother, who is up in Northern Quebec helping organize the greatest hydro project in the world. My only concern is what I should wear, son Hugh having taken off with the last of my thermal underwear. Where does one purchase fleecelined panty -hos e? And when I came back, I'll smirk and sneer and snigger at my colleagues with the tan that will last a week. "Whaja do in March'Break, Bill? ".Qh, nothing much. Spent a few days at James Bay, shooting caribou and catching twelve -pound trout through the ice." My only fear is that my wife will want -t�' go with me. That would require four months planning and put us right into the black -f1); season'. pfoninromulmn, a look through the news -record files injections Tuesday of the Salk vaccine taken as an, anti -polio action under -the administration of the Ontario Department of Health.. py the time Clinton's new 19 bed nurses' residence is officially opened on May 11, the Clinton Hospital Auxiliary will have 'spent approximately $2,500 in furnishings for the new home • Stanley Township Council will apply to the Ontario Municipal Board for approval of issuing.$40,000 debentures for a new two room school in the village of Bayfield. "A friendly festival" were the words Earle Terry used last night at Londesboro, as the final contestants in the Hullett Township music festival were judged and the fourth annual competitions came to an end. Farmers in Goderich Township are all out on'the land. This is early seeding. 50 YEARS AGO April 3, 1930 The play presented by the young people - of the Holmesville United Church here Friday night was adecided success, "Wrecking Robert's Budget" a three -act comedy in which many delightful and thoroughly original situations arose, proved most interesting. Those taking part in the play were Mr. and Mea. Normal Mair, Misses Edith Herbert, Rita MacDonald, Thelma Cudmore and Messrs. Gordon Stock, Harry Cudthore; Norman Trewartha and Elmer Potter. Music between acts was provided by an electric radio, kindly loaned for the oc- casion by Mr: J.B. Langford of Clinton. Well, anyway the farmers are not too busy on the land to attend the Clinton's Spring Shaw today. We were all fooled on April 1 when a snowstorm arrived, when we had expected spring. 75 YEARS AGO April 6, 1905 Joe Rands is busy this week takin'g the pan out of the old McGrava salt block. Th.is block was first operated in 1870 and was operated until about 15 years ago when the combine paid several hundred dollars annually to remain Closed. This agreem-ent lapsed sometime ago and now the pan, which cost probably $1,200 will be sold foi- scrap iron, The W. Snell fgrm in Hullett was sold by auction on Saturday to Mr. W.T. Henry of Crippled Chilire Dear Editor, For many years, Ihaveapproaced my 'good Mena and .associates to r request help in supporting the work et the Ontario Society for Crippled Children on behalf of children with physical handicaps. I have never been let down. 1 want, you to know how much I have always appreciated your continued interest and understanding of the accomplishments that must be made in the field of children's rehabilitation. For the most part, it has been a long and uphill b'attle, but progress is now being achieved, at a -more—rap-id—pace than ever b -e -fore, the 13th con, of the same township. It was -knocked crown -at $11,520—ar-virliTaTh is considerea good value. The buildings alone are said to be worth $3,000. ' On Friday last Mr. John Johnstone had a fame of bowls on the green,the earliest date upon which he ever participated in the sport which he enjoys most of all with the exception of trout fishing and duck shooting. No one is looking forward to "the good old summertime" more eagerly than our worthy citizen. Two fine healthy young Englishmen right frOrn the old sod arrived in,He'nsii.11 On. Monday mning. Our township fathers should allow so much a rod farmers for erecting a wire • fence along the roadside. If this was done there would be no huge snow drifts to plunge through in the winter time. Other township councils do so, why not ours? 10.0 YEARS AGO a. 1;1880 Auburn is to have a society termed the Forresters. The station at Holmesville is now finished, the villagers having turned out last Wednesday, March 24th, went to work with a will and completed it shortly before dark.-. Recently, an Orange festival was held in a church in Goderich Township, and among the speakers present was a well- known literary gentleman of Goderich, who takes an active part in Orange mat- ters, who -,-when called upon foi• a speech, who is said to have mounted the platform and delivered himself thus: - "Ladies and gentlemen, I feel so good at seeing you all here to -night that I feeLlike kissing all the ladies pres-." Just at this point some one caught him by the coat tail and pulled him off the platform, and "the speaker Look his seat am ictrapturous applause." The Clinton Mill's -have the reputatibil bf having the oldest and best brand for fall wheat flour in the Dominion. A new Bible Christian Church is prospective in Holmesville and a village hall by Mr. A. Knox, hotelkeeper. Ye contractorg keep cool. - There are 34 witnesses summond to give' evidence in the Donnelly murder trials. The Central Hotel - late Farmer's Albert Street, Clinton,. S.,Pike, Proprietor. This hotelhas lately been greatly im- proved and thoroughly refurnished No ordinary soap Let me make one thing perfectly clear. I am not a soap opera addict like some of you. However, I usual take my lunch -hotlr between 12 p and 1 pm. During the first half hour, I watch a TV quiz program, and during the second half hour, I watch a soap opera. Maybe your soap has 60 minutes or 90 minutes in which to unFavel its tale. My story has only 30 minutes, but those 30 minutes arc Tacked .with explosive situations. Adultery, divorce, accidental deaths and homicides, weddings, parties, alcoholism, drug addiction, private detectives, underworld figures and shoot-outs - you name it, we've got it! My show is no low budget program. Can you say that your favorite soap featured a shark and a gorilla within a . four month segment? 'Jaws eat your heart out' was the theme last fall when a murderous shark crept closer and closer to the unsuspecting Chevonne. The scene was so exciting, they replayed it about five times. Each day for' a week the shark crept slowly. closer to the unsuspecting Chevonne. In the next week, the man-eating shark circled the panic-stricken Chevonne. Finally In the third week, the panic-stricken Chevonne was saved by her horrified but ever t'alrre linchand to he. Joe. And the shark went hungry. Talk about excitement! The gorilla is another 'tale. Dee found out her third husband was having an Affair, and she decided to get even by having an affair with her _stockbroker. Then she and her husband decided to patch things up., Her stockbroker said no and proceeded to blackmail her. At this point, I missed two weeks of the show, and when I got hack, the stockbroker had disappeared. Who says things don'thappen fast in a soap opera? My theory is he's wearing cement shoes at the bottom of a lake - the work of an Underworld figure, who just happens to be a friend and huSiness associate of the innocent and unsuspecting Dee. But what about the gorilla? Dee's husband didn't believe her blackmail - story. If you had been rejected by three spouses, what would you do? Well, De,,e started visiting the zoo and became particularly interested in a gorilla, Prinlae Albert, who was lonely because he had just been rejected by his mate. Dee and Prince Albert became friends, One day he got out of his cage, and Dee tricked him 'back in. That made him mad; the next time he got loose, he tracked Dee into the park and kidnapped her. At time df writing, he is holding her prisoner in a dark, eerie, abandoned building somewhere in the park, and her husband is going out of his mind trying to find her. Talk about suspense! On a brighter note, it looks as though Gillian will finally get her divorce so that she can marry the man she almost married twice before but didn't. The show has had its share of tragedies. Tom and Faith decided they were going to have a baby. On the way to the bedroom, Tom bit into an apple, choked, fell, hit his head and died. Poor Faith has never been quite the same. In my opinion, she's drowning her sorrows to the extent of becoining an alcoholic. Her sister and brother would notice, if the hit -flier wasn't so busy gathering evidence of adultery against her husband to use in a divorce court and if the latter wasn't so busy looking for his wife and that , gorilla. Talk about drama! I haven't even mentioned the shoot- out in which two top hit n'en at- tempted to assassinate an underworld leader. They devastated a packed bar, killed one unnamed man, winged another and missed everybody else. Talk about needing target practice! Later they .blew up the old man's car, but that didn't work either. He wasn't in it. Finally he let down his guard briefly, and they shothim in the head. He's old and feeble; but a bullet in the headwdn't stop him. Talk about resiliency! I could tell you a lot more exciting stuff, but it's almost 12:30 and I'm getting hungry. and the future looks bright. You have helped to make wonderful things happen. The annual Snowarama has developed into a tremendous fundraising event that this year raised $800,000 in Ontario. The largest proceeds ever trais-e-d-thiS- way to my knowledge, in the world. This amount will undoubtedly help to augment the Society's target for 1980, to raise $6,000,000 to help physically phraonvdiniccae.pped children in this By your excellent 'media coverage, demonstrating faith in our efforts, the goals will be reached. That is, to provide disabled children with the opportunity to reach their fullest potential and take their rightful place in the community. I wish to thank at this time, not only you in the media but all snowmobilers, Ontario Snowmobile Industry Association, Molson's Brewery (Ontario) Limited, our -S-erri-ce—elubs, and -ail volunteers that made this event truly successful. . 1981 is the International Year of Disabled Persofis. The focus will be on integration .- we want all of our youngsters to share an equal op-, portunity, regardless of handicap, to contribute to society in their own way within our communities. When these children become adults, there must be a better world for them. It was a great honor for Miss Snowarama, Nadia de Franco and me to par- ticipate in 'flo-Vvarama. I will be riding again in 1981, Thank you again for your support that contributed to the success of this year's Million Dollar Ride, - _ -Sincerely, Whipper Watson. School reunion in Mitchell Dear Editor: This year 1980 marks' the 25th an- niversary of Mitchell District High School at its present location. To recognize this occasion ac- cordIngly, a day of celebration, Saturday, April 19th has been planned for the enjoyment of the community. We invite all past graduates and students of our school to join us in this ?lay of festivities. Make it a Family Affair. For a detailed Agenda, please write: Celebration, c -o Mitchell District High School, Mitchell, Ontario, NOK 1NO. Yours sincerely; Bill Hube. Leader backed Dear Editor: I am enclosing, for your in- formation, a copy of a letter that was sent from the London and District area council of the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union, to the President of our Union, Sean O'Flynn. It Was intimated, in some instances, that the actions taken by President O'Flynn in the recent strike by Corrections officers', were taken without the support of the mem- bership. We feel that it is important that it be made known that this was, in fact, not the case. The London & District Area Council' is comprised of delegates from the majority of locals in the ,area en- compassed by Elgin, Huron, Mid- dlesex, Oxford, and- Pierth counties, and represents in excess of 6,000 , members. We -felt at the time, and still do in retrospect; that President O'Flynn's actions. in supporting the Corrections group, was the correct one, and fully endorse his stand. Yours truly, Barbara A. Crosby, ' Secretary London & District Area Council, OPSEU Do you have an opinion? Why not write us a letter'to the editor, and tet everrine know. All ktters elost published, providing they ea* be authenticated, anti pseudonynat are allowed. All letters, houiever, are subject to editing for length or libel. Adihridi6,Alibi...•1111,- _ALL 11 p