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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1980-10-30, Page 1Bad news (good news for shoppers) travels fast, as proved last Saturday and Monday when, the Gerrard's Shopping Centre clothing 'store put their entire stock on. sale at 50 per cent off. The. store had .suffered some smoke damage during the hotel fire recently. At one r point, the line-up took over half an hour to move from In, front of the store, as Gerrard employees. only let a shopper in when another went out. (James Fitzgerald, photo) 75th year'-'--No.-44 Thur` s day, October -30 980 Second nominations don't fill seats, By Jim Fitzgerald Despite :a second nomination period last week., there at'e still vacancies on two area municipal councils., Only two people, Wayne Lester and Ross Jewitt, submitted their names in Clinton when the nominations were reopened on Wednesday leaving the six member . council one Member .short. Mr, Lester is•`Administrator of Huronview, while. Mr, Jewitt is a driver -salesman for Scruton Fuels. Earlier last week, incumbent councillors Rosemary Armstrong, George Rambail. and Ron McKay had ' been acclaimed. . Clinton Clerk Cam Proctor said it would now be up to the new council on how they fill, the vacant seat after their inaugural meeting in December. Goderich Township is also in the same boat, after no one came forward during the second nomination period last Wednesday,- lea ing_ane-council_ seat vacant. Incumbents Chester Mcllwain and Chester Sturdy were returned by acclamation. An election story •in last week's paper failed to say that Councillor. Frank Van Altena was acclaimed the new Deputy Reeve in Clinton. Although there won't be an election in Clinton, as all"positions were filled by acclamation, most .of the area township voters, will ,be going to the polys on Monday, November 10, ex- cept for McKillop. Goderich Township and Colborne will` be choosing between Joan Van Den Broeck and Donalda Brindley., both from Colborne, as their board of education representative as a second nomination brought th forward. Goderich Township ip will also choosing a new reeve between in- cumbent Grant Stirling and challenger Garnet Wright, the present deputy reeve. A real battle is- shaping up in Stanley Township, as the voters go the the polls for the first ti -me in 10 years. Incumbent Reeve Tom Consitt is being challenged by Deputy Reeve Vanastra loses fight over rec centre debenture by Wilma Oke The ratepayers in the hamlet of Vanastra will continue to be responsible for paying off a $130,000 debenture debt for the Vanastra recreation centre. An amending bylaw placing the responsibility on Vanastra ratepayers was ; approved Thursday by. the Ontarfow Ithicipal: 'Board following a day -long, hearing held at the recreation centre attended by 65•� persons., fi rs-t- cci'u--nn- The .amending bylayyvv corrects one passed in 1974 that, because it was wrongly worded by officials at the ministry of treasury and in- tergovernmental affairs, placed responsibility for. paying off the centre debt on all ratepayers in Tuckersmith township which has a, populationof 3,031. EvLde .;ce,":presented to , the GMB showed the intention of the 1974bylaw was to restrict responsibility for paying the debt to residents of the - It's surprising- what one _carr - learn by just asking a few questions, __ something any _g_ood reporter' or nosy-bursyhodTknewwalk along. Take for instance a couple of week's ago in this column when I wondered what ever happened to some of Clinton's past organizations, including the Centennial Band of five years ago. Well, no sooner had the paper hit the street when my question was answered by Rob Parr, a musically talented teacher over at Central Huron Scondary School. Rob tells us, that the band's executive of Bill Hearn, Semus Doherty, John Wise and Bill Craig, have loaned the band's in- struments, to the school, and in just a short while, the town may be blessed with the sweet sounds of a brass band once again. by jim fitzgerald -early,. -as— about midnight last Friday they draggged the whole fire departmentout to answer a false alarm at a non -e -xi -stent ad- dress on Isaac Street. + ++ As well, be sure to keep -an eye out for all those youngsters who will be on the loose collecting goodies on Friday night and we remind you' to remember the Londesboro Lions on Saturday morning, as they make their monthly pick-up of papers. But please, for just this month, don't put your papers out the night before, as it just gives the trickers more ammunition. + + + It's not often that I have to eat my words, or at least admit to it, but after Tuesday night's budget, it looks like the electors have jumped • of efireb z uctices—are--held as extra- fro curricular activities on Wednesday and Friday morning at 8 am, and Thursday afternoon at 2:30 pm. ++ + You know, the longer I'm in this business, the more convinced I am that man evolved from some sea slug who crawled out of the mud, rather than someone who was supposed to be made in the image of God. For instance, in the past week, the town and even the county has been filled with some of the worse innuendo, untruth and malicious gossip I have ever heard. It all concerns the arsonist or arsonists who started the hotel fire a couple of weeks ago. It's incredible that people would start or even believe such rumors. The truth of the matter at this • point is that no one has, been arrested. + + + As the Main Street Wit said the other day: "People will believe anything if you whisper it." Our annual night of fear and tripedation is • corning up this Friday night, as everyone cringes in their homes, wondering what the vandals will be up to this year on Hallowe'en night. Both the police and the fire departments will.' have strengthened patrols out in full force this Friday night to nip any troublein the bud. The trouble makers were out 11 1 • • c 1 _ turf„airtg out the Clark's Tqrys last winter and installing Trudeau's henchmen. Why compared to Trudeau's doubling of gasoline prices in the next couple of years, Clark's 14 cent excise tax looks like a present! + + + The Main Street Wit .said Wed- nesday morning that it sort of . reminded him of that Fram Oil Filter commercial, where the guy says: "You can pay me now or pay me later." Only with the Liberals, the Wit says it's a case of "paying me now AND paying me later." + ++ "It's one thing to see the editor in church regularly," the Wit said the other week, "but to see him up in• the choir loft singing his lungs'out is enough to send me into shock." He was refering to a special men's chorus who will give a performance at Wesley -Willis this coming Sunday. I'm not the only unrepentant there however, as our ranks in- clude grocers, lawyers, dentists, teachers, etc. They sound mightly good, though. + + + Be" on the lookout next Monday evening, November 3 for . the Clinton Optimist Club, who will be canvassing the town for the Arthrtic Society. This is the first year the club will be doing the canvass, so welcome them when they come to your doe. hamlet, which has a population of 622. Despite the error, the township has been charging the debt only to Vanastra residents for the past six years. Councillor William Brown of Egmondville discovered the mistake recently while searching, through old records and Tuckersmith council was advised by,,Q,M8..to pass a new to correct the ol'd one. When 83" residents protested the revision, the OMB called a hearing. Eight witnesses were called. They were George Penfound, who works with the Huron County Planning Board in land use responsibility. He provide& maps establishing the location of Vanastra, a former Canadian Forces Base in the Township of Tuckersmith_ Jim McIntosh of RR4 Seaforth, the former clerk of the 'township from June 1961 to June 1977 gave the history of the hamlet and the story of - the bylaw. He explained when the petition was received from 96 Vanastra businessmen and residents, it was accepted by council and he was instructed to prepare a bylaw. He askkd the ministry of treasury and intergovernmental aff airs :ior. a, copy of a bylaw on which to base the township bylaw. The Vanastra petition, received in April 1974, asked the township to set up a recreation area and purchase a former church for a community hall; the former . curling rink to be used for a skating arena hockey, figu-re ska-ting, broomball; and a small park; and a new outdoor swimming pool was tube built, all to be .paid by levies against the rateable property in the hamlet Turn to page 3 • Vandals keeppolice busy By Shelley McPhee According to Police Chief Lloyd Westlake, Clinton isn't in as bad • shape' as some municipalities, but like most other towns and cities in Ontario, Clinton is increasingly facing incidents of thefts, wilful damage and vandalism. The Chief is advising people to take extra care of their personal belongings and is stressing the necessity of securing locks on homes, businesses and motor vehicles when they are left by the owners. The warning is not idle and Chief Westlake said that in the past week vestigating over six cases of wilful damage and theft. Some people have been apprehended in connection with these. Police learned that sometime between October 6 and 20 while he was in hospital, Jack Spearin's Clinton home was broken into and his collection of coins was stolen. In another incident, a Clinton woman reported that $200 was taken from her home when thieves gained Secnd teachers get fact finder Malcolm Stockton, the fact finder appointed by the Education Relations Commission to the negotiations between the secondary teachers and trustees of the Huron County Board of Education, submitted his report to the Commission on October 21. As required under section 27l) of The School Boards and Teachers Collective Negotiations Act, 1975, the, teachers and trustees will then have a further 15 'days to continue negotiations on the basis of this report. There is a provision for an additional five days under Section 27(3) of the Act if both trustees and teachers agree and if the Commission gives its approval. If at the end of this time the parties have not made or renewed an agreement then the Education Relations Commission will make the fact finder's report public. Paul $teekle, while Councillors iron McGregor and Don 'Brodie are facing off for the deputy reeve's chair. .Four persons will be seeking the three councillor's seats, including in- cumbent Clarence Rau, and newcomers Bill Chipchase, Jack Coleman and Howard Armstrong. in Hullett, Councillor Tom Cun- . ningham is challenging incumbent -TOO Thinking for the reeve's chair, while four are seeking the three council positions, including Ron Gross, Melvin Knox, Clare Vincent and incumbent John Flynn. In Auburn, four peoiple are seeking the three trustee positions open' in the police village, including Warner Andrews, John Harrison, Robert Gordon Powell and James Schneider. In Tuckersmith, voters will have to choose between William Brown and Robert Fotheringham, for the deputy „r gee's chair. Both are _counci`llors, while six are seeking the three council — seats, including Robert Broadfoot, John Brownridge, Lloyd Eisler, Jan Ferguson, Betty McLean and Jim Papple. There will nnly he a race for reeve in Colborne Township as incumbent Wittiam°Bogie is being challenged by Deputy Reeve `Robert Jewell. In lay Township, ont�t�et%'�� council ..seatsr1eedtobe filled with. five .names on the ballot, lneluding, Tony Bedard, Dick Rau, Don teiger Geral,Shantz and Clare Diechert, Bayfield will pick four new cowl., cillors from the five who 'filled out nomination papers including David Johnston, Barb Sturgeon and in- cumbents John Chapman,, Gwen Pemberton and. Reg Wilson. Except for the board of education seat, which like all others in the area. -- was filled by 'acclamation, Hensalt has a full ballot, with Councillors Paul Neilands and Harry Klungel fighting it out for the reeve's seat, while seven are seeking the four council seats, including two women,. Incumbents Richard Packham and Klaas Van Wieren are being challenged by Sadie —MT -Gary Huston, Mfnnie-- , Cecil Pepper and John Skea. Three are seeking the two PUC seats, including Harold Knight, Gary Maxwell and incumbent Charles Hay. Betting off 5% Attendance down at track Although betting at the Clinton Kinsmen Raceway was only down five per cent this summer from last year, attendance sagged 15 per cent, and has some racetrack officials concerned. The average bet at the 10 -year-old harness racing track was 64,954 for the 14 Sundays raced, compared to an average of 68,947 last year. Attendance was down to an average of 1,074 person per program, com- pared to_ the 1,262 that. went through the gates on average in 1979. • Total attendace for the 14 Sundays entry to her house through an unlocked door. The robbery occurred on October 22. An attempted theft was made at the Clinton Chrysler Plymouth dealership on October 20 and the Clinton Auto Body shop on Mary Street has faced three batterings in the past week, resulting in a total breakage of 15 windows and replacement of a front plate glass window. Police were also busy this past week investigating car accidents throughout the town,. OnOctober 25, a car driven by Stanley Gilbert, 18, of Clinton, went • 1 I1 1 S . this year was 15,032, compared to 21,266 for 15 Sundays last year. The total mutuel handle this year was $909,357 for 14 programs, com- pared to $1,034,216 for the 15 programs last<year. Raceway officials blame the decrease this year on the slumping economy, but won't know if there's a profit until the audit is done later this. fall: Last year, the Kinsmen lost $2,000 on the raceway, while making $15,000 on ,. the betting machines they own which are rented to several other tracks. Six-year-old Paul Brideau was anxious to, show dad Larry Brideau all his Grade 1 work at the Vanastra Public School open house. Over 80 per cent of the students' parents came out to meet the teachers and view their children's school work. (Shelley McPhee photo) No arrest yet for fire By Jim Fitzgerald Polic aven't charged anyone yet over t._ Clinton Hotel fire that destroyed the 73-year-o'ld-structure on October 17, but have questioned a nd n.rimher of poeple...and are continuing slammed into a hydro pole. Damage to the car was set at $1,000 and the PUC• bill came to $1,200 for the damaged pole. A parked car owned by Daniel Poulin of RR 4, Clinton received $1,000 in damage following an October 18 crash involving a second car driven by Louise Tideswell of Clinton. Damage to the Tideswell car was set at $800. A PUC pole received $400 ' in damages after a car driven by Steven Riley, 18, of St. Thomas failed to complete a 'U' turn and hit the pole's guy wire. The car he was driving escaped unscratched in the October 25 incident. Jill Muir; 16, of Seaforth received minor injuries following an October 26, two -car crash at the intersection of Ontario and East Streets in Clinton. Two passengers in the Muir car were not" injured, but damage to the car was set at $1,000 in the crash that left a second car with$1,500 in damages, driven by Anthony Denomme, 18, of Clinton. `Also on October 26, Victoria Street was the scene of a four car pile-up that left over $3,000 in damages. The driver of one vehicle, Timothy Proctor, 17, of Clinton received minor injuries in the fender -bender that left his car with $1,000 in damages. A car driven by Daniel Merner, 18, of RR 3, Clinton received $1,500 in damages, while $400 in damages was done to a car driven by Garth Hargreaves, 20, of BrucefieId and the car driven by Beverly Dodds, 20, of Clinton received $300 in damages. their investigation. Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake would only repeat this week that the fire was definitely set and Fire Marshal Bob Adams of Mount Forest hadn't made his report public yet. Chief Westlake wouldn't say if the hotel fire was connected with two other small, deliderately set fires several weeks ago at Van Dyke's Aluminum 4 and Blake's Welding. Police are asking that citizens report any suspicious persons to them im- mediately. The hotel fire, which sent seven people fleeing in their night clothes, caused an estimated $500,000 damage and put 10 full and partime employees out of work. The blaze, which at one point threatened to spread to the adjacent Gerrard's Shopping Centre and wipe out the whole block, was fought by fire Wea ther 1986 19.79 1HI LO HI 10 October 21 8 22 7 23 24 25 26 27 7.5 1395 6 ,Rain 21.4 4 ,-,24 17 2 25 .'17 -4 18 6 0 7 2 3 4 -1 1 3 •-1 1 6' -1.5 . No rain departments from Clinton, Goderich and Seaforch before it was contained. Clinton Fire Chief Clarence Neilans said this week he was especially thankful to all those generous, anonymous people who brought free coffee and sandwiches to the firemen during the night. Hotel owner Des Cassidy, whose family is living in a mobile home in the hotel parking lot, said this week he isn't Sure yet 'whether he will rebuild or not. "''We're not sure of the ;insurance settlement yet, and with- the high interest rates, I just don't know," he said. Meanwhile, the charred ruins of the three-storey structure still greets visitors to the downtown area and remains a visible reminder of a near tragedy. Advance polls on Saturday If you're going to be away, or unable to vote in the municipal elections on November 10, you will have only one chance to vote ahead of time at an advance poll. In mr�u,nicipal ities with elections, advance polls will•.be held this coming Saturday, November 1 from 9 am to 8 pm, usually at the clerk's office. If you aren't sure if you can make either the advance poll or the regular poll, you can have a proxy vote cast by someone else, but you must con- tact your clerk for details first before November 10. You can also check with the clerk if you/re still not sure you are on the voter's list.