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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-05-18, Page 1L r,' c er tso c: ra incorporating ,50 cents No. 20 Wednesday, Moy 18, 1983 118th year w Declare Clinton nuclear free By Shelley McPhee If Moscow agrees, Clinton's Mayor Chester Archibald will declare the town a nuclear free zone. Mayor Archibald said that he would not support a request from Project Ploughshares and Operation Dismantle, to declare Clinton a nuclear weapon free zone. He simply explained, "If the Russians decided to send missiles over here, I don't think they'd give a hoot if we were a nuclear free zone." "If the Mayor of Moscow will declare his city a nuclear free zone, then I will too," he stated. Project Ploughshares and Operation dismantle are two Ottawa organizations petitioning mayors in Canada to, "protect towns and cities from the threat of nuclear destruction." While the nuclear free zone concept has been supported by the cities of Vancouver, Toronto and Regina, Clinton's Mayor Archibald said that the request sounds impressive, but believes it would be useless. He has taken the same stand on the issue as London's Mayor Al Gleeson. Mayor Glleeson, quoted in The London Free Press, stated, "For me, it's another statement (like the disarmament ballot), a nice gesture which is rather meaningless." The letter from the organizations urged councils to approve a resolution, similar to the one passed by the City of Toronto. It stated, "Be it resolved that council in - re dicate its intention that the production, testing, storage, transportation, processing, disposal or use of nuclear weapons or their components not be un- dertaken within Toronto by the declaration of the City of Toronto as a nuclear weapons free zone..." Clinton Councillor Ross Carter noted that it was somewhat ironic for Toronto to prohibit nuclear weapons when com- ponents for missiles are manufactured in the city. According to Operation Dismantle, "For many years the United Nations has urged -the creation of nuclear weapons free zones, as a confidence building measure. Suet zones would help to create an in- ternational climate in which com- prehensive arms limitations would more likely be achieved." Latin America, the Pacific, Scan- dinavia, Central and Southern Europe, Bulgaria and Romania are all supporting the free zone concept. W. 'es, according to Operation !I'ismantlle, has declared itself nuclear free, as have the cities of London, Glasgow and 130 other municipalities in Britain, along with Athens, Amsterdam and Sydney. The letter ot request was signed by Dr. Clarke MacDonald, Chairman of Project Ploughshares; James Stark, President of Operation Dismantle; Toronto Mayor Art Eggleton and Vancouver Mayor Michael Harcourt. C 'icier ,Society losses in reak in More than $700 in cash and $9,000 in cheques were stolen from the Huron County Cancer Society office m Clanton sonietinie between May 10 and 11. Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake reported that there were no signs of a forced break-in and police are asking anyone with information on the incident to report to the police station. Anyone finding cheques made out to the Cancer Society are also asked to turn them in. The cheques have been cancelled, however Chief Westlake said there could be some difficulty in determining the in- dividuals and organizations who supported the Society with their donations. Eight lovely gtris, decked out ,n lace bonnets, long skirts and wooden shoes;competid for the honor of Klompen Feest Queen : t a special kick -oft nein in Clinton on May f3. Leanne Kerste;as, centre, of Mitchell, representing the Niew Canadian Club woi e title. Runners-up were left, Joa e Tolsnna of GI Leriich, sponsor �? anniunces closin The I:luewater Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped will close in six months. Community and Social Services Minister Frank Drea confirmed in the Legislature Monday afternoon that he was prdcee .''ng with Phase II of the ministry's five-year plan by announcing the closure of the centre south of Goderich in six months. Centre administrator Bill Gregg said he met with management and union per- sonnel early Monday afternoon to discuss the notification. By late afternoon, everyone had been advised of the November 17 closing of the centre. While the employees have been given confirmation of the centre's closure, Drea will inform parent's ot the ministry's plans by letter. Gregg said Drea has promised parents in the letter that residents will not be moved without extensive cons :Ration. A closure committee will be established to maintain effective communications during the remaining six months and to ensure the process is accomplished ef- ficiently. In the meantime, Gregg said every one of the 166 full-time employees will explore potential job opportunities. "Every full-time employee will be given the opportunity to explore career op- portunities with the personnel dert- "tient," he said. "There may be jobs at the regional centre in Palmerston or Wood- stock available for some of these people. ul s a champion and a pro ac 11 We are discussing the options and taking a look at what type of work poeple want to pursue and where. All selections will be by seniority." Every employee is expected to have a job offer from the ministry within the next three months Gregg said adding that many will be placed in a similar job ina another institution. "It will be s!'fficult ," he said. " But the ministry said it will offer a job to everyone." The closure means that the 149 residents will have to be placed in group home settings in communities in Huron County. Confident that as many 100 of e centre's residents would 'oe capable off functioning ammon mor By Shelley McPhee When Paul Anstett plays backgammon, he plays with the enthusiasm and ex- pertise of a professional. Paul's no or- dinary backgammon player, he is a pro and he's a champion at the game. For the former Clinton resident, backgammon is more than a simple board game. Paul's addicted to the challenge, the keen competition and the strategy of the game. Having gained a popular following in the th n by The Dutch Store, and right, Pat Bylsma of Clinton, sponsored by The Hair Shop. The queen, runners-up and contestants will be on hand to take part in the Clinton Klompen Feest celebrations t Friday and Saturday, May 2(1 and 21. (Shelley McPhee photo) te of in a community group home, Gregg said the remaining 50 or so residents would have to be moved to the Palmerston facility. "Communities are moving on the matter of setting up groi r. homes," he said. "But it will be at least two months before there is any resident movement." While the government hs set November 17 as the closure date for the Bluewater Centre, that date is flexible if some residents have not been placed. "There may be an extension to that closing date for a few staff if all the residents have not been moved," he said. 'We will not make the residents move more than once." last few years, backgammon is a thinking game. The object is for two players to move men around a special board with pieces that are moved according to the throw of the dice. Strategy comes into play as opponents try to knock the other Paul Anstett is a backgammon champ. A member of the London And hopes to start his owes club in the fall. (Shelley McPhee )tote) Fiackgarnwitiou Club he has taken top place at several tournaments player's men off the board, as well as protect and block themselves from their competition. Paul first played backgammon five years ago. Soon afterwards he bought a small board, a book on the basics, and "escalated," as he puts it. Today he is one of the top four players in the London Backgammon Club and earned the most improved player award in 1981 and 1 -2. Paul's only been with the club a little over a year and already he is completely enthused about tournament play. He's also a winner, placing fourth out of 32 in the novice division at the tournament in Saginaw, Michigan and first in a novice consulation tourney in Detroit. "I wish I'd learned the -game when i was S -years -old," he enthused. "If you like mathematics, it's a great game to learn." Paul enjoys the strategy, the constant planning of the next move, the speed and the aggressive style that he's developing for the game. Paul claims he "attacks the game," and believes with continual practice and concentration he can win more titles, and maybe even someday reach his goal, the best backgammon player in the world. "i do the same with my work," he said. "If you want to successful you have to apply yourself." Paul's now preparing to take plart in the National Classic Tournament in Ottawa this weekend, but his immediate goal is to play in the World Amateur Cham- pionships, to be held in Las Vegas next year. The backgammon tournament of tournaments runs five days and in 1982 prize money in the novice division alone was $25.000. Paul is actually quite modest about his backgammon accomplishments, and doesn't believe he is too good to play the game with less experienced friends or family. in fact when Paul plays with his wife Beth, she often wins_ • Earlier, Gregg had asked staff to prepare for an October 31 closing and the official confirmation Monday at least serves to remove the burden of doubt from employees minds. The closure of six regi®nal centres for the developmentally handicapped across the province was announced by Drea last fall after details were leaked to the press. Drea said the closings were part of the ministry's commitment to a five-year community integration plan. While the minister had resolved to move the developmentally handicapped into the community., he promised that no placements would be made until parents had been consulted and until proper support services were in place r Anstett "I concentrate on helping her game, not mine," he grinned. He's also interested in helping other people play the garne and has plans to start a local backgammon club in the fall. To be based out of his Exeter home, Paul is looking for beginner backgammon players from Exeter, Hensall, Seaforth and Clinton. For more information you can call Paul at 2.35-2502. Learning backgammon involves three levels, the basics, strategies, and reading the odds. Backgammon, he explained, used to be a conservative game, but an American changed the attitude of the game to an aggressive manner. Today it's an exciting fast paced, attacking, blocking game that can last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. The more you play the game, the faster it gets. Paul explained, "After hundreds and hundreds of games, there are many similarities and you can memorize layouts of the checkers and the moves." It's a game of strategy, not chance, in Paul's opinion, "Players don't depend on the roll of the dice. You have to have a knowledge of the odds. Your strategy has to be calculating the odds of the dice roll before making moves One wrong move and the whole game can be thrown." Paul plays daily and heads to the London ('lub each Tuesday night. When he's not playing backgammgn, he's reading backgammon. When he's not reading backgammon, he's trying moves out on his small computer with its six levels of play. Paul could go on and on talking about the wonders of backgammon_ Then he's likely to invite you to play a match with him. Backgammon, for Paul Anstett is a fascinating game that he wants others to learn about and appreciate. ''Anyone who will play the game with me, 1'11 play." he offered The Goderich OPP reported one acci- dent in the Clanton area last weekend that sem an Ottawa woman to hospital with mammal ixi j uries. Mike Van Dongen, 17, of RR 1, Auburn was southbound on Concession 12 and 13 on May 15, when his vehicle was involved in a collision with James Forester, 22, ol Ot- tawa. Forester was eastbound on County Road 3 when the accident occurred at an interesectioii. A passenger in the Forester vehicle, Gladys Bere, 80, of Ottawa received minimal injuries. Damage to the Van Dungen vehicle is estimated at $31 t, while the Forester vehi- cle received $61 I damage Area rrzan. dies in crash A funeral mass will be held at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Goderich this Friday at 10 a.m. for the late Lawrence I.assaline of R.R. 2 Goderich with visitation at McCallum Funeral Horne Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. lassaline, 60, was killed in a two -car crash about four kilometers south of town on Monday afternoon. The Goderich Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police report that Lassaline was heading eastbound on Goderich Township Sideroad 10 when his car collided with a vehicle driven by Terry Johnston, 18, of R.R. 2Goderich. Johnston, who was not injured in the crash, was driving northbound on concession roads 5 and 6. Capital funds denied for board By Stephanie Levesque A request for ca$ital funds by the Huron - Perth Separate- School Board has been turned down by the Ministry of Education. The board learned off the Ministry's posi- tion at its May 9 meeting, but will wait un- til the res ts of the provincial budget are known before it makes any moves. Stratford trustee Ron Marcy suggested that the board r r,uest a meeting with the Ministry to discuss capital allocation. Director of education William Eckert said capital funds for the Ministry might be made available in the provincial budget. "For seven years we have received this letter," said chairman Ron Murray ex- pressing his disappointment with the Ministry's decision. "Our needs are equal to other boards." The board had planned capital projects in the amount of $476,11 of which $200,000 is for brick work and the roof at St. Mary's Separate School in G, .Ierich. The re- mainder is for various roof repairs to a number of schools in the Huron -Perth system. The Ministry was requested to pay 81 percent with the local taxpayers' share be- ing about $111,000. Trustee Marcy's suggestion was con- sidered a good one by the board but it will wait until its next meeting to decide upon a course of action, if any. It won't be the first time the board has personally approached the Ministry for capital funds. "Since I've been on this board the most we have ever received Iin capital funds from the Ministry I is $80,000," said Mur- ray. Marcy added that the :•.c+1,000 had been received after a visit to the Ministry by board officials. The director of education said the board is only asking for basic requirements. He stated the Ministry is in the business of providing capital funds for education and if school boards are expected to stay in the education business, funds should be found. "As director, I feel I shouldn't have to spend time in Toronto for basic re- quirements," said Eckert indicating they should be forthcoming automatically. COMING M.1:..y20,21 in the Vinton Community Park KLOMPEN FEEST Weather 1983 1982 HI LO MAY HI 10 10 14 - 5 11 20 - 3 12 15 1 13 23 2 14 22 5 15 9 4 16 11 - 2 Rain 2Omm 9 4 26 7 23 10 25 10 26 11 24 12 22 ]l