HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 1981-02-05, Page 1A bea ntVal saaay day with as excellent saw pack of the t9rafl, hared a reed crowd of
over !fi persons on 3.8 machines to die abten Savannah& Chute's first aa■sal poker
rally for crippled childrea. The dab raised aimed $1,3N for their efforts and pktored
Murray Gaunt retires
above is part i the Hamm at Dale's Pump Servile for registration. timings
photo
Provincial election set for March 19
6
Although Ontario Premier William
Mavis on,... Monday wafted a provincial
election; the race is already shaping up to
be an interesting ere in at lmatone r;.
in the News -Record readership area.
Premier Davis pulled the plug on the.
legislature Monday, and Ontario people
will go to the polls on March 19, but long-
time Huron -Bruce incumbent Murray
Gaunt's name won't be on the ballot.
Mr. Gaunt, 45, has held the rim for the
Liberals for the pas, DM years, and in a
surprise prove Tuesday, said he won't seek
theLiberal nomination.
enivieeninmt crat?s for iabera-Dss.
in the last House, Mr. Gaunt said it was
strictly for personal reasons he was
resigning, not political ones.
"My family has taken on a greater deal
of responsibilities in the past 18 years hard
now I want to lead a normal home
Mr. Gamut said.
"I'm going to take a good holiday and
then do a little farming," he said. The
family owns 300 acres in the Wingham
area
He paid tribute to the voters and sup-
porters in the riding, who made him one of
thioraostjopularMPP'sblithe area.
"The people have been good to me. I'm
going to miss t," he said.
As of praesstime, no names or dates had
been released for the Huron -Bruce riding,
which includes the southern half of Bruce
Candy, and the
�townships of Tuckersmith,
Buffett, C��pe, Ashfield,
East and West Wawanosh, Monis and
Grey.
Meanwhile over in Huron -Middlesex,
which indudes the rest of Huron County
and the townrships d Bidduiph and
McGillivray in Middlesex County, in-
cumbent Liberal Jack Riddell said be will
seek the Liberal nomination on February
18 in Exeter.
Mr. Riddell, 49, has held the seat since
an upset win in a by-election in 1973 and
was opposition agriculture critic.
Having already experienced a winter
Mr. Riddell was upset that the
election wield be held in the coldest time
of the year.
It's going to be very treecherous for the
candidates to get around, and if it's stormy
on election day, then the voters will have
trouble getting to the pons," he said.
-There hasn't been a winter provincial
election since 1905„°' Mr. Riddell said.
He said the Toronto press has speculated
t Premier Davis called an March
e1 tion because his ughter and son are
both getting marries' this May and June.
Ms. Davis, whose Conservative minority
velment has been in power since 1977,
held 58 seats in the 125 seat Legislature,
while the Liberals held 34 and the -New
Democratic party 33.
Mr. Davis has been Premier for the last
Murray Gaunt...served 18 years
first column
by
jim fitzgerald
Well, well, well, just when we thought
things were settling into the long winter
doldrums, which don't usually end until
Easter, along Domem Premier Bill
who's going to liven things up again by
calling a provincial election.
He has been in a minority position
since 1977, and quite frankly, I think
that it has worked out rather well. You
can't get too cocky in a minority
position, thus all sides of a story get
heard and that beautiful word com-
promise takes on its true meaning.
More has been accomplished in the last
four years under a minority govern-
ment than anyone thought possible
At least it will give us plenty to a .e
about, but the newsroom is cringing at
the thought of trying to follow ' " •
politicians around during He .
County's traditional February and
March snow and ice storms.
+ + +
All this election talk inspired the
Main Street Wit to remark that voters
should remember there's a big dif-
ference
ifference between free speech and cheap
talk!
+ ++
Arid just maybe all this hot air
emanating from the politicians will
heat up the cold weather and well have
an early spring.
In this instance, a yawn may be bad
manners, bit at least it's an honest
ezpreselon of opinion.
+ ++
Actually, I think that Davis had a
weather forecast as well as the Gallup
poll to look at when he derided to call
for a March election, afterall, it's been
so doggone ksnkl that surely we must
have run out of cold air by now and are
due for lin early' spring.
+ + +
And cold it sure has been. January
1981 will go down as one of the coldest in
many many years, although we can't
find out how manly. Most sumo to think
January of 1934 was colder.
According to our mean figures,
compiled from data recorded at the
Brucefield weather station on the
Norman Baird farm, the mean
struggled up to only -10 degrees C (14
F ), far below the long term average of -
5.6 C (22 F). The temperature got above
the freezing mark on only four of the 31
days, .mobile it was below zero
Fahrenheit (-18 C) on 10 nights, the
coldest being -29C (20F) on the 4th.
Our snowfall was near the average of
66 cm, with 69 cm (27 inches) being
dumped on the area, but that will vary
according to your distance from the
lake. Normally we also get 23.4 mm (.92
inches) amain in January but this year
Sid4any.
d ah that translates into a very
expensive fuel bill, with 2,570 degrees
days being recorded since July 1st,
compared to the normal 2,241, about 15
per cent colder than normaL
++
1 wintry weather should put
everyone in the mood for the Optimist
Winter Carnival this weekend, as
there's a big snow base for the outdoor
activities, particularly on Sunday.
+ + +
The Londesboro Lions will also be out
again this coming Saturday morning,
making their monthly rounds to collect
old newspapers. Please have them tied
and bundled and out by 9 am.
+ + +
Although the clerk said not to tell
anyone, the deadline for paying the first
installment of your town taxes has been
extended until Monday, February 16.
Normally, the deadline is February 15,
which this year is a Sunday, but who
ever heard of government employees
working on Saturday or Sunday, and it
wouldn't be fair to ask taxpayers
shell out by Friday the 13, so hence the
extension.
.10 years, and the Progressive Con-
servatives have held the Ontario reins for
the last34 years, since 1946_
The Hunorelliddleses PCs will hold their
nomination Meting on February 19 at 8
pm in the Exeter Recreation Centra, whole
the NDPs have not set a date yet. Tony
McQuail, who ran for the NDP in larsst
year's federal election, will again seek the
nomination.
Man assaults polices
Nike MIMI dud ale laminae
has been charmed with aasauhl, mid
mother Maim MO has been charged
with trespaserom, *Zone* a Samday
afternoon alteination at the fir Haven
Meter Hotel an ffighway t Hotel owner
Doug Fraser and andirty Mahn police
officer Coestable Iii Arestriong were
assaulted.
Mr. Fraser said, that the incident o -
armed alter the two men, who bud had
previottsly been baited them Elm Raven
property, confnerted the owner_ The police
were mike in and the alternation hrdce
et.
A buil bearing was set on Wednesday
mattinginGorden& for the man charged
with A court date has net been set
for the sealed man, dame! with
In other news, Chief Lloyd Wei
reported that a car received $8013 in
damages after it was stack by a second
unktionn Vel onJ modry 3H -
A car emeral by Man West2,
was tree/Aim atm
Sheet in Chilton when the second vehicle,
travelling on Bark Street, failed to obey a
stop fir, came through the _
and collided with the Hirst can The
unknown car stopped Welly,
that rime
A car &Min by David Beech, 23, of
car driven by Joh of
Chaim received 6908 in damaniges
farming a January 1.5 crash. Ilhesiceidedit
maned ad the inters" of Noilhhr1
and no one was he
*ed.
Damages came to til, acrd Paid
Gibson, 31+,dRR2,, Seafeeth escaped
helisies after the car he was &icing did
auk the trader ei a trammed truck on
January 13.
Lyn Jeirme, 31, of RR 5, Chace was
turning the Bums Tampon truck onto
Ontario' Street, when Mr_ Gibson, driving
op behind his brakes and
slid bite the _
The" the
ht the ; � car was
the fearer -roof the
car were
A red Clikareah
aUlten .remise VW hi fig._ ... ..........
January 19 accident.
A second car driven by Wham Cam -
i, cif Listowel was not damaged
is the n that occurred at the comer
of and Raglan Street. ,
116th year —No. 5 Thursday, February 5, 1981
County budgets may jump from 15 to 27percent
BY SHARON DIETZ
Huron County Council wrestled with
budgets presented by the county's various
conunittees at its January 29 meeting in an
attempt to hold the overt budget to an
increase of between 15 and 17 per cent.
Increases in the department budgets
rang from 15 to 27 per cent.
Wainer Fred Haberer told council the
county 'was able to slip through last year
but in 1981, the council would be faced with
same -tough decisions egarding budget
increases.
The county's highways department
submitted the budget with the largest
county rate increase: 27 per cent in, a
budget of $3,927,500.
The increase in the mad budget this year
was related to aimadeant overruns on two
projects in 1980, leaving the department
with a deficit for the year of $201,068 on a
cash bads,.
Reeve George Fellows of Bayfield
questioned the right of the road committee
to permit significant overruns resulting in
a deficit. County engineer, Bob Dempsey
answered that unforeseen difficulties had
resulted in a larger overrun than an-
ila'ipated on the wmtructies d Road 11.
Road committee chairman Lloyd
Mousseau told council the second overrun
was the Auburn garage replacement and
pointed out that it was a one-time project.
Once the garage is paid for, said
Teachers, board settle
The Huron County Board of Education
announced Monday it has reached a
tentative agreement in contract
negotiations with the secondary school
teachers.
Thetentative agreement was reached
early Saturday morning marking the end
of the latest bargaining session that began
last Thursday at the Holiday Inn, London.
Details of the agreement will, not be
released until both parties have ratified
the collective agreement The teadhers are
expected to vote on the new offer within
the next week and probably Monday.
As indicated in the factfinder report
prepared by Malcolm Stockton, the
teachers were seeking an increase of 15
per cent in a one-year contract from
September 1980 to August 31, 1981. At that
time the board had offered five per cent
from September 1 to December 31,, 1980
and an additional 1 per cent to August 31,
1981. The offer represented a 5.6 per cent
increase over the one-year agreement
The factfmder bad recommended an
increase of 8.5 per cent in a one-year deaL
The board did reach agreement with
secretarial employees members of CUPE
Local 1428. The newone-year agreement
calls for average wage increases of 95 per
cert.
Secretaries in classification 1 now earn
from $5.39 per hour to $6.27 under the grid
while class two wages range from $5.72 to
$6.60.
Audio-visual technicians in Bass 1 will
receive $8.39 and $8.89 in class 2.
Effective may 1, 1981 wages in the
clerical -secretarial clam will range from
$5.72 to $6.60.
Musicprogram examined
The Huron County Board of Education
agreed to examine the feasibility of 'in-
stituting a credited music program at
Central Huron Secondary School in
Clinton.
The board has recently been petitioned
by parents of both elementary and
secondary school students in the CHHS
area to initiate a credited music program
similar to that in existence at Goderich
and District Collegiate Institute. The
music program in Goderich is the only one
of its kind in Huron County high schools.
Subsequent to a presentation by a
delegation of parents, the board agreed to
refer the matter to a joint committee of the
Persomlel and Education Committees for
further consideration.
Bill Hearn, spokesman for the parent
delegation., told the board their original
purpose was to maintain music as an extra
curricular activity at the school, adding
that the wishes of the students went
beyond that.
"We are aware of staffing problems and
our original purpose was to retain music
as an extra curricular activity as it exists
now," he said. "However, we have con-
tacted the Grade 8 students in feeder
schools and the interest goes beyond extra
curricular. The bulk of the students want a
credit course."
Hearn indicated there are 30 students in
the school band and an additional 60
students from elementary feeder schools
interested in a music program. He claimed
that such numbers would mean an
automatic music program in Goderich.
In his presentation to the board, Hearn
submitted that the guar or education was to
devebp student talent
"Music expands the educational ex-
perience and it relates to higher
education," he said. " ` It is a universal
expression of feeling and we are asking
that a music credit course be given fair
consideration for Central Huron Secon-
dary School."
Goderich trustee Dorothy Wallace said
she was in favor of a credited music course
but added that board faced difficult
decisions with staff allocation.
"I am in favor of restoring music as a
credit course," she said. "Our problems
with staffing are acute but we will see if we
can do it."
While Goderich has the only credited
music course in the county, students at
CMS have been pursuing a music
program on their own time.
Wec,ther
19.q.,1� 1980
1W1 Lb HI LO
JANUARY
27 1 -7
28 -- 2 -13
29 - 6 -18
30 -8 -23
31 -7 -- 22
FEBRUARY
1 2 -11
2 0 -10
snow 10 cm
Rain 10 mm
-5 - 8.5
- 6 -10
6 -14
- 7.5 -15
-11 - 20
—10 - 22
-11 -16
Snow 28 cm
Moueau, the road budget can be brought
in line next year.
The land division committee brougtl in
one of the lower budget increases at 15.1
per cent- The committee recommended
the fee for all approved severances be
raised franc i$75 to $100, resulting in in-
creased revenues of approximately $3,000_
Reeve Bill Elston, Morris Township, told
council that land severances were a 'bona
fide part of county pluming'. He objected
to the person wanting the severance being
asked to bear the burden_ County clerk-
,
erk. treasurer Bull Hanly pointed out that the
county is subsidizing eadr fee more than 50
per cent_
Reeve Paul Steckle of Stanley (Township
said he is oppesed to severances and
remarked that the county cannot continue
to subsidize those who are benefiting. He
said he would not be opposed to having
those wanting severances pay half of the
administration fee.
The board of health budget came in with
an 18.5 per cent increase largely due to
expenditures created by the purchase of
furnishings and equipment for the new
county health building under construe/lima
at Huronview near Clinton_
Fellows objected to the allotted ex-
penditure of $45,000 for furnishings and
equipment at the new health building.
Dr. Brian Lynch Medical Officer of
Health, told council more realistic figures
would be available at the end of February.
Hesaid the figure in the budget was an
educated guess but that he was certain
when the figures were available, the
furnishings and equipment would cost less.
Reeve Fellows commented that he did
not hie using expanded figures berme
this permits the expenditure to increase to
meet that figure. He said he did not like
that approachtobudgeting.
County clerk -treasurer; BIB Hanly, told
council members that the figure of $45,000
was realistic for, the type of facility and
number of staff at the health building.
Hanly remarked that considering the type
of building and staff requirements, the
cast offurnishingsand equipment could
well be $, l,0tp_ .
Budgets were also received-fr tthe
Social Services Committee, the Planning
Department, the Development Com-
mittee, Huronview, the Library Board,
and the Property Committee.
Huronview gets.
New Horizons
grant for seniors.
A group of Huronview residents have
been awarded a $9,831 New Horizons grant
by the federal department of health and
welfare_
Headed by Frank Bissett, the group,
called the Huron Helpers, will expand an
existing program to include indoor, gar-
dening, games, movies, woodworking and
a newsletter.
New Horizons is a federal government
program encourging participation by
awarding grants to groups of seniors. The
program aims to benefit both retired
citizens and the community.
Like students from four other area schools, the pupils at Clinton Public School, where
impressed by the showing put on by the Ceutral Huron Secondary School choir and band
Last Thursday. Under the direction of Rob Parr, the high school students went out to
promote the course and raise Interest in it for upcoming secondary school studea ..
(Shelley McPhee photo)