HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 1981-02-19, Page 4PE 4--CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
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A
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JAMES E, FITZGERALD - Editor
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Tryingtinew, oi-d way •
For those of us who were raised with the
idea that mixed farming, now called
"tiveTsified farthing" was the best kind of
farming, but then watched as cheap
energy killed it a decade ago, take heart. It
may be back stronger than ever.
The cheap petroleum energy of the last
30 years spelled the death kill of the mixed
farm, as the age of specialization took
over, with many farmers growing only one
or two crops, while others raised only one
kind of livestock.
Well, according to a University of
Guelph engineering professor, the mixed,
all-purpose farm maybe back again.
Prof: Peter Southwell said in a recent
,interview that the new mixed farm Would
be an operation aimed at self-sufficiency
in energy, reducing to a minimum the
purchase of fuels, electricity and fer-
tilizers which are pinching many farmers
in a perpetual cost -price freeze.
He claims that it wouldn't be a farm in
the true sense of the word, but rather
would have green houses, woodlots and
fish ponds; each sector feeding another
sector of the food production system. The
only outside inputs would be pesticides,
which could also be cid to a minimum with
biological controls of insects and weeds.
Here's how this.._concept,-.which_shonld_..�__
excite even the most cynical con-
servationists, would work. The green
houses would be heated in the cold months
with methane extracted from manure,
which itself could be used to grow high
protein algae to be used in livestock
rations.
A wooddot of fast growing popular
hybrids could be grown to produce alcohol
for use in mixing with gasoline or a as a
fuel in itself. The residue pulp could be
used in livestock feed rations.
The fish pond could be kept open year-
round with excess heat from the energy
systems, and feed a livestock feed by-
product, and in turn, the by-products of the
fish could be fed to the livestock.
As well, the diesel engines, says Prof.
Southwell, could be fuel with oil from
sunflower or rape seed, with the solid
residue making an excellent livestock
feed. Electricity could also be produced
from a generator r using wind or farm
produced fuels.
Of note too to soil conservationists is the
increased crop rotation of grains and
legumes to produce natural nitrogen to
replace expensive commercial fertilizers.
The manure too would be recycled on the
Prof. Southwell said the system is aimed
at maximum food production efficiency
and minimum purchase of energy. The
farmer will benefit from lower production
cost and society in general from lower food
Just when and how much self-sufficiency
will come to our farms is anybody's guess
at this point, but come it must. By J.F.
A love �ndh�te'aff�fr
You say you love me but sometimes you
don't show. In the beginning you couldn't
do enough for me. Now, you seem to take
me for granted..;some days I even wonder
if I mean anything at all to you.
Maybe when I'm gone, you'll appreciate
me and all the things I do for you. I'm
responsible for getting food on your table,
for your clean shirt. for the welfare of your
children - a thousand and one things you
want and need.
Why, if it weren't for me you wouldn't
even have a car. I've kept quiet and waited
to see how long it would take you to realize
how much you really need me.
Cherishme - take care of me and I'll con-
tinue to take good care of you. Who am I? I
am your job... Author Unknown
Sign of hope
5YEARSAGO
February 19, 1976
The Clinton Wildex Plant announced this
week that they are putting on a new $100,000
addition, starting this April. The plant, a
division of Ex -Cell -0 of Canada, has been so
successful since they came to Clinton they
have run out of room and need expansion.
Huron Middlesex MP Bob McKinley an-
nounced yesterday his resignation as the
chief Conservative whip.. • •
Mr. McKinley held the post for the past two -
and -a -half years and his resignation comes on
the eve of the conservative party leadership
nomination convention to be held this
weekend in Ottawa.
10 YE ARS AGO
February 25, 1971
Huron County Board of Education will send
a request to the board of goverors of CBC
requesting that the program Sesame Street
be retained on Canadian television.
Boardmembers learned the program is
higiil,}r valued byscbool officials and teathet
and is used each day in many kindergarten
dosses throughout Huron County.
The annual Camping and Sports Show will
be held in a new location with a new sponsor
this year.
The _ show has become a.popular hit in
Huron County each spring and has been
sponsored by ' the Tailspinner's Club of
Adastral Park, but with the base closing this
fall and the numbers dwindling the
Tailspinners approached the Clinton Royal
Canadian Legion Branch 140 about taking
over sponsorship. As a result, the show will be
held at the Clinton Community Centre instead
iifat the base.
The Legion hopes to turn over a profit at the
show to help finance work with the new O1rl
Guide camp near Goderich. ;
25 YEARS AGO
February 23, 1956
A young Brucefield speller will be. among
four contestants in the Hensall area who will
go. to the semi-final competition in Exeter
next Wednesday for the South -Huron• finals.
Dwayne Elliott, SS 3, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Gordon Elliott of Brucefield, was one of the
successful contestants at the semi-final held
in Hensall Public School"on Monday of this
week.
BAYFIELD REST• HOME, "the. home
Cruel, cold winter
Boy, she's been some mother of a winter
this time around, in these places. Six feet
of snow before Christmas, three or four
feet since, and temperatures that would
freeze the brains of a brass monkey.
A constant struggle with snow in the
driveway, snow on the sidewalk, snow
piling deep on the roof and turning into
icicles like tree -trunks, and, worst of all,
snow corning in over the tops of your boots
and turning your feet into something like
submarines around Iceland.
Typical day this week. A guy was
coming at 8 a.m to whack the ice off my
roof. That usually costs about fifty bucks,
plus the shingles he removes with the ice.
I asked him if he had some battery
booster cables, as I knew my car wouldn't
start in the morning. I tried it the day
before. He had cables. Goody. Two birds
with one stone.
Next morning, I waited until twenty to
nine. He didn't show. It was below 24, and I
mean Fahrenheit. Tried the car while I
was waiting. Not even a grunt.
Knew there wasn't a hope of getting a
cab in that weather. Called the garage and
whimpered for help. "Sure, Bill. Maybe in
about two hours. There are forty thousand
cars non -starting, all over the county."
I abandoned hope, Iike all who enter shis
country in this kind of weather, and
phoned a neighbor, blatantly, and without
shame, asking for a ride to work. He
played Good Samaritan, and I made it to
the job with about -forty sebonds to spare.
I'm not that conscientious, but dammit, I
can get just as stubborn as Old Man
Winter.
Immediately phoned the garage and told
them not to send help until later in the day,
when I'd be home to flood the carburetor,
reverse when I was supposed to put her in
drive, get stuck in a snow -bank just after
the tow truck had left, and all the other
things people do that drive mechanics
crazy. Fine.
My wife was in bed, ill, and I'd told her
not to worry about the iceman coming or
the thunderous crashes as the icicles came
down like Douglas firs.
Just twenty minutes after I'd got to
work, the iceman cameth, rang the
doot bell, and kept her standing in the
frigid air in her dressinggown while he
discussed a price for the job. It seemed his
car would not start either, thus his late
appearance. She thought I'd arranged a
price forthe job.
Finally, in exhaustion, desperation, and
danger of losing some toes from frostbite,
she told him to go ahead with the job, at the
price (fairly exhorbitant) that he
suggested. He said he'd be back in a few
minutes. She thought he'd, gone to his truck
for extension ladder, axe; and other im-
plements for knocking off shingles, as well
as ice. We haven't seen him since.
She tottered back to bed, and was barely
warming up, when the doorbell rang
again. Once more into the breach, bless
her indomitable spirit and her rage at me
about the iceman. This time it was a nice
young fellow from the garage, with the tow
truck.
There had been a breakdown in com-
munication, and he hadn't received the
word to come later in the day, when I was
home to flood the engine etc.
All he wanted was some keys for the car,
and instructions on whether to just get the
Bang thing running, or to tow it away for a
check-up. I had the keys at work.
Another doorway encounter with the
temperature 'way below zero, her feet
turning blue, and her near -pneumonia on
the verge of turning into double -
pneumonia.
The only thing that kept her going was
the increasing heat of her fury at me for
not organizing anything except two young
men who were forcing her to make
decisions when she had scarcely enough
strength to decide whether to go to the
bathroom or just curl up and die.
Again, she rose to the occasion, found
another set of . keys and told him to do
whatever he wanted, though she felt like
adding a few other su estions. Naturally,
he towed It away. Know what they rap you
for a towing charge these days? I can't
bear to mention the figure.
By this time, in her weakened condition,
she couldn't even go back to bed, she was
so passionately angry with her slob of a
husband.
She called. me at work, tracked me
down, and gave me a piece of her mind. It
was a fair-sized chunk, about half a
glacier, I'd say, not hearing a word of my
explanation of how clever I had been in my.
morning arrangements, against im-
possible odds. It ended in one of us hanging
up. Me. And instructing the girls in the
office not to accept any more calls for me
that day.
It all blew over, of course. After work, I
picked up the car, and when I got home,
she had several errands for me to do, out in
the blizzard.
My whole and only point in this essay, or
true story, is -that a good, old-fashioned
Canadian winer cannot only break you
physically, economically, spiritually, and
emotionally, but even maritally.
by Jim Fitzgerald
ca jock through
the news -record files
within a home". Home for convalescents,
elderly people. Home cooked meals,
registered nurse in attendance. Only a few
vacancies left. Phone Bayfield 37.
A hard time euchre and dance was held at
Baird's School, sponsored by the Stanley
Ladies CLub, London Road Club and the
Tuckersmith Ladies Club were the invited
guests. .
Dancing continued to the "Wee Sma"
hours. Music was furnished by Frank
McCowan, Vic Taylor and . Miss Joan
McClhwan; also by Robert Glen, Stewart
McEwan and Elmer Trick.
50 YEARS AGO
February 19, 1931
A man from Detroit got stuck with his Ford
coupe up around Belgrave or Sunshine over
the weekend -and couldn't make home over
the snow roads. He was obliged to call on the
help of a farmer in the community, who .
loaded the car on a pair of "bobs" and his
sturdy team brought it quite easily over the
seine -'snow roads -and" set it on the highway;
where it could operate under it's own power
again. In an ordinary winter, on an ordinary
snow road, there is nothing so trustworthy as
a pair of sturdy nags, with a driver who un-
derstands them an can manage them
Properly -
75 _..
75 YEARS AGO—._ .- _.
February 23,, 1906
Mr. 11. Sweet has .completed his contract of
storing the supply of ice at the Holmesville
Butter Factory for\ooming year.
The barbers of town have been notified on
behalf of the local branch of the Lord's Day
Alliance, that they must rpt work after 12
;o'clock -�Dn Shturday night. There isn't a
barber in town, but would glad'y finish up his
week's .work be re Sunday morning. If his
patrons would my be considerate enough to
help him do this.
Miss Addie K ufman entertained about 20
ofher friends on riday evening last. Various
edifying amtsemen1 were indulged in, the
company dispersing at an "early"hour, after
'having spent a pleasant time, and the singing
of "God be with you till we meet again."
Mr. Mason Stirling of Goderich.Township,
who resides seven miles from town, made
record time driving to Clinton on Tuesday
morning. His' three-year-old son playing
around home with a tin toy train, swallowed
one end of it, and it lodged in his windpipe.
They were unable to remove it, and quick as
possible, they hitched up and drove here,
where a doctor soon relieved the child from
its danger.
The Jackson Manufacturing Co. has been
trying for several weeks to secure additional
help in the way of female labor, but so far has
been unsuccessful and they find themselves
handicapped in the extension of their rapidly
increasing business. They could give em-
ployment to at least 25 more hands if they
could get them, at remunerative wages. The
same complaint comes' from the Knitting
Factory, which has to depend largely on
female labor. They want more hands, but
cannot get them.
100 YEARS AGO
February 24, 1891
in Bayfield, the fishermen of the French
settlement, during the late thaw, lost up-
wards of 75 herring nets.
A gentleman has expressed himself •in
regard to Holmesville as follows: "You have
here all the advantages of city life. Just look,
connection east and west by the G.T.R., •good
gravel road, two stores, post office, splendid
hotel,, excellent hall, public school, three
churches, wagon factory and blacksmith
shop. There you are, and into the bargain, you
enjoy the solid comforts of a country
residence." Ye Holmesville, just think of it!
One of the younger daughters of a
prominent person in Clinton had a narrow
escape from what might have been a serious
accident, one day this week. While running
along the road, she suddenly slipped down
just as a team was approaching, noticing this,
she rolled herself over, and thus got out of the
way of the horses, one of which stepped on her
hat. Close indeed.
Canada's future,
What do you think
What would you do if Canada were in-
vaded?
• Suppose the United States invaded
Canada, what would you do? What would
the results be, do you think, of American
aggression??__
`— �iext, suppose Great Britain or ranee _—
attacked Canada, what would you do?
• What would the consequences be of such
a take-over?
Now, suppose the Canadian Government
refused to oppose a conquering army,
again what would you do?
And, again, what would be the outcome?
A decision not to resist means learning
to live in changed circumstances. It means
fusing to kill - even if attacked.
re
Canadians should understand their Barrie.
the
reader,
write
letters
Thank you
Dear Editor:
A sincere "thank you" to the residents of
Huron and Perth Counties who, once
again, have supported the work of
Christmas Seals in the 1980-1981 Calor
�W are encouraged by Community
response and will be able to carry on ex-
panded
x
panded service programs and research in
Lung Disease
There is still time to answer your
Christmas Seal letter. "Lungs Are For
Life" "Use Christmas Seals — It's a Mat-
ter
at
ter of Life and Breath".
Mrs. Beryl Dunsmore,
Executive Director,
Huron Perth
Lung Association.
Always r-eme; ered
Dear Editor,
I am writing in regards to to my sub-
scription. For the last three years, it has
been a gift to me from the late Mrs. Beth
Makins.
I do not believe she would have had it
renewed for 1981. If not, please discontinue
sending the paper to me as I feel that
Auntie Beth was our last real link with
Clinton.
It was a sad day on January 9 as myself
and our daughter Betty, who was named
for her, and our son Larry, who flew from
P.E.I., attended her funeral. Beth had
been a true and loyal friend to myself and
our children and we joined with her on
September 27 to celebrate her birthday.
We took her to church and joined with her
in taking communion.
I do not believe we missed a year that we
didn't come to see Beth and before the
funeral, the three of us took a memory trip
around Clinton
I didn't shed tears for Beth as I know she
is with the Lord and her loved ones, but it
was an end to a friendship of 37 years.
I would like to take this opportunity toh
thank Dr. Newland for his kindess to Bet
She spoke often of him. Thanks also goes to
everyone who helped in any way to make
her days brighter. To the nurses who cared
for her, my thanks also goes.
I send regards to all our friends in
Clinton, to Mr. and Mrs. Bill Chambers for
-their hospitaiitylo-miy'husband-and I, and
to Mary Anne for welcoming us and
making our visit happier.
While in Clinton, we drove by the
hospital where Larry was born, 38 years
ago, to the day of the funeraL
Clinton will always have a special place
in my heart. May you continue to send a
good paper each week.
Sincerely,
Cy and Lillian Bertrand,
society excels over virtually all other na-
tions. Canadians would not only withstand
any invasion; they would merge enemies
into their way of life. What is superior in
Canada would prevail.
After all, what would an aggressor do?
He envies and seeks us. Why should he
spoil what he believes works well? That
would be against his interests. A wiser
course would permit Canadians to con-
tinue running the country while imposing
yet another tax.
Is this more onerous than mass suicide?
Finally, once a stand is taken not to kill,
you begin to treat all peoples better. You
start at once to negotiate differences. You
settle all problems regardless of difficulty,
knowing you have prohibited yourself
from murdering your opponent no matter
how unreasonable he is. Your own code
compels you to let everyone into your
home; you co-operate with him to ensure
he does not smash the furniture.
Hardships may have to be faced. Yet you
do so, knowing you are in the right and ,
behaving sanely.
It has been said, "In a nuclear war, the
survivors will envy the,,dead."
If you agree - or disagree - please con-
tact me.
Robert S. Karfell
2 Carlton St.
Spite 1403
Toronto, Ont.
M5B 1S3
odds 'n' ends
by
elairze townshend
What a week
Readers be forewarned. Whatever ap-
pears in the following column is the result
of gremlins that crept into my typewriter
on Friday the 13th.
Most of the week was a bust, beginning
with an aborted drive to London on Mon-
day morning. When I left town, the
weather was its usual gloomy self. The
radio weatherman was forecasting the
worst storm of the season to begin th next
day.
"Could last for some time," was the way
he summed it up.
A .few snowflakes later 1 came upon a
car sitting on its roof in the middle of the
road. I decided to corrle back home to
work:
Tuesday was uneventful. The storm rag-
ed and I laboured over a story. By evening,
I decided I didn't like either one.
Wednesday, I discovered something
new. I've been locked out of my -Apartment
before but never locked in. Drifting snow
and ice blocked the doors.
Not realizing my own strength I broke
the glass in the back door attempting to get
out. Broken glass m a aoor has no relation-
ship to broken glass in a mirror, does it?
A call to a neighbour, who had a shovel
handy. gained my freedom.
Thursday was filled with good news and
bad news. The good news was the storm
appeared to be over and my front door
swung open easily. The bad news .was my
car door was frozen. Good news, though,
the door on the passenger side was not
frozen. Bad news - bucket seats.
That brought me to Friday, the 13th. .The
sun shone, the temperature soared and I
said 'pooh-pooh' to superstition, in spite of
the rest of the week.,
I planned an exciting evening of filling
the grocery bag and emptying the laundry
basket because I wanted to eat and wear
clean clothes for the rest of the weekend.
Then I remembered Saturday was
Valentine's Day. I had missed it. I had no
flowery verse prepared for you, dear
reader.
Glancing around the apartment,, the only
ditty that came to mind was this:
"My philodendron's getting dusty,
'Cause my green thumb's kirfda rusty.
I've got a violet that's blue;
It used to be purple; what can I do?
My wandering jew won't,
And that's all she wrote."
I'm no poet and I know it. I knew it when
1 was eight and threw pages of verse in the
wood stove grate.
Sorry about the above, but I warned you
in the beginning those Friday the 13th
gremlins might cause problems. Confiden-
tially, though, they strike at other times as
well.
At those times, I giggle for no reason,
nothing I say makes much sense and my
mother worries.
Dad says he'd rather see me laugh than
cry, but he says it in the strangest tone of
voice. Friends react in different ways.
Some pretend not to notice; others just
shake their heads. My nephews and niece
blame it on senility.
My brother-in-law shrugs: "So what else
is new? She acts like that all the time."
If it happens in public, my sister an-
nounces loud and clear, "I never saw that
girl before in my life!"
Depending on the time of year, I blame
the incidences on a variety of causes -
cabin fever, frostbite, sun stroke, too little
sleep, too much on my mind, Friday the
13th, gremlins left over from Hallowe'en...
Take a stand
Dear Editor:
With disgust and a feeling of doom; I
heard the news about the possibility of the
Ku Klux Klan establishing a military
camp in southwestern Ontario. Despite the
fact that we live in a democratic society,
this is slipping out of the boundaries of
democracy and making a mockery of
freedom and individual rights. It is also
difficult to believe that there isn't a law in
our so-called "judicial system" that can-
not completely eliminate this type of pro-
paganda and prejudice.
Unfortunately a major part of our
population is Anglo-Saxon white and they
will sit in the safety of their homes with a
conceived and fantastical idea that they
are protected by divine right from this
type of insidious activity.
I feel it is of utmost importance to take a
stand making the media aware of the im-
plications of this kind of unjust activity.
You may feel protected and separated
from this but it smacks of Nazi Germany.
If we allow this to happen, other radical
and prejudiced groups will settle in for the
sole reason • to eliminate other minorities
such as homosexuals, Jews, and Indians.
The list is endless. Perhaps you feel this is
an extreme exaggeration, but the Jews in
Nazi Germany feel protected and
unbelieving from the atrocities performed
on fellow Jews, and the end result was a
mass extermination. To perhaps think of
these atrocities (a race war) happening
again leaves me sick and faltering in my
faith in human goodness.
You can sit back and not invest any
thought in the implications of what the
KKK represents or you can invest some
time and so something.constructive. Write
your local members of parliament
(provincial and federal) and express your
concern because we do live in a
democratic society and public opinion is a
strong influence in the government deci-
sions.
Please think seriously of the implica-
tions and do something constructive or sit
back in your cocoon of imaginary safety
while military strategies are perhaps be-
ing performed in your backyard.
With concern,
Laurie Swan
Do you have an opinion? Whys Hoof
write us a letter to the editor', and
let everyone know. All letters ar .
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authenticated, wad pseudonym*
allowed. All letters, however,
are subject to editing for length
or libel.