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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 1981-03-05, Page 1Many of the static* of the machine shop tonne marched on the ' board olffilee —mot the dosing of the - machine shop course at the school The students muted about for an hour while two of their members .talked to board officials, and then returned _tothe school. . Theirprotest !ellen deaf ears as the decision to close the shop has been made. (James Fitzgerald photo) • Despite protests, board cans course BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER It was standing room only at Monday afternoon's meeting of the Huron County Board of Education, but board members stood firm in their intention to hold the line on education expenses. Despite the pleas of two delegations from the Clinton area, it *as dear from the outset the board would not be swayed from its decision to skirt the request for a credit music program at Central Huron Secondary School, and to cut the machine shop course from the curriculuin at the same school beginning in the fall of 1981. As well as the machine shop course at CHSS, shorthand 400 and mathematics 552 was deleted from the curriculum at CHSS. At F.E.Madill Secondary School in Wingham, the course cuts included ac- counting 451, drama 301, French 141, geography 141 and 151, History 251 and 401, Latin 251 and 351 and office practice 342. At Seaforth District High School History 550 and French 550 were discontinued. At South Huron District High School in Exeter, Latin 560 and 450 was cut along with computer science 400, welding 300 and 400 and electronics 300 and 400. No course cuts are proposed for Goderich District Collegiate where a "core curriculum" is now in place. These course cuts will result in a staff reduction of six teachers in the secondary school panel. The elementary panel suffered staff cuts too. The board approved changes that will eliminate 4.5 teachers in Huron County elementary schools for 1981-82. Girl seriously injured Sixteen -year-old Joanne Sharp of RR 1, Clinton is in London's University Hospital, suffering, from major injuries following an early morning car crash on March 1. Miss Sharp was transferred from the Clinton hospital to University following the single j r;accident ,that left, three other young people with minor injuries. The Goderich OPP reported that the 1:15 am accident occured on Huron County Road 18, (the Cut Line) two km east on Highway 21 when the car driven by Karen Farquhar, 16, of RR 1, Clinton went off the road and slammed into a tree. Miss Farquhar and two other passengers, Steven Wilson, 18, of RR 3, Clinton and Peter Hamming, 19, of RR 1, Clinton all suffered minor injuries. Damage to the car was set at $3,500. . The Clinton Police reportedjhat $2,300 in damages to two cars resulted 'from a February 26 accident. A car driven by Linda Keys, 25, of RR 1, Varna received $1,500 . in damages and a settnd car driven by Brian McFadden, 34, of Clinton received $800 in damages after the two vehicles collided on King Street. A Februaty 21 accident on Ontario Street resulted in $1,400 in damages, when a car driven by Beverly Major, 50, of Thorndale and a second car driven by David Anderson; 20, d RR 5, Clinton collided. The Anderson car received $400 in damages while the Major vehicle received $1,000 in damages. Like anyone in the human race, I hate to admit I'm wrong, but this week I'm going to eat crow. Many of my faithful readers will recall that it was just about a year ago that I exhorted voters not to return Joe Cark's Conservative government to power in the federal election. One of my reasons was the country couldn't afford his proposed 18 cent 'a gallon gasoline taxa, Trudeau and his henchmen, we were promised, wouldn't be nearly so bad. Well, the Liberals returned to power in the February election 12 months ago, and the gas hasn't gone up 18 cents... it's gone up 30 cents a gallon! And to top it off, Trudeau even borrowed most of the PC's other budget measures, so it looks like the Canadian people have jumped from the frying pan into the fire,_____._,. __ __ __ Currently, gas prices range from $1.42 to $1.54 a gallon in Clinton and area, or a 28 per cent increase in less than a year. And they tell us that's only the beginning. Most people don't seem to realize their getting ripped -off, because few understand this litre thing and don't do the conversion of 4.54 litre to the imperial gallon. It seems most convenient for the big companies that the conversion to metric has thrown up a smoke screen of confusion behind which they can raise prices. Ask any grocery store shopper as well! + + + Says the Main Street Wit this week: "Inflation is the price we pay for those government benefits . everybody thought werefree." +++ Except for the occasional visit from the various candidates sweeping through town on the handshake hustings, and the quick storefronts opened up by the i;vr6 poetics, things still haven't heated up much locally for the upcoming provincial election, now only two weeks away. People are becoming apathetic to elections and a comment from one member of the Bartliff morning coffee club seems to sum it all up: "It doesn't matter who we put in, either way we'll get screwed." + + + Well at least we can take heart that rural people are still trusted more than city people. That's right, if you live m the rural ridings, in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents, and missed getting your name on the voter's list, you an still vote on March 19 by simply having one of your neighbors vouch for you at the polling station and you'll get to X a ballot. However, if you live in a larger than 5,000 municipality (Goderich is one) and you missed the list, and the revision date, it's too late pal, you'll lose your franchise: + + + Here's a piece of locally written poetry from a local businessman, John Robinson, an unsung local poet: Obit I wasa local business With local people hired. Without locality support I locally expired +++ Now that the weather records are being written for February, the main word being used to sum it all up is unusual. In the first two weeks, the tem- peratures were bitterly cold, while the .last two weeks were unusually warm with every day featuring above normal temperatures. Young Steve Flynn even plowed a few acres last Friday of land he's renting in the Hulled Swamp. Temperatures ranged from a low of - 19 degrees C (-2.2 F) on the fourth, fifth and 12th, to a record plus 9 degrees C (48.2 F) on the 22nd, and the sap started running on the 16th, one of the earliest in decades. As well, we had five days of thick pea -soup fog, from the 16th to the 20th, and all but a few drifts of that 87 cm of snow disappeared in two weeks. Overall, the mean temperature for the month was minus 3.66 C (25.4 F) above the long term average of minus 5.6 C (22 F), according to the weather station on the Baird farm at Brucefield. It "was a wet fnontli too, with 166 snit] of rain and snow falling, compared to the average of 77 min. But if you keep track of degree days, a measurement of how much heat you need for your house, we've had 3,132 since July lst, still up from the normal 2,913. + 1 + Don't forget to put your papers out at the curb this Saturday morning, as the Londesboro Lions will be around. Hensall Public School will lose one teacher with the effect being a combined Grade 7 and Grade 8 class of 24 students. Usborne Central will lose one-half a teacher, a fulltime librarian becoming ha If -time. Zurich Public School will have one less teacher, with the Grade 7 and, Grade 8 classes split into class size not exceeding 28 students. Colborne Central School will lose one teacher through combining a Grade 3 and Grade 4 class, and a Grade 4 and Grade 5 lass. Class sizes will not exceed 28 students. At Vanastra Public School, teachers will be required to teach their own music and physical education classes, resulting in a reduction of a half-time teacher's salary. At Walton, teachers will be required to teach their own music, physical education, health and library classes, resulting in a reduction of a half-time teacher's salary. Board member R.J.Elliott who presented the report, said enrollment throughout Huron County is dropping off. Figures were presented to the board which showed that. in 1979, enrollment in the elementary schools of the county totalled 6,538. In 1980 it dropped off to 6,425. This year, itis 6,367. Next year's enrolhnent ,predictions and• that of the following year in the elemen- tary schools remain fairly constant. But in 1984, enrollment is expected to drop, to 6295. Estimates are that by 1986, elementary school enrollment in Huron will be down to 6166 students. "To predict much further than that requires a crystal ball or some research in the bedrooms of the county," said Elliott. In the secondary panel, total enrollment in 1979 was 4475. In 1980 it was 4235 and this yea rat is 4020. Next year's ° secondary school enrollment, however, is expected to drop sharply to 3757. In 1983, predictions are for ah enrollment of 3571. Enrollment in the secondary schools in 1986 should be about 3520. . Despite ..pleas from area people, parents, and businessmen, iueludhig Clinton industrial committee chalrnitan Mike Falconer, right, the Huron County Board of Education voted Monday to close the machine shop at Central Huron Secondary School after this spring's course is over. About 130 people crowded into the board eftteetolintels* the claimed for a music course at the school. Concerned parents plan to meet this Monday night at 8 pm at the Clinton Public SchooL (James Fltzgerald photo ) 116th year —No. 9 Thursday, March 5, 1981 401 Klompen Feest plans look excitin As the date for Clinton's first Klompen Degroote are also helping in the produc- Feest celebration nears, plans are well • tion line. • underway and community support is Jack Roorda outlined the plans for • growing. • concessions booths' and said . that the A general meeting.af the Klompen Feest recommended application form had been washeld at the Clinton town hiaillrece�i Cly - -'accepted. •: and over 50 people turned out, the largest To help drefay costs and as a publicity crowd yet. boost, Mrs. Van Altena •has dressed a doll in traditional Dutch dress and donateditto ', the lilompen Feest. Draw tickets will be' sold on the'doll with proceeds going to the Feest. ` For the Friday evening and Saturday afternoon entertainment, Bob Campbell reported that at least six Dutch dance groups have agreed to take part in the program. An Octoberfest styled band, the Tiroler Brass from Kitchener will provide the music for the street dance on Friday evening from 10 pm until 1 am. • Clarence Denomme, 'the ways and means chairman, suggested that a souvenir program booklet be printed and Initial work has begun onsthe weekend celebration, to be held on May 22 and 23 and Ken Wood reported that plans are going well for .the Saturday parade. He said that already six bands had been booked to take part and interest in floats for the parade was starting to show. Parade entry forms have been drawn up and over $500 in prize money will be awarded to the best entries. Although Ralph De Weerd wouldn't give many hints, he told the group that plans for main street decroations were in high gear and guaranteed, "We won't say what, wait and see, you'll like it." The costume committee has had a great boost and Mrs. Bottema, Mrs. Postma, Mrs. Buruma, Mrs. Kroesen and Mrs. Steenstra are sewing Dutch hats. Mrs. Frank Van Altena, Edith Burgess and Else PUC increases rates for hydro, water, sewage bills. By Jim Fitzgerald Effective the March 1, hydro, water and sewage rates have gone up in town but the increased costs won't show up on bills until at least April. The hydro bills are going up an average of 9.5 per cent, while the water bills will only go up' a flat Sl across the board and the sewage rate will go up a flat $1.80 for all customers. Guss Boussey, general manager of the Clinton Public Utilities Commission, said last week the increases were necessary to recover increased costs or running all three systems. To the average electrical power user. House fire was set chief says A fire that gutted a house at 256 Victoria Street in Clinton on February 21 was definitely set, and police have questioned at (east one suspect. Clinton Fire Chief Clarence Neilans said Bob Adams of the Mt. Forest branch of the Fire Marshal's Office said the fire was deliberately set and had likely been burning for five hours before being discovered by neighbors. Police Chief Lloyd Westlake said his department is helping with the in- vestigation and has questioned at several, people. Chief Westlake said he couldn't say if the house fire, which caused $28,000 in damage, was connected to three other intentionally set fires last fall, including a $500,000 fire that destroyed the Clinton Hotel in October. The recently burned house, owned by Dave Corrie of Clinton, was vacant at the time and was not covered by insurance. Mr. Corrie said the gutted structure will have to be torn down. who consumes 1,500 kilowatt hours, their monthly rate will increase from $43.10 to $47.30, but the first 250 kilowatt hours will remain the same, and the minimum bill will stay at $4. Mr. Boussey said the PUC has absorbed a 9.2 per cent increase in wholesale rates from Ontario Hydro since the first of the year, and if they continued at the old rates, the PUC electrical division would be in the red by 518,000 by the end of the year. The water works is facing the same situation, being currently in the hole to the tune of.$15,000, so an across the board flat rate increase of a $1 will see the minimum monthly bill go from $3 to $4, the first in- crease since 1980. The other rates of 30 cents per hundred cubic feet for the remainder will stay the same, and "That's one of the cheapest rates in Ontario," said Mr. Boussey. Although the sewage surcharge of 180 per cent of the water bill will remain the same, the increase of the water bill will mean an additional $1.80 a month of the sewage bills. "We last increased it in 1976, but costs of running the (sewage) plant are up." Mr. Boussey said. Totalled up, the increases will mean an average householder in Clinton will see their bi-monthly bill jump about $14. Weather 1981 Hl 10 FEBRUARY 24 5 —1 25 0 —3 28 2 —3 27 4 — 7 28 5 —1 MARCH 1 1 _2 2 —1 —6 1980 HI [0 0 — 3.5 —3 —9 —8 —21 —5 —9 —8 —17 —14 — 25 —13 —25 Rain 33.3 n►m Snow 10 cm sold at the Feest. Advertisments could be sold in the booklet to help offset the costs. It was agreed that a work committee be established. • This will be formed in the near future and Mr. Campbell said that -volunteerhelp is -nee-tediier-e-to make all the plans for Klompen Feest a reality. Bill Fleming isgoing ahead with plans • for the Saturday evening -thicken bar-- beque and it was learned that the chicken will be specially raised and donated by a local broiler industry. It was agreed to sell advance dinner tickets, and this would help the committee establish the number of people that will be attending the bar- beque. Mr. Campbell said he was pleased to see the increased community interest in the celebration but he noted, "They can only do , the planning, the work and the worrying. It will be up to the people of the Turn to page 3 • County gives $I00, 000 grant Clinton hospital expansion BY SHARON DIETZ Huron County Council approved grants totalling $220,204 to two of the county's hospitals when they met February 26. Wingham and District Hospital will receive $119,250 for construction to expand the hospital's out-patient area, laboratory and radiology department. Council also granted $100,954 to Clinton Public Hospital for the redevelopment of the ambulatory care services of the hospital. In both instances, the county's share of the cost is 37 percent of the amount ap- proved by the province. The county decided not to participate in a second project at the Clinton Hospital. The county turned down a request for $54,500 to be spent oil renovations at the hospital. The county is bound by its own bylaw which limits participation to 37 per- cent of the amount approved by the pro- vince. The province is not contributing to the . renovation project at the Clinton Hospital. The province's contribution to the Wingham project totals $318,000 and its share of the Clinton project to redevelop ambulatory care services amounts to $405,684. Wildex head on board -- Patrick Newington of Clinton has been appointed to sit on the 12 -member board of govenors for Conestoga College. Mr. Newington is the manufacturing manager of Clinton's ExCello Corporation of Canada, Tool and Abrasive Operation. His background includes positions with ExCello and the Ford Motor Company as a toolmaker. Mr. Newington, along with four other new board members attended the 1981 inaugural meeting on January 22 at Conestoga's Boon Campus in Kitchener. Donald Wheeler of Goderich was also named to sit on the board as Huron County's representative. He was acclaimed Reeve of Goderich in 1980 and has served with the Huron County Council. Mr. Wheeler was a member of the board of govenors of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital in Goderich and was a member of the Housing Action Com- mittee for senior citizen housing in Goderich. He has also worked as co- chairman cin tie Landau panel 'an Great Lakes Pollution. Other new Conestoga board members include Robert Ackerman of Guelph, Alan W. Dean of Cambridge and Roger Freeborn of Elmira. They will be working with continuing Conestoga College govenors Viola M. Aboud of Guelph, Roxie Baker of Strat- ford, A. Paul Dilks of Stratford, Fredrick Grespan of Kitchener, Veronica Kerr of Kitchener, Laurance MacKenzie of Erin and Dorothy Worden of St. Pauls. At the inaugural meeting, Mr. Dilks was re-elected as chairman of the board, Mr. Grespan was elected vice -chair -man (administration) and Mrs. Kerr was elected vice-chairman (operations).