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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1981-07-16, Page 1There were tricycles, bicycles, kids and clowns on Clinton's main street Thursday night when the annual Moonlight Madness children's parade took place. Two -and -a -half year old Milian McMahon took a break from the ride just to have some fun. (Gary Haist photo) But includes $1010,000. industrial park Also serving: Bayfield. Brumfield, Londesboro, Varna, and Hensall JULY Weather 1981 1980 HI LO HI LO 7 32 14 8 33 19 , 9 28 20 10 27 9 11 31 10 12 30 17 13 28 18 Rain 0 22.5 5 23 15 23 . 8.5. 27 10 '26 14 23 9 26 10 Rain 19.5 nim. Hearings to be held Two "preferred" hydro lines go through here Ontario Hydro officials were in Exeter last week for a press conference to outline some of the public involvement that will be sought in choosing one of thesix alternate routes being considered for conveying power from the Bruce generating station to London. Four of the six alternatives will pass. through the Clinton area. The other two would travel. from Bruce to Barrie and then London would be fed from a generating station in the Hamilton area. Two of the routes passing through the Clinton area are given `clearly preferred' ratings in many of those factors. Dave Abbott • of Hydro's community relations route and site selection group indicated there would be intensive public involvement in the next three to four months to get input from the areas in- volved. Clinton taxes up 14.7 per cent By Shelley McPhee Despite a steadily increasing inflation rate, now nearing the 14 per cent mark, Clinton Council has managed to hold the town's tax rate in line and this year the budget will increase by 14.7 per cent. A drop of four per cent from last year's 18.5 per cent, the 1981 budget of $1.7 million was passed in a special meeting on July 8. One of the largest expenditures Clinton taxpayers will be helping to support this year is the inclusion of a $100,000 reserve fund for the purchase of industrial land. Council earlier this year had thought this could have ineivased't}1e takes by over 25 per cent, but they managed to hold the budget in line, bringing the increase even lower than last year's rise of more than 18 per cent. This year's budget was even better than the 14 per cent increase shows, for without the industrial land reserve fund, the 1981 budget forClinton would have come in at a little over the $1.6 million mark, and taxes would have only gone up by eight per cent. A public school supporter with a $4,000 assessment will be paying out an extra $131 this year as their taxes increase to $1,017 from $886 in 1980. The public school residential mill rate has risen by 32.58 mills this year, from a total of 221.67 mills in 1980 to this year's first column rate at 254.25. The commercial rate has gone up 38.44 nulls, from 260.79 to 299.13 mills this year. The separate school supporters rate is higher this year, with the residential mill rate set at 251.08 and the commercial rate set at 295.39 mills. Along with supporting the industrial land reserve,. Clinton taxpayers will also be helping to purchase a new fire truck and a $22,860 reserve has been set aside for that purchase. A library engineering study will cost taxpayers an additional $5,Q00 in taxes this year, but they will also be benefiting from a recent sale of a town owned lot. The Fulton Street property was recently sold to Tom Chuter to $4,900. He indicated that information centres would be set up in various communities, the closest to this area being Clinton. Another information site would be located in Ailsa Craig. Dates and exact locations will be advertised locally prior to the opening of the centres. In addition, working groups involved in the studies will hear submissions from individuals and groups in meetings at various locations. These working groups will be chaired by two University of Western Ontario professors, Doctors Pleva and Sullivan, both of whom were in attendance at last week's conference. Abbott emphasized that no preference has yet been attached to any of the six alternatives and that recommendation will be made only after the public have been given ample opportunity to comment. The evaluation process will deal mainly with three factors: costs, technical con- siderations and environmental effects. Some of the factors ,which have been considered in the initial planning by working groups include human settlement, agricultural production,• timber produc- tion, mineral extraction, wildlife game resources, recreation, aquatic and terrestrial communities and appearance of the landscape. After the public input has been received, one of the six alternatives will be selected and submitted as a recommendation to an environmental assessment hearing. Favorable crops .bolsterfarrn spirit By Jim Fitzgerald Despite record high interest rates, and high input costs, a mood of general op- timism prevails up and down the con- cession roads this summer, as Huron County farmers are looking at above average crops going into mid July. Don Pullen, Huron County's agriculture representative, said on Tuesday that most crops were above average, "although we could use a nice gentle, all-night rain." Other than the slightly dry conditions, there aren't any serious problems with any of the crops. Although conditions were also ideal for an exploding insect population, there have only been isolated reports of damage, Mr. Pullen reported. by jim fitzgerald Phew, itis sure nice to be back here in this air, conditioned office after a week away in the steamy jungle. While working in a flower bed last week with the temperature soaring to 93 degrees (34 C) in the shade, it was hard to convince oneself that the same spot had t four feet of snow on it only a few months ago. But the heat has sure brought on the vegetable gardens, and yours truly, after complaining about the late spring, now is complaining about all this produce we have to harvest, blanche and freeze. We go to great lengths in planning our garden every year, spreading out the planting of the dif- ferent varieties so that they can be harvested at leisure over the summer. But the best laid plans of mice and men.... you guessed it: the peas, green and yellow beans, cauliflower, broccoli, raspberries and swiss chard were all ready at the same time, and that's always the hottest week of the year! There are rewards, though, especialy biting into those first new potatoes, freshly dug, and quickly cooked with their skins on. Unfortunately, despite all my efforts, including starting then seedlings in early March, our new neighbors have won the first -tomato -of -the -season race this year hands down, as last Thursday, July 9, a big red juicy specimen was spotted hanging on one of their plants. Now being a humble, retired farmer from Colborne Township, Mr. Lowey doesn't enjoy basking in all this publicity, but I believe in giving credit where credit is due. + + + We had the pleasant occasion while on holiday, to drop in and see our for- mer neighbors and Clinton residents, John and Charlene Sutherland, who have now set up a home on a farm near Lion's Head, up in the beautiful Bruce Pen ninsula. We didn't make our stay too long when we found out John had volun- 4 teered to help his father-in-law take off several hundred acres of hay! \ + + July sure is a busy month around the Fitzgerald house, because not only is there all those vegetables to put down, but I have to remember two birthdays and one wedding anniversary, I have a very good memory, it's just shorn + + + It's too bad our MPs down in Ottawa didn't have better memories. Did you see where last week they voted memseaves a big raise to gavi grana a year without.hardly a whimper, while they can't seem to do anything about a postal strike that's crippling the country, creating added hardship for small business? They seem to have forgotten all about the little -guys who built this nation. + + + That postal strike is also' creating some hardship for our distribution network, but most .subscribers have had their paper delivered without in- terruption with most people in town picking up their papers at the News - Record office. + + + I've been pretty lucky so far this summer, and have only had two parking tickets from our pretty meter maid. It's mostly because I've discovered a spot with no meter! Last year,' I was getting so many tickets, that the chief was thinking of giving me a season ticket. + + + Well if the baseball strike has wetted your appetite for some action, slip over to the park Friday night and catch the Colts in action, or if you want some entertainment, come and see our old- timers slo-pitch this Thursday night as we battle Porter' '1. + -r + And don't forget too, the roller skate- a-thon this Thursday night from 5:30 to 10:30, to raise funds flit the hosptial building fund. Reports of heavy army worm in- festations were limited to several hundred acres in isolated fields in the Exeter, Seaforthand Londesboro areas, and some spraying\was necessary. "But the army worm problem has pretty well solved itself," said Mr. Pullen, as the worms are subject to a parasite attack, and have also finished their growing cycle. The winter wheat harvest, which 'Mr. Pullen estimates should be in full swing in two weeks, should see above average yields, and potential exists for a bumper barley, and spring grain crop, if a poun- ding rain doesn't knock it over first. Huron's corn crop is ahead of normal, so far, but some fields are showing moisture stress and need a rain soon, Mr. Pullen sa id. ' Except for some spotty herbicide or root rot damage, the county's soy and white bean crops are also in excellent shape, but Mr. Pullen warns tote on the lookout for Mexican Bean Bettie in the white bean crop. The egg masses have already been laid and the small, yellow, fuzzy cater- - pillers can be found on the underside of the bean leaves. Count the larva, and consult with the ag department about spraying if they are found in sufficient numbers. The first cut hay crop, except for some early curing problems, was one of the heaviest ever recorded, Mr. Pullen said, with many farmers already taking off a second cut, although it too could use a good rain. Tuckersmith council learns building permits increase By Wilma Oke There. have been 38 building permits issued in Tuckersmith Township in the first six months of 1981 and seven demolition permits. The building permits were valued at $639,000. In 1980 there were 32 permits issued in the first six months totalling $426,000. Preliminary work on the township's J'C'a:V1 Rlny N1n 11 ■j'la an. G.Z;.; ig NI 11.11 wu+ua. Ann Smyth of Hamilton doing the background study for the past two months. Working under the direction of George Penfold of the Huron County Planning Department Miss Smyth is halfway through the study and presented a detailed report of her work to date. Mr. Penfold stated that a report on her completed study will be made at the end of August and will be presented in booklet form. Reeve Robert Bell presented Allan Nicholson, Road Superintendent, with a certificate for his successful completion of the Math and Metric course of the C.S. Anderson road school held at the University of Guelph in May. • Mr. Nicholson said that he found the course of great value to himself in his work as road superintendent and that the township would benefit. He has attended three courses at the Mahoney Road school at Guelph University when he became road superintendent and following them he has continued attending the C.S. Anderson school for experienced road superin- tendents and has completed his 12th course. He said the weeklong courses are subsidized by the Ministry of Tran- sportation and Communications each May and provide valuable information and training for road superintendents. The township council will have an ac- cumulation of pig manure removed from an allbandoned barnyard at the southern outskirts of Egmondville and a couple of loads of gravel spread in the yard to cut down on the fly problem. The wide-open^ barn will be closed up so that area youngsters will not be able to play in it. The work will be. done on the advice of the Huron County Health Unit and charged to the owner who has not acted on warnings to clean up. Reeve Robert Bell will attend an Ontario Hydro meeting to consider the South- western Evaluation of Alternative d1P11J11111JJl VII -.J yJI.C111J 1-4/4-701101,11,111 ' programs. The meeting will be held July 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Goderich. A cheque for $13,251.90 from the Ministry of Culture and Recreation will be received by council for the filter room and heating system at the Sea forth Lions pool which is located in Tuckersmith Township. . A cheque for $42,252.50 was also received by council from the same ministry for pool renovations at the Vanastra recreation centre. • Two part-time employees at the Vanastra recreation centre have been given full time jobs at the centre to replace Bob Marshall who, resigned. Cindy Con- nolly was hired at a salary of $11,500 and SandiFremlin at a salary of $10,500. Applications for two tile drainage loans were approved for $20,300. Passed for payment are the following accounts: Vanastra day care, $5,026.68; Vanastra special day care,' $3,393.72; Vanastra recreation -centre. $19,099.51; roads, $57,749.53; and general accounts, $26,049.47 fora total of $111,318.91. To clean up several unsightly and. neglected areas in Vanastra and Egmondville, council will hire a man to cut the long grass and weeds. The VanEgmond 'Foundation was granted permission to hold a parade on July 23 and Council gave a grant of $100 to the Goderich and District Association for the Mentally Retarded. Clerk -treasurer Jack McLachlan will attend a Municipal Finance conference in London September 23 -25. possibly for only one day. Once that hearing has been completed, Ontatiio Hydro will proceed with a route study which will again involve the public foranother period of about two years. Hydro officials indicated that the proposed schedule is to have one of six routes recommended by October 30 of this year and the environmental assessment hearings would probably start in January. A decision would be expected in the summer of 1982 and then the route study would commence and it would again be subject to environmental hearings. Abbott indicated he was pleased to hear that Exeter council had decided to name a committee to consider the matter and he hoped that others would follow suit. He urged groups and individuals to make their comments known, em- phasizing that it should be done in writing. Estimated costs of the various routes range from V70,000,00Q to $838,000,000. It was explained that the total right-of- way for a line from Bruce to London would consume about 30 acres per mile with the. actual towers consuming up to six acres per mile depending on the use of the land involved. The press conference visual presen- tation was delayed when the projector being used by Hydro officials blew a fuse at the local restaurant. Clinton will get Klompen Feest A decision has been made, and preparations are already underway to plan the second annual Clinton Klompen Feest celebration in 1982. • At a recent meeting of the Clinton Klompen Feest committee it was unanimously decided tocarry on with the Feest, and dates have been tentatively set for Friday,Nay 21 and Saturday, May 22. As in• this year's two-day event, the Dutch styled celebration will fall two weeks before the Clinton Spring Fair and Feest group members felt that this arrangement seemed to work out well in 1981 with both functions being well patronized. The various committees of - Klompen Feest have offered their experience for the second Feest and will organize the next one on a bigger and better scale. Many of the committee leaders have accepted this challenge and Bob Campbell has agreed to act as chairman for another year. Ralph Schurrman stays as vice chairman, Peter Damsma will continue to be treasurer and Else Degroot will remain as secretary. While the actual Feest date is still more than 10 months away, committee mem- bers are already making plans and preparations and it has been decided to e hold regular monthly meetings On the 2nd Tuesday of each month. The next meeting will be held o' esday, August 11 in the Clinton Town __e11, beginning at 8 pm. Committee members are hoping that all interested people will turn out and offer their services to make Klompen Feest 1982 a bigger and better celebration. Some of the entertainment groups have already been contacted, and the Klompen comnuttee as su-avmg tor as tine a program as was featured at their first Feest. Some variety will be added to the entertainment, but the traditional Dutch theme will remain, with tulips, windmills, Klompen, o'liebollen and pickled herring. Mr. Campbell reported that committee was very pleased with the spirit and en- thusiasm for the first Feest, and everyone seemed to enjoy the parade, the street dancing, the barbecue, and above all the spirit. "It is with pride, hope and enthusiasm that your committee accepts the challenge of attempting to better the first Feest and topledge to make Klompen Feest 1982 still better," Mr. Campbell stressed. "We will require more workers for the next Feest, so if you are contacted please say yes or better still, come out to the meetings and volunteer," Mr. Campbell noted. Youth killed in rural accident Danial J. Nash. 21. of RR5 Seaforth was killed early Saturday morning when the car lie was driving ran off the road and rolled into a ditch on Tuckersmith Township Concession 5 and 6. Provincial police at Goderich said a passenger, John Devereaux, 21'', of Williams Street East, Seaforth, escaped with minor injuries. Great pie! There's nothing like a good piece of cherry pie, but this eager eater got a little• more than he bargained fqr when he entered the Moonlight Madness Pie Eati,i:- Contest. Thosa'and' and thousands of calories were consumed in tin 1 ridas night Optimi,t ,pom<on'd , n test. i Shelley McPhee photo )