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Clinton News-Record, 1981-08-06, Page 1Also serving: a Bayfield, Londesboro, Auburn, Kippen, Vanastra, Brucefield, field, Holmesviile, Hensall 777 116th year—Na. 31 Thursday, August 6, 198 Revenues slashed 50 cents Postal strike hurting local business By Shelley McPhee The 37 -day Canada -wide postal strike is clearly beginning to show crippling effects on small area businesses. Along with record high interest rates nearing 24 per cent for some borrowers and the continually declining Canadian dollar, the postal strike is causing more financial difficulties for the small businessman. One of the hardest hit merchants and business owners in the Clinton area is Kelvin Jerivs. Owner of the mail order photo processing service, Clinton Foto Service, Mr. Jervis estimates that it will take several months to recoup his lost business. "It's cost me thousands of 'dollars," he said, noting that July and August are generally the best months in his business. Seventy-five per cent of Mr. Jervis' orders come through the mail, with the remainder sent in by customers through his store outlets. Mr. Jervis noted that he also has customers across Canada and throughout the United States and he stressed, "We're losing all that business. It's atremendous loss." July and August are also Mr. Jervis' inain advertising months and he explained his situation as, "It's like a farmer not being abletoplant his crop." The postal strike and decreased business has also forced Mr. Jervis to cut-back the hours and lay-off some of the six em - t There was a fine breeze blowing on Friday afternoon to help those kites sail through the air. Clinton's Rest and Relaxation program instructed a group of local children on kite construction and the skills of kite flying on the breezy afternoon. (Shelley McPhee photo ) first column by jim fitzgerald Here we are into our sixth week of the postal strike, and at the time of writing, things don't look very good at the bargaining table. The inside workers apparently still want that maternity leave benefit that would see women get full pay for 17 'weeks while they're off having a baby. Why the male side of the CUPW negotiators are so insistent that the pregnancy benefit be in the new contract has left everyone puzzled until last week when a scientific report was released to show that it is now possible for a man to have a baby. Laugh if you choose, but according to reseachers the feat is indeed very possible, and they have already suc- ceeded in using male mice. According to newspaper reports, a fertilized ovum is transplanted into a male abdomen where it develops normally until full term when it is removed by Ceasarian section. But, finding a male crazy enough to go through all that morning sickness, people staring, and labor, would be like asking parliament to sit through the summer - next to im- possible. Maybe the pasties know something we don't! Just imagine what pregnant males would do for the fashion industry. Why fortunes could be made overnight for those first on the bandwagon with a new line a male maternity clothes mention only one possibility. > + + + Not only is this postal strike creating a great deal of hardship for everyone, especially the small business poeple who depend on the mails to bring in their money, but the lack of good reading material because the magazines are cut off is getting the general populace bored. With nothing but summer re -runs on TV, and the fall season delayed because of the TV writer's strike in the U.S. and the technician's strike at the CBC, things could get pretty desperate by the time fall arrives. I'm one of those strange people who must, read while on the throne, so I really miss all those Times, National Geographies, Mcl.eans etc., when nature calls. As it is, I've been reduced to reading the "1981 Ontario Vegetable Recommendations" and after the third time through, I've overdosed on tomato. fruit worm control, and seed spacing for field sown asparagus. Why it's'so bad at our house now, that there's a fight every Monday to see who's first to read the IGA flyer. + + + Well, at least the baseball strike's finally over, so not all's lost this summer. But who ever ends up winning the World Series will never be sure they did honestly, what with 30 per cent of the season lost. + + + We've turned the corner on summer now that August has arrived and we're into what is called the dog days of summer, when nothing much is hap- pening and the kids suddenly realize that the day of execution is just around the .corner - school goes back in about four weeks! + + + Things are quiet for everyone but the Klompen Feest committee,who are starting to organize next year's festivities and must get plan's underway starting next Tuesday, August 11 at 8 pm at the town hall. ployees at his Clinton. "I had to lay-off one summer student, and he was depending on the money to go back to school in the fall," Mr. Jervis noted. In other instances, the postal strike has meant more parttime work for summer students. Many have been hired to hand deliver bills and at the Clinton News - Record, a high school student has been brought in to help hand out the newspapers each week. For the past five weeks, more than 3,000 newspapers have been filling the News - Record office each week. Those serviced by the Clinton post office have been required to pick-up their papers at the News -Record office, . while drivers are delivering the newspapers, and any other mail they may have, to rural route customers twice a week on Tu esdays and Thursdays. As well, more than 50 sealed postal bags containing papers for subscribers in other parts of Canada and the United States are piling up at the News -Record office,, waiting to be delivered. But many out-of- town papers are..available at the News - Record office. According to office manager Peggy Gibb, Clinton area sub- ' scribers to The Brussels Post, The Blyth Standard, The Lucknow Sentinel, The Huron Expositor, The Mitchell Advocate and The Village Squire can also pick up their papers at the News -Record office at 53 Albert Street. The News -Record, like other small businesses -is also suffering from cash flow problems. Bills cannot be sent out and receipts are not being paid up and Mrs. Gibb reported, "It's reduced our cash flow by over 50 percent." Gerry Cox from The Rad Shop noted that his large monthly customers are keeping up on payments but added, "It's the $10 to $15 ones that I'm having trouble with." For others, escaping payments is not scr easy. Monthly interest rates are still being charged by most credit card companies and payments are being accepted at all bank bra nches. "Credit limits will probably be pushed." according to Iner Smith, manager at the Clinton branch of the Royal Bank, "This strike will definitely hurt." Reg Willson, manager at the Bank of Montreal said that most people 'are keeping up with their payments, and he also noted that monthly bapk statements are available at various bank branches. As well, tax -bills are out in Clinton, and more than 200 Clinton property owners have not picked up their bills from the, town hall. Available since July 13th, town Clerk Cam Proctor noted that in spite of the postal strike, the bills are still due and stressed, "The onus is on the property owner." Courier services continue to do a steady business in the area, and the ministry of agriculture office in Clinton is accepting any mail addressed to provincial gover- nment offices. Any mail addressed to the federal Agricultural Stabilization Board and the Holstein Canada head office is also being sent by courier on a regular basis. local mail to small hamlets not affected by the strike can still be sent out. Seaforth, Mitchell, Bayfield, Brucefield, Blyth, Varna, Londesboro, Auburn, Hensall, Kippen and Zurich are still being serviced. Distribution is available out of the Seaforth Post Office. Board,teacher talks stalled Contract talks between the Huron Board of 1 education and its secondary school teachers were week temporarily abandoned after a two-day session last Ff . Mediator, Professor Jeffrey Gandz, said the two sides met, for " a couple days with nothing scheduled for the future." The two sides met briefly a few weeks ago, and, Gandzsaid the sides were actively involved in mediation during the most recent session: Gandz was appointed mediator at the request of both the Huron Caunty Board of Education and the teachers. He is a merrier of the faculty of the School of Business. Admuhi;tration' at the University .of Western Ontario and was appointedby the Education Relations Commission to mediate the last contract between the Huron board and secondary school teachers. While no further talks are scheduled between the groups, Professor Gandz was confident that a set- tlement can be reached in the 1981-82 contract. "We were actively involved in mediation and we expect to resume the process in the near future," he said. "I'm hopeful an agreement can be reached before the school year begins. Although I am hopeful that is not to say there,wtll, be one (a settlement)." Professor Gandz explained that the latest two-day session in London was the first time the sides were involved in intensive negotiations. The Huron County Board of Education has already ,reached agreement with. ,the elementary school teachers for the 1981-82 contract year. While an agreement was reached, the details of the new contract will not be released until September. The Bill Schoonderwoerd family, just south of Clinton, are keeping themselves busy this days, picking cucumbers under contract with Birks. The family, one a few in the area with contracts, has already picked five tons of the cuc from their 21, acre plot and take them to Dublin for grading. The whole family gets in the act of picking and bagging them. (James Fitzgerald photo ) Separate board raises mileage allowance The school: attendance officer for the Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic School Board, William Innes of Stratford, was given a raise of 50 cents per hour , bringing his wage to $7.00 per hour by the board at its . regular meeting Monday. It was reported he works about 250 hours in a school year, mainly at meetings between students and parents in the evening. Mr. Innes does assessment work as well. His mileage allowance was raised from 25 cents to 28 cents per mile beginning September 1. The board office custodian was given an increase in eight per cent over last year and Professional Building Maintenance of Stratford• was given a five per cent in- crease for cleaning five rooms at St. Michael's School, Stratford, which brings pay to •$370 f rom$353. -. K.L. McCarthy was hired as a driver for two separate school board students from Man slams into tree Peter Malcolm, 65, of Seaforth was rushed to Seaforth Hospital and tran- sferred to Stratford General Hospital on Friday afternoon after suffering from major in juries in a single -car crash. The Goderich OPP reported that Mr. Malcolm was injured when the car he was driving on Highway 8, just east of Clinton, veered into the ditch, struck a tree and slammed into a second tree. Damage to the car was set at $4,000. Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake and summer worker Bonnie Westlake were the' first. to al rive on the scene and ad- ministered first aid to Mr. Malcolm while the ambulance and the OPP were on their way tothe accident. Chief Westlake later stressed that the 'accident clearly showed what can haPPen when motor vehicle operators don't use their seat belts. He further noted that seat belt enforcement has started in Clinton and charges will be laid by the Clinton Police Force. In other polide news Chief Westlake is warning all bicycle riders that they are not allowed to ride on the sidewalks: but on the road. The police station has been receiving complaints and Chief Westlake said that $5 fines would be given to any child or adult found riding their bikes on town sidewalks. Chief Westlake noted that this is dangerous for pedestrians and stressed. :If parents feel their children are -too young to ride on the sidewalks. then they shouldn't be riding bikes at all." St. Patrick's school in Dublin to Stratford at .the rate of $51.74 per day. The students attend special education classes. Transportation of special education pupils from Goderich to Clinton will be • continued with the Goderieh Coach Lines at a cost of $41.50 per day. The daily rate Paid to the eight "drivers of btgird-owned buses- willebe increatyed ba $22.70 for 185 days for the school years, 1981-82. The school bus rate schedule for contracted buses was increased $1.00 across the board, ranging from a fixed pay of $21.50 for a six to 10 passenger station wagon to $65.00 for a 72 -passenger bus. Weather 1981 Hi LO JULY 28 17 12 29 21 11 , 30 24 7 31 , 27 8 AUGUST 1 23 11 2 27 15 3 26 16 Rain 50 mm 1980 HI LO 21 17.5 26 1f➢.5 24 11 25 13 28 17 25 14 24 , 13.5 Rain 19.6 mm Vanastra Curling Club nears completion The steel finally arrived for the roof last week, and workmen can finish building the new Vanastra Curling Club. Actually, only the shell of the $118,355 building is new, the rink and clubhouse were retained and will go under thr new steel 180 by 60 foot Odyssey building; WorK began in June when workers from Wayne and Howard Smith Construction Limited of Egmondville removed the old 'the steel for the roof finally arrived for the new Vanastra Curling Club late last week, and workmen from Srnith and Smith of Egmondville were busy installing it when the photographer dropped by on Tuesday. left to right are Doug Smfth. .Tim Beddow. and Randy Sherban. ( James Fitzgerald pjroto) steel building which had been condemned as being unsafe by the Ontario ministry of labor last year. The club used the building last winter. as long as it was monitored for wind and snow load were monitored. The old footing \were in good shape, and the new steel colans were bolted to them, sa ving considerable in construction costs. About $93300 of the total cost will be covered by a Wintario grant and a Com- munity Centres Act grant from the ministry of culture and recreation. The new building is also insulated to cut downon heating costs in the winter, and to keep it cool in the warm spring. Unfortunately. the steel for the roof arrived after last week's heavy rains, and there is some damage to the interior of the clubhouse and compressor room. Pair sentenced for robbery plan Alun Dyer. 24. and Gerald Michael Smith. 20. both of Kincardine. were sen- tenced to 12 months in reformatory last week in Goderich court for conspiring to rob the Canadian Imperial Bank of 'Commerce branch in Auburn las Sep- tember. A third man. Roch Fernand Courchesne. 21. of Elliott lake was sentenced to eight months on the same charge. The bank a as not robbed but witnesses told police two masked men. one carrying a shotgun, were seen nearby The trio pleaded guilty tothe conspiracy charge last month. Dyer and Smith also were sentenced to three months for break and enter and one month for wilful damage in a separate incident.