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Clinton News-Record, 1981-08-26, Page 4PAGE 4 —.THE CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1981 A The Clinton hiavrs-Record Is published each Thursday et P.O. Bon 39, Clinton. Ontario. Cando. IEYN11L9. fel.: 419.34i3. Subscription Rata: Caned. - •10.5® Sr. Chicon . '19.40 per year U.S.A.: foreign •'99.4* per yroar *PCt4A MEMBER JAMES E. FITZGERALD - Editor SHELLEY MCIDHEE - N•ws, Editor GARY HAIST - AdvartlsITlg Manager HEATHER BRANDER - Advartlsing MARGARET L. GIRO - Office Manager MARY ANN GLIDDON-Substrlptlons °silo It Is registered es second shies -wall by the post office under the permit enosaliat Si1T. The bleras.Record Incorporated In 19914 eha Phonon Alevas-Record. founded handl. and The Clinton flews Era. founded In 1945. Total pews nun 3.308. i a MEMBER Display " advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rata Cori No. 11 effective Oct. 1. 994E. Open meetings welcomed The public and newspapers alike will welcome a proposed move by the provin-. cial government to end secret meetings of municipal councils,. by introducing Legislation outlawing them. Claude Bennett, minister of municipal affairs and housing, told the annual con- vention of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario on Monday that the new • rule must be openness, that council members will have to search their con- sciences, to ensure that public information is made more available to citizens. Bennett's staff found in a recent survey that 168 nnunicpalities regularly go behind closed doors, and 266 councils declare their meetings will be taken into a closed committee -of -the -whole council. He's right to declare that neither he nor the publiuc will no longer :tolerate concil's practice of conducting entire meetings in secret session and then -approving the issues publicly with no discussion or ex- planation,. And the big problem is in the smaller municipalites, not the cities, accordi'hg, to Bennett, a decree with which we heartily agree. Only litigation, property acqusi- tion'.ond collective bargoining could be discussed behind closed doors, and then those exceptions would be few and far' between, stressed Mr. Bennett. By J. F. Avoiding the blame Canada's 10 provincialpremiers met in Victoria last week, and as expected, hammered the federal government for failing to provide economic leadership. Even Ontario Premier William Davis, who has sided with Pierre Trudeau in the matter of the nation's bitter constitutional debate, concurred that the Trudeau government's energy policy has created. uncertainty and anxiety in the interna- tional business community, says the Exeter Times -Advocate. In many, aspects; the premiers' complaints are a .case .ot buck -passing. They each have considerable input into the economic well-being of this country, and in fact, would like to be solely in charge. It may be convenient to use Trudeau as a whipping boy, but the fact remains that provincial governments are far froth .blameless in the economic plight -of the respective provinces and therefore the nation as a whole. • To charge Trudeau solely for the lack of an energy pricing agreement and the resulting problems, is to .totally ignore the fact that there are two sides to most questions and the Alberta government appears equally to blame for the failure in reaching an agreement that would reduce oil imports and return 'stability to the national energy picture. Some compromise appears war'r'afited'by the fedleral and Alberto governments to resolve that matter and there also is' a similar need for the TO provincial premiers to accept some of the responsibility for righting the national economic problems, many of which are created by over -spending at all levels of govern- ment. In many areas, the premiers have control of their province's destiny, and to heap the blame entirely on Ottawa is a shallow attempt to avoid the blame they must share. Nature's beauty remembering our past 5 YEARS AGO September 2, 1976 A' noon hour fire 'on Monday has left a Goderich Township family homeless and dest royed mos of their possessions. Welk Holthuysen., his wife Marie, their two sons John, 12 and I la rr y; 9 and brother Arnold escaped from their rented farm house on Lot :15, ('oneession 10, with just clothes on their backs. Despite the unpredictable and undesirable weather this summer, 29 area gardeners brought out :t20 exhibits this year and 24 junior green thumbers showed 102 entries at the Clinton Horticultural Society's annual flower show on August 27th. •IOYEARS AGO September 2,1971 Iluron County Schools will be open next Tuesday following a summer of uncertainty. A dispute between the Huron County Board et' Education and secondary school teachers ended last Wednesday night when teachers ratified a new,two-year contract worked out a lengthy Ineeting between the Ontario condary School Teachers Federation and by Shelley McPhee a look through the news -record files the board's negotiating committee earlier. Members of Clinton Lions Club are in the midst of preparations to celebrate the Club's :15th charter anniversary. The event, will take the form of a dinner and President's Ball, featuring ladies' night' in the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in . Clinton on Saturday, Sep- tember25th. ' Auctioneer Bruce Rathwell sold the last of the one room school houses in this part of the country on Saturday when McKillop Town- ship No. 10 at Winthrop was sold to Mr. Ken Beattie of RR 4, Walton. The school was the last of seven McKillop Township schools to be sold during the two- day sale on August 21 and 28. This last school went for only $725 to Mr. Beattie, who already owns land on which it sits,. • 25 YEARS AGO September 11, 1956 Advance ticket sales for •the Theatre Party at Brownie's Drive In Theatre next Wed- nesday night are already on sale in most of the business places in Clinton. Admission •price is lowered to 50 cents per adult, with children under 12 in cars free. The show is Looking back Well, it's a great feeling to get another school year behind and look forward to the silly summer season, when half the population of Canada and a horde of Americans are trying to drive you off the roads, drive you off the beaches, and make you line up at all the decent eating places., Not to mention the sheer delight of not having that blasted alarm clock pierce the egg -shell of your dreams at 7:15 every a.m. It's like being released from a perpetual roller -coaster. It was a good year and a bad year in the teaching "game", just like all the others. Looking ahead to it, it always seems like a long, hard grind. Looking back on it, it went by as though someone with a fast, moistened forefinger had been flipping the days on the calendar at a ferocious rate. One colleague died, a popular fellow in his fifties,. Another, an old newspaperman like myself, had to give up when his heart began acting up. I taught one of the rudest, noisiest, most undisciplined classes I've ever en- countered. These were kids in Grade 10, at the advanced level. It would have been more fun being a swineherder than trying to teach those turkeys. Individually, they were nice enough kids, most of them bright. Together, they were a mob. Those were some of the bad things. But they were balanced, as usual. Everybody pitched in when one of our English depart- ment had to quit, and with a good deal of juggling, and some hard work by his replacement, a "broad with the best legs in the school", as a student once described her, we coped, arid nobody suffered. As a bonus, in the juggling, she inherited my monstrous class, and aged about three years in six month. My bonus, not hers. Another bonus for,, me was getting the best Grade 13 class I've ever had, which produced some of the best writing I've ever read from students. Shining star of the lot was Moira, who wrote like an angel, had a mind of her own, and emerged from Ms. Shelley A. McPhee, Mrs. Shelley Haist, Shelley McPhee-Haist, Mrs. Gary L. Haist, Shelley Haist- McPhee It's identity crisis time, who am I, and who am I going to be? For the past few weeks I've been trying out these new names, saying them to myself and writing them out on scraps of paper, hoping that one will really suit my fancy. But somehow I keep going back to good old Shelley McPhee. After all that's me, it's the name I've gone by for over a quarter of a century. Ms. Shelley A. McPhee sounds too absolute. It reminds me of tailored suit, executive type woman who knocks the blocks off the poor men as she climbs that ladder of success. Naw, that's not me. Mrs. Shelley Haist sounds like middle-aged mother, who drives a zippy little Toyota to the grocery store, the Girl Guide meetings, the school, the swimming pool, the dry cleaners and over to her neighbor's for a cup of coffee. Naw, that's not me - yet. Mrs. Gary L. Haist is entirely out of the question, at this stage in my life. 1 understand that women often choose this title in respect and complete loyalty to their husbands, but heck I want people to know me for me, not just formyother half . Shelley McPhee,Haist is too Farrah Fawcett-Majorlsh, and Shelley Haist- McPhee is no better. Some names sound just great when they're hyphenated. When I went to the big city to college I didn't even know what a hypenated name was until I met Annette Snowden -Beaton. Now she had an impressive title and those two very English names definitely had a classy ring. But the Scottish `McPhee' and the German based 'Haist' just don't har- monize so well. They simply sound like tvio names stuck together with hyphen. Then ,there's Shelley McPhee. There's familiarity and security in that name. As a journalist that's my very own byline. Historically McPhee is a good old Scottish name, and in the old country the feisty McPhees were said to be the first family to celebrate New Year's Eve in grand neighborly fashion. That's the reason, I explain to Mum, why I have to be such a social person and can't turn down a party that comes my way. As well this branch of the McPhee family is slowly coming to an end, -unless Dad agrees to try for a male heir to carry on the name. There's a distinct possibility that such an event will not take place in the McPhee household, and so 1 am the last remaining McPhee who could carry on the branch in this family tree. But no bouncy, baby illegitmate boys are not going to be born, sothat ends that. Remaining a Shelley McPhee poses all sorts of problems. People will think I'm too radical, people will think I'm living in sin. Not remaining a Shelley McPhee is just as hard and I have counted up over a dozen agencies, companies, organizations, clubs and government bureaus that must be notified of a name change. And to think, I just ordered new bank cheques as a Miss Shelley McPhee. We have considered changing Gary's name but people say that's ridiculous and probably against the law. Now that seems highly unfair to me. The editor says that as a liberal minded journalist, I should maintain the byline I've used for the past eight years. Gary says he likes the hyphenated style, but I can't imagine writing our names down on a form - Mr. Gary Haist and Mrs. Shelley McPhee- Haist - it will take at least five lines! The family members like tradition and Shelley Haist sounds just fine to them. I'm still stumped. It would be just great if I could try each name out for a three month period and then after one year of marriage make a permanent choice. Unfortunately that's not the way the world goes round and I'm going to have to make a -major adult decision here. But I sure could use some help. How about if everyone casts a ballot, sends it to this betwixt -and -between soul and well have a vote. "Ganga Din." • All proceeds from this night will be turned over to the Swimming Pool Fund Committee for use in construction of the new swimming pool. - Veteran sheep showman Ephriam Snell, Clinton, last Thursday took all the top prizes in the sheep championships at the Canadian National Exhibition. He won 12 firsts and four secdnds'with his champion Leicester sheen 50 YEARS AGO August 27, 19:11 • Fire of unknown origin destroyed the barn belonging to the Clinton. Inn, occupied and managed bylr. A.S. Inkley, and alsoa small. barn on the •M,cllveen property adjoining, early Friday morning. The fire which seemed to start in the mow of the inn barn had got to such a start when, first noticed' that the building could not be saved Those "-wishing to pay accounts to the Clinton Public Hospital are reminded that they may do the same by handing to R.E. Manning, treasurer. The board is at present in need of cash for current .expenses and prompt attention to above will be ap- preciated. 0 a shell. Before school ended, she'd had of- fers of scholarships from three univer- sities. I don't remember any of -•them scrambling for me, when I emerged from high school after seven years of loafing. On the red ink side of the ledger, I was forced to fail several of the sweetest young ladies one could imagine. But on the black ink side, they're all so good-looking they won't have any trouble getting on in the world. My two Grade 11, general level classes were a typical mixture: lazy bums, a cou- ple of surly louts, but on the whole some of the nicest kids you'd want to stand in front of (but never with your back to them) . And then there was Carey. About five years ago, he'd been our morning paper boy, and he was always there at seven a.m., paper between the doors, not hurled into a snowbank. He was so nice -looking and well-mannered that my wife said she'd like to adopt him. This year, he turned up in one of my Grade 10 classes, after living in the States for a spell. He was just as handsome, just as pleasant, and just as responsible as when he'd been delivering papers. He'd been stuffed by whim of the com- puter into my "bad" Grade 10 class, and I could see him wincing under their animal approach to the learning process. When .0.1561115.551. they were transferred to we lucky lady replacement, he asked to be, and was, transferred back to my class for the last term. He was much happier, because my "good" Grade 10 was generally composed of less childish, more interested, and bet- ter mannered kids than the others. Carey didn't try to apple -polish the teacher, but he wanted to get things right, and when he made an error, wanted to know how to correct it. Each day he'd leave with a cheery farewell or enter with a pleasant "good -morning". He's not brilliant, like Moira, but he's smart, and he's determined to learn as much as he can about everything, and he works at doing it. He finished with honours, but wasn't a book -worm, a "swot", or a "brown". Outside the classroom, he was on the school wrestling team, and worked in his time off at a fast- food joint. Well, after exarns were over, and he couldn't be accused of currying favor, Carey asked me, his history teacher, and his former Grade 8 teacher out to lunch. We demurred and stalled, not wanting the kid to blow all his savings. But he kept calling and lining up a big pizza lunch, even asking each of us what we liked on our pizza. He was going to order. oannuessesiessorrarm odds °n' ends A busy summer The other day someone asked if I was taking holidays this summer, and I told them I wasn't. They asked what was happening. I replied, "Nothing!" When I had time to think about my an- swer, I realized 1 was wrdlg. I've been busy all summer enjoying the many pleasures that Southwestern Ontario has to offer. Every town seems to have a picturesque park. Some parks overlook beaches, while others straddle riverbanks. Some are relaxing havens, just pleasant squares in the middle of bustling downtown areas. Others are patches. of green nestled under leafy trees. Taking lunch breaks in parks in several different towns this summer has given me chances to mix business with pleasure. Some friends and i spent an afternoon Dear Editor: Energy Ministers Lalonde and Leitch are still talking - while by the last count, more than 300,000 Ontarians remain unemployed. Many of these - in Windsor, Kitchener, Cambridge, Hamilton, Oakville, Oshawa, Toronto, Sudbury, Peterborough and in other communities including yours - could be working full time. Ontario could become the economic foundation of Canada once again - if its in- dustries were put to work helping develop Canadian petroleum energy resources: For -Canada Economic Development, Inc., a small Ontario . based not-for-profit association of concerned citizens, is work- ing to help make Ontarians and all Cana- dians aware of the opportunity - more than 20,000 jobs and billions of dollars in new manufacturing orders for Ontario alone. And new jobs, new purchases generate more tax dollars for governments too - helping reduce the tax load on all tax- payers. So everyone can benefit. Ottawa and Alberta still haven't reached agreement yet. This delay is costing On- tario residents money - money used to buy insecure foreign oil. at high world prices - and money that is being lost by not building the equipment to develop Canada's own oil resources. There are businesses right in your com- munity; there are people living nearby, who could be working to make our resource potential a reality - for Canada - if the governments could get together and agree. Perhaps it's time for Ontario to play its historic role once again - to help bring the country together - to help resolve the disagreement for Canada's benefit - for Ontario's benefit, and to the benefit of your community. Something to do more than think about, isn't it? Yours truly, James L. Blue, President, For Canada's Economic Development, Toronto. 75 YEARS AGO August ;11, 1906 On Monday in Auburn Jas: Young' horse, .known as "Billy" took it into its head to have a heat all by itself. It was drawing a load of heading from the mill to the copper shop when the driver stopped and went behind to fix the load. Seeing such a good opportunity, Billy started up the hill from. Mr. Lawler's, • leaving the heading scattered along the road, and galloped around the village. The people of Holmesville will be sorry. to learn that the government has decided to close up the Experimental Poultry Station here, in accord with its determination to close all such in different parts of the Dominion. Started in various parts for the purpose of demonstrating to the farmers the possibilities of poultry raising. •se experimental stations have more t,, ne what was ex- pected of them, and fai goers will be left to profit by the object lessons they have had. 100 YEARS AGO September2, IRrit A blind preacher addressed a large crowd of persons on Combe's Corner on Tuesday evening last. The circus on Wednesday last ivas well patronized both morning and evening. The street procession in the forenoon was an attractive one, and no doubt. aided in in- creasing the crowds in tents. The menagerie is very little different from the general run of shows, while in the circus, the tumbling and feats performed by the horses were the principal objects of attraction. On Wednesday evening last some parties broke the window of Mr J.T. Cooper's grocery store and took therefrom a quantity of confectionary and candy. Suspicion seems to rest on some of the hungry army following the circus. who were seen prowling around in the evening.. • Workmen are busily engaged in,completing the Coats' block. This block, when finished, promises to be one of the best in western Ontario, and will be a credit to our town. Some of our merchants are beginning to be alive to the advantage of importing their goods direct from Great Britain. Mr. John Hodgins announces several cases and bales direct from Glasgow, Scotland and he is making an immense display . in his line of goods Finally ire made a Lunch date. I arrived first, discovered the pizza place didn't open until 4:30. Carey came hustling up, and was stricken. He suggested Chinese food, a steak house, everything. We finally talked him into a little Ger- man place nearby, where we sailed into the sausage and stuff, had -a very en- joyable talk with our 16 -year-old host, who kept urging expensive pastries on us, and went back to work, shaking our heads and wishing there were more like him around. with a visitor from England. She shared her thoughts on Canada, her experiences in writing a book and her reasons for missing Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding. At times, it was hard to tell we were all speaking English. This summer I decided I was not going to let the weeks slip away without enjoying the theatre. With such a variety to choose from in the area, it seems wasteful to miss any of it. I spent two days alone in Toronto without getting lost. Miracles do happen! Everything has not gone exactly as I planned. I went to my sister's for s visit, and I was intent on hitting all my favourite spots - the pizza place, the lasagna lounge, the bargain basements. My sister and I usually shop for coffee and danish; that is, we window shop, buy nothing but stop at a restaurant on the way home for coffee and a Danish: I also intended to do research on a story I was writing - a survey of ice cream parlours. (Editors seem to know where to send me. A few months ago they assigned me to a candy shop. I wonder if they'd like a feature on the perfect pizza.) I arrived in London on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, I could barely lift my head off the pillow. The thought of food sent my stomach reeling. My plans flu away, One of my hosts wanted to send me home by air mail so i wouldn't spread germs. That was just before the postal strike. The rest of the summer has been uneventful. I've discovered i don't have to leave Southwestern Ontario to have a good time or to relax. ' I've been working hard, too. For some reason, though, 1 don't think my neigh- bours or my landlord understand that, when I'm lying on the lawn chair in the backyard, I'm actually doing the hardest part of my job - thinking. And sometimes it takes a whole afternoon !