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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1981-10-07, Page 3The ministry of transportation and communications drivers' examination centre moved this week from the Credit Union to large spacious quarters at the former Huron Laundry building on Beech Street. Owned by Red Garon of Clinton, who pumped $33,000 worth of renovatluons into the building, the space is nearly double that of the ministry's former Ontario Street location. Here examiner Murray Holmes tests the eyes of Russell Bolton. (James Fitzgerald photo) Illiterates in Huron can now get help There are an estimated 1,000 functional illiterates in Huron County and 4 -million in Canada. These figures do not include new Canadians or the mentally han- dicapped. A functional illiterate can't read or write, which means the deck is stacked against him or her in a world where one is constantly bombarded. with written information. Some can't even read the label on a soup can, or sign a cheque. Most are ashamed and sin.k into isolation. But help is available which doesn't cost much. An Adult Basic Education (ABE) program began in Huron County at Goderich four years ago. Classes resumed for 15 individuals (ages 24 through 70) again this week. They are held at Knox Presbyterian Church, Seaforth, Monday nights from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Students .now come from Lucknow, Wingham, Clinton, Kincardine and Goderich. But the program is flexible. If students can't make it Monday nights, or out of town, something else might be arranged. The person who does the Oil drillers now probing Perth loam LISTOWEL - Who knows, someday the Gowanstown oil geld' may rival those in Alberta as a drilling crew hired by Pem-Perth Petroleum began .drilling last week for oil near the hamlet in Perth County. stuck in the middle A spokesman for the comapany said they picked the spot on property owned by Ralph Schuster because the company wanted to try some wells in this area and the land was a good high area arranging, the moving force behind ABE in Huron, is Sheila Fink of Goderich. She says classes are held on ,a one-to-one basis in con- fidence between tutors and students, who can progress at their own rate of speed without worrying about tests or feeling ashamed about anything. Phonetics and pictures ( called the Laubach method) are used to teach printing, writing, spelling, basic grammar and reading from a grade 1 to a grade 8 level. The tutorsdo it for free, most teaching materials are provided by the Huron County Library System, so there is only a small fee (for books) for students. And you can't put a price tag on the self-respect it could bring. If you know of someone in the Seaforth area who would benefit from ABE (it is not for new Canadians or the mentally handicapped) you could contact Mrs. Fink (at 524-2934 after 6 p.m. or at 232 Bennett St., E., Goderich, N7A 1A5. ) All enquiries are byshelley mcphee THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 - So much for that last week's attempt to be witty, profound, thoughtful and intelligent in my last columns before I walked down the aisle. I didn't want to write that column. My mind was on white dresses and wedding vows, not sentence structure and proper punctuation. So, I blew it. Just when the coast looked clear, the w rds were, flowing nicely, I was maki..g a small worthwhile point - the kept confidential. The program could also use tutors from the Seaforth area. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 ,1981—PAGE 3 Horticultural society hear...... • from page 1• (of the western world) have a lot to offer Bevel ►ping countries," she explained, 15 per cent of the land in Kenya is arable. The main food staple is maize (corn), and the lack of a balanced diet causes many medical problems. The main industry now being developed in the tiny nation is tourism. During their first stay in Kenya, the Hillman family visited Uganda, which Dr. Hillman remembered it as a beautiful country a almost as green as Ireland. The temperature remained at 70 degrees all the time; the people were friendly and always smiling. Shortly after their visit Amin took over, ravaging the land and chasing out people who were more educated than he. Uganda was left with shells of buildings for universities and many students without teachers. Recently, Dr. Hillman, her husband and two Canadian professors spent two months teaching at Makerere University in Ugan- da. The four Canadians lived in a three- bedroom flat that had none of the conve---- niences of home, such as a stove and runn- ing water. Dr. Don Hillman was able to fix the plumbing, and although it was not always reliable the Canadians had the only shower on campus. Water was brought to the University in jugs every second day; one jug of water cost $10. The University provided the professors with two meals a day and the students with one. Every meal was the same - rice top- ped with squashed peanuts and mixed with water and half.a banana for dessert. Dr. Hillman recalled visiting a market that sometimes had bread and oranges for sale. Her husband paid $15 for a bag of cookies only to discover the package was full of bugs. I....I. The Canadian High Commissioner in Kenya gave a party for the Canadians in Uganda. Besides the two doctors and two professors at the University, the only Canadian in Uganda was a French priest who had been teaching at a boys' school. The five Canadians dined on biscuits and Coke - a real treat after their diet of rice and peanuts - and were able to take lef- tovers back to the University for the students. The hospital in which the Hillmans work- ed was a 1,000 -bed British hospital. It had been a modern facility, but without water, just keeping the hospital clean was a chore. On campus, reminders of the unrest in the nation were the 7:30 p.m. curfew and the sound of distant gunfire. The Hillmans brought home a tape in which birds' songs and gunshots are intermingled - the beauty and tragedy of Uganda. The Hillmans are eager to help in the rebuilding of the country, and will return to Makerere University for one month in February 1982, while in 1983 they will take a one-year sabbatical from Memorial Hospital in Newfoundland to devote full time to their work in Uganda. Dr. Hillman closed her remarks to the Clinton Horticultural Society and guests by showing slides of flowers in her new home - Newfoundland - and her temporary home - Kenya. She contended that, contrary to popular belief, Newfoundland is not a cold island but instead is filled with beauty, warmth and friendliness. "Even the fog is friendly at times," she laughed. . In Kenya, tall hedges around the Hillman house flowered all year round, and a poinsettia tree grew as high as the buildings. The flowerbeds were tended by a native gardener. "He spoke no ngbah," Dr. Hillman explained, "but we both understood the language of flowers." She attributed her appreciation of flowers to the nurturing of her parents when she was a child. Wildflowers of Nor- thern orthern Ontario were the first that she col- lected, pressed and saved. Her father helped her choose poetry appropriate for the blooms. She stressed the importance of parents teaching children to appreciate the beauty of flowers. "We find beauty wherever we go," she concluded. "In Clinton, • Newf Kenya - we find beauty in flowe beauty in people." - Miss Dorothy Margra- thanked Dr. Hillman for coming to the meeting and sharing her interesting experiences with the Society. She commented that she is a lady of many talents, missionary, nurse, doctor and horticulturist. Dr. Hillman was presented with a lovely corsage and gift and Fiona Bennett, a junior gardener, gave her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Tulip bulbs were distributed as a premium to all members of the Society. After lunch, many door prizes were drawn, including a number of plants donated by Marion McCann. Then the district director, Maisie Bray from Lion's Head spoke briefly, bringing greetings from the Association and District 8 and expressing her thanks and appreciation for the invitation. She con- gratulated the Clinton Society for having such an excellent meeting. At the close of the meeting the Program Director, Florence Pullen, announced that the annual banquet would be held on Wednesday, November 25, at 6 p.m. entire thing crumpled in the last sen- tence. It completely fell apart. What can I say, I screwed up despite my careful writing, reading, rereading and rereading again. It seems that you can never really know what lies ahead, even after careful preparation and planning. A wrench can easily get thrown in and muck everything up. I can only pray that this rather pessimistic philosphy of life won't become a reality on October the 3rd! You're invited to a HANGING! How -To -Hang Wallcoverings Clinic FRE[! TUESDAY, OCT. 20 th WHEN: WHERE: WHO: WHAT: WHY: Starting at 7:00 p.m. Norholme Decorating Centre Just across from Post Office - 54 King St. Gary Moir of Sunworthy Wallcoverings will conduct the clinic Tips and techniques for you Tools and materials you'll need Free 20 -page "How -To -Hang" booklet Refreshments Because if you learn to hang from us, you'll always hang with us! SIGN UP NOW! 110 /ALLCOVER1NG CLINIC SIZE IS LIMITED - AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT - COME IN, 011 PHONE NOW, TO REGISTER Armstrong floor fashioner NO H DECORAT- ISG 54 King. Street, Clinton (Jo opposite the pare Ototey ME CENTRE 482-3528 WEWANTYOUR HELI' During the eighties, Ontario is going to need more electrical transmission lines, to get the electricity Ontario Hydro makes to the places where the power is used. We would like your help and suggestions now, in an early study of alternative plans for future transmission lines in southwestern Ontario. The transmission study will look at the alternatives from many points of view, including cost, wise use of land, and effects on the environment. The study is an early stage of a process which will take about three years. It will lead first to a recommendation to government on the best transmission option. Eventually, new transmission lines will be built. Because we need your input now, we've prepared a special kit for you that outlinesfthe alternatives. • f��h F::11.• • • • . r Let's talk transmission 130X 2133— TORONTO—MSW 1 H1 nsm ission j---- 'Narne eta 4;