HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-09-04, Page 17c
SntonKinstnen
and 016,44, be honored at Clinton
Raceway this Sunday= get, that is what
they call themselves...tint .sm* definite
ly a misnomer for a corps of Men and
women that in all probability hold, some sort
of world record for service to their com-
munity, on a per capita basis.
These are the people that in a space of
seven short years saved the harness racing
industry in Clinton to make the Clinton
Raceway one of the best small tracks in
Canada, and single-handedly built Clinton's
community grandstand at a cost of nearly
$260,000 - with a lead time of less thanIhree
tcnonths, and .without using a cent of tax-
payers' money.
. The club won the coveted Sinclair Service
Shield for their efforts, the prestigious
award granted annually to ordy one
Kinsmen Club in southwestern Ontario, for
a project deemed to have met. a com-
munity's greatest need. It was the second-
time
econdtime the Clinton club had won the award -
the first time was in 1960, when they built a
house on Matilda St. to give a burned -out
family a new start in life.
Under Kinsmen Club regulations, a
member cannot hold a working office within
the club after he reaches the age of 40, so
clubs like Clinton's, who have neither the
time nor the inclination to retire, continue
on as K-40 and K-ettes Clubs. It is these in-
domitable people whom
the ClintonClinto
Raceway will honor Sept. 8, at K-40 and K-
ettes Day, when K-40 president Ron Jewitt
will make the blanket presentation to the
winner of the day's feature race.
Looking for a fund-raising project in 1969,
the Clinton Kinsmen and Kinettes decided to
take over the old race track in Clinton,
which had been used only once or twice a
year for 100 years. The new track opened in.
1,970, with racing everySWAM! g Jinx
toAugmtt30, and was an i lediate' suc-
cess,atllr0 in both London -and and Toronto
newspapers as •` Ontario's f.arpily track.,
Then - disaster struck.. A letter from the
Ontario Racing Commission in March, 1977,
informed the Kinsinen that no license to
operate the track that summer would be
granted unless the old grandstand was
brought up to new .safety standee, rr.'ds, at a
cost of up to$165,000 for repairs. With racing
dile to start in June, this left tete Kinsmen
with less than three months to complete the
project if they were not to lose their racing
dates for 1977, and perhaps for ever.
It was quickly realized that making
repairs to the existing structure would be a
waste of money, since it was not located on
the finish line of the track. After a series of
erriergency meetings, all parties concerned
realized the only solution was to build a
totally new grandstand, at a cost estimated
at upwards of $300,000. .
In a letter dated March, 1977, Kinsmen
president Paul Kerrigan laid out the pros
and cons of soda a project, "A project of this
size, on town property ... should be under-
taken by the town, with a dollar amount
pledged by the kinsmen ..." The plea fell on
deaf ears, as a special emergency session of
council passed a resolution stating that
although the town would fully support any
efforts made toward a new grandstand, it
would be ..."...on condition that all monies
be raised by the Kinsmen or through'
government grants.",
The gauntlet was down. With no time left
for wavering, arrangements were made
with the Bank of Montreal to borrow
$25,000 with 10 Kinsmen each guaranteeing
notes of $25,000. Demolition of the old facili-
A3P'
ty Was begun: immediately by ant m :of
more than 59 volunteer workers, cow
Pt w ktr► April, erec-
r, woad
structure
Clinton Spr-
straetton beganthe
tion of steellieg
Painting began May 11
was reay. or 1Opilong
Fair it on dune ,
When the projeet's;. d,. there' had
been no tixneto get ap ,rovai forgovernment
grants, and it. got underwa on faith alone.
When the d ebt W s March 1.979 -
d .. a paidoft ,
two years to e day , aatttet 'Kinsmen had
learned of the need - Raceway Committee
Chairman Paul' Kerrigan,{ revealed .the
figures: total cast. $25$,45, including
� ! Inlinterest charges; et tbelotalo i
lemic Club paid $07,352; the. Kinettes
{ ;, ,8.2 a from invoi
# 4186 'W "rea 'f
of t ria��l.# A nudes
eatiti, it gr nt paid ,522, anv
t okick in$31a•
}The: grandstand MS builtt by th+e
Kinsmen, but is on town property and is
owned iv the town....but it diel not cost the
town a dime" said an exultant Kerrigan, He
estina%ethat the project took 2,400 hairs
of volunteer labour from Kinsmen; alone - an
average of ; 58 hours oer member - to say
WAWA
Ante ta'tbeclu that
aday,, amen,
et members will get free u . .
to en of appreciation from fih,
Raceway Committee—who, by the way, are
largely still the people who AVOW it as
Kinsmen, although the track is now
operated entirely outside the clubs,
ariQt races , hula girls
HURONVIEW - For the fall and winter
months, worship service is now being held in
the chapel.
August 25 was the final band concert
which took place in Harbour Park at
Goderich. Several' residents Went to hear the
band, the final concert of this season.
Thanks goes out to the adjuvants for giving
of their time to offer transportation on these
occasions.
Ladies from the Huron Heights area en-
joyed a barbecue of homburgs and hot dogs.
Residents have all had their turn for the
barbecues, and this will wind up this par-
ticular outdoor event.
If you at any time, had the opportuhity of
going to Las Vegas, then happened to be in
the auditorium at Huronview, you would
witness some similarities. Teresa and Anita
did an excellent job organizing Carnival
Day. In the morning, time was spent
decorating wheelchairs. The idea was for
each resident to decorate his or her chair,
with a little help from the staff. They finish-
ed with colorful chariots, and there were
prizes to be won fcr this event. Mamie
Sutcliffe got first prize for most original
theme. Second award went to Ida Close for
having the most colorful chair. For best
overall appearance, third prize was given to
Joe Finleon. ,
In the afternoon, things got off to a good
start with a wheelchair race. This created a
lot of laughter and fun as the fans cheered'
their favorite entry to the finish. Cer-
tificates were designed and hand printed by
Glenn White . of Mitchell. Winning prizes
were Frank. Bissett, Ida Close and Pat
Thurlow. piere were many gaimes of
chance for people to test their skill, and little
stuffed animals were handed out as prizes.
Ladies from Ground Centre. looked for-
ward to their hot dog barbecue; and from all
reports, it was another delicious meal
prepared by the staff.
Ed Stiles from Goderich was here on
Thursday afternoon and played a number of
old and new selections on the chapel organ
for the residents.
One never knows the surprises the staff
will come up with, to entertain the residents.
The staff is an energetic and talented group
of caring people who put on a show to please
everyone Friday afternoon. Hawaiian Day
with the added attraction of the popular
Gong Show was a huge success. Trays of
fresh fruit were set about and with the help
of the hula girls and background music, a
• tropical scene was created. Mary Gibbings
was chairperson and welcomed everyone to
the party, and also introduced the numbers
on the program. Dianne Elliott, Pat Fields
and Frank Bissett were the judges and at
times had a difficult task of making the
right decision. The performers put on a
great show and sparked a tremendous en-
thusiasm amongst the audience. But the
judges had a job to do and it wasn't easy,
deciding who and what got "gonged".
Evelyn Archer accepted the trophy on •
behalf of the group, the judges termed "the
most ridiculous" and Pauline Shkabuik won
the prize for the best overall performer. It
was a super production put on by the staff,
and the residents, thank them for coming
out and sharing their many hidden talents
with us.
Huronview welcomes three new residents,
Annie Kennedy and Leslie MacKenzie both
'from Seaorth and Fred Reid from Stanley
Township.
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CLINTON - A request will be made to the
Ministry of the Environment from Clinton
Council for subsidy to help finance the cost
of a sewage study and improvements made
to the town's sewage treatment plant. The
study completed by B.M. Ross and
Associates and the plant improvements,
made in 1984, cost the town $44,629.
Council was informed by the Clinton PUC
that government financing is now available
to help finance such projects. On a recom-
mendation from the PUC, council is asking
for a rebate for the cost of the work done in
1984, as well as financing for future projects,
such as completing the smoke testing of the
town's sewer system.
"In other words the Ministry of the En-
vironment is now subsidizing this and we've
already paid for the work," Mayor Chester
Archibald clarified.
Street work extension
After some debate, council approved a
three week extension to Lavis Contracting
for completion of street reconstruction work
in Clinton. Originally scheduled for comple-
tion on August 2, Lavis has been given a
reprieve until August 23.
In their request to council, it was explain-
ed that more than average rainfall and over-
runs on other projects delayed work in Clin-
ton.
Council voiced concern about extra costs'
to the town involved in the project,. par-
ticularly engineers' fees. It was 'also noted
that similar extensions have been given in
past years.
Councillor Charlie Burgess suggested ap-
proving the three week extensions with the
understanding that Lavis would pay for any
extra costs.
Council finally agreed to allow the exten-
sion, with no stipulation about extra costs in-
volved in the delays.
Major Archibald stress, "We'll point out
that we've give them extensions for the past
several years in a row and in the future
they'll be expected to live up to contract
deadline. Council will not look kindly on ex-
tensions in the future."
Building report
Four new houses are under construction
in Clinton, reported building inspector Mur-
ray Taylor.
Some $750,000 in building permits have
been issued in recent months.
4-H conference
held in London
On Friday, p
Se tember 6 there will be a
cip Western Fair Day 4-H Conference in London
, and also a Junior Barrow Show at the
Western Fair in London.
On Saturday, September 7 there will be a
Championship Dairy Show in Stratford.
On Monday, September 9 there will be a
Howberry Horsemen meeting at Jean
Dinsmore's in Fordwich at 8 p.m.
On Tuesday, September 10 is a spinners'
meeting in the OMAF Boardroom, Clinton at
8 p.m.
On Wednesday, September 11 is a Kennel
Club meeting in the OMAF Boardroom,
Clinton at 8 p.m. Also on Wednesday,
September 11 is Hurondale IV Basic Baking
at Mary De Boer's In Exeter at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, September 13 is an
Achievement Day for Sodbusters 4-H Club,
Huron County Plowing Match, Nott
Brothers, Clinton.
5244600 On Saturday, September 14 - Huron
County Plowing Match, Nott Brothers,
Clinton.