The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutClinton News-Record, 1987-05-27, Page 5Wilfred Mclntee and Co. Real Estate recently opened its 20th branch which is located at 11 Victoria Street in Clinton. On May 22, an open house was held for the public to meet the real estate agents. They are (back left) Mary Divok, Sharon Medd, Aileen Craig, (front left) Bill Steenstra and Peter Damsma. Absent from the photo is Henry Damsma. Together, the Clinton Mclntee team has 52 years experience in the real estate business. (Anne Narejko photo) Plays, parades and presentations make month CLINTON - Students at Clinton and .District Christian School have been busy the last two weeks. Two musicals were part of the activities. On May 11, Grade 4 - 8 enjoyed entertain- ment at the Clinton Public School, as they performed their musical, Trail of '98 in dress rehearsal. On May 13, the choir per- formed the musical, Down By the Creekbank for residents and day care par- ticipants at Huronview. Balloons were released, complete with name tags. May 15 in honor of the schools 25th anniversary celebration. A steady nor- thwest wind carried off the 200 balloons; they anticipated some responses from whoever may find one. Many students attended Klompen Feest activities; many were on the school float; many also participated in the choir during the Sunday afternoon service in the arena. May 20, was the culmination of the con- centration on people with special needs. Students and staff were much enlightened by personal stories and information shared by the guest speakers. Classrooms were visited by: Rev. Scott - a visually impaired minister from Goderich, George Turton - a paraplegic business man from Goderich, Ann Kikkert - mother of a visually impaired daughter; Linda Renkema and Barbara Hicks representing the needs of the mental- ly disabled, and Rosemary Armstrong, coordinator of the Huron Day Centre for the The CDCS Report Homebound. Through discussion, films and concrete materials, students gained a deeper insight of the life of a person living with a handicap. A sit down lunch for all was served in the school gymnasium by ladies of the PTA. In the afternoon, all classes participated in presenting a program of songs, skits and stories stressing a student's view of special needs and how a child can help. Thanks go to Trix Bradley, resource teacher, who plann- ed and coordinated the Special Needs Awareness weeks. Grade 5 and 6 enjoyed a class trip to Toronto Metro Zoo on May 21. The school thanks Anneke Pardys and Tony Verburg for supervising students on this outing. To finish the school year, students look forward to the Gr. 7/8 class trip, field day activities, and especially the 25th anniver- sary celebrations. Farmers pleased with budget "No doubt about it. With this new provin- cial budget, farmers have definitely made some headway in getting relief from tough times. We're very pleased," said Brigid Pyke, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). The programs the Liberals earmarked funds for are programs the OFA identified as crucial areas for improvement in earlier consultations with government. Increasing the rebate under the Farm Tax Reduction Program and eliminating the prepayment requirement for eligibility for the rebate are items the Federation has lobbied for over the years. Likewise the OFA pressed government to retain the Ontario Family Farm Interest Rate Reduction (OFFIRR) program at 100 per cent for 1987, and the new budget provided for this. The newly announced Farm Management Safety and Repairs Program and the Land Stewardship Program are also welcome, said Pyke, but full details still have to be released. "We don't know, for example, to what ex- tent farmers have to finance new grain storage facilities or other capital projects before they can access the $2,500 assistance. But we will certainly co-operate with ;overnment in ironing out implementation details," stated Pyke. Once in place, the new program should not only put money in farmers' pockets but will help whole rural communities. Because of poor cash flow, farmers have invested very little in new equipment in the last few years, she said, and costly equipment repairs have strained farm budgets. This Farrn Management Safety and Repairs program is a good response to that situation, the OFA presi- dent commented. Although pleased with the new initiatives moved by government in the budget, the Federation identified other major issues that continue to merit serious consideration. "We have to have continued negotiations on enhanced stabilization programs, par- ticularly for grains and oilseeds producers. Crop insurance is another area that requires increased funding. Add to that, waste management is still a big worry for many rural and city communities. And, fourthly, there is the issue of long-term farm financ- ing that government has to have a long-term policy on," concluded Pyke. X563- million for agriculture The Ontario government announced five major initiatives to help the agricultural industry, setting aside a record $563 million for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in the new provincial budget. In his budget state, Treasurer Robert Nixon said low commodity prices, declin- ing farm asset values and high debt loads are still squeezing Ontario's agricultural sector. "The budget reconfirms our continued commitment to the financially distressed agricultural sector. Since taking office, this government has increased spending on agriculture by 72 per cent," he said. "The initiatives announced in the budget are practical programs aimed at putting money into the pockets of the farmers that need it," said Agriculture and Food Minister Jack Riddell. "In the face of the continuing credit and commodity price crunch, farmers have been forced to let some parts of their' operation go unattended." A Farm Management Safety and Repairs program will provide $50 million to assist farmers with farm analysis and planning, farm safety, machinery repairs and shop equipment, and on-farm feed and grain storage. Under this program, the government will pay up to $2,500 per farmer. All farmers with a gross farm in- come of at least $12,000 per year are eligi- ble for the program which runs from June 1, 1987 to May 31, 19t.:,. Another new initiative for agriculture is a Land Stewardship Program. This pro- gram will provide $40 million over three years to encourage sound land manage- ment practices. The program will provide financial assistance to farmers for restor- ing soil productivity and reducing en- vironmental damage on productive and marginal lands. "This will improve the stewardship of Ontario soil and water resources which will be needed for future generations," said Riddell. The popular Ontario Family Farm In- terest Rate Reduction (OFFIRR) pro- gram, which provides interest rebates on long-term and operating farm debt, will be continued at a level of 100 per cent for the 1987 program year. The program was to have geared down to the 70 per cent sup- port level Sept. 1, 1987. The Treasurer also announced changes, valued at $18 million which will increase the total value of farm tax rebates by 17 per cent. The amended Farm Tax Rebate Program increases the level of farm tax rebate on agricultural land and buildings from 60 per cent to 100 per cent. The farm home and one acre will be assessed at the farm property tax rate. To speed the rebate process, farmers will receive the annual rebates in two instalments beginn- ing in 1 . Also, the prepayment require- ment to qualify for a rebate is being eliminated. Agricultural spending in Ontario rose from expenditures of $328 millin in 1984-85 to an estimated $475 million last year. LOBB'S FOR HOME & GARDEN YRDMN COUNT ON USIA SUPER PRICE ON A SUPER GARDEN TRACTOR! YARD -MAN 1034 GARDEN TRACTOR 10 H.P. 34" cut 0141:42 • e VN° se W, Quality Built On Kitchener, Ontario - with a 3 YEAR WARRANTY Buy it at your Yard -Man Home & Garden Centre H. LOBB & SONS LTD. Bayfield Road 482-3409 'CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1987—Page 5 F�1 PUMA CHCWS DURST FARM CENTRE "Your Area Pet F• od Warehouse" invites you to PET NITE THURSDAY, JUNE 4 STARTING AT 7:30 RM. AT THE CLINTON LEGION HALL FEATURING •Purina Pet Nutritional Specialists in Attendance 'Slides and Films •Draws for Pet Chows *Super Discount Coupons and •Purina Cash Ducks to be given away • Refreshments BRING A FRIEND (HUMAN!) ; iii AND YOUR QUESTIONS! POWS DURST FARM CENTRE 275 Huron Street (Hwy. 8 West) Clinton 482-7706 There's a new Color Your World store in your neighbourhood! CLINTON'S NEW Color Your World' IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS! PAINT ® TILE ® WALLCOVERINGS 30% 40 OFF* ALL INSTORE WALLCOVERINGS! Add pizzazz to + dull room with patterns in every style and texture' At Color Your World. we've tint vnrr covered in fashion' 'Ronk pri Inst, r, 'nh "Where Where Customer Service Makes All The Difference!" OWNeD AND OPERATED BY DON AND BETTY DUFF 166 VICTORIA ST. (Hwy. 4 South) CLINTON 482-3404 OPEN: 6 DAYS A WEEK 8 AM - 6 PM; FRIDAY EVENINGS TILL 9 PM