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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-11-11, Page 1AREIMIIIIMMINNOMMIIIEMMIF Sil:OHIM)R ATrr(;-THE BL' TH STANDARD -THE B FIELD BO, (;LF NO. 4 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 119 1987 .S1F 717 "Na -one wins in war," remembers Jack McLaren By Anne Chisholm BENMILLER - It was a long time ago. Sorne of the details have faded from his memory while others remain vivid. World War I took place many years ago, starting in 1914 and finishing in 1918. A good number of those who went into battle and anaggd to come out alive have since died, but there a` rrs-siill a few of these war veterans around who will share some of their memories with you. One such man is Jack McLaren - renown artist and a man who fought in the First World War. At the age of 92, Mr. McLaren says there are two things that interest him - his studio and watching shows that pertain to war. Although Mr. McLaren is not fond of war, when .t did come to fight for his and millions of other's freedom, he chose to sign up voluntarily. "It was the proper thing to do if you had any guts at all," he said. Upon enlisting, Mr. McLaren underwent the standard physical, being put through various tests tc ensure he was healthy before going into battle. This task did not provide much of an obstacle for him. "It wasn't hard to pass. They were glad to get anybody they could," Mr. McLaren said. Once all the proper papers were signed and the instructions handed out, it was time to make the journey to the battlefields. Mr. McLaren started out in Toronto then went to Montreal before heading overseas to Belgium and France. For him, this was a return trip as he had travelled along the south of France in a hot-air balloon just prior to enlisting. At this time, Mr. McLaren found himself in the Princess Patricia Canadian Light In- fantry. One of his more enjoyable jobs in the infantry was being in charge of the enter- tainment for the troops. With his group, The Dumb Bells, of which is is the last surviving member, he helped pass many long, lonely nights for the men who were separated from their home, fami- ly and friends. '•It was a wonderful job," commented Mr. Mci,aren. However, Mr. Mcl,aren was no different from any other soldier in WWI. He had to go out in the battlefields, fight his way through the rnud, brave the cold winters and put up with the primitive sleeping conditions. i saw plenty of action," he said. "In the winter it was cold and damp. We slept in barrack -like buildings, but they were smaller." Despite the very undesirable weather and conditions which the soldiers fought in, Mr. Jack McLaren is a veteran of World War i and carries many memories, both good and bad, with him. He is pictured here in his Benmiller home with a walking stick that car- ries the battle cry from his war days engraved on it. The word RIC-A-DAM-DOO means a lot to this man. ( Anne Chisholm photo) McLaren claims he was never sick or all because we were always too busy." he homesick. said, adding, "I was never sick either. You "No, I never experienced homesickness at didn't have time to g et sick, you have to County approves guidelines for waste management Huron County Council has given its ap- proval to draft terms of reference for a county -wide waste management master plan. At its regular November session, council approved the draft terms of reference based on a recommendation by its waste manage- ment steering committee. The committee was appointed earlier this year to consider the waste management problems faced by the county and its ember municipalities. Members of the committee are Grey Township Reeve Leona rmstrong, Tuckersmith Reeve Bob Bell, tephen Township Reeve T.J. Tomes, Goderich Deputy Reeve J.P. Doherty and Warden Brian McBurney, Turnberry Township Reeve. Also on the committee are Manning and Development Director Gary avidson, County Engineer Dennis Merrall, Clerk -Administrator Bill Hanly, along with illard Page and J. Burnham. 7 Purpose of the terms of reference is to m,p rovide a guideline for consultants wishing to prepare a proposal to develop a master Ian aimed at providing a comprehensive, ong-term waste management strategy for i• uron County. The guidelines define the tudy goal of developing a plan which in- ludes: A comprehensive review of all easonable waste management technologies nd processes, and their relevance to waste nanagement-in the county; An examination f source separation as a waste manage- ment system component; Effective and meaningful public and review agency con- ultation throughout the study process; tecommendation of a preferred waste management system which is the best alter- ative to broad definitions set out in the En- ironmental Assessment Act. The terms of reference call for the waste management master plan to address the ounty's needs for a minimum period of 20 ears, with long term waste projections for 40 year period. Wastes to be studied are primarily omestic, commercial and non -hazardous olid industrial wastes, although the genera - ion of other wastes — septage, sewage ludge, water treatment plant sludge, haul - d liquid industrial, hazardous solid in- lustrial, biomedical, construction and inert vastes — and their effect on the waste nanagment system will also be reviewed. reparation of the master plan is to include r public participation program to keep local municipalities informed of its progress, ad- iise the public through public information Turn to page :t • keep going." But others weren't as fortunate. "I had lots of friends killed during the war...My aunt had two boys in the war. They were both killed and eventually the lose kill- ed her," said Mr. McLaren. "I was one of the lucky ones." The phrase, war is hell on the home front too is true according to Mr. McLaren. "My mother was still alive i while he was fighting in the war l and she was always wondering about what was going to happen next." To stay healthy and keep up one's strength, you'd expect some good meals. Mr. McLaren says the food wasn't bad, con- sidering the circumstances. "It was pretty good but it did get a little monotonous. When you're out in the open air, you're ready to eat all the time," he said. Mr. McLaren used his job as entertain- ment co-ordinator to put a little bit of nor- mality in his life, but he also relied on his painting. "I've painted all my life - no matter where I was," he said. "I don't have a favorite thing to paint, I paint everything in general." And the war was no exception. Television Versions A great number of shows have been aired on the television over the years depicting the First World War. They show the guns, the trenches, the liv- ing conditions, the men running for their lives and those who can no longer run. They show the leaders and the victims, the wives and girlfriends, the mothers and grandmothers. They show eager young men, anxious to go off to war and defend their country. When asked what he thought of these movies, Mr. McLaren says, "Some of the movies are excellent. They really show what's going on." No One Wins The Princess Patricia Canadian Light In- fantry battle cry, RIC -A -DAM -DUO re- mains in the 92 -year-old artist's mind. So does the flag the infantry carried with them, as does the feeling when he learned the war was over. "it was a wonderful feeling." he said with a smile on his face. Sitting in his quiet home overlooking the Maitland River, he looks thoughtfully out the window at the birds taking an early lunch at one of his birdfeeders and reflects. "Nobody wins in the war - everybody loses...Some crazy man thinks he knows everything i and starts a war He doesn't know anything at all." rr; Brucefielders say Canada Post "looking for a sucker" The people in Brucefield got a chance to let Canada Post know exactly what they think on Monday night at a meeting held in that community. The meeting concerned the changes Canada Post has in store for the Brucefield Post Office. Two representatives from Canada Post were in attendance to present their side of the story, and to answer questions posed by the villagers. Chuck Talbot and Dave Munn were the Canada Post representatives and informed the gathering their aim is to maintain the same level of service in Brucefield that has been there in the past. They said they do not want to get rid of the post office, merely to change the employer-employee relationship that exists now to a business partnership between a local business and Canada Post. What this means is Canada Post will be looking for a businessman/woman in Brucefield to take over the post office duties. He/she will sell post office materials as a retail postal outlet and will be given commissions based on what is sold. There will -be some flat fees paid for doing things like handling general delivery mail. Mr. Talbot said this system will bring m $250 to $300 for a successful operator each month. While this isn't a lot, it is intended this system will be run in conjunction with a business and therefore generate more traf- fic and more customers. Mr. Munn added because this is a commission system, the local people can help the operator of the post office to support his/her system by tak- ing all their mail business there. Actions to convert the postal system have come because Canada Post has been given a mandate to break even, and to attempt to reduce the huge deficit it operates under. Canada Post is reviewing all post offices to see if they are being run efficiently. It does not plan to lay off any employees, but said when a post office is sold, as it was in Brucefield, or when a postmaster retires, the office is reviewed and is then converted to the private sector. This conversion is a way for Canada Post to reduce its costs and maintain its level of service. Canada Post revealed the Brucefield Post Office was costing it $13,234 to have in operation. The actual operating cost was $23,633 with a realized profit of $10,399. Canada Post said it also found that business was worsening and the amount of money spent in 1986-87 was down 6 per cent from 1985-86. The cost to operate rose 13 per cent in the same period. But people in Brucefield have a very low opinion of running a post office for the low pay Canada Post is offering, and are bitter they may be losing services they have always had. They don't think anyone in their village will take on the post office for what is being offered, and feel they will end up travelling to Clinton to buy stamps, get parcels, or take care of any other mail business that re- quires a signature. They would receive their mail from green route boxes or super boxes. The people of Brucefield claim Canada Post is "looking for a sucker" to take the post office for them in Brucefield. One member of the audience suggested the post office is "not treating all Canada the same, and aren't treating towns and cities with the same arrogance as they are treating this village." They further accused the people at the top of Canada Post of not having a clue of what goes on in rural postal services. The villagers questioned why why terms of the contract Canada Post would want with a Brucefield businessman would allow the postage officials 24 hour access to a post office operator's home, and deny any liabili- ty for damage done in gaining entry. This they see as a violation of personal rights. They also wanted to know why Canada Post was starting to make cutbacks at the bot- tom, and wanted to know how much of a cut in salary Mr. Talbot and Mr. Munn took when the cutbacks were made. The people of Brucefield nailed the representatives down on most of the issues and, although they were by no means satisfied with what they heard, they know where they stand. If there is nobody in Brucefield who will make a commitment to taking over the post office, they will be travelling to Clinton to handle their mail business. And their mail will be delivered to their boxes from Clinton, which means it will have a hard tithe getting through in the winter because the roads between Clinton and Brucefield are so bad. MPP Murray Cardiff was present at the assembly in response to the many letters which he received from Brucefield residents. "To maintain rural service that we have had and that we are entitled to changes have to be made," said Mr. Cardiff adding "deficits have cost us all a lot of money in taxes and we have an obligation to reduce the debt in this country " On the other hand Mr Cardiff said he has yet to meet a rural courier who is paid what he should be paid. He ended by stating the representatives were going away from the meeting with a very strong message, and had a lot to tell their superiors. it now remains to be seen whether the post officials will be able to find someone in Brucefield who is willing to operate the post office. Chairmanship up for grabs at HCBE CLINTON - In December a new chairman for the Huron County Board of Education will be named. After serving a two year term in that posi- tion, Art Clark, board member for Wingham, Howick and Turnberry Townships, is stepping down from the top seat as trustee chairman. At the board's yearly inaugural meeting, on December 7, a new chairman will be elected. John Jewitt, board member elected 'from Seaforth, Hullett and McKillop Townships has announced his intention to run for the chairman's set. The Londesboro area resident has served on the board of education as vice-chairman for the past tWo terms. Joan Van Den Broeck, trustee for Goderich and Colborne Townships announc- ed her intentions to run for the vice- chairmanship, when board members met for their November meeting. Other trustees also declared their inten- tions for work on the board for the upcoming year. Ashfield and West Wawanosh trustee Tony McQuail is seeking the chairmanship of the personnel cornmittee. Brian Jeffray. trustee for Wingham, Howick and Turn - berry Townships will run for the top seat on the management committee and Graeme Craig, Seaforth, Hullett and McKillop member will seek the education committee chairmanship. In other business at the November meeting, board member welcomed a new trustee, Rick Rompf, who will represent the Town of Goderich. Mr. Rompf was ap- pointed as the Goderich trustee to fill the va- cant position left with the resignation of Mary Ann Dempsey. Further discussion at the meeting focuss- ed on the annual allowance that is paid to the Huron Board trustees. An amount for the next term must be set before the 1988 municipal elections. It was noted that the trustee's allowance has remained unchanged for several years at $400 a month, one-third of which is a tax free allowance. The board members approved a recom- mendation that a study of the trustee's allowance be undertaken with a report to be brought forward in the new year. Push ontinues for Highway 8 expansion BY ANDY BADER A committee of concerned mayors of the towns along Highway 8 in Southwestern On- 4ario have continued to meet since last 'February as they continue to plan their strategy on expanding the highway from the present two lanes to four from Kitchener clear on through to Goderich. This past February, the mayors of the towns situated along the highway met with Ontario Minister of Transportation and Communications Ed Fulton to express their need for a four -lane highway. Fulton was quite receptive to the visit, and told the group that a plan for future development would be drawn up. Last Thursday, the mayors again met. this time in Mitchell, to discuss their next step in staying on top of the issue. Mitchell representative Lloyd Ortelli said a meeting with the MTC engineers who are planning the development project has been tenatively set for Thursday, December 10th at 10 a.m. at the Mitchell Town Hall. "We'd like for them (engineers to visit and explain what their future plans are,' Ortelli said last week in an interview. "There is a need for it, everyone agrees on that, and we'd like to continue to display our interests and show that we're keenly in- terested in this development." The project, known henceforth as Highway 408, involves all the towns and the City of Stratford westward from Kitchener New Hamburg, Mitchell, Seaforth, Clinton and Goderich have all showed an interest in this project, not only because of the chance to expand industrially, but to upgrade their existing highway. Ortelli said Goderich Mayor Eileen Palmer, Seaforth Mayor Alf Ross, Stratford Mayor Ted Blowes and economic develop- ment representatives from both Seaforth and Goderich attended the meeting last Thursday. Mitchell Mayor Harold Jordan and Clinton Mayor John Balfour were unable to attend. Ortelli said the committee of mayors plan to meet on a three or six-month basis, depending on whatever's necessary, to keep on top of the issue. "The committee feels very strongly right now that very little has been done in getting traffic in our part of the province," Ortelli said. "In order to promote industry, you need a better traffic flow. We feel it's warranted." Ortelli said during last week's meeting that Stratford Mayor Ted Blowes would be "quite receptive" to a truck bypass through the Festival City. Originally, Stratford plan- ned on confronting the ministry themselves and having the MTC construct four lanes just to the limits of the city. Ortelli said this agreement to back the affected towns is an important step in receiving the eventual go ahead. "They've jumped on the bandwagon," Ortelli said. "They've given us 100 per cent Turn to page 3 • f'