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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-11-12, Page 4o• PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNALSTAR, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986 "Come on over here kid," he barked in command -like fashion while motioning with his hand. "Who, me" I asked incredulously while planting an index finger in the middle of my chest. "Give me that book and I'll sign it for you," he offered matter-of-factly while reaching in a shirt pocket for a pen. Too stunned to react properly, I slowly raised the book towards the man while feebly attempting to explain that I wasn't a ere autograph -hound on the prowl. "It's my notebook," I offered weakly. arh,nrly. I'm a reporter sir." "1 aorr i Calc iuLt b:. y... What's your name?," he asked scribbling on the back page while squinting to keep his blurry penmanship in. focus. "There ya' go Dave, ya' got one from the King." Inde&&, I had one from the King. ;or on that rather inconspicuous back page of my notebook, that had the day before launched a career in journalism, was scribbled an inocuous message reading, "Best wishes always, Dave" or something equally vague. Of course it was signed by King Clancy, a former hockey great who played the game with a demeanar almost unbecom- ing of the gentleman he was both on and off the ice. A gifted player who toiled diligent- ly for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Clancy was later to become one of professional hockey's most consistent referees. King Clancy died Monday at the age of 83. One of the game's most ardent amabassadors, King Clancy became a rnnrhrnanaper and vice-president of the rorouw iviail:c ;..:..::.... i-?._ " °'••i. a ilii.; LI-ku'}.. 60 of his 83 years connected with the game of hockey. Hockey fans, regardless of age, will always remember the picture of Clancy and Leaf owner Harold Ballard perched in their windowless box at the end of the Gardens during every hockey game. mommonimmlimmommi DAVE SYKES He was a fiesty, fiery player, coach and manager but he was man who injected a good measure of vibrancy and enthusiasm into every`hing. If you ever met the King, as many people in Goderich did at a sports banquet here a few years ago, you came away feeling good. After signing the notebook, Clancy talk- ' ed with me at length and I'm sure it was because he sensed my nervousness and timidity. Only the second day on the job, I was covering a banquet featuring Sports celebrities from all major sports. I mainly walked around the room with my mouth wide open and my eyes fixed in a permanent stare on nothing in par- ticular. That was until Clancy hauled me over for an autograph and a talk. My spirits were lifted immeasurably .rtar A r'e'vs minutes with the King, a man who exuaea a genuiuo could easily- infect an entire room with than enthusiasm. He was sincere and he was honest and I doubt that anyone ever left King Clancy's company in abad frame of mind. The man was simply good for the sport of hockey, a sport that has been tarnished over the yearsoby athletes who resorted to drugs while being paid several times more than their meagre talent dictated. But King Clancy was a class act, rumored to have never won a fight, he still had to scrap for everything he earned. Life was a game to the King, and once when Gardens owner Conn Smythe asked him to describe his duties with the club, Clancy flatly replied that he "didn't do a damn thing." "Keep right on doing it," Smythe replied. "because you're doing one helluva job." That notebook page with the King's scribbling had beenunceremoniously toss- ed from the memorabilia file long ago, but one never forgets a memorable encounter with King Clancy. Opinion THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH,& DISTRICT SINCE 1848 Goderich? SIGNAL -STAR BEST ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA ICtroAmop Clews 3500 ‘10010 C 5 A Better Newspaper Compeuuon 1984 P.O. BOX 2O HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK BODERICH, ONT. N7A 4BBI PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 1949 end published every Wednesday at Ooderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Subscriptions payable In advance 822.00, (Berilor Citizens 819.00 privilege card number required) in Caned., 960.00 to U.B.A., 980.00 to ell other countries, Bingle poples 600. Display, National and Classified advertising retest available on request. Please ask for Rata G d No. 16 effective October 1, 1986. Advertleing le accepted an the condition that in the event of e typographical error. the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item, together with the reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement Will be peld for et the applloeble rete. In the event of s typographical terror advertising goods or services et wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely en offer to sell. end may be withdrawn et any time. The Signal -Star in not rseponnible for she loss or damage of ansolleited manuscripts. photos or other materiels tamed for reproducing purpoeaa. General Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER Editor DAVE SYKES Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleeee phone [S191524-2614 Second class mail registration number 0716 Member: CCNA Nothing to do Here's your chance Traditionally, the cry among young people in small communties is that there is nothing to du. . , We've often heard those same sentiments expressed by people of all ages in Godericlrwith respect to the social, athletic, recreational and cultural opportunities available here. Understandibly, there are limits to what a municipality, especially the smaller ones, can provide for its citizenry in terms of programs and facilities to sate every appetite. Some municipalities, arguably, do better than others or have different priorities. The town of Goderich has, commissioned a master plan of the town's programs and facilities and one component of the consultant's mandate is to determine the need for a com- munity complex. Many people in attendance at a recent public meeting to discuss that sub- ject, expressed a variety of needs and wants with respect to what a facility should offer. There were many varied proposals offered on how the community should pay forthat facili- ty as well. But the meeting, and the study, has given the people of Goderich ample opportunity to provide input on these matters and the consultant also urged everyone to submit written briefs on the subject to the recreation department. If the young people of the community feel their collective voice.on the matter was not heard, the opportunity resurfaces in the form of a.questionnaire which will be distributed in home rooms at school this week. High schoolers, anxious to participate in the process, should take the matter serious* and give the questions the thoughtful answers they deserve. Your input at this point, will help shape the future of recreation and the programs and facilities deemed necessary for the town. If you have some concerns or if you feel you have some ideas of obvious merit, the ques- tionnaire wilI give you the opportunity to detail the kinds of things you would like to see done in the town of Goderich. Sometimes it's difficult to see things from the teenage perspective and, at least, the outlet for representation from that segment, has been established. So make good use of it a d let people know exactly what kinds of programs and facilities are needed for the young people of Goderich. Give it some careful thought and consideration. Everyone will benefit from your input. Also, any interested citizen is invited to,submit their thoughts on the matter as well. Simp- ly write down your opinions on the state of recreation and whether or not the town should pursue the construction of a community fitness complex, where it shotild be located and what it should contain. Submissions can be dropped off at the recreation department office on Macdonald Street with director, Jane Netzke. D.S. 'Spreading poppies - by Lou -Ann Hope Large court settlements are damaging Large'court settlements have spawned a great deal of public mischief by unwitting- ly encouraging court actions which are having an unsettling effect on community life. The message the courts are sending is alarming - namely, we are not responsible for our own well-being and no action is above suspicion. For too many, it seems, this is easier money than Lottario. As a result, schools are operating under considerable stress. Male primary -grade teachers are being cautioned to avoid physical contact with- their students; The innocent consoling hug or reassuring touch on the shoulder, which all little children need from time to time, is now suspect. In the school yard, the municipal playground and on the street, increasingly accidents are no longer perceived as un- fortunate but sometimes an unavoidable part of life, but as opportunities to seek financial redress. The growing belief that accidents don't happen and that blame should be assigned to the closest vulnerable target indicates we are no longer willing to accept responsibility for , our own ill-fated actions. That being the case, any sport or piece of equipment which is responsible for any injury sustain- ed by anyone at any time should be remov- ed to protect the schools and municipalities from .potential liability. Fortunately, most municipalities and school boards have been reluctant to take such drastic action but their increasing reluctance to provide the recreational facilities desired by youth (such as a place to skateboard or a BMX track for exam- ple) articulates their over-riding concern - liability. The disturbing message we are sending our, children is that we would rather have them safely inside watching television than outside challenging TRUSTEE TALK Mary Ann Dempsey themselves physically through play ' or sport. While we have the right to worry about the safety of our children, do we have the right to stifle their interaction with the world around them? Does anyone have the right to sterilize their environment and at- tempt to reduce their activities to those whose sedentary nature precludes all risk and challenge? The judgement against the City 9f Brampton, where it appears that the youth sustained his ??injuries through his own error yet was not'held accountable or . responsible for his own actions, makes everyone nervous for the implications can touch us all. While all reasonable precau- tions should be made to make play and sport safe, is there not a point where com- mon sense should prevail and personal responsibility for one's actions hold some sway? • Until such time as the courts appear to acknowledge reasonable personal respon- sibility for one's own safety and well-being `(with the onus on parents to monitor the ' play environments of small children) in my opinion, we will see a dramatic deterioration in the ability of public in- stitutions to provide the services and amenities which we have previously taken for granted. For example, will the time come when school boards can no longer af- ford the liability of playground equipment of any description? Will the time come when municipalities will be forced to close to public access to undeveloped or un- supervised 'open spaces' because of fear of . potential liability? Perhaps most of us .are not conscious of the devastating impact these court deci- sions are having" on the way people perceive their public institutions and the stifling effect it is having on their ability to respond appropriately to community needs. It is hurting us all. Flood mapping to cost $51,000 Natural Resources Minister Vincent Kerrio announced approval today of a pro- ject of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority to undertake flood and erosion prone area mapping along the Lake Huron shoreline in the Township 'of Ashfield in Huron County. The mapping will extend approximately 20 kilometres along the Lake Huron shoreline between the municipalities of Port Albert and Amberley. The mapping will be undertaken in accordance with the Canada/Ontario Flood Damage Reduction Program and includes delineation of the 100 -year erosion limit, 100 -year flood level,. and the 100 -year level including wave , runup. Total estimated cost of the project is $51,000 including a provincial grant of $20,400 and a federal grant of $25,500. Lifestyle -portrayal out of touch with reality There are a lot of myths, legends and just general nonsense floating around about just what goes on in the field of jour- nalism. Nobody minds these misconcep- tions, especially not the journalists themselves. After all they add some mysti- q).ie to the business.. Anyone who took in the Goderich Little Tneatre's latest production, "The Front Page" probably saw ,every (alley ever perpetuated about the lifestyle of a reporter enacted on stage. After seeing the play myself, I feel compelled to offer some , clarification on these misconceptions, bas- ed on my first-hand experience in the business. Myth number one, is the dress code. There is to my , knowledge no, newitpaper anywhere, which requires its reporters to wear either a trenchcoat, or a ;fedora. It wouldn't be practical in fact, to wear any sort of a hat which could be blown off one's head While standing on the sidelines at any number of the sporting events which reporters are required to attend. One would hardly feel justified in holding up a game while a wind -tousled scribe retriev- ed his chapeau. Besides, they look silly. Another myth- which has no basis in fact is that a good reporter, on the job or off, is never without an adequate supply of liquor on his person..In the aforementioned play, one of those cute little metal flasks, pur- portedly"full Of booze, was produced and passed around among the reporters at ap- propriate Moments during the show In reality, 1 don't even know where you' fan buy flasks like that. • Certainly journalists, like many others, enjoy the odd stiff drink and even occa- sionally crave a cold' beer or hot toddy while on duty. But as a rule, we abstain. from this angle- atrick Raftis Editors tend to take a dim view of ftfzziiy- focused pictures taken by equally fuzzy= focused photographers. Likewise one's ability to remember where he was, let alone what was said, at a given meethig is not up to par if he has been nipping from A,. the legendary pocket flask on the way. It always amazes me, when watching old movies like "Deadline USA" to see a bar full of reporters sucking back shot after shot of whiskey — always straight up, these guys don't even use ice cubes. Usually after half -a -dozen shots, somebody rushes in off the street to announce the Mayor (or someone equally signifigant) has been shot. Every reporter in the place instantly jumps up and, with nary a stagger, rushes off to cover the story. What'I want to know, is, how do they get there? They don't drive surely? Certainly not if the RIDE program is in effect. And why is every reporter in the city in that bar in the first place? Have they all said to their respective employers, "I'm off to get screaming drunk, call me if a big story breaks"? Fictional reporters also curse and swear and generally ,use abusive language a great deal more than most people. What warped psychology this idea is based on, I can't imagine? I shudder to think how dif- ficult it would be to get the neccessary in- formation out of a hesitant interview sub- ject after having just called him a $? ( ! X$! LOWLIFE! Of course, there are some myths with a grain of truth to them. For instance, the popular perception that reporters are paid large sums of money. In one scene from "The Front Page," which is set in 1928, a reporter announces he is off to the big city to take a job in journalism for $150 a week. Today, it is still possible to obtain employ- ment in the field at that same princely sum. Fortunately, things have progressed to the, point where these jobs are no longer the pime opportunities, but they are still out there. No wonder reporters drink and curse so much!