Wingham Advance-Times, 1978-12-06, Page 1FIRST SECTION
11
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Winghain! edneaday, December 6, 11978
Santa is corrin
NORTH POLE—Come rain, snow,
sleet or hail, Santa Clauswill be in
Wingham this Saturday to greet all his
friends and admirers and pass out
treats to the boys and girls.
"It takes a lot to stop me," Santa
noted last weekend, looking out his
window at the snow and freezing rain.
"My motto is: 'If the mail can get
through, I can too', except I sometimes
get through more quickly. And I
haven't had to computerize my elves
and reindeer yet, thank goodness.
"Besides, I always look forward to
going to Wingham," he added with a
grin. "The children there are usually
pretty good and they're always so glad
to see me.
"And I'm eager to see the new street
you built in my honor. Poor Blitzen
sprained a hoof there last year and I
ended up being dragged down the street
by B}ll Elston's tractor."
As in the past, Santa explained, he is
leaving all the 'local arrangements to
the Wingham Junior Citizens.
"They do a wonderful job and I'm not
getting any younger, after all. You'll
have to see them about the details."
Brenda Foxton, who is chairing the
project for the Junior Citizens, said the
parade should begin making its way
down Josephine Street about 2 p.n. this
Saturday, after leaving the high school
at 1:30. The route will take it past the
hospital and then down Victoria Street
before moving up the main street to the
ballpark, where it will disband.
The parade won't be quite as large as
last year, she said, since there has been
a problem getting bands to take part—
their instruments freeze up in the cold
weather. One band has been confirmed
and they are hoping for another, but
,;; ' there have been a lot of cancellations.
The number of floats is also down,
with only 15 confirmed as of last week
compared to 25 or so the previous year.
Miss Foxton said she can't understand
why the number is so low, noting most
of those entered are from service
groups and very , few . from local
businesses. The Junior Citizens even
went to the point of offering to build
floats for some businesses, she said.
Floats will be divided into com-
mercial, service and school categories,
with prizes offered for the best entries
in each.
Besides the bands and floats the
parade will have horses, a few clowns
and majorette groups from Wingham,
Hanover and possibly Walkerton. And,
of course, Santa and his elves will be
the main attraction.
This is the third year the Junior
Citizens have looked after the Santa
Claus parade, taking over the job from
Bill and Holly Keil, and this year they
have done it entirely on their own with
no adult involvement, Miss Foxton
noted, although the local Venturers
have lent a hand.
Sandy Brenzil, Gail Delmage and
Sylvia Beard are looking after floats,
with Tracy MacDonald taking care of
bunds, Jane:.Phillips looking after
majorettes and Pam Cameron in
charge of horses. Just about everyone
in the grgup is involved somehow,, since
Out of the 35-90 members who attend
Junior Citizen: meetings only five are
free to ride on the group's own float.
"I've been involved for three years
and have never seen one (parade) yet,"
Miss Foxton noted. , She's always been
busy somewhere else making sure
things run smoothly.
As in the past Santa will hold court at
the Armouries following the parade,
passing out treats and listening to
requests from his young fans.
A new twist this year is that the
Junior Citizens are offering a baby-sit-
ting service in their rooms in the base-
ment of the town hall, treeing, parents
for a little post -parade shopping. The
service will be Mewl between 3 and 5
p.m. at a charge of s cents.
4i'1I
kt
Search for -more industry should
be first priority for town council
A search for new industry
should be one of Wingham's
priorities during the coming
years, town councillors heard as
they embarked on a new term
last weekend.
Addressing council at its
inaugural meeting Saturday,
Mayor William Walden declared
the town really needs more in-
dustry. Two more plants each
employing a hundred people
would make quite a difference,
he noted}, and he encouraged
Car rolls into
river; three hurt
A Harriston woman and two
Gorrie residents were lucky to
escape with minor injuries when
a car overturned and plunged
into the Maitland River last
Saturday.
Ontario Provincial Police at
the Wingham detachment report
Jane M. Lennox of Harriston was
driving east along County Road
34 in Howick Township, with
Brian S. Lennox and Dale L.
Howes of Gorrie as passengers,
when the vehicle skidded on the
icy road surface. It then struck a
bridge and rolled onto its roof in
the river.
council to work toward this'
Mr: Walden also congratulated
Deputy Reeve Harold Wild on his
successful reelection campaign,
noting : "We expect big things
from the slogan `Go Wild'," and
welcomed new councillor , Gord
Baxter.
The meeting, . held Saturday
morning instead . of the usual
Monday night to allow Reeve Joe
Kerr to attend, opened with Clerk
Billr Renwick . administering the
oattil of_ofiitae. ,
Following this Rev. Barry
Passmore spoke briefly to
council and led in prayer. He told
councillors that while each
doubtless has hisown reasons for
being on, council there should be
two basic reasons: a love for the
• town and a talent for leading and
guiding. He congratulated them
on caring enough to serve,
remarking that many people
"don't want the hassle" of public
office:
In business at the meeting town
solicitor Robert Campbell ap-
proached council on behalf of two
clients wishing to lease land from
the town.
He told council Anil Bodasing,
who operates the used car lot at
the corner of Josephine and Scott
streets, would like to buy or lease
the land there so he can pave it
for parking. He advised council
the use complies with the zoning'
bylaw and said Mr. Bodasing is
willing to accept responsibility
for any damage to the paving
necessitated by repairs to the
drain running under the lot.
Council had turned down an
earlier proposal by Mr. Bodasing
to pave the lot, noting it might be
necessary to tear up the
pavement at some time to work
on the rain.
Coun. Jack Bateson, chairman
of council's property committee,
said he would like to have a look
at the land in question to see just
• what is being 'proposed and it was
left up to Mr. Bateson and his
committee in conjunction with
Mike Chappell, the works
commissioner, to reach a
decision.
Mr. Campbell also said Hans
Kuyvenhoven asked him to ap-
proach the town about possibly
leasing the undeveloped park
land along the river to the , ad-
jacent property owners in
Maitland Estates. He said Mr.
Kuyvenhoven's intention is to
have the land "cleaned up",
noting this would make the lots
more saleable.
Coun. Allan Harrison objected
that the area is now a "nice,
natural area with trees and
birds" where groups of children
can go for marshmallow roasts
or nature studies and suggested it
should be left alone. It was
decided to refer the matter to the
parks board for a recom-
mendation.
On another land matter council
heard that the Ontario Housing
Corporation has offered to
purchase a portion of
Cruickshank Park to build,20 new.
units of senior citizen housing,;
once the site plan has been
prepared, however Coun.
Bateson questioned whether the
OHC actually needs all the land it
is requesting just to build 20
units. It was noted the 180 foot
frontage requested amounts to a
sizeable chunk of the park.
"They should have just the
proper amount of land according
to the bylaws, no more, no less,"
Mr. Bateson declared. "They
come to small towns and think
provided council is willing to.,—the land is Cheap. They wouldn,'_t_
make the necessary zoning
changes.
Council indicated it's
agreeable to changing the zoning
ask for that much in the city."
No action was taken, but it was
nited the sale has not yet been
finalized.
Christmas gifts accepted
at Salvation Army Citadel
Christmas gifts and cash for
the needy are again being taken
at the Salvation Army Citadel in
Wingham.
Food, good toys, children's
clothing and cash will be ac-
cepted ' at the Edward Street
citadel weekdays: until Dec. 15.
The donations will then be
available to needy families of
Huron County, says Iain Trainor
of the Salvation Army.
The program is being coor-
DONATIONS TO SALE—Bonnie Thompson, Sharon Mc-
Murray and Rhonda Foxton are among the members of a
Grade 10 class at the high` school who made stuffed animals
and donated them to the hospital auxiliary Christmas sale.
Other members of the class are Carolyn Campbell, Sharon
Carter, Carol Ann Rutter and Bonnie Hall. The class is
taught by Edith Lockridge. The girls are seen with Mrs.
Audrey Ritter of the auxiliary,
dinated by the Christmas Bureau
of Family and Children's Ser-
vices in Goderich. About 200
county families are expected to
be aided by the annual program.
Anyone wanting to help a less
fortunate family in the Wingham
area can bring gifts to the citadel
from 9 to 12 and from 3 to 5 week-
days until the end of next week.
Recipient families will be
contact the week before
Christmas and the parents may
go to select Christmas gifts for
their children.
Mr. Trainor said only good toys
will be accepted in the gift
campaign this year, because
there are no facilities for toy
repair at the citadel. In addition
to the needed toys, clotning anu
food, the Goderich agency will
ensure that each needy family
will be presented with a cheque of
$5 for each child in the family.
Last year $7,000 was donated to
help 180 families and organizers
say it will probably take $9,000 to
aid the 200 families which will
need help in celebrating
Christmas this year.
MStowe . Ontario '
chi Toli Free 14004
WHITECHURCH FIRE—Wingham and Lucknow fire departments were at the scene of
Whitechurch fire near several houses, the community centre and the Presbyterian .;
Church. A shed owned by John Moore caught fire and was destroyed. The adjacent church' _=
shed was also damaged in the blaze. Wingham firemen answered the alarm at 5:55 p::~
Monday.
�6uncii
sets committees for '79;
Town Council set the mem-
bership of its committees for the
coming year as well as appoint-
ing representatives to the various
boards during its inaugural
meeting Saturday.
The finance committee is little
changed from the past two years,
with Coun. Tom Deyell con-
tinuing as chairman. Coun.
David Cameron also remains on
-the• connefitt ; ^while Angus
Mowbray's place is taken by new
councillor Gord Baxter.
Coun. Allan Harrison is the new
chairman of the police com-
mittee, replacing Mr. Cameron.
Other members of the committee
are Coun. Jack Bateson and Mr.
Baxter.
Beards to cost
$2.00, not $1.00
Any male living within a five
mile radius of Wingham who is
'intending to grow a beard in the
Wingham centennial beard
growing contest, should have $2
for registration, not $1 as
reported in last week's edition of
The Advance -Times.
Clean-shaven entrants can pay
their $2 between Jan. 1 and Jan.
15 at George of Brussels or at
Andy Ste. Marie's barber ' shop.
Another typographical error
made it difficult for readers to
determine where they could buy
tickets for the Jan. 1 Mayor's
Centennial Levee which will be
held at the Wingham Golf and
Curling Club. Tickets will be
available at Shirley's House of
Fashion, the Gentlemen's Corner
and the town clerk's office.
Organizers want people to buy
tickets to the levee as soon as
possible so they will know how
much food they will need for the
luncheon included with the ad-
mission fee.
The public works and cemetery
committees have been combined
and the new chairman here is Mr.
Cameron, with Mr. Harrison and.
Coun. Ray Walker as the other
members.
Reeve Joe Kerr continues as
head of the fire committee, with
Deputy Reeve Harold Wild and
Mr. Harris+n as the other
members. •
"The industrial comniittree has
beencombined with the planning
board and Mr. Deyell. and Mr.
Kerr are council's represen-
tatives' here. Mr. Deyell was
recently elected chairman of the
planning board.
Mr. Bateson .-will continue to
chair the property committee of
Building permits
will" cost more
It, will cost more for , a building
permit in Wingham next year,
following a decision by council at
its inaugural meeting Saturday.
Coun. Allan Harrison read a
report from Mike Chappell, the
town's new works commissioner,
which recommended among
other things that the cost of the
permits - be increased to make
them cover the cost of inspection.
A motion from council made the
cost rise effective Jan. 1.
After that date a permit will
cost $10 for the first $800 of
construction cost, four dollars
per thousand up to $30,000 and
two dollars per thousand after
that.
This compares to the old cost of
$10 for the first thousand and one
dollar per thousand thereafter.
The change means a permit for
a $50,000 house will cost $166
instead of $59 as previously,
however it was noted this is still
well belowthe cost of building
permits in the city.
council. Mr. Walker and Mr.,,.:
Kerr are the other two committee
members.
Gordon : Baxter ' and Harold
Wild will represent council • on the
daycare board, with Ray Walker
and Tem Deyell as "#ts
representatives on the recreation
board. Mr. !Wild is the :sine ,.
representative on the parks,
Codd.
Joe Kerr will represent council-
on
ouncilon the board of Wingham and
District Hospital while ' Mayer.
William Walden will continue to
sit on the Public Utilities Cont -
mission. Mr. Wild will represent
the town to the Rural Develop-
ment. Outreach Project and the.
Windham museum. He is ado One •
of two representatives . to the
Junior Citizens, with Mr. Walden.
being the "other. :Mr. Walden and •
Mr. Harrison are the town
representatives on the new
'Huron Police Communications
Board.
Council postponed a decision on,
a proposal by Mr. Kerrthat any •
council member attending' a
meeting of another board such as
hospital or police com-
munications should be paid for it
the same as for - attending a
special meeting of council.
Council decided in 1977 to pay
members for attending special
meetings at the rate of $40 per
meeting.
Appointments
At the inaugural meeting of the
Wingham town council Jack
Alexander was reappointed as
the town's representative on the
Maitland Valley Conservation
Authority and Murray Elston and
Jack Kopas were appointed to the
recreation board, replacing Ray
Bateman and Bob Foxton. „
Hospit'I and ion p` 'vides
fundinU , r Homeboun•d Comm.
The Wingham & District Hospital
Foundation will provide the funding for
a new project in the local area. At a
meeting last week the foundation
agreed to provide "seed money" for the
Wingham and Area Day Centre for the
'Homebound. First year's budget will be
in the neighborhood of $7,400.
Mrs. Anne St. John, director of a
similar bod based in th linton area,
explained the purposes o t e new
group. Di ected to the needs of those
who, by eason of physical handicaps
cannot leave their homes unaided, the
intent of the program is to bring such
persons to a central meeting place at
least once a week or more frequently if
possible.
In Wingham it is likely that the for-
mer armouries building could be
utilized. The visitors would pay a small
fee for the service which would provide
transportation from and to their homes
as well as recreational and oc-
cupational therapy during the day and
a hot luncheon.
Mrs. St: John, who has directed the
'Clinton program for a year, said that
there has been a marked decrease in
the incidence of hospitalization in the
group of homebound people with whom
she and her committee have been
working, because the effects of
loneliness are minimized and advice is
available for those who have physical
handicaps.
The Clinton program has been 80 per
cent funded by grants, but since it was a
pilot project for the whole county, no
public funds are as yet available for a
similar project in the Wingham area. A
survey of this district in North Huron
and South Bruce has disclosed that as
many as 1,000 people could benefit from
such a service, although it will not be
possible to handle more than a com-
paratively small group in the initial
stages.
With the availability of funds from
the Hospital Foundation it is expected
that the plan will become operative
within a few weeks. Mrs. St. John will
act as director until the project is
working smoothly.
Support of the program for the
homebound is the first contribution
made by the Hospital Foundation,
which was established earlier this year.
The foundation's purpose is to aid in the
planning, and where possible, the
funding of such projects as will be
complementary to any health services
in the community and the surrounding
rural area.
Al