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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1971-01-28, Page 1Milacrii©Eh No. 4—ALWAYS FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS ZURICH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1971 10 c PER COPY Severe Snow Storm Cripples All Western Ontario Areas tiz WINTER WONDERLAND - The severe snow storm which hit this area on Tuesday and Wednesday created a number of interesting sites, such as those shown in the above three photos. In the top photo a number of snowmobile operators are experiencing difficulty with one of their machines, and another prepares to give him a tow. In the middle photo, Mrs. Lee Willert prepares to start the mountainous task of removing snow from the wall< in front of their place of business. The bottom photo shows trucks and cars stranded in front of the Zurich Garage, waiting for the storm to abate. The most severe snow storm in 25 years hit this area of Western Ontario on Tuesday and Wednes- day of this week, and left hund- reds of people stranded away from home for two nights or more. Anywhere from 15 inches to three feet of snow fell, and paralyzed all traffic within a matter of a couple of hours, while strong winds gusting up to 60 and 70 miles an hour left visibility nil. Zero temperatures in most areas added to the problems, espec- ially in areas where hydro was off for lengthy periods of time. First indication of the storm brewing carne early on Tuesday morning when snow started fal- ling heavily throughout the area. 13y noun, the wind had whipped up to a furious stage, and vis- ibility was completely cut off. It was late Wednesday afternoon before any sign of relief was in sight. Hundreds of children in area public and separate schools were left stranded in the buildings, and were taken care of by teach- ers and other staff personnel. • Students from outside Exeter at South Huron District High School were billeted at various homes in town, and were to be returned to their homes sometime Thursday morning if weather permitting. At Ste. Marie Separate School at St. Joseph, all the pupils left stranded at the school were prov- ided with food from neighbouring houses. In Zurich, students from the rural areas attending both the Zurich Public School and St. Boniface Separate School, were billeted at homes in the village. The same situation existed at the Hensall Public School. Students at both Stephen Cent- ral School and Huron Centennial School in Brucefield, were forc- ed to remain at the school, where supplies and food were taken to them by persons on snowmobiles. Snowmobiles quickly became the only possible means of trans- portation throughout the area, and operators of these vehicles were quick to volunteer their services wherever possible. An emergency assistance head- quarters was set up in Zurich at the Citizens News office, where a dozen snowmobile owners gathered to offer their services. Food was delivered to anyone needing it, and several other emergency operations were und- ertaken. Through the courtesy of the Open Line at CFPL radio station, an announcement was made that anyone in the Zurich area needing assistance could call the Citizens News Office, and at least 75 to 100 calls were received. Led by Zurich hydro manager Douglas Armstrong and lineman Gary Maxwell, one group of snowmobiles left the village for the 14th concession where at least eight homes had been without hydro for 18 hours. After consul- tation with the Clinton office of Ontario 1lydro, the two local hydro men found the trouble and soon had power restored for many anxious persons in that area. Some of the homes affected had as many as eight children, some of them young, and the temper- ature had dropped to 35 and 40 degrees in their houses. Another two men, Neil Walker and Gordon Lavery, travelled all the way from the village to Ste. Marie School on the Bluewater Highway, with food provisions for the stranded children there. Dozens of other acts of assist- ance were rendered, which in- cluded taking people to their homes in the country, and bring- ing persons stranded in the count- ry to their homes in the village. The men taking part in the emergency operation out of Zur- ich included Donald Oke, Paul Ducharme, Bob Forrester, Pete Deitz, Doug Armstrong, Gordon Lavery, Neil Walker, Art Miller, Jack Neeb, Lionel Wilder, Gary Maxwell and Richard Thiel. Their services were greatly ap- preciated by anyone needing assistance. Another busy spot during the storm was the St. Joseph B, P service, where at times up to 25 persons were stranded. An- other group of people, including Hensall's Dr. J, C. Goddard, was stranded at Soudant's Stor- eage, at the corner of highway 84 and the Parr Line. Dr. C. J. Wallace, of Zurich, was left stranded at South Huron Hospital in Exeter, throughout the storm. 0 Stanley Reeve Back in Race (by Shirley J. Keller) There is already one candidate for the wardenship of Huron County in 1972. He is Elmer Hayter, reeve of Stanley Town- ship who was defeated Tuesday by 1971 Warden Jack Alexander, Wingham, in a tie vote broken by the reeve of Goderich, Paul Carroll. While Hayter indicated his disappointment at losing the race, he pledged his support to the new warden and said he would continue to work to the best of his ability 'without fear or favor." The Stanley reeve did say his "running shoes" were still in fine shape. "I will be a candidate when that chair becomes vacant next year." said Hayter. He received a round of app- lause from all his associates in the council chamber. 0 No increase in Huron Road Rate (by Shirley Keller) Although the Huron County Road committee was unable to have its 1971 budget and prog- ram ready for the January ses- sion of Huron County Council, Jim Britnell, Huron County eng- ineer, predicted the mill rate would not rise this year in Huron, "Despite rising costs most residents of the county will be required to contribute the same or less to our 1971 budget than they did to our 1970 budget be- cause of fiscal restraints both voluntary and imposed by Dep- artment of Highways of Ontario policy, " said Britnell. "The hold the line type of budget of course means that we can't rebuild all the deficient (continued on page 11)