Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1973-09-13, Page 1Mau TIDEh dfee:-/ NO, 37 FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1973 15¢ per copy HEAVY LOSS IN BARN FIRE - One of the worst barn fires in some time caused a heavy loss to Howard Armstrong, Stanley Township, last Wednesday night. This photo shows the blaze still raging after most of the building had crumpled. Two fire brigades, Brucefield and Bayfield, answered the call for service, as well as many volunteers. RCSS Board wants schedule (by Wilma Oke) Concerned because work is not completed at St. Aloysius School in Stratford and lIoly Name of Mary School in St. Marys, the Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board will re- quest the architects, Kyles, Kyles, and Garratt of Stratford, to co-ordinate with all the build ing contractors for a completion schedule by all trades. The board will ask that this schedule be available to the ad hoc com- mittee on building projects by September 21. At the meeting in Seaforth Monday, Howard Shantz of Stratford, chairman of the ad hoc committee, reported that the classrooms at St. Aloysius were useable on the opening day of school but that much work remained to be done, especially in the offices and the gym, also painting and some shelving. Reporting on progress at Holy Name of Mary School, Gordon Ball of St. Marys, said there were a- lot of odds and ends to New clerk in Hensall At a special meeting on Mon- day night, the council of the Village of Hensall appointed a new clerk -treasurer to take the place of Earl Campbell, who is retiring this fall. The new man is Earle Shapper, of Huntsville. Mr. Shapper has had consid- erable experience working in municipal life in the Huntsville • area. He will commence his duties in Hensall on December 1. The successful applicant was one of 17 who applied for the position. be completed and that work at St. Aloysius was ahead of Holy Name. John Vintar, Superintendent of Education, remarked on how , well the older sections of both schools were fitted into the newly constructed additions. He said he was pleased with the schools and that many favourable remarks were being made by . those who visited the schools, as well as the staff and the stud- ents. The Board accepted the tender of Ross Scott Ltd., of Brucefield for furnace oil at a discount of six cents a gallon off the posted tank wagon prices for the year 1973-74, which at time of tender was 26.9 cents a gallon. Ted Geoffrey of Zurich was named representative for 1973- 74 to the Ontario Committee for Education Week --the first meeting of the committee will be held September 21 at 10 a.m. in Education Centre, Etobicoke Board of Education. Howard Shantz was named as alternate representative. The Board approved letting the YM -YWCA of Stratford dist- ribute handbills in Perth Separ- ate Schools about the annual sports exchange for residents of Stratford and district to ex- change skates, etc, Joseph Tokar, Assistant Sup- erintendent of Education, report ed the inservice workshop on speech disorders at St. James School in Seaforth at the end of August was successful with 22 teachers taking part. He said they should be able to use the knowledge in the c oming year. Michael Connolly of Kippen reported the Huron -Perth TB and Respiratory Association was planning a meeting on smoking at Clinton Legion on Septemb- er 18 and in Stratford on Sept- ember 19. John Vintar reported on a news release from the Ministry of Education reporting the increase of expenditures ceiling: by an average of 7.9 per cent next year. This means the 1974 ceiling for elementary schools will be increased by $53 ro $683 per pupil or an increase of 8.41 per cent. Mr: Vintar said the effect on the Board would not be adverse and Jack Lane, Busin- ess Administrator, said that at the moment it appears a very reasonable ceiling for 1974. Eugene Laurence Condon was appointed principal's relief at St. Joseph's School in Clinton, and at Sacred Heart School in Wingharn. Effective as of January 1,, 1973, the board approved a policy to recognize the retire- ment of board employees with a gift of money according to the years of service and to non - paid appointees of the hoard to outside associations, other than board members, be pres- ented with a small gift on ret- irement. (continued on page 6) Fire destroys large barn in StinIey area Fire believed to have been caused by lightning last Wed- nesday night completely dest- royed a large barn on the farm of Howard Armstrong, about three and a half miles north of Zurich on the Goshen Line, Loss by some observers has been estimated as high as $50, 000. The blaze was first noticed by neighbours Floyd and Gregory Armstrong, as well as another neighbour, Campbell McKinley. A call for fire brigades was quickly made by several people, but since the village of Zurich and the Township of Stanley do not have a fire protection agree- ment rhe Zurich department was unable to answer the call. Both Bayfield and Brucefield brigades were called to the scene, but by the time they arrived the fire was too far advanced to extinguish. Mr. Armstrong told the Cit- izens News that he had just finished loading a truck -load of cattle for the sales barn, and was driving down the road when he first noticed the fire reflect- ion in the rear-view mirror. He quickly returned to the scene. About 80 head of cattle were chased from the barn area by neighbours and Mr. Armstrong, and a number of smaller imple- ments were pulled from the burning building. Completely demolished, however, was a large quantity of this year's barley crop, along with a cons- iderable amount of baled bay and straw. The main barn was about 40' x 70', while another wing was about 30' x 50'. A severe electrical storm swept through the area just about the time the fire started, but no rain accompanied the storm. Strong winds caused .a serious danger to the Armstrong home, but a number of volunteer help- ers were quickly placed on the roof with buckets of water and a hose. Dangerous sparks were also carried across the road to the property of Melvin Elliott, but volunteers also kept an eye on the situation there. Bayfield discuss dump (by Milvena Erickson) At the regular session of Bay- field council Wednesday even- ing, council discussed at length the closing of the dump. The reeve reported on his contact with the officers of the Holmes- ville site and found the village could be accomodated there, and the reeve will be invited to their next meeting for furth- er discussion. Aerial survey maps of the village are now available at the clerk's office at $10 per sheet, or $50 per set of seven. Councillor MacFadden, Bay- field representative of the Aus- able-Bayfield Conservation Authority and reeve Oddleifson will attend an authority meeting on September 19. On the day's agenda is a tour of the water- shed. Correspondence included a questionnaire from the Minist- ry of Transport and Communic- ations requesting information regarding the 1973 subsidy fore- cast (anticipated spending in the municipality); this was fillet in and returned. A letter from the Ontario Association of Rural Municipal- ities, containing the list of new officers and renewal form was approved. A letter from the M.T. and T. explaining the Ontario Economic Council, Municipal planning in Ontario; studies and development and future government policies; the issues involved and constructive reform, and stated a copy of the Municipal Planning Act report is obtainable. A letter from W.J. Ferguson lot 187, Colina St., Bayfield, requesting a building permit with minor variances, was turn- ed over to the committee of adjustment for study. (continued on page 16) Shortly after the fire broke out several hundred spectators arrived on the scene, with many of them offering assistance in any way possible. Mr. Arm- strong had high praise for the many volunteers who pitched in and helped in any way poss- ible. The fire continued to smould- er for several days after, and as late as Tuesday of this week a tank of water had to be taken to the site to completely dist- inguish the burning barley, On Tuesday night Mr. Armst- rong told the Citizens News he had still not made any definite plans as far as rebuilding is con- cerned. He said he hoped to close in the remaining part of his pole barn to keep cattle in, but added it would be hard to operate without hay and straw. 0 Seek approval The Lake Huron Parkway committee hopes to approach the province before the end of this year seeking approval of a parkway belt between Sarnia and Amberley along Lake Huron, The committee is made up of representatives from Huron County Council, Lambton County Council and the City of Sarnia. At a meeting Tuesday, the committee approved a broch- ure which will be sent to all area municipalities in a bid to seek support for the parkway. 0 Reject licencing Hay Township council reject- ed a request from the Huron County Health Unit to pass a food licencing bylaw at their September meeting last Tues- day. The reason, said clerk Wayne Horner, was because food est- ablishments, such as restaurants are practically non-existent in the township. At the same time, they not- ified Stephen Township that .they are in agreement with them that the Ministry of Envir- onment do a feasibility study with regard to piping water from the Grand Bend water plant for the village of Dashwood. Four tile drain loan applicat- ions were received in the am- ount of $11, 500. Council also recommended that an application from Harold Willert to sever the south half of lot 24, concession 3, be granted. He wishes to sever two acres. General accounts of $39, 885. 89 were approved. This includes four tile drain loans. Council also accepted road accounts of $5, 408.88 and drain accounts of $1,138.92.