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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-09-29, Page 5Wednesday , September 29, 2004 Exeter Times -Advocate 5 Opinion Forum News ROSS HAUGH BACK IN TIME I OYEARS AGO September 29, 1994 — The South Huron Panthers, defend- ing Ontario high school girls field hockey champions started the new season the same way as they won tournaments in Exeter and Waterloo on succes- sive days. Dan Heywood rapped out an eighth inning triple to lead the Exeter Chrysler Imperials to a 4-0 win over the Tavistock Merchants to win the South Perth fastball title. Winning pitcher Derwyn Hodgins struck out 20 opposing batters. Exeter's old railway station gets a new lease on life as optometrist Dr. Anne Wilson uses it for her new office in Grand Bend. The station was built in 1911 by the Grand Trunk Railway on the London, Huron and Bruce line. Michelle Ducharme was the winner of the recent Exeter Fall Fair competition. Runnersup were Karey Youmans and Julie Restemayer. 25 YEARS AGO October 1, 1979 — Letters, telephone calls and visits convinced Bob Sharen that Grand Bend needed him and he has decided to stay on as reeve. Two weeks ago, he resigned in the middle of a meeting regarding parking in the village. At Saturday's Kirkton Fall Fair, Dave Burgin piloted a 1927 Centaur garden tractor in the morning parade. Laurie Kraftcheck is the new principal at Precious Blood Separate School in Exeter. Jeff Culbert of Lucan leaves Thursday for two years in Lesatho in Southern Africa to teach physics and math with the World University Service Overseas. 35YEARS AGO. September 23, 1969 — For the first time, this year's Exeter Fall Fair will be held on Friday and Saturday rather than the usual Wednesday and Thursday. Four members of the Exeter planning board submitted their resignations on Monday. They are Ted Pooley, Joe Wooden, Fred Dobbs and Harvey C. Pfaff. Reeve Derry Boyle said he didn't blame the four in view of the fact council had not seen fit to call on the board for advice on some recent matters. The new president of the Exeter Kinsmen club is Walter Peitsch and Dorcas Wein heads the Kinettes as president. In his column this week, Homer Pigeon reports that 191 birds from the Lucan Pigeon Club were banded Friday night for the big race from Belleville. 40 YEARS AGO September 29, 1964 — This year the Zurich Fall Fair celebrated its 100th anniversary and reports indicate it was one of the best on record. T -A sports columnist Ross Haugh won a Hereford heifer raffled at the Exeter Fall Fair this year. 45 YEARS AGO September 27, 1959 — Barbara Parker won the Harvest Queen competition sponsored by the Exeter Kinsmen at their fifth annual jamboree Friday night. 55 YEARS AGO September 27, 1949 — The Exeter branch of Canadian Canners has an orchard of 1,500 pear trees on the east side of town where 50 people are picking pears for canning. 60YEARS AGO September 29, 1944 — The Hensall-Exeter branch of the Canadian Legion is collecting old phonograph records to be sent to members of the armed forces overseas. 85 YEARS AGO September 28, 1919 — Mr. Garnet Miners of Usborne township has this season made an excellent showing with his Yorkshire hogs. He was successful carrying off several ribbons at the London Fair. I 10 YEARS AGO September 30, 1894 — A new school is being completed in Grand Bend this week. A number of Hensall residents on the west side of the tracks are arranging to have their dwellings lighted with electricity. Usborne township council set the 1894 tax rates last week. Total monies collected for town- ship purposes will be $2,070.92 with $3,829.76 going to the county of Huron. Seniors' Perspective By Jim Bearss ADULT ACTIVITIES CO-ORDINATOR A BigThankYou: To Ray Cann, Jean Hodgert and John Zettle for pro- viding excellent toe tapping music for the Alzheimer Coffee Break Day. This event was held Tuesday, Sept. 21 on the Memorial Square at the Olde Town Hall, Exeter. Coming Events: Shuffle Board: is held Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2-4 p.m. at the Legion, William Street. Legion and non -Legion members welcome. For more informa- tion contact Lee Thomas 519-235-3197. Bingo: Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004, Centralia/Huron Park Lions Bingo at the South Huron Recreation Centre. Doors open at 12 p.m. and bingo starts at 1 p.m. Seniors meeting: Tuesday Oct. 5. Plan to attend the monthly senior meeting. Come for the potluck meal, short business meeting and entertainment. Duplicate Bridge: Duplicate Bridge starts Wednesday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m. Come and enjoy yourself at the Exeter Legion, William Street. New members and recent play- ers welcome. Contact John Britnell 519-235-1639. Rummage Sale: South Huron Hospital Auxiliary Fall Rummage Sale is coming up, so it's time to clean out those closets. Have your stuff ready for a town wide pickup Oct. 20. The sale is at the Rec. Centre, Wednesday, Oct. 20 6-9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21 9:30 a.m. -2 p.m. with the auction at 10:30 a.m. For volun- teering or more information contact Vera Armstrong at 235-0780. Euchreama: Oct. 22 the Exeter United Senior Citizens are hosting a euchreama at 10 a.m. It will be held at the (non-smoking) Exeter Legion on William Street. Cost for the day is $5. Lunch is provided. Prizes and Share the Wealth to the lucky winners. Casino Rama: The excitement in Orillia continues! Join Great Canadian Holidays on a tour to Orillia's most exciting attraction — Casino Rama. There will be plenty of time to discover this. The interior design of the casino pays tribute to the culture of the Mnjikaning First Nation and its relationship to the land. There are more than 2,000 slot machines and at least 100 gam- bling tables to challenge Lady Luck. Sept. 29, Nov. 24, Dec. 13, Dec. 29. Costs includes Motorcoach trans- portation, preferred entrance to Casino Rama, $10 coin bonus plus $5 food voucher provided by Casino Rama G.S.T. Contact June Pyette, Lucknow Seniors representative 519-524-6295. Mamma Mia: at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto Wednesday, Oct. 20. Mamma Mia is a musical love story that crosses continents and generations. Through the story -telling magic of the songs of ABBA, we meet Donna — a feisty 40 -something single mother who recalls distant memories of carefree days and careless nights and her daughter Sophie, who dreams of tradition, romance and a big white wedding. Prior to the show, you will enjoy an included lunch at the Town & Country Buffet Restaurant. Costs includes: Motorcoach transportation, show, buffet and G.S.T. Contact June Pyette, Lucknow's Senior Representative 519-524-6295. Coming events in Grand Bend area: Oct. 5 — "Alzheimer Caregiver Support Night" 7 p.m. Grand Bend Area CHC, Adult Day Centre room 69 Main St East. Call Shirley 235-1545 for details. Oct. 7 — "Beginner Tai Chi Classes"start at the Grand Bend Catholic Church 10:30 a.m. Classes will be twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call Bernice Hill for details 238-5958. Oct. 9 — "Ausable Port Franks Optimist Family Harvest Bingo" 7 p.m. at the Port Franks Community Centre. Special kids prize table, snack bar available. Contact Pearl 243-2246. Exeter Branch Library: Exeter Branch library is now open on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Sunday service will continue until May 15, 2005 except holiday weekends. All of the regular ser- vices are available during this time including Internet access. The new library hours are as follows: Monday 1-8 p.m., Tuesday 1-8 p.m., Wednesday 12-5 p.m., Thursday 1-8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 12-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. The Exeter Library Book Club will hold its first meet- ing Oct. 1, Bring your brown bag lunch and join us for a discussion from 12 - 1 p.m. Coffee and tea will be provided. Please call the library at 235-1890 to regis- ter. Helen Hodgins is retiring. Helen has been working at and managing the library for 25 years this fall. She has enjoyed working with the many people in the area. Helen has seen many changes over the years within the library system and is looking forward to reading many books, day -tripping and receiving the perks of older age. Thanks Helen, for all your service and enjoy your retirement. From a woman's point of view: 1. It is important to fmd a man, who works around the house, occasionally cooks and cleans, and who has a job. 2. It is important to find a man who makes you laugh. 3. It is important to find a man who is dependable and doesn't lie. 4. It is important to find a man who's good in bed and loves to have sex with you. 5. It is important that these four men never meet. News and events for the Exeter Legion Branch 167: Exeter Legion Auxiliary Bingo: Thursdays at 7 p.m. Sept. 30. Mark your calendar for this date and help support a local charity. "Membership" This is a reminder that your 2005 membership starts in September 2004. Fees are $38 until Nov. 30 and $43 starting Dec. 1. Male dart players required. More men are required to play darts at the Legion on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. Jim Bearss For more information contact: Bob Reynolds 519-235-2309. Meat draw: Saturday, Oct. 2. Meat draws at the Exeter Legion Branch 167, William Street. 2 - 4 p.m. Luncheon: Friday, Oct. 15. Plan to attend a Legion Luncheon. Times are 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Costs $6 per person. Lunch includes soup, sandwich, dessert and coffee. Lest We Forget: William Edward Kestle William Edward Kestle was born in 1922 on Con. 22 Usborne Township in Huron County. He was raised on his parents farm in Usborne Township where he acquired his public school education at a small one room school. After graduating from Grade 8, he contin- ued on to high school in Exeter, which was three miles away from his home farm. In 1941 William decided he would enlist in the Royal Canadian Navy, where he remained for the next four years. He was 19 years of age at the time and he received the service number of # V/43696. He was sta- tioned at Halifax and was serving on a corvette. The name of the ship was the "HMCS Battleford" which was one of the 160 Corvettes that were built in Collingwood during the Second World War to be used for convoy duty. He was sailing convoy duties while serving aboard this ship that took him on what is called a triangle run. Those sailing duties took him from Halifax to Boston, New York, Newfoundland and back to Halifax. On July 18, 1945 there was a huge ammunition explosion in Halifax where William hap- pened to be at the time. It was not as large as the Halifax explosion of Dec. 6, 1917, but it was a very large explosion. An ammunition barge blew up at the Naval Magazine jetty on Bedford Basin. Fire spread quickly to piles of ammunition. A chain reaction of fire explosion, and concussion rocked Halifax that day, and into the next. Much of the north end of Halifax was smoothly evacuated the first day while the rest of the city was on high alert. Windows were shattered, plas- ter cracked and there were minor injuries and one death was reported. William Edward Kestle was discharged from the navy in 1945 after the Halifax explosion, when he found out he was having lung problems. After he arrived home he was admitted to the Byron Sanitorium in London. While at the sanitorium, he joined the Byron Royal Canadian Legion and he was also a member of the James Street United Church in Exeter. William Edward Kestle had been sick for a year with tuberculosis. He passed away Thursday, July 18, 1946, one year after the Halifax Explosion. He was 23 years of age. The funeral service was held Saturday, July 20, 1946 at his parents home in Usborne Township. The service was under the auspices of the Exeter-Hensall Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, which his father, a veteran of the First World War was a member. Rev. N.J. Woods officiated at the service and the internment was in the Exeter Cemetery. William Edward Kestle was the son of Rufus W. and Lela B. Kestle of Usborne Township, Huron County. He was survived by his parents and one brother, Jack, of Halifax. Next Week: Arthur Sidney King Bull shippers dilemma: Three bulls had heard via the grapevine that the farmer was going to bring another bull onto the farm and the prospect raised a discussion among them. The first bull says: "Boys we all know I've been here for five years. Once we settled our differences we agreed on which 100 of these cows would be mine. Now I don't know where this newcomer is going to get his cows but See PERSPECTIVE page 6 0-7