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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-10-23, Page 3, , EARLY MORNING ONLOOKERS—The fire which destroyed the Clinton Hotel Friday morning was fought by firemen from the Clinton, Goderich and ..Seaforth departments. A large number of the hotpl. spectators watched the firemen's attempt to save (Photo by Shoveller) STOPPING THE SPREAD—Firemen saturate the north end of the Clinton Hotel, destroyed by fire early Friday morning, in an attempt to keep it from spreading to Gerrard's Shoppinij Centre next door. (Photo by Shoveller) Arson blamed in Clinton The early morning tire which destroyed the Clinton Hotel -Friday was definitely the work of an arsonist. Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake said Tuesday. There were "nine or ten guests" in the hotel when the fire broke out shortly after 2 a.m. said Helen Cgssidy, who with her hus- band Des owned the 73 year old inn. Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy, along with their daughter. Erin. 12. and other occupants escaped without injury. Bob Adams of Mount Forest. an investigator with the Ontario fire marshall's office. discovered how and where the fire started. and Chief Westlake noted there may "be one or two suspects". but no inforrna• tion will be given out until arrests are made. The estimated loss in the fire, which was fought by volunteer departments from Clinton and Goderich. as well as Seaforth. is S500.000 Firemen concentrated much of their efforts on containing the fire from spreading to several stores adjacent to the hotel. Only Gerrards Shop- ping Centre (1Le's). connect. ed to the north end of the hotel. suffered smoke dam- age. The. fire attracted a large number of spectators. One. Gerry Bell. 18, a part-time waiter at the hotel. had only been working for three and a half months. It looki like I'll have to look for a new job." he said as he watched his place of employment de. stroyed. The Seaforth department arrived on the scene about 2.30 and remained until ":30 Friday morning. • sas er u occur here too firemen told BY HERB SHOVELLER Although the train derail- ment and near disaster in Mississauga last fail oe'curred in an urban area with most necessary facilities close by, the same dangerous situation could happen in rural areas. That was one of the messages Wayne Cunning- ham, one of five district chiefs on the Mississauga Fire Department, told over 60 area fire men at the Huron Counts; Mutual Fire Aid Meeting in 5eaforth Monday night. "1 don't want you guys to think it can't happen here," Mr. Cunninghant told the assembly of volunteer fire- fighters. "And it doesn't have to be a train. ft, could be a fuel truck and a school bus." Preparation and or- ganization are the keys to dealing with such accident'. he stressed, especially when dealing with high volumes of fuel or dangerous chemicals To illustrate his message. Mr. Cunninghamused an extensive slide exhibition, which ran from the initial explosion of - fuel and chemical tanker cars through the evacuation of the city and the eventual cleanup. "We had a lot of luck," he added, noting that many things unexpected could occur, and the ability to make quick decisions at the scene is crucial. "I recommend rest when you're tirea. You need rest for snap decisions. Chiefs should delegate authority and getjest." The district chief added he managed only eight hours sleep in the week after the accident occurred. "Rely on the men in your own department." he told chiefs. "There is always someone with know -how and supplies." He used himself as an example. Once. only shorty after he'd fallen asleep, he was wakened hy another district chief. :- cause of the vast amount of water used. new roads had to be constructed at the scene. Mr. Cunningham had construction experience and he was btought back tri help build the thoroughfares. Although intermittenly in his talk • he aimed barbs at the media, he admitted their assistance was of great berie- fit. "It pays to get to know them and to be on the good side of them." be said. Mr. Cunningham also hinted occasionally that delegated environmental authorities created problems HELPLESS—Helen Cassidy, who along with her husband. Desmond, owns the Clinton Hotel, watches as the hotel burns early Friday morning. She and her family fled from their home on the third floor of the building when the fire began. (Photo by Shoveller) A grbup of people who 'WteAV newspapers got to talking one night, as such people do. (Our ability to write pages and pages exceeded only by our eager"- ness to offer opinions on just •aboet any sUbject,) And of course things got arotrod to that age old journalistic question: Is there anybody out there actually • reading what we write? Once in awhile vqe get reassured on that, but only when we write something large numbers of people 'hclon't like. Then the com; plaints, the fuss, the comments casting doubt on our integrity are almost worthwhile-soineone's read- ing this stuff after all! We laughed about how naive we were when we got started in this game. Eager questions to bosses on how the readership liked the coluinn and our merciless quizzing of friends on the assumption that they were just as fascinated by the doings at Podunck Township council as we were, and of course had read every word of our story on same. AN OLD LADY When you do get a comment from a readers. we THE HURON EXPOSITOR; ocroaen 23, 1980 EP Something to say by,,Susan White • agreed t's something like "Oh, I thought you were a much older lady by the way you write." But that's bal- anced by the fact, most of us had to admit,that we didn't have a very deat picture of that awesomeinal judge and jury, the reader, either. It's a frustrating process ,sometimes, spending count- less hours at meetings. then more hours trying to under- stand local politics and final- ly rushing to get it all down by deadline. We try, believe it or not, to make fairly complex subjects like local politics interesting...that's our job...but .after accla- matioas% poor attendance at ratepayers' meetings and election candidates who win because the voters knew they their great-grandmothers (just for example) a tiny doubt does creep in. CRYING THE BLUES? Your suspicions to the contrary. I'm not crying the blues about the nature of the job. Deep down we all belive (or at least kid ourselves) tliat people do read what we write, thatnewspapers do let people know what's happen- ing in their communities. We wouldn't be here if we didn't. 1 guess I'm really bemoan- • ing the fact that there's not more , communication , be- tvveen you the reader, and us, the writers. It'd be nice to hear what some of you think ' needs more coverage on the —local— eTedion scene for re example, and what needs less. Or what features you really like in the Expositor and those that leave you feeling very ho-hum. More craft columns? We think so and are trying to line some up. -but we're guessing tIM they're popular. Too little sports' coverage? We've been trying to beef it up and suspect a large number of readers want that. What other . areas of life in and around Seaforth do we give too m ch/little attention to? Tell US - It's this working In vacuum feeling we'd 1;k to hgetelpriudof, s. Asanydyooucatin nctIlargeilt: when we de hear about a mader preference, it's so rare aird so strong that the opinion can Carry a lot of *eight, WHAT CHOICE? We're limited to only so many people, hours in •the week, and,energy here so we . can't do everything. But when it comes down to covering event A or situation , B a choice has to be' made and we'd like to make it in favour of what ititerests the greatest number of our Oh minorities have rights too and we have nO intention of abandoning our coverage of special issues that have importance in impact if not numbers or of things we all have to know about, like it or not. We're not on a disco journalism kick. Bfit we'd like to hear from hoever reads us out there, henever the spirit moves So call, drop in, write and remember. there's half a page next door reserved for your letters. Tuckersmith to change assessment BY VV1IMA OKE Tutkersmith council will request an equal- ized assessment roll for tax- ation in 1981. The Minister of Revenue will be asked . to proceed with returning the roll for the township, pre - Pared under Section 86 of the assessment act. Mery Brown of God_ erich, regional assessment com- missioner for Huron Perth and Ken Fagen of the assessment office in Goder- ich, attended the council meeting Tuesday and ex- plained the equalized assess- ment program. Most other municipalities in Huron have changed over to this method. They offered to arrange for an open house with Tucker - smith ratepayers so that they could come and talk to an asssessment officer to ex- plain the system. At present Race set for Hullett Seven ratepayers attended the Hullett Township nomination meeting. Monday afternoon and there will be a race for council and reeve. Incumbent councillor Tom Cunningham is challenging reeve Joe Hunking. Mr. Cunningham explained that he ran for council last term in preparation for the reeve's position this time around. Mr Hunking has sold his farm and due to thc extra, time he has available he has decided to run again. Mr. Cunningham said he would like to see more paved roads in the township and more public support for council For council two new men are running. Mel Knox. and Ron Gross are both appearing on a the municipal scene for the first time. Clare Vincent. former clerk for the township, is making a comeback to local politics, running for council. Hc explained his interest in municipal council and commented op how local councils are no longer immune to other municipalities around them and need to .co-operate more. Mr. Vincent. who served close to 20 years as clerk jokingly referred to an election platform of getting bigger and better dogs to dean up all of the garbage instead of just half of it John Flynn is returning for another try at council and is the only present counciltor to do so Joe Gibson has been acclaimed as deputy .neerve. He was not present at the meeting. Council supports Nov. 11 A delegation from the Seaforth branch of the Royal Canadian Legion asked council to spggest citizens take two hours off on Tuesday. Nov. 11 in honour of Reinert). titmice Day and came away with a council resolution proclaiming the whole day a holiday. • Legion president Bill Wilbee agreed with Mayor John Sinnamon that Nov. 11 should be a statutory holiday. and council agreed with its finance committee's re - Town to spend $500 on tree planting this fall Seaforth will spend up to S500 planting trees on town owned property this fa^1, council has decided. on the suggestion of es public works cornmittes "liVe are planting rnare than we're takong down." committee chairman Henry Meno told 01;e Expositor. Last year. aivording to the chairman. about .70 trees %erre cut down and about 200 planted. Mr. Mero said the department gets quotes from local tree suppliers for the trees and the planting lob Seaforth to extend sewers Seaforth council agreed Wednesda% night to supply a road hed and extend sanitary sewers. at a cost of about S3,000 to proeprtv owned by Betty MacLean at the north end of West William St. As well. the town will buy a parcel if her land for S500. which will be dedicated as a road allowance. Once the land is sery iced. council heard. the land can he seyered into • three !milling lots. "1 can understand the 5500 and the rad. but are we committing ourselves to supply sewers and paved road;?" asked councillor Henry Mero. "Say futbre builders w ant to open up land and want serviceare we .obligated?' he continued. Council hopes Clerk Jim Crocker said only a gravel road bed would he supplied and suggested council "judge each case on its own merits " Deputy reeve Bill Dale. chairman of the finance committee which recommended details of the arrangement with the MacLeans said We (the town) will benefit in the long run. It will hump up the assessmentwhich means less for the taxpayer " For example. look at the industrial park. It was no use without the bridge,. Look at the assessment down there now." The town reeve said. The town built the bridge to service land it was offering for sale in the park pump is the answer Seaforth council hopes a portable pump. along with a high water level alarm system in the town's main wet well will cut down pri flooded basements in low lying part of town next spring. • Clerk Jim crocker said Wednesday nicht main pumping station to Silver Creek. "I'd like to have an answer for the ,eople storming ttt. here next spring with water in their basements." said Councillor Henry Mero, who probed the clerk about the infiltration study on sewer system leaks that the alarm will ring,at the police station. that's been going on for "three years now." probably at the town foreman's house and the home of ministry of the environment "They think", the clerk said "these employee John Penner. measures will prevent that." The ministry The ministry decided to place the pump at also thinks, the clerk added, there's no a manhole on Oak St. instead of constructink major leak source but rather a series of small a permanent storm water by-pass from the ones. '",1•=1;141,7,•?"*" commendation that the province be urged to &dare it. supporting a resolution from Oshawa Couri5illor Gerald Grooihuis tried to clear up exactly what force the town's declaration has. If we declare a holiday and nobody honours it as a holiday that looks foolish." Mayor Sinnamon replied that if enough municipal governments support the idea. senior goVernments will listen Write a letter to the editor today! some owners are paying too much tax and others- not enough. Mr. Bowen said the ' sy- stem will not increase the dollars paid in taxes but would redistribute them trough a fairer assessment, based on market value of the home. Mr. Bowen said. "This program seems to be work- ing." Deputy -reeve Robert Bell said that in talking to fellow council members at county council the general feeling is that this is a fairer assess- ment." Councillor William Brown said. that he was very dis- appointed in the ratepayers' meeting held Monday night because few questions were asked. Councillor Frank Falconer replied that it was a better meeting than the late two ratepayers' meetings -there was a good crowd, and a good crc ss -section across the township. The meeting was adjourn- ed -about 1230 a.m. Wednesday Fiddlers back here again Seaforth irciond Old Time Fiddle Jamboree will be held in Seaforth District High School on Sunday afternoon October 26 A large number af champion fiddlers as well as area players will be per- forming. Fiddlers will be corning from urban centres as well as local areas Many step dancers. banjo and guitar players will also perform. Jack Ingram. Aylmer will ad as M C The jamboree will end with a grand finale Supper and refreshments will be available all afternoon to spectators All proceeds will to towards the Vr Egmond heritage restoration fund The Van Egmond Foundation's first okl time fiddle jamboree was very successful Held in April. it drew R00 spectators and over 60 entries Expositor asks: ) Continued from page 2 Becky Bannerman of Egnionthille was of an entirely different opinion "I think they're getting really crappy. They're phoney They're not believeable." she said of Canadian telelvision programs. She said she watches 'more American tv. "The Canadian programs when you look at them. leok like they're staged. The American ones look natural. The Canadian ones don't." she said. • Marg Glanville of RR2, Staff, said. "Yes. they have improved a wee bit. They're not up to standard yet. but 1 think they will be." Mary Anne Snowdon of Matilda Street in Dublin said. "I watched The Canadian Establishment. I thought it was an excel- lent show." She said she thought Canadian shows had improved. "Some of the Canadian films leave much to be desired. but programs on TV are much better than they used to be." she said. Linda Allin of 10' Market St.. Seaforth was of the opposite view "Absolutely not." she said "I'd say they're about the same. Fd sooner watch American programs. When you watch a Canadian made movie. you can always tell it's Canadian -made before they even tell you. They're not as sophisticated she said. agreeing with another opinion that Canadian shows don't look as natural. Chris Coultes of Varna said. "1 think Canadian TV shows have gone downhill. She added that she thought' there was too much violence on TV. Mrs. Robert Welsh of Clinton said, "They're certainly not any better. It Seems to me that they could have More interesting programs.'' She cited the Watson Report and Front Page Challenge as some of the better eanadian programs. She said there are "so many things going on in our country today that could be brought to people's attention." V',../:,.'.7kZ .t!... -,r* -t ,:.71; 's i ...,7":',:. TrAlt:7Ct.... ,-,s.Z..,7.7.n:.1,414.' . :41'1 .:',:' `?", ?t, ,1*, l'.7.• _