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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-09-30, Page 5Wednesday, September 30, 2015 • News Record 5 lEakhu: Ial, Ceti TRE Photos by Laura Broadley Clinton News Record Little Ray's Reptile Zoo showed the crowd snakes, turtles and even spiders at the Tuckersmith Day Nursery. Shane Kyle places his handprint on the bench. Supervisor Tammy Marlene was collecting handprints of current students and students from years ago to fill up the memory bench. Huron East councillor, Ray Chartrand, and supervisor, Tammy Marlene stand beside the sign presenting the new name of the Tuckersmith Day Nursery. To update the terminology the name is changed to Vanastra Early Childhood Learning Centre. Tuckersmith Day Nursery celebrates 40 years Laura Broadley Clinton News Record Since 1975 the Tuckersmith Day Nursery in Vanastra has been welcoming children through its doors. On September 26 people came to celebrate the centre's 40th anniversary with a bar- beque, reptile show and bouncy castle. For 40 years the centre has been known as the Tucker - smith Day Nursery but that is changing. As part of the cele- brations the centre is rebrand- ingto Vanastra Early Childhood Learning Centre. Supervisor Tammy Marten said the change was in an effort to update the old terminology, noting that "nursery" is an older word and that new people to the area might not know why Tuckersmith is in the name. Martene has been the super- visor for 29 years has seen the program change to a child -led focus over the years. The program at the centre is unique because it offers a large gym and has swimming two days aweek, said Martene. Shane Kyle remembers com- ing to the nursery when he was only5-years-oldbackin the 80s. Looking around the room he looks over at the original cub- bies, remembering his young efforts to evade his teachers. The staff at the daycare were more than just teachers, they were second mothers, said Kyle. Karen McEwing-McCo- nnell was the first supervisor in 1975. At that time there were only about five students and it was only $5 per day for the program. Although McEwing-McCo- nnell has since retired after many years as a program advisor for the ministry she still remembers the time she spent and the people she met during her time at Tucker - smith Day Nursery. McEwing-McConnell said the day to day contact with the parents and children are something she will always miss. Avery Lavis puts on a brave face and handles a tarantula during the reptile show last Saturday. Siblings Hayden and Lauren Koonstra have fun in the bouncy castle at the Tuckersmith Day Nursery 40th anniversary celebration. FROM THE ARCHIVES 15 years ago... • Clinton claimed four blooms at the national Communities in Bloom com- petition. Clinton had received 839 points out of a possible 1,000 in its pop- ulation category. • Steven Truscott was featured in CBC's Fifth Estate documentary that stirred a debate across the country. Truscott finally broke his 40 year silence on the events surrounding his arrest. • Jim Cooke returned to Clinton to a hero's welcome after spending nearly one month at the Olympic games in Sydney, Australia. Cooke was a teacher at CHSS and was coach for two Canadian beach volleyball duos. 25 years ago... • Contrary to directives issued by the provincial government, the Huron County Board of Education didn't have junior kindergarten classes in any of its schools. Director of education for the Huron County Board of Education said he had not seen the NDP's policy paper where the party stands on the issue of junior kindergarten. Rural school boards across the province at the time had opposed the program as many trustees had labeled it as the govern- ment's answer to the province's daycare woes. • The Goderich and Exeter sub -divi- sions of the CNR were sold to a U.S.- based short line operator. The purchase price was set at $4 million with a com- bined length of 112 kilometres. • Under the new Liquor License Act fines for those breaking the laws had almost doubled. Clinton police chief at the time, Mitch Latham, said there were three common offenses: underage drinking, open liquor in vehicles and consuming liquor other than in a resi- dence, licensed establishment or pri- vate place. 35 years ago... • The Clinton branch of the Royal Bank opened its new quarters with an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony. • Clinton native, Michael Clifford, 15, was one of three teenagers killed in a tragic highway accident. Two other teens also passed away while another was in critical condition in hospital. OPP were still trying to figure out what happened on the rainy night on High- way 8. Police weren't sure whether the four had doubled up on two bicycles or if one or more was jogging alongside. They were struck by a tractor -trailer driven by a Stratford man. • Thieves were robbing homes across the town. Clinton police were investigating a theft that occurred in which cash, an eight -track record player and several tapes were stolen. A few days later a wallet containing cash, credit cards and personal papers was stolen. Four cartons of siding and a box of tools were stolen from area businesses in the days following.