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Clinton News-Record, 1971-05-27, Page 115 coos Thorsday, May 27, 1971 106 Year - No, 21 BY WILMA OKE A family of nine is homeless following a fire Monday night which destroyed their two-storey frame house on a farm on the 12th Concession of Hullett Township, southeast of Londesboro. The home of John Benjamins of RR 1, Blyth, was lost in the blaze which was discovered shortly after nine o'clock. Mr, and Mrs. Benjamins and their seven children, ranging in ages from five to 17 years, were at Londesboro watching a fireworks display when the fire broke out. Blyth fire department responded to the call and were assisted by the Seaforth fire brigade. Fire Chief Irvine R. Bowes of Blyth said the fire was too far advanced to save the house but they assisted in removing the furniture from the living room: Mr, Bowes estimated the total loss of house and contents to be about'$20,000. He said the cause of the blaze has not been determined as yet, but is being investigated by the Ontario Provincial Police. A request for clothing or household articles has been made for the family. For two visitors in Clinton this weekend, Victoria Day was more than just a name. Linda Ann Dolmage (left) and Brenda Gibbings were visiting with their grandmother, Mrs. H. Gibbings of Kirk St. when some housecleaning unearthed old clothing worn around the turn of the century. Linda, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dolmage of Mitchell, wears a wedding dress of 1908 vintage while Brenda, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Gibbings, 4, Clinton wears a hat that has been in the family for five generations and a dress worn by Mrs. Watt who died in 1902, They are looking at a stereoicope. Huron NDP to choose candidate June 23 Ontario Street United Church Sunday School marks centennial Sunday will see the celebration of 100•, yearsof Sunday School classes at Ontario Street United church, Clinton. It was in 1871 that the first recorded Sunday School classes took place in a small white church on the site of the present Baptist church on Huron Street. The boys were taught by Rev. Wade while the girls were taught by Mrs. Wade. In 1877 the Sunday School services were held in the present building with nearly 90 attending. For most of the time in those, days the Sunday School met at 2:30 p.m. In 1927 classes were held in the church ' basement with curtains to divide the „ classrooms. There were two big thrills for • the pupils of the Sunday school in those days, the annual picnic to Jowett's Grove, Bayfield in the summer and a sleighride and supper in the winter. The church felt the need for better facilities for the Sunday School classes in the early 1950's and the new Christian Education wing ,was built with a large auditorium and many other features. In 1953 the Sunday School, with more than 200 members, moved in. The children had helped raise $500 of the amount needed by themselves. In 1960 the Sunday School reached a record enrollment of 240. There have been many superintendents of the Sunday School in the 100 year period including D. Tiplay, J. Taylor, A. Hooper, G. Bradshaw, Dr. Brown, W. Walker, C. Potter, Chas. Elliott, F. Townsend, Chas, Stewart, Robert Elliott, Ross Merrill and George Levis, the present superintendant. The centennial will be marked at the morning service at the church on Sunday at 11 a.m. A special attraction will be music by the Peter Snell Trio who will sing from 10:45 until 11 a.m. Family of 9 lose home in holiday blaze Scraping down and repainting of -the old Clinton water tower was completed Friday afternoon, The work took more than a week since workmen had to make sure the wind was blowing away from nearby houses before they could paint. RC board gets 3-year pact with custodians st Column Clinton police investigated al accident early Wednesday morning at Kirk and Victoria Streets. Mrs. Chtistinb Whitehead was proceeding west on Kirk Street when she was in collision with Mist Lia Wammes who was going south on Victoria Street, No estimate of damage is available. * The regular schedule of the Clinton Minor Basketball League is drawing to a close and plans have been made for a two-day tournament to decide the league champions, The tournament will be held at the high school on May 10 and 11. Quarter finals and semifinals will be held at the school gym on the Thursday night from 7-9 p.m. The championship game will be held at '7 pan. on the Friday evening at the high sehool. It will, be followed by an all-star game featuring the all stars of the minor league against the midgets from the high scho el. The public is welcome, and urged to attend to give the boys some support and to se'' hew far they have advanced in the sport in a few short weeks. Admission is free. * * We are sorry to see this week the announcement of the departure of Rev. IL W. Wonfor from Clinton. Although he has been here only a short tithe, he has always been interested in helping to Make Clinton a better place. He was for instance, the organizer of the basketball program referred to above. We wish him the best of luck in the future. * * Baseball season ill Clinton was to have had a big sendoff on Monday afternoon when the Colts played their first game of the year.. However the cold wet weather postponed the game And it will be played Saturday at 6:80. Dashwood will be in town on Tuesday at 6:30 atd Mitchell on Thursday, Rev, IL W. Wonfor, minister of Ontario Street United Church for the past two years, has accepted a call to a three point -charge in Maidstone, Essex 'County, Mr. Wonfor announced his decision on Sunday to hit parishioners, Stating that he felt strongly that Clinton no longer had either the resources. of leadership or the finances to support two United Churches, "My departure," he said, "will 'leave the BY WILMA OKE ' At a meeting in Seaforth Tuesday night of the Huron-Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board Trustee Ted Geoffrey of R. R. 2, Zurich, advised the members a three-year settlement had been reached with the custodians, expiring June 30, 1974. The settlement will provide an average annual salary of $5,382 for year 1971-12, $6,200 for year 1972-13 and $6,500 for the year 1913-74. Mr. Geoffrey said this Settlement is a move toward equalization of rates and duties for the 20 custodians throughout the two counties, with equalization being attained in 1972-73. Rev, C. A, Pettit of St. Mary's Parish in Hession was granted permission to use the facilities of St. Mary's School for a religious summer school the first full week of July for all the Catholic children that attend public schools, It will be - conducted by the St, Joseph Sisters of the London Diocese. The board appointed William hots of Stratford as part-time attendance officer. John Vintar, Superifitendant of Education, presented the '76,page Report on Schools for 1870.71 to members -of the board. The report was prepared in two parts. The first part provides general information on program which is applicable to all schools in the two counties. All trustees were given a copy of the report and each school will receive a report as well in orcbr that the staff will be infortned. In the Primary Division the language arts are a key part of the total curriculum—listening, speaking, reading and writing activities make up approximately 50 per cent of the daily learning experience. The report states two schools have initiated continuous progress programs and it is anticipated the primary divisions in all way open for Amalgamation which I feel would be a gocid thing." 'The future of the church will be decided by the church board following a congregational meeting when the decision of whether to call for a new minister or amalgamate with Wesley-Willis United Church will be Made. Mr. Wonfor said his resignation was effective July 31. schools will commence continuous progress in the fall of 1971.72 term. The teachers are becoming more adept nt organizing learning experiences to meet the wide range of individual differences and some excellent organizational arrangements are in operation and will be used as models for in-service sessions. In the Junior Division several schools are utilizing a limited form of teacher exchange according to subject area expertise of the teachers concerned. Teachers are encouraging pupils to engage in individual and group research projects because this approach to learning develops those skills of research and enquiry which form the basic fibre of all learning experiences. Activity centres and interest centres have been established in most classes, At these centres pupils may independently engage le remedial or enrichment activities. Teachers in the Jurlior Division are beginning to make more use of 'the community and community resources. Plans ate underway for the initiation of continuous progress in the year 1972.13 at a tithe when pupils from primary division will have moved into the junior divisions. In the Intermediate Division the report states that in the subject areas of science, history and geography teachers are encOuraging pupils to engage in research projects. A pilot project for September Will include three schools—St. Michael's of Stratford, St. Mary's of Goderich and St. Boniface of Zurich when each Day six will be an "option day" which will be divided in four quarters. On day Six each Grade 7 and 8 pupil will be able to select four different options. Options may include such areas as film making, public speaking, home economics, drama or some specific area of subject matter in the existing courses of study. Personnel from the community may be invited to assist in some of the options. It is felt that the two options of home economics and industrial arts are very limited in scope. and May not appeal to the wide range of interests found in the average intermediate elasS of today. It is the intent of this pilot project to provide the pupils with a wider range of alternatives which may serve to develop More viable alternatives in education. Under the beading of religious -education it was stated as of September '7, 1871, all classes of both counties will be using Canadian Catechism series, The Canadian Catechism, approved by Canadian Catholic Conference, is the most highly recommended program for use in catholic schools. Since it is a great step forward in its approach to the true Christian living based on a solid doctrinal foundation and successful implementation of this program presupposes the co-operation of parish, home and school since each has a specific role to play, Other headings in the report include language arts where it is anticipated that group study of the novel as a literary experience will be a part of every junior and intermediate reading program in 1971-12. The report, states that the basic philosophy behind classroom visitations by the Superintendent of Education, John Vintar, and the Assistant Super-intendent of Education, Joseph Tokar, has been to be supportive rather than evaluative. Part 2 of the report includes specific information about staff qualifications, experience, programs, and materials which differ from school to school, school equipment and supplies, In the last part of the report there is an article on accommodation for each school which includes a complete breakdown of the physical plant and a listing of teachers and grades within the three divisions and the number of pupils in each grade. Tuckersmith Council to repair drain BY WILMA OKE At a special meeting -of Tutkersrnith Township Council Tuesday night a request for repairs to the Wallace Drain was accepted. Council appointed engineer, Henry Uderstadt of Orangeville, to bring in a report. Council provisionally adopted the IVIcCowan Drain report. This drain is located in Stanley Township but 45 Tuckersmith ratepayers are assessed for the outlet. Three requests for building permits were granted and two land severerice applicationt were authorized. Council accepted one tile drain loan application. Meeting adjourned at 10:45 pan, until next meeting on June 8. The NDP Huron Riding Association met at the Town Hall, Hensel], on Wednesday, May 19 with the President, Mr, Will Glazier presiding. Members voted to hold a nomination meeting on Wednesday, June 23 to choose a Provincial ND? candidate. Location of the meeting will be decided later. Secretary Mrs. John Fisher read a letter from the NDP Provincial office asking for helpers and financial assistance for the by-election to be held in the Federal Riding of Brant County on May 31, The NDP holds the Provincial seat; consequently hopes are high of winning federally as Well. Bank stayed open Last Wednesday evening, two young Clinton residents were standing on the Main cornet of town when they accidently discovered the front door of the Royal Bank Was Open. Slue it was approximately 7:45 in the evening, Bob Snell and Bill Cox, both 21, came to the conclusion that something was amiss. They flagged down Constables Clarence Purdue and Wayne McFadden who were passing by. The police investigated and ascertained no theft had been committed. The problem of locking the door proved harder to solve, however. Several unsuccessful attempts to locate a bank official were made. Finally the officers farad someone with a key who corrected the apparent oversight. When questioned about the incident, Mr. Snell said, "all monies would of course been locked in the vault but I felt that being a responsible citiaen, it was my moral -duty to Worm the police." Bayfield Lions elect officers Bayfield Lions Club appointed a new slate of officers Tuesday night at its regular meeting held at the Little Inn. New president of the Bayfield Club is Joe Maytnan. 'The remainder of the executive includes: Eric Earl, past president; Pat Graham, treasurer;secretaryl Gord Graham, Ernie 'Hovey, first vice-president; Gord Graham, second viee-president; Jack Merner, third vice,presiderit, Prod Lefeau and Murray Garrett, tail twisters and George Clark as Lion 'Tamer. Directors appointed for orte year were Murray Garrett and Clare Merrier and for two years, Xen Mackie and Lloyd Westlake, A resolutions committee was appointed. Mr. Art Laverty of Goderich will act as chairman and the members are Mr,. David Leader, Hensall, Mr. Randy Collings, Hensall and Mr. Wayne Gomall, Clinton. A resolution was unanimously approved calling on Ontario Lands and Forests Minister, Rene Brunelle to conserve Niagara Escarpment lands and, in particular, the Bruce Peninsula and adjacent islands for public use and for the preservation of nature. This was felt to be an urgent matter, because of the news of the acquisition by private interests of lands in the Tobermory area for development for private use. longer Wednesday Mr. Cox added that he was extremely thankful it was he and Mr, Snell who had discovered the open door and "not some law-breaker", The door was finally locked around 8:30. Graduates from Fanshatte Glenda Matheson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Matheson, Clinton recently graduated from Farishawe College of Applied Arts and Technology In the Behavioural Sciericy Course. Wonfor accepts new charge