Clinton News-Record, 1974-01-17, Page 1New board meets
The first mooting of the Clinton fire area board was held Tuesday night in Clin-
ton and marked the beginning of co-operation between Clinton and the four
surrounding townships. Left to right are John Jewitt from IIullett, Erwin Siliery
from Tuckersmith, Fire Chief Clarence Nellans, Fire Captain Gord
advisor Robin Thompson, Garnet Wright from Goderich Township, Clinton coun-
cillor John McFarlane, Clinton Mayor Don Symons and councillor Ruth Roy.
(News-Record photo)
County council to study
Weather •
1974
NI 1.9
JANtJARY
'1974.
011 .LO
.8 19 8 13 0 •
. 9 17 0 18 8
10 21 -2 19. 12
11 22 1 1. . 10
12 16 9 '24 14 '
13 17 8 32 15
14 33 15 32 • 25
Thursday, January 17, /974 - 109th Year No. '3
0" snow
iiittari,,Ontorio
2()*Cepts
First puck dropped
The Clinton Mcreation Committee's Sixth Annual lantern
tOornement got underway eel week and organisers report in
extellent turnout and exciting hodory action.- Hers Milyitr
Don Symons drops the first bock between John ThomOtion of
Poirolli and Stave Saynham of Sabot*, while Len Fawcett,
left, and Clinton rec. director Ms WHton watch. TM tout•
nainent continues this weekend. (hlinvis-Recotd photo)
county fire office
Winter Carnival set to go on Feb. lst
Huron teachers docked
for December strike
Meeting in committee of the whole the
Board discussed the absence of the secon-
dary school teachers in Huron, who joined
thousands of teachers across the province
on December 18 who stayed away from
school to protest against government
legislation which would invalidate the
resignations of 7,800 teachers trying to
hasten salary negotiations and order com-
pulsory arbitration.
Following the discussion, the trustees
decided that any secondary school teacher
not at school on December 18 will lose a
day's pay.
St Column
By J.F.
It's a dreadful thing to wish, but
everyone here is hoping that there isn't a
thaw and hence no snow between February
1 and 10 this year. Those are the dates of
the Clinton and District Winter Carnival,
and by looking at the impressive lineup of
events, it looks like a humdinger. As this
column is being written, the sun is out and
the temperature has soared to near 40
degrees for the first time in three weeks.
*
Apparently there are a large number of
garden addicts in Clinton. After last
week's paper came out confessing that
yours truly was a garden freak, dozens of
people stop on the street and offered con-
dolences and sympathy. It seems the
disease is nearly incurable and the only
solace that can be found is at a meeting of
the Clinton Horticulture Club.
*
Our congratulations to Dick Dixon and
Cliff Parker of Clinton who are going to
Gravenhutst next week as part of the
Seaforth Curling Club's try for the Ontario
Senior Men's Curling Championship:
Curling is the only game where you're not
arrested for throwing rocks at somebody.
* *
A headline lb last week's News-Record
about the Vanastra residents being behind
in their tome Was misleading, Most of the
residents who have received their deeds are
caught up on their taxes, The Majority of
the taxes is owed by Vahastra Develop-
ments.
feasibility, of the central dispatching systein
would not be law, only a look at what
could be done and how much it would cost,
Cheek) council took a step closer to
possibility of building a senior citizens
recreation centre in town when they pur-
chased 'two lots on Victoria Street Monday
night Ter $15,000.
The two lots, 68 and 70 Victoria Street,
back on the post office and are near the
centre of town. No plans were revealed for
construction of a building.
Several hints were also dropped at the,
meeting that the town is considering either
renovating the old town hall or' building a
new town hall and fire hall complex.
iefayor Don Symons said that something
must be done to remedy the lack of space in
the town hall,
Councillor John McFarlane suggested
there be a study initiated to find the cost of
restoring the old hall. Council had
budgeted $5,000 last year to repair the
clerk's office, but the renovations weren't
carried out.
Mayoi+ Symons revealed that the Ontario
Housing Corporation is planning to build
another senior citizens apartment that
Two Clinton men, Dick Dixon and Cliff
Parker, are part of a team of curlers from
the Seaforth Curling Club who are playing
in the Senior Men's Playdowns of the On-
tario. Curling Championship.
Mr. Dixon and Mr. Parker, along with
Dave Cornish and John Patterson of'
Seaforth, will be going to Gravenhurst next
week,,Jan. 22, 23, and 24; for the Ontario
Championship after they knocked Out some
of the better teams in the district.
The. Seaforth team beat Guelph last
week hi two games straight after Guelph
had fought seVeli other teams to reach
Seaforth.
The men also beat Exeter of the
Organizers of this year's Clinton and
District Winter Carnival say that final
plans are drawn up and this year's ten day
version from. February 1-10 is all set to go.
All that's needed is cp-operation from the
weatherman.
Carnival chairman, Don Armstrong, said
that this year, people will be able to buy a
"Bon femme", or miniature snowman to
wear on their coats. The "Bon Hornmes",
worth $2 for adults and $1 for students,
will get the wearer into most of the events.
This year's Carnival, the sixth annual;
contains most of the highlights of last year
and several new additions. New this year is
a Pancake Breakfast on Sat. Feb. 2' at the
arena at 10 a.m. and hay rides at the park
on. Feb. 8 sponsored by the Central Huron
Agricultural Society.
The, Carnival will be kicked-off on,
Friday February 1 with a Torchlight
Parade around town at 8:30 p.m. by over
100' snowmobiles from the Clinton
Snowmobile Club. At 9:30"the Club will
direct a snowmobile trail ride.
Saturday, February 2 will see the Pan-
cake Breakfast' at 10 a.m., the parade at I
p.m., which will go from the Legion to the
town,'good for a year, will pay $7.50 this
year, up from the $5 cost of last year. Ten
permits were issued.
would contain' 21 'units and it would be
started by March. No date was set by the
01-1C.
',Mayor Symons also suggested that coun-
Oil should consider combining the public
works department' and • the water and
sewage department of 'the. Public Utilities
Commission.
In other business, council passed a
motion appointing Clerk Cam Proctor as
the town's lottery licence officer. The town
collects $2 or four percent of every lottery
in town under $3,500.
Council also appointed Councillors Ruth
Roy and John McFarlane to represent the
town on the new area fire board, which met
Tuesday night in Clinton. Mayer Symons is
automatically a member,
Public Works chairman Ernie Brown
revealed that his department is having dif-
ficulty with cars parking' on the streets
during snow removal operations. Clinton
police have issued over 40 tickets so far
this winter for cars contravening die'
town's snow removal by-law.
southern loop- and defeated Markdale of
the northern league.
Mi.. Dixon said that there has been smile.
very tough competition and there will be
more at the finals at Gravenhurst but he
said they have been very lucky.
To qualify for a senior team, each mem-
ber must be over 50 years of age and the
total age of the Wain must add up to 210
years or better,
Should the local team take the Ontario
title, they would he eligible to go to the
Canadian finals in Halifax later this win.
ter,
Mr. Cornish is the skip of the tearn,John
Patterson is the vice, Di& Dixon is the
lead and"Cliff Parker is the second.
'arena and this year it will go past the
hOspital. Children's Day will start at 2:30
at, the high school and will feature Pirie
Mitchell and his dog Peaches from
CFPL—TV, Miss Dominion of Canada, the
Prince and. Princess contest) and a host of
local talent,
On Saturday night, the Queen contest
gets underway at 7:30 at. the high school
with the Carnival Queen being crowned at
about 8:30. At 9 p.m. at the Legion, the
Lions Club Carnival Dance gets underway,
with music by the "Royalaires".
The Novelty Races, sponsored by the
Clinton Snowmobile Club will start the
Sunday, Feb. 3 activities at the park at 2
p.m, and the Clinton Figpre Skating Club
will put on competitions at the same time
in the arena. ,
On Monday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m., a Broom-
ball Tournament will get underWay at the
arena, and feature such femme teems as
the Fish and Game, the Kinsmen; Hullett
Township and CHSS. At 8:30t p.m. the
Legion;,Auxiliary will sponsor•'a bingo at
the Legion.
A girl's hockey tournament' with Ilder-
ton, Seaforth, Forest and Clinton will
Council, in other business,' endorsed a
resolution from Grand Bend asking the,
ministry of economics and intergovernmen-
tal affairs to allow municipal councils to
appoint an alternate in case a reeve or
deputy reeve can't make it to a County
council meeting because of illness.
Clinton on motion by council, will be
able to borrow up to $220,000 to meet ex-
penses in 197,4 until the taxes start coming
in. Last year, Clinton borrowed a tete! of
$230,000, but Clerk Cam Proctor said that•
this year because of the four times a year'
tax collecting, probably only $20,000 would
injured
By Wilma Oke
it slowed up on the out-skirts of Dublin, it
skidded on a patch of ice and the car swer-
ved to the right, then across the road to the
At their first meeting of the year last
week, Stanley Township council concurred
with a suggestion from the Ausable-
Bayfield Conservation Authority,thet the
Authority be allowed to expand ,and take
in 'the lakeshore.
Stanley also gave first reading to a by-
law that would close part ofithe •old road
alloWarece on concession 4 lot 32. The
road has been moved because of the recen-
tly constructed bridge on the road.
In other business, council paid member-
highlight Tuesday, Feb. 5 action, with the
first game starting at 7 p,m,
Wednesday Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. will see a
. senior citizens' card party get underway at
the arena, with Mrs. Cloclough in charge.
From 7 to 9 p.m. there will be a family
skate night at the arena and at 9 p.m., the
highly successful Hospitality Night gets un-
derway at the arena and will feature local
talent,
The Clinton Junior "D" Mustangs will
battle Lucan in Clinton on Thursday Feb, 7
at 8 p.m. in eregular scheduled game.
The Clinton and District Christian
Reformed School will have a hockey tour-
nament at the arena from noon to 4 p.m.
on Friday Feb. 8. At 7 p.m. the
Agricultural Society will sponsor hay rides
in the park and at 9:30 p.m. the Kinsmen
and Kinettes will have their Monte Carlo
night, where a person could win thousands
of dollars (of playmoney) at .the .blackjack
tables.
The public school races Will, kick off the
Saturday Feb. 9 program, with the broom-
ball finals at 1:30 p,m., and the girls hockey
finals at 3 .P.m. There are three dances at 9
p.m., with the Fish and Game, the
be necessary.
Council also passed a motion to change
the traffic lights at the main intersection to
their regular red, green and amber cycle 24
hours a day instead of flashing red and am-
ber after midnight. Several councillors
thought the flashing- amber was en-
couraging speeding on Highway 4.
Councillor Fall told council that his
committee was still looking into the
crossing guard problem. He said there
weren't enough applicants to fill the jobs
available,
in car wreck
left to be struck broadside by a west-bound
tractor trailer truck.
Dennis on seeing the impending collision
yelled "Duck" and it is believed this saved
them as the roof of the car was ripped off
and the car demolished.
Dennis was able to climb out of the car
himself from the top opening and Leonard
was removed by Box Ambulance atten-
dants.
Robert Davidson, 51.. of Milton was the
driver of the T.B. Smith truck, used to haul
salt from Goderich. He was not injured.
Constable Eric Gosse of the Goderich
attachment of the O.P.P., who investigated ,
the mishap, estimated damage to the truck
at $2,000.'
ship dues of $30 to the Association of
Rural Municipalities; $20 to the
Association of Municipal Clerks and
Treasurers; and $15 to the Ontario Farm
Drainage Association.
Council gave grants of $50 to the
Salvation Army, $25 to the Mental Health
Association, and $25 to the War Memorial
Children's Hospital.
'Road accounts of $7,035, general ac-
counts of $3,498, and a tile drainage loan
of $16,700 were ordered paid.
Agricultural Society at the Arena and the
Presidents Ball at the Legion.
Sunday, Feb. 10 will see the MOSRA
sanctioned snowmobile races, sponsored by
the Clinton Kinsmen, get underway at the
Clinton race track, at t p.m., with thousands
of dollars in prize money being given out.
As well, there is a poster contest for
public school children before the Carnival
and the winners will be displayed in local
businessmen's windows. An ice sculpturing
contest is also planned.
Separate school board,
names new committees
The Huron-Perth County Roman
Catholic separate school, board meeting in
Seaforth Monday night elected trustee
Francis Hicknell, .RR 5, Seaforth, to
represent the board on the Huron-Perth
TB and Respiratory Diseases Association
for 1974. Dan Devlin and Fred Bergsma of
Stratford were appointed to represent the
board on the Stratford Library Board.
The standing committees for the year
will be composed as follows: personnel
committee,-Vincent Young (chairman),
Goderich; Gordon Ball, St. Marys; Howard
Shantz, Stratford; and David Teahen,
Stratford. Building and property commit-
tee, Ted Geoffrey, RR 2, Zurich (chair.
man); FA .Vere, Stratford; Joseph Looby,
Dublin; and Oscar Kieffer, RR 1,
Bluevale. Finance and insurance commit-
tee--Arthur Haid,, RR 4, Listowel (chair-
man); Michael Connolly, RR 3, Kippen;
Pat Carty and David Teahen, both of
Stratfor-d. Transportation--Donald
Crowley, RR 2, Gadshill (chairman); John
McCann, RR 3, Ailsa Craig; Francis
Hicknell, RR 5, Seaforth; and Michael
Connolly.
Elected to the advisory committee on
family life program were: Francis Hicknell,
F.J. Vere; Ted Geoffrey, Donald Crowley,
Howard Shantz, and Vincent Young.
The following ad hoc committees were
formed: building project committee,
Howard Shantz, Gordon Ball, F.J. Vere.
Staff retirement committee, Francis
ilicitnell„, Vincent Young and David
Peahen,* %a rd Office accoln mod. a ti on cern -
mittee, Joseph Looby, Ted Geoffrey and
Howard Shantz. Conference committee,
Joseph Looby, Vincent Young Donald
Crowley and the acting Superintendent of
Education, Joseph Tokar. Policy and By-
law committee, Howard Shantz, Vincent
Young and Arthur Haid.
Grant given for
Stanley Park area
The Honourable Leo Bernier, minister of
natural resources, and Jack Riddell, MPP
for Huron, announced last week •the ap-
proval of a provincial grant of $8,250 to the
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority
for the proposed Webster Conservation
Area.
The proposed Conservation Area com-
prises some 61 acres of land in the Town-
ship of Stanley.
The Bannockburn River flows through
the property. The southern portion consists.
mostly of deciduous trees such as hickory,
black walnut, beech, sugar maple, white
ash• and a few hemlock. About five acres of
the prOperty are flood plain. The great
diversity in vegetation within this small
acreage, and availability of water
throughout the property, have encouraged
numerous wildlife species including ruffed
grouse and ring neck pheasants.
All member municipalities will bear the
Authority's ishare of the cost.
.,,
'Discussion of , a possible
,
Huron County Mr, Campbell explained that by having
central fire brigade dispatching office one central dispatcher municipalities in the
dominated the county council meeting on county, could , save money. The service.
Wed. Jan. 9. would not be duplicated. Three dispatchers
While some council members objected to could be hired to man a central telephone
certain aspects of the system, most were in 24 hours a 'day.
agreement that a feasibility study be The telephone would have a Zenith num-
requested through the Ontario Fire Mar- ber so that no long distance calls would be
shal's office. ' necessary anywhere in the county.
The study would cost the county nothing. Another benefit of the system would be
The Development Committee, chaired by that in case a fire was too much for, one
Allan Campbell, 'made . the recommen- brigade to handle, it could call back to the
dation in its report to council, , dispatcher who would send other brigades
" Although no date has been set for the to help.
study, the recommendation along with the Citing the case of a massive disaster, such
rest of the committee's report was accepted as the gas explosions in London, one coun-
during the meeting. cil member said that it made sense to tie
In presenting his committee's report county fire brigades together with a central
suggesting the dispatching system, Mr. dispatcher as a similar disaster might oc-
Campbell said he hoped for discussion and, cur in Huron County.
questions about it. His hopes were fulfilled, Mr. Campbell said that most fire trucks
• The issue raised by some councillors was in the county would be equipped with two-
that it would take two calls to get a fire way radios "before too long, within the
truck to a fire: one to the dispatcher and next three or four years."
aniether from the dispatcher to the fire •
brigade closest to the scene. All county fire brigades, even volunteer
brie ' council member termed such• , a departments supported by coienty grants,
sy eel. ,es ;"euinhersome, ridiculous.'',_., f, would be eligible to participate, Mr. Camp-
Andther Member felt that the reeeifirnen- 'bell said in response Co a question,
The advantage of this would be to dation put "the cart ahead of the hoese."
w 're dispatching what?" he explained.
eliminate the possibility of two fire depart- "Welre talking about dispatching but
ments answering a call from different
All areas of of the county do not have equal people turning in alars for the same fi e,
fir'e fighting equipment. Until fire areas are 'Mr. Campbell said.
prOperly\ defined and get equal equipment Another council member suggested th t
and protection the expense wasn't justified, a professional dispatcher would know bet-
he said. \ ter how to handle a panicking person who
The fact that few fire brigades in the was calling in an alarm.,
county haN\e trucks equipped with two-way The dispatcher would get inforMation
radios was' another objection put /forth. concerning the location and seriousness of-
a blaze correct. Fire brigades would be sent
to the right places. '
Warden Elston summed up the
discussion saying that a study into the
Town buys land for
future senior centre
Two Clinton men are:
in Out. curling final
Clinton council passed a motion Monday
night at their regular meeting asking the
County of Huron to launch a study into the
possibility of financing/ recreation on a
county wide basis.
The Clinton budget for recreation and
parks in 1973 was $78,000 out of a total
budget of $610,317. By the end of Decem-
ber, the recreation committee had exceeded
their budget by $18,000. Council voted
Monday night to advance • the recreation
committee $5,000 of their 1974 budget.
During • discussion of the accounts,
several councillors wondered why it cost
the town $1,000 to paint the new
washrooms at the arena when the arena
staff could have done them during their
WO slack time in the spring.
Council .also agreed to meet with -the,
recreation ctiminittee and some Clintanl'i.
horsemen about reaching an agreement on
the use of the Clinton racetrack by both the .A Clinton -man is in. the Seaforth Com-
horsemen and snowrnobilers. Bill munity Hospital, as a result of a car truck
Crawford, chairman of the arena commit- collision on Highway 8, 1 /4. mile west of
tee, was present to talk to council about the Dublin, late Tuesday, afternoon. •
possibilities of, setting up the meeting, Leonard Steep,. 24, of 133 John 'Street
Council also learned that their Local Clinton, a passenger in car driven by his
Initiatives Program application has been brother Dennis, was admitted with con-
turned down and the clean-up sidewalk . cussion, a broken rib and multiple bruises.
reconstruction program has been scrapped , Dennis, 19, escaped with bruises and cuts
for this year. and was allowed to go home after treat-
It will cost more for , people to park in ment.
Clinton, council decided. Monday night. The Steep car was travelling east and as
Anyone buying a parking sticker from the
Clinton wants recreation study done
Stanley to close old road