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Clinton News-Record, 1974-05-02, Page 1Thursday, May 2, 1974 109th Year - No. 18 Rain .40" Rain .45" Weather 1974 APRIL NI 130 1973 040 LO 23 48 28 66 50 24 46 26 47 34 25 56 29 57 29 26 60 31 65 36 27 67 35 52 43 28 76 41 46 38 29 67 55 53 32 20 Cents Clinton, Onlario Clinton News-Record 1111101MINis Survey shows Town Hall should be saved Great concert Rev. Walters (Bob Thompson) gives some friendly ad- vice to Tom Sawyer (Danny Freeman) while Judge ':Thatcher (Rick Wyatt) watches during this scene from the excellently produced play "Torn Sawyer" presen- ted by the students at Holmesville Public School last week. (News-Record photo) Teachers go back to school BY JIM FITZGERALD According to a survey conducted by the Clinton News-Record during March and the first part of April, the Clinton Town Hall should be renovated and used for of- fice space. Of the 57 persons who cut out the coupon that appeared in the News-Record during three weeks in March, more than half or 30 persons answered the questionaire by checking off "renovate the old Town ,Hall and' use it for offices." - Only 13 persons thought the Town Hall should be torn down and e0 answered the questionaire by asking that the Gld Town Hall should be preserved and a new one built elsewhere. Five persons checked off the "other" column and gave a variety of answers, Most of the coupons were signed by those who clipped it out, and either mailed or brought it in to the News-Record office. The coupon first appeared in the News-Record on February 28th along. with a story detailing the run down con- dition of the Town Hall, The Clinton council has presently acquired the services of J.F. 1VIacLaren of London, a consulting engineer, to bring in a report on the condition of the Town Hall, and whether it will be feasable to fix it up or tear it down and build a new one. Armed with the engineer's report and the News-Record survey, Clinton Council will make a final decision on the fate of the Town Hall, built in 1885. The results of the News-Record survey will be turned over to the Clinton council as promised. Council is expecting the engineer's report in the near future. Of the four persons who answered the questionaire by checking off the "other" , bracket, all included suggestions on what should be done, including keeping the taxes down, and getting estimates first before any course of action is taken. Many others also included comments on their coupons. Several suggested removing the top storey of the Town Hall and relocating the fire department in another location. Several other persons suggested that the upstairs, which was a former Hall and once the centre of all Clinton activities, should be put back to its former use, saying it is a landmark and should not be torn down as was . the old Clinton Post office, which spoiled the appearance of the town, they said. Another two persons said that the town Hall was part of the family history of Clin- ton and tearing it down would destroy this. Still another persons said that the new BY MILVENA ERICKSON Residents of the Village when they receive their tax notices in the near future, will find that they will be paying more taxes this year. This is due to several fac- tors, The Huron County board of education is demanding another 4 mills and Huron County rate is up 6 mills, making the general mill rate for the Village 29 mills sewage system should be paid off, and the sidewalks fixed before anything is done to the Town Hall. Because there are so many people on fixed incomes in Clinton, several other per- sons said the money could be better spent on other priorities first, One person suggested that repairing the Town Hall could become a Centennial project and many of the Centennial events could be held in the Hall, which is in the centre of town. Still another person though the Town Hall should be preserved because many new buildings are like large, square boxes. for 1974. Last year, the Village Council was able to lower the mill rate by 5 mills, but it was not possible to hold the line this year since the Village was forced into 'a garbage collection by the closure of the dump by the ministry of environment. An actual rate of 14 mills plus the 5 mills given to the taxpayers last year will mean an overall rise of 19 mills for the Village millrate. Bayfield taxes jump MOH says confusion created over septic tanks By WILMA OKE While 'the 12,601 students under the Huron County board of education were en- joying a holiday from school Tuesday, the 650 teachers in the system were in the classrooms at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton for a professional activity day. 4,W. Coulter, Goderich, Superintendent of Progratin and Planning, said, thrdugh the -professional. activity days• :new idea and methods are brought to the teachers. He mentioned specifically new material for teaching metric system, family life and art programs. He said new learning material was on advance display which will be presented in the next annual issue of the ministry publication. There were 26 subjects on the agenda for the day With resource personnel from the ministry of education in Toronto, the regional office at London and the business community. Among the resource people lec- turing for the day were the deputy minister of education for Ontario, George Waldrum, and the chairman of the Huron board of education, E. Cayley Hill of Goderich. Mr. Waldrum, presenting the ministry's philosophy, described the departmental jurisdiction and the re-organization of the educational structure. He said the total budget for the year amounts to $1,374,531,500 and outlined how it is spread around. Mr. Waldrum was put in the hot seat by teachers who questioned whether the ministry should provide guidelines or specific courses of study. Mr. Waldrum said at one time the ministry did provide a more specific course of study but during the last ten years, the ministry considered itself responsible to `SY J. F. We just received word that there will be a blood donor clinic at Central Huron Secondary School on Monday May 13. Posters will be put up around town with times, so set a tow minutes aside next week to drip for the Red Cross, * * Even though most of us have filed, it was still nice of the Federal government to give us an extension, until May 21, to have our income tax forms into Ottawa. Give until it hurts is Ottawa's slogan. * * * You can bet the Clinton Police depart. ment's morality squad will be keeping an eye on the Clinton office of the Ontario ministry of agriculture and food when they learn that a recent pamphlet of dubious nature has arrived et the office, It's called "Sex expression in cucumbers", Spicy reading for market gardeners. * * * The auction and antique sale this coming June at the Clinton arena needs 'more port, according to organizers from the Cen• tennial committee. See the ad in this paper for more details and donate or consign some article, * * *' The girl's baseball team are in need of Some Money, and so they will be holding a ear wash at the arena on May 11 al) dayto raise funds, Help them and your car at the carne time. produce guidelines under which various courses are given. Mr. Waldrum said, "We are prepared to co-operate with school boards and teachers in developing guidelines for the actual teaching in the schools." The teachers had complained the guidelines lacked content and provided no assistance to teachers, especially new teachers. Allan Taylor, principal of the Clinton Public School, who attended the workshop on "Basic skills for today's children", said he had found it interesting with three dif- ferent points of view being presented. Mrs. Donald Southcott, Grand Bend, presented the parent reaction, Dr. Wilfred Wees, Toronto, spoke for the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and a representative from the regional office was the third speaker. Speaking to the press following her par- ticipation in the program Mrs. Southcott said she didn't have a very popular point of view. "I'm playing the maverick, as a parent on the outside, looking into the school system", Mrs. Southcott described herself as a housewife and mother of four children, two in University, one in North Lambton Secondary School and one in Grand Bend Public School. She said she feels the schools are taking over the role of parent. The more responsibility the schools take, the less the parents assume, she said. Mrs. Southcott stated, "I think schools and parents should work together. Educators should help parents to realize the learning potential of small children and should give them information. This can be done through TV, books and magazines." She said, "As far as Huron parents are (continued on page 9) The 1974 version of the Clinton Spring Fair is fast taking shape and members of the Huron Central Agriculture Society were busy last week making final preparations for entertainment for the three day event, on May 31, and June 1st and 2nd. For the first time in the Fair's history, there will be a grandstand show every night, Opening day, May 31, will see a horse pull featuring the Hannon Horse Pulling Club, On Saturday night, after the largest heavy horse show in Ontario, the grand- stand show will feature the "Cream Cheese Good Time sand," recording artists and TV stars. Vince Mountford from Bramp- ton will MC the show and will also per- form as a stand-up comedian. Sunday night has been billed as the grandstand Gospel Show starting at 7:30. Top act is the Master's Trio of Kingston and Cam Shillington, who are seen even Sunday afternoon on the Global TV net- work. The group sings the Atnerican style of Gospel music. The Hisey Family are also making an ap- pearance singing Bluegrass and country style of music. Fortnerly of CKNX, the group is starting a new show on the CTV network on June 2, the saute day they will be appearing in Clinton. Also featured on the Sunday night show is the Chrystalairee from London and volcalists Ted rt a tbsfiy from Clinton. The Agricultural Society also learned that will be sponsoring the show "1831”„ put on by the Passe Muraille Theatre group at the Clinton Sales Barn on May 12, 13, and 14. The Fair board also received the assurance of Mayor Don Symons that the town would back the Society in their bid to become a "B" fair in the near future. Anyone interested in a prize list for the fair can pick one up at the Clinton agriculture offices, 'the levies for the elementary and secon- dary panels to be paid to the Huron County board of education for 1974 by the 26 municipalities in Huron County was released to the press Friday, It shows an increase for all municipalities, The budget of $13,185,831, passed at a special meeting last week indicated an increase of 9,24 per cent over last year and will mean an overall increase of 2,2 mills in the tax rate for Huron ratepayers. Municipal taxes will raise $3,091,550 while provincial government grants will total $9,426,000 and tuition fees and school rentals will raise $612,784. The tax levies to be raised from each Municipality with the 1971 figures iii brackets are; $124,467 ($119,950); Exeter, $187,532 ($1/0,598); Godorieh, $436,56/ The winner of the draw for the side of pork held at the Society's last dance was Neil McGavin of Walton. The next dance will be held on June 8th. It was inadvertently reported in the Society's last report two weeks ago that Russ Morgan would be providing an 'Military organ for the Fair parade. It is „Murray Draper of Clinton who is. providing The organ. ($397,901); Seaforth, $83,759 ($77,864) Wirigham, $153,875 ($142,882); Bayfield, $45,188 ($40,752); Blyth, $28,014 ($25,832); Brussels, $35,332 ($32,074); Hensall $61,710 ($54,900); and Zurich, $26,056 ($24,370), The townships of Ashfield, $146,821 ($124,632); Colborne $89,896 ($84,040); Goderieh, $129,203 ($120,099); Grey, `$112,461 ($107,832); Hay, $170,854 ($161,036); Howick, $146,116 ($138,779); Hullett, $105,417 ($98,367.); McXillop, $89,210 ($66,780); Morris, $84,071 ($80,789); Stanley, $128,581 ($124,030); Stephen, $211,114 ($197,439); Tucker- smith, $161,386 ($158,184); Ternberry, $66,579 ($63,204); Usborne, $107,827 ($103,280); Bast Wewariesh, $68,660 ($65,687);- and West WriMMOSII, $54,303 ($48,655). By SHIRLEY J. KELLER Dr. Frank Mills, Huron's Medical Officer of Health, took time out Thursday morning to outline to county council the new regulations with regard to septic tank in- stallation here. Private sewage disposal systems, regulated through the Environment Protec- tion Act o' rent, takere out of the hands of the Ministry of Health and placed under the authority of the Ministry of the Environment effective April 15, 1974. Ac- cording to Dr. Mills, this date may have been somewhat premature in relation to Environment's readiness to assume respon- sibility. "There is an awful lot of confusion,"' said Dr. Mills, "but we're trying to sort through it." Until April 29, ratepayers in Huron who sought a septic tank installation permit, found themselves "in limbo" since Huron's officials could not issue permits and the London office was not prepared to do so either. Now, however, the Health Unit in Huron does have a limited supply of forms - and the local MOH has been given temporary authority to sign permits for residents. Dr. Mills said an agreement between En- vironment, and the local health unit has been signed by Huron officials and ratified bog hoes for licenses by the Environment. He said some counties have chosen not to sign the agreement with Environment, but he said he believed Huron did well to sign the agreement and retain the local in- spections. "The Health Unit staff will make every effort to make this transition smoothly, so -the.,.publieed•oee, tee0tilffer;",eprietieieed the MOH. There are 10 steps to be followed from the time permit application is made until the system is approved for use. "As long as the applicant is a good reader, he should have no problem," said Dr. Mills who praised the application forms and their intent, Septic tank permits - necessary to install, repair or change in any fashion - will cost $15. Lot approval in certain instances will cost $10. Penalties for violation call for fines of up to $1,000. "The aim is to make it as thorough as possible," said Dr. Mills who estimated it would take about one month for his depart- ment to "fumble our way" through this new system. He also promised an assessment of costs to the Health Unit for this new service, after three months. Reeve Ed Oddleifson, Bayfield, asked how long this temporary authority would (continued on page 9 Rain delays grain seeding Seeding of spring grains has fallen about two weeks behind as area farmers have been plagued by ex- cessive rainfalls, over five Inches in April in some parts of the County. Grant Webster of Varna took ad- vantage of a nice .day late last week to put in part of his 200 acre barley crop, but rain Sunday, Monday and Tuesday halted all'field work. The Websters farm about 500 acres. (News-Record photo) Fair to feature three shows All municipal levies increased by County board :64\ There was a long line-up last Monday as the,children and parentt of ClintOn vialted the police de'partm'ent to get their bicycle licences which went. On, Sale, More than 110 were ISSucid ixit the' first .tWO,`iilayt; Here Chief Lloyd Weatiake, Standing, and Ooriatable Wayne McFadden issue the licenses while a group of children Walt, (News.flecord photo)