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Clinton News-Record, 1974-09-05, Page 44-04NToN NEWS-REcolux THuRspAy, EMBER 4, 1974 4'1 E u ditortat omment The Death Wish Among the more gruesome tasks that fall into the hands of police and repor- ters alike, is the covering of accidents, especially those that involve the loss of life. That case occurred again on Friday night when we were at the scene of an accident on Highway 8, just two miles west of Clinton, Two young men were killed when the car they were driving left the highway, and the two teenagers inside were nearly instantly killed when they were thrown from the car. Two precious young lives snuffed out. The fatalities were just two of 20 per- sons who were killed on southwestern ,Ontario highways this Labour Day weekend. Most of the deaths could have been avoided, In the accident case 'here, the dead youth's car was found to contain an opened case of beer, Maybe one of the prime causes of the accident. The suspicion here is that the most dangerous recipe was at work: alcohol, a car, and high speed, all combined to kill two teenagers. Many people wonder why editors of newspapers keep harping on the subject of auto accidents, why,in spite of the mounting toll newspapers keep urging drivers to slow down, or not mix alcohol and gasoline. The reason is simple. If all that har- ping has prevented one driver from drinking and driving and ending up dead, then it's a success, We value our readers, each and every one of them. Why the big rush Members of the Huron County Council have expressed grave concern that the Ontario Task Force Report on Health Planning has been released as late as mid-July and reaction to the document is expected by the end of August. They are so concerned, in fact, that they have called a special meeting to draft some of their objections to the provincial govern- ment. No doubt other neighboring county councils are equally perturbed. The report is certainly not an easy one to read, let alone understand. In com- mon with so many documents of this kind the language is supposedly erudite but actually confusing. Unclear in many instances are the actual intentions of the provincial government in regard to health services. For example, there is no clear-cut statement about the eventual fate of the existing county health units- bodies which have, for the most part, served the• public well. On one point the report is clear- doc- tors will definitely be told where they will be permitted to practise under the proposed district health council plan. Those who are not hired by the health authority will be permitted to set up on their own, but will not be registered. In other words, those patients who wish the services of unregistered doctors will have to pay out of their own pockets without the benefit of medical insurance coverage. The chief recommendation of the , repot( is that the province be divided into several districts and all health ser- vices within a district be controlled by the district Health council. Sub- committees, to be known as area coun- cils, would have certain responsibilities for local hospitals, but as far as we can read, there is no guarantee that the area councils would be the same as our present hospital boards. Definite, too, is the statement that the district councils would have over-riding control of all health services within their area. Include the fact that a prepon- derance of the district council members would be provincial appointees, and that the district administrator and his staff would also be named by the provincial ministry of health- and you have the pic- ture. A total take-over by Queen's Park. It is a foolish exercise in this rapidly changing world to oppose every alteration in ,our way of doing things, just because we" are corrtfbetapW#th what we have, Without fan n fr6YIKe' f re '4. we would find our whole system in a mess. However, since this is still supposed to be a democratic society, and since we will have to pay all the bills for the proposed changes we have every right to understand and agree with changes before they are made. Allowing a county council only four or five weeks to study a complicated report hardly fits the pat- tern of public participation.—Wingham Advance- Times Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiley Our social life gets warmed up The Jack Scott Column MI lye get Leiters Thanks From our early files , • • • Mamba. Canadian 'ComMunity Novon•Pdc Association Maribor, Ontario Weakly Oaf* Assoolation THE GUNTON NEW ERA Eseibliseed 1865 Amalgamated 1924 4111.1111-rr ill."1.11.11.11.11111.M.LMON NEWS-RECORD Established 1881 Published every Thunklay at Clinton. Ontario Editor Janie* E. Fitzgerald Gionerel Manager., J. Howard Aitken Second Mess Mill registration no.. 0017 HUB OF HURON tOUNTY Perhaps I sounded a bit grunipy last week because this has been one of those summers when a chap feels that he hasn't done anything, seen anything, or been anywhere. And it has. But that is not to say that it has been without interest and incident. Last week, 1 whined about our scanty social life: one funeral, one wedding. However, we've had some very interesting visitors. Almost every day. Roofers, painters, a columnist, a student, a syndicate man, a physiotherapist, and — the most intersting of all — my grandbabby. And. I reckon I've learned a wee bit about human nature in the process. Perhaps that's what it's all about. I like physical nature as well as the next man, but I am fascinated by human nature, Physical nature is interesting and fairly predictable. You plant a seed properly, nurture it, give it plenty of fertilizer, the right amount of sun and water, pluck out the weeds around it, and you wind up with a dandy cucumber or turnip, or whatever you planted. But you can't do that with humans, though you try. Maybe we give them too much fer, tilizer, or don't pluck the Weeds. We plant what we think is going to be a rose, and it turns but to be A! tabbage. Or vice versa, Any parent knows this. By the way, don't get excited, or nervous. 'This is not a tract on Freudian sexual symbolism. It is merely a middle-aged man trying to express his Astonish, merit at the variegation of the human species. Once again, I drift into one of those remote channels that end up in a swamp. Why not stock to the main stream? Back to our summer visitors, There are two categories: those who caught us at home, and those who did not. Those in the latter category came around when we were out doing something exotic, like shopping. Or at night, when we were cringing in the TV room, lights out, doors locked, phone off the hook, arguing about whether we'd watch the John Wayne 1940 western or the Audrey Hepburn 1953 dazzler. Among these were two people who left notes, One was Doris Humphries, a lively columnist in the Renfrew Mercury. "Darn you, Bill Smiley. I came all the way from Renfrew...." Sorry, Doris. I'll buy you a dinner next time. I read your column every week in one of Canada's best weeklies. And remind your boss that he still owes me a dinner. (He was a terrified in- fantryman when I was a terrified Typhoon pilot.) Another note was from a student, Sharp mind, headed for university and law, Beware, you lawyers of five years from now. Don't fool with this young lady?, punk?, Woman?, person?. She'll murder you. Typically, with the deep respect my students have for me, her note began, "Hi, Smiley, I came around and you didn't even have the decency to be at A few of the visitors caught us at home. One was Bill Craig, of Argyle Syndicate; who has More to do with getting out this column than anyone except me. Our previous acquaintance had been on thephone. I expected a smart-alec young punk of about twenty-six with the big sideburns, the big pants, and the hearty manner. I was shattered. He and his wife Betty arrived for that notorious pre-dinner appetizer. They have an eighteen-year-old daughter and a sweet, shy little son, James, who is five. Bill is a Korean war veteran. He demolished me at two games of chess, and played a fair piano. So much for preconceptions. Some of the others who caught us ie were the painters and the roofers. When we were up at the crack of dawn, ready for any questions, they didn't show up. When we were up at the crack of noon, not expecting them, they were buzzing the doorbell at 8:30, like hornets, I report, not happily, but just as an observer, that they were all, stung severely by a number of hornets in our roof and en- virons. Then there was the Scot- sman, He is a physiotherapist. Boy, that's a hard word to spell. He wanted work, after hours, so he could buy a house. I was rather intrigued by the idea that a young man actually wanted to work. And then there was my bad back, which comes in handy very often, He's an ex- cellent gardener, and our place looks better than it has in a decade. But there, I've run out of space, and I haven't ever, told you of the party in our backyard for retarded adults, or the hellery of my grand. Washy, He has just arrived again, and I can hear him shouting downstairs for Bill, or somebody who understands that when he's asleep, he is pure angel, and when he's awake, he's pure devil. A dade's fate My youngest daughter and some of her pals have signed on for 10 glorious, thrill-packed days on a dude ranch this In- dian Summer. I've given my permission, the advice to stay away from side-burned cowboys wearing black Stetsons and a solemn warning to avoid at all costs a horse named Ginger. Since it's a full 15 years ago that fate flung Ginger and me together my wife thinks the beast has probably gone to that great green pasture in the sky. I doubt it. Ginger wasn't merely indestructible. He was too mean to die. 10 YEARS AGO Sept. 3, 1974 Clinton's "Mr. and Mrs. Minor Hockey" were honoured Friday night at Clinton Legion Hall at an "Appreciation Night" sponsored by the Clin- ton Minor Hockey Association Ken and Stella McRae were paid tribute by their many friends for the work Mr. McRae has done during the past four years as secretary-treasurer. Periodic rains are making the harvesting of spring grain crops difficult. Except for low-lying areas in some fields white beans have not been hurt although harvesting will be delayed at least two' weeks. Mrs. J.W. McLaren of Ben- miller entered her first flower show over the weekend and two trophies. She won the Eaton Trophy for the highest number of points in the show and the Denomme Florist Trophy for most points in the floral arrangement class. Mrs. Maude Crich of RR 3, Seaforth celebrated her 85th birthday on Friday, August 28. Miss Louise MacVean, has just realized her heart's desire, a Shetland pony, who answers to the name of "Zuri" which in Swahili means "fine and hand- some", Mrs. Daphne Malins is keeping busy these days finishing a Scottish plaid she will show at the Hobby and Craft Exhibition in Clinton, 'The plaid is turned out on a 1/2 ton loom she brought over from England, 25 YEARS AGO Sept. 8, 1949 When a flash fire, originating in an upstairs bedroom, was discovered on their farm home on Lot 38, Con, I, Tuckersmith Township, Mr. and Mrs, George L. Falconer were bur- ned and had a narrow escape from much more serious con- sequences. Hail as big es small marbles fell in Hensall and vicinity about 1:30 pan, yesterday. Molly things might have been different. I might even still ad- mire The Horse. But when the turn came to state my qualifications my fancy was at the full gallop. My riding experience at that time consisted mainly of cir- cuits on a merry-go-round. "Ah ride a little", I drawled loconically, thus giving the idea that I'd been born to the sad- dle. And Ginger was mine, all mine. In no time at all I took to calling him Ginger the Wonder Horse. The wonder was that a horse like this ever got born. For one thing, he was terribly hairy, sort of like those cheap mohair chesterfields. Two scheming little eyes' gazed malevolently at the World through the dirty-orange Upholstery of his repulsive face. His ears were turned per- manently to the rear, all the better to hear the cries of pain and panic issuing from anyone who rode him. When I first managed to get on him, after a 10-minute waltz Later, a very heavy rainstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning took place. Miss Margaret Davies has returned home after spending a month at the family cottage at Kintail. Mr. and Mrs. Bert Boyes visited for a few days last week in Pontiac Mich., and Windsor, This week accompanied by Mr. Boye's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Boyes, motored to Tober- mory, Manitoulin Island and Sudbury for a few days. Joe Postil, Goderich Town- ship is making rapid progress in rebuilding his home recently lost in a fire. Fred Arkell is getting his building wired and will shortly have Hydro turned on. A new nurses residence to partially alleviate crowded con- ditions at Wingham General Hospital has been purchased. 50 YEARS AGO Sept. 4, 1924 The fountain in the Library Park has been painted a very nice shade of grey and is much improved, Chief Strong was the artist and the paint was kindly donated by the Miller Hard- ware Company. Sunday was the hottest day of August, indeed, of the whole summer, when the ther- mometer registered 94,5 degrees above. Another Edward Blake Scholarship has come to Clin- ton Collegiate. Robert G. Hun- ter son of Mrs. John Hunter, having won the third Edward Blake ih science proficiency. Miss Ida Waikinshaw has taken a position in Irwin's Drygoods store and Robert Middleton has taken his brother's position in Hovey's Drug Store, J.T. McKnight of the London Road has a Polled Angus cow Which has given birth to tripletS, and they are all living and healthy. Employees of the Doherty Piano factory presented W.N. Manning with a leather travelling bag prior to his in the corral, I couldn't under- stand why the reins were so long. There were about eight yards of reins, It soon tran- spired that because of Ginger's curious, giraffe-like contours the saddle inexorably slipped toward his rear. Five minutes after I boarded I was riding well up on Ginger's behind, howdah-style. People were always remarking on how tall I was in the saddle. This made it extremely dif- ficult to control Ginger since he was very close to being out of range of my voice. In any event I was usually preoccupied with keeping his tail out of my eyes. We made a most unhandsome couple and the hate, from the beginning, was' mutual. Ginger clea4y :had -but .two ambitions 411 life: to eat and to rub up against things. Since I was more or less laminated to him I was this an active par- ticipant in both. While the rest of the dudes galloped off across the purple hills Ginger would trot with his departure for Europe on a business trip. Misses Emily Hunter and Dorothy Jervis have accepted schools at Minden and Kin. mount. 75 YEARS AGO Sept. 7, 1899 The Doherty organ is again on the ground at the Exhibition. It occupies a prominent place in the Music pavilion near the main en- trance. This firm certainly deserves great credit for the high state of perfection to which it has brought the manufacture of organs. Mr. A,F. Cooper and Mr. Newcombe were both married this week. They are bright young business men and are held in very high esteem in the area. Apple picking is the order of the day. The prices paid this year are ranging higher than usual, but the method of selling the whole orchard for a lump sum has been adopted by many farmers. Mrs. Cantelon, wife of alder. man Cantelon, Goderich, left consuming singleness of pur- pose to the nearest patch of grass, lower his head and begin to graze. Even as early in the day as this the saddle was usually well up on his rump and when he got his head down I was all alone up there on a summit of hirsute horse-flesh. I could get him moving only by a yanking on the' bit that would extract the teeth of any normal animal and by repeatedly booting him, a per- formance which caused me to be known endearingly as Jack the Ripper. With this sort of en- couragement Ginger might get moving as far as the nearest bramble where he would pause for a :..4angorous, massage, leaving rrtasa with scars that are still visible. I like to think, though, that I was a good loser. On the day of our departure I went out to the stable to offer Ginger a carrot as a farewell friendship gift. He bit me. He must have known it was poisoned. on Thursday to attend the Toronto Exhibition and spend a few days in Hamilton. Miss Minnie Ker, daughter of H.B. Ker, arrived home Satur- day from Bayfield where she had been spending some, days with her grandmother Mrs. Miller 100 YEARS AGO Sept. 3, 1874 Mr, Geo. Forsyth, of Seaforth, has invented a "Patent Universal Everlasting Grasshopper Extinguisher" With it two men can clear up a 40 acre field in two hours and the varmint in the neigh- bouring fields leave. The season for gathering and shipping plums is now on and a few of our business men are busily engaged in forwarding them. There will not be so large a crop as was at first expected, as many have fallen off being injured by some kind of worms. The Concert for the benefit of the Clinton Brass Band, came off in the Town Hall on Friday evening last. The attendance though not large was fair. Dear Editor: Would you have a little space in your paper for these few lines? Yesterday (last week) I went shopping and after coming out of a grocery store with my bag of groceries, I stepped on a rough surface and my ankle turned' over and I fell down -- boom. A little boy ahead of me stop- ped and picked up the oranges and things that were rolling away from my bag of groceries, and in no time, a store clerk ap- peared and picked me up and stood me on my feet. No, I wasn't hurt, some scratches and some black and blue spots, but I just want to "thank-you" to all who helped, especially the little man who picked up my things. I'm glad we have boys in our town like that. I'm truly grateful: Just a senior citizen, Clinton. Balloon Dear Editor: I am a historical writer, now researching the landing of a balloon in Clinton on this date: July 6th, 1908. The name of the balloon was the "Columbia," and it was part of a race that started from Chicago July 4th, 1908. Any records, facts, clippings, etc. weitild be more than welcome to me in my resear- ching. If your own records do not go back that far, perhaps you can help me find another newspaper or a historian, etc. etc. who might have the facts. Sincerely, D. W. Farrant, 937 Ogden S.E., Grand Rapids, Mich., U.S.A. 49506 ,-attic. Dear Editor: May I appeal to your readers to support the International Society for the Protection of Animals in their attempts to provide relief for the tens of thousands of abandoned, stray and injured animals in Cyprus. Many of these animals are in pitiful condition, all require assistance. I do not wish to suggest, for one moment, that animals in this tragic situation should be given priority over human needs. In fact I hope that the matter will be kept in proper perspective. • Nevertheless the need is urgent and, by helping to solve the animal problems, we may be playing a small part in helping the situation in Cyprus return to normal. The Ontario Humane Society, which is a member of the International Society for the Protection of Animals, has been asked to provide assistance in the form of drugs and veterinary supplies. We are arranging with veterinary drug supply companies to have sup- plies shipped to Cyprus and we are hopeful that these supplies will be flown to Cyprus in Government aircraft. If not we will send them by• air in the normal manner. Anyone wishing to support this appeal should send a donation to the Ontario Humane Society marked "Cyprus". We'd never have been paired, in the first place, but for my in- Credible vanity. When the ;\ ranch' foreman 'came to assign* ,, ''ua bliFihags' for our two.:weeks' vacation he asked us about our riding experience. My wife, being almost painfully honest, drew a dowager mare named Molly with a beam like an air- craft carrier and a disposition sweet enough to shame Whistler's mother. If I'd had ;.t 't ,•:. ttervt.t Yours sincerely, T. I. Hughes, Executive Vice-President.