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Clinton News-Record, 1974-11-21, Page 4elA MO**, Cinisdia• ComMunity 14011040100, AsoocIlitIon MINDbar, Ontario Weekly Wept. Ameolailon THE; CLINTON NEW ERA A molgemoied Esiriblishod 1865 19:24 THE HURON NEWS-RECORD ESt(iblished 1881 Clinton News-Reemid POWWOW eve0 ThOriiday at Clinton, Ontarld Editor JIM,* E. Fitzgerald Omer& •Matiligfits Howird Aitken Slcond Claes .1.614 leirtillori no, 01117 BUI8caarriok ROM CANADA WA) CAA, sii.ao aiNOLB COPY ,25c $dk . HUB O1 HURON tOUNTY im nom ro tiii ADA Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiley It's.aply; mad-whirl - Let's see. Where am I? I know I was going to, make a pointed, telling attack this week on one of the great evils of our society. But I can't remember what it was. ' Maybe that's because I have three exams to set, eleventy-four essays to mark, my bricks are falling out, along with my fillings, and my-wife, who has just given me a thrilling account of how she couldn't get the car started; is going to the hospital tomorrow. Ah, well, c'est la vie, as the Chinese say. You can't have everything running like clockwork in a world in which the most sensible creatures seem to be cockroaches. I also have forty-four letters to answer, six vital telephone calls to make, a speech to write, and a grandbabby to bring up. Then there are about seven thousand pounds of oak leaves to rake and bag. I think I'll send them to Bangla-Desh. Surely somebody there knows how to make oak leaf and acorn soup. Don't think I'm being hard and cynical. There's a lot of protein in those acorns. And I have 28 squirrels, not counting children, in my attic to prove it. Maybe you think this is just the whining of a middleaged man, who can't cope with life, Well, you're right. My bricks are falling out. Or they are being sucked out, by the gentle vines of this old Georgian house, which are about as gentle as a giant squid. The roofer said, "Geez, Bill, your bricks are loose." It sounds sort of obscene, like, "You have rocks in your head." But it's not. They're falling out. (Or being knocked out by the clumsy roofers and painters, Sh-h-h-h.) And my fillings are falling out as fastas I can, or my dentist can, put them in. He's a nice guy, and the most painless dentist I have ever had, for which I will cling to him until teeth do us depart, but you can't build pine trees out of stumps. And then there's my grandbabby. You'd think I would not worry about him when he's a hun- dred miles away. But I do, }low do I know those young sillies in the daycare centre are teaching him the right things, Do they know how to ride him on a jigging foot to the tune of, "Did YOU'ITVer o" 'Ant iTish- man's Shanty, Where' Money Is Scarce and Whiskey Is Plenty?"? Do they know how to let him chew their thumb while at the same time whistling in his belly and waving his bare foot in the air to the tune of "Knees Up, Mother Brown"? Well, maybe the young sillies aren't doing too badly, as long as there are three of them to one of him. At least they're not trying to unteach him the good things he's learned from his gramps. Had a call from his mother last Sunday. She made it from a phone booth, as Mother Bell has not smiled on them yet. Asked her where the baby was, She responded coolly that he was on her knee, tearing pages out of the telephone directory. He loves tearing up books, especially those of sacred institutes, like the Bell, I started him off with the inane coloured sections of the Saturday papers. He seemed to thrive on it, ripping them apart with gusto, relish, and any ketchup that happened to be around. I thought it wise to move him up to telephone books, police reports, politicians' speeches, beer labels and such examples of Canadian culture. Turns out he's a boy after my own heart. Go to it, Pokey. His real name is Nicov Chen, but I tacked Pokey on him, and it has stuck, He pokes into everything that is moving, or still. If it's moving, he stops it; if it's still, he makes it move, grinning fiendishly all the time, I tell you, it's a gay, mad whirl around here, Just now I was interrupted by two pretty girls at the front door, rakes in heed, I'd forgotten about them. They'd come to rake my leaves, For money, of' course. Couldn't get any boy's. In the past week I have also dealt with sixteen students who are obvious flunkers, one irate parent, several disgruntled teachers, and one in- vitation to judge a beauty contest, To top it off, in today's mail came an election flyer, from Ray Argyle, who syndicates this column, announcing his run for school trustee. He must be out of his nut. Everybody seems to he going a bit mad these days, but I'll lay odds that I get there before the rest of you. PAGE 4,CLINTON NEWS-RECORD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2z, 074 .l sIoria Comment The question of demolition We must commend the Clinton coun- cil and the Clinton ratepayers for the openness and great interest shown last Week at the ratepayers' meeting here in town, Unlike most ratepayers' meetings in the past decade or so, the one last week in Clinton was very well attended, with over 100 persons crowding into the old Town Hall. Most of them came to see the proposals brought forward by the ar- chitectural firm of Tillmann and Lamb for the new municipal complex which is par-. 'tially detailed on the front page of the second section of this week's News- Record. The plan, as shown to the citizens last week, is a bold, but expensive step for- ward for Clinton, but the nearly $800,000 cost would be, to our minds, much too much to add on to the taxbill of the 1,300 taxpayers in town. The council must be commended for coming to the people with the plan, telling them all the details, and then asking for suggestions. There are few councils which do such things, and more that should. Although some people balked at the expenditure, so far $10,000 to do the studies, the money may be well worth it, if in the words of one councillor, "it saves us from Heedlessly spending hun- dreds of thousands of dollars in the future," The voters of Clinton will be asked on Dec. 2 whether they want to save the old Town Hall or not, The opinion poll will not legally bind the council to any course of action, but there is little doubt that they will follow the voters' wishes, in this pose anyway, If the voters want the old Town Hall saved, and we personally think it should be, then there should be no delay what- soever in starting renovation work on the old structure. Work on fixing up the 94-year-old building should begin as soon as possible after the new year and as soon as possible after a plan is drawn up. The project could become a Centen- nial project for the Town and with a great deal of pushing, it could even be completed before Centennial Week next August. What a lovely homecoming present for former Clintonians. If on the other hand the voters decide the old Town Hall should fall to the wreckers' hammer, then great haste too should be made to get a new project un- derway, The situation has been left unat- tended for too long, and any further delays will only make it more expensive in the future. we get letters The Jack Scott Column MI Ell From our early files . . • • • " NE 5A15' Wil0015- nog TAT'!" Wild blue bays I had thought there might be a respite when the Americans eased off on their moon trips, but hardly a week goes by that some magazine doesn't come out with a lurid story about the possibilities of space travel, promising us a picnic on Pluto or Mars, if we should live so long, and I want to say, in all frankness, that I don't understand it. I happened to have been reading one of these stories last week just before I fell down the basement stairs and wrenched my knee rather badly and I guess that sort of brought home to me the enormity of it all, One minute I was credulously contemplating a 48-million- mile journey into outer space at five miles per second, and not 10 minutes later I fell over some roller skates and nearly-killed myself in a fall of eight feet (speed unestimate(1). There's modern science for you. Hundreds of people (or dozens, anyway) are perishing every day falling down stairs or by slipping in bath tubs on little pieces of soap, but what are the scientists doing? Inventing a non-slip fool-proof tread for a bath? Not on your life. They're worrying about the effects of cosmic radiation among the satellites and probably dying like flies, themselves, in slippery tubs, This particular story is ,,bysja man named Derek, Wragge Morley. They vp tl . goC na, ' like that. You never ,hoard of a man narrsett4o,00:04411cAstanted to turbo jet himself into the stratosphere, did you.', I happen to know a man named Joe Green and he stands oil a- rubber mat when he's changing light bulbs. This fellow Derek Wragge Morley talks about an excursion to Mercury, a place of needle-like rocks over a molton mass, as Joe or I would talk about a stroll down to the corner. grocery. I suppose that's what disturbs me about the rash of outer- space stories. It's just that I try, but I can't generate any en- thusiasm at all about getting into'a rocket ship, Call me an old stick-in-the-mud, if you will, but I just don't want to go to Mer- cury. I couldn't go anyway, with this wrenched knee and, besides, I have to see the dentist tomorrow. Still, there are an enormous number of men determined to set up an inter-planetary bus system and I would like to meet just one of them in person. I have a theory, you see, that they are just an eensY bit crazy. My faith in scientists hasn't been exactly a shining thing since they made an atom bomb and these outer space articles aren't helping much. I once met a famous scientist when a friend of mine took me to lunch at the Rideau Club in Ottawa. He looked perfectly normal, drank a, whisky sour and talked pleasantly about the Toronto Maple Leafs. But at lunch I noticed something that seemed to me significant. The man had lost his collar button or, worse, had forgotten it! I kept thinking, here is this man who is monkeying around with electrons and gamma rays and heaven knows what else that might blow us all into little pieces — yet this man has mislaid his collar-button! It's that awful gap between the frailty of human beings and the terrifying scope of the things they're blindly tinkering with ',.tbettunrierveserne and probably accounts for the twitch I'm get- :ting under rhydeftieye...,,(1., I'd like to meet Derek, too, to find out why he wants to go. Is it, I ask myself, a lust to know the answers to the cosmic mysteries. Or has he a nagging wife? Is his interest purely scien- tific? Or does he just have a cock-eyed urge to play among the stars? They'll do it, of course. One day they'll all crowd into their turbo rockets, the newsreel cameras will grind and they'll disappear into the twinkling sky, never to be heard from again. And I will sit on my front porch and laugh and laugh. 10 YEARS AGO Nov. 19, 1964 About 30 men from the Goderich Kinsmen Club were guests Tuesday night of mem- bers of the Clinton Kinsmen Club at their regular meeting at Hotel Clinton. Guest speaker at the meeting was Kin Roger Ellis of the Preston Kinsmen Club who spoke on World Council theme for the meeting. The Clinton Junior Colts hockey team won one and lost one during the past week as they beat Walkerton 12.4 last Friday night in Clinton and then went down to defeat 11.3 at the hands of the Owen Sound team Tuesday night at Owen Sound. The games opened the 01-1A Junior "D" hockey schedule for the Colts. Councillor Norm Livermore will present trophies to his newphew Jim, and his brother, Percy at a banquet Wednesday night at the Clinton Fish and Game Club, being held to honour the 1964 OBA Midget Champs. Corin Livermore's nephew was a catcher on the championship team; his brother was the team coach. South Huron District High School Principal H.L. Sturgis announced his retirement to the school board at a meeting held this week. The board ac- cepted his resignation with regret effective June 30. 25 YEARS AGO Nov, 17, 1949 A series of minor burglaries in district stores about mid- night Wednesday last, has the police baffled. Today Provin- cial Constable Helmer Snell, Seaforth, stated .that in- vestigation is continuing. The stores• involved were located in 13rucefield, Clinton, Lon- desboro, Ripley and Teeswater. Huron County Council at yesterday afternoon's session ernprItcr — I 11 1-1,1/1grottrt London architect to ask for ten- ders for remodelling the registry office at Goderich and suggested that the 1950 council proceed with the work as recommended by the property committee. Stanley Township Council met on Monday, November 7, in the Township Hall, Varna, with all members present and Reeve Elmer Webster in the chair. Clinton Junior Farmers plan to have their "rodeo" in the Community Park, Clinton, on Thursday afternoon, November 17, weather permitting, Although almost everyone enjoyed a full "holiday" by public proclamation, very few took the trouble to attend the annual community Remem- brance Day service in the Town Hall, Clinton, Friday morning. The total number was about as large as usual. 50 YEARS AGO Nov, 20, 1924 The annual banquet of the Brotherhood of Wesley Church was held in Wesley Hall on Monday evening, when the members of the Ladies' Aid put up a feast both ample and ap- petizing. The Young People's League of Seaforth Methodist presen- ted,. under the auspices of the choir of Wesley Church, Clin- ton, in the Town Hall last Thursday evening the playlet, "All on account of Polly". The News-Record, it seems, was in error last week in stating that Rev. A.A. Holmes and Rev, W.V. Weldon were camping and hunting at Burke, although the item was published in good faith. The reverend gentlemen, were, it ap- pears, too busy ail week atten- ding to the work of their charges taking in a spiritual conference, visiting the sick etc., to spend much time in sport. Clinton had its first snow storm on Sunday and it was pretty blizzardy all day and has been since until today which is fine and bright again. Miss Mary McMurchie, who spent the past week or so at her home in town, returned to Toronto on Saturday. Miss McMurchie has been for the past few months on the oc- casional teacherS staff of the Shaw Schools, Toronto, and had to report for duty Monday morning. 75 YEARS AGO Nov. 22, 1899 While up in Algoma District Mr. W. Doherty bought a tim- ber limit of 3500 acres in the township of Day some two- hundred some two-hundred miles west of North Bay. His object of course, is to provide lumber for his big organ fac- tory. Mr. H. Drahman, Bayfield's Concern Dear Editor: It was gratifying to read in an area daily of November 15 of the concern expressed by so many of the citizens of Clinton at the public meeting of the previous evening over the possible demolition of their Town Hall. We, members of the Architec' tural Conservancy of Ontario, are conserned for the preser- vation of our heritage, The Town Hall with its 94 year History as part of the public life of your town should continue to stand, It is in tune with the ar- chitecture of your downtown area in which are many fine buildings. Many of us who visit Clinton regret the loss of your former- Post Office which fitted so well into the centre of your town and seerned to spell "Clin- ton" to the visitor, It would be a pity to allow another gap in the unity of your business sec- tion. popular tailor left early last week for some point north, the objective point apparently being Blyth, and rumor has it he won't return alone. Mr, Wm. Johnston of Maple Grove claims to have taken the largest load of evaporated ap- ples to Goderich one day last week that ever left Bayfield. The load consisted of one hun- dred boxes, sixty pounds to the box. Dr. and Mrs. Graham visited. Brussels friends on Friday last. The Dr. is a property owner in that village and last week had a plate glass front put in for one of his tenants. The glass was put in place in the a.m., in- sured in the afternoon and smashed by a vandal that same night. A thunder and lightning storm passed over Colborne Township Friday evening. People say it is the sign of an open winter. The people of Clinton have only to look at their neigh- housing town of Goderich to see the damage which can be done to the unity of the core area when the citizens are not deter- mined to prevent it. The townspeople of Clinton are fortunate to have the op. portunity to state their wishes in a referendum and it is to be hoped that they will speak out loud and clear far the preser- vation of this building. Sincerely, Dorothy Wallace Secretary, Huron County Branch, A.C,O. Nows.fteoord readers are to- cOuraged to express their opinion. in letters tO the editor, however, such Opinions do not necessarily represent the opinion of the News-Fietord. Pseudonyms may be used by Mt* Writers, but no feller WIN be pubilshed unless it can be verified by phone. we get letters Food Dear Fditoie Is Max Saltsman, (NDP, Waterloo-Cambridge) serious about amending the Criminal Code "to make it an indictable offence for anyone to destroy usable food as a form of protest"? I have a hard time believing that he is. Where was he when Mon- treal firemen went on strike and let building after building burn as a form of protest? Where was he when western grain handlers refused to load ship after ship with grain as a form of protest? Some of those ships were scheduled to go to places like Bangladesh about whose starving missions M,P, Saltsman is concerned. Where was he when .,. I need not go on with the list, If Mr. Saltsman is serious, I, for one, would be prepared to support his private member's bill. But to be serious he must also be consistent. Is he prepared to seek an amendment to the Criminal Code "to make it an indictable offense for anyone to destroy any usable good as a form of protest"? Does Mr. Saltsman feel the same moral anguish when strike after strike leaves food to rot in fields, robs children of a good education, cripples part of our economy, stops production of essential commodities, allows people to be left homeless by uncontrolled fire, stops essential services, or just holds a part of society up for ransom? I do! Is Mr. Saltsman's anguish real or is it just political? Shalom, Elbert van Donkersgoed, Secretary-Manager, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Drayton, Ontairo. Education Qa Editor:!. ;„,.: s s As you have many readers in Goderich township, I was sur- prised to find no coverage on your pages of the Goderich Township annual rate-payers meeting held on Monday Nov. 11th. At this well attended meeting, councillors and town- ship officers reported on their yeare work and future plans. A number of important questions were asked and answered. Candidates for the forth- coming municipal election were invited to speak. As my name will be on the ballot for school trustee on December 2nd, perhaps you will afford me a little space to put before your readers the essence of what I said at this meeting. I stressed the urgent need to control the cost of education. In the past, too large a proportion of our educational dollar has been expended on ad- ministrative eseivity outsid the school. In the allocation o funds, top priority must b given to those things 'whic benefit our students the most and contribute to the bes possible learning environment I expressed my opinion tha the board depends too muc upon the judgement an viewpoint of their ad ministrative officers. Thos board employees receiving th highest salaries must be clle upon to justify them in teriis their contribution to educatio To me education is essen tially the business of th people, especially parents an their children. The people mu be kept informed through th press and other media. Th debate and the decision reached at all board meeting what their board member sa and how he votes, are publ property. I concluded by pointing o that I have given my ener and dedication in the clas room to many generations township students, a requested voters to give me t opportunity to use' this e perience and continue to stri for educational quality reasonable cost by representi them on the Huron Coe board of education. Yours tru Donald S. McK More letters all page Dear Editor: I see by an area news paper that Clinton is debating on whether to keep their old Town Hall or replace it. This question ought to take little time to decide as all we have to do is read our newspapers and watch TV. I'm sure we all do, but are we thinking? According to our economists, we are on the threshold of a very serious recession, During a question period recently on television a gentleman with authority answered a question on this subject by saying that we all have to tighten our belts and watch our dollars very closely. The Chrysler .Corp, is on the verge of laying off thousands of employees. How long will it be before it hits us and when it does, how do we pay for a new Town Hall? Maybe the old Town Hall is inadequate, but with repairs, could it not-be used for years to come? I feel it would be unwise to gamble at this time. Thank-you, Syd Lawson, Goderich, Ontario.