Clinton News-Record, 1976-04-29, Page 11.:�F:14.Y"1"4,
04,
•
will
The Clinton Hospital board received
hope on the weekend that they may
hie to keep- the hospital open, and
now take the government to court.
Hospital , administrator Douglas
entry said on Wednesday that the 62 --
hospital ital would continue 'to admit
e xeatprten`p �:
A atients after this
•urday May I, despite orders from the
kg; , .Health minister Dr. Bette
tenson on April 12 that the hospital
admitting patients on May 1st. and
ed by June Ist.
"fit's against the,Hospital's Act not to
it patients," Mr. Coventry said. and
admit
he added he had heard nothing back
from Dr. Stephenson following the
meeting -with her last week,
The two-hour meeting, said Jack
Riddell, Huron -Middlesex MPP, was a
very good hearing, and Dr. Stephenson
was very sympathetic.
Vice-chairman of the board, Beecher
Menzies of Clinton, said "1 think if it
were her decision, she would leave the
hospital open, but 1 think it's a cabinet
decision.
Meeting with the minister were Mr.
Coventry, Mr. Riddell, several medical
staffers., hospital board chairman Art
Aiken and several members of the board
en crash claims life
Landon man was killed early Sunday
er his car went out of control and
uck a tree, the Goderich OPP report.
Daniel. Nulcahy. 51 of Londonwas
killed on Highway 4, at the Kippen
unction at 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
Wages, as the result of the accident
ere 51.500 to the car and $25 to the tree.
_On Sunday evening, Allen Bell 16 , of
....
pn, was ?injured after his car struck
mail box and a hydro pole on Highway
hout one half mile south of Clinton.
,Damages were estimated at $250 to the
dro pole and mail box, and $1,200 to
scar.
Barry Irwin, 29, of Clinton struck three
guide pests on Highway 8 one mile east
of Clinton, on Sunday afternoon.
Damage to the guide posts was
estimated at $48, while Mr. Irwin's car
received $600 damages. There were no
injuries.
A deer, on Highway 4, one half mile
north of Londesboro, was struck by a
vehicle driven by Hugh McKenzie of
Levac, Ontario.
Mr. Levac received $400 damages to
his car. The deer disappeared into the
night and was not found.
• NO
r.
The Citizens Action.Committee is still carrying out a protest over the closing of
the Clinton Public Hospital and last Friday and Saturday volunteers picketed
Main street. The protests will continue this weekend. Some of the marchers
were left to right, Ken Hart, Steve Emmerton, Pete Anstett, and Phillip
Bridges. (News -Record photo)
iients a
and several Clinton businessmen.
.-Dr. Stephenson said a decision would
be reached in several days. but nothing ,
has been heard as of 'Wednesday mor-
ning. speculate that her
Clinton officials sp,
delay is due to a court decision handed
down last Friday by Ontario Supreme
Court J ustice.Mayer Lerner, who ruled
that a letter -sent to Durham hospital did
not have sufficient authority to close that
hospital.
Mr. Justice Lerner said thatheublifor c
Hospitals Act states that approvalsuspended by
hospital operation may be
the minister of health, but only be
revoked by cabinet.
The exact same letter came to the
Clinton Hospital board; and Clinton
lawyer and board vice chairman
Beecher Menzies saidthe same court
decision would apply here.
Mr. Menzies said theboard's counsel
in Toronto, Abrey Golden, will go into
Division Court of the Supreme Court
41 43 34
O 41.
48
37
39
26
in I*75 ' Rain .33"
114" anew
•
a
icy 1st.
today(Thuday) to fight Clinton's case.
im Hamm- rhairfi+10. of the Clinton
Citizens' iNittori Committee, said he was ..
hopeful of a win, but he said the protest
and support of the community must
continue.
"Many people in the area have given
up hope on the hospital, and think it -'s
silly to continue our picketing and
protesting, but we very much need to
continue it," he said.
Because of the lack of hope, Mr.
Hunter said he was having trouble
getting volunteers to continue the
pretest, which was staged on Main
Street last weekend. and will be con-
tinued this Friday and Saturday.
Mr. Hunter hoped to have a silent
picket line at the hospital today
(Thursday) to greet the three ministry
of health consultants who were
scheduled to come. ,.
"But I don't see why they're coming,
administrator Coventry said, "when
they have nothing to tell us."
hatAs Bis white sluff?
Area residents were shocked on Sunday when a sudden blast of winter retur-
ned, dumping up to four inches of snow, and bringing freezing temperatures for
three nights. Many fruit trees were hurt by the storm, but no major crop
damage occured. Here Mrs. 'Verna. Harris of Raglan Street cleans the white
stuff off her car. (News -Record photo)
tPr returns to area, fruit crops:suffer
By Jim Fitzgerald
"From bikinis to galoshes in one
week," was how one Huron County
resident described the sudden reversal
in the' weather last- week , that saw -
temperatures plummet from the 80's to
the 20's, and up to four inches of snow
dumped on the area.
Although snow and freezing tem-
peratures are not a rarity in Huron
during the latter part of April, no one
questioned by this paper could recall in
the last 50 years a snowstorm ever
following a heat wave that had the
tiltissoms out. the farmers, out on the
land. and the leaves out on the trees.
The weather was as unusually cold
this week as it was unusually hot last
week, but only the fruit farmers in the
area will suffer.
As predicted last week, many farmers
and the agricultural office were worried
that the heat wave would lure the fruit
trees into blooming and then a late fro-`
would come and erase this year's f --.
crop
it
Mike Miller, associate agricui ural
representative with the Clinton ffice,
said on Tuesday that the tender ruits -
peaches. cherries and plums' would
suffer the most damage.
"If the frost doesn't kill the blossoms,.
we could still be in trouble because it's
too cold for the bees -to pollinate them."
Mr. Miller said.
Warm weather is needed as soon as
possible to save the fruit crop, but Mr.
Centennial Committee reiurns $9,640
The Clinton Centennial Committee last
Thursday night returned $9,648 to the
Clinton council as they wound up their
activitie which started almost three
By Jim Fitgeratd
Last Sunday was enough to make even
the most stoic, of gardeners .weep as that
unexpected wintry blast nearly undid all
we had accomplished during that heat
wave of last week. Although we lost our
cherry crop, the apples and pears sur-
vived, and yours truly's garden was still
alive and green on Wednesday morning.
A good snow always does a pea crop
'good the old timers say.
+++
And while there is still snow on the •
ground while this column is . being
written earth, Wednesday therning, it's
,,on'ly a ri entit now until The Spring Fair.
ob Gibbings dropped in during the
,Ir, snowstorVn to tell us the prize lists are
now out and available from him or an'y
Fair Board member.
+++
Remember when we were kids and ywe
td to play discus thrower with those
w "chips" out in the pasture. Well.
w it's an official sport and adults play
e game too. it seems a "chip"
rowing contest was held in Texas last
eek, and the winner, a local reporter.
rew his chip 156 feet. Now they likely
rite a book on the finer art of "chip"
rowing and the author will use the
ieadotiym "Whoflungdung."
1=
Miller .said he didn't Think the apples
would be hurt as bad 'as their blossoms
were not open yet, and the buds can
stand considerable frost.
Mkt :Miller said that farmers. who have
planted grlain shouldn't be worried
either as it can standthe frost and cold
wet conditions for a few days.
Only if the seed hasn't sprouted and
sits in poorly drained land will farmers
have to replant.
years ago to the date. "Well, we sure did appreciate their
The Centennial Committee were given (the Centennial conu`nittee), work,"
a $10,000 grant by the town last year, and Mayor Don' Symons said. "It was well
had hoped toreturn as much as possible worth it."
annexatio� of -Vanastra came up
back to the town. The
However, only about 5500 of the again, with Reeve Harold Lobb saying it
returned money is in actual cash, while would be beneficial.
the rest, about $8,897.44, is in the form of "Tuckersanith Reeve Elgin Thompson
decorations, flags; and souvenirs. said I would be laughed out of (Clinton)
Included are 53,000 worth of flags, council because you were all against it,"
about 52,000 in souvenirs, -and 52,100 Reeve Lobb said, "but it would mean
worth of history boolsss. i • many benefits to the town."
Russ Archer, the Centennial Chair- Councillor Roy Wheeler said that
man, along with Eugene McAdam, Bob council should check into the taxes
Mann, and Tom Feeney, attended the situation at the former Canadian Forces
meeting, and expressed the hope that Base before the town made any move to
Many of the decorations could be sold to add it to the town.
other towns and villages who have up- Reeve Lobb replied that the benefits
coming Centennial celebrations. They far outstripped any shortcomings at
named Bayfield, Blyth. and Goderich. Vanastra.
"We handled over 570,000 last year." He cited all the open space. industrial
Mr. Archer told councilu with the Cen- land, and added residential space that
tcnnial parade at 57,000 being the most would be acquired.
expensive item.Reeve also dropped a hint that a major
Council also decided to paint over `the industry is looking to locate in town. and
Centennial signs at the, four entrances to . needs some land. He said more details
town. and allow ;local service clubs to would be released at the next council
mount their own signs on'them. meeting.
The same holds true for the corn which,..
was also sown in the southern part of .the
county last week.
"It seerns to do alright if it has
sprouted and isn't sitting in cold ground
too long," Mr. Miller said. However if
the cold wet conditions continue for a
few more days, unsprouted seed will rot
and have to be re -sown, Mr. Miller
stressed.
Meanwhile. horticultural experts don't
think that most- trees and shrubs that
Mainly because of education tax
Minton
iaxpyerSfa(e at
Clinton municipal taxpayers will face
at least a 17 mill tax increase this year
because of increased education and
county levies, Clinton council learned
last Thursday night, and the bills could
be seen higher if the town's own rate is
increased.
Financial chairmanb Councillor Roy
Wheeler, told council that Clinton must
come up with an extra 14 mills to cover
the school tax, and an extra 3 mills for
the county.
The 17 mill increase would mean an
average property taxpayer in Clinton
*ould.pay an extra 547 in taxes this year
on an assessment of 53,000, bringing
his
Garbage mix up cleaned up
The garbage situation in town was In part, the contract with , Mr. Glew
"cleaned -up" at Clinton counciii •last says that a householder may put out
Thursday night when the town' garbage tl)fee.,bagsor three boxes, well tied, per
collector appeared before council. week, with no bag weighing over 70
Randy Glew. who last year signed a pounds.
three year contract t4 pick up Clinton's Hettels and,ceStaurants are allowed six
garbage had been asked to *appear bags or cartons three times per 'week.
before council after several domplaints while other businesses are allowed six
were received on the garbage collection bags eeve cartons
week.
said that Mr. Glew does
in town.
_yam._ Herold Lobb said he went out give special consideration to some extra
- + o with Mr. Glew and said they had garbage. especially in the spring, or
that we are heing on ake a long
, straightened out the problems. when a family moves. Otherwise, any
r recordinglro when wen on n $long g of it was just m,lsun- garbage beyond the limits • of the con-
e call from a Clinton number, "A lot S
we going tci charge a call to our derstanding," Mr. Lobb said. "Many tract will be picked up by Mr: Glew at an
inber when we're at somebody people aren't familiar with our garbage addition' charge. (continued on page
�►rne Ab, the priceol.p'r0gress. pickup' hi town."'
I
total tax bill to near 5500. ,
Last year, the mill rate jumped 37
mills, meaning an average taxpayer had
to come up with 5100 more.
The 14 mill education tax increase is to
cover an extra 544,000 the town will pay
the Huron County board of education this
year. In 1975, Clinton paid a total
elementary and secondary levy of
$161,000; compared to $205,553 this year
or a 27.33 per cent increase.
Mayor Don Symons said the crying
towels were out at a meeting last week
between municipal and board officials,
when the board gave the Huron
municipalities the news.
"They didn't- tell us how we could raise
the money," Mayor Symons said. "Are
we supposed to cut off our own ser-
vices?" he asked.
wte leafing out before the cold snap will
be seriously hurt, and most will recover.
Last Sunday's snowstorm also caught
most people off guard, including town
works' employees and highways crews,
who had dismantled their plows and
sanding equipment for the summer.
However, police report that although
there was a rash of fender benders, most
people took the winter driving in stride.
Warmer weather is expected to return
later this week.
Least -17 mill hike
Council also got a sneak preview at a
rough draft of the police budget which
will increase this year to $113,016 from
8105,511 or about $7,500. Not included in
the rough draft was a police department
request for a hand held radar unit worth
about 51.200.
In other business. the mess over the
planning board was straightened out
when council learned that Guss :Boussey
has been appointed the new chairman to
replace . Eugene McAdam, and Bob
Mann has been named vice-chairman,
replacing Beecher Menzies. Two new
members, Rita Ryan and Gerald Hiltz
A letter was also receivea rrorn the
town of Goderich thanking the clinton
council for the card of appreciation they
had sent to Goderich over that town's
stand in trying to help keep the Clinton
Hospital open.
With the recent swings in the weather,
the public works department doesn't
know which way to turn. Last weekend
they had to sand and salt the roads for
ice, while only a week before, they had
numerous complaints about the dusty
streets.
Public works chairman Ernie Brown
said it was much too early to oil the
were recommended to council as . gravel roads yet, as hot, dry days are
replacements tti the board&
needed to soak in the oil.
. - Lj•
Clinton- truck drier is injured
as rig plows into Seaforth store
Emmerson Edwards 62, of Mary
Street in Clinton, is in fair condition in
Seaforth Community Hospital after the
large salt tanker he was driving hit a
half -ton truck at the intersection of Main
Street and Highway 8 in Seaforth early
Tuesday morning. It then crashed
through a brick wall in the Pricegard
Store on the south east corner of the
intersection.
Mr. Edwards, who was east bound in
the truck owned by Boyes Transport Ltd.
Clinton luckily escaped death after his
cab became unhitched from the trailer
and was demolished after it went
through the wall. He has severe bruising
of his upper back and shoulders.
The driver of the half -ton truck, 19 -
yeari Catherine Poland of Seaforth
and her passenger. Marlene Miller, 19 of
RR 4 Seaforth, are both in satisfactory
condition in Seaforth Hospital.
Total damages are estimated at
around $50,000.
The accident is under the investigation
of the SeaforthPolice Department.
rnstore a main Intersection (n Seaforth.
involved in an accident at the >t
AClinten matt, Emmerson •Edrtrs<rdi$ wast lrtj+ut'ed sled about
Here firemen stand by as v�rreckrers_pu11 the cab out of the
worth of property dwfrfege, was caused early Prie+ Bard Store. (photo by Wilma tyke)
y morning hen a Hayes Transport tractOir was