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Clinton News-Record, 1977-03-03, Page 4PAGE 4—CLINTON t4EWS-RECORD, THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1977 at we think Ever heard of Red Cross? - March is Red' Cross month in Canada, and it's time we knew more about Red Cross itself. "Give blood" is about alimost of us know of it, but: Did' you know that last year some 815,000 Ca•nadians, beth able and disabled, learned to en joy water' sports safely because of courses offered by Red Cross Water Safety instructors?•. Did you know that Red Cross volunteers clocked 42,000 hours of ,time transporting people' to and from hospital and clinic appointents - people who are physically or mentally .han- dicapped, or who are veterans, shut-ins or senior citizens? Did you know Red Cross loaned over 14,000 wheelchairs, pairs of crutches and other sickroom aids to people who needed them!? This free service saved a lot of people money. Did you know that 56,000 Canadians received help from Red'Cross outpost hospitals and nursing stations? Did you know that over 15,000 people took courses that prepared them for coping witji illness and"' health emergencies in the home? Or that 25,000 senior citizens' entered programs that drew them back into the life of the community? Or that 400,000 young people learned to be better citizens by working on Red Cross pro.jects? The list goes on and one. Red Cross is everywhere, all across Canada. What it does affects all of us. This month, Red Cross month, the Canadian Red Cross Society wishes to remind you that the dollars you give Through United Way are what keep Red Cross vigorous and effective for us all. Feeding the world A long-delayed fund of $1, billion designed to help poor countries to grow more of their own food is becoming a reality. Under an agreement proposed by the oil -exporting nations at the 1974 World Food Conference, . the fund would become operative once it reached the billion -dollar mark, says the United. Church. According to the World Food Council, the industrialized nations are pledging $567 million, the OPEC countries $435 million and some developing nations $9 million. So far, some 91 nations have initialled the articles of agreement of this new fund. Soon the fund will begin making grants and low-cost loans fo poor countries, especially those with serious food deficits, to help them increase their food grain production. Initially, the fund will grant and lend a total of $350 million annually. And there is further, good news in that officials of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations say there are signs of a significant recovery in the global food situation. All the experts are agreed, however, that the long-term perspective remains `serious. It is estimated that more than a billion people today get inadequate diets. And this malnutrition is usually caused not so much because of 'lack of food production, but because of poor and uneven distribution. The question that has haunted us now for some decades -- can the rich remain well fed in a starving world -- is as valid as ever despite.the appearance of hopeful signs. Nations like Canada, the United States, France and Australia which are the breadbaskets . of the world, must not waver in their present goals of growing more food for everyone. But even more important, the rich must help thepoor to ..make their soil more productive. For only when there is a .world ,without hunger, will there be a,world with less fear and less turmoil. Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smi ey End of the blahs AH, there's -nothing more exhilarating than a good old-fashioned Canadian winter! (Is this the same guy who wrote a glum, lugubrious column last week about the physical and financial horrors of just such?) We've just had three days of sun and no snow, and all those red -eyed, drippy -nosed, hacking, whining, snow -shovelling Canadians of a week ago have been tran- sformed into virile, vibrant, smiling, sickenly-hearty exponents of the fabulous Canadian winter. I made my stand a day or two after last week's column. r thought to myself "Screw this," or"words to that effect. "I'm gonna go berserk. The Old Lady is getting weird. All my friends are either, depressed or eerie. I'm gonna make the great escape." So I did. A certain group of young punks to whom I am forced to refer as my colleagues, have been after me, slyly and maliciously, for about two years, to attend one of their poker evenings. They knew perfectly well that my wife wouldn't let me go, even if I told her it was a group of Sunday School teachers, and we were only going to play for matches. They got -after me again last Thursday. Maybe it was the weather, but something snapped. I said "Right. What time?" They started to snicker, and poke each other with their elbows. This is known in their circle as humor. "Sure you won't have any trouble making it? We sometimes stay, up as late as midnight, you know, Smiley. How ya gonna get through the next' day's work?" And so on. I treated this juvenilia with the respect it deserved. There was only one more hurdle, and you know what that was. But there was no real problem with her. Alf I had to do was get out and check all my insurance policies, make sure the cars and the house \were properly signed over and promise not to have a drink before dinner, in case I had one at the poker den, and the Old Battleaxe caved in. Oh, not completely. As I went out the door, she was yelling: "And don't ex- pect the door to be unlocked when you get home, and if you're not here by midnight I'll call the police. But that was nothing. In the old days, when she really loved me, and was really jealous, she'd get physical. She'd throw her artnt around my neck and her legs around my" waist, and I'd have a hell of a time getting through the door before I could brush her'off against a tree, or dump her in a snowbank. Anyway, the boys picked me up, and off we went into the wild night. The last of the • blizzards was just easing off, but it was blowing great curtains of- snow off the mighty banks. I thought we were going a couple of miles, in town. Turned out we were heading for a chalet out in the hills, about eighteen .miles away, and the driver of the Datsun in which I was ensconced fancied himself as a contender in the Grand Winter Rally of Montenegro, or something. Had to call on the old steely fighter -pilot's nerves to refrain from screaming, "Lemme Out! I wanna go home and watch TV!" However, true grit prevailed, and six hours later I was home, steady as a rock, about even on the night's poker, and ready for a few hours sleep. I wouldn't bore you by telling you what kind of poker these aging juvenil% delinquents play. Almost no stud or draw poker. They play what we used to call, before the male chauvinist crap began "Women's Poker Games like Twenty- seven Skip to My loo ninth card wild anything in your armpit doesn't count and split the pot four ways. It took,,three times as long to describe the game to'be played as it did to play it. Had a Mississippi gambler, or even an old cowhand, been asked to sit in on just one of those 'deals, he'd have pulled his derringers, or his .38, as it might be, and ' started shooting "poker" players right and left. I hate to mention one more detail. But, old enough to be the father of most of them, I was at work the next day bright as a shiny • new dollar, teaching with my usual superb elegance, and looking askance at some of these bleary-eyed young "gamblers" who thought they were showing the old boy a big . night out. Migawd, I was in rougher games than that when I was 17. However, L forgive 'them their miscon- ceptions, and if they . want to call a ' hangover being "down with the flu", that's their problem. Point is, I had made the big breakthrough of the winter blah's. On Saturday morning, was up at the crack of noon, and off skiing in the_ bush with my wife. She fell five times. I fell once. Sunday, off again skiing with a gang. My wife fell four times. I fell once. Followed this with an apres-ski party with old friends. Dandy' fire going. Wizard mulled wine. Massive injections of hot home-made sup and home-made bread. And home to bed at ten o'clock with a tremendous sense of physical and morat rectitude. I've been feeling good about winter ever 'since, and all depression is gone. Why don't you try it? You don't have to begin with a poker game out in the wilds. Especially if you happen to bean 80 -year-old lady. But do something. Kick the cat. Give your grumpy old husband a goose. First thing you know they'lI both be chasing you around the house, and your winter blues will vanish. r, CP Odds 'n' ends, - by Elaine Townshend A newspaper's fate Anyone who becomes involved with a newspaper must accept a common fate, No matter how large or how small our contribution may be, it inevitably lands where all fine newspapers land - in the dump. The chances of a certain column, story or report avoiding such doom are slim. For writers, this end is difficult to accept, especially when we consider the strain we place on our brains. We. spend ours searching the remote corners of our°mind's for a unique descriptive phrase. We tatter our dictionaries looking for a word that expresses our meaning exactly or for a synonym that rescues our story from repetitiveness. At 3 a.m., we spring from our beds and risk life and limb in a mad lunge for the typewriter to jot down a punch line that came to us after hours of tossing and turning. Can you blame us for cringing when we envision flames licking our labours of love? Nevertheless, we must think positively ; we must consider all the good things a newspaper accomplishes before' it reaches its final resting place. First, it is read - we hope. It brings news and views tb the populace; some of its contents may even be remembered. Perhaps some readers consider an item or two worthy enough to be saved for their files. Sometimes a newspaper is studied by one household then passed on to another. Therefore, it is well scrutinized and travels far before it reaches its final destination. Furthermore, a subscription to a newspaper often solves the problem of buying a birthday or Christmas gift for "the guy who has everything." After being read, the pages of a newspaper render a variety of services. They may help to paper -train a pup. Don't frown! That dog may someday achieve outstanding feats of obedience, such as fetching a newspaper for his master. A newspaper can save a freshly waxed floor from a pair of wet boots. Its' pages can be used to pack keepsakes for storage or dishes for transport. They can also ensure the survival of cut flowers while in transit, by enclosing damp tissuev. around their stems. Of course, a newspaper is often used to wrap less desirable articles than flowers and keepsakes - a fact that writers and editors prefer not to think about. • A newspaper can spark a fire for a children's wiener roast. Or, it 'can turn a family room into a cozy place by helping a log to burn in the fireplace. During the un- predictable winters, it can warm a home by starting a fire in an old wood or coal stove, when the electric heat fails. -Yes, a newspaper serves many purposes before it's gone. Everyone connected with it fancies that his or her con- tribution should take its place in history with theother great quotes, but few will succeed. Realistically, we must accept the ephemeral existence of our "masterpieces," and try to take comfort in the obvious as well as the not -so -obvious effects a newspaper can have. From our early files . . • • • • - 10 YEARS AGO .March 2, 1967 Last Sunday, CFB Clinton was the scene of a large Centennial Scout and Guide Rally celebrating the 60th anniversary of the world scouting movement. The rally was jointly sponsored by the scout and guide groups from Clinton and Adastral Park; the Bayfield cub pack also at- tended.' Approximately 500 guides, scouts, brownies and cubs par- ticipated in the day -long affair. A group of students from CHSS who play in the Clinton Industrial Hockey League as' the Juveniles took on their teachers in a benefit game for Clinton and District Community Centre Centennial Fund last Thursday after school. Over 200 tickets were sold to students at 25 cents ,each, and after the game Gary Black handed the entire proceeds over to teacher Mait Edgar, chairman of the finance committee of the new community centre. Oh yes, the students shellacked the teachers 6-2, in the game played at Clinton Lions Arena. Clinton Lions Club, at its regular meeting in St. Paul's Parish Hall, Tuesday evening, discussed the disposal and future of the arena which the club owns on Mary Street. With the new arena now under construction in Clinton Community Park, this is the last month the Lions Arena will be used for skating and hockey. President Ken Flett announced that Bayfield was interested in purchasing the ice making plant for their . arena on the agricultural grounds in the village. The villages of Blyth and Zurich had also been informed by letter that the ice plant would be available this year, for artificial ice in their arenas. The plant was not suitable to either's requirements. Many Lions spoke ' of the ice plant, that it was still in good operating , condition after 16 years. The plant cost ap- proximately $23,000 in 1952 and has had no major breakdown. • 25 YEARS AGO February 28, 1952 Clinton Lions Club decided at its regular dinner meeting in St. Paul's Parish Hall Monday evening to investigate further the matter of installing an artificial ice plant in Clintoin Lions Arena, and even go so far as to call for provisional tenders. W. E. Perdue, chairman of the special investigating committee appointed some time ago; -gave the report of. the Committee, containing facts and figures and estimates in connection with the undertaking. He said the plant presently installed in Seaforth and Goderich_had been investigated, and correspon- dence and consultations affected suppliers of equipment. Bar4lett and, Rieder, architects, - Kitchener, called tenders today • for the construction of Clinton's new public school, originally estimated to cost $300,000. Plans and specifications are available from H. C. Lawson, secretary -treasurer, Clinton Public School Board, but the architects are receiving the tenders, which must be in their hands by Tuesday, March 11. Next step will be the awarding of the contract followed by the issue of debentures. The first school juvenile court was held at the Clinton Public School Friday afternoon with the permission of Principal George H. Jefferson, under the guidance of the town's Chief of Police, Joseph Ferrand. The court will be a weekly event, when nine safety patrols, all pupils of the school, will hold session to con- vict or acquit pupils who have violated safety rules. • • As the amount of traffic through the town is increasing daily, the safety patrols were chosen by the chief to guide pupils across the busy in- tersections of two highways both going and coming from school. The boys are headed by a cap- tain, Eugene (Butch) McLaren, whose duty is to see that all the boys are correctly dressed in white rubber capes and white belts. county Have been .entered at the office of the county Clerk by fourteen of the twenty-six municipalities of the county - Goderich, Clinton, Seaforth, and Wingham; all the villages - Blyth, Brussels, Bayfield, Exeter, Hensall and Wroxeter, and the townships of East Wawanosh, Grey, Hay and Morris. The ap- peal of Morris township was not received within the specified time, and it rests with the county judge whether it will be con- sidered or not. Clinton council would not have appealed alone, but when so many others were appealing, decided to join. The legality of the appointment of the third member of the valuators' committee will be argued before Judge Lewis on Saturday. 50 YEARS AGO March 3, 1927 The euchre and dance given by the Clinton .fire brigade in the town hall on Monday evening proved to be such a popular affair that the hall was pretty well crowded, tables having to be set on the stage, and then there were many who could not be ac- commodated. The first part of the evening was spent in cards and after lunch the floor was cleared and' dancing was indulged in for some hours, the music being furnished by Boyce's orchestra. Clinton friends of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Allen of the fourth con- cession of Tuckersmith were sorry to hear of their loss early Tuesday morning, when their house and its contents were destroyed by fire. Mr. and Mrs. Allen left home about eight o'clock to come up to Clinton to the Firemen's party. Mrs. Allen said she looked about the stove before leaving to see if all was. right and that there seemed to be very little fire in the stove and the furnace had not been going for some time. But the fire seemed to start in the dining room, where the Quebec stove was, and when seen by a neighbour, who was going home from Clinton, it had got quite a start./When assistance arrived it was impossible to save much of the contents, only the living room rug and a couple of chairs being got out. Appeals ' against the new equalized assessment of the 75 YEARS AGO February 28, 1902 There were good crowds, mostly of young folks, at the town hall on Monday and Tuesda' nights, to see the entertainments given by the Imperial Moving Picture -Co. The pictures included scenes of the Duke of York's visit, the Pan-American, marine, naval, comic, etc. The pictures were, with a few exceptions, clear, and afforded much amusement. The Dominion estimates we're brought down in the House of Commons on Monday of last week, and among the ap- propriations for public buildings in Ontario is $5000 additional for the Clinton Post Office, $10,000 for dredging at Goderich harbor, $15,000 for general repairs to piers, etc., a revote of.$5,000 for Bayfield harbor, and a revote of $5,000 for St. Joseph; none of the latter has been spent, and is doubtful if it ever will be. Mrs. Jas. Cottle who resides with her sister, Mrs. Murphy, on Princess Street, had the misfortune to slip, down and fracture her hip. As she is over 80 years of age, the accident will be What you. in W:J 'i• :•••••• ••• •-• 'a.'.%..:•t:•.• 'Jf4.rr Power Dear Editor: Planning •Ontario's elec- trical future affects us all. How are we going to be living in the future? Will our lifestyles demand greater , supplies of electricity? or less? How will we produce electricity? Will 'there be a greater dependence on alternate sources such a solar, wind and methane Will our centres of population be the same? What im- plications does this have for our dwindling supply of good farmland? These are just some of the questions which we afire trying to answer. As the Royal Commission on Electric Power Planning nears its final stage of hearings, scheduled to begin in mid-April, "Outreach" hopes to facilitate an ef- fective dialogue between the public and the Commisssion. Through this program, RCEPP is providing in- formation concerning the Commission and its inquiry, and will help those interested to plan activities around this. A large number of schools have already become in- volved in this way and many special interest and com- munity groups have also indicated interest. The Outreach Guidebook, a 100 page document which gives background information and suggestions for Outreach activities, is now available, free of charge, from the Commission. Our concern is - that the people of Ontario are aware of this program and the importance of the Royal • Commission on Electric Power Planning to them. We would appreciate your.help in fulfilling this- goal by letting the readers of your newspaper know about Outreach. An important part of a successful public par- • ticipation process is the widest dissemination of in- formation possible . . . the media areinstrumental to this. Can you help? Catherine Hunt, John Neate, Royal Commission on Electric Power Planning. all the_ more. severe for her....Mrs. W. Murray had the misfortune to slip while out at the pump the other day, and broke her arm. Although experiencing pain, she did not know at the moment that her arm was broken, and continued her house work for some time after. The architect of the public works department is preparing plans for the new post office here; the building will probably be constructed of red brick, though. this has not yet been decided upon.... 100 YEARS AGO February 28, 1877 On Friday last, Orangemen from a wide circle in the county gathered in this town to attend the funeral of their deceased brother, Arthur Cantelon. He was also followed to the grave by a large number of friends and acquaintances, as he had been long a resident in the county, and had been an Orangeman for about 60 years. On the 27th inst., a Sabbath School convention in connection with the Presbyterian Church, will take place in this town, where it is expected that delegates from societies in h wide circle will be present. The programme'of proceedings that has been issued contains subjects for addresses and discussion that foreshadow a profitable and interesting oc- casion. News -Record readers are encouraged to express their opinions in letters to the editor, however, such opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of the News - Record. Pseudonyms may be used by letter writers, but no letter will be published unless it can be verified by phone. . Snow help Dear Editor: f - (The following letter was sent out to the reeves in the Huron - Middlesex riding.) At the time that the Premier announced, that there would be assistance given for snow removal in the Niagara Region, we as Members.of Ridings in South- western Ontario, contacted the Premier's office to that the same consideration be given to Counties in South- western outhwestern Ontario, being that this region encountered the same severe storm as did the Niagara Region and that our region was inundated with snow over a much longer period of time than was till region in Niagara. I am pleased to inform you that assistance will be for- thcoming to the Counties in Southwestern Ontario and that a special committee will meet this week to decide the formula that will be used to giveextra financial assistance to municipalities that have been hard hit by snowploughing and snow removal costs due to the severe storms. The committee is composed of the Chairman the Honourable John MacBeth, Solicitor General, the Honourable James Snow, Minister of Transportation and Communications, and the-- Honourable heHonourable James Taylor, Minister of Energy. I would strongly advise your Municipality to submit (continued on page 7 • The Clinton News -Record la published each Thursday at P.O. Box 39, Clinton, Ontario, Canada, NOM ILO. It is registered as second class mail by the post office under the permit number 0817. The News -Record Incorporated in 1924 .the Huron Nbws-Record, founded In 1881, and the Clinton New Era, founded In 1885. Total press run 3,100. Member, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association Clinton N ews4'ec )1 ( 1 Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. 7 effective Oct. 1 1976. General Manager . J. Mimed Aitken Editor • James E. Fitzgerald Advertising Director - Gary L. Hoist Assistant editor - Chris Zdeb 'Office Manager -Margaret Gibb Circulation • Freda MVlcl.eod Accounting - Marian Willson Subscription Rates: Citnada - $12 per year U.S.A. -$15.50 Other- $18 Single Copy - 25c