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Clinton News-Record, 1977-04-21, Page 4PAGE 4---CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1977 What we think Common sense returns Health Minister Dennis Timbrell's decision last Tuesday that the Clinton Hospital won't be closed can only be greeted with a loud "hallelujah." But we can also wonder "what took you so long." While the government fiddled for a • year, Clinton burned, angry at the arbitrary. method the government was using to deprive smaller communities of one of their more valuable assets, the community hospital, and living on pins and needles, not knowing from day to day, especially in the winter, whether they would have medical treatment the next day or not. This paper, along with just about everybody in this area, wondered at the sense of, the whole thing, and we can't help but wonder that the mass protest mounted in this area had something to do with, the governments reversal of policy. We have maintained all along -that if there are too many hospital beds in Huron County, then sit down with ALL the hospitals and close a few in each, not deprive one community of one of their most important facilities. We also argued all. along that if health costs were way out of line, there were literally hundreds of other ways to cut costs, not just in a few token hospital closings that turned basically. good people against a government that in the past was known, for the most part, for applying common sense. We can now sleep sounder at nights, secure in the knowledge that if we are to be part of a health cost-cutting program, we will at least have a say, and not be a sacrificial lamb. Let's get on the boat We've said it before, and we'll say it again: we're just too doggone proud and self subsistent around here. Last month in this space we decried the stoicness of Huron citizens, who no matter how far down and out, didn't seek funds to help with our snow removal in one of the worst winters in 50 years. And then we find out at the recreation meeting last week that we have been missing the boats on all kinds of government grants, while at the same time struggling to raise funds for community projects out of our own pockets. We've suddenly learned, through a government official that there's all kinds of government money available, all wehave to dols ask for it. True, no one likes to exist on han-. douts, but if you stop and figure how much money leaves this area every kw year in various taxes, such as gasoline tax, sales tax, booze tax, amusement tax, income tax, to mention just a few, it's time we started getting some of it back, especially if they are offering it to us on a silver platter. Take for example the proposed tennis courts at the high school. All that has to be done is a lease signed between the town and the board of education making the site public, and the courts are eligible for all kinds of grants. The high school students, who have worked long and hard raising nearly $8,000 already toward the courts, have enough now, to proceed with the facility. We could go on and on about other grants; such as a 100 percent grant to put an elevator in the Town hall, heritage grants, senior citizen grants, etc., etc. Let's get back on the boat. Sugar and Spice/By Bill Sin Fuel for anger I was so mad when I began writing this column yesterday that there was smoke starting to come out of the typewriter keys, so I stopped and let them cool off overnight. They're still warm, but just touchable. Reason for my rage was that I had been royally shafted three times in a row by three different service stations owned by three different oil companies, totune of about $200 and a great deal of ' personal inconvenience. In each case the ineptness of the so-called "service" was equalled only by the rapacity of the operators. My first impulse was to name names and lay the sordid facts on the line. But I was boiling so buoyantly that there was no way I could have written an honest, objective - account of the piracy I was subjected to, so I'm glad I slept on it. I didn't want to label all Sunoco, Fina and Gulf service station operators as high- waymen, because that would have maligned a couple of local operators who have not, to my knowledge, while I was watching, mugged me. They were not in- volved in that very chill wind. No problem. Get a boost. Walked around to service centre. Nobody home.. Out front three young gas -jockeys pumping fuel like `mad. Tried b get some help. Was almost completely ignored. Finally, one of them told me with some delight that the mechpanic was on holidays, that the tow - truck was 'away somewhere, and that he personally was too busy to even lift the hood. Mounting frustration and seething anger commencing. But I'm a patient man, a reasonable. man. Finally, kid arrives with tow -truck. Gives battery a boost. I turn key, with relief. Horrible scrailing sound. No more, Everything dead. The kid reckoned my new starter unit had just stripped its guts out. He was just guessing, of course. A little background music here. We were on our way to hear our daughter play in a concert. Her mother had brought a com- plete new corduroy outfit, made by hand, for the girl to wear at the concert. And there we were stranded at a wind-swept "service" station forty miles from Suffice it to say that -the next time you see anywhere. Wayne and Shuster doing one of those Only by dint of great- forbearance and comedy commercials in which you are awesome threats of law -suits did I get one assured` that a big American oil company's of those turkeys to call a garage in the only aim in life is to give you the best neairest town, and arrange to have the car possible service at the lowest possible cost, towed there and repaired. switch to a soap ad. At least the soap We hitched a ride down the road with two merchants con you•blatantly, and take you lovely women from up. north, bless their to the cleaners literally, rather than good souls, and they took us into the city, figuratively, as the oil companies do. getting themselves thoroughly lost in the And I thought plumbers were rough! process. Taxi to concert site. Daughter After tangling with a few "mechanics" in a doesn't want new outfit. Missed concert. few days, I could have kissed an honest Taxi to hotel. Total taxi bill $14.00 OK. No plumber who chanced along. He'd probably sweat. have charged me five bucks for the Next morning, phone garage to which car privilege of kissing him,. but he'd have towed. Sure he can fix. No problem. "You looked good after those various grease- pick up tomorrow. Before noon. I quit monkeys who seemed more interested in noon." rape than kissing. Next day, taxi 45 miles north (no bus) to Nobody wants to hear my troubles, but I garage. Car fixed. Bill $99.00. Garage -man don't care. I have tb purge myself of this won't accept credit card though sign in bile or I'll be sour on servicemen all spring. window says he will. Borrow enough from I don't want to go through my life hating cahhie to get car out of hock. Decent mechanics. Some of my best friends are cabbie, took cheque, was sympathetic. His mechanics. But I wouldn't want my cab hill, $40. daughter to marry one. On second thought . Drive car all way hack to city. Something maybe I would She'd certainly be finan- wrong; doesn't, Leer rigl'It. Whole day shot. cially secure for life. Arrive hotel, no parking space left at the Now, the sad saga. It was March blowing inn. itself out like a polar walrus. Bitter cold, And I'm skipping over the had parts. I'm wind gusting to about 50. We were on our sure this hitter little tale has mechanics way to the city for a couple of days. Stopped everywhere slapping their knees in for coffee at one of those big, drive-in hilarity. But I'm afraid it left a slightly restaurant -service stations which have rotten taste in my mouth. nothing going for them exeept a monopoly. One service statikn made a mess of the Their coffee is lousy, their food is swill, ,job in the first place. The second one ad - their staff is surly, slovenly, stupid, or all vertised good service and gave Bone. The three. You know the kind I mean, Terrific third guy hosed me to the hilt because I was architecture with nothing inside. You've comparatikkly hept1exs, and was ugly` been stung before, and sworn you'd never about it into the bargain. do it again, but there's nothing else for a I'm sure there are some good service another forty miles. stations,, somewhere. I'd like to" edme Drank the lukewarm dishwater they call - across one. And maybe there is brieamong coffge, 'Turned the key to get going. the many Ametxican oil companies Nofh jpg. Couldn't be the starter. Had just operating in Canada which is more in - had a whole new unit put in. two weeks terested in good service than selling gas. before, at a cost of $70. Must be the battery. Maybe. r, "Think you've got troubles I'm an English teacher in Quebec!" Odds 'n' ends, - by Elaine Townshend Opps? I stand corrected. A few weeks ago I wrote a column about cartoons and nursery rhymes. I tried to make the point that, if we're concerned about children being exposed to violence, we should consider the violence contained in many so-called "children's stories." Unfortunately, I did not research my subject thoroughly enough. - When my 15 -year-old nephew and my 13 -year-old niece read the column, they cried in unison, "You sure blew that one, Elaine!" ! (It's the first time I've heard them agree on anything for years.) Where did I go wrong? "For one thing," Jan began, "the queen didn't hire a witch to give the poison apple to Snow White. She did it herself." "That's not the way I re)imbeP41tt, �'i challenged. "Y ' too old to remember " she few things." retorted. Then Dave took over, "Chopper doesn't save Tweety from the Pussy cat. Chopper saves Yankee Doodle from Fibber Fox." "Not Yankee Doodle," David," Jan 'that long ago that we did watch them. chipped in. "It's Yakky Doodle." That's why ,we can remember. It's so "Oh yea. Well, anyway, Chopper saves long since you were a kid it's impossible Yakky from Fibber Fox." for you to remember." ' I don't even recall whether cartoons were shown on TV way back when I was a kid, but I didn't admit it. Besides, I was surprised he would concede that television could have been invented What you think United Dear Editor: - We are disturbed by dis ussions of the possible break-up of our country, Canada. How cawe express our- goodwill to our French speaking fellow Canadians? Families quarrel but with love end willing hearts, the quarrels are resolved, because the family is im- portant, So it is with our country ,' with its beauty, freedom and diversity. With one of its members gone, Canada is incomplete. It was a French Canadian, born in Quebec, who composed "0 Canada". Are you searching for a way to express your frien- dship towards the people in Quebec? Please write a note or postcard expressing your feelings about this important matter, in French or English, to: Citizens of Quebec, c -o Council of Canadian Union, 1470 Peel Street, Suite 925, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1T1, Mrs. L.E. Marrs, Mrs. W.S. Sewell, Toronto. Then with carefully chosen words, he drove home the point, which was the main reason he and Jan had began the conversation: "It's not that we watch them now, but we're young. And it's not `Then who saves Tweety from the Puddy Cat? ; ; I asked in bewilderment. "Granny, with her umbrella." Finally I told them that I had con- templated asking their advice before I. wrote the column, but f feared, if I before I was born.) mentioned cartoons to a 15 -year-old and a 13 -year-old, I'd hear angry retorts, "Things have changed a lot since you such as "How should we know? Cartoons were a kid," Jan added. are fo>f kids!" And Dave nodded his head in "Our little b>othe.r watches cartoons.: agreement. when she concluded, "The the time,'"' ''� p1rietdt :ne :time you want to write something charitably,"So we $o w'unce .t�o pick up a' atdut the' younger generation, you'd better ask us first." oure From our early files . • • • • • 10 YEARS AGO Apri120, 1967 The Ontario government will negotiate to buy Canadian Forces Base Centralia for the purpose of developing 'an industrial - educational complex which will serve as a pilot project for regional development. The announcement was made this morning (Thursday) by Provinicial Treasurer C.S. MacNaughton, Huron MLA following cabinet decision.. - Only 44 persons (including officials and press represen- tatives) ' turned up at the dedication and unveiling of the cornerstone of Clinton's ne'w $225,000 community centre and arena in Clinton Community Park Saturday afternoon. Huron MP Robert McKinley, Zurich, and Clinton Mayor Don Huron Fish and Game Con - Symons jointly unveiled the servation Association meeting in cornerstone embedded in the the Agricultural Board office, brickwork at the western corner Clinton, last week heard the of the new building. Previous to annual repott as well as in - this, Rev. Ron Wenham, rector of stalling the 1952 officers. St. Paul's Anglican Church, C.J. Livermore was named spoke a prayer of dedication. president. to succeed George During the past week, another Falconer. Other officers are: $1,733.50 was donated to Clinton Michael McAdam, 1st vice - and District Community Centre president; Louis Freeman, 2nd Centennial Fund. Added to the vice-president; secretary, J.11. total of a week ago, this ,brings Murphy and treasurer, J.F. the total donations and con- Clegg. trihutions from clubs -groups up to $16,437.17. The Kinsmen Club of Clinton held a 15th anniversary and past members night in Hotel Clinton dining room Tuesday night George Rumba II the - second president of the club in 1953-1954, cut the birthday cake. Other past presidents no longer with the club, who were guests at the meeting included: Don C Colquhoun (1954-55), now a vice- president of Clinton Lions Club K.W. Colquhoun (1955-56)' Il;,rry J. McEwan r 1956 57) now residing in Chatham and Tom Feeney, oi.'.i(tcnt in (1964-65). Ot h,.,• former member guests in( Rioted Gerry Cox, Gordon Herman, Percy Pugh and Percy Brown. President David Beattie presided for the anniversary dinner meeting. 25 YEARS AGO April 17, 1952 will be held Saturday, May 31, as previously decided," A.J. McMurray told the News -Record when asked concerning the holding of the 1952 edition of Clinton Spring Fair. There will be afternoon and evening performances similar to the programme staged last year, Mr. McMurray said. A.J. McMurray, chairman of the recent Red Cross Campaign in Clinton and District, has received a letter from G.S. Hensley, executive director, London Area Branch, showing that once again Clinton leads the area in donations per capita and Per resident. The total from the Clinton area this year will just about reach $1,900, and had all other points have done as well, the objective would have been reached. 50 YEARS AGO April 21, 1927 The first public graduation exercises in connection with the Clinton Public hospital, although there • have been several graduates. were held in the town hall on Tuesday evening, a large audience of people fronm town and vicinity exhibiting their interest in the hospital and its work by attending. The three nurses receiving their diplomas were: Mrs. Aikenhead, Miss Nenary and Miss Ross. On Monday evening a meeting will he held in the Knitting Company's club rooms, over the "Bank of Montreal, for the purpose of organizing a softball team, or teams, for the summer. All in- terested in sports are invited to attend. Representatives of the different industrial firnis are especially invited. A very enjoyable musicale was given in Wesley -Willis United Eight building permits, Church on Friday afternoon, totalling $26,300 in value, were under the auspices of the Girls' approved by Clinton Town Club. Council at its April meeting Mrs. Morgan Agnew, church Tuesday evening. organist and choir leader. was in Total to date this year is $53,Q00 charge of the program, which as 'compared` to $143.000 frit' the opened with a couple Of beautiful whohe year in 1951. organ selections. Miss Marion soler -t ahead for sure and Gihhings. Miss Mary R. Stewart and Dr. F.G. Thompson each sang a solo, Mrs. E. Wendorf played a piano selection, Mrs. (Dr.) Hearn and Mrs. H. Fitz- simons sang a duet, Mr. Morgan Agnew gave a cornet and saxophone selection and Mrs. Agnew gave other organ nu- mbers. It was an appropriate and fitting program and was ap- preciated by the audience which gathered to hear it. 75 YEARS AGO April 18, 1902 • '0 0 Heart help Dear Editor: I would appreciate it if you could print the following letter in the News -Record: On behalf of the Ontario Heart Foundation, I would • like to thank all the residents of Clinton who gave so generously to the Heart Fund this year. We are grateful for your. support. The result from the February canvass was $1,284.87, and since then, . more donations have come in by mail. The total for the residential canvass in Huron, Middlesex and Elgin (excludin`g St. Thomas) was $83,89.1.62. You can, be sure that this money will be put to the best use possible in the fight against heart disease. I would also like to add special thanks to the mem-. bers 6f the Eastern Star for Onpage7 having to hold their slates, if they used one, on their knees, and childlike, they frequently dropped them, often breaking the slate, and always disturbing the school; now they are supplied with a very convenient little desk. They .are also putting in desks, which we stated were contracted for last week, in one of the rooms formerly used by the High School, which it is expected to occupy shortly, as the different departments are well filled. Of course this will cause an in- creased demand for supplies The regular meeting of council from the ratepayers, but if they was held last Thursday instead of wish their children well educated the usual Monday, with all they will have to provide the members present and Mayor means. Jackson presiding. The plant at the Blyth Review A communication from the has again been disposed of to two Salvation Army was received gentlemen from London, who asking for a grant of $30 fob- band have arrived and are making purposes also one from the Gutta energetic efforts to begin the re- Percha and Rubber Co., with issue at once. quotations for rubber coats and Judging from the amount of smoke arresters. building going on, and, the By motion the council granted energy displayed by the leading the Salvation Army $20 for band men of the village there can be no purposes provided they play doubt of its success as a where directed by the street speculation. committee one night a week in Mr. Duncan has a large the open air. building up for the sash and door factory, while a good part of the machinery is on the way or here. 100 YEARS AGO April 19, 1877 Our Common School Trustees are prosecuting several im- provements in .the fittings of several departments in the school, which will be very ac- ceptable to the juveniles and materially add tq their ,comfort and convenience. In the lirimary departments, formerly, the children were only accommodated with chairs, 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. i Education Dears ditor: Ash' oung Christian parent I fully intend to enroll my children in a Christian school. I should like to air some of the reasons why: . I believe that God is the source of all truth and that » this must be the unifying principle in both the education of and the maturation of a child. . The Christian school regards time and talent as a trust from God, and on this assumption tries to maintain - within the limits of individual capacities - high standards of achievement. . The Christian school' employs dedicated Christian teachers with a liberal education and necessary professional training who are personally committed' to Christ and concerned with both the spiritual as. well as the intellectual nurture of the children. . The Christian school teaches the highest motive for good conduct and ,good citizenship: love for God and willing obedience to His. Word. . The Christian school support and complements the Christian home and church during the child's formative years: Daily devotions, prayer -in the classroom, and Christian friendships are examples of this support. . I wish' my children to be aware that their lives should be lives of thankful service to God. In Christian education all experience is related to God. Time and talent are regarded as given by God to be used in his service. C. Bos, Clinton 0 Member. Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association The Clinton News -Record is published each Thursday at P.O. Box 39, Clinton. Ontario. Canada. NOM 1LO. it Is registered as second class mall by the post office under the permit number 0817. The News -Record incorporated in 1924 the Huron News -Record, founded In 1881. and the Clinton New Era, founded In 1885. Total press run 3.100. Clinton NewsRecor( 1 • CNA Member -Canadian Community Newspaper Assoclatlon Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. f effective Oc5.4, 970. General Manager- .1. Howard Aitken Editor - Jantet E. Pitigerald Advertising Director - Gary L. Rant Office Manager - Margaret Gibb Circulation • Freda McLeod Accounting • Marian Willson Subscription Rates: Canada • 812 per year U.S.A. -115.50 Other - $11 Single Copy - 25c V 1 • M • M