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Clinton News-Record, 1979-05-03, Page 111- 114th r • A hot cup of coffee and a homemade hot dog 1- ..de the price of the ticket for the Huron Centennial School concert worthwhile. The concert which played last Wednesday and Thursday night offered (News -Record photo) the audience refreshments during the show., The audience participation was part of the concert, the International Plowing Match. The refreshments relived a stop at a Junior Farmers food tent. 114th year -No. 18 Rate up 5 mills Thursday, May 3, 1979 35 cents Tuckersmith taxes up 5 percent by Wilma Oke Tuckersmith Township council Tuesday approved a total expenditure budget for 1979 totalling $1,218,410, up $31,663 from 1978. Revenue budget totals for 1979 $673,025 compared to $634,517 in 1978. Rural residential and farm rates for public school supporters are up 4.8 percent to 116.82 mills compared to 111.92 mills in.1978, and the commercial rate is 132.71 mills compared to 127.50 mills in 1978. For the separate school supporter the rural residential and farm rates are 119.53 mills for 1979 compared to 115.34 mills in 1978 and the commercial rates County leases mineral rights for oil search BY JEFF SEDDON If Shell Canada doesn't find oil in Huron County it won't be because county council stood in the way. Council agreed Thursday to lease mineral rights on 1,186.acres of county owned land to Shell. The lease, for one dollar per year per acre, is a ten year pact. Shell leased all county owned land between the Lake Huron shoreline and Highway 4. The bulk of the property is in Colborne, Ashfield, East . Wawanosh and ; West Wawanosh townships. The lease on most of the plots is subject to the approval of the ministry of natural resources. The land is used for county forestation projects and the province picks up part of the costs for those projects. The provincial government does not advocate private leasing arrangements on publicly owned land and in the past has refused to permit such leases to be granted. County clerk Bill Hanly said no word has yet been received from tro province as to whether it approves the leasing. But he explained that trie lease with Shell may not upset natural resources since it contains a no -entry Land work stalled By Jim Fitzgerald The clock is running on this year's growing season, but so far, Huron oun.ty _fa.r-m ee-rs -have -been- h el d-erp-a t - the starting gate by one of the coldest and wettest springs in over a decade. As of the first of May, only about five per cent of the spring grain crop is in, mostly in the lighter sandier soils, and none of the ground has been worked for the corn crop. • Stan Paquette, an associate ag rep with the Clinton office of the ministry of agriculture and food said on Tuesday that the situation is not too serious yet, but if cloudy cold weather persists for another week, then some farmers could be in trouble. "If it warms up quickly then famers should be able to catch up on their work," Mr. Paquette said. *-'-BurT it -Th -e- are delayed 'anymore, then the spring grain seeding could run into the corn seeding, making it an awfully busy season," he said. Mr. Paquette said the situation is pretty well the same across the province, as a severe winter has been followed, so far, by a cold wet spring, that has stalled all operations'on the land. "It seems to be becoming a problem every year, getting the crops in and then getting them off again in the fall," Mr. Paquette said. Boy, am I glad to be back here at the old faithful typewriter again after a two week stint buil'¢in.g a deck behind the Fitzgerald homestead, and a night at Disco Dean's. What with the slivers, blisters, and bashed up thumb- s,typing this column is still a little painful, and to top it off, I didr ven get the blasted thing complet,,.,, as the weather turned lousy about Thursday, and I wasn't about to work in a snowstorm. And the weather of late can be summed up in just that one word - lousy- as we've had one of the lousiest springs in recent memory. Here it is the third of May already, and I still haven't the garden in yet, the first time it hasn't been planted in April. And what's worse is the farmers haven't touched the land yet either. '' But according to Graham Cam- pbell of the Goderich Weather office, the mean temperaturte for last month was only 5.1 slightly below the mean of 5.5 degrees C, thanks to a thermometer that ranged from -5.8 up to 21.5,or as one old main street wag put it:"It was up and down like a pair of pants in a house of ill repute." April was a very snowy month this year, however, with 17.6 cm being recorded, compared to the normal 4.6 cm. Total precipitation for the month was 108.0 mm, up from the long-term average of 63.5. + + + With the farmers so far behind both here in Ontario, and in fact across most of the country,May 22 will seem like a poor date to have an election, as most of the rural people will be more worried about getting the crops in than keeping Quebec in Con federatioa And too, what will the CBC do elction night if it coincides with a Stanley Cup final game? Will the election coverage be pre-empted by the hockey game? Knowing Canadians aversion for hockey games,it better not be the other way around. +++ Locally, interdst in the election seems to be at an all-time low, but hopefully will pick dp in the next couple of Weeks. To try and stimulate more in- terest, the Huron Federation of Agriculture is sponsoring a meet the candidates night tonight at Hullett Central School at 8:30 pm, but un- fortunately, the candidates meeting conflicts with the visit the same night of Rev, Ken Campbell of ban the books fame. + + + But there are several other events scheduled that don't conflict, in- cluding the Horticultural Society's , annual plant auction Friday night at the town hall that will feature plants from the late Charlie Cook's garden. Charlie will be missed by all of us in the green thumb set, including yours truly. You know, there was something about gardening that bridged the 40 year differences in our ages. Another event set for Saturday morning early is the Londesboro Lions club monthly newspaper collection, so have your papers at the curb by 9 am please. + + + As I've said before, it's the little things in life that irk .me, and one of those was last Sunday when Lois and I went down to visit a friend who is in University Hospital in London because he couldn't get a bed in Clinton because of the bed closures. It'S bad enough that he has to pay $200 a day for a room in the University "palace", but what realy got my goat was the fact that they charged me $1.50 to park my truck' at a hospital that was built with your taxes and mine and OH IP premiums. + + + And with property taxes due in town next week, it brings to mind a smile that "Property taxes are making us a . nation of home moaners." + + -}- Actually, I told a little white lie earlier when I said it was great to be back at a typewriter. Really, the old style typewriter as most of you know, is being retired here at the News -Record in favor of a Mini Disk Termi al, which is jargon for a compu er terminal that is capable of all sons of fancy things, but we'll have more on th'at later when I learn how to run them. clause. He said the ministry is anxious to protect the forest land pointing out that the Shell lease does nothing to upset the natural growth on the property. He said the lease is for mineral rights only and does not permit Shell to go on the land for any reason. Hanly said he did not know how county council would react to a ministry disapproval. He said council may just go ahead with the lease contrary to the province's wishes or may forget the whole thing. David Johnson, a spokesman for Shell, told the development committee his firm was anxious to get a handle on the lands in Huron near the lakeshore. He said much of the land had already been leased but explained that if oil is found on one property neighboring properties must be credited with that fin4 Bause of that any money arising from oil found -on land Shell had leased would have to be shared with neighboring landowners if Shell did not have leases on those properties. Johnson told council his firm was not interested in drilling test wells i° it did not have land surounding thore test sites leased. He indicated at the March Session of county council that unless the county granted mineral leases no test drilling would be done. Johnson told council seismic testing done in the county last summer had indicated there may be oil deposits here. He said it was impossible to tell how much oil was here or if there was any just that there may be some. Johnson refused to say where Shell Turn to page 3 pital-Tinished with fire safety renovations Phase One of the Clinton Public Hospital renovation is completed, but Phase ,Two still remains only a blueprint. After a directive from the Fire Marshal's office, the hospital was forced to update their water sprinkler system in the old wing of the hospital and put a heat detector in each room of the entire building. The $121,000 project received two- thirds payment, or $84,000 from the provincial government and Huron County council covered 34 per cent of the cost. The hospital is left with the difference, $22,000. This money, hospital administrator Doug Coventry explained, does not come out of the budget but out of a special project fund. Although the province carried the financial load of Phase One, they have told the hospital that there won't be any more money available until 1981 to carry out extensive renovation plans. The renovationwhich has been on blueprints for the past four years could cost up to $8`00,000 and would add a wing to the southeast corner of the 1962 addition. The hospital owns the land where the new wing would be located. The proposed extension, which has been approved in principal by the government, would offer a larger emergency and X-ray ward and in- clude an outpatient clinic. "I'd like to see us go ahead with the extension, but it would mean a major fund raising canvass in the com- munity," Mr. Coventry admitted. He noted that if the hospital waited until 1981, they would probably get 100 per cent funding from the government, but with the cutbacks in beds and budget, he feels that the the extra room and services may be needed before that time. "There's going to be more and more same day surgery done," he explained. Mr. Coventry feels that a canvass might work, based on the public sup- port the hospital received three years ago when it was threatened with closure. He added, "What we're planning to Turn to page 3 are 135.73 mills compared to 131.29 last year. That means a public school supporter with home assessment of $5,000 will pay taxes about $584.14 compared to $559.64 in 1978. A separate school supporter with a home assessed at $5,000 will pay about $597.68 in property tax this year compared to $576.71 in 1978. The education levies, with last year's figures in brackets are: elementary public school $142,827 ($121,300); secondary $131,124 ($118,700) and elementary separate school $24,101 ($20,483). Assessment in the township is $4,074,480 for 1979, in 1978 it was $4,014,320. To be raised for general municipal purposes the total amounts to $161,139 ($125,153). Some other levies include: county levy amounts to $85,869 ($70,000). The levy for fire 'otection costs in the township amoun $19,200 ($13,798), roads $273,000 ($275,000) and Ontario Hydro $10,000 ($9,600). for street lights at Vanastra, Kippen, Brucefield, Egmondville. Clerk treasurer Jack Lachlan when presenting the budget and the financial statement, 'said the township had finished up 1978 with a surplus amounting to $71,000. Last week Tuckersmith Reeve Ervin Sillery the clerk; Councillor Robert Fotheringham, Mervin Falconer, Weather 1979 1978 H1 l0 ►rt L0 April C C C' C 24 -22 6 1.5.._.... 25 21.5 9 17 6 26''''''17 7 18 2.5 27 7.5 -0 18 3 28 5 1 17 -2 29' 8.5 -2 16 -1 30 11 2.5 .8.5 -5 Rain 20.13 mm president of the Vanastra Ctlrling Club and Ivan Lince, a club member jour- neyed to Toronto to ask for grants to renovate the curling rink at Vanastra. Mr. Sillery said they were received favourably by the Minister of Recreation and Culture, Reuben Bates. The meeting was arranged with the minister by Jack Riddell, MPP Huron - Bruce, who introduced the Tucker - smith representatives to Mr. Bates and remained with them and supported them during the meeting. The township will now submit to the Minister of Labour the engineer's report on the Vanastra rink which estimates it will cost over $93,000 to bring it up to building standards. The engineers found the building, bought as war surplus in Winnipeg following World War II, as structurally unsafe on three counts - wind, snow load and fire. The $93,000 estimate will not bring it up to fire standards which the government is not enforcing at this time, however the engineer said this should be con- sidered if renovations are made. Building permit requests were ap- proved for Stanley Johns, RR'I Seaforth for a shed; James McGregor, Kipper), a barn ; Warden Haney, RR4 Seaforth, a house; Martinus Guichelaar, Lot E, concession 7, a driving shed; Fernand Vantyghem, Lot 10, concession 4, addition to barn; Irvin Ferris, S'/2 15, concession 2, addition to barn; arrd Howard James, Egmondville, garage. Members of council and township employees will be paid mileage rates of 21 cents per mile, up from 17 cents, when on authorized business outside of the township. Passed for 'payment were accounts totalling $27,531.35 including Vanastra Day Care-._, Centre___$4,227_S.ZT--_roa-d-s; $6,759.92; Van? '-a Recreation Centre, $8,118.67; ani. ,erleral accounts of $8,425.19. .1V ;embers of the Committee of Adjustment in the township,' Elgin Thompson, ,John Bell and Cleave Coombs will receive $25 per person per meeting when working on committee Turn topage 3 Hospital budget in red this year by Shelley McPhee The Clinton Public Hospital will be short $25,000 this year in its budget, the first time that the hospital has run in the red in the past five years. "That's a sign of what's' to come," Clinton hospital administrator Doug Coventry said. The ministry of health cutbacks have resulted in a smaller budget and has forced the Clinton, .hospital to reduce their staff. One orderly has been laid off, the part time employees have had their hours cut and two full time Registered Nurses have been put on part time hours. But, according to Mr. Coventry, things could be worse. The deficit budget will be reduced by bank savings the hospital has gathered over the past few years while running in the black. "It's better to have 30 beds than none at all," he explained. The hospital was forced to close 14 rooms this year. "If we hadn't been threatened with closure three years ago, we might have fought this like other hospitals, but at that time we told Frank Miller he should have closed beds, not hospitals." Mr. Coventry added. Despite the bed cuts, Mr. Coventry gave assurances that no patient would be completely turned away. He ex- plained that the hospital is running at 83 per cent occupancy this month and some elective patients have had to wait a day'or two before being admitted to the hospital. "We won't fill the hospital with elective patients, they may have to wait, but if it's an emergency there's no Crash injures two Two people received minor injuries in a two car crash on Park Lane in Clinton on April 29 Jackie Welsch 16, of Queen Street in Clinton, the driver of one car, and a passenger in the second vehicle, Dennis Forthergill, 10, of Londesboro were treated at Clinton hospital after the Welsch car and a car driven by Calvin Lovett, 18 of RR 1, Londesboro collided. The Clinton Police reported that damage to the Lovett vehicle was set at $1,000 and $1,500 to the Welsch car. In another accident, caused when two cars met at the crest of a sideroad hill, $3,500 in damages was caused last Monda y. The Goderich OPP reported that a pick up driven by Harris Snell, 26 of RR I, Londesboro received $2,000 in darr ages and a car driven by Cornelis Salverda, 24 of RR I, Londesboro received $1,500 when the two met. The two were travelling on Sideroad 30-31, north of Concession 6 in Hullett Township when the April 30 accident occurred. A car driven by Thomas Peckitt, 20 of RR 4', Seaforth received $500 in damages when he missed a right turn into a drve and dropped into a ditch. The accident occurred on April 29 on Highway 8, east of Clinton. The intersection at Brucefield was the scene of an April 28 accident that resulted in a total of $1,500 in damages. The OPP reported that a car driven by Lorne Archer, 49 of Hensall and a car driven by Sidney Smith, 76 of Grand Bend met at the Highway 4 intersection. Damage to the Archer vehicle was $1,000 and $500 to the Smith car. question that they'll be admitted. A doctor decides when other patients should be admitted to hospital," stressed. "We haven'y had any problems yet," he noted, 'and we haven't had much public criticism." "We have the public support and the hospital auxiliary realize the problems we face,"Mr. Coventry said. The hospital is starting to rely on home care to lessen the number of patients in the hospital. Liz McHugh, public health nurse, discusses the situation with the doctor and decides whether the patient can be cared for at home. Mr. Coventry said: "We find that home care is good in this area and people can go home much easier with this special care." The present length of stay in hospital is seven to 10 days, with an average stay of 8.07 days. "That's about the average of the province and it hasn't changed with the bedcuts." The hospital also has seven chronic patients and an allotment of six beds for them. Mr. Coventry has asked the ministry for another five chronic beds and is confident that the hospital will get them. "We need the beds, but we won't get more money to operate them," he noted. Although all but one of the seven patient pays up to $9.80 a day for hospital care, Mr. Coventry explained that the hospital only gets a small portion of the money collected. Despite an 83 percent occupancy rate, rooms lie empty at the Clinton Public' Hospit' New uses for the former active bed rbormi which were cut by the ministl of health are now being found. The storage of oxygen tanks and wheelchairs is Just one use. An architect is being consulted to find uses for the other space. (News -Record photo)