Clinton News-Record, 1979-10-25, Page 1•
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With temperatures at 25 degrees C (77 F), Monday was a
perfect day for a chat on the library park bench in
Clinton. Here Joe Graham of Vanastra, left, who biked in
to town, talks politics with Everett Finnigan of Goderich,
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Over Vanastra addition
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04.
40,
and Wallace Powell of Clinton. However, only a short 24
hours later, winter had returned as temperatures
plummeted to the 4 C mark. (News -Record photo)
Tuckersmith council on hot seat
by Wilma Oke
Tuckersmith Township council was
put in an embarrassing position
Monday night when a delegation of
Tuckersmith ratepayers met with
them at a special council session at
the township office in Vanastra and
asked some prObing questions on the
operating debts against the Vanastra
Recreation Complex.
Council members hedged and said
they didn't know the figures..
At a public meeting held Thursday
night -at Heather Gardens, Vanastra,
39 of the 55 ratepayers at the meeting
voted against having the addition
built. Nine voted for the addition and
seven abstained.
Clerk Jack McLachlan eventually
revealed the operating debt from the
complex since it started in the mid -
seventies . at the present time
amourited to $125,584. He said this did
include some capital costs.
Bruce Rathwell, a Vanastra
businessman and Lloyd Eisler of
Eginondville, representing the
Vanastra Businessmen's Association,
the Vanastra Community Association
and individual Tuckersmith
residents, were spokesmen for the
group.
Rathwell said, "We know the
outstanding loan or deficit against the
centre exists and we want to know
how much it is and who is paying for
it?" The clerk replied that the figure
is on the books as a deficit as the loan
was paid from the general funds of the
township.
Eisler asked who is paying the
interest on the loan and was told by
Councillor Frank Falconer, "Well,
the ratepayers of Tuckersmith are
paying the interest."
The clerk admitted that at the
present time no decision has been
made as to who will make the
payment.
Eisler questioned a letter in the
local newspaper a while ago from the
former clerk of the township, stating
first
column
the operating debt amounted to
$83,000 and this having been denied by
councillors Falconer and Robert
Fotheringham in a follow-up letter.
The councillors admitted they were in
error as they could not read the in-
formation from the auditor's report.
Falconer said that when the
debentures were• issued, not enough
money was put in.
Rathwell said the press should have
been given the inforrriation about the
deficit.- He said "these are being
hidden from us and you are trying to
put more on (referring to the
proposed addition to the recreation
centre)." He asked whether it had
been decided what was to be done
about the $125,584 -- "are the tax-
payers of Vanastra going to have to
pay it or is it to be spread across the
township?"
Councillor Falconer stated: "If you
want everything put in the paper, we
actually have enough surplus in the
general fund to carry the deficit."
Rathwell - asked, ,-'Are you ,saying
the public has no right to know?"
Reeve Ervin Sillery stated, "It has
been paid by the general taxpayer."
Clerk Jack McLachlan pointed out
that the deficit was on the tax notice
which is a government regulation
form, but apparently the members of
council and the ratepayers didn't
understand the heading of "boards
deficit", meaning the recreation
complex.
"Reeve Sillery said, "I wasn't even
aware that theri figure was up there,
we knew it lost money, but the total
figure as, never given. 1 didn't
realize what was going on."
Clerk McLachlan explained the
deficit was $160,000 in 1977 and down
to $125,000. No explanation was given
as from where the $3&,000 was taken
to cut the deficit.
Rathwell asked if council feels it
should put another debt load on when
that (deficit) is still riding there and
he asked why wasn't it dealt with. The
You can tell when the end of
October comes around here by the
way the weather behaves, even if
you didn't have a calendar. For
instance:look at this week. Sunday
and Monday were just like a couple
of days in August, with daytime
temperatures soaring to near_27 (80
F) under sunny warm skies.
People were out doing chores in
their summer clothing, and we
even had reports of some of our
fairer sex wearing shorts.
But by Tuesday afternoon, it was
cold enough to snow, and anyone
without a winter parka on would
have frozen in the minus 8 C (20 F)
wind chill factor. Ah, such is On-
tario.
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But it's all leading us slowly but
surely up to one thing, winter, and
One sure sign of the invasion of the
frigid beast is the switch back to
standard time this weekend.
Yup, before you go the bed
Saturday night, turn y4: r clocks
BACK one hour, and then sleep in
Sunday morning for an extra hour.
That is except for the adults, like
the ones at our house, who have
pre-school, children who get up
early, no matter what the clock
says. Oh, the joys of parenting,
yawn.
-I- + +
i3ut despite the early risings, it's
nice to have the young'ins around,
especially when days like
Hallowe'en and Christmas come
along. It's refreshing to See their
little innocent eyeS light up at the
prodpect of a visit heft the great
Pumpkin, or aciiA,..t.
And Hallowe'en is all set for next
Wednesday night, October 31,1. so
get your costumes ready, kids, it's
freebie night, except for the older
"trickers" who should be warned.
Police advise, that the full police
force will be on duty, and as well
the firemen will be out on patrol.
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In recognition of this being
children's week, our main street
wit offers this little definition:" A
Kindergarten teacher is a woman
who knows how to make little
things count."
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As you probably noticed by now,
there isn't one vile, rotten or
otherwise degrading comment in
my column this week. That's
because I got rid of all the bad
blood in me last week at the blood
donor clinic, along with some 229
other people. Fantasic turnout.
Congratulations, Clinton and area!
We showed 'ern!
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What with all the living
togethers, the common law
relationships and other menage -a -
deux, she's almost extinct, but not
quite, Yes, I'm talking about
mother -in-laws, 'those poor little
ladies who once were the brunt ,
every cruel joke. Well, apparehtly
they have improved their lot in life
considerably in the last decade, as
this Sunday ,has been declared
,Wiother-In-Law Day, in recognition
of the downtrodden. Why not show
your mother-iMaw a gesture of
your love in some 'Way, that is, if
you have one.
reeve replied that the people can't
afford to have It put on -the taxes.
Rathwell replied that the debenture
debt of $119,000 and the deficit of
$125,584 should be put over the whole
township and not leftito the Vanastra
ratepayers to pay it alone. He said he
knevi/ it would bring the people of the
township together to a better working
relationship. He said' 'Let's face it,
let's get, it straightened away. Per-
sonally, I'd like to see them put on the ,
taxes and -get rid of them. I'd like to
see everyone equal. There is too much
hard feeling against Vanastra. Let's
get •rid of this deficit."
Councillor Falconer said: "There is
nothing wrong with the debentures,
they were drawn up for Vanastra to
pay. Let's look at the deficit only. I'm
willing to say that we'll take care of
the deficit, but not the debentures."
Deputy Reeve Robert Bell said he
didn't think it would be that easy to
spread it over the township, but said
the cl.ebenture should run its term.
Referiing tirthe curling rink, Rath-
well asked why - a small group of
taxpayers (Vanastra) should sub-
sidize the rest of the community. He
Turn to page 3 •
[ctober
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Weather
1979 1978
Hi Lo
15 2.5
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24 17
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Rain 12.0 mm
Hi Lo
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No Rain
Council agrees
to flood plain
In an attempt to keep Clinton's head
above water, council has accepted the
flood and fill line mapping prepared
by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority.
Council was told by an Authority
representative that basically the
Flbodplain Policy will compliment,
not destroy existing land and their
uses. The plan will prevent building
on watershed, areas were erosion is
high, and at at the same time attempt
to protect what structures already
exist in those areas.
In Clinton's case, -there is little
flooding danger along the Bayfield
River and there are no homes built in
the area. Only the town's sewage
plant sits in the floodplain, but it has
been recently dyked to prevent fur-
ther erosion along the banks.
"In the past four years we've put
lots of fill in there so it wouldn't cut
into the sewage plant," Mayor Harold
Lobb explained.
"That's a million dollar plant and
we wouldn't want anything to happen
to it," he added, saying that the fill
will hopefully be topsoiled and seeded
• with grass for even more erosion
control.
The Authority representative
agreed with this and eXplained that
with the mapping, homes on the south
side of Victoria Terrace, for instance
would be refused by the Authority it
they were to be built with standard
foundations.
"They would have to consider piles
or the house would slide away with
erosion in a couple of years," he sadi.
"These maps and regulations will
be 'widely known. They will be
distributed to municipal clerks,
lawyers, banding iriSpectors, Oh,
tractors and all you will have to do is
too at your map to see if a biiidihg
cai go' irk a eertain lodatiO ."
ro '
) A
04th Year -No. 43
Thursday,. October 25, 1979
n Clinton
Doctor shortage
by Shelley McPhee
Community support and en-
thusiasm is needed to ward off any
future doctor shortages in Clinton.
Although the problem has not
reached drastic proportions yet, the
board at the Clinton hospital and a
special committee are making at-
tempts. to attract at least one more
amreedical practitioner to the Clinton
a.
Presently, Clinton and the
surrounding area is serviced by four
dobtors, Dr. Bill Harrett, Dr. Frank
Newland, Brian Baker and Dr.
R.W. Street. Several specialists also
come in to serve the areas.
According to Dr. Baker, who has
been trying to get another doctor in
the area for the past two years,' the
workload is becoming too heavy for
the four doctors now practicing in the
area. He said that each doctor is now
wweoerki.ng an average of 70 hours a
k
"There's only so much' orie doctor
can do. You end up only treating a
surface of the problems and you can't
do justice to your work," he ex-
plained,
"None of us are getting any
younger. I'm the youngest and I'm
nearly 50. We'll be retiring soon," he
noted.
The heavy workload on Clinton
doctors -comes about not only through
their regular office hours, but also
through the on-call work they must -
do. Dr. Baker explained that if a
doctor is on-call he must respond to
all other emergencies that occur,
whether it be at the hospital, as a
result from a traffic accident, or an
injury sustained from sports, for
exa mple.
"I may 'have to go out on another
call and leave 20 people sitting in my
waiting room," he noted.
The heavy workload has forced Dr.
Baker and the others to cut back on
their acceptanCe-ef any new patients.
-Clinton People are now having 'to
go to doctors in Goderich and
Seaforth," Doug Coventry said.
"Or they come to emergency
because they can't get .,,an ap-
pointment and that means more work
for the doctor on call," he explained.
Other municipalities, like Goderich,
Seaforth, Wingham and Exeter, have
thriving medical communities. In
fact, most communities in south-
western Ontario are properlyly
serviced, according to Dr. Baker.
In 1972 when Dr. Baker, the most
recent arrival, came to Clinton,the
area was classified as underserviced,
and at that,time there were six doc-
tors practicing.
With Dr. Baker's arrival, the un-
derserviced classification was
dropped.
Being underserviced is a problem
particular to north -ern Ontario
communities. With this classification,
young doctors going into the northern
areas are guaranteed monetary
support from the government.
"We need some incentive in Clinton
to attract doctors," Dr. Baker said.
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"I've interviewed 10 to 114 young
practioners in the -last two years, but
what do we have to offer a new doc-
tor?" he asked.
- "Clinton's losing its industries and I
see many houses for sale. We have to
get off our back ends and start
promoting the town. We're a dying
community," Dr. Baker stressed.
"I enjoy this community, or else I
wouldn't have been here so long,' he
explained, "but superficially, it's
hard to show what we have to offer."
"We'll try to sell Clinton to the
doctors who want to settle in a small
area, but how do you attract them?"
Mr. Coventry noted.
"We need a nice little brochure of
the town to give them some idea of
what we have to offer. They want to
know what they're coming to
especially if they have a family to
raise," he noted.
"The people of the community
should be involved along with
members of council," Mr. Coventry
stressed.
Royce Macaulay, member of the
special committee and Reeve on
Clinton Council assured that council
would offer its support.— -
"Just tell us what we cari do," he
said.
One specific drawback that Clinton
faces is the lack of an established
medical - clinic, according to the
doctors and the hospital board. -
Other communities in the area have
such clinics and according to Dr.
Baker, this makes it much easier for a
young practioner to set up his
business.
35 Cents
hurt ing
"A young practioner has no
financial ba.i.king and to practice in
Clinton he must have a house for his
medical office and all the equipment
for it," he explained.
This can become an expensive
investment since the standard
medical office contains a waiting
room, washroom, and three
examining rooms.
With a clinic, the doctors share one
building as well as the equipment.
However, such an establishment
would probably have tobebuilt with
Turn to
page 3 •
65 years of marriage p. 3
Follow the leader
p.. 4
Stangs win two P. 6
A fishing tale p. 16.
Pfrimmdr Clinic grads p. 11
Senior Citizens meet p. 14
Rebekahs pick officers p. 15
New Londesboro Lions p . 1 7
-Varna UCIN rally p. 18
Classifieds p. 20, 21, 22
CHSS runners p. 23
At the Legion p. 24
Hall plans unveiled
By Audrey Middleton
A special joint meeting of
recreation and township coun.cil,
members met with architect Brian •
Garratt on Thursday, Oct. 18.
The architect presented a scale,
model and floor plans of the proposed
13uildirig, which, by the way, he
promises pictures for the newspaper
for all to evaluate, Look for them ,
soon.
Since the last meeting he had spent
much time with his engineers revising
the original layout somewhat, thus
using many of the thoughts expressed
by the combined local group. He also
gave a study of furniture layout and
price quotations. He suggested sub-
committees to meet with him to go
over plans of the' separate areas in
detail.
It was decided the kitchen com-
mittee would meet with him first on
Friday, Oct. 26 at the twsp. office,
Holmesville.
Elaine Townsend, representative of
the disabled citizens group Alpha of
Huron, attended the meeting to check
on special requirements in a public
building for disabled citizen's. She and
the meeting studied the plans paying
attention to doorways, washroom
facilities, elevations and special •
parking areas.
Harry Baker, president of the
senior citizen's group of Bayfield,
made a pres.entation an 'how their
group got started and told what-,
projects for their town hall they had
completed -using financial help
through the New Horizon grant
system. He pointed out that senior
citizens of Goderich twsp. could use a
township hall and also provide
valuable assistance in equipment for
the hall.
Mr. Baker reminded the members
that only those who are 60 years and
over are lucky enough to belong to
such a group. Also, in order to apply
for any grants, the seniors must first
organize. ,
Action was taken immediately
when each member took names of
seniors in their own locale to contact
about the idea. Please, readers, will'
you help us spread the word that an
open meeting for senior citizens of
Goderich township 60 yrs. and over
will be held at Holmesville United
Church hall on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at
1:30 p.m. This is another chance for
your special input for the new hall. We
need your help and ideas.
'Chairman, Gerry Ginn thanked all
the speakers for their attendance and
special presentation.
i The annual ritual of ie4ve raking occupletniany peoples' . took advantage of he beautlfa day to collect the annual
Indian $nininer, Mat; on McCann �'t Rittenfitiry Stre!t ' in Hurt? allbuted t . burn leaves. (News.Recordphoto)
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time on Monday as ho' *surinY-Weather latited the area In depot* far her Co riOgi heap. 011ittoti la the only town lett
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