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Clinton News Record, 1981-02-19, Page 1Be my valentine Sam Shipp, Sherry Crich and David Hamilton had a busy afternoon on February 14 as they created valetines to send to their fellow classmates and favorite teachers at the Clinton Public School. The primary students even made valentine boxes and everyone reported that they were filled with cards from their friends. (Shelley McPhee photo) Nominations this week evived factory Ships firstpianos The first piano produced in over two years rolled off the production line yester- day at the Sherlock -Manning plant in Clin- ton. A well-respected name in the Canadian piano business, Sherlock -Manning produc- ed a small number of high quality pianos., The company was the result of the merger of the Doherty Piano and Organ Company, which had been manufacturing in Clinton since.1 ; 9 and Sherlock -Manning Pianos of London Ontario. Production was con- solidated in the Clinton pLu nt in the '20s. In 1934, Caryl W. Draper one of the owners, designed and built the first apartment - sized piano in Canada - the Minx. In 1967, William Heintzman bought con- trolling interest. In 1978, having bought the remaining shares, he merged it with Heintzman Limited and moved production to Hanover. Caryl Draper's two sons, Murray and Robert along with Joseph Reid, the former business manager, purchased the Clinton plant and equipment from Heintzman after the move. They manufactured furniture and repaired pianos under the name of Draper Brothers and Reid Limited. When Heint- zman went into receivership last fall they, together with Norman Hathaway of Toron- to, bought Sherlock -Manning from the receiver and revived the piano business in the original Clinton plant. "Historically speaking, we are happy to be building pianos once again in Clinton" Joseph Reid explained yesterday. "The manufacture of pianos and organs was an integral part of our community life; it was a shame to see the industry move away. But fortunately the skilled craftsmen re- mained here. "Thanks to these key craftsmen and Murray and Bob Draper who are the finest piano builders in Canada, we are now back in business," he said. "Manufacturing pianos and organs is a highly skilled, labour intensive operation. CTthyear_—No.7 Thursday, February 19,-1981 40' We expect that before the end of the year we will have at least 25 people back on the payroll," Mr. Reid said. When asked how he thought they could succeed as one of the last two remaining Canadian piano manufacturers facing fierce foreign competition, President Mur- ray Draper said "Our overheads are lower, we have a dedicated and en- thusiastic work force and a loyal dealer network. We are concentrating on one or two popular lines of quality -built and reasonably -priced pianos. We do not in- tend tocompete with every size and style of instrument. we just know we can do it!" Judging from the fact that the first full run of pianos is already sold they probably will. Weather 1981 HI LO FEBRUARY 10- 0 -15 11 4 -14 12 -10 m19 13 05 -16 14 - 2 -10.5 15 -.4 - 6.5 16 5 :,1 Snow 8 cm 1980 t11 1.0 '.4 24 -5 - a 3 © 9 -4 -14 -3 - 11 •4 -15 - 4 - 13.5 Snow 15 cm Councillors get 9% pay raise, PUC given 50% By Shelley McPhee Members of Clinton Council have ac- cepted what Mayor Chester Archibald has called a very reasonable raise of nine per cent. At their February 16 meeting, council passed a bylaw approving an $8 raise for Huron -Middlesex riding picks u The mechanics of the nomination procedure are slowly gaining steam in the Huron -Middlesex riding. The Huron -Middlesex Liberal Association will hold its nomination meeting at the Exeter Legion Hall, Wednesday February 18 at 8 p.m. Liberal MPP Jack Riddell is expected to gain the riding nomination. The guest speaker will be Huron -Bruce MPP, Murray Gaunt, who announced his retirement from the Legislature when the election was called. want,-45nta&sereeddds-riding, for> more - than 18 years. The Huron -Middlesex Progressive Conservative Association will hold its nomination meeting in Exeter Thursday. To date, only one person is seeking the par- ty nomination but Bruce Shaw said others have expressed an interest. The lone PC candidate is Jiin Britnell, 52 of Goderich who worked as Huron County engineer for21 years. In 1977 he accepted a position with Business Air Services and is presently employed m the Research and Development branch of Champion Road -Machinery Ltd. Britnell is the father of four children and has maintained an active interest in joband community oriented organizations. He is past president of the County Engineer's Association and past director of the Municipal Engineer's Assocaition .and was chairman of that group's advisory committee to the Ministry of Transportation and Com- munication. He has served as president of the Ontario Good Roads Association and was vice president of the National Association of County Engineers. Jim is past president of the Goderich Lions Club and past chairman of the Board of Governors. of Alexandra Marine and General -Hospital He is presently a member of the Committe of Adjustment ar #h .ortmmr littee. -; Larry Grossman, Ontario Minister of Industry and Tourism, will be the guest speaker at the PC nomination meeting. The Huron -Middlesex New Democratic Party will hold its nomination meeting in the Clinton town hall, Monday, February 23. To date only one candidate, Gwen Pemberton of Bayfield, will seek the party non'iination. . Mrs. Pemberton, 70, is serving a second term on Bayfield village council and was a CCF candidate in four elections m a London riding. She is active in the Ontario Consumer's Association and is past ident Mrs: .Pi?errnhei n- ren ::-of 20 • womer'P seeking the NDP nomination . in t}ne` province. Council favors recycling By Shelley McPhee Garbage doesn't have to be waste, that's what the Huron Federation of Agriculture HFA) is proposing. They are asking municipalities throughout the county to consider a proposal off turning garbage waste into fertilizer, and this idea has caught the interest of Clinton Council. At their February 16 meeting council read a letter from the HFA which ex - first column "When she's good, she's really good, and when she's bad, she's really bad." And like the proverbial child, the weather here in Huron County is something similar. After going through one of the coldest spells in some years, that saw fuel bills Soaring, tempers flying, and dismal thoughts sulking; and just when you thought you could take it no more, bang, Old Mother Nature turns around and throws a little spring at you. From the depths of winter only a week ago, we now have warm southern zephrs caressing our wind -burnt faces, luring the sap up the maple trees, and coaxing a few snow drops through the ground. The temperature doesn't even get below freezing at night now, and there's a strange eerie silence at our house....the furnace hardly runs anymore! It certainly is time to think about spring, and even though all natives know we'll have the odd blow to remind us we live close to the Arctic circle, in our hearts we know winter's back is broken and March is just 10 days away. 'The seeds have arrived at the stores, and already at our house, the Spanish onions are nestled in their soil, hopefully to come up in a week. One thing about having rotten win- ters, you sure appreciate the spring! + + + The Main Street Wit says he doesn't know what all this fuss about seeing deers in town is all about. He claims Clinton is amply supplied with lots of "dears", especially on a hot summer daffy. + + + by jim Fitzgerald This big thaw should help all the candidates get around for the upcoming provincial election, as the debate heats up, or maybe all that hot air caused the thaw. Nearly the whole province is basking under plus 10 C temperatures (50 F) this week, so maybe we should thank the politicians after all. A local cash cropper we know says the election was called at an ideal time, claiming much of the "bull" can be plowed down before seeding this, spring, likely giving us record crops. + + + And if money could win an election, than the Progressive Conservatives should sweep the province and add another four years to their 38 year term. According to one newspaper report., the PCs are spending a total of $10 million province wide on the campaign, compared to $1 million each by the Liberals and, the New Democratic Party. + + + Says the Wit: "There isn't as much harm in things going in one ear and going out the other, as there is in things going in one ear, getting mixed up in- side, and coming out the mouth. + + + Kids, if you think you have a long way to walk, down • the lane to catch the " school bus everyday, pity the nine-year- old boy in Queensland, Australia who must get down 15 miles of back lanes to get to his school bus! That's right, 15 miles! In fact, it's so far that he drives an old car to do so, and has applied to the government for a driver's license. The application is being seriously considered because of the unusual circumstances. planned that garbage can, and is, being recycled into a compost, rich in potash and nitrate. The HFA said that in Colborne Dr. Leslie Emmerson has been recycling garbage into fertilizer a.^d the system is working well The HFA noted that this alternative Turn to page 3 • meetings the mayor attends, and $5 for councillors. The increase, covers the next two years and brings the mayor's allowance up to $93 from $85 for each full council meeting, full committee meeting and special meeting he attends. The mayor is paid $66 for each sub -committee meeting he attends. Councillors will now receive $60 instead of $55 for meetings they attend, and $45 for sub -committee meetings. Members of council' are required to attend at least 50 per cent of the meetings to receive full payment. If they are present at onlytialf the meeting`s; they receive half the annual allowance. Council last gave themselves a raise in June 1979 and Mayor Archibald said the recent. increase was, "not exorbitant in these days." -in-settimgtheir-expense-allowances-for out of town business, council agreed that $22 a day for meals was not enough and raised the amount to $25. In asking that the allowance be in- creased, Councillor Ron McKay noted that it's expensive to eat out in Toronto. He said that he recently paid over $6 for a bacon and eggs breakfast and dinners usually start at $12 each "At the time, I thought $22 was enough, but now I don't think so," he said. Councillor Wayne Lester agreed 'and noted that during a recent trip to Toronto he paid $12 for supper, without drinks, and" -liitiris eating'"in.tiibiess eipensive dining lounge in a hoteL Councillor McKay added, "Toronto is expensive, but that's where the majority of our conferences are held" It was agreed to adjust the bylaw, which also-gives-couneitmembers-a-$60-per-diem allowance for expenses and mileage of 16 cents a km. (25 cents a mile).. Members of council may attend a maximum of two conferences a year, not exceeding four (days. Seminars and day conferences can be attended more often at -council's discretion. In -another bylaw, council approved a raise in the honorariums for the PUC commissioners, chairman and secretary. The increase will give- PUC com- missioner! $50 for each meeting they at- . tend and the chairman and secretary will receive $55 a meeting. They are paid 'on an anneal basis, and this is the first time in four years that they have asked for an increase 'in their honorariums. Prior to the increase, commissioners were receiving .$25, while the chairman ..- -and-secretary-reeeived-$31 for 16 -meetings -- they attended during the year. Huron -Bruce warden gets PC .nod... Gary Harron, past warden of Bruce. County and reeve of Amabel Township, was `,chosen as the Huron -Bruce Progressive Conservative candidate at the PC's nomination meeting in Kincardine Thursday night. It took three ballots before Mr. Harron had the 50 percent plus one majority vote necessary. Four on first ballot At the start of the nomination meeting, Lloyd Ackert of Holyrood, Mike Snobelen of Huron Township and Robert Emerson, also of Huron Township, stood for the nomination. A fifth candidate, Roland Anstett of Cargill, withdrew after he was Clinton firemen Were taking no chances last Saturday afternoon when they were called to investigate the smell of smoke in the Fit*Vallaptist church in Clinton. After a thorough search, the firemen couldn't find the source of the strong odor of smoke. ( James Fit- zgerald photo ) nominated. Out of a possible 558 votes in the first. ballot, Gary Harron took 227; Mike Snobelen, 167; Lloyd Ackert, 137; and, Robert Emerson, 27. Mr. Emerson was dropped from 'the second ballot In that vote, out of 559 possible votes, Gary Harron had 245; Mike Snobelen, 179; and, Lloyd Ackert, 135. In the third ballot, between Mr. Harron and Mr. Snobelen, Mr. Harron won the nomination with 312 votes to Mr. Snobelen's 234. Praise for Murray Gaunt In his speech before the election, Mr. Harron praised retiring Liberal Huron Bruce MPP Murray Gaunt. "This riding was well represented by Murray. Regardless of our political preferences I wish Murray well in his future endeavours. "This is not a Liberal riding but a Murray Gaunt riding and we need a member on the side of the government," he said. Referring to the steam supply from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development, Mr. Harron said "we are on the threshold of the greatest economic development right _ here at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development." The steam supply is equivalent to about 60,000 barrels of oil 'per day which is available at about half the cost of steam produced by burning petroleum fuels Mr. Harron, chairman of the . Bruce Economic Development Committee, said industrial development in Bruce County "is going to happen and when it does we should have a member working hand in hand with the provincial government." Mr. Harron emphasized there had to be, good planning in Bruce County. "We must have an environmental impact study to determine that the development won't harm agriculture and tourism already in the area." When referring to the grain and corn needed for distiling purposes he said "we have one of the best cash crop areas and there will be a market for grain." He expressed his concern about the economic position farmers are in now because of soaring energy costs. Mr. Harron, a dairy and beef farm operator in Annabel Township, said,"We have young farmers but we'll lose them if something isn't done." He said a junior farmer low interest loan is needed. Barb Fisher of Kincardine is Mr. Harron's campaign chairman for the upcoming Mar. 19 provincial -election. She was campaign chairman for the Federal MP in Bruce -Grey, Gary Gurbin of Kin- cardine, in his two successful elections. Mr. Harron, who lives just outside the riding's northern border, announced after his election that if he should win in the provincial election he and his family will move to the riding permanently. Supports waste steam project Guest speaker at the nomination meeting was Larry Grossman, minister of. industry and tourism. He cited government support for a projected industrial park to use cheap waste steam from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development, in the heart of the riding. - "It has agricultural and industrial spin- offs too large to even contemplate," he said. , "Our economic plan designates BNPD as the site of an energy centre for the future." Also at Thursday's meeting the Huron Bruce Progressive Conservative executive was elected. President is Barry Schmidt; Vice President, Barb Fisher; Vice President, Harry Clarke; Secretary, Don McLeod and Treasurer, Joe Richenbach. Wingham lawyer H -B Liberal nod LUCKNOW - Huron -Bruce Liberals selected Wingham lawyer Murray Elston ' from among six nominees early Wed- nesday morning to be their candidate in the March 19 provincial election. More details in next weesc's paper. Parkingpermits may jump By Shelley McPhee On a committee recommendation, Clinton Council will be drawing up a new bylaw to increase parking permits from $15 to $25 a year. The bylaw will be presented at council's next meeting on March 2, and in the meantime no more permits will be issued at the old rate. The proposed increase will attempt to settle a perennial controversy amongst council members. many who have felt that the $15 fee for a permit has been too low. The $15 rate was set in 1977 and council agreed to look at the policy in 1979 and again in 1980, and have now taken a firm stentowards updatine Chic The recommendation also sets certain criteria as to who should receive the permits. The committee report suggested that they be issued to applicants froth businesses who frequently use their vehicles during the Work day. Non- residents of Clinton who must commute to work arc also eligible for a permit, as well as'people with .health problems. The committee hopes that this criteria will give council some guidelines to follow when they approving the parking permit a pplicat ions. Last year 20 permits were issued in Turn to page 3 •