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Clinton News-Record, 1983-10-05, Page 10 0 BLYTH - No cause has been determined in the blaze that completely destroyed a barn on the farm of Carl Whitfield off East Wawanosh Township. Firemen could see flames in Blyth when they answered that 1:15 a.m. alarm early Tuesday morning, but they were unable to save the large structure which was burning out of control when they arrived on the scene. Blyth Fire Chief T.uwi" R„vdcbc cps i 4 that the THE BAY FIELD BUGLE incorporating THE BLYTH STAND D cents—No. 40 Wednesday, T� Ingham man is charged ctober 5, 1983 elgrave murder shocksvilla BELORAV.E - Residents of the quiet hamlet of Belgrave, 15 kilometres west of Brussels, are still in shock as Ontario Pro- vincial Police continue their investigation of the murder of a Belgrave resident. Wingham OPP, with assistance from Mount Forest and Toronto OPP, are conti- nuing their investigation into the death of John Edward McKinnon, 42, whose body was discovered outside his apartment early Wednesday morning, Sept. 28. The body was discovered by employees of Douglas Point who were waiting for a bus. A post-mortem examination, ordered by coroner, Dr. J. C. McKim of Lucknow, was completed Wednesday afternoon at St. Joseph's Hospital, London. Cause of death „was a head injury. Police say an incident at the victim's residence occurred between 9 and 10 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 27. A 49 -year-old Wingham resident was charged with second degree murder and has been remanded in custody in the Walkerton provincial jail. The suspect appeared in pro- vincial court, Go&rich, on Monday. • Investigating officers are Constable Ken Balzer, Wingham; detective sergeant R. H. Middlebrook, Mount Forest and detective inspector J. E. McCormich of the OPP's criminal investigations branch, Toronto. A foggy night Belgrave residents say the night of the murder was foggy, so foggy you could almost cut it with a knife. Mr. McKinnon's body was found on the front steps of the old Queen's Hotel. The former hotel, fronting on Highw ..4, was, converted to apartments over 20 y s a and is owned by Clarence H Belgravve. The apartment which Mr. McKintn lived in is on the ground floor, in the right front. portion of the hotel. Police have baric- 'e and - sealed the. front .entrance building. An abandoned, rusting car with a flat tire sits along side the wall of the building. "I've owned the building for 23 years and I've had it for sale for about three or four years," says Mr. Hanna. He is a former reeve and a .retired road superintendent of East Wawanosh Township. "The old hotel has a lot of good timbers m it. It has never been operated as a hotel since I came to Belgrave 38 years ago. I built five apart- ments with baths in each one." The murder victim, Mr. McKinnon, lived in Belgrave since August. "He wanted to rent the apartment from me before I went out west in July, but I didn't want to be bothered with the trouble. When I came back Aug. 1, he was still begging me to rent it to him. He said to me that he needed his mother-in-law and she needed him. They could work together." The victim's in-laws, a Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy, moved into the building in July. "The last time I saw Mr. McKinnon alive was Sept. 15 when he offered to pay part of his rent. He was just a little guy who weigh- ed no more than 110 pounds and was 5'5" tall. Apparently he had lung trouble and wasn't able to do much work. He was very quiet. He did ask me if he could keep the grass cut around the building, just something to put in the time," says Mr. Han- na. Murder "The first I heard about a murder was about seven Wednesday morning. I saw an ambulance stop at the hotel, I went over. It looked like he was thrown through a plate glass window in one of the front doors. Two guys who were waiting for a bus to Douglas Point saw him lying there. The bus picks them up at 6:30 every morning. "It looked like he tried to get up and get back in through the other front door. He was just crumpled in a heap, lying in a pool of blood. I looked in the kitchen window and saw a package of cigarettes beside the radio. There was a beer bottle on the table, I told the police that I didn't think the man smoked. The radio is still on. Nobody has bothered to turn it off and the bathroom light was still on. It must have happened earlier the night before. 118t e r ers "The police were coming and going all day. They sure didn't waste any time ar- resting somebody." First time Another Belgrave resident, who wished to remain anonymous, was away the day the murder was discovered and didn't return home until 5 p.m. "We saw all the police cars and were wondering what on earth was going on. This is the first time somebody has been murdered in Belgrave. About 10 years ago, a man killed his wife and took his own life, but that was about two miles out of town." "I just can't understand it. We didn't know the man at all, but it's too bad things like this have to . happen anywhere. Everyone is shocked." The former Queen's Hotel in Belgrave was the scene of the murder of John Edward McKinnon, a resident hi an apartment in the building. A 49 -year-old Wingham man was charged with second degree murder and appeared in provincial court in Goderich on Monday. The case was remanded. Mr. McKinnon was found early Wednesday morning, Sept. 28 by Douglas Point workers who were waiting for a bus. Police barricaded the scene and OPP constables were there around the clock during the investigation. (Wassink photo) Salespeople may need permits in Clinton By Shelley McPhee Self employed salespeople may be con- trolled by the Clinton bylaw for transient traders. Clinton Council wrestled with the issue at their Oct. 3 meeting after Mayor Chester Archibald raised a complaint from the local merchant. The merchant is concerned about home parties, where merchandise is sold, particularly the currently popular clothing parties. The merchant feels that it is unfair for these salespeople to sell merchandise in this manner, while other Clinton merchants are required to pay annual business taxes. Mayor Chester Archibald suggested that such a salesperson would be required to purchase a transient trader bylaw. A 1961 Clinton bylaw states that such traders must purchase a $100 licence annually. Councillor Rosemary Armstrong warned, • We're getting into a whole can of worms." She repeatedly stressed that to be fair, all salespeople in this line of business should be required to also purchase licences. This could affect Avon ladies and other popular make-up businesses, those who hold Cop- percraft, Tupperware and wicker parties, T- shirt and lingerie parties. "What about these other parties?" Councillor Armstrong asked. "Maybe we should just put a fence around Clinton, letting no one in or out. People go for the best buys, whether it's in a store or at a home party." Home parties, where merchandise is sold, are rarely publicly advertised. The parties are arranged at an individual's home and guests attend by invitation only. Mer- chandise may be sold directly at the parties or through orders, depending on the business system. Mayor Archibald said he particularly felt that the clothing salespeople should have licences, since parties are being held regularly. He suggested that others, like Tupperware, are not held as frequently. Councillor Armstrong said that council should look into the legal aspects of ordering the purchase of transient trader licences. She noted, "How can you charge people who are being invited into a private home by invitation." Other councillors agreed that the home party system of business was unfair to other merchants and Councillor Charlie Burgess pointed out, "The merchants and making a living. They're established, they're the downtown. How would you like a downtown of empty stores?" Deputy Reeve Frank Van Altena added, "It comes down to the fact that business people are paying business tax and these transient traders aren't." Tourism in Clinton is overlooked Charles Whipp, part-time promotional manager for the Petrolia BIA encouraged Clinton merchants to utilize the tourist trade in town and to organize as a strong unified group. Mr. Whipp was the guest speaker at the Clinton RIA annual dinner. (Shelley McPhee photo) By Shelley McPhee Quality promotion is the secret to a suc- cessful business community. This was the point stressed to the Clinton Business Improvement Area (BIA) group at their annual meeting on Sept. 26. Charles Whipp, promotional manager with the Petrolia BIA told the Clinton group that there is a wealth of potential customers in this area through the concentration of 'tourists who visit Bluewater country. "You are a tourist town," Mr. Whipp told that more than 50 Clinton merchants. He noted that some 250,000 tourists travel down Clinton's main street but it was disap- pointing to see that Clinton has so little tourist promotion. Mr. Whipp said that Clinton has long been known as a friendly town and he noted, "You may not appreciate this, but it's a great way to start." In tourist promotion, he noted that many publications will promote local events and shops. Ninety per cent of this promotion is free and can be beneficial if the town uses it well. He noted that Petrolia, only a few years ago, was a typical small town, but an active, imaginative BIA had emphasized certain aspects of Petrolia. They had taken a "dirty, mean downtown" and made it into one of the "prettiest in the district," he explained. Heritage walks, restored buildings, promotion on the opera house and the area oil fields have helped to make Petrolia a popular tourist attraction. Similarly Clinton could, use their outstanding landmarks arid unique events, he suggested. Mr. Whipp stressed that all downtown merchants must work together for a better business community. He noted that sometimes it's difficult for overworked merchants to take the time to keep up with other activity on main street, but he stressed, "You all depend on one another. That's why you form these BIAs." Working together is the concept of downtown shopping centres or malls. The business community also must be interested and aware of their responsibility to the total • community. Business people must cooperate with all facets of the community and work with the municipal council to make progress in such areas as sidewalk repair and offstreet parking. The BIA, he explained, provides a unified voice for merchants. It can help give them a stronger argument and offer combined efforts in promotional work. The Clinton BIA is studying the possibility No this is not a student exchange from Rome. These young men and women are actually our own CMS students, dressed in their Tern to page 2 Roman finest for Toga Day. Steve Ai stir, Clare Davidson, Laureen Clerk Cam Proctor pointed out that this is not a new problem and transient trader bylaws go back through Clinton's history. He agreed to contact the town solicitor and the ministry office in London for more in- formation. Mayor Archibald suggested that if the complainant could give the name of the trader, they would be contacted and told that a licence must be purchased. estr t ye local brigade was at the fire for four hours and ey concentrated efforts on moving cattle t of the barn and equipment ;: way from t e blazing structure. Nearby buildi s were hosed down in an effort to keep the flames from spreading. No damage estimate has been placed on the fire, but the barn was filled with baled hay. The loss was partially covered by in- surance. l'"'7I-h council looks at ONI possibilities By Rod Hilts Preliminary discussion concerning how Blyth council will allocate a balance of $170,000 from the ONIP program over the next three years surfaced at the monthly meeting on Sept. 3. Last spring council received word from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing that their application for assistance through the Ontario Neighborhood Improvement Program (ONIP) had been approved. In order to receive the grants over the three-year period, council was instructed by Village Engineer Art Clark to submit a redevelopment plan to the ministry. Under the program ONIP provides $100,000, while the municipality is obligated to come up with the other $100,000. ONIP funds are provided for both hard and soft services in residential areas. Hard services include sidewalks, streets and street lighting (capital works). Soft services in- clude parks, recreation and libraries. To date council has spent $30,000 of the grant toward the 1983 road program. Council intends to spend $80,000 of the grant in 1984; $80,000 in 1985 and $40,000 in 1986. Preliminary plans discussed by council included an expanded road plan, im- provements in public indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and renovations to the Memorial Hall. Council said it was their aim to pave all streets in the village that weren't dead -ends over a three-year period. The streets in- cluded in the proposal were: Hamilton St. east, one block; Gypsy Lane south, three blocks; Gypsy Lane north, two blocks, Wellington St., from Queen St. to Morris St., two blocks; McConnell St., two blocks; Mill St., one block; Drummond St. and Coombes St., three blocks east and West Moreland St., one block. A water main on Mill Street was also included in the road portion of the proposal. Council outlined a preliminary project for the indoor and outdoor recreational facilities that may see a dehumidification and air conditioning system added to the arena. Council also discussed painting the beams, adding a service elevator and moving the condenser coil, as other possible projects that could be partially funded with the ON IP grant. An addition of lights and bleachers to the ball diamond was also suggested. The Memorial Hall proposal consisted of repairing and painting the ceiling in the building. It also included the addition of a new lighting board. The Lions Club suggested that the grant money be used to construct a pavilion in the Lions Park. The pavilion would include a meeting room as well as a shelter for picnic tables. All proposals discussed by council were preliminary and subject to change. Council is planning to meet with the Blyth Legion, Lions Club and the Theatre to discuss any proposals they might have. A public meeting is scheduled for Nov. 1 in either the Blyth arena hall or the public school auditorium to give the public a chance to voice their ideas on where the money should be spent. Goderich's proposal opposed by Clinton By Shelley McPhee Members of the Clinton Council and the Police Commission will be going to an Oct. 19 meeting with an opposition voice to a proposal from the Goderich Police Commission to include fire calls on a central police dispatch system. The Goderich Commission has put their local fire : calls :.on.< the .�r►adio . dispatch system that serves Goderich, Clinton, Seaforth Exeter and Wingham. Goderich is the only municipality using the system for fire calls and upcoming meeting will hear reaction and opinions from other towns serviced by the central dispatch. At a similar meeting in July, representatives from the four other towns involved in the central dispatch said they weren't interested in having their fire calls put through the police system. They also stated their concerns about Goderich's intentions of including the extra use. Clinton representatives will voice the same opinions at the Oct. 19 meeting. Police Commissioner Frank Van Altena noted that the system presently used, in Clinton works perfectly. He said that the cost of financing the central dispatch system would increase if the five towns included fire calls on the radio. Councillor John Deeves said that Clinton Fire Chief Clarence Neilans was firmly opposed to Goderich's proposal. Councillor Deeves noted that if fire calls were first radioed to Goderich, then relayed back to local fire departments, valuable time would be lost. Councillor Jim Hunter suggested that Goderich is taking advantage of the system because it is located in that town. He noted, "If the system was in Clinton, the fire calls would be better on it, as Goderich now thinks.” The Huron Municipal Police Com- munications System was set-up in 1979, providing 24 hour dispatch service to the five largest Huron County municipalities. Serving a population of 19,000, the system works with five police forces, nine police cruisers and 14 portable radios. The system was initially financed through a provincial government grant which covered-rnore than -75 per cent of the costs, with the five municipalities paying the remainder on a per capita basis. Ongoing costs are also shared on a per capita basis. While Goderich Mayor Eileen Palrner believes that the dispatch system was installed to handle police, fire and PUC calls, others feel that it will take a larger system and more expenditures to do this. At the July meeting Wingham representative Jack Kopas commented, "We don't want a system that is going to disintegrate, We want to make sure its present level is maintained." Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake said that perhaps the present equipment could handle the additional fire calls but he noted, "We don't know about the humans who have to handle the situation." Some representatives were concerned that Goderich put their fire calls on the system before discussing it with the other municipalities involved. Seaforth representative Wayne Ellis said, "If anything like this comes up in the future, it should be discussed before the fact and not after. Thesystem is owned by all five municipalities and we didn't feel we were properly advised." When comments about lack of trust were raised, Mayor Palmer reminded representatives, "We absorb the ad- ministration costs for the system and we feel we are doing everyone a favor." >1 Craig, Wesley Delve, Margie Wise, Marcel Laporte and Bill Jewitt got into the act. The damsel in distress is Kathy Staddon. Toga Day is part of the CRSS fun for Students' Week. ( Shelley McPhee photo(