Clinton News-Record, 1984-02-15, Page 44.
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Clint.on News Record
Inc®rptirtting
THE DLYTH STANDARD
J. HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher
SHELLEY McPHEE - Editor
GARY HA15T - Advertising Manager
MARY ANN HOLLENBECK Office Manager
A
MEMBER
®looter odvorltoliw4 robe
ovallokle on rawest, book for
lots Cord. No. 19 ottetttvo
Ocr®kor 1, 1948.
Parking problem
Is there an end?
Parking problems in downtown Clinton may never be resolved.
It seems that, no matter what attempts town council makes 'to relieve
downtown parking congestion, there's always some complaint.
For years local residents .and business people wailed about our downtown
parking meterCouncil "was told-th—ci ih'e• meter"s turned ®way shoppers, that
they weren't Properly 'enforced and that downtown business people .and
employees misused them.
In 1983 council voted to take the meters out, but still maintain two-hourpark-
ing limitations.. •
Yet many complained that main street parking limitations were not being en -
'forced and downtown employees were using the parking area because of limited
off-street areas.
Late in 1983 council and some local merchants settled on an agreement to pro-
vide a large, free parking lot off Albert,Street.,
In January of this.year, council took another step towards resolving parking
problems by hiring a bylaw enforcement officer to control downtown parking.
For many years it seemed that council ignored parking problems in Clinton, but
in the past year council finally took hold of the problem with serious intentions of
remedying the situation.
_ei...c.o-un_ci.l's-endera.vou-rs_are s.ti 1.1..c.r..it.icized ..and -opposed-.- They'-re_sti-I-I facing ..a --
no win situation. •
While a new parking lot sits empty, only a few yards from the main street, peo-
ple still complain that .downtown parking is limited. While two-hour parking
restrictions are finally being enforced by bylaw officer Murray Taylor, people are
now grumbling about the $2 tickets they're finding on their windshields.
Clintonians, it seems, are spoiled. They want to have the privilege of parking
not more than 20 -feet from their destination. They want,the next guy fo be fined
fortaking up valuable parking space, but certainly not themselves.
In fact, we are very, fortunate to have such parking areas. Downtown
employees in large urban centres pay up -front for a parking space and often lots
are filled 8:30 a.m. .
Clinton's downtown parkers may also obtain courtesy, tickets, allowing them
restriction -free parking.. For meetings held the the Ontario Ministry. of
Agricu[ure and Food, for instance, 1.6 courtesy parking ,permits Ore now
available for those who may be attending meetings at the office and may require
extra parking time. •
Thepermits are not given out at random, but have been issued by Murray
Taylor and will be periodically cheoked, to insure that all 16 tickets ore in the of-
fice, not in constant use by select individials..
Downtown parking in. Clinton may be 'somewhat limited. It may be impossible
to park right outside the store and it may be difficult to avoid the occasional
ticket, yet many must learn that there are parking rules and regulations that
have been -established by council in'the interest of everyone.
•If you. think Clinton parking is bad, try pulling into a No Parking zone in the city
sometime. You may get more than a yellow slip from the ticket issuer. -By Shelley
McPhee.
Behind The Scenes
By Keith Roulston
Society's burden
It was one of those stories that, if heard in
-"t'fie"'-one: et=itence' tadio 5c" -'tete iSibli
newscasts, sounded straightforward: a
hotel that had served alcohol to an under ag-
ed patron who was in an accident and was
paralyzed for life,- had been judged guilty
and forced to pay nearly $1 million.
But it was one of those stories that went
far beyond a simple synopsis, ands indeed
goes far beyond the actual outcome of the
particularcase in what it says about our
society and what it means in the,future.
• The two young men went into the small
hotel after having been drinking elsewhere.
• The hotel owner says they weren't even
served but just came looking for someone
else. Never -the -less when court divided
blame for the • accident , that left the
passenger in the car paralyzed for life, the
hotel was assigned 15 per cent responsibili-
ty. -
The driver of the car was assigned 55 per
cent of the blame because he'd been drink-
ing. The passenger himself was assigned30
per cent 6f the because he had been
• drinking with the driver all day and had ac-
cepted the ride and because he was not
wearing a seat belt. But under a law in On-•
tario that says all parties are jointly respon-
sible, the hotel owner, who was judged least
responsible, paid the most. The driver of the
car had only $500,000 in insurance so the rest
of the money came from the hotel owner, or
at least his insurance company.
What this means in practical terms is that
owners of hotels, bars and clubs will have to
pay a lot more for their insurance in the
future. It means, hopefully, they'll also be
doubly careful who they served liquor to,
but that's not easy, when people are pulling
every 1 rii k....they'ear..to— ido:mu t...the -
bartenders and get drinks they shouldn't
get. ,
The disturbing thing,. however, is that we
continue to go along With a trend that says
the individual is not responsible for his own
actions. We continue to be more concerned
with "rights" than "responsibilities". I feel
sorry for a person who is going to have to be
cared for for the rest of his life but it was,.
after all, his own craziness that goj;, him into
it. He was the one who was drinking. He Was
the one who took a ride with a drunk driver.
He was the one who wasn't wearing -a seat
belt.
•
Our humanitarian concern for people has
not only. brought us cradle -to -grave
socialism but says that society, not the in-
dividual, is responsible for our own
foolishness. Why should someone pay for
one mistake, we often hear on television?
One way or the other, we will all pay for that
judgement against that hotel. Even if we
aren't frequenters of hotels, we're likely to
pay higher costs of insurance in other areas
because the insurance companies are likely
to be losing a lot more money if this trend
continues. •
The problem is that the Less we insist the
individual take responsibility for his own ac-
tions, the less responsibility is shown. It's a
vicious cycle in which people fall back more
and more on their rights, to excuse
themselves from their wrongs.
-And until the pendulum starts to swing
back toward the responsibilities of all of us
in society, the society is in trouble.
Avoid heart troubles have
your pressure checked
The Huron County Chapter of the Ontario
Heart Foundation and the Huron County
Health Unit are expanding their educational
_.. .pregram&®n the•rasl; cf Imeart attaek-o#_--- -.
• The local chapter of the Heart Foundation
will be holding a blood pressure screening
clinic on Feb. 16 at the Clinton municipal
offices from 11' a.m. to 3 p.m. Clinton and
area resiuents are invited to attend this
clinic to have their pressure checked.
They hope that the program will motivate
-,more.:..people.,.tG-.have ,their-blood-pr€ssure
levels checked and if necessary, undergo
follow-up treatment in an effort to reduce
their risk of premature heart attack, stroke
or other serious conditions.
2
iluvi y ur say
Dear Editor
at's your
opinion
Dear Editor:
Goderich Township has in ,he last week
distributed to the landowners of the town- •
ship a DRAFT copy of the Zoning By -Law
for study and comments. If anyone does not
have a copy, call someone now!
We want to strongly urge each household
in the township to invest time and serious
thought to this 'document. It contains a
number of restrictions, regulations and
prohibitions on the use of private. lands. It
deserves careful review by landowners .
before implementation. It is slated to be
passed over. Make sure this document is
what you believe to be the best plan for you
and the township on a long term basis.
Open House meetings have been arranged
for discussion a. nd:written submissions.
Dates and time of these meetings appear on
the front page of. the document. See you
there .
• • Yours truly,
Bill & Thea Trick,
. Goderich Twp..:
k Farm survivalists
to hold conference
view
SagrandSpice
by Shelley McPhee
Keep on writing
Well, it looks as though I'm going to have
to continue writing this here dang column
whether I like it or not. People from all over
the country have sent their condolences and
told me to keep the column going:
There's a truly beautiful letter from. Elda
and George Cadogan of New Brunswick, old,
almost ancient friends, from my newspaper
days. They were instrumental in urging me
to start syndicating my column.
Another from Mr. and Mrs. Polischuk,
Meacham, Sask. "Through -your column, we
felt we'd coine to know you and -your wife --
something like the morning man on your
favorite station. You seem like such special.
people. Please do keep writing."
A sweet note from Sister Mary Hamilton
of Camrose, Alta. "Your writing brings me,
as I'm sure it does for countless folks, many
a chuckle, and always hope, to a mixed-up,
restless world.., May your .`grandboys' be
not far from you and continue to be a joy."
This along with a spiritual,message of hope
and faith.
m a ittle i who live
.�dva..loflg note f>ro.._ ...i _.._ _.. k. d....._..__ ._... d _.
across from us when I was a mere youth,
Lorna Munro. She .reminds me that her
motherand mine were best friends. These
were the depression years. "1 never heard •
them speak to, or of, each other except by
"Mrs. Smiley" and "Mrs. Munro". This was
the manner of life in those days and did, in
no way, reflect less caring than more
familiar names would indicate...
`.When you were married, I think your
mother thought Susie was very young and
you were a man -of -the -world •(dammit; I
was, Lorna). I remember first seeing Susie,
looking so lovely, with long, brown hair."
By Bill Smiley
And a lot more from this pretty little kid,
who is now a mother, planning a wedding for
herown dapghter. She adds, "Please con-
tinue. Many people will gain strength from
how you work your way to a new life, sadly
thrust upon you."
And many more in like vein. So I'm stuck
with youse, and youse are stuck with me.
There was one more letter that L almost
threw out as junk mail. without opening.
Glad I didn't. It told me that, thanks to my
local funeral director, Dean Nicholls, also a
friend,that a tree would be planted, in the
Grand Valley Conservation Foundation, "In
living memory of your wife." Thanks, Dean.
I.',ve taught both his kids, and they are fine
young people. I've been at a party when his
wife, Elaine, was snowmobiling, and went
through the ice, pregnant.
Right now, just. as I'm writing this
column, I received a long-distance call from
San Clemente, from a' lady who still receives
her old home -town paper, the Kindersley
weekly, expressing sympathy. I think San
Clemente is d Califo . -bu ..
Clemente ... ,, n , ..rnya,.... t she_.,gave me
her phone number and asked me to visit, if
I'rn travelling. We both choked up on the
phone.
Well, this is becoming a little sick. I've
merely touched the surface of the letters,
calls, cards, food. I'll try to cut it out.
So. Suse has a grave, which she didn't
want, a tree planted somewhere, and a
scholarship fund for piano students, which
she would have loved, and for which money
is still coming in. I hope she is at peace.
She didn't have much during her life,
because of her nature. She was a per-
fectionist. if it was a piano exam, she'd
aleidoscope
Has spring really sprung or is Mother
Nature just teasing us with a brief breeze of
warmth?
Down in Bayfield it really looks like
spring, with the river ice already broken -up,
the first robin sighted and the snow drops in
bloom.
At our house not only did spring sprung
this week, but also the ice -packed eaves and
the basement.
Ah, the joys of being a home owner, we're
learning fast.
One recent day when I was singing the
praises to spring to Len Theedom, I couldn't
understand why he commented on wet
basements and such now I know. •
+++
The snow has disappeared like magic and
parking places downtown are now available
with the absence of those snowbanks and icy
spots.
Our parking ticket man Murray Taylor is
-on the"jiLF, iryinopla1n tirstaying-tunger
than two hours, remember the municipal
free parking area behind Ball and Mitch
Furniture.
ClOuneil gained access to this area in the
tackle the most difficult piece. If it was a
university essay, she's take on a topic which
made even the professors wince: Something
like: "The Interrelationship . Between
, William Blake and the Philosophy of
• Hegel." No way. I always -chose something I
could handle, like "Emily Dickinson Wrote
Runt Poetry."
And she was the same •around.the house.
Some 'women clean their ovens once a
month, once a year. She did it every week.
But her misfortune" was that she married a
slob, who thought a bath once a week was
plenty, if not over -doing it. When the lawn
was raked, she wanted every leaf off it.
There was no -'ring around the collar around.
this place.
She fought, with plumbers, electricians,
the gas company, and anyone else who tried
to give her the go -around, while. I read the,
paper. She made me change my underwear.
She nearly went through the roof when the
grandboys ran their cars and trucks. over
her polished coffee table.
• •An - . he -went_ -to .h ' -and-.
d•3�et � ,� ug tars;
fed, . changed, baby-sat and gave moral
supportfor two or three weeks after they
were born.
She grouched and grumbled at me •about
our rotten kids, who are always broke. Then
she'd send them a handsome cheque to bail
them out.
When she was on a high, I used to hide,
because she wanted to do eight things at
once. When she wasn't, I cameout of hiding
and tried to convince her that every man
does the best he can, which would make her
flare up and say, "O.K. You cook the din-
ner.
•
By Shelley McPhee
fall, in an effort to ease parking problems
downtown. It provides parking for a couple
of dozen cars, so why not make -use of it?.
+ + +
Special "Happy Birthday" greetings go
out to Mrs. Elsie Youngblut of Clinton this
week. Mrs. Youngblut will be 92 -years
young on Feb. 16.
+++
Oops, we had Scott and Laurie Jewitt
dancing together last week on Big Top
Talent. In fact it wasn't the brother and
sister team who were dancing, but cousins
Scott and Susan Jewitt.
+ .,{- +
The St. Joesph's , Catholic Women's
League card party was held on Feb. 8 and
$100 was raised for the Clinton Hospital
Fund.
Card party winners were: lucky chair,
Mary Mair; men's high, Helen LeBeau;
ladies' high, Bora Gamow; ladies' lone
hands, Agnes Calvert; door prize, John
' riiidoiiiEizettter.; ladies' low; Marguerite, -
Kay; men's low, Cliff Parker.
+++
Fund raising efforts for the Clinton Public
Hospital continue.
On April 21, the fu 1 raising committee
will hold its second annual Celebrity Dinner
Auction.
Again our MPP Jack Riddell will be in
charge of the auction.
Any donations to the cause would be
gladly accepted. Just contact Faye Fear if
you would like to help.
• +
Fund raising efforts for heart research
have been.popular efforts this year.
During Valentine week, Lady Ffnelle
beauty consultants donated a portion of
their earnings to the fight to help eliminate
heart disease.
Judy Harrison -Kuehl of Clinton is one of
many Canadian beauty consultants who will
donate 10 per cent of her retail sales to
University Hospital in London and Institut
de Cardiologie de Quebec.
Again this year, members oo the Canadian
Car Wash Association will help to raise
funds for the 1984 Canadian 1'' rt Fund
......... .... __ .,...
maapa_dr?
On Feb. 18 participating car Wash outlets
will donate $1 from every hot wax sale made
that day. Last year, over 300 car wash
outlets raised nearly $31,000.
To the Editor:
Perhaps your readers would be interested
to know that the Canadian Farm Survival
Association helda conference in London on
1VMnday and Tuesday,1ebi'uary 6 and 7.
The purpose of .their meeting was
threefold:
To review the accomplishments of the past;
To view the present situation;
• And answer the question, Where do we go
from here??;
To borrow on the. knowledge and ex-
periences of a capable organizer and
speaker, Walter Miller of Tara. Although
not now taking a leading part in the
organization, Walterstill serves his and
neighbouring communities in what he does
well, speaking_for a good cause. _
Under the present C.F.S.A. structure very
little contact can be made between the farm
communities and the association, that is
serving a very great need.
To bridge that gap it intended to provide
local associations in convenient locations to
provide, you with a place to express your
-opinions, perhaps get some answers to your
questions, and a more convenient office
where competent and reliable helper advice
maybe attained.
It is planned that a local association be
established in the north west part of Huron
county, an area providing a very good cross
section of agriculture a fair :representation
of beef, dairy, hog, poultry and some of the
major cash crops of Ontario.
To that end a meeting will- be held at the
Brookside Public School, % mile west of
Huron County Road 1 on Concession 9, Ash-
field Twp., on February 20 at 8 p.m.
An elite negotiator and capable speaker,
Tom Shoebottomof Denfield is to speak and
several association members will be on
hand to answer questions.'
Come and hear first hand of some of the
.experiences the association has had.
Perhaps get your questions answered and
express your opinion.
A Canadian Farm
Survival Association
Member,
James Boak Sr.,
R.R.1, Dungannon.
School car looking
for memorabilia
Dear Editor, -
Clinton's "School on Wheels CN No.
-15089'i—is
knot for - -F
blackboards,
-school desks; 89 loo g
blackboards, wall maps, books etc.;
materials which would have been used in old
one -room -rural schools. When all these little
schools in Huron County were closed, not so
long ago, surely there must have been hun-
dreds of little wooden desks left behind.
If you have one or more taking up space in
your home or barn, will you think of us?
Your generosity. will help to complete the
restoration of the School on Wheels with true
authenticity.
• Please call Ron Young 482-7904 (after 6
p.m.) or Elizabeth Kettleweli 482-9641.
R ec director choice
Dear Editor:
I understand the decision has been made
and a new recreation director hired for
Clinton.
I am very disappointed with, what I feel is
a very poor decision. I cannot understand
why, when we have been using Mr. Steve
Campbell's recreational skills on a part
time basis over the past four years, he was
not given the chance to work at it full time.
I have spent a lot of time in or at
recreational facilities in Clinton and have
yet to hear any complaints on Mr. Camp-
bell's work.
I feel strongly that when a full time
position, in the town of Clinton, arises -
which I might add, is very seldom, your part
time 'employees should be given more
consideration.
It is my understanding that Mr. Steve
Campbell is quite qualified for the position
as Recreation Director. He has been
working part time, and full time over the
summers. Why not try and keep our people
in town, instead of pushing them on
elsewhere. We would be losing a good person
if Mr. Campbell is forced to look for em-
ployment elsewhere.
Your decision should have been thought
about a little deeper. Give Mr. Campbell a
chance anti.trnow,„he!would-•ha-ve_proven..-
the hiring committee wrong in their
decision.
D. Colquhoun,
Clinton.
i