Clinton News-Record, 1985-4-24, Page 11N ORPORAT1fNG7THE BLYTH STA.Ni MRH -THF,, BA.YF E1,I)
120CH YEAR
WE1)NESDA1 , APRIL 24, 1985
NO. 17
50 (,'14;N'TS
Robbery shacks Hensall
HENSALL - When Ken Pollock f i rst heard
that the Bank of Montreal was robbed Fri-
day morning he was in a state of shock. "My
first reaction was worry as I feared that my
wife may have been hurt."
Patricia Pollock has worked at the Hen-
sall branch for the last 16 years.
"We've always wondered if something
like this was going to happen because this
bank carries a lot of money for a small
town," Mr. Pollock said.
Another man. who feared for his life,
Richard Packham, rushed down to the bank
as soon as he heard about the robbery.
"When I arrived they said no one was
hurt. I saw my wife through the window and
she waved," Mr. Peckham said.
Three men fled in a 1970 yellow Vauxhall
stolen from the Hamilton area earlier Fri-
day. They fled with about $5,000, Later Fri-
day the car was found in Mitchell. Police
learned the men went to a service station
and phoned for a taxi to take them to Strat-
ford.
The Exeter OPP believe the Hensall rob-
bery on Friday is linked to the robbery at
the Royal Bank in Ripley on March 22.
On Sunday night two Hamilton men aged
26 and 28 were arrested in Toronto and
charged with robbery and the use of a
firearm. The men werealso charged with
the robbery in Ripley. A third suspect is be-
ing sought in connection with the robberies.
The two men were scheduled to appear in
Walkerton courtroom for a bail hearing on
April 23.
Police, husbands and reporters had. to wait in the rain for over
three hours while the OPP investigated the robbery at the Bank of
Montreal in Hensel' Friday.
(Todd
Mowatt
photo)
Education budget up 4.9 c
By Stephanie Levesque
Education taxes in Huron County are up
about $20 over last year on an average
- assessment of $3,110.
The Huron County Board of Education, at
,a special ,meeting on April 22, approved its
1985 budget of $38.5 million, an increase of
about 4.9 -per cent over last year's budget of
$36.6 million. •
This means that on a tax bill for an
average assessment of $3,110, the taxpayer
will pay $241.21 for -elementary school
education and $196.17 for secondary educa-
tion. This is a combined total of $437.38.
The school board will be going to the
municipalities in Huron County for $12.9
million, a 5.6 per cent increase over last
year's municipal levy of $12.2 million.
The 3' e hour budget session was culled the
best meeting ever by board chairman
Eugene Frayne.
"There was more discussion tonight ... all
good (:iscussion," said Mr. Frayne.
Mr. Frayne said even though the board
.did approve all the projects presented. tax-
payers can feel justified in the budget
brought down.
The elementary. portion of the budget
totals $21 million. Director of Education Bob
Allan said that for the first time, costs for
the trainable mentally retarded and
developmentally handicapped students are
included in this section of the budget. In
previous years, these costs have been in-
cluded in the secondary school portion of the
budget.
The secondary school portion
budget is estimated at $17.8 million.
Several special projects are included in
the budget,' with the major one being to in-
clude $105,000 in the elementary portion of
the budget to purchase and upgrade
Vanastra Public School.
"•It's been a year since the acconunoda-
tion review conunittee report and we
of the
haven't done anything..How long are we go-
ing to wait. We're not going to let it pass,"
said trustee Frank Falconer.
The total cost of the Vanastra Public
School project, that is to purchase and up-
date the building now owned by Conestoga
College is $525,000. It is hoped the Ministry
of Education willpgive a grant of $420,000 for
the remainder of the project. Mr. Allan said
he would probably know within a few days
or weeks what the ministry's commitment
will be.
It was a 7 to 6 recorded vote that saw the
school board approve including the $105,000
in its budget. The money will be part of the
$402,803 set aside in the budget for capital
repair projects.
Other special projects approved at the
special meeting include:
- Spending $4,430 for six metal storage sheds
at public schools across the county;
- A total of $45,000 to purchase musical in-
struments at Central Huron Secondary
school in Clinton, F.E. Madill secondary
school in Wingham and South Huron District
High School in Exeter. Each school gets
$15,000;
- An energy monitoring system for Seaforth.
public School which will cost about $9,270;
- A landscaping concept for each school to
cost a total of about $8,000. Students from co-
operative programs at community colleges
could develop the plans. •
The board turned down a proposal for an
additional $36,530 for computer subjects.
"Ile 1985 budget already includes $75,000 to
buy the educational computer known as the
Icon as well as other hardware. Also, a pro-
posal to extend family studies and industrial
arts to all areas of the county was turned
down.
The only other special project turned,
down at the budget meeting was a proposal
to increase school secretaries to full time.
Raceway seeks backing
By Shelley McPhee
CLINTON - Town Council will hack the
Clinton Raceway to the tune of $10,000 if it
takes a loss on operating expenses this
season. However, council won't put the
money up front, or waive outstanding bills
as a measure to help offset anticipated
losses at the track in 1985.
Representatives of the Clinton Raceway
Committee met with council earlier this
month to discuss financial concerns at the
Clinton track. The discussion centered on an
outstanding insurance bill of $2,900; coun-
cil's decision to charge the Clinton Raceway
a $75 per racing day user fee for use of the
racetrack bar area, and a $1,000 per season
fee for use of other facilities; and a major
capital expenditure that must be financed
by the Clinton Raceway in 1985, a $30,000
electronic tote board.
The meeting was set up to clear
misconceptions and misunderstandings
between the town council and the raceway
committee.
Council voted to cover losses on 1985
operating costs, but they specified that the
raceway must pay the outstanding bills and
the user fee charges.
The issue was debated at length by Clinton
Council after the Raceway Committee
presentation. Some councillors viewed the
raceway as a valuable non-profit service for
the town. Others saw the raceway as a
business that should be in the position of
supporting itself.
Councillor. Ross Carter questioned
whether the town should provide financial
backing for the raceway, because it is con-
sidered a business. On the other hand he
noted that the raceway is important to Clin-
ton, "It 'provides a lot of money to the area."
Deputy Reeve Frank Van Alterna noted,
"We could lose the track to another town if
we don't support it. It's happened
elsewhere." -
He further noted, "I can understand that
recreation needs to make money, but the
raceway can't make money paying $75
)user fees)."
Councillor Jim Hunter echoed the opinion
of the Clinton Recreation Committee, "Any
group who uses the grandstand for a bar
pays a user fee. The ret committee will
have problems collecting the fee from other
Turn to page 3 •
This would have meant an additional cost of
$36,000 to set this up in nine schools.
The total cost of both business and general
administration is$909,045.
The largest single cost is, for teachers'
salaries and school supplies. At the elemen-
tary level, it is expected to cost $12.1 million
and $11.2 million at the secondary level.
Transportation is the next largest cost.
This is expected to cost $1.6 million at the
secondary level and $1.9 million at the
elementary level.
Plant operation and maintenace is the
next largest•expense item. At the elemen-
tary level, $1.5 million has been set in the
budget for this, while $1.6 million has been.
put in the secondary school budget.
The' province of Ontario will pay the
largest share of the budget, $23.9 million.
Mr. Allan noted this province's share is go -
ling down all the time which means the local
taxpayer has to continually pick up, the
larger share.
Auburn's est known
resident dies at 70
Eleanor Bradnock
A rural newspaper correspondent for
over 25 years and a woman whose name
was synonymous with the village of
Auburn, Eleanor Bradnock,died of cancer
in Victoria Hospital, London on Friday,
April 19. She was in her 71st year.
One of 1,984 Ontarians honored for their
service to their respective communities
with Bicentennial medals in December
1984, she epitomized the community -
minded citizen.
Born on a farm just outside the village of
Auburn in 1915, she chose to live in and
serve the only community she knew and
loved. In a 1977 interview she said she
wouldn't Live anywhere else adding that
"everybody in the community cares about
one another."
While Eleanor was involved in countless
notable organizations, clubs, service and
church groups, she will be fondly
remembered by people in the Goderich,
' Clinton, Blyth and Auburn area as one of
the finest community newspaper rural cor-
respondents. For over 25 years she
diligently compiled, covered and wrote
about the newsworthy events in the
Auburn area.
Her involvement in community groups
and affairs was also impressive.
One of the first members of a county 4-H
group she later became both a 4-H and
CGIT group leader. Her involvement with
women's groups was also unprecedented.
She served as president of the Huron
Presbyterian Women's Missionary Society
and was later extended the honour of life
membership in the Society.
A member of the Women'g Institute of
Ontario for over 50 years, she was twice
elected president of the Auburn WI, was
president of the London convention area of
WI for two years, served on the board of
directors of .the Federated Women's In-
stitute of Ontario and was a member of the
Federated Women's Institute of Canada.
A trustee of the village of Auburn, she
was active in the Horticultural Society,
was 'a charter member of the Historical
Society and was instrumental in forming
the relationship with Auburn, Michigan.
She was predeceased by her husband ,
Wesley, who was the village barber for
many years. She is survived by two foster
children; George Collins of Auburn and
Sheron Stadelmann of Blyth; two sisters;
Dorothy, ( Mrs. Hugh Bennett) of Port
Albert and Beryl (Mrs. Harold Nicholson) of
Seaforth and four grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Monday at the
Tasker Funeral Home, Blyth and inter-
ment followed in Ball's Cemetery.
Peterson, Pope in Clinton
CLINTON - Election campaigning in
Huron -Middlesex is in full swing this week.
Clinton will be the location of two special
y urs and meetings with two of Ontario's
most prominent politicians. Liberal Leader
David Peterson and Ontario Minister of
Health Alan Pope will visit Clinton Public
Hospital (CPH).
Mr. Pope will be in Clinton today, Wednes-
day, April 24 for a late afternoon visit to
CPH. He's expected to be at the hospital for
a tour and a press conference between 5 and
30 p.m.
Mr. Pope will also visit Alexandra Marine
and General Hospital in Goderich this after-
noon and will. head on to Bruce County
riding after, his stop in Clinton.
Mr. Peterson will be in Clinton tomorrow,
Thursday, April 25. He'll visit CPH between
.10 and 10:30 a.m. and plans to announce a
major health policy. Weather permitting,
the event will be held on the front lawns of
CPH.
Mr. Peterson will also visit Kincardine
on Thursday and will travel to St. Thomas
after his tour at the Clinton Hospital.
CPH administrator Dan Steyn,hopes that
the politicians "will be bringing a positive
report on the future of health care funding
for hospitals, particularly funding for the
new obstetrics wing at CPH.
Road improvements to cost
$100,000 i n Blyth in i985
BLYTH - Estimates have. been received
from B.M. Ross and Associates Limited on
the costs of improving the roads under the.
1985 road program. Excavation, grader
work, backfill and engineering fees are
estimated to total $100,000.
. The village will receive a subsidy of
$31,400 from the Ministry of Transportation
and Communications and $15,000 under a
Ontario Neighbourhood Improvement
(ONIP) grant. The village will meet both of
these figures, for a total of $92,800, leaving
them $7,200, short. However, Clerk Larry
Walsh told council at their March 9 meeting
that they would have little difficulty claim-
ing more money under the ONIP grant.
B.M. Ross estimates that Coombs Street,
from Dinsley to Drummond Street will cost
$7,000; Drummond Street, from St.
,Michael's Roman Catholic ' Church to
Coombs Street will cost $12,500; Wellington
Street, from Queen to Morris Street will cost
$18,000; McConnell Street, from. Queen to
Morris Street will cost $15,500; Mill Street,
from Wellington to McConnell Street will
cost $7,500; and work on Dinsley Street East
will cost $39,500.
Dinsley Street East has water trapped
under the asphalt. The street needs retiling
to provide better drainage. It will then re-
quire two layers of asphalt.
Jeanette Raidt, 17, of
crown in 1985. Heather
girls competed for the
April 19 at a kick-off
Clinton (left) will wear the Klompen Feest
Stinson, 17, of Clinton was the runner up. The
title of Klompen Feest Queen in Seaforth on
dance sponsored by the Huron -Perth New
Canadian Club. Eleven girls vied for the crown. The fifth annual
Klompen Feest will he held in Clinton on May 17 and 18. (Shelley
McPhee photo)