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Zurich Citizens News, 1971-06-24, Page 1NO. 25 --FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS ZURICH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1971 10 CENTS PER COPY ONTARIO FIDDLING CHAMPION - Gordon Elson, of Ingersoll, was acclaimed the Ontario Fiddling Champion in Hensall last Saturday night, when he emerged the winner over all other cont- estants. Mr. Elson, left, is shown here with the Ward Allen Memorial Trophy, along with Randy Allen, son of the former international fiddling champion, and John Baker, president of the l lensall Kinsmen, who sponsored the event, Teacher Situation is The cafeteria at Central Hur- on Secondary School in Clinton was jammed Monday evening for the regular meeting of the Huron County Board of Education. Interest in the meeting had been fostered by a statement which appeared in the Huron County Weekly newspapers last week from Mrs. J. W . Wallace, at that time chairman of the salary negotiating committee, and Dr. A.B. Death e. Both members of the board from God- erich, they had issued a state- ment of,their position concerning salary negotiations expressly for the information of Goderich cit- izens. Mrs. Wallace and Dr. Deathe served notice in that statement they would present a motion at Monday's meeting asking that the board of education settle the salary dispute with the county's secondary school teachers on the basis of parity with teachers in other counties surrounding Huron. At the the same time they req- uested that persons supporting this stand be present at the board meeting. However, before Monday's meeting, both Mrs. Wallace and Dr. Deathe had given public notice that they would resign from the board of education. Neither was present and only Mrs. Wallace's written resignat- ion was before the board for con- sideration. Councillor Ed Giesbrecht of the Town of Goderich was pres- ent bolstered by several other council members from that mun- icipality to urge the Huron County board of Education not to accept the resignations of the two Goderich board representat- ives. Councillor Giesbrecht also car- ried the written resignation of Dr. Deathe which was to have been forwarded by the municipal spokesman Monday evening to the Huron County Board of Educ- ation. As is usual procedure, the board began its meeting with the adoption of the agenda, the call for delegations, the approv- al of minutes from the previous meeting etc. Chairman Robert Elliott was well into the third item on the Goderich Member Will Resign (by Shirley J. Keller) Tuesday morning following the previous night's regular meet- ing of the Huron County Board of Education, Dr. A.B. Deathe said he would submit his resign- ation to the board immediately through normal channels. "If my resignation handed to council was irregular I sincerely apologize, " said Dr. Deathe. "The board will have my res- ignation in the usual manner." Dr. Deathe urged everyone to see errors on the part of all part- ies involved in the salary negot- iations with the secondary school teachers in the county of Huron. "I don't think the board has anything to be ashamed of, " said Dr. Deathe. "I do feel there was too little public dis- fussion. Unless you have public discussion you get rumor and you get distrust." He deplored the fact that the representatives of the press whom he termed "responsible" were not permitted to hear the delib- erations concerning salary and report on them to the ratepayers of Huron County. "I think the board is basically sincere, " he said. "I think the whole thing is a misunderstand- ing because of too much secrecy." "John Cochrane has done a tremendous job, " said Deathe. "It is my sincere hope that he continues to be liaison between the teachers and the board . " nsettled agenda when one spectator in the crowd rose to complain that persons seated at the back of the cafeteria could not hear what was being said. Elliott suggested that spectat- ors move closer to the front. Some did. Then Elliott called for a microphone. During the delay in obtaining sound equipment, Councillor Ed. Giesbrecht spoke to the chairman of the board and the director of education D.J. Cochrane. It was then that the board went into committee -of - the -whole -in camera to discuss whether or not to entertain the delegation from Goderich desp- ite the fact that the usual seven- day notice of delegation had not (continued on page 16) Hensall Fair Successful Ideal weather conditions on Tuesday helped to make the annual Hensall Spring Fair one of the best in history, but it also had it's toll on the crowd, as many area farmers took advant- age of the fine day to stay at home and finish their work. The Zurich Centennial Band led a parade which formed at the Hensall Town Hall and work- ed it's way to the Agricultural Park. Entered in the parade was antique farm equipment, modern tractors, horses and dec- orated bicycles and tricycles. After the parade, the fair was officially opened by president George Frayne, Robert E. Mc- Kinley, MP for Huron, and !fur- , on County Warden Jack Alex- ander. While the horse show was be- ing conducted outside, the jud- ging of one of the best calf clubs in years was taking place inside the arena. Walking off with top honours in the Calf Club were cousins Robert and Murray Mc- Gregor, while a calf owned by Les Coleman led in the best gain with 522 pounds. (Complete results of the Calf Club will be published in next week's edition of the Citizens News.) Two Zurich babies walked off with top honours in the Baby Show, also held in the Commun- ity Centre. First in the one to six month's class was Scott, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Merner, R. R. 3, Zurich, while Cameron, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne I-lorner, Zurich placed first in the six months to one year class. A large midway provided youngsters with plenty of excite- ment throughout the entire af- fair, Stephen ,s rn nts V t ti in Favour of All -Day Kinderg ,gin -rtes Sessions (by Shirley J. Keller) Members of the Huron County l3oard of Education were inform- ed Monday evening that '76 per- cent of the parents or guardians of next year's kindergarten class in Stephen Township have voted in favor of changing to the all day, alternate day schedule this fall. In a report from J. W. Coulter, it war learned that ballots were sent to the parents asking them to vote for one of two statements: a. I wish to have the kindergart- en program at Stephen Central School remain on a half-day every day schedule; and b. I wish to have the kindergarten program at Stephen Central School change to an all -day, every other day schedule. Twenty-five ballots were ret- urned, one for each child regist- ered and of these, 19 were mark- ed to indicate a change to the all -day, alternate day schedule. It was indicated during the discussion that parents were made aware of a board policy not to provide noon -hour trans- , portation for kindergarten stud- ents when it necessitated addit- ional buses to those already trav- elling the routes at regular times. John Henderson, McKillop, learned that of 22 ballots sent out in McKillop, 16 of the 17 returned to date are in favor of all -day, alternate day schedule. Henderson suggested that famil- ies of kindergarten students in McKillop might be willing to pay for an additional bus at noon if it could be made avail- able. He faulted the committee who studied the kindergarten problem for putting forth their own ideas rather than talking to the principals, the teachers and the parents to discover what was desired in the county for kinder- gartens. He served notice that he would introduce a motion to have this question re-evaluated by the board. In other business, the board learned that Mrs. Margaret Deichert has been retained to (continued on page 3) BABY SHOW WINNERS - Winners in the six months to one year class in the Baby Show at Hensall Spring Fair on Tuesday night are shown here, following the judging. Left to right are Mrs. Wayne Horner, Zurich, with Cameron; Mrs. Larry Ducharme, Hensall, with Dale; and Mrs. Dave Ingram, Hensall, with Chris.