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The Huron Expositor, 1984-09-05, Page 14 Z • I-- rving the communities and areas of ussels. Dublin, Hensel! and Walton Sac a copy SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1984 — 16 PAGES Tornado hits area, third time in 16 years A TORNADO In the Staffa wreaked havoc when roof two barns owned by BHI Ke lines were down when trees were snapped' in half. Estimate of damage Is not known nd Mr. Kerslake Is undecided If he will repair hi i barns. Concession nine of Hibbert To nship was closed until a road grader could clear a path through the debris. Joan i trees-, wre'cks A tornado lasting only minutes wreaked havoc in the Staffa area around the supper hour on Sunday. Trees were snapped off. hydro lines were dawned and two barns were severely damaged in the storm. Roofs of two barns, owned by Bill Kerslake of RR 2. Staffa, were lifted artd strewn through a bean field. Hydro lines downed by snapped trees and limbs, interrupted hydro services to the arca for almost 24 hours. Power was restored Monday afternoon. Concession nine of Hibbert Township was closed until a road grader could clear a path through the debris. "It happened around 6:30. We were sitting in the house and were looking nut when we saw the barn roof take off. it was raining at the time." said Mr. Kerslake. Seaforth vote for Senior citizens were prepared to cast their votes Tuesday but expressed some doubt that the elected leader, whoever it is, would he able to improve the Canadian situation. Mabel Turnbull, 84. Jack Tierney, 81 and Rena McKenzie. 92. alt reflected concerns about the slumping economy and the ability of the leaders to improve it by keeping those promises made prior to Sept, 4. "1 think it would be pretty hard to do (keep the promises)." said Miss Turnbull, a resident of Kilbarchan Nursing Home. "But whoever does get in is going to find that people will expect him to keep his promises.' Miss Turnbull said she thought the idea of taxing the rich more heavily to help the poor was a biblical solution to the problem but said she thought the effort would be better spent if government spending was limited. Mr. Tierney, also a resident at Kilbarchan. said he had pp illusions that the elected leader would keep .his promises. -� "They say a lot of things before they're elected, but as long as they get in. what do they care. it's the money they're after. Politicians usually say one thing and do another," he said. Miss McKenzie•was a little more optimistic about the possible outcome of the election. "Until the man is in office you don't really know what he'll do. But i think Brian Mulroney has presented himself as an earnest citizen and 1 think he has the interests of the country at heart. 1 don't know whether it's possible for him to keep all his promises but 1 think hell do the best he can. He still has a lot to learn and 1 think he'll learn it." she said. TIME FOR CHANGE Miss Mckenzie, a conservative since the MacKenzie King era, said she thought the time for a change in government was now. "i'm hoping the Conservatives can do more than the Liberals have. 1' m hoping they can improve things." she said. Miss Turnbull has been a Liberal from day one, but admits she'd change her political affiliation if she ever found fit. At this point she said she is satisfied with the Liberal party and the direction it is taking. "1 think John Turner has had a lot of 1 "Right after that, it darkened right down, The tornado came close to hitting a new drive shed •• a hole was poked in one corner," he said. The barn was filled with hay and loose straw, Almost half of the straw was sucked out of the barn. Three cows and two calves were in a nearby field when the storm struck. A grain auger in the second Kerslake barn was damaged. MOVED VERY FAST An eye witness, Linda Butson was standing in the back room of her home when she saw two funnel clouds form in the south-west skies. "There was a flash of colored lightning and then 1 saw two funnel clouds come down. it all happened in a matter of five seconds—bang, they were there, They seniors feds experience, probably more than anybody else. i may question him on some things but whether or not he'll make a good job or not is for history to tell, got me," she said. Mr. Tierney named no specific party as his, but said he usually votes for the person he thinks will be the best man in the end. "I think it would do the country good to have a new man. If we'd change more often we'd probably be better off," he said. NEED MORE WOMEN The seniors also suggested that it might benefit the country to have more women in government. at least in a financial capacity. • "We need more women in parliament." said Miss Turnbull. "Let them have the purse strings and they'll live within a budget," she added. Miss Turnbull said she felt women were more experienced in handling money since the majority of women manage the household finances. "We need more women in parliament "I wouldn't say the country would be any better off, but we might take a step in that direction if women were put in charge of budgetary items. They're used to having to keep within the husbands' income", she said. Mr. Tiernay was equally supportive of having more women in government. "i, think they'd help out a lot with their views and things," he said. "And they'd help keep the government within its budget." Mr. Tiernay expressed outrage at the financial management of the country to this point. "I don't know how they could have got in such debt." SENIORS/ SEE PAGE 3 Kerslake (centre) holds a lightning rod wire found In a nearby bean field. (Wasslnk photos) P developed and moved very fast," she said. "1 saw steel flying up in the distance. 1 grabbed the cat and was heading for the basement. but then i couldn't see the funnels anyryore. They were close." she said. The Butson farm is about one quarter of a mile from the Kerslake farm. Mrs. Butson said their property wasn't damaged. Another neighbor, Art Smale reported a roof in his home was damaged. "The wind was getting strong so 1 decided to shut some windo s. i went to shut one. but it blew open and at the same time. the ceiling tile in one room let go. Thc ceiling came down about one foot. "Since then, tile have been dropping to the floor. it took place so quick i didn t know what was happening. Now we're going to drywall the ceiling," said,,Mr. Smalc. Some steel was also blown from the Smale barn and hydro wires were downed near the road. A picnic table was lifted off the lawn and later found in a nearby field. in pieces. "Our corn field is down pretty bad, but we hope to salvage most of the crop. We'll just have to wait and see what happens." he said. BORROWED ALTERNATOR Pat Feeney owns a farm across from the second Kerslake farm. Though there was no damage at the Feeney property. hydro was interrupted to a nearby barn housing 300 pigs. Mr. Feeney borrowed an alternator to supply electricity to water the pigs. Joking with Kerslake. Mr. Feeney said. "1 got kinda angry last night with all the POLLING BOOTHS were open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to elect a new federal government for Canada. Luanne Phalr received the ballot from Hank Van Roollan, who was first to vot4 at poll 61 (Mcllwralth photo) Catholic high school possible The Huron -Perth Separate School is setting up a steering committee to study the possibility of a Catholic High School in this area. At its Aug. 27 meeting, the .board approved the formation of the committee and that people interested in serving on the committee be sought. The board is looking for two parents, one from each county, one priest to be appointed by the deanery and one teacher to be appointed by the Huron -Perth teachers' association. Others on the steering committee will be the chairman, two other trustees and the director. • The committee is, expected to set up a plan that will help the board decide how best to provide a Catholic high school in the area. A report identifying long range planning needs, major constraints or special concerns and outlining recommendations is expected to be presented to the board in Nov. • 1 neighbors leaving their stuff in my yard. And now we have a good view of Dan Bennewies' house with the trees gone." He said his corn crop "stood the test pretty good" and that he had cleaned up his yard Monday morning. SCARED "We were all scared•" said Freda Kerslake. "The lightning was really snapping and the sky was really black. just like night . Thc tornado went through after 6 p.m. 1 looked outside and saw the barn roof was gone. 1 don't know how long it took •• maybe five or 10 minutes," she said. Tornados have hit the same area on two other occasions, in 1967 and 1974. "Both times they missed us •• this time it didn't." said Mr. Kerslake. Smell smoke but no fire Seaforth firemen answered the fire alarm ai the Seaforth Health Care Facility at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Aug. 29, but there was no sign of fire. The call is being treated as a false alarm. Employees at the nursing home and fire fighters detected a faint smell of smoke but there was no sign of fire said Seaforth Fire Chief. Harry Hak. "We were fortunate," he said. Election co -insides- with 90th birthday Being able to vote in the 1984 'federal election held special sentiment for at least one senior Egmondville resident, For Verde Cameron the year of the election coincided with the year of her 90th birthday. "Not many people reach their 90th birthday and are still able to vote. so this election is a special one," said Mrs. Cameron's daughter-in-law tudrey Cameron. Mrs. Cameron celebrates het birthday on Sept. 11 but until today. her attention was focused on the election. "1 was never too actively involved in politics, but i do hope the Liberals can stay ut er," she said. !though corning from a conservative background. Mrs. Cameron admitted she changed her loyalties when she married in 1919. Now, she doubts if she'll ever switch political parties again. "it's become an automatic gesture with her to vote liberal," said Audrey. "i don't think anyone could change her thinking now." barns By 5 p.m., Sunday. a line of thunder- storms had formed a line from Georgian Bay to south of Lake Huron said Frank Lochner of the Environment Canada London wea- ther office. "The severest storm developed near London. The tornado in Staffa would have been small. Large tornados have very large funnels and can be as wide as half a mile." he said. "Funnel clouds were also reported in the Mitchell area. but no damage was reported. The storm must have been widespread. We had several reportings of funnel clouds." said Mr. Lochner. "It could have been worse." said Mrs. Kerslake. "Everybody is alive and that's the main thing. And we have a house to list, in." INSIDE Senior -games less than smashing/ Aj0 Kids look foreword to first day of school/ A3 Minor storm damage in K.ippen/ A9 INDEX Births /A6 Brussels /414 Classified /Al2, 13 Dublin news /A4, 5 Entertainment /A16 Family /46, 7 Farm /A8 Hensel! news /49 Obituaries /47 People 746 Sports /A10, 11 Walton /A15 r