Looking back at Yarmouth County history

From 1968

What to do about dogs roaming the streets of Yarmouth? That was a question some people – including members of town council – were thinking about. As the Vanguard reported in late January 1968, motorists were complaining “that dogs get out in the streets as if they own them, slowing up traffic and making car operators wait until the canines get out of their way.” In the past, the town had employed a dogcatcher and, at least for a while, the dog nuisance had been addressed, but the problem was back. More recently, the issue of roaming dogs had been handed over to the police.

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A familiar face would be chairing the Yarmouth area’s tourist association for the coming year. Hubert Lynch was starting a 15th term as the association’s chairman after being re-elected to the post at the group’s annual general meeting. A former town councillor, Lynch was so well known in the tourism industry that the Vanguard referred to him as the “father of the local tourist association.”

*** Everett Reeves was the Municipality of Yarmouth’s new warden, having been chosen for the position at the municipality’s annual meeting. It was a three-year term. Stephen Churchill was appointed deputy warden. Other Yarmouth municipal council members present for the municipality’s 89th annual meeting included Norman Ridgley, Donald Allen, John Wakeling and Eugene Bain. (Coun. Earl Maberley was absent.)

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A variety of activities were planned as part of Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School’s 1968 winter carnival, including a snow sculpture contest, talent contest and torchlight parade. Mayor Fred Emin and Evan Craig, the YCMHS principal at the time, were slated to deliver official opening remarks to kick off the carnival.

From 1978

Construction of a new junior high school in Hebron was on schedule, but there was concern about the type of floor being planned for the school’s gymnasium. At issue was whether the floor – as proposed – would put gym users at greater risk of physical injury. Getting a safer surface would cost more but would be worth it, said those expressing concern, including school officials and school board members. (The new school would become known as Maple Grove Education Centre.)

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There were new rules regarding smoking at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. According to a policy that officially took effect Feb. 1, 1978, smoking would be permitted only in designated areas of the hospital. The policy virtually prohibited patients’ visitors from smoking and outlined rules for those patients who wished to smoke during their hospitalization.

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In its sports section, the Vanguard noted that Dr. Roland Muise, a native of Quinan, Yarmouth County, was serving as team physician for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs of the American Hockey League. At the time, Dr. Muise was based at the Spryfield Medical Clinic in the field of family practice.

From 1988

A spokesman for an organization lobbying to keep Georges Bank off limits to petroleum exploration said he hoped Prime Minister Brian Mulroney would address the issue when he visited Halifax for the Nova Scotia PC party’s annual meeting. John Davis, executive director of NORIG (which had been established in the summer of 1987), said he and others from his group had been well received during a recent trip to Ottawa.

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The Town of Yarmouth was planning to build a town hall and was looking for an architect for the project. The town’s building committee had met with representatives of seven architectural firms. The town was going to build a facility across the street from the courthouse, where the town’s administrative offices were located at the time.