100 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 27, 1906

• The detailed statement of receipts and expenditures for the Village of Shelburne from December 15, 1905 to December 15, 1906 has been printed for the consideration of the ratepayers. It shows total receipts from all sources of $12,816.83 and a total expenditure of $11,389.35, leaving a balance on hand of $1,427.48. The total receipts on the cemetery account were $575.34 and expenditure $432.70, leaving a balance of $142.64. The current assets are placed at $2,745.25 and the current liabilities $2,743.83, leaving an excess of assets over liabilities of $1.42. Debentures and special rates (this includes the money handed over to the school board) are responsible for $5,456.34 of the expenditure. That sum is divided up among streets and sidewalks, salaries, band grant, library grant, government school grant to school board, charity, printing and stationary, board of health, street lighting, waterworks, rebate of taxes, loans returned, street watering, interest and discount. Town hall rents brought in $232.50, weigh scale fees, $157.66, fines, $21.00, license fund $318.75, government school grant $139.00, dog tax $106.45.

• The trains have been holding high carnival in the way of being late during the Christmas season. Saturday night, the passengers on the north-bound passenger train had a cold time of it, the steam pipes that heat the coaches having burst some place down the line.

• The case of Haney vs. McIntee should have been decided at the Orangeville assizes in November last, but on account of the illness of the defendant was laid over to be tried at the Peel Assizes in Brampton last week. The defendant, Kenneth McIntee, is a well-known resident of St. Catharines, and highly respected in that community. Nearly two years ago, his wife left him and took their two little boys with her. The father secured the elder one sometime later but all his efforts to locate the sixyear old boy were futile until August last. About the 5th of August the defendant came to Shelburne and took Constable Brundage with him to the residence of Fred Haney in Melancthon and secured the boy. This led to the action for trespass and assault laid against the two defendants, McIntee and Brundage. Crown Attorney McKay, of Orangeville, acted for the plaintiffs, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Haney, and G. M. Vance for the defendants, McIntee and Brundage. The case was heard Tuesday of last week before Justice Mulock. The evidence was conclusive that no assault was made and that McIntee had a perfect right to take his own child. Before the case had progressed very far the attorney for the plaintiffs was willing to have it dismissed. The defendant objected as he wished the case decided on its merits and it went to the jury. The judge’s charge was in favour of the defendant all the way through. The jury retired and were out two hours but shortly before they came in the lawyers for the plaintiffs again asked to have the case dismissed, which was agreed to, and the jury were thus relieved of bringing in a verdict. We understand that the judge intimated very strongly that the case should not have been brought before the High Court. Each party will have to pay their own costs, which will be in the neighbourhood of $3.00.

75 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 31, 1931

• There will be no election in Shelburne, T. F. Brown succeeding himself as reeve. The council, also by acclamation, will be: John R. Berwick, R. W. Brett and George Hogg of the old council and Dr. D. W. Stewart as successor to James Kennedy. Acclamations also occurred in Melancthon, with deputy reeve James Stinson succeeding reeve T. E. Watson and councillor Austin Neithercut becoming deputy reeve. However, in Mulmur E. Ray Cunningham and Thomas Mitchell will fight it out for the reeveship and Charles Bradley, William Mitchell and William Tupling are seeking to be deputy reeve. In Amaranth, the only office in dispute is that of deputy reeve with Oliver Darkin, F. J. Gray and W. J. Hamilton having the election fun all to themselves. Acclamations also occurred in Grand Valley, Mono and East Garafraxa, but East Luther will have election for reeve and council, with W. E. Tovell and Oliver Martin seeking the reeveship.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 26, 1956

• Ontario farmers were asked last week to help provide temporary accommodation for Hungarian refugees coming into Ontario. The appeal to the farmers was made by Lloyd Jasper, president of the 100,000-member Ontario Federation of Agriculture, who said some 6,000 of the refugees are expected to arrive by January 10.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 30, 1981

• Five-year-old Mitchell Valardeau was killed instantly in Mansfield on Christmas Eve while trying to cross the street on his way to church. His brother Marko, eight, was injured and taken to Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston.