"Harold Stephens, rural mail carrier on the Lefroy route for 22 years, died January 13 in his 71st year. He had been in failing health for some time and for that reason gave up the mail route two years ago. Mr. Stephens had seen many changes in Innisfil since starting to drive the mail about 1952. Most of the 18-mile route was gravel then. Initially, he called at 75 boxes and when he retired he was serving 150 boxholders. In an interview with Scope at that time, he recalled gasoline was only 25 cents a gallon when he first took over the mail route. The deceased saw the end of the era of mail coming to Lefroy by train and the start of truck service. He used to meet the train at 11 o'clock each morning in the early years and part of his contract included delivery of the mail bag for Churchill to the post office there. On retirement he noted the vast decrease in parcels from Eaton's and Simpson's over the years. Harold Stephen's moved to Lot 20, Concession 4 in 1931 and upon retirement from farming a few years ago, built a new house on the farm lane. He grew up at Churchill on the 5th Line, west of Highway 11 where his parents, Llewyn and Lizzie Stephens farmed. He is ervived by his wife, Phyliss and daughter Mary Ann and several step children. A brother, Jim and sister, Doreen also survive. He was predeceased by brothers, Fred and Glen and sister, Eleanor."
"Last Wednesday the students and staff at Innisfil Central School honoured two long time bus drivers who retired this year. The two men were given plaques in appreciation for their years of service. Left to right are Mickey Watson, Anson McQuarrie, Joanne Corner, and Bill Akers. In back is teacher Mike Oliver who ran the assembly held for the men."
"For the fourth year in a row the students of Bell Ewart Public School won the Innisfil Winterama snow sculpture competition. This year the school's 90 students decided to immortalize Mother Goose and two of her nursery rhymes in snow. The students constructed a huge goose, Humpty Dumpty and his wall and Jack B. Nimble and his candlestick. These seven students were co-ordinators of the projects: Tracy Wilson, Jody Kerr, Leslie Richardson, Barb Haddock, Richard Anderson, Paul Morris and Kim Ferrier."
"Art Evans, MPP for Simcoe Centre and his daughter Cathy enjoy a dance last Saturday evening. The event was a beef barbeque and meet your member night held in Barrie. More than 1,000 people were on hand for the event. In addition to the food, they enjoyed dancing to music by Kitty Meredith."
"The South Innisfil Community Centre was officially opened last Saturday with a full day of activities ranging from skating races to moccasin dancing. The program started at 8:00 a.m. and carried on through to the evening ending with a dance in the banquet hall. Crowds packed the arena from the time it opened until it closed according to Judy Atkinson, one of the original workers for the arena project."
"The Easter Parade at Sunnybrae School in Stroud was a lively event. The children of the Junior Division marched around the gym with musical accompaniment of 'In Your Easter Bonnet' to proudly model their handmade bonnets and top hats."
"The Stroud Brownies who have earned the honor of flying up to Guides are front row L to R: Kirsten Sejrup, Tracey Reed, and Wendy Noble. Two of the girls are wearing costumes suitable for the Japanese theme of the evening. In the back row, Debra Bowen proudly displays the All-Round cord she received. Leader Joyce Alford and patrol leader Cathy Mulliss give the new guides a warm welcome."
"These model homes at Churchill Heights are nearing completion. They will be open for public inspection when they are finished. Salesman John Faye for A.B. Cairns, the builders, reports 33 homes will be built on one-half acre lots. The house contains at least 2,300 square feet and prices start at $89,900. The elevation on Churchill Heights gives each house a commanding view of the surrounding countryside."
"On the eve of his 92nd birthday, Tuesday, Bill Ruffett told the story of the booming ice industry of yesteryear. Bell Ewart - "I started on the ice when I was 12 yeards old. Father had rented the old hotel on the south side of the dock of 1897 for one dollar a month. After the old sawmill had burned down, the hotel went out of business. I remember well tearing out the bar. It was then I started to lead a horse on an ice plow for 50 cents a day for the Belle Ewart Ice Company. It was the only ice company there then and was across the road from my home where Sheppard's Marina is today. I remember the winter of 1906 was very mild and the big lake never froze over until nearly spring. The railroad was still here, you see, from the era of meeting the Lake Simcoe excursion boats. It was then ice companies from Jackson's Point came here, partly because of the railroad. Their only transportation there, for ice to Toronto, was by street car. I had anywhere from 60 to 80 men working for me at one time, all farmer's boys."
"Legless almost since birth, Jerry Hiscock of Alcona Beach will be able to get around fairly well this Christmas. The Innisfil Lions Club and Canadian Honda Motor Limited have refurbished his three-wheel all-terrain vehicle. The 17-year-old student jumped on the vehicle on Saturday and showed his driving skill on the ice and snow near his home. Lions spokesman Harold Keiser said his club bought the Honda in 1973 and it was maintained regularly by member Joe Hornung. But it was worn out by July of this year. Honda agreed to fix the machine at no cost. "It cost the company more money to repair the bike than it would have to replace it, but it would have had to be a bigger model," said Ron Rogers, Honda representative and resident of Innisfil. As for Jerry, he has his sights on a job as an auto mechanic's apprentice. And if brake lights and a horn are added to the vehicle, he hopes to obtain a motorcycle licence."
