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By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT The Prescott Police Service will soon be no more, town council has decided.
Council voted unanimously at its Jan. 2 meeting to begin negotiations with the Ontario Provincial Police. If all goes according to plan, the OPP will take over municipal policing in Prescott later this year, most or all uniformed Prescott officers will be offered jobs with the OPP, and seven civilians who are currently working for the police service will no longer be employed.
In a cost comparison made available to the public after the council meeting, the 2001 net budget estimate for OPP service is listed at $1,093,523. The estimated net cost to operate the Prescott Police Service in 2001 is listed at $1,147,388.
Known one-time costs for the two policing options were almost identical. The estimated capital costs associated with improving accessibility at the police station is $177,000. However, it is noted the cost would be "likely much more" if the station were to be modernized.
Two one-time cost items are listed in the OPP column: severance packages ($125,000) and capital ($51,395).
Although those so-called known one-time costs are similar, other variables listed in the cost comparison suggest the cost of retaining the municipal police service would have been higher. Such items as liabilities, legal fees and capital costs would have to be picked up by the municipality; those items would be covered as part of the OPP contract.
Councillor Garry Dewar indicated opting for the OPP would save the municipality in the range of $250,000 in the first year and $100,000 in each subsequent year of a proposed five-year contract. Other council members concurred the decision came down to one of dollars and cents.
Going with the OPP would also alleviate the need to hire a secretary for the police board as well as municipal administration costs associated with processing invoices, doing payroll and paying WSIB premiums, it was noted in the cost comparison.
With no one voting against the motion, there was little in the way of public debate or discussion by council prior to the vote. Councillor Jo-Anne Beckstead explained the previous council had to begin discussing the issue when provincial legislation established new adequacy standards which took effect earlier this year. A merger involving municipal police services in Prescott, Brockville and Gananoque was turned down by councils in the other two communities before Prescott council took a position, according to Beckstead.
Prescott's existing municipal police service was formed in 1957; the OPP had been serving the community for several years beginning in the later 1940s.
"I think the Prescott police have done a very good job," she said, "...but no one says things have to stay the same forever."
Beckstead said if the same service can be provided at a lower cost to the town, "it may be time for a change."
Many of the comments made by council members that night came during a media question period which occurred at the end of the council meeting. When asked if council had made its decision last month and delayed announcing it until after the holiday season, Mayor Robert Lawn said he didn't know what the results of the vote would be until the vote was taken. The mayor added he did not think council was ready to make a decision two weeks earlier; additional information on cost-related matters became available to council within a few days of the vote.
Councillor Terry McConnell said he thinks the new council did quite well in making a decision so quickly. He also said the decision should have been made by the previous council.
McConnell also noted he has a relative who was on the police commission in Kemptville when that community opted for the OPP. He is more than satisfied with the results in Kemptville, according to McConnell.
The Prescott Police Services Board has also endorsed the move to OPP service.
When the policing issue had been raised earlier that evening at a committee-of-the-whole meeting, Town Clerk/CAO Andrew Brown reported to council members that Chief Bowie had called to ask if council would consider deferring its decision until the next council meeting. Brown said the chief had indicated he would like to speak to all staff members at the police department a decision is made.
It was at that point councillors were advised there was a news release in their packages. The release was made available to the public after the council meeting.
At least two members of council said privately after the meeting that they felt council had not handled the matter well.
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
MAYNARD Augusta council may have put the waste management issue in the township to bed for good.
Council unanimously turned down a motion at Monday evening's meeting that would have requested the approvals branch of the Ministry of the Environment to address council and explain the implications in expanding its current landfill as opposed to closure.
While Councillor Jane Fullarton sponsored the motion, she was the first and only council member to speak out against any further action on the Maynard landfill site.
"A lot of background information has been garnered on it," Fullarton said in notifying council she would be voting against the issue.
"I think you have sufficient information to make the decision that was made. I think it's the appropriate decision. I don't really think we need to hear any more on the issue of expanding the current site.
"Water and Earth Sciences explained the implications at our public meeting that we had late in the fall that the site is full, that it's past its approval," Fullarton said.
"It's not on the right kind of foundation to have a properly drained landfill site built there. I think we've all seen with the investment that the counties has had to put into ED-19 and the fact it is unable to open because it isn't cost effective. I think we know that if the united counties cannot afford to open ED-19, Augusta Township cannot afford to construct a major landfill on the current site.
"We're finished with it."
While Reeve George Vail said this lost resolution effectively ends the debate on the site, he said he wanted to hear options in case the council ever did want to expand the site. The resolution was intended to be "a backup, just to have something on record from the ministry. I just wanted them to give us something in writing... if we ever did have to expand it, what the dos and don't would be.
"I just thought it would be good to have these people come down and give us the ifs, ands and buts of what it would be. If in time if ever we did have to return to open this, then you'll find your doorharder to open, than if you had just kept a little foot in the door."
Last October, the council, then under the reeveship of Adrian Van Schie, passed a resolution to close its Maynard landfill site, but retain it as a transfer station. The decision was made despite strong opposition from some township residents.
Van Schie had explained at the time the council had no choice but to close the site, because the licensed portion is full. It would not be financially feasible to keep the site open.
The township owns about 100 acres at the site about 12 acres of which are licensed to hold waste. Extra land was purchased as a buffer because it was contaminated with leaching.
An expansion of the licensed portion of the dump to the north would require a material liner with a leachate collection system.
The township will pay about $87,000 to $90,000 per year to have its waste hauled away from the landfill. Also at Monday's meeting, the council passed a resolution to contract with Canadian Waste Services of Brockville to transfer its domestic waste away from Maynard for $65 a metric tonne plus shipping costs of $125 per load until Dec. 2006.
ED-19 is the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville landfill site located north of Crystal Rock and east of County Road 44. It has not yet been determined feasible to open that site.
The township's North Augusta landfill site will receive all industrial, commercial and institutional garbage from the municipality. The life expectancy of that site with 30 per cent of the households using the facility is about 12 years.
SPENCERVILLE The details of the third annual Spencerville and District Winter Festival have been finalized, and this year it is expected to be bigger and better than last year, says the committee chairman.
Larry Dempsey noted with the wintery weather co-operating, he expects a good turnout.
The festival runs Jan. 19 to Jan. 21, and will be chalk full of event. All weekend long there will be free sleigh rides near the Drummond Building and skating at the mill and the ball diamond.
Friday evening kicks off with an old fashion bonfire at 6 p.m. as well as skating and entertainment. From 6 to midnight, at the Drummond building, there will be a video jam teen dance. A fee will be charged. At 6 p.m. there will be hockey game between the OPP and the fire department.
On Saturday, pancakes will be served at the Drummond Building from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The breakfast is a fundraiser for Friends of the Library. Other Saturday events include a Tae Kwon Do demonstration inside the Drummond Building from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Following the demonstration, there will be a square dance demonstration until 11:30 a.m. At 1 p.m., there will be a lumberjack contest in front of the grandstand, and from 1 to 3 p.m., there will be an Edwardsburgh Figure Skating Show at the community centre.
The events continue on Sunday with an atom level hockey tournament from at 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the community centre. There will be a brunch at the Drummond building from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A fee will be charged.
At 12 p.m., there will be belly dancing demonstration inside the Drummond Building. The Mutt races will be held at 10 a.m., so bring out the family dog if it weighs more than 35 lbs. Always a favourite, the Ice Drags spin into action at 11 a.m. at the mill. Kids Tug-O-War, in front of the grandstand, starts at noon. From 1 to 2 p.m., the snowshoe races start in front of the grandstand. "Bingo" runs from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Drummond Building.
Any questions during the festival, can hopefully be answered at the help desk in the Drummond Building all day Saturday and Sunday. All events are weather and condition dependant. For more information, call 658-2220.
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT After almost 50 years of living in Prescott, Doug and Barbara Fraser are still ensuring other local and area residents have a better lifestyle.
The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers. This is the first in a series of Journal feature articles celebrating volunteers in our community.
The Frasers moved to Prescott from Kingston in 1952, when Doug started employment with DuPont as a chemical engineer. Following his retirement from DuPont in 1978, he worked at CASCO as a project engineer. Although he claims his "memory is getting a little dim in spots," Doug recalls he "got tangled up with church work" at St. Paul's United from the start, and a host of other community endeavours.
His five daughters were all involved in music and "I couldn't let them get ahead of me," he says. So Doug set about singing in the church choir, which he continues, and played for the Prescott Citizen's Band in the 1950s when it was thriving. He claims he had "two left hands and five thumbs on each hand" in the band years when he played percussion. That, he quips, "covers a multitude of sins."
For the past 10 years Doug has played percussion for the Brockville Concert Band, which performs summer concerts at Hardy Park in Brockville, "and for almost anybody who asks us to."
He is also a current member of the Cardinal Ecumenical Community Choir.
At St. Paul's United Church, Doug was the Clerk of Session for a number of years and held a seat on the music and worship and hymn selection committees.
In the mid-1950s, Doug was a councillor on town council, and spent nine years on the South Grenville District High School Board. He worked for two years on the Leeds and Grenville County Board of Education after it came into being in 1969.
Under the leadership of Rev. Gary Stokes, St. Paul's staged three musical plays of which the Frasers were part. "They turned out quite well and we had a lot of fun with it."
He has been on the Walker House Board of Management since its inception in the 1980s, serving as chairman and vice chairman. Doug will soon be retiring as the treasurer at the Prescott centre for older adults, which offers such activities as pool, bridge, euchre, cribbage, crafts, weaving, quilting, rug hooking, painting, shuffle board, dinners, trips and tours.
Just last November, Doug received the Senior of the Year Award on behalf of the Town of Prescott and the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation.
Although Doug, now 82, says he's had to slow down with the volunteer work in the last couple of years, he and his wife Barbara remain active as drivers for the VON and the meals on wheels program.
When the Frasers daughters were young, Doug says "sometimes I wondered if I was letting the family down by being out of the house so much. But my wife kept things on a pretty even keel. We've been married 58 years, but we've always got along pretty well.
"But I don't think they suffered too much," he says, proudly showing a photograph of his family. The couple's children are Susan Lock of Vancouver Island, Patti Fair of Ottawa, Vicki Fraser-MacDougall of Hamilton, Heather Lance of Kemptville and Beth Garswood of Brockville. They also have 10 grandchildren.
"I always have to be doing something," Doug says, explaining his devotion to volunteer work. "A lot of physical activity I used to be involved in is now more sedentary. I like to keep busy and active. I get to meet and work with a quite a few people; I like people."
Barbara says she enjoys volunteer work because it's rewarding, and, adds Doug, "she doesn't like me to get too far out of sight."
"You meet other people doing this," Barbara said. "It's not good just to stay at home. We're doing it because we want to do it, not because we're being paid."
Doug also noted volunteers may at times do a better job than paid workers, since volunteers have a genuine desire to help others and do the work.
The couple is also involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Society, assisting with the annual May carnation campaign.
They enjoy gardening, and since their grandson gave them a computer, Doug is "learning the hard way by making all the mistakes. But it's fun."
MAYNARD Augusta council has approved several appointments to municipal committees, boards and other agencies.
Councillor Douglas Barton will chair the planning and recycling committees, while Deputy Reeve Morris Stark will co-chair these committees.
Stark will chair economic development and roads. Barton will co-chair roads, while Councillor Jane Fullarton will co-chair economic development. Gerry Hough is the community appointment on economic development.
Fullarton and Stark will be the two representatives on the library committee.
Councillor Kathleen Thur will chair the recreation and ball committee, while Reeve George Vail will be the co-chair.
The personnel and finance committees will be handled by Fullarton and Thur.
Stark will be the reeve's alternate for township representation on the United Counties council, and will be the representative on the Middle Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.
Barton has also been appointed to the United Counties waste management committee.
Community representatives on the property standards committee are Clayton Paquette, Matt Hayes and John Baker.
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT The final decision on the fate of the Prescott Police Service rests with a Toronto-based agency of the provincial government.
The Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services deals with requests to disband police services. Section 40 of the Police Services Act sets the protocol under which the commission conducts abolition hearings.
The process to disband a police service begins with a municipality forwarding to the commission copies of resolutions passed by the municipal council and the police services board. Those resolutions should indicate a desire to abolish the municipal police service and enter into a new arrangement.
In the case of Prescott, the draft of the proposed agreement and an OPP costing proposal that has been accepted should also be submitted to the commission. The documentation from the town should also include an outline of the process followed by local officials to obtain public input on the proposed change in police service, as well as other relevant materials.
Commission Senior Advisor Cathy Boxer-Byrd told The Journal Monday that a hearing would likely be held within six weeks of the municipality submitting the required materials.
Once the documentation has been submitted, the commission will convene a public meeting in Prescott. Most hearings are completed in one day and are usually held in the evening, according to Boxer-Byrd.
The hearing will address two main issues: the adequacy and effectiveness of the new policing arrangement, and whether current members of the municipal police service are being dealt with in a fair and reasonable manner.
If the commission does not conclude the new arrangement is adequate, abolition of the municipal service will not be approved. The commission also has the power to order arbitration with respect to the members and employment-related matters.
It is stated in an outline of the commission's general principles that the commission does not choose between options to determine which one is more economical or even preferred; those decisions are to be made at the community level.
"The commission will, however, ask questions to assure itself that those local bodies have approached their decision to request an abolition in a manner that has allowed for public input into that decision."
Among the parties who will be invited to speak at the hearing are town officials, police services board representatives, OPP officials, the police chief and a representative of the association which represents municipal police officers affected by the new arrangement. Other police officials and members of the public will also be invited to make presentations or answer questions posed by the two or three commission members who will be conducting the hearing.
Boxer-Byrd said members of the public will be asked to contact the commission's registrar prior to the hearing if they are interested in making a presentation. However, commission members usually ask at the end of the hearing if there is anyone else who would like to address the commission.
"They should base their remarks on the adequacy of what is being proposed," she added.
The commission will then issue a written decision, which typically comes within a month of the commission receiving all pertinent information.
By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT Council has made its decision and it is time to get on with life, according to Prescott Police Chief Rick Bowie.
Town council's decision last week to negotiate a five-year contract with the Ontario Provincial Police will lead to the elimination of the Prescott Police Service. But town officials insist there will be no noticeable change in municipal police service once the transition is complete.
The OPP will offer employment to all constables and guarantee they will not be transferred for at least three years, according to Mike Read, the OPP's case manager of municipal policing in Eastern Region.
In general, sergeants are also offered employment by the OPP. Police chiefs can apply for a higher rank with the OPP; applications of that nature are reviewed by a non-OPP committee, according to Read.
Bowie said he is considering his options.
The move will also affect four full-time and two part-time dispatchers and a secretary. The OPP will handle its own dispatching, and the town is expected to contract out fire dispatch service.
A town press release states "no offer of employment will be made to the dispatchers and civilian members of the services."
Dispatcher Joe Scott was one of a handful of police staff on hand at the council meeting. "I am certainly disappointed," he said. "I am going to lose my job. It's a sad situation."
Scott said he was surprised there was no dissention at the council table. He added council disregarded input received at an Oct. 30 public meeting at which most people voiced concerns about the OPP taking over municipal policing.
Scott claims council did not make an effort to contact communities that had made the switch from a municipal police service to the OPP. In the case of Kemptville, "there are people in the area who are not satisfied," Scott said.
In terms of staff at the police service, Bowie said he will try to make the transition as painless as possible.
"The police service has provided a good service... the public meeting reflected that," the chief stated.
"But the decision has been made and we have to get on with life."
Bowie added the members of the police service will continue to do a good job as OPP officers. Prescott will become a separate patrol zone under the OPP service; officers will be based at the Grenville County detachment office on Edward St.
Fighting council's decision would not likely make a difference, Scott said. He questions whether the town will save as much money as some council members have suggested.
"There's more here than meets the eye," he said.
SPENCERVILLE Students at Centennial '67 Public School in Spencerville were put to the test last December in a type of mental olympics, and came out on top.
The team of five Grade 7 and 8 students were part of the Upper Canada District School Board's Think Bowl 2000, held at South Grenville District High School in Prescott, where they were required to use critical thinking skills and develop creative solutions to solve problems.
The students placed first in the intermediate division, ahead of 11 other elementary schools from the Central Region.
Coached by teacher Sean Mehmet, the team members were Kyle Laflamme, William Moulton, Mark Henry, Ryan Killick and Jacob McGuire.
The students were asked to come up with five answers concerning the statement: "A recent Canadian survey has found that far too many young Canadians are inactive," and then present a final solution. They decided depression in the home causes increased eating and inactivity for teens, and felt a telephone help line could alleviate the problem.
The team members had to find the best solution to the problem, present their conclusions and then had just 25 minutes to develop and stage a play dramatizing the situation.
The students said they were surprised by their win. "I thought we were going to be dead last because we didn't answer all the questions fully," Jacob said.
"I feel like we screwed up our play so we must have done better on the rest," added Mark.
"We're not good with showing off to everyone," noted William. "Me, I'm very conservative, but Jacob isn't."
"It was all in the coaching," Jacob commented, referring to their teacher Sean Mehmet.
Mehmet said the exercise was a "mental olympics to develop higher-order thinking skills." After being given the statement, Mehmet said, the students had to develop "realistic, workable solutions that are cost effective."
In practice sessions in the classroom, the students discussed such problems as global warming, homelessness and violence in schools.
"We were so happy with their progress; we were just delighted," the teacher said in describing the school's win. "It enables the students to be recognized for their intellectual capacity."
I was completely surprised and overwhelmed in a very pleasant way," Mehmet said. "This was our first year and we certainly did not expect to clean up. We'll definitely be taking a team next year."
The winter session of tae-box began at the MERC Hall Jan. 3. Barb Johnson is the instructor. This course is an excellent workout for all levels of fitness.
You can still join the 10-week course by coming on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.
Area residents interested in having the train whistles stopped in Augusta will have a meeting with council this week at MERC Hall. This citizens group wishes to outline the process for stopping the whistles.
This group feels stopping the whistles in Augusta is an idea whose time has come. Augusta is estimated to have between 60-65 trains daily and has increasing residential development along the tracks.
Brenda Humphry, a resident of Riverview Heights who presented Augusta council with a 200-name petition last summer, stresses the group is not asking council to decide if they will pass a resolution to stop train whistles.
The group is asking council to initiate the process to investigate whether eliminating the whistles is feasible.
Train traffic in Canada is governed by the Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR) which were developed by the railways and their unions and approved by Transport Canada.
The train whistling at a crossing may be waived if certain criteria are met. There are several steps involved in requesting a whistling exception.
First, the municipality should review the crossings to ensure they meet the criterion for whistling exception.
If the criteria are met, the municipality submits a request to CN.
A detailed report is prepared including an assessment of the safety implications if whistling is stopped.
The railway and Transport Canada must agree public safety will not be compromised before council can pass a resolution to stop the whistles.
Train whistles have been stopped in a number of municipalities in Ontario, including Brockville.
PRESCOTT The Millennium Pathway has received a bit of a financial boost from the Government of Ontario.
The Prescott committee is getting $2,000 from the province's Main Street Ontario initiative. Councillor Jo-Anne Beckstead announced the funding at the Jan. 2 meeting of council.
Beckstead, who also chair's the town's millennium committee, said the committee is "...happy to get a little bit of money" from the province.
The provincial payment has already been received, it was noted Monday at a finance committee meeting.
The Millennium Pathway extends along the waterfront from the marina to the eastern municipal boundary at New Wexford. The walkway was graded and paved in the fall.
The committee will meet again to look at fundraising options, according to Beckstead. Revenue has in the past been generated through bingos, print sales, donations and other activities.
Gardens will be created and benches will be placed along the pathway as part of the project's second phase to be carried out this spring.
The committee had applied for major funding from the federal government's millennium program, but the application was rejected. The town's project proposal was downsized to focus on the pathway.
PRESCOTT Many LCBO outlets in Leeds and Grenville, including stores in Prescott and Cardinal, are no longer open Sundays.
The change took effect at the beginning of January and is expected to continue until at least April 1.
LCBO spokesperson Chris Layton said in an interview that January marks the beginning of the slowest period of the year in terms of sales the lull which follows the holiday season, the busiest period for liquor stores.
"In some locations we decided to close stores on Sundays," he added.
Layton said the LCBO will monitor the situation and revisit the issue of Sunday closings at the beginning of April when sales usually begin to increase. He noted the LCBO tries to be as accessible to customers as possible, but added "we have to operate as efficiently as we can."
Liquor stores in Iroquois, Merrickville, Athens, Delta and Portland are also affected by the LCBO decision. Notices announcing the closure were posted at those outlets. The one store in the region to remain open Sundays is the shopping centre branch in Brockville.
Liquor stores in the region were open Sundays last winter.
The LCBO is a provincial government agency.
EDWARDSBURGH A truck driver from Orangeville was charged following an altercation which occurred Jan. 5 on the north shoulder of Highway 401.
Grenville County OPP reported two tractor-trailers were westbound near the Highway 416 overpass just after 12:45 a.m. when an alleged unsafe change prompted a CB argument between the two drivers.
The drivers pulled over and continued the argument. One driver exited his rig, approached the second driver and struck him in the head with a baseball bat while he was sitting in his truck. The man with the bat fled the scene but was arrested by Gananoque OPP on the 401; the other driver had managed to contact police.
The victim, a 29-year-old man from LaSalle, Quebec, received minor injuries and refused medical attention at the scene, according to police. A 31-year-old man was charged with assault with a weapon and breach of probation.
Constable Steve Tavares is the investigating officer. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call Grenville County OPP at 925-4221 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Happy belated new year to all my readers; I hope the holidays were good to you. Let's make this year the best ever for Walker House.
For starters, a board of management meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, January 11, at 10 a.m. If you have any ideas for programs, concerns or what have you, give me a call or better yet attend the meeting.
Our Dec. 30 party was a huge success. We had a good turnout of people and a very nice dinner, and we played games after very enjoyable. Thanks to all who attended and to Jean Chaters for helping get it all together (and wasn't able to stay). Jean, you're a brick; thanks.
Quilting classes will resume Jan. 11 (tomorrow). Craft and weaving started on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Come on and join in, meet some new people and learn something new. We are warm and also serve tea to end the afternoon; try us out. Membership is very reasonable.
Card games were cancelled for the holiday season and should be in full swing this week. The euchre club did meet last week and winners were: Mary Reynolds, 1st; Bea Hensley, 2nd; Phyllis Whitney, 3rd; Jean Annable won the door prize.
Anna Mae Mackay, 415 Wood St. E., Prescott, died Dec. 7, 2000 at Brockville General Hospital. She was 79.
Born March 25, 1921 in Prescott, she was the daughter of Fred Wallace and Anna Roney, who predeceased her.
She was also predeceased by her husband, William Duncan Mackay, whom she married Aug. 15, 1953 at St. Mark's Rectory in Prescott.
Mrs. MacKay is survived by her son John (Kate) Snyder; daughters Terry Ann Snyder and Peggy Arcand; grandchildren Jaunni Snyder, Jason, Nathan and Anna Ashley Arcand and by a sister, Jean Baker.
She had worked as a mother and homemaker at home.
Visitation was held at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 9, 2000.
A mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church Dec. 9 at 11 a.m., with Father J. Appelman officiating.
A committal service will be held in the spring at Sandy Hill Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Jason, Nathan and Ashley Arcand, Jaunni Snyder, Nikki Jonkman and Heather Huckabone.
Donations may be made to the Humane Society of Leeds and Grenville.
John Anderson died suddenly Dec. 30, 2000. He was 54 years old.
Mr. Anderson is survived by and will be dearly missed by his wife Norah of 32 years; his son Michael Jesse, mother Beatrice Anderson (nee Martineau); sisters Susan (Fred) Visser and Carole (Laurie) Clifford; as well as many nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.
Mr. Anderson was predeceased by his father Jack Anderson in 1991.
He had volunteered much of his time to many community events, especially minor hockey and amateur boxing.
A memorial service was held Friday, Jan. 5, 2001 at 1 p.m. at Hainstock's Funeral Home, 9810-34 Avenue, Edmonton, AB.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation (10985-124 St., Edmonton, T5M 0H9), or to the charity of your choice.
Augusta Councillor Jane Fullarton on the closure of the Maynard landfill.
WHAT ENERGY CRISIS? It seems our federal and provincial governments become overly concerned only when there is a rise or a threatened rise in telephone and cable services or the cost of food products or cigarettes or booze (which are mostly taxes anyway), but with home heating oil and natural gas suppliers threatening increases this winter of up to 100 per cent over the 1999-2000 heating season, they are as quiet as a solar-powered generator.
All of a sudden, with just a few months' warning, Canada faces a natural gas shortage which might even see our western and northern reserves disappear up the chimneys of Ontario urban dwellers within the next couple of months, leaving us eastern gas hogs frozen, broke and certainly a chattering Tory blue.
We think that if there is this type of energy shortage the producers are presently predicting, that our energy watchdogs in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, would have been aware of it several years ago and would have acted to save our reserves instead of sanctioning more and more pipelines to carry it south to the U.S. There is no way that the use of natural gas has increased in such drastic quantities as to create an unsuspected shortage.
What we are seeing this winter is price-gouging at its worst, sanctioned by a government that is too cozy with the energy-producing industry in Canada. Surrounded by naturally heated hot air on Parliament Hill and Queen's Park, our politicians are asking themselves...What energy crisis?
* * *
THE FIGHT OF OUR LIFE: On one hand Prescott is oh, so close, to getting the Ontario government's charity casino, scheduled for Leeds and Grenville. On the other hand, we were ranked third or maybe even fourth on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation's list in terms of preferred sites.
Another business study will be done and from what has transpired between now and the referendums in Front of Leeds and Lansdowne, Gananoque, Brockville and Prescott in November, it is possible that the location for this multi-million-dollar business will be either Prescott or Gananoque.
According to Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn, the Gananoque council has earmarked $50,000 toward the cost of supporting their presentation on behalf of the town. The Thousand Islands municipality is off and running with a special committee supporting their lobby.
The issue that might take some of the glitter from Gananoque's presentation is the fact that it already has a sound economy and the location of a charity casino there would be a case of the rich getting richer.
The same issue holds true in Prescott, only in reverse. Prescott's economy is at an all-time low because of major manufacturing plant closings and cutbacks in surrounding plants as well as the Coast Guard base in Prescott.
The town needs the proposed charity casino to help jump-start a stagnant economy. At present the town has the highest unemployment rate in Leeds and Grenville, and further proof of its declining economy is the fact that the population has shrunk by over 1200 residents in the past decade.
There is no doubt the proposed casino will fuel growth and prosperity, but if we hope to get it we have to convince the Ontario government that Prescott is the best place for it. This will require more than just council's support. Every resident will have to become a moral and financial supporter.
John A.H. Morris - Managing Editor
Water, water everywhere and always a lot to drink. That's right, isn't it?
I've become accustomed to just turning on the tap and having clean, fresh water just magically appear. I've never had a problem with water before, so why should I have one now?
It's something I've always taken for granted because it's everywhere and one of the most beautiful fresh-water rivers is right on my door step.
But lately I've had to take a second look at my assumptions, because my nephews are currently fighting the government of British Columbia to retain their supply of pure mountain water.
Brodie and Jamie Whitney and their families live in the Slocan Valley of B.C. with a community fed by sparkling mountain waters. The Slocan Valley watershed region is slated for clearcutting by Slocan Forest Products, a multi-million dollar logging corporation which is blasting roads through sensitive wetland areas, and even across drinking source headwaters, to clearcut in a number of thriving forest watershed regions, Brodie tells us.
Residents of the community are clamoring for a more ecological-based approach to forest and water management and say all logging plans should be sensitive to maintaining high quality water and protecting watersheds.
They are demanding greater care be given to the only water sources to provide them with clean and clear drinking water. There is less than one half of one per cent of all the water on earth in the form of available fresh water and a very small percentage of this global supply remains intact in its natural environment, and clean enough for human consumption, Brodie writes.
"It's time that communities all over the world begin to stand up and take responsibility for protecting what sources do remain clean, and reclaiming those that are contaminated," he says. "Our right to clean water, a reasonable and humble amount, goes hand in hand with our responsibility, as humans, to provide clean and safe water to ourselves, and our children's children."
Brodie is a father, organic gardener and wild-crafter, home builder, aspiring forester and forest recreation technician.
Motivated to create change, in September the residents launched WaterCycle 2000, a 900-km bicycle trip to the B.C. legislature to deliver the pure and endangered waters of the Slocan Valley. They say the four days spent on the grounds of the legislature, presenting information and ideas, fasting, praying and sharing their water was a full experience and a wonderful and powerful event in the making of the way for a more gentle and harmonious way of life with the earth, their home. They hope and work toward a resolution to bring peace to a heated, forest conflict in the Kootenays.
Jamie writes: "We feel so blessed to live here. With hopeful hearts, this valley will become a bioregional model of sustainability. However, there still remains the wall of ignorance and greed, which we must overcome, before our vision is met. Our environment is in danger. This is the time to make a stand to regain control of our resources and prevent the corporate enterprise from ravaging our precious mother earth for a cold-hearted economic gain. Let us unite together in harmony with nature and as a global community and support each other's family."
I wish my nephews strength in their fight and along their paths, and thank them for instilling awareness in me.
There is something new on the spirits scene in Prescott this year, a continuance of sorts of Prescott's reputation for producing fine rye whiskey and the finest of beers and ales by firms of yester-year such as J.P. Wiser Distillery and McCarthy and Labatt's breweries. The newest brew on the scene is Prescott's first commercial winery.
Paul Fortier reports that the Stockade Barracks Restaurant on East Street was recently granted a "wine pub" endorsement by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. The permit allows the historical-theme restaurant to ferment its own wine and to sell it to patrons on the premises.
Called Major Jessup's Private Reserve, it is now available in white and red in 750-m bottles to Prescott patrons. The red is fermented from Merlot grapes and the white from Chardonnay. Both are dry and were developed to compliment most of the items on the Stockade Barracks' menu. This private label wine sells for $14.95 at the restaurant.
Our congratulations to Paul Fortier for this stroke of promotional genius and his selection of Major Jessup's Private Reserve for his label is much more appealing than Paul's Private Plonk which we had suggested.
* * *
Fine spirits and a feeling of pioneer conviviality have long been a tradition at the Stockade Barracks. This building, plus an adjoining one and a large section of land surrounding them, all owned by Major Edward Jessup, were expropriated by the British Army at the beginning of the War of 1812, and a stockade built around them, forming the town's first makeship fort.
Most of the supplies for this construction project of 190 years ago were purchased from Prescott forwarder, Capt. William Gilkison.
At the end of this three-month construction project Gilkison sent the British Army a bill for 691Ž2 gallons of whiskey consumed by the men who worked on the stockades.
* * *
Another piece of history passes through our council's books this month with the disbandment of the Prescott Police Service in favour of a contract with the Ontario Provincial Police. This is the second time the town has hired the OPP in its 167 years of municipal policing. Prescott council contracted their services from 1949 to 1957, during which time the force grew from three to six men. The 1949 Prescott Police Force included Chief Wm. Cairney, constables Frank Daley and Jack Pitt and part-time constable George Fox.
Thanks to former resident Barbara Seargeant and summer student researchers Linda VanSchie, Gay Roobol and Connie Trapman, working under a Summer Canada Community Project Grant back in 1982, we have a well-preserved history of policing in Prescott right from 1834 to the present.
There are a couple of interesting anecdotes in this book. Among them are two letters of application for a hangman's job in Brockville in l893. To wit: with spelling and grammar unchanged.
"Please friend sheriff of the prison that Luckey the prisoner is confined in. I see in the papers that he is to be hanged on the 14th of this month. I would not made this application if he did not deserve the rope. Please, I have invented a machine that a 10 year old boy can fix he in a giffie for 10 dollars less, then any other men living. He should be hanged by the neck like a dog for killing sheep or according to the good book be gulintined and then burnt in the valley of Himoni so that his foul carcass will not pollute our earth and its silver springs. I am free only if Rutcliff has not tendered for execution. Please let me know how soon, put in your paper and send me one.
Yours, G.D. Lafar
Cataract, Gmt., Dec. 18, 1893.
The other application is much more professional in both word and deed.
To Deputy Sheriff Geo.B. Smart, Brockville.
My Dear Sir;
Having had some experience as a hangman in the employ of the U.S.A. I am able to perform the duties of such which are to soon take place at your institution. Should you decide to employ me it must be under the utmost secrecy and precaution. I can do the same to the utmost satisfaction of all concerned. But I must be well paid if employed. It is requested that you say nothing of this.
Respectfully,
S.G. Look, Ex. Private Detective, Gananoque, Nov. 4, 1893.
Happy New Year to all of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal! I promised that if elected I would strive to keep the communication channel open between my ward and council. The Prescott Journal has offered me a column as a result of my most recent letter to the press. This column enables me to keep my promise to you. As such, here is your first Ward One Update.
At our first council meeting Mayor Dave Dobbie suggested that we get moving on a phone system to enable all residents to contact the municipal office without charges. In the meantime, if you dial 345-2434 and wait for the voice to say "dial now" and then dial 658-3055, you reach the municipal office in Spencerville at no charge.
The Procedural Bylaw was the matter I addressed most strongly on your behalf.
The Procedural Bylaw is a very effective tool of council and it should be tailored to meet the needs of this council. I reviewed Cardinal's Procedural Bylaw, Edwardsburgh's and Prescott's to come up with some suggestions for council. I believed that this matter would have to be dealt with at the first meeting from my review of the Municipal Act and suggested the following amendments:
* Alternate the meeting place so that the first Monday meeting be in Spencerville and the third Monday be held in Cardinal;
* Provide written notice of the first meeting of elected council to all council members so that future new councillors would not be left wondering what was going on;
* Change the time of adjournment from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. (this is the time of adjournment in Cardinal) with an extension of 15 minutes if agreed to by five of seven members of council;
* Cease having bylaws go to third reading at a single meeting. I believe that no bylaw should go to third reading at one sitting without a motion allowing that to happen. Prescott calls for a 5/7 vote to have a motion go to third reading at one sitting. This ensures that all councillors will have ample time to review and study a matter.
My review of the process leads me to conclude that it is not easy for a citizen to have a bylaw rescinded unless council simply agrees to do so. To get one removed without the consent of council you have to go to Ontario Court, General Division. I believe quite strongly that all bylaws should be addressed with greater time and concern than having all three readings at once. However, with that said, I also recognize that there are bylaws of process that should be handled quickly at one meeting. For example, naming clerks, treasurers, deputy treasurers, etc.
* Provide information to councillors a minimum of five business days prior to a meeting. My reason for this is simple: The bylaw states: "It is assumed that the bylaw has been circulated to council members before presentation."
This statement implies councillors have had ample time to become familiar with the issues and to review the bylaw. This is not the case as is evident by the current procedure of receiving information on the Friday before the meeting when offices are closed on the weekend and so are resources for information and review. I received my copies of the documents for the first meeting on Friday afternoon. It had been placed in my mailbox. This left me with only a few hours on Tuesday morning to contact the Ministry of Municipal Affairs with my questions and to review the material for the meeting at 11 a.m.
The new bylaw states: "The Mayor shall review requests and determine which shall be included on the Agenda." This is a contradiction of both previous council bylaws. In the past matters have been brought to the clerk for inclusion at the next council meeting. A maximum of five delegations could be heard at each meeting on a first-come-first-served basis.
Giving the mayor the right to turn people away from the council meeting could potentially remove from you the right to be heard by your elected officials. I think this is wrong.
Council was advised the clerk drafted the changes to the bylaw and he feels that he should not have the right to determine what is being heard at the council table as "it is the mayor's meeting." My argument is that the bylaw is a tool of council and we determine together how it functions. Having the clerk put the delegations on a list is not the clerk determining who is heard. We determine who is heard by allowing a maximum of five delegations on a first-come-first-served basis. It is the responsibility of the clerk to put delegations on the agenda in accordance with the bylaw. In so doing he is not making a decision on who is heard, he is following our instructions on how to put the agenda together. If five delegations show to be heard on the same matter they may come from five different perspectives and they all have a right to be heard. It is the right of council to make that determinant, not the clerk.
Due to my concern over the content I asked for a recorded vote on this bylaw. Councillor Dan MacDonald and I voted against it. All others were in favour. The mayor advised that the bylaw could be reviewed at a later date but that we need something in force at this time.
At the next council meeting the matter of committees will be discussed. It is hoped we will receive input from the community. In particular, I hope residents of Ward One will ensure their names are on the list of interested committee members. The deadline of Dec. 29 is not going to be seen as final so feel free to submit your name if you desire to do so.
In closing, I have to say I am most surprised at the apparent openness of the meetings and I believe any lack of information was not intentional but due to the busy schedule of the office and council members over the holiday season. Staff have been most patient with my inquiries.
I think this council can work together and that each of us has the best interest of the township in mind.
It will be a compromising challenge over the next three years and hopefully we will all come out better for it in the end.
Again, Happy New Year to all!
By Jeff Lee - Journal Staff Writer
SPENCERVILLE At a special afternoon council meeting Jan. 2 Marie Thomson was elected as the new township's first deputy mayor, a position which has a term for one year.
All members of council, including the mayor, cast their secret votes for one of three people running for the position of the amalgamated Township of Edwardsburgh and the Village of Cardinal. Thomson's main duties as deputy mayor include filling in for Mayor Dave Dobbie if he is unable, for example, to attend either the township or United Counties meetings.
Thomson was among several appointments made during the council meeting held following the swearing in of the new council Jan. 2.
Russell Trivett was sworn in as the township's clerk-treasurer and tax collector. Georgia Grey was appointed deputy clerk and Donna Gladstone was appointed deputy treasurer.
With the "meshing" of the two municipalities, $134,000 is expected to be saved, according to Transition Board figures. One area of saving is in the insurance needed for one municipality instead of two.
Last year, the two municipalities had insurance costs totalling about $74,000; however, with the "meshing" of the two, the cost is about half that. Also, now there is only one clerk-treasurer for the Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, where as before there were two. Another area of savings, possibly, is in the area of bulk purchasing by the large municipality such as paving tenders by municipality for roads.
However, direct savings won't be achieved from the lagoon in Spencerville, which was maintained by the ratepayers in the Spencerville.
In the last four years, the lagoon's work has been contracted out to the Village of Merrickville. But now the work is no longer being contracted out to the village; instead, the employees of the township will now be looking after the lagoon. While there are no savings directly, the money will no longer be leaving the municipality.
All the employees of the former municipalities of the Township of Edwardsburgh and the Village of Cardinal were offered positions by the Transition Board and all have accepted offers expect the former clerk-treasure of the Village of Cardinal.
"We were able to keep all (24) employees on," Mayor Dave Dobbie said, "Except Jack (John) Walsh, the former clerk-treasurer, of Cardinal has moved on to accept the position of CEO with Rideau St. Lawrence Utilities."
In terms of the usage of landfill sites, the former municipality of Edwardsburgh site is on an interim expansion until 2003. The former Village of Cardinal has 10 years left on its landfill site.
When asked if those residents closer to a landfill site in one of former municipalities could be used, Dobbie said that may be a possibility; however, a Certificate of Approval needs to sought by the municipality.
The new municipality will maintain the two fire departments. The former Township of Edwardsburgh has 24 firefighter, while the former village has 25.
Fire Chief Jim Purcell said residents shouldn't notice any change in the way the service is delivered. Cardinal's area of first response has been increased in order that the new municipality's area is evenly divided, which includes extending coverage to Pittston Road from Brouseville, and to Highway 16 from Johnstown.
Cardinal's fire department, which now will be servicing rural areas, has ordered a new tanker/pumper fire engine to replace the existing one, which Dobbie said is on its last legs.
The truck, which will be located in Cardinal, will have a capacity of 2,500 gallons. It is expected by the end of March and will cost $330,000. This will compliment the new fire truck Edwardsburgh received in December of last year.
In terms of taxes, there are "two schools of thought," Dobbie said.
"You can blend them in the first year," he said, "or you can take up to three years to blend them together."
Which route to take is something the council will be taking a look at, Dobbie said.
SPENCERVILLE Entries are now being accepted for the Valley Writers' Guild's annual Larry Turner Award for nonfiction.
Literary or personal essays, articles, memoirs, travel pieces are among the works being accepted. They are to be unpublished, in English, typed and double-spaced to a maximum of 2,500 words.
The three top entries will receive cash prizes; there will also be five honourable mentions awarded.
All eight winning entries will be published in the guild's annual literary anthology "The Grist Mill."
Two copies of each entry (one with the writer's name, address and phone number, and one without) should be postmarked no later than Feb. 2 and sent to The Larry Turner Award, Valley Writers' Guild, c/o Peter De Lepper, Box 534, Merrickville, Ontario K0G 1N0.
There is an entry fee. For more information, call 658-5245.
MORRISBURG The South Grenville Minor Hockey Bantam 'B' Rangers have been cruising along at about half speed so far this year in Upper Canada League action.
They have managed a little better than a .500 record to date; However, over the last week, they have shown a lot of grit and determination by coming from behind four games in a row to defeat the competition.
On Thursday, Jan. 4, the Rangers travelled to Morrisburg to participate in an annual tournament. The Morrisburg Lions, hungry to win their own tournament, came out fast, scoring early to take a 1-0 lead.
Slowly picking up the pace, the Rangers, backed by Peter Bradford in goal, scored three unanswered goals to defeat the hometown team. Goal scorers for the Rangers were Mike Toll, assisted by David Thornhill and Mark Wyatt, and Dane Hutt and Ryan Davy, both unassisted.
A feisty team from St. Isodore emerged as the Rangers next opponent. Chad Freer drew the goaltending duty for the Rangers' second game, and once again the goaltender gave the Rangers the support in net needed for the team to mount a comeback from an early 1-0 deficit. Rangers' goal scorers were Ryan Chillson, assisted by Jason vanLanen; David Thornhill, assisted by Jason vanLanen; and Mark Wyatt and Ian Edwards, assisted by Dane Hutt and Jeff Byrd.
The Rangers then eagerly awaited the outcome of the match up between Nepean and Perth/Lanark to determine their competition for the tournament championship. Nepean had the game under control until the latter stages, then lost it to a fast skating, determined Perth/Lanark team effort.
The Rangers, which had lost a game a week earlier to the Nepean squad in an Ottawa tournament, knew they would have their hands full with Perth/Lanark. Perth/Lanark's skating and passing game was excellent, which were factors in giving them the early lead.
Stellar goaltending by Rangers' Peter Bradford seemed to frustrate the opposition, allowing the Rangers to muster enough effort to overcome the deficit and capture the tournament 'A' side championship by a 3-2 final score.
Rangers' Mark Wyatt was assisted by Jeff Byrd and Troy Dukelow on the first goal. David Dedeckker tied the game with help from Jason vanLanen and Troy Dukelow. Ryan Fisher potted the winner, assisted by Jason vanLanen and Dane Hutt as the South Grenville crowd erupted into a standing ovation.
League action
On Jan. 6, the Rangers made a trip to Westport for a 6 p.m. league game. With one player under suspension and two others out of the lineup, the Rangers started the game with a minimum of two full lines. The Westport Rideausc came out on a mission, having not beaten the Rangers yet this season.
The Rideaus quickly established a 2-0 lead in the first period. Westport, apparently feeling a little cocky at this point, let their play become a little chippy, which resulted in a mini-brawl.
Two players from each team were ejected. This left the Rangers bench short five forwards in total, and less than two complete lines for the remainder of the game.
The players and fans became irritated at the perceived bias of the referee.
However, rather than retaliate, the Rangers got even, scoring two short-handed goals, which added to the 9-3 drubbing of the Rideaus.
SPENCERVILLE Despite the South Grenville Jr. 'B' Rangers scoring first against the Kemptville 73's Saturday night in Cardinal, the Rangers found themselves down 4-2 by the end of the period.
On this night, it looked like the Rangers, who have been struggling all season long in the Rideau Division, were going to lose to Kemptville, the St. Lawrence Division leaders.
After the goal by Rangers' Tyler Shanks at 11:18, Kemptville's Dennis Vincent answered with a goal at 11:07.
Kemptville then followed up the goal with three more: Craig Stanley scored at 9:58, Curtis Forbes at 9:06 and Kurtis Favot at 8:07.
At 9:14 of the first, Rangers' Paul Benes, assisted by Assistant Captain Lucas Spencer and Ryan Lawless, scored to bring the Rangers within two.
For the Rangers at the start of the second period, it was going to be a long road to travel to try and get the win. About mid-way through the period, Benes scored his second goal of the game, assisted by Shawn Coville and Zack Brown. Benes held onto the puck after getting a jump on a defenceman. Another Rangers player was open for a pass. Benes held onto the pass as the gap closed between him and Kemptville's goalie Matt Humphreys, then Benes made a late crossing pass. Kemptville's defenceman went down, intercepting the pass, and sliding into the goal, bringing the puck and Humphreys with him.
Then at 7:44, Allan Malcomson scored unassisted, tying the game at four.
With the game tied at the start of the third, Kemptville had 39 seconds left in a penalty from the second period, the Rangers couldn't capitalize on the man advantage. The game only saw three penalties a side, and the Rangers were also successful in killing off Kemptville's power play.
In a period that included Rangers' Alex Last making some key saves, John Sovie scored the game winner at 7:34, assisted by Tyler Shanks. Humphreys made three saves before Sovie, cutting across the front of the net, flipped a back hand over the sprawled Humphreys.
The Rangers, whose record is 5-23-2, put in a hard-working effort to get the win over Kemptville, with its record of 23-8-1.
Rangers 2, Lions 4
In the other divisional cross-over game for the Rangers of the Eastern Ontario Jr. 'B' Hockey League, the outcome wasn't as favourable. The Rangers lost to the Morrisburg Lions 4-2 in Morrisburg Jan. 7.
Morrisburg scored first at 10:06 in the first off a goal by Captain Wayne Garlough.
It wasn't until 2:43 of the period that Rangers' Zack Brown scored, assisted by Shawn Coville.
The Rangers took the lead in the second off a goal by John Sovie, assisted by Assistant Captain Andrew Hare and Tyler Shanks. At 10:09, the Lions' Alex Gray scored, tying the game at two. Lions' Paul Dedeckker scored the game winner for the Lions at 10:01.
In the third, with only 23 seconds left on the clock and the Rangers' goalie pulled to add an extra skater on the ice, Lions' Sebastain Thibault scored.
The Rangers play next Thursday, Jan. 11 at Akwesasne, start time 8:15 p.m.
Next week's schedule
On Saturday, Jan. 13, the Alexandria Glens visit Cardinal to take on the Rangers at 7:15 p.m.
Then on Sunday, the Rangers travel to Winchester, start time 2:15 p.m.
KANATA The South Grenville Bantam Rangers played one of their finest games of the season but came up a little short in the final of a tournament in Kanata.
The Rangers faced Kingston, Nepean and Kanata in the tournament.
Robbie Fullerton, Matt Farhngruber and Matt Maloney received the star's awards.
Three goals scored
Scoring three goals each for the Rangers were Robbie Fullerton and Matt Maloney, with Matt Farhngruber netting two.
Curtis Bucking and Jim Utman picked up a goal each. Assisting on the goals were Curtis Bucking, Alex Hewson, Eric Spero, Matt Duguay, Jim Utman, Matt Maloney, Daryl Miller and Andrew Jodoin.
Matt Saunders and Blake Gobeil shared goalie responsibilities.
Matt Saunders letting in just one goal in the second game. Eric Spero played a strong defensive game throughout the day.
Morrisburg Tournament
The team met up in a second tournament in Morrisburg on Jan. 2.
They were eliminated after two games. Eric Spero and goalie Matt Saunders were chosen as the players of the game.
The team will be hosting a tournament in February.