Consultants visit casino candidates this week

By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer

PRESCOTT ­ The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLGC) is continuing its assessment of four communities in Leeds and Grenville vying to become the site of a proposed stand-alone charity casino.

The firm KPMG has been retained by the corporation to develop a more in-depth business case for each of the candidate communities.

KPMG officials will conduct separate private meetings Thursday and Friday with groups representing Leeds and Thousand Islands, Gananoque, Prescott and Brockville. The meeting in Prescott is scheduled to take place early Friday morning.

OLGC spokesperson Jim Cronin reiterated Leeds and Thousand Islands (previously referred to as Front of Leeds & Lansdowne) remains the corporation's number one choice based on an initial assessment of candidate communities. However, business cases are being prepared for each community.

Cronin stressed the focus of the consultants will be to obtain information on the long-term market viability of each municipality. The degree of victory in the community referendums held in November ­ Prescott's margin of victory was the biggest of the four ­ and the level of support from any given business community or municipal council are not significant in terms of the viability issue, according to Cronin.

"This isn't a lobbying situation," he said.

"We will make our decision based on solid business reasons."

The Prescott casino working group includes three members of Prescott council, two senior town staff and representatives of the business community. Mayor Robert Lawn, a member of the group, described the upcoming meeting as a preliminary visit during which additional information will be provided.

"We'll have a better idea after the meeting," Lawn said of where the consultation process is going. Three or four members of the Prescott group are expected to attend the meeting.

The mayor acknowledged the meeting with KPMG would not be the right time to emphasize some of the intangibles Prescott could bring to the table such as strong community support. In noting the local group has done some work on that very subject, Lawn said the working group hopes at some point to present those intangibles to the decision-makers.

The mayor also said there are publicly owned lands Prescott officials have looked at as a possible site for a charity casino. Town council has already agreed to any rezoning that may be required, as well as a charity casino revenue-sharing formula.

The Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce and the Prescott Business Improvement Area are continuing to put their support behind a charity casino proposal.

Cronin said it is still difficult to specify how long it will be before the OLGC decides which community will receive the charity casino. However, the current phase of the project is expected to last about three months.

Council considers town hall renovation options

PRESCOTT ­ Members of town council are reviewing new options for the renovation of the municipal building.

Four proposals have been developed by Eastern Engineering, the firm that last year conducted a feasibility study on renovating the Dibble St. W. building. Eastern estimated in its study the cost of renovating town hall to be in excess of $1 million.

The new council asked the company to take a second look at options for the three-storey facility which houses municipal offices and the public library. Eastern's findings were presented to town officials last Thursday.

Council members are still reviewing the four proposals and have yet to disclose full details. However, Mayor Robert Lawn said in an interview Monday the estimated cost of some options is in the range of half of the original estimate to renovate the building.

Council directed the company to consider options which would incorporate municipal offices and the library on the main floor.

Councillor Jo-Anne Beckstead, who chairs the finance and corporate services committee, said Monday that council members would likely meet to discuss Eastern's latest report once they have had a chance to review it.

Council decided at the beginning of its term to review the renovation option before moving onto other ways of solving the problems associated with the existing building and less-than-ideal working conditions for town staff and council.

It was also reported at the Prescott council meeting Monday that the town would be applying to the province's SuperBuild infrastructure program's Sports, Culture and Tourism Partnerships initiative for funding for a public library renewal project. Councillor Jim French, who chairs the community and protective services committee, said council decided to select the library as the town's one and only project.

Local appointment made to National Broadband Task Force

By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer

BROCKVILLE ­ Leeds-Grenville MP Joe Jordan has announced Vic Allen, CEO and vice chairman of Upper Canada Networks (UCNet) has been appointed to the National Broadband Task Force to bring high-speed Internet services to all Canadian communities.

Allen is also the chairman of the Grenville Community Development Centre in Prescott. He will be one of 35 Industry Canada appointees from across Canada to sit on the broadband task force.

The study committee is being chaired by Dr. David Johnston, president of the University of Waterloo. The members represent industry stakeholders, digital content producers, rural communities and aboriginal groups, as well as users in the education, library and health communities.

"This task force will be addressing, among other things, the digital divide that separates urban communities from rural communities and the availability of high-speed Internet service with its positive impact on local economies and quality of life," Jordan stated in a press release. "The fact Vic Allen has been appointed is a testament to his work with the Upper Canada Networks and his initiatives to provide high-speed wireless Internet services for Leeds and Grenville."

"I am honoured to have been chosen to work with the task force and in particular to work with so many nationally recognized experts in the field of high-speed broadband access," Allen said in a release. "With the help of Joe Jordan, the Upper Canada Economic Renewal Project identified the need for high-speed Internet service for future growth in Leeds-Grenville.

"This latest federal government initiative will help us move Leeds-Grenville closer to achieving high-speed broadband access for all our local communities," Allen said.

UCNet, based in Kemptville, is a not-for-profit corporation designed to improve the communications capabilities of rural Eastern Ontario. It was launched last spring with the aid of $1.8 million in funding from the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology. The company's fundamental objective is to bring advanced image, video and data communications to Leeds-Grenville and make it a player in the new information economy.

The telecommunications task force will advise the Canadian government on how to best make high-speed broadband Internet services available to businesses and residents in all Canadian communities by 2004.

As a first step, the task force will map out a strategy and advise the government on the best approaches for achieving its goals.

The organization was launched by Industry Minister Brian Tobin in Ottawa Jan. 11. "Canada has always faced the challenge of connecting all the citizens in its vast territory," Tobin said in a press release. "We must ensure all Canadian communities, no matter where they are, can reap the benefits of broadband Internet services. Access to high-speed broadband will provide the foundation for improved services such as distance learning and tele-health, and will foster both regional and local economic development."

The task force's mandate will include advice on the needs and characteristics of communities which, without government involvement, would not likely gain access to private sector-delivered high speed services by 2004, the press release states.

The mandate also includes investigation of the technical, institutional and financial barriers which could delay provision of services by the private sector, and the roles governments play in overcoming these barriers. As well, the committee can advise on the carriers and other organizations which may be receptive to delivering the services in communities and what the government would need to engage them.

His contribution to the study, he said, is the experience and accomplishments of UCNet in building a wireless network throughout Leeds and Grenville that will connect with the existing wire line infrastructures.

"The reason we're doing that is the copper system that serves most of us has severe limitations in terms of bandwidth," Allen said in an interview. "If our children, for example, are going to have the same kinds of Internet connection tools at home that they have at school, homes need better access to affordable bandwidth."

Agribusiness, tourism, small business, education and industry all require the same tools, Allen said. The majority of these development clusters are connected to the Internet, but at slow speeds.

The objective is to provide a one to two megabit service to every home and business for about $35 to $40 per month. "If it were possible to get (that service) for one of the major providers, the cost would be anywhere from $2,500 a month to $6,000," Allen said. "In our judgement, that's not affordable."

Major centres in Canada have the speeds necessary for efficient operations; small town Canada does not, Allen explained. "The cost to (Bell and AT&T) to provide those kinds of speeds to each and every one of us would be like the early days of giving telephone to everybody. It costs a lot of money.

"They don't want to put that kind of infrastructure into an area where they wouldn't get a return on their investment. Organizations such as ours have to come into being, to be innovative and to seek out cheaper ways of providing a level of connectivity that school kids, hospitals, farmers, small and large business need.

"No community should be without access to the network at prices they can afford and at the speeds they need.

"The thing that makes Canada great is its size and its resources. But its that very feature that makes Canada tough to wire. Our geography really challenges the pocket book and the technology to come up with methods of providing connectivity to remote sites."

Business workshop offers tax information

BROCKVILLE ­ A small business workshop will take place Thursday, Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Brockville Museum.

The seminar, which will be facilitated by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, will assist self-employed business persons and professionals calculate the income they will be required to report on their next income tax return. Items to be reviewed include income, expenses, capital cost allowances, and eligible capital expenditures.

This is the first in a series of workshops to be offered to small businesses in the area.

To register or to obtain more information about the seminar, call Women & Rural Economic Development at 1-800-465-7030.

Chamber AGM to be held Thursday

PRESCOTT ­ The Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting Thursday, Jan. 18 at noon at the Prescott Legion.

Among the items on the agenda will be the report of the nominating committee, the election of officers for 2001 and voting on proposed changes to the chamber's membership fee structure.

The annual awards and dinner will be held at a later date.

Volunteer Sunday at St. Paul's United

PRESCOTT ­ Several volunteer organizations will have a chance to tell their stories at the annual volunteer presentation sponsored by St. Paul's United Church Sunday, Jan. 28.

The sermon at the regular 10:30 a.m. service will be devoted to four-minute presentations by four volunteer groups from the area. Following the service there will be displays by about 20 organizations in the church auditorium. Refreshments will be available.

"Volunteers - that's the key to getting things done now," said Gerry Carey, co-ordinator of the event. "(Organizations are) tapping into the volunteer stream that's out there."

Among the organizations expected to be in attendance are the St. Lawrence Stage Co., Arthritis Association, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes Association, VON, Scouts and Guides and Alzheimer's Society.

Winter festival this weekend

SPENCERVILLE ­ Dig out the warm mits - it's time for the annual Spencerville and District Winter Festival. Special events begin this Friday, Jan. 19.

Organizers have planned an exciting roster of events, including sleigh rides, skating, a bonfire, entertainment, a lumberjack contest, a belly dancing demonstration and much more.

Act of kindness restores victims' faith in people

By Tim Ruhnke ­ Journal Staff Writer

PRESCOTT ­ Some local hockey parents and service clubs have taken a stand against the grinch who tried to steal Christmas from a local family.

A bag containing hockey equipment used by Robert and Cindy Kippax's seven-year-old son Tim was stolen from a van Christmas Eve on a sideroad near their home in Augusta township.

The van had gone into the ditch late that afternoon and was left there as the family went ahead to church; upon returning to the van that evening, it was discovered the windows had been smashed and the bag taken.

"Of all the nights for this to happen," Cindy said. "He (Tim) lost a lot of faith that night in people," she added.

The family scrambled just after Christmas to buy new gear so that Tim could play with his Tim Bits team later that week. Little did they know that acts of kindness were in the works.

An effort to raise money to offset the cost of new equipment was spearheaded by Debbie and Pat Lawless, whose son Michael is a member of the Tim Bits team. They noted the theft took place at a very busy and expensive time of the year."We just thought it would be a nice surprise for them," said Debbie, who added the community had come to her family's aid a few years ago.

The Lawlesses estimated the cost of replacing the stolen equipment to be approximately $400. Four local service clubs ­ the Kinsmen, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs of Prescott and the Edwardsburgh Lions Club ­ were contacted. Each came through with a donation of $100.

The Kippaxes were surprised Sunday during the initiation team's ice time at the Leo Boivin Community Centre when they were told about the effort and were given the contributions from the service clubs.

"I don't think I could thank them enough," a teary-eyed Cindy said shortly after the surprise presentation.

"It makes a really big difference," she said. "This puts your faith back in people."

As for Tim, he said the donation was "good." He also received a replacement Tim Bits jersey Sunday; although he is now wearing number 19 instead of his old number 18, Tim appeared pleased to get the new sweater.

"We consider ourselves one big team here," Cindy said.

The couple had driven the back roads in the area of the theft hoping to find the stolen hockey equipment, thinking whoever stole the bag may have thrown away the gear. However, that effort came up empty.

Cindy noted there have been other expressions of support since word of the incident spread; in one case a Brockville woman called and offered to loan equipment to the family.

Heating relief payments to be distributed

OTTAWA ­ Families and individuals who are eligible for the Jan. 2001 Goods and Services Tax credit can expect to receive a Relief for Heating Expenses cheque later this winter, according to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.

Those who are eligible for the GST credit and who have filed their 1999 income tax returns and applied for the GST credit are also eligible for relief payments of $250 for married and common-law couples, $250 for single-parent families and $125 for single individuals without children.

The cheques will start to be issued Jan. 31, according to an agency release.

The payments will be delivered exclusively by cheque.

The agency advises potential recipients to ensure it has their current mailing addresses so the cheques can be delivered as soon as possible.

For more information contact the agency at 1-800-959-1953.

Request to remove parking meters gets positive response from committee

By Tim Ruhnke ­ Journal Staff Writer

PRESCOTT ­ A town committee is receptive to a request to remove parking meters from downtown, but granting the request may depend on whether municipal leaders can make up for revenue the town would lose by offering free parking.

The transportation and environmental services committee discussed the matter last Tuesday. The executive of the Prescott Business Improvement Area wrote the town last month and requested the removal of meters on a one-year trial basis.

"There is consensus we want to do something," Councillor and committee chairman McConnell said. However, he acknowledged the loss of revenue is an important point council would have to address before it makes a final decision.

Prescott is one of the only smaller urban centres in Eastern Ontario that still has metered parking. Brockville and Kemptville removed meters from their downtown areas within the last year. The effect on business has reportedly been quite positive.

Parking meters have been a revenue-generator for the town. Gross revenues in 1999 totalled about $56,000, according to Town Engineer Clyde Solomon. Direct costs associated with meter maintenance and employing commissionaires to enforce regulations, added to public works labour costs, totalled about $15,000.

Revenues decreased to about $44,000 in 2000, due in part to the removal of the meter machine from the municipal parking lot at the corner of King and Centre streets. Although there was an unexpected cost of $6,600 associated with modifying meters to accept a new Canadian coin alloy, meters continued to generate a surplus.

However, council decided last year to use meter proceeds to fund a five-year commitment of more than $20,000 a year to Brockville General Hospital. An additional $10,000 was also allocated to a capital reserve for sewer capital.

Solomon also pointed out there will still be the need to enforce two-hour parking if meters were to be removed.

In some municipalities, a downtown business group or chamber of commerce underwrites a net loss in revenue incurred when parking meters are removed. McConnell indicated there may be a need to come to an understanding, although he does not expect the entire amount of lost revenue could be covered by such a group in Prescott's case.

"We realize the BIA does not have a large budget," he said.

Town officials and BIA representatives are expected to discuss the matter further before the committee can make a formal recommendation to council, McConnell said.

In the case of Brockville, free two-hour, on-street parking is now permitted downtown. However, the city still has paid parking at municipal lots. McConnell noted Prescott already has free parking at its one downtown lot.

Augusta agrees to donate $600 to Spencerville Fair

MAYNARD ­ Augusta Township council agreed at its meeting Jan. 8 to give the Spencerville Fair Board $600 to assist with the operation of the annual event.

Fair spokesman Tim Hemsley asked council to favourably consider the request for the same amount that was given last year. He assured council the donation goes to a good cause. "Our fair was one of the most successful we ever had last year. Instead of going down it went up a little."

Reeve George Vail agreed the event is a great fair, attended by people from a wide area.

Council voted unanimously to continue its support.

Township compares building permit figures

MAYNARD ­ Augusta Township issued 125 building permits last year, representing $6,515,427 in construction values, Councillor Doug Barton, chairman of the planning committee, reported at the Jan. 8 meeting of council. Of those permits, 18 were for new homes.

The township took in $29,500 in permit fees in 2000.

In comparison to previous years, Augusta issued 129 permits in 1999 with a value of $4,183,000. This generated $34,180 in fees. Twenty six of the permits were for new homes.

In 1998, there were 145 permits issued, with 30 new homes being built.

"Although the number of new homes in the township has decreased, the total value of the them has increased substantially," Barton said.

Permit fees have decreased, he noted. "At least we haven't been jacking our permit fees. We did change them last year for agricultural buildings... and put a limit on it to try and keep us better than competitive with our neighbours.

"It would be nice to see the year 2001 come up with a total of about 36 new homes," Barton said. "Although I don't know whether that will happen or not. We'll have to see how the economy goes."

Roads equipment mechanic and driver to be hired

MAYNARD ­ A resolution to hire a combination mechanic/truck driver was passed at Augusta's council meeting Jan. 8.

Deputy Reeve Morris Stark, chairman of the roads committee, told council, "When we need a driver we'll have one and we have a mechanic there to do our own maintenance."

In the last year, Stark said the township spent just under $75,000 for repairs and maintenance to its roads equipment. Roughly one-third of that amount was for materials and parts, and the balance was for labour.

"Instead of paying money out for labour, the township could have its own mechanic and driver," Stark said.

Roads Superintendent Keith Couture said hiring a driver and mechanic would be "an efficiency move. Elizabethtown has done it and it's paying big dividends."

Prime minister reappoints Joe Jordan to position of parliamentary secretary

BROCKVILLE ­ Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced Jan. 15 the re-appointment of Leeds-Grenville MP Joe Jordan as his parliamentary secretary.

Jordan will continue to have increased responsibility for parliamentary business and will assist the prime minister with relationships with the public and interest groups across Canada, the release stated.

"I am very pleased the prime minister has asked me to continue as his parliamentary secretary," stated Jordan release. "Over the past months, I have assisted the prime minister in his dealings with the public - helping me to provide a better link between my constituents and Ottawa.

"With the election behind us, we have a lot of work ahead to keep our economy strong. I'm looking forward to these challenges."

Prescott police investigate assaults, thefts

PRESCOTT ­ The Prescott Police Service investigated 53 general incidents and one motor vehicle accident between Jan. 8 and Jan. 13.

A break-in at Seaway Doors on Industrial Rd. was investigated Jan. 8. Entry was gained through a garage door. Several power tools valued at $940 were stolen.

A Jan. 9 assault between two high school students at Burger King resulted in the arrest of a 15-year-old female. Town police charged her with assault and breach of probation; she is to appear in Brockville youth court.

A 16-year-old male was arrested Jan. 10 at South Grenville District High School and charged with possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking. On Jan. 12, Prescott police investigated an assault at Central Public School; a 14-year-old male was arrested and charged with assault. Both youths are to appear in youth court.

Town police investigated a case of mischief Jan. 12 at a Jessup St.-area home. A front window of a residence was broken.

On Jan. 12 police received a report of a theft of a large sum of money from a Prescott business. No other details are available; the investigation is continuing. Police also received a complaint that day from a Prescott-area man that he had been defrauded of $6,500. Again, there are no further details at this time.

Anyone with information on these or other offences is asked to call the Prescott Police Service at 925-4252 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Male youth struck in face by bat

An 18-year-old man was arrested by Prescott police and charged following an incident that took place Jan. 12.

Police reported a 15-year-old male from the Prescott area was walking on King St. at Edward St. at about 4:30 p.m. when he was confronted by another male. The victim was struck in the face with a baseball bat. He was taken to Brockville General Hospital where he was treated for facial injuries and released.

The 18-year-old Prescott man was charged with assault with a weapon and is to appear in Brockville court.

Routine police traffic assistance call leads to charges

JOHNSTOWN ­ What started out as a police assistance call ended up being much more than that.

Ontario Provincial Police officers from the Grenville County detachment were on routine patrol just before 3 a.m. Jan. 10 on Highway 401 when they located a vehicle in the median about one kilometre east of the Highway 416 overpass in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal.

An OPP news release stated the officers stopped to offer assistance, but given the condition of the driver they demanded he provide a breath sample. The driver refused to do so and was charged with failing to provide a breath sample.

The 31-year-old Ottawa man was subsequently charged with prohibited driving, possession of break and enter tools and possession of property obtained by crime.

A 31-year-old Kemptville man, a passenger in the vehicle, was also charged with possession of break and enter tools and possession of property obtained by crime.

Both men were held in custody pending a bail hearing.

The investigating officer is Constable Jason Butcher. Anyone with information on this matter is asked to call the Grenville County OPP detachment in Prescott at 925-4221 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Snowmobiler receives 18-month jail sentence

BROCKVILLE ­ An Iroquois-area man has been sentenced to 18 months in jail in connection with a accident three years ago in which an Ontario Provincial Police officer was injured.

James Primrose, 28, was sentenced Jan. 12 in Brockville court after being convicted of impaired driving and dangerous driving. Primrose was operating a snowmobile Jan. 25, 1998 when he lost control of the machine and struck OPP Constable Chuck MacInnis at a RIDE check on Merwin Lane just west of Prescott.

The court heard Primrose had twice the legal blood alcohol limit in his system at the time of the incident.

In handing down the sentence, Ontario Court Justice Peter Griffiths placed Primrose on probation for 18 months. In addition to being ordered to receive addiction counselling, he is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle for five years.

MacInnis sustained a broken ankle and wrist, a concussion and other injuries in the early-morning accident. He has been unable to return to active duty as a front-line officer.

A second snowmobile struck a Prescott police cruiser a short time later at the scene. In all, six people were injured in the collisions.

Town council dissolves Public Utilities Commission

PRESCOTT ­ The Prescott Public Utilities Commission is officially no more.

Town council voted Monday to dissolve the century-old PUC corporation. Although the move was a mere formality given the creation late last year of Rideau St. Lawrence Utilities (RSL), Mayor Robert Lawn noted the town has now officially taken back the water department.

RSL, which combines the former municipal utilities of Prescott, Cardinal, South Dundas and Westport, does not include water service formerly administered by the PUC. The same people who provided service under the PUC are still there as part of the current transition period, but the town has assumed direct responsibility.

Lawn noted the town has received proposals from RSL with respect to water service. Municipal officials are assessing which aspects of the service ­ everything from billing services and meter reading to plant operations ­ can be dealt with in-house and which may have to be overseen from outside sources, the mayor indicated.

The previous council voted last fall to agree to the merger of utilities and the creation of the new company in which the municipality is a shareholder. The move came in response to the provincial deregulation of the electricity sector.

The town opted to join a local partnership rather than sell the municipal utility.

Licence office is not closing permanently

PRESCOTT ­ The vehicle and driver licensing office in Prescott is not closing permanently, according to its manager.

The privately owned Ministry of Transportation (MTO) licence bureau on King St. E. in Prescott will close Feb. 2 and reopen Feb. 28.

Some people say they had heard the office would be closing for good, Frank Whiten said.

"We are not... We are taking holidays for one month," he added.

Whiten said a couple of people a day are visiting or calling the office to ask about the status of local service and an MTO advertisement which has been appearing in newspapers, including The Journal. "We've changed where we deliver services to better serve you," the ad reads.

Some people have taken that to mean the ministry will be delivering licence-related items to their homes, according to Whiten. The changes referred to the ad relate to additional services which are now provided at licence issuing offices such as the one in Prescott.

Alternate MTO licensing locations that residents of South Grenville can go to during the closure of the Prescott office include 7712 Kent Blvd. in Brockville, 22 Water St. in Kemptville and 29 5th St. E. in Morrisburg.

Weapon charges laid

JOHNSTOWN ­ OPP officers went to the Port of Prescott shortly after 10 a.m. Jan. 11 to assist Canada Customs officers with an investigation. As a result of that investigation a 41-year-old Montague Township man was arrested and charged with possession of a prohibited weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of a prohibited weapon with ammunition, and careless storage of a firearm. The man is to appear Feb. 23 in Brockville court. Constable George Duke is the investigating officer.

Clocked well above limit

AUGUSTA ­ Police were conducting radar enforcement at 6 p.m. Jan. 10 on Highway 401 when they stopped a vehicle travelling well in excess of the posted speed limit.

A 54-year-old man from Ste-Therese-de-Blainville, Quebec was charged for doing 160 km/hr in a 100 km/hr zone.

Augusta council supports push to make Remembrance Day a statutory holiday

By Monica Whitney ­ Journal Staff Writer

MAYNARD ­ Augusta Township Councillor Jane Fullarton's suggestion at a meeting Jan. 8 that making Remembrance Day a statutory holiday would place undue burden on small business owners did not deter fellow councillors from passing a resolution in support of another municipality.

The city of Port Colborne had requested all municipalities in Ontario to adopt its resolution to encourage the federal and provincial governments to enact Nov. 11 as a holiday throughout Canada.

"Remembrance Day is a very important day for everybody in this country," Fullarton said at the council meeting. "I think that it's particularly well-observed in our area and in schools and at our local cenotaph."

However, Fullarton explained "adding another statutory holiday to our work calendar is an employment issue for a lot of small businesses. They are already paying for at least seven statutory holidays in the year and adding another one is an issue and can be a hardship for a small business.

"I think seven is probably a sufficient number in the year," Fullarton said.

The councillor and her husband, Bruce Fullarton, have been the owners of several Brockville retail businesses, including Bruce Fullarton men's wear, Singer Sewing Centre, Society Girl and Flannel's men's and ladies wear. For the past seven years, they have been the owners and operators of Fullarton Maintenance, specializing in cleaning tile floors for stores and factories.

Reeve George Vail said at the meeting he has always felt Remembrance Day should be a statutory holiday.

The resolution was supported without comment by Deputy Reeve Morris Stark and councillors Doug Barton and Kathleen Thur.

Port Colborne's letter stated Nov. 11 "provides an opportunity for all Canadians to pause and reflect on the many sacrifices that our fellow Canadians gave during times of war.

"The freedom and safety that we nourish today is the outcome of the efforts of the so many service men and women who gave of their lives, as well as the suffering in which their families have had to endure ever since.

"We must never forget to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives, as well as, the many more who were wounded in the protection of our freedoms and love of their country.

"We must continue to emphasize the importance of this day as a day of reflection, especially to our youth, whom we expect to carry on this day of remembrance well into the future."

Town takes different approach

The Remembrance Day resolution Augusta council supported was also discussed by Prescott council, but the outcome was much different.

Town council voted Dec. 18 to file the request to encourage provincial and federal governments to make Remembrance Day a statutory holiday. By filing the request, town council did not take an official position on whether it agrees with the Port Colborne resolution.

However, council members offered little in the way of support for the intent of the motion. Prescott Mayor Robert Lawn, a retired high school principal and teacher, indicated students learn the significance of the day when they spend it in class or if the class attends a Remembrance Day service.

"Much more would be accomplished by not closing schools," Lawn said.

Councillor Jo-Anne Beckstead said the decision to make the day a holiday should be left to employers, including municipalities. Remembrance Day is a holiday for town employees.

First female Odd Fellow initiated in Prescott

PRESCOTT ­ A milestone took place last Thursday night in Prescott.

Donna Knight became the first woman in Ontario and probably Canada to become a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows.

The fraternal order decreed that as of Jan. 1 women could become members. A number of women had been initiated in the United States prior to the Jan. 11 ceremony in Prescott attended by Odd Fellows from several communities in Eastern Ontario and New York state.

Knight, a Cornwall resident and nine-year member of the Odd Fellows' sister organization, the Rebekahs, noted in an interview the two fraternities have common goals and already share certain projects and activities. Members of the two groups share a belief in the Supreme Being, a love and loyalty for their country, and a desire to assist and support each other and persons in distress.

"So why not do the meetings together?" she commented. "I think it's time women join the Odd Fellows so that there is (more) togetherness."

Knight, who has completed the first of four steps required to become a full member, said she was backed 100 per cent by the members of Oriental Lodge 163 in Cornwall. She also said it is an honour to be the first woman accepted by the Odd Fellows.

Although she noted it may not be that way at all lodges, Knight said some long-time members may need some time to adjust to the new arrangement. "And they will," she added.

The North American Odd Fellows organization was founded in Maryland in 1819. Its first Canadian lodge was founded in Montreal in 1843; the Prescott lodge dates back to 1871.

Donna's husband Keith, who has been a member of the Odd Fellows for nearly 20 years, said the move is "a step in the right direction" that promotes family involvement in the fraternity.

The creation of husband-and-wife Odd Fellow teams may help save smaller lodges from being merged with other units, according to Mrs. Knight.

Terry McConnell, noble grand of the Amity Lodge, noted there may be other women interested in joining the Odd Fellows and its community projects.

"We'd certainly welcome any new members, male or female," he said. "We hope to bring the lodge back to where it was" in terms of membership, McConnell added.

Unemployment rate remains steady in December

KINGSTON ­ More people were collecting Employment Insurance benefits in Prescott and Brockville last month compared to the previous one, but the local unemployment rate did not increase.

Statistics released Monday by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) in Kingston indicate there were 889 claimants receiving EI benefits from the Prescott office as of the end of December. The total at the end of November was 769.

The Brockville office reported 827 claimants at the end of December compared to 727 a month earlier. The overall increase in claimants region-wide was 17.2 per cent.

However, the regional unemployment rate remained at 4.6 per cent. It is noted in the HRDC release that there was an increase last month in the number of individuals who found work. As expected, more people were employed in retail trade occupations in December; decreases were reported in public administration and other services.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in December was 6.4 per cent, unchanged from November. The unemployment rate in Ontario remained steady at 5.4 per cent.

SCHOOL SCENE

ALGONQUIN PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ There will be a parent council meeting Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. in the school library. Friday, Jan. 19 is hot dog day.

BOUNDARY STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ The students have been very busy fundraising for new playground equipment. The "Penny Drive" is going quite well, so please keep saving those pennies. Also, the students are running a bake sale. On Friday, Jan.19, the students in Grade 4 to 8 are going skiing to Mount Pakenham to ski or snowboard. Also, the hot lunch is pogos. On Tuesday, Jan. 23, there will be a parent council meeting at the school at 7 p.m.

BENSON PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ Wednesday, Jan. 17 will be hot dog day for students in Kindergarten 'A' to Grade 8. On Thursday, Jan. 18, Kindergarten 'B' students will have hot dog day. On Thursday, Jan. 25, there will be a school advisory council at 6:30 p.m. in the science centre.

CENTENNIAL '67-NORTH EDWARDSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ Students in Grade 4 to 8 began weekly skating sessions at the Edwardsburgh arena, as part of their physical education program. Junior and Intermediate students are invites to apply to take part in our new Peacemaker Program. Successful applicants will be trained in peer mediation skills, which they will use to help students settle differences on the playground.

MAITLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ There will be a parent committee meeting Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. New faces are always welcome. It is also Literacy Week (Jan. 15 to 19). Special activities are planned in the classrooms to focus on reading and writing. A sign language club is starting up! Mrs. Kellar and Mrs. Bell will meet with students Wednesday, Jan. 17 at lunchtime. All interested students are invited to attend.

Our school collected 764 items over a period of 10 days for this year's Prescott Kinsmen Spirit of Giving campaign. This works out to more than six items donated per student in our little school! Maitland Public School would like to thank all of the generous parents who have been bombarded during the two week period. Without your co-operation, our Christmas charity project would not have been such a tremendous success!

Each team was encouraged to set a goal and work hard to reach or exceed that goal. The emphasis of this friendly competition was on providing food for those less fortunate in our community. Children discussed poverty in Canada, and what it would like to be hungry. Each team which reached its goal had its team name entered into a draw for a pizza party for their class!

MAYNARD PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ To celebrate Literacy Week, which runs from Jan. 15 to Jan. 19, Maynard school will be holding various reading activities. For starters, each day of the week will be designated a different reading theme day. Monday was "Read my hat day." Tuesday was "Button Day." "Read My Shirt Day" is today. Thursday is "Dress as your favourite character in a book day." This day is optional for students and staff but treats will be given to anyone who participates. Friday is "Tour the school day." Staff and students are invited to walk through the halls to admire the decorated for literacy doors and banners, paper shirts and slogans.

Monday through Wednesday, staff and students were encouraged to wear appropriate slogans or advertisements.

All week long "Drop everything and read" or DEAR is being held from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

Ongoing activities throughout the week include a famous book display, where staff and students match the illustrations with the correct title of each book to win the contest. "Guess the book" asks students to identify a famous book by listening to Mr. Skinner read a paragraph from it. There will be an in-service on reading strategies for senior reading buddies. Also, individual grades will be doing other activities in their classrooms involving literacy.

In the sporting arena, intramural basketball started this week.

ST. MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL ­ January at St. Mark school will bring a change to our hot lunch program. Rather than hot lunch on Fridays, a rotation of foods - hamburgers, chicken chunks and pizza - will be available now to Kindergarten only on Wednesdays and to the entire school on Thursdays. This week the hot lunch is chicken chunks. Please refer to the monthly calendar for options.

Skating dates are as follows: Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23 and March 2 in the afternoons. We hope some parents will be available to help out with this winter activity. Thank you also for your support of our Scholastic Book Fair. We raised $760 towards the purchase of new books for our new library.

SOUTH EDWARDSBURG PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ There will be a school council meeting Thursday, Jan. 17 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Learning Lab hours: Monday 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Wednesday 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 1 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Friday 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Assessment base decreases slightly in Prescott

PRESCOTT ­ Town officials received a refresher course Jan. 8 on revisions to Ontario's property assessment system.

Mike Tremblay, regional assessment commissioner of the Ontario Property Assessment Corporation (OPAC), and three of his colleagues made a presentation to members of Prescott council and some municipal staff. The corporation is responsible for the valuation of an estimated four million properties in Ontario. OPAC, which was formed in late 1998, is not a crown agency or part of the Ontario government; it is funded by municipalities.

Tremblay noted property assessment notices were mailed Nov. 14. Municipalities received tax rolls just before Christmas.

Municipal property taxes will be based on reassessed values in place on June 30, 1999. The taxes paid in 2000 were based on values as of June 30, 1996. OPAC's analysis is based on so-called arm's length real estate transactions between a willing seller and a willing buyer.

"All we do is analyze what is going on in the real estate world," Tremblay said.

The total assessed value of residential properties increased by about 2.5 per cent based on the June 1999 current value assessment (CVA). Commercial assessment over the three-year period decreased by nearly 13 per cent, while industrial assessment dipped by 23.5 per cent.

Tremblay explained that Prescott is not alone when it comes to a smaller industrial tax base; the rest of Eastern Ontario ­ except for Ottawa ­ is in the same boat.

He noted in his presentation it is hard to adapt a large industrial plant to an alternative use; the global economy, functional obsolescence and aging plants are factors leading to lower sales prices, according to Tremblay.

There were few commercial or industrial sales in Prescott used in OPAC's 1999 CVA analysis. The residential assessment for 1999 was based on 125 sales; the number in 1996 was 80.

Total assessment in Prescott had been nearly $203 million in the 1996 valuation.

The total three years later was about $196,700,000. Residential and farm assessment accounted for nearly two-thirds of the assessment base in town.

As for challenging the revised assessment, property owners have until March 31 to file appeals.

Tremblay suggested property owners may wish to consider requesting a reconsideration by OPAC; this can be done at any time throughout the year and may avoid the need for a hearing.

The Brockville office of OPAC can be reached at 342-8242. The commission's Web site address is www.opac.on.ca.

Fire master plan could be developed for town

PRESCOTT ­ Town council has been asked to reaffirm a request for a fire master plan to be done.

Peter O'Hare, a fire services advisor with the Office of the Fire Marshal, gave a presentation to council Monday.

In noting the previous council's request for a master plan last year, O'Hare asked the new council to pass a new resolution similar to the previous one.

If approved, a steering committee and three sub-committees to deal with finances, risk assessment and existing capabilities would be formed.

The fire marshal's office would act in an advisory role; O'Hare noted it is up to the municipality to make decisions relating to its fire protection services.

The process would take from three to six months.

Mayor Robert Lawn told O'Hare council will take his comments into consideration "...and react to them quickly."

A number of Prescott firefighters were in the audience at the council meeting.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"This puts your faith back in people."

Cindy Kippax, commenting on donations her family received after her seven-year-old's hockey equipment was stolen.

Editor's Notebook

To many municipal officials, amalgamation is a four-letter word. The mere mention of it can strike fears in the hearts of council members and staff alike. Even though the Ontario government has tried to reinforce the need to streamline municipal services and make local government more cost-effective, amalgamation has in some cases led to ugly turf wars in which one community is pitted against another. Edwardsburgh and Cardinal managed to put together a so-called local solution as part of their amalgamation, but there have been other cases in which local officials could not agree and outsiders decided how the new municipality would function. Contrary to popular belief, amalgamation does not always lead to savings for taxpayers.

Amalgamation is sometimes greeted with ambivalence by residents whose interest in municipal politics may not be particularly strong, but the perception that one's community identity may be lost in the shuffle can energize local residents. The new municipality of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal may be in its infancy, but there does not appear to be much concern that residents of the former village of Cardinal or any of the other hamlets within the municipal boundaries have been robbed of their identities. The redrawing of the municipal landscape does not mean there are no more main streets, restaurants, churches, parks and halls which help shape a community. There may be legitimate issues involving representation at the municipal council level, but history has shown that in most cases the people who live in a community still think of themselves as being from that community years after amalgamation has occurred in rural and under-populated areas.

The new councils in South Grenville would probably rather not have to deal with a new round of amalgamation-related issues, but indications point to an inevitable discussion of what some are speculating could be the creation of a much larger regional municipality ­ maybe an actual South Grenville or something much bigger than that. Fear of the unknown may be part of the reason for any apprehension on the part of civic leaders; mind you, fear of what they know will happen may also explain the reluctance to even float the possibility of amalgamation. However, there also appears to be a growing acceptance that municipalities within a region need to work together a lot better in order to deal with the so-called global economy and the direction in which our society is heading.

Like it or not, amalgamation will rear its ugly head again. The Harris government has four more years to finish what it started: a drastic reduction in the number of municipalities in Ontario. Taxpayers and local politicians can be forgiven for considering amalgamation to be a four-letter word. No one wants to lose his or her community's identity or sense of belonging. But if amalgamation is forced back onto the council table, we will have to remember that our own interests must inevitably be balanced with those of our neighbours in order to make the process as painless and productive as possible.

We should not be dumping on snow removal crews

The guys who operate snow plows and salt and sand trucks may not always get much in the way of praise from motorists. We often find ourselves cursing because the trucks are not out yet or they are and they are right in front of us and we have places to go and they're delaying us from getting there, so move over already or get the hell off the road.

But instead of venting as I've just done, I would like to compliment the folks who tend to the highways and biways of the Prescott area. When the first big storm of this season hit last month, I was a bit surprised that the street in front of my building had been plowed before 6:30 a.m. In fact, the drive to work was surprisingly hassle-free. The only bad thing about the efficient snow clearing program is it allows motorists to experience first-hand the utterly deplorable condition of Churchill Road. The previous council identified it as one of the major capital projects to be undertaken by the town. Let's hope reconstruction of that pothole-infested roadway will become a reality this year.

Be that as it may, hats off to the folks who are trying to take some of the adventure out of driving from one place to another in Prescott. This also applies to the apartment building owners and landlords who try to clear their lots in a timely fashion (thanks Garry and Charles). Some motorists may not agree with my assessment, but even they must admit that working the roads can be a hazardous and thankless job.

You may recall my rant of sorts a few weeks back on the subject of what was in essence a 39-cent bill I received from a provincially owned phone company that serves part of Northern Ontario. Two weeks ago I received a bill for 39 cents from that same company. Even though they use bulk mail rates, the cost of processing the amount and mailing me the bill must exceed the amount I owe. One thing I failed to mention last time was at least one of the local banks with which I do business allows me to pay certain bills without paying an additional fee.

Still, the fact that a company would send one or more bills for such a paltry amount ­ an amount based on a long distance call that should have been reported on the previous bill ­ and two months after the company had disconnected my service, is illogical. I am not trying to weasel out of paying for a service I used, but any reasonable person would look at the circumstances and conclude the situation is downright silly.

Policing in Prescott has come a long way since the early days

When Prescott was incorporated in 1834 as a Police Village, among the first persons the five-man council hired were police constables, one of them named Asabel Geralds. This was at council's March 6, 1834 meeting, and at the May 26, 1834 meeting 23 bylaws were passed covering a variety of issues such as the immoderate driving of wagons and horses, discharging firearms, throwing filth on the streets and being drunk or playing sports on the Sabbath.

These bylaws were barely two weeks old when Const. Geralds arrested Capt. Williams and brought him before council on charges of "stripping off his clothes and going swimming." Captain McMillan pleaded guilty but dared council "to do their worst."

The board answered with a fine of 10 pence plus costs with a jail sentence to be imposed if there was a default in payment. McMillan refused to pay and that night he escaped custody and the case was closed.

Prescott's first police constables had many duties beyond those of law enforcement. Thomas Baynham, constable from 1838 to 1842, was also the bailiff, fire inspector, licence and fee collector, and was charged with the responsibility of preventing persons with cholera from entering the town.

The original Police Village Board was replaced by the Incorporated Town Council of Prescott, through new provincial legislation in 1850, and with this change police responsibilities were placed under the jurisdiction of a committee of council.

With this change came many more extra duties for the police constable. Added to his duties in 1855 were that of street surveyor, and in 1857 the local officer had to patrol railway stations during arrivals. During the same period the chief constable had to see that the town hall was supplied with firewood.

Chief Constable Jehiel Tinkess was engaged by council in 1869 and was given a host of responsibilities other than fighting crime. These included:

* Supply meals to prisoners and town paupers.

* Clean and oil fire engine hose.

* Clean cells and do necessary repairs in maintaining police headquarters in the Henry St. Town Hall.

* Serve as town health inspector.

* Be in charge of the town's hay scales.

Tinkess was hired by council "...in consequence of the gross negligence and misconduct of Chief Constable George Bolton, in the matter of the recent murder in this vicinity..."

Although Bolton was ordered to leave the chief constable's quarters in the town hall basement with "convenient dispatch," council continued to hire him for such odd jobs as special constable, to clean the fire engine, and to wash a corpse.

Chief constable of the town of Prescott was not a very lucrative profession in the 19th century. The first constable, in 1834, received one shilling, three pence for serving a subpoena and two shillings, six pence for each arrest. By 1851 arrests were worth five shillings.

In 1858, the chief constable was paid 20 pounds a year. The constable received $30 per quarter by 1864, $50 a month in 1903 and $100 per month in 1930. A first class constable was paid $3,600 a year in 1958, $20,795 in 1980, and $50,889 in 1999.

The first equipment purchased for the town police was handcuffs, bought in 1865 for $1.50 a pair. The first service revolvers were purchased in 1921, and the first police car owned by the town was purchased in 1958.

Prescott maintained its own police force until 1949, a time when an economic boom was starting and the town's population began to grow. Concerned over the ability of a local police force being capable of maintaining law and the drastic increase in the cost of policing the town, Prescott council signed a contract with the Ontario Provincial Police to provide police services up to 1957.

A new Prescott Police Department was formed in 1957, administered by a commission consisting of Judge Donald Lewis of Brockville, Judge Gordon Jermayn of Gananoque, and Mayor Harry Ranson of Prescott.

Chief of the new force was Eric Smith of Bowmanville. Serving under him were Cpl. Tom Conaway, constables Matt Hayes and his brother William, Keith Cameron and Keith Whitehorne. Conaway succeeded Smith as chief and in 1980 when he retired Matt Hayes became chief and served until his retirement in 1990. He was succeeded by Chief F.A. 'Rick' Bowie who will serve as chief until the OPP transition is complete.

(By John Morris and Monica Whitney, with notes from Morrises' History of Prescott)

Illustrations in children's book revive Cardinal memories

Local readers have become enchanted with a children's book hot off the press and illustrated by a former Cardinal resident.

And they're taking pure delight in picking out aspects of the village in the whimsical and humourous illustrations of Sue Savor.

The Deep Cold River Story tells the tale of a river that winds it way through a sleepy little town. "Who knows what the river is thinking as it gurgles past the churchyard, churns by the fire station, flows under the bridge and finally escapes past the train tracks out of town," the book's introduction states. "One fine spring evening for no reason at all the river decides to overflow its banks and flood the town."

The story, written by Tabatha Southey, and Savor's colourful illustrations describes how one little girl came to the aid of the town's people.

Local residents are finding it fascinating how many of the drawings so accurately depict Cardinal of about 30 years ago.

Savor's sister Shannon Earl, who lives just east of Cardinal, said the book is "hilarious. Everyone who looks at this picks somebody out of it and says it looks like someone they know.

"I don't know if she's done it on purpose, but it's Cardinal," Earl said. "We all grew up by the river, and you can see where she drew on this to illustrate the book."

In the book, Earl points out the drawings of the river bank lined with stones that look so much like Cardinal's canal, and a home where the sisters played as children with a tower and a widow's walk that resemble what is referred to as the Freeman house on William St.

And there is a boat named Jack, which is the name of Earl's and Savor's father, who owned a family clothing store in Cardinal until 1981. "We really liked the boat named Jack," Earl said. "We thought, 'All right. Good for you, Sue.'"

Earl said she and her sisters, twins Sue and Shelley, were all very close to their father. Their mother Jean still resides in Cardinal, and Shelley lives in Toronto were she works in that city's library system.

Another boat in the book is named Edna and Lloyd, who Earl says were neighbours of the Savor family.

A drawing of a boat named His Worship with an elderly gentleman and his dog has the likeness of Judge Bruce Hunter and his constant companion, his dog, who resided in Cardinal.

While the book jacket states Savor resides in Halifax "beside the very deep, very cold Atlantic Ocean," she has recently moved to Kitchener, where she expects to continue in her new career as a writer and illustrator.

She has a background as a scenic artist for various theatres in Canada, including The Grand in London, Theatre Calgary, the Charlottetown Festival and the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto.

Growing up in Cardinal was likely the inspiration for her drawings, Savor said. "We do bring ourselves into the work we do. We use our memories for these things and then we manipulate it whether we realize it or not.

"It was a natural subject to do a small town by the river," said Savor, noting she was given free reign to choose the illustrations, which took about five months to complete. "Having grown up by the river it probably seeped in and you draw on what you know. It does make sense.

"Probably some of the characters did come from a memory bank. It does come from a compilation of memories.

"It's great people can make a connection and they're relating to it so well."

Cardinal resident Beryl Riddell said she recognized her daughter Heather in the book, wearing the pink boots and pants she wore as a little girl growing up in the village.

"I don't know if it's me or not, but we're going to believe it anyway," Heather quipped. "I have no idea if those are the people, but that's what they looked like. You have to go back to when we were kids," Heather said, noting that she and Savor, who still stay in touch, "hung around together and did all these crazy things together."

Heather added the one character in the book has a hockey stick in her hand and is accompanied by a younger girl. She said she and Savor often played road hockey together in childhood, and Heather's younger sister Nancy usually tagged along on their escapades. The Deep Cold River Story is "a bit of history for Cardinal," Heather said.

The book is filled with reminders of the past, and the illustrations become very personal, she added. "You go back to that time and try to figure out who is who. I'm sure everybody can go through it and relate it to people. I'm very proud of her, but it's always exciting when it's somebody you know."

The Deep Cold River Story is published by Key Porter Books in Toronto, and is available for borrowing at the Cardinal Public Library and for sale at various area book stores.\

Committee members appointed by council

SPENCERVILLE ­ At the Edwardsburgh/Cardinal regular council meeting Monday night, the members of the municipality's committees were appointed.

The formation of committees and boards had been delayed two weeks following the municipality's inaugural council meeting Jan. 2 because of a shortage of volunteers to sit on the committees and boards.

There were 15 committees, with the possibility of additional ones, formed at the Monday's meeting.

The Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Public Library Board was the only one requiring a secret vote. Despite several councilors expressing the difficulty in chosing only two from the eight possible volunteers to represent a ward, Carol Collison and Ed Hitchinson were selected.

The other library scommittee members are councillors Peter Martin, Frank Noccey, Peggy Taylor and volunteers Debbie Forsythe, Lynn Barkley, Brenda Murray and Marilyn Brown.

Mayor Dave Dobbie said the committees should meet as soon as possible, since some haven't met in about a month's time.

Councillors Dan McDonald, Martin and Deputy Mayor Thomson sit on the Economic Development committee along with Joe Scott, Sandra Burchell, Heather Lawless and Bob Lucey.

The Planning Advisory committee consists of councillors Martin, McDonald and Noccey and volunteers George Brown, Jane Johnson and Doug Cleary.

Meanwhile, the Committee of Adjustment's appointees are Linda Chapeskie, Pam Somerville and Joe Scott.

The Environment committee, which duties include issues involving the lagoon in Spencerville and the water treatment and sewage treatment plants in Cardinal, is comprised of councilors Taylor, Noccey and Bill Sloan.

Thomson, Sloan and McDonald make up the Public Works committee, while Noccey, Martin and Taylor comprise the Administration committee.

The Cardinal Community Centre board has one councillor: McDonald and seven volunteers: Joe Scott, Ed Riddell, Tom Owers, Walt Smail, Bev Toupin, Sharon Last and Dan McLaughlin.

The Recreation Facilities committee is comprised of three councillors: Sloan, Noccey and Taylor and six volunteers: Christina Edge, Roxanne Riddell, Sandra Robertson, Greg Modler, Julia Couture and Stephanie Summers.

Conifer plantation management course offered

PRESCOTT ­ A course for landowners, Conifer Plantation Management, is being sponsored by the Grenville Land Stewardship Council and the Eastern Ontario Model Forest.

To be held at South Grenville District High School, the program is intended to help landowners manage their conifer plantations through discussions, hands-on experiences and field demonstrations.

Interested participants will be owners of lands covered by a Woodlands Improvement Act agreement and landowners who have conifer stands on their properties.

The workshop will be held on three Thursday evenings and a half-day, Saturday field trip. The first session is Thursday, Feb. 8, from 7 to 9 p.m.

"Most conifer plantations need a certain level of active management if they are to remain healthy and productive," said Jack Henry of the stewardship council.

"Whether your interest is to maximize wildlife habitat, personal income, or a combination, doing the right thing at the right time is important."

Session topics include crop planning, forest operations, timber sales, biodiversity, insects, disease and disaster.

There is a cost for the sessions; materials will be provided. Contact Jack Henry or Bev Nixon at 342-8528 or Mark Richardson at 258-8241.

South Grenville 'Grizzlies' maul competition in two tournaments

Grizzlies capture 'A' side of two tournaments

SPENCERVILLE ­ The South Grenville Minor Hockey Association Novice Team #2 "Grizzlies" are having a great season with a record of 13 wins and only one loss in Upper Canada League play.

Hard work at practice and team determination have paid off for the team. In two recent tournaments, the Grizzlies captured the 'A' side championships.

On Jan. 2, they travelled to Athens to participate in the Athens Novice House League tournament. With competition against teams they have never before played, the Grizzles rose to the challenge and emerged as champions of the 'A'-side.

In the team's first game, they defeated the Gananoque Maple Leafs 4-0. Mike Allen worked hard in net, recording the shutout. Scorers were Cory Lee Charlebois (1), Ben Hutton (2). Hutton also earned an assist.

The second and third games kept the fans on the edge of their seats. In the second game, defenceman James Halliday set up Hutton to tie the game at the four minute mark.

With 25 seconds left in the game, winger Cameron Pelehos worked the puck off the boards to Hutton, who buried the winning goal.

The Grizzlies were challenged in the final game, playing against a Smiths Falls' team who had not yet lost a game all season.

Smiths Falls opened the scoring in the first by squeaking the puck past

Allen. It was end-to-end action with each goalie stopping numerous shots.

But in the third, Hutton robbed a Smiths Falls defenceman and headed towards the net, scoring to tie the game.

With less than two minutes remaining, the Grizzles' defence cleared their zone. Grizzlies' centreman picked up puck in the neutral zone and found the back of the net for the tournament winning goal. Hutton scored two goals.

Although Hustler awards for the tournament went to Mike Allan, Lee Charlebois, Ben Hutton, Blair Rainey, Shane Riddell and Thomas Polite, the whole team put in a phenomenal effort. Goalie Allan had a stellar performance in net. Dillon Whittaker, Sam Contant, Halliday and Zachary Bright were quick to clear any rebounds from in front of the net.

SGMHA tournament

In further tournament action at the South Grenville Minor Hockey Association Novice tournament in Spencerville Jan. 13, the Grizzlies again won the 'A' side championship.

In the first game, they narrowly defeated by Morrisburg 2-1. The first goal was scored by Charlebois, assisted Taylor Corney and Pelehos. The second goal was scored by Hutton, assisted by Whittaker and Polite. Game two saw the Grizzlies defeat home team rival South Grenville Team #3 6-0. Goals went to Hutton (4) and Polite (2).

Assists were credited to Bright, Halliday, Kyle McNamara, Hutton, Sam Contant and Rainey.

The Grizzlies faced Westport in the final game and won 5-1. Scoring order was Hutton, Todd, Charlebois, Polite and Shane Riddell. Racking up the assists were Whittaker, Hutton (2), Polite and Charlebois.

The team missed centreman Taylor Corney, who was only able to tough out one game in two tournaments due to an ankle injury.

Team trainers are Gary and Lisa Todd. The team's goalie coach is Mike Pelehos. Jim Hutton is the team's manager.

Midget 'B' Rangers score tournament win

The Rangers participated in the SouthEnd Christmas Stick Tournament during the Christmas break.

There first game was Dec. 27 against the host team. The tournament ran on points per period. The Rangers outplayed the host team SouthEnd to a 7-1 win.

The scoring went well for Dustin Swan, who had two goals and two assists. Matt Gibson scored two goals and had an assist, while Derek June scored twice, Drew Lawrence picked up a goal and an assist.

Josh Kirkby picked up three assists. Single assists went to Andrew Fortier, Ted Livingston and Jeff Condie. The Rangers pick up all five points.

In Game two the Rangers faced Orleans. The Rangers were without four players and played hard in a 5-4 loss, but they still picked up one point. The Rangers scored two goals and two assists for Dustin Swan, Ricky Dannis with one goal and three assists and Ted Livingston helped out on the assists with two. John Bush picked up the fourth goal.

The Rangers now had six points and to win against the Pembroke Kings. This was not hard for the Rangers with a 2-0 win and Joel Stone picking up the shutout, who also received a trophy for his outstanding play.

The Rangers goals were from Derek June with one goal and one assist. Adam Lawrence picked up the second goal.

This gave the Rangers 10 points and put them into the semi-final game Dec. 30 against the Refrew Timber Wolves.

The Rangers played a strong game against the Wolves and came out on top 5-4. David MacKinnon came up big with two goals and one assist. Adam Lawrence put in the game winner at the 1:11 mark in the third period.

Adam also had two assists/ Matt Gibson and Drew Lawrence put in the balance, while Jeff Condie pick up two assists.

This put the Rangers into the final game against Orleans. This time the Rangers made no mistakes and downed Orleans 5-3.

The Rangers had a number of players on the injured list: Dustin Swan, Josh Kirkby and Matt Hands, but the Ranger played with determination. Derek June picked up a high amount of slack and came up with four goals and one assist.

June seemed to have a radar for the back of the net. Matt Gibson picked up the single and an assist. Eric Rougrik, Mike Hoogeveen also picked up assists.

League loss

The Rangers played league play on Saturday, Jan. 6 in Ernestown and came up short with a 3-2 loss.

The Rangers' goals scorers were Dustin Swan hitting the back of the net first and Drew Lawrence netting the second. Josh Kirkby and Jeff Condie picked up the assists.

South Grenville Jr. 'B' Rangers capture two wins

CARDINAL ­ The South Grenville Jr. 'B' Rangers are having success playing teams from the EOJBHL's other division.

This week alone the Rangers scored two wins. Last week, despite losing to the Morrisburg Lions, who sit in third place in the St. Lawrence, the Rangers beat the division-leading Kemptville '73 5-4.

And this week, the Rangers, who faced the Akwesasne Wolves, the Alexandria Glens and Winchester Hawks, notched two more wins and just one loss.

The three-game weekend got off to a shaky start however. In the Rangers' away game Jan. 11 against the Wolves, they were mauled 6-1.

The Ranger's only goal came at 9:15 in the first period by Assistant Captain Tyler Rasa. Tyler Shanks and Jason Denio assisted on Rasa's goal. By the time the Rangers scored, they were already down two goals: at 14:39 by Noah McDonald and at 10:10 by Jamie Smith.

The Wolves continued to rack up the goals in the first. At 8:55, Josh Jacobs scored, followed 24 seconds later by Tim St. Jean.

In the second period, the Wolves scored two more goals. Frankie Allen scored at 16:04, followed by Lance Smith at 11:25.

Two days later, the Rangers, who are in last place in the Rideau Division bounced back, to defeated the second-place St. Lawrence Division Glens in a game forced into a shootout.

Scoring during the game for the Rangers were Patrick Muir, assisted by Assistant Captain Andrew Hare and Shawn Perring; Paul Benes, assisted by Jason Denio; then Perring scored two goals, an unassisted marker in the second, followed by one in the third, assisted by Muir and Matt McNally.

In the shootout, Rangers' Jason Denio and Paul Benes scored. This marks the fourth overtime win for the Rangers, three by shootouts.

Rangers Alex Last earned the win in net, giving up only one goal in the five Alexandria attempts during the shootout.

Rangers 4, Hawks 3

In an afternoon game Sunday, Jan. 14 in Winchester, the Rangers edged out the fifth-place Hawks. The Hawks scored first at 9:30 in the first off a goal by Dave Saunders.

The Rangers were without seven regular players, with only 12 players dressing for the game. But the team was able to dig deep to earn the win over Winchester.

It wasn't until the second period that Rangers' Jason Denio scored the team's first goal at 17:07, assisted by Matt McNally and Assistant Captain Lucas Spencer.

Denio scored again at 16:29, assisted by Affiliate Player Ted Livingston. Still in the second, Rangers' Paul Benes scored unassisted at 15:34.

Next it would be the Hawks' turn to score.

Dylan Gravely scored at 11:54, and then at 6:25, tying the game at three.

The game-winner came at 7:15 in the third, off the stick of Muir, assisted by Hare.

Rangers' goalie Mick Wells played a strong game in net for the win.

Joel Stone was the other affliate player that dressed for the game.

Blazers split two games in basketball

BROCKVILLE ­ Brockville Blazers Bantam girls basketball team played a pair of home games Jan. 13 at St. Mary High School.

In the Blazers' first game, the team was edged 36-35. Leading scorer for Brockville was Lindsay Coombes with 13 points. Heidi Rienstra had six steals.

Brockville 26, Ottawa 22

The second game saw another close battle with Brockville coming out on top against Ottawa 26-22. Reinstra led Brockville with seven points. Jenna Beatty had 11 points.

The Blazers ran their overall record to 10-5.

SG Atom Rangers start new year with a bang

South Grenville Atom Rangers Team 2 started the new year off to a flying start.

The Rangers swarmed the Kemptville Panthers shift after shift but could not get the puck past big Shane Morrison.

With just three seconds left in the first period, Kemptville got their first shot of the game. Rangers' goalie Jake Cassleman made a diving catch.

But the puck came loose and rolled into the net. A quick goal by K. Cyderman in the second period gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Reuniting the trio of Joe Murray, Ryan Gilligan and Hank Heycoop sparked the beginnings of what looked like a comeback.

A nifty pass by Gilligan to Heycoop set up Murray in front of the net. Murray's first shot was stopped, but he lifted his rebound over the big goalie. Gilligan and Heycoop combined their magic again by setting up the Flying Fletcher Wheyer for his first goal of the season.

Pressing hard, all game long, Morrison came up big time and time again, with his biggest save of the night stopping a shot by gritty Nick Perry.

Hard work along the boards by Taylor Hanes caused a turnover. Hanes was able to pick up the puck and slid a pass to Perry, who one timed it.

But Morrison gloved the puck, which was headed for the top corner.

With less than two minutes left to play, Galvin Cullian gave the Panthers a 3-2 victory.

The Rangers pulled their goalie and again swarmed the Kemptville net but to no avail.

A solid defensive effort by Grouix, Stan McNairn, Josh Newton and a flu-ridden Luke Cassleman held the visiting team to just six shots, while the Rangers' forwards managed 28.

250 figure skaters to compete in weekend invitational

PRESCOTT - The Leo Boivin Community Centre will be a hub of activity this weekend with 250 figure skaters competing in the 12th annual Prescott Invitational Free Skate sponsored by the Prescott Figure Skating Club.

Cindy McGuin, chairwoman of the committee organizing the event, reported that skaters from throughout Eastern Ontario and parts of Northern New York and Western Quebec will compete in a myriad of events that will last all day Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 20 and 21.

Many clubs send skaters to Prescott each year for the Invitational, including the competitive Arnprior club, which for the past two years has taken home the Ray Throop Memorial Trophy.

McGuin said this year, a new event has been added. Senior and intermediate skaters can try for gold in the similar dance 14-step.

It's just one of dozens of competitions that will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

"We're looking forward to a good event with a lot of skaters coming back," McGuin said.

She added that the new events should prove popular. McGuin welcomed everyone in the community to drop by the rink to watch many up-and-coming figure skaters competing.

Many local skaters are competing at the event, including 28 from the Prescott club alone, up from only a dozen Prescott skaters last year.

Also competing in the 2001 event will be skaters from clubs in Brockville, Cardinal, Edwardsburgh, Athens, as well as Almonte, Arnprior, Carleton Place, Casselman, Char-Lan, Chesterville, Cornwall, Embrun, Fort Henry Heights, Gananoque, Glen Cairn, Gloucester, Hawkesbury, Kemptville, Loyalist, March Kanata, Metcalfe, Minto in Ottawa, Morrisburg, Nepean, Ogdensburg, N.Y., Quinte, Renfrew, Richmond, Rideau, Rideau Lakes, Rockland, Shawville, Que., Stittsville, Vankleek Hill, West Carleton, West Kingston and Winchester.

Local businesses have again donated items for the popular raffle table during the Invitational, which helps raise money for the club's activities.

The Prescott Figure Skating Club runs programs for recreational and competitive skaters age 2 and up.

The next big event will be the annual skating show, held each year in March.