THIS WEEK

Silent auction part of awards banquet

PRESCOTT ­ There is still time to get tickets for the Prescott and District Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet.

The banquet will be held Monday, March 5 at St. Mark's Parish Centre. Cocktails at 6 pm will be followed by dinner at 7 pm. The guest speakers will be Ray Bushfield and Tom Blanchard, whose topic will be "Local Government and Business in 2001 ­ A Model."

Business, volunteer and youth achievement awards will also be presented at the event.

The event will also feature a 50-50 draw and silent auction. Viewing and bidding will take place between 5 and 7 pm, as well as during an intermission at the banquet. Items up for grabs at the auction include a VCR, a "day in the life of a trucker" trip to Montreal and a stay at a local inn. Successful bidders will be announced later in the evening.

Tickets are being sold at banks in Prescott and at town hall. For more information about tickets and the awards banquet, call 925-2171.

Talent show March 7 at SGDHS

PRESCOTT ­ The South Grenville District High School Energizers Club is sponsoring a talent show at the school Wednesday, March 7 from 7 to 9 p.m.

All grade levels will be participating in the entertainment, which consists of a variety of dance groups, vocalists and bands, said organizer Lorna Thain, a Grade 11 student. All acts in the show had to previously pass an audition.

Proceeds from the show will support a local charity and extra-curricular activities within the school. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

For more information, contact Thain at 658-2359.

Friday service marks World Day of Prayer

PRESCOTT ­ Local residents are invited to mark World Day of Prayer at a service of prayer and music this Friday, March 2 at 2 pm at St. Mark's Catholic Church.

This annual worldwide event is celebrated by Christians in 200 countries and an estimated 2,000 communities in Canada. This year's service was written by the women of Samoa; participants in Prescott and elsewhere will hear about this beautiful South Pacific country's culture and heritage and how poverty and modernization have affected traditional family structures and social support systems.

The Prescott service is being hosted this year by the women of St. Mark's parish under CWL President Micheline Cook. Also participating in the service are the women of Seaway Christian Church, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, St. John's Anglican Church and St. Paul's United Church.

The service will be followed by fellowship and refreshments in St. Mark's Parish Centre. Call Micheline Cook at 925-4636 for more information.

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Year-end OPP stats show mixed results

By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer

PRESCOTT ­ The Ontario Provincial Police has reported success in its effort to reduce property crime and serious motor vehicle accidents in the Eastern Region.

Statistics released earlier this month show decreases in a number of categories. Chief Superintendent Rick Deering noted in a news release the OPP had sought in its business plan to reduce the number of crime victims as well as personal injuries sustained by the public.

The Eastern Region, which includes Grenville county, extends from just east of Algonquin Park to the Quebec border west of Montreal. The regional headquarters is located in Smiths Falls.

OPP reported a 17-per-cent reduction last year in property crime and a 21-per-cent drop in reported break and enters in the region. There were 3,287 incidents reported in 2000 compared to 4,117 during the previous year. The clearance rate ­ cases in which charges are laid ­ for break and enters decreased by three per cent last year.

Police reported violent crime decreased by five per cent in 2000. The OPP reduced its clearance rate by three per cent in that area.

In terms of motor vehicle accidents, those involving fatalities decreased by 30 per cent compared to the 1999 total. Accidents in which there were injuries decreased by eight per cent. OPP had been seeking reductions of five and three per cent respectively.

There were mixed results in the year-end numbers provided by Senior Constable and Community Services Officer Cindy MacDonald for Grenville county detachments in Prescott and Kemptville. For example, the number of actual break-ins increased from 146 in 1999 to 190 last year; however, the clearance rate jumped from 21.9 per cent in 1999 to 44.2 per cent in 2000. The presence of a rural crime unit with members working throughout the region has been of value when it comes to dealing with break-ins, according to MacDonald.

Personal injury collisions in Grenville have been averaging 104 per year. The total reported last year was 139, 33.6 per cent above the average. The detachment investigated 812 collisions in 2000 compared to 733 in the previous year.

Two of the five goals listed in the detachment's 2000 business plan were to hold break and enters at the 1999 level and to reduce personal injury collisions.

MacDonald noted the detachment surpassed its goal of reducing by five per cent the number of

speeding complaints received from the public. The OPP has been receiving on average 30 complaints per month. The average last year was 26.3 complaints.

The detachment also exceeded its goal for contact with school children, according to MacDonald. The goal was 9,000 "non-enforcement contacts"; officers logged just under 15,000 contacts last year. In addition to an "adopt-a-cop" program started locally, MacDonald visits schools on a daily basis.

Among the detachment's goals in its 2001 business plan are to have a break-in total similar to the average for the past few years and to reduce personal injury accidents.

There are approximately 55 uniform officers working for the OPP in Grenville county; the Prescott-based contingent includes 23 uniform officers, two detective constables and one cadet.

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Farmers told to continue pressure on government

ROEBUCK ­ The value of solidarity was reinforced to local farmers recently.

The Grenville Federation of Agriculture (GFA) held its annual banquet and business meeting Friday night at the Roebuck Community Centre.

Adrian Wynands, who was re-elected president of the 320-member GFA, said it is important that farmers remain undivided and focused in their attempt to convince governments they need to provide more support for the farming community.

The simple problem facing many farmers is they are selling grains, oil seeds and other commodities at world prices at a time when other countries are subsidizing their farmers to a much greater extent, according to GFA past-president and current provincial director Geri Kamenz. Lower prices are making it difficult for some farmers to earn a living and keep their operations going. This is a problem the government can solve within the farming community, he noted.

Hundreds of farmers from across Eastern Ontario took part in recent protests in Embrun, Cornwall and the Winchester-Chesterville area.

"I think the government is starting to take notice," he stated.

Wynands said the farming community in Ontario and throughout Canada needs the government's help, and it should be made to follow through with its pledge to deal with the farmers' plight.

Kamenz said it may have been naive to take the government at its word when it said the first order after the November federal election would be to respond to the crisis facing the industry. Kamenz described the grassroots movement which sprung up in recent months as being "a wonderful thing."

GFA officials are also emphasizing the need for the federal government to formulate a long-term food policy for Canada.

Federation representatives meet several times a year with MPs and MPPs to discuss issues affecting local farmers, Wynands noted. GFA tries to offer direct help to its members or point them in the right direction, he added.

"We look out for farmers' best interests," Wynands said in an interview.

Beef and dairy farms make up the majority of farming operations in Grenville county, according to Wynands. Although beef and dairy are in general doing well these days compared to some agricultural sectors, Wynands noted farming is cyclical in nature; prices go up and down, and the associated risks make it important for groups like the GFA to educate governments and the public about the contributions made by the farming community.

Rick Norton is the GFA's vice-president for 2001. The directors representing Edwardsburgh are Alex Desjardin and Doug Cleary; Augusta is represented by Gerry Carey and Ryan Brophy.

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Repairing Churchill Road a priority, town says

By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer

PRESCOTT - Town officials agree something has to be done about the condition of Churchill Road.

Sections of the roadway between Edward and Boundary streets have become an unwanted adventure for motorists who must manoeuvre around numerous potholes and dips in the road surface. Although town public works crews have been out filling many of those potholes, others seem to be emerging on a regular basis.

Town Engineer Clyde Solomon said the thaw-and-freeze conditions this winter have contributed to a problem that has existed for many years. Poor drainage and sub-base conditions would limit the long-term value of resurfacing the deteriorating roadway, he noted.

"The road needs to be reconstructed," Solomon said.

The estimated cost of doing just that is $700,000. The estimate does not include rebuilding the road east of Boundary, he added. Such a project would likely take about two months to complete, according to Solomon.

Repairing Churchill Road as been listed as one of several capital projects the municipality will face at some point in the coming years. Other items include renovations to town hall and a new sewage treatment plant. Many roads were redone last year as part of a major town infrastructure project.

Solomon said he has highlighted the Churchill Road problem in his preliminary budget submission. However, he noted it will be up to council to decide how to proceed. As much as he believes simply resurfacing the roadway may be a case of "throwing good money after bad," Solomon acknowledged the town may not be able to fix the problem all at once and opt for a more temporary solution.

Past and current members of Prescott council have indicated something has to be done about the condition of Churchill Road. Councillor Garry Dewar believes council would consider road improvements to be a high priority. However, he noted at a town committee meeting Monday it is too early in the budget process to say what the town will decide to do about Churchill.

"I would hope council could do something," Dewar said.

Other items listed as capital projects include repairing the Boundary Street railway crossing and the Edward Street overpass. Solomon said the deck of the overpass appears to be in "relatively good condition," but the time has come for a structural engineer to conduct an assessment of the overpass.

The cost of repairing the structure could cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, town officials estimated when they compiled the capital project list last year.

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Chernobyl aid shipped from Prescott

PRESCOTT ­ An area humanitarian organization will be sending more than double its shipments of aid this year to the Republic of Belarus to help those struggling with the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear plant explosion.

Last year Canadian Aid for Chernobyl, a Brockville-based organization, shipped $1.3 million in humanitarian aid to Belarus from Canada.

This year the organization will be sending more than $3 million to the Chaussy region of the republic, whose people have been hit hard by the explosions at the nuclear plant which occured 15 years ago, and have since been suffering from radioactive-related illnesses.

The shipment, which is set to depart for the republic March 1, includes 12 tons of medicine, dental supplies, personal hygiene products, household supplies, and food. Four orphanages, four hospitals and 27,000 children and families will benefit from this year's shipment.

The organization, which started delivering aid two-and-a half-years ago, has shipped more than $7 million in supplies to the country.

Dave Shaw, a director for the organiziation, said the people of the region have been left to deal with the consequences of the explosions.

"Fifteen years later the world has forgotten about them," Shaw said. "You are starting to see second and third generations of people with serious illnesses."

Shaw said the most serious consequence of the radiation has been that it suppresses one's immune system, leaving the body suspectable to disease. Children are suffering from a host of illnesses, including juvenile diabetes, thyroid cancer and leukemia.

This shipment includes $900,000 in medicine as well as 100 bottles of cough syrup and 50 glucose blood monitors. There are also $10,000 in dental supplies.

Getting the medicine, which includes antibiotics, from the various donators in a timely fashion has been critical, Shaw said. Kriska Transportation, which has done a majority of the organization's transporting as well as provide the use of a warehouse for the storage of the supplies, has responded quickly, which is crucial when shipping medicine, he added.

Ten thousand volunteers hours have gone into preparing the shipment, which includes the various businesses, schools, service groups and churches that have participated.

Twenty people from Leeds and Grenville will meet the shipments to ensure the supplies get delivered to where the organization intended.

The organization also has a host program, where children come to Canada for six weeks and receive medical and dental treatment. There is an Orphan Education Program, which sponsors children's university education.

Music for a cold winter's evening

Classical music concert review by Colin Boag

On Thursday evening the audience at St Andrew's church was treated to some fine, often fiery, piano playing by one of the country's leading piano duos, Claire Ouellet and Sandra Murray.

The concert opened in lively fashion with excerpts from Rossini's opera, The Barber of Seville. Unlike the reception this opera received at its premiere in 1816, (the entire first act, with Rossini at the piano, was sung over a bedlam of whistles, catcalls, shrieks & howls), the Prescott audience immediately warmed to this duo and showed their appreciation in a more conventional manner with enthusiastic applause.

The second work, Saint-Saens' tone poem, Danse Macabre, was executed with the precision and dynamism that such a work demands. The poem on which it is based tells of death playing a dance tune on a wintry night from the stroke of midnight to the cock's crow of dawn.

Ouellet and Murray brought the poem to life from the somber beautifully-delineated strokes of midnight, followed by the rattle of bones as skeletons danced the night away before softly scurrying back to their coffins as the rooster announced the coming of dawn.

Maurice Ravels' Spanish Rapsody rounded out the first half of the program. The second half of the program consisted of works by Dvorak, Violet Archer and Johannes Brahms. From the Bohemian Forest, (Dvorak, 1841-1904), was played with warmth and sensitivity with the melodies invoking feelings associated with nostalgic folk music. This folk theme was reinforced by the duo's dynamic interpretation of five of Ten Folk Songs, a work by the contemporary Canadian composer, Violet Archer, (1913-2000). Four excerpts from Brahms Hungarian Dances brought the program to a close.

In short, it was an energetic performance ideally suited for a cold February evening in Prescott given by two artists who were not afraid of showing they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Earlier in the day, the duo performed before grades 7 and 8 students at Central Public School. This concert, sponsored by the Fort Town Concert Association, was well received.

The vision of the association is to continue to bring concerts to diverse student age groups as interest is shown by area schools.

SCHOOL SCENE

ALGONQUIN PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ The parent council meeting will be rescheduled for March.

BOUNDARY STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ The Grade 8 students are busy selling tickets for an Easter basket. All proceeds will go towards their year-end trip. On Thursday, there will be a Spirit assembly at 9:30 am in the gym to finalize our fundraiser. On Friday, March 2, the hot lunch is pogos.

CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ The hot lunch this week is chicken nuggets. Report cards will go home the week of March 5.

House league basketball finals were played Monday and Tuesday at lunch. The Central Tigers senior boys basketball team travelled to Maple Ridge Feb. 27 for the basketball regional championships.

The senior girls basketball team travelled to Iroquois Feb. 26 for their regional basketball tournament.

MAITLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ Tuesday was Pancake Day at Maitland PS. The

whole school gathered for the story "Pancakes, Pancakes," written by Eric Carle. The story was about pancake traditions in other countries.

Then students ate pancakes with their classmates. What a great way to finish off the month of February.

School council meets Thursday, March 1 at 7 pm. Keep your eyes open for your March newsletter detailing fun activities for "Winter Wake up Week!"

Patty Bellis's Grade 4/5 students recently dissected owl pellets as part of a reward class Feb. 14. Owl pellets contain food like bones and fur which can't be digested by the birds and are regurgitated as pellets. The students inspected the pellets using tweezers and magnifying glasses.

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL ­ On Thursday, March 1, a school council meeting will be held at 7 pm in the school library. Also, the hot lunch is pizza.

ST. MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL ­ On Ash Wednesday, Mass will be held at 9:30 am.

SOUTH EDWARDSBURG PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Junior Kindergarten to Grade 1 students will taking an afternoon field trip to the post office, the police station and the fire station.

A school council meeting will be held Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 pm.

On Thursday, March 1, Grade 7 and 8 students will be swooshing down the hills at Ski Vorlage in Hull, Quebec.

The learning lab hours at the school are Monday, 8:30 to 10:30 am; Wednesday, 8:30 to 10:30 am and 1 to 5:30 pm; Thursday, 3:30 to 5:30 pm; and Friday, 8 to 9:30 am. During the March Break, the learning lab will be closed from March 12 to March 16.

MAYNARD PUBLIC SCHOOL ­ The junior grade students are going skiing at Mount Pakenham Friday, March 2. Kindergarten registration continues.

The senior boys competed in the regional basketball championships this week.

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OPP NEWS

Stolen car goes up in flames

EDWARDSBURGH - A car that was destroyed in a fire Feb. 26 on Hands Road was stolen, Grenville County OPP reported. The black 1997 Pontiac Sunbird had been stolen the day before in Brockville. Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigating officer, Constable Rick Foley, at 925-4221, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Audio, video equipment stolen

EDWARDSBURGH - Police were called to a Chambers Rd. residence Feb. 22 to investigate a break, enter and theft. Items removed from the residence include a home stereo (receiver, CD player and speakers), television, computer, VCR, Playstation with eight games, approximately 50 CDs and 20 DVD movies. Anyone with information is asked to contact Constable Brad Wilhelm at Grenville County OPP at 925-4221 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Driver charged on two separate occasions

EDWARDSBURGH - A 35-year-old Spencerville man was charged in connection with two incidents. OPP stopped a vehicle on County Road 44 Feb. 23 and charged the man with impaired driving and over .08 mg. He was also issued a 90-day administrative licence suspension. On Feb. 26, the same person was stopped by police on County Road 21. He was charged with driving a motor vehicle while suspended, an offence under the Highway Traffic Act. He is to appear in court March 30 and April 3.

Motorist charged with impaired driving

SPENCERVILLE - OPP officers stopped a vehicle just after 1:30 am Feb. 24 on County Road 21. A 39-year-old Oxford Station man was arrested and charged with impaired driving and over .08 mg. He was also served with a 90-day administrative licence suspension. The man is to appear March 23 in Brockville court.

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Reflections on a community leader

MAITLAND NEWS Jane Fullarton

It was with great sadness that the Maitland community learned of the passing of long-time Maitland resident Gordon MacCormack. MacCormack was well known in the community, most recently as a generous benefactor of the Maitland Education and Recreation Bursary, but initially for his work in starting the Maitland Cross Country Ski Trails.

Mr. MacCormack was an avid cross country skier and continued to ski until the last few years. He was an instructor with the airforce before his retirement and wrote a book titled "Reflections", a biographical chronicle published in 1998.

It was more than 30 years ago that Mr. MacCormack began talking about forming a cross country ski club in Maitland. Pat Allport remembers that, "The trails were his idea, lots of people in the community thought he was out to lunch when he spoke of it, but Gord made it happen."

Mr. MacCormack contacted the property owners, including the Ministry of Natural Resources, since there is a lot of Crown land in the area, and obtained permission to use the land. He laid out the trails and worked hard blazing the trails. Fred Allport recalls, "He was tough. He would be out there in all weather and seasons working in spite of bugs when nobody else would go out there."

Mr. MacCormack was successful in getting the club formed and found many other enthusiasts to help with the maintenance of the trails. Don Filewod was another tireless early volunteer. Mr. MacCormack was good at finding things the trails could use. He came across some picnic tables that were being discarded and had them hauled out along the trails so that people could use them for picnics. He also instigated the building of two shelters built along the way to provide rest stops.

Initially, the trails were funded by the Maitland Cross Country Ski Club. Annual fees were charged for use of the trails and skiers had to have a membership badge. The fees were used to pay for the equipment to groom the trails, gas and cutting equipment to clear branches.

Eventually the club was absorbed by the Maitland Education and Recreation committee and fees were no longer charged. To honour Mr. MacCormack for his efforts the trails were named the Gordon MacCormack Ski Trails.

Today the Gordon MacCormack Trails are a well-used enhancement to the community. Fred Allport says, "There are lots of people who help. If I needed ten people out there this afternoon I could get them. Lots of volunteers use their own equipment to groom and clear the trails."

Plans are currently underway to place a box with envelopes for donations at the entrance to the trails at MERC and Maitland by the Trails so that people wishing to make a donation to the operation of the trails can send their donations in the addressed envelopes.

Mr. MacCormack has left Maitland a terrific legacy. Faith Allingham sums it up simply, "We are going to miss him in this community."

WALKER HOUSE NEWS

By Willy Sieling Heuvel

The dinner on Saturday, Feb. 17 was well-attended. Thank you to Jeannine Marion, Eleanor Gilligan and Bea Hemsley for helping serve and clean up. Much appreciated! Another dinner is planned for March 17, a truly "Irish dinner." Come join us!

I'm starting to think spring and am wondering about a sightseeing day trip to Kingston sometime in May. Any interest? Give me a call, please.

Why don't you join in the craft group, quilting or card games at Walker House? Tuesday they meet for crafts, Thursday for quilting and all during the week there are various card games. Give me a call at 925-5300. All it costs is a membership to Walker House.

We are having a pot luck supper Friday, March 9 at noon followed by guest speaker Mary Cook. Everyone is invited.

Card game winners last week were: Monday bridge ­ 1st, Valerie Schulz; 2nd, Findlay Hill; Sam Covey won the door prize. Wednesday bridge ­ 1st, Andy Britnell; 2nd, Joyce Nesbitt; Andy also won the door prize. Thursday evening euchre ­ 1st, Myrtle Shahan; 2nd, Hilda Hutton and Jean McCrady; 3rd, Phyllis Whitney and Alice Crowder; Bea Hemsley won the door prize.

St. Paul's United Church is having a Sunday brunch on March 4 from 11:30 am to 1 pm. Call 925-1865 for details.

Tough decisions ahead for school board

PRESCOTT ­ Recently elected chairwoman of the Upper Canada District School Board Joan Hodge said she wants this board to continue to provide quality education for its students, but concedes there are challenges ahead for the board.

"I want the Upper Canada District School Board to be the best public board in Ontario," Hodge said. "We really have to work hard for public education and the system."

But there are several challenges facing the board such as a funding formula for transportation and facility-related issues which will take some time to work through before solutions can be found.

"Things get complicated," Hodge said, who maintains her role as a trustee for North and South Grenville. "And it will take a bit of time to get through them, but we don't have a choice."

Hodge said in terms of facilities, some are being underused, while in other areas there is a shortage of space for students. Tough decisions will have to made. In some cases, "spaces" will have to be closed, but that raises the question: Where will these children go? Hodge said. In other instances, portables need to be closed, but where does the money come from?

With an imbalance in student population in different areas, one solution is to redraw boundaries to better balance student population, Hodge said.

In such cases, Hodge said the board has to maintain dialogue with students and parents because, for example, when boundaries change parents ask why were these decisions made.

Such tough decisions will need to be made, Hodge said, while maintaining the "bricks and mortar."

One area that is out of the hands of the board, Hodge said, is the ongoing dispute between the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and the province over the issue of extra-curricular activities. Hodge said she doesn't see any resolution between the two groups in time to salvage teacher-run extra-curricular activities this year, despite the formation of a committee to look into this issue.

The five-member advisory group was formed, according to a release from Education Minister Janet Ecker, "to recommend measures to ensure Ontario students have improved access to co-instructional activities."

The group's final report is expected to be submitted by mid-March.

"It's unfortunate," Hodge said, "because students are the ones who have lost a year."

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I think the government is starting to take notice."

GFA President Adrian Wynands,

referring to an upswing in protests by farmers

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Editor's NotebookGood argument for local PCs to stay with Clark

Disclosure the past couple of weeks of Canadian Alliance Party happenings both on and off Parliament Hill have left us wondering what kind of nervous ruminations Bob Runciman, MPP for Brockville and the Islands, has had to deal with as he watches his hero Stockwell Day get shoved right out of the political scene in Canada by PC leader Joe Clark. Our readers will recall that Mr. Runciman tried to rally his Leeds-Grenville provincial Progressive Conservatives to leave the traditional Tory camp in the last federal election to support local Alliance Party candidate Gord Brown and national leader Stockwell Day over local PC candidate John Johnston and national Tory leader Joe Clark.

This jump to what seemed the greener side of the Tory pasture almost worked for Mr. Runciman, but after a very narrow election win, Liberal Joe Jordan is back in the House of Commons, Joe Clark is being referred to by the Liberal front benchers as "the Hon. Leader of the Opposition", and hapless little Stockwell Day is wandering aimlessly about the prairies throwing snowballs at Alliance-ignited forest fires. If there had just been one Alliance Party scandal for Day to deal with, he might have been able to handle it, but as of this past weekend it looked as if Joe Clark, if he gets tired of baiting Jean Chretien, would have plenty of fuel stored up to singe Day on more than a Day-to-Day basis.

Stockwell Day's biggest problem is how he is going to handle the $70,000 donation his party received from the law firm that represented him in a libel suit trial and which earned a $400,000 fee from the Alberta PC party for its work. The donation is tainted by the fact that the partner in the law firm that sent the cheque to the Alliance Party had it drawn on the firm's trust account. Trust account funds belong to a legal firm's clients and cannot be used to feather the beds of politicians.

While "Stock" (that's what Mr. Runciman and the rest of the insider friends call their leader) was riding off towards the bank with the $70,000 in his saddle bags, that ornery Alliance MP Jim Hart, who gave up his seat so the boss could get elected to the House of Commons in a safe riding, spilled the beans that the Alliance Party had promised him $50,000 to vacate his seat. He hasn't been paid in full and furthermore, Day was personally involved in those negotiations.

Now, when things go this bad for anyone, especially a federal party leader, it is obvious he needs a new spin doctor, a new and highly skilled communications director, a damage control expert. Give Stockwell Day credit, he knew what he and his party needed and he went out and bought one of these type of guys. Trouble is he didn't look at the price tag and when he got to the checkout counter he found he didn't have enough in his pocket to hire the guy. Mr. Day selected Ezra Levant as his new communications director, but he came with a price tag of $150,000. This is about twice what political hacks of his ilk are usually paid (just a tad more than weekly editors) and was way beyond the Alliance Party's budget. Not to worry. Several Alliance MPs were asked to hand over any excess funds from their parliamentary budgets to the leader's office. Explaining his $150,000 salary and where the money is coming from to pay it will be the first test of Mr. Levant's PR skills.

When we see the trouble Stockwell Day is in, and how extremely capable Tory leader Joe Clark has been as he continues to hammer Prime Minister Chretien and his cabinet about Liberal corruption in Chretien's riding, we wonder about MPP Runciman's political sagacity in trying to sway Progressive Conservative supporters in Leeds-Grenville to switch allegiance from Joe Clark to Stockwell Day

John Morris - Managing Editor

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Putting a potty in a Prescott park is the right thing to do

FORWARDING COMMENTS Monica Whitney

There's an idea afloat to construct portable washroom and changeroom facilities at a popular scuba dive site just west of Prescott.

I've been following the plan conceived by residents and business owners in the area with interest, because I've often wondered in passing the location, where do these people go to the bathroom? to put it politely.

And the question summons all kinds of not-too-pleasant thoughts about where this happens. Certainly, the neighbouring residents wish to do something to clean up the area and keep the divers interested in the beauty of Prescott and the river.

I'm told the divers contribute immensely to the economy, by spending several days at a time in local inns, and spending money at businesses on food, fuel and other items during their stays. I certainly don't question this, (although some may recall a previous column where I did question the manners of divers and fishermen and how the two groups could share the water.)

Washroom facilities can only enhance the divers' visits by encouraging them to stay longer in comfort. I would also hope the facilities and the site would be available to others wanting to take in the beauty and relaxing aura of the area.

This idea is worth duplicating for another prime piece of waterfront in Prescott. Washrooms are sadly lacking at Centennial Park, one of the most perfect places for a pleasant family gathering.

By choice and necessity, this park has become a favourite spot for fishing, barbecuing, playing ball, reading, collecting bits of interesting things like shells and old nails (that's a kid thing), and picnicking.

Centennial Park is a jewel to be preserved, but where to go potty?

The pool washrooms are available for everyone when the pool is actually open, but what to do when it's not?

We had an emergency last summer when my daughter had to go, like, right now, and the pool was not open. Our options were limited: we could speed the several blocks home and risk a terrible mess, risk a terrible mess somewhere in nature's beauty, or try a nearby business. Fortunately, Dr. Appleby's office was still open, and she graciously allowed us to run in to use the facilities.

I'm sure this predicament has occurred for other visitors to the park. We've been there when travellers have come by asking us if there was a washroom available, and they then leave dumbfounded that something so basic could not be had in one of Prescott's best and most popular areas.

Certainly, a washroom would encourage visitors to stay longer and enjoy this beautiful waterfront location, and perhaps use other services in town. It's a place that encourages one to linger and take in the natural softness and peacefulness. The lack of a washroom is too contradictory.

Of course, vandalism would be a key deterrent to installing even a johnny-on-the-spot, but surely, something could be done for the prime season, at least.

Let's take a cue from the folks who live near the Merwin Lane dive spot and the service clubs and businesses who hope to protect this area. It's not just divers who need to go potty.

U.S. pups rescued after daring river crossing near Maitland

Most of us are big sucks when it comes to such favourite household pets as dogs, cats and (in season) house flies, and Geof and Judy Caldwell and their friend Di Chapman, all River Road West residents, are no exception.

On Sunday, February 18, a pair of young Labrador retrievers were spotted wandering along the waterfront in Maitland and a short time later were spotted a mile or so east of there on the River Road in the vicinity of the Nitrochem plant, by nearby resident Diana Chapman. Worried that such a pair of young purebreds were lost and out in the cold on a busy highway, she coaxed them both into her car, and much to the chagrin of one of her cats, took them into her home. (The offended feline wouldn't eat for two days).

Although the dogs wore collars, there were no tattoos nor ID tags. Knowing her friends Geof and Judy Caldwell were Lab lovers and had a pair of yellow Labs themselves, Di visited them first thing Monday morning with her two foundlings in tow. A careful examination showed the yellow dog had been recently spayed, and the black Lab recently neutered.

A trip by Di and Judy to the Prescott Animal Hospital proved the surgical procedures to be very recent and dispelled any hope they might have been carrying any implanted ID chips.

Next step was to photograph the lost dogs, now known to be seven-month-old puppies, make and circulate posters, and contact all the SPCA and animal hospital clinics in the area.

As Tuesday dawned the pups were still unclaimed and thoughts of good homes were being explored. While offers were being considered the Caldwells decided to keep the black Lab for the night and see how he would fit in with their two yellow Labs.

He was a great fit. In fact, Judy reported on Wednesday that he wedged himself between she and Geof and spent the night so comfortably that when she awoke in the morning she had decided to keep the black Lab and put Geof up for adoption.

"This would have been easy," she related. "All I had to do was take the black Lab's photo off the poster and insert Geof's, then make minor changes to the wording so that it would read: 'Wanted: Good Caring Home for Little Yeller, left, and Old Feller, right.'"

But we jest!

Judy reported that after a good romp on the snow-covered beach on Wednesday morning, and looking out over the partially-frozen St. Lawrence River toward the United States, she wondered if maybe the pair of puppies had frolicked their way across the frozen river above Maitland. This, she thought, might account for the reason no Prescott or Brockville area veterinarian had a record of their recent surgical procedures.

A telephone call was placed early Wednesday afternoon to an animal hospital in Ogdensburg. Her suspicions were well-founded.

Within half an hour Phil and Kerri Bicklehaupt of Ogdensburg called to identify their seven-month-old puppies, Buddy and Jewells. They too had been circulating posters and contacting SPCA facilities and vet clinics on the American side and had not taken into consideration that the dogs had crossed the semi-frozen river.

Rest assured dog lovers and law-abiding citizens of both nations. Just as soon as these 'wet backs' from south of the border applied for work permits this spring, Immigration Canada would have been right on their tails!

This column and our Editor's Notebook jottings have been providing a lot of chaff for the Recorder and Times' newsmill lately, so we should warn the editor and the small but intrepid Prescott reporter that they already have this story and they published it last Friday.

FORT TOWN DIARY John A.H. Morris

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Responsible drivers have nothing to fear

The Editor;

This is in response to a story in the Recorder and Times entitled "Bridge Crossings Becoming a Hassle." It certainly catches readers' attention as we are invited to read about Canada Customs Officers reportedly abusing the rights of citizens and travellers as they cross the border.

This story was a follow up to a column reported in The Prescott Journal written by the Journal's publisher John Morris. I feel this story as reported to thousands of readers in the community has a few angles that need clarification and consideration.

Readers are left with the opinion that Canada Customs Officers are abusing their powers by harassing law-abiding travellers as they cross the border. Readers must consider this reported harassment when deciding to go to Ogdensburg for supper, to the bars, or just to visit friends. People are said to be scared, and staying at home.

In the event a traveller questions the conduct of any Canada Customs Officer they have had dealings with, the first thing to do is ask to speak to a supervisor or officer in charge. If they are still not happy they can speak to the chief of operations about their experience.

This accusation simply strikes out at an agency that is very proud and conscious of its public image. It does not address whether or not Mr. Morris was treated in a professional manner or whether the questions he objected to are questions a Customs Officer can legally ask. A local lawyer states that confusion has been added at the border. He further claims that the only questions people are required to answer are whether or not they're bringing goods into the country and what their citizenship is.

Bill C-18 made it Canada Customs' responsibility to apprehend subjects with outstanding arrest warrants, make our roads safer by checking for impaired drivers and act when they encounter violations of the Criminal Code. They administer in conjunction with the RCMP the Missing Children's Program, and are the major source of seized illegal weapons, and narcotics entering this country.

Are we to believe they do all this and more, with travellers only having to answer what their citizenship is and what goods they are bringing into Canada? Obviously, there are many more legitimate questions a traveller can be asked coming into Canada.

Mr. Morris is reported as stating that Prescott has a whole subculture where many evenings are spent in Ogdensburg and that this has been done for 35 years. He states it's never been a problem. This is true.

Overall these residents consistently demonstrate a respect for the laws of Canada and are trusted as responsible members of our community by officers and they have no problem crossing the border. There have, however, always been those few travellers who would go out to the bars or restaurants and drink to the point where they were a danger to all they met.

Before Customs officers had the legal power to arrest impaired drivers they fought a quiet battle to keep our roads safer. Customs Officers would pull a car over and talk to drivers convincing them to call a cab or be picked up by friend or family member at the border. Customs Officers did not turn a blind eye to these dangers because morally we all have a responsibility to get impaired drivers off the road.

The only people who need to worry about being stopped for the road side alert, are people who have drank too much alcohol and are showing clear signs that their ability to operate a motor vehicle may be impaired. Canada Customs is not going to be concerned if people have a social drink or glass of wine with their meal.

The men and women serving at the border are our neighbours in the community. They are mothers and fathers, the sons or daughters of members within our community. They are people trying to do a job that at the best of times is difficult and for which they are at times subject to extreme criticism.

Most local residents will only see a Customs Officer if they have to pay duty on purchases from the United States. Residents of Canada going out to supper with a designated driver or drinking responsibly have nothing to fear. I believe it is a disservice to the community if they are left with the impression that they need to worry about returning from supper in the United States, or visiting a friend.

Bruce McKeever Chief Steward Canada Customs Port of Prescott

Town residents should have easier access to local dump

The Editor;

I have an issue that really bothers me. Taxpayers in this town have no access to a dump to get rid of unwanted stuff that won't fit into a garbage bag. The Augusta Dump charges $92 to be allowed into their dump each time. This is very frustrating for town residents. It also causes unsightly back yards in our beautiful town.

When I was at the Prescott town office today paying my property tax bill I brought up this matter with the staff. The answer I received was that I should get an Augusta resident to help me sneak into the dump for free. We all know this is a common occurrence but it doesn't make it right. I suggested that maybe we could have a day or two a year to get rid of large items like we used to. This seemed out of the question because of the cost involved to the town. I then suggested maybe we could have a one-day dump pass a year for each household. The staff person liked that idea better and she was going to put in a suggestion.

I am sure some kind of agreement could be negotiated with Augusta if we tried hard enough. Residents, let's band together and see what we can have council come up with. I volunteer to be in charge of the project. Mail your complaints, protests, suggestions for council or whatever to dunc@attcanada.net or P.O. Box 2214, Prescott ON, K0E 1T0. No phone calls please; I am a shift worker. We as a group can make something happen.

Duncan Robertson, Prescott

Lions Club supports community groups

CARDINAL ­ Several community groups are benefitting from recent donations from the Cardinal Lions Club presented last Thursday.

A $2,000 commitment to Benson Public School to enhance its library computer system will ensure the library can provide the most up-to-date services possible.

Benson Principal Donna Smith Reid said the money will go toward the purchase of a Winnebago software program to make the library more efficient and organized.

The program will allow an automated library system that will track books, create an inventory and online catalogue, and assist with searches by subject, author or title.

Each item in the library needs to be entered in the system, and then each student will be provided with a library card with a bar code that can be scanned to co-ordinate with borrowed materials.

Smith Reid noted the system will also ensure Benson students are familiar with the latest technology in libraries, so once they attend high school, they will be acquainted with the process of locating information and materials online.

School parent volunteer Roxanna Bradford will be training in the use of the library system, and then sharing her knowledge with other school staff and volunteers.

Although the school still requires about another $2,000 to complete the project, Smith Reid noted there would have been "no hope of going ahead to make it happen" without the Lions donation. It could take about a year before the system is operational.

Lions President Earl Nesbitt said it is exciting for the club to make donations to projects that benefit children and youth. The funds are raised through such volunteer activities as bingos and the annual garage sale and Labour Day dance.

"We enjoy doing it," Nesbitt said of the donations. "Anything for kids."

The Lions Club also donated $1,000 to the South Grenville Minor Hockey Bantam tournament, to be held this year March 23, 24 and 25. The money was received by Tournament Chair Carolyn Mason. This will be the third year for the playing of the tournament.

The Cardinal Drama Club received $300 from the Lions to assist with the staging of its first play, The Rock Slinger and His Greatest Hit. Assistant Director Diana Hoy said the money will help provide such items as costumes, scripts and set designs. There are 27 children involved in the musical drama, to be staged June 3. It is being directed by Carol Morris.

Morris said she conceived the idea to stage a play to give children in grades 3 to 8 an alternative for after-school activities.

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Edwardsburgh loans money to Cardinal

By Jeff Lee - Journal Staff Writer

SPENCERVILLE ­ The Cardinal component of the recently formed municipality of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal is having cash flow problems.

Since the two municipalities joined at the beginning of this year, the Edwardsburgh component has lent $100,000 to Cardinal. Two loans of $50,000 were made to the village's account Feb. 5 and Feb. 19 to pay for bills incurred in the year 2000 by the Village of Cardinal council during its last term of office before the two municipalities amalgamated.

"There was no cash in the account," said Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Mayor Dave Dobbie. "It's just a cash crunch for the village. The money is there [in outstanding taxes] but needs to be collected."

Larry Dishaw, Cardinal reeve for 12 years until amalgamation, said there were "significant reserves" in place when his term ended on Dec. 31. However, he noted it might have been there wasn't any money in the account because taxes hadn't come in, which does happen and the municipality can borrow money to cover until taxes do come in.

Councillors Frank Noccey and Peggy Taylor raised questions Feb. 19 at a regular council meeting in Spencerville about the deposit of $50,000 in the village's account.

Dobbie said the shortfall is the result of the new money not being collected from the arena and back taxes and also a reimbursement to CASCO.

"I don't know why the money was not being collected," Dobbie said. "It's not for me to comment on. What happened in the past is the past. We want to move forward."

To move forward means collecting money from the Cardinal Community Centre arena board, which is a separate entity from the village.

He said the village, which would cover the arena's staffing costs for its fiscal year, hasn't paid its 1998, 1999, 2000 bills for a total of about $239,000. (The arena is municipal property.)

"I don't think they [the arena board] have been billed for the last three years," Dobbie said.

Dishaw said he has no comment on the arena board on whether or not the board had been billed, because he was not involved the billing procedure for the arena board. However, Dishaw said that when his term in office ended Dec. 31, 2000, there was money in the arena account.

The municipality is also in the process of collecting $400,000 in back taxes, which makes up about 16 per cent of the village's tax base. Dobbie said the back taxes are not limited to a specific sector but are across the board. Dobbie couldn't say how far these back taxes extend because he didn't have the data with him presently.

"What the new [municipality] is doing is sending out a reminder to make an effort to pay," Dobbie said. "And we are going to make an earnest effort to get the taxes cleaned up in Cardinal."

With the interim tax bills due the end of the month, Dobbie said he expects payment to be coming in shortly on some of the back taxes.

Dishaw said as reeve he was not privy to this information and couldn't comment on it.

Another shortfall, Dobbie said, is that the Village of Cardinal has to reimburse the CASCO plant because of a lower reassessment.

The village will be able to recoup the school board and the United Counties portions of the reimbursement when the next levies are sent.

Dishaw said the municipality owes the $67,000 per year for the period of 1997 to 2000. Dishaw said it will be up to the new council to decide how the money will be raised to pay the CASCO reassessed amount.

Dobbie said that there are times when municipalities borrow money to cover costs for the first part of the year until taxes are collected again.

He said in 1992, his first year as reeve on the Township of Edwardsburgh council, the municipality had to borrow money to cover its cost but didn't have to do so the following years.

"Edwardsburgh is being the bank for the $100,000," he said.

Dobbie said he expects to collect a substantial amount of taxes within the next year to year-and-a-half.

"We are going to do whatever measures necessary to make sure the taxes will be collected," he said.

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Answering the money question in council

WARD 1 UPDATE - Peggy Taylor

Well, this past council meeting was another learning experience. Each chairperson presented their committee meeting summaries. I simply went over the recommendations and gave no "meat". I assumed everyone would have read the minutes, but later I came to realize the visitors sitting in on the meeting would not have had them, nor did the press (although they often ask for them at the end of a meeting). So, there is a little more in here than that which was given at the meeting.

The environmental committee chair (that's me) reported that our service contract with Foxboro for the 24-hour early warning system for water and waste water would be renewed. We have employees who have attained training certification by way of course work and examination up to Class III in the water and waste water treatment areas. Basically, the report is an explanation of operations.

Public works committee chair Marie Thomson reported they would be reviewing the road plans for Cardinal for the coming year. They are awaiting the layouts for the installation of lights at Burchell and Frederick streets in the Johnstown area. In addition, they will be installing a transmission tower on the water tower so the township will have enhanced radio communications.

Planning advisory committee chair Peter Martin reported there is a proposed expansion to Grenville Park. The owners are looking into expanding on the north side of the road. Preliminary studies and reports are to be done to determine feasibility.

A subdivision agreement was brought to the table of which I had no prior knowledge. During the past month or so I have learned councillors have the right to ask for a deferral on matters they feel they need more information on. In the past I simply abstained from voting. This time I requested a motion to defer. I was apparently the only person at the table who had not seen the subdivision agreement. I believe this was merely an oversight. Mayor Dave Dobbie granted the deferral to the next meeting without calling a vote.

While reviewing the payment of accounts it was noted $50,000 had been paid to the TD bank. Councillor Frank Noccey and I asked what this amount was for. Our questions were responded to with an array of "hmmms" and "oh" and "eyebrow raising" and other antics which inferred a problem and an inability to come up with the appropriate words to answer our questions. Sensing their discomfort I asked if it was something that should be discussed in closed session and was told by Mayor Dobbie that indeed, closed session would be the place to discuss it. Council carried on through the agenda and when all was done the press and visitors left the room.

Now, when council goes into closed session we have to indicate on the motion the reason why we are closing the meeting. It was suggested that in addition to "staffing" we indicate the other reason in the appropriate place. We were informed there was no place to indicate that as the matter was not one which came under the requirements of the act. As such, the suggestion we not discuss the matter in closed session, but do so in open session, was made and adhered to.

The Municipal Act stipulates at s.55 a council meeting "may" be closed if the topic falls under any of six categories: 1) security of property of the municipality; 2) personal matters about someone who might be identified; 3) proposed or pending acquisition of land for municipal purposes; 4) labour or employee relations; 5) litigation or potential litigation; and 6) receipt of legal advice subject to solicitor-client privilege.

This means there is the option of keeping the meeting open or closed.

The only area where there is no option about closing a meeting is when the subject relates to considering a request made under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

I have some further questions on the $50,000 matter which have yet to be asked. Councillor Dan MacDonald suggested we await the auditor's report, which we will do. I have no confidence in my interpretation of the information received and so am not prepared to discuss it further at this point. I would not bring it into this article at all except for the fact there were visitors present who indicated they were there because of rumours they had heard about the issue.

We are all in a learning environment right now. I am working hard to keep my campaign promise to inform the public of what is happening in council. I would appreciate any feedback you may have on these or any other matters. I can be reached at: pegon2000@yahoo.com, or feel free to leave a message for me at the municipal office.

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Pancake breakfast

CARDINAL ­ St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Dundas St. in Cardinal will be holding a pancake breakfast Saturday, March 3 from 8 am to 1 pm. Pancakes, sausage, homemade baked beans and beverages will be served at the all-you-can-eat breakfast. Take-out is available. Proceeds from the event will go toward the building fund.

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Sacred Heart Church to host World Day of Prayer 2001

CARDINAL ­ This year's World Day of Prayer service, written by the women of Samoa, reflects on the theme "Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action."

Taking part in the World Day of Prayer will be a lesson in the beautiful country of Samoa, an island nation in the South Pacific, and its unique culture and heritage. Those attending will be joining Christians in 200 countries around the world and 2,000 communities across Canada who will gather together to pray and take action in solidarity with the people of Samoa.

The service will take place at Sacred Heart Church, John St., Cardinal, Friday, March 2 at 2 pm. The guest speaker will be Margie Ann McKinnon, co-ordinator of religious education for the Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston.

The annual World Day of Prayer began in the 1920s as an ecumenical day organized by women in Canada and the United States.

Similar services will take place March 2 in Spencerville at the United Church, and in Prescott at St. Mark's Catholic Church.

For more information on the Cardinal service, contact Carol McLaughlin at 657-3544.

Kings battle visiting Swedish hockey team to get win

By Tim Ruhnke - Journal Staff Writer

PRESCOTT ­ Canadian pride was on the line Sunday afternoon as a touring Swedish hockey club faced off against a local team.

The Rideau St. Lawrence "AA" Minor Bantam Kings defeated Farjestads BK 8-5 before a crowd of more than 300 at the Leo Boivin Community Centre. The exhibition games was one of several the Swedish team had lined up during its visit to Ontario and Quebec.

Ben Baker gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at the 4:36 mark of the first period. The Swedes tied the score about a minute later, but the Kings regained the lead 39 seconds later on a goal by Kurtis Godin. Clay McFadden scored the first of his two goals of the afternoon to give the Kings a 3-1 lead. After Farjestads cut the lead to one, Travis Leach scored on a nifty feed from McFadden to give the Kings a 4-2 lead at the end of the first period.

The Swedes managed to tie the game in the second on goals by Johan Grundel and Par Barth, but the Kings took advantage of a bad line change late in the period. Tyler Lafortune's goal gave Rideau St. Lawrence a 5-4 lead heading into the final period.

The Kings put the game away early in the third thanks to two power-play goals scored by Leach and Lafortune. McFadden's second of the game gave the Kings a comfortable four-goal lead; a late goal by Farjestads made the final 8-5.

McFadden was named most valuable player for the Kings.

The game was followed by a reception held upstairs at the arena.

Leeds-Grenville MP Joe Jordan, who took part in the ceremonial faceoff prior to the game, said it was a tremendous day for Prescott and the community centre, as well as the players and their families.

Leo Boivin, the National Hockey League Hall of Famer for whom the centre is named, said the Swedes played a good, sound, physical game. However, he added they were at a disadvantage because of ice surfaces in this country are smaller than those in Sweden.

Boivin noted games like this give players on both sides a break from the teams they tend to play on a regular basis in league play.

"This is all new to them," he said.

Kings player Alex Rees, 14, said after the game he was expecting the Swedes to play a faster and less physical game. "They were pretty tough," he remarked.

Rees said he was surprised the game was so hard-hitting. He also believes the smaller ice surface may have given the Kings an advantage.

As for national pride, Rees believes it is "a really big thing" to have teams from Canada and Sweden face off against each other. "I really wanted to win."

The game in Prescott was the Swedish team's third (and second loss) since arriving in Canada earlier this month. Team member Niklas Lofberg, 15, acknowledged the smaller ice surface makes "a lot of difference." He said playing teams in Canada enables him to learn about different ways hockey is played.

This is Lofberg's first trip to Canada. The journey included a major stop in Toronto; the team attended a Toronto Maple Leafs-Vancouver Canucks game at Air Canada Centre Thursday and checked out the sites, including the CN Tower.

"It is very nice," he said of his time in Ontario. Lofberg, who named Detroit Red Wing defenceman Nikolas Lidstrom as one of his favourite NHL players, said he would like to someday make it to the national league.

The team travelled down the St. Lawrence earlier this week and will play teams in southern Quebec as well as attend tonight's Canadiens' game against Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Players have strong showing at basketball tournament

PRESCOTT ­ Seven local elementary school basketball teams competed in a tournament held recently at the high School.

In all sixteen team entered the Central Invitational Senior Boys and Girls basketball Feb. 17 at South Grenville District High School.

Locally, in the boys division, there were teams from Benson Public School, Central Public School, Centennial '67 Public School, Maynard Public School and St. Joseph Catholic School.

The boys' gold medal winners was St. Francis Public School edging out Vanier Public School 31-28.

Gold medal winners in the girls side was St. Francis Catholic School 26-14 over Vanier.

Both area boys teams - Central and St. Joseph - made it to the semi-final round. Central (2-1) faced St. Mary's (3-0) in the first game, which went to St. Mary's 35-28.

In the second semi-final game, St. Joseph (2-1) took on St. Francis (3-0), losing to St. Francis 31-28.

Semi-final high scorers included St. Joseph's Kevin Chamberland with 11 points and Central's Braden Miller and Craig Irvine had eight.

In the girls' semi-final games, St. Francis beat Toniata 35-14 and Vanier beat St. Mary's 25-18.

The basketball tournament is an annual competition for area senior elementary school boys and girls basketball teams.

Leading St. Francis scorers during the playoff round were Bryce Healy with 33, Pat Doyle with 17, Craig Nadeay with nine and Chris Warden tiwh six.

For St. Mary's Jordan Latham had 32 and Orlando Spicer had 13.

In the girls side, leading high scorers included St. Francis' Meredith Healey with 14 points.

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Blazers forge win for silver medal

MONTREAL ­ The Brockville Blazers bantam girls basketball team recently won silver in an exhibition tournament in Quebec.

On the weekend of Feb. 17, the Blazers only two losses came to the gold-medal winning team Sorel. During round-robin play, Brockville lost 56-42 to Sorel, and in the championship game, despite strong defensive play by the whole club, the Blazers lost 33-25.

Brockville started the tournament with a 39-33 win over Victoriaville. Blazers' high scorers were Jenna Beatty with 13 and Lindsay Coombes with 10. Beatty also pulled down 13 rebounds.

Brockville then defeated Pierrefonds 34-29. The team's high scorers were Beatty and Meredith Clarey both with nine.

In the Blazers first loss to Sorel 56-42, Coombes had 11 points and Heidi Rienstra, nine.

In the semi-final game, Brockville beat Trenton 37-23. Blazers' Rienstra had 12 points and nine rebounds.

The Brockville Blazers' overall record is 19-7

Figure skating competition a success

SPENCERVILLE ­ The Prescott Figure Skating Club's (PFSC) Canskate team took first place at the Seaway Valley Recreational held Feb. 24 at the Edwardsburgh Community Centre.

The Edwardsburgh Figure Skating Club's (EFSC) team placed second in the division.

About 240 skaters took part in the one day competition, with the Brockville Skating Club winning the overall title with 80 points, followed by the PFSC with 79 points.

In the men's interpretive event, Nathan Last of the Cardinal Figure Skating Club took first place.

Individual winners from the three local clubs include: the EFSC, the PFSC and the CFSC are as follows:

In the bronze event: 1. Kodi Cumming; 2. Amanda Mazur and Selena Simzer; 4. Bridget Cleary; 5. Kaitlin Norton.

In the silver event: 3. Ashely Buiting; 4. Katelyn Miller and Sadie Mulvaney; 5. Brittany Buiting.

In the gold event: 4. Kaitlyn Utman; 5. Amanda Mathieu.

In the similar pairs event: 1. Lauren Carter and Taylor Greer; 2. Kristina McNamara and Jennifer Seary; and 7. Amanda Lalande and Karie Neddo.

In the parent/child dance event: Donna Merkley and Jennifer Seary took first.

In the interpretive event: 2. Jennifer Seary; 3. Kaitlyn Utman third; 4. Amber Salmon. Also Jennifer Poulter took second.

The Canskate team event breakdown: Second place went to John Lawless, Fiona Cleary and Alison McNamara; Sarah Hooper took third; Sarah Roode fourth; and Hayley Gilmer ninth.