Landfill converted to transfer station
Garbage being compacted at Maynard waste facility
By Monica Whitney - Journal Staff Writer
MAYNARD Augusta Township residents will notice some
recent changes to the Maynard and North Augusta landfill sites,
with more improvements to come.
Last week, the Maynard location officially became a transfer
station, in which garbage deposited there will be compacted and
then transferred off-site by Canadian Waste of Brockville.
People will no longer travel up the hill at the Maynard site
to deposit household garbage, but will now dump it in a bin for
compacting, which will be trucked away twice weekly. The bin
has a capacity of about 10 tons of compressed trash.
Township Councillor Doug Barton, who is also chairman of the
waste management committee, said this one change alone will save
taxpayers' money and be safer for the environment.
Council made the decision a year ago to switch to a transfer
station after Ministry of the Environment studies indicated the
site had reached its capacity. Expanding the site to incorporate
ministry safety guidelines was considered financially prohibitive
and not environmentally friendly.
A recycling depot at Maynard will accept cardboard, box board,
paper, plastic containers, metal and aluminum food and drink
cans, coloured and clear glass. Window glass and dishes will
not be accepted. General waste that can be deposited in the recycling
centre includes propane tanks, scrap metal, tires and white goods.
Allowable hazardous wastes include fluorescent light tubes, batteries,
motor oil, paint, varsols and gasoline.
Construction and demolition materials, painted or varnished
wood, shingles, mattresses and discarded furniture will not be
accepted at Maynard. These items will only be accepted at the
North Augusta landfill site.
Residents are encouraged to bring all household garbage to
the Maynard site, while all commercial waste and building materials
should be taken to North Augusta.
Only the Maynard site is equipped to efficiently and cost
effectively manage compactable waste, Barton explained. Taking
all household waste to Maynard will extend the life of the North
Augusta site.
"At the rate we're going, it (North Augusta) will last
about six years," Barton said.
The "new-to-you barn" at the Maynard site is another
recent change. Residents can discard furniture, toys and bicycles
at the barn for others to help themselves.
A compost pile formed from grass clippings, leaves and brush
will begin in the spring, with the added advantage of residents
being able to pick up rich compost for their yards, Barton said.
Council also hopes to expand the recycling centre at the North
Augusta site and encourage residents to become more involved
in recycling.
Dumping hours have been extended at North Augusta to match
those at Maynard. Open hours are now Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm.
With between 500 to 600 vehicles travelling into the Maynard
site on a Saturday, residents may notice some congestion while
people get adjusted to the new routine of dumping garbage, Barton
said. To help alleviate some of the traffic, Barton suggests
making more frequent dump runs to speed up the process at each
trip.
The long-term benefits of the system will far out weigh any
inconvenience residents may be experiencing today, he said. "It
certainly is an improvement to what it was."
The former dump hill will need to be capped according to ministry
regulations, Barton noted. Work to be completed includes proper
"crowning" or levelling, and then a cover of two-and-a-half
feet of clay and eight to 10 inches of topsoil. It must also
be seeded with a vegetation with a root system that will not
permeate down to the clay. The township's goal is to eventually
transform the old dump hill into a recreation area with walking
trails. Barton expects these various stages to take three to
four years to complete.
Officials hopeful about new doctor
PRESCOTT A family physician is expected to join the
ranks of an existing practice at the town's health centre by
early next year, according to officials from the local physician
recruitment program.
Program Co-Chair Bill Pakeman and Recruitment Officer Carlene
MacDonald told Prescott council unofficially Monday an agreement
with the doctor is pretty much a done deal. However, they indicated
they could not name the doctor.
The recruitment campaign, which is based at Brockville General
Hospital but involves much of Leeds and Grenville, has resulted
in seven physicians relocating to the area since last year. In
noting the success of the program, Pakeman advised town council
it will be asked to contribute again next year.
Council approved a donation of $4,000 in 2001, and agreed
to consider a funding request next year. Prescott had been asked
to commit funds over a five-year period.
Some municipalities decided not to contribute to the recruitment
drive last year. Formal requests were not made to other communities,
including Augusta and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal townships. Pakeman
said these municipalities will be approached next year.
The money invested by Prescott appears to be paying off, according
to Pakeman. However, the success of the recruitment program has
come at a price; additional funds will be needed to maintain
the program.
Chambers of commerce based in Prescott and Brockville banded
together to ask their members to support the campaign. The returns
are just now beginning to roll in, Pakeman said Monday.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has designated the
Brockville area underserviced in terms of general practitioners.
MacDonald referred to a survey at BGH which indicates between
160 and 180 emergency-room patients per month do not have a family
doctor.
Residents of South Grenville are being encouraged to support
the Spirit of Giving.
The annual campaign to feed the less fortunate at Christmas
time is seeking monetray donations which will be used to purchase
fruit, vegetables and turkeys to be distributed in gift baskets
later this month. Approximately 250 baskets were distributed
last year.
For more information, contact Art Hitsman of the Kinsmen Club
of Prescott at 925-1315.
Holiday greetings on their way to soldiers
By Tim Ruhnke -Journal Editor
JOHNSTOWN Thousands of Christmas cards are now on their
way to Canadian Armed Forces personnel thanks to a campaign spearheaded
by a Johnstown resident.
Chantal Christensen and her parents, Charlie and Norma Hunt,
delivered nearly 4,000 cards to defence department headquarters
in Ottawa Monday, and more than 1,000 cards are expected to be
added to the total this week.
An estimated 3,800 cards many of which were made by
children are being sent to military personnel stationed
in Afghanistan, the Golan Heights, on ships and in several locations
in Europe and North America. Christensen was happy to learn there
would be a card for every soldier posted overseas.
Although the campaign began two months ago with several collection
boxes in South Grenville and Brockville, it blossomed into a
national effort as media outlets across Canada picked up the
story. In fact, the vast majority of cards came from outside
Leeds and Grenville and were sent by children.
There was a mixture of store-bought and hand-made cards. Most
cards included hand-written messages of thanks and of hope.
"Thank you for fighting for us," wrote a Grade 7
student from Truro, Nova Scotia. "Everyone is praying for
you. I hope you have a very merry Christmas. Sorry you cannot
be with your family."
Reverend Arlyce Schiebout of Johnstown United Church blessed
the cards before they were loaded into a transport and taken
to Ottawa. Small angels were attached to the cards submitted
by parishioners.
Reverend Schiebout also blessed those who made and sent the
cards; their sense of giving and sharing of God's love is worthwhile
and deserves support, she noted.
The amount of work it took to organize the campaign, collect
the cards, open envelopes, place cards in festive red bags and
contact a growing list of interested persons across Canada took
Christensen by surprise.
"It was nothing like I expected," she said. "This
was more than a full-time job."
Military officials welcomed the shipment of cards. Sub-lieutenant
Pierrette LeDrew of the department's public affairs office said
the cards will be well-received by her colleagues, most of whom
may be away from their families and will be touched by cards
made by children.
"I can only imagine... How good it's going to make them
feel," she said. "It's something they're going to remember
all of their lives."
Christensen noted she hopes to be more organized when she
launches a similar campaign next year. "This summer I'd
like to hit the big companies" for their support, she added.
The inaugural campaign faced a major obstacle earlier this
fall when concerns relating to anthrax and envelopes led military
officials to advise Christensen against sending Christmas cards
to soldiers. Although she planned to adjust the campaign and
send holiday greetings electronically, Christensen was pleased
to hear last month cards could be mailed after all. "I'm
so thankful the military turned around and said yes," she
said.
The defence department has its own tradition of having greetings
sent to military personnel. Its "Write to the Troops"
program has an electronic message board that can be accessed
by going to www.forces.ca.
LeDrew noted school classes and other groups have conducted
card campaigns in past years. However, she added all the extra
work Christensen did is "quite unique."
THIS WEEK
Power outage planned for this Saturday
SOUTH GRENVILLE Portions of Augusta and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
townships will be affected by a power interruption Saturday,
Dec. 8 from 6 am to 10 am.
The affected areas include Domville, Roebuck, Spencerville,
Charleville and their surrounding areas, according to a Hydro
One news release. The planned outage is necessary to perform
maintenance and equipment upgrades.
The alternate date for the power interruption is Sunday, Dec.
9 between 6 and 10 am.
For more information, call Hydro One at 1-888-664-9376.
Youth centre to mark grand re-opening
PRESCOTT Prescott Youth for Life has changed its name
and will celebrate the opening of its new location later this
week.
The Prescott Youth Centre has moved to 438 King St. W. The
public is invited to attend a grand re-opening this Friday, Dec.
7 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
The centre, which caters to young people between the ages
of eight and 18, had been located upstairs at the corner of King
and Centre streets for nearly a year after it vacated its home
on the ground floor of the Dibble Street municipal building.
Augusta council meets at Maitland hall
MAYNARD The regular Augusta Township council meeting
scheduled for Monday, Dec. 10 will take place at MERC Hall in
Maitland. The meeting begins at 7:30 pm.
The location has been changed from the municipal office in
Maynard to accommodate the expected increase in delegations before
council. Township residents wishing to make a delegation and
present input regarding the vacant council seat must notify the
township office in writing before 4:30 pm today, Wednesday, Dec.
5.
Buy a cap and support New York families
PRESCOTT Stylized "FDNY" caps are being sold
at several locations in town to raise money for the families
of firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service
personnel who died in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks.
The caps are on sale at the municipal office on Edward Street
and at Canadian Tire, Hillcourt Convenience and the Royal Bank.
The Prescott Fire Department is conducting the fundraising drive
as part of Project Maple Leaf.
Christmas craft sale set for North Augusta
NORTH AUGUSTA A Christmas craft sale will be held Saturday,
Dec. 8 from 10 am to 4 pm at the North Augusta Community Hall.
In addition to wood crafts, tole painting and knitted items,
the sale will feature ornaments, preserves, baking and chocolates
. Complimentary coffee and snacks will be offered to shoppers
as they check out the many items available at the sale.
Spirit of Giving seeks donations
Costs to municipality
will be reduced in new five-year recycling agreement
PRESCOTT Recycling in Prescott will cost less as of
the beginning of next year.
Town council voted Monday to accept the bid of Canadian Waste
Services to continue to collect and dispose of recyclables for
a five-year period effective Jan. 1. The new agreement will result
in savings of about $10,000 per year, according to town officials.
Canadian Waste Services and WSI Waste Services were the only
two bidders. Each submitted bids for contracts of two, three
and five years. WSI submitted bids of $11.06 per capita for each
option.
Council opted the Canadian Waste Services bid of $6.34 per
capita per year for five years. A population estimate of just
under 3,800 is used to calculate the amount the contractor will
receive.
A formal agreement and bylaw is to be prepared for council's
consideration at its Dec. 17 meeting.
The current recycling agreement will cost the municipality
an estimated $33,000 in 2001, according to Town Engineer Clyde
Solomon.
Councillor Jo-Anne Beckstead noted there have been concerns
about inconsistency in terms of which recyclables are being collected
from one week to the next. Councillor Terry McConnell, who chairs
the town's transportation and environmental services committee,
acknowledged it may be time to advise residents which items are
to be placed in blue boxes.
As for municipal waste management services, Councillor Garry
Dewar suggested the town consider a system like that now in place
in the Township of Augusta. Township residents take their recyclables
and garbage to a transfer station where the garbage is compacted
and shipped to a landfill.
McConnell said the town's attempt to do that with recycling
was "a complete disaster," adding "it would be
a disaster" if town residents were asked to take their household
waste to a depot or transfer station.
"The only way to control it is to pick it up at the curb,"
McConnell said.
Cenotaph project receives big boost
PRESCOTT The provincial government should give the boot
to a portion of the so-called squeegee law, according to town
council.
Prescott council agreed Monday to endorse a resolution from
the Town of Laurentian Hills which calls on the Ontario government
to amend an act which prohibits aggressive solicitation. The
resolution notes the Safe Streets Act should be amended to allow
firefighters to conduct fundraising campaigns which are now prohibited
under the terms of the act.
The act is also referred to as the squeegee law because it
was used to stop mostly young people from using squeegees to
clean windshields at Toronto intersections and asking motorists
for money. One of the methods used by firefighters as part of
their "boot drives" is to set up a toll booth or toll
gate and ask motorists for donations. This type of activity impedes
traffic on a public roadway and is considered an offence under
the terms of the act.
The resolution from Laurentian Hills, a municipality northwest
of Petawawa in the Upper Ottawa Valley, notes firefighters in
Canada have raised more than $2 million for the Muscular Dystrophy
Association.
Several members of Prescott council indicated they support
the resolution. Mayor Robert Lawn said the new regulations are
like other laws in that "...they often do a whole lot of
other things" which were not intended.
Neither resolution from Prescott or Laurentian Hills calls
on the province to amend the regulations to permit other groups
to conduct similar fundraising activities.
Proposed bylaw expected
to encourage recycling in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
SPENCERVILLE - A draft waste management bylaw was presented
to Edwardsburgh/Cardinal council Monday night.
The proposed bylaw, which details a new waste management process
in an effort to promote more recycling and reduce the amount
of garbage going to landfill sites, will not receive a third
reading until a contract for curbside collection of recyclables
and solid waste is awarded.
Council approved a call for tenders for curbside waste and
recycling collection within the municipality. Once tenders have
been accepted, council will determine whether curbside service
is feasible within the municipality and which areas of the municipality
would receive it.
With the Spencerville landfill site projected to be closed
by the end of next February, council hopes the curbside service
would be available the following month.
Councillor Bill Sloan, Chairman of the Waste Management Public
Liaison Committee, has obtained a quotation for imprinted clear
poly bags based on an annual requirement of 300,000 and ordered
in lots of 60,000 at a cost of approximately 13 cents each. He
has also requested quotations from Home Hardware and Rona Hardware.
The proposed draft bylaw calls for the current tag system
to be replaced by clear plastic bags with the municipal logo,
similar to the current system in Prescott. Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
residents would save approximately five cents a bag, Sloan and
Mayor David Dobbie said.
The tags would be phased out and would not be available after
Feb. 1, 2002. Tags would be accepted on garbage until June 30,
2002, after which only clear plastic imprinted bags would be
accepted. The clear bags would sell for $1.25 each and would
be available from the township or select stores designated by
the municipality.
Council hopes to gain more control over recycling as contractors
could look through the clear bags and refuse to pick up bags
containing recyclables.
United Way extends
2001 fundraising drive
Campaign in danger of falling short of $650,000 goal
LEEDS AND GRENVILLE It is not too late for companies
and their employees to contribute to this year's United Way campaign,
according to Executive Director Judi Baril.
The 2001 campaign had been scheduled to end Dec. 7; however,
Baril noted Friday the deadline has been extended.
The board of directors will discuss the situation at its Dec.
11 meeting.
Approximately $530,000 had been raised as of the end of November.
The campaign goal is to raise $650,000.
Twenty-six agencies serving an estimated 23,000 residents
of Leeds and Grenville receive financial support from the United
Way.
Baril said some companies had yet to complete their canvassing
or report the results. It is expected the campaign target will
not be met by Dec. 7, she added. A shortfall of between two and
ten per cent has been projected.
The United Way and its member agencies share in any surplus
or deficit.
Other large or small companies that are not collecting on
behalf of the United Way could still do so, according to Baril.
Funds collected over the next several weeks would still be
applied to the 2001 campaign, she noted.
"Every single penny makes a difference here," Baril
said.
For more information, contact the United Way office at 42
George St. in Brockville (342-8889).
Christmas in the Barracks program returns
to Fort Wellington
PRESCOTT Fort Wellington's annual "Christmas in
the Barracks" program for school students began this week.
More than 700 children from kindergarten to Grade 3 will experience
what life was like in the 1840s. Participants will learn the
traditions of Christmas past as well as games, crafts and music
from that time period. Each participant will make a Victorian
cedar swag to take home.
The program is completely booked for the entire two-week period.
The Prescott and District Lions Club is this year's program
sponsor.
This will, for many children, be their first visit to Fort
Wellington and their first glimpse of Prescott's rich history,
according to a fort news release.
Town calls on province to give the boot to
law
PRESCOTT The chairperson of the Cenotaph Committee of
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 97 says he is pleased with the response
to the committee's fundraising campaign.
Ed Greene says he is hopeful individuals and businesses will
come through and help the committee pay for the cost of relocating
the cenotaph to Fort Wellington and landscaping at the new site.
The campaign received a big boost last week when Riverside
Pontiac-Buick-GMC donated $2,000 and pledged an additional $3,000.
Greene says this is the largest donation so far.
A fundraising draw for $1,000 will take place Jan. 1; tickets
are still available.
The campaign has raised nearly $15,000 of its goal of $32,000.
Legion officials are hoping the goal will be reached prior to
a planned re-dedication to take place on the Victoria Day weekend
to coincide with the start of the fort's 2002 season.
The cenotaph site, now known as Veterans' Memorial Garden,
is being leased from Parks Canada. Greene is hoping the provincial
government will be able to offer its support to the project.
The cenotaph was moved to the fort grounds this summer. The
second phase of the project includes the creation of walkways
and the planting of trees.
Greene says it is important for Canadians to ensure cenotaphs
are kept in good condition and retained for future generations.
For more information on the cenotaph project, contact Ed Greene
at 925-2165.
Town asked to
help fund food vouchers
PRESCOTT The municipality is being asked to provide
funding for food vouchers issued by the Prescott Ministerial
Association.
In a letter to Mayor Robert Lawn and councillors, Reverend
Blair Paterson notes the association is running out of money
at a time when some town residents are unable from time to time
to feed themselves.
"When someone needs food, we provide what we can,"
Paterson writes.
The reverend goes on to indicate 25 requests for assistance
are received in an average month. Vouchers ranging from $10 to
$50 and redeemable for food and miscellaneous items at valu-mart
are issued; applicants are interviewed and their situations are
reviewed before vouchers are issued, according to Paterson.
Although the association receives donations from some service
groups, Paterson says the association may not be able to provide
assistance as of February without an infusion of funds from the
municipality.
The request was referred to the town's finance committee and
is expected to be on the agenda when the committee meets next
Monday.
Prescott does not have a food bank. Town residents are unable
to access food banks in Brockville, a concern that has been noted
by council in the past; many service agencies in Brockville direct
people to churches in Prescott, according to Paterson.
The town donated money this year to the House of Lazarus,
an organization in Dundas County that reported a high percentage
of people who go there to use the services of the food bank are
from Prescott.
In addition to dealing with the ministerial association's
request, town officials will consider discussing the situation
with food banks in Brockville.
Space station contact
has local connection
PRESCOTT A former Prescott resident was part of an Almonte
school group that made contact with the International Space Station
(ISS) Nov. 23.
Neil Carleton, a Grade 5/6 teacher at R. Tait McKenzie Public
School, participated in the early-morning amateur radio contact
as the space station passed high overhead while in orbit. This
was only the second school in Canada to have students speak directly
with an astronaut on the ISS.
"When I got a telescope for Christmas in Grade 8, as
a student at Central Public School in Prescott, it was beyond
my imagination then to think I might someday help students talk
with an astronaut on an orbiting space station," Carleton
said.
"I spent countless hours with neighbourhood friends looking
at the mountains and craters of the moon, the rings of Saturn,
and many other wonders of the night sky."
Carleton studied for, wrote and passed his amateur radio exam
earlier this year. He is married to Luci (Hofmann), another former
resident of the Prescott area.
Upper Canada School Board Chair Joan Hodge was among those
who attended the historic event. Hodge, South Grenville's public
school board trustee, received a commemorative T-shirt from Carleton
Saturday in Prescott.
"It was just amazing to be there," she said of her
visit to the school. It is estimated about 400 people had filled
the gym by 5:30 am Friday.
One student from each grade level at the elementary school
asked a prepared question about the space station or the life
of a crew member in space. The event was part of the Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station School Contact Program
of Radio Amateurs Canada and NASA, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration.
Regional unemployment
rate rises in October: HRDC
KINGSTON The regional unemployment rate rose sharply
in October, according to statistics released by Human Resources
Development Canada (HRDC).
The rate for the region that includes South Grenville was
5.8 per cent. The unemployment rate was 5.3 per cent in September.
The services-producing sector posted a slight decrease in
employment in October, an HRDC release stated. Construction and
education were noted as sectors in which employment gains had
occurred.
The regional unemployment rate in Oct. 2000 was 5.2 per cent.
An increase in the number of Employment Insurance (EI) claimants
was reported in October at the Prescott HRDC office. There were
908 claimants at the end of October compared to 884 at the end
of September.
Brockville was the only centre in Leeds, Grenville, Lanark,
Renfrew and Frontenac counties to report a decrease in EI claimants
in October.
Despite the increases, the regional unemployment rate remained
lower than the rates for Ontario and Canada.
Licence bureau will
remain open
PRESCOTT The Ministry of Transportation licence bureau
will remain open despite the upcoming retirement of its manager.
Bev Whiten will retire Dec. 13 after 19 years at the office.
Ministry staff will run the Prescott office on King Street East
until a new private-sector operator is selected, according to
Whiten's husband, Frank.
There have been rumours the licence bureau will be closed,
Mr. Whiten said.
Web site has
OPP releases
SMITHS FALLS A new weapon has been added to the Ontario
Provincial Police (OPP) Eastern Region's arsenal in its fight
against crime.
Media releases from detachments in Grenville County and across
the region will now be posted on the Crime Alerts Network Web
site (www.crimealerts.net), the OPP announced Nov. 27. Media
outlets and the public have quick and easy access to information
about incidents and alerts in their communities and neighbouring
areas. The Web site also offers links to each OPP detachment
and satellite office in the region.
"Crime Alerts has been a great success in western Ontario,
leading to tips and arrests in several cases," stated Chief
Superintendent Chris Lewis, commander of eastern region headquarters
in Smiths Falls. Still photos, composite sketches and video can
be added to enhance police releases available on the network.
It is hoped this will help investigators in cases involving missing
persons or warnings about dangerous criminals.
The new service will help keep the public informed and enhance
OPP service in Eastern Ontario, according to Lewis.
Lodge #143 elects officers
EDWARDSBURGH Edwardsburgh Loyal Orange Lodge #143, Groveton
held its annual meeting and election of officers Nov. 19. Rt.
Worshipful Bro. Stuart Irving, deputy grand sec. of Ontario East,
conducted the election and Rt. Wor. Bro. Hartley Wilson, immediate
past grand master of Ontario East, presided over the installation
of the new officers:
Immediate Past Master Bro. Gerry Anderson; Wor. Master
Bro. Garry Harper; Deputy Master Bro. Dalton Gilmer;
Chaplain Bro. Preston Gilmer; Rec. Sec. Bro. Carl
Thorpe; Treas. Bro. Ronald Warren; Fin. Sec. Bro.
Andrew Porter; Marshall Bro. Lloyd Wylie; 1st Lecturer
Bro. Ronald Shannon; 2nd Lecturer Bro. Reginald Weedmark;
Tyler Bro. Gilbert Gray; 1st Comm. Bro. Mansell Porter;
2nd Comm. Bro. Dean Rupert; 3rd Comm. Bro. Evan Cowan;
Auditors Bro. Samuel Cowan, Bro. Dalton Gilmer; Alternate
Bro. Lloyd Wylie.
OPP NEWS
Driver sustains serious injuries
EDWARDSBURGH An Augusta township man sustained serious
injuries in a single-vehicle accident Nov. 26, Grenville County
OPP reported.
A van was northbound on County Road 44 at about 5:40 pm when
it failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle left the roadway,
entered the south shoulder and struck a sign pole and several
trees. The driver, Dennis Noonan, 31, was ejected from the vehicle.
He was transported to Brockville General Hospital and then transferred
to Kingston General Hospital.
Alcohol was not a factor in the accident, according to police.
Constable Tyler Boutilier is the investigating officer.
Tires and rims stolen from business
JOHNSTOWN - Grenville County OPP are investigating the theft
of four tires and rims from a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire parked at
the Riverside Auto location on County Road 2. The theft occurred
sometime late Friday, Nov. 30 or early Saturday, Dec. 1. The
value of the stolen items is about $2,000. Anyone with information
is asked to contact the investigating officer, Constable Tyler
Boutilier, at the detachment in Prescott (925-4221). Anonymous
tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Trafficking charge laid
AUGUSTA OPP were conducting routine traffic enforcement
on Highway 401 eastbound Nov. 24 at about 2:30 am when they stopped
a vehicle travelling in excess of the speed limit. Police investigated
and arrested two passengers in the vehicle. Javier Ramos, 23,
of Sherbrooke, Quebec was charged with possession of a controlled
substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a
controlled substance. Yan Gosselin, 19, of Cookshire, Quebec,
was charged with possession of a controlled substance. They are
scheduled to appear at a later date in Brockville court.
RIDE check leads to charges
AUGUSTA Grenville County OPP officers were conducting
a Festive RIDE check on County Road 2 Nov. 23 at about 9:43 pm
when they stopped a vehicle. Police conducted an investigation
and arrested two men. Michael Fox, 18, of Augusta township and
Ryan Roberts, 19, of Prescott were charged with possession of
a controlled substance. They are scheduled to appear Jan. 11
in Brockville court.
Trailer stolen from driveway
AUGUSTA A utility trailer was reported stolen from a
Glen Smail Road residence Nov. 25 at about 9:34 pm. It is believed
the 5X10 trailer was taken from the driveway of the residence
sometime between 9 pm Nov. 24 and 8 am Nov. 25. Anyone with information
is asked to contact the investigating officer, Constable Rick
Foley, at the Grenville County OPP detachment (925-4221).
Township building and vehicle spray-painted
EDWARDSBURGH Police were called to the township building
on County Road 21 Nov. 25 to investigate a case of mischief.
A township truck had been spray-painted and damaged; a side of
the building was also spray-painted. Anyone with information
on this incident is asked to contact Constable Steve Tavares
at the OPP detachment in Prescott (925-4221) or Crime Stoppers
at 1-800-222-8477.
Speeding charge goes to court
EDWARDSBURGH OPP were conducting routine traffic enforcement
on Highway 416 southbound just north of Highway 401 Nov. 23 at
about 2:06 pm when they stopped a vehicle travelling in excess
of the speed limit. Ian Lin, 25, of Ottawa was charged with speeding
(157 kilometres per hour in a 100-kilometre-per-hour zone).
Gibson celebrates 30 years of service at same
branch
PRESCOTT A local woman was recognized recently for 30
years of service at the TD Canada Trust branch in Prescott.
The public was invited to join Joan Gibson of Prescott for
coffee and cake at the bank Thursday to help her celebrate reaching
the milestone.
"It was nice, and unexpected," says Gibson, the
bank's manager of customer service. "Making it 30 years
is something these days. It's an accomplishment."
Gibson started with Toronto Dominion in Prescott on Nov. 29,
1971 at the age of 19. She previously had worked in Brockville
for Electric Appliance Service Centre after finishing a one-year
business program at St. Lawrence College.
Many things have changed over the years, Gibson says.
"Before, everything was manually posted. Now we have
computers and everything gets posted electronically. It took
a while to get used to it."
Gibson began as a dicta-typist and then served as a customer
service officer before her current role at the bank.
"It's been great working with lots of people, especially
since this is where I grew up," she says.
Habitat housing program seeks to develop local communities
SOUTH GRENVILLE Habitat for Humanity is continuing to
foster interest in local communities that may want to assist
in its housing program for lower income families.
Valerie Kines, vice president of the Thousand Islands division
of Habitat International, a volunteer Christian organization,
spoke to members of the Prescott Men's Ecumenical Fellowship
Group Nov. 17, hoping to spread the word of how communities can
become stronger places through the program.
"We do far more than build houses," Kines said in
an interview Monday. "We build communities."
The local division began in February 1998, and since then
has completed a home in Brockville and Gananoque. Habitat for
Humanity is a non-profit group that seeks to eliminate poverty
housing by bringing communities together to help build homes
for families in need.
The group offers quality, economical housing for one family
at a time, with long-term, no-interest mortgages recycled to
build more homes.
Kines approached the former Village of Cardinal council in
June 2000, asking it to consider the donation of a small lot
for a simple home that could be built under the group's sponsorship.
Similar requests were made at Prescott council, but Kines said
so far, councils in South Grenville are still "doing some
soul searching."
Habitat received "enthusiastic interest" to its
appeal in Athens, and Kines was notified this week a private
individual would donate the property required to build a home
there. The kick-off breakfast for the Athens project will be
Jan. 19.
The program is based on the concept of an old-fashioned barn
raising, with hundreds of people and organizations working together
toward a common goal, said Kines, who is also the owner of Second
Cup in Brockville.
With the motto of "A Hand Up, Not a Handout," Habitat
homeowners must invest 500 hours of their own labour, known as
sweat equity, into the building of their homes.
The program has been "phenomenally successful" in
Brockville and Gananoque, Kines said. Habitat brings communities
together in spirit and enthusiasm, she noted. Home ownership
for a family that could not have achieved the goal otherwise,
realizes a dream come true, and feels pride in the accomplishment.
"It brings people together and enables new friendships,"
Kines said. "You can see how people's lives change."
Kines said Habitat is assertive, but not aggressive. It prefers
to plant seeds of information in communities, and then let the
people make the decision if they want it to happen. "The
community has to decide if they want it."
A housing project can drain the energy, time and talent of
a community for about a year, she said, but the pay-off in terms
of community development are strong.
Habitat for Humanity was founded in Georgia 25 years ago,
and those first families who participated in the program are
now paying off their mortgages, Kines said.
MPP to host reception for his constituents
BROCKVILLE Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman will present
a wine and cheese reception for his constituents this Sunday,
Dec. 9 from 3 to 5 pm at the Royal Brock Hotel.
Runciman and his wife Jeannette will host the annual event
which usually draws more than 500 people during the course of
the afternoon.
Canadian television icon Gordie Tapp is scheduled to attend
the 16th annual reception, as is Santa Claus; Bruce Ker will
provide the entertainment.
"Jeannette and I really appreciate the opportunity to
meet with constituents during the holiday season," the Progressive
Conservative MPP stated.
Blood donor clinic
being held today in Brockville
BROCKVILLE A blood donor clinic is being held today
(Wednesday, Dec. 5) from 12:30 to 7:30 pm at the Shrine Club
Hall in Brockville.
Canadian Blood Services reports there is a need for Type O
positive and negative blood. However, all eligible blood donors
are welcome to donate regardless of blood type.
For more information or to book an appointment, call 1-888
2 DONATE.
The Brockville clinic is sponsored by the Masonic Association
of St. Lawrence District.
SERA chips in for summer
recreation projects
SPENCERVILLE - The South Edwardsburgh Recreation Association
(SERA) made a substantial donation to the Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal
recently to help pay for improvements made to Johnstown recreation
facilities over the summer.
SERA representatives presented Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Mayor
David Dobbie and Recreation Director Mike Spencer with a cheque
for $6,500 at council's meeting Monday night. Money for the donation
was raised by sales of Nevada and bingo tickets.
The municipality spent approximately $10,000 to make several
improvements at the Johnstown Community Centre. These included
new swing sets and chains, lumber and gravel for the swing set
area, lumber for player benches, life jackets for the swimming
pool, a new stove vent and a fire suppressant system for the
kitchen.
SCHOOL SCENE
CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL Hot lunch this week is chicken
nuggets.
Rooms 7 and 9 are going curling Friday. Dental screening for
junior and senior kindergarten students was done Monday.
Both senior volleyball teams played in tournaments on the
weekend at South Grenville District High School. They travelled
to Chesterville and Iroquois for the regionals yesterday.
ST. MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL We had an excellent turnout
for parent/teacher interviews in spite of the weather last Thursday
and Friday.
We lit our first Advent Candle signing songs and reciting
a poem Monday. We will light the second Friday at assembly. The
school council sponsored the Advent calendars which were presented
to every student at St. Mark. This personal calendar will help
each and every one remember "Jesus is the reason for the
season."
Students from senior kindergarten to Grade 3 will enjoy "A
Barracks Christmas" this week.
Deborah Dunleavy will be performing next week in each classroom
which has not already enjoyed her performance. We are busy, busy
at St. Mark and counting the days until Christmas.
Hot lunch this week is chicken chunks; next week, hamburgers.
Our Star Strategy this week is "Give me a clue."
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