The record, 1 mai 1998, vendredi 1 mai 1998

THE Starting today ¦ THE—¦ Record BINGO Win $200 in cash! The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Mutual Funds How do yours compare to the best?Call Calvin T.Chan Financial Advisor (819) 573-6006 I 1 800 561-3718 MIDLAND WALWYN y%B88StiS 75 CENTS Friday, May 1, 1998 Not a plot to transport electricity to U.S.- Chevrette Protesters want hearings on hvdro line New Liberal leader The Quebec Liberal party has a new leader.Jean Charest, the 39-year-old former Progressive Conservative leader was named party leader at a ceremony in Quebec Thursday night.Charest’s coronation coincided with a ceremony in which international singing sensation Celine Dion was awarded the Order of Quebec.Dion, who is to receive the medal directly from Premier Lucien Bouchard, Jean Charest at the National As- sembly was the greater media attraction.An estimated 3,000 Liberals attended Charest’s ceremony held at the Quebec City sports palace, the Patinodrome.For Charest, the evening will mark the end of a month long campaign in which the former Conservative leader criss-crossed the province, drawing enormous interest wherever he went.He was harshly criticized for having very little of substance to say but Liberals are pleased because they all got a chance to meet the man they hope will save them in the next election.Charest, 39, also saw a massive lead over the Parti Québécois in public opinion polls slip after the media frenzy which followed his decision to go for the job died down.He is now expected to make his first serious move to take control of his new party and he's been assembling a new team.When he launched his campaign the party officially had 62,000 members.As of April 14 the number was up by about 14,000.Protesters want to be consulted before hydro lines are installed.By Rita Legault Sherbrooke More than 100 protesters took to the streets of Sherbrooke Thursday to greet Energy Minister Guy Chevrette, but it’s unclear if their message got through.The group was protesting a government decree that allows Hydro-Québec to avoid the usual lengthy environmental assessment process and rush the construction of lines through the Val St-François valley.As the protesters gathered in front of the Granada Theatre in downtown Sherbrooke, Chevrette met with leaders of Citoyens du Val St-François Citizens to discuss the controversial power lines.A spokesman for the group said Chevrette seemed receptive to the demands and scheduled another meeting with the group for today in Montreal.“They will listen to us,” Jacques Laval told protesters.“They will consult us.” Laval said independent energy planning experts, who are highly critical of Hydro’s plans to reinforce the power system, will be on hand at the meeting to allow citizens to better understand and make their points.Laval said Chevrette listened to them intently for more than a half hour, and seemed willing to debate the fundamental issues such as the necessity of building the line.That contradicted Chevrette’s earlier statements to the media, that the government would not reconsider the line through the Townships.Chevrette told reporters that protesters who wanted modifications to the line would be listened to, but that its unrealistic to believe the government will backtrack on its decision to build a line through the Val St.François valley.Cabinet passed a decree allowing Hydro-Québec to go-ahead with the construction of a 735-kilovolt transmission line that will cross the Val St-François MRC on its way from the des Canton See hydro, page 4 Eastern Townships Orthopedic Center When Lue’re sick:, home is still the best place to be! Specialized Equipments Professionnal Services ¦I jff A ¦ t*|klïkf* 111 l.wMHI iwwf wj aa'fcft 4cr o 4C» Sk.849-6359 • 1-800-399-6359 page 2 Friday, May 1, 1998 Got a news tip or great story idea?Call The Record newsroom at 569-6345 loto-québec Draw 98-04-29 3 17 28 30 47 48 BONUS NUMBER: 35 6/6 WINNERS 1 PRIZES $ 2 187 949,50 5/6+ 3 $ 218 794,90 5/6 225 $ 2 333,80 4/6 13 790 $ 73,00 3/6 264 117 $10 Total sales: $ 15 593 487,00 Next grand prize (approx.): $ 2 200 000,00 rrnranyyqr mmm Draw 98-04-29 11 17 25 26 38 40 BONUS NUMBER: 28 WINNERS PRIZES 6/6 0 $ 1 000 000,00 5/6+ 1 $ 50 000,00 5/6 16 $500 4/6 964 $50 3/6 17 625 $5 Total sales: $ 503 284,50 E|tra Draw 98-04-29 NUMBER PRIZES 932477 $100,000 32477 $1,000 2477 $250 477 $50 77 $10 7 $2 Claims: See back of tickets, in the event of discrepancy between this list and the official winning list, the latter shall prevail.Today’s Weather yTHETPORD., Mines * .< \ A V I Richmond- « / i UC-MÉf.ANTI^» ./ SHtRBROOKi".« t A"'- ' .;Cowansviu* ; Y f I Stanstead REGIONAL FORECAST FRIDAY : Increasing cloudiness in the morning followed by showers.High near 22.Winds southeasterly 15 to 30 km/h.SATURDAY : Mostly cloudy and a few showers.Low near 5.High near 15.Probability of precipitation 60 percent.SUNDAY : Mostly cloudy and a few showers.Low near 6.High near lS.Probability of precipitation 60 percent.Ontario traffic patrols ain’t what they used to be I feel your need for me to share it Having spent most of the last few days gazing out the window of my truck along Ontario’s highway 401, now I feel your need for me to share it.For reasons I won’t go into here, I had to go to Toronto not once but twice this week.It’s one of the hazards of our trade.Fortunately I came back after-ward.Not everyone is so lucky.The first thing I noticed was just how far the damage went in this winter’s killer ice storm.The roadside wood-lots have the same haunted look of devastation all the way from the Beauce to Kingston - trees bent over and snapped off like they’d been beaten by a giant brush hog, the forest floor piled two or three feet deep with broken branches.It’s not a pretty sight, although not many of the damaged trees are what you’d call commercial quality.On both sides of the provincial border, the natural world is already busy recovering its balance.As for the humans, we seem to be adapting better on the Quebec side.Thus from here to the Ontario border there are crews in the woods everywhere, converting what nature left behind into products we all can use.Most of the storm’s remains will end up as fire- wood.This would normally cause a market surplus and push the prices down.But I personally believe that the demand will rise even faster, with up to a million once-frozen, twice-shy Quebec families stocking up on solid fuel in case the weakened Hydro system fails again next winter - which is a very likely thing, 1 think.Still, there should be no need to pay high for firewood this year, at least in Quebec.In Eastern Ontario, where my two brothers heat their homes with wood, I doubt there will be enough to go around.My second major observation was about something completely different - the traffic.For as long as I can remember, Quebecers have had the reputation of being Canada’s most dangerous drivers.We were accused of every wild and crazy stunt that you could imagine, from running stop signs - ‘the Quebec stop’, they called it - to driving too fast.It was often said that Quebecers were the worst drivers north of Latin America -which is pretty bizarre, considering that Quebec is actually part of Latin America itself.At one time the crazy dri- ving thing was true -I’m sure I even contributed in a modest way myself.But it’s not true any more.Today, the closer you get to Toronto, the faster the traffic moves, and the crazier the drivers’ antics.At first when I saw this I figured I was imagining things.It wouldn’t be the first time.But with the cruise control set at 110 km-h, I was too slow for the slow lane.And in the fast lanes the speeds were in the 120-150 range.There was a time - all of recorded history until last year - that going that fast on the 401 would cost you a hefty fine.That’s not the case these days; it seems the cost-conscious Ontario government has concluded that high speeds, tailgating, rampant lane hopping and other reckless driving habits aren’t worth the money it costs to enforce the law.As if to prove this, a couple of years ago the Mike Harris cabinet outlawed the only real innovation in speed control in several decades - photo-radar, the roadside camera that catches speeders.Judging by the extremely few patrol cars to be seen, the Tories have also apparently ordered the OPF to keep off the roads.To top off the open season on the highways, just this week the government went even further, over-ruling a city of Toronto bylaw which would have allowed the police to use cameras to catch drivers running red lights.Maybe if the lights were Conservative blue.I wasn’t quite sure what I was going through until at last I figured it out on the highway home.After four days on the 401, I finally made my way back into Quebec.It was an eerie feeling, watching the traffic slow down exactly in front of the sign that says ‘Bjenvenu au Québec’.The proof of the pudding was that all the big transport trucks slowed down too, so it wasn’t just a coincidence.Instead of 140 km-h, the fast lane stayed steady at 110.Suddenly too there were police cars on the road.At least, I thought, our government hasn’t abandoned the highway asylum to the inmates.On the other hand, maybe people slow down so they have time to read the second road sign they see: ‘Next exit, Saint-Télesphore, Saint-Poly-carpe and Saint-Zotique.Yup, Saint-Télesphore, Saint-Poly-carpe and Saint-Zotique, all on one sign.Imagine seeing that one just after you enter Quebec.Don’t you love it?Charles Bury BEN ® by DANIEL SHELTON 'PTUIrTHERE/ THEN IT'S SETTLER PEN, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS/ GOOP I'M GLAP WE HAP THIS PISCUSSION HNNK PUW GNNK WHOT HNN SHHKGNT » HOTWf?WHA MWAM PH 0WON SOWK cron WLOONK SWEEKNPT PWEAKHEA?y-* [TJswokw.EAKW.' HHKH i e White House Home honors Marion Phelan with birthday party Stanstead Marion Phelan, a resident guest at the White House Residence observed her birthday on April 17.The House committee held a party on the proceeding afternoon in honor of the occasion.Rita Richer was assisted by Lois Leney, and Thelma Middleton, with Rita welcoming everyone and wishing Marion a happy day.The party began with the spring delight of sugar on snow, served at tables on the veranda and one inside for it was a glorious warm sunny afternoon.The refreshments were much enjoyed by everyone and for many it brought memories of their younger days.Margaret Mosher recalled driving the horses through the sugar bush while the men dumped the buckets of sap into a large drum on the sleds, and when full she would drive to the sugar house where the sap was boiled to syrup.Others also recalled sugaring offs in the bush.While the sugar was being eaten, Marge Keeley played the piano to accompany André Pepin who played the electric guitar, all golden oldies.Games of bingo were played.Recipients of prizes were Margaret Wyman, Ralph Rogers, Blanche Webb, Knetha Reeves, Lexie Rogers, with a special game played and won by Ralph Rogers.Thelma gave two readings, “Bunny Tales” and “April”.Ivy read a poem, “Sugarmaking,” and another, “Diamond wedding anniversary" dedicated to Arthur and Lerle Clowery who marked their diamond wedding anniversary on April 12.A birthday bag, filled with gifts and cards was presented to the celebrant, and there was also a large fruit basket, à gift from a family member.As Marge played a marching song all assembled in the dining room for supper.Marion was presented with the traditional cake, a square iced in white with mauve, yellow and green decor.All sang the birthday song as Marion blew out the candles.It was afterwards served with ice cream.Marion thanked all for the happy day.Ivy Hatch Birchton Muriel Prescott Eleanor Taylor returned on April 16 from a month’s visit with friends in the Powder River area of Montana where she used to live when her husband worked on western ranches.First she spent a week in Vermont near Battlebloro as a guest of Mr.and Mrs.Robert Franklin who transported her and friend Dorothy Edwards to the airport at Hartford, Conn.From there they flew to Rapid City, S.D.There they were met by Dorothy’s granddaughter, Stacey Brown, at whose home they spent one night.Next day Stacey drove them to Spearfish, S.D., where they met Dorothy’s son, Francis Edwards, who took them to Broadus, Montana where Dorothy has a large sheep ranch and about 400 cattle.The first week they were shearing sheep, done by a hired crew of men and women who had to be served noon-day meals.Eleanor and Dorothy helped Diana Edwards serve meals to about 15 people.It costs $2 per head to have the sheep sheared so the sale of their wool barely meets this expense.The next few weeks several of Dorothy’s family members arrived home to help with the lambing and calving at the ranch, a very busy time for all out there but most interesting to this eastern spectator.Eleanor spent the final week at the home of old friends and neighbors, Gerald and Louise Alderman.Eleanor was happy to have her son Myron Taylor and his wife Carol and two children, Paul and Tristen, arrive and spend two nights at a motel in the town of Broadus.She had her first glimpse of her newest granddaughter who is now eight months old.Eleanor was kindly transported 175 miles back to Rapid City’s airport by an old friend, Charles Damm, another Powder River rancher.Then she flew back to Montreal via Minneapolis where she had to wait two hours between flights.She caught a bus out of Montreal back to Sherbrooke and home again to Birchton by taxi that same evening.A long journey but she is happy she had such a safe trip and saw so many of her former neighbors.The talk of the town! 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