The equity, 30 janvier 2008, mercredi 30 janvier 2008

[" M4001UJO HOC he Equity \\i 125th Year, Issue No.5 88 cents Wednesday, January 30,2008 McCrank hangs on to warden post Incumbent fends off fellow mayors to keep county position WILBUR MCLEAN Equity Editor PONTIAC \u2022 Mike McCrank was selected MRC Pontiac warden for another two-years Monday, but it was close.The bi-annual election among Pontiac mayors to select their leader who represents them and the county took place at the first mayors\u2019 council meeting of 2008.Among the 17 votes from mayors present \u2014\tPortage du Fort mayor\tGerald Manwell was absent \u2014\tnine voted for McCrank, giving him the exact amount required to be declared winner.With the wir McCrank fended off a strong effort by Allumettes Island mayor Brian Adam and Mansfield mayor Rick Romain, who both entered the fray.Only McCrank's tally for the secret ballot was announced; other results were not revealed.McCrank, 51, has been warden for eight years.In the four previous warden selection process, he twice faced competition and was twice acclaimed.\u201cThe candidates were strong,\u201d said McCrank.\u201cI knew it would be difficult.\u201d Before the vote, each nominated mayor was given two minutes to appeal to the other mayors present.McCrank addressed what he called \u201cquestions\u201d about his availability because of his permanent job in Hull.He said he had reorganized his work schedule to become available all day Mondays\tand Tuesdays, plus Wednesdays until 2 p.m.to be in his office at the MRC facility in Campbell's Bay.McCrank also pointed to his experience in the position and addressed a number of files he has been working on that required further attention.McCrank said he was not surprised two other mayors were interested in the position.The mayors\u2019 council had been considering making the warden position a full-time post and McCrank had previously stated he would not be willing to quit his regular job to work as full-time warden.Adam, 63, the deputy warden for the last two years, had made his intentions clear to run for the position of warden.Please see WARDEN on page two J\t\t1 ¦\t\tto MRC Pontiac Warden Mike McCrank It\u2019s that time of year again Amanda Dupuis.THE EQUITY The 33rd annual community curling bonspiei kicked off Thursday at the curling rink in Shawville.This year there are 72 teams registered in the tournament, which runs until Feb.3.From the left: organizers Doris Hanna, Phyllis Wilson, Stu Stark, Eason Russell, Laird Murray, Darleen Murphy and Bob Cowley.First rock thrown for bonspiei AMANDA DUPUIS Equity Reporter SHAWVILLE \u2022 The annual community curling bonspiei kicked off Thursday night in Shawville.\u201cIt was started 33 years ago because (the club) needed the money, and it flew, so they kept it going,\u201d said Phyllis Wilson, one of the organizers.\u201cThis community bonspiei is what keeps our club going,\u201d said Wilson.\u201cIt\u2019s the club\u2019s largest fundraiser of the year.\u201d This year\u2019s bonspiei will see 72 teams (roughly 288 people) vying for a shot at the grand prize \u2014 a toilet seat.The overall winning team will have its name engraved on a plaque on the inside of the seat and each member of the team will receive a mini version of the trophy.Some of the senior members of the club aren\u2019t too sure who came up with the idea of using a toilet seat as a prize, but the idea seems to have stuck.Wilson said her favourite part of the bonspiei is seeing teams return year after year to have fun and support the curling club.There are a handful of teams who have been entering since day one, she said.Each team wishing to play in the bonspiei must pay a $48 registration fee and each person on the team must bring a prize valued at $10 to $15.\u201cEvery person brings a prize, so every person takes home a prize,\u201d explained Wilson.Shawville resident Laird Murray, who has been the club\u2019s chairperson for about 10 years, begins organizing the community bonspiei just after Christmas.\u201cLaird is so organized himself,\u201d said Wilson.\u201cHe\u2019s Mr.Bonspiei as far as I\u2019m concerned.\u201d Teams are divided into twelve different divisions grouped by colours and each team\u2019s skill level is considered when they\u2019re placed in the division.\u201cWe\u2019re running out of colours,\u201d noted Wilson.Teams will play three games each over the course of one week.The most difficult part the organizers face is making sure all divisions are even in terms of talent and that each team is slotted into a time they\u2019re available to play.\u201cWe try to accommodate as many people as we can,\u201d said Wilson.\u201cWe work around them as much as we can.\u201d Over three decades, not much has changed in the way the bonspiei is played, noted Wilson, except for one aspect.\u201cWhen we first started out it was strictly a fun-spiel.Now, it\u2019s getting a little competitive.\u201d Break-ins easiest crime to prevent: police Amanda Dupuis.THE EQUITY An all-day fundraiser, including a car rally and a hockey tournament, was held Saturday in support of the arena in Fort Coulonge.The event was organized by the co-operative that will take ownership of the arena next month.Shown here: Pierre Aubrey (left), vice president of the co-operative and Debbie Laporte (right), president.Some care, planning goes long way to keeping out burglars takeover AMANDA DUPUIS Equity Reporter FORT COULONGE \u2022 The arena in Fort Coulonge was buzzing with activity over the weekend as the local co-operative slated to take the building over held its first annual fundraiser.\u201cIt\u2019s been a real success,\u201d said cooperative president Debbie Laporte.\u201cA lot of people showed up to support us.\u201d Events over the weekend included a hockey tournament with nine different teams and a car rally scavenger hunt with 23 cars.Gilles Gervais, the chairman of the fundraiser event, said the turnout was unbelievable.\u201cThere was a fantastic turnout,\u201d said Gervais, who explained Friday night events do not usually draw a large crowd but over 100 people showed up.Gervais said he wanted to organize a hockey tournament in support of the arena because it is one of the few amenities for people in the area to use.\u201cIt\u2019s the only thing we have in town,\" said Gervais, \u201cespecially for the kids, but for adults too.\u201d Gervais said he spent about two months organizing the fundraiser and was pleased with the turnout.\u201cIt\u2019s something we want to repeat year after year,\u201d added Laporte.Laporte said proceeds from the fundraiser are in support of various arena renovations.\u201cOur first priority is the roof.After we have upgraded the roof, then we will fix the inside of the arena,\" said Laporte.The co-operative needs to raise approximately $650,000 in order to pay for the required upgrades to the roof system,\tsaid Laporte; money that will come from fundraising as well as financial aid.Please see ARENA on page two AMANDA DUPUIS Equity Reporter PONTIAC \u2022 Crimes against property, such as break-ins and vandalism, account for more than half of all reported crimes in the MRC des Collines.\u201cWe have about 1,000 crimes against properties in a year (but) it\u2019s the easiest crime to prevent,\" said Const.Martin Fournel, a spokesperson with the public security sector of the police.More often than not.especially in rural areas, people seem to have the mentality that theft will always happen to somebody else.But that\u2019s not the case, said Const.Fournel, and people should be prepared.\u201cHouse owners have a responsibility to protect their valuables,\" said Const.Fournel.\u201cOften, people say, \u2018Oh it\u2019s up to the police to do that\u2019,\u201d he said.\u201cYes, it is, but you have to be careful.\u201d Cottage break-ins occur often in Pontiac, especially during the winter months when thieves know there is no one in the cottage.The most common way for thieves to gain access to a property is through the front door.And more often than not, they do so in broad daylight.According to police, most robberies occur between 10 a.m.and 2 p.m.Const.Fournel said this is because many robbers know people are usually at work during the day.What they do, he said, is walk up to the front door and knock.\u201cWe're seeing this a lot,\u201d said Const.Fournel.\u201cThey\u2019re just coming to check to see if there\u2019s somebody in the house.\u201d In most cases, said Const.Fournel, theft is not a random act.Robbers select their targets based on opportunity \u201cThey\u2019re going to go where it\u2019s easy, where there is opportunity for them,\u201d said Const.Fournel.\u201cTheir goal is to not get caught.\u201d \u201cYou need to think like them,\u201d he said.\u201cThey know it\u2019s a cottage.\u201d Const.Fournel said the best thing for both home and cottage owners to do would be to not leave valuables in plain sight or to take them with you when you leave.\u201cYou have to make their life difficult,\" said Const.Fournel.Another aspect cottage owners often overlook is the tool shed.It\u2019s not hard for a robber to break into a shed and steal items left behind in winter months such as tools, lawn mowers and fishing equipment.\u201cIf (the cottage) is not open, like in the winter, plow the laneway or snow blow it to make it look like someone\u2019s there,\u201d said Const.Fournel.Police also advise installing a reliable alarm system and quality locks on all windows and doors.In addition, they suggest installing adequate outdoor lighting or consider investing in a video surveillance system.\u201cIt doesn\u2019t cost much,\u201d said Const.Fournel.Erect advisory signs on your property warning intruders of the cameras.\u201cHave a sign there,\u201d said Const.Fournel.\u201c(Thieves) are not going to go check it out.They\u2019re not going to take the chance and go get caught.\" The most popular objects stolen, from both cottages and homes, are those easily liquidated such as money, jewellery, audio-video equipment, computers and tools.\u201cTheir goal is not to hurt people, it\u2019s to get a profit by what they\u2019re selling,\" said Const.Fournel.Please see CRIME on page two Approximately 60% Of newly created lobe will require vocational training at a secondary level or technical training at a college level./ Earn a\t\\ ) of Professional or Technical Studies in the Outa ouais\t* CbGEP H I W.TVMÎU r.cegepoutaouais qc .Ca T.819.770.d0l2 www.wqsb.Qc.ee T 819.684 2336 Heritage wwwcegao-heritage.qc.ee T.819.778.2270 r.outaouals lnforoutafpt.org r.819.56®.7938 Emploi Quebec anti Lotelr et Sport Outaoeatr Group prepares for Coulonge arena \\ Fhe Equity Wednesday, January 30, 2008 Page 2 MRC briefs Bertrand to be named MRC director-general WILBUR MCLEAN Equity Editor PONTIAC \u2022 Barring a disaster in negotiations, Rémi Bertrand will be the new director-general of the MRC Pontiac.The mayors unanimously chose to remove the interim tag from Bertrands title immediately though the terms of his hiring still had to be negotiated.That will be handled by the administration committee of mayors.Bertrand was thrust into the director-general position less than two months after being hired to be the MRC\u2019s interim director general under André Cordeau.Late last fall, Cordeau resigned and then abruptly left Pontiac to return to Montreal despite committing to assisting with a three-month transitional period leaving Bertrand with the position.Despite his inexperience \u2014 this is Bertrand s first foray in the public sector \u2014 the mayors expressed great pleasure at Bertrand s work so far.\u201c1 think he knows every member around this table supports him,\u2019 said Campbell's Bay Mayor Jean-Louis Auger.\u201cI'd like to get the word \u2018interim' taken out of his title as soon as possible,\u201d added Allumettes Island mayor Brian Adam, who brought up the issue at the meeting.Bertrand was visibly pleased with the words of his employers.\u201cIt's a vote of confidence and I see most heads nodding in agreement and that's enough for me,\u2019 he said before accepting the position.The director-general is the highest staff position in the MRC Pontiac.He is responsible for many of the ongoing files and looks after forestry, land use, economic development, tourism and finance.Road sign request The mayors will send a request to the Ministry of Transport to have Shawville and Fort Coulonge listed on road signs on the new Boulevard des Allumetieres, which was recently completed in Hull.The route connects Pontiac to old Gatineau through what was formerly called Boulevard de l\u2019Outaouais.Currently, a sign west on the route announces a dis- tance from \u201cPontiac\u201d, though Thorne Mayor Ross Vowles said the distance leads drivers only as far as Luskville.Luskville is a part of the Municipality of Pontiac but not the MRC Pontiac.Mayors unanimously felt it was important to have towns from the MRC represented on the sign.SQ shuffle The Pontiac detachment of the Surete du Quebec police have made another shuffle in their department.Sgt.Sylvain Arts, the head of investigations, will depart this week for another job and be replaced by Sgt.Jasmin Beiletete.Sgt.Arts had worked in Pontiac since 1992 with a stop in Hull, but he was offered a promotion to work with a police force in the Eastern Townships and accepted the position recently- Sgt.Beiletete, from Buckingham, has been with the Pontiac detachment since 2000.Lieu.Alain Langevin, himself only having been named to his position before Christmas, presented the change to Pontiac mayors Monday.\u201cWe re not able to keep all our good people, but at least were able to keep some,\u201d said Lieu.Langevin.\u201cIt was a real pleasure to work here,\u201d said Sgt.Arts.\u201cI like the population and I hope everything will continue well.\u201d More of my favourite Pontiac experiences so far % y 'Swim Wear\" 2008 Cruise Wearn I 2008 Ketinda\u2019s I fashions ¦ 18 Elgin St.W., I Arnprior HL613-623-5431 145837 AWARD WINNING 2006 db KINGSDOWN \u2022 Mtîm H A NIK ft* mil M ATTRF.SSES SIN< K I KM BEDDING SALE /\tN NO TURN 2 PCE.SET $ QUEEN 499 Award Winning Home Furnishing Award 2006 PILLOW TOP AWARD WINNING 2006 db KINGSDOWN \u2022 mTmm hamm r%rm» mattmsmek since ikm BEDDING SALE PILLOW TOP SPINAL SERIES NO TURN QUEEN DEEPLY PADDED SPINAL SERIES NO FLIP 2 PCE.800 COIL POSTURE SERIES, NO FLIP 2 PCE.¦ QUEEN SET k QUEEN SET Award Winning Home Furnishing Award 2006 Award Winning Home Furnishing Award 2006 Award Winning Home Furnishing Award 2006 Amanda Dupuis, THE EQUTY The Zion Hospital Auxiliary recently purchased a scale for the Pontiac Community Hospital in Shawville to weigh overweight/obese patients for a cost of $1,682.31.It will also be available for all of the nursing unit\u2019s use.Last year, the auxiliary purchased a vital sign monitor and two IV poles for the general care unit at the hospital for a cost of $3,331.The auxiliary also purchases Christmas gifts each year for long-term patients.From the left: auxiliary members Marshallene Campbell and Margaret Wall.WARDEN: Three vied for spot Continued from page one He distributed copies of his resume to his colleagues and early during Monday's meeting he handed out biographical profiles to the local media present.The longtime former Pembroke city councillor had brought an air of professionalism and esteem to the MRC Pontiac mayors' meetings since his election in 2005 but said he was not disappointed at McCrank\u2019s selection.\u201cNo, not at all, I'm quite satisfied with the outcome,\u201d he said, noting his selection as deputy warden in 2007 despite being one of the most inexperienced mayors gave him the vote of confidence he needed to pursue the position.\u201cI have been really immersed in the files.I know the warden's job is sufficiently demanding as is the deputy warden job.\u201d In his appeal to the mayors, Romain stated he had, \u201cNothing against (McCrank) personally, he's done a good job, but sometimes change can be good\u201d.Romain pointed to his flu- ent bilingualism as a benefit, as it would allow him to easily communicate with officials from other MRCs and the province.The warden will be paid $28,560 per year; the pro warden will receive $12,240 annually.Fort Coulonge mayor Raymond Durocher was also nominated for the position of warden but turned it down immediately.Adam was acclaimed back into his deputy warden post after both Romain and Durocher turned down nomi- nations with Durocher stating, \u201cIt's important to have continuance\u201d.The warden is the voice of the mayors at the provincial and regional levels.He sits on the regional body for elected officials, attends meeting with provincial representatives and conducts more ceremonial business, such as wreath-layings during Remembrance Day events.\u201c1 think a lot of people don't know what it is I do, but it's a lot of work,\u201d said McCrank.Happy 65th Wedding Anniversary on January 26, 2008 to Margaret and Theo Zimmerling of Arnprior, Ontario.Best wishes for many more years of health and happiness together.With love from all of your family.THEFT: Prevention easy Continued from page one In order to make it easier for police to find items should they become stolen, they suggest creating a list of all valuable items in the home, along with a description and the item\u2019s serial number, and to store it in a safe place.In the event of a robbery, the list will be helpful to police officers.\u201cEvery year, we find some equipment.We know for sure it\u2019s stolen, but even when we check the serial numbers (there\u2019s no record),\u201d said Const.Fournel.\u201cWith the serial number, we can out the stolen item\u2019s number in the police system.It\u2019s as simple as that.\u201d Another preventative measure is to have your driver\u2019s licence number engraved in an obvious place on all valuable possessions.This works the same way as recording the item\u2019s serial number, said Const.Fournel, because, \u201cit\u2019s an easy way to check to see if (the item) is stolen.\u201d According to Const.Fournel, generally, pawnshops are not supposed to accept items with an engraved number, so this will prevent your valuables from being liquidated that way.Do not feel hesitant to contact police should you ever fall victim to theft.If you do not report the crime, police will not know about it and therefore cannot work towards preventing it in the future.\u201cIf people don\u2019t give us a call, (thieves) are going to break in to who knows how many more houses before they get caught,\u201d said Const.Fournel.Const.Fournel explained it is important to report all suspicious activity to the police.\u201cPrevention is not only one thing, it\u2019s a bunch of small actions,\u201d said Const.Fournel.ARENA: Takeover not final Continued from page one In an agreement between the municipalities of Mansfield et Pontefract and Fort Coulonge, the co-operative will take over ownership of the arena within the first few weeks of February.According to Laporte, all of the documents are ready and are waiting to be signed by the mayor of Fort Coulonge and the director general.\u201cWe are waiting on one last council resolution,\u201d said Laporte.\u201cWe have no idea what day (it will be finalized).\u201d Laporte said the co-operative is meeting with council in the second or third week of February.The co-operative has been working to take over the arena for three years now, said Laporte, and the process has been complicated.\u201cIt was a lot of work,\u201d said Laporte.They took the idea of forming a co-operative from the arena in La Pèche, said Laporte, which is run in a similar manner.The co-operative then held meetings to gauge the interest in forming a committee and sold membership cards to raise money.Two hundred and eighty five people purchased membership cards in support of the co-operative.The co-operative will also receive yearly financial aid from Fort Coulonge and Mansfield et Pontefract.The co-operative executive currently consists of: Laporte, president; Pierre Aubrey, vice president; Claire Sauriol, secretary-treasurer; Kathy Belec, secretary and Garry Levesque, employee member.ÉCOLE DE CONDUITE R» Sarault DRIVING SCHOOL Motorcycle Course Starting with Ray pie to get excited.I\u2019ve heard a few Johnny Cash songs before but I knew nothing about his biography.So when I read claims Tommy was the youngest brother of Johnny I didn\u2019t know if they were true or not.I asked my brother\u2019s friend, who is a big country music fan, and was told that yes, Tommy is really Johnny\u2019s brother.This had me excited because I\u2019d be interviewing a real-life celebrity! After Cash\u2019s performance at Jamfest I went up to ask him a few questions and I also got him to sign a photo of himself as memorabilia of that moment.That photo, framed lovingly, is now perched atop my desk as a great reminder of that awesome moment.It reads: \u201cTo Amanda, Love Tommy Cash.\u2019 4) The Big Media Food Drive in December 2007.In early December our publisher asked us how we\u2019d like to participate in a food drive in support of the local food bank, Bouffe Pontiac.We\u2019d be standing on the street corner from 6 a.m.to 10 a.m.and we\u2019d be asking for donations in the form of food or money.Although 1 was a little hesitant to participate because it meant waking up before the crack of dawn, I realized it was for a good cause so I agreed to participate.It wasn\u2019t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, and although my fingers and toes lost feeling well before the second hour was up, it was such a satisfying feeling to know I was doing something good for someone else, especially so close to the holiday season.When I found out the food drive raised over $4,0001 was so pleased.We were able to feed a lot of needy families for Christmas.And what an ego-booster it was, to know I played a small part in that conquest.3) Uranium field trip in October 2007.When I was told I\u2019d be taking a hike deep into the Pontiac woods with a bunch of uranium prospectors, I didn\u2019t know what to think.Knowing uranium mining is a controversial issue in Pontiac made me a little excited \u2014 I\u2019d be up close and personal and behind the scenes with the people responsible for the uproar.Foraging into the wilderness was actually a lot more fun than I was expecting it to be, despite the threat of rain above our heads that day.Knowing little about uranium only added to the fun because I was compelled to learn a lot of facts about it before departing on the trip so I would know what to ask when I got there.It was so interesting to see the process behind uranium mining, and considering I honestly thought uranium was something you\u2019d find only in a movie, it was exciting to think it could possibly be in our own backyard.Margaret and Theo Zimmerling \u201cIn February 2008\u201d Call now to reserve your place 1-819-684-2208 AYLMER 203, chemin Aylmer Zion Hospital Auxiliary AMANDA DUPUIS Equity Reporter PONTIAC \u2022 I\u2019ve had many great experiences at The Equity to date, though I must admit, before I started the job, 1 never thought I\u2019d be taking on some of the feats I've accomplished.Some of the most memo- rable encounters I have ventured into while working here will remain imprinted in my memory for the rest of my life.Here is a list of the rest of my top five \u201cproudest\u201d moments so far \u2014 those which I never thought I\u2019d be undertaking.S) Meeting country music legend Johnny Cash\u2019s youngest brother, Tommy Cash in July 2007.It\u2019s not often you get the opportunity to meet a celebrity- So when Tommy Cash agreed to perform at the Quyon Country Jamfest last summer it caused many peo- TWmj\u2019s QAimc Pt T)ine Tviittfj ijoul our\tc( ulfir.9w|utof nhoul oui l/2 fViioc iooiwo.OfeoL, Oeo/oorf, Vn'dn, Qhcfihctfl'n Pic, 'TJofissMto Chicken, T'nnct Pi'i(.Oom/oif [ceil Pike Ijou'ir mum iwnqinrd .onfij 20 iMimilrs nivnij.£Vopc.0oiM