The record, 16 juillet 2007, lundi 16 juillet 2007

THE RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 75 CENTS + TAXES PM#0040007682 Monday, July 16, 2007 Death in Waterloo Head held under water, says SQ By Eleanor Brown Sherbrooke A Waterloo man will be charged this morning in Granby in connection with the death of 30-year-old Nathalie Dupont, who succumbed in hospital yesterday to injuries related to an attack.“She died around 3:15 or so Sunday morning,’ said Sûreté du Québec spokesman Marc Butz.“The exact charge will be determined by the Crown attorney,” said Please see Waterloo on Page 4 Gay debate No local Anglicans have requested same-sex blessings By Sarah Rogers Sherbrooke The leader of the Anglican Church in Quebec says it is only a matter of time before the church allows the blessings of same-sex unions.The comment comes after the tri-annual synod of the Anglican Church of Canada met in Winnipeg in late Please see Anglican on Page 4 ¦ Ml Borderline Blues Quebec’s annual construction holiday got off to a rough start for hundreds of motorists heading south early Saturday, stuck at both southbound United States Customs crossings - the main check point on Route 55 and the one at Derby Line/Rock Island, where traffic was backed up well north of the Canadian Customs stop.Few appeared to realize that a few miles west was yet another crossing point, in Beebe, where both check-points, as usual, were virtually traffic-free.By midday the line ups were getting a little shorter.During the wait motorists left their vehicles to stretch the legs, chat with others in line and stare disapprovingly at the hardly moving queue.*3) AGOG 274 Bourque Blvd., OMERV1LLE 819-843-9883 www.toyotamagog.com ®TOYOTA I jr \ t \t # r page 2 Monday, July 16, 2007 ^RECORD, Quebecers support departing troops: O’Connor Quebec soldiers to Afghanistan By Kevin Dougherty CanWest News Service Valcartier While only 38 per cent of Quebecers support Canada’s mission to Afghanistan, 90 per cent support the troops, federal Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor said Sunday after speaking to the first contingent of Quebec-based soldiers leaving for a new rotation.If Quebec-based soldiers die in this latest phase in the mission, O’Connor said, he expects Quebecers to react the same way as Canadians in other provinces.“They’ll realize the sacrifice that these soldiers may have made to help the lives of the people of Afghanistan.” he said.“They are proud of our soldiers and they will continue to be proud of our soldiers.” About 2,500 mostly Quebec-based soldiers, under the command of Brig.-Gen.Guy Laroche, will deploy to Afghanistan over the next six weeks.They will replace troops from Petawawa, Ont.and Gagetown, N.B., on a mission lasting six to nine months.About 2,000 of the total, including 800 members of the Royal 22nd Regiment, are based at Valcartier, about 30 kilometres north of Quebec City.Another 300 come from other Quebec units throughout the province, including the reserves, and 200 additional troops from other parts of Canada will complete the contingent.Some of the troops will defend provincial reconstruction teams, building schools and other projects, as well as aiding Afghan civil authorities.But the bulk of the troops will be based at the Kandahar Airport, at a base run by the U.S.company Halliburton Kellogg Brown & Root.“We are there to help make a stable government in Afghanistan so the people can have security and so they can have normal lives, so that they can go to school, so people can work like everywhere else,” O’Connor said.“Kandahar province is the homeland of the Taliban,” he said.noting that Canadian troops first went to Kandahar in February 2006, as agreed by the previous Liberal government and the mission has the approval of Parliament.“Our soldiers had to go in there and deal with a large number of the Taliban,” he said.“It’s just a very dangerous province, but over the last year and half, the secu-rity has improved substantially,” he said.“In fact, if you know the details on the ground, you will find that the Taliban are spending their time in other provinces and not in Kandahar province because our soldiers have succeeded in reaching a situation where the Taliban cannot win in our province.” Drowning danger peaks this week c mm Bjj ppa- IQ 2Z 32 OQ A r\ A Cl 21 1 irffitej 02 QQ 13 ¦BS» 1 Q 1Q AO \ 48 1 (B) Total sales I Next grand prize (approx ) : $15.153,286 $9,000,000 (B) Backyard pools and lakes By Phil Couvrette CanWest News Service ¦ anadians seeking refuge from the dog days of summer at water’s edge take note: This week is the peak time for drownings in I Canada.National Drowning Prevention Week, which started Sunday, is situated smack in the middle of July for a good reason.This is the month of the year that sees the most drownings in Canada, said Suzanne Gorman, executive director of the Lifesaving Society.Drowning, according to the Lifesaving Society, is the third leading cause of unintentional death for Canadians under the age of 60 and it takes 400 victims every year.A majority of the victims drown in natural bodies of water and are male, many of whom never intended to hit the water, Gorman explained.“Over 70 per cent are male,” she said.“Less than one-third of the victims intended to get wet, which means they’re usually in a boat, fishing or in land transportation or walking along rivers’ edges.” More than 75 per cent of drownings occur in natural bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and oceans.A little more than five per cent happen in back- yard pools, five times more than in public pools.“For children, our recommendations to parents is to keep them within arm’s reach," Gorman said.“It only takes a moment for things to go from perfectly fine to trouble.” Safety advocates also say wearing a lifejacket and leaving alcohol at home when going on boating trips, as well as following a lifeguarding course, can go a long way toward avoiding tragedies.While drownings occur across the country, the issue has made its way onto Quebec’s political landscape thanks to a few high-profile cases.Tabled in June, Quebec’s bill 18 would standardize province-wide norms for pool safety that currently vary from one municipality to another.The bill is aimed at private pools where on average 11 drownings happen every year in the province — the worst record in the country.Of those deaths, half involve children under five.“It’s important to control access to private pools,” said Raynald Hawkins of the Quebec Lifeguarding Society.Gorman says the bill, which she believes is a first in Canada, is being closely followed.The Union of Quebec Municipalities applauded bill 18 but stressed cities and towns shouldn’t bear the cost of improving residential pool safety alone.It said pool-makers, stores, installers and insurance companies need to share the costs.WINNERS PRIZES WINNERS PRIZES 0 $4,433,409.00 6/6 0 $1,000,000.00 4 $79,168.00 5/6+B 1 $50,000.00 106 $2,467.90 5/6 26 $500.00 6,154 $80.50 4/6 1,128 $50.00 118,476 $10.00 3/6 19,697 $5.00 85,989 $5.00 Total sales $488,745.50 EStra 4621271 5500,0001 decomposable in both directions I Draw Results: 2007-07-13 WINNERS PRIZES Q2 1J.2Q 28 28 35 22 2Z ¦ (B) 4259656 $500,000 7/7 0 $2,500,000.00 6/7+B 2 $70,774.90 6/7 71 $1,993.60 5/7 4,495 $107.00 4/7 98,076 $10.00 3/7+B 92,065 $10.00 3/7 823,780 Free play Total sales : $12,164,024 Next grand prize (approx ) : $5.000,000 NUMBER DECOMPOSABLE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS ! In the event of discrepancy between this list and the official winning list ot Loto-Québec, the latter shall prevail.To win the fight against neuromuscular disorders, it takes more than just words.it takes action.TAKE ACTION.PLEASE GIVE.AM Muscular DystrophyCanada let's make muscles move Weather Today: Mix of sun and cloud.High 24.UV index 8 or very high.Low 11.Tuesday.Mix of sun and cloud.High 25.Wednesday: Mix of sun and cloud with 60 per cent chance of showers.Low 15.High 24.Thursday: Cloudy.Low 12.High 23.Ben by Daniel Shelton AHHHHH.WMAT A NICE R0MAMTICMWIE THAT WAS.BSN// COMt, LETS GO TO ££P, SWEETIE.PUT THERE'S A P0LLAR PENALTY IFICÜNTREWINPIT.' MR ///// ^RECORD: Monday, July 16, 2007 page 3 H Safety of 11 overpasses questioned But no specifics released By Sarah Rogers Sherbrooke Eleven overpasses in the Estrie are under surveillance by Transport Québec because of safety worries.The 11 overpasses in this re gion are lacking steel reinforce ments, said ministry spokeswoman Isabelle Gagnon — who was unable to name the individual viaducts.The reinforcements are required to counter shear cracking, diage nal cracks that form when concrete is being tom apart.It was a shear crack that brought down a Laval overpass in September 2006.At a press conference in Montreal late last week, Transport Québec officials said they are researching past inspection reports to determine the safety of 135 structures around the province.The most dangerous area is in Mon-térégie with 47 questionable structures, followed by 19 in Quebec City and 12 in PERRY BEATON/ FILE PHOTO Montérégie is the most worrisome area, but no specific bridges are being named.Mauricie, although the ministry won’t name exactly where they are, either.The department began investigating 332 structures, which it has now narrowed down to 135.The provincially appointed Johnson commission is investigating the September 2006 collapse of the de la Concorde overpass in Laval, that killed five people and injured six.“We will alert the public when we know they are not safe,” said Jacques Gagnon, Transport Quebec’s Montreal regional manager.He said that “these structures are not dangerous.” But critics are already popping up.Drivers and pedestrians should have the right to make their own decisions about how much caution to exercise, said the Quebec branch of the Canadian Automobile Association.“Citizens, ratepayers have the right to know the status of the situation, to know which structure is a priority for the ministry,” said Sophie Gagnon, spokeswoman for CAA-Quebec.Jacques Gagnon claimed his department was being unfairly blamed for the collapse of the de la Concorde overpass.He denied that the department was at all responsible for the failure.The province has nearly doubled the repair budget for Quebec’s highway structures to $440 million for 2007-2008, from $253 million in 2006-2007.- with files from Can West News Construction Bru is Stanstead-East Road work on Route 143 in Stanstead-East will begin today and continue through to July 19.This construction will close the entire road between the intersections of Route 208 and Route 141.Traffic will be detoured towards routes 141 and 208.Bombardier construction Repair work on the asphalt will begin today on the Joseph-Armand-Bombardier highway between Brompton and Sherbrooke.Construction will begin in the south-bound lanes.One of the two lanes will be closed Monday to Thursday between 6 a.m.to 7 p.m.Construction will begin in the north-bound lane when the southbound lane construction is complete.The whole project is scheduled to be finished for Aug.1.Where did all the West Nile go?No spraying this year Staff Knowlton Remember the public health concerns surrounding West Nile virus a few years ago?Public health authorities recently announced that there will be no spraying of larvacides in mosquito breeding grounds and no testing of mosquito pools this year.Instead, if the virus turns up in a given area, localized actions, including informing the public, will be taken.West Nile was first discovered in Uganda in 1937, and was first found in North America in 1999.Transmitted through a bite from an infected mosquito, it fails to show symptoms 80 per cent of the time.Typically those who do get sick will become ill two to 15 days later, presenting mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, possibly swollen lymph glands.Those most at risk are people over 50 or with weakened immune systems.In one case out of 150 West Nile provokes a severe illness, leading to encephalitis or meningitis, with the victim going into a coma, suffering paralysis or dying.The presence of the virus in Central Park in New York City led to its closure in 2000.In those early years it provoked a wide range of media coverage and public concern.Today media coverage___________ is focusing more on the likelihood of an avian flu pandemic.Interestingly, West Nile presents very little risk for children under five years of age.The older you get, the more likely you are to fall victim to West Nile.Horses are also apparently more susceptible to West Nile than are other animals.While there are generally more mosquitoes earlier in the summer, mid to late summer is the usual peak for West Nile cases.As the peak of the West Nile season approaches, health officials have a few tips on how to lower the risk of being bitten by an infected mosquito: • Avoid being outside at dawn and dusk, times when mosquitoes are more active.• Wear light coloured clothing, covering up as much as possible to prevent bites.• Wear bug repellent, preferably something with DEET as the active ingredient.Citronella also helps keep mosquitoes at bay.• Remove standing sources of water where mosquitoes can breed, such as old tires, pool covers or rain barrels.If you need your rain barrel, put screening over it to keep the mosquitoes out.• Screening is also important for the home as well.Make sure the pesky bugs have as little access to your home as possible.It beats wearing bug repellent all the time.While the extent of the West Nile surveillance has been reduced, the Montérégie public health authority says those early years gave a clearer picture of West Nile’s presence in Quebec.“We know that the Montérégie, Montreal, Laval, Lanaudiere, the Laurentians and the Outouais are most at risk,” said a press release from the Agence de santé et des services sociaux de la Montérégie, which covers the western end of the Eastern Townships.More information on WNV can be found on the Internet at www.virusdunil.info, or by calling 1-877-644-4545.The government is also not asking for reports of dead crows or blue jays this summer.But if you find a group of at least three dead birds in a given area you are asked to call the number above, not so much out of a concern for West Nile, but to alert public health officials to the possible presence of avian flu, which has not yet been spotted in North America.NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS Summer Schedule: June 18th to August 17th Jo- l Consultant Tel: 81*.Fax: 819.821 *317?jhovey@sherbrookerecord.com RECORD .sm.t mm If you plan to make changes to your subscription (i.e.vacation stop, address change, etc,), please be advised we need at least one (1) week notice (prior to date of change).Thank you [RECORD 819-569-9528 9 t 9 ?* * • » .- - *’ #VV#WV r .» r r * .- page 4 Monday, July 16, 2007 .«THE in RECORD jv'rx.'v •• I phsSl .mm*' P*wm*s i' • .- frON'DEBEA'UTB' IbUQlAH UtCiRMiYM4 Waterloo: Cont’d from Page 1 the police officer, who is based in Montreal.Events began early Saturday morning, said Sûreté du Québec Estrie spokesman Louis-Philippe Ruel, when police received a telephone call around 5:35 from area residents saying they were hearing screaming from a neighbour’s property.Within 10 minutes, said Ruel, officers had arrived and went to the back of 4295 Foster Street.“There they found a man who was holding a woman’s head under water,” said Ruel.The area is a mix of trees and marsh.“As soon as [the suspect] saw the police, he ran into a wooded area.” The officers ignored the man as they sought to help the victim, said Ruel.Dupont was transported to the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, where her condition was listed as critical.She held on to life for almost a day.By 7 a.m.on Saturday, police had arrested a suspect.The 36-year-old was transported to the Centre hospitalier de Granby, where toxicology tests were undertaken.The man is described as known to the victim.His name cannot be made public until he is formally charged.DAVID ANDERSON This photograph of Nathalie Dupont is from the Waterloo directory.DAVID ANDERSON Police spent much of Saturday at the property.Anglican: Cont’d from Page 1 June.While it was decided at that conference that same-sex unions were in accordance with doctrine, the vote that followed rejected a motion to allow priests to actually bless those unions.“I suspect in another three to six years we’ll come to a point where we can say that it’s alright,” said Archbishop Bruce Stavert of the Anglican diocese of Quebec.“I’m kind of torn about the issue, because it would have been nice to make a final decision on this issue.” Stavert voted in favour of both motions; the first that accepts same-sex unions as part of Anglican doctrine, the second to authorize the blessing of those unions.Marriage, however, is something else entirely.The Anglican Church in Canada makes a distinction between unions and marriage; their debate is not to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples, but rather to bless unions after a civil marriage has been obtained.Discussion around same-sex unions has taken place in the church for close to two decades, Stavert said.After a weekend of emotional debate at the national synod, a majority of the 300 delegates there actually agreed to approve same-sex blessing ceremonies.For the decision to stand, howeyer, church law requires separate majorities among priests and laity, and also among the church’s 40 Canadian bishops.And while the priests and laity approved the move, it was voted down by a narrow majority of two bishops.“I think they were saying it’s not quite time,” Stavert said from his office in Quebec City.Archbishop Stavert believes the church will move towards authorizing same-sex unions as the issue becomes less controversial in the global faith community.There is, on the other hand, enormous pressure from some dioceses in Canada — particularly urban ones — to push this through for same-sex couples, he said.This may not be true for faith communities in the Eastern Townships, where a same-sex union has yet to be blessed within the Anglican Church.Local ministers contacted by The Record say they have not been asked to perform any blessings.Reverend Michael Canning of St.George’s Anglican Church in Lennoxvil-lle was selected to attend the synod when another clergy member could not.While Canning voted in favour of both motions, he said the issue hasn't been a pressing one in his own community.At the synod, Canning described the different voices around the table as being at odds — a microcosm of the church, he said.“There was a little bit of frustration from some parts bëcause a local option would have, given us a chance to move forward,” Canning said.But as part of a larger Anglican community, Canning recognizes that “nothing is ever done overnight.” “The church sometimes moves in baby steps,” he said.“But 1 think the church is evolving.” Reverend Barbara Wintle could not say which way she would have voted if she had participated in the synod, without having been faced with the issue in her own congregation.But the minister at St.George’s Church in Ayer’s Cliff respects the fact that the church isn’t ready.“You never know if someone’s going to call you and ask you (to bless their union),” Wintle said.“But if it did ever happen, I would have to say no.” In Knowlton, the local Anglican minister said that the blessing of same-sex marriages has not been an issue within his congregation so far, only saying he was glad the same-sex couples now enjoy civil rights.But Reverend Tim Wiebe of St.Paul’s Anglican Church said it was difficult to interpret such a narrow vote, such as the rejected motion.He also suggested the church had other things to focus on in the meantime.“If we dwell on that topic, we’re in a no-win situation,” he said.The Anglican diocese of Québec stretches from the Magdelan Islands south to Stanstead.-with files from Can West News Service Gays and the Anglican Church Here’s a quick look at some of the history of lesbians and gay men within the Anglican Church of Canada.1979: The Anglican House of Bishops ruled that ordained ministers may be homosexual but must abstain from sex.1985: A number of executive committee members and laypersons objected loudly to a controversial Anglican study guide on human sexuality containing a sympathetic portrayal of homosexuals.1986: The Archbishop of Toronto suspends two lesbian deacons who told their congregation they were “married” and were expecting a child by artificial insemination.1997: The B.C.Anglican church supported the provincial government’s plans to recognize same-sex unions for the purposes of child custody, access and maintenance.1997: Anglican bishops apologized to Canadian gays and lesbians for the prejudice and oppression church members had directed at them in the past, but stopped short of changing their ban on blessing same-sex unions.1998: The world’s Anglican bishops overwhelmingly approved a motion saying that “homosexual practice is contrary to Scripture.” 2002: New Westminster, B.C., led by Bishop Michael Ingham, became the first Canadian diocese to recognize same-sex blessings after years of pressure from Vancouver-area churchgoers.The decision earned scorn from the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey.2003: The Episcopal Church, the Anglican branch in the United States, appointed an openly gay man as bishop of New Hampshire.Conservative African and Asian Anglicans and their Western supporters were outraged.2004: An international panel of Anglican theologians called for a moratorium on the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of gay clergy, asking the Canadian and U.S.churches to apologize for their actions.2004: The General Synod, meeting in St.Catharines, Ont., delayed until 2007 a vote on a five-part motion to allow dioceses their own choice in recognizing recognize same-sex marriage.But the meeting affirmed “the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships.” 2004: The Diocese of Niagara passed a similar motion that sanctioned same-sex blessing was vetoed by Bishop Ralph Spence.2007: A worldwide meeting of Anglican bishops in Tanzania demanded the U.S.Episcopalians ban gay clergy and same-sex unions by Sept.30, or face expulsion from the communion.2007: Delegates at the Anglican synod in Winnipeg approved a historic motion that said same-sex blessings did not violate the “core doctrines” of the church.Later, they voted against allowing blessing ceremonies for gays and lesbians. : H m.THE¦ RECORD Monday, July 16, 2007 page 5 Fears of economic losses Careening car smashes into two houses Ski hill’s legal notice Staff Sherbrooke A spokesman for provincial environment minister Line Beauchamp said a lawyer’s letter was sent to Mont Orford Inc.because officials were concerned the privately run resort would not be ready for the upcoming ski season.“There was some concern everything would not be in place for September 15,” Beauchamp’s deputy chief of staff Pierre Millette said Friday.Millette said the minister’s warning gives Mont-Orford Inc.60 days to get ready, or else further legal àction will be taken.That means Mont-Orford Inc, which currently holds the lease on the ski hill in Mount Orford provincial park, must start preparing advertising and ticket sales for the upcoming ski season, Millette explained.Millette said the ministry simply wants to make sure the 2007-2008 ski season goes ahead ensuring no loss of economic spinoffs for the region.In the meantime, he said negotiations to end Mont-Orford’s lease continue.Apparently talks are at an impasse while both sides debate the value of equipment at the hill and conditions for payment.In a press release issued last week, Beauchamp’s office announced the minister had asked government lawyers to send a notice to Mont-Orford Inc.asking the company to proceed with necessary preparations to operate the ski hill in December 2007.She noted that, by virtue of its lease with the government, the company had to operate the Mont-Orford ski centre notwithstanding negotiations to cancel its lease (plus buying back the company’s assets, and the takeover of operations by the government).Mont-Orford Inc.director André L’Espérance did not return The Record’s calls but he told other media outlets he was angered by Beauchamp’s legal threat.“Do they want the ski hill to close?” L’Espérance told La Tribune.“That’s exactly what we want to avoid by doing this,” said Millette in response.The government announced in June that it would cancel the lease with Mont-Orford Inc.and turn it over to a provincial park agency while the region comes up with a consensus on the future of the ski hill and golf course located within Mount Orford provincial park.PERRY BEATON André L'Espérance is annoyed.Went into reverse By Maurice Crossfield Knowlton T|iie uranDy ronce are investigating how an elderly driver managed to crash his car into two houses and a parked car Friday afternoon.As the heavy rain was pouring down police got a call reporting that a car had crashed into a house at 440 Duvernay at 1:35 p.m.A couple of minutes later a second call came in, this one reporting a car had crashed into a house at 112 Villeneuve.“The police officer who went to the scene quickly determined that it was the same car that crashed into both houses,” said Granby Police spokesman Const.Guy Rousseau.The patroller was able to figure out that the driver, an 84-year-old man, had parked in front of 123 St.Charles Nord, waiting for his wife who was getting her hair done.For some reason the car went into reverse, crossing a parking lot, crashing through a fence, crossing a back yard and into the house at 440 Duvernay.The car then started going forwards, crossing the yard, going through the fence again and into the parking lot.There the Chevy Cavalier hit a parked Cadillac, which in turn rolled and crunched a parked Honda Civic.A 60-year-old woman in the Cadillac sustained light head injuries in the incident.From there the car kept going, crossing St-Charles Street and then Villeneuve, crashing into the front of the house at 112 Villeneuve.Rousseau said the driver of the runaway car suffered minor injuries to his head and left arm.Just why the chain of events unfolded the way it did is now the subject of a police investigation.“Crossing two streets and a parking lot like that, it was lucky that no one was hurt more seriously,” Rousseau said.Briefs Missing Drummondville musician found in US Anatoli Fuentes Gutierrez, 29, a Cuban musician missing since July 5, has been found by American authorities in Vermont last Wednesday.Gutierrez had been invited to Canada to perform at the Mondial des Cultures event taking place in Drummondville.Gutierrez belongs to the Cuban dance group Tercer Mundo.The Sûreté du Québec has said that he left the country on his own accord.Gutierrez will remain in the United States until his status can be established, but he was doing well when he was caught by American authorities.The SQnow considers the case closed.Gutierrez had a valid passport and visa until December.The SQ is still looking for the Robert and Robert Avila Gonzales twins, aged 20, who went missing on July 6.They also were part of the Cuban dance group Tercer Mundo.Hidden garden growers sought by police Memphremagog Police are seeking the growers responsible for a pot plantation discovered in a hidden garden near Taylor Road in Austin on Thursday.Last week an anonymous tip to police led them to a patch of some 240 marijuana plants located in an isolated field behind a small wooded area, said Inspector Guy Roy of the Memphremagog regional force.Roy said the pot patch was well hidden and far away from local homes.Located about 1,000 meters from the road, it was accessible by a small path.Roy said Friday police had not determined who owned the plot, but police suspect the illicit crop did not belong to the landowners.Roy said the well tended plantation was located close to a stream which likely provided water.At maturity, the pot plants would have been valued at about $240,000, about $1,000 a stalk.If anyone has any information about the farmers tending the hidden garden, they are asked to call the Memphremagog force at 819-843-3334.Bury mayor’s home hit by eggs and apples Lieutenant Jocelyn Rose of the Cookshire detachment of the Sûreté du Québec is asking for the public’s help with an ongoing problem in Bury.Since June, Bury Mayor Marc Jacques Gosselin has been the target of regular mischief and harassment.On several occasions, Gosselin’s home has been attacked with eggs and apples, some of which have broken windows, Rose states in a release.Help from the public led to the arrest of the person responsible for mischief at Bury’s town hall last January.The minor (who cannot be identified) has since been found guilty and sentenced to community service.Tension rose between residents and town council in 2006 when council voted to pass a new human resource management policy for its volunteer fire department, which reduced their pay.Earlier this year, council voted to terminate the contract of the town’s director general, another move that was met with criticism by residents.Anyone who can assist Cookshire police should call 819-875-3331.Your identity will be kept confidential.Disappeared woman Sherbrooke police are asking for help to find Ginette Blais, who hasn’t been seen since leaving her home at 7:45 a.m.on July 12.The 61-year-old woman is driving a charcoal grey 1993 Dodge Colt (the licence plate number is CCX764).Blais (pictured) is 48 kg and 1.65 m tall.She has blue eyes and auburn hair, and speaks French.Now with delivery Announcing the new www.sherbrookerecord.com ——— THF _ to your dining room.RECORD page 6 Monday, July 16, 2007 Community Forum Smoke pot But don’t buy it I support the legalization of marijuana, and yet I have a special disgust for casual pot smokers.And it’s because in order to inhale, they have to pretend they don’t know where their money is going.Or worse, they don’t care where their money’s going.Most drug users are not socially responsible people.The truly entertaining part of this is that a certain drug subculture sees itself as progressive on social issues — like supporting the legalization of pot.It’s a harmless drug (if used in moderation, as with any other vice from alcohol to sugar).It’s a hardy cash crop that could bring in a small fortune in tax revenue (and Canada is particularly known for some of its quality product).And the cost of continuing police crackdowns is, so far as I can tell, practically incalculable.Every Sûreté du Québec pot farming bust seems to involve at least one helicopter _ and quite a few police officers whose time is tick-tickticking away on my dime as a taxpayer.While paying closer attention to the speedsters in Richmond and Stanstead is probably not as fun, it would make the world a safer place for those resi- ^RECORD: From the Editor Eleanor Brown NOT A TRKMSSf* IN SI6Hr.ms dents.Vast chunks of the drug trade — am I being too hopeful here?should I just say all?— are controlled by organized crime, and as pleasant as gangsters may be to you on the street, they are not good people.To maintain control, organized crime types will rip someone’s ear off for fun.And that’s just a starter.I’m sure there are a handful of terribly sweet drug farmers who would never hurt a fly.Those who never dream of gouging off someone’s nose are nonetheless a part of worldwide gangs that will do it in Colombia or in Afghanistan.If you’re a part of the chain, if you’re farming or buying the dope, you’re helping.Period.Hey, it’s got to be illegally shipped over borders; it’s going to be sold by the same guy with the pager who’s selling crack.Who else has the connections?Even those who start out as small-time growers with the best of intentions will themselves pulled into the web.That’s how illegal stuff works.As for the customers, I’d have thought that teens in particular wouldn't see how what they do affects the world beyond them, but it’s the adults that I keep seeing smoking up.I will not knowingly in any way support organized crime.Nor should anyone else who lives here in the Townships.And that means no pot — which is one of this region’s big money crops.Unless, that is, you know where’s the money’s going.I would suggest that the only people who know this are those who grow their own.That’s illegal, too.But if you insist on smoking up, growing your own is a personal and economic imperative.There’s the need to keep the cash out of the hands of organized crime.But there’s also a need to supplant organized crime.Because at some point in the future, the nannies who run government will eventually realize that you can’t stop people from smoking up — nor should such personal choices be controlled by the state.And at that time, when pot is finally decriminalized, smokers themselves will need to be able to take control with their own small crops — to eventually become big business moguls.The alternative is that the criminals who already have their monster cash crops become respectable, legitimate entrepreneurs overnight.And they’re not the kind of people I want running the legal pot trade.Quebec smokes rest of Canada in pot use We RECORD KO.ta 1100 SherbrookeJlH 516 or 1195Gilt E, Sherbrooke JIG 1Y7 Fax: 819-56M945 e-mail: newsroom@sheibrookerecord.com Website: wwwAherbrookerecord.com Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Eleanor Brown Editor .(81985696345 Richard Lessard Prod.Mcr.(81*^5699931 Serge Gagnon Chief Pressman .(819) 5699931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 5694856 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)5699511 Advertising.(819)5699525 Circulation.(819)5699528 Newsroom .(819)5696345 Knowltdn office 88-A Lakeside, Knowlton, Quebec JOE 1V0 Tel: (450) 242-1188 Fax:(450)243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 120.00 7.20 9.54 $136.74 6 MONTHS 63.00 3.78 5.01 S71.79 3 MONTHS 32.00 1.92 2.54 $36.46 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other sendees available on request The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies ofThe Record are available.The Record was founded on February 7.1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Alta Newspaper Group Umited Partnership.PM #0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record.1195 Galt East.Sherbrooke.QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD, CNA.QCNA By David Johnston CanWest News Service Montral re it not for prodigious pot use in Quebec, Canada would not have placed first in a United Nations drug study of marijuana use in the industrialized world.In fact, were Quebec a sovereign nation, it would have finished first ahead of Canada, according to a breakdown of the data supplied by Canada for the UN study.The biggest difference between Quebec and the rest of Canada is seen in the youngest age groups.According to the Health Canada’s 2002 Youth Smoking Survey, which looked at marijuana as well as tobacco, 32 per cent of students in Grades 7 to 9 in Quebec have smoked marijuana at least once.That compares with 18 per cent in British Columbia, which ranked second in Canada, and 11 per cent in Ontario, which ranked lowest among provinces and territories.The 2007 World Drug Report of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs made headlines last week when it was revealed that Canada topped the list of industrialized nations for marijuana use.Spain topped the world for cocaine, Iran for heroin, Australia for ecstasy and the Philippines for amphetamines.In the Montreal area, police say marijuana consumption has become particularly problematic in the booming suburbs north of Montreal and Laval.Overall, marijuana use in Quebec is running 12 per cent higher than the national average, according to the most recent inter-provincial comparison, the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey, co-ordinated by Health Canada.This was the main study used by the UN to determine Canadian consumption.In Quebec, addiction experts say marijuana has surpassed alcohol as the drug for which young people are most likely to seek treatment in publicly funded rehabilitation centres.“It’s really cannabis that is the substance that is the most problematic among youths that come to treatment centres today - more than for alcohol, certainly,” said Michel Landry, director of research for the Centre Dollard Cormier.The centre co-ordinates publicly funded drug rehabilitation services for the Ministry of Health in the Montreal area.Alcohol still causes more societal problems in terms of risky sexual behaviour, property damage and violence, according to Landry.And, overall, marijuana is still considered among the “least addictive of all psycho-active substances," according to Jurgen Rehm, a senior scientist with the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.But marijuana, for whatever reason, is becoming more of a worry to those who actually use it, or at least those who believe they are dependent on it.Whether increased demand among Quebec youth for marijuana-related rehab services reflects the escalating potency of the illegal crop, or the prevalence of so-called grow ops in southwestern Quebec, are not questions that are easily answered, the experts say.The 2007 World Drug Report found 16.8 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 64 used marijuana in 2004; only four countries, all non-industrialized, had higher rates -Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, Ghana and Zambia.The key figure addiction experts watch for is chronic consumption.And, as far as marijuana is concerned, the data suggest only five to 15 per cent of Canadian marijuana users are “problem” users - a proportion that is more or less the , same for users of alcohol and other drugs. jœcord; Monday, July 16, 2007 page 7 Because ignoring it will make it go away Denying denial Denial is just one of several ways to cope with the strains and stresses in our lives.Ignore what bothers you.Don’t admit to problems.Maybe they will go away.Maybe they’re all in your mind.Out of sight, out of mind.Maybe.Maybe not.During the Great Depression the music industry produced songs of denial to distract people.No job.No money.No prospects.Don’t worry; we have songs to cheer you.Denial to sing by: ‘Keep On Smiling’ (and the whole world smiles with you)’ ‘Pennies From Heaven’ (you’ll find Tom Cavanagh tario, I’m sure our area could have survived easily for a generation while wars and destruction raged elsewhere in the world.We had animals for transport and food and fields for production.Today if my computer crashes I may have to talk to someone in India for assistance.If the gas runs out, and it may, we are in big trouble with few horses or other alternatives to take up the slack.The technological revolution, especially in communications, alters everything.Extraordinary change is the norm, and denial is dangerous.Precarious *> m «*&*$» n m your fortune scattered all over town); ‘Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella’ (and if the sky is grey don’t worry or fret, the sun comes shining through and you’ll never get wet).I can still recall my mother cheerily singing, “Let’s have another cup of coffee, and let’s have another piece of pie.” Alas there was precious little pie around and some settled for hot water, not coffee.It was Thomas Homer-Dixon’s book The Upside of Down which got me thinking about denial.I read it on a holiday by a lake and would recommend it for anyone — although perhaps not for holiday reading.It presents a gripping and sobering review of world conditions along with warnings of serious and inevitable repercussions if we continue in denial about our problems.The author identifies and examines five major tectonic stresses facing society: energy shortages, global warming, the expanding separation between rich and poor, and environmental damage.His commentaries are balanced and fair, but an alarmist note is there too; especially if we fail to develop and apply some effective shared responses.Soon.However, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s environmental proposals with their 50-year time lines give rise to feelings of despair.Most of us will be dead by then, and those who aren’t may wish they were.There is little positive to say about denial but it is a part of most lives.No NEWS I remember a time when I regularly ignored the news.No newspapers, radio, or television.Why distract and depress myself?There was some wisdom in my decision, and my favourite author Thomas Merton actually recommended it.However, determined and unwavering ignorance is surely a form of denial, and takes us back to that old cliché, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” Denial is particularly ill advised THOMAS HOHR-MON CATASTROPHE.CREATIVITY.uiiMiuiEiutfmiuim NAN JO Two things that will never change are our propensity for violence, and that thin veneer of civilization that holds us in check.Over and over history reveals how precarious relationships can be.Think Sri Lanka, Eastern Europe, the Mid East, etc.Many with first-hand experience of strikes can testify to the painful explosive nature of people under stress.Smiling friends at 8 o’clock in the morning; hostility by noon; violence at 6 — or the following morning.Homer-Dixon does not directly broach all these topics, but he offers interesting commentaries on denial and the several psychological stages involved.Existential denial entails a refusal to see or admit to a problem.Climate change is one dramatic example but other examples come easily to mind, such as the declining attendance, involvement, and interest within the Catholic Church.The Catholic Church’s response to problems provides classic examples of denial.Not everything is perfect, but not to worry.Let us simply return to the old ways and policies that have failed for generations.Fewer children and young people attend Sunday mass?Let us re-introduce the Latin mass.Declining congregations who are appreciative of general confession?Let us bring back individual confessions and reopen those little dark boxes at the back of the Church.Creative participatory music at mass?Let us reintroduce Gregorian chant.(That will really attract today’s teens.) Sexual abuse undermining and sapping the moral authority of the Catholic Church?Let us go with cover-up, silence, denial, and finally under pressure, money.Consequential denial concedes and recognizes that things are bad.But in this case it doesn’t matter because the pope is in direct contact with God, and therefore the consequences will be fine.Benedict XVI is infallible on faith and morals, and even though his policies take the Church backwards and do more harm than good, we should not sold, and desperate shortages of priests, should we not ordain women?Not on Benedict’s watch, although he labels one half of the world inferior to the other.(Slight digression: My sister’s bumper sticker reads “All right don’t ordain us — but stop wearing our dresses!) Can we rationally challenge an irrational position?Not really.The pope has a direct line to God.Thus, what’s wrong is right, and what's right is wrong.(This starts to sound an awful lot like George W.Bush, doesn’t it?) It seems there is just too much deference to authority amongst church leaders.That was not Christ’s way, and finally he was crucified-for it.It seems too that power is something never surrendered by those possessing it.If only one of those guys (and I mean the cardinals) would speak out fearlessly the way Christ did; if only priests, bishops, and congregations were not so apathetic.Today’s problems are vast and international in scope, and many as a result simply give up — as in the case of global warming.There's nothing we can do.Remedies would hurt business and the capitalist system.Factories would close; thousands would lose their jobs.Definitely nothing we can do.(Starts to sound a lot like Harper doesn’t it?) Leaders like Christ, Lincoln, Churchill, Trudeau would never surrender.Nor should we.Start small.Driving gigantic gas-guzzlers is not a fundamental human right.Denial may be just another feature of the human condition.I have no claim to superiority, but denial is wrong and dangerous for churches, governments, everyone.And we are in an unprecedented situation and running out of time.Briefs given the extensive interconnectedness - wc S11UU1U llol and interdependence of our.planet, question.With churches torn down and -rk, .rr.r.r,rLZ.-:^:r Sawmill contract talks Workers in the Syndicat des travailleurs et des travailleuses union at the Scierie Valcourt sawmill are claiming bad faith in contract negotiations.There have been five negotiation sessions, and the CSN claims that the employer is trying to unnecessarily prolong talks.The union says management wants the power to subcontract out work and avoid obligatory overtime.The employee agreement expired in early May 2007.The beach watch Here’s the latest from the Quebec environment ministry on the water health of selected beaches in the region.Municipale beach in Coaticook, B; Lucien-Blanchard in Sherbrooke, B; Deauville beach in Sherbrooke, A.Municipale beach in St-Her-ménégildè, A; Balade sur le Lac Mas-sawippi at Ayers’Cliff, A; Camp Livingstone in Stanstead, A.The Centre de Villégiature de Jouvence in Orford, A; Du Lac Fraser in Orford, B; Du Lac Stukely in Orford, A; Parkside Ranch Inc.in Orford, C.The Pierre-E.Perreault beach in Dudswell, A.A grade of C is a pass, with an A being “excellent" and a B “good”; a D means “polluted”.Stolen computer Sherbrooke police are asking for help in solving the theft of a $5,000 portable computer.A man stole the laptop June 13 in the IGA at 775 Galt St.W.He’s described only as white, clean-shaven and about 25 years old.A reward is being offered.Call Sherbrooke police at 819-821-5555.Firefighters are fourth A team of Sherbrooke firefighters came in fourth in a competion last month.The relay team took part in the FJre-fit Combat Challenge Scott in Longueil in June, according to a City of Sherbrooke press release.The team was composed of Jérémie Fredette, Daniel Gingras, Alexandre Groleau, Vincent Létourneau and Alexandre Marcoux.Twtenty-two teams competed.The competition included climbing a five storey tower with their gear, breaking open a steel door, and pulling an 80-kg mannequin over 30 metres.Dunham’s Selby Lake A group of Dunham residents are organizing a fundraising Selby Lake race with all proceeds going back to helping shoreline residents save themselves from toxic blue-green algae.“We can’t wait for government to save our lake,” stated Jean-Louis Langevin in a press release.“We have to move directly to action.This is why we’ve decided to put our energy into finding sponsors and donations to pay to save our lake.” Organizers want to raise $4,000, which will go towards hiring a consultant who will visit every property on the lake’s shoreline and give each landowner tips on what they can do specific to their property to save the waterway.The toxic blue-green algae has already caused drinking-water warnings for residents of Cowansville and other Townships municipalities.The Selby Lake race — billed as a family event that will include canoes, kayak and pedal boats — will be held from 1:30 p.m.on Saturday, July 28 at 234 Larose.Registration is free and boats should be decorated.To make a donation, call 450-295-2336.Lodging update The eight households put up by the City of Sherbrooke have all found permanent housing, according to a press release.A local tenants group says that about 20 hoursholds in the city are still without affordfable housing, however, following the July 1 moving day. 0Wsè\ What are those ugly spots on your herbs?page 8 Monday, July 16, 2007 Newsroom@shbrbrookerbcord.com Tel: 819-569-6345; Fax: 819-569-3945 Put ladybugs in the fridge By the first week of July my email is usually filled with gardening questions, and this year is no different.The only change is how many people have written with a question about finding either gray or black spots on their growing herb plants.I have no doubt that much of this problem has to do with the amount of cloudy, wet days we have had this spring and summer.While insects can cause such a problem, this land of damage usually takes place later in the season after things like aphids have had time to mass produce and take over a plant.These early spots on basil, sage and oregano are often caused by virus, mildew or fungus infections.Let’s talk first about how we should grow herbs.Most home gardeners plant herbs in containers either in a window box, in pots inside the house, in a small planter on the balcony or in containers within a greenhouse.Each of these choices creates its owm separate set of conditions that need to be dealt with.First of all, no matter which technique you choose, herbs need to be planted with lots of space between them so that when they are full grown there will be plenty of room for air circulation and sunshine to reach their leaves.Overcrowding creates the perfect breeding ground for virus, mold and fungus.I prefer to water my herbs at the base of each plant, and avoid wetting the leaves.This can’t be achieved if your plants are in containers exposed to outdoor weather, such as window boxes and planters.While herbs need to be watered you never want them in soaked soil, especially when there is little air circulation between plants.Do not put them into pots with other plants where they could become shaded during part of the day.If you find your plants already have blackened leaves there are a couple of things you can do.First remove all leaves with black (most often sweet basil) or gray spots (most often sage).Make sure there is no leaf waste, weeds or mulch at the base of these plants.Once these things are cleaned up, stand back and take a critical look: are the plants left too close together?Do they have enough room to grow without touching each other?If not find another pot or container and get it ready with good soil, wet the soil and once drained, move every second plant to the new pot As soon as the plants are all safely in their new homes, mix either a solution of baking soda (one cup baking soda to one gallon of water) or make a weak solution of cold chamomile tea and spray all the remaining stems and leaves.Do make sure that this is done in the shade and not in sunlight, and early in the day so that they can dry well before dark.Both chamomile and baking soda are great products to fight most of these plant infections.I’d wait a week and repeat the spraying, but it should work well if you have followed all the other steps.Now let’s say your problem is being caused by insects — that usually implies aphids.To find if it’s aphids, turn the leaves upside down and you should find full-grown aphids and their eggs.Start off by gently mashing as many aphids and their eggs as you can.Often if you have a large ant population you’ll have aphids (ants actually farm the aphids like we farm dairy cattle).Once I learned how to make my greenhouse a place where ants did not want to be (arid, almost dessert-like between plants) I’ve seldom seen an aphid in there.When out in your garden, especially around flowering plants, keep your eyes open for lady-bugs and gather up as many as you can find.Next, place these lady-bugs on your bug-infected plants and in no time they will go about cleaning them up for you.Every winter I gather up those ladybugs that find themselves unfortunate enough to be stuck in a house for the winter, place them in a jar with food and keep them in my refrigerator.In the spring they are dumped into the greenhouse where they quickly meet other ladybugs, do their thing and soon you have little ladybugs all over the place.Other tips ANNA MAY KINNEY Keep plants far apart by using larger planters - not the normal sized styrofoam flats - that are wide, deep and long, and only have six plants in each.Nature’s Way Anna May Kinney As soon as your basil, or other herb is about eight inches high, it’s time to cut it back.You’ll usually see a cluster of leaves at the top, with smaller undeveloped clusters below.With basil there is usually a long stem between the larger and smaller growth.When cutting it back, cut the stem all the way down to the small new grow, taking off the top section, which can be used chopped in salad or dried for winter.This will encourage the plant to branch out, and by repeating this action over the summer you can keep harvesting your herbs through the summer.Unless you want to grow your own herb seeds make sure to cut back plants before they get buds and start to flower.If you want seeds, choose your best plant of that species and let it to go to seed as early as possible to allow the seeds to mature before frost.ANNA MAY KINNEY Where to cut?Our columnist tells you.ummm - -.niK — RECORD Monday, July 16, 2007 page 9 The leap from reading to doing The Mae Sot Project Last month the latest volunteers in the Mae Sot Education Project left for the Thai-Burmese border.Three Champlain College Lennoxville students and one from Bishop’s University are working with Burmese refugee and migrant children in Mae Sot, Thailand.Why do you want to do that?By Kristyne Houbraken “You shouldn’t go looking for trouble.” “Why would you volunteer your time for six months when you can get paid to teach English in foreign countries?” “That’s cool! Maybe you will learn how to surf!” These are examples of the wide-ranging responses I have received from friends and family as I inform them of my plans to volunteer in Mae Sot, Thailand teaching English to Burmese refugees.I would say that the majority of people I share my plans with predict that I will have an exciting and challenging experience.They imagine I will have the chance to take some nice pictures and make some new friends.Due to this variety of responses I am forced to ask myself what exactly I am feeling as I prepare for this grand adventure.First, it is important to explain the intentions of the Eastern Townships-Mae Sot Education Project.Each year this small project sends four student volunteers from Bishop’s University and Champlain Regional College to Mae Sot, Thailand to assist in teaching English to children in schools.The project also sends donations to the schools for the purchase of classroom materials.It is the aspiration of the project that this will empower the Burmese migrants and refugees living on the Thai/Burma border and improve their quality of life.Another aim of this refugee project is that this experience will develop leadership and practical skills in the student volunteers, and instill in us an understanding of the consequences of population displacement.An additional expectation of my own is to gain a deeper understanding of Burmese and Thai culture.I aspire to learn about the religion, taste the traditional foods and learn the traditional dances of my students and others I meet along the way.These are all experiences that go beyond the reading of a book.Now that I am at the completion of my undergraduate university career I am more than ready to take the leap from reading to doing.One of the reasons I can think of for the many different responses I receive is the general lack of knowledge about the strife of the Burmese.For a large portion of the population of Burma forced displacement and forced labour have been a part of their lives.Poor relations between the military regime and the many ethnic minorities that live in Burma result in the mistreatment of the minorities and little to no economic opportunities for them.Consequently, these citizens flee to surrounding countries seeking a brighter future for themselves and their children.Perhaps, the «tût COURTESY The four students on this year’s Mae Sot Project are Karl Drake, Kristyne Houbraken, Caroline Chabot Chartier and Marianne Rodrigue.fact that the elected leader of fair elections held in 1990 was put in house arrest and is still under house arrest today under the present rulers of Burma demonstrates their cruelty most clearly.This also displays their unwillingness to change.Until change is able to take place and democracy is able to flourish in Burma those displaced by this conflict need to know that support from the international community exists.They must know that they have not been forgotten.I hope that our time on the border will be able to illustrate this.One final, and perhaps the most significant, goal I have of this trip is to help my students enjoy their childhood.I hope that it will be possible to get their minds off issues that no one their age should have to worry about and yet they are confronted with everyday.Perhaps my excitement and expectations of this journey seem ambitious but I truly believe it will be able to provide the mutual benefit I have discussed.These tasks will be much harder than learning to surf of taking nice pictures but I believe they will be possible and that this will be a life changing experience.Crossroads By Karl Drake Driving in my car a few days ago, I suddenly realized that in a little more than a week, I will embark on a voyage that will change my life and who I am.Already, in the midst of getting ready for my grand departure to Thailand, I wonder.wonder about what life will offer in the next six months.and what life will be like afterwards.The journey isn’t quite a march into the unknown; it simply embraces the idea that I have decided to do something different to help others halfway around the world.My boss, who is a very smart man who I am very fond of, does not see things the way I do.He wants me to stay and work for him and offered quite the salary to entice me.That’s when I stepped back to see what my options were.I had stumbled across one of life’s crossroads that would grab me by the wrist and direct me where to go.Coinci-dently, while my mind was racing through all my expectations, worries, wonders and the guy who had just cut me off in his fast car, I heard the beginnings of the song ‘Good Riddance’ by Green Day: » Another turning point, iB^rk stuck in the road, Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go, So make the best of this test and don’t ask why, It’s not a question but a lesson learned in time.It’s something unpredictable but in the end it’s right.I hope you have the time of your life.’ The lyrics of the song intensified, as though it was trying to tell me something.It amplified the excitement, sadness, confidence and all other emotions I was going through.The message was clear, “It’s something unpredictable but in the end it’s right, I hope you have the time of your life”.The only decision to make was the right one.I’m going to Thailand! Sometimes life dishes out tough decisions or, in other words, stops at a crossroad.It is at that exact moment that one realizes what they want their lives to be.Do they want adventure, routine, money, excitement, or to help others find’ what they want?These significant moments are not only tests, but opportunities to better ourselves as people in a world where individualism, egocentrism, and the “I” are given more importance than the “US”.The whole idea of leaving friends, family, and the comfort of the North American bubble is in many ways exciting and scary at the same time.It will be my first time out in the world that is all of ours to discover.Karl Drake is a Champlain College STUDENT, AND IS 20 YEARS OLD.Kristyne Houbraken is a Bishop’s University GRADUATE AND 23 YEARS OLD.^SUBSCRIBE?School pages local news • sports Comics • Classifieds To get all the facts! Crosswords and more! Call today! 819-569-9528 450-243-1188 1-800-463-9525 RECORD I page 10 Monday, July 16, 2007 =RECORD= Radier tried to ‘cover for his buddy’ So says Black trial jurist By Barbara Shecter Can West News Service Chicago « member of the jury that has very likely sent Conrad Black to prison after delivering a guilty JL ^verdict on charges of fraud and obstruction Friday said the convictions were reached “in spite or evidence from the U.S.government’s star witness David Radier.“He really didn’t say much.He kept contradicting himself.He was trying to fool the jury,” juror Monica Prince said shortly after the verdicts were delivered by the jury of nine women and three men after the 16-week trial.Prince said she also believed Radier was “covering for his buddy" and trying “to cover for Black” during his weeklong testimony in the four-month trial.After a short meeting with the judge once the verdicts were delivered, the jurors chose not to air their views to more than 50 journalists who packed the courtroom and an overflow room several floors above to hear the verdicts.But some spoke afterward from their homes.The foreman, Jonathan Keag, a family man who lives on the outskirts of Chicago, said he did not want to discuss what went on behind closed doors because he realizes the convicted men have families, too.Indeed, Black’s wife, Barbara Amiel Black, was in the courtroom seating directly behind Black through much of the trial, as was his 25-year-old daughter, Alana.The U.S.legal system permits jurors to speak openly after a verdict is reached and there was certainly an appetite for anything they had to say.“I paid no attention to the media, I focused on the case,” Keag said outside his home a few hours after the verdict was delivered and Judge Amy St.Eve polled each juror to make sure the verdict was indeed unanimous.“Everybody took their duty very seriously, and 1 was very proud to serve with all of them,” Keag said.It seemed less than collegial on Tuesday when the jurors sent a note to St.Eve saying they were deadlocked on a least one of the 42 charges in the case.The judge sent them back to deliberations and a unanimous verdict finding all four defendants guilty on some of the charges against them was reached less than three days later.Indeed, otherjurors acknowledged there was some friction in the days before the verdicts were reached.Prince said they had become hung up on one of the fraud counts involving a newspaper sale.The ultimate outcome was to find the accused not guilty.On Tuesday, the jury was “pretty well split" on the alleged fraud, with some jurors intent on “hardcore evidence" on paper and others, including Prince, willing to weigh the actions of Black and his codefendants.“It came to a head when we couldn’t come to an agreement.They weren’t budging on that,” she said.In the end, though, “what they did and what’s on paper are two different things,” she said.“There was not enough paper evidence.” Prince said a lack of “paper evidence” was also the reason jurors did not find Black guilty of racketeering.Jurors were often observed doodling during long days of testimony, and there was one particular juror who would frequently nod off, sometimes as early as 10 a.m.Observers also wondered if the jury was sophisticated enough to understand the newspaper transactions and non-com-pete fees at the heard of the case.But Hugh Totten, a Chicago lawyer who closely followed the case, said the breakthrough on the deadlock and the final verdicts proved the jury brought “common sense” to the case.He said the jurors should be commended “for its diligence in working through a mountain of evidence.” Totten noted the conviction came for non-compete fees in newspaper deals in which the buyers testified they didn’t ask for them and, in some cases, didn’t even know who the individuals who signed them were.“That was always pretty powerful evidence for the prosecution and never was truly taken on by the defendants.” He said the jury also showed they were paying attention to the evidence when they convicted Black of obstruction of justice.“It just makes common sense — Mr.Black clearly could have reasonably foreseen at the time that an official proceeding would have wanted the document, and it just doesn’t make sense that a man of Black’s station in life would decide on a holiday weekend to go pick up 13 boxes.” Radier quietly builds local media empire Includes The Record By Theresa Tedesco and Barbara Shecter CanWest News Service Chicago As star witness for the U.S.government during the criminal trial of Conrad Black, David Radier portrayed himself as a contrite former newspaper executive who was prepared to pay the price for his frauds.To that end, just days before the trial began in March, he agreed to pay a fine of US$28.7 million to the U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission and nearly US$64 million in restitution to settle a lawsuit with Hollinger International Inc.He also negotiated a plea bargain with the U.S.Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois that will allow him to serve a maximum sentence of 29 months, likely in a Canadian federal prison, in exchange for his testimony.Even so, Black’s former business partner and trusted lieutenant is still very much a newspaper proprietor who has been quietly amassing a burgeoning community newspaper empire with his daughter.Corporate filings show that five weeks before the criminal trial in Chicago began, a company headed by Melanie Radier purchased a number of small U.S.newspapers.Melanie Radier is the eldest daughter of David Radier, Hollinger’s former chief operating officer and Black’s business partner for 38 years.RISN (Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers) Operations, a private company incorporated in late 2006 with Melanie Radier as president, purchased four daily newspapers for $8.3 million US on Feb.5,2007.RISN also owns the Southern Rhode Island Newspapers, five small weekly papers with a combined circulation of about 13,000 in 2007.David Radier did not return calls seeking comment.Melanie Radier, who could not be reached, once worked at Winston & Strawn, the law firm that former Illinois governor James Thompson at one time chaired.Thompson was chairman of the audit committee at Hollinger International Inc., which was managed by Black and David Radier during the time the U.S.government alleges that $60 million US was misappropriated by the senior executives in the form of non-compete payments.Roland McBride, the former chief financial officer of Hollinger International subsidiary American Publishing Co., is listed as RISN’s vicepresident and secretary.He is also listed as chief financial officer of Horizon Publications Inc., which David Radier founded while still at Hollinger.In a November 2005 indictment against Black and his co-de fendants, U.S.prosecutors alleged that the former press baron, David Radier, Peter Atkinson and Jack Boultbee received $5.5 million US in non-compete payments.According to the US.government’s indictment, the Hollinger executives received the money “not to compete with a company that was, for all intents and purposes, no longer in the newspaper business." A special committee of independent directors investigating the fees identified McBride as the American Publishing officer who signed the non-compete cheques to Black, Radier, Atkinson and Boultbee.When defence lawyers attempted to ask questions relating to Radler’s new business ventures, they were successfully shut down by the US.government’s objections.Radler’s other companies include HPMS 2003 Inc., a Delaware company incorporated on May 15, 2003, which lists both Radier and his daughter as president.McBride is documented as corporate secretary.He is also listed as chief financial officer of Horizon Publications Inc., which Radier still controls.As Black’s legal troubles required him to rearrange his finances, the press baron and his wife Barbara Amiel sold Radier their minority stake in Horizon Operations last year for US$16 million.According to the U.S.government’s indictment, Black and Radier received about US$12 million in non-compete payments when Hollinger sold some of its publications to Horizon in 1999 for US$43 million.Prosecutors alleged the two Hollinger executives, who were also partners in Horizon, “had in essence, negotiated an agreement with themselves.not to compete against themselves.” Horizon was formed in 1999 and owns nearly 30 community newspapers in the U.S., as well as the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal, the Kelowna Daily Courier and the Penticton Herald in Canada.Radier and his daughter are shown as presidents of a handful of small subsidiaries of Horizon that were set up in the U.S.four years ago, including HPC of Texas Inc., which lists Mark Kipnis, a former Hollinger International lawyer who was found guilty of three counts of mail fraud, as director and a vice-president, and McBride as secretary.Another, HPC of Indiana Inc., lists Radier and his daughter as presidents.Kipnis is still named in corporate documents as vice-president along with McBride, who is also the company’s secretary.However, Kipnis resigned his position as director and officer from Horizon and its subsidiaries on March 2,2004, and could not explain why his name continues to appear on the company’s corporate filings more than three years later.According to his criminal lawyer Patricia Brown-Holmes, Kipnis was listed as an officer of the Horizon subsidiaries because he helped Radier incorporate the companies.At the time, Kipnis was based in Chicago as the general counsel and secretary for Hollinger International, when David Radier was chief operating officer of the company.“He categorically denies that he was a member of the board or was involved in any business ventures with David Radier after March 2004,” Brown-Holmes said.“He has no knowledge of purchases made since then by Mr.Radier or his daughter.” Radler’s nearly $28 million settlement in March with the U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission prohibits him from acting as an officer or director of a publicly traded company.But that has no impact on Radler’s interests in private companies such as Alta Newspaper Group limited Partnership, which owns Alberta papers such as the Lethbridge Herald, the Medicine Hat News and the Taber Times, as well as a chunk of The Record in Quebec.Last September, Vancouver-based publisher Glacier Ventures International Corp.paid $282 million for a 50 per cent stake in the Alta Newspaper Group.As part of the transaction, Alta borrowed $15 million from Glacier.Radier has declared that he is a shareholder in Alta, but has not revealed the size of his stake.During the criminal trial.Radier testified that Black held a $4.7 million equity position in the company, and that Atkinson held a $289297 stake through his wife. I rut —,i RECORD Monday, July 16, 2007 page 11 it! K.- , 0.*Wh ~mk?* .*.'v-l.1l.Global *TH,S,M0RNING QUEBEC 6-9am Cable 3 • lUico 8 • UHF 46 Right at Home Go East, Young Man! Join Richard Dagenais as he visits Magog on Tuesday & Stanstead on Wednesday Family fun The Festival du Lac des Nations in Sherbrooke drew to a close last night following fireworks, musical acts such as Jim Zeller and Carl Tremblay (below right), rides and other fun stuff.Photos by Perry Beaton.aft* lLtllÜll'gLi DYSON & ARMSTRONG Richmond, Quebec, yea |16 HP - 38”[ Wednesday: Ladies’ Nite in May & June 1/2 price on Shrimp/Beef/Chicken Kebab Plates New owners Fully licensed - 4 p,m.til closing - not available on specials MIS' 8 19 8 6 8 14 13 Restaurant-Motel Impérial page 12 Monday, July 16, 2007 RECORD Need.IVIoney?Come buy-sell-trade any type of valued object! 9 Wellington St.N.619 King St.E.819-566-3333 819-822-7777 ¦ p— 1 fS* / ij / /1 j 1 ¦tmm, Lynn Lambert lynn.lambert O desja rdins.com Personal Finance Advisor Caisse Desjardins des Métaux blancs Danville Services Centre 39 Danlel-Johnson St., P.O.Box 600 Danville (Quebec) JOA 1A0 I Desjardins Caisse des Métaux blancs Tel.819-879-7168 ext.230 Fax: 819-839-2266 Entreprise JTS Enterprise -General Construction & Renovation -Rooting & Siding -Licenced & Bonded Carpenters „ NHTSA 5 Star front and side impact * *1,000 2007 Jeep Patriot Limited Model Shown Purchase for *10995 2007 JEEP PATRIOT • Standard 172-hp 2.4-L DOHC engine Standard 5-speed manual transmission • ESP™ traction control, ABS, electronic roll mitigation • 4-wheel disc brakes • AM/FM CD with MP3 compatible stereo and audio input jack • Side-curtain air bags • 16" wheels • Optional 4x4 model starting at $18,995 ?* ?* ?NHTSA 5 Star side impact * 2007 Jeep Compass Limited Model Shown Purchase for *17,995 2007 JEEP COMPASS • Standard 172-hp 2.4-L DOHC engine • 5-speed manual transmission • AM/FM CD with MP3 compatible stereo and audio input jack Electronic stability program ESP™ traction control, ABS, electronic roil mitigation • 4-wheel disc brakes • Side-curtain air bags • 17" wheels • Tilt steering wheel • Optional 4x4 model starting at $19,995 * ** * * NHTSA 5 Star side impact * 2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Model Shown Purchase for *19.995 2007 JEEP WRANGLER 4X4 • 202-hp V6 engine • Standard Command-Trac 4WD system • AM/FM CD with MP3 compatible stereo and audio input jack • Standard electronic stability program, electronic roll migration and ABS • 16" wheels • Tilt steering wheel • Full size spare tire ?NHTSA 5 Star front impact * VISIT YOUR CHRYSLER • JEEP.• DODGE RETAILER OR DAIMLERCHRYSLER.CA TODAY.Hill !f if 5 fill -i|fî gilll gill I fljif lilts its»* FIVE STAR Quebec Chrysler • Jeep, • Dodge Dealers Advertising Coop