The record, 26 août 1999, jeudi 26 août 1999

A man’s true wealth is the good he does in the world.— Mohammed THE The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 rivers wan Long distance Min.2 years' U.S.experience (450) 266-5646 60 CENTS Thursday, August 26, 1999 171-year-old Bedford Fair sparks linguistic controversy French-only schedules stir debate By Caroline Kehne Record Correspondent Bedford It began as a quick stop for a coffee at a Bedford eatery.A small group of regulars were engaged in a heated debate, while only a few blocks away, Quebec’s oldest agricultural was in full swing.The topic of discussion was Bedford Fair organizers’ decision to exclude English, for the first time in the fair’s 171-year history, in the literature provided at the gate.Among those present that day at the restaurant table was local businessman Raymond Kyling, a resident of Bedford and one of the most vocal critics of organizers’ decision.“I bought fair tickets at $100 apiece nearly every year until this year,” said Kyling, who said he asked for an English-language schedule at the gate and was told by a volunteer that “they didn’t need __ „ M one.He says that he then went to the Bedford Fair office to complain.“When I mentioned it was in French only, I was told by people in the office that printing in English was too expensive.” SEE CONTROVERSY, PAGE 4 Residents Opposed To Development Plan % -r- [ v-c.'* FERRY BEATON/CORRESPONDENT Iberville Development president Sylvan Adams spoke to residents about a plan to develop the wooded lot across the Carrefour de l’Estrie j j shopping center with a Canadian Tire store and another commercial buildings.Many residents are opposed to the project.See page 3.Police retrieve guns and drugs in Stratford By Olivier Bouffard Mario Poulin, a 44-year-old Stratford resident, was due to appear in court on Wednesday morning on narcotics and firearm-related charges.Quebec Police Force spokesperson Const.Serge Dubord said an army helicopter spotted marijuana plantations on a 300-acre property on Rang Bellevue in Stratford, near Disraeli.A joint operation by the RCMP and the QPF’s organized crime squad raided the property around noon on Tuesday.Dubord said the raid turned up 440 mature plants, each valued at about $1,000 on the black market.Police also seized about a dozen firearms, said Dubord.Among them were two loaded ,22-calibre rifles, and a loaded handgun.Dubord said charges were filed for improper storage of firearms, and that the handgun was of a restricted type, which means Poulin will likely be charged for that offence as well.Dubord said he had no prior record.Police also found indoor growing equipment which was also seized from the basement of the house .When asked if police often got to use army helicopters, Dubord said it had been frequent in past years, but that police have been told the helicopter would not be as readily available for them this year.Meanwhile, RCMP officers in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu stumbled upon a mammoth pot plantation on Tuesday.RCMP Cpl.Alain Potvin said about 2,200 plants, which varied in height between four and six feet, were uprooted in a Clarenceville corn field.The plantation had been spotted by the RCMP’s helicopter.No charges were laid as the RCMP have no way of linking the plantation to anyone.LAKESIDE DINING “INN” STYLE p fSTtf WtaTI r Open daily for breakfast, lunch and supper R PPLECOV Live Classical Piano Saturday evenings.Ayer S www.ripplecove.com ^8 f 0^ 838“4