The record, 15 août 1997, vendredi 15 août 1997

THE Cookshire Fair Cookshire Fair Bn ii Xt Augu»t 14-15-16-17.1997 The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Mutual Funds How do yours compare to the best?Call Calvin T.Chan Financial Advisor (819) 573-6006 / 1 800 561-3718 MIDLAND WALWYN 75 CENTS Townships Digest Attendance, sponsorship up from PREVIOUS YEARS Best ever Bedford Fair, say organizers Staff Knowlton Good weather and the work of volunteers managed to make this year’s Bedford Fair one of the most successful ever.In a press release this week, fair organizers said that some 30,000 people came to the grounds, up from 22,000 in 1996 and 9,000 in 1995.More than 130 people volunteered to handle the gates and the bar and restaurant areas.The 169th edition of the Bedford Fair also featured more exhibitors, with a total of 90, 30 more than in 1996.Some 400 animals were on display from across the region, giving numerous children a chance to learn about farm animals.A record number of sponsors also helped to finance the fair, and profits from this year will go towards building two new barns for next year.The five days of sunshine also helped draw crowds, and organizers said participation in all the events was the highest its ever been.Don’t forget the Cookshire Fair starts today and runs through Sunday.Enjoy the weekend and the fair.Today’s Weather Cloudy Complete weather: page 2 Inside Ann Landers.13 Community Births and Forum .6 Deaths.11 Record Album ____5 Classified __15-19 Sports .10 Comics.14 Theme Pace: .7 -19Û* mr mi Friday, August 15, 1997 Councillor says he’s trying to improve efficiency Brome Lake councillor told to butt out By René Bruemmer Knowlton Brome Lake town council passed a resolution yesterday prohibiting town councillor Robin Moore from meddling in municipal affairs.In a heated and divisive special council meeting Thursday morning, Brome Lake’s six town councillors and Mayor Homer Blackwood voted 4-3 in favor of the resolution, which states: “The municipal council asks that Robin Moore no long interfere in the management of daily operations, this role being the responsibility of the town manager.In future, all questions must be directed to the town manager or his replacement.” The resolution was brought forward by town councillor Tom McGovern, who says Moore’s interference in the affairs of the public is destroying the pissing Brome Lake Mayor Homer Blackwood voted in favor of motion asking Moore to stop interfering works department morale of the employees and off’ Gerald Viau, head of public works for Brome Lake.“Viau said his employees were complaining that they couldn’t do their work because Robin Moore was telling them what to do,” McGovern said.“Morale is very low - they feel like they’re being arrested.He (Moore) has an attitude problem, he has a problem at the garage, and it has to stop.” As the councillor responsible for water works, sewers, garbage disposal, and, in conjunction with McGovern, roads, Moore approached Viau and his employees frequently with questions and suggestions.Earlier in the week Moore made one suggestion too many and the situation reached a boiling point, resulting in yesterday’s resolution.Moore says he was only trying to help and save money for the municipality.Other councillors say he was sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong, telling experienced municipal workers how to do their job and criticizing their work.“Mr.Moore is right in trying to better the situation,” councillor André Groulx said during the meeting.“But it’s the manner in which they (Moore’s sugges-See councillor, page 2 ' PERRY BEATON/CORRES.A chance meeting is sending Serge Gagnon to sing before the Pope and 600,000 people in France next week.Please see page 3.A LEAP OF FAITH PPLECOVE LAKESIDE DINING “INN” STYLE Open daily for Breakfast, Lunch and Supper Live Classical Piano every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening Ayer’s Cliff www.ripplecove.com 819-838-4296 page 2 Friday, August 15, 1997 ¦—THE — Record He was the neighbor’s boy across the street Brooms and broken hockey sticks were weapons Some of the most important things we ever learn come from early childhood friends.The trouble with this is that in most cases we don’t get to choose them ourselves.Like most North American children, until the age of 5 or 6, the people I called friends were actually the children of my parents’ friends.Where the parents went, the children followed.But having playmates thrust upon loto-québec Draw 97-08-13 7 15 25 32 44 48 BONUS NUMBER: 46 WINNERS PRIZES 6/6 0 $ 1 976 301,60 5/6+ 9 $ 65 876,70 5/6 344 $ 1 378,80 4/6 14 071 $ 64,60 3/6 251 709 $ 10 Total sales: $ 14 377 096,00 Next grand prize (approx.): $ 5 000 000,00 | E|tra Draw 97-08-13 NUMBER PRIZES 603381 $ 100,000 03381 $ 1,000 3381 $250 381 $50 81 $ 10 1 $2 Claims: See back of tickets, in the event of discrepancy between this list and the official winning list, the latter shatl prevail.Today’s Weather / y i * -THBTfOkD, , Mines' .\ J A, +* Richmond- ( j V UC-MÉCAfiTiç» Shc«b»ookev Y i /Vi.JCOWANSVILL^ ; f ^-Stanstbad < REGIONAL FORECASTS Sherbrooke Thetford Mines Cowansville Richmond Stanstead Lac Megantic Incrg Clds Incrg Clds Incrg Clds Incrg Clds Incrg Clds Incrg Clds MAX 25 24 26 25 26 24 MIN 16 16 17 17 17 16 ?LES FORGES 4 MARIN -T- BRICK B.B.Q.- Built on site ¦ Made-to-measure > Choice of colors 4350 Industriel Blvd.Sherbrooke 564-8333 you is not all good.Some of them are not that easy to get along with.Thus I learned at a tender age what it’s like to get your face smashed in with a kid-die-sized baseball bat.You end up with a kiddie-sized broken nose.In those days every family had to pay for its own medical treatment.Our family didn’t have a lot of money and the nose-repair policy, as expressed by my mother, was simple and cheap: “We won’t get it fixed until you’re old enough that you’re not going to go out and break it again.” That was almost half a century ago.And thanks to this family health-care philosophy, plus my own capacity for saying the ‘wrong’ thing (usually it’s right, of course), my nose is still crooked.Fortunately for the many kids whose parents choose their early pals, school comes galloping to the rescue.Here are a wealth of new faces, and a social structure that allows time and space for democratic play.So youngsters learn they are indeed the masters of their playtime.And once a child learns to make his or her own friends, even the schoolyard’s not a limit any more.Because along with going to school comes the right to cross the street.This is where Jacques comes in.We lived in town and he was the neighbor’s boy across the street.His father must have been sent from heaven because Jacques had something in his front yard most boys can only dream of - a towering pile of dirt.It was a miniature mountain to play on, his own hill to be king of, his own mound of mud to get filthy in.Oh how I envied Jacques his pile of dirt.It seemed huge, towering over me whenever I walked by.I guess I was about three feet tall, so Jacques’ mountain must have risen to oh, maybe all of four or five feet above sidewalk level.At the time, the Korean War was winding down.Boys being boys, that war was the game we played - “Chinese Commies” versus the good guys.Anyway, I had never met Jacques until one day I ventured across the street, and as I walked past his dirtpile, I heard the telltale rattling sound of a small boy imitating a big machine gun.It was Jacques, firing down on me from a dominant military position atop Hill 2441 (his family’s street number).Corn roast Aug.24 Staff Knowlton Richmond riding Liberals are having a corn roast to announce their choice for provincial candidate in the upcoming general elections.Since Yvon Vallières, currently Richmond’s deputy at the National Assembly, is the only candidate so far in the running, it’s likely he’ll win by accla- FILE PHOTO Liberal Yvon Vallières expected to be acclaimed as candidate.BEN ® by DANIEL SHELTON I knew right there I was dead.But little boys’ rules prevailed, and I quickly seized another life, grabbed a grenade from my pocket, bombed the heck out of Jacques and called in some air support.Before long I was winning as much as he was, and by suppertime we could both go home claiming total victory.But I had a question for my Dad.He had been in the real war and I knew he’d have the answer.“How come when I want to sound like a gun I say ‘pow pow pow’, but when Jacques does it he says ‘tow tow tow'?” “I know, son, it’s strange.French people do that.They speak French.It’s another language.1 guess ‘tow tow tow’ sounds to them like ‘pow pow pow’ does to us.” Jacques was French?I’d been playing with him all afternoon and neither of us had noticed the language barrier.It took an adult to tell us we were different.With brooms and broken hockey sticks for weapons, we fought that war for months.We both went home victors every day.And we never felt much different, despite the French-English thing.The next spring we moved away, and Jacques and I lost touch.Years later, I learned to speak the other language.1 imagine Jacques did too.mation.The deadline for announcing candidacy was Thursday, Aug.14 at midnight.It will be Vallières’ seventh convention, since first being elected in 1973.The corn roast and hot dog feast is scheduled for Sunday, Aug.24 at the Three Lakes Musical Camp, starting at 10:30 a.m.with the official announcement of the Liberal candidate.The announcement will be followed by music provided by Jean-Guy Piché and activities for all ages.Charles Bury Vallières expected to run for Liberals again EWER ben! he WANTS HIS PIAPER CHANGERAS f YOU PIPNT KNOW/ LET ME SEE.PA.PAP OR PAPPY, MAYSE?pun.PERSON OR PEARL?HOW 'POUT PURPLE?MMM WHATCOULP THAT MEAN?PA-PUR OH! REALLY?TO YOU HAVE A PURPLE PAPPY?$ Friday, August 15, 1997 page 3 Police study shows some towns paying too much East Angus police keeping streets safe for less By Paul Cherry Sherbrooke A just released study on the efficiency and cost of Quebec’s 152 police forces suggests residents of East Angus are getting more bang for their tax buck than anyone in the province.The study, done by Université du Quebec a Chicoutimi professor Jacques Des-biens, also indicates taxpayers in almost half of Quebec’s municipalities are paying too much for their police services.Desbiens upset many municipal leaders three years ago when he released a similar study on how municipalities spend tax dollars.Based on his research Desbiens reports that 70 of the forces could be better administrated.The report, titled The municipal police of Quebec: their cost and their efficiency, used four specific criteria.Desbiens rated the ratio of violent crime and crimes against property per 100,000 residents and the solution rates of both types of crime.The professor then rated his figures against the price people are paying for the services.He then rated his estimated cost per resident versus the actual cost people are paying for policing.Municipalities in the Eastern Townships fared well in the study, including a first place finish for East Angus’s small police force.Based on his comparison, residents in the municipality are annually paying around $67 less than Desbiens’ estimated cost.“It was definitely pleasant news to hear,” said Gaétan Poulin, director of the East Angus Police.“What we offer is a very good, basic police service.” Briefs Paradis calls Rochon plan ‘absurd’ Staff Sherbrooke Liberal health critic and Brome-Missisquoi MNA Pierre Paradis has j asked Health Minister Jean Rochon to indicate which studies he has based i his cuts to the health care system.Paradis slammed Rochon’s latest efforts ! to encourage more doctors to take | early retirement.The Liberal MNA | called the current scenario, where ! general practitioners are being encouraged to retire by the age of 55, as absurd.Paradis pointed to recent problems where emergency rooms have had staffing problems, including the Centre Universitaire de Santé de l’Estrie in Sherbrooke, as an indication the minister doesn’t know what he is doing.He called Rochon’s reforms “an exercise in improvisation that is causing majors problems.The population of Quebec should always be able to count on its government for complete, quality health services.The Bouchard government is making Quebecers feel insecure,” Paradis said.Bedford Youth Centre gets grant Knowlton The Bedford Youth Centre has been given an $18,000 shot in the arm.The Quebec government announced that it was handing over the money to the Le Boum Youth Centre.The money will be used to help the centre develop activities and become more deeply involved in the community.The Bedford Youth Centre, like many of its kind, concentrates its ef- forts on giving 12 to 17-year-olds a place to meet, express themselves and take part in community life.The centre works with schools, community organizations and the local CLSC.Orford ends season with Russian concerto The Orford Festival will end its summer season with a concert Saturday Aug.16 featuring the Orford Festival Orchestra, composed of students and professionals and conducted by Yuli Turovsky.The orchestra will open with the Concerto in E minor for violin and orchestra by Julius Conus.The music composed in 1898 can be compared to other great Russian concertos such as Tchaikovski’s.The second concerto will feature Concerto No.2 for cello and orchestra in A Minor, opus 14 by Carl Davidov, a Russian musician who has composed four concertos for cello.The final concerto will be Concerto No.2 Piano and Orchestra in B Major, opus 100 by Alexander Galzunov, which is one of the last compositions of the great Russian pianist.The three guest soloists who will perform at Saturday’s concert will be the winners of the second Orford Arts Centre International Music Competition held Aug.11 and 12.The winners in each category - piano, cello and violin - will be invited to record their concerto with 1 Musici de Montréal.The compact disc, produced by Chandos, will be distributed in over 39 countries and each winner will receive a scholarship for a four week stay at the Orford Arts Centre during the 1998 summer.To reserve, please call (819) 843-2405 or 1-888-310-3665.Poulin said he believes the study leans in favor of small towns where the crime rates are lower.Desbiens’ study suggests taxpayers in cities like Montreal, Hull, Laval and Longueuil are paying too much for what they are getting and Sherbrooke taxpayers are pretty much getting what they pay for.“There are a lot of factors that go into that study,” Poulin said.He lists the salary of his staff and the fact his force doesn’t have high equipment costs -they have three squad cars- as possible explanations.“Our officers make the average salary of police in this region.That’s nowhere near the high salaries of police in cities like Montreal and Quebec City.” While pointing to fiscal explanations for getting top grades in the report Poulin was quick to add that he feels he has quality people working with him.The staff includes eight full-time and two part-time officers and a secretary.Some of the officers do double duty on the town’s fire department.The Drummondville Police rated well in the study as did forces in Acton Vale, Bedford, Granby, Brome Lake and Lake Megantic.The Ascot-Lennoxville Metro Police got an average rating compared to other forces but the study indicates taxpayers are getting good service for their money.On the down side, the study suggests taxpayers in Magog and Orford are annually paying more than $17 too much for services rendered by the Mem-phremagog Police.The Cowansville force was also rated as costing too much.Pope John Paul II to hear Serge Gagnon perform By Perry Beaton Record Correspondent Four years ago Serge Gagnon finished spending five years in jail.Next Saturday, he will be singing in Paris in front of a crowd of 600,000 young people from 140 countries around the world who will be celebrating World Youth Day.Pope John Paul II will take the stage when Gagnon finishes.The journey began when Gagnon left the Sherbrooke jail and entered a program of ‘parrainage’ or support from a member of the community.In Gagnon’s case, that support came from Rev.Donald Thompson, the jail’s chaplin.With his help, Gagnon has launched two albums of his own music and often encourages people who are in trouble, with his songs and his example.Last May, a group called Music Imperial de Paris performed at the jail, and later in the beautiful wooden church in St.Venant de Paquette, where Thompson is pastor.Gagnon performed during the same event, and later discovered that one of the performers was organizing the music for the gathering of World Youth Day at the Hippo- drome de Longchamps in Paris, that would feature a visit by Pope John Paul II.Gagnon was encouraged to apply to perform, and quickly sent his two CDs, along with his life story, off to France.The reply came two and a half weeks ago.Gagnon will be keeping good compa-ny.Cecilia Bartoli, Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Ruggero Raimondi and Cesari Evora will be performing on the same day as Gagnon.The orchestra of l’Opera Bastille will be conducted by the Korean, Myung Whun Chung.4 NLAND IVERS 'C.Route 3 North Lancaster, NH 03584 DACOR ACTION PUS SHERWOOD WHITE S DRY SUITS AND MORE! Phone: 603-788-2124 Fax: 603-788-2287 E-Mail: 104112.165@compuserve.com Open Mon.- Fri.8 to 5 Sat.9 to 5 Sun.10 to 4 TRettMtutitc P*ict4 - "P>uqtttiU S/uciat&M SHERBROOKE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Nomination Charles F.Smith Jr.The Board of Directors of the Sherbrooke Hospital Foundation are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr.Charles F.Smith Jr.as Executive Director.Mr.Smith brings many years of Managerial and Financial experience to the Foundation having served for over 37 years as the Director of Finance of the Former Sherbrooke Hospital.Mr.Smith may be reached by addressing all correspondence to: PO.Box 963, Sherbrooke, Que., J1H 5L3. page 4 Friday, August 15, 1997 College of physicians to consider fate Former BMP surgeon erred in five of six cases Staff Knowlton The fate of Dr.Jean-Noel Poilly’s professional future is now in the hands of the Canadian College of Physicians, which has found the former BMP surgeon at fault in five out of six accusations of errors in judgment and deviating from standard medical practises.In four of the cases investigated by the disciplinary committee, thé patients died from complications in their surgeries.Among the dead are Gaetane Dumont and former MNA Gilbert Rondeau.Their families have also launched civil suits against Poilly, totalling $1.4 million.Poilly, 62, who recently moved to work at an obesity clinic in St-Hy-acinthe, denied any wrongdoing when he testified before the committee this spring.But Wednesday the tribunal said otherwise, implicating him in five out of the six cases.The charges date back to a two year period between 1992 and 1994, when Poilly was working as a surgeon at the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital.In two cases in January 1992 the College of Physicians said Poilly neglected to carry out important pulmonary examinations of patients who were about to undergo difficult and potentially life-threatening operations.The tribunal said in March 1994 Rondeau failed to act quickly when Rondeau collapsed the day of his operation and later died.A month later Poilly opposed the transfer of a critically ill patient.The committee said he exaggerated the danger of the transfer and put down the professionalism of his colleagues.The committee said then on June 8, 1994 Poilly neglected to carry out a preoperative evaluation of Dumont before removing an organ.She later died of complications following the operation.Poilly now awaits disciplinary measures following the convictions, and hearings are expected to take place in the next few weeks.While Poilly will not face jail for his actions, he could lose his licence to practise medicine.Are you an employee or self-employed?We are often asked by employers and employees alike whether a person can be considered to be self-employed instead of an employee.The reason for this is that there are certain advantages to being self-employed: Workers are subject to less restrictive legal requirements regarding income deductions, and employers don’t have to make employee benefits contributions (e.g.QPP, employment insurance, Québec Health Services Fund, CSST, and so forth).The following criteria will help you determine your status: 1.Effective subordination: In other words, is there an employer/employee relationship?Such a relationship exists when there is a relationship of authority between the company and the worker.For example, who has control over the execution of the work, the right to hire or fire?Does the worker have the freedom to solicit his or her own clients?As for professional workers, do they have a professional liability insurance?If they do, it becomes more difficult, for tax purposes, to claim that the worker is an employee.2.Economic reality: Usually, an employee does not run the risk of incurring financial losses.A self-employed worker, on the other hand, must incur expenses, recruit clients and acquire tools to carry out his or her work.Tax Talks 3.Specifice results: A self-employed worker is generally asked to carry out specific work, whereas an employee can be called upon to perform various tasks.In between two tasks, an employee will continue to be remunerated, unlike a self-employed worker.4.Worker integration: A worker will generally be considered to be an employee when the services he or she sells are an integral part of the activities of the business that provides remuneration.If the economic survival of the worker depends on a single business, the relationship tends to be that of employer to employee.To conclude, it should be noted that establishing whether a worker is an “employee” or “self-employed” is a matter of fact.Careful analysis is required to eventually convince tax officials, as the tax bill could be somewhat hefty.Lucie Gaudreau, CA Taxation Department Raymond, Chabot, Martin, Paré General Partnership H RAYMOND, CHABOT, chartered MARTIN, PARÉ accountants COUNCILLOR: Continued from page 1 tions) are being presented and received that is the problem.Municipal workers are here forever, while counsellors are only in for a few years." Groulx added this is the first time such a resolution had been passed, saying problems with new councillors are normally resolved orally in the first few months of tenure.But the situation with Moore has been going on for two years, he said.In theory, councillors are supposed to go through town manager Jean Bouret with their suggestions and questions, and Bouret is expected to pass the messages to the departments concerned.But in reality councillors often bypass the overworked town manager to save time.A suggestion that the resolution apply to all the _______________ councillors was quickly rejected.Only Moore was singled out for muzzling, because some councillors say he antagonizes the employees in his jurisdiction.His backers say Moore is being punished for trying to get things done, instead of getting credit.Moore, a chemical engineer for IBM, cites several examples of projects he feels should have been more efficiently handled by municipal city workers, including unnecessary and poorly built ditches, overdue signs and fences, and water pumps that required supervision.He stresses he is not blaming Viau, who he describes as hardworking and dedicated, but says the department is not sufficiently trained or open to new ideas that could be beneficial to the community.“I asked for special meters on the water pumps for months, but nobody wanted to listen,” Moore said.“When they finally installed one of the meters, at a cost of $4,000, it showed that one of our water pumps wasn’t necessary.‘Town is saving $4,500 because of my suggestion’ Robin Moore In electricity alone the municipality started saving $4,500 a year because of my suggestion.” Moore says he wasn’t going through the town manager with his suggestions because he says Bouret is too busy to respond to his concerns.Yesterday’s acrimonious meeting, with council members shouting to be heard and audience members joining in the fray, showed a marked division on the part of Brome Lake councillors.Signy Stephenson, Paula Richardson and Moore voted against the resolution, and George Bristol, Groulx, McGovern and Mayor Blackwood voted in favor.Bristol said although he is not a fan of “public castrations,” he thought it was time for the resolution because Moore did not realize the scope of work required of the workers.“It’s a huge area that our seven or eight municipal employees have to cover,” Bristol said, “You have to realize that not everythirtg can be done right away, that some projects have to be put on hold.” Councillors proposed scheduling regular meetings with the head of municipal departments to try to resolve conflicts, as well as composing a list of all projects that need to be completed, to promote efficiency and make sure no projects are forgotten.Although Moore says he doesn’t think the resolution has a legal leg to stand on (Councillor Groulx said the resolution was based more on “good faith” than on legality), he said he would try to go through proper channels for the time being.“I don’t intend to stay at home and stop doing my job because of this,” Moore said.14t& /4#*ua,6 mm mm Saturday and Sunday, August 16 & 17 (9:30am - 5pm) Great one-of-a-kind arts & crafts on sale in support of the Township’s oldest English theatre REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE Info: (819) 842-2431 (North Hatley, Quebec) ¦ A rose lasts but a few days.A heart must last a whole lifetime.In Memoriam donations, a tribute to life.Tel.: (819) 562-7942 Of QUÉBEC 1 Friday, August 15, 1997 page 5 Record Clifford Olson gets his day in court The ‘Beast of B.C.’ returns to spotlight he loves By Ian Haysom Southam News Vancouver Next week, in a heavily fortified and crowded British Columbia courtroom, serial child killer Clifford Olson will begin a quest for early freedom.He hasn’t a hope.But for up to two weeks, Olson - conducting his own case because he has been refused legal aid - will try to convince a jury that he should be eligible for early parole, 15 years after being sentenced to a life term for the murders of 11 young people in British Columbia.The families of many of his victims will be in the emotionally charged courtroom in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey for the so-called judicial review.So will scores of onlookers, including media, politicians.Justice Department officials, victims’ group members and police officers.For most, it will be theatre of the absurd, an exercise in torment, a waste of taxpayers’ money and a mockery of the justice system.For Olson, shielded from spectators behind bullet-proof glass, it will be exactly what he craves.Attention.As he wrote in a taunting letter to Independent MP John Nunziata earlier this year, “I’m coming back home and there’s not a f.ing thing you can do about it.” He signed the letter, which also included pages of pornographic drawings, “The Beast of B.C.” Olson, recently transferred secretly from Saskatchewan Penitentiary to the heavily secured Archambault Institute in Quebec because of prison cutbacks in western Canada, will be flown by private jet to British Columbia some time this weekend.The fact Olson is able to conduct what many fear will be a taunting three-ring circus has already caused a storm of protest from Reform MPs and victims’ families.They say the child-killer is being allowed to laugh at the judicial process even though he has no hope of gaining early parole.Gary Rosenfeldt, whose 16-year-old son Daryn was murdered by Olson and who is now executive director of Victims of Violence, said recently he is dreading the courtroom ordeal but added, “We feel we have to be there to represent Daryn.” “The only concern, it seems, of the government is for the protection, safety and well-being of Clifford Olson." Olson is able to go through the judicial review process under Section 745 of the Criminal Code, the “faint hope” clause brought in when the death penalty was abolished in 1976.It allows murderers to apply for parole eligibility after serving 15 years.Olson made his application for the review last August, before the federal government could pass new legislation to exclude multiple murderers from applying.The new law is not retroactive and so doesn’t apply to Olson, but many are furious that the federal government allowed the loophole.On Monday, jury selection begins in the case, though Olson has already been warned by court officials that he will not be allowed to cross-examine potential jurors, as is the case in American trials.He will only be able to utter the words “content” if he agrees to a juror, or “challenge” if he rejects a juror.Olson is expected to be armed with a sheaf of papers.He claimed recently he had a “foot-high pile” of documents relating to the case.He will be allowed to cross-examine psychiatrists and prison officials, as well as question a parole eligibility statement.But Justice Richard Low, who will preside over the review, has told Olson he can’t call witnesses such as journalist Peter Worthington, with whom Olson co-operated on a book three years ago.The no-nonsense judge ruled that Worthington’s testimony would be irrelevant to a case in which, essentially, Olson has to prove he has been a model prisoner and has been rehabilitated sufficiently over the last 15 years to be allowed back into the community.Low will, however, allow written victim-impact statements to be entered as evidence at the hearing.He said at a preliminary hearing they were “most appropriate,” though it’s unlikely family members will deliver them verbally because that would probably open them to cross-examination by Olson.Low indicated at the March preliminary hearing, at which Olson testified by speaker phone from Saskatchewan, that he would brook little grandstanding or hoopla from the murderer.He cut off the child-killer in mid-stride a number of times, telling him his harangues and speeches were not relevant.The judge said repeatedly it was his “duty” to hear the case and warned against outbursts in the courtroom.There was, he said, “strong public sentiment against this case, but this court cannot and will not be distracted from its duty.” That hearing gave an insight into how Olson, at turns combative, bullying and compliant, will try to present his case.He showed himself to be a man who has immersed himself in Canadian law and precedent and who is also fully aware of the fury he creates.At one point Olson, who has boasted he has killed and buried many more victims, threatened that if he lost one particular ruling “there would be no more bodies returned for proper Christian burial.” His voice was high-pitched, sometimes articulate, at other times coarse and seemingly uneducated.His rambling harangues, against politicians and victims’ groups, unsettled many in the courtroom.Olson, now 57, will become eligible for full parole in 2007, but most feel he will stay in jail until he dies.BEGIN OPTIONAL CUT Reform MP Randy White, who has campaigned for the repeal of Section 745, says murderers wanting to get out of jail use four excuses: “They’ve found Jesus.They’ve got a woman.They’re sorry for what they’ve done.They’ve taken all the courses.” Olson is unlikely to use any of these.The case, politically, has created a backlash against the federal Liberals, and will once again focus attention on Section 745, particularly as the families of the 11 young victims - aged between nine and 18 - have to relive their anguish in the Surrey courtroom while Olson basks in the spotlight of the attention he loves.The Canadian Police Association earlier this summer launched a billboard campaign, featuring photographs of Olson and Paul Bernardo, attacking Liberal MPs who did not support a private member’s bill that promised to revoke Section 745.END OPTIONAL CUT For some observers, the judicial hearing may have at least one redeeming, if disturbing, value.Olson has never testified in court about the killings of his victims over a nine-month period in the Vancouver area, pleading guilty after one day of his trial in January 1982.The case may help shed more light on the murders, as well as the circumstances surrounding the controversial $110,000 Olson’s family was paid by the federal and B.C.governments for Olson to reveal where he buried his victims.BEGIN OPTIONAL CUT Olson has apparently requested papers regarding an unsuccessful civil court case victims’ families brought against Olson to recoup the money.Some letter writers to Vancouver newspapers and callers to radio phone-in shows have suggested the media should ignore Olson and starve him of the publicity he obviously craves.News executives have responded that it is impossible to ignore the public interest, as well as anger, surrounding Olson and Section 745.‘We are not stumbling’ - Chief Supt.says RCMP say Bre-X investigation on track By Stephen Ewart Southam News Calgary The RCMP admitted Wednesday they’re still a long way from solving the multibil-lion-dollar fraud case at Bre-X Minerals Ltd., but say the investigation is not “stumbling” as some media reports suggest.“We are at the stage of investigating, interviewing people and gathering evidence,” said Chief Supt.Rod MacKay.“We aren’t at the stage to approach or arrest anyone.” The Mounties wouldn’t say when they would be at that stage.“I don’t have a crystal ball,” said Insp.Peter Macauley, the officer in charge of the Mounties Bre-X task force.Macauley was one of the investigators who just returned from Indonesia, Aus- tralia and the Philippines.The monthlong trip was used to gather evidence about Bre-X’s fabled Busang gold mine in order to determine who was behind what has been described as the biggest mining fraud in history.The Mounties dismissed media reports earlier this week that said their investigation ran into a brick wall in southeast Asia.Macauley said he was pleased with the co-operation from other police forces.“We are not stumbling,” added MacKay, who acknowledged it is unusual for the force to put a senior investigator in the middle of an investigation before the media at a news conference.He said the force did so to clear up misconceptions about the sensational case.Macauley said he wouldn’t divulge specifics about the case but he did offer a few tidbits.He said the Mounties: • are satisfied Bre-X geologist Mike de Guzman committed suicide and it was his body found in the Indonesian jungle near Busang; • have interviewed de Guzman’s close friend and Bre-X colleague Cesar Puspos; • have not interviewed de Guzman’s close friend and Bre-X colleague Rudy Vega, although they believe Indonesian authorities know where he is; • have interviewed Bre-X chief executive David Walsh; and • have not yet interviewed Bre-X chief geologist John Felderhof.Joe Groia, a Toronto lawyer hired by Felderhof, said his client has co-operated with the RCMP and provided them with boxes of Bre-X documents.The Mounties also dismissed a resport last month by investigators hired by Bre-X which said de Guzman bought gold used in the salting scam from local tribesmen and was the mastermind behind the fraud."We’re certainly not taking our lead by any revelations that we’re getting from outsiders who are doing parallel investigations,” MacKay said.Dermod Travis of a Montreal-based shareholders’ rights group representing some people who lost money when Bre-X collapsed, agreed with the Mounties that it will take some time to complete the investigation.He noted it has been 10 years since the crash of the Edmonton-based Principal Group Ltd.financial services conglomerate and legal battles are still being fought over who is responsible for millions of dollars in debts to hundreds of creditors. page 6 Friday, August 15, 1997 THE' COMMUNITY FORUM Pettigrew more likely successor than Martin Will prime minister usher in new century?A third school of thought is developing around Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s future.And in case you have missed the first two: the first is that he will remain in office until the year 2000 so he will have the distinction of leading Canada into the next century: the second is that, having won a second majority, he will govern for a year or so and let a fresh face represent federalism in the next Quebec referendum.The third?Well, for what it’s worth, more than a handful of plugged-in Liberals are willing to offer small wagers that the 63-year-old prime minister has every intention of trying for a third majority government.It’s a whole new thought process.“He’s not going to do this if the winds (polls) aren't blowing the right way,” says one.“But if there is any indication he can pull it off, just watch him.” “What people tend to forget is that Chretien is a political record keeper.He knows exactly, to the day, how long he has been in Parliament, who has served longer, and how many different portfolios he has filled compared with others.Every record is at his finger tips.“And what he also knows is that no prime minister in history has won three consecutive majority governments.” Given the make up of the parliamentary opposition, such an achievement may well be within reach.You will find few people who seriously believe the next government will be formed by Reform, the Bloc Québécois, the Tories or the New Democrats-just as you will find few who believe any of these opposition parties would join forces to defeat the Liberals in the present House.The prime minister may be preaching to his caucus about the parliamentary dangers of a relatively thin majority, but this is largely to keep the troops in line.There won't be another election until the government wants one.The idea of Chretien hanging in for a possible third term was bounced off another senior Liberal who, for somewhat different reasons, agreed it could happen.“Paul Martin’s people are beginning to get restless," he said.“If their man is going to have any chance of succeeding Chretien, the sooner the better.“But in this respect, Chretien won’t be too accommodating.” In three years Martin will be 62.And, if as expected, the Chretien government becomes more liberal in its spending habits over the next couple of years, Martin’s reputation as a firm fiscal manager could lose much of its lustre.Martin knows all about a political party’s tendency to search out new blood when other candidates are perceived to have outlasted their shelf lives.He saw his father, Paul Martin Sr., an early favorite, being defeated by a fresh-faced Pierre Trudeau in 1968.There are those who think that Chretien would get a certain satisfaction out of thwrarting a leadership bid by his popular finance minister.Their friendship was somewhat strained during the 1990 leadership race when Chretien took over the party.The prime minister is known to have a highly retentive memory.And despite his portrayal of an innocent little street scrapper from Shawinigan, Chretien, like most political leaders, is high on ambition.Furthermore, his ego is not in remission.Add to this his acute awareness of his niche in history - not unlike Brian Mulroney - and one can readily understand why he might toy with a third mandate.The great unknown, however, is the form and timing of another Quebec referendum.Not only would the prime minister be very reluctant to risk a humiliation, the Liberal movers may well decide the federal campaign should be spearheaded by new blood.And when most Liberals talk of this, it’s not Martin's name that’s tossed around, it’s more often a newer cabinet face, such as Pierre Pettigrew.But it goes without saying that all possible scenarios are subject to change without notice.Just thought you might like to know how some Liberal thinkers are passing the summer.Lord knows there isn't much else to preoccupy the back room skull scratchers during these doldrum times.Stewart MacLeod is an editor with the Issues Network Viewpoint Stewart Macleod ETtA- ©I99T P3er WOtfTH ‘JTW-TBSSIZVVA-.-— Hum^ Steeping ^TAILGATING/ reckless lane «switching, i'm going to ASK YOU TO STEP OUTOF THE VEHICLE ANP TAKE AN INTELLIGENCE TEST a division of Communications Quebecor inc.2850 Delorme, Sherbrooke, Que.JIK 1A1 Fax: 819-569-3945 Newsroom e-mail: record@interlinx.qc.ca Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Sunil Mahtani Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Susan Mastinf, Community Relat.(819) 569-9511 Alain TEtreault Adv.Dir.(819) 569-9525 Richard Lessard Prod.Mgr.(819) 569-9931 Mark Guillette Press Superv.(819) 569-9931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 569-9931 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .Advertising .Circulation .Newsroom __ (819)569-9511 (819) 569-9525 (819) 569-9528 (819) 5696345 Knowlton office 88 Lakeside, Knowlton, Quebec, JOE 1V0 Tel: (514) 242-1188 Fax: (514) 243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 104.00 7.28 7.23 $118.51 6 months 53.50 3.75 3.72 S60.97 3 months 27.00 1.89 1.88 S30.77 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies of The Record ordered one week after publication are available at $1.00 per copy.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 Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675.Member ABC, CARD, CDNA, NMB, QCNA Letters to the Editor Keep Montfort open Open letter to Ontario Premier Mike Harris Dear Editor, For the second time in six months, Alliance Quebec is compelled to write to you to urge you to reconsider the future of Hôpital Montfort in Ottawa.Alliance Quebec has already filed with you a petition from concerned Quebecers, many of them from the English-speaking communities here, asking that le Montfort be kept open.English and French-speaking Canadians living in minority situations must have the same rights to health care that our fellow Canadians share.Le Montfort is more than bricks, mortar and operational balance sheets.Le Montfort is unique in that it offers all its services in French to the many thousands in Eastern Ontario whose first official language is French.In addition, it plays an important role as a teaching hospital for French-language medical students from the University of Ottawa.And, it is an institution controlled and managed by the minority-language community.As a broadly-based community organization representing some 800,000 English-speaking Quebecers, Alliance Quebec is no stranger to minority-lan-guage health-care issues.We’ve watched our own provincial government stall on English-language health services - and then point to the record of other Canadian jurisdictions to justify their actions.Language is an essential tool of proper health care.It is not a luxury and it is not a political plum to be tossed away at the first sign of budget pressures.It is an essential right for all Canadians.We understand that this matter is basically one of provincial jurisdiction.Well, Canada’s Premiers have indicated that they expect to play a role beyond their borders in fighting for the unity of the country.If that is the case then we reserve the right to judge your actions on matters that have consequence for all Canadians.Equitable access to health care in both official languages in Ottawa makes the case stronger for such care in Montreal.We urge you not to close le Montfort as a full-service hospital.If you do, your government will be feeding the destructive notion that Canada has but one province where francophones can truly feel at home - and one where anglophones never will.Do the right thing, Mr.Harris.Then, it is with full confidence that we will insist that our own Premier do likewise.Michael J.Hamelin President THE.Friday, August 15, 1997 page 7 FARMING P.E.I.idyllic pastures or toxic wasteland?Bud the spud is victim of pesticide spray By Graeme Hamilton Southam Newspapers O’Leary, P.E.I.The rolling green fields on the outskirts of Canada’s potato capital are in bloom.The only museum in the country devoted to the spud is doing brisk business.A local student has just been named P.E.I.’s Potato Ambassador at the annual Potato Blossom Festival.But things are not as idyllic as they seem in O’Leary, P.E.I.In one field, a mist rises in the breeze behind a tractor as a farmer douses his potato crop with pesticide.And at a nearby trout pond, Dave Biggar worries the fish he has seen killed by pesticides are like canaries in a coal mine, presaging the disaster that could be in store for people on the Island.“We’re going to end up ruining the tourism, the farming will be completely mined, and all we’ll have left is a name as a toxic hot-spot,” said Biggar, president of the O’Leary Wildlife Federation.Potato farming - a way of life introduced by settlers 200 years ago - is under increasing attack in P.E.I.With the arrival of new processing plants on the Island, the last 10 years have seen an increase of nearly 70 per cent in the amount of land given over to potato cultivation - reaching 43,200 hectares last year from 25,688 in 1986.About one-twelfth of the Island is growing potatoes.INCREASED PESTICIDE USE The intensified farming effort to feed North Americans' insatiable appetite for french fries and potato chips has brought increased pesticide spraying and accelerated soil erosion.Like never before, Islanders fear that the long-term future of farming and their own health are threatened.Last month, the town of Stratford, where residents have complained of pesticide spraying, took the unprecedented step of passing a bylaw to keep potato farming away from homes.And farmers anxiously await a government-commissioned round table report due next month, which is expected to recommend significant changes in farming practices.Biggar is getting tired of waiting for an end to the laissez-faire approach that Gulf of St.Lawrence 0 25 kilometres Prince Edward Island O’Leary Charlottetown Stratford PAMELA BEHNKE/Southam Newspapers lets farmers cultivate right up to the water’s edge.In 1995 and 1996, nearly all the trout and salmon his group raises for release in the wild were wiped out by pesticide spills and run-off.He estimates about $200,000 worth of fish were lost.100 times the recommended level.“Soil erosion on potato land is a bigger problem today than it has ever been in the past,” the report said.Add that to the estimated 600 tonnes a year of pesticide applied to P.E.I.fields and growing evidence that agricultural chemicals are contaminating well water, and the report spells trouble for the province's image as a pastoral paradise.“We’ve got the most densely populated province, so we can’t afford to continue making mistakes.There is no place else to move,” MacDonald said.“The land is our future here.Outside of the people themselves, it is the single most valuable commodity we have.” Klaas Nieuwhof, president of the P.E.I.Potato Producers’ Association, said members of his group fear the round table will go overboard with its recommendations.He feels that, apart from a rebellious few, the roughly 600 growers he represents are already addressing the soil erosion problem.FEAR-MONGERING DOUBLE WHAMMY On top of the pesticides, silt from the fields is clogging streams in what Biggar calls a “double whack” for the trout.Faced with a highly competitive market, too many farmers are cutting corners - skipping crop rotations, removing hedgerows that guard against erosion, planting hillsides in an effort to suck every possible dollar out of marginal land.“We’re just on a collision course,” Biggar said.“You can’t lose topsoil at that rate, or pretty soon you’re out of topsoil.We’ll turn the land into a desert.” Elmer MacDonald, a farmer and chairman of the round table on land use at work since April 1996, doesn’t use such stark language, but he shares Big-gar’s concern.His group’s interim report, published last fall, listed soil erosion as the biggest problem facing Island farmers.The amount of topsoil lost from P.E.I.fields is commonly three times the annual rate a U.S.agency recommends as a maximum for sustainability.On some fields, the rate has been measured at As for pesticides, he thinks the problem has been blown out of proportion by “fear-mongering” environmentalists.He argued that the only person at risk from the chemicals is the person spraying them.Pesticides are indispensable to a potato crop, he said, comparing their use with preventive maintenance on a car.But a farmer would be foolish to spray indiscriminately.“The stuff costs a fortune.I can’t think of one farmer who would use more pesticide than they have to.” The potato industry has undeniable clout.Agriculture is the largest sector of the province's economy, and potatoes are by far the biggest crop, accounting for half of all farming revenue.The burgeoning processing industry employs about 1,200 people in a province with a total population of just 130,000.So critics like Sharon Labchuk of the Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island are used to being dismissed by industry representatives.But she maintains her group’s campaign to gradually eliminate pesticide use - which last year included a pamphlet warning tourists of the “toxic playground” awaiting them - is gathering steam.She gauges the success by the number of calls her group gets from ordinary Islanders worried they’ve been made sick by pesticides.“If you look on the Island, almost everybody lives near a potato field.“It’s an issue that pretty much everyone on the Island is affected by, whether they know it or not.” John Hardy, an organic potato farmer about 15 kilometres outside O’Leary, knows that the debate over potato farming gets emotions boiling.In most places, organic produce is proudly labeled and demands top dollar.But on the Island, Hardy prefers not to rankle his neighbors by gloating that his crop is chemical-free.“You don’t want to say, Hey, look at me.I’m an organic farmer.’ It just doesn’t sit right,” he said.Still, he sees the soil disappearing from poorly managed fields and he worries.“Any time you see a poster of P.E.I., you think, how nice and clean and pure.But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find there isn’t any soil left, or what is there is full of chemicals.” fONOROLA Inc.APPOINTMENT NOTICE Mr.Robert Carignan, Director - National Accounts, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr.Robert Guimond to the position of Senior Sales Consultant for the Eastern Townships region.In his capacity as a consultant, Mr.Robert Guimond will deal mostly w ith corporate clients.fONOROLA, which has its Head Office in Montreal, is a nation-wide company offering a full range of telecommunications services.Mr.Robert Guimond may be reached at the Sherbrooke office, at 562-9814.) Montréal I ) Outaouais / V) Memphrémaaog/Champlaln y / SaguenayAac-Saint-Jean Saint-Lawrence River Marine Weather / Beach Forecast 1 900 565-4000 For CDN and USA East Coast beaches n ^ -, .w-¦->r^ gar j É&V 1 ¦ M m EM Elk page 8 Friday, August 15, 1997 — THE' From arts and crafts to concerts Lots to do in the Townships this weekend RECORD's booth at the COOKSHIRE FAIR August 75, 76, 77 uhl t/f* Capping off a successful summer season.The Piggery Theatre will hold its ever-popular Country Craft Show this Saturday and Sunday Aug.16 and 17 from 9:30 a.m.to 5 p.m.Now in it’s 14th year, this fundraiser has played a major role in keeping The Piggery Theatre alive and well and has contributed to the vibrant arts scene that exists in the Townships.As the event continues to grow in popularity, organizers are expecting a record turnout this year.Some 30 artists and artisans, from the Townships and beyond, will display their collections of unique wares for sale inside the Piggery barn - rain or shine! Lunch and refreshments can be purchased on site.Back this year are North Hatley lampshade maker Ann Beaulieu, potter and furniture maker Real Delisle, and folk artist Muffey Tippett.Other Townships artists will include Lennoxville potter Lucy Doheny, wreath and dried flower arrangements by Linda Hacche of Kate-vale, and wood sculptures by Marek Latzman of Sutton to name just a few.From outside the region, Dorothea Mc-Niven of Pointe-Claire will offer homemade jams and Chris Osenburg of Chateauguay will display his wood turning skills.Children’s clothing, quilts, paintings, furniture, folk art, soapstone carvings, dolls, and even graphic artists - all are bound to satisfy every age group and make this the perfect outing for the entire family.Admission is only $2.- free for children under 15.Items are priced for as little as 50 cents up to $600 to fit any budget.Proceeds from admission will benefit The Piggery Theatre.The days outing can be completed with dinner at The Piggery’s new restaurant “The Posh Pig” followed by the performance of Italian American Reconciliation by Oscar winner John Patrick Shanley at 8:30 pm.Call The Piggery box office for tickets and reservations.Details :The Piggery, (819) 842-2431.The internationally-acclaimed Montpelier-based youth ensemble Village Harmony will be returning for a repeat performance in Lennoxville at St.George’s Anglican Church on Friday, Aug.15 at 7:30 pm.This final summer session of Village Harmony, led by Peter Amidon, Mary Alice Amidon, and Carol Chase, is a highly unusual collaboration of 20 young singers and instrumentalists with an extremely powerful, straight-toned, infectiously rhythmic singing style and a very unorthodox repertoire.Their August concert program features traditional and contemporary shape-note singing, traditional music from the Balkan countries, and African American spirituals and gospel with a special emphasis on songs by the great gospel singer, pianist and composer Jane Sapp of Springfield, MA.The August Village Harmony touring group draws together dedicated musicians from Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Quebec and Ukraine, ranging in age from 11 -17.Village Harmony’s sound is not the blended smoothness of English cathedral choirs, but rather is of BOOTH HOURS: Friday 1-5 p.m.& 6-8 p.m.Saturday 1-5 p.m.& 6-8 p.m.Sunday 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.•aI 1 YEAR SUBSCRiPTION $11300 valid on site only DRAWINGS • GUESSING CONTESTS RECORD merchandise for sale READERS’ SCRAPBOOK on display (Bring your favorite clipping to add to it!) THE INVISIBLE “HEARING AID” A real discovery! You can now benefit from an all new super miniaturized “hearing aid".It fits comfortably inside the ear canal and becomes almost invisible.It also allows you to hear more clearly! Some circuits are now completely automatic (no volume control).Quebec Medicare card pays for a hearing aid for all those who qualify; without limit to age.Not illustrated here.If you are afflicted with hearing problems or you think you may be, consult François LaPlante, audioprosthologist.As of your first visit, our team will take care of you and give you all the attention necessary for you to rediscover the joys of hearing, LaPlante & Associates Audioprosthologists Centre Professionnel Belvédère Centre Medical Carrefour Hauteville 300 Belvédère St.North,Suite 104A 35 Principale St.Sherbrooke Granby Telephone: (819) 821 -4435 Telephone: (514) 372-2984 Toll free: 1 -888- 821 -4435 Toll free: 1 -888- 821 -4435 a more variegated, reedy quality, influenced strongly by various forms of traditional singing from throughout the world.In Balkan songs and in some of the American shape-note singing they favor what they call “hard voice,” a very exciting, bright hard-edged, chest voice.The group is best known for its championing of music from the New England singing school and Southern shape-note singing traditions.Stemming from the community singing schools of late 18th-century New England and now experiencing a revival throughout the US (as well as in Britain), shape-note or “Sacred Harp” music is hearty, rhythmic, loud and emotionally compelling.Session leaders Peter and Mary Alice Amidon have just returned from a year of touring the U.S., England and Ireland during which they performed concerts of songs and stories, led evening con-tradances, and led dancing and singing workshops elementary and middle schools.The Amidons have been on several U.S.and European tours with Larry Gordon’s Word of Mouth Chorus/Northern Harmony, and collaborated with Pete and Toshi Seeger in creating and running a stage of participatory singing at the annual Great Hudson Clearwater Festival, which is where they first met Sapp.Co-leader Carol Chase has performed shape note singing with the Bayley Hazen singers and is a veteran leader of Village Harmony sessions.She also performs with the Kitchen Sink Cloggers and with the classic rock duo, Myopic Dog.Admission to the concert is $7 for adults and $5 for children and seniors.Details: 819-562-8727 or 802-257-1006.Acclaimed pianist to perform at Haskell Opera House.• • • The Rotary Club of The Boundary is hosting a concert featuring pianist Susan Halligan at the Haskell Opera House in Derby Line, Vt./Rock Island on Saturday Aug.30, at 8 p.m.Halligan is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music where she was awarded the distinguished Morris Loeb Prize for outstanding musicianship.She has performed in six countries and was the winner of the highest prize in the Munich International competition.Halligan’s has been a professor of music at Johnson State for 20 years.The Vermont Council on the Arts recently awarded her the largest grant ever given to an individual artist.She will perform selections from Ravel, Chopin, Rameau, Beethoven and Scarlatti.Tickets are $10 or $8.US.Details: 802-873-9104 or 819-876-5551.Tickets can be purchased at: LaPierre & Sons, E.Main St., Newport, Vt., A.Fluet & Fils, Beebe.Proceeds will go to communities served by The Rotary Club Of The Boundary, Stanstead, and Derby, Vt. Friday, August 15, 1997 page 9 m—THE—¦' Record Antique machinery club has display this weekend Massey Ferguson: Leading the way for 150 years Massey-Harris”.% mm PHOTO COURTESY MASSEY FERGUSON The M-H No.20 was the world’s first commercially successful self-propelled combine.By Bruce Patton Record Correspondent Compton Few multinational corporations can boast 150 years of continuous business.Fewer still have had a major impact on improving the lives of the world’s population.Massey Ferguson qualifies on both counts.This weekend, as part of the “From Farm to Market” festivities, the Eastern Townships Antique Machinery Club exhibit will include a 1950 Massey-Harris No.33 tractor and brand new Massey Ferguson 4270 tractor provided by Coat-icook’s, Omer Madore.In 1847, Daniel Massey, a pioneer and farmer, opened a small workshop near Newcastle, Ont.with the simple intention of repairing and making agricultural accessories for local farmers.The company soon became well known for its production of agricultural machinery.Alanson Harris, a farmer and owner of a flour-mill also possessed a talent for the design of farm equipment.At the insistence of his family, Harris opened a foundry in Brantford, Ont.in 1857.Soon afterwards, Harris found himself in direct competition with the Massey organization.Finally, in 1891, the two companies fused to become The new company eventually became ready to lead the industry in the next stage of agricultural commodities- motorized equipment.With the introduction of a U-shaped chassis, the company produced the famous MH 20 and 30 series tractors during the 1920s and 30s.Harry Ferguson During the 1920s, Harry Ferguson perfected the “Ferguson System” which allowed various accessories to be attached to a tractor.In 1938, an agreement was established between Ferguson and Henry Ford to produce Ford-Ferguson tractors.Following the death of Henry Ford and the termination of their agreement, Ferguson went on to produce the popular TO-20, affectionately known as the “the little grey Ferguson”.In 1953, the Massey-Harris organization negotiated a fusion with Ferguson under the name Massey-Harris-Fergu-son Ltd.which later became Massey Ferguson.It was Massey-Harris that introduced the No.20 self-propelled combine in 1938.Requiring only one man to operate it, the new No.20 opened the field without running down the crop like horse or tractor-drawn combines.Where it had once taken a man with the cradle and the flail a full day of hard, physically exhausting labor to reap and thresh a bushel, it now took one man sitting behind the steering wheel of the M-H 20 combine less than a minute.The company then developed the No.21 Self-Propelled model.Somewhat lighter and less expensive, the first units came off the production line in 1941.Production was soon halted, however, as the Massey-Harris factories were converted to the wartime manufacture of aircraft wings, tanks and tank treads.Hot, new local band finishes first at Bedford Fair By Tanya Tkach Record correspondent Knowlton LowBrow, a local band from Knowlton won first prize in the Battle of the Bands contest held during the Bedford Fair.“We like to sing about good and happy things in life and our music reflects the good times,” said drummer Jason Delis.“Our music is really a blend, we don’t try to label ourselves,” added Joe Yarmush, from hi spot on guitar and back-up vocals.The idea of forming the group started at a friend’s formal birthday party.“1 remember it was Nov.9, ’96,” recalled Jeremy Labrecque, the band’s lead singer and guitar player.Delis recalled someone at the party wishing there was a band there to play some dance music.“We said to ourselves we can do that,” explained Delis.“So we locked ourselves in the bathroom until we thought of a name for our band.” “I thought of the name LowBrow” said Yarmush.“We didn’t really want to have a serious name, this one is catchy and easy to remember.” It took only two practices for the new band to master 14 covers before playing for friends from Massey Vanier.“They all thought we were great," said Delis.Since then, LowBrow has played at the Café Village in Cowansville, the Community Centre in Knowlton and at various parties.Last July, the group placed third in the Battle of the Bands held at Sunnymead.This energetic foursome loves performing.“We like to have fun when we play, said Yarmush, “and we want the crowd to have fun to.” “My parents think that my studies are more important but playing with this group is fun,” said bass guitarist Sammy Agha.“After Sunnymead we practiced a bit more and got tighter,” said Yarmush.“We’re constantly revising and improving our songs.When we’re practicing, if something sounds good, we go with it.But we’re always working on new stuff," he added.You can catch the energetic sounds of Low Brow at the Café Village in Cowansville this Fri day, Aug.15 starting at 10 p.m.i|T PB TECHNOLOOIB EASTERN TOWNSHIPS^ TECHNICAL IHST1