The record, 18 septembre 1996, mercredi 18 septembre 1996

Portes et Fenêtres A.B.C.Doors and Windows Marcel Brassard («19) «20-7299 1215 Wellington St.S., Sherbrooke The Voice of the Eastern Townships since 1837 I - WEDNESDAY September 18, 1996 WEATHER, Page 2 50 cents ; .' •*i 4 Environment Minister David Cliche was met by a group of angry farmers when he arrived in the Eastern Townships Tuesday.They claim the minister is caving in to city folk who don’t like the sweet smell of country air.° RECORD RITA LEG AULT St.Francis is recovering Break-in at Townshippers Association LENNOXVILLE - An overnight break-in at Townshippers Association offices in Lennoxville Tuesday means staff and officials will have to wait a little longer for a rest following an exhilarating and exhausting weekend in Stanstead.Townshippers Association president Nancy Beattie said staff members arrived at the office Tuesday morning to find the doors had been tampered with and their computers missing.“We lost a central word processing unit, another computer and a microwave,” Beattie said Tuesday night.It appears the thief or thieves carried the computers out in the office garbage can since it too was missing.Beattie said although the stolen equipment is insured, there will be a hefty deductible to pay.More importantly she said, is the loss of data.“We were all so busy planning for Townshippers Day, we didn’t always do the usual backup.” In most cases, briefs and documents are safely stored on disks and hard copies.“It’s not the end of the world, but it isn’t a nice feeling,” she said.An office in the same building was robbed of equipment last month.Clean water more valuable than white gold By Rita Legault ORFORD - The St.Francis River basin is slowly recovering from years of pollution, but there is still a long way to go before it is cleaned up.That’s the conclusion of four studies into the river’s environment released Tuesday at a news conference by provincial Environment Minister David Cliche in Orford .The studies look at the quality of water in the ecosystem, pollution by various chemicals and heavy metals, as well as the contamination of fish and other aquatic organisms.The studies reveal that the St.Francis River basin’s ecosystem is in trouble over 38 kilometres, or about 20 per cent of its distance.About half the St.Francis, roughly 79 kilometres, is in relatively good shape.The final two per cent, a stretch of about three kilometres, is considered to be in excellent condition.The problem areas are in East Angus and Bromptonville, where the main industries are pulp and paper plants, and in Drummondville, where raw sewage from the municipality is still dumped into the river.Biologist David Berryman told about 200 municipal representatives, environmentalists, wildlife specialists, farmers and industrial leaders invited to the press conference to launch the reports.Other sources of pollution include industries and farms.Environment Minister Cliche also pointed out that this thorough examination of the St.Francis, which took place between 1991 and 1995, is the first such investigation of a river basin in Quebec.The studies also made comparisons to an earlier one in 1992 showing improvements in the quality of the water through decreased levels of fecal coliforms, down between 20 and 40 per cent in different areas, and the reduction of phosphate, which has been cut 40 per cent, and nitrogen levels, which have been reduced by a quarter.“The good news in this report is that when we invest in cleaning up rivers, it pays dividends,” said Cliche, adding that efforts to reduce and eliminate municipal sewage and industrial effluents have made a big difference in the quality of water in the St.Francis.Cliche said that millions of dollars have been invested by government and industry to clean up the St.Francis.By December, when the Drummondville sewage treatment plant goes into operation, 99 per cent of municipal waste-waters for a population of about 320,000 people will be treated before being released into the St.Francis, he said.“We will enter the next millennium having cleaned up two things - public finances and our waterways,” Cliche vowed, adding that pollution increases the public debt in Quebec.Cliche, who plans to introduce legislation for the management of Quebec’s lakes and rivers by watershed, said fresh water is an important resource which must be protected so that Quebecers can enjoy lakes and rivers.Referring to water as “white gold”, he said the value of fresh water, which covers 10 per cent of the surface of Quebec, will be more valuable than gold in the next millennium. The RECORD - Wednesday, September 18, 1996 - 2 Too many deer in Knowlton?Or just too uppity?It’s an emergency.The mayor says so.The police chief says so.The gardeners say so, the hunters say so and the game wardens say so too.Everyone in Brome Lake seems to agree: there are too many deer around Knowlton.But are there?I’m not so sure.For my money there aren’t too many deer -they’re just getting too cocky.A few Fridays ago the Record was invited to an “emergency" meeting at the Knowlton Legion.Our hosts for the afternoon were top cop Peter Stone and black-powder hunters’ leader Rod Bailey.Also present were provincial conservation officials, members of the Eastern Townships Fish & Game Alliance, representing local landowners and hunters, and the Federation Québécoise de la faune, representing landless hunters and their sport.More than 50 concerned and curious citizens filled the meeting room.For the most part the speakers were preaching to the converted.There are too many deer-related car accidents, said chief Stone.And with the price of car repairs these days, insurance rates will be rising for sure.It’s true that no one has been hurt, he added, but if it keeps on like this, one of these days.There are so many deer they are going to starve for sure, said hunter Bailey.They’re eating everything in sight.If we have a rough winter, they won’t be able to make it through.Nature is not gentle.It’s true we haven’t had a bad winter for a while, but this could be the year.A lady from the crowd spoke up on behalf of the dozen or so gardeners in the hall.The deer are worse than ever, the lady said.They’re even eating flowers and we haven’t had that before.“It’s an emergency,” and you MUST kill more deer, she said, though it was clear by their appearance that none of the worried gardeners needs any of the food they grow.But if they did.The landowners (Alliance) and the hunters (FQF) generally kept out of the debate, except to say that they are working hard for wildlife and the community, and they can barely stand each other.Petty jealousies prevail, and both groups could use new leadership.Into their void leapt muzzle-loader Bailey, speaking the language of crisis - and self-interest - and demanding action NOW.What action?Why it’s simple, he said.First, you give out more hunting permits, especially for the females because they’re easier to kill.Then, just make the hunting season longer, especially for us black-powder shooters.We’ve never had a season of our own before, so we have lots of catching up to do.AND IT HAS TO BE THIS YEAR, OR ELSE.All this time the government boys had been tapping their fingers on the tabletop, smiling faintly and trying not to scream.We know about the deer situation, they finally said, and we’ve been warning you for years.We agree that the hunting season could be longer, said Conservation boss Pierre Boisvenu, and we are already planning extra permits for next year.But get this straight: we won’t change anything for this year’s hunting season (which opens soon, he didn’t add).All this was adding up to pretty strange, I thought.For more than twenty years these same Brome county hunters have been insisting that there are too many hunters and not enough deer.The gardeners have said exactly the same thing.And all this time the government has been saying that the hunters have been overpro-tective.But now, for no apparent reason other than a few bent fenders and bitten begonias, all positions have been reversed.Kill more deer, say the green people.Let everyone in on our hunt, say the clubs.Not so fast, says the government.I left the meeting more puzzled than when I arrived.I decided to go for a ride and see for myself.Everyone knows how to find deer in Knowlton - just drive around for five minutes.Sure enough, not two miles out of town there were a small herd on my right.I stopped to watch a spell.Uh-oh, this could be trouble for those fawns.A mediumsized brown dog crept out of the woods at the edge of the field.They were walking; it was stalking.Now usually a dog is a deer’s worst enemy.Unlike wild canine predators, the domestic dog will often hunt just for fun.It’s in their genes, something that ‘s been bred in by man for many centuries.But this is Brome Lake, and things are different now.The older deer flipped their white tails in a danger signal to the young.Normally they would freeze or flee, stillness and speed being their main defence.Not this time, not here.Suddenly all the deer were running.But toward the dog, not away from it.For the first - and probably last -time in my life, I saw a herd of deer chasing a dog, and not vice-versa.Well that explains everything, I thought.These deer grew up in Knowlton.They’re just as uppity as everyone else.The last few words of my previous column were cut off by the nasty computer.I was saying that we hope those readers who don’t like my columns will get used to them at least.As for the computer, it better not do that agai Centraide publishes directory of groups Centraide Estrie has just published its 12th annual community and government resource directory for 1996-97.The directory, which includes listings and a brief description for some 2531 community groups, government institutions, public and para-public associations, pro- Inside Ann Landers .14 Behind the News .7 Births and Deaths .11 Classified .12-13 Comics .15 Crossword .14 Editorial .6 Entertainment .9 Farm and Business .8 Living .10 Sports .16 The Townships .3-4-5 WEATHER Today’s forecast calls for cloudy skies with clearing in the afternoon.Winds will be at 10 km per hour and the high will be near 20.The outlook for Thursday is sunny with a few cloudy periods.The low will be 5 and high near 20.resource fessional agencies and other groups.The directory list the groups by 22 themes including municipal and regional affairs, government assistance, communication groups, social clubs, cooperatives, culture, social assistance, family, women, housing, immigration, youth, justice, recreation, seniors, disabled, religious, health and work and more.The directory, which costs $14, is available from Centraide and at Bibliaire G.G.C.Centraide is also offering a new service of address labels, by theme or alphabetical order.East is west, west is east Gilbert Rhicard, a retired Transport Quebec worker will receive a copy of Steve Timmin’s book French Fun for successfully locating a silly sign on Route 112 neart Stukely.Rhicard said he had noticed the sign for a long time,’’but always knew the difference”.He had never heard of anyone heading East to Montreal as a result of the misplaced road sign, but said he was going to bring a copy of the paper to his former colleagues at Transport Quebec.Record a division of Quebecor Communications Inc.2850 Delorme, Sherbrooke, Que.J1K 1A1 819-569-9511 819-569-9525 Fax; 819-569-3945 Member ABC, CARD.CDNA, NMB, QCNA Randy Kinnear, Publisher.819-569-9511 Susan C.Mastine, Community Rel.819-569-9511 Charles Bury, Exec.Editor .819-569-6345 Sharon McCully, Editor.819-569-6345 Dwane Wilkin, Chief Correspondent .819-569-6345 Alain Tétreault, Adv.Dir.819-569-9525 Richard Lessard, Prod.Mgr .819-569-9931 Departments Accounting.819-569-9511 Advertising.819-569-9525 Circulation .819-569-9528 Knowlton office .514-242-1188 Home & Mail subscriptions SSI ESI TOTAL Canada: 1 year 104.00 7.28 7.23 $118.51 6 months 52.00 3.64 3.62 $59.26 3 months 26.00 1.82 1.81 $29.63 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Pates for other services available on request.Back copies of The Record ordered one week after publication are available at $1.00 per copy.Established February 9, 1897, incorporating the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) and the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879).The Record is published daily Monday to Friday by The Record Division, Quebecor Communications Inc.Offices and plant located at 2850 Delorme Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1K 1A1.Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675. The RECORD — Wednesday, September 18, 1996 - 3 Townships Farmers corner Cliche on manure rules Farm odor is largely perception - Environment Minister Envirnment Minister David Cliche responded to questions and accusations from Township farmers.ORFORD (RL) Environment Minister David Cliche was greeted by more than 150 angry farmers when he arrived in Orford Tuesday morning.The farmers were demonstrating against government proposals for setback regulations for manure pits.The farmers accused the minister of giving in to pressures from city people living in rural areas who complain about the smell of manure spreading throughout the countryside.Rochon promised farmers that the proposals would be examined by a parliamentary commission in Quebec City and debated at Regional Municipalities (MRCs) before a final setback distance is determined.“If the setback proposals are unreasonable and unlivable, we’ll change them,” he said, adding that nothing is yet written in stone.But farmers where not reassured by promises made outside a press conference at an Orford hotel to announce the results of a series of studies into the St.Francis River.That study pointed to various pollutants from pulp and paper plants to the farming industry.Farmers disrupted the press conference demanding to know why they were being picked on, some pointing at other more important sources of pollution.“I have cows that shit,” exclaimed one farmer to the minister.“I can’t stop them from shitting or they’ll die.” Cliche, who has been dealing with what he called a growing social revolution, said farmers must wake up and smell the manure.He said that protests over pig farms are not just from city people who have moved to the country, but also from small producers and other rural residents concerned about the impact of large scale pork production.Cliche admits the problem with farm odors is largely one of perceptions, but he warned that the farm industry - like all other industries - will have to participate in efforts to protect the environment.“If you’re attitude is that there is not problem, that it’s just city people, then you’re going to be in trouble,” Cliche said.“You can’t play ostrich and ignore the problem.” CS.Brooks 6 We aren’t the only ones’ - Audet PCB pollution points to C.S.Brooks t*1*tt»* II* * !$*»*> v » m Pierre Boisvenuand Minister Cliche discuss pollutants in St.Francis River.C.S.Brooks to generate or produce PCBs through chemical reaction and other processes,” he said.“Therefore, the PCBs must come from sources external to C.S.Brooks.” Audet said Environment Quebec has not looked at other potential sources, including water from Lake Memphremagog, other industries in the region including the water treatment plant in Magog, and the many residences and small industries along the Magog River.Audet also points out that the quantities of PCBs found in the St.Francis are infinitesimal and that the Magog River and Lake are among Quebec waterways with the smallest concentration of PCBs.“We’re guilty, But we aren’t the only ones” The level of PCBs in the Magog River is about .007 nanograms per litre.A nanogram is the equivalent of .0000000001 grams per litre.The level in the St.Francis is about .24 nanograms per litre, an amount that could not be detected before new sophisticated testing was developed last year.Audet points out that if environment inspectors don’t seek out other sources of PCBs, then the situation won’t improve for fish in the St.Francis River basin.Biologists point out that while PCB levels are well within limits for consumer protection, wildlife is more endangered by the toxic compound.That, says David Berryman, is because PCBs tend to concentrate in fatty tissue.Humans who eat only the flesh of fish are not in danger of being contaminated, but animals who eat the whole fish are ingesting much larger quantities.Predatory fish and mammals at the top of the food chain are most in danger of contamination.No guarantee it will be spared Baldwin Mills fish farm scores high By Rita Legault ORFORD - Among the pollutants ending up in the St.Francis River is a tiny concentration of PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls.Tests by Environment Quebec show the cancer-causing chemicals are coming from the C.S.Brooks plant in Magog.But C.S.Brooks president Ronald Audet said the textile plant cannot be the only source.“We’re guilty,” he admits, “But we aren’t the only ones.” Pierre Boisvenu, the Environment and Wildlife ministry representative in the Townships, said the PCBs from C.S.Brooks were detect- ed at a time when the plant’s operating license was up for renewal.Boisvenu said the renewal certificate includes the obligation to identify the source of PCBs and gives the plant until January 1997 to correct the situation.He said that PCBs are not among the 200 or so chemicals used by the plant, but that they may be a by-product of an industrial or chemical process.Audet said that his company has a duty to seek out the source of PCBs at the Magog plant, but that Environment Quebec has the duty to seek other sources as well.“According to our experts, it is practically impossible for By Rita Legault ORFORD - Despite comparative reports which show the fish farm in Baldwin Mills is the best run in the province, Environment Minister David Cliche would make no guarantees it will be the one to survive budget cuts.Cliche has promised to make a decision on which fish farm gets axed before the end of September.Earlier this week, Orford MNA Robert Benoit and Barnston mayor Serge Riendeau released the results of a secret study which favors the Baldwin Mills site.But Cliche said the results of the study are just one of the factors that will be considered.The study, which Benoit obtained after the government released its spending estimates, compares the Baldwin Mills fish farm with one in the riding of Treasury Board president Jacques Leonard in the Laurentians.The comparative study, which examined 22 different points, gives Baldwin Mills a score of 20 compared to 11 for the Laurentian site.Cliche said that the government will also have to look at the species produced at the different sites as well as the local expertise.“I’m not denying the results of the report,” he said, “but it’s just one argument among others.” Townships 4 - The RECORD - Wednesday, September 18, 1996 Pilgrimage prepares clergy for rural life By Murielle Parkes Record Corespondent MANSONVILLE - Every September since 1986, students in their final year of training at the United Theological College (UTC) in Montreal have come to the Mansonville area to sample rural life.The annual pilgrimage is taken by future ministers and staff alike to help foster an understanding of the challenges of a rural ministry.Over the years, the UTC students have met with single mothers on welfare, spoken with unemployed workers and consulted employers from the area about the nature of the labour market.They’ve even queried people involved with tourism about its impact on the community.This year the nine-member contingent visited the Reilly House (home of a tea room, tourist bureau and used clothing depot), Citizen Advocacy’s Youth Centre and Viola and Ralph Knowlton’s farm.In addition, the group met with Heather Keith-Ryan, past president of the Townshipper’s Association, to discuss the demography and history of the region, and with Jim Colley, education consultant at Massey- Vanier High School.Staff and volunteers of the youth support group of Citizen Advocacy also met with the theology students, as did members of the local clergy.Unlike the first few years, when all the visiting ordi-nands were from the United Church, this year’s crop included students from three different denominations: Baptist, Anglican and United.They were accompanied by Revs.Pierre Goldberger and Jean Barclay of UTC and Rev.John McNab of the Anglican College.Mable Hastings, youth animator at the Citizen Advocacy community group, has coordinated all eleven events.The rural field trips consist of a mix of visits, discussion groups, information meetings, and country food.It’s an opportunity for the community to share their thoughts and stories with guests who are both appreciative and genuinely interested.For the students, it was a glimpse of what lies ahead: for many, ministry begins in a rural setting.The most appetizing agenda items have always been the country dinners.This year was no exception.Hosts and hostesses Dennis and Sue Dwyer, Clarissa Davis and Ken and Judy Ball not only supplied home-made fare but also added “conversational” food for theological thought.Ministers meet with rural folk.Bell’s Comer Choir, choral group with a cause Canadian ambassadors of music i-t f fmMm By Murielle Parkes Record Correspondent MANSONVILLE - They sang their hearts out in Mansonville last Thursday not only for those who had come to hear them but for the victims of flooding in the Saguenay-Lac St.Jean region as well.During their week-long visit to the Townships, which also included stops in Knowlton, Waterville and Cowansville, the Bell’s Corners Male Chorus saw their appreciative audiences humming, clapping and singing to the beat of their ballads, the harmony of their hymns and the strains of their sea shanties.The ninety-minute program - a mix of sacred, Negro spiritual, folk, operetta and whimsical -was accompanied by guitar and keyboard.When it was all over, the appreciative Mansonville audience delivered a standing ovation.Appropriately, the Canadian “ambassadors of music” chose as their encore selection, “Vive la Canadienne!” The crowd was a little richer that night.So, too, was the Saguenay-Lac St.Jean Relief Fund.George Wallace, a descendant of Scottish hero William (Braveheart) Wallace, found- ed the choir in 1994.Its primary purpose is to show Canadians facing hardship that there are people, fellow citizens in other parts of the country, who care.The musical troupe, made up of veteran singers from choirs in the Ottawa region, makes its selections in May, practices in earnest in August, and travels in September.The 14-voice ensemble claim to be at their happiest when singing and promoting Canada.Two years ago, they travelled to Newfoundland and Labrador.Last year, the choir went to Northern Ontario.Included in their repertoire are a number of regional refrains: “It’s a Working Man I Am” (about the coal mines of Nova Scotia), “Mufferaw Joe” (a lumberman in Ottawa), “Les Raftsman” (from Quebec), “The Black Fly Song” (from Northern Ontario) and “Ode to Newfoundland.” It’s been said that good music has the ability to make people homesick for something they’ve never had.For many in the Townships audiences, the Newfoundland anthem evoked those feelings, though music about black flies (even good music about black flies) didn’t appear to have quite the same effect.Welcome Antique car buffs ROCK FOREST - Come rain, come shine, visit the antique car display at the Rock Forest Plaza September 29 during the 10th anniversary of Voiture Antique de l’Estrie where visitors will find cars to match everyone’s taste.The association of antique car buffs evolved out of the area’s keen interest for this hobby.In 1986, the desire to keep in touch with people of the same tastes, gave birth to the club, incorporated in 1987.Club members meet monthly for picnics and scenic trips around the Eastern Townships in their old treasures, travelling to such spots as Inverness, Megantic, Brome, Granby, Island Pond, to visit antique shops or simply to enjoy the scenery.Anything and anywhere is an excuse for an outing.Social events include corn roasts, mechoui’s, special breakfasts, bowling, pool , you name it, members hit the road-usually during winter when antique treasures are safely stored away for the winter.Known as the VA.E.S , the non-profit organization aims to bring together people who share the' same interests in the preservation, restoration and history of the artistic endeavors of past car manufacturers.The annual membership fee of $20 helps defray the cost of a bi-monthly magazine, which keeps members and their spouses informed of meetings and items of interest.The club is extending a welcome to any newcomers with similar interests and a special welcome to the public to visit during the 10th anniversary.Car buffs will meet at the Rock Forest Plaza, on Bourque Boul.on September 29th from 10:00 a.m.on.For more information you can call president Claude Gaumond, at 819-563-3348 after supper or Donna Daron at 819-346-5631. The RECORD - Wednesday, September 18, 1996 -5 Townships Sherbrooke honors Paralympians, Olympian Larouche ¦¦¦ I ***** PHOTOS BY PERRY BEATON By Perry Beaton brate one of their medal-winning performances in Atlanta.PHOTO: CANADIAN PARALYMPIC TEAM Record Correspondent SHERBROOKE - Julie Cournoyer was among Sherbrooke Paralympic and Olympic participants who were honored at a reception at city hall on Monday.Cournoyer, who is blind, won four medals at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta in August.Cournoyer teamed up with Guylaine Larouche, who served as Cournoyer’s eyes on the road, to win gold in the women’s road race, silver in the women’s pursuit race and bronze in the women’s one-kilometre time trial.Cournoyer also won a silver medal in the coed road race.Cournoyer showed her medals Tuesday.One side of them is written in Braille so that she can read it.Her fellow tandem cyclist and steerer Larouche was also honored Tuesday by Sherbrooke mayor Jean Perrault.Cournoyer brought along her trusted guide dog, Mandella, who, when he is not guiding, is usully resting at her feet.Wheelchair athletes Marc Quessy and Carl Marquis were honored for helping Canada win the bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metre relay race.Sonia Paquette received a souvenir book from councillor Jean-François Rouleau for her participation in the 100m hurdles.Next fall she will be looking for intern opportunities with the local media, to finish her degree in communications, and to be able to stay in Sherbrooke to train for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.André Viger has said that he would have given up all of his athletic honours if only he could walk.Viger Was honored for his participation in the marathon and the 5000 and 1500 metre races, as well as for a remarkable athletic career.He was presented with a souvenir book by councillor Jean Joubinville.The applause was as warm and heartfelt as any that has ever been heard within those walls.City councillor Jean Jubinville presents André Viger with a souvenir book of the City of Sherbrooke at Tuesday’s ceremony.Marc Quessy and Carl Marquis were honored for being part of Canada's 4 x 400-metre relay team at the Paralympic Games.The team won a bronze medal.ulie Cournoyer shows the Braille on her gold medal to Sherbrooke mayor Jean Perrault.Guylaine moche, who was Cournoyer’s partner in Atlanta, is seated in the middle.A City councillor Jean-François Rouleau presented hurdler Sonia Paquette with a souvenir book of Sherbrooke. Editorial 6 — The RECORD - Wednesday, September 18, 1996 Political vacuum is still far better than Galgonov Politics too, seem to abhor a vacuum.Voilà, Howard Galganov! In the absence of any leadership from the invisible Daniel Johnson or any coherent strategy from Jean Chrétien, who has regressed to his pre-referendum state of denial, anyone at all seemed better than none to segments of Quebec’s English community.Galganov’s initial success in galvanizing Montreal’s business leaders into giving deserved recognition to their English customers quickly soured, all by his own hand.Shooting from the hip speeches from under a 10-gallon hat smacked more of buffoonery and bombast than leadership.His latest foray into New York, ignored by Wall St.and the paparazzi might have been less embarrassing had crony William Johnson, long waiting for a Messiah, not declared it a thundering success.Olé, the ham lobby in full chorus! One is left to assume that had Donald Trump introduced the speaker with journalists dangling from the window sills, the whole spectacle would have been a total flop.Stung by accusations that they had neglected the ‘we’re not going to take it anymore’ lobby in favor of what Johnson dubbed the lamb lobby, Quebec media over reacted and ended up reporting on their own reporting.Winston Churchill had it right with “never criticize your own country abroad and never stop criticizing it at home!” Yet another troubling aspect of Galganov’s myopia is the danger of his sweeping denunciations alienating the French federalist vote, vital to the survival and harmony of the country.Already many Canadians outside Quebec harbor wildly exaggerated views on the supposed oppression against which, they have decided, we English must continually struggle.Too often I have been advised from Ontario to B.C.on just how abused I am in my own province.These experts remain totally impervious to the facts, to which after all, I bear witness.Galganov plays to this gallery, heaping distortion upon distortion.In such an artificially created climate even our just complaints lose credibility at home.All leading me to believe that there’s a lot to be said for a vacuum in leadership.IVY WEIR Worth repeating “It picked my car up and put it on No.6 green of the Highland Links golf course.The water was up to my knees when I decided to get out.The car was going under.” — Linette Hudson, on her way to work at Cape Breton’s Keltic Lodge resort when her car stalled in metre-deep floodwaters caused by Hurricane Hortense.Letters to the Editor \%WM COHOWEPM CP N0T65H& OVMKSSKEOHEi asm mmmi Army’s problem bigger than bad eggs Dear Editor, Joanne Flanagan misunderstands Daron Westman’s argument in favor of disbanding the army.There is nothing in his argument that maligns ordinary soldiers; instead, he is trying to shift the focus away from personalities entirely.To use Flanagan’s terminology, Mr.Westman did not suggest that the army should be disbanded because it has the misfortune to contain, as if by accident, a few bad eggs; he suggested that it should be disbanded because it is the very organizational culture within the armed forces that makes the eggs bad, and that the only way to save the eggs is to do away with this culture.Flanagan’s analogy, that this is like saying the education system should be dissolved because of the presence of a few pedophiles, is also mistaken.Westman’s line of reasoning would only suggest that we should abolish the educational system if it itself were responsible for producing pedophiles - and no one is suggesting that.The army’s problem is bigger than a few bad eggs.Since Westman’s editorial, even more points have come out: that Canadian soldiers in Somalia forged the signatures of four Somalis on documents alleging that two civilians our soldiers shot were thieves, that the commander in Somalia made racist remarks and offered a case of champagne to the first Canadian to shoot a Somali, and that the top brass are going to court martial Corporal Michel Prunelle, just because he followed orders and brought evidence to the Somalia inquiry.Flanagan’s bad eggs don’t just fall from heaven; she must explain why there are so many in the Canadian army, and not just in the Airborne Regiment.Her argument also fails to explain why so much of the rot in the army is at the top, or the institutional factors that must be involved in all the coverups.Her final quote, “He who wants peace should prepare for war” goes to the heart of the whole problem.Preparing for war only brings you war; peace only comes if you work for it.Finally, please permit me to correct Flanagan’s Latin, the words of Vegetius that she was trying to quote are “Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum,” not “Qui voulit pacem prepare bellum.” “Voulit” and “prepare” are not Latin words.JASON KING Montreal Looking for Smillies in Canada Dear Editor, I have become interested in my family history and wish to explore further the Canadian connection.My grandfather, James Malcolm Smillie, was born on 2nd June 1862 and the birth was registered at County Chambers Court House, Richmond Province, Quebec, Canada.His parents were Nelson Wales Smillie and Rebecca (nee Mountain).James left Canada in 1896 with three daughters and settled in Lismore, Australia.Relations now residing in Sydney wish to hear from any person who may be a descendent of the Smillie or Mountain family.I am also interested to locate any information of Nelson and Rebecca.Nelson must have died in late 1928 as I have some correspondence from the Public Notary regarding a legacy from his estate.Power of Attorney was given to another family member.No further correspondence was ever received.I thank you for assisting in my endeavor to locate Canadian relatives.My contact address is K.J.Smillie, 34A Campbell Avenue, Normanhurst, NSW Australia, 2076.KENNETH JAMES SMILLIE NSW Australia Nature of economy is bad Dear Editor, There are those who believe that our major problem is the state of the economy.That is simple and obvious.But the really bad news is that it is the nature of our economy which is the real problem.Not so obvious and much more complex.In the long term, an economy based on growth only makes sense if someone was creating more land, water and air.Yours truly, JASON KRPAN The RECORD -Wednesday, September 18, 1996 -7 Townships Eddington heads for the high ground again The Indians would not go there.For them it was a sacred place, home of gods and haunt of spirits, where mere mortals would be unworthy and unwelcome trespassers.White fold, having less respect for that sort of thing, or perhaps coming earlier to learn that the taboos of a previous generation don’t have quite the bite they’re alleged to (how many people do you know with hairy palms?), have been tramping merrily over the ground for hundreds of years.It might be wise, however, for anyone who goes there to spend a quiet moment in acknowledgement of the spirits of the mountain, or any other spirits for that matter.In fact, for those listening to a really different drummer, it is one of a dozen or so places on the planet through which messages from extraterres-tials may be received, if you’re on the right wavelength, so to speak.For veteran hikers, it is a place for all seasons.This might have been a personal Grand Slam year for visiting the Mount Washington area, communing with the spirits there in each of the four seasons, were it not for the poor weather starting back in May.The first venture had been in February, the idea of someone young enough to consider winter camping no more inconvenient than waiting for a school bus in November.The high ground is rarified territory in cold weather, distant and inaccessible, kind of quiet and noble between storms.Trails had been packed up into the skiable terrain, though, and hikers could avail themselves of the benefits of the work of others.With perfect conditions we could operate in T-shirts, while the sun was up.“It is one of a dozen or so places on the planet through which messages from extraterrestials may be received” When the main peaks to the west began cutting down the light, we ate a hearty hot The Country Squire By Brian Eddington meal and retired to the tent.to discover, once things were arranged and comfortable and the heater secured where it wouldn’t get kicked over, that it was only 5:30 p.m.But it really is true, what they say about mountain air making you sleepy.Good thing.A ski trip was planned for the second weekend in May, but rain and fog with no sign of early relief made the decision to cancel a quick and easy one.To paraphrase and old Hollywood star, “I’ve skied in the rain, and I’ve skied in the sun.The sun is better.” Looking back, it might be just as well the trip didn’t happen; given that the skills of the others were quite supe- rior to my own, I might have been regulated to the role of native bearer.A larger group headed down near mid-July, psyched up to meet the elements head on, whatever face they would present.And the elements, one of them anyway, responded with an impressive display.In deference to a bad for-cast, among other considerations, the choice was a drive-in campsite, a opposed to a soggy slog up to the shelters with full (and most likely very wet) packs.“Vve skied in the rain, and Tve skied in the sun.The sun is better.” Space was abundant in the campground, with wholesale cancellations and a host of no-shows.We picked two adjoining sites on the south bank of the Saco River, itself a modest stream at that point, only ten or twelve miles from the pond-sized lake that is its headwaters and namesake.A warm-up hike planned for the afternoon was canned by a unanimous show of hands, and we spent all of the remaining daylight hours watching the water level rise more than two feet in a determined downpour.A few questioned the wisdom of pitching our tents in such an exposed spot, but the river was still well within its channel when the rain let up.Some say the spirits helped, as the elements redeemed themselves the next day, providing a fresh and sunny opening among lingering clouds.We make it to the 5,000 foot level and beheld the prospects about us, the views that, no matter how often you experience them, never grow smaller.In fact, for anyone approaching the back side of the mountain of life, the summit seems to get farther away and more elusive than ever.Which makes a person wonder.Maybe the Indians were right after all.3 day's Lit ft.Friday7 is the last day.(Skpt.20) to 1996 stock at reduced prices Ttoco to tf-eux c&ctttce to y-et a cotte-cton,o ctetft *76e Co tto lotup&i (OeietCf- ttumufactu'ted ^STO^ Serving the community for over 78 years and still growing! 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