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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1987-08-12, Page 4Page 4—Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 12, 1987 P.O. Box 400, Lucknow NOG 2H0 Established 1873 Thomas Thompson Rob Bunid y Pat Livingston 528-2822 BLUE RIBBON AWARD -Advertising Manager Subscription rates in advance: -Editor -General Manager 517.00 Outsiae Canada $60.00 $14.00 Outside Canada $58.00 Senior Citizen Second class mailing reg. no. 0847 Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid at the applicable rates. Beware of `plums' Now that the provincial election campaign is in full swing and can- didates are busy shaking hands and kissing babies, it's time to watch, for the election plums. Election plums are the not -so -secret weapons of the party in power used to show the voters what they get for their vote. Some of the re- cent plums include the announcement by Premier Peterson that his Par- ty will spend $297.4 million on more teachers, books and computers in our provincial education system. This plum will apparently create 4,000 new teaching positions and will give our kids a finer education starting at Grade One. Another election plum recently tossed our way was the announced approval of the long awaited sewer project for the Village of Lucknow. Do you think the fact that the announcement was made the day after the election was called was a coincidence? The sanitary sewer project for Lucknow has been in the works for many years and has taken a great deal of hard work by many local peo- ple including the Village Council. It was definitely a welcomed an- nouncement and was certainly a plum, planned and calculated. When politicians greet you with outstretched hands during an elec- tion campaign they usually have something in that hand for you. Their other hand is ready to take your vote. It's a fair exchange but one that must be viewed for what it is. No doubt there are other election plums in the wings waiting for just the right moment to be announced. It may be the approval for paving a road or additional funding to small businesses but depending on how the campaign goes, these plums may be shelved until the next election is called. No use wasting a good plum_._.,._._ Plums are all fine and well but we as voters must keep in mind that they have a specific purpose...to gain votes. If our approval for the sewer project had come last winter, it would be well forgotten come election time. Consider your choice carefully but keep in mind that election plums are just...well, plums. R.B. • Don't you just love getting letters. Most of us do. Especially ones from old friends or people we haven't heard from for a long time. Here at the Sentinel we get all kinds of mail. Most of it is from political parties or activist groups looking for a little free publicity for their cause, but every now and then we get some really interesting notes. The greatest letter I've ever received was from my granny when we were living in northern Alberta. Granny, who lives in Clinton, pens the best letters. This one in particular was actually written by so- meonelse but she took the time to clip itout and send it to me. Now I don't usually make a habit of printing the letters I get in the newspaper but this one is so good I just have to share it. Just a line to say I'm living And not among the dead; Though I'm getting more forgetful And more mixed up in my head. At times I can't remember When I'm standing on the stair; If I must go up for something Or have I just come down from there? And before the 'fridge real often, My poor mind fills with doubt. Have I just put the food away, Or have I come to take it out? Sometimes when it's dark outside, With nightcap on my head, I don't know if I'm retiring, Or getting out of bed. So if it's my turn to write to you, There's no need in getting sore; I thought I had written twice And didn't want to be a bore. Please remember that I love you And wish that you were here; Now it's nearly mailing time, So I must say "Good-bye my dear." Here I stand beside the mailbox, With my face so very red; Llstead of mailing it to you My letter I've opened instead. • By Rob Bundy This little poem, when I first received it, really made my day. As far as I know the author is unknown so we can' t give any credit even though credit is due for this lit- tle gem. If you have an old friend that you haven't seen for a while, please feel free to clip this classic poem and send it to them. I'll bet it makes their day too. One other thing this week, while I have your attention. I've noticed a great number of bumper stickers on cars these days proclaiming that "Only you, can stop drinking and driving". Since it is summer and a cold beer on a hot day seems to be the rule rather than the exception, I thought you might like to see what, they do with drunk drivers in other countries around the world. For example, if you are convicted of driving drunk in South Africa you'll receive a 10 year jail sentence and the equivalent of a $10,000 fine. In Turkey drunk drivers are taken 20 miles from town by police and forced to walk back under escort. In Finland it is an automatic one year in jail at hard labor. Drunk drivers in Russia lose their license for life while in Poland you'd be jailed, fined and forced to attend a political lecture. We should try that one here. Australia, where they'd rather drink than do anything else it seems, the names of the drivers are sent to the local newspaper and printed under the heading "He's drunk and in jail". And in El Salvador your first offense is your last...execution by firing squad. Keep that ih mind the next time 'you stagger to the car to drive home. Have a good week. P.S. Anyone who says talk is cheap hasn't seen my phone bill. C M r,; h nole6 ; Rernety, r- i s Kiss the bcibieS arIA ShaKe +he hands no+ vice verso,! 70 years ago August 16, 1917 Tax Rate is Set-Tne Village Council didn't have much to do at the meeting held last Friday evening but to fix the new tax rate and pass a few accounts. The rate was fix- ed at 30 mills, the highest rate for Lucknow ever. The rate last year was 29 mills. The increase is half on the school rate and half on the village rate. It is not difficult to understand the increase. The higher price of coal for the waterworks alone is enough to account for a half mill. Last year coal was bought at $1.35 per ton at the mine. This year the same amount will cost $4.25. Battlefield Relics on Dispaly-A number of Great War relics on exhibition in Mcln- tosh's Store window have attracted a great deal of attention this past week. There are a couple of steel helmets, shells, bayonets and other articles. They were sent of Mr. McIntosh by Pte. A. Mundoch of London who put in four months at the front and was disabled by a peice of shrapnel. 50 years ago August 12, 1937 Arena Vote to be Taken -At a special SENTINEL meeting of the Village Council on Saturday evening, the by-law to be submitted to the ratepayers of the village in ' connection with building a community hall was given the necessary readings. r The vote will be taken on August 31. Electors will be called on before the vote to examine the list for any errors or omis- sions in respect to those entitled to vote. the $7,000 issue, over twenty years at. three -and -a -half per cent would mean an annual payment of $492.53, or, on the pre- sent assessment, would represent slightly more than one mill. This would amount to approximately $1.20 on an assessment of $1,000 provided there was not one cent rais- ed towards the building this year. Planned Street Frolic -The Lucknow Arena Club is laying plans to stage a monster street carnival and -frolic in Lucknow on Thursday evening, August 26. Opening features include a calithumpian parade and a free open air concert. Bingo and other carnival booths will provide great amusement. The entire carnival frolic will be held on the main street with promise of fun for all. 25 years ago August 14,1962 Police Officer Rejected -A majority of the ratepayers in the Village of Lucknow do not favor a five mill tax levy to provide an experienced, full-time police officer for the municipality. Eighty per cent of the property owners returned the questionnaire ballots on this issue and of the 271 replies received the of- ficial count was 159 'no' and 111 `yes'. One returned ballot was left blank. Protesting the Sonic Boom -The Village Council of Lucknow has protested the breaking of the sound barrier by high fly- ing planes and has requested that this practice be discontinued in the future. It was pointed out at the August meeting that verbal complaints have been received locally of damage to commercial roofs and windows. The sonic boom which results from breaking the sound barrier shakes buildings and startles adults and children alike. It is beleived the boom is caused by the planes of the U.S. Air Force but the protest has been lodged through the Cana- dian authorities. 10 years ago. August 17, 1977 Fire Destroys Backhoe -A Saturday morn- ing fire destroyed a backhoe loader and garage on the farm of Pat O'Neill. Mr. O'Neill was repairing the machine when a spark fromthe battery cable ignited the sediment bowl below the gas tank and the machine caught fire. The Lucknow Fire Department answered the call but the machine and the building were ablaze when they arrived. When the fire was ex- tinguished the machine and the building were completely destroyed. Mr. O'Neill estimated the damages at between $4,000 and $5,000 for the backhoe alone. Peter Steer is Champion -Peter Steer, formerly of Lucknow, became the Cana- dian bare -bow champion at the Canadian Archery Championships held recently in Caledon.