HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-04-13, Page 1_ 5A&_c°opy_35c
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Jan h o ree A 83
Published in Lucknow, Ontario, Wednesday, April 13, 1983
Royal Bank closes July 8
The Lucknow Branch of the Royal Bank
will close July 8. The staff was notified
Friday, April 8 that their positions with the
branch will be terminated on that date and
efforts will be made to find positions for
them with other branches of the Bank.
Lucknow manager Michael Sheppard told
The Sentinel Monday, the Lucknow branch
has not been a profitable operation and that
the decision to close the branch was made
with difficulty.
Sheppard said all possible alternatives
were explored but they were all essentially
fruitless. Considerations included ways to
continue operation of the branch that would
produce results but projections for the future
did not indicate the branch would become
profitable.
The Royal Bank as a national corporation
owned by its shareholders has to consider
the profitability of a unit, commented
Sheppard. The decision to close the branch
in Lucknow was made with the same study
and consideration as the decision to open it
nine years ago, he observed. "The Bank will
not close a profitable unit nor will it close a
unit if the long term projection is that it can
become profitable," Sheppard added. The
projection for the future of the Lucknow
branch did not meet this criteria.
Sheppard said he realizes customers at the
Lucknow branch will not appreciate the
inconvenience of moving to the Riple,
branch or the Goderich branch and ever
attempt will be made to provide service foi
customers.
In closing the Lucknow branch the Roya
Bank must reflect on the decision to open
branch nine years ago. The knowledge of
established branches indicated that because
of the geographical spread of the Bank's
customers in the area, locating in Lucknow
was wise. Perhaps, said Sheppard, market
fragmentation resulted because the Royal
Turn to page 2•
Business reacts to Royal bank closure
Reaction among the business community
in Lucknow to the closure of the Royal Bank
branch here in July has been one of shock. It
was the only topic of conversation discussed
last weekend at the Lions Club's first annual
Home and Garden Show.
C, A. Becker of Becker Farm Equipment
Ltd. is a Royal Bank customer. Becker says
he is uncertain what he will do when the
bank branch closes here, but expects he will
remain a Royal Bank customer and will do
his banking in Goderich.
Becker said he doesn't expect it will cost
him to bank out of town. It is the Bank's
decision to close this branch and if they want
his business they will have to negotiate
better interest rates or reduced service costs
to offset his additional costs and the incon-
venience of banking out of town.
Becker said he believes there is a
necessity for another Bank in Lucknow. He
commented there are four farm equipment
dealerships in the village, "and nobody has
starved yet".
"We'll all go hungry once in awhile."
Becker said the community also has a
Targe manufacturing concern, Helm Welding
Ltd. and three fuel oil services which in
addition to the farm equipment dealerships
Turn to page 210
OPP prole higher in Lucknow area recently
The Ontario Provincial Police have carried
a higher profile in the village of Lucknow
and surrounding townships in recent months
for three reasons.
The manpower of the detachment has
increased over the years from three
constables and a corporal in 1965 to a
corporal, a sargeant and 13 constables in
1983. Kincardine now has a radar unit
assigned to the detachment full time and just
recently, it received a roadside testing
device to determine a drivers' blood alcohol
level.
According to Constable Andrew Burgess
of the Kincardine detachment, a standard
has been accepted by people living in rural
areas that it is permissable to drive while
under the influence of alcohol. Rural
residents do not have the option of public
transit and they believe it is okay to drink
and drive because "it is the only way to get
home".
Constable Burgess points out however,
the number of one vehicle accidents in the
Kincardine detachment area, related to
drinking drivers, proves drinking and
driving is unacceptable.
A study, Statistics on Major Causes of
Victor and Valetta Emerson were guests of honour at an open house held at the Whitechurch
Memorial Community Hall Sunday afternoon when relatives, friends and neighbours called
to wish them Happy Birthday. Victor will be 90 years on April 13 and Valetta was 85 years on
April 6. Approximately 280 people attended the event, testifying to the esteem held for the
couple In the community. [ Sentinel Staff Photo{
Death (Canada, Ontario and Huron County)
prepared by the Huron County Health Unit,
shows accidents as the the third major cause
of death in Huron County after heart disease
and cancer.
The study reports that in Canada 65 per
cent of highway injuries are caused by
alcohol related incidents and in Huron
County one in three homes is affected by
alcoholism.
i'urn to page 2•
Participates in
Honduran program
Carroll M. McKim RN of Lucknow
recently returned from a short term mission
to La Ceiba, Honduras, Central America
sponsored by the Medical Group Missions
program of the Christian Medical Society.
Carroll was part of a team of physicians,
surgeons, dentists, nurses, para -medical,
and general support personnel who con-
ducted a general medical, surgical and
dental program.
Each day a team worked at the Red Cross
headquarters. Two teams were assigned to
outlying villages for each of the two weeks.
Many travelled by train, bus, and missionary
flights. A team worked in a village during
the day and returned to La Ceiba at night. A
total of 12,748 patients were seen and 281
surgical procedures were performed. Morc
than 2,249 dental patients were treated and
1,275 pairs of used 'eyeglasses were
distributed.
The clinics are set up in church buildings
or schools with the cooperation of local
evangelical churches and local coordinators.
Participants in this project paid all their
own expenses and contributed medical
supplies to help supplement those purchas-
ed by the Medical Group Missions program.
About ten projects are conducted throughout
the year, most of them taking place in the
Dominican Republic and Honduras, with
occasional missions to other countries.
The Christian Medical Society, with head-
quarters in Richardson, Texas, is an
association of Christian physicians and
dentists who seek to witness their Christian
faith in and through the medical and dental
professions. Participation is open to any
interested person.
20 Pages
Grace Farrish celebrated her 90th birthday
at an open house attended by reladves,
friends and neighbours held at the home of
her daughter and son-in-law, Anna Mae and
Lloyd MacDougall in Lucknow on Saturday
afternoon. Formerly of Luclmow, Mrs.
Farrish has a family of one daughter, three
sons and several grandchildren and great
grandchildren. [Sentinel Staff Photr
Celebrates 90th
birthday in April
Open house was held at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Lloyd MacDougall, Lucknow, in
honour of Mrs. Grace Farrish's 90th
birthday on Saturday, April 9 from 2 - 5 p.m.
Many friends, neighbours and relatives
called to honour her on this special occasion.
Mrs. Farrish is the former Grace John-
ston, born to William A. and Margaret
Johnston on highway 21 north of Kintail. In
1917 she married Wilfred (Pete) Farrish of
concession 10 Ashfield, where they farmed
until moving to Lucknow in 1962. Mr.
Farrish passed away in 1968.
Mrs. Farrish has one daughter and three
sons, Anna Mae, Mrs. Lloyd MacDougall,
Lucknow; Bob and Grant of Ashfield
Township and Alex (Bud) Lucknow (deceas-
ed 1980) and several grandchildren and
great grandchildren. She also has a brother,
Bill of Ashfield Township and a sister, Jessie
of Pinecrest Manor.
Mrs. Farrish is presently residing at the
Cozy Cottage, R. R. # 5, Lucknow.
95th birthday
William F. MacDonald of Lucknow cele-
brated his 95th birthday on March 17. Bill
and his wife, May spend the winter month'
with their daughter, Margaret in Sarnia and
they continue to enjoy good health.
Bill was especially pleased with the mangy
birthday messages received from his reia
tives and friends in Lucknow and area.
A special plaque from Premier William
Davis was presented to him by Murray
Elston, M.P.P. Congratulatory messages
were received by Erik Neilsen, leader of
the opposition; Murray Cardiff M.P., and
the hosts of the CBC program, "Fresh Air".
All messages were greatly appreciated.
The MacDonald farmed for many years
on the fourth of Huron Township and have
lived for several years in Lucknow.
May MacDonald will be 88 this month.
She is a sister of Douglas Graham of
Lucknow and Archie of London, both of
whom are in their eighties. Sister Bessie
(Sangster) of Toronto will he 92 this year.