The Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-04-13, Page 1PUBLISHED IN
LUCKNOW, ONTARIO
Wednesday,
April 13, 1994
550
G.S T Included
Phase II of arena is a go!
by Pat Livingston
Phase II of the Lucknow and
District Arena construction received
the go-ahead, when representatives
of the four surrounding
municipalities and local service
,clubs met last Wednesday. Phase II,
as 'proposed at an earlier meeting,
includes construction of a new ice
surface, seating, storage capacity for
ice maintenance equipment and a
new exterior shell enclosing • the
above.
It was revealed at the previous
meeting that the arena was in
desperate need of costly repairs
amounting to $203,000.
A total of $640,000 has been
committed towards the project,
which is estimated to be in the
$800,000 range. Construction would
be slated for the spring of 1995.
The municipalities of Lucknow
and Ashfield. previously committed
$100,000 each to the project.. At
last . week's meeting, Kinloss
Township representatives pledged a
maximum of , $100,000 and those
from West Wawanosh Township
pledged $25,000 each year for four
years, to a maximum of $100,000.
Representatives from the' Luck -
now and•District Kinsmen pledged
$100,000 over two years; the Luck -
now and District Lions $120,000;
the Lucknow Craft Festival $10,000
now, with the stipulation that more
may be accessible when and if
funds become available; and. the
Lucknow Legion $10,000 minimum
,within the next year. The Craft
Festival spokesman also indicated
that his, gropp would be willing to
provide workforce to any other
groups pursuing fund-raising.
Phase I, which included larger
dressing rooms, an'upstairs floor, a
fitness area, squash court and a
larger, more centralized, concession
stand was completedin the summer
of 1988. At that time the cost was
around $570,000, with each,
municipality contributing $35,000
each, a one-third government grant
and the balance from donations and
various methods of fund-raising.
• Grant potential
John Curie, of the Ministry of
GST forum draws small , group
Municipal Affairs, made a presen-
tation on jobsOntario, a $300 mil-
lion three-year program, aimed at
community .action. Currie pointed
out that a project such as Phase II
may be eligible for a grant.
However, there are strict principles
to be met..
Committee
A nine member committee was.
formed at the meeting' and will
comprise one representative from
each municipality and service club,
along with one clerk.
Linda Andrew, will act as clerk.
Sitting on the committee are Paul
Frayne (Ashfield), Erlma Haldenby•
(Kinloss), Rick Foster (West
Wawanosh) and Lynn Peck (Luc -
1 now); Barry Johnston (Lions), Jim
Murray (Kinsmen)_ Mark Becker
(Legion), and Murray Irvin (Craft
Festival). The service club reps are
subject to change, but are to be in
place for the first ' committee
• meeting this week, when they will
begin to take action on' making
application to jobsOntario, to deter-
mine if Phase 1I can access funds
under the program.
by Pat Livingston •
Constituents in the Huron -Bruce
federal riding were, not beating a
path to the public forum on the
Goods and Services Tax (GST), in
Lucknow last week. It could have
been the short . notice to
constituents, or the belie that what
they have, to say doesn't t matter
anyway, that produced the small
numbers.
Hosted by Paul- Steckle, MP, the
day waspromoted' as an opportunity
for ,.organizations, businesses and
individuals to air their views on the
replacement for the GST. The Stan-
ding Committee of Finance is cur-
rently reviewing several alter
natives. -
According .to Steckle, around six
presentations were received from
organizations and businesses. When
it came to the afternoon public
debate session, only three people
attended.
A- formal presentation- was made
by the Huron Real Estate. Board,
represented by Robert Stoddart,
president, and John Alexander,
chairman of the board's Political
'Action Committee. The' board con-
sists of 122 realtors.. ,
Calling the GST "horrendous",
Stoddart referred to the . board's
• position that theGST had ac-
complished two things: revenue for
the government and frustration for
smallbusiness and realtors.
The board, concedes that the
government needs revenue to.attack
the federal debt and carry on exis-
ting programs. However, many in
the industry believe those GST
dollars are not being applied
towards paying down the debt and
that the implementation cost has
been far too heavy.
Steckle agreed that the GST has I
been an "administrative nightmare",
saying, "We have a huge problem;
it (GST) has to be a simple tax. We
want a broad base of consultation
before any changes are made to the
GST."
'The board made six recommen-
dations:
- simplify the bookwork;
;- all sectors of•housing (residential
and rental) and its services exempt.
from GST;
- if the tax is necessary, keep it
visible;
universal harmonization of PST/
with GST, with all provinces widely -
consulted and both taxes lowered;
- payroll taxes, 'not a viable alter-
native as businesses are . already
see Must, page 6
G.T. Montgomery dies at 78
Gordon Taylor Montgomery, • a
retired Lucknow businessman, well-
known for his dedication to the
community, died at the Wingham
and District Hospital, on Apr. 8,
1994. He was 78 years old: '
Mr. Montgomery was a World
War II veteran, having served with
the Royal Canadian Navy as a petty
officer. Following the end of the
war, he worked on the docks in
Goderich, was a member of the
Westminster Hospital staff in Lon-
don, and tried his hand in the
employ of a hardware store in
Goderich. He also helped with the
operation of the family-owned
general stores in Dungannon and
Safford.
In 1948 the history of
Montgomery Motors Ford dealer-
ship began when he purchased the
business from Garf Austrandon. In'�
those years, Montgomerys sold cars,
trucks and tractors. The car and
truck dealership was located on.
Campbell Street (now Knechtels)
and the tractor shop was located on.
Inglis Street, just behind Bain's
Gordon T. Montgomery
Groceteria. The tractor division was
subsequently sold to Stuart Reavie
in 1974.
In 1951, Mr. Montgomery es-
tablished G.T. Montgomery Ltd.
School and Chartered Buses.
Thelma Bigney, now general
manager of the bus division,
worked with Mr. Montgomery from
1975. "He was a good man," says
Mrs. Bigney. "1' had never worked
in the bussing industry, and Gordon
gave me a Chance, when I needed
an opportunity, to extend myself.
That chance led me into a . career
with Montgomerys that has proved
to be very challenging."
In 1971,.G.T. Montgomery Ltd.
became a business` separate from
Montgomery , Motors. Mr.
Montgomery took a less active part
in the business around 1976. His
eldest son, James, took over the
day-to-day management.
In 1981 Montgomery Ford was
established in Kincardine, under the
management of James. Mr.
Montgomery's younger son, Ian,
took over management of the Luck -
now business.
In February of 1986, the car
dealership was moved to new head-
quarters on Campbell Street, just
west of its original location.
After James' death ` in 1993, all
three businesses fell under the
direction of Ian, with Mr.
Montgomery still taking an interest.
•see Served, page 2
Three area men charged
with robbery, beating
Three Lucknow men were ar-
rested on the weekend by Win-
gham Ontario Provincial Police,
'and detained in Walkerton jail.
They are charged with robbery
• with violence, disguise with
intent, use of a firearm and
conspiracy.
The three appeared for a bail
hearing in Goderich .Court on
Monday. .
Michael Campbell, R.R. 2,
Lucknow, 23, was denied bail.
and remanded in- custody until
Apr. 20. Michael Beldman, 21
and William Bruce Sanderson,
22, had their hearings adjourned
until Apr.(.18 so they could ob-.
tain legal counsel.
The charges stem from a Jan.
21 robbery in Wingham at the
Bob Kats Gas Bar on• Hwy. 4,
when owner- Robert Crumb, 21,
received a brutal beating.
Around $700 in cash was stolen.
Three men 'entered the store
wearirig balaclavas and snow-
mobile suits. ..
The Lucknow Legion Ladies Auxiliary kicked off their Seth
birthday celebrations last week when other Zone C-1
auxiliaries gathered for a birthday party. Sharon Scruton,
Zone Commander, and a member of Goderlct'Branch 109
ataciliary performed a humorous monologue on "auxiliary
bum -out." (Marg Burkhart photo)