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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-06-11, Page 4Page 4--Lull®ow Sentinel, Wednesday, June 11, 1986 N.O. Box 400, Lucknow NOG 2H0 Established 1873 Thomas Thompson Alan Rivett Pat Livingston Joan Helm Merle Elliott 528-2822 -Advertising Manager Subscription rates in advance: -Editor 51700 Outside Canada S60 0° -General Manager 94 00 Outside Canada $58.00 Senior Citizen -Compositor -Typesetter 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. Meaningful pension reform planned by government With last year's flap concerning the de -indexing of pensions by the federal government behind them, they have finally set the wheels in motion for some meaningful reform for the Canada Pension Plan. Last week, Health Minister Jake Epp announced a sweeping change in government policy on pensions, which would allow those age 60 to 70 to draw government pensions. The new pension plan is expected to be passed into legislation this January. The legislation will allow much more flexibility in the pension system, with those 60 years -of -age able to collect 70 per cent of the full pension which under the current system is only available at 65. In a Toronto Star report, 400,000 Canadians would benefit from this new legislation and approximately 175,000 would take early retirement in the first year under this new legislation. People who have chosen to work past 65 will also benefit by the pension reform. A per- son retiring at 70 would receive 130 per cent of the full benefits. In Ontario, private pensions are also going through a re -vamping process. Legislation to be introduced soon into the Ontario Legislature would allow workers' pensions to be "locked in" after two years instead of 10 years -in the emloyer's pension plan. The pen- sion could also be transferred when changing jobs, says a report in the Toronto Star. Since the Canada Pension Plan has not been reformed since it was introduced in 1966, it was time the age was lowered in order to be of use to the majority of Canadians. With the Canadian society currently reflecting a trend where more people are at the upper end of the age scale rather than at the bottom end, a reform in the pension system was certainly due. I've got the cure Me, like the majority of working peo- ple, just about this time of year come down with a severely contagious and in- fectious epidemic called the Summer- time Blues. It's caused by looking out of your window, seeing the beautiful weather and sighing: "Gotta go to work." About a week from now, I'm going to be rid of this dreaded disease by taking a week's dose of HOLIDAYS! However, the hardest thing about holidays is knowing what to do with them. I've had numerous suggestions on how to spend this precious week. One suggestion I've looked into is a Libyan excursion. Everyone assures me the Li- byan are tickled pink to see Americans in their country, so I- thought I'd go as an American tourist, carry American money, wear clothing with "made in the USA" tags and have "I'm proud to be an. American" decals on my lug- gage. I might even say hello to Moham- mar while I'm over there. Another suggestion I'm seriously con- sidering is an invitation from the Soviet Union to embark on a sight-seeing tour through their nuclear power plants. Don't be surprised if I glow in the dark when I return. Also on my list of possible vacations is an expedition into the darkest regions of the Amazon jungle to hunt the elusive wild blue -spotted mongoose. It would be one of those Rambo Survival Safari's ALAN where you get three strips of beef, water for the week while stalking the deadly prey. Being not much of a mongoose hunter, I disregarded the whole idea. However, instead of packing for one of these adventure -packed (and rather silly) vacations, I've decided to take one of those quiet, rather boring respites. Next week, I'll ' be found at Point Farms park doing such strenuous ac- tivities as reading, eating, embibing and, if the water isn't freezing, indulg- ing in a brief, yet refreshing dip in the lake. Sounds like the perfect cure for the Summertime Blues, eh! Footnote To all those Lucknow Lions Club members, here's hoping you have a good time at the upcoming Ladies Night. Your good editor represents one- fifth of the entertainment for the night. Just look for the guy sitting behind those black things with skins on them at the back of the hall. See ya there ! *44.43 • nyr„ ,..a....•¢9• AA v ts Visions from inside By Alan Rivett Many times, Teddy Murdoch had return- ed home in a drunken state and found some excuse to beat his wife. Lucy had tolerated his cowardice until she could no longer en- dure his cruelty. When he arrived home and looked down the barrel of the pistol she was holding, he really did not believe she would carry out her threat to shoot. "Get out of my house," she said in a shaky voice. "1 need you like I need the plague!" He leered at her and took off the leather belt which held up his trousers. "I'll `no let a woman talk tae me like that," he said in a thick drunken voice. "By the time I've finished wi ye, yell be beggin' frae mercy and wishin' ye'd no had the gall tae threaten ye husband!" Ile raised his - hand and, taking a few unsteady steps towards her, swiped at he'r with the belt. Lucy side-steppedthe blow For a brief moment she hesitated to use the weapon but when she saw the mad hatred in his bloodshot eyes, she pulled the trigger. Totally inexperienced in the use of firearms, her aim was poor. The ball hit him in the stomach. Strangely, he did not fall, but grasped at the table for support. "'ie've no beaten me," he shouted in. defiance. "No woman will get the .better of Teddy Murdoch. "I'll go - .by thunder I'll go - but I'll take yon bloody sawmill wi' me!" Lucy did not have the courage to go near him even though she now bitterly regret- ted her action. She ran out of the house by the back door and with tears streaming down her face and sobbing like a child, she half stumbled . and half ran across the meadows to the tommunity,haii. For the first time in her life she felt iii a hopeless position and thankful she had Sherr, friends and neighbours to turn; to in her hour of fear and misery' The penalty ter murder in those days %Obi hanging and Lucy was quite . sure her husband would bleed to death. In the meantime, Teddy staggered towards the sawmill, determined to burn the place to the ground before he succumb- ed to his wound. Just inside the door he found an oil' lamp and lit it. The yellow glow revealed stacks of cut and uncut lumber piled neatly against the walls. By the large bandsaw was a pile of sawdust and wood chips - kindling for the largest building fire ever to be seen in the Caledon Hills. Teddy gathered up the other oil lamps and saturated the sawdust and piled lumber with the contents. He saved two lamps for ignition purposes and, whilst they were still burning, hurled them at the oil soaked lumber. Teddy did not live to see the full effect of his maniacal work. Weak through the loss of blood, he was crawling towards the door when the merciful curtain of death was drawn across his eyes. He had arranged his own cremation! When Lucy reached the community hall she found Neil MacCrimmon and told him what she had donee "I murdk=red him, Mister MacCrirn- mon," she said between sobs: "Though he was still alive when I left, I aim quite sure he is now dead." "Mush lass," MacCrirnrnon said sternly. "Tis possible he is still alive and Doctor Cameron can save him." He took her firm- ly by the shoulders and shook a little sense into her. "Whether ye killed him or no, say nothing to nobody. I will keep ye're con- fidence and when we have seen what ye've done, then we will decide how best I can protect ye. Dinna fash ye sel lass, if he's dead, tis a just reward!" MacCrimmon accompanied Lucy to the door, fully intending to go back with her to the house and quietly deal with the unfor- tunate matter. But what he saw changed his immediate plans. There was a huge red glow in the direction of the sawmill and thick clouds of smoke billowing upwards into the night sky. He went back inside the hall and called out in a loud authoritative voice which carried above the music. "Keep quiet," he shouted. "Everyman, eye and every woman who can carry a bucket, get over tae the sawmill. It's on fire - lets hurry and see what can be saved!"