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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-12-31, Page 44 . rage 4 Lucknow .Sentinel, Wednesday, December 81, 19 P.O. Established 1 ox 400, Lucknow NOG 2H0 (S 73 • 03, BLUE RIBBON AWARD V4 ClIF ICU CI RCU LATIQra PASO Thomas Thompson -Advertising Manager Subscription rates in advance: Alan Rivett -Editor $17.0° Outsiae Canada $6O.O" Pat Livingston -General Manager s14.-- 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. Thanks for your support With the coming of the New Year, the Sentinel would like to say thank people who helped make the paper successful in 1986. A big thank -you is owed to the readers who either take the paper in their mail box or put down 40 cents every, week to catch up on all the local news. It's always nice to get feedback on the articles and pictures which appear in the paper too, even if it is critical in nature. Editors tend to have thick skin! • Remember - the Sentinel always Welcomes yourletters to•the,editor. - It's your forum to put across a point of view on an issue, or just to publicly thank an organization or' a 'person for a job well done. Whatever the reason, it's here for you. But, please sign them. Thanks also to the many advertisers in the area who get their adver- tising message across with the Sentinel. We're always happy to have your business. • One of the most. importantlinks in a community newspaper • is the rural corrspondents. And, here at the Sentinel, we're fortunate to have some top-notch correspondents who report the "people news" of their area each week. It's people like these who help to keep the area's small communities alive and vibrant. We thank you very much for your contributions over this past year! Last, but not least, we would like to thank thearea service organiza- tions, church groups, the municipal councils and the area schools for your continued co-operation and support of the, paper Over the year. - It's much appreciated. To all the readers; may 1987 be the most prosperous and best year yet. Happy New Years from the Lucknow Sentinel! r Write a letter to the Editor • :e Predictions The Enquirer can do it so why can't 1? What Dna referring to is a series of pree'ctions and speculations for 1987. Usually, the psychic with the En- quirer will predict happenings like: "Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins will. get 'vorced this year". And she's always right. Anyways, I'll leave the predictions oft marriages and •''vorces to the "Scandal Sheets" and focus on' some of the more important predic- tions. So, here we go! Super Bowl. Every NFL football fan from Lucknow• to Anytown, USA has pro- bably jumped on the New York Giants' band wagon, but I'm going to say the Chicago Bears will beat the Giants in the NEC final and go on to defeat, say, the New England Patriots in a repeat of the 1985 Super Bowl. As Jimmy the °Greek says: "The Bears will win!" • Stanley Cup . Now, more than any other NHL season, there is a number of teams who rate consideration as legitimate con- tenders for the cup., I'm going to say the Philadelphia Flyers will knock off the Edmonton Oilers in the. seventh game of the. 1987 Stanley Cup finals. It's just a hunch! As for the Toronto Maple Leafs, I've really done some psychic searching in- , to the 'ol crystal ball and came up 'with amazing information for 1987. The Leafs will go into a mid-season 0 for 1987 ALAN slump, which will prompt Leaf owner Harold Ballard to dump coach John Brophy. The replacement (I can't see his name) will have even worse luck as the Leafs continue their slide into hockey oblivion. Just when things look bleak for the Leath, Happy Harold, in one of his biggest publicity stunts ever, will hire Michael Jackson to coach them back to hockey respectability for the remainder of the season.' It could happen! In local sports, the Lucknow Lancers will continue their winning ways for the remainder of the season , and the playoffs will see them .win the In- termediate title. Now that I went out on a limb, don't prove me wrong; guys! As for a sewer system for the entire village this year, I would have to say the chances of construction starting this year look rather good. After 10 years of waiting for the system to materialize, this could be the year the local council delivers the goods. - That's all my predictions for this year. To everyone - have a Happy New Year! `.Little Shepherds" By Alan .Rivett In 1986, The Sentinel lost one of its most valuable, and well-read .columns, Red - trees, after the death of syndicated writer . and broadcaster Don Campbell of Kincar- dine at the age of 66. The last column of Redtrees appeared in the Sentinel on August 27. Although this particular column has ran in the paper before,, we'llrun it once more in its regular space as a fitting end to 1986, What is one lifespan as compared to the age of this old earth? Just a raindrop in the barrel of time! In only a fleeting moment we are born to engage in the battle of sur- vival, knowing all too soon, we shall slip quietly and unnoticed into oblivion. Beyond the close circle of family and friends, few of us are privileged to leave even the faintest mark upon the pages of history, Inevitably, all things must come to an end and today, you and I will say goodbye to Redtrees. "Where is Redtrees? "Although I have been asked this question a thousand times, I have evaded the answer until now. 1 knew many of my readers would be disappointed to learn the Canadian Scottish settlement was merely a figment of my imagination. At least, that was what it started out to be. But I am a sentimental dreamer and have allowed my fantasies to run wild.' I can even smell the smoke rising from the log cabins. To me, Redtrees rep .resents every community carved from a- harsh wilderness by: the•,pioneers, "Why was it called Redtrees?" THe Rev, Duncan MacLeod saw a • message from heaven written into the crimson beauty of the maple trees, "We should look no mare frae .a name," he shouted trium- phantly as he pointed to the flaming tree tops. "Can ye no see it written by the hand of the Almighty Gpd?This place is Redtrees." - Human nature has changed little over the last hundred years and many people im .my own community resemble/ their counterparts in Redtrees, 1 see a little of Doctor Cameron in every medical practi- •tioner who places his calling above material gain and I regret his personal sacrifice is not fully appreciated by those he so diligently serves. It was ever thus, . When 1 see the pirates of religion making their weekly tear -jerking plea for funds on television to a gullible public. I am thankful the majority of minister shun bla- tant hypocracy. The 'Reverend Duncan MacLeod, without elaborate sets, actors, and lavish auditoriums with the angelic choirs and musicians, managed to put his message across when he said: "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." Thankfully, the strong, silent men of our community (such as Hamish Murdoch and Allan Livingstone) still remind us that "if a country is worth living in, it's worth fighting for". They belong to a fast disap- pearing breed which once ensured our future and gave us reason to be proud and patriotic. They might ask us what we have done. to deserve the right to live in such .a bountiful land. Who will defend, freedom and democracy when all the real. Cana- dians have disappeared from the scene? When things look gloomy there is nothing we can do except laugh, and we are grateful to all the Chippy Chisholm of this world. We listen to their outlandish tales over and , over again. Just look around, 1 am sure you will see old Chippy wherever men gather to escape from their women who presumably dominate their • lives. The real backbone of Redtrees was its womenfolk. Behind the scenes, they stood by their men through all adversities, hiding their fears of the unknown in a strange and hostile bush, If any good has Merged from these modern times, it is surely we now recognize theyare equal (if not superior) to men. I have left the main character until last. dell MacCrimmon is the one who is closest to my heart. Until he emigrated to Canada, SPECIAL No r 1 he lived in a croft on the Isle of Skye 'with -his father, and scratched a living as a sheep farmer, When he had the opportuni- ty to escape from his poverty-stricken en- vironment, he was reluctant to leave his father, Normally, Neil was not given • to signs of emotion, but as he was walking away from the croft with MacLeod, he saw is father's face in the window. "Wait another minute Reverend. 1 hae tae run back an' say goodbye tae mi father just one. more time?" "If it is forever,MacCrimmon," MacLeod said. "How •any times can you say goodbye?" So as 1 go, let me imagine the pipes of • MacCrimmon playing a lament for the passing of Redtrees. Perhaps you veil allow me to visualize all my readers as friends and hope my writings in some way added a little happiness their lives. The motto of the Campbell's is "Ne Obliviscaris" (Forget not). I hope Redtrees and I will be remembered. 0 •