The record, 8 décembre 1997, lundi 8 décembre 1997

The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 To find out what's happening in your community Sherbrooke: 569-9528 Knowtton: 242-1188 Subscribe to 60 CENTS Townships Digest Later trial stalled after accused pedophile’s lawyer asks to be removed By Rita Legault Sherbrooke The trial of Danville resident Glenn Later for molesting three young girls in 1993 has been put off while the défendent seeks a new lawyer.Later, 53, was in court Friday for the start of his trial for sexual interference with three minors in Magog in 1993.But instead defense lawyer Myriam Lachance petitioned the judge to remove herself from the case.A new date will be set for Later’s trial when he finds a new lawyer.In the meantime, Later will be back in court next week to received his sentences on similar charges.In November, Later plead guilty to three counts of gross indecency and another count of sexual assault for incidents between 1977 and 1984 involving four minors.Later’s wife Linda Myers, 51, is scheduled to face her preliminary inquiry for her part in those attacks.She faces three charges of gross indecency.Farmer’s Union picks prez Staff Sherbrooke Laurent Pellerin has been re-elected as the president of the Quebec Farmer’s Union.Pellerin, president since 1993, won by acclamation at the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) assembly held last week.A pig farmer from Trois-Rivières, Pellerin will be in his third mandate as president of the union.Christain Lacass and Gratien D’amours were elected vice-presidents.Today’s Weather Cloudy Complete weather: page 2 Inside 16 Crossword.19 Community 15 Forum .6 18 The Sports Record 17 ::.7H3 Ann Landers Births and Deaths.Classified .Comics.1897 1997 Monday, December 8, 1997 What i really want for Christmas.PERRY BEATON/CORRESPONDENT :: ¦ ¦ ; ' 111 : -i: :- : ' I ; wBBm Cody Powell was the first of many youngsters who lined up to speak to Santa Claus at the fire hall in Lennoxville on Sunday afternoon.For the story and more photos, see Lennoxville Link only in Tuesday’s edition of The Record.Students, teachers disagree on testing methods - education report By Paul Cherry Sherbrooke A survey of students and teachers within the anglophone education system in the province indicates there is a wide chasm between them when it comes to how testing is conducted.The survey, which also included parents, was part of a report written by the advisory board on English-language education - chaired by Gretta Chambers -that was submitted to Education Minister Pauline Marois last week.The report focuses on how students are evaluated during the school year.Results are based, on questionnaires dis- tributed to 2800 current students or those recently enrolled in a secondary education program, 2800 parents and 2500 teachers.Forty per cent of students responded while less than 28 per cent of teachers and parents returned the questionnaires.There are huge disparities in opinion over how students are tested and graded.All three groups were asked to answer true or false to the statement: “Evaluation is a ‘high-stakes’ experience.That is to say, students only have two or three major tests during the year to prove themselves in the course.This puts students under a great deal of pressure.” More than half the sttidertts who re- sponded answered the statement was true or somewhat true while only 24 per cent of teachers agreed with the statement.Perhaps the biggest disparity in the survey was on a question asking whether content on final exams differed from that taught in class.Close to half the students responding agreed with the statement compared to 17 per cent of educators.Only one-third of each group surveyed agreed with this statement: “End-of-year uniform ministry and school board exams provide accurate and useful information about student learning.” SEE STUDENTS, PAGE 4 page 2 Monday, December 8, 1997 ¦¦THE' I was probably beginning to look angry.More than bar codes to screwing consumers Want some free advice?Never shop alone.Electronic price tags don’t always work they way they should.Neither do people, especially when the people behind the UPCs - universal product codes or, more simply, ‘bar codes’ - are more in- loto-québec Draw 97-12-06 5 6 18 23 28 47 Bonus number: WINNERS 6/6 3 5/6+ 5 5/6 297 4/6 17 567 3/6 316 789 PRIZES $718 168,10 $ 129 270,20 $1 741,00 $ 56,40 $10 Total sales: $16 615 330,00 Next grand prize (approx ): $2 000 000,00 KE23233' Draw 97-12-06 28 31 44 Bonus number: 33 WINNERS 6/6 0 5/6+ 1 5^6 22 4/6 1 234 3/6 22 913 PRIZES $ 1 000 000,00 $ 50 000,00 $500 $50 $5 Total sales: $636 896,00 Draw 97-12-05 NUMBER PRIZES 114393 $ 100,000 14393 $ 1,000 4393 $250 393 $50 93 $10 3 $2 Eitra SATURDA NUMBER 446291 46291 6291 291 91 1 Draw 97-12-06 PRIZES $100,000 $ 1,000 $250 $ 50 $ 10 $2 Today’s Weather A i Thetpokd, '.J-'S Mines , .?\ A'Af I .RICHMOND/ \ *, UC-MégxNtht.» \ f > J Shexbrookev j V / ' .jCowANsvnxp i f I'SrxNSTBAD REGIONAL FORECASTS MAX MIN Sherbrooke Cldy Prds -2 -11 Thetford Mines Vrbl Cld -3 -13 Cowansville Cldy Prds -2 -12 Richmond Cldy Prds -3 -13 Stanstead Vrbl Cld A -14 Lac Megantic Vrbl Cld -5 -15 Outlook for the Townships for Tuesday: Sunny with cloudy periods .max -3 to -5 Environment Canada: The source of the weather I VOYACES [erwcxviue Quebec permit holder terested in fraud than in doing honest business.Last week we heard reports of widespread price gouging by storekeepers who deliberately fail to keep their computerized cash registers up to date.Signs in the aisles tell consumers that certain products are offered on special or at a discount, but the cash register translates the bar codes - the row of black stripes on the side of your can of soup - only at full price.Few people have the memory to recall the posted prices of a basketful of stuff, and thus check it against the price that appears at the cash.Fewer still have the devotion to take notes while they shop.Instead, they take the machine’s word for it - and they get the shaft.In the days before computers (BC?) this would have been a variation on the old ‘bait-and-switch’ consumer con, with the price being switched instead of the product.Today it’s just another of the many ways your friendly merchant bleeps you.Here’s a personal example.Don’t ask me why, but on Saturday morning I went Christmas Draw 97-12-05 9 21 29 32 33 43 45 Bonus number: 2 WINNERS PRIZES 7/7 0 $ 2 500 000,00 6/7+ 1 $104 155,30 6/7 32 $ 2 848,00 5/7 2 101 $154,90 4/7 45 394 $10 3/7+ 41 967 $10 3/7 377 615 free play Total sales: $ 5 589 788,00 Next grand prize (approx.): $ 4 000 000,00 Claims: Sea back of tickets, in the event of discrepancy between this list and the official winning list, the latter shall prevail.shopping at the Canadian Tire store in Hawkesbury, Ontario.We were three: my daughter, my nephew and me.I found a wrench I was looking for, but it had no price tag and neither did the shelf it was on.1 set out in search of a clerk and found three of them discussing when to take their coffee breaks.One of them pointed me toward something new - a bar _________ code reader down the centre aisle, where I could take the wrench to scan its UPC and finally read the price.None of the clerks offered to help, by the way.But much worse than that was the idea behind the new gimmick.Instead of simply spotting the price on the wrench and deciding yes or no, the customer must pick up the object in question (the wrench was on a shelf so high we had to get a ladder to reach it), carry it halfway across the store to the barcode reader, figure out how that works, and finally learn the price - $50.Now you know as well as I do what happens next.It’s a busy day, you’re going to be late for lunch, and you’ve got to buy that wrench - or something else - to give your brother-in-law for Christmas.And besides, you’re now closer to the cash than to the shelf you took it from, and if you go back to find a cheaper wrench you’ll have to start all over again, go back to the bar code reader, find out the price.So since you’re in a hurry, maybe you can’t be bothered and you take the quick and easy way out - with the more expensive wrench.Not me though, Fifty bucks is beyond my range for brothers in law.We went back to the wrench department to look for a lesser alternative.There was a slightly smaller model that probably would do.But guess what: no price tag to be seen.Sound familiar?Yup.Screw this, thought I.We’ll buy him something else.Okay, how about this wildly decorated pair of handyman’s suspenders.They’re $14.95.Yeah.We’ll get him these gardener’s knee pads too.They’re only $9.95.Okay, let’s get out of Charles Bury here while we’re still in time for lunch.Then we got to the checkout line, where everything went fine until the cashier checked the knee pads.Instead of the posted $9.95, the numbers $19.95 popped up in the little window.But we were watching.“Stop there,” I told the cashier.“Those are marked _______ $9.95, not $19.95.” The cashier was cool.She called a clerk who reported that the knee pads were on the wrong hook and were really worth $19.95.That’s nice, I said, but we will pay the lower price.The cashier called for the manager.This poor soul did just the wrong thing.Instead of coming over to talk to us, he whispered to the cashier, she whispered back, and he headed back to the knee pad section in the far corner of the store (of course).Darling daughter was our spy.She watched the clerk switch the knee pads to a hook marked $19.95.She told the manager what she’d seen.His face sagged.They came back up front.She stood beside me.I was probably beginning to look angry, which is not a pretty sight.His face sagged even more.The manager hemmed and hawed, and hemmed some more.In a whisper to the cashier, he finally conceded defeat.Then, never once speaking to us or even looking us in the eye, he lurked away looking like a coyote caught at the hen house door.Conclusion No.1: Canadian Tire is no better than the rest.It’s a violation of federal consumer law to display merchandise without a price tag attached to every product; failure to do so may be commonplace but it’s still crooked.Conclusion No.2: There must be a shortage of competent supervisors in Hawkesbury.If it were up to me I’d switch the nice cashier for the Saturday morning manager.Repeat after me: Never shop alone.Never shop alone.Never.BEN® by DANIEL SHELTON ’ UAL HI?I'M COLLECTING FUNPS FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, COULP YOU PLEASE PONATE SOME CHANGE?OH?I'M SORRY PEAR.I PONT SEEM TO HAVE AMY ON ME.HERE.,.COME BACK NEXT WEEK, THERE'LL PE MORE.m WAIT,.JUST A SECONP! GüNMNNN i SfM iV-«***i ivL Monday, December 8, 1997 page 3 Feds demonstrate web site to Brome-Missisquoi entrepreneurs How to gamer lucrative government contracts t- i WtA MAURICE CROSSFIELD Public Works and Government Services Canada representative Danielle Senneville demonstrates the government contracts web site.By Maurice Crossfield Cowansville Brome-Missisquoi entrepreneurs gathered in Cowansville Thursday night to get an inside look at how to win lucrative government contracts.About 25 people took part in the seminar at the Brome-Missisquoi regional municipality (MRC) headquarters, as Public Works and Government Services Canada representatives Danielle Gagnon and Danielle Senneville explained the ins and outs of government contracts.For many companies, government contracts can be especially profitable.Last year PWGSC handed out 80,000 contracts, worth $8 billion.From construction work to providing food for government establishments, these contracts offer deals for big and small businesses.Despite the number and size of contracts being handed out, Brome-Missisquoi benefits relatively little, getting only $900,000 worth last year.Brome-Missisquoi Member of Parliament Denis Paradis decided to organize public information meetings to turn things around.New this year is the MERX electronic tendering system, which allows the public to visit the PWGSC’s Internet web site.There they can cruise through various categories, learning what contracts are available and who is bidding on them.“This program is an initiative of MPs in response to complaints that it was difficult to have access to government contracts,” said Gagnon.“It is a way to create contacts, to gather names and addresses.” She also gave out a few tips for would-be bidders, including being environmentally friendly and able to think in global terms.To show how the new Internet system works, Senneville used a computer with an overhead projector to give a tour of the web site.Cruising through the various categories, Senneville gave tips on how to best make use of the electronic billboard, which is updated every 15 days.Searches can be carried out by contract value, department, specific service or by word.Once the entrepreneur decides to try for a specific contract, they need go no further to make a bid.All necessary forms can be filled out on the web page, and additional information can be ordered, if necessary.“It gives an opportunity to search the system,” said Senneville.“It also provides links to the Canadian and global markets.” Anyone interested in learning more about the possibilities of garnering a government contract can do so by getting on the Internet and checking out the web site at http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/cssp.Briefs Charest-Claus Staff Sherbrooke Progressive Conservative leader and Sherbrooke MP Jean Charest convinced the federal government to look into extending the time allowable for charitable donations to be eligible for the 1997 tax year.The extension would give charities the opportunity to raise money for 1997 until Jan.31,1998.In a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien the Tory leader stated “the postal strike has inconvenienced Canadians enough at this crucial time of year.The government is responsible for ensuring that the badly needed funds raised by charities are available for Canadians in need.” Chretien directed officials at the appropriate agencies to investigate the matter and make the changes suggested by Charest.With postal service operating at full strength on Friday there is only a three week window of opportunity for charities to collect the funds they expected by mail.Centraide Estrie appeal Staff Sherbrooke With the postal strike over Centraide Estrie would like to remind potential donors that the charitable organization is still trying to reach its fund raising goal of $700,000.With three days left in the fund raising campaign Centraide Estrie - which helps 63,5000 people in the region -has collected $540,000 but contributions had slowed down during the strike.Gilles Blais, president of the organization, said it’s important for those who have received their donation envelopes to mail them as soon as possible.Canadian Club Christmas The Christmas reception of The Canadian Club of the Yamaska Valley will take place on Monday, Dec.8 at 2 p.m., at Auberge West Brome, 128 Route 139, West Brome.Members of the Georgeville occasional choir, under the direction of Sarah Hoblyn, will entertain, and refreshments will be served.Everyone welcome: $5 fee for non-members.The Georgeville Occasional Choir was formed in 1980 by Sarah Hoblyn.Christmas tree capital Staff Knowlton The holiday season is quickly approaching, and for Quebec Christmas tree farmers that means anything but a vacation.According to figures released by the Association des producteurs d’arbres de Noel du Quebec, Quebec produced 1,111,000 Christmas trees in 1996, almost half of the Canadian total.Quebec’s trees sold for about $14,582,000.That’s a dramatic increase from 1985, when Quebec tree farmers harvested 615,530 of the festive fir trees.At that time Quebec producers accounted for less than a third of the total Canadian production.The Christmas tree capital of Quebec is the Eastern Townships, which is home to more than half of the province’s major tree producers.Eighty-five per cent of Quebec’s production ends up adorning New England living rooms, and most of those trees were grown in the Townships and the Beauce regions; COLORING CONTEST DEADLINE Due to the lack of mail delivery during the postal strike, the deadline for receiving entries in The Record & Zellers’ Coloring Contest has been extended to noon, December 18th.The Record will re-run one of the contest pictures on December 11th for the benefit of mail subscribers.Good luck to all participants! When you give, you give hope.Dystrophy Association of Canada AM 1425 René-Lévesque West, Suite 506, Montreal (Quebec) H3G 1T7 Tel.(514) 393*3522 4931 page 4 Monday, December 8, 1997 RECORD.IjL W?' ¦ r A They say everyone gets 15 minutes of fame, but here's a contest that will make your baby famous for a whole year.The Record is once again searching for a baby to grace the cover of the Townships \ Week edition that rings in the ‘ New Year, on Dec.31.Readers have the opportu-nity this year to help us in the ir* search by sending in a photo « of their child, grandchild, ' niece, nephew or little friend of the family * Every photo submitted will « be published in the Dec.31 Townships Week, along with ** the name of the baby, their • date of birth, the names of their parents and the town in J which they live.There is a $5 handling charge for each ' photo submitted and all pho-! tos will be returned.The Happy New Year Baby featured on the cover of Townships Week will be ran-' domly selected from entries ?received and visited at home I by photographer Perry Beaton.* While photos of any baby '¦7 up to two-years-old may be i sent in, the baby chosen for ' ¦ the cover must be able to sit I, up to achieve the kind of - « cover shot we require for Townships Week.The win- * ning baby must also live in the Eastern Townships.These will be verified after randomly selecting a winner.To enter fill out the form below and mail or bring it, .with the photo of your baby, to The Record's Sherbrooke or Knowlton offices.Deadline: Ti Tuesday, Dec.23, at 5 p.m.* * Don't forget to include a ^ return address.For more info, J* call (819) 569-6345.¦ «Baby's name: / Birthdate: à2*- Parents: * .Tel.: k Home: 2» Canadians disagree with politicians over how to protect health-care system - poll Southam News Ottawa Canadians are strongly at odds with their politicians over how to protect the country’s ailing health-care system, a new poll has found.The Southam News-COMPAS survey discovered the public rejects much of the dominant thinking among health economists, as well as the key premises that underpin the policies of the federal government and most provinces.Among the poll’s major findings: • Two-thirds of Canadians believe the only way to protect the $52-billion public health system is by giving it more money, even if that requires tax increases.This is a direct repudiation of most governments, which have slashed health-care spending, and the advice of the federal National Forum on Health.In its report earlier this year, the advisory body of health experts determined the system is adequately funded, but that the money needs to be reallocated and spent more efficiently.?Fully 66 per cent of Canadians believe that hospital closures and other “so-called efficiencies” are just “pretend solutions that only make matters worse.” This, as well, runs counter to the conventional wisdom of many health economists that hospitals are an inefficient and overly expensive element of the system, and that much of the money could be better spent in community health programs such as home care and preventive medicine.Throughout the country, provinces have embraced the notion and have either closed or announced plans to shut down dozens of hospitals.“We’ve tended to assume that father knows best, so to speak, and that the health policy wonks could find efficiency solutions,” says Conrad Winn, president of Ottawa-based COMPAS Research Inc.“A lot of the public clearly doesn’t agree with that.” But beyond this, says Winn, “the public isn’t quite certain what it wants.” For instance, the COMPAS poll found significant public volatility on two controversial options - medical user fees and a private health-care system - that most health experts and governments forcefully reject.Winn says the survey results should send a clear message to Canada’s politicians about how to treat the one government spending program that continues to maintain widespread public support.“I think that they should have a national teach-in where we speak frankly about the health care system.” Indeed, says Winn, governments should view this “discrepancy of judgment” between themselves and their citizens as a “red flag” that cries out for attention.For the last four years, the Chrétien government has been battling pressure from some provinces, particularly Alberta, and some members of the medical profession to formally allow more private health care.In recent years, Canadians or their private insurers have increasingly been paying more for private health expenses, among them physiotherapy, eye surgery and take-at-home drugs prescribed to patients discharged from hospital early.This summer, Canada’s doctors rejected a motion endorsing a private health-care system to run parallel with the publicly financed system.Under such a proposal, patients could get faster medical treatment from doctors in a private network of offices, clinics and even hospitals but they would be charged a user fee.Such fees are outlawed under the Canada Health Act.The COMPAS survey indicates the issue is not yet dead.The poll of 1,748 adult Canadians was conducted Nov.15 to Nov.25 and is considered accurate within three percentage points 19 times out of 20.COMPAS asked the following question: Do you agree that there should be more medical services provided by private suppliers alongside the public health system?Two-thirds of Canadians agreed with the statement.More specifically, 24 per cent agreed a lot and 43 per cent agreed somewhat, while 12 per cent didn’t really agree and 19 per cent didn’t agree at all.Parents aren’t willing to spend time with teachers discussing poor evaluation results - English school educators Students: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 For years the Quebec government has been criticized by educators and students for its end-of-year exams, referred to by both students and teachers as “provincials”.In areas of social sciences, like history, the uniform exams sometimes include questions that were not covered in classes or even within whole NOTICE TO if MAIL SUBSCRIBERS Thank you for your patience during the postal strike.We are extending your Record JP subscription by the number of days that you were unable to receive our paper via Canada Post.We appreciate your y * understanding.¦ M Randy Kinnear, ;?*‘4r Publisher school boards.Only 30 per cent of students agreed the education minister should increase the number of subjects the province can test on.More than 40 per cent of educators in English schools reported that parents are not willing to spend time with teachers to discuss how to deal with poor evaluation results.Only 13 per cent of parents agree with this opinion.The recommendations the board makes concerning students includes having them be included in the plan- NOTICE TO RECORD BINGO PLAYERS Our Marathon BINGO, suspended during the postal strike, will resume on December 10.Thank you for your patience.Randy Kinnear, Publisher ning of evaluations and keeping them informed of the criteria to be used in grading.The advisory board also recommended students have more opportunities to use what they learn as part of the grading process (including keeping journals), student-teacher conferences and peer evaluations.For elementary school teachers, the report recommends they be given the opportunity to “work among themselves on a school-wide assessment strategy whose criteria they can all understand and accept.” The survey also revealed: • Only seven per cent of students blame poor academic performance on their school; 48 per cent take responsibility for bad grades.• Almost two-thirds of students are satisfied with the grades they get.• Sixty-four per cent of teachers recommend that schools should set higher minimum standards.That would mean raising the current passing grade.• Half of the parents who participated in the survey indicated report cards do not have enough information about how their children are performing. Monday, December 8, 1997 page 5 CBC drops the annual telecast; Bravo! picks it up Genie Awards may be By David Migicovsky TVData Unfortunately, it’s becoming the awards telecast not many people watch, honoring films few people have seen.Nonetheless, six broadcasters provide coverage of this year’s Genie Awards.Global profiles the nominees Monday, Dec.8, on First Up.Also on Monday, TMN and Super Ecran begin offering the past seven best-picture winners to pay-TV subscribers in eastern Canada.CBC-TV joins the coverage on Wednesday, Dec.10, when Brian Line-han and Megan Follows host Directors’ Cut: The Year’s Best Canadian Films.The program features interviews with directors and stars, and clips from this year’s nominated films.The awards are scheduled to be presented Sunday, Dec.14, with the 18th Annual Genie Awards telecast airing Monday, Dec.15, on Bravo! Movie critics Cameron Bailey and Geoff Pevere are the hosts.BBS wraps up the coverage Saturday, Dec.20, with a half-hour segment on eNow.The move of the awards telecast from CBC to Bravo! was caused by poor ratings.Last year’s awards program attracted only 300,000 viewers - too few to justify prime-time coverage.This year’s nominated films are Cosmos, which tells six stories as seen through the eyes of a taxi driver; The Hanging Garden, about a young gay man who confronts the demons of his past; Karmina, the story of a young vam-pire looking for love in Montreal; Kissed, about an apprentice embalmer coming to terms with her necrophilia; and The Sweet Hereafter, in which a tragedy unites, then drives apart, the residents of a small town.Brian Linehan co-hosts Directors' Cut: The Year’s Best Canadian Films, airing Wednesday on CBC.The special is one of several programs providing coverage of the 18th annual Genie Awards.TVDATA running out of magic -SiM Internet love story JESSIE AUUS/CORRESPONDENT Albert and Julie are proof that love stories on the Internet can have happy endings.The couple had been communicating on the 'net for a few months before they actually met.After he and Julie had gone out a few times, Albert decided to pop the question.But rather than choose a quiet, romantic setting, he proposed in the middle of a talent show at Sherbrooke restaurant Le Retro last month! Julie was obviously taken aback, but after a few suspenseful moments, she said yes.“From the first time we started talking, it was clear that Albert was a nice, interesting man and I find that by meeting someone this way, you do not stop at the physical appearance," said Julie, who lives in Rouyn-Noranda.Albert agreed that people often don't go beyond physical appearances when meeting someone new.“Physical attraction sometimes stands in the way of getting to know somebody for what they are instead of what they look like," said the Sherbrooke native.The couple plan to get married next summer and live in Rouyn-Noranda.You can reach Albert and Julie at albert-julie@hotmail.com.- Jessie Aulis, Record Correspondent.Toby offers love Open *7 days • We Buy & Sell I’m Toby, an 11-month-old male poodle.I often get the chills because of my short fur and this is why I need your love and attention.I am beginning to get lonesome here in my cage and would like to find a new home.Everyone is good to me here but it is not the same as a real home and family.You and I deserve a little joy so if you are looking for a four-legged friend, don’t hesitate to come and meet me! P a r t k a t I t V Antiques Gift & Christmas Shop ?m V a v « t u m Drawing: If you adopt an animal at our shelter or buy anything at our store until Dec.23, you are eligible for a drawing.We are giving away a basket filled with treats for your dog or cat that will make them bark or purr with joy.The drawing will be held on Dec.23.Eastern Townships S.PA.1139 Queen N.Sherbrooke J1J4N5 100 Main St., North Hatley • 842*4233 page 6 Monday, December 8, 1997 COMMUNITY FORUM Science, supernatural or spectacle?cm m wcmwsM m a aw mwi&of mcwatmM MILIO^ O.my Even at the best of times, words can seem inadequate to impart feelings or ideas.Finding the perfect word can be an elusive goal, materializing as it is wont to do, too late and out of nowhere in the middle of the night.Words used imprecisely over a long period of time begin to lose their meanings altogether.‘Miracle’ is one such word that has been sullied so repeatedly that if one ever really occurs we likely won’t notice.The medical and religious worlds appear to be the least disciplined when it comes to claiming miracles where none exist.The news media in all its incarnations are quick to repeat the claims - no questions asked.The word ‘miracle’ makes for an eye catching headline or an arresting lead for the evening news.A few days later, the weeping statue or the so-called miracle cure has been forgotten, never to be heard from again.DEFINITION OF ‘MIRACLE’ Webster’s defines ‘miracle’ as “an event or action that apparently contradicts known scientific laws and is hence thought to be due to supernatural causes, especially to an act of God.” Recently we were told a ‘miracle’ occurred in a small town in Iowa with the birth of septuplets, one word that we don’t use often and thus can be immediately grasped for its clarity.The multiple births, however, had a lot more to do with science than the supernatural.Tracked by ultrasound from the outset because the mother was on fertility drugs, the presence of multiple fetuses was quickly documented.In fertility clinics, such a happening triggers an interruption of the whole process, to be resumed at a later date at the parents discretion and/or at their willingness to underwrite the substantial expense a second time.In the Iowa case, the parents refused to abort any of the fetuses because of their religious beliefs.With all due respect to such individual beliefs, the failure to conceive without drugs in the first place was not left in the hands of a higher power.Within the guidelines of a fertility clinic, regardless of one’s attitude toward them, the presence of seven fetuses signals a failure of the treatment, as opposed to a desirable outcome.The enormous risk to both the mother and to the survival of that number of fetuses reaching maturity is 10 times the risk of a single birth.Even if they survive against the odds, medical complications that arise following premature births are well documented.HEARTFELT PLEA The day the septuplets were born, their father made a heartfelt plea for privacy.That plea was met by a telephone call from President Bill Clinton; 250 reporters attended a subsequent news conference.The gung ho newborns’ grandfather declared the births nothing short of a miracle from God.Doctors beamed at the camera evoking the image of a chubby cheeked baby the staff had dubbed Hercules.Can Oprah or Regis and Kathie Lee be far behind?A battery of 40 doctors and nurses were said to have been in-v o 1 v e d throughout the pregnancy and births of the septuplets, in the richest country in the world where the survival rate of often unattended newborns vies with Third World countries.It is very tempting to become emotionally involved in such a human interest story.Clearly many of us succumb.Perhaps the lure is less seductive in our own country, where we still hear of Cecile’s, Annette’s and Yvonne’s struggle to be compensated for the normal childhood they were denied: They are the surviving members of the famed Dionne quintuplets.That particular miracle, unsolicited by fertility drugs, was exploited to the tune of millions of dollars by the province of Ontario, trying even now to wash their collective hands of any responsibility.The attending Dr.Allan Dafoe also beamed at the cameras while authors and the media profited obscenely as the public gawked at the little girls who were isolated from their family and all decked out year after year for viewing.They too were given a new and spacious home peopled with strange servants and quantities of diapers and teddy bears all artfully bearing the contributors brand name.The rate of multiple births has quadrupled over two decades with the onset of fertility drugs and not coinciden-tally with the inability of more and more parents to conceive.The multiple causes of this problem go virtually ignored.Such a search does not generate profits, but costs.Once a treatment is available, the profits to the parent drug company rise in direct proportion to its use.One already identifiable culprit of infertility is clamydia, a sexually transmitted disease that often betrays no symptoms of its presence in the female.Once diagnosed, it is easily cured with an antibiotic; neglected it can cause infertility.An educational program to alert and educate women of the danger of the disease is within the realm of good preventable medicine - still seemingly unexplored.Surely the dignity of the human being is diminished if we can be triggered to reproduce by a chemical compound in the kind of numbers that we would normally associate only with other species.a division of Communications Quebecor inc.2850 Delorme, Sherbrooke, Que.J1K 1A1 Fax: 819-569-3945 Newsroom e-mail: record@interlinx.qc.ca Randy Kinnear Publisher .(819) 569-9511 Sharon McCully Editor .(819) 569-6345 Sunil Mahtani Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Susan Mastine Community Relat.(819) 569-9511 Alain Tétreault Adv.Dir.(819) 569-9525 Richard Lessard Prod.Mcr.(819) 569-9931 Mark Guillette Press Superv._(819) 569-9931 Francine Thibault Prod.Superv.(819) 569-9931 DEPARTMENTS Accounting .(819)5699511 Advertising .(819)5699525 Circulation.(819)569-9528 Newsroom .(819)569-6345 Knowlton office 88 Lakeside, Knowlton.Quebec, JOE 1V0 Tel: (514) 242-1188 Fax: (514) 243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 104.00 7.28 7.23 S118.51 6 MONTHS 53.50 3.75 3.72 S60.97 3 MONTHS 27.00 1.89 1.88 $30.77 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services available on request.The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies ofThe Record ordered one week after publication are available at $1.00 per copy.The Record was founded on February 7,1897, and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.Canadian Publications Mail Service Product Agreement No.0479675.Member ABC, CARD, CDNA, NMB, QCNA Viewpoint Ivy Weir Illlllpgpppi ;• :: : : *: y: y : ¦ ;i .' .Ailil ¦ !l!i!ipr Detailed snow forecasts from Environment Canada.vs- .i'y ¦•’'¦' ^ .' and road con from Transports Québec_______ 1900 565-4000 Fee of 95 < per minute * * Environment Environnement Canada Canada Monday, December 8, 1997 page 7 The Sports Champlain’s men’s b-ball defence comes out strong Less than Dynamiques against Cougars PERRY BEATON/CORRESPONDENT ByJ.D.Keyes Record Correspondent Lennoxville The Champlain men’s basketball team was impressive at both ends of the court in a decisive 83-58.win over the CEGEP de Sainte Foy Dynamiques on Friday night.The Cougars dominated Sainte Foy both on offence and defence en route to the victory.Afterwards Champlain head coach Don Caldwell said while it was nice to rack up so many points, the thing that most impressed him about the game was his squad’s defensive effort.“We were a lot more aggressive and more intense on defence,” Caldwell said.“That’s because we’ve been spending more time practicing defence and it’s starting to rub off on the players.Our defensive instincts are much better now.“The other thing about this win is that we really started to come together as a team,” Caldwell continued.“We’re more together now than at any time last year, and that really helps when we’re out on the court.If somebody breaks down, somebody else will be right there to help them out.” “We played such good defence and forced them into so many turnovers that it created a lot of easy opportunities for us on offence,” pointed out Champlain assistant coach Omar Jennings.“Basically, the defence came together as a cohesive unit and we did what we wanted to do.I’d never seen such an effort from our players.” The Cougars pressed the Dynamiques right from the start and Sainte Foy was unable to properly break the pressure.Guards Jimmy Sebulime and Shaun Ziai keyed the press with intense, all-out efforts that created several turnovers.By halftime, Champlain was up 44-23, and at one point early in the second half the Cougars were doubling Sainte Foy 54-27.Champlain mixed in their reservists in the game’s final 15 minutes see cougars, page 8 Cougars Bruce Van Dusen is about to capture the ball as Fitzroy Woolery backs him up. page 8 Monday, December 8, 1997 THEi THE SPORTS RECORD Woolery, Wright the spark plugs of Champlain offence Cougars: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 and everybody but one on the Cougar roster ended up cracking the score-sheet.Guard Fitzroy Woolery led the way with 22 points and a pair of spectacular dunks.Forward Paul Wright dominated inside, scoring 16 points, and also pulled down seven rebounds.Caldwell said Wright and Woolery, both Toronto natives from C.W.Jeffrey Gigh School, were emerging as the spark plugs of the Champlain offence.“Those guys are always gonna score and they always bring a lot of intensity to the court,” Caldwell said.“Their efforts always give us a lot of poise and confidence.Plus other guys see that and want to go out and contribute.” Cougar guard Barry Anderson chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Jimmy Sebulime had nine points and Jason grabbed eight rebounds.Sainte Foy’s leading scorer was forward Marc-Antoine Horth, who had 23 .New from Sears and Star Choice.Direct-to-Home satellite TV Star Choice satellite TV offers the ultimate in home entertainment, fou get a large selection of channels and the best sports, movies, science, news, cartoons music and more, all with exceptional picture quality and sound.Save $50.Sears offers a complete satellite system including a dish, receiver, remote control, installation and one year maintenance agreement.Reg.799.98.Now only 749.98' * * A programming package must be purchased with the svstem.Plus use your Sears Card and DON’T PAY FOR 6 MONTHS on satellite TV systems.Don’t pay until June 1998, on approved credit, with your Sears Card.$35 deferral fee and all applicable taxes and charges are payable at time of purchase.Offer ends Wed., Dec, 31,1997.Ask for details.Call now, toll-free 1-800-361-6665 for complete details on satellite TV! 12124 Copyright 1997.Sears Canada Inc.points and 10 rebounds, including seven offensive boards.Dominique Labrie was the only other Dynamique to crack double digits, scoring 10 points, and after him the next leading Sainte Foy scorer had only five points.“There are still a lot of areas for us to improve on,” Jennings warned.“We have some tough games coming up and Sainte Foy is one of the weaker teams in the league.” The Champlain women’s basketball team lost 51-52 to the Sainte Hyacinthe Vert et Noir on Friday night.While the Cougars played a good game, they were simply overmatched by a quality opponent; Sainte Hyacinthe has a 4-1 record and is in first place in the league.With the loss, Champlain’s women’s hoops team is now 1-4.: ¦ ’ ¦ : : ;¦ ¦ .iitti PERRY BEATON/CORRESPONDENT < : .Jason Pace focusses on just one thing. Monday, December 8, 1997 page 9 THEi Beat Baie Comeau, lose to Chicoutimi Faucons split their weekend games By Michael Innés Record Correspondent Sherbrooke The Sherbrooke Faucons of the Quebec Junior Major Hockey League split their weekend with a 5-3 win Saturday in Baie Comeau and a 5-3 loss against Chicoutimi on Friday.In Saturday’s win Martin Beauch-esne opened the scoring in the first period for the Faucons with help from Alexandre Couture and Michael Gen-dron who was called up from the Coat-icook Frontaliers.Baie Comeau tied the game before the end of the first 20 minutes of play.Martin Lacaille with his first goal of the season sent the teams to the dressing room tied at one.Baie Comeau took the lead in the second period with a goal from Francis Larivee at 3:38.The Faucons came back strong scoring two goals on power plays to take the lead in the game.François Fortier with help from Eric Pinoul and Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau with help from Yannick Tremblay and Fortier sent the visiting Faucons ahead 3-2.Edo Terglav tied the game once again for Baie Comeau with help from Martin Lacaille.Sherbrooke added two more goals in the last 20 minutes, by Cantonniers beat Estacades By Michael Innés Record Correspondent Sherbrooke The Magog Cantonniers of the Quebec Midget AAA league were in action Friday night at the Magog arena against the Estacades of Cap de la Madelaine.The Cantonniers came up with a 4-2 win.The game was nothing to write home about.The Estacades came out strong after a near perfect month of November.The Cantonniers did not play with the same style and intensity that they’ve been playing with in the last few games.The sure win came only in the last minute when Cantonniers Denis Des-marais scored in an empty net.Antoine Bergeron scored what turned out to be the winning goal earlier in the period.Andre Martineau and Michael Riendeau also scored for the Cantonniers.Cantonniers head coach Mario Durocher was a bit disappointed with the results of the game.“We just played a game were I did not see anything we worked on this past week.But in hockey it’s like that.Even with the pros you have to repeat it and repeat it again.The important thing is to score more goals than the other team, and that we can do,” Durocher said after the game.The Cantonniers took 36 shots on the Estacades goaltender, while Martin Pare faced only 16 shot for Magog.mj : m EW ADDRESS OPEN 7 DAYS 6853 Bourque Blvd.Deauville (819) 864-1431 Meubles Deauville Enr.(Formerly Meubles Magog Enr.) Buy - Sales - Exchange - Stripping • We buy estate furniture, from Victorian to Contemporary styles, paid cash • Arrival of merchandise everyday • Stripping and restoration of furniture on the premises as desired, with care and very honest prices • Fabrication or “antique” style furniture, according to your taste (table, buffet, chair, etc.) • Importing • Pick-up and delivery everywhere La Maison Aube* Lumière Also available from December 1st to the 24th, 1997 At these | SHERBROOKE •Fleuriste Jean-Pierre & Dulem, 986 Galt West, 346-9141 -Fleuriste Ujenthem, 752 Conseil, 562-6254 •Fleuriste Louise Lavoie, 103 King East, 622-9999 -Fleuriste Francine, 1338 King West, 562-1763 -Marie-Fleur, 1221 King West, 562-1155 ASBESTOS -Richard Côté, 251 First Avenue, 879-5647 BR0MPT0NVILLE •Fleuriste Huard, 98 Larocque, 846-4227 C00KSHIRE -Fleuriste Cookshire, 29 Craig North, 875-3600 EAST ANGUS •Fleuriste East Angus, 27 Angus North, 632-3615 LENNOXVILLE -Fleuriste Lennoxville, 163 Queen, 564-1441 •Les Serres Neville, 380 Queen, 565-3053 MAGOG -Boutique de fleurs Magog, 50 Place du Commerce, 843-6200 -Créations l'Eucalyptus, 408 Principale West, 843-1245 -Foliole, 451 Princpale West, 843-0660 ROCK FOREST -Fleuri-Moi, 6618 boulevard Bourque, 864-9771 ST-ÉLIE D'ORFORD •Cadril Fleuriste, 1427 Road 220,564-4017 WINDSOR -Fleuriste Windsor, 125 St-Georges, 845-9101 At Les Promenades King (Interior Mall): Monday to Wednesday: from lOhOOto 17h00 Thursday and Frklay: Saturday: Sunday: From December 15th: Monday to Wednesday: Saturday: Sunday: from 10hOO to 21 hOO from 10h00to 17ri00 Iron tOriOOto 16h00 from 10ri00to21h00 from 10h00to 17h00 from Noon til 16h00 o CHIT630AM Thank you to our sponsors tor their collaboration EH @ ©TOS Everest USSR.L*Tribuw> E tenplunn ¦f*a*ïis RECORD hrftt Alexandre Couture on a power play and Tremblay with help from Jean-François Fortin and Pinoul, to give the Faucons the win.Frederic Brindamour was in nets for the Faucons and faced 26 shots.Nicolas Chabot also faced 26 shots for Baie Comeau.On Friday in Chicoutimi the Faucons did not have as much luck, dropping the game 5-3.Maxim Potapov with help from Fortier and Patrick Courchesne on a power play gave the Faucons the lead in the first period.Chicoutimi came back in the second period to tie the game when Daniel Archambeault was able to get the puck past Brindamour.The Faucons took the lead once again when Pinoul, with help from Sylvain Dufresne and Fortier made it 2-1.François Fortier added to the Faucons lead with his 11th of the season on a power play at 10:02 of the second period.Chicoutimi took over in the third period, scoring four unanswered goals.David Gosselin on a power play six min-utes into the period followed by Archambeault with his second of the game, Marc Bouchard and Patrick Gin-gras in an empty net did the scoring to take the win.The lost was hard brooke’s coach Robert “We played very good until the 10-minute mark of the third period.We took a four minute penalty which seemed to give them (Chicoutimi) hope and they took advantage of the situation.We just found a new way to lose,” Mongrain said after the game.Frederic Brindamour was in nets for Sherbrooke and faced 33 shots.The Faucons shot 30 times in Remi Bergeron’s direction.The Faucons play their next two games at home.Thursday the Faucons host Rimous-ki at 7 p.m.before to take for Sher-Mongrain.receiving Rouyn Noranda on Friday at 8 p.m.at the Sherbooke Sports Palace.THE POINSETTIA The Christmas Flower * Flower of Light La Maison Aube-Lumière is a residence for terminally ill cancer patients, in the Eastern Townships.Buying a poinsettia from La Maison Aube-Lumière means that you are helping cancer patients live the last days of the life with respect and dignity.Call now to reserve your poinsettia(s) at La Maison Aube-Lumière 821-3120 (phone) or 821-1127 (tax) POINSETTIAS : 6 INCHES 15$ 8 INCHES 25$ 10 INCHES 35 $ (Taxes and delivery included) X ^agasmd'o S//|X ( H.H.BrOWN W Nv^^ory Ourt^/ Winter Footwear • Cowboy • Hiking Outdoor • Work • Walking Shoes • Slippers « Belts and Bags TrnrM Canon ES170 8mm video camera n • 16 x zoom v • all equipped iÆêa 492 Craig St.East 826-5300 Richmond rooke 564-0033 IP LE CACHE :ubles SÉLECTION 'Scvieact & We have the gift you are Cooking for! 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