The record, 31 décembre 1998, jeudi 31 décembre 1998

THE DUNKIN' DONUTS.DOWNTOWN 70 Wellington St.North SHERBROOKE 569-1445 The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 Thought of the Day Variety is the soul of pleasure.-AphraBehn 75 CENTS Thursday, December 31, 1998 Anna-Spring Doerfler headed for World University Games Local skier to represent Canada in Slovakia By René Bruemmer Sherbrooke In three weeks, Anna-Spring Doerfler of Lake Megantic is flying to Slovakia to represent Canada at the World University Games.The 20-year-old athlete is one of only six women in the country chosen to compete in the cross-country skiing competition.“I’m really looking forward to this,” she said.“There’ll be so many good skiers there, so I’ll be able to learn so much." Doerfler will be flying out on Jan.18 to attend the games which run from Jan.22 to 30, attracting 2,000 athletes from 30 countries.Doerfler found out she was one of the chosen few just before Christmas.She had given up hope because she was initially seventh on the list, and had focused instead on exams.“I got the call at around midnight on Dec.21.I was sound asleep, but I woke up pretty quickly once I found out.I was kind of in shock, 1 guess.” Although Doerfler has been skiing since she was around six years old, her energies were expended more on basketball in high school and CEGEP at Champlain College in Lennoxviile.She competed occasionally in regional ski meets, once placing fifth at the Quebec Games.It was only once she got to the University of Augustana last year, situated an hour south of Edmonton in an area “settled by a lot of Norwegians,” that she became seriously involved in skiing.The intimate, 850-student university has a well established outdoor education program, and Doerfler joined the cross-country ski team.Her school is sending one other female student and one male skier to the Games.A total of six men and six women will represent the nation in five, 10 and 15-kilometre ski races, as well as one relay race.The second-year biology student trains eight to 10 hours a week on the university’s ski team, a regimen she calls “not too heavy.” She’s spending her remaining days in the Townships before flying back to Alberta on Jan.4 trying to raise the $3,000 necessary to make the trip, because her University and the Canadian government only chip in a small amount, she said.The rest of the fund-raising is up to the students, so she’s visiting regional organizations such as the Rotary Club to try to raise money.“It’s going so-so so far,” she said.“I’m not too good at it yet.” It’s shaping up to be a busy, international year for Anna-Spring, whose distinctive first name is due to the fact that she was born on March 24 and “my parents are hippies.” Soon after she returns from Slovakia, she’s travelling to Costa Rica for 10 days for a biology course, studying bats and bugs and working on student projects.The funding for that trip is covered by a scholarship.20-year-old Anna-Spring Doerfler is one of only six women in the country chosen to compete in the crosscountry skiing competition.There will be no Record on Friday, New Year’s Day.Happy New Year to all.This holiday season has been one of the deadliest on Quebec highways, and the Eastern Townships has been particularly hard hit.Please drive with extra care over the New Year’s weekend.PERRY BEATON/CORRESPONDENT Anna-Spring Doerfler of Lake Megantic is flying to Slovakia to represent Canada at the World University Games. page 2 Thursday, December 31, 1998 '¦THE»» RECORD Cardboard suitcase filled with memories of home Charlie is filled with trepidation about new adventure What follows is an excerpt from a novel written by Our Man Thursday, William Cox.The Cardboard Suitcase His mother had given him the suitcase the day before his departure, but Charlie only found out that it was a gift from his father as he was getting on the train.The suitcase was of thick cardboard finished with a green plaid print.He did not expect to receive a parting gift from his farher, especially after a recent incident had caused a rift between them.Two hours out of Central Station in Montreal, the train rumbled along the southern Quebec landscape towards Charlie’s destination, Mont-Joli.The sun gave everything a bright, clean look, accentuating the early spring shoots pushing through the brown uncut grass of last year.The light made the bulging tree buds look like small unripened fruit and flashes of sunlight were reflected off the water in creeks and ditches as the train sped along.A blue, cloudless sky provided a perfect background for the panorama.Looking up he saw his new cardboard suitcase on the baggage rack, reminding him for the first time since the decision was made, that he was breaking out on his own.A sudden surge of melancholy gripped him as he thought of leaving family and friends 800 miles behind for the unknown experience of northern Quebec.He had just turned 18 that spring in 1951 when he was approached by the director of the bank where he was a teller in downtown Montreal, to work at a subbranch in Burnt Creek.Burnt Creek was a mining exploration campsite near Knob Lake, 365 miles north of Seven Is- lands.The free room and board and the northern living allowance of $5 per week, bringing his salary to $22 per week, was interesting, but it was really the recent events in his life that convinced him to accept the posting.In spite of the efforts of the Jesuit teachers at Loyola College, Charlie’s marks were only average, so he left college to ease the family’s financial burden.It was agreed that he should work and contribute to the family’s resources so that his younger brother Kevin, who had just started his first year of college, could continue his studies.His parents and two little sisters made up the rest of the family.The first job Charlie had landed was on the night shift in a factory making giant wooden spools to hold cable.His labourer’s wages amounted to a phenomenal $27 a week.This gave Charlie a new importance and freedom that almost ruined him.Working at night and running around with his ex-school pals, to whom his dollars made Charlie king-of-the castle, took a toll on his work and on his health.After partying with his best friend Bob and two girls, he didn't make it to work that night.Because this was the third time he had missed his shift, he got fired.He remembered the day his mother showed him a want ad for a job in the clearing department of a major bank.“Apply for the job Charlie.It’s day work, clean and steady." She was probably really thinking “It’s downtown and it will keep you away from the bad influence of no good friends,” whom she often blamed for his shortcomings.Our Man Thursday William VuUA A glance at the past year Quick facts for 1998 • Jean Charest became Quebec Liberal leader in April.Premier Lucien Bouchard led the Parti Québécois and called fall election.• PQwon Nov.30 vote with 76 of 125 seats; Liberals won popular vote by less than one percentage point.• Bouchard said there will be no sovereignty referendum in first part of mandate but didn’t specify what that time frame is.• PQ could use failure of social-union talks to crank up support for sovereignty- A CHRONOLOGY OF MAJOR EVENTS IN Quebec in 1998 Jan.6: Ice storm hits parts of the province and eastern Ontario and lasts several weeks in some communities.• Daniel Johnson announces he plans to step down as Quebec Liberal leader.• Jean Charest becomes Quebec Liberal leader.• William Johnson becomes leader of Alliance Quebec, the province’s main English lobby group.• A gas explosion rocks a shelter for the homeless in Montreal, killing three people and injuring 17 others.• King Air twin-engine turboprop crashes at Mirabel airport, killing two crew and nine passengers.• Hells Angels kingpin Maurice (Mom) Boucher is acquitted of murder charges in the deaths of two prison guards.• Parti Québécois is re-elected with 76 of 125 seats.• Seven people die when twin-engine Norman Islander crashes into St.Lawrence River in eastern Quebec.The SportLine Trivia Quiz Today in Sport History By Alastair Sweeny infonauts@canada.com 1.Where was the first covered skating rink in Canada, and when did it open?2.Where was the first hockey game played on artificial ice, and when?.3.What NHL star, born on January 3 in 1939 at Point Anne, Ontario, played for the NHL Chicago Black Hawks for 16 seasons, from 1957-72, then jumped to the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA in 1972, giving that League instant credibility.?sanSea] qjoq ui sjsissb S68 qiiM sjeoS £t6 auipaji[ e pajoos oqM ‘ja[ uapioo aqj ‘[inn Àqqog £ ¦ £-8 siejaoj -suy guoj.tia s.jajsaq jaqjojq jeaq s{e -Aoy jaisuiuijsa/w awn s.jpujBj que.y SB ‘39 BUOJOtA IB ‘£J6l ui paÀB[d z £981 ui pauado :xejneH l :sj3avsuv Become a Record subscriber today.Call 569-9528 Today’s Weather / / ?— Thetkjku.Mines Richmond , IaC-Mécanti^* Sherbrooke• , ) Cowan sviLLf ^ Stan stead REGIONAL FORECAST r r Thursday : Partly cloudy High -11, Low -18 New Year’s Day: High -10, Low -16 Saturday: High -7, Low -16 BEN ® by DANIEL SHELTON WERE.WAVE /V COOKIE WHILE GRANMA GET5 REAP/.JA THERE YOU GO/ AU SETTOPlAV 0UT6IPE., éA\ THE Thursday, December 31, 1998 page 3 Police bear down for New Year’s weekend Hazardous holiday period claimed 22 lives By Maurice Crossfield With snow on the ground and the freezing temperatures all around, police are warning motorists to be extra careful on the New Year's holiday.“People tend to forget they have to be careful," said Quebec Police Force spokesman Cst.François Doré.“The human factor is the most important thing.” So far this year is stacking up to becoming one of the worst on record for motor vehicle deaths, with 22 fatalities in 18 accidents since Dec.23.Last year there were only 14 deaths between Dec.23 and January 4.On December 24 a 33-year-old man and a 22-year-old man were killed in a car crash in Lake Megantic.Then on Christmas Day a 47-year-old father and his 11 year-old son were killed in an accident in Robertsonville near Thetford Mines.Also on Christmas day a Farn-ham man was killed in L’Ange Gardien on the way to open Christmas gifts with his young family.The following day a 19-year-old Saint-Armand man was killed in an accident in Bedford Township.But while the freezing temperatures and blowing snow made life difficult for motorists on Wednesday, Doré reported only one fatal accident in Quebec City during the day.There were also numer- ous incidents of ditched cars, but nothing serious, he said.“In this kind of weather we usually have more accidents than we would have on dry pavement," Doré said.Transport Quebec said most roads in the Townships are covered in ice or snow, but are still passable.Autoroute 55 proved to be the worst in the region, with periods of zero visibility in some spots due to blowing snow.Still ahead is the New Year’s weekend, traditionally one of the worst times of the year for accidents.The holiday season is also a time when there are more people per car.This can cause distractions for the driver, and when an ac- cident happens more people tend to be injured or killed.Of the 18 fatal accidents this year, Doré said four or five have involved drivers who had been drinking.Doré said that while roads have been clear for most of the holiday season, they have also been dangerous.He said cold temperatures make the pavement harder, while road salt and dirt make it more slippery.“Even if the road seems to be very dry it is still winter conditions and winter driving,” he said.“It’s quite different from summer.” Doré advised motorists to keep their distance between vehicles and slow down.Stanbridge Station hold line on taxes Special taxes drive bill up in Brigham Staff Property owners in Brigham will have a little bit more to pay on their tax bills in 1999, while in Stanbridge Station tax bills will remain the same.In Brigham the slight hike comes in the form of $41 for residents of the village and the Lacroix development for sewage treatment.The garbage tax for all Brigham residents is also going up from $59 to $63.However the rest of the tax bill will remain unchanged for 1999.Property taxes will stay at 85 cents per $100 of evaluation, which covers the cost of road repairs, provincial police protection and government cost transfers.In fact Brigham will end up paying $258,000 to the provincial government in the coming year.Since 1995 the rural municipality has handed over about $834,000 in cost transfers.Brigham’s operating budget for 1999 is expected to be $1,215,000.Stanbridge Station Despite the cost transfers, Stanbridge Station managed to freeze its taxes for the year ahead.Property taxes there remain at 76 cents per $100 of evaluation, while garbage taxes remain at $75 per private residence and $120 for businesses.Those using municipal sewage services will pay the same $273, Briefs No snow means more money for Sherbrooke Barring a snowstorm today, the city of Sherbrooke stands to save nearly $1 million on its 1998 snow removal budget due to unseasonably warm temperatures, La Tribune reported yesterday.Up to Dec.5, Sherbrooke had only spent $1.7 million of the $2.8 million set aside for snow clearing.Public services department chief Guy Labbé said it is shaping up to be the best year in the Last 10 years or more.The municipality spent $3.2 million in 1997, $2.2 million in 1996, $3.1 million in 1995 and $4.1 million in 1994.This year’s surplus will go towards the city’s general funds.Big year for Nez Rouge Opération Nez Rouge is predicting this year will be the busiest in its 15-year history, with nearly 80,000 people using its services over the 22-days of the holiday period it’s in operation.A huge number of volunteers and good weather are the cause for this year’s success, organizers say.To date, volunteers have driven 77,600 spirited drivers and their cars home.The campaign runs until the early morning hours of Jan.1, and a total tally will be available on Jan.2.I^MW DUKE.NOBLE.R .General Partnenhip \7/l Chartered Accountants A.Jackson Noble, C.A.164-A Queen Street, Suite 1 Lennox ville, Quebec, JIM 1J9 (819) 346-0333 Taxation, Accounting, Financial Services, Individuals and Corporations Estate Planning and Settlement, Farm Transfers Serving the Eastern Townships community for over 35 years Offices In: Cowansville Knowlton 127 Principale SU 339 Knowlton Rd.Suite 105 1-877-263-DUKE 9 The only English daily in the Eastern Townships Name: Postal Code: ______Tel.No.: ____________ Please mall with payment to: THE RECORD 2850 Delorme St., Sherbrooke, QC J1K 1A1 569-9528 • 242-1188 • 1-800-463-9525 SUBSCRIPTION RATES s3106 for 3 months s6154 for 6 months (these prices include OST & GST) Celebrate 1999! Many people make New Year's resolutions to break bad habits or to start good ones.In the space below, write your 1999 New Year's resolutions and save them until next year to see how many you kept.>4 1.SUBSCRIBE TODAY! o c < LU >, .Q CO O) o> © The tradition of making New Year's resolutions dates back to the early Babylonians.The early Babylonians' most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.An old Vietnamese superstition used animals to predict the year ahead.If a buffalo bellowed, the year would be filled with hard work; if a dog barked, burglars stayed away from your home; if a rooster crowed, it was a sign of a bad farming year ahead.In Iran there are four "New Year's" Days every year.Iranians celebrate the beginning of each season. TH Ei Thursday, December 31, 1998 page 15 Record THERE'S NOTHIN' OUT HERE BUT SAND AND ROCKS.' I.WAIT A MINUTE.' 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