The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

EDITORIAL with Hartley Coles Closed sign not up yet Does officialdom, in its many phases, want Acton and area to Just close down and go away? It seems so when Halton Hills council Monday night voted to tear our old arena down and leave nothing in its place, albeit this time there was only a one vote margin. It's the latest in a round of blows to this community which is struggling to maintain its identity. Last week we were again confronted with the realization that two Acton elementary schools - Robert Little and MacKenzie-Smith Bennett - were _ on the closing hit list because they don't conform to new pro- vincial space regulations. It seems also that the powers-that-be who run the post office were considering closing the Acton facility and moving it to Georgetown. They changed their minds. But the intent was there. Quite likely it will surface again. In January of 1998 the Province downgraded Highway 25 to a Regional road, a blow to the business community, anxious to promote easy access to business here. Is there anything else they can close and move away from Acton? They've already moved the motor vehicle licence bu- reau somewhere else despite a notice that said it would be reo- pened. Several businesses in Acton anxious to expand are finding the roadblocks thrown in their way not only a physical impedi- ment but a demoralizing one as well. Instead of cooperation they find consistent resistance to expansion plans which would provide jobs and modernity. Obviously if this is what regional government is all about - stupid decisions made by outsiders - then the quicker Acton and area can get out of it the better. This community does not want to become a vassal of Georgetown. We are a community in Halton Hills, not a doormat. Anyone who things this community is going to lie down and let others walk all over us had better be prepared for one heck ofa fight. The closed sign is not up yet. WITCH WAY: A pre-Hallowe'en test flight proved too much for this stylish witch who embraced a tree on the south side of High- way 7, just west of the Sixth Line. The witch is the handiwork of RY 1, Acton resident Stephanie Dulewicz. -- Frances Niblock photo 2 . : 59 Willow Street North Acton, Ontario L7J 128 (519) 853-0051 Fax: 853-0052 Tanner THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1998 CLEANUP CREW: Imperial Oil has agreed to pay $5,400 to clean up and beautify the former Esso gas station by the railway tracks. The weed-infested, garbage-strewn property has been vacant for a decade. The Acton Business Improvement Area will maintain the property once the work is done. Ready to dig are (left to right): BIA directors Gord Chapman, John McNabb, helper Frits deHaan, BIA general manager Janis Fread, crew boss Len Tuitman, Watson and BIA director Norm Paulsen (on tractor) -- Fra Pages from the Past helper Todd Schonn, BIA chair Brenda mces Niblock photo 1865 murder shocks Acton In June of 1865 the small village of Acton was shocked by the mur- der of a young man. In his search for material for the police history of Halton, Sgt. Bob Andrews man- aged to find this account of the cir- cumstances of the murder from a Guelph newspaper which sheds some new light on the murder. It is right that the fact of the es- cape of the murderer should be widely known, not only that the pub- lic may be on the lookout, but as a warning to all country constables to use all fair means in their power to prevent a recurrence of such a mis- hap. Most country villages are with- out suitable places for the safe keep- ing of prisoners generally. This is not right; for unfortunately as our popu- lation increases our criminals in- crease in equal, if not greater ratio, and every centre of population ought to have its 'lock-up.' A veryjudicious use might be made of them in minor offences, and they would doubtless often be a means of restraining dis- orderly characters, who otherwise escape that punishment which would bea kindness to the. I remember that some two year ago the inhabitants of Acton petitioned the County coun- cil to assist in building 'lock-up' but that economical body declined the invitation. A correspondent kindly sends us the following, which gives in detail the circumstances connected with the shooting: Drumgold it seems was rather a cool customer, and so far from avoiding or shunning Lightheart, he was at some pains to throw himself in his way, and fol- lowed him through the village. 'When Drumgold expressed his in- tention of being present at the fu- neral, Lighteart sent him a warning not to attend. This he -did not heed. Advertising Sales Maggie Petrushevsky Circulation Marie Shadbolt Composing Penny Zurbrigg Publisher Ted Tyler Editorial Hartley Coles Frances Niblock Ellen Piehl Mike O'Leary Angela Tyler He went to Mr. Lozier's house, from which the funeral was to proceed, wearing a hat which displayed an unusual quantity of crepe. On enter- ing he took off his heat and deliber- ately laid it down before Lightheart. The latter unable to endure such ef frontery, rose and left the house. Drumgold got up and followed him. Lightheart again entered the house. Drumgold still following him After a little Lighteart went out a second time, followed closely by the de- ceased. Both went round house, but in different directions. When they came on sight of each other at the back of the house, Lightheart, un- able to control himself, drew a re- volver and shot Drumgold, exclaim- ing "I can stand this no longer." Drumgold immediately went in at the back door of the house, and run- ning through towards the street, fell before he reached it. Oh Gawd!..spare me, if the teachers union don't win the next election they're going on strike. Attempted murder From the Daily Leader (To- ronto), of March 31, 1855. The item is credited to the Brampton Times. Attempt at Murder in Acton Michael Carrol, a Catholic, and Wm. McConnel, an Orangeman, were drinking in a tavern last evening, and got into a dispute rather warmly. Carrol left the tavern, and meeting McConnel, at 11 0'clock, a.m. assaulted him in the open street. McConnel was struck with an axe on the cheek, making a horrible wound and knocking several teeth out; and he fell, apparently lifeless. Dr. McGarvie was promptly in at- tendance, and foe efficient service. Carrol was convicted, and now waits his trail. McConnel is in a fair way of recovery. Same source, but dated April 7, 1855. Outrage in Acton Yesterday, four gents riding in two cutters, came from Georgetown, and passed through this village on the way to Guelph. About three quar- ters of a mile out of the village, they overtook a man, Mr. Davidson, who was returning home from this place with an ox team, and ordered him to leave the road and let them pass. Mr. Davidson stopped his team and told them to pass, but they swore that he should leave the road, and com- menced pelting him with stones, making a wound in his forehead that left his skull bare. Two of them were taken on the spot; the other two were caught three miles beyond Guelph and brought back to this place. They © had their trail today; when one was fined five pounds, and the other three one pound each. \ Distributed to every home in Acton and area as well as adjoining communities. ADVERTISING POLICY Every effort will be made to see advertising copy, neatly presented, is correctly printed. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or omissions in advertising, but will gladly reprint without charge that part of an advertisement in which an error may occur provided a claim is made within five days of publication.