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Heavy rains affect local crops Heavy rains this summer have affected the yield and price of local crops the Ontario Department of Agriculture and Food office in Milton reported this week Corn is experiencing variable conditions ranging from good to very poor The crop is thriving in soil with good drainage because excess water is allowed to drain off easily But areas with poor drainage store water that ruins the Oats and barley like corn have encountered variable conditions this year depending on drainage This year oats are not as well filled as usual with winds and heavy rains causing lodging Wheat prices are way down this year because the extra moisture has caused plants to sprout This year crop is per cent off with a high incident of lodging Soy beans and vegetables are reported good because the light soil they re grown in affords excellent drainage Soy beans will need some good weather for harvesting Pastures and hay are reported excellent this year with a high incidence of second cut Some hay has been lost in the fields because farmers were unable to beat the rainy weather New seeding this summer Is said to be progressing well This year the mildew caused by the wet weather has affected a sharp increase in disease but it is well within control The Department of Agriculture notes that conditions here are excellent compared to those in Eastern Ontario where dairymen are looking over miles of rotted hay and field after field of drowned yellow com Because Eastern Ontario farmers have not harvested rotang hay there is a shortage of cattle feed Milk production is down to per cent Grass has lost its nutrient value Crop experts estimate rain killed off per cent of the corn and spring grains crop The Cornwall area received 10 inches of rain this Spring double the 5 18 inches in 1971 The stricken area includes eastern Grenville Stormont Glengarry Prescott Russell and southeastern Carleton counties Ninety Eighth Year No ACTON ONTARIO WEDNESDAY AUGUST Flash fire claims life lane damage The sudden explosion of a sanding machine he was operating at Acton Bawling Lanes Friday afternoon has resulted In the death of 32-year- old Denis Maurice of Creek Mr Maurice suffered third degree burns to 80 per cent of his body when the machine exploded and started a fire which also caused an estimated damage to the bowling lanes He ran outside the building with clothes blazing He was taken to Milton hospital by a passing motorist who was flagged down and later Hamilton General Hospital where he died Sunday Mr Maurice and his brother Cleanup begun Cleaning up has already begun at Acton Bowling Lanes to ensure that bowlers will be able to open at the earliest possible opportunity But proprietor Ken Hulford told the Free Press that he can t set a definite opening date The10000firedamagedalIsixanesandMr said a number of different companies would have to contribute towards the renovations He Is planning no changes in the business Royal both employees of Cardinal Bowling Alley Services had been working alone in the since shortly after noon hour Royal was unhurt Acton Firefighters responded to the alarm about after Mr Maurice had been taken to hospital and a Friday afternoon crowd of shoppers In the store below the bowling lanes evacuated Smoke was pouring out of the second storey windows and Firefighters had to don Scott air packs to enter the building Chief Mick Holmes ordered a second truck with additional equipment to the scene shortly after Store safe Altlnugh all six bowling lanes received fire damage the IGA store was not damaged Firefighters used escalators to remove which passed from the top floor above to a room at the back of the store Shoppers were back in the building by m It Is believed the sanding machine may have struck a nail In the floor causing a spark to fly up and Ignite the dust bag Sportsmens show Labor weekend Two bicycles will be prizes for a boys and girls bicycle rally at the Labor Day weekend sportsmen show being by five Acton service ubs at Prospect Park The rally obstacle course is being set up and operated by the Ontario Provincial Police for boys and girls eight to years of age to acquaint them with safety laws The winning boy and girl will each receive a brand new bicycle the first one through the course is not necessarily the winner Saturday events will start off with a parade led by Acton Band from the railroad station to the park lions mini bikers will be a feature of the procession which will also have prises for the best decorated bicycles Application forms for the contest and tickets for all events at the special weekend are available at the downtown investigate collisions Acton reported two vehicle collisions over the past The first occurred on Main St at the bottom of the cemetery hill when a vehicle driven by Hugh A Forbes of Acton sustained damages In a single vehicle crash at August The second occurred oo the parking lot of the Drive- in Queen St the next day at when a parked car owned by Charles Allan Mowbray Place Acton was struck by another vehicle and Incurred In damages The second vehicle driven by Gerald Rennle of Acton had no Saturday country market or from members of service clubs Mats attractions The bicycle rally Is one of the main attractions of this year sportsmen show which will also feature two dances a soccer game boomerange throwing contest demonstrations of scuba diving and other sports events still being planned And a big gun snow is set for the Sunday The Friday night dance will have an theme with Nick Osbelt and the Rhythmic Five a Germantype band while Acton own will provide the music for Saturday dancing at the community centre The Antique Arms Association will sponsor another gun show at the community centre Sunday The shows are attracting antique gun collectors from all over Canada and the United States and are believed to be the largest of their kind in the country The Antique Arms Association is sponsoring the Labor Day weekend activities along with the Lions Club Y Men and Chamber Police also executed a warrant for the arrest of an Acton man on three charge August 17 and be appeared fat provincial court Monday for causing a disturbance A stolen bicycle was reported on August but still has not been located Police have been hampered by lack of identifiable fenders the bicycle ACTON BOWLING Lanes received an estimated He died in Hamilton General Hospital Sunday Checking damage Friday afternoon when a sanding machine operated damage to the building and the machine foreground is by year old Denis Maurice of Toronto exploded Mr Firefighter John Krapek Pink Maunce received third degree bums to per cent of his body Councillors want police crackdown on cyclists Councillor Norm Elliott got the Elliott told council Tuesday support of several councillors In a there is a tremendous increase in bid to ask Acton police to initiate the amount of bicycles in Acton a program to crack down on and motorists were finding It Acton cyclists difficult to drive because many of Teachers oppose early return THIS IS THE way they did it back in grand- was constructed and occupied by the year ma day Six year old Kelly was in old girls under the direction of leaders Val the limelight of the Hard But Happy Tiroes Mitchell and Donna Drew For story and float first winner in Ttarsday night more pictures see inside summer playground parade TheOoat Gibbons District executive of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation has gone on record as opposing any policy requiring teachers to return to school before the legal date of opening In a strongly worded statement to the press the OSSTF said it took a poll of the membership concerning a recommendation to this effect from a County Board committee and found 1 97 per cent of the teachers are opposed to any policy requiring teachers to return one week prior to the legal opening day school which Is the day after Labor Day per cent of the teachers are opposed to any policy requiring teachers to return one day prior to the the legal opening day or school Our teachers in who want to meet do so voluntarily the OSSTF release said If a particular staff decides through a vote that it is their desire to come one week or one day before the legal opening of school we feel it Is their right but the decision should not come from above The decision must be solely made by the teachers The teachers contend they are professionals and are busy taking courses and other relevant work through the summer to prepare themselves for another year of teaching District president Tom Ramautarsingh told this newspaper the recommendation which teachers opposed from the Board of Education Priorities and Expenditure Committee stated that all schools should hold day staff meetings late in August or early in September and all teachers should be expected to attend the cyclists either were ignorant or paid no heed to toe rules of road I had to thread the needle myself tonight on the way to this meeting he told councillors noting it was not a pleasant experience He said several residents had complained to him about the actions of some cyclists who ride all over the road disregarding signs have lights at night ride three and four abreast and pay no beed either to motorists or pedestrians Need booster Several people have approached me he said and I think we should ask the police to sponsor a program in the schools when they reopen I realise there have been programs in the past but I think they need a booster shot I agree said committee of the whole chairman Jack Greer Mayor Lea hopped on the bandwagon too I followed Councillor Elliott down and the problem of cyclists three and four abreast was compounded by motorcyclists going in for a barley sandwich He warned there had been one serious accident Involving a municipal vehicle and a cycle and it would be wise to act now before the problem builds up Defending the use of bicycles rather than noisier vehicles Reeve Frank said It was a real treat down our way to have cyclists near the park Councillor Chapman agreed noting cyclists were not yet the problem here they were In other places Council generally agreed cycling was good but abuses must be corrected before some serious injuries resulted 11698 damages Detachment Provincial Police last week During the period between Aug 13 midnight to Aug 19 seven persons were injured and eight cases of property damage were reported as a result of accidents During the week officers in vestigated three thefts and two cases of breaking and entering There were 128 charges laid and warnings issued during the week Twelve persons were charged undertiKUquorControlAct two for assault and two vehicles were stolen Officers Investigated two complaints of trespassing