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6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, July 3, 1991 EO REEEE AREER: "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PRESSING MIATTERS 'SOMETHING FISHY" Oh, oh. Something smells awfully familiar. Ten days to The Bugle's 8th annual Walleye Tournament. As usual, most of the thousand tickets needed to cover expenses aren't sold. They were available two months ago, but locals know better than to rush things. Why bother when you can pick 'em up at the last moment, and drive the organizers crazy? Besides, folks would have to go outdoors to buy them. These days nobody goes outside unless abso- lutely necessary. For two weeks Amityville has been locked in the grasp of a wickedly humid, early season heat wave. Anybody stuck with unavoidable outdoor business wants to get at the task around 5 a.m., and finish by noon. Carumba, eet's too darned hot to work after lunch, Senor. That's not to say folks round here don't know how to deal with heat. A few years ago we had a ten week stretch where the temperature never cooled off below 75F, not even in the darkest part of night. How hot was it? Well, Mayor Billy, whose ances- tors go back to when Amityville was British one day, American the next, and back to British the day alter, went and bought an air conditioner. Boy, did that news make the rounds in short order. But more important concerns are at hand. Just like last year, the fish have disappeared. No kidding. From the day after the ice goes out 'till late June, this place is a Pickerel Parking Lot. Lately, news of good catches had been quite spotty. Now the well has gone completely dry. When you hear guys like Walleye Wally, Muddy Waters, and Lee St. John are motoring back to the dock with nothing except a peculiar aroma called Eau Du Skunk, you better believe the fish are gone. Of course, Old Man River still produces fish with his midnight prowling. However, not many of us relish sitting out there on The Big Muddy all night to accom- plish the task. Especially now, with all the motorized crazies blasting up and down the river in their over- powered Don Johnsons. If the machos don't getcha, you'd still end up duelling with mosquitos that outweigh most of the fish, or explaining your quest to one of the patrol boats try- ing to catch some of our more industrious local im- port /export firms in action. The walleye eventually came back last year, about five days before the tournament. The guys on the committee had a tough time with priorities during that short stretch. Whenever they tried slipping away for a crack at the fish pack, somebody would run out of tickets, or hats, and they'd get called back for a delivery. That's one reason why this year's event got dumped in the lap of the AM.&A. Sportsmen's Club without so much as a whimper of protest from the committee. When the subject was first broached, we thought there'd be hell to pay. But nosiree, the old guard con- cluded there weren't that many summers to go, and it was damned foolish to be running errands, or worry- ing about tickets and ball caps when fishing could he done instead. . When The bugle first decided {at Fishbob's urg- ing} to sponsor a fishing derby, only two or three hun- roe by John hs dred tickets were sold. . Then the event took off. Suddenly there were a thousand entrants, a major beer company lusted after co-sponsorship, and the grand door prize was a boat, motor and trailer! Life got a tad more complicated. Among other things, the value of the prizes prompted the lower levels of humanity to start showing up. No problem for some of our elderly tournament committee members. There are only two ways to run things in their opinion; right or wrong. That rigid inflexi- bility made for some interesting discussions during the award presentations. One of our favourite memories occurred the year when the oldest member of our group was confronted by a guy suspected of being an all 'round dink. That year he'd been disqualified for submitting a frozen fish in a daily category worth $100. Not at all embarrassed by being exposed, the jerk wanted a full $100 worth of chewing on somebody's ear as compensation. He kicked the wrong guy. You could see trouble developing, as the conver- sation grew more animated. Two of us were in the midst of coaxing the beer company rep for more bucks next year, and couldn't get close enough to them in time. Next thing you know the guy was flying across the room, courtesy of our seventy year old pal. Thank- fully he didn't land on the beer rep. No doubt the fish will show up before the tourna- ment, and once again enough tickets will be sold. Only difference this year is that we'll be concentrating on winning, rather than folks flying across the room. That's a situation we can handle with no prob- lematall. Letters io the editor More praise for Mr. Arculus To the Editor: That was a wonderful letter that Laura Taylor wrote, praising Mr. Arculus for all he has done over the years for his students; Laura pretty well said it all. I'm sure the students, teachers and everyone involved are going to miss him so much, for his very caring ways, his pleasant manner and his good outlook on life. He was always there for Vaughan, coaching him in all his sporting events - travelling near and far, taking so much of his own time. I know Vaughan considered Mr. Arculus not only his teacher and coach but also his true friend. Mr. Arculus, we hope you and Mrs. Arculus will really enjoy your retirement years and will be able to fulfill all your plans and dreams in the future. Thank you so, much for everything. Sincerely, Bettie McKee Pop cans continue to infest fields and streams To the Editor: We're all interested in conser- ving Ontario's natural environ- ment. But an apparent policy reversal by Ontario Environment Minister Ruth Grier will in- evitably lead to more garbage in all our local fields, streams and trails. Last October, Mrs. Grier pro- mised us that the soft drink in- dustry would have to produce more refillable containers, so that less of their throw-away bottles and cans would be strewn across the province. Starting April 1, all soft drink manufacturers who didn't provide at least 30 per cent of their product in refillable con- tainers were to be charged, with fines ranging to $10,000, Mrs. Grier said. But now, she has reneged. Although the industry is only marketing about 15 per cent of its total product in refillable con- tainers, the ministry still hasn't laid charges - and there's no in- dication they plan to enforce their own policy. Instead, we will have to tolerate floating pop cans on our treasured lakes and streams, and plastic bottles littering our favorite hik- ing trails. The soft drink industry certain- ly doesn't bear the entire waste crisis on its shoulders, but the pro- mised 30 per cent quota would set an example for all other packagers. There has to be a star- ting point to put an end to un- necessary packaging, and this is it. We at the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters have written to Mrs. Grier, reminding her that our natural heritage must take precedence over consumer conve- nience and corporate profit. But without public outrage, On- tario's Environment Ministry is likely to be quite happy with the wasteful status quo. Yours in Conservation, R.G. Morgan, Executive Vice-President Remember When HISTORIC PHOTOS COURTESY SCUGOG SHORES MUSEUM Recognize any of these faces? If you do , you remember the 1909 councll of the Township of | Scugog. Pictured, from left, are George Sweetman, Wellington Sweetman, John F. Gerrow, Will Jackson (Reeve), Tom Graham (Clerk), John Ploughman, and John Jackson. 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 4, 1946 In a Cadet Camp of 1800, 20 Port Perry Cadets won the pennant for the "Cadet Corp with the cleanest and neatest lines the most time during the 12-day camp." Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Jackson and Zula are on a trip to New York. Dr. J.B. Lundy the newly installed Maste Fidelity Lodge was presented with his Mast apron by Mr. David Jackson, on behalf of Mrs. Lundy, and a two-toned on behalf of himself and his wife. A bridal shower was held in the Scu Township Hall in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Crozier on their recent marriage. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 15, 1956 Harley Johnson, Manchester, left on Sunday morning for his sixth season as bus driver for Trans Canada teachers tour. Mr. Harold Martyn, Blackstock, has been renovating and enlarging his store. Mr. and Mrs. G. Prosser celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. The property of Mr. Frank Ellis, Manchester has been purchased by the Department of Highways. Mr. Ellis has bought the property formerly owned by Mr. Edward Mole. Congratulations to Mr. Bruce Mackey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Mackey, Port Perry, who was successful in taking his second year exams at Osgoode Hall School of Law. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, June 29, 1961 Mr. and Mrs. Herman Kerry celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. The opening of a Puppet Theatre, the first of r of er's gog the PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10