80 Years Ago
Aug. 30 1939
Even in Napanee, which seemed a long way from the scene of possibility hostility in Europe, some preparations and precautions for defense were taken.
The Beaver had learned at the end of the week in Aug. 1939, six of the 47th Field Battery had been placed on duty guarding the Napanee Armories.
The officers and ranks were holding themselves in readiness for active service if hostilities broke out and their services were needed.
If war were declared, it was expected the recruits would be received for a few weeks before the battery went into training.
During the past few days four men from Napanee, Ted Hall, Bill McGee, Stewart Gilbert and Leo Walker had joined with the permanent force in Halifax where they would undergo training with the Anti Aircraft Battery. In the event war were declared, they would be part of the permanent force for the duration of the war. If war did not break out, they would remain in the army for three years.
30 Years Ago
Aug. 23 1989
Secondary school teachers in Lennox and Addington were set to return to work without a contract in place and weren’t likely to see a new one negotiated until October, said a school spokesperson.
The current contract between the L&A County School Board and its 180 members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation was to expire Aug. 31, 1989.
-A Gloucester, Ont. man died after he fell 300 feet at Bon Echo.
The fall was ruled accidental as the 30-year-old man was climbing the stairway at Mazinaw Rock. He was said to be motioning to friends when he slipped and fell into the water of Mazinaw Lake. Onlookers attempted CPR before he was taken to Northbrook Medical Centre.
-Clean up of the gas saturated soil around the Napanee Mall was imminent after the final draft clean up order was received by the Ministry of the Environment.
-The first ever aviation technology program offered by First Nations Technical Institute was officially off the ground as four students were whisked into the air.
FNTI is located on the Tyendinaga Reserve.