70 Years Ago
February 18, 1948
– Due to a continued lack of rain since fall, the Napanee public utilities commission decided it was necessary to reduce power consumption by at least 2,000 kilowatt hours per day.
To meet its targets, the commission ordered that electricity would be curtailed for two hours daily — between 9-10 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. It advertised the limitations as a temporary emergency measure that would be relieved as water conditions warrant.
– A Napanee Lions-sponsored boxing tournament was well received at the Armouries. Between 700 and 800 spectators attended the first in a series of exhibitions despite poor weather conditions.
Fighters from across the region participated in the tournament. The feature bout matched local entrant Don Brown against Ray Anson, of Kingston’s Regal Boxing Club. There was little doubt about the winner of the match as reports indicated Brown “was badly mauled in all three rounds. The final bout of the tournament pitted eastern Ontario champion Don Blair against Napanee’s Frankie Morton. The Regal contender kept his title in a hotly contested fight.
– Mrs. F. H. Henderson, of the Lennox Agricultural Society, was elected first vice-president of the women’s division of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies at a meeting in Toronto.
40 Years Ago
February 15, 1978
– A committee was formed to initiate a Business Improvement Area (BIA) program for downtown Napanee. Its membership included Ronald Wilson, Keith Hager, Jack Spencer, and Lloyd Cowle.
The decision came after Ministry of Industry and Tourism consultant Robert Pollock told about 30 merchants that a BIA plan is the best way to help a deteriorating downtown operate like a shopping centre. Pollock stated the businesses should define the area they want to include, then formally request a town bylaw creating the BIA. A tax levy would then be applied to members, provided no more than one-third of businesses object.
– Deseronto councillors expressed concern that under new proposed Ontario tax reform policy, commercial and industrial taxpayers in town could see their property taxes double while residential taxes would stay substantially the same.
Councillors unanimously voted to voice their opposition to the province and encourage business operators to do likewise.
– NDSS’s symphonic band, under the direction of Ernie Doughty, placed first in the march class at the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival. The school’s top band placed first for a second straight year.