80 Years Ago
January 18, 1939
– Provincial Const. Barrett, of Napanee, was able to locate a Belleville driver suspected of a hit-and-run near Flinton by matching a broken headlight found at the scene with his car in Belleville.
The suspect allegedly hit a southbound horse-and-buggy on Hwy 41 and did not stop. The driver of the horse-and-buggy suffered two broken ribs, bruises, and shock. The suspect was released on $500 bail and was to appear in court in Flinton.
– A new ferry for service between Adolphustown and Glenora was to be operational at the start of the navigation year. The vessel would carry 12 cars at a time, be of steel construction, and have the ability to travel much faster than the previous boat at the crossing. Residents on both sides of the Adolphus Reach had agitated for improved service.
-Judge G. E. Deroche ruled on an appeal regarding the equalization of tax assessment among the municipalities in Lennox and Addington County. Napanee ratepayers appeared to be impacted the most by the ruling as their assessment increased by $770,631 to $1,908,631. Ernestown benefitted the most from the change, saving $256,874.
30 Years Ago
January 18, 1989
– The Ontario Police Commission approved a request from Napanee council to approach the OPP about conducting its policing. As a result, Napanee’s town police force would disband. Mayor Chris Seeley announced the decision at a Rotary meeting, ending months of strife between council, residents, and police. A previous council had sought ton contract policing to the OPP and a newly elected council voted 5-4 to continue that course of action Dec. 5, 1988. Seeley said the next step in the process would be negotiating a suitable contract with the OPP.
– Richmond Township resident Nijola Cooke organized a public meeting to discuss concerns over proposed boundary changes between Napanee, Richmond, and North Fredericksburgh. She was hoping that Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, John Eakins, would be able to attend to hear the discussion. Eakins was scheduled to be a guest speaker at a Liberal fundraiser in Napanee on the same day that Cooke scheduled her meeting.
– Lennox and Addington County Board of Education trustee Dale McFarland took his crusade to keep the Lord’s Prayer in schools to Queen’s Park. He hand-delivered petitions from four area churches to education minister Chris Ward. The Province’s ban on the exclusive use of the prayer took effect Jan. 13.
– Plans for Goodyear’s $320-million plant in Richmond Township were on schedule with foundation work done and structural steel 65-per-cent complete.