70 Years Ago
March 24, 1948
– Lennox and Addington County council passed a bylaw to establish an enlarged high school district that would encompass much of the southern part the county. Each rural municipal council would appoint one trustee each year. The Town of Napanee would receive three seats and County council could appoint between one and three people to sit on the board.
One of the first tasks for the board would be deciding if one of its present school buildings could serve as a central high school for the entire district and if transportation to that school was possible. In the meantime, the board would be responsible for administering all of the existing high schools.
– Napanee couple Edward McCoy and Dorothy Wheeler were to committed to stand trial on charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm on child Donald Wheeler.
The boy was admitted to Kingston General Hospital in February with bruisers and abrasions on the back of his neck, severe burns on his hands, blackened eyes, a cut on his cheek, and in generally emaciated condition. Doctors had been told he fell down the stairs, but disputed that statement.
A neighbour testified she heard the child being whipped and begging for mercy.
– The Anglican Bishop of Ontario Rev. John Lyons announced that Rev. W.J. Robinson would transfer from Tweed to Napanee to become rector of St. Mary Magdalene Church. Robinson would replace Rev. R.J. Dumbrille, who was retiring.
40 Years Ago
March 15, 1978
– Retiring MP Doug Alkenbrack chose sides for the Conservative nomination in the newly created Hastings-Frontenac riding, which would include the Napanee area, choosing Brian Reid. Reid, 26, had been Alkenbrack’s aide for two election campaigns, helping to swing young voters his way.
Other candidates included Napanee resident Bill Vankoughnet, Queen’s University administrator James Bennett, and Bancroft’s Nan Whitlaw.
– The OPP was looking for the public’s help to break open its Linda Bright murder investigation. It put out a call for anyone who saw the 16-year-old strangulation victim Bright alive March 8 to come forward and even promised information shared would be kept in confidence.
– Richmond Township was celebrating the location of an unidentified business in its industrial park, south of Hwy 401. Township officials said the manufacturing company had invested over $1 million and would initially employ 30-35 workers.