The Villager-March 28, 2012

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PATRICIA HALFORD,

M.A., Psychotherapist Pastoral Counsellor

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Still waiting for sign decision

Julie Lemieux’s vehicle is towed out of a deep rut in the gravel-topped Park-O-Ride parking lot March 22 after the surface gave way under the weight of her vehicle. The parking lot has since been closed for repairs and bus riders are parking on the lot on First Street next to Mother Teresa Catholic School. Pearson photo

Let’s get a little mud on the tires... Pamela Pearson Villager Staff Early morning commuter, Julie Lemieux was doing her normal routine on Thurs., March 22– pulling into the Russell Park-ORide, located near the play structure at the far end of the fairgrounds lot, so she could hop on the bus and enjoy a quiet ride to Ottawa. However, when Lemieux stopped and put the car in reverse to back into a parking spot, her front end sunk into the gravel and couldn’t get out. Deciding not to take offers from others to help pull her out, Lemieux decided to call Dan’s Towing and the township when at work. At first the van was not that far down in the muck, maybe a couple of inches, but as the morning progressed and another round of hot weather descended, the

ground become softer and the van sank further down. When The Villager arrived at mid morning, the tow truck was there about to pull it out and the van’s front end was now resting on the gravel. “You can feel the ground flexing below your feet as you walk,� said driver Guy Dejardins. He continued saying that his truck had already sunk a few inches in the 15 minutes he had been there. Resident Wendy McNally was out walking and could “Feel the ground bounce up and down all the way along the road, to just past the outdoor rink�. The Villager spotted several large, deep tracks from others who had entered from that direction earlier that morning. Russell Township’s Public Works Supervisor, Denis Pelletier arrived as the tow truck was get-

ting ready to pull the van out. Pelletier stated that the Park-ORide and road will be closed until further notice, possibly beyond a month, to make the area safe again. As the tow truck began to reverse and pull, the ground shook and flexed. Once the van pulled free, an 12-inch-deep scar was left behind as the tow truck’s front wheels dug in. In 2011, township council approved a proposed two per cent increase “In order to maintain standards and invest in the municipal transit service by adding transit shelters, cover the increase in cost in the service agreement and improving our park and ride locations, etc., user fees should reflect an increase for 2012 fiscal year.� Beginning in January the rates increased and on Feb. 1 the bus stop located at

the Russell arena was moved to the Russell ball field area. The change in location was not only to allow for more arena and curling club parking, but also provided a safer place for the commuter bus to stop, pick up and drop off. Luckily, Lemieux says “There doesn’t seem to be much damage, but I will still be getting the van looked at, as the location of the gas tank and where it was stuck, is a concern.� The township did pick up the bill for towing and has barricaded the area from the curling club up to, and including, the north entry. Commuters can now be park at the lot at the end of First Street, beside Mother Teresa Catholic School, until further notice and will have to walk to the bus stop, which at the time of this publication, will still be at the far entry of the fairgrounds.

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Pamela Pearson Villager Staff On Feb. 8, the bilingual sign debate between language activist Howard Galganov and Serge Brisson and Russell Township, spearheaded by former Mayor Ken Hill and former Councillor Lorraine Dicaire went before three justices of the Ontario Court of Appeal in Toronto. Ten area residents travelled to the tribunal in support of Galganov and Brisson with Canadian Constitution Federation lawyer Chris Schafer as their representative. Representing the township was Ottawa lawyer Ronald Caza. The tribunal listened to both sides of presenting arguments over a two-day period, but the court’s decision is still pending until further deliberation has been completed. Beth Trudeau of Embrun and official spokesperson for the Canadians for Language Fairness group, attended the tribunal and told The Villager “Caza presented basically what he had presented in the first round of proceedings and once again infuriated those of us that knew he was lying when he said that Russell council had followed the wishes of the community. He neglected to include the fact that the people of Russell Township had kicked the three politicians who voted in favour of the bylaw out of office in the following election and had re-elected the two politicians who had voted against the bylaw,� Trudeau continued. Continued on page 2

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