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"All these guys standing beside me," he said, referring to his fellow farmers, "deserve praise as well as the top growers. "This is not an easy position to reach," he added. "If it wasn't for our employees, we wouldn't be recognized. They need to be appreciated."

Enlarge Photo

PHOTO BY ANGELA FERGUSON

Linton Enterprises Inc. of Arthurette earned the highest honour at the 2008 McCain Top 10 Growers award ceremony. With the awards, from left, are Keith Sr., his wife Mary, daughter Melissa and son Keith, who works full time on the farm.

More than 300 potato growers and guests gathered for the 35th annual event to honour the top 10 of 64 growers in the area.

Administrative assistant for McCain's field department Debbie Robinson said the awards are given out based on the contract potatoes delivered to the plant over the past year.

"The potatoes are graded and given points," she explained. "The points are averaged and the contractors with the most points make up the top 10."

The potatoes are rated on a variety of factors, including size, defect level and colour.

President and CEO of McCain Foods Canada Fred Schaeffer said the company is recognizing the efforts of all contractors and awarding those "who have managed to go above and beyond."

While the potato industry continues to face challenges, said chairman Allison McCain, McCain Foods Ltd. remains committed to the industry. This year, the three big issues are blight, currency and rising costs.

As Champion Grower, the Lintons, who run a four-generation farm, received an all-expense-paid trip for two to Bermuda, a personal trophy and a $1,000 cheque for their achievement. Their name is also etched on a permanent trophy. Each of the nine other winners received a plaque and a $1,000 cheque for their accomplishments.

En français : Les Entreprises Linton d'Arthurette s'est méritée le titre de cultivateur champion cette année, honneur décerné par McCain Foods Ltd. de Florenceville-Bristol à ses 10 meilleurs cultivateurs.

Two named to potato Hall of Recognition

The late Ron Piper and Hartland-area potato farmer Paul Bubar will be inducted into the New Brunswick Potato Museum's Hall of Recognition during the fifth annual gala dinner Sept. 5 at Potato World Museum.

The evening will commence at 6 p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner and the formal awards ceremony.

Ron Piper, who will be awarded posthumously, is former chairman of Potatoes New Brunswick and agriculture activist; and Paul Bubar, is well-known potato farmer and business man who initiated activities which promoted and elevated the potato industry.

Previous inductees into the Hall of Recognition include Harrison McCain, co-founder and founding chairman of McCain Foods Limited; Yvon Ouellette, outstanding innovator in seed potato farming; Wallace McCain, co-founder and vice-chairman of McCain Foods Limited; Anton L Pray, pioneer in the family farm concept; Joseph Toner, active promoter and exporter of New Brunswick seed and table potatoes; Reginald Gilbert, former deputy minister of Agriculture and chairman of Farm Products Marketing Commission; Clair Hill, retired farmer who initiated activities beneficial for the seed potato industry; and Dr. Donald Young, noted for many innovations in the potato industry.

For tickets and further information,contact Potato World at 506-392-1955; fax 506-392-1956; e-mail tours@potatoworld.ca.

En français : Le défunt Ron Piper et Paul Bubar, agriculteur de pommes de terre, seront intronisés au Temple de la renommée du Musée de la pomme de terre du Nouveau-Brunswick le 5 septembre.

Nackawic hires engineer to assess street damage

Nackawic council will heed the advice of experts before they dish out well in excess of $100,000 to undo Mother Nature's damage to one of its streets.

At a special meeting on Aug. 12, council passed a motion to engage Fredericton engineering firm ADI Ltd. "to conduct a study of the roadway repairs to Old Bridge Road."

Much of the residential street, which runs downhill from Otis Drive to the St. John River, was washed away by torrential rains on Aug. 3. The raging waters left behind a four-to-five-foot-deep crater running along one side of the street, reaching – at some points – almost to the centre of the newly paved roadway.

Following the storm, the town contracted local firm Mycon Ltd. to tear up a portion of the road to ensure safety and to allow limited traffic for homeowners on the street. Company executive Paul Myles also estimated the cost of full repairs could reach as high as $160,000.

Myles suggested the town hire an engineering firm to "assess the situation on Old Bridge Road and draft a plan to put out a tender."

Mayor Rowena Simpson, who lives on Old Bridge Road, welcomed the decision to hire ADI, noting the severe washout indicates some major deficiencies.

"There's more than one problem there."

En français : Nackawic a embauché la firme d'ingénierie ADI Ltd., de Fredericton pour évaluer les besoins de réparation des rues emportées par de fortes pluies.

Juniper mill reopen this fall

The dark shroud over a Northern Carleton County community will lift temporarily this fall, giving about 80 employees a glimmer of hope.

Last month, officials at Fraser Papers Inc. confirmed operations will resume – for a limited time – at its Juniper sawmill in September for a short period of time.

Paul McKinley, manager of lumber mill operations for Fraser Papers, said the mill will employ about 70 to 80.

"We are scheduled to run the mill on one shift, and, at this point, we are looking at operating for three to four months," he said.

McKinley added the company is not committing to anything further as it is still hard to say what the future will bring.

McKinley said the decision to reopen is filling the commitment the company made last year during the shutdown. It was slated to only be a nine- to 11-month shutdown, he explained, and that time frame is fast approaching.

We are at a new decision point," McKinley explained. "We have clearly stated we did not permanently close Juniper, and we are not selling the Juniper mill or dismantling it. That arrangement we set up for nine to 11 months is drawing to a close, so we are looking at this scenario as our operating scenario for the near term, and we will see what this does."

Employees are expected to head back to work by Sept. 22, although some will return earlier to prepare for the resumption of operations.

En français : Le moulin Fraser de Juniper sera de nouveau ouvert sur une base limitée pour trois ou quatre mois. Il fonctionnera avec un quart de travail quotidien et comptera entre 70 et 80 travailleurs.

Fire destroys Duane's Furniture

A devastating blaze destroyed a major Woodstock furniture retail operation on Aug 5. An early-morning blaze raced though Duane's Furniture Appliances and Electronics, destroying the building, its contents and even the store's delivery van.

Fire officials still have not determine the cause of the blaze.

Woodstock Fire Chief Rick Nicholson said the wooden structure was engulfed in flames when the first firefighters arrived.

"It was a big fire, a highly-fuelled factor one due to the furniture inside the building," explained the chief.

Duane's Furniture owner Duane Wortman said he and his wife first were advised of the fire by the security company. When he arrived on scene, Wortman could not believe the devastation.

"Within 45 minutes, it had flattened it," he explained. "It was gone. I have never seen anything move that fast. I can't really put it into words. It is a total shock.

As fire investigators try to determine the cause of the blaze, Wortman is beginning efforts to rebuild.

En français : Un incendie a détruit l'entreprise Duane's Furniture, Appliances and Electronics le 5 août. Le propriétaire du magasin, Duane Wortman, espère rebâtir.

Woodstock courting exit sign plant

A new exit sign that operates without electricity could become the entry point for an assembly and shipping plant in Woodstock.

PNA Group, based in Oakville, Ont., has developed a fire exit sign for buildings that absorbs and retains ambient light and glows for hours in the dark. Conventional exit signs run on electricity or battery.

The company, working in partnership with McHenry, Ill.-based Jessup Manufacturing, recently landed contracts with Wal-Mart U.S.A., Tim Hortons, and to outfit a number of municipalities and universities.

Woodstock is one of two plant sites under consideration. The other is London, Ont.

In conversation with Brunswick News last month, company president and CEO said they are "leaning heavily" towards Woodstock.

The facility in the town's industrial park would initially employ 25 to 30 people to do final assembly work and shipping, but McIntosh said in the next three to five years he'd like to move all manufacturing to Woodstock. For now, the product is manufactured at a plant in Chicago.

Gordan Roach, business development officer for Woodstock, said the town's proximity to the border was one of the main selling points during discussions.

"From Woodstock we've got access to the U.S. eastern sea board, we have access to all the transportation needed, and we have access to a quality work force all at the same time."

En français : Woodstock espère attirer une nouvelle usine qui fabrique des enseignes de sorties. L'entreprise doit décider entre London, ON et Woodstock.