Chapeau Fair reaches 125th with vigor: The 125th annual Chapeau Fair ranks as one of the best in recent memory, say fair organizers.

A combination of sunshine and new events, including a kids’ midway contributed to the four-day fair’s success.

“We had an excellent crowd Sunday and a good one Saturday despite the rain,” says Suzanne Lapierre, president of the Ag. Society.

An increase in the number of exhibits in Harrington Hall drew large numbers of people.

The heavy horse draw Sunday attracted 18 teams in the light and heavy categories.

In what may have been a first, Gail Gavan sang a duet with her uncle Fred Meilleur at the fair.

Brothers catch $10,000 tagged bass in Waltham fishing derby: It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. It took ten years but a pair of lucky fishermen hooked the big one at the annual Waltham Volunteer Firefighters’ bass fishing derby in Waltham Sunday.

“It was our first time fishing bass,” says Mark Foster who, along with brother David, both of Shawville, hooked the tagged bass worth $10,000 about 10:30 a.m. The fire department sponsors the big prize.
Fire Chief Larry Perry says he is amazed someone caught the tagged bass. After 10 years of catching a bass, tying a tag to it and releasing it into the Ottawa River several days before the derby, Perry was doubtful anyone would ever claim the big prize.

“It was starting to look like no one would ever catch a tagged fish,” he says. “When I put the fish back in this year, I was thinking ‘it won’t bite’. For nine years I’ve done this, I guess this one’s not coming back.”
The Foster brothers will split the money, though Mark mentioned something about buying a new boat. Obviously elated, the brothers were joined in the celebration by a large crowd at the weekend affair.