Summerfest raises money for youths

The Portage summer festival turned into a huge success as hot, summery weather and a varied line-up of events drew 500-plus people to the three day affair.
“There were really good turnouts for all the events,” says organizer Joe Cameron.

Proceeds from the festival go towards the Portage Youth Association, a six-month-old organization for children under the age of 17 years old. Cameron says the association’s 13 members are in charge of organizing activities for about 70 kids.

“We try to organize activities to keep them off the streets,” says Linda Cameron, Joe’s wife and a member of the organization.

Beginning with bingo Friday night, the festival resumed Saturday morning with the kids taking on the parents in a fun ball game, with the parents winning by one run.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the hilarious “Miss Peach” contest. Nine contestants vied for the title, with Bruce Elliott winning top “Peach.”

On Sunday, about 30 kids, dressed in colourful costumes; wheeled down Church Street for a colourful bike parade, complete with an escort from the Portage Fire Department.

Storm tears tin off Bristol barn

Intense storms continue to plague Pontiac this summer with the most recent winds tearing half the roof off a barn in the Municipality of Bristol Saturday.

“One piece of tin was driven into the ground about two feet,” says Elaine Russett, who, along with her husband, Leslie Russett, witnessed the storm which blew in about 1:30 p.m. The short-lived storm, a mix of rain, lightning and wind, also broke some of the barn’s windows. As well, lightning struck and destroyed the battery for their electric fence.

The Russetts, who have lived on their farm about seven kilometers east of Shawville, north of Hwy 148 since 1964, have never witnessed such a fierce storm.