‘Bogus complaint’ prompts visit by the language police: Acting on a complaint, the language police paid a visit to Olsen’s Valu-mart store Thursday. Store owner Ernie Olsen said the agent from the Commission du protection de la langue française, upon inspection, discovered that the complaint was unfounded.

“He came in and said the complaint was bogus,” Olsen says.

However, the language cop did find some signage not in compliance with Bill 101. Among them were a sign advertising loose buns in the bakery, the “Shoe Care” sign, and the “barbecue chicken” sign.

“The weekly specials signs come from head office and they are unilingual English,” Olsen said.

Olsen also said the agent told him his cashiers should be bilingual and the register slips should be printed in French.

“I told him three of our cashiers are fluently bilingual,” he said.

Oktoberfest bigger and better this year: The smell of sauerkraut consistently lingered in the air at the Oktoberfest Ladysmith celebrations over the weekend, where crowds as large as 3,700 packed into the TCRA centre to join in the German festivities.

“When the weather co-operates, you’re definitely in for bigger crowds,” said Oktoberfest president Lorraine Cluff.

Cluff said the truck pull, which was rained out last year, was well attended, as were the rest of the festivities held over the 25-degree Celsius weekend.

Joanne Dubeau and the Fast Tracks kicked off the entertainment lineup Friday. 

The entertainment lineup was shorter than the local Oktoberfest square dancers, who have been absent from the lineup for the past few years. The Internationals, a German dance band from Montreal, made their second appearance. The youth got in on the entertainment scene as well, featuring the Ladysmith Tip Tap Toers.

About 63 floats, covered wagons, and antique cars participated in the parade Sunday, led by the Arnprior/McNab pipe band.