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The Citizen, 2013-04-04, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013. PAGE 9. Winthrop-area farmer and plowing afficionado Paul Dodds will be showing the country what Huron County plowers are capable of in the Canadian Plowing Competition next month. The event, which will be held from May 6 to 11 just outside of Abbotsford, British Columbia, will feature the best plowing competitors from across Canada and, as a second place finisher in the senior conventional class at the International Plowing Match last year near Roseville, Dodds will be representing Ontario in British Columbia. “I’m excited now, but there’s a lot to do to get ready,” Dodds said, indicating that the national competition isn’t going to be like the International Plowing match. “Try- ing to get everything planned and figuring out what to take is complicated. If we forget something, it’s not like I can come home.” Dodds will be flying out to the competition with his parents, Don and Maja, while his equipment will be on the back of a truck with fellow competitor Kevin Haney’s equipment, as well as equipment from two other competitors from outside of Owen Sound. “I’ve also been told by a few people that they might be coming,” he said, adding he is thankful for the local support. Dodds will fly out on Friday, May 3, get settled and for Saturday and Sunday, get located and get his equipment set up. Monday and Tuesday are practice days for the event with Wednesday being the first ‘official’ practice. On Tuesday, the competitors will draw lots to determine where they plow. “That’s where we plow the land under the rules and regulations to get everyone ready for the competition,” he said. “Then we plow Thursday and Friday and the results are tallied and announced on Sunday. Dodds last attended the event as a competitor in 2000 when it was held in Quebec, though he has been as a spectator several times. For information visit www.canadianplowing.ca Happy Easter to all. We hope everyone had a nice family time together and enjoyed good food, good fun and good fellowship with family. The Easter weekend provided three good days to be out and about. Friday was a nice sunny day with a cool breeze at times and Saturday was even better. Sunday was great most of the day and then in the evening the rain started and the wind was brisk. Monday was a return to quite chilly temperatures, very brisk winds and snow flurries at times. A very cruel April Fools’ joke, but I think I will still say that March went out like a lamb and not like the lion it could have been. Easter was made a little extra special with the arrival of babies. Congratulations to Nick and Danielle Campbell on the arrival of a baby girl. They welcome Lenyx Elizabeth to their family. Laurie and Deb Campbell are excited to have a second granddaughter to spoil. Congratulations to Kerry and Andrew Dale on the early arrival of Wyatt Robert. He is welcomed home by big brother Blake. Grandma Clara Blake will be very busy with a fourth grandson to love and enjoy. Congratulations to Brad andCindy Pryce on the birth of a son.They have welcomed Carson Jake to their family. Big sister Naomi is excited about her little brother. I’m not sure but that should make about a dozen grandchildren for Brian and Sharon Pryce. Congratulations to Tom and Joyce Williamson on becoming first-time grandparents last week. Daughter Nicole had a bouncing baby boy on Good Friday and his name is Weston. Congrats to all. The snowmobile season must be over because the trail stakes are coming down. The trail close to our place had the stakes taken down on Friday and Saturday by the crew. When you look across the now brown fields, you can see the white hard pack of the winding trail still reminding all of the past year snowmobile season. If snowmobiling is over, then motorcycling should begin. Five couples that couldn’t wait decided to head to Arizona for a two-week vacation on the bikes. Two groups with the trucks and trailers with the eight bikes headed south and a trio of riders flew to Phoenix to meet them. Ken and Brenda Dalton and Ken and Dianne Anderson were in one truck and Ken McNeil and Ray and Wilma Rammeloo drove the other. Flying down to meet them were Paul and Cheryl Ryan and Leanne McNeil. They were based in Phoenix at the home of Greg Hargreaves (Hensall area) and made many day trips out and around the area. They travelled the old Route 66 to Las Vegas and stayed the night at Bali’s Casino, across from Caesar’sPalace. They travelled to the oldmining town of Oatman and enjoyed seeing it. The weather was great riding weather, hot but not too hot. The area was much greener this year than it was last year and pictures of the area are barren, but the existing foliage is green. The group had a great time with stories too numerous to report. Welcome back. Welcome back to Ruth Lowe and Nicole and Beckett Noble to enjoy Easter with their family. They spent a couple of weeks in Florida visiting with Ruth’s sister Kathy and husband Keith. They had a good time and good weather. Our condolences to Adam and Kaye Smith and Cora Alcock on the passing of their sister Doreen Stewart. Our sympathies to the Smith family. Welcome back to Ron McCallum and Joe Dick and friends as they return from a golf excursion to Alabama. They were away just over a week and had a good time. Congratulations to Amy and KimAlcock on their team winningprovincial honours in ringette. They play on the Seaforth Storm U16A team and won the championship in Nepean last weekend. They now represent Ontario at the national championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia in mid-April. Mom, Connie Alcock, is assistant coach. Congrats to the girls and good luck. Returning from a southern vacation are Jim and Anne Bosman. They spent a couple of weeks in South Carolina and Tennessee. It was quite cool in Myrtle Beach and no, they did not go golfing. They travelled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to tour around. Anne recalls they went through Gatlinburg 42-and-a-half years ago when returning from their honeymoon and it certainly has changed. They went to Dollywood on the opening day of the theme park and watched the parade. Dolly Parton was in the parade and they were only about six feet away from her. There is a parade every day but Dolly does not participate every day.Weather for the most part was coolwhile they were away, but no snow. Welcome back. The sap was running well last week with the great weather. Warm days, cold nights are perfect. The McGavin bush has been busy and report the syrup production is up from previous years. They have had many visitors with folks from B.C., Minnesota and even Tanzania. Bob Rowe does an excellent job explaining the process to the visitors. The blast of winter again on Monday has certainly slowed things down. Our get-well wishes go to Paul McCallum. He has undergone knee surgery but is coming along very well. He is out and about, but just slowly. Welcome back to Jacob McGavin who spent March Break in Hawaii. The F.E. Madill Secondary School volleyball team participated in a tournament there. They finished third and had a great time. The last night of the Cranbrook Dart Club on March 27 saw a happy ending to the 2013 season. The 24 players enjoyed a roast beef dinner catered for them prior to playing and saying their farewells to a good season. The winners of the last night were Team 3, which consisted of Ernie Lewington, Jim Blake and Pat Gillis who won win five out of six games. The first time this season! The top scoring honours for the year went to Murray Houston hitting 160 and Gayle Speiran, 122. On the last night of play, the high went to the newcomer and frequent high “dart queen” Rita Bowers, hitting 91 and Dart Club ends season Local girls win provincial ringette honours Dodds prepares for plowing nationals Put a lid on it Students at North Woods Elementary School were eager to show their school spirit on March 28 by bringing in their favourite (and craziest) hat to wear throughout the school day. Students were already in a good mood as they had a long Easter weekend, but being able to sport some fashionable headwear must have sent them over the edge. (Shawn Loughlin photo) 104 Pine St., Wingham 519-357-3712 FRIDAY, APRIL 12 9 am - 5:30 pm Brophy Tire One Day Only Featuring & 1st Annual REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. ALL ARE IN COLOUR 4x6 - $4.00 5x7 - $5.00 8x10 - $8.00 Phone to order ~ 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570 PEOPLE AROUNDWALTON NEWS FROM WALTON By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 14