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The Brussels Post, 1977-01-05, Page 2T.A=N.t? Villir 0 ti p Snowed in Amen by Karl Schuessler WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1977 BRUSSELS ONTARIO Serving Brussels and the surrounding community. Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario by McLean, Bros. Publishers, Limited. , Evelyn Kennedy - Editor Dave Robb - Advertising Member Canadian. Community Newspaper Association and Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association Subscriptions (in advance) Canada $8.00 a year. Others $14.00 a year, Single Copies 20 cents each. ISTARLISIMED lin Brussels Post Brussels a bedroom? If Brussels people have to go out of town for everything, we'll become another bedroom community. That was one of the parting thoughts of former reeve ;Jack McCutcheon when the Post talked to him at the 'end of the year. It's something that we should all think about. Already a good number of Brussels people live here, but work elsewhere, in Kitchener, Listowel, or Douglas Point. They choose to live here, probably because they like the small village atmosphere and because they have ties with Brussels that they don't want to break. They don't work here though, because there is little industry to employ them. A really busy and prosperous village needs more industry, as the ex-reeve pointed out. But the willingness of industry to locate here is tied to a number of. things ... complete sewer service that will allow for expansion, and an attractive, welcoming environment are two of them. Brussels needs recreational services for its community to keep it from becoming a bedroom village for the larger cities. When people work and play out of town, their connection with Brussels becomes pretty slim. It's an address, that's all. Before you know it, people will be doing most of their shopping outside Brussels too and Main St. merchants have to rely on a smaller number of regular customers. Our village has made a lot of progress in recent years. A modern senior citizens apartment building and a liquor store have made Brussels more attractive to many people. But all our problems haven't been solved. Standing still means sliding backwards. There's a lot. of active, hard work in store for Brussels' new council. The new arena, the proposed sewer program and an aggressive policy to attract industry to the village —s-houl'd be three of their main concerns. With' their leadership, and the co-operation of all Brussels citizens, the village will be a thriving,-J interesting place, not just a bedroom community, with all of the action elsewhere. Ethel Mrs. Cliff Bray Correspondent At the Euchre party held in the Ethel Community Centre, Monday evening, Jan. 3, seven tables were played, sponsored by the Hall Board Conyener, I/ Pear Pearson. Winners: High Lady-Mrs. Shirley Verstop, Low-Mrs. Charlie Harrison; High ! Howard Brown, Low-Marshall , Harrison, Ethel and community extend their sympathy to the family of the late Mrs. Mel Carnochan who passed away on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Andy Bremner. and Doris, Mr. and Mrs. Jac k Bryans of London and Mrs. Wm. Morris of Listowel spent New Years at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Earl of Atwood. Norman Beirnes is a patient in Listowel Hospital. People We Know Rev. and Mrs James Perrie of Shakespeare and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Perrie were holiday Visitors with Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Perrie, • Janet Cardiff of Queen's University, Kingston; Allan. Cardiff of TOronto;Colleett Cardiff and friend Paul Hammon of Toronto and Bancroft were with One of the surprise packages that came along when I got married was my brother-in-law. Over the years -- almost 25 now -- Harry's managed to keep the surprises popping. Two weeks ago was no exception. • I teamed up with Harry for a few days to trace and chase down car owners who run away without paying off their cars. There's more ways than one for me to get down to Florida; you see. Harry lives there, and he comes North every now and then to practice his delicate art of skip tracing. And I'm just the one to drive back one of his repoed--accent the first syllable—cars. Harry's like a detective. Why I'd say Harry is a detective. He looks exactly like one. Like Barney Miller, the T.V. dectective. People come up to Harry on the street and say, "You're Barney Miller." "No, says Harry, "I'm not Barney Miller. I'm Harry Raymond." But the people still go away shaking their heads and saying, "But you're Barney Miller." Harry looks like a skip tracer. Watch the way he walks. No. Watch the way he half-walks. Half-runs. Half leaning forward. Once Harry starts tracing y our car, you might as well turn off the motor and hand over the keys. , Harry and I drove into Logansport, Indiana in a '73 Pontiac, repoed in New Hampshire. Next assignment: a 1972 Chevy Stationwagon. Harry walked into a pay phone booth in Logansport and put a dime into the slot. This was clearly, a local call, but when a 1.--1 man answered,:Harry raised his voice like he was calling long distance. A -very long distance. "This is Ray More calling. I'm calling from King's Circus Company in Sarasota, Florida. I'm trying to reach your son Jack to offer him a job." Some circus. Some job. Jack had skipped with the Chevy and Harry's only lead was Jack's father in Logansport. Mind you, my brother,in-law doesn't lie -- any more than an actor or a player plays a game. "Jack's in Moniicello" says father, "That's 17 miles east of here. His address is 67 Henderson st." That's all Harry wanted. And we were ' off to this fly speck on the Indiana map. I was at the wheel driving down Henderson St. Harry said, "Not too slow. I don't want hint to spot us first. He may get suspicious when he sees our out=of-State license. ,Skip again Or hide the car. Lesson. Repo by surprises We circled the block three times and once through the alley. No garage. No '72 CheVy. For two hours we cruised town for the brown statioriwagoti. "Better just wait 'tit he gets home with it," Harry said. I was starting to worry'. "But, Harry, What do wd do when we see it?" "That depends. If he parks his car by the side of the house ; he's likely to hear Us start the motet, Then he'll come running ... maybe fighting. It's better if he parks out in front, on the street." "You mean, you just take the car? Stea . Lesson. A • finance company only takes what rightfully belongs to them. "And how do you get the car started?" I asked.' "I've got an extra set of keys. But I can cross wires if I need to." "See that grocery store?" Harry made this Wish every time we turned the corner. "I wish he'd go shoppng. Then we'd know where he is. "Better yet," Harry went on wishing, "If he'd stop at a tavern, we'd grab the car before he finished his first beer." "Or maybe I could, start a conversation with him. Distract him while you hopped in the car and took off." "No!" Harry was emphatic. "He might have a gun." Lesson. Skipstracing can be dangerous business. "Why don't you ask the &lice for help?" I asked. "They'd just laugh and say that's my job. Just be patient. We'll wait 'til he comes home from work. And it's dark. Maybe we'll have to wait until he turns off the lights and goes to bed." We cruised by his house after dark. No car. But two men did get out of a pick-up truck and entered the house. It was 6 ;14 P.M. in case anyone would ask. "Now what do we do, Harry?" Harry didn't answer. He just circled the block three more times. Harry was thinking. So I didn't press him. "I've got\to go right up and face him," Harry declared, "If he gives me a hard time, I'll remind him I can bring charges against him for those three N.S.F. checks." "Keep the motor running, Karl, and the lightS on". This was straight out of T.V.! I waited three terrible minutes. Karl Schuessler in a get-away car. Motor running. Lights on. How would411 this look in the newspapers? How do I explain all this to my wife and kids? My hands sweat on the steering wheel. There has to be an easier way to get down to Florida. Plane. Train: Hitchhike. Anything. But this? Harry's face came out of the dark. "Everything's okay." he smiled. s"The car's over at a sales lot. Jack's trying to sell it. He's going to take' us over there and let us have it." And how did you find me, 'anyway? Jack asked as we climbed into the Chevy: Harry grinned."Oh, that's jsut part of the job." That's all Harry would say. He aSn't going to tell arty secrets that night. But Lwas-thelUtky one. I was the only one Harry was letting into his murky world of skiptracing. And I was the only one Harty would let drive down the rest Of the way to Florida in one of his repoed cars. their parents Mr: and Mrs. Jack Cardiff. Alfred Knight is visiting with Mr. and Mrs: Hector Knight Ot Picton after *spending Christmas with them. Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Cousins left on Wednesday of this week for a vacation in Florida.