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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-06-30, Page 11PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY. JUNE 30 After two decades, Clint Emmrich of Walton and his son Eddie, now of Australia, have been reunited. A family gathering was held on Saturday at the Emmrich’s. The visitors have also been enjoying some of the highlights of the province before departing for the west. In back, from left: Clint’s wife Judy and their children Katie and Jamie. In front: Clint, Eddie and his wife Jodi. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1999. PAGE 11. The news from alton Compiled by Patty Banks Phone 887-6156 Dancers perform at recital Father, son reunite after 20+ years Last week you read about Clint Emmrich and the rescue that he was involved in. Once again I had the privilege of meeting with him and his family to be a part of a very special time in their lives. What a lot of people don’t know about Clint is that he has an older son. Actually Edward Clinton Emmrich (now Eugster) is 28 years old. But Clint who had divorced Eddie’s mother has not seen him since he was a small boy. It was at the wedding rehearsal^ for his and Judy’s marriage that they finally learned where the boy was living. They happened to see the name Emmrich in the registry book. It turned out to be Clint’s son’s baptismal record with an address. The address led him to Moncrieff. After a lot of driving around he spotted his son in a backyard. He was around eight years old and that was the last he saw of him. Eddie and mother disappeared once again. Clint heard they were in Switzerland and then later in Australia. Clint spoke of how hard it has been never knowing whether he is okay, not knowing what he was doing or what kind of a person he was. There was an emptiness inside, worry and a kind of gnawing that ate at him through the years. There was a commercial on Grade 4s thank to volunteers The talent show and Grade 4 appreciation program were the highlights for this week at Walton Public School. There were some original ideas this year as Andrea VanderVeen, Laura Elligsen and Jennifer Eedy did a skipping routine to Cruel Summer. There were pianists such as Nikki and Andrea VanderVeen, Stephanie Lubbers, Andrew VanVliet and Jim Raithby, that lent their talent. Justin Biesinger along with Stompin Tom, sang The Good Ole Hockey Game. Laura Elligsen sang, TV back then that would ask, ‘Do you know where your children are?’ That was very painful to hear. Eddie knew nothing about his father in Canada. His step-father adopted him and any questions that he had were kind of put off and never answered. There was always a piece of his past that he didn’t know about. It was like never knowing the other side of his family. He had no idea what Clint looked like or that he had a brother and a sister. In November of ’96, Clint’s life as well as Eddie’s, changed in a big way. It seems that Eddie’s grandma, who lives in Kitchener, contacted Clint and asked if he was interested in getting in touch with his son. On Nov. 11, 1996 Clint put in a phone call to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and for the first time in two decades spoke to his son. It was Eddie’s new bride, Jodi who answered the phone. By then they knew that Clint was the name of Eddie’s father, and it took her a minute for it to register and she excitedly called Eddie to the phone. Clint said it was a very emotional time for him and Eddie confirmed that it was the same for him. They have kept in contact since. For Clint his life is happier and there is peace of mind and Dreams to Dream and it was announced that she is competing in a talent search later this fall. Shayne Cochrane, Scott Somerville and Mike Dietz showed the people their dancing skills as they danced to Baby, One More Time and Crush. Bridget Blake, Jodi McIntosh and Nicole Williamson sang Summer Breeze with Laura Bowers accompanying at the piano. This same group of girls also danced to Lions Sleeps Tonight. Bridget Blake and Nicole also sang a number accompanied on the piano contentment. For Eddie his circle of life is complete, he has a whole new family. Eddie and his wife arrived from Australia on Wednesday, June 23 and went to his Grandma’s home where Clint, Judy, Katie and Jamie picked them up. It was an emotional meeting, overwhelming as one can imagine. Since then they have toured this area, went to Goderich, saw Niagara Falls and toured the Euclid factory in Guelph where Clint works. Some of the trucks that are made there are shipped to Australia to the coal mine where Jodi’s dad is superintendent. They have been to Duff’s United Church were Eddie was baptized and to Moncrieff to see where he used to live. They have spent time going over family pictures and sharing lots of laughter and tears. Judy and the kids have known about Eddie all along and have been excited to finally meet him. Judy said she is glad to have an extended family and Clint said how supportive of this reunion she has been. Katie and Jamie think it is neat to have a big brother and a wonderful sister- in-law. The young couple will be leaving Sunday and will tour Quebec, then head west where they will leave for home from Vancouver, B.C. by Michelle Blake. A sister act of Laura and Sarah Elligsen did a dance routine. Then a mother/daughter act consisting of Darlene VanderVeen on guitar and Andrea singing performed the song, You Are My All and All. Darlene sang harmony and the two voices blended well together. Nicole McIntosh, Sherry Lee Wernham, Rachel Purdy and Jessica Baer made their performing debut by singing, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Then it was time for the Grade 4 Continued on page 16 The first Lydia Laine School of Dance and Theatrical Arts recital for Brussels students was held at the Walton Hall on Sunday, June 27. Lydia is a dance teacher and she and her staff in Ailsa Craig have 18 dance schools in S-W Ontario. She hired Tanya McArter to teach students from Brussels, Walton and Blyth. Next year she will also teach in Wingham. She had three classes this year. Junior students are Brooklyn Vercruyssen, Jaren Johnston, Sadie Chalmers. Intermediate are Cassandra King, Annemeika Kerkhof, Kendra Siebert, Kelby Krota, Morgan Armstrong, Emily Kerkhof. The senior class is Cassandra Banks, Stephanie Rijkhoff and Kelby Krotz. This year the girls learned their five basic positions, demi-plies and grand plies plus releves. The children were incredible as were the costumes and the music. The closing act with the Yodelers from Vienna was the hit of the show. It included all the classes and brought much laughter and Grade 8s earn recognition It was graduation for the Grade 8’s in Seaforth on Friday. It was wonderful to see that many awards given out were won by former Continued on page 12 WOW! Open 9 am to 6 pm...ALL WEEK! ...ON LARGE SELECTION OF SHRUBS! (ff) Our Perennial Garden is a must to see ...as it is forever changing! (3 Beautiful Water Plants Still Available! (3 Don’t forget . .TED’S TASTY TOMATOES! Te-Em Farm RR#1 Bayfield, Ont NOM IGO (519) 482-3020 OPEN 9AM-6PM DAILY! S WORE you reacfy for . Y2K?^r Don’t be left out in the cold! r Call now to have “Seasoned Firewood” - for the Millenium Choose from Hard Maple or Ash Slab Wood, Bodywood or a load of 1/2 Slab & 1/2 Bodywood ® CRAIG HARDWOODS LTD. Auburn Ont. Z 519-526-7220 L L. FAMILY BUSINESS SINCE 1866 applause. This is a non-competitive dance school with the stude/its working towards their Christmas concert and the spring recital. Lessons will begin again next fall. 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