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The Citizen, 2004-01-08, Page 9PEOPLE AROUND ETHEL By Andrea Hruska Call 887-2605 THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2004. PAGE 9. 4ligiCgoa. ATTENTION SNOWMOBILERS St. Helen's Snowmobile Club is holding a Breakfast - 50-50 - Poker Rally January 18 at St. Helen's Hall Breakfast - Registration 8-11 am * Rally approximately 75 miles OFSC permit required Postponed Date January 25 "Your Arctic Cat Sledquarters" ARCTIC cAr 11'hat Snowniobiling', .-kboht." Service to most makes of small engines Automotive farm and tire service 519-345-2248 Fax: 519-345-2790 Jim Bauer i email: bktire@bellnet.ca Mike Kells AM Auto Parts Plus dlvAmmmmmim Auto Parts We stock a full line of snowmobile parts & accessories See us for your snowmobiling needs! "Quality Parts plus Personal Service" Turnberry St., Brussels 887-8002 fax 887-8004 G&M The Mites travelled to Bayfield on Sunday afternoon to play Zurich. This proved to be a better matchup with the score ending in a tie. Goals were scored by Hunter Dale with assists going to Drew Bromley and Shelby Higgins. Colton Rodgers and Drew Bromley came close. Everyone played an excellent game. The Mites next game is Jan. 10 in Brussels. Whoever invented carbide runners deserves an -award. -Despite numerous advances in snowmobiling technology and design. the ability to steer precisely still depends significantly on how the carbides bite the snow. However. no one has yet invented a device that enables perfect sled steering - on asphalt, as any snowmohiler trying to-turn in to a gas station well knows. Now my first question is, why do . gas stations who cater to snowmobilers plough off all the snow leading to the pumps? Surely one lane could be left covered so riders could manoeuver in and out without looking like fish out of water (I won't even discuss why stations . persist in leaving that black signal hose out where it can be cut to ribbons by carbides). But it's a safe assumption that most • station approaches will remain bare, so snowmobilers need to learn how to get in and out as easily as possible. Given that sleds can't turn well on pavement, my primary tactic is to plan 'my approach before entering the station property. What I want to do is approach the pumps in a straight line, not having to make any turns or course corrections' once on bare pavement. So I. try to get lined up before I leave the snow I'm on, even if it means doing a loop or two to gain a more advantageous position. But sometimes. I've had to leave the trail behind to follow a road shoulder before even getting to the station. When the station is in sight, my best advice is to take the time to study the various approach possibilities. 1 always check to see if and where the nearest snow or ice cover is: Often, while the pump area is hare, there is a packed area off to the side(s) somewhere. If so, my approach is usually three prong: first, from where I am to any available coveting near the pumps; second, use that packed surface to- turn and reposition my sled to set a 14 tables in play at Ethel euchre The Ethel Christmas euchre was held on Dee. 22 with 14 tables in Play Winners were: share-the-wealth. Bill Craig, Adrian Verstocp; share- the-wealth. draws, Isabelle Grey. Agnus Harrow, Mary I (tether, Shirley Kingsly. Allison Slcighthulm: high. I laid McKenzie, John Subject; lone hands, Shirley Verstoep, Walter Seiler; low. Margaret Crowe, Amanda Nickel. There were numerous lucky tally and door prizes. The next euchre will he held on Monday. Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. /HE NTREMO Atilt y: c straight run in, and finally. a bee line to the pump of choice. However, getting there is only half the battle. I also preplan how to exit after tilling up. Sometimes that is just a continuation of the straight line right out to the other side, if there's a packed surface there too. Then I reposition to get the optimum angle of approach for returning to the trail. It really pays•to do some observation first, because often, there is more than one way to get from the trail to the pumps and back. Other times, a station does have one pump unplowed or has left a patch of packed-cover nearer to one set of pumps than another. Sometimes, even though the station is on my side. of the road. I'll even cross over. to the other side to get the best angle of approach when I cross back. It all depends on the terrain and location of any packed surfaces. That said, my secret weapon ' is reverse gear. Reverse makes it much easier to reposition my sled for a straight run. It means I have the option (frequently taken) of backing out the same way I entered. And - for -some reason, it's often easier to turn on pavement by backing instead•of moving forward. Two final tips: Upon arrival, move the signal hose before you run over it so that the station owner won't be angry at all snowmobilers. Then, as a courtesy to incoming riders and even drivers after filling up, move your sled away from the pumps and then go in to pay! Until the next time, remember that snowmobiling is an off-road activity, so you ride OFSC trails at your own risk. For the Tour Planner and Trail Condition Reports check out www.ofse.on.ca and look under trails. .Craig . Nicholson is a regular contributor to Snow Goer Canada's Snowmobiling Magazine. The Intrepid Snowmobiler also appears on radio and on S11014,1110biler Television. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. Happy New Year to all Ethel residents. I hope everyone had a safe and fulfilling holiday season. Grey firefighters responded to two fi recut Is recently. One was a controlled burn on Brussels Line and the other was -a medical call in Ethel on Monday morning. The Ethel community expresses condolences to Jim and Lori Dillon and family on the passing of Jim's stepfather, Harry Frost. Call 1-866-734-9425 or visit www.medicalert.ca ®MedicAlert Lets You Live Life. Fight of the fastest An Elma Logan player fights hard to take the puck from a Brussels PeeWee player during their game on Jan. fl —. (Elyse DeBruyn photo) Mites play BHC, Bayfield The Blyth Mites hosted BCH (Bayfield, Clinton, Hensall) on Saturday afternoon. There were lots of shots against the Blyth goalies, some saved, some not. The mighty Mites, unfortunately. were short on goals. Condolences to Edgar Daer on the p-assing of his wife Carole. She is going to be sadly missed by the members of the Coffee Club, Auburn Women's Institute. Senior Silver Tops, all of the card players, friends, neighbours and family. Conthilences to the family of Mr. Kevin Powell on his sudden passing this past week. Condolences to Lois Haines on the recent passing of her sister-in-law Mrs. Rellie Rathbun. Auburn Lions Club Pancake Breakfast will be held Jan. I I at the Auburn Community Hall. The Auburn Lions Club meeting on Jan. 7 is at 7:15 p.m. The Auburn Women's Institute will cater. At Knox United Church, Rev. Pat Cook's message was Bearers of Light. Spiritual readings were from Matthew 2: 1-12 and Samuel 72. Happy birthday to Katelyn Roetcisoender, Allison Coursey, Joni Reinhart, Scott Stevenson, Wayne Taylor, Wayne Fenton, Joel Greiner. Doug Chamney, Kelly Cunningham, Kaden Bell, David Plunkett, Charlene O'Reilly. The Auburn Horticultural Society is holding • a meeting Jan. 12 at Maxine Seers's. You Can Make a Difference HUNTINGTON DISEASE 4 UNTINGTON 1-800-998-7398.2 www.hsc-ca.org Ar filarifilOIAMOAP CRA/G N/CHOLSON Getting Gas By Craig Nicholson (©2004 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.)