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Times-Advocate, 1988-05-04, Page 5n the Street By Jim Beckett If you -were watching from across the street you would never have guessed a serious crime was going on. In under five seconds a wad of bills left the hand of a 15 -year-old youth and was stuffed into the dirty jacket of a young man in his ear- ly twenties. The Other side of thc transaction ended just as quickly. The youth grabbed a plastic bag containing what looked like little squares of paper, jumped into a waiting car and headed off with his puddies. lt's happening all the time in Exeter, Godcrich, Grand Bend, Zurich and any other small town you could name in the area. In fact, accord- ing to what should be the best information available, drugs are readi- ly available in our communities. Several Exeter and arca youths were exposed to this information Thursday evening when -they discussed drugs with someone who has first-hand knowledge. "A hit of acid is available in Exeter for the going rate of S3 to S5" he said. The man should know. He's bought drugs in Exeter before. Thc .youths listened in amazement when they heard how he had been threatened with death on several occasions. "I've had knives at my throat, guns pointed at me and people trying to force me into •taking heroin," he said. For the boys and girls at the Lions Club meeting it was like see- ing somebody right out of Miami Vice. They were listening to Glenn Miller. Who knows if it's his real name? The only Glenn Millers I've heard of are the band leader and a bridge in Trenton that's named after him. This Glenn Miller is an undercover: officer with the Ontario Pro- vincial Police. At the podium he looked like any other guest speaker you would expect to find addressing a local service club. He had an expensive -looking pin striped suit, longhair and perhaps an asset that could save his life some time...a disarming smile. When he talked, you couldn't help but be impressed. His public speaking and communications skills ware those of a polished profes- sional. Apparently his acting skil:.s have to be even better....his life depends on it. The Glenn Miller we saw Thursday night could pass for an execu- tive anywhere. The next time you sec him you probably wouldn't know him. His clothes might be more in keeping with the outfits worn by motorcycle gang members. His.voice will lose the polish and take on die profanities and toughness of the hundreds of drug dealers Glenn has met over the years. You sec, Glenn's the compptition.--Ies-his-job to -slow -down- the -fantas is vo umc o usincss drug dealers do in Ontario everyday. An undercover drug officer (known on the street as a narc) must regularly put his .life on the line to gain the confidence of those in the drug business in order to make an arrest. "There's very few of us....and there's thousands of them, Miller said...but you get the idea he's•plcascd with the progress the OPP have made in their war against drugs. "Just don't let them find out you're a cop, or you're dead," he said. - Miller's training for the dangerous undercover assignments is not what you would expect. Sure, he has to know everything a regular officer needs to know....but he also must become a master at adapt- ing himself to whatever situation he may be in at the time. part of the basic training with the OPP is to live on the streets of Toronto with no money. "They just drop you off and you have to survive the best way you know how," he said. Miller was part of an undercover team that worked Exeter a few years ago. Apparently business was good in the area because about 40-45 arrests followed. Thc Lions and youths alike were fascinated as they heard first hand from someone who's been there, that there definitely is a drug under- ground in Exeter. He reeled off the names of various drugs in much the same way you would go through a grocery list. Heroin, cocaine, canabis, LSD, speed, hash and PCP were the most popular drugs he listed. We sat amazed as he mentioned terms like "cranking" and "poking". The message Miller had for the youth of Exeter and arca was "nothing good can ever possibly come from drugs." Ile said even the casual use of drugs escalate rapidly until "you move over thc line from•bcing in control to the drug being in control." When you're hooked on drygs there is nothing you won't do to get your next supply. Miller, who's arrested drug dealers ranging in age from 14 to professionals, describes their outlook as•dismat. "Sooner or later they'll get caught," he said. You can tell Miller's war against drugs is more personal than a job. "I've seen people die from drugs." We had just finished a delicious dinner and were expecting a fun evening with our children when the conversation turned pretty seri- ous. We head how death is risked every time you take drugs. Some people inject rye whiskey directly into their veins. Other drugs arc dissolved in the -corner of your eye in order for the "hit" to get to the brain more quickly. Miller, who has spent over $10,000 himself the last four weeks on drugs, says dealers run the risk of doing time in thc penitentiary be- cause of the tremendous amounts of money that can be made. "It's gam.,, "Millions arc being made. last year we seized 533 million in drugs and we're only scratching the surface,".Miller said. An ounce of he- roin can bring a street value of up to 513,000 while an ouncc of co- caine brings $3,000. With drugs available from 53 to as high as you want to go, and a market out there ranging from 10 -year-olds who steal the money from their parents to high-income professionals it's not difficult to understand that Glenn Miller and other officers like him are fighting an uphill battle. "We always have to play by the rules and be extremely careful of things like entrapment and violating the rights of the accused when we make an arrest", he said. "The tough thing is that the drug dealers do not have any such standards." It's really hard to imagine how the OPP and other drug enforce- ment agencies will win the battle against drugs. The good guys arc outnumbered and the bad guys have no conscience. The only thing we have going for us is the dedication and enthu- siasm of people like Miller. Whether he's arresting dealers or educat- ing our young people about the dangers of drugs, you can't help but feel some progress is being made. • Thc last time I saw young people riveted to their chairs and paying attention was at another Lions event when wrestling superstar Billy Graham commanded their attention. Thc difference between meeting thc wrestler and Glenn Miller is this - theyouth kncw Miller's battle is real. The only unfortunate thing about the evening is that there are hundreds of young people in our arca who have not had the opportunity of hearing Miller. T nes Advocate May 4 1988 Page Family vehicles making comeback5 By Adrian Harte The past decade has been witness to the near extinction of a North - American trend: the large family car. Concerns over fuel efficiency and movements towards smaller, sportier vehicles have removed much of the demand for large se- dans and the traditional woodgrain- sidcd station wagon from the mar- ket. . Nevertheless, a survey of area car dealers shows that the wagon is holding onto a share of the market, and in some cases is actually mak- ing a comeback in popularity. What is it that has changed for the car buyer? Is it a need for prac= tical transportation? Or does the wagon buyer seek to recapture the happy family image built up around those vehicles in the 1960s and 70s? Robert Sargeant at Miles Ford said that while sales of the aerody- namic Taurus wagon arc taking off in the cities, he finds he sells near- ly 10 times as many minivans, even since they were first intro- duced "You couldn't get enough then and you can't get enough now," said Sargeant. The minivan'c mix of roominess and fuel en. )ecome a winning combo n for most manufacturers. "For skiing or going away, you can't beat them," Sargeant suggest- ed. The full-size Crown Victoria is available in a wagon, but Miles Ford will only bring them in on a special order basis. Sargeant has never sold one himself. "We sell more Escort wagons than any other kind of wagon," he said, adding that if the Tempo came in a wagon he could probably "sell a bag of them." Frayne Chev. and Olds also has no full-size wagons in stock, but can order them. "If they want therrt, we'll et them," said- arc ermrich, but noted that he has sold quite a few mid size Celebrity and Ciera wag- ons. The Cavalier wagon sells well to companies who need a roomy car for moving equipment • or displays. "The minivan and small truck market has lust boomed," said Letters to the Editor Hcimrich. He says they tend to appeal to families in search of a second vehicle because they fit in well with sporting and camping equipment. "The minivan offers so much more versatility," he con- tinued. The removable seats allow an empty van or seating for up to eight passengers. Another hot item at Frayne's has been the Eurosport wagon, a sporty version of the Celebrity. Heimrich says it does well because it appeals to "the guy who's into the family lifestyle, but he doesn't want to lose the single, sporty image." Heimrich also discounts the stere- otyped image seen on television where the average woman or house- wife drives a station wagon. "I'm saying it is not true, because I know it's not true." Hcimrich says most female car buyers prefer the hatchback. Heimrich believes another reason the vans and wagons arc selling well is because customers are less concerned with fuel economy than they used to be. "Fuel efficiency is not as big a factor as you might think," he said. Hensall Motors' Michael De- nomme agrees the station wagon is in the midst of a comeback. "I don't know if it's the looks or the economy,'but the Sable is doing well." Denommc says some cus- tomers will even buy the Sable wagon instead of the sedan simply for its appearance. He is not sure how many he has sold, but esti- mates he sells only one tenth as many full-size Grand Marquis wag- ons. "If they need anything bigger, they go to the Acrostar (minivan)," said Denomme, observing that many families replace their larger cars with the minivans. On the smaller side of things, Denomme points out the Mazda -based Tracer will be available as a wagon this year. off, the Magic Wagon, first of the minivans, has remained a strong force in their market. Exeter Honda's only product which fits into the wagon class is the redesigned Civic wagon, but Guy Deitz confirmed that it is sell- ing well, especially in its four- wheel drive version. "It makes for a nice vehicle for this area in the winter," Deitz said. He too finds that the wagon is a frequent vehicle of choice in a two - car family situation. "Most people who buy a wagon go out looking for a wagon," he added, noting that his customers have a good idea of what they want when they arrive at the lot. While Honda only markets three lines of cars in Canada, Japanese and European markets see a line of very small vans and trucks that Deitz says aren't likely to be mar- keted here. Honda, he says, considers the North American truck and van mar- ket sewn up with domestic manu- facturers. Even those imported trucks which arc available comprise only a small percentage of the mar- ket share. "The truck market is so full at this point with competitors that Honda will stay out of it," Deitz said. Honda's larger car, the Accord, is not available in a wagon, but Deitz said that if it were, it could go head to head with imported wagons from Audi or Volvo, or even make a dent in the domestic market. "It would offer a little bigger al- ternative," he said. What will happen to the minivan or station wagon as the century winds -to a close? Will buyers sec them as practical means of transpor- tation, or are they in search of the ultimate vehicle of the happy fami- ly, as seen on Brady Bunch re -runs? Or perhaps the auto manufacturers projections that families will own several smaller, less expensive cars will come true. Who knows, but as long as the market demands the larger vehicles, the manufacturers will produce them, along with the advertising campaigns which pro- mote them as stylish and sturdy so- lutions to transportation needs. _Another- trend he -bias- noticcdis---R ESIGNED - Guy Deitz at Exeter Honda points out that Honda has made its Civic wagon longer and larger to accommodate market demand. It is also available in a four-wheel drive version. the decreasing number of trade-ins. He speculates that many used cars are sold privately because thc intro- duction of long warranties on new cars has hurt used -car values on dealers lots. Exeter Plymouth and Chrysler confirmed that while sales of the station wagon K -cars arc tapering Dear Editor: . It secms there is to. -be another shopping mall, complete with "Gas Bar" at the busy corner of Main and Wellington Streets. If such is the case, there is no longer even the slightest excuse for not installing signal lights at this corner. It has been obvious for sev- eral years that a light in this locali- ty is badly needed. Of course rea- sons for not thinking of human life have been put forward; expense, the need for yet another "survey" and alt. the usual nonsense. And that's what it is: nonsense. It has been -suggested that some (nameless) council members have held up this project in the past, more shame to them. Be that as it may: Lets have some action! A signal light before the complex is built, not. after or until some poor innocent soul is killed! Yours truly, , Gibby- (J.M. Gibson) � �• �� ~. -tib \t\, AERO STYLE - Dalton Skinner of Miles Ford shows off the aerodynamic Taurus wagon which is partly responsible for a rekindled interest in station wagons among new car buyers. am os......011111•11111111111. 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