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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-08-28, Page 13VIF WPThJflFk Times -Advocate, August 28, 1991 Page 13 ousands Frog jumping - The 16th annual frogjumping contest was still a lively part of the Bean Festival. Dozens of competitors brought frogs in for measuring and competition, which consisted of seeing,how far each frog could go on just three leaps. Get going - Jena Snell of RR1 Dashwood has a hard time getting her frog to take a leap to stardom at the frog jumping contest. He's In there - Richard Schilbe (right) gives a hand to Chad Snell to get his frog Into the starting circle for the frog jumping contest. Durpr tank - Doug Schade scores a hit on the dunk tank set up by the Boys and Girls Club of the Men- nonite Church. Taking the plunge was Dwight Gingerich. OPP officer raises $900 in lake marathon By Adrian Harte GRAND BEND - Next year's Busy Bee Playground program got a financial boost after the efforts of a Grand Bend OPP officer brought in over $900 in fundraising. But this was no ordinary fundraiser. In order to catch the eyes of beach vis- itors, and their sympathy, Consta- ble Rob Nickel anchored himself offshore in a floating deck chair for 48 hours. Dubbed the Float -a -Cop fundrais- er, Nickel began his ordeal in the lake on Friday at 12:30 p.m. Al- though the rough conditions made it difficult for him to set up his chair and accompanying raft, he was hoping it would calm down enough to be able to sleep during the night. He also hoped calmer water would allow him to bring out a radio and books to read. Nickel was wearing a wet -dry suit under his OPP uniform, a com- bination he thought would keep him warm for two days' exposure in the water. However, Saturday night the cold lake water forced him to come in to warm up in a hot tub for a couple of hours before re- turning to the chair. Someone had the audacity to steal his dingy during those hours. Nickel said that after meeting the children who participate in the vil- lage playground program, he felt inspired to help their fundraising efforts. "They've got a bunch of really good kids," he said. Playground supervisor Colleen Hamilton explained the program has been strapped for cash recently. A $150 grant from the village does not go far, she said. The money raised by Nickel will likely go to- ward buying equipment such as.a teeter-totter, balls and other activi- ty items. Fundraising for the playground used to come through a charity baseball game, but since that went by the wayside, Nickel said the idea to pull off a two-day floating marathon just came to him. "And probably I'm the only one crazy enough to do this," he said Friday morning before his ordeal. Nickel also pointed out that the fundraiser was part of the overall community-oriehted policing poli- cy and to show that the summer de- tachment had more concem for Grand Bend than just writing tick- ets. "That's the major part of if. That we are active in the community," he said. The rules for Float -a -Cop were simple. He floated off shore until 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Meals were' delivered to him by sponsoring Grand Bend restaurants. Apart from Saturday's emergency warm up, the only other visits to shore were for the bathroom. Jars were set up in restaurants, I bars, stores, and on the beach to collect donations from the weekend crowds. Joking about the marathon before he started, Nickel said it looked like a good way to spend his days off. Otherwise, he said, it might be a good time to quit cigarette smok- ing. This is a good time to quit - two days without them," he said. Consumer price index dropped in July OTTAWA - In July, the consu- mer price index (CPI) for food pur- chased from stores fell 0.9 percent from June 1991, while the CPI for food purchased from restaurants rose marginally 0.1 percent. Overall, the CPI for food fel 0.6 percent from the previous month but was 5.4 percent above July 1990. Seasonal decreases in prices of many salad vegetables contributed to an 11.9 percent drop in retail prices of fresh vegetables in July. Increased supplies of tomatoes re- sulted in a 12.3 percent slide in prices. Retail sugar prices dipped 2.1 percent in July, not yet reflecting recent increases in world sugar prices. Lower producer prices con- tributed to an 1.8 percent decrease in retail beef prices. Seasonal price increases for ap- ples and citrus fruit resulted in a 3.4 percent increase in the CPI for fresh fruit in July. Retail prices of fresh pork rose 2.5 percent in July. Consumers can expect prices to fall further for fresh vegetables as domestic sup*lics increase. Retail prices for fresh beef and pork arc also expected to decline in August due to lower rpyroducer prices. Retail prices of d products, such as ice cream and cheese, will likely re- flect the recent increase in the price of industrial milk. Floated cop - Rob Nickel (right) was the Grand fiend OPP officer who spent 48 hours floating in Lake Huron to raise money for the vil- lage's Busy Bee playground program. Beside him is playground su- pervisor Colleen Hamilton. Out there - Floating cop Rob Nickel waves to shore after climbing aboard his raft on Friday. He still had 48 hours to go. Spectators - Constable Walter Lima (left) and sergeant Gordon Perry of the Grand Bend OPP watch as their fellow officer Rob Nickel set- tles in on his floating chair. The detachment kept a close eye on him during the 48-hour marathon in the cold lake waters. OPENING SEPT. 2 Straight Line Collision Owned and operated by Don Stuckless We're equipped with the latest technology In equipment and paint systems. Conveniently located 4 miles south of Exeter on #4 Hwy. 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