HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-05-25, Page 11Wednesday,May 25, 2005
Exeter Times -Advocate
11
Life's a beach on a long weekend in Grand Bend Staying
safely
afloat
The Victoria Day Weekend attracted its usual beach worshippers to the shores of Lake Huron in Grand Bend. Top Ieft:A group of friends
from London catch some rays. From far left, Alysza Masse!, Pam Joosten, Kristin Baer, Caroline Galazka, Liz Wray, Celina Theriault and
Ashley Ridley. Top right: Rhonda McKay of Stratford shares her blanket with Tiny. Bottom left: Hans Willms (left) and Brad Zehr, both of
Stratford, practice before a beach volleyball game. Bottom right: Beach -goers mark their territory with their belongings. (photos/Stephanie
Mandziuk)
Firefighters' breakfast of champions
As many as 500 people brought appetites with them to the firefighters annual breakfast in Dashwood last Saturday. At left, Dan Zawalsky
flips pancakes beside Andy BanAltena. At right, Darren Parker is served by Tony Beggs while his father Rod Parker gets a spoonful of eggs
from Fire Chief Jim Hoffman. (photos/Stephanie Mandziuk)
ATV proposal to create trails on ABCA land
By Stephanie Mandziuk
EXETER — The popularity of all terrain
vehicles continues to grow and ATVs are
now outselling snowmobiles three to one.
The Maitland chapter of the Huron
Shores ATV Club is pushing for a sanc-
tioned and secured trail system for its
members.
Representatives of the chapter made their
pitch to board members of the Ausable
Bayfield Conservation Authority May 19.
Richard Wilts, president of the Maitland
chapter, says ATV operators are "riding
where they want. They're trashing stuff
and we want to change that. We want to
create a main route that everybody follows
so they don't wander off anywhere else."
Currently, snowmobile trails exist on
ABCA land in the Hay swamp and Parkhill
conservation areas.
The ABCA has referred the ATV group's
request to its property committee for fur-
ther study.
In the meantime, the Maitland chapter is
working closely with its provincial regulat-
ing body, the Ontario Federation of All
Terrain Vehicle Clubs, to educate munici-
palities, landowners, trail groups and the
public about its plan to develop a trail sys-
tem. The long-term goal is to create a
provincial trail network.
The club is also promoting responsible
riding, trail etiquette and conservation.
By Stephanie Mandziuk
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HURON COUNTY —
Most of us will insist our
children wear personal
flotation devices (PFDs)
on or near water, but we
don't always practice
what we preach.
Across Canada every
year, 89 per cent of
recreational boaters who
drown were not wearing
a lifejacket or PFD. Most
were males between the
ages of 19-35.
Having PFDs on board
is crucial and they
shouldn't be hidden
under a seat or bow.
Boaters must also be
mindful of cold water
temperatures, particular-
ly at the beginning and
end of boating season.
Death from sudden cold
water immersion hap-
pens quickly with a gasp
reflex causing an individ-
ual to swallow up to two
litres of water. This can
lead to drowning.
Hypothermia is another
concern.
OPP say the message is
clear, "Having your PFD
on before you end up in
the water will greatly
increase your chance of
survival."
In Canada three types of
flotation devices have
been approved for use by
recreational boaters: life-
jackets, personal flotation
devices and inflatable
PFDs.
When choosing a PFD
make sure it's suitable for
the activity you're taking
part in; check the label to
make sure it meets
Canadian inspection stan-
dards and make sure it's
a snug, comfortable fit.
It may not be the best
fashion statement, but
wearing a PFD can save
your life.
POLICE BRIEF
Taxi driver
busted
EXETER — OPP,
assisted by undercover
agents with the Alcohol
and Gaming Commission
of Ontario, have charged
a local cabbie with deliv-
ering alcohol to an area
residence. Exeter Taxi
had been previously
warned about this prac-
tice and there were com-
plaints underaged
drinkers were getting
alcohol. Police say the
company does not have
a valid liquor delivery
licence. On May 14,
undercover agents
ordered alcohol, which
was delivered in a white
Chevrolet van, by a dri-
ver of Exeter Taxi. A
45 -year-old man from
South Huron has been
charged with unlawfully
delivering alcohol for a
fee.