Loading...
The Huron Expositor, 1984-08-08, Page 1.71 g the communities and areas of els. Dublin, Hensall and Walton 50c a copy SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8; 1984 — 18 PAGES migrants They immigrated to Canada in 1980 --mov- ing to a new country where they had no friends or family --with no money and only the clothes they wore. Last week, the Larprom family of Brussels moved to their very own home and in the same week became Canadian citizens. Purchasing a 50 acre farm in Grey Township and becoming new Canadians was the realization of a four year dream for Suvit and Osoth Larprom and their five children Ratsamy, Suvany, Manivan, Phailop and Somikham. We had nothing when we came to Canada but we had a dream and worked hard for that dream,' says`Mr. Larprom. "1 feel very happy. 1 like Canada very much --1 think it's a good country. It's good. here," says Mrs. Larprom. But in 1975, the Laotian family never dreamed they would be Canadians, The family were citizens of Pakson, Laos'and had just built a new four bedroom home when the communist party took over their country. Mrs. Larprom was a nurse in a local hospital and her husband supplied fuel to the American compound. "The first two years of Communism was okay but after that, we found it very hard to get along with them because of their new policies," says Mr, Larprom. "We couldn't do what we wanted and if we did want to do anything, we had to ask for permission. it was for this reason that many people escaped to Thailand, Before the Communist takeover, I never thought I would leave Laos," Laotians didn't want to leave, but because of freedom restrictions, their first thought was escape, The Larproms started planning their flight to freedom in 1976. They fled Laos three years later, "We never told anybody, not even our family, that we were leaving. We only told our relatives three hours before. The kids were very small then, and they were asleep when we told them we were going to visit my wife's sister at 11:30 at night. Her home -is only about 11/2 km. from the Thailand border. WHERE ARE WE GO GR "We crossed the Mekong •ver. which the border, in my sister -in -i s boat. children kept crying, 'where we goin where are we going'? Blit w old them stop crying so nobody would ar us. "The Thai soldiers saw us co Ing and the. put me and my whole fa in—a...jas1 compound for two weeks. The only place we could sleep was on the ground. We were then moved to a refugee camp where we spent six months, The Larproms.heard later that Laotian soldiers detained Mrs. Larprom's sister the morning after the escape. "She denied it all. ,But i think the soldiers knew," says Mrs, Larprom. Most of the Larprom relatives are still in Laos, but Mrs. Larprom has one brother and two sisters in -Australia, One nephew remains in a Thai refugee camp. . "One of my brothers was caught trying to escape. He spent five years in jail," she says. WANTED TO GET OUT At the camp, the family was hoping,to go to Australia but they had a chance to emigrate to Canada and took it, "We didn't want to stay in the camp. The kids cried and wanted to get out, but they didn't know where to go," says Mrs, Larprom. "It was too crowded, very hot and the kids got sick. There was not enough water, • sometimes not even enough to ,drink, There - were about 50,000 people in the camp. We lived in a small but --sometimes we couldn't lay down to sleep but had to sit." The Larproms arrived in Edmonton on May 23, 1980. Brussels community churches sponsored the family and as a result, they arrived in Brussels in June, "When we first came to Canada, we didn't know where we were going to stay and didn't know the language very well, but now Canada looks the same as Laos," says Mrs. Larprom. "We were homesick" "The first year, we were homesick and we found Canada was very cold --even in the summer, 1t was cold for us and we had to wear lots of clothes when we arrived," Mr. Larprom can remember swimming in a river in Laos in the winter, They didn't need central heating and didn't have hot water except when they boiled water to drink, HAD NOTHING "When we came to Canada, we were very sad because we had nothing. When we came to Brussels, we were given enough money to buy foqd and pay the rent for the first year." jte says. In Oct. 1980, Mr. Larprom found a jots • working on a pig farm owned by Neil Hemingway. He continues to work for Mr. IMMIGRANTS/ ON PAGE 3 happy to be Canadian TRUE CANADIANS—The Larprom family of Brussels became Canadian citizens last wirek. At the same time, th'e family moved Into their new home near Ethel. Showing the true Canadian spirit by waving Canadian flags are from left to right: Osoth, Ratsamy, 13, SuVany, 10, Manivan, nine, Phallop, six, Suvit, and Somikham, 18. (Wassink photo) Seaforth vehicles get safety checks Some area motorists were cautious the last several weeks, walking or bicycling around town. Despite the caution. 2 vehicles were checked at the safety lanes in Seaforth last Thursday. Eight were found to be unsafe "It's about aserag e••it's a good day's work." said Clare DeVeulle. He is the Arca Vehicle inspector for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Seaforth police issued formal demand notices to motorists requiring Them to take their vehicles through the inspection. Notices were issued. in some cases, over a month ago to give some owners a chance to make minor repairs prior to the safety. At the same time, seseral acre surprised and were asked to pull their schicics in for a safety. Three who erre gas en a notice didn't show up, "In the last fee sleeks, we noticed some vehicles were parked But the safety checks are done for the safety of the driver and the motoring public." said Hal Claus, Seaforth police chief. "Only two vehicles received safety stickers. They were in excellent shape. Eight were removed from the road and nine traffic violations were Iaid••ranging from operation of an unsafe vehicle to falling to produce a driver's license," said Mr, Claus. Most vehicles only needed minor repairs, he said. "Sometimes things that take a vehicle off the road aren't hard to fix. Either the brake fluid is down, broken brake lines or holes in the trunk. But something as minor as a cracked mirror doesn't mean the vehicle will be taken off the road." STICKERS REMOVED Vehicles that were found to be unsafe had license plate stickers removed and were towed away at the owners expense. Bill Brown, Egmondville tow trucker operator towed two cars away when he was asked to go through the safety. A second operator, Leo Medd was also required to participate "1 find nothing wrong with the safety check, but if they wanted me to go through the safety, the police should have informed me at least a week ago." said Mr. Brown, "1 didn't like the way they went about asking me to go through. There was nothing wrong with my truck that was serious—only a leak in the exhaust." Chief Claus said he finds nothing wrong with requesting tow trucks to go through safety lanes. "Not when the pperators hold a license to safety check vehicles. The trucks were in good shape. Only minor repairs are needed." Safety officials and police only dealt with nnc irate motorist. "A guy tried to run me down because he didn't want to go through the safety." said Mr. Claus. Another motorist from St. Marys who was holidaying with his family in Bayfield was pulled in for a safety His car was taken off the road because of faulty brakes. The holidavet had to call a tow truck from his home town and had to find a ride home for his family. CHECK FOR LEAKS "We check the steering and suspension If there are holes in the floor. exhaust fumes can enter a vehicle which causes drove sincss and accidents," said Mr, DeVeulle. We check for leaks in power brakes and steering systems, Many vehicles hake insecure batteries. A battery could fall into the fan and could cause an accident because power steering could he damaged. "We had one vehicle come through with no brakes, It was taken off the road." Mr, DeVeulle said he can't understand why people drive unsafe vehicles. He's been checking them for seven years. "It doesn't seem to follow a pattern i se seen rich women drive T•Bird convertibles with the whole bottom rusted out of the car "But people are doing more repairs We SAFETY / ON PAGE 3 HORSING AROUND—Shawna and Marcy McCall, granddaughters of Stewart McCall pose with Callwood Bretta at their farm near Walton. (Hundertmark photo) Pilot error blamed ,in crash Pilot error is being blamed as the cause seriously injured. He was recently released of an airplane -vehicle crash that claimed from hospital. three lives near Gerrie on June 16. No Peter Browne of Gorrie, the only eye inquest will be held said coroner Dr. J.K. witness to the accident said the plane McGregor of Wingham. seemed to have trouble taking off. He said The coroner said the decision not to hold he could hear the motor surging. He saw an inquest was made after meeting with the plane hit the side of the highway and investigators of the department of trans- land on top of the car, port and the Ontario Provincial Police. Mr. McGregor said investigation showed Gordon Moir, 56 of Gorrie and a former that the pilot attempted to land the plane resident of Hensall, was Med when the on an airstrip north of Highway 87. The Cessna 170-B he was piloting i -ached into strip is on a farm owned by Norman Fairies a car driven by William Miller, 70, of of RR 1, Gorrie. He was also the owner of Fergus. Mr. Miller and his wife Helen died the plane. The pilot then attempted to take in the crash. A passenger in the plane. off again and it "ended m disaster," he William Ball, 26, of Etohicoke was said. Farmers want answers Farmers want answers and that s why three candidates, Murray Cardiff (PC), the Huron County Federation of Agricul• Bruce McDonald (Lib) and Valerie Bolton ture is sponsoring an All Candidates (NDP) an opportunity to speak about their Meeting. says Brenda McIntosh. a director election platforms. more importantly, farm of the county federation. related issues. The meeting. the first to he announced FARMERS / ON PAGE 3 for the Huron -Bruce riding will Rive the Horses were hobby for McCall Horse racing started out as a hohhv foi Stewart McCall. of Seaforth in I9°" when he bought Bets Fly Fly Since then. it's become a family operapon which involves both sons Jack and Mu'rray And the hobby has made thousands of dollars for Stewart McCall Ltd "We've had a lot of luck but then again, we've had good stock Every horse we'vc bought has been a rare horse." sass Mr McCall. Starting with Bets Fly FIN., winners owned by Stewart McCall Ltd. have included Sugar Shaker, who won the Ontario Sire Stakes in 1980. Journal's Hope and Armbro Arctic. who made his last win on June ' this year Before Armbro Arctic could be sold the night of his last race. he was chewed up in the neck by another horse that got loose and the deal fell through. "it was sheer carelessness. Armbro is out on the farm now. Whether he'll get better, we don't know," says Mr. McCall. Still racing for the McCalls are Fergus Hanover and J.D. 's David. two yearlings that were purchased last fall. Along with racing, the McCalls have also been breeding standard bred horses since 1978. One broodmore, Dawn Elmhurst. has produced 5500,000 in colts and is presently in foal to Ralph Hanover, of Elmhurst Farms, Kentucky. Merrywood Susie is another of the McCalls' top producers and she is in foal to -Armbro Omaha. Both Sugar Shaker and Callwood Bretta are in foal to Jonquil Hanover. Mr. McCall's son, Murray and daughter-in-law, Sherry look after the horses on their farm near Walton. When in the market for a horse, Mr. McCall says he seeks help from his son Jack who's a veterinarian tor the Ontario Jockey Club. Characteristics they look for include quality bloodlines in the broodmares, which means a long history of race horses in the family. In the race horses. then lank to'r a quality bloodline, confirmation (a sell built body). temperment, and the was the,. stand and put their feet down, LiKE WATCHING PEOPLE DANCE "1 like to see them run in their ms n pasture field before 1 buy. if they hit their knees or if they run toe in or toe out , they're nogood It's the same thing as watching people dance; you like to see someone light on their feet." he says. "We had a lot of good luck" The amount of noise a horse makes when it runs is also a consideration. If it pounds the track, it will pound its legs to pieces; so, a horse should not make any noise at all. says Mr. McCall. After looking at hundreds of colts and looking at the same colt about 25 times, the McCalls will make their selection. "Every- body in the horse business is looking for a super colt to stand at a stallion farm someday. 1 don't suppose I'll ever get one." he says. The closest Mr, McCall has come so far to that super colt is Armbro Arctic. "But, he was gelded at two so he's not going to he a stallion." At an average of 55000 for a stud fee, stallions can make more money for an owner than broodmares. - Both stallions and broodmares prove themselves on the track and by how their offspring do on the track. But, occasionally a horse will become a good race horse without the bloodlines 'When you get out the black honk with all the horses' bloodlines and go was hack. there's usually a reason for them being a race horse," sass Mr McCall HOPE FOR THE BEST Even horses with quality bloodlines may not turn out to be good race horses. "You just breed your mare to the best and hope for the hest, Lots of top yearlings nekcr make the racetrack.'' Because of that unrertaints. racing can he a risky way to make money Bad treatment from a groom can mean a horse performing less than its best, But, sometimes a horse that is not expected to win could have a perfect trip and win. "Race horses are horn to race not made to race. The big thing is learning how to hang a horse up, Maybe he races better with open or closed bridles. You have to keep changing things until the horse is comfortable." Both the trainer and the groom are important members of a horse owner's staff. While a top trainer can make a top horse out of a race horse. a groom can keep a horse happy and in the mood for racing. "It's important to get horses up for the big races and that means a lot of tender loving care," he says. FROM HOBBY TO BUSINESS Mr. McCall's background with horses has helped him turn horse rating from a hobby to a money -making business As a child he showed Clydesdales and drove his grand• father's horses at the Royal Winter Fair. "1 got to know confirmation then and I've always liked the races." he says. And, he's always had respect for a horse's intelligence. "Horses are smart, You can train them to do anything and they know when you're calling them stupid. I've always said there's no stupid horses just stupid horsemen." r Deb Core, Jennifer Watt are Ontario golf champs / All Western cattle pressure market/ Al2 Former publisher gets Gold Quill A3 Senior games ready to go/ A11 Births /A6 Brussels /Al2 Classified /A14, 15 Dublin news /A4, 5 Entertaininent /A18 Family /A6, 7, 8 Farm /A16 Hensall news /A17 Kids /A9 Obituaries /A8 " Sports IA10, 11 Walton /A13 e.