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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-10-23, Page 5Area fishermen rescued What started out as a pleasant Sunday afternoon fishing trip turned into- a frightening overnight experience drifting on the fickle waters of Lake Huron for three Ashfield Township fishermen Monday. • The trio, Armand Joseph Forgett, 58, his 15 -year old son Armand Jr. and a friend, William McDonald, 27; set out from Huron Sands in Ashfield Township at noon Sunday but drifted helplessly for over 24 hours and nearly 15 miles due . west on Lake Huron after the shearpin on their propellor was sheared. Rescue operations, which involved a flotilla of fishing tugs from Goderich, Bayfield and Southampton, the Coast Guard Cutter out of Goderich, and a Buffalo aircraft from Canadian Forces Base Trenton, were successful in locating the 14 - foot boat at about 3 p.m. Monday more than' 24 hours after the trio had set out from Huron Sands. With only one lifejacket on board and no food, the fishermen admitted they were. "lucky to be alive" after being picked up the Mike J fishing tug owned by Greg Jackson of Southampton, They were brought . into Goderich Harbour and taken to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. . While brisk winds whipped up six-foot waves, Mcdonald said they kept warm during the night using :a blanket they had onboard. Unable to sleep, they simply sat and talked while the small craft drifted aimlessly. They were greeted by anxious family members as the Mike J pulled into Snug Harbour. "We were only going to see' if the boat worked," McDonald explained. "We got dut a little ways with the boat and tried fishing for a while. But the shearpin on the propellor broke. Armand' Jr. said .they tried in vain for almost six hours to row into shore but strong currents and a 'brisk wind kept pushing the tiny craft farther from. shore.. • ' "We tried to row in for six hours. Finally we anchored about three miles out," Armand Jr. explained. "But the anchor got caught and the rope was cut: We just started drifting away after that." Admitting that . he was a "little bit scared", the young Forgett said that during the cool ,night hismind drifted to the propsect of being rescued. "I was thinking, am I going to get home?" The fishermen were spotted by the crew of the Mike J after the Buffalo aircraft from - Trenton had dropped a flare to . notify rescuers of the location of the boat. The rescue was accomplished just six hours after the fishermen were reported missing by family to the OPP. The Coast Guard Cutter was dispatched from Goderich Harbour and fishing boats owned byBill and Greg Jackson joined the search as well as a ,local tug operated by Ian and Donald Bert MacAdam. The aircraft from CFB Trenton was dispatched at 11, a.m. and the United States Coast Guard was notified along with commercial freighters. Also, a group of volunteers in the Kintail area combed the Lakeshore on foot. A missing persons report was filed with the OPP Monday morning when Irma Hackett, mother. of Armand Jr., discovered her son had not returned hone from the Sunday outing with his father. Although it was not unusual for him to spend the night at • his father's home four miles\away, Hackett was worried. "I. went over to the house and the car was there and there was also another car with the. keys in it," she explained. "But the boat and tractor were gone so I went to (.Clete) Dalton's and they phoned police." The police then contacted the Coast Guard and the rescue• operation was launched. But, for Hackett and the McDonalds, the six -hour search was an agonizing wait: Hackett, who said she lost a daughter several years, spent . the time . with neighbours,.anxiously. waiting for word and reflecting on a previous family tragedy. ' "I would have probably gone crazy if something had happened," she ,said. "I was praying all right. I just grabbed my neighbour. and cried when I found out they were found. I must have been ' really hyperventilating or something .because she told me to get hold of myself." / Both Hackett and the McDonalds credit their neighbours for helping during ' the ordeal. "The neighbours, sure were good to me," Hackett said. The rescue operation was the 40th. of the season for the Coast Guard operation stationed in Goderich harbour. Stamps discounted for Christmas. Canada Post announced Oct. 15 a two -cent discount on poste.ge for Christmas cards mailed to destinations within Can- ada. Special stamps packaged in booklets of ten will sell for $3.20 and will be available for general sale at all postal outlets • on Nov.. 4. The 1985. Christmas Value Pack is the first part of a long term plan that will provide additional postage savings in future years. As a result of a co-operative effort with members of the Gift Packaging and Greeting Card Association of Canadaythe corporation will propose, for Christmas 1986, a five -cent reduction on postage. This special rate will be available to users. of greeting card envelopes 'which will bear a printed matrix on which the postal code must be "ticked". . • The specially printed matrix that will be featured on at least half of the envelopes available to consumers next year, consti- tutes a considerable improvement over the concept that was tested in eight cities last Christmas. "This long term plan will offer Canaa- ,ians .a substantial reduction in their postage costs during the holiday season, while contributing to Canada Post's efforts to process the large volumes of mail received during Christmas more efficient- ly," said Mr. J. R. Taylor, Vice -President, Marketing and Sales. "We welcome the opportunity to cooper- ate with Canada Postin encouraging the tradition of sending, holiday greetings, as well as helping to reduce postage costs at Christmas for the Canadian public," said Richard Cairns, Chairman, Gift Packaging and Greeting Card Association. The plan will be monitored closely to assess its impact on public acceptance, mail volumes and processing efficiency. TO EBITOR Parade needs floats Dear Editor, ' At the last meeting of the Lucknow Business Association we decided to have a Santa ' Claus parade. The parade , date is Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. It has been a number of years since Lucknow has had a' Santa Claus parade and we hope to make this an annual event. We would appreciate entries from any clubs or individuals. If you would like any further information please contact Marlene Struthers at 528-2238 or Joanne Weber at 528-20w00. We need your help on • Dec. 7 to keep the community spirit alive! / . Joanne Weber' The Lucknow Business Association.. Families at special Church service The Dungannon Church was full for the special Thanksgiving service on the, Sunday morning of Oct. 13. Rev. Bob Roberts conducted the Sacra- ment of the Lord's Supper;. a baptismal for the infant daughter, Meghan Christine, of Stephen attd Debbie (Hodges) Waller and the congregation welcomed, three new families into full membership of the church. These were Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Campbell of Belfast, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Tucker from Goderich and Mr. Rodger Pannabecker. The choir"sang the lovely anthem 'Count your many Belssings' and the church had been beautifully decorated with produce from our bountiful harvest by members of the senior Sunday School class and their teacher, Mrs. Diane Park. • ' Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, October 23, 1985—Page 5 HURON Vp CUSTOM SERVICES *Custom Combining *Corn *Soybeans Ready To Serve You GRAINBUGGY - TRUCKS AVAILABLE Will Quote Any Job - Competitive Rates DONALD GEIGER OR HOWATT BROS. 236-4865 •• 523-4500 FARM FRESH Apples McINTOSH, SNOWS, TAI.MON SW E'EL'S, DELICIOUS, IDA REDS, SPARTANS AND NORTHERN SPYS Andrew's Orchard 1/2 mile south of LUCKNOW 529=7508 H UTTON HANDSOME 2 STOREY brick, Lucknow home on a large lot. Living room, formal dining room, kitchen, 2 • baths, 21 z 12 new family room.. Inground pool 16 x 32, change house. House has hot water heat- ing, well insulated. It's immaculate, and low, low asking price. THIS 3 BEDROOM Lucknow brick bungalow is in a quiet location and is in immaculate condition. Large living room, formal dining room, kitchen, 2 baths, Finished basement has large rec room with bar; attached garage. Must be seen to really appreciate. 17 ACRES on Hwy. 86, near Lucknow, 10 acres workable: Enjoy -apples, pears, plums, cherries from the large new orchard now bearing. Nice 3 . bedroom home, with new family room. Steel barn 30x52 with new roof, 18x18' feed storage room. Owner moving - must sell. NEW . LISTING excellent building, acreage just- outside Lucknow, 11 acres reduced to 510,900. 100 ACRES Kinloss, large barn with nearly new milk house, new hydro. Four bedroom house 556,700. 135 ACRES - Wingham - Lucknow area -. large brick'honie, immaculate. Barn, hog set' up. Price drastically reduced. 18% ACRES on .paved road, half mile from town. Brick bungalow, 17 years old, has living room, dining room, 3 bedrooins up, finished basement has one bedroom down, rec room; attached garage. Barn 20x40. MEL MATHERS, WINGHAM, 357-3208 LLOYD W. HUTTON REAL ESTATE LTD. BROKER, KINCARDINE nasty lntenicttional Prisoners of ConscienceWeek 21-27 October 1985 For Information •Call. Kincardine 396-71,39 or Ludcnow 528-3721 Why wait 'til Spring? With our help you can plan your/continuing education. right now!! Counsellors from Western's Faculty of Part -Time and Continuing Education will be available to discuss your educational goals In preparation for. Spring 1986 on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. at Kincardine District Secondary School, Room 9, 885 Durham Street, Kincardine.. CALL• YOUR LOCAL U.W.O. REPRESENTATIVE for more information: Tina oft, 396-7627. The University of Western Ontario Faculty of Part -Time and Continuing Education