4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed. February 17, 1982 BUR ARCADES di NE ER eT 1 w NIN editorial comments "NEVER! sous never cares ME sackme vo!" chatterbox by J. PeterHvidsten Just over a week ago my wife and I were basking under blue skies on a white sandy beach in the Carribean. Oh how that has changed! Yes, after seven days of sun, tropical breezes and plenty of rum punches we arrived at Toronto International Airport last Friday night and became part of a nightmare. It was winter and "The powers that be' had struck full-force during our absence. And now we had to face reality. . As the wheels of our big jet touched down on the two and half inches of snow that covered the runway, the pilot reversed those giant jet engines to help brake the tons of metal that was shooting down the runway at over -200 miles per hour. This action caused a blizzard outside our porthole sized window and within seconds we could see nothing. The plane shuddered like I had never felt it do before as the jets backward thrust grew more and more intense. Finally, after what seemed like minutes, the engines roar subsided and the pilots friendly voice came over the PA system welcoming us back home. ' After clearing customs and finding our luggage we took a taxi cab back to the hotel along the Airport Strip where we had left it one week earlier. The cab driver, who looked like he needed some sleep, told us about how much work he had been doing since the snow started falling the following week. Finally arriving at the hotel he drove us to where we had left our car. Having left Toronto before the snow came, we decided to leave our boots at home so when the cab stopped and we stepped onto the ground we had a very cold surprise. As the taxi drove away, leaving us standing in shoes, and light coats with our bag sitting in the snow we took a look at our car. There was snow piled halfway up the doors along the side, the hood and roof were buried in over a foot of the white stuff and a snowplow had blocked us in from the front. It was at this point that we almost decided to head for the bar rather than try and get out. But with a little urging from my freezing wife, I gallantly plowed my way through hip deep snow and cleared enough away from the door so I could get in. With a little coaxing the car started and I proceeded to get out and begin clearing a path in front of the car. * After using my feet and arms as shovels for a few minutes, we got enough snow moved and we were able to get the car out. With chilled feet and hearts, we then proceeded to head for Port Perry. It was on the way home that we realized that when we got to our driveway we would have to drag our-luggage through the snow to the house and then I would have to spend a few hours clearing a path large enough to get the car into the driveway. The image of us wading through a couple of feet of snow in summer shoes did nothing to make our homecoming very desirable. As we turned down the last road to our home, piles of snow and drifts greeted us and when we came in sight of the drive, we were pleasantly surprised. The driveway had been completely cleared of snow and we were able to drive right into the garage. Although I had a good idea who had cleared it for us it was not until the next day that we found out. Our long and trusted friend, Nick Rensink had driven the tractor over from his farm some seven miles away and with his snowblower cleared a path wide enough to drive a tank through. i Then a couple of days later, we received another surprise when our neighbour Glen Wilson blew the driveway out once again for us. ' It is great to have good friends and neighbours and I can only say thanks to these two fellows who helped to make our otherwise not so pleasant return home, a little more bearable. EARTH TREMOURS While I am speaking about our vacation I would be remiss if I did not tell you of an incredible experience we had. We arrived on the island of Antigua in the Carribean about mid afternoon. After clearing customs and a half hour ride by taxi to the hotel, where we were staying, unpacked our clothing and settled in for our vacation. The remainder of the day we spent sipping Pina Colada's, while walking along the beach and around the hotel complex making ourselves familiar with the location of things. During this time we met some people and together we enjoyed a delicious buffet supper. 3 After supper we found a table and some chairs under th stars and danced and listened to the music from a twenty-piece steel band. It was a delightful finale to a perfect first day, and about 10:30 we all decided to turn in for the evening. Arriving back at our room we proceeded to get undressed and ready for bed. I being a little faster than my wife layed down in bed as she was finishing off in the washroom. As I lay in bed, I felt a little rumble and some noise. Passing it off as someone having a party down the hall I continued to relax. All of a sudden the whole building began to shake and a deafening roar began. Nancy came out of the washroom and stood looking at me as I sat upright in bed looking around. The walls of the two-storey cement structure were rocking back and forth as if we were on a subway train. We were both so stunned that we did not know what to do, so we just stayed there until it was over. By the time we decided to get out of the building we realized that we (Turnto page 6) New Awareness The number of people killed on Ontario highways decreased significantly in the month of January compared to the number the same month a year ago. And Ontario's Solicitor-general Roy McMurtry believes the controversial legislation allowing police offers to suspend licences for 12 hours if the driver is marginally when a roadside breath test show a level between 50 and 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 ml blood, may have had something to do with it. That legislation received very wide publicity over the Christmas season, and it just could be that more drivers began to re-think their driving habits, especially where alcohol Is concerned. One should also keep in mind the very graphic ad campaign which also received publicity partly because it was so graphic and startling. By the way, both the legislation and ad campaign had their share of critics with some claiming the legislation gives too much discretionary power to police officers. However, police statistics show the number of traffic deaths in Ontario went down by 23 per cent In January, from 61 to 47 over the same month in 1981. Sometimes if takes tough and controversial measures to shake people up enough that they Actyally start changing the way they think and act. Agriculture Minister The appointment over the weekend of Dennis Timbrell to the crucial post as Ontario's Minister of Agriculture came as a bit of surprise to farmers in this province. Mr. Timbrell is the first non-farmer to hold this position, but there Is no denying that he is intelligent, hard-working and a veteran MPP despite the fact he is just 35 years of age. And coming off five years as the Minister of Health, there is no question that Timbrell is a '*heavyweight" in the power circle of the Bill Davis cabinet. Farm organizations reacted cautiously to the news of Timbrell's appointment, saying they will give the man a chance to grow with his new job. And no doubt many farmers in Ontario are glad to see that former Agriculture Minister Lorne Hender- son has been replaced as it was an open secret that farm groups felt he was not doing the job he should be. Timbrell will have to put his talents to work with his new ministry as agriculture in Ontario is going through some very critical times at the moment. Beef and pork producers are struggling to keep their heads above water, buffeted by a downturn in consumer demand for their products and the ever spiralling costs of operating a farm. Part of the reason why the consumer demand for meat is down is the end price at the super-market, a price which reflects a lot of hands touching that steak * or pound of hamburg, from the time it leaves the farm gate on the hoof til it winds up in a package on the grocer's shelf. It has been suggested that Timbrell's appointment to agriculture could signal that government is going to pay more attention to problems facing that Industry at the present time. Let us hope this Is true. Farming is a crucial part of the Ontario company generating billions in revenues each year and providing thousands of jobs in primary production, processing, and the manufac- ture of equipment and supplies needed for successful farming. ' Mr. Timbrell is going to have his work cut out for him, gaining the confidence of the farm industry and hopefully introducing measures and policies which will help the troubled sectors of farming. In Durham-York, there had been some speculation that MPP Ross Stevenson might be in line for the job as head of the agriculture ministry. Mr. Stevenson who has an extensive farm back- ground both on the land and In the classroom, certainly has the right credentials for the job. However, he has less than a year of political experience at Queen's Park and Premier Davis obviously felt that Timbrell with his legislative and Calin experience was the man for the job at this me. Nevertheless, we have to agree with those who say that if Stevenson 'pays his dues" on the back benches, he will make a good minister of agriculture some day. As for Mr. Timbrell, we wish him luck. The farm- Ing industry of Ontario Is too crucial to the well being of all of us for him to do a less than adequate job.