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a INET arte 78 Letter S to the editor Search for Julie, Elizabeth To the Editor: We move in a line from the road into the forest. The snow is deeper here, and the branches grab and block, but we stumble on parallel to the second road for perhaps fif- ty yards until we have searched the area. Then the beard and glasses man contacts head- quarters and we move on to our new assignment. We are one group of fourteen out of about sixty searchers for Julie Stanton and Elizabeth Bain. Most of us are "hard core sear- chers" Jennifer says. I am the on- ly rookie. Ages are from twenties to seventies. They are close with one another and considerate of the new guy. A cosmopolitan bunch. About half are Canadian born. The big Dutchman is hurting, but he denies it. Beard and glasses takes the toughest assignments and is very courteous and kind. The older English woman, cheerfully guides her trained search dog, April, on- to the roughest terrain. The good looking young man, laughingly tells me that he is there to meet ladies. But he has been searching diligently for many months. He is very serious as he searches. He has no connections with the two families. Lim's feet are wet and cold. She warms them on the bus and cheerfully continues the search. I think: Six months!! My God, how do they do it? A father and a teacher are with us, but the others never met the girls. Why do they do it, weekend after weekend. What motivates them? ? Are they saints? No quite the contrary. Some don't even believe. Most are vibrant leaders who could be doing most anything on a Sunday, but they have chosen to search for Julie and Liz. I search faces for clues that don't show. Good peo- ple my granny would say. I do too and stop looking for reasons. Headquarters on December 9th is the Oddfellow's Hall. Maps show exactly the areas yet to be searched. Contact is kept with the various groups, and a hot lunch is ready at noon. Sixty out today. A good average, but well below the summer peak of 600. At a gravel pit teenagers drive their bikes, motorbikes and snowmobiles happily oblivious to this ongoing mission. Mounds of earth or piles of brush give us pause, but there are so many. A mound near a road is shovelled and a sample of the soil is taken for the police. Near the end of the day I find out that the 'beard and glasses" man is Rick Bain, father of one of the girls. Back at headquarters he talks quietly of the good side of these horror stories: The kind- nesses, the friendships formed. "We have to go on day by day con- centrating on these positive things." His eyes through the glasses seemed calm. He was remarkably serene. Later, at home, decorating for the holidays, I become emotional, but it quickly passes. I have been with beautiful people. Rick is eager to recite names of helpers. Among them are: Chantel, Ontario Hydro, Chrysler, Ford, G.M., Laidlaw Lumber, MacDonalds, C.W.L. of St. Joseph's, Manchu Wok Restaurant, Oddfellows, Nestle, Inter City Paper, B.Y. Printing, United Church, a certain helicopter owner and especially the Scugog Fire Department, which has led the way in this area. Volunteers during the week should contact Paul at 728-7285. On Saturday and Sunday, gather at the Port Perry fire hall on Crandle St., just north of highway 7A. Yours truly Ed Daigle, Prince Albert. A QUIZ ... Every week 100 Canadians are killed in traffic accidents. How many each month? How many each year? How many in the last 10 Years? Half of these deaths are alcohol related! WHY AREN'T YOU ANGRY? A message from OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) Port Perry High School Branch Sponsored by Emmerson Insurance Brokers Limited, Port Perry ---- a RW + pel ~ R20/RsI 3S FIBREGLAS INSULATION R20, 6" thick, 54.9 sq.ft. per bdle. 21.69 R12, 32" thick, 99.9 sq.ft. per bdle. 23.69 Friction batts are 15" wide and 48" long LAKE SCUGOG LUMBER'S Great Gift Ideas for the Handyman around your home. TOILET SEAT Genuine oak seat with brass hinges SPECIAL! OAK 99 each WRAP UP BRASS FOR CHRISTMAS Outdoor BRASS LAMP CAR SHOVEL 299 Every car should carry a shovel for emergencies. MAKITA 7%" 1599 CIRCULAR SAW IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT BRASS MAILBOX INFRARED SECURITY LIGHTS 8% Automatic control with sensitivity con- trol of 30 to 50 feel. Bulbs not included. LAKE SCUGOG LUMBER CO. LTD. [CTT] entre J 11 VANEDWARD DRIVE - (OSHAWA ROAD) PORT PERRY - ONTARIO - PHONE 985-7391 Wan bee C ard A Sala Items are Cash 8 Carry Subject to Prior Sale Some Items may have to be Ordered ® QUALITY PRODUCTS ® QUALIFIED SERVICE Leo () (YJ (of Ve --9