ALMAGUIN NEWS, Thursday, January 8, 2009 - Page 3

GENEROUS COUPLE: Ivan and Marg Grawbarger are presented with a plaque by Al Proctor, right, for REACHED: In a little more than four months Restoule residents and visitors contributed $30,000 for the generous donation of land for the emergency helipad. the construction of the emergency helipad. Restoule celebrates new helipad Community raises $30,000 in record time Rob Learn raise that amount of money in and material toward the job, and Staff Reporter that amount of time. You know electrical contractor Steve Curran. the saying that you don’t mess But the biggest praise of the RESTOULE – Long before having with Texas. I would say that you afternoon was for Marg and Ivan their safety threatened by logging don’t mess with Restoule,” said Grawbarger. Marg was a key trucks, residents of Restoule had Clement. promoter of the helipad who no trouble coming together for a The helipad is hoped to give wasn’t shy about spreading word common cause. the community of Restoule faster about the project. That was celebrated this past access to emergency services by However, the couple received weekend at the official opening of having a permanent lighted landing a standing ovation for their the community’s new emergency pad for EMS helicopters to airlift donation of the land the pad sits helipad that promises to make patients to hospital. Currently, a on. The couple was presented with residents safer. land ambulance must travel about a special plaque honouring their In less than a year and a half, the half an hour from before important contribution to the community raised the funds for, driving to the North Bay General community. found a location and constructed Hospital – normally a 45-minute Also receiving special thanks the landing platform that meets journey. were the Restoule Firefighters or exceeds national standards for “A helipad can greatly speed Ladies’ Auxiliary and the Royal such installations. up the time interval between Canadian Legion Branch 639 “I believe the reason for the onset of serious illness or Restoule, which both made this success is the generosity injury and professional medical significant contributions to kick of the residents and visitors to treatment, what’s referred to as ‘the off the campaign. the Restoule area,” said project golden hour,’ thereby increasing a The project received $15,000 coordinator and local services person’s chances for recovery and from the Trillium board chair Al Proctor. “During the COMPLETED: Restoule’s new emergency helipad sits prepared for action at a even survival,” said Proctor. Foundation to help pay for the fundraising campaign we had set moment’s notice. The afternoon was also one of special landing lights. a goal of $30,000 for construction thanks for those who stood out “This is a very special project purposes and we reached that goal – where the helipad is located – administrators of the in their contributions toward the that the community can be quite in four months. Truly amazing!” for the opening, which drew MP and District Ambulance Service. project. Amongst them was the proud of, though I’m sure none of It was a full house at the and MPP Norm “It’s amazing that a small main construction contractor you are in any hurry to use it,” said Restoule Community Centre Miller out, as well as the senior community like Restoule can Paul Lamb, who donated time MPP Miller. Almaguin caught between Flu? Stay out of the hospital Mary Beth Hartill In response to the increase Staff Reporter in influenza cases in both the community and the emergency record-breaking snowfalls NORTH BAY – Don’t visit the department, the hospital will be hospital if you have the flu. limiting the number of visitors Mary Beth Hartill from across from Alberta or up from the southern That’s the message from the permitted to accompany patients Staff Reporter United States. North Bay General Hospital to the department. Dec. 27, a low-pressure system tracking northward (NBGH) in response to reported Loyst says that these restrictions NIPISSING-PARRY SOUND – The area is cushioned across northwestern Ontario to James Bay initially cases of influenza in the district. are case specific. If it is someone between record-breaking snowfalls according to brought a mixture of snow, ice pellets, freezing rain and The North Bay Parry Sound seeking medical attention for a Environment Canada. rain to varying locations across the province. However, District Health Unit (NBPSDHU) child then it may be required that Warning preparedness meteorologist for the strength of the southerly flow brought warm air has reported cases of influenza both parents attend. Environment Canada Geoff Coulson says it’s a safe and record to near-record high temperatures to many and hospital officials confirm “Any party that requires an assumption that much of Almaguin has been seeing areas across the province, which in combination with there have been patients with advocate would be permitted to the same weather patterns as the record-breakers, the rainfall was responsible for flooding concerns in influenza in the emergency have one,” she said adding that although they haven’t been recording snowfalls for many areas. Southwesterly winds behind a cold front, department. the emergency department is the same length of time in the area. gusting as high as 110 km/h, battered much of the “We’ve been seeing cases in often head to toe with stretchers Readings from both Muskoka and North Bay province on Dec. 28, causing the power outages that here every day for the past week,” so they try to limit the number of airports indicate record snowfall levels for the month affected hundreds of thousands of residents. said Ann Loyst, program manager visitors to one. of December. “If there is a bit of doubt we’ll issue a weather of the emergency department, Despite no further visitor Wawa, Elliot Lake statement anyway,” said Coulson, particularly during adding that three of those cases restrictions, the public is asked to and Sudbury also set the holiday season with people doing an extraordinary were treated and sent home. help protect patients and staff by record snowfall totals, Wild winter amount of travelling. Loyst says obviously they not coming to the hospital if they, and other areas in the storms such Environment Canada referred to both temperature wouldn’t encourage anyone to not or family members, have the flu province weren’t far and precipitation conditions as a roller-coaster ride seek treatment saying they could or flu-like symptoms. behind, with numbers as the system in December as both went from one extreme to visit the emergency department Loyst says they are mostly that doubled normal another. after hours, seek help from an concerned with people who have values for the month of that hit Dec. 28, Coulson recommends checking out the updated emergency clinic, visit their family symptoms of an upper respiratory December. forecast at weatheroffice.gc.ca. He also suggests doctor or place a call to Telehealth infection such as fever, cough, Readings taken from are easier for keeping an eye out for special weather statements to discuss symptoms. aches, pains and headaches. the Muskoka airport that can come in advance of a watch. reported 211 cm of meteorologists snowfall for the month, breaking a record set in to track THE UNKNOWN FUTURE 1985 of 194.6 cm. North To some extent we have control of our future, but how Bay’s 153 cm broke their 2004 record of 122 cm. often are our plans changed by unforseen circumstances According to Coulson, Powassan and areas just over which we have no control, like the world-wide financial north of North Bay could very well be looking at the crisis which took everyone by surprise in 2008, the effects same weather conditions as the record-breaking city. of which, is still unknown for 2009. The bible says; “Do Coulson says this past December there have been a number of events with southwesterly winds bringing not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day a lake effect into North Bay, conditions that would may bring forth,” Prov. 27;1. The Known Future. Strange also impact areas such as Powassan or Callander. that it should be this way but the known future, which is North Bay was also subjected to record precipitation fully revealed in the Bible, is pretty much ignored by most. of 171.2 mm in December, breaking a record from the For the “saved” it will be their happy portion to be with the same month in 1982 of 153.3 mm. It also broke an Lord Jesus Christ because they have put their trust in Him. annual record of 1,216.4 set back in 1999 with 1,328.6 For the “lost” it will be a fearful awakening to find out, when mm of precipitation. Environment Canada referred it’s too late, that they have died in their sins, unforgiven and to it as the wettest year on record for North Bay. unfit for heaven, see John 8;24. A condition for breaking a record is that levels are ~ Herb West, Box 870, Sundridge P0A 1Z0 recorded for 30 or 40 years versus a site that have been recording for 10 years or less. Environment Canada began tracking the snowfall \ 266 McFadden Line levels at the Sprucedale airport as recently as 2003, off Hwy. 11 which recorded 114.8 cm of snowfall for the month, Trout Creek but information is missing from Dec. 31. According to Coulson the readings differentiate 705-723-5573 between Sprucedale and Muskoka because Muskoka Open 6 Days a Week After Hours: 723-5578 is more predominantly impacted by northwesterly winds whereas Sprucedale sees winds more directly Your European Retail and Wholesale Store from the west. Environment Canada has also been taking snowfall measurements in the Parry Sound area from a site Prices in effect until January 22, 2009 at the Parry Sound Harbour since 2001. Levels for December were recorded at 186.6 cm. There are Beef Liver ...... 99¢/lb. seven days missing from these readings. A former Pork Side Ribs ...... $1.79/lb. site, operational between 1979 and 1991 indicates that 208.4 cm fell in December of 1985. Beef Ribs ...... $1.79/lb. Coulson admits there can be quite a bit of local Beerfest Sausage (by the box) ...... $2.99/lb. variation due to low level wind directions, which is why during a jaunt up Hwy. 11 drivers could be faced Loin End Chops (by the box) ...... $1.79/lb. with a myriad of different weather systems despite Side Pork (by the box) ...... $2.99/lb. similar climates. “We try to pinpoint as much as we can low-level Smoked Pork Hocks...... $1.59/lb. wind directions,” he said. Turkeys (5 - 7 kg) ...... $1.49/lb. December was particularly active for severe weather. A storm system moved through northern Sides of Pork ...... $1.39/lb. Ontario on Dec. 14 and 15, dumping 15 to 20 cm Hind Quarters of Beef ...... $2.79/lb. in many localities, as a bitterly cord arctic air mass moved into northwestern Ontario. Sides of Beef ...... $2.39/lb. Wild winter storms with great winds, such as the storm system that hit the province Dec. 28, are easier STORE Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. for meteorologists to track because they can see a HOURS Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. history developing from other areas, whether it be