Boy spared Icy road claims Perras Glare ice on the Russell-Embrun road Jan. 26 sent a car driven by Germaine Perras into a spin which claimed the life of the well known 10cal resident. © ~ Mrs. Perras, 46, an active community organizer, was killed instantly when the spinning car was hit broadside by a stake-truck loaded with farm equipment. ; Her passenger, Tommy Sheahan, 5, was treated and released from hospital and has since returned to school. Irene Sheahan said her son has almost fully recovered from injuries sustained in the crash. She pointed out that he was wearing his seatbelt at the time. ; "Some people don't think of wearing them when they're just going to the corner,"' she noted. "But this accident happened right outside the village." . : The accident occurred on the "S" curve near the slaughter-house at about 8 a.m. as Mrs. Perras was beginning her morning route to Ottawa where Tommy attends special education classes. The Russell wife and mother worked for school bus operator Rolland Forgues. Truck driver Clifford Chevrier of Orleans was powerless to avoid the collision, said Casselman OPP Constable Georges Barre. Mr. Chevrier told police he was travelling west-bound at about 30 mph when he saw the victim's white Buick slide towards the centre of the road and then spin around. Firemen fail as drivers Six Metcalfe volunteer 'firemen have failed their driving tests, tem- porarily denying them the right to drive Osgoode Township fire trucks. The tests, conducted by the Ministry of Transportation and Com- munications, revealed the men lacked experience driving the fire trucks. One of the men could not-shift the gears of the truck while another did not know how to open the tip-over cab of the fire truck to get at the engine. Fire Chief Peter Griffin admitted the men did not have enough prac- tice time to learn how to drive the fire trucks, although he said he would trust them to drive the fire trucks in an emergency situation. Griffin said the efficiency of the Metcalfe fire department is not im- paired even though the men cannot drive the trucks. Help -- flooded basement! Does spring bring you the worry or a Flooded Basement? We now of- fer an alarm which gives audible warning of impending flooding or overflowing. It has many uses which include, the basement pump, laun- dry tub and boats. A mere $29.99 will assure your peace of mind when the thaw comes. Ontario residents please add $2.10 for sales tax. ACT NOW -- FLOODING IS IMMINENT! ._ Write to: 101381 Canada Inc., -- Alarms Division, Box 592, Russell, Ontario KQA 3B0, . DON'S GAS BAR DON MAY ELECTRICAL Residential Commercial Farm Free Estimates Russell 445-5332 INDEPENDENT RADIATOR SERVICE COMPLETE RADIATOR SERVICE NEW CGRE INSTALLED & RECONDITIONED GAS TANK & HEATER REPAIRS Pick Up & Delivery EMBRUN ' 443-5423 Billage Painters WALLPAPER SALE 20% Off All Books Large Selection 445-2037 445-2030 Gordon Fleming CHARGEX VISA ony Metcalfe's Henrys Foster kids a_ thrill by Christine Campbell This 'may be the Year of the Handicapped, but for Kay and Alfred Henry, devoted to the disabled. The Metcalfe couple are foster parents to four handicapped children in addition to their own four children. and "love every minute of it."' "It has given our kids something. other children don't have," Kay says. "They can look past the physical handicap of a person and notice beauty in other areas" of their personalities. In 1968, the Henrys began tak- ing in wards of the Ottawa Children's Aid who had medical and surgical needs. They already had two children of their own, Patricia, now 16, and Lynne, now 13. Kay had come to Canada from Scotland in 1961 "because I wanted to see what Canadian nur- sing was like." She met and mar- ried Alfred while working at the Civic Hospital. every year is° The couple later adopted Michael, 12, and Dennis, 11. Den- nis, she recalls, was three years old and in the process of being adopted when he had open-heart surgery. : "'We got into fostering for the severely handicapped children by accident," says Kay. An emergency situation arose and one of the boys needed to be placed immediatley. The Henrys were called to help out. Now she and Alfred care for a four-year-old boy, a three-year- old girl and a two-year-old boy all afflicted with cerebral palsy, as well as a two-year-old boy who has severe development problems. Teamwork is the secret. for managing a household with small children who have to have everything done for them, Kay says. '*We couldn't do it if everyone didn't help." Kay works the night shift every second weekend at the Children's 'Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Alfred is employed by Canada Mortgage and Housing. HUMBUG Help Undo Metrication BUG your MP AND HELP US BRING THESE FACTS TO ~ THE ATTENTION OF OTHER CANADIANS. EXCAVATING Excavators -- Backhoes Dozers -- Loaders -- Ditching Res.: (613) 445-5603 -- Bus.: (613) 236-6822 : Box 39 RUSSELL KOA 380 al Alfred and the children help with the workload in the mornings and evenings and two of the younger children attend the John Butler School for Handicapped Children in east Ottawa between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays. Although Kay says it's a "'wonderful program", she is con- cerned that there aren't enough schools for handicapped children. Many must be institutionalized because there is not enough school accommodation and foste homes. : Finances are also a worry. The Henrys must depend on the Children's Aid society for special equipment that is in high demand. The agency subsidizes medical ex- penses and clothing, but bedding and food are the family's respon- sibility. When the society asks the Henrys to take in another child, it is discussed by the entire family. So far they haven't ever said no. "*You have a different, kind of love for foster children; it's more of a bond. You want to see them ' grow and become independent, but you worry about them a lot when they leave." And the joy? 'Even simple things, like when our four-year-old learned to turn on.a light switch was thrilling to us." Russell village W.I. Mrs. Leila Twiname hosted the February meeting of the Russell Village Women's Institute. Twenty-One members and seven visitors answered the roll call, "How can we help one who is: blind?' Plans were completed for entry in the seed fair in Embrun, March 6-7. Some members will attend the summary day on crewel em- broidery in Navan, Feb. 11. The nominating committee was ~ reminded to have its report ready for the next meeting. Mrs. Ada Latour and Mrs. Erva Cumming, convenors of education and 'cultural activities, presided over the program. Mr. MacArthur, of the CNIB, was the speaker. Lunch was served by Tean Campbell and Shirley Van Dusen. Next meeting to be held March 3, 8 p.m., in the Roman Catholic church hall. Visitors. welcome.