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- 'Russell, Greely, Embrun, Morewood, these and other Castor communities last week were locked in the grip of Winter Carnival madness. Chairman André Beriault, at Embrun, said he and the Carnival organizers were more than satisfied with attendance. "We had plenty of interest and lots of cooperation. The weather » was on our side. The carnival went on for nine days. I guess people wanted a break from inflation, high taxes and the pressures of modern living."' In Russell Village it was the same story. Large crowds, lots of entries in the races and sustained interest made it the finest winter carnival yet. Morewood drew crowds from the village and outside, as people came together and got to know Covering the Queen contest wits big," "*Really big." The noted impressario of the Jack Tyo. said. cash register, where he can usually be found, talking about the Russell Carnival Queen Pageant and fondling thescurly beard he grew especially for the occasion. He was right. The Queen Pageant had everything. I went down to the back of the hall, packed so tight with eager, attentive spectators that chairman Nancy Matthew of the organizing committee had to turn down many others who showed up. By the time I got there it would have taken a shoe horn to get one more person in. I was that person. I turned to Jack Tyo who by now had gotten himself behind the . bar selling beer. I ordered a beer. Jack poured me one. "This is big, Jack." '*Really big." _4 He was right. When the girls came out in their Carnival gowns, a sigh went up from the crowd. As p {everyone knows by now, the win- ner was Kerri Middlemiss, with J say Charters as First Princess and Colette Sequin as Second Princess. Max Keeping turned in his usual polished * performance as M.C. and Phil McVey and the Acres Family entertained. : Afterwards, Max about his days as a young reporter covering John Diefenbaker in elections. Once on a campaign, Js Max was late getting to the air- iS Zi port, but the Chief wouldn't let Sse the plane go without him. * Russell Red and White was at his Carnival-itis Grips Castor * ) reminisced ~ 9 each other. According to Paul Mayotte, next year's Morewood carnival will be bigger and better. Greely, too, reported a fine car- nival with attendance and entries up over last year. All in all, the gods, Fate, destiny, whoever was in charge of weather did a great job of providing necessary condi- tions for maximum turnouts at all winter carnivals in the area. Russell Village Working hand in glove, Russell Lions and the RA put together a program that packed in residents both indoors and outdoors for the entire five days. Ray MacNamara, Carnival chairman; Dave Davies, of the Russell Lions and Paul Wylie of Russell R.A. pulled. out all the stops to present the best and the brightest to the record crowds in attendance. At both the dances and the Queen pageant, people were turn- ed away because of the danger of' overcrowding. The Sunday morning parade was one of the best ever, with the prize going to Vernon's Pioneer Days float. Russell Firefighters also distinguished themselves. The crowds kept coming for old timer hockey, beard growing con- test, children's parties, judo, pan- cake breakfast and other carnival festivities. * The bed race saw a number of excellent teams competing in- cluding a novice one from the Castor Review. The RCMP fivesome took the contest. Plans are under way for next year's carnival to include a fishing derby and scavenger hunt. Basket- ball on ice and tug of war will also be part of the program. The Treasure Hunt purse has been in- creased to $100. The Carnival Committee expressed thanks to sponsors who had _ generously donated time and materials. Members of the Russell Car- nival Committee: Chairman, Ray MacNamara, Paul Wylie, secretary-treasurer, Dave Davies. Committees: Carnival Queen Pageant, Nancy Matthew; Old Timer Hockey, Bruce Woolsey; Wine Cavern, Jim Middlemiss; Bingo, Yvonne Barette; Broom- ball, Pat Shea; Senior Citizens Dance, Leo Provost; Canteen Breakfast, Bruno Santilli; Minor Hockey Novice Tournament, Mike Barry, Miller Carscadden; Bake Sale, Eileen Hamelin. Children's party, Donna Nordenstrom; Cross Country ski- ing, John Bols; Roast Beef dinner, Leo Walter; Dance, Rolly Tougas; Pancake Breakfast, Gord Saunders; Skidoo race, Bruce Woolsey; Carnival parade, Ray. Rivers; Lumber Jack Contest, Lorne Honey; Bed Race, Norm Inglis; Costumes, Gillian Rokosh. Beard Growers Jack Tyo was the recipient of congratulations from all sides as winner of the Beard Growing con- test. Jack also appeared in the Ot- tawa Citizen with Miss Dominion of Canada. ee Jack was modest about his achievement in beard-growing. "T started out from the. first, determined to grow a good crop of chin whiskers. I put everything I had in it. My present beard, which I will continue to wear for a while and which is on display at the Red and White store cash every day, is the result of sheer determination and grit." Being chosen Carnival Queen doesn't necessarily mean the win- ner is the best looking girl in Russell Village. But it's sure a step in the right direction. For Kerri Middlemiss it meant $100, a dozen red roses, gift cer- tificates and a chance to exchange chit-chat with Max Keeping in front of several hundred people, including Miss Dominion of Canada. Who could ask for anything more? Picking a winner from among the bevy of Russell beauties was Kno easy task for judges Mary Kerri Middlemiss -- Queen Saat al Rinas' (Miss Dominion of Canada); .Ottawa Rough Rider Pat Stoqua, Ray Gregoire, presi- dent of A. and R. Gregoire, Janet Stark of Kemptville Agricultural College and Michael Eisenstat. The contestants included Helen Bols, Karen Bekkers, Patricia Nyenkamp, Eleanor Youngberg, Joan Boersma, Ginette Bilodeau, Colette Seguin, Jody Chaters, Trudy Achtereeekte, Kerri Mid- dlemiss, Sylvie Paquette and Mary-Ann Nyenkamp. Nancy Matthew was chairma of the Organizing committee. a Greely Greely's carnival featured a suc- cessful skidoo rally with 107 en- tries. Country and Western night was held with entertainment by Jocal 'Old Time Fiddlers." A Monte Carlo night abetted gambl- ing fever. The 'windup dance featured "Westburg Union". The carnival ended with a cross coun- try ski tour and pot luck supper. Barb Burleigh was chairman of the entertaining amateur show. Congratulations to Neil Quinn and the entire carnival committee "were voiced.