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TRIBUTE TO WAR BRIDES Woodslee Friendship Club to honour local war brides KICKOFF TO CHRISTMAS The holiday season begins in Essex `THE REAL McCOY' Colchester Township inventor discussed at HEIRS See COMMUNITY Page 11 See COMMUNITY Page 8 See COMMUNITY Page 26 $1.00 "Serving Essex and Community Since 1896" (GST included) Whole Number 6214 Registration No. 08565 A wood burning stove is only 33% energy effient. Stop in & see a new gas insert fireplace - FYI - Volume 127 No. 48 Phone: 519-776-4268 Fax: 519-776-4014 519-776-4021 32D Arthur Ave., Essex Wednesday, November 29, 2006 http://essexfreepress.reinvented.net EDHS grad suffers serious injury in Afghanistan BY DANIEL SCHWAB Kingsville residents Dave and Terry Barnewall are eagerly anticipating their son's return to Canada this week after being "seriously" injured in Afghanistan. While on foot patrol in the war-torn country's Panjwaii District, Cpl. Mike Barnewall suffered "severe lower body injuries" after stepping on a land mine, according to Canadian Forces. They added that the injuries sustained by Barnewall, who grew up in Essex, were non-life threatening. His father Dave said he found out about the incident the morning of Nov. 21, while on his way to work. The family has spoken to Mike twice since then. "He's in very good spirits and sounds very stable," Dave said. Dave said Mike phoned him from a hospital in Germany. "He realizes he has a seri- ST. NICK VISITS ESSEX - Santa and Mrs. Claus wave to onlookers in downtown Essex Nov. 25. The pair were part of the BIA's annual Christmas Parade, which began on Maidstone Avenue and continued down Talbot Street. Overwhelming support for Essex-Harrow Goodfellows BY DANIEL SCHWAB Organizers of the 2nd annual Essex-Harrow Goodfellows campaign are thanking the community for another successful year. Dozens of firefighters and volunteers hit the streets Nov. 24 and 25 to sell special edition newspapers published as a joint project of the Essex Free Press and the Harrow News. The purpose of the newspaper campaign is to raise money in support of food banks in Essex, Harrow and McGregor. SEE GOODFELLOWS, PAGE 7 Campaign for county warden begins McNamara, Santos enter race BY DANIEL SCHWAB The mayors of Kingsville and Tecumseh formally announced their intentions to run for outgoing Essex County Warden Mike Raymond's position during a banquet in Windsor Nov. 24. A commitment to improving the county's transportation network, building infrastructure and developing partnerships on provincial and federal levels were some of the priorities mentioned by Nelson Santos and Gary McNamara. Santos, the mayor of Kingsville, is entering his third term with county council. "I've seen our municipalities mature and more and more responsibilities have fallen under our jurisdiction," Santos told a crowd gathered at the Macedonian Community Centre. SEE POLITICIANS, PAGE 2 ous injury but he's going to get back to Canada and get better," Dave said. "He wanted to reassure us that he's OK. He's as anxious to see us as we are to see him." Mike is expected to be flying home to Canada this week. The 26-year-old is a member of the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment out of Petawawa, Ont. After the sustaining the injury, he was airlifted to a hospital at Kandahar Air Field. "He's looking forward to a recovery," his mother Terry said. "Everything will be fine. Once we get everything together and see Mike, we'll be able to breathe a little easier." Mike, a graduate of Essex District High School, has been in the Canadian military since 2002. He had another year left of duty in Afghanistan. SEE BARNEWALL, PAGE 5