Barnewall in `good spirits' BY ANDY COMBER A "kid on the go" when he was growing up and going to school in the town of Essex, Corporal Mike Barnewall, now 26, is determined to overcome the severe injuries he suffered while serving in Afghanistan with the Canadian military last November. "I have a bit of time to decide what I want to do," said Barnewall, who recently returned to a Windsor hospital for therapy, following the Christmas holidays. "I'm feeling good," he said. A member of the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, Barnewall was with a patrol escorting army engineers in Afghanistan's war-torn Panjwaii district when he stepped on a land mine Nov. 21. "It was rigged to explode with two mortar shells," said Barnewall, who suffered shrapnel wounds to his right arm and hand, and severe injuries that would cause the loss of his right foot. "Oh yah, I was in pain," he said. After receiving first aid at the site, Barnewall said he was quickly evacuated by helicopter, arriving at a Kandahar field hospital in less than two hours. His father Dave praised beside me," said Barnewall, noting the solidarity of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, who face constant danger from Taliban insurgents. Mike's parents, Terry and Dave, thanked everyone for the outpouring of concern, love and prayers that have helped in his recovery. "It has been overwhelming and is much appreciated," said Dave. A graduate of Essex District High School, Mike joined the military in 2002, receiving his basic training at the Canadian Forces Recruit School in St. Jean, Quebec. With the Royal Canadian Regiment based in Petawawa, Ont., Mike served his first overseas duty in Bosnia between October 2003 and March 2004. Barnewall arrived in Afghanistan in August 2006, and was wounded before the November incident. The day after Labour Day, he suffered shrapnel wounds from a rocket launched by Taliban insurgents, but returned to active duty 16 days later. Fighting in Afghanistan in 2006 has been the toughest Canadians have seen since the 1950-53 Korean conflict. The grim total for the year-to-date was 36 soldiers killed and 83 wounded. For All Your Financial & Insurance Needs... See Us Today! 4th Annual Heart & Stroke Soup Luncheon 26 Soups to choose from, rolls, desserts plus refreshments. Wednesday, January 10, 2007 · Page 3 Advance tickets-$6.00 Available at: Fairview Car Star Collision DPM Insurance Group (Essex) Woodslee Credit Union (Essex) Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Jan. 31, 2007 11am - 1pm Essex District High School Cafeteria (Essex) For more information, call Cindy Barnett at 519 776-6457 or Carol Wiens at 519 326-0603 DPM INSURANCE GROUP Phone: (519) 776-6457 TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE WWW,FORSYTHTRAVEL.COM 29 Talbot Street North, Essex, Ontario Established in 1948 · OT 0046911 76 TALBOT ST. N. Feb 14 & 15 - Valentines, Brantford & Niagara Falls, Music Show, Meals & Winery $239.00 Feb. 19 - Mar. 10 - Arizona, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Grand Canyon & more $2799.00 Mar. 19 - 28 - Myrtle Beach, ocean front rooms, breakfasts $1229.00 Apr. 2 - 6 - Blossom Time, Penn Dutch, Lancaster & Washington DC $749.00 Apr. 16 - 21 - Branson, 5 shows incl. Mickey Gilley, Bill Medley, Roy Rogers museum $899.00 May 10 - 11 - Tulip Time, Holland Michigan, & Turkeyville Dinner Theatre $219.00 May 15 - 17 - Chicago, city tour, Navy Pier, Tommy Guns dinner show & more $365.00 Jul 4-14 - Alaska Cruise and tour with Holland America...from $4325.00 Jul 4-11 - Alaska Inside Passage Cruise Holland America from $2575.00 All pricing includes tax and is in Canadian dollars. TRAVEL Ltd. ESSEX 776-6439 Determined A native of Essex, Cpl. Mike Barnewall, 26, is making steady progress in his rehabilitation after being severely wounded while serving with Canadian military forces in Afghanistan last November. the Canadian military for its efficiency in caring for his son, noting that the family was advised within about five hours of the incident. "It is hard to put it out of your mind when your son is in a dangerous place...and when something happens you want to know," said Dave. Barnewall expects to be out of the hospital soon, fit- ted with a prosthesis, and receiving further therapy as an outpatient. "I haven't made any future plans," he said. Barnewall intends to fulfill his contract with the Canadian military, which expires in July 2008, but says he is "definitely not going back into the military." "I was there for the guys Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 a.m. 32 Russell St., Corner of Centre St., Essex, ON JAN. 17 JAN. 24 JAN. 31 FEB. 7 FEB. 14 FEB. 21 Scams - Postal, Phone, Email Sergeant Gamberta To Be Announced. Harp Lady Anita Lieschead Spring Fashions Amy Belle & Accessories Kim Watson Healing Touch Barb Klassen Ion Essence-cleansing & Detox Mission to Seafarers Rev. Bill Bradley Recognizing Alzheimers Rosemary Funeral Planning Tony DeRyk Day Away 10,000 Villages Pool cars and Pelee Rock Bottom Susan Fox Matters of the Heart Chair Massage & Cottam lunch Debbie Wendland Take-A-Break Ladies' Morning Out Spring 2007 Bullet hole found in CHYR moves tower, increases signal garage door Continued from page 1 The following day, Essex police closed off a section of Walker Road after a firearm was discovered in the McGregor area. "A gun was recovered," said Sgt. Gamberta, who could not confirm it was connected to the Essex incident, pending the results of forensic testing. Despite the arrest, police said the investigation is still ongoing and witnesses are still being interviewed. Provincial court officials said Durocher was in custody awaiting a bail hearing scheduled for Jan. 9. strength Leamington's 96.7 CHYR radio station announced last week it is broadcasting from a new transmitter site in Cottam. The new tower will broadcast CHYR to 120,000 more people in Windsor and Essex County. The station's original tower was located north of Point Pelee, where it was in operation for more than 50 years. "The move solves some long-standing signal issues in Amherstburg, LaSalle, Frightening discovery Essex police forensic markings are visible next to a bullet hole discovered in the garage door of a Margaret Brown Crescent home in Essex, Jan. 1. ADVERTISE! IT PAYS TO Tecumseh and Lakeshore," said program director Corey Robertson in a media release. "We will continue to support community groups and festivals across the county and look forward to the opportunity to reach thousands of new listeners daily." CHYR's programming focuses on music mixed with news about Windsor and Essex County. The station is owned by Blackburn Radio Inc. FEB. 28 MAR. 7 MAR. 14 MAR. 21 MAR. 28 APRIL 4 Fee: $25.00 - 13 weeks, or $3.00 per week. Co-ordinator: Daisy Bartholomew 776-5172 Treasurer: Donna Merritt Program Convenor: Joyce Iler Lunch: Lil Dusik Cards: Phyllis Gerard Bus Trip to follow Call 776-4268