Sunday, January 5, 1997 — North Shore News — 3 illy water cheers crowd | Rapia THE annual Penguin Plunge was a_ big splash on New Year's Day at Panorama Beach in Deep Cove (left). Not to be out- done by an Antarctic bird that can't fly, a contingent of .cows from Time Out Sports (above) madly enjoyed themselves near the cold water during a memorable first day of 1997. New Year's Day baby weicomed Entrance prefaced with a ‘whoosh’ By lan Woble News Reporter WYATT Heesterman revealed himself to be a whisked to Lions Gate Hospital, where she was told to go home and return at 8:30 a.m. She was actually not in labor, although Wyatt quickly rectified that. reaction force in Alberta From page 1 base did not compromise the army’s ability to provide help during recent saowstorms. He doesn’t believe the closure will hurt emergency response in the future cither. Zenert said other players in the community, such as citizens and search and rescue personnel, played important roles during the snowstorm. The equipment on the base, including graders, sanders and snowplows, is dupli- cated by local contractors, he added. He said contingency plans are in place to support the Lower Mainland during emergencies once the base is gone. That con- tingency is a rapid reaction force out of Edmonton, he added. Peterson said the feds per- verse logic in saying that Lower Mainland residents are better off with army equipment farther away makes absolutely no sense. He added it would take days to get the equipment back to the Lower Mainland for disaster relief if the roads were passable. During recent storms and squalls, the roads weren’t pass- able. Ss North Shore emergency pro- gram amateur radio coordinator Robert Piggot put finger to key- board and sent a plea to recon- sider the closure decision to Defence Minister Doug Young. “We desperately need those} resources in this immediate area to be available for deployment when required — be it snow,” flood, fire or earthquake... > midnight rambler on New Year’s Eve, but he waited until morning to make an “There is nothing shameful about changing your mind and engaging in sober second Kim and her husband Rob Heesterman and labor coach. Denise Boden were back at Lions From page 7 rescuing that was being done was done by farmers who lived in the. rural area or the people themselves who were trapped in their vehicles.” The rescuers worked with minimal visibility. Said Sovdat: “It took a Jot of effort just to keep the vehi- cles on the road and see were the road was. People just stayed pur. It was the type of thing where you could walk 10 feet from your vehicle and just not see it. . “Walking through the storm, any exposed skin was just eaten raw within seconds, Snow was com- ing at you like needles stabbing into your skin,” he said. North Shore’s Dave Brewer acted as the coordi- nating search manager at the scene. The numerous players in the drama munication benwcen the various responding agen- appearance. Wyatrt’s mother, Kim Wilson of Deep Cove, said the first baby of the year at Lions Gate Hospital got in on the celebrations. “Right at the very stroke of midnight we were just saying ‘Happy New Year’ and whoosh,” she said, imitating the sound of her water breaking. Immediately, PARENTS Kim Wilson and Rob Heesterman and brother Devin welcome New Years baby Wyatt at Lions Gate Hospital. NEWS photo Mike Wakefield cies a particulu. challenge. “We were dealing with the police, the community, the municipality, the ministry of highways and coordinating the efforts of others who we normally don’t become involved with,” Brewer said. Delays caused by harsh weath nditions proved exasperating. “Most often one [upon resources and have them respond within a very rea- sonable time period. In this case where we had to wait many hours due to the weather, it made it extremely difficult,” Brewer said. The NSRT contributed dlankets to snowstorm victims courtesy of the North Shore emergency federal disaster supply. Emergency blankets in Abborsford, stored at the airport, were unreachable. Brewer convinced Cypress Bow! managem to bring in the mountain’s two snow cats plus sup- port staff to keep them going. Dave Heatherington, one of the Cypress Bowl Wilson Gate Hospital at 4 a.m.’ with Wilson in labor. At 7:55 a.m., a seven-pound, nine-ounce Wyatt was born. He was 11 days carly, and in time to make the distinction of being Lions Gate Hospital's first baby of the New Year. “It’s like he’s a little celebrity,” said his mother. He received some gifts from Cuddle Muddie in Deep Cove for his timely appearance. Wyatt Heesterman still doesn’t have a second name, but Kim is leaning towards William if she can’t come up with a name that goes along with Wyatt’s new year baby status. Wyatt joins — two-year-old brother Devin in the Heesterman family. was equipment operators, helped in the se tion. He’s since applied to join the NSRT. “I’ve never seen a situation like it, on Highway 1 and then all of a sudden running into 10 feet of snow drift,” said Heatherington. The snow cats were deployed for about 22 hours between Sunday and Monday. : At ane point Jones and Sovdat were asked to find ewo elderly men trapped in a vehicle by the highway. One of the men had heart problems. They couldn’t leave their car. It took nine hours to find the ovo men. The truck was stuck just about 100 yards from a farm house, yet the house remained invisible in the storm. Jones and Brewer plan to act on what they’ve learned from last week's experience. “Dave and myself are going to try and seck a private audience with the attorney general. Preparing for disasters should be a number onc priority,” Jones said. Added Jones: “The federal government spent billions on the Coid War scenario. Why can’t we spend millions to pre-position equipment? It doesn’t matter if it’s snow or an earthquake.” thought.— please do it before it’s too late,” he added. w Bright Lights. w Business... w Celebrations... w Collins... gw Crossword... @ Fashion... s Health Trends... ga Horoscopes. w Mailbox Bp North Shore Ale:t oe Resolutions feaiure...... w@ Travel. Bw Vintage Years. gm Wright... 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