Posted from the Daily Graphic July 14 2008

Hats off to the Portage fair board.

I would just like to commend the organizers for bringing such top-notch entertainment to the Portage Industrial Exhi-bition this year. George Canyon was an excellent choice for a crowd pleaser, as was the talented Bryce Pallister band.

I was also impressed how organized the direction for parking was this year. As we were leaving after the show, all we could see was a steady stream, bumper to bumper, of headlights leaving the grounds, and we thought we’d be there all night trying to get out, but to our surprise, the attendants directing traffic did a marvelous job of alternating exits out of the grounds.

As we were sitting in the grandstand watching the show, I was a little saddened by the thought of the grandstand being demolished to make room for the new multiplex rec centre. I’m sure when the Terrier games are being held at the new centre’s rink, the traffic trying to leave the parking lot to get over the Island Bridge won’t be as well organized as it was during the fair. I doubt you are going to have attendants directing traffic both out of the parking lot and at the four-way stop at the end of the bridge. There will also be more cars going to the Island, as many Terrier fans walked to the current location in the north end and you won’t be having people walking to the Island when it’s 30-below or anyone directing traffic.

The decision to locate the multiplex at the Island will come back to haunt the city council. Be warned!

Lynda Yachyshen

Portage la Prairie