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• SINCE 1854 • AMALGAMATED 1999 WITH CLARLNGTON THIS WEEK Pressrun 21,900 Hyundai gets it right Wheels Pull out 46 Pages Wednesday, December 19,20<* S, Optional 4 week delivery $5/$l newsstand Tough weekend Sports, page B1 Police at nuclear plants 24-7 Durham Police, OPG ink deal to last for years BY MARTIN DERBYSHIRE Staff Writer DURHAM - The Durham Regional Police Service and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) inked a multimillion- dollar, multi-year deal yesterday, yesterday, making the post-Scpt. 11 police presence at the Picker ing and Darlington nuclear generating stations a long-term reality. "Following the events of Sept. II, OPG responded quickly to enhance security," said John Murphy, OPG executive executive vice-president of human resources. "This service agreement agreement builds on the years of quality police service and it helps to further integrate our internal site security measures with the expertise and experi ence of the regional police." Few details about the agreement agreement were released to the public public for security reasons. However, However, OPG said specially- trained personnel would be on site at both plants 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Police Chief Kevin McAlpinc confirmed the agreement would be in place for "at minimum the next seven years and likely as long as the plants arc operating". He also said taxpayers would not be hit with the hiring hiring and training costs of the additional officers as OPG is picking up the tab. "Ontario Power Generation is getting a great team of highly highly skilled officers and we will be expanding our tactical capacity capacity without burdening regional regional ratepayers," he explained. explained. "This is a win-win scenario." Mr. Murphy added the agreement comes out of recommendations recommendations from nuclear security experts OPG brought in to assess the "land, lake and air risks" at the two plants. He added other security measures are and will continue to be taken. Chief McAIpine also confirmed confirmed there have been "no direct direct threats to cither" of Durham's nuclear plants, but added the new security measures measures were part of a national and provincial strategy to increase increase safety in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. "The rules have changed (since Sept. 11)," said Neil Weaver, director of security for OPG nuclear. "Those events dictated a response, a higher level of security, a different level... this is a good step for the company, the community and nuclear safety in its entirety." entirety." More money for school bus operators BY JEANNE BENETEAU Staff Writer ; Extra cash for transportation -will translate into a happier new -year for school bus operators, .'says the public school board ^chairman. ;, On Friday, the Province an- •nounced the Peterborough Victoria Victoria Northumberland and Clar- ington (PVNC) Catholic District District School Board will receive $404,846 while the Kawartha Pine Ridge (KPR) District School Board will get $724,562 in additional funding to help with rising transportation costs. Province-wide, the Ontario government government has committed an addi gr tional $29.3 million for student ■p transportation, K • KPR public school board B!©""' chairman, Bob Willsher, says Iflts the money is a one-time deal, ■' ? ' slated to be rolled through di rectly to bus operators to help cover increases in fuel costs. ■■■'AvL; "This is welcome news to the board and great news for bus operators struggling to deal with rising fuel costs," says Mr. Willsher. "It doesn't help us to increase bus routes.We must continue to be frugal in our operation operation of school transportation." transportation." While the 'grant will help with fuel costs, Ron Gerow, co- chairman of the Kawartha Pine Ridge Public Separate School Bus Operators Association, says bus drivers are still faced with increasing costs such as insurance insurance and equipment replacement. replacement. Mr. Gerow says the cost of diesel, which was 48.9 cents a litre in September 1999, and is See FUNDING page A9 ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY •An olïU'itil murk oF the Province of Ontario used under licence. • Whitby - Oshawa H onda 1110 DUNDAS. ST. E., WHITBY, LOCAL (905) 666-1772 MOMitm. www.honda1.com JASON LIEBREGTS/ Statesman photo He was Santa s present to his parents BOWMANVILLE - Travis Harreii, who will (urn eight years old Christmas Day, shares some thoughts with Santa Claus during a visit to the Bowmanville Loblaws store. The Clarington Project invited all local children to have their photo taken with Santa at the store on Dec. 16, with proceeds going to the Clarington Project in support of children and adults with developmental disabilities. disabilities. Should we butt out in bars? Town Hall invites residents to have their say on smoking bylaw issue BY JACQUIE McINNES Staff Writer CLARINGTON - Clarington Clarington residents can have a say on a proposed new bylaw to regulate smoking in public places and workplaces in Durham. The municipality has posted posted a survey on its website, says Mayor John Mutton, to allow residents input on whether Clarington would be in favour of allowing the Region Region to proceed with public consultation to form a bylaw that could include restricting smoking in restaurants, bars and bingo halls. "This is an important issue," said the mayor, who adds, the web site survey is "a great way for us to consult the public. If people don't have Internet access at home, there's an opportunity to use it at the library. I'm hoping we get a very large sample." See CLARINGTON pageA9 ®fie Statesman WHERE TO FIND IT Editorial Page A6 Sports .. ,B1 Classified B6 GIVE US A CALL General.. .905-623-3303 Distribution 905-579-4407 Death Notices 905-683-3005 Sincerely Yours 1-800-662-8423 Web site durhamregion.com email jbobbitt@durhamregion.com FAX 905-623-6161 Newsroom FAX .623-6161 He's the life of the party at 102 ANDREW IWANOWSK1/ Statesman photo Daniel McCuaig, 102, with fellow Marnwood Lifecare Centre Centre resident Lucille McDonald. Bowmanville man still does chin-ups, dances BY CRYSTAL CRIMI Staff Writer CLARINGTON - For a man who just celebrated his 102nd birthday on Dec. 11, Daniel McCuaig is in better shape than many 60-year-olds. Friends he has made in the Marnwood Lifecare Centre, Bowmanville, celebrated the long life of their friend they call 'The Exercise Kid.' Despite his age, Mr. McCuaig McCuaig is still very active. He uses a limb on a tree outside to do chin-ups throughout the summer, dances with the girls, feeds nearby animals (squirrels and birds) every day and has remained remained the life of any party there. "He's an extra kid," says Melissa Cookson, the retirement retirement home co-ordinator. "He's very much a kid at heart - he adds excitement to Marnwood." "I don't seem any different than I did 50 years ago," maintains maintains Mr. McCuaig. In fact, he isn't even on any medication. He went off his heart meds right before his 100th birthday. "He said if he needed medication medication he wasn't going to be here," said Theresa Kennedy, a personal support worker at Marnwood. "He said if God was going to take him, he'd See I page A9