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Vol. 131 Number 26 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1997 COPY 65¢ (61¢+ ae GsT) «ARCH OF ireye PERRY, $ 20 0 Nel LILZ4 J NJ _~ Of The ™. Vand" pa EPPS 36 Pages Government grants to township slashed; projects put on hold By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star How things have changed for Scugog Township when it comes to infrastruc- ture grants handed out by the two senior levels of government. Just a couple of years ago, Scugog received $330,000 from the province, and the same amount from the federal government. Scugog matched those two amounts for a total of about $1 million, most of which was spent to build the new community hall at Scugog Centre. The township was informed this week it will receive just $34,000 from the province and the same from Ottawa, for a total of $68,000. | When matched by a similar amount | from municipal coffers, it gives Scugog about $105,000, a number that Mayor Howard Hall found rather §y ota disappointing. "This won't come near to touching the cost of replacing a bridge in Ward 4," he said, a project the township hoped to pay for with infrastructure money. Despite his disappointment, the mayor said Scugog won't turn the mon- ey down. It most likely will be used on projects to improve the roads in the municipality, the mayor predicted. - The grants this year must be used for "hard services" such as roads, sewers or water lines. They cannot be used for recreation purposes, such as new lights at baseball diamonds, something Scugog badly needs at several facilities. Durham Region has been awarded $2.6 million in infrastructure grants this year. That money will be matched by $1.3 million in regional funds, for a total of nearly $4 million. dad © By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Unseasonably cold and rainy weather could have an impact on area crops in later months, says a local agricultural official. Neil Moore, a specialist with the local OMAFRA office, said Tuesday that the recent rotten weather has 'caused some area farmers to become concerned. "We have some big problems because of the lack of heat, continuing rain and cloudy days with showers," said Mr. Moore. : "It's frustrating for the growers of spring grains, and the cold weather is causing slow germination." He said that most of the crops that are in the ground are showing mini- mal growth at the best, a reason for alarm among area farmers. "Corn planted three weeks ago should be sprouting up but it hasn't even emerged through the ground yet. Also hay should be between four to eight inches -- knee high -- but it is Cold, wet spring causes alarm for area farmers showing little growth as well," said Mr. Moore. "This is bad for the early cutters -- dairy farmers -- because they usually cut around May 28 and that's only one week away," he added, pointing out that there are only a few spring grains that are planted early in cold temperatures. This problem, however, seems all too familiar to area farmers, who endured the same bizarre weather last year as well. "The crops that may be lost to the cold weather may be made up by a heat wave later in the summer. We were worried last year too but we had tremendous heat last August and September, and that helped make up for the early cold spell. "But, once again, if we don't make up the heat, we're in trouble," said Mr. Moore. Even with a chilly spring, the local crop official says that farmers can do some things to help. Please Turn to Page 14 Winter's tough on your car! al IN CLEVES aC) SERRE Cp CY ny SALE FOR sicK KIDS: Bryan and Judy Pawlin plan to continue: a tradition this year when they hold their annual telethon and yard sale in support of Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. They've held the event for seven years, in memory of their son Kristopher, who passed away at the age of 4. They're seeking donations for the sale and party at 106 Crandell May 31 and June 1. If you can help out; call them at 985-1957, or Donna at 985-9872... Deal gets nod from doctors By Chris Hall Port Perry Star A tentative agreement between Ontario's doctors and the province has been given a preliminary passing grade by a local medical official. Although he has yet to see the actual agreement, Dr. Robert Allin, Medical Chief of Staff for North Durham Health Services, said that the new contract sounds acceptable. Doctors and ministry of health officials have been working on an agreement for the past several months. A dispute over fees, payment schedules and insurance subsi- SePeEeColeAcL Includes: + 50 Point Safety and Maintenance Inspection * Front End Alignment Check * Tire Rotation + Radio Cassette and Antenna Service * Fill Windshield Washer * Lube, Oil and Filter PHYSICAL dies came to a head in a showdown last year. "I haven't actually seen the agreement, but it sounds reasonable and fair. There are some things that we would still like to see changed but for now it's okay. Some things will affect some people differently," the local doctor said. The new agreement will be voted on by Ontario's 24,000 physicians by phone bet- ween May 22 and May 29. If ratified, the deal would extend three years. One of the more significant gains for doctors is the elimination of clawbacks -- a Please Turn to Page 14 PONTIAC BUICK LIMITED 10 Vanedward Drive, Port Perry