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BEN =e A of ON. vad I Youngster describes fearful night in swamp By Jeff Bower Special to the Star _ Resourceful thinking likely helped prevent a tense situation from becoming a tragedy when a local boy became lost in a swamp last week. Last Monday night emergency crews and other vol- unteers combed the swampland in the southwest corner of Brock Township for almost five hours before rescuing Vol. 133 No. 21 PORT PERRY - TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1999 a shivering Ethan Beattie. The nine-year-old Sunderland-area resident, who is recovering nicely from his ordeal, sat down for an inter- view with The Star Sunday. It was the first time he has recounted the details of his ordeal for anyone other than his parents, Allister and Lori Beattie. The incident began to unfold last Monday afternoon (April 5) when Ethan and his friend, eight-year-old Steven Murray, were playing in a fort they had con- structed across from Steven's farm, near the intersec- tion of Brock Concession 1 and Sideroad 17. The two were joined by .three other children and the group walked to a pond where, according to Ethan, one of the youngsters produced a knife and suggested they hunt for frogs. Please turn to page 4 COPY 75¢ (70¢+ 5¢ GST) 24 Pages - Four appeals to Scugog OP | are launched By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Four area landowners have challenged Scugog's new Official Plan, and are awaiting a hear- ing before the Ontario Municipal Board. Among them is Colin Kemp, a self-employed business consul- tant who lives in Nestleton. He confirmed last Thursday (April 8) that he had submitted an appeal to the OMB the previous ay. The Ontario Municipal Board is a quasi-judicial body which rules on appeals of municipal planning matters. Mr. Kemp asked Scugog council for support on his appeal more than two weeks ago, but had his request turned down. He now says he's ready to chal- lenge certain segments of the OP on his own, without the help of council, a lawyer, or a profes- sional planner. 'Mr. Kemp says that Scugog's OP strangles economic opportu- nities in the township's rural areas. And he argues that the town- ship's official plan was a waste of money, because it doesn't take into account many of the restric- tions area residents wanted in the first place. "It was a $100,000 waste of taxpayers' money; it doesn't take note of what the public said they wanted when meetings were held before the plan was made," said Mr. Kemp, noting that many changes where imposed by Durham Region offi- cials. "I told council that and then asked them to support me on this, for what the public really wants, but they wouldn't because Scugog Council is led around by the region," he charged. In his appeal to the OMB, Mr. Kemp states that the recent- ly-passed Scugog OP ham- strings rural areas, including the hamlets, by directing virtu- ally all new housing to the Port Perry urban area over the next 20 years. He argues that rural landowners and farmers should be allowed to create one or two residential lots on small parcels of their holdings which have no use for agricultural purposes, and which are located on ser- viced roads. The region's plan- ning department ruled against these though, he added. He feels the action he's tak- ing is in the best interest of the township, which failed to stand up to the region on matters of rural development. "1 have no axe to grind with council," said Mr. Kemp. "I just think we're overwhelmed with Please turn to page 11 CHRIS HALL / PORT PERRY STAR LEGENDS OF THE GAME: A number of former National Hockey League players were the main attraction at the Scugog Arena last Sunday (April 11) afternoon when a benefit all-star game was held to help raise funds for the Big Brothers / Big Sisters of North Durham orga- nization. Taking advantage of an autograph session a few hours before game time was Saintfield's Patrick Baird, seen here with former Toronto Maple Leaf Bob Baun. = OVERRIDGE | Fireplace Warehouse : 3 170 Casimir St, ¢, . PORT PERRY 985-0715 1-800-638-4751 a i aa. © © BE