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4 - PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2000 Almost a year after being credited with helping save the life of nine-year-old Ethan Beattie, Elmo was inducted into the Purina Hall of Fame during a ceremo- ny in Toronto this week. The four-year-old Labrador-Collie mix was credited with helping rescue Ethan early last spring. The Sunderland youth became lost and stuck in a swampy area while playing in the bush with friend Steven Murray, 8. The pair became separated after Steven managed to free himself and go for help. He left his dog, Elmo, with Ethan, who remained trapped in the swamp up to his chin amongst branches, water, and brush. Elmo stuck by Ethan's side, barking and licking the boy to keep him awake and alert. Several hours later, Ethan was found when Scugog firefighters saw Elmo's eyes while panning their flashlights around the dark. The firefighters hustled Ethan out of the bush and into an ambulance. He suf- fered hypothermia, but otherwise came through the ordeal quite well. The rescue, which was highlighted in the media, was recreated last August near Port Perry for a documentary on quick- sand being filmed for National Geographic. The induction presentation was held on March 6 at St. Lawrence Hall in Toronto. Elmo was presented with a medal of honour for his efforts. Two other pets were inducted into the hall of fame as well, including Etioles de Nuit, a three-year-old gray Persian cat who awoke her owner during a fire in their St. Jerome, Quebec home in June 1998. And Holly, a 13-year-old Springer Spaniel from Princeton, B.C., was hon- oured for saving her owner, Norma Myers, and Mrs. Myers' four-year-old grand- daughter Ally, after a deer lunged at them last summer. Since 1968, Ralston Purina has induct- ed 104 animals into the hall, including 85 dogs, 18 cats, and one horse. Elmo the dog, seen at right with owner Steven Murray and - Scugog firefighters Dave Pearce (left), Stuart Houthuys, and Dale Lown, has been inducted into the Purina Hall of Fame. The lab cross stuck by nine-year-old Ethan Beattie, above, after the Sunderland boy became trapped in a swamp last spring. Firefighters followed the reflection from the dog's eyes as they searched for the boy. WON D ER D OG ..Heroic Elmo inducted into Purina Hall of Fame He Healthy Babi Nurses will: ° Tell you about prenatal and parent groups and other services in Durham Region * Phone you shortly after discharge from hospital to answer questions about your new baby * Provide home visits to answer questions * Tell you about family visitor services in Durham Reglon Healthy Bahies/Healthy Childre call Durham Health Connection Line (905) 723-8521 ext. 2158 or 1-800-841-2729 ext. 2158 J LA H REGION | HEALTH NEGADTANEN Y DEPARTMEN Babies/Healthy Children n Durham IG EVR CRITE RHE RGR HITT See photographs of: Plastic S | Dr. M. Kara, For an appointment i, Financing Av urgeon/The O Lil =f PIZZA, SUBS © &WINGS 80 Were Sty [Port [Perry 985-8448 Tummy Tucks Face Lifts 2 Collagen Injection BOTOX:- for forehead lines and wrinkles 3 gsurfaci ng Breast | 2 nhancement [Augmentation & much, much, more! Insk About OTT TY EE Trustees surprised when presented with report on evolution By Rik Davie Special to the Star When Charles Darwin showed up at the Durham District School Board Monday night, no one was there to claim him. Trustees received a report on the extent to which evolution is taught as part of the science cur- riculum in Durham schools. But for a time, no one was quite sure who had requested it. The nine-page report states that the theory of evolution is not taught in Grades | through 8, and is not taught directly until high school students reach Grade 11. Studies by board staff are generally requested by a trustee in the form of a motion that must be passed by a majority at committee. However, board chair Doug Ross stated recently that the pe. 'B Yrs HA. BRI] « { : p 7 J TRE TN wind 28S practice of individual trustees asking for reports had begun. The chair wants that to stop. "It's not how we do things," said Mr. Ross. After superintendent Bev Freedman's submis- sion of the report for infor- mation, no trustees asked any questions, nor was the report discussed fur- ther. After the meeting trustees said that the report had been request- ed by Ajax trustee Brian Clarke. Mr. Clarke was unavailable for comment, having left the meeting immediately at its conclu- sion. Although accepted teaching in most school systems for many years, Darwin's theory of the evolution of species has been targeted by some who object to it on reli- gious grounds.