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THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS 50 cents (+GST) Friday, September 5, 2008 60 Pages www.independentfreepress.com Pricey parrot plucked from home Page 8 Local Irish dancers shine at competition Page 21 Recipe of the week: Shrimp/pork wonton soup Page 32 Freds Towing holds 50th anniversary bash Page 13 Editorial 6 Ted Brown 7 Calendar 25, 26 Classifieds 29-31 Sports S/L 1-4, 6, 9-11 INSIDE The 162nd annual edition of the George- town Fall Fair opens today. For full photo coverage see Wednes- days edition. WEDNESDAY... Even as a five-year-old, Brad Johnston was a natural for the military. From humble beginnings starting out as a Beaver in Glen Williams, through the scouting movement and on to working his way up to Master Warrant Officer (MWO) with the 2990 Lorne Scots Army Cadet Corps in Milton, Johnston has been heading toward his dream an opportunity to serve his country. And he will soon be doing just that, as the 21-year-old left yesterday (Thursday) for an eight-month tour of duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from Canadian Forces Base Trenton. Its something Ive always wanted to do, said Johnston. After I retired from (army) cadets when I was 19, I knew I wanted to become a soldier. I enlisted in October of 2005. REFINANCING? PURCHASING? BOB WOODS Mortgage Specialist (905) 877-1490 *Rate subject to change 360 Guelph St., Georgetown 5.14%. 5 YR FIXED GEORGETOWN CALL THE GEORGETOWN HEADQUARTERS 905-877-7818 or 905-877-8375 0% financing on all 2008 models. See us for details. i i ll . f t il . For breaking news go to: www.independentfreepress.com Halton Hills award-winning newspaper On Monday night, the Town of Halton Hills is hosting a public information centre and workshop at the Gellert Community Centre on the five proposed growth plan options that will determine future population of this town from 2021 to 2031. The Plan is to respond to provin- cial Places to Grow legislation, which has target- ed Halton to grow to 650,000 people by 2021, and 780,000 people by 2031. With no new urban land available in Burlington or Oakville beyond 2021, Milton and Halton Hills will get all of the new population. The PIC will get underway from 5:30-6:20 p.m. while a facilitated workshop will go from 6:30-9:30 p.m. To assist in organizing, residents who wish to participate in the workshop are asked to call Town Planning Department, 905- 873-2601, ext. 2291 or e-mail reneeb@halton- hills.ca. This is residents best opportunity to provide their views from a Halton Hills perspective. A Halton Region-organized meeting will be held on Sept. 16, 6:15-9 p.m. at the Georgetown High School cafeteria. The Town will then hold a special council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 24 to vote on a position to send to Halton Region planners. This week, Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce released its opinion, stating that it supports the additional industrial lands in the 401 Corridor, but does not support growth options, which call for a population increase of 40,000 or more. It supports the more balanced industrial/residential growth options of 20,000 population increases. On page three are the five growth plans that are being considered one or a mix-match of one or more option components may eventually be selected by the Halton Region in early 2009 as the preferred option. The following is brief synopsis of each option from Town of Halton Hills Sustainable Halton Growth Concepts Discussion Paper (August 2008): Publics input sought for growth plans CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer TED BROWN Staff Writer See FIVE, pg. 3 Private Brad Johnston is joined by his mom Darlene as they display some of the yellow ribbons, which are a sign of loyalty to family, friends or loved ones who are away in the military, or to welcome them home again. Johnston left yesterday for an eight-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. Photo by Ted Brown Ready to serve Local soldier set to begin 8-month tour in Afghanistan See SOLDIER, pg. 9