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www.independentfreepress.com Ted Brown...................7 Sports................14, 15 Calendar...........16, 17 Directory..........18, 19 Classified..........20, 21 50 Cents (+ GST) Circulation: 22,800 WINNING ARGUMENTS GDHS's debate team begins season on the winning side PAGE 12 U.S. BOUND Lindsay McCabe is headed to the U.S. on a volleyball scholarship PAGE 14 40 Pages Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS FRIDAY, January 8, 2010 LEGO laurels Out of Out Ou f th the he num umer mer ero ous en ous ent trie tri tr ies in ies in th the he Hal alt lto ton Hi ton Hill ill lls Public Library's Lego contest, winners Alec c Whittal, 9 (in front) showed off his elaborate e fort, while Graydon Bateman, 6 displayed his s powerboat. Their winning creations caugh ht the judges' eye, as Whittal won the 7 and ove er class, and Bateman had top honours in the 6 and under category. The two dropped by the e Georgetown Branch to pick up their prizes. Photo by Ted Brown wn n RIDE blitz nabs more drivers During the Holiday RIDE program Halton Regional Police Service stopped fewer vehicles in Halton Hills and Milton than they did the previous year and laid substantially more-- 20 in total-- impaired related charges. During the recent RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) blitz 11,855 vehicles were stopped in Milton, Georgetown and Acton compared to last year when 14,000 vehicles stopped with only 13 impaired related charges laid. Region-wide 28,108 vehicles were stopped and 67 imREFINANCING? PURCHASING? paired related charges were laid, compared to 29 last year with 24,644 vehicles checked. Sgt. Brian Carr said police were "disappointed" with the number of impaired drivers. "The numbers are up," said Carr. "We are concerned they continue to rise and people don't seem to be getting the message." Carr said police intend to step up their efforts and devote more hours to the RIDE program continuing spot checks throughout the year. Our publication dates are changing next week Effective Tuesday, Jan. 12, The Independent & Free Press is changing its delivery dates. Since many stores offer sales starting Wednesdays and Fridays, The Independent & Free Press will be delivered one day sooner to allow our readers to better plan their shopping trips. Look for us on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting new week. 2.0% 3 YEAR VARIABLE ANNUAL JANUARY SALE BOB WOODS Mortgage Specialist *Call for details (905) 360 Guelph St., Georgetown 877-1490 PA I N T · WA L L PA P E R · L I G H T I N G · H O M E D E C O R GEORGETOWN MARKETPLACE MALL 905-877-4193 All Interior Paint Finishes on Sale