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www.independentfreepress.com Welcoming Diversity march ...in pictures 50 cents (+GST) Vol. 130 No. 22 ACTON FR E PRESS FREE Acton woman injured in crash Page 10 Page 3 Wednesday, August 15, 2007 36 Pages Circulation 21,220 Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper INSIDE Local residents to ride in 13th RONA MS Tour Page 9 Youths in training for Tour de Terra Cotta Page 14 Editorial 6 Rick Bonnette 9 Sports 14, 15 Calendar 18 Classifieds 20-22 Here's lookin' at you kid Seven-month-old Jensen Gault of Rockwood engages a horned friend in a staring contest during Sunday's Leathertown Festival in Acton. Actually, Jensen was making new friends at the petting zoo. For more photos see page 10. Photo by Jon Borgstrom FRIDAY... Halton Hills Town staff has already begun to crunch budget numbers for 2008 and taxpayers could expect to see a hike in the neighbourhood of $117 a year. For details see Friday's edition. For breaking news go to: www.independentfreepress.com Tribunal rules in favour of Halton Place LISA TALLYN Staff Writer The AAC National Dog Agility Trials and Canadian Country Classic Equestrian Tournament are a go at Halton Place. The fates of the two events at the 15 Sideroad farm-- one to start tomorrow and the other next week-- were in jeopardy after five neighbours appealed the Niagara Escarpment Commission permits for the events. But in his decision issued Friday following an Environmental Review Tribunal hearing that ended Aug. 3, hearing officer Knox Henry confirmed the NEC permits, allowing the events to go ahead as planned. That means the dog agility trials will be held at Halton Place beginning Thursday and running through Sunday and the Canadian Country Classic will be held Aug. 22 to 26, and Aug. 29 to Sept. 2. "We are thrilled," said Megan Krueger, general manager of Halton Place. "It's definitely a big relief, both financially and from the time we spent (organizing the events.)" She said she received several phone calls and there was a lot of interest from those in the "horse community" concerned about the fate of the equestrian event. Had the hearing officer not upheld the NEC permits, Krueger said Halton Place would have had to cancel the shows and face several thousands of dollars in fines and a prohibition from hosting a similar event for a year from Equine Canada. See HALTON, pg. 10 REFINANCING? PURCHASING? GEORGETOWN VOTED #1 FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE 2007 CHEVROLET AVEO SEDAN 2007 KIA SPECTRA CALL THE GEORGETOWN 1-866-364-0697 or HEADQUARTERS 905-877-7818 0 % FINANCE 1.6 Litre DOHC, 5 Speed Transmission, AM/FM/CD/MPS, P185 14", Front & Rear Floor Mats. Stk #065260 *Frt., admin., taxes & license fee extra ** Lease based upon 48 mo., 80,000 free km, frt., 1st, admin., taxes, lic. fee due on signing $ 12995* yes $19700** yes 46 MPG excludes frt per month No Money Down per gallon --2.6% Variable Rate Prime BOB WOODS Mortgage Specialist *Rate subject to change GEORGETOWN CHEVROLET 33 MOUNTAINVIEW, GEORGETOWN (JUST NORTH OF HWY. #7 ON MOUNTAINVIEW) 905-877-6944 (905) 360 Guelph St., Georgetown 877-1490