The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.independentfreepress.com The Essentials are ready to open Acton Fall Fair 50 cents (+GST) THE INDEPENDENT Officials investigating farmhouse blaze Page 26 Vol. 130 No. 26 Page 16 Wednesday, September 12, 2007 44 Pages Circulation 21,220 Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper INSIDE Donor wall unveiled at new centre Page 13 Library project put on the shelf CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer Like a much-anticipated best seller whose publication date keeps being pushed back, the planned $11.5-million expansion and renovation of the Halton Hills Cultural Centre and Library has been placed on hold. Speed-reading to the back page-- there's no water at this time to build more homes, and without more development there's no more development charges (DCs) and without DCs, there's no money to pay for new Town facilities. "We're in a real serious situation," said Mayor Rick Bonnette, right before a unanimous council vote to place the project on hold at a special council meeting Monday night. "We're looking at close to $19-million in capital projects for the two fire halls as well as the library and the Cultural Centre, and we just can't go-ahead without knowing where the money is coming from." Director of Finance Ed DeSousa painted a grim picture of the future financial standing of the Town should no water be found to build more development. The need to build capital projects-- fire stations, libraries, arenas, parks, roads etc.-- would outstrip the ability to pay. Halton Region has been attempting to get approvals from the Ministry of Environment (MOE) to draw more water from Lindsay Court and Cedarvale groundwater wells in Georgetown and from the Prospect well in Acton. In a meeting with the MOE recently, the Town and Halton Region learned those approvals are not See LACK, pg. 3 REFINANCING? PURCHASING? Kinsmen Girls wrap up ball season Page 20 Editorial 6 Rick Bonnette 7 Entertainment 16 Calendar 18, 19, 22 Sports 20, 21 Classifieds 27-30 A cut above Bryan Couture makes short work of slicing through a log during the West Coast Lumberjack Show at the 161st edition of the Georgetown Fall Fair Saturday. An estimated 6,000 people attended the threeday event at the Georgetown Fairgrounds. For more coverage see page 3. Photo by Jon Borgstrom FRIDAY... The town's future as a "green community" got a boost when municipal experts shared their "can do" attitude at a forum last week. See details Friday. For breaking news go to: www.independentfreepress.com Off-duty Peel police officer charged after altercation Halton Police have charged an off-duty Peel Regional Police officer after an investigation into a domestic incident in Georgetown. On Monday, Sept. 10, at 1:45 a.m. Halton Police were called to investigate an altercation at a Georgetown residence. Officers responded and learned that a man had entered the home of his ex-wife. Once inside, he assaulted the woman's boyfriend and left. Police were called and the man was later located at his residence in Georgetown and arrested. Jason Ross, 34, faces charges of assault, being unlawfully in a dwelling house and breach of recognizance. He had a bail hearing yesterday (Tueday) in Milton Court and will be held in custody until Friday, Sept. 14. Ross has been working as a Peel officer for seven years. The circumstances of this incident are being reviewed by the Peel Police Internal Affairs Bureau. Halton Police are also continuing to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Milton Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-8254777 or 905-634-1831 ext. 2420 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). APPLE We handle all insurance work. GEORGETOWN CHRYSLER Auto Glass® 2007 CHEVROLET AVEO SEDAN 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 ·Truck Accessories ·Upholstery ·Heavy Equipment Glass ·Window Tinting 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown (905) 873-1655 GEORGETOWN CHEVROLET 33 MOUNTAINVIEW, GEORGETOWN (JUST NORTH OF HWY. #7 ON MOUNTAINVIEW) 905-877-6944 (905) 360 Guelph St., Georgetown 877-1490