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

-theHERALD- School News Arts and Ideas SECTION B Wednesday September 25 E HILLS Entertainment B Pajrrter Religion Hometown hero proud of his combat experience By LISA The Herald Few Canadians have the chance to fight in a war Even fewer want to fight in a warHowever Georgetowns Canadian Armed forces pilotCaptain David Deere said he feels honored he was able to fight Some fighter pilots never get the chance to do their jobs for real I feel fortunate I was able to said the fighter pilot over the phone from Cold Lake Alberta where he teaches pilots how to fly fighters at Canadas largest fighter pilot base Capt Deere has been stationed at Cold Lake for six years but came back to Georgetown this weekend to sign autographs of his book Desert Cats which features firstperson accounts of Canadas sole in the Persian Gulf war I wanted to do a book because I knew this war would be a significant historical and emotional event said Capt Deere Initially I thought to make a glorified yearbook for the guys down there but soon I realized the Canadian public should get to know what happened and who better to explain than the fighters who were there Deeres own story began when he enrolled at Kingstons Royal Military College studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree before earning his wings at Canadas airforce base in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan Graduating October 1985 he was immediately selected to fly fighter aircraft at Cold Lake For six months he learned how to fly Canada Freedom fighters before training on Canadas latest fighter the CF18 Hornet Capt Deere is a member of squadron a squadron that wasnt selected to fly to the Gulf when Canadas squadron based Ger many needed to be replaced But he and another pilot from his squadron were called to augment the two squadrons I had just finished a fighters weapons course Canadas top gun course before I was called I think thats part of the reason I was selected to go over he said By December he was one of many Canadian pilots on combat air control protecting Canadian and Amen can ships in the Gulf Canada held the responsibility Georgetown native and figherpllot Dave Deere was at Oxbow Books on Main Street in Georgetown Saturday autographing the book Desert Cats he edited on the Canadian Air Task Force of which he was a memberwhich fought in the Persian Gulf War Georgetown resident Kyle Hancock 13 was one of several who received an autographed copy of the unique book While fighting in the Persian Gulf Capt Deere flew 36 missions Since returning to his base at Cold Lake Alberta Capt Deere has been working as a fighterpilot instructor Herald Photo It was exciting and scary he admits The fear mostly occurred the night before a mission Once I was in the cockpit the fear was redirected to concentration on the work at hand and I just con centrated on trying to do the best job I could You cant sit there and be scared and say oh Im going to die You have to redirect that fear to aggressiveness and say its him or me Capt Deere said having his older brother 33yearold Christopher Deere there gave him motivation Christopher was on a British minesweeper as part of an ex change between Bntain and Canada clearing the mines from the water for the larger ships to pass and Capt Deere said he felt motivated to protect the ships because he knew he was also protecting his brother But for the boys parents Audrey and Deere having two sons in the war and their third son in the reserves wasnt easy It was a very stressful time for us admitted Mrs Deere It really brought the war into our own home She said Deere had been able contact them several times over the phone and this made her realize the value of the human voice Deere spent three-and-a- half months in the Gulf flying home one week after the war ended Though no Canadians were killed in the battle he said the Canadians did make friends with the Americans and found it hard to take when new acquaintances failed to return from their bombing missions He recalls one incident that par ticularly frightened him On our first night of attack as we were planning to head out the air attack siren went off he recalled The ground crew had run to shelter and I was just about to do that when my second in command started up the fighter aircraft I couldnt leave him there so we took off with no light into the darkness just concentrating on getting air borne It was very intense and I was apprehensive I wondered if a skud missile was going to hit us Thats when I realized this is war He said flying over the Gulf witnessing the explosions light up the night over the cities as bombs devastated Irag was a memorable sight After leaving the Gulf the first thing Deere did was give up his holidays to put together the book Desert Cats He said support for the book and the role Canada played in the war had been great The support from the Canadian public has been outstanding I dont have any problems with the people who were demonstrating with an antiwar message because we gave them that chance to do that back home We fought for their freedom Now hes back work as a fighter instructor He plans to stay at Cold Lake a couple more years before trying out for the Snowbirds Canadas team Hydro Commissioner takes gloves off to protect the ships he said In the days before the war ac tually started the Canadian pilots also set up attack scenarios with coalition fighters and attended ground school to review intelligence and learn about Iraqi aircraft and bomb capabilities he said On Jan the war started and Deere was busy protecting ships On the third day of the war he began the offensive sweep escurt missions escorting American and British Tornadoes on strike missions Our job was to clear Iraqi and Kuwaiti airspace of enemy fighters so the American and British jets could bomb explained Capt Deere He flew combat missions and three bombing missions By BenDummett the Herald A provincial government plan to amend the Power Corporation Act will mean higher yearly hydro rate increases than would otherwise be expected according to Gerry Trudell Hills Hydro Com mission General Manager However the commission has no intention of permitting the province to take such action without a fight Sign up for Music Signatures in Time Join the St Johns United Church congregation in celebrating the completion of Phase 1 of their Renovation and Restoration project at a Celebra tion Concert entitled Musk Signatures in Time The will feature sacred and secular works by famous composers who have left their signature of style through the musical ages The program includes famous pieces by Handel Schubert and Brahms as well as Andrew Lloyd Weber and the eras will range from madrigal to English folk music The performers are a quartet of vocal artists from Toronto one of whom is Carolyn Kwan formerly Carolyn Bird or the SI Johns congregation who will be singing alto The featured artists are Carolyn Sinclair accomplish ed soprano recital is and oratorio specialist who has appeared with The Tudor Singers of Montreal The Canadian Centennial Choir in Ottawa and locally the Choristers Ming Kwan formerly the baroque Tafelmusik choir of Toronlo and baritone Gordon Burnett music director of the Jubilate Singers of North York and the Repertory Chorus at the Royal Conser vatory of Music The group will be accompanied by Robert Miller assistant organist of the Metropolitan United Church Toronto The concert will be presented Saturday October in the St Johns Sanctuary Guelph SI Georgetown at p Admis sion is for adults and for Seniors and Students Tickets are available at Haydns Music Shoppe or by calling the church office Tuesday to Friday morn ings St Johns is ac cessible to the handicapped All proceeds will go to the Renova tion and Restoration Fund Ni Feature performers at St Johns United Church celebration concert Music Signatures In Time in clude left to rightGordon Burnett baritone Carolyn Slnclairsoprano Robert Carolyn Kwanalto and Ming tenor Photo submitted The proposed amendment if passed would give Ontarios New Party government the unlimited right to change Ontario Hydros mandate said Mr Trudell Ontario Hydros current mandate limits the crown corporation to selling power at cost The local commission predicts if Ontario Hydros mandate is ex panded it will be permitted to carry out a greater number of financial bail outs similar to the one recently in Elliot Lake Ontario Hydro paid 250 million to Elliot Lake as compensation for awarding a uranium contract lo a Saskatchewan company The commission doesnt object to these kinds of payments said Mr as long as they are not paid for through increased local hydro rates Mr said fetters ex pressing opposition to the proposed amendment have been sent by Haltons four hydro commissions to Ontarios Energy Minister Premier Bob and Contacted Friday Mr said there is no way the proposed amendment will result in higher hydro fates than would have other wise been the case Mr Duignan disagreed the Elliot Lake bail out has anything to do with Ontario Hydros estimation that hydro rates will increase per cent over this years rates He attributes the increase to fiscal mismanagement by the crown corporation The projected hydro rate in crease is necessary to ensure On tario Hydro reduces its debt load said Mr People have got to realize On tario Hydros debt load is unac ceptable he said