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

CCNA BETTER NEWSPAPERS COMPETITION 2000 www.oakvillebeaver.coni DO IT NOW! L a w n m o w e r S ervice (C |T |" .TM s 39,,,,, Irom W -parts C U R R E N TP O W E RM A C H IN E R YIN C . 1661 Lakestiore Rd. W . Mississauga 822-4211 A Metroland Publii Still walking after 25 years · * ! Doctor links ' heartburn drug to girl's death By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Cisapride - the controversial heart burn drug linked to scores of deaths in Canada and the United States - was a contributing factor in the death of Vanessa Young, says the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on the 15-year old Oakville youth. Dr. Chitra Rao, head of the Regional Forensic Pathology Unit at Hamilton General Hospital, said Tuesday, during day two of the coroner's inquest into Young's death, th a t' she believes Cisapride tops the list of possible caus es of the cardiac arrest which killed her. Dr. Rao, who performed the autopsy on March 20,2000, the day after Young died, said she found no underlying dis ease nor anything else that would explain cardiac arrest. Evidence introduced on Monday outlined how a friend of Young's described her as a binge eater, who forced herself to vomit 15 to 20 times a week. Lawyers for Janssen-Ortho, the Canadian manufacturer of the prescrip tion drug, postulated that excessive vomiting could cause an electrolyte imbalance - particularly in potassium which could have triggered the arrhyth mia. Dr. Rao, however, testified that Young's electrolyte balance was "with in normal limits" and there was no scar B liz z a r d fa ils to s to p a n n u a l S t . P a d d y 's D a y w a lk to O a k v ille Mary Collett SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Soaked to the waist, snow-cov ered, somewhat bedraggled, but oth erwise none the worse for wear after plodding 40 kilometres in near-blizzard-like conditions, Ed Williams arrived triumphantly at Oakville's Bearded Collie pub on Saturday after noon right on schedule. The hardy 49-year-old Oakville native had just completed his 25th annual St. Patrick's Day hike from Toronto to Oakville, accompanied by two first-time walkers, James Watt and Amanda Dunning. A five-member contingent of the Oakville Pow er Walkers Club (O.P.W.C.) bearing a salutatory ban ner, greeted W illiams at the M ississauga-Oakville border, and trudged through snow and slush with Ed for the final leg o f his traditional pilgrimage. Though this is the first time in a quarter century, Williams has ever ambulated in such snowy conditions, he was delighted rather than daunted by the blowing white stuff. "It's beautiful and romantic," said Williams, as he loped along with his distinctive rolling gait. "I love it." When passing motorists slowed down along Lakeshore Road to honk homs and wave, Williams responded to all with a tip of his cap, a hoist of his emerald toque-topped shillelagh, and a beaming grin. "This is why I do the walk every year," explained Williams. "It's not for any charity, but just to keep the tradition alive for the people of Oakville." A merry band of revelers was on hand to welcome Williams to the Bearded Collie with cheers and applause. Ian Burkholder, Oakville's town crier, prepared a special tribute to Williams, praising him for his spirit of "perseverance and determination," that should be an "inspiration" to everyone. V anessa Young tissue in her heart, which she also char acterized as "normal." The only dam age. she said, was from the cardiac arrest. "She did not appear to be malnour ished ... or emaciated in my opinion," said Dr. Rao. Without evidence that Young was taking Cisapride, Dr. Rao said she (S e e 'P s y c h ia tris t' p a g e 4) Town supports residents' concerns over Sithe plant Photo by Erin Riley For the first time in 25 years, Ed Williams had to contend with snow on his annual walk from Toronto to Oakville, but the inclement weather did n't keep him from continuing an annual tradition that dates back 79 years. As Burkholder aptly observed, "Life is a journey, with obstacles as well as joy, this walk is a true walk of life." Williams, with typical modesty, chose to divert the spotlight to his fel low walkers. "The main thing is that Amanda and James finished the walk." said Williams. "That's outstanding. Last year, four people started out with me, but only two finished." The unforgiving weather condi tions did nothing to dampen the spir its of the three jubilant walkers. "We got splashed a lot, but we laughed a lot too," remarked Williams. Dunning and Watt, who both work with Williams at a Burlington Home Depot, credit Ed's infectious enthusi asm for their participation this year. 'Tve known Ed for about a year," recalled Amanda, who at 21, is the youngest person ever to complete the walk. "After hearing him talk about it, I decided to get involved, and though I was worried about the snow today, I couldn't go back on my word." (S e e 'F a m ily p a g e A 8 ) By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It may be a losing battle, but east Oakville residents continue to fight a planned 800-megawatt, gas-fired power plant on Mississauga's side of Winston Churchill Blvd. They packed Town Hall, Monday night, for the Planning & Development Council meeting dealing with the pro posal. The Town was preparing a list of comments to send to the City of Mississauga, which has been asked to re-zone a portion of the site from resi dential to heavy industrial. Heavy industrial uses are already allowed on approximately one-third of the site. The Canadian arm of New Yorkbased Sithe Energies wants to build a $500-million facility, called the Southdown Plant, by 2003, to supply the GTA, and possibly U.S. markets when Ontario's electricity business is de-regulated. News of the plant and its 75-90foot-high emission stack on 35 acres, just south of Royal Windsor Drive, has n't gone over well with neighbouring Joshua Creek residents. Despite being billed as a clean ener gy producing alternative to coal plants, like M ississauga's Lakeview Generating Station, residents have raised noise and air pollution concerns. Ontario's Ministry of Environment (MOE) is expected to issue the plant's Certificate o f Approval (CA) this spring -- which residents can appeal within 15 days. Even though Mississauga and 25 other individuals have already filed similar unsuccessful requests, Oakville will again ask the Province for an envi ronmental assessment (EA). The Town also embraced demands -- to both Mississauga and the MOE -- from Joshua Creek Ratepayers Inc. (JCRI) and a noise consultant, in case the plant goes ahead. "We expect they'll get approval. All we're asking you to do is help us get ready for the court fight," Rob Burton, of JCRI told councillors. Oakville is asking for zoning con sideration of nearby "sensitive" land uses like homes and the Ian Anderson House cancer hospice; an alternatives analysis; quarterly emissions monitor ing; and public disclosure of risk reduc tion associated with the plant's use of ammonia and large quantities of natur al gas. (S e e 'R e s id e n ts " p a g e 4) t o d a y 's p a p e r Ecftorials... Focus.-- . Entertainment. Classified........ Business. Sports._____________ D6 Spead Supplements: Full Delivery: Business Depot Partial delivery: The Bay, W hite Rose, Guardian Drugs, Home Outfitters, Future Shop. Laurie Williamson Pontiac Buick, Hoopers Pharmacy. Mark's W ork W arehouse, Revi Home & Garden, Meadowvale Furniture Canadian Publications Mail Product Agreement #435-201 Photo by Erin Riley Members of the Oakville Power Walkers Club greeted Ed Williams as he crossed the Oakville-Mississauga border. * The Oakville Beaver is a recyclable product O tto W eig leinB.Sc,, M.D. FRCSC Certified Plastic Surgeon Member ASPRS LSNA ASAPS Specializing exclusively in Cosmetic Surgery and Anti-Aping Therapeutics fa c e · n e c k · eyelids · brow · nose · laser skin resurfacing breast au g m e n ta tio n · breast lift · tu m m y tuck · ultrasonic liposuction All procedures carried out in our private accredited surgery facility - no hospital stay - financing available "... over 15 years experience and thousands of satisfied patients have made us the region's first and foremost private cosmetic surgicentre. Experience makes all the difference; put our experience to work for you!" V isit ou r w eb site at w w w .cosm ed icasurgery.com Call our patient co-otdinatof to gel the infom ration you need I P eterW oTM M 1 N V E S T M E- N T S R E T I R E M E N T P L A N N I N G S P E C IA L IS T S T h e C e n t r e fo r P e rs o n a l S u rg e ry 520 lo c u s t s t,, B u r lin g t o n C a ll N o w (905) 634 -5 5 73 Free C o n s u l t a t io n 842-2100 Peter C. Watson M.RA., CFJ»., R.KP..