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C C N A BETTER NEWSPAPERS COMPETITION 2 0 0 0 baier's For the finest in CUSTOM UPHOLSTERING call Baier's. Makers of fine upholaered furniture. Tub Race for Big band sound the United Way hits right note Focus The arts w w w .o ak v illeb eav er.co m 2333Wjccnft Road, IW |7 (between B n rtc A Thml Line) Mercedes-Benz 52 Pages 7 5 C e n ts A Metroland Publication Vol. 38 No. 113 WEDNESDAY, S E P T E M B E R 2 7 ,2 0 0 0 (plus GST[ P ro v in c e p u lls fu n d in g fro m W o m e n 's C e n tre By Wilma Blokhuis OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Women's Centre has lost its $45,000 in annual core funding from the Ontario Women's Directorate, effective Sept. 30th. "We're shocked," says co-executive director Melvina Walter. `T he Ontario Women's Directorate changed its funding formula last year, but we still meet most of the new criteria of promoting violence prevention and economic independence." Facility "in shock" after $45,000 cut by Women's Directorate The centre, officially known as the Women's Support and Information Centre of Halton, learned the bad news last Thursday (Sept. 21st), "and we're still in shock," said Walter. She vows the centre will continue to operate with funding it receives from the Trillium Foundation, the Oakville United Way and the Halton Healthy Community Fund and its own fundraising. "But the $45,000 we received from the Ontario Women's Directorate is our core fund ing, which pays our rent, utilities, administration costs and our part time staff," said Walter, adding the centre has between 35 and 40 volunteers, a number of them trained facilitators. "We've had several calls from people who have heard about this, and they're in shock." The centre is contacted, by phone and in per son, by between 200 and 300 women per month, "who need counseling for such things as abuse and job loss. "We've had a call from a woman, with three kids, who is being stalked," said Walter. "Last week we had a call from a woman who was being threatened at her workplace, another from a woman threatened by her husband, and a call from a woman who calls every week for support because she is being abused emotionally and physically and doesn't want to go into a shelter. A lot of these women can't afford to seek profes sional help." (See 'C entre' page A5) What are the odds? L a w n -b o w lin g b u d d ies m e e t a t lo tte ry o ffic es to c la im $ 9 0 0 ,0 0 0 . A pair of Oakville Lawn Bowling Club members really struck green this week by winning prizes in two separate lotteries. Oakville's Cecil Smyth, 74, went to the Toronto prize office of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation on Monday to claim his $250,000 Encore prize in the Sept. 23rd draw. While at the office, he spotted his friend and fellow lawnbowler Alfred Everton, 76, of Grimsby, who was picking up his $650,000 share of the Lottario jackpot from the same night. Smyth bought his winning ticket at Loblaws on Lakeshore Road West in Oakville. Everton and wife Dorothy - who plan on splitting their winnings with their son Alfred R Everton of Oakville - bought their ticket at Go Mart in Mississauga. As Smyth left the prize office, Everton smiled and said "See you on the green!" P o lic e s e e k in g w itn e s s e s in m a n 's k i l l i n g Gordon Humphrey's death caused by trauma during Friday assault By Howard Mozei OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF While Halton Regional Police have a man in custody in con nection with Friday's Maurice Drive murder of Gordon Humphreys, witnesses are still being sought by investigators. According to Staff Sgt. Mark Martin, police are interested in speaking with anyone who may have seen Humphreys and his accused killer together earlier that day or anyone in possession of information which may be of value. While an arrest has been made, Martin said police are still gathering evidence. "Even if there is evi dence in favour of the accused, we need to know _ about it," he said. Gordon Hum phreys: Witnesses are asked to m urder under investigation contact the Major Crime Bureau at 825-4856 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Police were summoned to 248 Maurice Dr. around 3:40 p.m. Friday after they received a 911 call - from whom, they won't say. Upon arrival they discovered the body of 46-year old Humphreys inside the house. The body was removed by ambulance to Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital where Humphreys was pronounced dead. The post-mortem, which was conducted Saturday at the cen tre of Forensic Science in Toronto, determined that Humphreys died as a result of trauma received during a physical assault. Staff Sgt. Martin said no weapon was used. No other details are forthcoming, said Staff Sgt. Martin, since that information is evidentiary. James Nield, 48, also of Maurice Drive, has been charged with second degree murder and was scheduled to appear in Oakville Court Tuesday morning. His lawyer was on hand, but Nield could not appear since he was in hospital. His condition is not known. Humphreys is survived by his mother, his two daughters and four siblings. A funeral service for Humphreys will be held at 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Ward Funeral Home with burial to follow at Trafalgar Lawn Cemetery. Firefighters face heat in forensic testing exercise By Howard Mozei OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The best way to understand fire and its accomplices - arson and accident - is to study its destructive characteristics up close. This week's special Fire Cause Determination course did just that and a whole lot more. "Firefighters have all been to fire scenes but this will enhance their ability to know what to look for," said Michael Stewart, an investigator with the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office (OFM). (See `Exercise' page A5) INSIDE today' s paper EtStoriate________________ A6 Focus_______________________B1 Enterta inment____________ B6 Automotive__________________C1 Classified ** Sports_____________________ 01 Partners to Success............... 0 4 Bustoses Homes & nn Speed Supplements: Hom edeh*fy: T h eB a y ,F u tu reSh o p , M a/w lie fin an cial. P a rtyC ity P a rtia ld e fiv e ty ;B ra n tfia ve nH o m e s, Simss Chalet U O ie Michael Stewart (above) a trainer for the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office is in charge of program that saw a house and car set ablaze yesterday. Photos by C a e s a rs .C ityP a re n t C anadian P u blications M a il P roduct A greem ent # 435-201 Education negotiating teams have yet to deal with real issues By Dennis Smith SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Negotiators are hoping for better results Friday when contract talks resume with the Halton District School Board secondary teachers. Some contract language was cleared up during last Thursday's talks, but lit tle else happened, said Burlington trustee Michael Ellis. "It was a very humdrum day, but we were doing the little stuff that needs to be done," said Ellis, the board's negoti ating chair. "We have not brought for ward positions on major issues like money and working conditions." This week's negotiations are the last scheduled, but Ellis is hoping for more bargaining dates. "I think Friday will be more produc tive," said Ellis. "We're going to possi bly get into the major issues." High school teachers' union boss says salary talks could begin during Friday session Teachers union leader Larry Chud said there's still a lot of work to do on the contract. "We expect some substantial discus sion on Friday," said Chud, president of Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation District 20 (Halton). "We never give up hope." He also hopes other secondary teachers' contracts will be settled around the province. "Other deals could assist us in mov ing things along," said Chud. "This dis trict is not as close to a settlement." The contract for Halton's 1,000-plus public secondary teachers expired Aug. 31st. Earlier this summer, union members voted 92% in favour of striking. There have been no formal job actions so far, but fewer teachers have volunteered for extracurriculars like sports, clubs and after school help. About 20% fewer teams are being fielded by Halton high schools this fall. Chud has noted stricter provincial regulations requiring teachers to handle an extra half-class are making it harder for teachers to handle extracurriculars. Another key issue is salaries. The teachers earn $34,000-$65,000 and haven't had a raise in 7-8 years. However, their contract has four salary categories and a 12-year salary increase grid. A provincial official has noted the current 6.5 classes teaching require ment is bringing Ontario up to the national standard. Hatton's Catholic high schools have an agreement to teach six classes for one more year. Photo by Peter C. McCusker I T 'S A S T R E T C H ; Okay, fill in your own pun but you've got to admit this trio of Thomas A. Blakelock boosters showed unique school spirit during the Bathtub Races for the United Way. Want to know more? Check out Focus-Bl. lO Day New Orleans and Mississippi Riverboat Cruise Departing March 11, 2001. Escorted by Gisele & John Muretich 3 days in N ew Orleans then up the `Ole Mississippi' to Memphis by way o f O ak Valley, S t Francisville, Natchez and Vicksburs. Priced from P e te e r W atso n I P e t ill 1 N V K S T M f: n t s ,* 2 ,9 9 5 futi (port dteyn Included RETIREM ENT P L A N N IN G SPECIALISTS F re e C o n s u l t a t io n c r u is e s 905-338-2077 · 635 Fou & 8 4 2 -2 1 0 0 Peter C W atson M.H.V. C-F-P-, RJP.Ptt