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Fine Darlington Dozen Twelve demonstrators who tre- passed on to the Darlington Gener- ating Station site in October to protest construction of a $3.4 billion nuclear plant were fined $18 in provincial court last Wednesday. The group of 12 demonstrators each presented their own legal defense after pleading not guilty to charges that were brought against them by Ontario Hydro under the Petty Trepass Act. Provincial Court Judge John Bark ruled that each of the nine men and three women would receive fines for their involvement in the October 1st demonstration on Ontario Hydro ptoperty. The fine was for $15 plus $3 in costs. All members of several environ- mental groups including the Green- peace Foundation and Save the Environment from Atomic Pollution (SEAP), they were arrested on the site during their protest against proceeding with the project without first holding an environmental assessment hearing. Although others were partici, pating in the protest, they were the only demonstrators who crossed fences surrounding the 1,200 acre hydro site. They Were Warned Ontario Hydro Security Co-ordin- ator John Kearns told the court that he had announced to the crowd during the demonstration tht no one was to go on the property. Despite his warnings and those of Hydro signs posted around the property, however, Mr. Kearns said a small contingency disregarded his advice and trespassed on to the site. Trees were planted, a tent was pitched and the group joined hands in a circle to say prayers once they had crossed the fence. They re- mained there for approximately two hours until Hydro security and Ontario Provincial Police arrested them at 3:30 in the afternoon. Under cross-examination by Greenpeace member, John Bennett, Mr. Kearns pointed out that the demonstration was peacefully carried out. Each of the 12 men and women, who asked to appear in court as a group when they were charged in October, agreed with Crown Attorney Alex Sosna that their presence on the property was a proven fact. Dangerous The defendants based their pleas of not guilty, however, on a clause in the Petty Trespass Act which states -iurn-okage Two) Newcastle SPLASH fund-raisers yesterday reached another mark in their efforts to see a sports complex constructed in Bowmanville in the near future. The latest donation is a cheque for $20,000 presented by the Thomson Publishing Company, bringing the total collected to $100.000. Oshawa Times Publisher William Lupton, second from right, presents the donation to left to right, fund-raising co-chairman Bob Stevens, treasurer, Garth Gilpin, SPLASH committee chairman, Dr. Howard Rundle and fund-raising co-chairman, Carson Elliott. Courtice Firehall Site By Peter Parrott The site for a new fire station in the Courtice area has been chosen and steps are being taken to purchase property. Newcastle Mayor Garnet Rickard revealed last week that the town has obtained an option on firehall property in Courtice. Theland consists of two and one-half acres of property north of Nash Rd. on Trull s Rd. Its price is $35,000. "We definitely are finalizing the purchase of property," agreed Councillor Bob Dykstra, chairman of the nunicipality's Courtice Task Force. Both Mayor Rickard and Councillor Dykstra commented on the selection of a firehall site during a meeting of the task force last Thursday. Estimnates Estimates on the cost of building and equ ing a fourth fire ttationin * the munît ipality have totalled about $250,000. Mayor Rickard said the cost of the project ought to be debentured so that it is financed by all taxpayers in the municipality. The Mayor also suggested that the firehall could be built with a community centre attached. He pointed out that there are grants available for community centres and in other municipalities, a combination of community centre and firehall have been built. "I know some places where there are firehalls with a community centre over top of them," Mayor Rickard said. In reply to questions from the audience at last week's meeting of the Courtice Task Force, Mayor Rickard stated that construction of a fire station in Courtice does not depend on increased residential development there. He indicated that the proj'ct will go ahead regardless of whether or not subdivisions planned for the Courtice area are approved. Oppose Centre The suggestion of a community centre for the Courtice area was not supported by several Courtice residents who attended the Task Force meeting. "A community centre at this stage of the game would be built for somebo else, not the existing residents, 'Mtommentedone member of the audience. "It would be built for those 10,000 other people who are oing to land in our lap," he also saî. The resident was referring to the fact that development proposals being considered by the Town of Newcastle in the Courtice area would more than double the size of the community and transform parts of it into an urban area. The Courtice task force was also told that at a meeting of the Courtice and Area Citizens Association, there was a "resounding no', in reply to a question dealing with whether or not Lssue 48 ry ea r BW MANVLLE ONT AmI a community centre should be built. Menister Slams Ontario Hydro has "raped the rights of people' of the area in the contract they signed with the town on the Darlington Nuclear Gener- ating Station earlier this year, a Bowmanville minister has charged. Speaking at a panel discussion on the project ata Canadian, Club of East Durham meeting last night, the Rev. Ed. Schamerhorn accused Ontario Hydro of misleading the town in the contract that allowed construction of the station to go-ahead. Mr. Schamerhorn, minister of St Paul's United Church, told the crowd of about 80 residents who turned out for the meeting that Hydro officials deluded the munici- pal government when the contract was negotiated. The people of the town will look back someday and regret the decision that the town had made, he said, The minister's remarks came in challenge to comments by municipal and hydro officials who also took part in the panel discussion held in Trinity United Church , Newcastle Mayor Garnet Rickard told the gathering that the contract that was settled between the town and Ontario Hydro showed an "unprecedented" level of concern More Information on Eldorado ment Panel considers to be informa- Nuclear Limited's proposed $80 tion deficiencies and areas requiring million refinery at Port Granby is further clarification," said panel being requested by a federal chairman, John Klenavic in a letter environmental assessment panel. this week. In a 22-page document released The second phase of the environ- this week, the panel showed where it mental hearings to expected to get would like to have further data not mertay in Janexpectd the already available from a six-day underwayin January and mi the public hearing in the Newcastle eaeeaforpthis stage paring municipalityduring September or an Environmental Impact State- Both the Statesman and the ment filed by Eldorado. Newcastle Independent will be "The list includes those items that running excerpts of the Panel's the Federal Environmental Assess- finding in the next few weeks. ontract over the economic and environ- mental impact that the generating station will have on the area. "The agreement will relate itself to impacts and concerns that are yet unknown," the mayor said, Newcastle Councillor Jasper Holiday, another member of thesix member panel, stressed that the town is allowed to monitor the plant's impact and ensure that proper compensation is provided. Although the councillor from Hampton maintained that the con- tract was fair, however, he noted that the financiai compensation feil short of the anount that would be paid in the United States. Closed Meeings Ontario Hydro Plant Manager Don Anderson said that the negotiations that they held with the town's hydro liaison committee were often diffi- cult to maintain. (Turn To Page Two) A propane gas explosion blasted buildings and vehicles west of Hampton Saturday evening, eau-ing shattered windows and soae structural damage. Fortunately, none of the residents in three homes closest to the blast was injured, Newcastle fire chief, Jim Hayman reported this week. But, buildings approximately 1200 feet from the explosion sustained some damage. The mishap on Taunton Rd. took place at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The Newcastle fire department confirmed yesterday that the cause of the explosion was a leak in a gas fine leading from a propane tank to a water heater inside a large motor home. The-vehicle was Darked in the driveway of Merrill MacDonald, R.R. 1, Hampton. Chief Hayman said that the probable source of ignition was a pilot light on the kitchen range inside the vehicle. The accident was investigated by a branch of the Ministry of Consumer Relations. When the explosion took place it completely demolished the motor home and hurled parts of the wreckage several hundred feet. Value of the vehicle was estimated at $12,000. Because of the force of the explosion, all front windows of the MacDonaldh ome were shattered along with some windows in neighbourng houses to the east and west, Chief Hayman said. They were the homes of G. Fitzgerald and M. McKeen, both of R.R. 1, Hampton. Chief Hayman said he was unable to give a damage estimate covering ail property. He added, however, that damage to a van parked near the motor home would be a "couple of thousand" dollars. Two nearby cars were also hit by the explosion. As well as t he broken windows in the houses, one wall was cracked, another wall twisted and some door frames were damaged. Despite the blast, no fire occurred. Photo by Rick James BITS& PIECES FIRST SNOWFALL - The first major snow storm of the year struck on Sunday night and left roads quite slippery and sidewalks a mess. However, reports indicate that it may not be with us too long, with rain forecast, followed by sleet, fog and messy slush for the next few days. Oh well, it had to come sooner or later, so we'd better make the best of it. SANTA'S PROBLEMS - Quite a few children who are writing letters to Santa Claus haven't been including their last name and address so Santa can reply to them. Parents are asked to make certain al the details are included. Otherwise, Santa bas a real problem figuring out who wrote the letters. SPLASH DRAWS - The energetic committee members of SPLASH have arrived at the stage where the door-to-door canvass is well in hand so they are now going to concentrate on selling tickets for their upcoming series of monthly draws. An advertisement in this edition gives details of the draws that highlight an extremely good chance of cashing in for buyers. CLEVER ROTARIANS - Recently, the Rotary Club handed each of its members $100 to invest any way they saw fit over the next six months, hoping each man would return a good profit for the club. Bob Stevens and Harry Locke took some of the money and rented Norm Brown's apple orchard which was going unharvested save for the efforts of a herd of cows. With the help of Senior Public School Principal Ron Moore, they recruited 25 students to harvest the crop over four weekends and paid the workers $5 a bin. Result was the cows were saved some tummyaches, Bob and Harry worked themselves into a tizzy, and Rotary came up with a profit of $2,800 clear. COLOR TOUR - Bowmanville Kinsmen are planning their annual Senior Citizens color tour of Christmas lighting for December 18th this year. If you would like to make the tour, plase call Mark Borutskie at 623-4665, Gary Wichman at 579-0072 or Dennis MacDonald 623-3793 for rides. SANTA'S PARADE - Jolly old Santa Claus will be holding anothei parade this Saturday at 1 p.m., sponsored by downtown Oshawa Square merchants. For more details see their advertisement on page 11, second section. QUEEN ELIZABETH PORTRAITS - Newcastle Independent Columnist Ann Cowman just returned from a trip to England with three beautiful color portraits of the Queen. Mrs. Cowman felt they might be useful for sonie service organizations or clubs in the area. They are yours for the asking at the Statesman office, first come, first served. Size is approximately 9 " x 12 ". Incidentally, copies of the Independent are available at the office front desk each week at no charge, late Wednesday afternoon.