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Custodian Deal Custodians throughout the Northumberland and Newcastle jurisdiction have accepted a con- tract giving them an across the board wage increase of 28 cents an hour. The contract between members of Local 1206 of the Canadian Union of Publie Employees and the Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education was ratified by the workers in a meeting on Saturday. The board accepted the terms of the agreement during an in-camera meeting after the regular meeting on Thursday night. The increase which raises the rate of pay by 5.6 per cent when averaged across the board, is within the Anti-Inflation Board guidelines of six per cent. A dental plan has been added with other improvements in the employee benefit program. The 168 members of the local will receive 75 per cent coverage of all dental expenses under a blue cross policy that was included in this year's contract. Other benefits in the agreement call for double pay to custodians who work Sundays or holidays and eligibility for five week vacation starting at 20 years experience rather than the 25 years that was previously required. Along with compassion leave for bereavement, another clause allows for three days leave of absence in the event that the employee is required to stay at home to care for a spouse or child who is ill. The negotiations which began last October, have been in conciliation since January with the final terms settled late in February. Union members are also allowed a leave of absence to take up a full time post with CUPE without any loss of seniority under the contract. The agreement retroactive to November 29, 1977, brings a head custodian's wage to $6.15 an hour and the lowest paid laborer to $4.99 an hour. Region Plan At least part of the Durham Region's official plan is to be approved by the provincial housing ministry soon. In a letter to Durham regional council last week, Housing Minister Claude F. Bennett stated that he intended to approve the majority of the proposed Durham official plan in two week's time. He added that parts of it will be referred to the Ontario Municipal Board for further public hearings. In addition, the housing minister said. that he intends to defer other parts of the plan for further consideration at a later date. The Durham Region's official plan is a document intended to guide development in the region until the year 2000. Fire Destroys Orono Garage on Sunday Damage was estimated at over $40,000 following a fire that broke out in this garage in north Orono late Saturday evening and early Sunday morning. The Orono Fire Department was first called to the building around 9:00 p.m. Saturday when a fire damaged the southeast portion of the building owned by Mike Manger. Firefighters'were able to bring the blaze under control. However some time prior to 5:00 a.m. Sunday, the building began to burn once again., resulting in further damage. Stock and equipment inside the building were damaged and it is believed that the structure will have to be tom down and rebuilt. BowmanvilleWomanWins A Bowmanville woman has won the third draw in the SPLASH Tip of the Month lottery. The winner of a trip of her choice -'is Barbara Melrose of 47 Deerpark Crescent in Bowmanville. -Second prize, a weekend- ixf Town of Newcastle is -under pressure from the federal govern- ment to reply to the environmental assessment panel's recommenda- tion to drop Port Granby as the site of a uranium refinery according to a lawyer for the town. ' John Willms, legal representative 'for the town at environmental hearings in Bowmanville &last month, told Newcastle council on Monday night that the government Lower. The age of admission for kinder- garten in the Northumberland and Newcastle area has been lowered by two months to allow some children to start school earlier, The change in policy makes enrollment in kindergarten possible for youngsters whose fifth birthday comes i either January or February, providing they are able to pass a special test. A child previously had to turn five years-old by Diecember 31st to enroll in kmndergarten. The board approved the new policy last Thursday night in a vote Toronto worth $200, was won by John Worden of Blackstock with the $120 third prize going to W. Pritchard of Cobourg. The draw was held at the Community Fair at Bdwmadiville High School orShaurday afternoo, Toýwn.' A.sked to Indicate Stance r is anxious that they respond to the public, Mr. Willms suggested. or on a site near Port Hope. - panel's recommendations. Petition The attitude of the town toward ~ The seven member panel urged The lawyer said government the refinery proposai was stated in the government to turn down the officials were pressing for direction presentations made during the Eldorado Nuclear Ltd. proposal to from the town as a result of a hearings that were held in Bowman- build an $80 million uranium petition presented to Ministry of ville, he said. The panel was told the refinery in the Port Granby com- Energy last week that was signed by town was opposed to the corpora- munity. 4,300 Port Hope residents objecting tion's plans until a "lot of questions" The town has until the end of to the recommendations of the were answered, he added. March to decide on the stand it will panel. The petition indicated that The town, however, is under no take on the panel's findings when the they are in favor of having the urgency to make an answer while full report will be available to the refinery constructed in Port Granby the panel is stiil drawing up its final report on the hearingsa he said. "It's a wait antwsee situation now" he told the council If the federal government makes mnn rer ea ntheir decision on the proposal before reviewing the report, however, the which was spiit between trustees r also said the proposal would pose town coUld be called on tomake a 1 Newcastle and Northumberland. problems for t4 students 'Who will ýquick decision, Mr. Willms indicat- j With the exception of Board Chair- b e eligible to, enroîl eariy as a resuit ed. 1 man Bill Carman and Margaret 'Of the new regulation. "If anything happens in Ottawa, Ibbotson who was absent during the A chiid Who is enroiled premature- I've asked to, be alerted," he said.' 3 meetingý, Newcastle's trustees were ly in the kindergarten program will The federal government was opposed to changing the existing have difficulties in keeping up urged by the environmentai panel to poliey. academically with classmates, Mr. meject an application by Eidorado Bowmanville trustee Bob Burke Thompson said. Nuclear Ltd. for construction of the said that the timing of the decision Screening refinery and an expansion of a waste was poor and was motivated by The new policy will only apply to management site in Port Granby economic factors. children who prove that they are late in February. In a preiminary "I don't think it's for the benefit of ready for kindergarten by passing a report, panel chairman John the children overall," Mr. Burke test given by the boardrs adminis- Klenavic cited the environmental told the board. tration. Then it will depend on impact of the proposai as the Ward Two trustee Andy Thompson Turn to Page Two determining factor in their decision. BITS & PIEC ES BONES IN BACKYARDS? - We had a visit this week from Patrick Julig of York University. The Dept. of Geography is concentrating on this area in a research for archeological relics and other interesting phenomena of the past. If you've been unearthing strange objects in your petunia patches in recent years, give us a call and we'll send Patrick and colleagues out to see you. IAIN MACIVER - Our new Victoria and Grey Trust office general manager has caused us a small problem. His name is spelled a couple of letters to the right of anything we've ever come up against. Last week we had it looking pretty good, but stuck in an o instead of an e at the end. For his sake, we're going to take another crack at it. Maciver, right lain? MAYOR RESEARCHES FLORIDA - In an attempt to restQre himself to his normal healthy appearance, Mayor Rickard recently spent a few days in the sunny south. He says he saw more Canadians there than he does here. For example, he attended a Rotary Club meeting where they opened with the singing of "O Canada." We hope he checked out the possibilities of pulling Newcastle out of Durham region and moving it down there. SPORTSMEN'S SHOW - You bet! It opens on Friday, March 17th, at noon. Among other things, that means we can get ready to kiss winter good-bye. This year's show will run through until March 26th. See the advt. on the sports pages. NOT BAD, PERCY - Tommy Cowan of the Pontiac-Buick shop of the same name advises us that a former resident, Percy Tullock, is getting along quite well. Seems Perce has just won himself a new car, and a trip to Czechoslovakia. He now lives in Fenelon Falls. ACT FAST - For those of you who receive the paper on Wednesday afternoon, there's the second end of winter carnival going on this evening at The Pines Senior Public School. Festivities start at 7 p.m. and go to 10 p.m. Forty per cent of the proceeds will be split between the two arena projects. COMMUNITY FAIR - You will notice there's no colour on the front page this week. That's because we ran out of pages in the front section. The pictures of the Fair last weekend were also victims. We may get one in, but the rest will appear next week, along with a bunch of other news that got clobbered. ST. PAUL'S AND ST. PATTY - This Friday evening at 6:30, Rev. Schamerhorn, of St. Paul's United Church hosts the popular St. Patrick's Day party and potluck supper at the church. We understand it may already be sold out, but you can check. It's not restricted to members of the congregation, and ail who attend have a heck of a good time. BLUNDER! - In last week's edition, we said that Pat Griffin was blood donor recruitment chairman of the Durham East Branch of the Red Cross Society. Since then, we have been reminded that it is her husband, Fred Griffin who is chairman this year. Speaking of the Red Cross, it's not too early to circle May 3rd on your calendar. That's the date of the next blood donor clinie in Bowmanville. OPP Cpi. Francis Dryden Dies Monday Longtime Newcastle resident and popular Newcastle Division OPP Corporal Lloyd Francis Dryden died of a heart attack Monday while in Bowmanville Memorial Hospital. He was 57 years old, and leaves his wife Doreen and son Stephen, age 22. The death came as a shock to his family, his fellow officers, and to the community. It also brought to mind the earlier premature deaths of OPP officers Bruce Tillson and Emmett Crough. Ail three men were ex- tremely popular with residents of the area, and all three had established themselves as active, concerned citizens. Francis was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick. He served overseas for five years during World War Il, and met and married his wife Doreen in Sussex, England in 1943. In 1952, he joined the Newcastle OPP detachment as a motorcycle officer and has lived in the Village of Newcastle ever since. In 1969, he was promoted to Corporal and transferred to the Whitby detachment, returning to the Newcastle Detachment in 1972. During his Whitby tour of duty, he continued living in Newcastle village. Due to the nature of their work, police officers encounter a great deal of difficulty in becoming accepted by the community in the role of ordinary citizens. For the warm, affable Francis Dryden, it wasn't a problem.' His hobbies, including artwork and cartooning, his participation in public service work, and his community involve- ment endeared him to one and all. His 'death is a, tragic loss for the area, and our sympathies are extended to the family. Funeral services wiIl be on Thursday afternoon and details are in the notice in this edition. The services will include an OPP Honour Guard and a Full Watch during visiting hours at the Northcutt Elliott Funeral Home on Wednes- day.