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Wilmot improvement bank stabilization The Wilmot Creek facelif t continues in 1978. During the summer and faîl of the year, additonal stream improve- ment work took place on Wilmot Creek south of the highway No. 2 on crown prdperty. Junior Rangers were ex- tremely valuable in construe- ting 100 feet of gabions to repair a badly eroded bank. They also assisted in grading and seeding banks for stream improvement. Further dlown- stream, 450 feet of bank stabilization was carried out. This improvement was ach- ieved by grading the bank to a 1 to 1 slope and covering the grade with large boulders called rip-rap. Cares taken to leave natural cover, such as roots and overhanging trees along the river bank. This area will greatly improve stream- cover for the fish. An experimental instream cover project was initiated this vear to increase rainbow trout fry and yearling sur- vival. This was accomplished by installing ninety-nine cedar logs, eight inches. to twelve inches in diameter. The logs were eight feet long and cut in haîf lengthways. These logs were placed under water, three inches from the bottom and offset into the flow of the stream. The purpose of these logs is to provîde cover for small fish, in areas where existing cover is poor. In the State of Minnesota, where similar experiments were conducted, fish populations increased up to 100 percent. We hope to have the same success on Wilmot Creek. ORONO TYKE-NOVICE in a game played on November 22 in Newcastle, the local boys played an excellent gamne of hockey, but lost by a score of 2-1. The Orono goal was scored by Ted Gaudet and assisted by Kevin Mumford. Todd Gray and Todd Therteli played a good game for the Orono Boys. In a game played Nov. 24th in the Orono arena, Bowman- ville came to town and were beaten by a score of 5-0 by the Orono boys. Brent. Hutton scored 3 goals, Jeff Martin 1 and 1 by Ted Gaudet. Assists went to Richard Stolk, Jeff Martin and Kevin Muniford. Jeff Grahamn also played a good game in net for Orono. Student enrolment to drop 3000mi n next 5 years According to a recent report from the Task Force on Declining Enrolment for the Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Educa- tion enrolment in the area schools over the next five years -will drop by approxi- mately 3,000 stùdents. The report foijows a meet- * îng held by the Task Force on November 2th. A further meeting is being held this Thursday evening at the Grant Sine Public School in Cobourg to whîch the publiè are cordially invited. The meeting is to commence at 7:30 p. m. Enrolment changes are shown from 1970 when student enrolment totalled 22,556 te a project enrolment of 17,801 for 1983. Enrolment in ele- mentary schools has dropped from a figure of 15,357 i 1970 to a projected enrolment of 11,652 in 1983. Secondary enrolment in 1970 rested at 7,199 students and tis is expected to drop to 5,935 in 1986 wben the downward trend is expected to level off. The totasl enrolment ini the system is expected to drop some 14.39 percent from 1978 to 1983. The drop in student enrolment in secondary schools for the same period will be 22.62 percent. The report makes some observations as to possible staff and room changes during the period f rom 1979 to 1983. Providing development does not increase beyond the present level and providirig tieacher-student ratio remai cbnstant there could be a loss of 51.4 teaching positions i the elementary schools of the system during the period. With rooms accommodatig 35 students itcould also méan a reduction in rooms of 37.9. In the secondary schools 114 teaching position could be- corne redundant from 1979 to 1986. Durig the sarne time 66.4 classrooms would be- come vacant in the area secondary schools. The report fromn the Task Force does state that the Northumberland and New- castle Board of Education will be affected significantly in the future by the anticipat- ed decline in school popula- tion. The Task forée~ also points out that the increase from provincial funding, 8.52 percent for elementary stu- dents and 7.53 percent for secondary students does not represent a tangible im- privement in fundig as real costs are rising at a higher rate than Minsitry fundig. The report points out that since Ministry fundig is based on enrolment the de- dline in thîs enrolment brigs down financial assistance from the provincial goverfi- ment. The increase in the rate of grant in 1978 over 1977 did not, it is said, match the increase in costs due to inflation. The report states that the local taxpayer must face increases if the current levels of programs and services are to bema intained. The Task Force also states that there are certain costs that do not decline with enrolment decreases. Schools still require support staff, insurance coverage, heat, hydro and maintenance and the closing of one room in a school may not substantially reduce such operational costs in that building. The report also states that when a decline in enrolment occurs in a number of schools, the decrease i each indivi- dual school may not be sufficient to warrant a reduc- tion in staff-ixdhose schools. It is also pointed out that debenture repayments will not be affected by declining enrolments. Transportation costs could change as shifts in enrolment take place but here again the report states that costs will continue to inreae and represent a significant item in the annual budget. In summary, the report states, the basic problem is one of declining enrolment accompanied by declining revenue but flot by a corres- ponding decline in operating expenses. Orono firemen super great The Orono firefighters came in for some applause last week from Mrs. Len Pears who said the depart- ment was 'super great'. The local department answered a cali to the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. Pears in Orono where achimney had caught fire. No damage resulted from the fire. Mrs. Pears heaped praise on the local department for their quickness in answering the cali and for their concern while at the fire. She points out they did not leave until they were sure everytbing was alright. The local departmnent also answered a cail to the Pine Senior Secondary School where a fire alarm sounded. It is now thought the sounding of the alarm was due to a malfunction of the system. We Invite You to Se Our Line... Social invitations and announce- ments; busine'ss cards and sta- tionery. We car handie any job! Rubber Stomps Mode Orono Weekly Times THEMIHERE I Concerto Westelex M-FM AC-DC "Dunmar" Digital Radio Alarm Cloclk $14.99 $19.99 .0toO