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14 - Orono Weekly Times 1937 - 2012 · Celebrating 75 Years Wednesday, April 4, 2012 FIRE FIGHTERS Continued from pg 13 President Dan Worrall, representative for Clarington's fulltime firefighters, a full-time firefighter himself, says that while he disagrees with J. Doe, he can understand why he might be curious about losing his job. "Some part-time firefighters might see that with a full-time department there might be a reduction in their salary" But Worrall says that no matter what happens to the fire department in Newcastle, "There will always be a need for the volunteer firefighters." He goes on to say the part-time firefighters need to understand what the full-timers are doing. "We aren't there to take the part-time jobs, but only to help serve and protect the community." Worrall said that Newcastle has grown substantially over the past decade, "It has grown far greater than Courtice did when they implemented a fulltime force there" "The volume of calls that Newcastle gets is growing each year," Worrall said, "the current staff can handle it, but with a full-time department we can ensure that the community feels more secure." He went on to say that the number of calls determine the status of the fire hall in the area. "If an area is getting higher than normal calls, we must look at changing the hall from part-time to full-time." He went on to add the number of households has little to do with it, but admits that, "The higher the number of households you have in the area the more likely the higher the number of calls that station will have to go out on." Worrall admits, "The one thing that I agree with though, is the fact that sometimes the full-time fire staff and parttime don't get along." He says that in his position he has tried to smooth the tension between the two groups. "We all come from a part-time position so we need to work together to ensure the best service is provided." Councillor Woo stated, "The municipality needs to look at all avenues before making a decision like this one. It will both come at a cost to the municipality and the taxpayer." Woo says that no matter the outcome of the project he believes, "The community and surrounding area of Newcastle has been served well with the current part-time fire department. And will continue to as well." Doe stated that, "Only time will tell, no matter what happens to the department in Newcastle, I hope that the residents aren't affected by the outcome." Doe finished by saying, "I hope that council builds the new Newcastle station as soon as possible, and maybe further down the road possibly change the staffing from part-time to full-time. But for right now the Newcastle department is fine as is." Hawk maimed by leghold trap When Violet Landry looked out of her kitchen window early on Friday morning she saw a beautiful bird sitting in the middle of her back yard. She realized something was not quite right with the bird when she saw it was dragging somet h i n g a n d could not get higher than 12 inches off the ground when it tried to fly. The bird tried desperately to get away when Landry's husband went up to it, and he soon realized the bird was attached to a leg trap. The Landry's contacted wildlife photographer Gary Blake, who managed to throw a blanket over the bird to calm it down, giving him the opportunity to assess the situation. Blake discovered the bird's leg had been completely severed and the trap was holding on to just enough skin to prevent the bird's escape. The bird was identified as a Sharp-shinned Hawk and according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology "It is one of the smallest hawks in North America." The hawk mainly shinned Hawks catch prey with their feet, so although it would still have one foot with which to balance on a tree branch, it would have no way to feed itself. The vet said that even in a sanctuary there would be no way this one legged raptor could survive. S h a r p s h i n n e d Hawks fall under the protection of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA) and anyone caught killing one can be fined up to $25,000. It is also an offence under This Sharp-shinned Hawk had to be the criminal code euthanized due to the loss of its leg. to "willfully...kill, maim, wound, poison or hunts small song birds and injure a bird...." rodents but not from high According to the vet, the overhead. Although usually trap was probably set for a found in the woods these cat. Those involved in the hawks can be found in suburattempted rescue of this hawk ban areas where there are a seriously hope that whoever lot of bird feeders. set this trap has no other traps The vet at the set as it isn't just birds that Bowmanville Veterinary can be fatally injured by such Hospital quickly assessed the a device. If a trap is seen it situation and recommended should be reported to the the hawk be euthanized. police, or to the Humane According to the vet, SharpSociety.