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NEWCASTLE EDITION Vol. 75 · # 13 Wednesday, April 4, 2012 GST Included $1.25 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 Pig's Expulsion stayed Mrs. Caroline Willoughby is asking council to amend Clarington's Exotic Pet Bylaw so her miniature pot-bellied pig can remain a part of the family and not be banished to a farm. Willoughby had wanted a pot bellied pig since she was a little girl, and just before the family of seven moved to Newcastle in December, she was given a miniature pot bellied pig as a birthday gift. On March 5, the family received an order from Clarington's By-Law Department giving them one month to remove the pet from their home as pot bellied pigs are not permitted to reside in Clarington's urban area as per Clarington's Exotic Pet Bylaw. Pigs are defined as livestock in Clarington's Exotic Pet By-law and as such must reside only in areas zoned agricultural. According to Willoughby, Toby who is full grown at 50 pounds, is hypo-allergenic, well behaved, house trained, uses the litter box, loves his nap time and even puts himself to bed at 8 pm every night, is not a farm animal and will not fare well in a barn. Willoughby told councillors on Monday, "It is real important that Toby stays with us." She also presented a petition containing the names of 70 The Willoughby family are pleased council opted to stay Toby's expulsion to Clarington's rural area. Pictured with their beloved Toby are: from left to right ­ Avery, Paige, Teagan, Kayla and Makenna Willoughby. neighbours who support their desire to have Toby remain in the neighbourhood. Under the existing Exotic Animal By-law, chinchillas, snakes and ferrets are all banned from living within Clarington's urban boundaries. These are animals that are being sold in pet stores as domestic animals, according to Willoughby and people buy them as pets not knowing they are considered to be exotic pets. "It is important we come to understand these animals are not as exotic as they may once have been," Willoughby stated. Councillor Willie Woo and Wendy Partner visited with Toby before Monday's meeting and both agreed that he did not belong on a farm. Clarington's Deputy Clerk, Anne Greentree informed committee members that staff EXOTIC PET BY-LAW see page 3 Easter Egg Hunt Knife wielding student charged with assault by: Christopher W. Brown A 16 year-old student at Clarke High School, who can't be identified because of the Young Offenders Act, plead guilty to assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, on April 3rd. Clarke High School was in lockdown for the afternoon of April 2nd, when the student pulled a three-inch knife on a senior staff member in the school's office. Judy Malfara, Communications Director for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, said the lockdown happened immediately after the incident took place. "Our practices are to ensure that staff and students are prepared during these situations." She said that all staff and students were professional during the lockdown stating, "Each school across the board must comply with two practice lockdowns each year." Malfara explained, "It's standard practice to call police after an incident like this. Classroom doors were locked and outside doors were also locked. With Pines Senior Public School located south of the high school, it was also put into a 'hold and secure' lockdown," which means that the outside doors were locked to the school, but students and staff had full access to the halls. Pines Students Montana Goddard in Grade 8 and Mariah Swindles in Grade 7, said that some of their friends thought that the lockdown wasn't real. "Our friends and classmates were freaking out a little, but we both felt secure in our school." Goddard says that it was the first real lock down that the school has had. "We did have a practice lockdown at the beginning of the school year." Swindles said that the staff wouldn't tell them if the lockdown was real or just another practice "It didn't seem like they knew REAL LOCKDOWN see page 3 Saturday, April 7 10:00 am Orono Library Lawn