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% Total Market Coverage of Clarington from the Publishers of The Canadian Statesman A James Publishing Community Newspaper Saturday, July 25, 1998 144th Year Circulation: 21,265 ONE OF A KIND -- Doug Ibbotson is pictured above in his 1903 Merry Olds convertible that was built in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He purchased the car two years ago in the United. States after seeing an advertisement in a magazine. The car doesn't have a windshield or conventional steering wheel. No Windshield or Steering Wheel Don't Smile in This 1903 Vintage Car by Brad Kelly Slaff Writer . You won't see Doug Ibbotson flashing very many big smiles as he drives through the downtown streets and country roads. It's not that he isn't proud of his mint condition vehicle. But rather, the car doesn't have a windshield, and the danger of wayward bugs flying about presents a cause for concern. The Bowmanville resident was out and about last week in his vintage 1903 Merry Olds convertible that was built in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In addition to the absence of a windshield, this particular model doesn't have a steering wheel. Instead, a long-handled long-handled tiller that extends from, the floor to the driver's seat is used to navigate the 95-year-old machine. Ibbotson, who bought the car two years ago in the United States after seeing an advertisement in a cata- is noticeably proud, but protective, of his. ylogue prized possession. ; ' "A guy from Toronto called nié and wanted to put the car in his showroom for the winter, but I didn't want people climbing all over it," he said as a small group of passers-by gathered to admire the vehicle while it was parked on Silver Street in Bowmanville. The car has a low, high, and reverse gear, but Ibbotson isn't sure what kind of top speed the 9-horse power vehicle could reach, joking that "it depends on if I'm going down a hill." He did add that because of the make and model, if the car was going too fast, control could easily be lost. Though he couldn't put an exact price tag on the car, Ibbotson guessed its net worth would be in the $20,000 range. Apparently, there' is a similar car near Stirling, Ontario, that has been in the same family since 1901, says Ibbotson. Ruled Unconstitutional Catholic Teachers Win Court Victory by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer Bill 160, the Education Quality Improvement Act, took a blow Wednesday as the Ontario Divisional Court in Toronto decided part of the bill is unconstitutional. unconstitutional. The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association launched the challenge, saying Bill 160 took away constitutionally-guaranteed constitutionally-guaranteed rights allowing allowing Catholics full control over their school boards, including the right to tax. The new bill makes education education funding the sole responsibility of the province. Teachers walked off the job for 10 day's last fall to protest passage of the bill, which became law in December. According to OECTA Durham spokesperson Mike O'Connor, the court's decision sends a clear message to the Mike Harris government. "The court is saying that even though you're the government of the day, you still have to abide by the Constitution," said O'Connor, shortly after Wednesday's ruling. But the battle has not been won yet. The Ministry of Education has indicated that it will appeal Justice Peter Cumming's ruling. Public board teachers had intervened in the hearing, hearing, saying that whatever rights were given to Catholic school boards would have to be granted to all boards. That position was struck down by Wednesday's ruling, said OECTÀ president Marshall Jarvis. Bob Willsher, a trustee with the Kawartha Pineridge School Board, said if the ruling is upheld, he feels both separate and public boards will be allowed to make their own taxation decisions. "I don't think you can have one publicly funded board having that advantage advantage and the other board not," he said. Jarvis said "based on the legal arguments and research" OECTA had done, his organization was "fairly confident" Justice Gumming would rule in their favour. O'Connor stressed that OECTA is not opposed to change; they're opposed to the manner in which it was . implemented. "We've been saying since 1995 that change is not necessarily bad, but you need consultation, you need thought, you need planning," he said. by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer■ If it seems like summer's summer's just flying by, don't worry. It's still only July. However, the availability of some types of local produce may have you thinking it's much later in the season. The early, warm spring and the hot conditions conditions that followed may have had some very positive positive impacts on local crops. And that means many crops are ready earlier earlier than .usual this summer. summer. "We've had an early start in terms of heat units," says. Joel Bagg of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. "That means we had an early start and ' crops arc probably ahead of normal." They certainly arc, says Charles Stevens of Wilmot Orchards in Newcastle. Blueberries, traditionally ready in August, have been ready On Blueberry Hill Blueberries arc plentiful and early this season at Wilmot Orchards in Newcastle, Here, Charles Stevens and Amanda Shotton survey the pick of the crop, since late July, which presents a slight problem for pick-your-own operations operations like Wilmot. "The heat we're having having at the present time is ripening berries faster than normal," but so far, the pickers just aren't coming, says Stevens. "The only glitch is the harvesting. August is (usually) blueberry month around here," he says. The early, warm spring and the hot conditions that followed may have had some very positive impacts on local crops But, thanks, to "near perfect growing conditions," conditions," Stevens says the berries are already "big and very healthy." And, even though the berries arc ripening faster than usual, they don't go rotten. rotten. "They grow sweeter on the plant," Stevens observes. The local soybean crop is also benefiting from the weather the area has been enjoying. "We're better off than Continued on page 2 Police and CAS To Share Reports On Child Abuse Mew Protocol Established For Mutual Snyestigatim by Lorraine Manfredo •Staff Writer A protocol agreement six years in the making was signed on Thursday by the Children's Aid Society and the Durham Regional Police. The document should streamline investigations into allegations of child abuse. "This is a historic day for children in Durham Region," said the CAS Executive Director Jim Dubray. "This will enable us to put children first." One of the key, changes to current procedure will focus on the exchange of information. A team comprised of a CAS worker and a Durham Regional police officer will jointly investigate and assess cases where a child may be a victim of sexual or physical physical abuse. To assist in the collab- ( ( oration, both organizations have Previously the agreed to mutually exchange all " relevant file information. Previously, the police had to subpoena CAS records for criminal criminal investigations. This often led to delays. Mr. Dubray said he was extremely happy with the agreement. agreement. What the CAS is doing, he said, is setting aside a portion of confidentiality policy to allow the child's interests to come first. Deputy Chief of Police, Jim Adams, adds that only the case -- notes relating to allegations of abuse will be shared with police and that the protocol still has built into it a general general protection for everybody in community. Joint investigation will result in better quality interviews, interviews, adds Adams. The result, he said, would be a better chance of removing kids from dangerous domestic situations. Similar protocol agreements between police and Children's Aid agencies are now in place around the province, Joan Skelton, CAS president, said the agency is looking looking next at drawing up a protocol document with the medic,al community. "I hope this new understanding will help illustrate that child welfare is a community responsibility and that the CAS can't do it alone," said Skelton. "We also want the involvement of doctors, teachers, child care workers Continued on page 3 police had to subpoena CAS records for criminal investigations. This often led to delays. 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