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S Page 14 The Claringlon/Courlice Independent, Bowmanville, Saturday, December 19, 1998 $40 Million Helps Farmers Facing Crisis The Ontario government is committing up to $40 million in much-needed income relief for farmers, Retired Teacher Charged In Sexual Assault As a result of an investigation by the Durham Regional Police, a retired school teacher has been charged in connection with incidents incidents that arc alleged to have occurred in 1975 in a Northumberland district district school. The victim, a 32- year-old man who now resides in the Peterborough area, was a student at Courtice West Public School on Nash Rd. in Courtice and was 7 years of age at the time of the alleged incidents. The victim advised police that improper touching by a teacher took place in the classroom classroom two to three times a week, over a three month period, and only stopped after another student witnessed the assault. The involved suspect resigned from the school in December 1975. Charged with Indecent Assault on a Male is: Paul Alexander McCrae, 49 years of age, of Hamilton. Mr. McCrae appeared for bail hearing in Oshawa Provincial Court Dec. 9. Police are requesting any former students of the suspect with information information on this or similar incidents to contact the Durham Regional Police Service at (905) 579- 1520 ext. 1689 or Crime Stoppers at (905) 436- TIPS. Police Warn Truckers On Hwy. 401 The Northumberland Detachment's Hwy. 401 Enhanced Traffic Team, concentrated their traffic enforcement efforts on Tractor Trailers travelling on Hwy. 401 between Wesleyville Rd. in Hope Twp., to Smithfield Rd. in Brighton Twp. Random stops were made of tractor trailers travelling on the 401. Officers were enforcing the' Highway Traffic Act, and the Truck Transportation Act as it related to tractor trailers. A total of twenty-five (25) tractor trailers were stopped with 11 warnings issued. Warnings ranged from log book violations to load security. These random tractor trailer checks will be preformed preformed on a weekly basis in the Northumberland Detachment's Hwy. 401 area. PLENTY OF VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEERS -- It was also heart-warming to sec the number of friends of the late Carson Elliott who turned out Friday evening for a dinner at St. Joseph's Church in Bowmanville. Anybody in need of a Christmas meal was invited invited to attend. And the number number of volunteers who came to serve was about three times what organizers organizers hoped for. All of the food and trimmings were donated. It's proof that Clarington has a heart! announced John R. O'Toole, MPP for Durham East. Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Noble Villeneuve detailed the income relief program at Queen's Park last week. Up to $30 million of the Ontario Whole Farm Relief Program will help farmers through the current current crisis until a national whole farm income disaster disaster program is up and running, running, and the balance will become available at that time. "Some farm operations in Durham East, and indeed across Ontario, have had a troubling year. Today's announcement confirms your Ontario government's support of the agricultural sector," said MPP O'Toole. The program will provide provide targeted support to participating farmers in cases where their gross margins fall below 70 per cent of their three to five year average. This program program is in addition to existing safety net programs. programs. At the same time, Ontario, along with all other, provinces, is renegotiating renegotiating a multi-year federal-provincial safety net agreement that will provide useful risk man agement tools to farmers. "The agri-food business is the second largest sector in the Durham economy. While many farm operations operations have had high levels of productivity and even bumper crops, global market market forces and other supply and demand issues have adversely effected our farmers. When our farmers farmers suffer, we all suffer," said O'Toole. "I am pleased that Minister Villeneuve has listened to the concerns of the province's farmers and acted quickly. I anxiously await the federal government's government's response to this crisis, crisis, and hope that they will move forward with the speed that Ontario has." "Ontario is pitching in to support all the province's farmers who have battled falling prices and extremely adverse weather conditions this year," Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Noble Villeneuve said. Program applications will be mailed to registered registered farmers in early January. Further information information is available at 1-877- 838-5144 or on the Internet at www.gov.on.ca/omafra. ■ Sounds of the Season Violinist Stephen Richter, who is in Grade 3, accompanied classmates during Knox Christian School's Christmas Program. The primary students played to a packed house of parents, grandparents, friends and teachers during the program, held Dec. 10th. ?" ??'?? ■' ■.■?■ ? /v? ;; . ■. j ' ■ ' v; • / / ,. VISIT SANTA AND HIS ELVES SAT., DEC. 5-12-19 . X at the Bank of Montreal 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Have your photo taken with .' : proceeds mm to the Salvation Army. ■ •'■i j' - >' ^^^^^A*^ eieeeieillle ™ l " eillll * eee ^ eillllllieiliel11 . , sTO/V' , ' ? • FREE Gift Wrapping at most stores! EXTENDED STORE HOURS Beginning Dec. 6, Mon. - Fri. 9 - 9; Sat. 9 - 5; Sun. 12 noon - 5If (AT PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS) Lr.rr.Ti WtaK-arya