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oiNncsfiFFriR laws ne&ys NOWSinHMMMMMM mt«mPQSi 2-3 Editorial Christmas Story.. Lifestyles Sports ...Sec. B, pgs. 2-5 BOWMANVILLE LIBRARY, 62 TEMPERANCE STREET BOWMANVILLE ONTARIO L1C3A8 EXPIRY DATE: AUGUST 26,1999 /" A r&gf A 1 'M'z xX <5/ Mir # </ / Zy A / \Z • Clarington's Community Newspaper Since 1854 • A James Publishing Community Newspaper Wednesday, December 23, 1998 144thjfear___Issu£51 Armed Robbery At Video Store Durham Regional Police are seeking a lone suspect after an armed robbery Sunday at a Bowmanvillc video store. Police say a man with a hand gun entered Video King on Wavcrley Road just before 9 p.m. Sunday. He received a small quantity quantity of cash and left the store. The suspect is described as male, 19 or 20 years of age, wearing a black winter coat, a black balaclava, blue jeans and running shoes. The incident is under investigation by the Durham Regional Police Robbery Unit. R.I.D.E. Numbers Are Up Again After four weeks, numbers numbers are still up over last year in the Durham Regional Police Service's holiday R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign. Last weekend, police stopped 7,400 vehicles in spot checks across Durham Region. Eighteen people were charged with driving with more than 80 milligrams of alcohol in their bloodstream. Of those people, seven were further charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle. Thirty- eight people were given 12-hour suspensions for registering a "Warn" on the breathalyser. So far this season, Won't You Guide My Sleigh Tonight? Angus, the elephant front Bowmanvillc Zoo, and Santa Claus were among the guests at 44 Mann Street in Bowmanvillc last Saturday. Randy Hilts, the owner of the house, has the home all decorated for Christmas, complete with Disney characters, lights, and, most importantly, a drop box for donations of clothes and toys. Saturday, Hilts hosted a day of fun, with pony rides, a visit from Angus; and a barbecue, among other activities. activities. All proceeds went to the Durham Regional Police Food and Toy Drive. Last year, Hilts' efforts garnered about $4,000 for the Drive. 1 --Photo by Jennifer Stone Hunters Damage Fences and Trees, Land-Owner Says by Michelle Wyton Staff Writer A local farmer says lie is 'absolutely furious' about hunters trespassing on his property. Scott Lee owns 80 acres of land on Concession 8, just cast of Highway 115, in Clarke Township. Although he has not given anyone permission to hunt, damage to his property proves hunters are there. "They have been cutting fences to get onto the property property and damaging trees," he said. He says a nearby landowner gave the hunters permission permission to use his land, but Mr. Lee believes they have made their way across three other properties - cutting fences to get through. "I don't have anything against hunting," said Mr. Lee. "It's the trespassing without permission and destruction of property that I have a problem with. I've got cattle cattle out there and if they go through a cut fence, I've got to chase them down." "I think anybody who lets hunters on their property property should be responsible for them," he added. "If you're going to give permission permission for people to hunt on your land, you should at least have the courtesy to show them where the boundaries arc." Mr. Lee and his sons have spent the last couple of days going through the property and removing equipment the hunters have left behind. "They're quite elaborate structures," he said. "They make these chairs on stands and strap them to a tree. "I am absolutely livid and furious about this. It's not fair that these people are ruining our property." Two of Mr. Lee's neighbours neighbours have also had fences cut, including Jim DaCosta. "When they took part of my fence out, they damaged damaged a corner post and that's not going to be easy to fix," he said. "They've also destroyed trees by bolting their chairs to them and cutting branches to make blinds." "Their actions are totally totally irresponsible," he added. Mr. Lee has been in touch with the police and Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer Mitch Phinney but Continued on page 2 Girl Escapes Burglar A 14-year-old girl escaped her home through a window last week, when she woke up to the sounds of a burglar in the house. The teen was asleep in the family's Darlington-Clarke Townline home last Wednesday, shortly " after 9 a.m., when someone someone rang the doorbell. When she did not answer, a person entered the home. The girl swiftly exited through a bedroom window, ran to a neighbour's house and called police, says Durham Regional Police Clarington Insp. Ross Smith. Some loose change, a bottle of liquor and a computer game were reported missing from the home after the incident. incident. Insp. Smith says the girl did the right thing in not confronting the burglar. burglar. And he says the incident pounds home an important message. "Keep your doors locked," he advises. The burglary is under investigation. police have charged 58 people with driving with over 80 milligrams of alcohol in their blood, compared with 51 charges in liic same period last year. Police have issued 126 12-hour suspensions. In the same time last season, season, only 95 drivers received 12-hour suspensions. suspensions. Durham Regional Police operated spot checks in Bowmanvillc, Pickering, Ajax, Oshawa, and Whitby last week. by Jennifer Stone . Stall Writer ■ ■ The 1998-1999 budget approved by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board was the best anyone could have hoped for, says one local trustee. "All things considered, it's the best budget the board can possibly put together," says Clarington trustee Bob Willsher. The board approved the almost $250 million budget at a meeting last Wednesday. Director of Education Dick Malowney says the board made students a priority while preparing the budget. "This budget is a milestone," he says in a media release. "It's the first full-year budget drafted by administration and approved by trustees since the Board officially came into being on January 1, 1998. Throughout the process, we concentrated on applying the funds we were given by the Ministry of Education and Training to where they would work best for students." students." In spite of positive reaction to the budget, Willsher says there arc a number of things that disturb him. First of all, he says, although there's an identified need for about $10 million in school operational requirements, that money is not available. The province has only allowed for $4 million to cover such costs. "Those kinds of problems are difficult for boards to manage," manage," says Willsher. But Willsher also says, because of the way the ncwly-amal- gamated Peterborough and Northumbcrland-Clarington boards operated in past, the Board was able to meet most Ministry of Education and Training expectations in the budget. "Because of past fiscal responsibility, we haven't been in a position where wci'rc trying to catch up this year," he says. Continued on page 2 msmsi 31 KING STREET WEST, DOWNTOWN BOWMANVILLE 623-2568 foto source" SI Shop the Rest (J Buy from the Best! fIBLVWna 1*0 N fMOWmiCK L Your local General Motors dealer for the past 25 years. rîsüri 166 King St. E, f. 2Sih 1 Tolophono 623-3396 V1Ü222J COMPANY LIMITED Printing Professionals Since 1854 Telephone: 623-3303 62 King St, Wcsl Bowmanvillc mmm 32 iWp Bownmville's Movers for 50 Years. 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