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• Total Market Coverage of Clarington from the Publishers of The Canadian Statesman • A James Publishing Community Newspaper Saturday, January 31. 1V9X 144th \ear Circulation: 20,600 A giant snow bunny sculpted by Matt leavers has been turning heads in Newcastle. Travers, a musician, was inspired during a recent snowfall to create this guitar-toting guitar-toting rabbit on the front lawn of his Massey Drive home. In previous winters he's sculpted hockey pi» r ... ■: . ■ * mobilers. photo by Lorn New Policy on Nevada Draws Clarington Council has directed its Clerk's Department to look into changing a by-law allowing allowing groups from outside the municipality to sell Nevada tickets here. On Monday night, an application for Nevada ticket sales from the Brighton and District Minor Hockey Association was tabled until a thorough examination examination of the current by-law is completed. Councillors Troy Young and John Mutton want an amendment to the current by-law which would see the Council selecting organizations which are based in Clarington. However, the by-law would have to recognize the fact that there are some organizations from outside of Clarington which have already received Council's approval to run a lottery. Councillor Mary Novak asked if any other municipality had gone this route to protect local charities. charities. "I do believe Oshawa doesn't allow outside organizations," replied Patti Barrie, Clarington's Municipal Clerk. All councillors supported supported the tabling motion which will allow the municipality to review current Nevada ticket regulations. regulations. clivions Councillors Back 'Federalist' Municipalities by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer "There is nothing that will stir us up more than someone someone trying to rip out the heart of our country," said Roger Anderson, the Chair of Durham Regional Council. Anderson made the comment following a présenta: tion to Council regarding the idea of regional councillors supporting federalist municipalities in Quebec. The request came from Jim McKee of Woodvillc, Ontario, last Wednesday, Jan. 28. McKee told regional councillors many residents on the western side of Quebec "want to remain in the country country of their birth or of their choice." He added the grassroots movement he has joined is needed to create a ground-swell of support for the residents residents of Quebec who voted 'no' during the 1980 and 1995 referendums. As he sees it, "we can't continue to appease and compromise compromise forever." McKee noted, "this is a way to tell the Prime Minister it's time to deal with the issue." He went on to say, "if Quebec docs secede, then the municipalities should have Training Agricultural Leaders by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Writer Over 25 "agriculture experts" joined the Bowmanville Lions at Hampton United Church Hall last Monday evening for the club's annual Rural Night dinner. The after-dinner speaker speaker was Pat Mighton, a past executive director with the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program. During her 11-year career with AALP, Mighton has had the privilege of visiting visiting farming communities in every province (except Newfoundland) and she has also been to Paris, London, Berlin, Mexico City, Hong Kong and many, other unforgettable destinations in the course of her job. According to Mighton, the aim of AALP is to develop leaders in the farming sector so they can shape a positive future for Ontario agriculture. The majority of participants range in age from midtwenties midtwenties to mid-forties. But there are usually several several older participants as well. Since the program was established in 1985, over 176 Ontarians have graduated. graduated. Thirty applicants are selected for each two-year session. They pay $5,000 toward the cost of the program program but the balance is covered by the Agriculture Leadership Trust and donations from agri-business agri-business and private sources. Each session incorporates incorporates nine three-day seminars seminars in different Ontario towns and cities, and two two-week study trips, one in Canada or the US and the second being an international international trip, By the end of the program, program, graduates will have a broader, more informed perspective on issues affecting farmers at home and abroad, namely issues surrounding production, economics, government regulations, and environmental, environmental, and cultural concerns. concerns. One memorable highlight highlight for Mighton was a 1993 trip to a state farm in what had been East Berlin before the Berlin Wall came down. "We could see how the people were coping coping with the changes of privatization. It was not as easy as some assumed. The mentality of workers was so inefficient and it was a challenge to provide incentives for them to work harder." Other experiences that left an impression on her included: a dinner that broke down resentments between Western farmers and Eastern farmers in Canada; the determination by many countries to preserve preserve native culture; and the hospitality of farming communities around the world. the right to secede from Quebec." Whitby Councillor Joe Drumm voiced his displeasure displeasure with the concept of municipalities seceding from Quebec to stay in Canada. Councillor Drumm added, "you would have pockets of Canadians. It would create a situation that would do absolutely no good." Whitby Mayor Marcel Brunelle backed up Councillor Drumm's remarks by suggesting that these resolutions may be seen as political interference. interference. "If we in Ontario were taking a course of action and dealing with that within within our Councils, how would we receive letters from outside of . the province?," he asked McKee. McKee replied, "those who wish to remain would see it as support, and those who want a sovereign nation would see it as a threat." Brunelle then added that for 30 years Whitby has been twinned with Longueuil, Quebec, and one of the principles of their partnership is that "there would be.no political political interference.'".' "You're introducing an Continued on page 9 Tough Budget Choices Ahead Closing all three homes for the aged and laying off 40 police officers officers arc not the solutions the new chair of the Durham Regional Council wants to use to solve this year's budget problems. Roger Anderson told Clarington councillors on Monday night the downloading from the province means that the Region needs to find $10.3 million to trim from the 1998 budget. "The province hasn't showed us how they got their numbers," he said. Nevertheless, he suspects suspects that this year, regional taxpayers could be looking at "an 11 per cent increase. And that doesn't include the regional police budget." Anderson says, "the police budget makes up 50 per cent of the regional budget. That's Continued on page 9 Police Audit "Routine" Independent Flyers by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer The audit that the provincial government has in store for the Durham Regional Police Services is being called "routine" by the new chair of the Police Services Board.- Oshawa Councillor Bob Boychyn, who was elected to his position, on Tuesday, Jan. 27, told The Clarington Independent the audit is to begin this DOG TIRED - Another winded sled team approaches the finish line after completing completing a four-mile run at Trillium Trails north of Oshawa last weekend, A total of 65 dog teams, both purebred and mixed, were part of the action at the dog sled derby hosted hy the Kinsmen Club of Port Perry and the Siberian Husky Club, to support Cystic Fibrosis Research, summer. "I understand that they've been running routine routine audits for a number of years," he said. Councillor Boychyn did note, "the province did a number of audits on smaller police services, and now it is ready to do the larger ones. There is one larger board being done before us, to the west of Toronto." Police Chief Kevin McAlpine told The Independent that the audit is not "a counting pennies" type of audit, but one which will look a specific issues brought up by the police services board or the police association. Some of the issues could be staffing, proper funding and how the police dispose of weapons from the found/seized property room, he said. When asked when was the last time such an audit had been done, Chief McAlpine said, "no one seems quite sure, Perhaps in the early 1980's," The audit is just one of many things, including the preparation of this year's budget, that Boychyn says will be a challenge to the regional police services. But, it is a challenge he is looking forward to. In reference to the upcoming budget, Chief McAlpine adds the police force has 584 officers at this time, but "it should be 600," "So we've asked for 20 additional officers in the draft budget," he said, Æsfater TSi me txntiwaro Hobtiws lip SAÂN. © RodloShacIc. 'Allstate Insurance (Darlene Ferguson 987-1611) *A&P (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 1 to Sat., Feb. 7/98) Canadian Tire (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 1 to Sat., Feb. 7/98) 'Grundy's Country Upholstery (February Specials) 'Home Hardware (10 Days of Savings) 'Hooper's Jewellers (Valentine's Specials) 'Graham's IGA (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 1 to Sat., Feb. 7/98) 'Newcastle IGA (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 1 to Sat., Feb. 7/98) Loblaws (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 1 to Sat., Feb. 7/98) 'M&M Meats -- Bowmanville (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 1 to Sat., Feb. 14/98) 'M&M Meats -- Port Hope (Prices in effect from Wed., Jan. 28 to Sat. 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