BietiWU»** Clarington's Oldest Sweethearts Sec. B, pg Playoff Nightmare For Jr. A Eagles NSiDE Editorials 4 Classifieds 8, 9, 10 Sports Sec. 8, pgs. 2, 3 Community Calendar Sec. B, pg. 6 TV Listings Sec. B, pg. 8 ; t ' ntesiiimi Clarington's Community Newspaper Since 1854 • A James Publishing Community Newspaper Wednesday, February 25, 1998 144th Year Issue 8 700 + 50 G.S.T. = 750 Blue Circle Dispute In Third Week by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Wriler Two weeks into a labour dispute, workers say Blue Circle Cement will seek an injunction to limit the number of picketing picketing employees at its Bowmanville plant. On Monday, striking workers delayed a bus trying trying to enter the Waverley Road property for over 20 nv,nines,'insisting they be /allowed to check on board for any replacement workers. workers. Police and a numberof company security guards were called to the north gate to ensure the standoff did not escalate. Ninety workers, all members of Local 222 of the Canadian Auto Workers, have vowed to keep up their 24-hour picket at the plant until the contract dispute is settled, Union workers have been holding back managers' managers' vehicles for no longer than ten minutes at the entrance since the picket began. Talks broke down Feb. 12 "We're out here for our benefits and our retirees' benefits," said picket spokesman Mike Fielder, plant chairperson. "They put their whole life into the plant and they should have something when they leave." Blue Circle's vice- president of Human Resources, Dennis White, said in a media release last Continued on page 3 Pancake Day Busy waitress Sherry Shrives (right) stops just long enough to have fellow-volunteer Marg Wilton top everything off with orange slices at a pancake lunch held at St. John's Anglican Church Hall in Bowmanville on Tuesday. Kitchen staff preparing the annual Pancake Day meal were kept hopping, serving close to 100 people people during the first hour of lunch. ■ - t x .. , ' . r -p,V'> by Lorraine Ma.nf;edo Council Balks at Endowing Display of Banned Books Freedom to Read? Clarington Council won't be declaring this municipality a "Freedom to Read Zone." Nor will the municipality municipality proclaim February 22 A Fun Time for All Ages Eight-year-old Catherine Koene, of the Tyrone United Church team, was thrilled to be bowling for a good cause on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 21st, during the Big Brothers Bowl for Millions fund-raiser. This was only Catherine's second time bowling, but she reported "bowling is fun." f to March l as "Freedom to Read Week." Elected officials rejected rejected both requests from the Clarington Public Library on Monday night, fearing that a blanket declaration of freedom to read might be wide enough to endorse material offensive to the general community. "We could be talking about things like child pornography here," said Ward Three Councillor Troy Young. He observed that, although lie's against censorship, in theory, the correspondence from the Library Board didn't indicate indicate the sorts of banned or challenged books which will be displayed during the week. "We need some more information about this," agreed Regional Councillor John Mutton. Councillor Jane Rowe, Clarington's Council representative representative on the Library Board, was surprised at the reaction from Councillors Mutton, Schell, Trim and Young. She noted that the resolution had been. routinely routinely supported by last year's Clarington Council. However, this year's Council is comprised chiefly of newcomers who may not be familiar with past decisions. "I don't see it as being a contentious issue," Rowe observed after the meeting. meeting. She added that some of the books the library displays displays are ones which had been censored in the past but now appear in school reading lists. "It's not something that's going to surprise the community," Rowe observed. Continued on page 3 Emergency Room Full Hospital Deals with Mega-City Overload by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Wriler The line-ups in the emergency ward at Memorial Hospital haven't let up since December and medical staff are hoping the end of flu season will bring some relief. "We've seen unprecedented numbers due to the flu," says Memorial's Critical Care program director, Marion Tink. "We've been seeing 30 to 50 patients more per day this month than what we normally see." The After Hours Clinic, which opened a year and a half ago to absorb some of the strain, is flooded as well. "They're mobbed as soon as they open the door. Staff there are seeing 40 or 50 people in a single three-and-; half-hour shift." But Tink fears the packed emergency room problem might not wind down with the flu season. Part of the pressure is fallout from hospitals to thé west, as far away as Toronto, which arc re-directing ambulances with greater frequency. "It's like a domino effect," she says. "It's definitely a cascade outwards." Ajax is already overwhelmed with patients from Scarborough. Oshawa is reacting to the pressure too. With 36 patients waiting in emergency for beds last Thursday, Oshawa General announced it was cancelling elective surgery for a couple of days and that it would open 10 beds and hire nurses as a temporary measure. For the past three months, OGH has consistently had 20 patients in emergency, awaiting beds. Under this constant constant pressure, the hospital was forced to convert a portion portion of its outpatient department into a temporary patient care area where some admitted patients have stayed for up to five days. Oshawa General's vice-president of Patient Care explained they were "caught in the crunch of nursing home bed shortages, flu outbreak and high numbers of acutely ill patients needing admission." Tink says the policy at Memorial Hospital, Bowmanville is never to,have anyone wait longer than 90 minutes to see a doctor. That is a shorter wait time than many other hospitals in the province where waits can be as long as three hours, she points out. "We certainly understand people's concerns about waiting," she says, "particularly when they have young children ill who can't verbalize." All incoming patients at MHB are seen initially by a "triage" nurse trained to pick out who is acutely ill and who isn't and determine who needs to be seen first on priority of urgency. MHB is aware of its obligation to people in its catchment catchment area and is very reluctant to redirect its ambulances, ambulances, Tink stresses. In fact, the local hospital has only' Continued on page 3 Thieves Hit Liquor Store The liquor store in Bowmanville was hit twice this past week. Thieves managed to make off with five 60-ounce bottles of Seagram whiskey early ' Monday morning after breaking through a store window at the LCBO on Church Street. Durham Regional Police report that the front window window of the premises was also smashed on Friday, February 21 around 3:45 a.m., although nothing appeared to be stolen in that incident. Evidence from the scene was seized by local police and they are continuing their investigation. FASHION STATEMENT -- Regional Councillor John Mutton says lie plans to wear a T-shirt proclaiming "Orono Needs Sewers" to an upcoming Durham Region budget meeting. The regional representative representative displayed the T-shirt at a meeting of Clarington Council Monday night. He said although the Durham Region faces a budget crunch, he'll still be lobbying for the long-awaited Orono services. He adds that lie expects Clarington Mayor Diane Hamrc may want to wear one of the shirts too, ASSESSMENT UPDATE -- By now, most Clarington residents have their new tax assessments and arc, no doubt, trying to figure out what it all means. To help out, there will be a public information meeting in Clarington March 23 to 25th at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. It's one of four such meetings taking place in Durham next month. The deadline for appealing assessments is June. Kelly, Nancy Pleasance Sturman, Rick and Barb Patterson, Wanda Partrick, and Kevin Britton were among the many volunteers who participated in the annual Big Brothers Bowl for Millions at Liberty Bowl on the weekend. We should add that Brad's son, Ryan, also was on hand to help boost his Dad's score. To date, the event has raised well over $12,000 in pledges. (That's from everybody, not just The Statesman team.) And organizers should be on track to meet the objective of $20,000 once all pledges are turned in. The best score from Team Statesman was turned in by Kevin Britton at 168. The team member with the lowest score shall remain anonymous. BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE -- The Bowmanville Drama Workshop reminds us that "Opening Night" will run from March 4 to 7 at the Bowmanville High School Auditorium, with curtain time at 8 p.m. Scats arc still available, especially Wednesday night, March 4th, which is the opening night for "Opening Night." (Talk about being FLU BUG BITES -- If this edition gets printed on time and right- side-up, it will be a minor miracle. There arc several members of staff off work with the flu bug and others who should be, but arc managing managing to hang on, But, judging from our story about the hospital being over-burdened with flu victims, we arc not alone. Seems like soine- body should send the whole town a get well card or a tank of chicken chicken soup. redundant!) To reserve your ticket, Tickets are also available at the door. call 623-4732 or 623-5700. BOWLING FOR MILLIONS -- Statesman staff members Brad QUOTE OF THE WEEK-- "Ourgoal is to strike it now before it's completely out of control. We are aggressively looking to catch these people. " ■■Detective Chris Ostler, Describing the campaing against car theft See story in Section B, page 1 Shop the Rest Buy from the Best! n-B PONIIAC-OUICKIIO. mmOEMmmS Your local General Motors dealer . for the past 25 years. _ Mffii 166 King SI, E. fW' Telephone 623-3396 lAa James Publishing COMPANY LIMITED Printing Professionals Since 1854 Telephone: 623-3303 62 King St. West Bowmanville Bowmanvllle's, Movers for 50 Years. Telephone 623-4433 Stork Market Report Baker - "It's a Boy" Suchorab ■■ "It's a Bo/'