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|S G E T ffiS CL,BRARY . EXP^ M MARCHi 7 0 S R,C) L1C3A8 • Clarington's Community Newspaper Since 1854 • A James Publishing Community Newspaper Wednesday, May 5, 1999 145th Year Issue 18 700 + 50 G.S.T. = 750 Clarington Taxes Going Up Three-year-old Jean-Luc Frank took a little time to try out a lawn tractor at the Evergreen Farm and Garden display display at last weekend's Kinsmen Home Show. The Show helped raise money for community services such as senior citizens' events, clubs and sports. -Photo by Jennifer Stone finance committee chair says. It will also have one of the lowest tax rates in Durham, Councillor Mutton observed. Expenditures that were listed as priority priority two items were left out of this budget for consideration next year. They include rural house numbering, an additional building and plumbing inspector, and a request from the Clarington Public Library to provide funds to open the Courticc and Bowmanville branches on Sundays. Final approval for the 1999 municipal municipal budget is expected next week. ' The Regional budget was passed on April 21 and it will mean an increase of $11 per household or about 1.2 per cent. It included the hiring of more than 30 new police officers and 15 new civilian staff members. That brings the total tax increase up to about $44 per household in Clarington. parking lot. Sgt. Jim Grimley says the 36-year- old woman was leaving her workplace at the shopping mall at about 11 p.m. Friday. She was approached by a vehicle vehicle near The Bay store at the south end of the mall. The woman told police a man got out of the car, and attempted to push her into the vehicle. When she fought and screamed, she says another man exited the car and tried to push her inside. The woman managed to break free and run to a nearby bus stop. The vehicle was last .seen on Gibb Street. Both suspects are described as white, about 25 years old and approximately approximately 5'10" tall. The first suspect is said to have very short blond hair. The woman told police he was wearing a white T-shirt with writing on it. The second suspect has brown hair and was wearing a sweatshirt. The car involved in the incident is described as a black, sporty, two-door vehicle with tinted glass and a sunroof. The woman was not injured in the incident. Police arc asking anyone with any information to call (905) 579-1520. Get Reedw k $ mjn by Michelle Wyton Stall Writer■ A skateboard park, road repairs, increased hours at the Courticc Library and a second fire prevention officer arc all part of Clarington's 1999 budget. At the general purpose and administration administration committee meeting Monday, councillors gave preliminary approval to the operating portion of the 1999 budget. It shows an increase of 2.15 per cent or $11.53 per household. Add that to the already-approved increase in the capital budget and residents arc looking at a 6.84 per cent increase, or $36.66 per household, on the Clarington portion of their taxes. The Durham Region has also approved a tax hike for 1999. The increase in the operating budget budget is what Clarington Regional Councillor John Mutton, chair of the finance committee, calls "inevitable." Councillor Mutton pointed out it is the "first time since 1992 that the Municipality will have a small increase," and that the assessment growth in the municipality has "gone to help fund the operational pressures due to new growth." For their money, Clarington residents residents arc getting 24-hour fire service in Courticc, upgrades to the municipal telephone system to make it more user- friendly, a citizen newsletter and survey, survey, and a second fire prevention officer. officer. They'll also get an updated master plan for the community services department and the hours of the Courticc branch of the Clarington Public Library will be brought up to the same level as the Bowmanville branch. The total operating budget will increase by about $1.6 million over last year The impact of the higher spending is lessened by the projected increases in revenue generated by the growth in the area. "I will assure you that the public Attempted Abduction Of Courtice Woman purse is in good, fiscally responsible hands. And, compared to like-sized municipalities, the -Municipality of Clarington is lean and mean," said Councillor Mutton. "Every municipality municipality in the Durham Region without provincial assistance is experiencing like increases in their budgets. Ultimately, it's the Municipality of Clarington which will emerge with one of the best packages of services per tax dollar spent in the Durham Region, the by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer Durham Regional Police arc looking looking for the public's assistance after a Courtice woman reported an attempted abduction from the Oshawa Centre Bowmanville Man Arrested In Oshawa A 22-year-o!d Bowmanville man faces a number - of charges after a low-speed police chase through downtown Oshawa. Patrick De-Caires was arrested at about 3:25 a.m. Sunday. Durham Regional Police Sgt. Jim Grimley says a car was seen travelling carelessly through Oshawa's downtown core. In spite of attempts to get the driver of the car to stop, it continued through the streets. Sgt. Grimley says the chase didn't didn't exceed 50 kilometres per hour. Police say there appeared to be three female passengers in the vehicle, screaming for the driver to stop. Finally, one of the passengers was able to slam on the brake. The car stopped in the area of King and Queen Streets. Sgt. Grimley says a suspect attempted to flee the area, but was apprehended a short distance away by the Canine Unit. De-Caires is charged with dangerous dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, and driving while prohibited; prohibited; Woman Accused Of Assaulting Step-Daughter A 37-year-old Bowmanville woman has been charged with assaulting hcr 13-ycar-old stepdaughter. stepdaughter. Durham Regional Police Sgt. Jim Grimley says the woman was arrested last Thursday. The alleged incidents took place between November of 1998 and April of 1999. "It is alleged that the accused beat the victim with a broom and twice, threatened her with a knife. In fact, at one point, it is alleged she cut the child's car with a knife," says Sgt. Grimley. The child is now in the custody of the Children's Aid. The woman is charged with aggravated assault, threatening bodily' harm, and two counts of assault with a weapon. She will appear in court May 7, To protect the identity of the victim, the woman's name cannot be released. Bowmanville Murder Suspect Charged in Whitby Jail Riot by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer A suspect in a Bowmanville murder murder is among those charged in connection connection with a riot at Whitby Jail. The riot occurred February 4. Nineteen inmates were transported to the Metro East Detention Centre after the all-day uprising, which is alleged to have started when a hot drink was thrown in the face of a corrections officer. The riot resulted in $87,500 in damage. Sixteen men who were prisoners at the jail at the time, along with a corrections officer from Clarington, have been charged in the incident. Among those charged in the riot is Robert Appleton, 29. Appleton is accused in the August 4, 1998, stabbing stabbing of 24-ycar-old Jennifer Copithorn of Courticc. Copithorn was attacked on her way into work at the National Trust bank on King Street in Bowmanville. She died of multiple stab wounds sustained in the attack. Appleton is one of 16 prisoners charged with participating in a riot, mischief over $5,000, and two counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. Also facing the same charges are: Edward Bradbury, 35; Kenneth Bradburn, 52; Patrick Buchanan, 28; Anthony Hines, 20; Wao Wen Liang, 26; David Mcllmoyle, 37; Erie Thompson, 39; Donald Alton, 47; Reuben Turner, 29; Scott Williams, 20; Christopher Brown, 24; Richard Smallwood, 23; Vance Wilson, 24; Paul Lindsey, 25; and Bradley Cox, 20. Brown, Smallwood, Wilson, Lindsey, and Cox also face addition al charges relating to the incident. Correctional officer Troy Brittain, of Clarington, is charged with assault with a weapon and weapons dangerous. "Two inmates allege 'they were assaulted .... (by someone) prodding with a broom handle through the bars of the common area," where the inmates remained during most of the riot, says Sgt. Jim Grimley of Durham Regional Police. Brittain is to appear in Oshawa Provincial Court on May 7. Police Take School Threat Seriously A 15-year-old Clarington youth faces charges after it was alleged lie. was overheard making threatening comments in the schoolyard. The April 27 incident was reported reported to Durham Regional Police in Clarington Friday. It is said to have occurred at Clarke High School. It is alleged the youth "was heard saying he wanted to re-enact the Colorado shootings," says Staff Sgt. Ted Dionne, Twelve students and one teacher were recently shot in a Colorado school by two students who eventu ally turned their guns on themselves. A similar incident occurred last week in Alberta, where a tccnaged gunman killed one student and injured another at a high school. "Obviously, it's had a huge effect," even here, says Sgt, Dionne. Allegations of people hearing students students make similar comments have also come from schools in Port Perry and Oshawa in the past week. 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