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• SINCE 1854 • AMALGAMATED 1999 WITH CLARINGTON THIS WEEK • Pri'ssrun 21,900 32 Panes Wednesday, October 17, 2001 Optional 4 week delivery $5/$l newsstand Eagles flex their talons Sports, page 9 Honda's cute ute Wheels pullout Do we need nuclear rocket launchers? Feds would make the decision DURHAM -- The possibility possibility of heightened security at nuclear nuclear stations to include rocket launchers is up to the federal regulator, says Ontario Power Generation (OPG). "It's an action (the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission) would take if they decide it's a prudent course," said OPG spokesman Ted Gruetzner in an interview this week. The possibility of rocket launchers have been broached in light of reports nuclear plants around North America could be targets of future terrorist at-. tacks. They would be used to bring down a passenger jet on a crash course with a nuclear station. station. However, Mr. Gruetzner noted the Pickering and Dar lington nuclear stations were built to withstand a strike by a jet. "They're built robustly with reinforced concrete. Our feeling is it's a robust design," Mr. Gruetzner said. "We know it's on people's minds. They're built to withstand impacts and earthquakes." However, in a published report report on the weekend, an American American consultant contended the design of the Candu nuclear re actors, which are in use at the two Durham plants, makes them vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Gordon Thompson, head of the Institute for Resource and Security Studies, said the Candu reactors were "susceptible" "susceptible" because the multiple reactors reactors rely on a common system for emergency core cooling and vacuum containment. Most of the reactors in the world have individual safety systems for Just along for the ride BOWMANVILLE - Sarah, left, and Katelynn Buechler of enjoying a midway set up at the Garnet B. Rickard Recre- Bowmanville had a screaming good time on the weekend, ation Complex in Bowmanville. JASON LIEBREGTS/ Statesman photo Bowmanville clinic staff find WALTER PASSARELLA/ Statesman photo Unidentified women wait outside the .Optimal Health Chiropractic Centre in Bowmanville Monday, as emergency personnel responded to reports of a white powder found in a roll of coins. The threat of bio-terrorism in Durham Region is considered low, says Emergency Measures Ontario. Police, however, have responded to at least 10 calls in the past few days. 'powder' Threat of bio-terrorism unlikely in Glarington: officials BY JACQUIE McINNES AND JENNIFER STONE Staff Writers BOWMANVILLE - In the wake of an. Anthrax scare that closed down a Bowmanville intersection intersection for four hours Monday, Monday, emergency personnel are assuring assuring residents the chances are slim bio-terrorism will reach Glarington. The Durham Regional Health Department late yesterday was still awaiting results of tests on a suspicious substance discovered by a staff member at the Optimal Health Chiropractic Centre at Church and Temperance streets. Police were called at about 10:30 a.m. Monday, when the See WHITE page 5 each unit, even at stations with more than one reactor. "The scenario of an eight-reactor eight-reactor accident has never been examined by anyone in Canada, basically because it is too uncomfortable, uncomfortable, I imagine," said Mr. Thompson, who described himself as a nuclear skeptic. Mr. Gruetzner noted safety with the stations is based on normal operations, but said, "The risk assessment is to the nth degree." Security has been at a heightened level at the two nuclear nuclear plants in Durham since the Sept. 11 attacks. However, OPG officials won't speak in detail about measures being taken. Durham Regional Police spokesman Paul Malik confirmed confirmed this week the department department still has officers involved in security at the two stations. -- with files from Torstar News Service Police urge public to stay calm in anthrax scares Officials respond to 10 incidents in past few days DURHAM - Whether fuelled by public panic or precaution, local police, fire and health officials officials are taking no chances as reports reports of suspicious substances spread in the midst of bio-terrorism bio-terrorism fears south of the border. Durham Regional Police, fire services and hazardous materials teams have been called to at least 10 separate incidents in the past few days as the growing number of confinned Anthrax cases in the U.S. heightens concerns in Canada. In the U.S. one person has died, several sickened and more than a dozen have been exposed to the bacteria through contaminated contaminated mail since the Sept. 11 terrorism terrorism attacks in New York and Washington. Although there have been no confirmed anthrax cases in Canada, officials across Greater Inside If* Statesman WHERE TO FIND IT Editorial Page 6 Sports 9 Classified 11 GIVE US A CALL General.. .905-623-3303 Distribution 905-579-4407 Death Notices 905-683-3005 Sincerely Yours 1-800-662-8423 Web site durhamregion.com email jbobbitt@durhamregion.com FAX 905-623-6161 Toronto are being inundated with false, alarms. Sergeant Paul Malik, spokesman for Durham Regional Regional Police, said emergency services services are taking all reports seriously seriously but urged calm. He suggested suggested people try to "relax" while at the same time use common common sense. . "We don't want panic to set in, although in some respects it already has. But we are trying to quell the public's concerns as, much as we can while at the same time taking all precautions to ensure safety," the officer said. Health and emergency officials officials were notified and seized suspicious substances for testing from at least five locations across the region Monday and Tuesday. In the latest scare, police, Whitby fire and a hazardous materials materials removal team were called to the constituency office of Deputy Premier Jim Flaherty, the Ajax-Whitby MPP, after a letter containing a "suspicious" white powder was received by mail yesterday. The letter, which was handled See POLICE page 5 ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY ♦An official mark of Ihe Province of Ontario used under licence. Whitby - Oshawa Honda 1110 DUNDAS. ST. I., WHITBY LOCAL (905) 666-1772 www.hcnda1.com - - < ft Cowan PONTIAC-BUICK GMCTRUCK 166 KING ST. E., BOWMANVILLE 623-3396 I boxllner and matching painted cap. 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