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J Clarington Community/A? Small school has big heart Durham Daily News EVERY WEEKDAY AT NOON (§)vicleodurhamregion. i.com durhamregion.com ♦ Pressrun 24,150 ♦ Founded 1854 ♦ JUNE 28, 2006 ♦ 56 Pages ♦ Optional 3 Week Delivery $6/$1 Newsstand Rugby player dies on home field BY BRAD KELLY Staff Writer RAGLAN - A rugby player with the Oshawa Vikings died on the very field named after his father on Saturday. Ian Thompson, a long-time member of the Oshawa club, was playing a game against the Cobourg Saxons during alumni day, when he collapsed at the Grade 10s Thompson Rugby Park in Rag- says the lan, which is named after his father, Dave. Despite the efforts of training staff and paramedics paramedics who were in attendance, they were unable to revive the 38-year-old. Chris McKee, a spokesperson for the Oshawa Vikings Rugby Club, crceing For more on this story, view the June 27 webcast of Daily News durhampeglon.com family was held in high regard by cveiyonc in the rugby community. "The family is considered considered rugby royalty by the club. The commitment commitment to rugby from them has been huge," he said on Monday - afternoon. Mr. McKee was ref- the game at the time of the tragedy. At one point in the game Mr. Thompson was tackled, tackled, and when asked if he was okay by Mr. McKee, he responded by saying he was fine, just winded. About five minutes later, says Mr. McKee, Mr. Thompson asked to be subbed off because Ian Thompson of a headache. It was at this time he collapsed collapsed and couldn't be revived. "I don't know anyone anyone who would say a bad word about him," says Mr. McKee. "He was always friendly to everyone, always happy and cheerful." Mr. McKee says Students meeting the provincial average BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer CLARINGTON - Local students students posted similar results to those of their provincial counterparts counterparts on this year's edition of the Grade 10 literacy test. The test, which is a prerequisite for graduation, was administered in March this year, and across the province, 84 per cent of first-time "eligible stridents passed. Scores were similar for local boards. The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPR) saw 83 per cent of its students pass, while the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board had an 85 per cent success rate. Representatives of both boards say they're pleased with this year's results, but will be working to improve on the success rates. "Classroom teachers, principals, and students have been working hard over the past year," said Ron McNamara, Superintendent of Schools - Curriculum with PVNC. "It's an important test, and we take it very seriously." At KPR, 97 per cent of those in the academic stream were sue-. cessful this lime around, said Bev Moore, Superintendent of Teaching Teaching and Learning with KPR. In the applied stream, 66 per cent of students were successful, a number that is still above the provincial average. Though she's pleased with the numbers, there's still room for improvement, said Ms. Moore. "We still need to work on finding finding high impact strategies that will work for-those in the applied stream," said Ms. Moore. Staff will analyze the data from this year's test to determine what can be done. Students at PVNC have the option of taking courses in Grade 11, either in lieu of or to brush up for the test,' said Mr. McNamara. Work will be done to ensure a continued high rate of success, he said. "Obviously, every school board in the Province is trying to ensure every single student is successful on the test," said Mr. McNamara. m 1 Mayor faces assault charges CLARINGTON - - Clarington's mayor will be back in court next month to face two counts of assault, after being arrested last week. Durham Regional Police refused to provide any information information on the case, and details of Mayor John John Mutton Mutton's first court appearance cannot be released due to a publication publication ban on the case. Citing advice from his lawyer, Mayor Mutton refused comment comment on the matter. He will be back in court on July 11 in Oshawa. ilftfeWnriiK ÜÜ : .-s i ^ w .. ,, - . I ' fc ; ■ v rpy'; ' ^ ,/- < Jennifer Stone/ Metroland Durham Region Media Group Hooping it up in fabulous 50s style BOWMANVILLE - Twelve-year-old Stephen Marchant, of Bowmanville, warms up for the hula hoop contest, one of a number of activities during downtown Bowmanville's Fabulous 50s Festival last weekend. * that Mr. Thompson, an Educational Educational Assistant at G.L. Roberts Collegiate, was in good shape and that the whole incident was "devastating for everyone who showed up. It was a tragic day for everyone." Among those in attendance at the game were his father and young son, Jack. See MESSAGES, page A4 Council looks at ban of residential pesticides Will examine . all possibilities BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer CLARINGTON - Using chemicals to rid lawns of weeds may become a thing of the past, as Clarington examines its stance on residential use of pesticides. Clarington council has directed its operations department to produce produce a report, looking at best practices in Ontario with regard to residential use of weed-killers, including full bans. If banning pesticides is up for consideration, a public meeting must be held, said Clarington Mayor John Mutton. Mutton. Dr. Ken Ranney, a retired physician, physician, spoke to council on the matter Monday. "My purpose in being here is to ask when you plan to pass a law to ban all chemicals chemicals used on lawns and gardens to kill weeds," said Dr. Ranney, who said a great deal of evidence pointed to a possible link between pesticide use and an array of illnesses illnesses It is time for Clarington to look at the issue, said Mayor Mutton, Mutton, noting other municipalities already have. "We've been across Canada at different municipalities. We saw it (a ban) in St. John's. There are quite a few in western Ontario that are working quite well," he said, noting the Municipality has already taken steps to limit use of pesticides on its own property. ' Clarington's Healthy Communities Communities committee might be able to help Dr. Ranncy's case, said Regional Councillor Jim Schell. 'That is a cause they would certainly champion," he said. The risks outweigh the benefits when it comes to pesticide use, said Dr. Ranney. The report is to come back to council in the fall. ONTARIO'S 8ÜS • SERVICE • PARTS MON., WED., FRI. 7:30 am - 6:00 pm TUES. & THURS. 7:30 am - 8:00 pm SAT. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY WHITBY OSHAWA Honda 300 THICKSON RD. S. WHITBY 1-866 240-6192 HONDA , www.honda1.com j Orono Couldn't pay back loan for chipper, they say BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer ORONO - An offer of an interest-free interest-free loan from the Municipality Municipality has been turned down by the Orono Crown Lands Trust (OCLT), since the organization says it simply couldn't pay it back. The Trust, which manages the Lands Trust turns down offer 633-acre forest in Orono, first approached the Municipality for a $5,000 grant, to buy a wood chipper to aid in the control of invasive species threatening natural regeneration in the former former tree nursery. But, • Clarington councillors twice voted against that possibility, possibility, saying, since the lands are owned by the Ministry of Natural Resources, paying for the chipper should be a Provincial Provincial responsibility. When it became clear the Province Province wasn't going to pay, the Municipality offered an interest- free loan to help the OCLT pay for the equipment. But, according to a media release from OCLT chairman John Slater, the board has decided decided against accepting the offer. "While the board acknowledges acknowledges that the offer is generous and recognizes the need of the Orono Crown Lands Trust, the board is of the view that it is not appropriate at this time for our organization to borrow monies to fund our activities," said Mr. Slater in the release. The group relies on grants, gifts and donations, as well as work done by unpaid volunteers, volunteers, to operate and maintain the lands, said Mr. Slater. "As such, the Orono Crown Lands Trust has no foreseeable means in which to repay loans," he said. The rçfusal is disappointing, disappointing, said Local Councillor Gord Robinson, Robinson, who had fought to get the grant for the group. "I went to bat as strong as I could ... because I really do think that even though the property is owned by the Province, we do have a responsibility to accommodate our nonprofit nonprofit organizations," he said, adding the group does provide a Gord Robinson service to local residents. "I have a very strong feeling for non-profit organizations ... that arc providing amenities amenities to our municipality," municipality," he said. The chipper is necessary equipment equipment to deal with the invasives, including dog strangling vine and others, which are becoming more and more prevalent in the forest, said Coun. Robinson. "It has to Ire rectified or it's going to become a major issue," he said. iff COWAN flmiNTirSTT-, 3--2t£ "V • - -s ...Ahsn t 6 *141, -V '"t" If I L Here at Cowan s we want everyone to know whet the nurenasing. Our i Certificate for ever Motors product includes, L rjjjnty jii^tofy, the vehicle s ate, original _ ill completely i We pride ourse stocking or selling ou province daily rentals! watr UUUU1 III ifnaPwarranty start al selling dealer! ely documented! selves In not oiling out of \ y •■■âliSsifvÜv.éiW x f, '1 m