The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

KE ANA A S50 aaa rr Scugog boaters warned to be cautious: Due to continuing dry condi- tions, the water level of Lake Scu- gog has fallen below the mini- mum of the navigation range. Water control technicians of the Trent-Severn Waterway system is- sued an advisory on Friday August 19, warning mariners to exercise caution when navigating Lake Scugog and the Scugog River. Water depths as shown on Chart 2026 from Port Perry to Lindsay will be less than indicated. According to technician Blaine Trumbley, on August 18, the lake was six inches lower than it was on the same date in both 1986 and 1987. But as he points out, a six inch vertical drop "may be several feet ~on the shoreline that usually isn't ex WS So when waterfront homeown- ers and cottagers look at their beaches, they see extended lengths of sand, docks over top of mud in- stead of water, and water lapping Vol. 122 No. 39 Several feet below normal water- ines. Boaters should be on the watch for sand bars, stumps and rocks that normally don't protrude from the lake's surface. Naturally, Mr. Trumbley and his co-workers receive many phone calls from people, most of whom understand how this sum- mer's hot dry weather has caused the water levels to drop. "People are being observant, I guess, but it isn't too hard to tell that levels have dropped," he said. In the spring, water levels peaked April 8 with a high of 250.13 metres above sea level. On August 18, Lake Scugog measured only 249.80 metres above sea level, a drop of 13 inch- es. Mr. Trumbley says the Trent- Severn Waterway staff attempts to keep Lake Scugog within a range of 249.78 to 249.92. When levels go below 249.78, as they did Au- Tuesday, August 23, 1988 gust 19, an advisory is issued to oaters, reminding them that depth charts are no longer accu- rate. Everything possible, he says, is being done to maintain Lake Scu- gog's water level within the opti- mum range. All the logs at the Lindsay dam, for example, have been in place since May 31. However, evaporation is reduc- ing the water at such a rate, that the present levels are more akin to levels later in the autumn. Mr. Trumbley says the low lev- els also have a lowering affect on waterfront wells. "Depending on the geology of soil--if it's sandy, water can perco- late through quite easily," he said. "Some wells can be directly affect- ed by lake levels." Fortunately, any kind of rain will raise the lake levels back within safe navigation range. (Turn to page 10) Copy 50° 44 Pages Speculation that former MPP Ross Stevenson may run for the newly created riding of Durham (of which Scugog is included) was Stevenson will seek Tory 'nomination for Durham confirmed Monday, when Mr. Ste- venson announced his intention to seck the nomination for the Feder- al Progressive Consevative Party. He is no stranger Scugog Town- ship, having served as the Provin- cial member of Parliament for the riding of Durham-York from 1981 to 1987. While in provincial politics, Mr. Stevenson served as Minister of Agriculture, Parliamentary As- sistant to the Treasurer of Ontario and Minister of Economics, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of the Environ- ment. He was also Agriculture Critic for the Ontario P.C. Party. Rebounding after a very disap- pointing loss last September to- Liberal newcomer Bill Ballinger, by a very narrow margin, Mr. Ste- venson now looks to a future in Federal politics. In announcing his intentions, he said "I look forward to the oppor- tunity to represent the people of this new riding in the next federal election. I am very excited about the challenge ahead and believe that my involvement in the com- munity, my experience in govern- ment and my background in busi- ness will give the people of this riding a strong voice in the next governemnt." Mr. Stevenson, whose family has lived in the region for six gen- erations, owns and operates a fam- ily farming operation which in- cludes cropping of 350 acres and sales of 1,200 hogs per year and (Turn to page 10) Water level extremely Port Perry Marina operator John Mackey uses -a 45d 5 wl 5 ER 2 | i yardstick to show how low the water has dropped at the government dock In Port Perry. The dark line, shadowed above by white, is where the water used to be--now It's several inches lower. For more on Lake Scugog's water levels, see story. Council authorizes study for banquet hall, 2nd pad, pool Scugog Township council has agreed to pay half the cost of a feasibility study to examine in de- tail a two-phase expansion of rec- reation facilities in the Township. The study would deal with construction of a second ice pad at the Scugog Arena, a large recrea- tion hall that could be used for banquets and three squash courts in phase one; plus an indoor pool in phase two. Council agreed unanimously Monday afternoon to pay half the cost of feasibility study (up to a maximum of $15,000) with the other half coming from provincial government grants, As well, the council over the next three or four weeks will ap- point a steering committee to work with the professional con- sultants who prepare the feasibili- ty study. The request for the study was made to council by Glen McCoy, Brian Callery and Jerry Jonkeers, all of whom have been actively involved in plans to increase and expand recreation facilities in the community. Mr. McCoy, who is chairman of the Scugog Arena Board said there has been a series of informal meetings with user groups at the arena, and all the groups have in- dicated they want and need more ice time than is now available. He told council that a feasibil- ity study is required by the provin- cial government for any capital grants on projects that cost more than $250,000. It is not known exactly what the cost of a new second pad with recreation-banquet hall and an in- door pool is, but it is much more than $250,000. In making the request for funds for the initial feasibilit study, Mr. McCoy told council that even if all the pieces fall in lace for expanding rec facilities, it will be 3-4 years before any ac- tual construction takes place on Phase], anda furor 3-4 years be- ore an indoor pool is started. The need for a second ice pad, fitness facilities and a recreation hall was documented in the Town- ship's Recreation Master Plan completed last year by Sesquaig of Ottawa. (Turn to page 16)