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Vol. 129 No. 31 COPY 65¢ ¢1¢=4¢GST) School violence declines By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Figures released recently. show violent incidents in Durham Region schools on the decline. A report received last Monday (June 19) by public school trustees noted a total of 242 reportable incidents in schools across the region, down from a little over 300 during the previous school year. That's encouraging to trustees, who have just adopted a document, In Support of Safe Schools, that outlines protocol and procedure for educators dealing with such incidents. "I'm encouraged with the results this year," said Scugog trustee Bobbie Drew after last Monday's meeting. she said the recently adopted document, "signed by four area public'and" "separate school boards, is the == latest in an ongoing program aimed at pro-active responses to 8¢hool violence. "The 242 incidents for 112 schools really isn't too bad," she said. "Certainly we'd like it to be zero, but that's not too bad." Figures released to trustees show that in the 1994/95 school year there were: 0 17 incidents of weapons possession, including knives and guns; 0 32 threats of serious phys- ical injury among students; Q 9 incidents of threats toward staff; 0 65 assaults causing bodily harm on students, and eight on staff; a 18 reports of robbery or extortion; a 35 incidents of hate-moti- vated violence based on racism or homophobia, and a One report of assault with a weapon. Most incidents occurred either in halls, washrooms or school yards, the report said. While the numbers are of concern, their decline is "sta- tistically encouraging", said Mrs. Drew. Colorful clowns -- here, Huguette and Ron Fawcett of Whitby ham it up for the camera -- were just one of the attractions when a Jamboree was held in Epsom and Utica this weekend. The clowns took part in a parade that ~ wound its way through Epsom Saturday, bringing out ; . plenty of spectators. There was also a yard sale, games for the kids, and a special service on Sunday afternoon. 4 Canada Day bash in the works By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Get ready to feel Proud to be Canadian. That, appropriately, is the theme of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce Canada Day celebrations, set to occur this coming Saturday afternoon and evening at Palmer Park in Port Perry. A full-line up of fun and games, music, and the ever-popular fireworks are planned for this year's event, which has been months in the planning and promises to be the best ever in the area. Rick McCoshen, vice-president of the Chamber and chair of the Canada Day com- mittee, said the day has been planned to provide family-oriented fun, with an emphasis on Canada and Canadians. - He and other organizers have booked a host' of bands and other attractions, and everybody has caught the spirit, he said. "Nobody's looking for money," said Mr. McCoshen. "Everybody's taking part for free." Joanne Cerovich, a Chamber director who's also on the committee, said that organizers have tried to attract local talent and concession people for the 1995 edition of Scugog's Canada Day bash. - That's in keeping with the Chamber's vision of working together locally, she said. "We tried to stay local as much as we possibly could, to bring it back to Scugog," she said. "Everything we're doing is really focusing on Turnto Page 2 and was hit by a Utica woman 'travelling northbound in a Anjuries. in a two-car collision Satiutda) south of Epsom. = = | "Durham Regional Police said a Mercury being driven by a Peterborough womanj. ran a stop sign at the inter-| section of Seugog Line 6 and Marsh Hill Rd. aroundr noon Chevrolet. Ca Both drivers were hospi- talized, and a passenger in the i a. Ia me a NEE he CE sa ry LX br ' BEES Lo $ ¥ TH 7.584 LPR RE SARE ASR A 7 Sok IRV So oT Bp Gi As wt IE ry AN HB Wh vy 75a LEA i