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------ Cr -- --------" ---------- A lI ll ls "Vol. 134 No. 05 Man is shot In police pursuit By Rik Davie Special to the Star A 25-kilometre pursuit that began on Scugog Island has resulted in the second police- related shooting in north Durham in less than a year. Durham Regional Police spokesperson Sgt. Jim Grimley said that officers from Port Perry's 26 Division station were called to the Great Blue Heron Casino on Scugog Island around 12:20 a.m. Monday to investi- gate the presence of a suspicious vehicle in the parking area of the casino. "The officers had just begun their investigation when the pursuit ensued," said Sgt. Grimley. One police unit had already arrived at the scene and another was just pulling up when the suspect vehicle, a late model white Sunbird with one male occupant, sped away from offi- cers by driving across a culvert and construction area and onto the Island Rd., where it sped away southbound. Officers began a pursuit which eventually involved three police forces, and ended at the intersection of Hwy. 12 and 48, just south of Gamebridge. It appeared that at least three shots where fired into the suspect car. The vehicle ran over spike belts deployed by Ontario Provincial Police and Durham officers, and crashed into two police vehicles. The suspect was rushed to Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Orillia, then immediately trans- ported to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto Please turn to page 4 SLIDING AW ke-Sci long been a spular. winter Ttecreatio i bg bg ; unday, these men took to the thin ice to try out their new wind surfers. Although the ice appears to be afe, due to the mild weather and rain earlier this for residents to avoid the J. PETER HVIDSTEN / PORT PERRY STAR O'Toole backs Scugog Township council MPP says ag office should stay By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Durham MPP John O'Toole says he agrees with township coun- cil"s opposition to the closure of the Port Perry OMAFRA office. The provincial government recently announced that it would be closing community Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Farm and Rural Affairs offices across Ontario and replacing them with cen- tralized district service centres. Port Perry's office, a centre that is used for meetings and distri- bution of information, is scheduled to close early in the new year. At their last meeting, Scugog Township councillors opted to send a "carefully worded" letter to the province, arguing that clos- ing the local office is a poor reflection of the important role farm- ing plays in the economic well-being of the community. "I think it is appropriate for them to take a position on it," Mr. Don't forget your bes ¢ friend at Christmas! tocking Stuffers ® Treats & Toys O'Toole said last week. While he noted that a large number of farmers use toll-free lines, the internet, and satellite weather services for information, Mr. O'Toole added that there will never be a replacement for an office staffed with people familiar with the area. "The number one thing these farmers need is human resources... bricks and mortar and buildings can come after that. Office space for a meeting area is also very important for the pro- ducers and commodity groups... it's a social issue," he said. "Agriculture has a great importance here in the GTA and there has to be something in Durham Region for them," said Mr. O'Toole. "There has to be a place for them to meet, and I don't care if it's at my office or wherever, we have to ensure there is a place around here and not just in Lindsay." ..Paulmacs *® Rtfood @ iF ¥ f3.1 Ffi 1894 Scugog st, Port Perry Plaza 985-0554