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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2008 SERVING EAST DISTRICT SINCE 1885 Vol. 123 No. 35 $1.25 (GST included)

This week in the Highlands Powassan denied New bridge Junior A team christened Laurel J. Campbell dards and practices of the GMHL,” he BURK’S FALLS – A 65-year-old Port Staff Reporter said. Sydney truck driver has the dubious Sanders did not wish to comment honour of being the first person to POWASSAN — It appears there will on the business arrangements regard- smack into the new Hwy. 11 overpass not be a Junior A hockey team coming ing the team, but did tell the News that at Burk’s Falls. to Powassan any time soon. while he had financial backers in Gordon Prince drove under the Despite the proposed Greater place, he was not ready to move for- bridge, but failed to notice that the Metro Hockey League (GMHL) team ward on paying the GMHL a deposit boom on his truck was raised. the Blazers having signed a contract toward the Blazers’$25,000 initiation Damage to the overpass was minor, with the Municipality of Powassan for fee that would see them on the Sport- but the truck was a write-off. use of the Sportsplex as their home ice, splex ice in late 2009. Prince was charged with driving the GMHL announced on Friday, Aug. The Municipality of Powassan had an over-height vehicle. 22 that a franchise will not be awarded no financial investment in the team. to Powassan for the 2009-2010 season. “I really thought we were going to Although the league had given con- get the franchise once the municipali- ditional approval of the Powassan ty had signed the Sportsplex-Blazers Blazers Hockey Club earlier this year, lease agreement,” said Powassan Please mind “Doug Sanders, owner of the Blazers, councillor Gerry Giesler, chair of the has not fulfilled financial obligations municipality’s recreation committee. the moose as agreed upon in April of this year, Giesler had been unaware of the and is unable to move forward with GMHL decision when contacted by ALMAGUIN – that commitment,” said GMHL presi- the Almaguin News. “I hadn’t heard we OPP responded to two motor vehicle dent Bob Russell. weren’t getting a team and I’m sur- collisions involving moose during the Russell also said the league “is prised, but have no other comment to week of Aug. 18 to 25. aware of the contractual agreement make as I don’t know the details of the At about 9 p.m. on Aug. 20, Daniel now in place with the municipality for discussions between Mr. Sanders and Jarvis, 36, of Corbeil, sustained minor use of the Sportsplex and that the the league,” he said. injuries when his car struck a moose Blazers website is now online con- Councillor Peter McIsaac, who also on Hwy. 11 in Strong Township. ducting business. For the Blazers con- sits on the recreation committee and At about the same time on Aug. 24, ducting business without receiving has been a long-time volunteer for Rick Benn of struck a official confirmation as a GMHL Sportsplex initiatives, said he was torn moose on Hwy. 11 in Perry Township. member is misleading, if not unethi- between two reactions to the news. No injuries were reported. cal, and contrary to the business stan- Continued on Page 2

Youth charged PHOTO BY ANDY CAMPBELL Province announces OLD-FASHIONED INGENUITY: Grant Service, in traditional Canadian militia uniform, with theft shows Paul Arthur how to quickly manufacture a rope using a handy antique device. For more weekend fair photos, see pages 15 and 16. SOUTH RIVER – At 7:15 p.m. on Aug. $1.1 billion in grants 20, police responded to a report of Mary Beth Hartill 2006 population figures. theft from a vehicle on Ottawa Staff Reporter Armour is set to collect $118,840; Avenue in South River. A young Clement re-ignites national Bonfield $191,153; Burk’s Falls female was arrested and charged with — The provincial govern- $84,967; Callander $309,137; theft and breach of probation. ment has made a pledge to immedi- Chisholm $125,405; East Ferris ately invest $1.1-billion province-wide $399,623; Huntsville $620,006; Joly debate on safe injection in municipal infrastructure as part of $26,642; Kearney $75,928; Machar the Investing in Ontario Act, 2008. $82,398; $153,189; Off-duty cop By Carlye Malchuk Dash outcome Clement is very happy with. Monday’s announcement was trig- McMurrich/Monteith $75,262; Nipiss- “It was my third speech to the CMA gered by the release of the 2007/08 ing $156,233; North Bay $5,134,772; ALMAGUIN — The word count for (and) . . . I get to choose what I get to Public Accounts, which shows a $1.7- Powassan $314,846; Ryerson $65,272; spots pot Muskoka-Parry Sound MP and federal speak about and I thought this was an billion surplus. The Act ensures that a South River $101,714; Strong $126,262; health minister Tony Clement’s annual issue that was important to help move and Sundridge $89,630. SPRUCEDALE – An off-duty police portion of provincial surpluses are speech to the Canadian Medical Asso- the policy along about how we can The investment is part of the gov- sergeant from North Bay found 10 allocated to municipalities for infra- ciation on Aug.18 was just under 3,500. help addicts,” he told this newspaper ernment’s five-point economic plan to marijuana plants on Crown land in structure needs, such as improving Most of those words were used by Monday from Denver, Colorado, build a stronger community. McMurrich-Monteith on Aug. 24. The roads and bridges, expanding transit the health minister to describe his where he is attending the U.S. Democ- “Through this investment, the plants, found in the area of Stisted and upgrading social housing. This problems with Insite — Vancouver’s ratic National Convention. McGuinty government is taking Road South, were destroyed. Police investment is expected to create as safe injection site for drug users — “The CMA took a position that I felt another step forward in our relation- are investigating. many as 11,000 construction jobs. from a public policy, scientific and was wrong-headed and not in the best “By investing in infrastructure in ship with our municipal partners,” ethical point of view. interest of addicts and not in the best every Ontario community, we’re creat- said MPP Monique In the week that has followed interests of our society and I felt that ing jobs for families and making our Smith, whose district will be receiving Clement’s address at the CMA’s annual it’s part of my role to speak out when I communities strong,” said premier nearly $7-million. “Our municipalities Burglar conference, numerous articles and think that the public policy debate is Dalton McGuinty in a recent press in Nipissing will now have the ability opinion pieces have appeared in the going in the wrong direction.” statement. to choose their next infrastructure national media both supporting and According to a copy of Clement’s Each grant is based on a per capita projects, and to move those projects bags booze opposing his message and tactics, an Continued on Page 2 distribution of the funds based on forward.” SPRUCEDALE – At 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 21, police received a report of a break-and-enter to a cottage on Star Lake Road in McMurrich-Monteith. Union protests decision to cut lab services During the previous four days, unknown persons entered the By Carlye Malchuk Dash MAHC lab staff dated Aug. 22 signed plan, which includes a leadership and/or part-time technologists and residence and stole alcohol. by the staff representative for OPSEU team of a lab director, lab manager, technicians. ALMAGUIN — Muskoka Algonquin Judy Storey and MAHC chief profes- two charge technologists and three The letter continued, “MAHC Healthcare (MAHC) has met with sional and diagnostic services officer senior technologists. administration’s transparency in this OPSEU, the union representing their Harold Featherstone — the draft plan According to a letter sent to this termination decision is questionable lab technicians, and laid out a draft lab for the labs would see 5.93 jobs lost. newspaper from staff at the South as a gag order of the contents of this Impaired structure plan following last week’s Mary Silverthorn, integrated vice- Muskoka Memorial Hospital lab, the meeting was requested by them but BURK’S FALLS – As a result of a announcement that they are terminat- president of human resources for restructuring could mean the demo- denied.” ing their community-based lab servic- MAHC and Soldier’s Memorial Hospi- tion of seven out of 10 senior technol- suspicious person report at 9:30 a.m. Continued on Page 2 on Aug. 21, police stopped a Ford es. tal in Orillia, told this newspaper that ogists and affect up to 12 full-time pickup truck on Hwy. 11 in Armour According to a confidential internal it’s too early to tell how many actual Township. document obtained by this newspa- technicians will lose their jobs or from Richard Reynolds, 50, of Emsdale, per, the union and MAHC have agreed which site those losses will come. Parry Sound opts to keep was arrested and charged with to minimize the adverse effects of the “The planning is still so preliminary impaired driving. change in service, notwithstanding the that we don’t know if that will be the union’s statement that they are “chal- total number or whether that will be lenging the organization’s decision to something less than that,” she said community-based lab services INSIDE THIS WEEK terminate the provision of community Monday. “While that is the worst-case lab services.” scenario we are hoping for a result that By Carlye Malchuk Dash chief and director of lab services at the • SPORTS ...... 8 MAHC CEO Barry Lockhart told would see fewer people than that lose hospital. • CHURCHES ...... 17 this newspaper that the union’s bar- their jobs.” PARRY SOUND — In the wake of Both Kassim and WPSHC CEO Nor- • TV GUIDE ...... 5 & 6 gaining unit has “certain rights to Silverthorn explained that MAHC is Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s man Maciver told this newspaper that, • PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ...... 10 grieve certain actions or actions that looking at a number of options to mit- announcement last week that they will in order to keep their lab open on a 24- • TRADES & BUILDING ...... 14 are taken” and that their protest of the igate job loss, including early retire- cut their community-based lab servic- hour basis, the centre needs the vol- • COMING EVENTS ...... 14 decision to close the lab services could ment or “voluntary exits.” es program, administrators at the West ume of work that the community serv- • CLASSIFIEDS ...... 15, 16 & 17 result in arbitration between the union She added that the organization is Parry Sound Health (WPSHC) Centre ices bring in. • HELP WANTED ...... 15 & 16 and the hospital organization. also looking at their staffing model. say their program is here to stay. “It does provide employment local- • NOTICES ...... 15 & 16 ly… that’s one of the benefits, but the • AUTOMOTIVE ...... 3, 8 & 17 According to the document Attached to the memo was an orga- “Our plan in Parry Sound is to keep obtained — which is a memo to all nizational chart, showing the draft it,” said Dr. Ola Kassim, pathologist in Continued on Page 2

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