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112 Ts-s Lc ï 4 ncuc Jail expansion to swallow diamond By KAREN SMITH The Champion The basebaîl community is up in arms over the Ontario govemment's plan 10 wipe out one of the town's few hardball diamonds. The upcoming expansion of Maplehurst Correctional Centre will invade the diamond cur- rently used by several local teams, and basebail offi- ciaIs fear they will have nowhere else to play. "I think it's absolutely brutal," said Larry Black, the rep major midget team manager. "I'm womred, upset, tickcd off - the whole works - especially when you think it's govemment." The Town, neyer anticipating such an expansion at the complex, formed an agreement with the Ontario government 10 use the site for free and pumped several thousand dollars into bringing the diamond up to par with new lights and fencing. The diamond is one of the best in the area, is the source of compliments from out-of-town teams and is continually improving, Mr. Black said. However, municipal and provincial officiais say they're negotiating 10 find another diamiond site. That could be on either the Maplehurat property or Ontario govemment land elsewhere in Milton, said! Doug Thompson of the Town's leisure services department. "Right now we're still negotiating. In the next weeks we should know better," he said. The Maplehurst expansion designer, Dan Plamondon of the Ontario Realty Corporation, said he made several attempts to avoid intruding on the diamond, but it couldn't be avoided. The edge of a new building will be situated on the home plate baseline, he said. Mr. Pîsenondon said the Ontario govemment feels an obligation to help [mnd another site for the diamond due to its agree- ment with the Town and the investment Milton made. But Mr. Black said he fears alternative plans to pmovide one won't be in place by next year's season and many teams will simply have nowhere to play. Govemments move slowly and Brian Best Park is already filled to capacity, he said. "To lose (the Maplehurst diamond) is going to be a big hurt," he added. The Town has been gîven notice to vacate the dia- mond after the end of this year's season. About to become one of the largest prisons in Canada, Maplehurst will triple ita inmate population 10 1,800. Mr. Black said other basebaîl officiais as well as fans are upset over the situation. Rick Rosa, president of the Milton Minor Basebaîl Association, couldn't be reached for com- ment. lzbolimerp pogam The Victonian Order of Nurses (VON) can help provide thera- peutic recreation for people with Alzheimer's Disease. VON Alzheimer Services offers the Seniors Day Programn, which provides therapeutlo social and recreational activities for people with Alzheimer's Disease. For more information, cail 847-9559 or 1-800-387-7127. J te ýGS i includeu) -50 irames à XApt 1 A . 'KT MM ------Coupland:- Change overdue By MERLE LANGERYT Sealto The Champion SAlthough a new p'vnewd system to identify and prevent child abuse is an "excellent initiative,' the executive director of the Halton Children Aid's Society is disappoint- cd that it had to reach this stage. "Ontario is a sophisticatcd society and we have a large human service system," said Ron Coupland. "We could have done a better job." After studying child abuse in Ontario for a year, the Child ~ .~.Mortality Task Force released its report Thursday, and the government Wpromptly responded to its rcm mendations with $ 15 million to strengthen the child protection sys- terr. The task force reviewed the deatha of ail children under the age of five as a resuit of homicide, sui- cide, accident, unexplained causes s and the deaths of those under 18 who were receiving services from Children's Aid Societies. Statisties -~ Se. COUPLAND on page 10 Tilt-çA luiv Q 100-7