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The Canadian Champion, Fniday, October 17, 1997--3 Inmates transferred out to queil j*ail protest T.,? 5, I By KAREN SMITH The Champion A proteat by 300 Maplehurst Correctional Centre inmates over the losa of their allowance is reportedly water under the bridge after 120 prisoners were trans- ferred out of the jail Saturday. A relieved Maplehurat acting superintendent Michael Stephenson said Tuesday that day-to-day operations were gradually retumning to normal follow- ing the removal of inmates identified as ringleaders, and other militant protestera. The 200 prisoners in the work unit, which helped staff perform kitchen and laundry duties, and about 85 prisoners enrolled in the jail's education programn, staged the nine-day revoit againat a new govemrment policy that came mbt affect October 1. The inmates refused to, show up for work or attend school, leaving the classrooms empty and the kitchen and Iaundry duties in the handa of staff. The policy removed the prisoners' $5-a-week allowance for the jail's canteen, whera they purchase items such as cigarettes and chocolate bars. The Mînistry of Correctional Services' original strategy to wait it out and hope the inmates would have .a change of heart and return to their duties wasn't working, so measures ware taken over the waekend to break up the protest, Mr. Stephenson said. Ha said the 120 prisoners were reclassified and transfcrrcd to 14 maximum sccurity penitentiaries acrosa Ontario. And the tension-filled atmosphera that was escalating to serioua danger for staff and the pub- lic has calmed down. "Most inmates were back to work Tuesday," he said. Mr. Stephenson said the entire ordeal - from the inmates' massive revoit to the stepa involved in deal- ing with the problamr - was "axtraordinary." Ha said a number of specially-trained correctional officers were callad in to help combat the diflicult sit- uation. "It's neyer been done before," he said. The amount of overtime hours and other coats involvad in tackling the dispute were being calculated, he said. At press lime, Mr. Stephenson said ha could only comment that thay were "substantial." Prisoners at Guelph Correctional Centre and Rideau Correctional Centre near Ottawa staged similar protesta October 1. The revofts lasted five days.. Concamed about the safety of staff, local 234 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union called for the ministry to take a more aggressiva approach to Maplehurst's dispute, arguing that protesta left brew- ing could snowball into niota. In one incident, a fire was reportedly set in the celI of an inmate who wasn't supporting the protest. The blaze was extinguished by staff and no one was hurt. Blitz makes for lots of tickets The OPP reports record-breaking results in the October 4 seat belt blitz. In 24 hours, OPP officers across the province stopped 85,400 vehicles in the seventh annual Operation Impact - 4,000 more than last year. As a remuit, police handed out more than 1,400 seat haIt tickets, charged 72 people with impaired driving and processed about 1,100 other criminal code and traffic offences. "TDis yaar's oesults are some 30 per cent higher than last year's totals,"~ said OPP spokesman Sgt. Terry Blace.. Photo by GRAH-AM PAINE A Halton Reglonal Police officer In a cruiser watches the Maplehurst perimeter as troublesome Inmates are transferrsd out of the Institution. Thank You!. For visiting us at our display at the Fail Fairs in Acton and Milton! We enjoyed seeing you, and talking travel (and hockey!). Here is the list of prize winners fromn the draw we held at the fairs. Our way of showing appriciation to our many clients throughout the areas. THE DRAW WINNERS! Weekend - Oakes Inn Niagara Faits - Sharon Deschamps, Oakville $200. Cruise Vacation Voucher -Doris Toebes, Acton $50. Vacation Voucher - Betty Ellliot-Kichler, Carlisle Sunquest Vacation Bag - Jane Vivian, Milton Carnival Cruise Line Shirt and Hat - Jim Todman, Burlington; Jim Nelson, Milton Copy of Bruce Hood book, "Calltng the Shots " - Dalton Medland, Acton; Dave Medland, Fergus Bruce Hood Travel Fanny Pak - Angela Ezeard, Mississauga; S. Hanson, Milton; -Debbie Sehlieper, Acton; Charlotte Birch, Campbellville; - Jen George, Oakville; Wayne Aitken. Acton Trayel goodies 'package' - Ann Pattullo, Limehouse; Mel Jansen. Milton; Carlos Roberts, Milton Bruce Hood Travel :foWdup travel bag' - R. Rambharose, Milton Bermuda Golf Pack - Dawn Yeager, Milton; Ann Jergi, Burlington; Bernadette Pratt, Acton; Discover Canada Bag - Marilyn Smith, Milton; Chris Czuchnicki, Acton - Clem Bassett, Oakville; Patti Chapman, Rockwood Bruce Hood Travel Shirts - Jeff and Carol Goy, Acton Radisson Cable Beach Visor & Golf Balla - Susan Martin, Georgetown Corne see us, or give us a cali. We are "The Way to Go!" in Travel. Your Professional TrayeZ and Cruise Officiais! 9k sesg ta 16 Màartin. St. (downtown) 878-2886 Also in Acton &Oakville HONDA RiPAiRS DON'T AVI TO VIF OR.OUT 0F, TO WN* Wl