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Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Liberal Julien Reed handlly took the new rldlng of Halton lns the June Ioderai siection defentlng PC Ralph Scholtens, RIck Malboeuf of Retorm, and candidates from the NDP and the Greens. Education issues tops at mid-year Milton proveal once agaan an 1997 that smali towns can be big on news. The year brought no shortage of contra- versy, excitement, tragedy, unusual occur- rences anal change for local resadents. From the opening days in January to the closang moments of the holiday season, the community was chock full of activity. Here's a brief rundown of happenings from the middle of the year. It was celebration trne for parents with kads at Hornby's Percy Merry School in early May as they learnea of an eleventh hour Halton Board of Education decision not to close the facility. "Yippee," exclaimeal Cecil Patterson, a member of Uic parent council. "We're going to have a paaty." Percy Merry had been among six schools short-listed for closure by the board, but in the end only Uiree were shut, two in Burlington andl one in Oakville. Ile board voteal 12-5 to give Percy Merry a reprieve, salal Milton Trustee Tim Kingsbury. *In other school-relateal news, outspo- ken Milton Catholic Trustee Joe Deoni was leading a charge to have Holy Rosary elementary school refurbisheal. Mr. Deoni poseal on the front of The Champion look- ing grimly determineal as ho leaneal on s stairwell banister. The stairwell was useal for a makeshift French class. -The Liberal federal government was 1 corning under fire froro critics for what was seen by the opposition as an election ploy. The Liberals announceal they would put $1 .5 billion trimmeal from federal health transfers back in the ftanding pipeline. 'he announcement was made one day after the lune 2 federal election was calleal. - Burlington MPP Cam Jackson came beaaing gifts in early May as ho presenteal $622,222 to Allendale from Queen's Park to expanal programs at Uic regional home for Uic ageal in Milton. e A Milton-bomn man was hoping to final his biological family anal sec Uiem beforeTU losing his sight to glaucoma. Donny Wurr, 23, was supporteal in his search by his adoptive parents, Judith anal Davidl Wurr - of Guelph. *TeComm Electronica was in deep »se HEALTH on page 19 The Canadian Champion, Friday, Cacomber 26,1997 - 13 %mlatchl fohei coming to your door this week -only from