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i I The Town will host a public forum addressing Milton's high rate of motor vebicle collisions Tuesday, Sept. 29. Presentations on collisions in NMilton wîll be macle by Terry Delmore, epidemiologist for the Halton Regional Health Department, and Staff Sergeant Roy Smith of Halton Regional Police. Linda Daylor of the Trauma Prevention Council will discuss injury preventiou ini- tiatives in central west Ontario. "We are seeking community support for the formation of an injury prevention com- mittee to address road safety issues in the By KAREN SMITH The Champion The operator of Campbellville's Opera Emporium stared at the remans of his business in devastation Wednesday morning, after fire ripped tbrough the basement and maln floor of tbe village landmark. The blaze broke out about 20 minutes after John Atkins,. who took over the restaurant in May, locked up for tbe night at 10 p.m. Tuesday. It looks terrible," sald the dazed mans, surrounded by police tape and fire investigators surveying tbe par- tially-gutted brick building. TMe structure and its contents are covered by insur- ance, but "that's not the point," sald a teary-eyed Mr. Atkins, tinking about is staff and the work be bas put into tbe business. Trying to make sense of the situation, be sad every- thing was normal, witb no signs of problems, when he left the restaurant. "Nobody's told me anything. Everyone's got their own stories," he sald Wednesday morning. General manager Pat Anderson, wbo left the restau- rant at 9 p.m. Tuesday, sald he didn't have "a dlue"' how the fire started. Building owner Lou DeFabrizio, who called the fire "nasty," sald the gas fumace wasn't running and he wasn't aware of any electrical problems. It was later determined the fire was started by a faulty ceiling light in the basement. One of the business's 12 employees learned about the blaze by surprise at mid-morning Wednesday when she came to pick up ber paycheque. "I guess I won't be," the shocked young womnan said before leaving. Mr. Atkins, wbo is from a small town near Thunder Bay, said the business was coing better than he expected and he just held a fun grand opening celebra- tion last Saturday. Ail he can do now is "stat cdean," he sad. The building was boarded up Wednesday aftemoon. Road users along witb representatives from the Town, police, trucking, com- muters, local residents including seniors, cyclists, pedestrians, education, health and safety organizations, transit and traffic and local business are invited to attend. 'Me forum will take place at Hugh Foster Hall (beside Town Hall) from 7 to 9 p.m. Statistics indicate that Milton has a high- er rate of collisions per 10,000 population than other Halton communities. Data also indicates that the injury and deatb rate is higber in town. E 11 .d aen fou~fgpg ¶ £aawvt4ed Weight Lois of 2 Ibs. a week Food Programs oneon Orne C.usdeing We Saend Effetive foi mil ages Fire caused byfaulty lamp in Emporium 's basement from FIRE on page 1 damage inside Wednesday moraing, sald beN scene Tuesday nigbt and Wednesday. ried that tbe building's special cbaracteristics The second floor of tbe building, constructed in tbe original embossed tin ceiling, maple f 1920, was eportedly converted into an entertairnment beamns and posts, were destroyed. room durng tbe American probibition era. "It looked pretty grim last nigbt," be sald. An existing stage complete witb velvet curtalns was later said to be used for performances by opera Tbe fire was Campbellville's second maj singers. gency tis summner after a train struck a ra Mr. DeFabrizio, wbo badn't yet seen tbe extent of remover in June. INSIDE TODAY'S CANADIAN CHAMPION For Your Copy of Available in setected areas Train with us. - Then worlk HRo es ~atax peaes for us. always Iooking for more. We offer comprehensive, step-by-step training, computerized instruc- tion and class times to fit your Jschedule. in a matter of wveeks, youiI be ready to begin earniflg money as a tax preparel. Our training. reuts: ae hire many of~ Our own graduates.* Sign up nowt 33 City Centre Dr. Mis' (905) 724110ts 'compietioof Ithe corseia aeflhe O The Canadman'Ch ampion, Fniday, â4pt embor ,1998-3 Town holding forum to probe accident rate Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Investigators confer outside the CampbeilvilS Opera Emporium, which sustained severe tire, smoke and water damage late Tuesday night. Staring at a charred dream M For a 4e consultafion call: 550 Ontano St. S. (pilla litit Pla/a) 875..28891