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cêekend f IW rg Pkm Acceptd A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 140 No. 1 Fniday, March 12, 1999 32 Pages 750 (GST cncluded) 1 -1 iHearing begins in Heseltine case A preliminary hearing in a substantial stolen proper- ty case began carlier this week in Ontario Court (provincial division) in Milton. Several witnesses took the stand at the Tuesday hearing, held ta determine if enough evidence exista in the case ta go ta trial. Grant Heseltine faces more than a dozen charges in connection with Halton Regional Police discovering approxirnately $20,000 worth of property at a Martin Street homne in Apsil. Police allege thse property - which included gro- ceries, household supplies andi clothing - was stolen finm several local businesses. A publication ban of evidence heard Tuesday was ordered by the judge, a common practice at prelimi- nary hearings. Thse hearing is expected ta last one more day. Mr. Heseltine wili return ta court April 19 ta set a date ta continue the hearing. Ilospital now has choice of two docs By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Negotiations are underway to bring a new baby doctor on board at Milton District Hospital. Successful interviews with two candidates last Sunday have put Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) into bargaining mode, reported search committee chair and associate chief of staff Dr. Don Robertson. HHS runs the amalgamated Milton District and Oakville Trafalgar Memorial hospitals. "We'd be happy with either person," said Dr. Robertson. "As far as we're con- cemed they'd bath be excellent choices." If an obstetrician la hired soon, Milton's baby ward eould oe-open as early as this sumnmer, hie said. The ward shut clown November 1 of laat year after Dr. Sushil Suppal ieft his post as Milton's only fuli-timie obstetrician. At the Urne, hie had held the position for eight years andi was on cail 24 hours a day. He withdrew fromn the job after bis con- tract expired. On the heels of bis departure, three local family doctors who hati previously deliv- ereti babies stopped doing se. They said they felt uncomfortabie delivering the babies without the emiergency back-up of an abstetrician. "Those three decided it wasn't sale ta continue a fuît practice without a fuIltUre obstetrician," said Dr. Robertson. The spectre of litigation ia one possible cause for the discomfort. Though Dr. Robertson denied that litiga- tion was up in the obstetrics field, hie 7eSd that patient expectations have risen .Grit tussie postponed The provincial Liberal party rernains without a local candidate alter a scheduled nomination meeting was postponed recently. Norninees Paul Tate of Milton, Halton Hilîs' John Day and Mohan Anand of Oakville were set ta go head ta head for the position last Saturday (March 6). The winner wouid have cornte out fight- - e CHOICE on page il over the years. -The expectations of patients are proba- bly higher than they were before," hie acknowledged. "Everybody expects a healthy baby but there are always risks. It's always a bit of a gamrble, having a baby." When the search for an obstetrician began, hospital officiais conceded it might not be reasonable to expect the new doctor to be perpetually on cail. Now, with two candidates close te the finish lime, hours are deflnitely on the bar- gaining table, confirmed Dr. Robertson. -We'd have ta negotiate that with them, but they'd have regular weekends and trne off for vacations," hie said. That means durîng off hours, Milton women will likely stili be transferred to Oakville or Burlington hospitals for their care, said Dr. Robertson. M iycha s haeidfrfread h Wiiols pAvenue ingh areoo uing periad 2 tram 10:15 ta 11:15 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays front March 23 ta May 27. If interested, oeil thè school at 878- 2839 or drap in for an application. Aller heurs, oei 847-8028. C4& r**RvWw TqODAT FOIR YOUE MAECH BEEAtK BATE Beeuntber - -We want your b"u an d we'Ui coin nght to gour door to get iti- 45 Ontarlo St. N. qus rth of " onoutom> 878-4131 ~1~fL1U4~! Photo by GRAHAM PAINE 'Colour of life Natalie Smurthwalte reflecta on a panei of the Uts Quilt for Breast Cancer at Milton Mail rsc.ntly. The panai made a two day pit stop In Milton during a crose-county tour aimed ait raising awarmness of the dises. 'I (DÉ J i -,,count"Q- a