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6 - Tihe Canadien Champion, Frtday, Soptomber 24,1999 SOPINION TH AIANCAPO 1 Main si. E., The Canadien Champion. published every Taesay and Fridsy nt. LT 4N9 aiBi9 Main St. E., Milton, Ont., L9T 4N9 <Box 248), la one0 ofTe xl. LT 4N9 Metroland Ptlntlng, Publshing & Distributing Ltd. group of aub- 3 1 urban companles which Includes: Alan / Pickering News 8-234 Advertiser; lston HersldlCourier; Bri dac;Bapo Guardiso; Burington Post; City Parent; Collingwood I Wasg 'ax: 878-4943 Connectinn; tant York Mirror; Etobicoke Guardian; Georgetowen Independentl Acton Fret Press; Kingston This Week; Lindsay This ax: 876-2364 Week; Marhsm Economist & Son; Midand/1 Penetangunhette ed: 87-3300 Mirror; Minniasauga News; Newmaritet I Aarnra Ena Banner; ed: 87-3300 Northumberland Newa; North Yonk Mirror; Oakville Beaver, Onilia Publisher Today; Oshawa I Whftby I Claronglon I Port Perry This Week; Peterborongh This Week; Richmond Hill I Thnrnhiil I/Vaughan Associate Pnblisher Liberai; Scarboroagit Mirror; Uxbridge I Stouffvilie Tribane; Generai Manager Today'n Seniors. Advertixing ix accepted nn the condition that, in the ement ofta Editor typograpxical error, tit portion nf the advertising npace occo- Circulation Manager pied by the erroneons item, togetiter with a neasonabte atiowance OfieMngr for signature, wiii not ho chsrged for, bat the balance of the OfieMngr advertlnement wiii hoe paid for an the applicable rate. The publixher Productioîn Manager renerven the right to categorize advertixementx or decline. Councillors, tread softly when it cornes to increase The problemn with tax increases in Canada is that they 'are always so emotionally charged here because taxes are already higb. On top of that, most people would tell you that they feel the quali- ty, or at least the quantity Qf govemrment services, has dipped in recent years. It makes it that much more difficuit to seil tax mncreas- es. Given this climate, Halton regional counicillors would do well to think long and hard about how much they plan on raising utility rates. Regional staff have brought forward options includmng a rate hike as high as six per cent. Part of that is due to expensive capital projects, such as an over- haut of the Burlmngton wastewater treatmnent plant. But there are other costs as well, including added expenses for systemr Qperation. However it shakes out, a six per cent utility rate hike at a time when inflation is moribund simply is not acceptable. Many regional councillors, to their credit, are moving staff off that position, if one takes. statements made recently at face value. Still, there are danger signs. Both regional Chair Joyce Savoline and Oakville Councillor Keith Bird made noises the other day about maintaining a first-rate water systemn (Mr. Bird) and insuring the public understands what it costs to deliver quality services (Ms Savolmne). These are rationalizations put forward by people who would con- teMplate something more than a tax freeze, obviously. Let's hotnfot much more, though. \NE WON IHE KFaT«1. 4N 0 OUR READ)ERS WRITE Milton is touched by many lan geis Dear Editor:' The 'Angel's Still Sing' in Milton. in writing to thank the more than 300 people who packed the Milton council chambers recently to express their support and assint Word$ong Communications launch the national release of my eighth recording 'T7he Angels StilI Sing'. I'mi especially grateful to Mayor Gord Krantz and bit wife Olive, who gave many boums to help prepare and hott the open house and press conference. Thanks also go to the many volunteers and friends for their assistance with the decorations. A symphony of love and thanka goes out to the peo- ple of Milton who have generouxly supported this music ministry over the years and in the procesx assisted in raising hundreds of tbousands of dollars for various charities. As mentioned at the launch, this new recording will way, 1 wish to thank the individuals who're assisting in the tale of thia new recording at their businestes. They include: Don Bell, Shopper's Drug Mati - Carniage Square; Zak Patel, Zak'x Pharmacy; and Grace Hildebrand - Milton District Hospital Gift Shop. Know that as 1 travel throughout the country and the United States over the monthx ahead, the spirit of Milton' s generoxity and support will be remembered and echoed through each song. Finally, thank you God for the precious giftx of faith, family and friends who by your grace compose the chomnses of hope and love for your people. Yes, your 'Angels Still Sing' in Milton' Father Mark Curtis Milton iA- very sad sound you 're lucky not to hear If you Iistened carefully, it was the muffled crumple of a man's beart breaking. Thse voie on thse other ensd of thse line pleaded, softly, in muted desperation, asking tIsat I pull a ston'y out of tbe paper. Please. You '11 destmoy us. l'in begging you as a parent. Are you apa rent? Please. My son did nodo thst But the courts say be did. TIse courts say Brent Richardson, son of the voice on the phono, son of Morley Richardson, bas a problem. What bappened Wednesday in an Qakvilîe courtroom is detcribed in detail on page four of today's paper. I told Morley 1 was sonry, but I could not belp hlm. I could not offer the slimmest ray of hope tbat the story would be ptslled. A lot of thougnt went mbt this. 1 talked it over witb several people. I decided that the issue was important enougb to warrant coverage. Ibe victim probably tbinks it is, otbenwise she wouîd not bave complained to.tbe police. The police saw fit to lay a charge. 'Me courts saw fit to find Brent Richardson guiîty. He bas heen put on probation. Please. Wednesday was a black day for myfamily and now Friday will be even worse. But you can change that. Titis doesn't belong in a comaunity newspaper. Please. I'mn sonry Morley. Tbere's notbing I can do. There is something you could do. You just won 't. You have the power. Why wouid a thing like this be in the newspaper? He got a condi- tional discharge. He doesn 't even have a crimi- nal record. Please. Rob Kelly The decision was oeally made for me when it becaine a court case. People have a rigbt to know if they mun the risk of being confronted by Ibis type of behaviour. We 've done good things in tIhe community. Just iast week Brent raised $1,000 for charity. Does anybody hear about that? No. And we don 't ask that they do. Why do they have to hear about titis? W/ny? cover it Please. Now I guets I have a couple of things to ask ail of you. I know tbeoe't going to be a lot of talk about thse situation. Maybe we could try and put ourselves in Morley's tboes for a miniute when tbat's going on. Somebody else was in my office wbile he was speaking, as a witness to my end of the conver- sation. She cotidn't hear what Morley was say- ing. She could only hear my responses. Wben the conversation ended ber eyes were filmed over with tears. She felt for the man, in a terrible situation, with notbing left but to plead for a remiedy that could not and would not exist. Wben everybody starts judging as of today, maybe we could aIl oemember stme of Ibis. Box 248, 19 Milton, Qi (905) 87 Editorial F Advertising F Classifi Ian Oliver Neil Oliver nul Begin Rob KeUly Steve Crozier Teri Casas Tua Cotes