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Council's hands tied in hydro deposit issue A Metroland Community Newsp 1~ WaainFJapo paper Vol. 143 No. 49 Tut isday, September 3, 2002 36 Pages Local couple wins $25,000 in AOL contest Proteet Your tnvestment specializing in residential and rural properties ;Auto Business 205 Main St. E. SA"WN mk-m mIee 1Rem $1 .00(GST included) --Confusion continues at Main St. turn Jane By RICHARD VIVIAN The Champion Concemrs over new lane align- ments along the re-constructed Main Street continue to surface, says Councillor Wally Hunter. "People are saying this is ridiculous. l' m confused as to how (Town) staff can say it's okay," he told council last week. The most prominent concem is confu- sion over the left tuming lane heading south onto Charles Street off Main Street, the councillor said. "Ini the left lane, com- ing through that set of lights (heading west at Commercial Street), there's not enough space before that next lane tums into a Ieft tum lane to gel over. "It looks like that tumn lane goes straight down Main Street. l'm used to it and I still make mistakes." Prior to the re-construction, both lanes were through lantes, though the left lane was often halted for tumning vehicles. Further concems have been raised regarding the reduction of Main Street from four lanes to two on the west side of Commercial Street, the councillor added. The issue of going from swo lanes to one after the intersection is only a temporary matter, responded Peter Lion. projeet man- ager for the Town. "We will be re-building Main Street from Commercial to Ontario, which is scheduled for construction next year. We'll be build- ing that section of ioad to a two-lane sec- tion, so there won't be conflici of two lanes converging into one at the Commercial Street intersection," he saîd. ln terrus of the Charles Street intersec- tion, Mn Lino told council Town staff will take a closer look at the issue. Kirst day of school Five-year-old Rachel Smith gets a big hug from momn Jayne as the senior kindergarten student pre- pares ta take the bus for the first day of school this morning. Information about West Nule Virus coming in the mail Region steps up communication with public about dangerous virus By LISA TALLYN Special to The Champion A flyer on West Nile Virus should be showing up ifl area maiboxes this week as Halton Region steps up its efforts to inform people on the importance of protecting themselves from mosquito bites. "Ifs juat part of our overall efforts to keep the public ioforrned," said Halton Region communications specialist Stacey Bartlett. The flyer, which is being mailed to al Halton homes, includes a message from Haltons Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert NotaI as well as tips on how to avoid mosquito bites, how to report dead bird sightmngs, how to dispose of dead birds and how to remove standing water. "Our monitoring activities in birds and mosquitoes indicate an increasing presence of West Nule Virus in Halton," said Dr. Nosal in the flyer. "The risk 10 humans remains low but may bc increasing. Therefore I am re- emphasizing the importance of trying to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, as welI as the need to remove mosquito breediog sites froru around homes." The Region recently received confirma- tion that mosquitoes in south Halton testeil positive for the virus. Previously, only birds in Halton tested positive for West Nle. Mosquitoes, which get the virus by feed- mng on the blood of iofected birds, can transmit West Nule to humans as well as animais. People aged over 50 years and those with weakened immune systems have the high- est risk of developing severe ilinets fromt the virus. To date, however, there have been no cases of the virus in humant in Canada. To report a dead bird or for more infor- mation on the West Nule Virus, eall the Halton Region Health Department at 1 - 866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866), or (905) 825-6187, or Tl'Y (905) 827-9833. Information is alto available at www.region.halton.on.ca/health. Comment ........ 6 Business........ 10 Classified... 19-21 Datolns ...... ...22 eTuosday, Soptember 3 e *Fortinos *e Businos Dpor se Home Dpor* SportCbek * eSpotnarr * eSoars eFuture Shop *Selected areas only M-