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ô/-,- 1Real Estate See what's t_;et_,,jtl[CCinsîde SPORTS IceIlawks COMMUIwj- f ienitage workPl Page 23 A METROLAND COMMUN ITY NEWSPAPER VOL. 144 NO.99 ~'M!rTUESAY FEBRUARY 24,2004 $1 OO (GSTincluded)P,..q% 40 PAGES "Using Communication to Build Better Communilies" Support pours in for family after house fire Photo by JILL KITCHENER From left, volunteers Carolyn Anstey, Samantha Attew, Ethan Hesse and HoIIy Attew look over the donations ta the Martin famnily et Chris Hedfield Public School. «Police escort offcr tace while transporting prisoner A police escont suffered a broken note and bead injuries after being puncbed repeatedly while escors- ing a 17-year-old male at Milton court Friday. JusI after 1 p.m., an uncuffed youUs - wbose naine canst be released - was being moved from one couoom t0 anoUser wben Use Halton Regional Police escors was attacked. cla 1) , ï The escort officer was rcpeased- ly pummeled in Use face and body during the attack until fellow escort officers and police officers intervened to restrain Use attacker. "Il was an unprovoked attack," said Des. Sgs. Don Cousent. The escort officer - wbose naine isn't heing releaaed until bis faaniy is notitied - was taken to Milton District Hospital and beld over Use weekend for observation. He was released yesterday. A youlb was t0 be formally cbarged in connection wiUs the assault as presstliane yesserday. Halton Regional Police is asking anyone with information concein- ing Use incident to cail police as (905) 825-4777 or Crime Stoppers aI l-800-222-TIPS. t osi 501h, ;-4 1 /4- Iosi gi,, He-- i M3N By JASPN MISNER The Champion Six-year-old Holly Attew, her long dark hair set -against her pink top, is anxious to show what she 's givmng her best friend, Jasmyne Martin, 6, as a gift. Holly's handing over an extra photo- graph of their senior kindergarsen class as Chris Hadfield Public School t0 Jasmyne, whose copy was lost in a Wednesday nighî bouse fire. Tbe 8 p.m. blaze destroyed tbe Martins' new home on Somerville Terrace, near Fourtb Line. 1 cried a lot," Holly said after hearing about the tire. Forsunasely Jasmyne and ber 1lO-year-old sister, Sbaneikab, nine-year-old tisser. Tenisha, six-month-old brother, Pierson and mom, Loukisba, 29, escaped the buni- ing home - bus with only tbe clothes on their backs. No one was seriously injured. About 60 Milton firefighsers worked vigorously to douse tbe stubbom flames, but couldn't save the $400,000 bouse. The cause of tbe fure is still under investigation. Everytbing was reduced to ashes. Clotbes. Furniture. Mementos. Tbe van, in the garage as tbe time of the fire, becanse a hollowed, blackened shell. But tbe lots of belonginga is wbere the communily bas ssepped in -and in a big way. Afler learîsing of lthe devastasing tire Tbursday moming, staff as E.W. Foster Public Scbool, wbere Shaneikab and Tenisha are enrolled in Frencb immersion, and staff from Chris Hadfield sens lenters home wiîb studenîs Usas day pleading witb parents so donate warm winler closbing and money to help the Marlins. Friday moming scbool officials were floored by the response. Closbing and ail kinds of oUser items, enougb 50 fll Usree vans, were gaUsered and collected. Ms Martin, wbo't staying wiUs ber mom in Mississauga wbile Use family piecet Useir lives togeUser, was amazed as Use comunily's generosisy followmng Use few carloads Usas arrived as ber mom's place Friday aflemoon. 'I'm in dithelief," Use early special needs teacbing assistant said yesterday. "Iî's one of those things you cat put mnto words. I'm just so tbankful. I'm justso - wow!" Jasmyn celebrated her birthday recently and her gifss were bumed in the fire. Ms Martin, who bas insurance, said she'll be donating excess material t0 char- ity organizations. "It's been a huge outpouring of kind- ness," said grateful E.W. Foster principal Dave Swanson. 'The communily has stepped up to bat. 'Me family is brave lo go Usrougb an ordeal like that." 'Me items at E.W. Foster were taken 10 Chris Hadfield later Friday moming for sorsing t0 be taken to Mississauga. Holly's mom. Samantha Attew, and other parents gave up tbeir turne t0 help sort tbe pile of gifts and supplies that turned the staff room at .Chris Hadfseld into a depars- ment store. 'Me floor was barely visible. They neatly folded jeans, snow suits, sweaters, shirts, socks, underwear, PJs - the list was endless - mnto piles for tbe kids. Toys, stuffed animais, lip glots, Kleenex, books, shoes and backpacks stuffed witb sehool supplies accompanied the clothes. 'Il felt very upset because bow would 1 feel if il was me," said Ms Attew, as she separated clothes and soya. Heartfelt cards were sent with tbe gifts. see AMOUNT on page 7 *nsde Comment .... D atelino ...7................. Champion Country ....13-16 Classitued .........-.....21-22 ~m aM a& Il I TR Y US! I I l * 1 -1d gý,." T"