The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Regk Durham Region Regional taxes will increase seven per cent to accommodate a $55.01 million budget for 1979 approved last Wednesday. ý The net amount which must be raised through taxes this Xear is $18.8 million - an increase of $1.7 million over the regional levy in 1978. The remainder comes from provincial grants, lot levies, service charges and money left over from last year's budget. Newcastle has been requested to contribute $2,152,803. The various regional departments were told to keep their operating ex- penses down to a three per cent in- crease for 1979. The five departmen- nal Budget Plans to Spend $50 Million During 1979 ts that report to council through the budget deliberations his corn standing committees, came in $1,220 tried not to embark on below the guidelines. The police rrams but simply fulfill budget, on the other hand was obligations. $389,000 over the requested target The most expensive work pk increase. is construction of a second flc Claiming the largest part of the Durham Regional Poice's W budget -- $8.5 million - is the police station. Provisions have also force. Large portions of the total budget will also go to public works madeconstro eigns for a ($6.2 million) and social services apoe tactin sndr ($3.7 million). po thmcpial wore Apart from additions to tbe snsthereaocato therei region's water, sewer and waste sfiance deaten frothWbie disposal facilities, few new costly Osnaw a projects are committed for this year. Aker said "bare bones bu John Aker, chairman of the finan- techniques" were employed in ce commîttee. said that during formation of this bucodet. mittee new past anned oor to hitby been sition new land. xpen- gion's by to udget n the Uncle Bobby Signs Autographs at Benefit Hockey Game Those who attended the Sunday afternoon benefit hockey game between the CFTO Bassett Hounds and the Northumberland Newcastle Men Teachers recognized many familiar faces normally seen on the TV. And whose face is more familiar than Uncle Bobby? He's shown here signing autographs for some of his young friends at the Orono Arena. The game between the CFTO staff and the teachers was held to raise funds for the fight against Cystic Fibrosis. The event was sponsored by the Great Pine Ridge Kinsmen Club and the Men Teacher's Federation. Preges Support f Joe Clark Progressive Conservative leader Time for New Beginning, Davis Says .Tne Clark can count on sunnart frnm Premier Davias Honôred by PC Associations Ontario Premier William Davis was the guest of honor last Friday evening when four local Progressive Conservative riding associations held a gathering of the clans. The premier is shown here chatting with Durham East MPP Sam Cureatz (centre) and Newcastle Mayor Gar- net Rickard. Over 300 PC supporters attended the $50-a-plate dinner and dance held in Oshawa's Jubilee Pavilion. The event was organized byProgressive Conservative associations representing the provincial ridings of Durham East, Durham West, Oshawa and Durham York. F« e me Fam1ly Escapes Fire Here A Bowmanville family escaped in- Vanstone Court awakened at 2:30 jury early Saturday morning when a.ni. to find their basement and fire forced them to flee their home. main floor leading to the bedrooms Mr. and Mrs. Greg Couch of 17 burning furiously. Mr. Couch told Eagles Leading Series By Don Wilcox The Bowmanville Red Eagles took one step forward in the quest for their first ever provincial Jr. C championship Sunday nigt. Port Darlington Marina ánd Hotel Jr. Cs defeated the Penetang Kings by a 9-2 count and gained a two-point lead in the eight-pomint series. Eagles turned in a very strong team game, shutting down the Kings' powerful line of Brian Pilon, Paul Robillard and Chris McCon- nell. In the first two games of the Éeries, the Robillard/Pilon com- bination accounLted for 15 points. In Sunday's game, the Eagles had the right attack to a man. They followed Coach Paul Robinson's garne plan closely and were backed up by the strong goaltending of Stu Roberts who blocked several chan- èes by the Kings when he pounced on lèose pucks near the goal crease. The Kings' powerplay was given several chances with the Eagles being assessed 15 penalties com- pared to the Kings eight. Three times, the Eagles were shorthanded two men but the strong defensive work headed by Dan Strike, Rick Scott, Brad Godfrey, Ralph Cryderman and John Conboy, along with the good goaltending by Rober- ts held the Kings to one powerplay goal. Eagles' penalty-killing s ills were very instrumental in the win. More Eagle News: Pg. 7 Fire Chief Jim Hayman that he had to feel his way through the dense smoke to find his two young children and remove them to safety. According to Chief Hayman, the fire appears to have originated in a chesterfield chair in the basement's recreation room. Total damage to the home and contents is estimated at ap- proximately $23.000. Tory leader can bring people together. "He doesn't deal in the politics of confrontation," Mr. Davis said in describing Joe Clark and added that Clark does not pit one part of the country against the other. Mr. Davis made these remarks during a $50-a-plate dinner and dance held at Oshawa's Jubilee Pavilion. The event was sponsored by the Progressive Conser-vative riding association in Durham East, Durham West, Durham York and Oshawa. , The Ontario Premier told his audience that "our party is able to bring people together and can bring together persons from all walks of life and all parts of the country. There isn't another party in the country that can make this sort of broad, general observation." "Pierre Elliott Trudeau should be campaigning, if he wants to, against Joe Clark and against Ed Broadbent," Mr. Davis said. The Prime Minister should not be campaigning against premiers and provinces and the people who live there, he added. In a few words on issues involving Quebec, Mr. Davis said he was opposed to sovereignty association. Separate SchoolTaxesup 8% Separate school supporters in the Town of Newcastle wil face an eight per cent tax increase for 1979. But, they will still pay less for education than publie school sup- porters. Separate school taxes on an average home assessed at $2,500 will be $172.55 whereas public school taxes on the same house will be $183.05 - a difference of $10.50. The Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Newcastle Roman Catholic Separate School Board released its approved $9,671,680 budget at a special meetig Thursday. This is an increase of 8.3 per cent over the board's 1978 budget but is consider- ably less than hast year's 15.61 per, cent tax hike. Taking into consideration provin- cial grants, the total amount to be raised through propert taxes is $1,524,247, up roughly ,000 over hast vear. Wages and salaries will cost the board $6,831,208 this year and the next largest expense is transporta- tion which accounts for $1,154,215. Sewagà,e Plant Ready by '81 If all continues on schedule, the tender for construction of Bowman- ville's new sewage treatment plant should be awarded in early summer. Regional Commissioner of Public Works, Bill Twelvetrees said con- struction of the proposed $5.7 million factory on Simpson Avenue should begin unthe fall. Designed to handle an ultimate 9.5 million gallons a day, the plant should be in operation by March 1981. Work this year is to be done strictly on the first phase. Bits And Pieces CANCELLATIONS - That custodians strike is certainly causing difficulties not only for strikers and school staffs, but also for organizations who planned to use the facilities and don't want to cross picket lines. The Bowmanville Drama Workshop bas postponed its production of Agatha Christie's mystery scheduled for BHS this week. And the Senior Public Schools' concert has been held over as well. It had been booked for April 9th. It will now be held at Durham Christian High-School on Wednesday, April 18th. NEW LOCATION - The Hospital Women's Auxiliary Spring Fashion Show being presented by Breslin's Ladies' Wear has also been moved from Bowmanville High School to the Durham Christian High School on old Seugog Road next Tuesday and Wednesday, April 10-il at 8.p.m. 31ST NOT 14TH - Only one alert reader phoned to advise that we goofed in calling the new Parliament to be elected on May 22nd the 14th Parliament of Canada. It should have read the 31st. Sometimes we have been known to make mistakes. This was one of them. RECREATION FINALS - If the Recreation hockey finals this Saturday at Darlington Sports Centre are as exciting as the Consolations were last Saturday, fans are in for a treat. They go all morning, starting at 8. ELECTION NEWS - Part of this edition may appear to be a Progressive Conservative promotion, but they were lucky to have so many things laid on for the week the election was called. They are also opening the first committee room in Bowmanville at noon on Saturday, April 7th at 133 King St. East. No doubt the Liberals and NDP will soon get things moving. AHEAD OF OUR TIME - Judge E. Richard Lovekin of Brampton phoned about the special dedication ceremony for Bishop Brent last week at Newcastle. He reminded us that The Statesman carried an article from his brother Jim Lovekin back M October 1949, suggesting that Bishop Brent should be honored. It took a little time, but finally came through. COOLED DOWN - Just a week has gone by since that nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania went haywire and kept everyone on pns and needles for days wondering what was g to happen. At the moment, the tension appears to bve eased and the scientists have it under control. No doubt the provincial g.overnment of Ontario will wait a few days before making any announcement about proceeding or not proceeding with Darlington's Hydro Nuclear generating station. Some worthwhile lessons were learned that will be helpful if and when another accident occurs, but it certainly was terrifying for several days.' Provisions have also been made for an additional 9.4 teachers. A half-time principal for St. Joseph's School in Bowmanville and another classroom teacher will be added to the staff at St. Stephen's. Five full-time and one half-time teacher will join the board's special educa- tion staff because Ministry of Education regulations will be demanding more special education in the comi year. More music teachers, family life and interme- diate education consultants will also be hired. Board chairman Lorne Corkery said, "we have brought down a budget that we feel provides our stu ents with an excellent educa- tional program while at the same time responding to the prevailing mood of fiscal restraint. We would call it a responsible budget." "The concept of negotiating sovereignty association is to me inpossible," he assured the audience. The premier also covered a wide spectrum of issues on the provincial scene during his speech. These topics ranged from minority government to medical care in Ontario. On the topic of minority government, Mr. Davis said that this situation is "stimulating" but he added that technicaly speakirg the government could be brought down on any day of the week. In spite of the four years of government without a majority, the Tory chief noted thatbise government has not compromised on things in whicb it believes. Mr. Davis said his government's recent speech from the throne contains no give-aways or make- work projects because there would be nothing of lasting value in such short-term programs. However, the Premier noted that Turn to Page Two Planner Hired Council bas bired a new emýployee to take a crack at the job of director of planning and development in the Town of Newcastle. The new director is Don Smith; a 26-year-old Hamilton resident who was a former Oshawa municipal employee. Mr. Smith will start is job on April 9. He replaces Leslie Kristof who resigned from his post to take another position. In addition to working three years as a City of Oshawa planner, Mr. Smith has been an area planner for the Ontario Ministry of Housin . He was appointed by council at a meeting Monday evening. Legion Holds Successful Millionaire'a Night Jim Beam, of Newcastle Village, won a crisp $100 bil at the Legion's Minioynaire's Night Saturday. Stan Dun presented him with the money. Winner of $750 was Tom Cowan of Cowan Pontiac Buick.