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C h is h o lm SCHOOL SUCCESS www.chisholniceti tre.eom #> Refinery tries to solve mystery of the oily geese Story page 2 We get the jump \ on track results S ports Mercedes-Benz Q .E .W . & D o rv a l D r. (9 0 5 ) 8 4 4 -3 2 4 0 www. oakvillebeaver. com OAKVILLE B The high cost of SARS IC A 'S M O S T A W A R D E D A Metroland Publication Vol. 40 No. 66 U S IN G C O M M U N IC A T IO N TO B U IL D B E T T E R C O M M U N IT IE S ' C O M M U N I T V ^ V S P A P E R 56 Pages $1.00 (plus G S T ) WEDNESDAY. JUNE 4. 2003 W o m a n k ille d c ra s h I in H H S faces $ 1.3-M in extra costs a n d losses By Jason Misner SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Halton H ealthcare Services (HHS) is faced with about $1.3 million in costs and losses due to the im pact of severe acute respiratory syndrom e (SARS). And that figure could climb as HUS, which admin isters Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial and Milton District Hospitals, faces the ramifica tions of second round of SARS in Toronto. HHS President and CEO John Oliver said the first round cost the two hospitals, $900,6<X) extra to pay for staff overtime, extra security, masks and other needs, to deal with infection control due to the outbreak. In addition, the hospitals lost S460.(XX) in revenue from sources like parking, cafete rias and gift shops because of fewer visitors to the two hos pitals. The government imposed restrictions on hospi; tals when SARS first hit Toronto between late March and mid-May, and that pro hibited visitation. "It's a ton o f money," Oliver said of the SI.3 mil lion. SARS in Toronto has now entered its second round in the last week-and-a-half and has spawned dozens of new prob able cases and forced more than 5,(XX) people into quaran tine. Financial information from HHS is based on the first bout with SARS. And given the latest outbreak and the uncertainty of just how long it will last, Oliver said the losses will climb further. What should help keep the costs and losses down, he said, is the fact Halton is not under the "Code Orange" alert that it was during the first SARS outbreak. There aren't as many restrictions and allows for some visitation at (he hospitals. Oliver said HHS is await ing word from the Ontario government about funding to compensate for the costs. The corporation's figures have been filed with the Ministry of Health. "We're waiting for reim bursement for those costs, but we don't if know if we'll ever recover (them)." The Region's Health Department reported yester day afternoon that 21 people are in home quarantine in con nection to the latest SARS outbreak. That's down from 58 late last week. There are also no suspect or probable cases of, or people under investigation for SARS. "The numbers are definite ly going down." said Sharon Little, communications spe cialist with the health depart ment. A 40-year old Oakville woman died Saturday w hen she apparently lost con trol of her minivan and collided w ith a concrete railway bridge support. According to Halton Regional Police, the accident occurred around 3:15 p.m. when the woman was driv ing her 1995 Plymouth Voyager westbound on Royal Windsor Drive. The van suddenly mounted the cen tre median and struck a concrete support block for an overhead railway bridge head-on. The bridge gives trains access to the Ford Assembly Plant on the north side of Royal Windsor. Police, ambulance and fire personnel responded and it took 20 minutes to extricate the woman from her vehicle. Air Ambulance was summoned and the woman was airlifted to Sunnybrook Health Sciences in Toronto. She suc cumbed to her injuries there a few hours later. The Halton Regional Police Traffic Bureau. Investigative Section, is cur rently probing the accident and any wit nesses are encouraged to call 825-4747 ext. 5056. Oakville Beaver wins CCNA awards The Oakville Beaver won two first place awards and earned a Blue Ribbon for General Excellence at the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards 2003 Better Newspapers Competition last weekend. The Beaver won first place in the Best Spot News Photo Photo (circula tion 12,500 and over) category and the Best Christmas Edition Photo (circula tion 12.500 and over) category. In addition, Oakville Beaver car toonist Steve Nease finished second in the Best Local Cartoon (circulation 10.000 and over) category. Oakville Beaver photographer Barrie Erskine won the Best Spot News Photo (circulation 12.500 and over) category for his shot of firefighters on the rooftop of a garage battling a blaze last summer. In selecting the winner, the judge commented: "While fire shots may sometimes seem ordinary. Barrie was (See Beaver' page A4) Harrison Smith · Special to the Oakville Beaver BRONTE SW ASHBUCKLER: Four-year-old Michael M u rray was one of several entries in the pirate costum e contest d u ring the Hill Hill -- Old Fashion Day festivities in B ronte on Saturday. B a d Maybe even behind the wheel of your car By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF d r iv e r s a re e v e ry w h e re Traffic offenders predictable and plentiful By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Halton Regional Police Staff Sgt. C h ris Perkins isn't psychic, but it was with uncan ny accuracy that he pinpointed Oakville's traffic trouble spots during a recent ridealong with The Oakville Beaver. His apparent prescience is the unfortunate result of far too much experience with speed ing motorists and other offend ers, so it was easy for the offi cer to act as master of cere monies in an unmarked cruiser for an eye-opening display of (See Bad' page A3) Editorials................. A6 Business................... A8 Summer Fun..............B1 Focus........................ Cl Classifieds................. C5 ArtScene................... C8 Sports....................... D1 DELIVERY F o r lu n n e d e liv e ry & c u s to m e r service c a ll 1905) 8 4 5 -9 7 4 2 M o n .. Tues.. A T h u n . 9 a.m . - 6 p.m .. W ed & F r i 9 a.m . - 8 p.m . o r S a tu rd a y 10 u n i - 4 p .m F o r n e w x u lu c rip tio n s , c a ll {9 0 5 ) 8 4 5 -9 7 4 2 o r su b s crib e o n lin e w w w .o akvillehe ax'er.com No one appreciates being criticized for their driving since ' speeding, failing to obey traffic signs and seatbelt non-compli ance are always someone else's fault, right? According to Halton Regional Police Staff ' Sgt. Chris Perkins, though, to every other driver, you are the 'other guy.' The reasons for the impa tience. discourtesy and flagrant disregard of laws on the road are many, from instant gratifi cation and rushing to meet (See Complacency' page A3) Partial Delivery: S e a rs , F o o d B a s ic s . W h ite R o s e .S /h fris C h e k . K o n a H o m e a n d G a rd e n . K o n a C a s h w a y , T he B a y . A c tio n In v e n to r y B la c k 's P h o to . B e ll S m a ll & M e d iu m B u s in e s s . F o to S o u rc e . H o rn e D e p o t. M a r k s W o rk W a re h o u se . H o lla n d P a rk . G o o d life , H v A Z e is . T o b y G a r d e n e r RA M AD A * IN N & CONVENTION CEN TRE O A K V I L L E Harrison Smith · Special to the Oakville Beaver M otorists often ignore the posted Do Not E n ter signs on the co rn er of John and Wilson Streets. Com e See The D iffe re n ce 905*845-7561 D A D 'S M E G A M U N C H ! O M«dium Pizzas 0 Fresh Toppings (c«»bm«<0 Q Chicken Wings 355ml Can* of Pepsi Dipping Sauces Bag o# Two-Bite Brownies! You can WIN prizes from* · CARPET · ORIENTAL RUGS · AREA RUGS · HARD SURFACES O _ 0 p iz z a p iz z a W /V G * QnUunt'i t l Hums $2 | " 9671111 S<m » w v rw .jN iM p W M .c a w «ta «* few d M M k . N o t w M l n < a a ( i i K (·on w ith m y M h w o H x . A GALLERY OF ORIENTAL RUGS, UNIQUE AREA RUGS AND FINE CARPETING MOST AT AN »a W hitt oak* *1 » » » » * ** * · TO I I i l h j i t & Spa C M #O N .V M MO f t* Ptl*« ^Additional 5 0 o ff Our Already Low Prices ·ONLY A T OUR OUTLET STORE TuM & M w *y«U «.O flM cI^ijar'Vllh{« 125 C r o s s A v e , O a k v i l l e (Across from H om e Depot) 9 0 5 .8 4 9 .4 4 7 2