X2 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, March 14, 2006 Former school council treasurer back in court son c i~x îaïhargeci las month with bilking three North Halton schools out of about $30,000 - inc.uding two Milton schools - wifl return, to court April 4. Brenda Picketing, 43, has been charged xxitil tL1ree CountS 01 thcIt over $5,000 and uttening a forged document. The date was set at ber first appearance February 22 at Ontario Court of justice in Burlington. From 2002 to 2005, Pickering served as the volunteer treasurer for J.M. Denyes and Wl. Dick school councils as weII as at Georgetown's Stewarttown Public Scbool. It was during that time that the money went missing from the accounts of the three THE FRn siG 2006 FORD Focus ZX5 SES 4 cyl, auto, /C, power equip & much, mucfl more. Stk A6287 LES PAYMEN OPIN A police investigation was initiated after a complaint by the Halton District School Board that irregularities had been discovered in the schools' accounting practices. About $10,000 went missing from J.M. Denyes and about $5,500 from Wl. Dick. ~Region now posts names of convicted local retailers It's now easier for the public to hind information on local retailers who've been convicted of selling tobacco prod- ucts to minors. Farlier this month, the Region began posting tbe namtes and locations of retail outlets tbat've been found guilty in the last six months of selling tobacco to, a person under 19. "The posting of this information on Halton's Web site is part of a compre- hensive strategy intended to deter retailers from selling tobacco to, kids," said Dr. Bob Nosal, Haltons medical officer of health. The Regions health department has also increased tbe number of compli- ance checks for each tobacco retailer in Halton. Compliance checks involve test shoppers, who are students aged 15 to 17, employed and trained by the healh department. These test shoppers visit tobacco retail outlets under the supervision of health department staff and attempt to purchase cigarettes. If the r-etailer selîs a tobacco product to a test shopper, a wntten warning is issued. If the retailer selîs a tobacco product to, a test shopper a second time, charges are laid. In 2005, each tobacco retailer had an average of two compliance checks. This year, the number of compliance checks wiIl increase to four per retailer, which is related to, the Smoke-Free Ontario Act that comes into effect on May 31. . The act effectively bans smoking in ail enclosed public places and work- places, and toughens the rules prohibit- ing the selling of tobacco to, minors. For more information about the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, caîl Use heslth department at (905) 825-6000 or visit wwwhalton.ca. I .~, I