Vol. 10 No. 10
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER COVERING NORTH DURHAM
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 AWARD WINNING SERVICE -- OUR 28 YEAR Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 SkyviewElectronics.com Entertainment . . . . . . . . . 22 Computers Fixed Fast
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Scugog upholds $5,400 bill for angler’s rescue BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
END OF THE LINE: Uxbridge Bruin Shane Smith eludes MoJacks defenceman Mike Grifoni to fire a shot on Jeff Julien, during the Bruins’ Game 3 win in double overtime. The Bruins would eventually sweep the MoJacks, and now face Lakefield for the COJHL Championship. See Page 14 for a full recap. DYNAMIC DESIGNS Special to The Standard
Owner has big plans for Greenbank Airport BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
NORTH DURHAM: There are big plans in place for Greenbank Airport, said facility manager John Packer to members of the Scugog Chamber of Commerce, including such possibilities as a Canadian military museum and hotel. However, he stressed everything is still “very preliminary.” During a recent breakfast meeting, Mr. Packer led Chamber members through an outline of what the rural aviation facility may eventually encompass in the coming years. While soil importation has only begun relatively recently, airport officials are already looking at a number of ambitious proposals. Among those, said Mr. Packer, is the possibility of an interactive
Canadian military museum, an idea which he said was brought to the facility by local history teacher Dave Robinson. Airport owner Bob Munshaw was recently recognized for his involvement in promoting Canadian military history with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal. Other possibilities described by Mr. Packer are a 125-room hotel and business centre on the property. Plans previously discussed that are still on the board include flight training schools and new hangar buildings for planes. However, ambitious plans such as the museum and hotel are only in the discussion stage, said Mr. Packer, and would only begin to take shape after enough soil has been imported to the property - roughly a year or so
after the filling aspect of the expansion is completed, he said. “We have plans to move forward,” said Mr. Packer, “because there’s no sense in stopping. We’re open to everything, but we’re not saying ‘yes’ just yet.” In regards to the proposed hotel, Mr. Packer said that “I’m not saying we’re definitely doing it, but we are looking at it,” citing a municipal hotel feasibility study. With the purchase of an adjacent farm property, Mr. Packer also acknowledged that this could open the door to larger planes landing at the facility - a concern noted by residents at the February 2012 open house. He added that the airport “will not be running all night long.” T U R N TO PAG E 4
SCUGOG: An Oshawa angler remains on the hook for a bill of almost $5,400, after Scugog Council declined to cancel an invoice for the cost of his January rescue from Lake Scugog. Neil Robbescheuten appeared before council on March 4 to appeal the bill, issued to him by the Scugog Fire Department after he was pulled from the mud off of the northeastern shore of Scugog Island on Jan. 13. The rescue, the first to be billed under Scugog’s new ice rescue cost recovery program, took place as temperatures climbed to nearly 15 degrees in the area and has since gained national media attention. “I do not believe that Scugog Council, at the time of passing this motion (to bill for ice rescues), realized the impact of this decision,” said Mr. Robbescheuten in his lengthy presentation to councillors. During his appeal, he reiterated issues such as the potential for increased municipal liability should distressed individuals decline to call emergency services in Scugog, out of fear of receiving an invoice. “I can’t imagine that the Mayor and council would jeopardize the recovery efforts of its citizens and visitors…. When we call 911, we do not want to think about whether we can afford the $5,000 or more.” During a February council meeting, Scugog Fire Chief Richard Miller outlined the response that took place at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 13, which saw three trucks (with one on standby) and numerous firefighters respond to Mr. Robbecheuten’s call. The scenario was recalled at this week’s council meeting. Firefighters pulled the angler from the mud off of the island’s northern shore, after Mr. Robbescheuten, who maintained that ice conditions were “perfect” that day, became disoriented in the incoming fog and wandered toward land, falling through a weak patch of ice. After his rescue, the chief said that Mr. Robbescheuten complied with a request from firefighters for his name and address for billing purposes. Three days later, he was sent a bill for $5,392.78, covering the costs of trucks and firefighters. T U R N TO PAG E 5