Wednesday, May 20, 1992 @ i Slocan slo-pitch players get new equipment thanks to timely donations Scott David Harrison EDITOR There may be no joy in Mudville, but the crack of a bat can be heard loud and clear in the Slocan Valley. zi Thanks to the generosity of Valley resi- dents and area businesses, children are play- ing slo-pitch with the best equipment donated money can buy. The brand new supplies come just weeks after thieves broke into a storage shed, taking off with the bulk of the Slocan - Valley Recreation Commission’s equipment. “There are people out there who really care,” SVRC Co-ordinator Craig Lawrence said Tuesday. In March, thieves made off with $1,500 worth of softball supplies, but donations have more than made up for the loss, enabling Lawrence to equip the Valley's 14 teams faster than he had imagined. “I never asked for (donations) in the first place, people just decided to help out and I re- ally appreciate that,” Lawrence said. Lawrence said one anonymous donor kicked in $1,000 to help the Valley league re- place stolen bats, balls, helmets and catcher’s equipment. He said another $500 donation came from the Celgar Pulp Co. The total val- ue of the equipment is estimated to be $1,200. Lawrence said the 185 children have been able to make the most of their difficult season thanks to the donations. “Teams have been forced to use older equip- ment which, under normal circumstances, Td rather not see,” Lawrence stated in an ac- companying news release. He stated the Valley children can expect their new equipment to start arriving this week, giving them plenty of time to break it in before the league wrap-up tournament on June 13. “Some might have stolen some of our equip- ment, but these donations prove that you can’t steal the fun.” WELCOME TO DISCOVERY TOYS OPEN HOUSE ON... Saturday, May 23 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 112 Ferry Avenue, Castlegar Laura — 365-2476 e Come and enjoy our wonderful, exciting educational toys e Door Prize e Free Coffee e Bring a friend Police BEAT Castlegar RCMP reported that 24 tickets Rag Thomas was charged with failing to were issued over the long weekend for speeding yield Sunday after he pulled into the path of violations. Another 14 tickets were issued for the 1985 Plymouth driven by Fred Markin of violations not related to speeding Castlegar. One passenger in each vehicle was taken to hospital as a result of the accident at Gloria Seora of Kelowna and an unidentified Highway 3A and the Robson Access. passenger were taken to hospital with minor eoe injuries Friday after their car rolled into the David Pemberton of Castlegar was charged ditch 11 kilometres west of Castlegar on High- by Castlegar RCMP after his vehicle side way 3. swiped a 1981 Chevrolet driven by Glenn Ford on Deer Park Road Friday. Just arrived at the Gift Shop... JANTZEN SWIMWEAR Ladies and mens Open 8:30 a.m. -9:00 p.m. daily AINSWORTH | BOX1268, AINSWORTH HOT SPRINGS, B.C. VOG 1A0 (604) 229-4212. FAX (604) 229-5600 | - M™ Wednesday, May 20, 1992 @ Castlegar workers set to vote on conciliator’s recommendation Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER Job action by the Hospital Employees’ Union is over — for now. . Special Conciliator Don Munroe recom- mended Thursday that the HEU and the Health Labor Relations Association accept his unbiased proposal. Munroe told Labor Minister Moe Sihota that the HEU receive an $85 per month pay raise retroactive to April 1, 1991, anda $50 per month raise starting April 1 1992. The HLRA’s previous “final offer” to the ae was $77 per month in 1991 and $34 in But according to the HLRA’s Martin Liv- ingston, contract talks are not over yet. “Munroe’s proposal is just that, a proposal,” Livingston said. “Wither side could reject it outright. Our board of directors is meeting Wednesday to consider everything.” While Livingston would not speculate as to whether the HLRA would make Munroe’s of- Ee fer to the HEU official, he said the conflict “is drawing to a conclusion.” However, even if the HLRA makes the of- fer, HEU members must still hold a ratifica- tion vote. Although HEU officials “reluctantly rec- ommend acceptance” to their members, it’s not sure which way the vote will go. “Personally, I’m going to vote no,” said local chair Jean Weir. : “I think that it’s unfair for us to be offere 52 cents an hour more when the Nurses’ Union got 74 cents.” Weir added that Munroe’s proposal didn’t address pay equity, something the union was fighting for. Weir also said that she felt Munroe’s offer was less than sincere. “I think he had people telling him what he was allowed to offer,” she said adding that Castlegar’s ratification vote will take place May 27. “I don’t know what the outcome will be,” Weir said. “But it'll be interesting to see what the gov- ernment does if Munroe’s proposal fails.” The HEU has been without a contract since March 31,1991. ARROW LAKE ELEVATION 1427.16 ft. on May 16 Forecast of Elevation 1427.82 ft. on May 23 the food's great... the people are friendly . .. and the drive is gorgeous! Join us fora special evening. Open Thursday to Monday, 5:30 p.m. Sunday Brunch 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 87% of British Columbians say the NDP is wrong. Binding arbitration is the only fair way to settle the current dispute between the NDP government and the doctors of British Columbia. The doctors are prepared to accept binding arbitration. The Canada Health Act requires it, and even the NDP government in Ontario sup- ports.it. More important, in a recent poll, 87% of British Columbians favoured binding arbitration as the way to settle the current dispute. But the NDP government is reluctant to settle this dispute in a fair and impartial manner through independent binding arbitration. BRITISH Let’s solve this dispute now. COLUMBIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Committee ready to show off revitalization project Scott David Harrison EDITOR The Castlegar Downtown Revitalization Committee is set to show off its handy work. At 7 p.m. today, citizens can capture a glimpse of what's in store for Castlegar’s down- town core. At that time, the fi- nal design changes to Phase 1 of the three-phase project will be put before public scrutiny. “We want people to be just as excited about this project as we are,” committee chair Jack Parkin said. “We want people to come out and see what we are planning. The public meeting will give people a sneak preview of just what Castlegar’s new streetlights and brickwork will look like. The first phase of down- town revitalization will con- centrate on 13th Street and the 13th Street parking lot, as well as 3rd Avenue through 11th Street, ending at Wood Street with construction of a new parking lot. ‘It would be useless to go ahead if we don’t get the bridge.’ — Chair Jack Parkin ‘Tenders for the $1.588 mil- lion first phase will go out June 15 with construction set to begin one month later. The entire project — fi- nanced by the city, downtown merchants and the province — will cost $3.72 million. Parkin said the committee will go ahead with Phase 1 of the project despite the uncer- tainty of the Castlegar-Robson bridge. The $23.5 million bridge was put on hold earlier this year when the B.C. gov- ernment slashed its transport budget. Parkin said a bridge delay would have no impact on the first phase of the project, but he cautioned that Phases 2 and 3 could be in jeopardy if the government doesn’t live up to its commitment to build the span. “It would be useless to go ahead. if we don’t get the bridge,” he said Tuesday. “We couldn’t do anything with Columbia Avenue because of the truck traffic.” The meeting is set for city council chambers. Nine Selkirk summer jobs get axed Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER Fewer students will be working at Selkirk College this summer. According to Information Office Joe Lintz, “nine posi- tions were cut due to a lack of provincial funding.” ~~ Lintz said that those jobs were full-time summer jobs that lasted from eight to 13 weeks. “It used to be a good oppor- tunity for a student to earn a couple of thousand dollars,” Lintz added. “This is definitely not good news.” Selkirk’ Barry Jackson agrees. “’m really disappointed,” Jackson said. “I don't know what the mo- tivation was for the cut but I think the provincial govern- ment sees this as a way they can save a buck.” Jackson said he was frus- trated because there was no official word on the cuts, and that the information he re- ceived was “through the grapevine. Jackson also said the col- lege received-$18,000 from the government last year, and em- ployed eight to 10 full-time students. “Now we have to tell them that there are no jobs avail- able this summer,” Jackson said. “That’s the worst part of this situation. I feel bad for these kids.” : ter Tom Perry was unavail- able for comment. Lasca protesters dance for defiance Jonathan Green NEWS REPORTER The environmental fight to stop logging at Lasca Creek got a financial shot in the arm over the weekend. Organizer Steve Lones said some 300 people filled the Badminton Hall in Nelson Sunday to eat, dance, listen to speakers and raise money for the cause. When all was said and done, Lones said about $1,000 had been raised. But the West Arm Wilder- ness Group’s Paul Piro said, contrary to radio reports, the funds raised aren’t going to pay legal fees for four protesters arrested May 6. “The money raised at the dance isn't to cover court costs, because the actions of late have been individual,” he said. “The funding is more for the literature we put out.” Piro said the WAWG is con- centrating its efforts on a strategy that could reverse a government decision to allow Lasca Creek logging — a strat- egy that he says could involve violence. “I don’t know what can turn this decision around other than massive, civil disobedi- ence,” he said. “It happened last September and it could happen again. I don’t believe the problem is going to go away.” THE GREAT PROVIDER WITH ARLENE OTKE TL'AQWA.ELH (CHRISTINE McDOUGALL) BEB BESS ‘From cradles to mortuary boxes, cedar has always been an integral part of life for the First Peoples of B.C. Join Educator Arlene Otke and Native Elder Tl’aqwa.elh in a dynamic presentation about the Native use of cedar. CASTLEGAR Monday, 25 May 1992, 7:30-9:30 p.m. West Kootenay National Exhibition Centre Sponsor: West Kootenay National Exhibition Centre Phone: 365-3337 SALMO Tuesday, 26 May 1992, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Guide/Scout Hall Sponsor: Salmo Museum Phone: 357-2200 ROSSLAND Wednesday, 27 May 1992, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Uplander Hotel Ballroom Sponsor: Rossland Historical Museum Phone: 362-7722 : GRAND FORKS Thursday, 28 May 1992, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Selkirk College Sponsor: Boundary Museum Society and Selkirk College Phone: 442-2704 ROYAL BRITISH COLUMBIA MUSEUM Sveakers Tour Ministry of Tourism and Ministry Responsible for Culture | ADMISSION FREE| FREE