ee a ee! Saturday, June 6,.1992 @ I wasn’t going to write a goodbye column. I don’t like long goodbyes — or short ones for that matter. I don’t like funerals or going away parties and I absolutely detest those times when you have to drop someone off at the airport and then wait around for an hour while the plane gasses up or whatever before you’re forced to give the obligatory hug and mumble good bye. - But after a few moments delibera- tion, and a couple of glasses of inspi- ration — sorry doc and thank you Elvis Costello for that line — I came to the conclusion that there are two people I just have to say something to before I leave. Two people who have, by far, meant the most to me in my time in Castlegar. And also two of the most interesting and complex people I ow. (Of course I know that this partic- ular exercise is a mugs game. You can’t possibly do this without offend- ing someone by leaving them out. There are lots of people I would like to offer a few parting words, but I just don’t have the space here.) So then, without further ado, I would like to say farewell, thank you and see you later to Simon Birch, a man I respect, admire and care for more than he probably knows. A man who has more integrity and sincerity- than is healthy in just one person. Simon (the Birchmaster) taught me more about real, good, respectable and responsible journalism than any- body. He should write a how-to book on the subject — he knows more about the way it’s supposed to be done than most people in this business. And as a result, he is an aspiring reporter’s dream editor. Simon taught me that getting it out is not good enough, that style is ev- erything, but content is everything and more, and that compromise is ac- ceptable but not at the expense of ethics. I know that he, like me, is commit- ted to this business, loves this busi- ness. This is our life, it is the only thing we really know how to do and we are proud to be doing it. I also know that Simon, because he can appear to be withdrawn and snob- bish to people who don’t know him, is often taken the wrong way and given a bad rap. I know that as my boss he was unappreciated by the public for the job he did. I know that I will see Simon again. He'll probably be my boss again some- time down the road. I’m looking for- ward to that. : And I know that he, like me, is sad- dened by what passes for journalism in this area — and a lot of places in this province and country for that matter. It must make him cringe to see journalism abused, used, beaten As Porky said: ‘That’s all folks’ to a pulp and spit on like it really means nothing at all. ; (All of which, I hope, explains to my wondering colleagues at The News why I chose not to associate with some of the pseudo- journalists that work elsewhere — it is simply that they make a mockery of my life. I find it hard to associate with people who are using jotrnalism as a stepping stone to a job in the food and beverage in- dustry.) The other person I would like to bid adieu is Jennifer Small. Jen (don’t call me Jenny), who I met. and fell in love with in the Gar, and who I will always love until the day I die. The way I am with journalism, Jen is with sports. She is one of the most dedicated and driven athletes I have ever met. She loves sports — playing, not watching — as much as anybody. She is'a person who works so hard and devotes all her energy into what she’s doing that she honestly deserves ev- erything she achieves and more. And despite all that effort, she is always surprised and genuinely excited when she wins, even if people around her knew she was going to all along. Con- sidering all the spoiled and conceited athletes there are, Jen is a breath of fresh air. I can tell you that Jen is a great woman now and, like a Wayne Gret- zky rookie card, she will get more valuable every day. Jen also introduced me to one of the things I won’t miss at all about the Gar, which is the way a lot of people never let the facts get in the way of a good rumor. Jen showed me how the malicious rumor mongers ply their trade in a small town, and she pointed out many who thrive on it. But like I told her, the rumor mill is no big deal in the whole scheme of things. It is for people with small minds, no brains and no guts. Lastly, I would like to say goodbye to Castlegar, a great place with some of the greatest people in the world. (And just about the only place I could get away with writing a column like this.) I have a car full of fond memo- ries that I will carry with me to Prince George. Thank you. @ Saturday, June.6, 1992 TheNUNBERS Pensioners golf club gets some company About 44 members were on @ Women’s club joins men for a golf game and some good food. Bud Lowther NEWS COLUMNIST Fine food graced the table and lovely woman graced the Castlegar Golf Course at the Castlegar Pensioners Golf Club’s regular Thursday meet- ing. About 84 golfers turned out May 21 as members of the men’s and women’s senior golf club’s got together for a game and good food. The best woman golfers on the day were Genevieve Jack- son, Louise Ferworn and So- phie Janicki, who all brought in the the best low net scores. For the men it was Gerry Rust, Bill Cheveldave and Wilf Sweeney with the low net marks. Golf balls for the best team scores went to the foursome of Christianson, Clarice the course for nine holes May 28. Otto Walker carded a 38 for the best low gross score of the day, while Al Taranko was sec- ond with a 44. Ball winners for low net scores were: Otto Anderson, Harold Ackney, Ab Culley, Art Toews, John Moran, John McGillivray, Gerry Wichert, Ray Heagy, Christianson, Ken Price, Pete Stupnikoff, Walter Janicki, Jack Dunn, Zeke Clements, Sweeney, Frank Webster, Gord Brady and Jim Moore. The club welcomed George Moxham as guest for the day. TIP OF THE WEEK Let’s have some fun with it this week. Some golfers don’t like their playing partners to stand be- hind, in front or beside them when they are putting. Faced with this case, I would ask that golfer if he or she would like me to climb a tree. : If you cannot break your opponent’s concentration by rattling keys or loud breath- ing, try starting up your golf cart in the middle of their back swing. All in good fun, of course. CASTLEGAR MEN'S COMMERCIAL FASTBALL LEAGUE w Tr Pts. Merchants 1 13 Nelson A’s 0 12 Banjo's 1 9 Valley Royals (0) Labatts (0) 8 4 PITCHE! GP Nelson Q. Storgaad T. Kabatoff Merchants G. Bergeron Cam Sookro D. Weir Labatts P. Evdokimoff J. Tarasoff Royals B. Legebokoff J. Rampone Banjo's E. Soukeroff G. Maggs T. Taranoff D. Sandback =70 8M £2 onanor 20 040 00 4 ns on oo -cCOoWw ooo- TOP 10 BATTERS Cal Sookro, Nelson A's Rod Gretchen, Merehants—— Tom Frawley, Labatts Jim Nazaroff, Banjo’s Bob Marsh, nelson A's : Darwin Anderson, Valley Royals . Deane Horning, Merchants Mike Nelson, Nelson A's Joe Chernoff, Valley Royals Barry Marsh, Nelson A's ~ TEAM BY TEAM VALLEY ROYALS AB H_ RBI Avg.HR K. Soukeroff 13 .2720 M. Sherstobitoff 7 -333 1 Soukeroff 066.0 Soukeroff .285 0 Chernoff .375 0 Malakoff .000 0 Anderson .428 0 Druker .083 0 Cutler +333 0 Larson .000 0 Sutherland .200 0 Lekebokoff .000 0 Evdokimoft -176 0 -1420 2140 .000 0 .2220 CASTLEGAR MERCHANTS RBABMOOFL HD NOD A SO OF OC O Oi ee eo-0+-000=-+=0C000N0=0 Horning Om a COOCOMONBON=H8N=H0 COO]-00NR==0-0N0 SSSSSRRRRSREERS cooooooofaanooo oO DNAUNY é Q Q A999 9D9MDBOD>DAOROO oo aa M. Calaghan E. Soukeroff L. Stoushnow McMillan Kanigan Mags Angrignon Fleming yepeyesngse: a oer 8838s oO > i NS SFOs seooaaronneane Loukianoff Essaun Zwick = Savinkoff Frauley Harrison Heric Donaldson Evdokimoff Deschene L. Price W. Salekin |. McMillian J. Tarasoff G. Antignani P. Koochin R. Muth D. Terhune N. Higgins Ons ooo a SCOKCDDOCON=]=CON=AVNONOAVY®Q00000=0004MNH00 GRVBBHAGCODN OVOVND ZO]-ON=H=-CONMNSEOUN=H > o . Chernenkoff . Kabatoff . Streliaeff . Tarasoff . Rutherford . Storgaad . Nelson AQOnNaNen=-NODNO “~@O=-OW0N0--R0— Price continued from page 13 justify (spending more). ey said, because we’re | not a games sport (Canada Games, B.C. Summer Ga- mes, Western Canada Games, Commonwealth Games), where medals are handed out, we didn’t deserve it,” Flanagan said The provincial servings will become even more leaner now that funding allocation for break-open tickets has been taken over by the gov- ernment. Tear tickets, usually found in bars and pubs, have been used over the years to supple- ment budgets of many non- profit organizations across B.C.— especially the sporting sector. Lois Boone, Minister of Government Services and in charge of lotteries, said the government opted to buy back the machines from these organizations six months ago, while continuing to pay out monies to them during this period. “The sports organizations knew they should not have Lois Boone ‘Listen, I don’t ex- pect the government to pay for my daugh- ter’s gymnastic lessons.’ -Lois Boone depended on these machines forever,” said Boone. “They will just have to look at other areas for raising funds. There were a lot of other groups out there that thought it was unfair that sports groups received monies from |: the break-open tickets and they didn’t. “Listen, I don’t expect the government to pay for my daughter’s gymnastic lessons,” Boone said. Last year, the B.C. govern- ment earned more than $205 million from lottery revenues. A forecast for the next two years estimates lottery rev- enues will increase to $208 million in 1992 and $209 mil- lion in.’93. In an open letter to the me- dia, Sport B.C. chairman Bruce Carson noted, “The Honorable Lois Boone has suggested that community groups return to car washes and bake sales to raise their budgets. “While this demonstrates a laughable misunderstanding of the role of the non-profit sector, it presents © the prospect of the government, one day, creating the crown company B.C. Car Wash Cor- poration to manage the mar- ket created by the non-profit sector.” FULLY SERVICED R.V. PADS Close to Safeway Phone 365-8077 News photo by Ed Mills The News’ seniors golf columnist Bud Lowther eyes up a shot at the Castlegar Golf Course Wednesday afternoon. Seafood Salad Lettuce, celery, carrots, green onions, tomatoes topped with shrimp, crab and cheddar, served with a side order of garlic toast All. Our Prices Include the G.S.T. Now open til 9 p.m. 1521 Columbia Ave. 365-8388 Call Ahead Drive Through Service 31 Terry Sawchuk 1966 Card Date $125 Suggested retail (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Castlegar Sportscards Pa BUY ¢ SELL ¢ TRADE 636-18th Street Castleaird Plaza Castlegar - 365-7556 If your vehicle is pictured here, drop by the Castlegar News to pick up your $20 CasBucks, which you can spend at any participating merchant. the i ev;