The Castiegar Sun Wednesday, November 9, 1994 Winter closure accepted Footbridge committee okay with temporary shutdown of bridge walkway, but still fight for long term longevity Wednesday, November 9, 1994 The Castlegar Sun No excuse or patience for empty seats It hoped to raise $30,000 from fares, but in fact, generated far less, “That is a dangerous thing to do,” he cautioned, because it means reduc- ing service the following year. Councillor Doug Green expressed Page 3A Thanks but no thanks—PPWC: KAREN KERKHOFF _ Sun Staff PPWC Local 1 members aren't interested iy what Celgar has to offer. In a vote held October 25 and 26 member$ voted 88 per cent in favor of rejecting the lates} contract offer from Celgar Pulp and in favor of striking. But even though the union served 72-hour strild notice last weekend they won't be allowed t9 strike, nor will Celgar be allowed to lock employ ces out. The recent appointment of Mediator Jim Breckenridge by the Labour Relations Board hag put a freeze on all action except mediation. : man au president, Pat Donohue, said there aré be i and won- concerns about the cost of the transit system to the city. “It's a lot of money,” he said. Duff agreed. “If we're going to spend this kind of money then we have to get the ride: king about the of the y raced run, Duff said: “That ser- vice will be implemented into the Monday to Friday runs to fill up the afternoon gap to address some of the concerns from. . . the seniors.” As well, the taxi service that pro- vides transportation to the Trail Regional Hospital renal unit three times a week for two local kidney dialysis patients will be cut. That will save the transit system $11,000 a year, which will be pumped “Basically, the HandiDart would then go back to being what it was intended to be.” Duff said the HandiDart is supposed to be “on-call”, but when its hours were reduced last year, it was no longer able to provide that service. He pointed out that B.C. Transit will also be undertaking a marketing campaign to increase ridership. Duff said B.C. Transit had “unreal- istic” revenue projections for the Castlegar system. Dialysis patient to take back seat Don Hinness will have to find own ride to Trail RON he can drive himself to the hospital. Sun Editor He says he is in no condition to drive after having four hours of dialysis treatment. H —— Castlegar’s bus system will undergo a series of changes in the new year in a bid to put the brakes on rising costs and give the transit system a much- {needed boost. { And Councillor Kirk Duff has a |warning for those who use the transit system. “This had better address it, {because if the ridership doesn't ‘increase and it isn’t suitable, we are |facing some problems at budget time looxt year.” Duff made the comment at explained salt Highways os i B.C. Transit’s plan includes: John Bodnarchuk. He | © @ 25-cemt increase in the bus fare as of Jan. 1 to $1.25; * elimination of the Saturday ser- ; footbridge will close Nov. 15 for the winter, but the Ministry of Highways says it doesn't plan to remove the structure until the “l petal tesa ap ecrrabteayrd dors bow effective 4 modlatcr wil be. Outstanding issues, explained Donohue, are Fob rates and main wage issues. Job duties, said Dono- hue, have changed along with the recent modern- ization of the mill resulting in some employees doing twice the amount of work for the same Ppay—or more. “In some specific areas it’s worse than that.” And even though Celgar has always supplied medical benefits to pensioners, it has never been part of the PPWC would like to see that change. Donohue also spoke about problems other mills are having with “rat unions”—unions which are sanctioned and organized by the employer. Celgar employees want ies Ser in the contract to address that issue speci “We want some recognition of a union site. We want a non-affiliation clause. We never needed it before, but times have changed and how we solve Robson/Castlegar However, @ group of con- cemed residents is still optimistic it can save the 81-year- wooden “We can live with that (the winter bridge closure),” said * elimination of the taxi service for two kidney dialysis patients; * an “aggressive” marketing cam- paign. Kootenay briefs Wasn't that a party? A Nelson Grizzlies Rugby Dance in Nelson was stopped short last week after police received complaints that two men were nude at the event. Acting on the complaint, tive, which is the bridge's out- ‘ahs d a Killough said his committee is hoping to have a plan in place to all that will change on Jan B.C. Transit halts the practice. The change is one of several to the transit system announced last week by 1 when Colin Pryce, one of the supporters of the CP Rail footbridge, takes a last stroll before bridge closes for the winter SUN STAFF PHOTO / Ron Norman : Changes to Castlegar’s transit A KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff Six Mountain View Lodge (MVL) residents have been told hospital board members that while the ministry “looks good” for directing the hospi- tal to dip into their surplus funds to allow the residents to stay in the facility, the reality of the directive has definitive repercussions. “This could put an end to our funds. It will consume $170,000 of our $195,288 [surplus]. The surplus, explained Talarico, group Minister Bill Barlee and Barlee promised to look into the foot- bridge issue. “We are going to push this with Bill Barlee and his inistry,” said Ki A meeting with a representa- tive from Barlee’s ministry and Rossland-Trail MLA Ed Conroy was scheduled for last Thursday. “Ed is fully behind us on this thing,” added Killough. Killough’s committee has received strong from the community in the form of a 3,000-name petition. As well, he said the United Transportation Workers Union Local 839, which represents CP ing in place issue left a cushion on which the hospi- tal relied on at a time when hospi- tal funding is meagre, to say the least. “If we have people in acute care and long term care and it looks like we can provide the staff we Provide it, This surplus allows a flexi Dr. Robert Streich, Chief of Castl and District Medical A MATTER OF HIGHER INTEREST Rates as of November 7, 1904 and are eujact t change NESBITT BURNS Meme: of te Bent of Monrent Group of Compemes For detalis call 1-800-416-2882 Sef ts wesee The Costogar Koveris ca has a suit complete with Santa available for Christmas festiviies. Phone Merv Rush at 365-5720. (Castlegar Christian Women's Club - November 10 at 7pm ‘Sandman inn. Feature - Spindle & Treadle - Trisha Rasku. Raspberry Christmas Craft Sale. Date: Nov 18 Robson & 19 - fri & sat. Time: 10am-4pm. Place: available. Hail. Refreshments Community ‘Seniors Assoc. #46 Social with entertainment Nov 17. Whist Nov. 24 7pm. Christmas supper Nov.26 5:30pm in Senior Halll. Tickets $9 for $10 for non. cyte 30. We wil have representatives Victoria for BC Transit Mayor, Please be there, ~miaoeyncsigae a vm Ste Sun TheCasegrSun 485 Columbia Ave. Castlegar BC VIN1GB 365-5256 Staff, was vocal in his criticism of the way in which the ministry handled the “aging in place” situ- ation at MVL. “It’s unfair that the ministry New Settlement KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff Although contempt of court charges have been dropped against 25 New Settlement Protesters on Oct. 24, they could still see their day in court. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Raymond noted that while “Advertising too expensive Being unknown to potential customers is more expensive. Fetus stow you how fo reach all the residents of the Rail workers, has thrown its sup- port behind the committee. Killough said the union wants the footbridge retained for safety reasons. He said CP Rail is adding footbridges to its other Kootenay area railway bridges, so it’s only a matter of time before it recognizes the need for a footbridge on the ar bridge. For that reason, he says the committee isn’t looking at main- taining the bridge for “more than five years.” By that time CP Rail should be ready to take over the footbridge for its employees, Kil- Killough said the bridge is a vital link in future recreation Killough said his group hopes plans, which include a p for a “Three Bridges Trail” con- necting the CP Rail i to istry to take over the $10, 000 annual costs. Failing with the Brilliant Bridge and Kin- naird Bridge. He pointed out that the Region- that, he said his committee will apply for a provincial grant to help al District of Central K has also recognized the foot- bridge's value by including it in ng Kootena‘ the Highways Ministry would be willing to leave the 214-meter its up ry-Ce Rivers Official Community Plan. Killough said the plan, developed by regional planner Dave Wahm, lough said. ds that the footbridge remain open to the public for far from dead feels that this is one pot from which it can draw. They missed it in this one in bowing to the polit- ical situation.” Talarico said that MVL was only doing what it was instructed to do from ministry policy by informing the families that their loved-ones would have to move to another facility after their sta- tus was Now that the residents are allowed to stay, two other resi- dents have been upgraded result- ing in eight residents now needing extended care nursing. And there are many others at the facility, said Director of Resident Care, Linda Moorlag, whose health sta- tus is quickly deteriorating. The result is that local, and other patients, who are on the wait list for the facility will more than likely have to move out of town to another facility. “Because there is no vacancy they have to move out of the community—that’s not fair either. They'll have to wait [for beds at MVL)] until hell freezes over,” said Denise Reed, Castle- gar and District Hospital Direc- residents may sue for damages were model prisoners and that their passive protest against B.C. Lands surveyors on Oct. 4 was based ont their religious beliefs. The Doukhobors will still have court rule that they are the lawful owners of the property which they claim is still exempt from taxes. Research carried out by Skogstad' s legal team, | said is li d and to face civil charges ing a and similar incident in time- but he thinks May 1993. Because part of the 233 acre tract reverted to the Crown in 1988 after non-payment of taxes, a portion of the land which ically belongs to the Crown. Crown charges that when the group blocked surveying efforts they there might be basis to his clients’ claims. “There have been mentions in the research which suggests there was an agreement for no taxation for 100 years.” Skogstad said, however, that he will be meeting with his clients to discuss the suggestion that all litigation be ended with- were P and ig a public nuisance. Don Skogstad, lawyer for the New Settlement Doukhobors said the group filed a counterclaim on Oct. 21 in which they allege they were granted immunity by the fed- eral government in 1898 from property taxes and military service. In turn they are suing the gov- ernment for trespass on New Set- tlement lands and asking that the out cost. “The survey has been done and there is no further pur- pose served. The objective has been met.” There are 62 residents at New Settlement. In a special agree- ment, about half of the residents paid the government $1 for the land and other associated charges, while the others refused to do so and blocked surveyors attempts. Jody Hackman, 29, of Castlegar is in police custody after a warrant was issued for his arrest on October 27 for auto theft. The Pontiac, regis- tered to Janine Hackman, was recovered in Kelowna. eee Police are investigating the theft of a 1988 Ford pickup at Kalesnikoff Lumber in Thrums. The vehicle, owned Castlegar man in custody by Robert Postnikoff, was stolen October 26. ee Slushy roads are being blamed for a single-vehicle acci- dent Nov. 5. Hayley Leyenaar, 26, was westbound on Highway 3 when she lost control of her vehicle causing it to enter a ditch and strike a tree. No charges will be laid. Leyenaar was uninjured. Damage is estimated at $2,000. bridge in place if some other group is willing to accept respon- sibility for annual maintenance and liability. “We've not been able to find somebody to come forward,” he said. Video: a Kootenay curve ) proves too much for Vancouver man SUN STAFF Darryl Dolan, of Vancouver, B.C. was taken to Castlegar Hos- pital with minor injuries after he drove his vehicle off of Broad- water Road at the Pass Creek Bridge. Damage to the vehicle is esti- mated at $2,000. The accident is still under investigation. No change? No problem! Police are investigating the theft of four vending machines from the Monte Carlo Motel October 29. RCMP are unable to supply further information pending investigation. police cancelled the liquor license after which the dance quickly wound down. Racist graffiti Someone has been defacing downtown Nelson walls with racist graffiti. City police say slogans such as “White Cana- da=Free Canada”, and “White Canada=Free Strong Whole”, had been spray- painted last weekend and are asking anyone who has knowledge of the incidents to contact them. Ganging up Midway RCMP have arrested 18 Okanagan teens after it was geported they were trav- ellifig from Kelowna to Grand Forks to find and beat up another individual. Along the way, the youths, who were travelling in three vehi- cles, brawled with patrons at the Gold Pan Cafe in Rock Creek and also stopped and beat two men. The trouble continued at the police station where property was damaged. Two citizen volunteers helped guard the arrested teens. Trick was no treat Four Trail teens were accost- ed on Halloween by a group of older males wearing ski masks who assaulted them and then stolen their candy. The victims weren't harmed during the robbery. MVA A Nelson man, 27-year-old Paul Jocko was transported by ambulance to Castlegar and District Hospital after a motor vehicle accident near South Slocan on Highway 6 Nov. 4. Jocko had been trav- elling with his passenger, a four-year-old boy, when he lost control of the vehicle causing it to catch the ditch and flip onto its roof. The Stolen Fruitvale RCMP are investi- gating the theft of a five-foot cleanup bucket for a Bobcat 743. The bucket had been stolen sometime between Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 from a driveway in the 1500 block of Green Road in Fruitvale. Paddling along The historic S.S. Moyie, docked in Kaslo, is heading into Phase Three of restora- tion. Critical stabilizing and preserving are now complete and historical restoration will begin soon. Scam? BC Tel is warning its cus- tomers that several alternate long-distance companies are confusing and misleading BC Tel customers by claiming to represent or have a partner- ship with the mega-utility. dead end. times a week for treatment. system have left Don Hinness at a The 41-year-old Hinness is one of two outpatients who travel to the renal unit at Trail Regional Hospital three Presently, Hinness takes a taxi, which is paid for by B.C. Transit. But council meeting. Trail. Councillor Kirk Duff at a Castlegar Duff said he is hopeful that the Ministry of Health will pick up the costs of transporting Hinness and the other Castlegar dialysis patient to But Hinness says there is no way “T don’t want to cause an accident.” While Duff says he sympathizes with Hinness’s situation he said the service “is just not a transit respon- sibility.” He suggested the Castlegar resident take it up with Rossland-Trail MLA Ed Conroy. our problems have changed.” Donohue expects that mediation could become protracted. e “There's a iderabl di issues, ‘a It's expected that Breckenridge won't been mediation until mid-November. amount of Former CasNews editor j in familiar role at Sun Smoother traffic expected now Norman temporarily replaces Imhoff Castlegar Sun publisher Mari- lyn Strong announced today that longtime Castlegar resident and former Castlegar News editor, Ron Norman, has assumed the position of acting editor. Norman will be replacing Sharlene Imhoff while she is on maternity leave. Norman has 15 years experi- ence as a reporter and editor with Salmon Arm Observer, Sidney Review, and Castlegar News. He brings to the position a wealth of knowledge about the Castlegar community and will be covering city council, regional district and general news. In his new role as acting edi- tor, Ron Norman looks forward to working closely with the com- munity. 71-year-old takes lottery win all in stride RON NORMAN Sun Editor Lena Kennedy felt like she was floating on air last Wednesday night—literally. And for good Treason. The South Slocan woman had just won $1.2 million in that evening's 6/49 lottery. “It was a funny sensation— almost like you were floating,” Kennedy told the Sun in a tele- phone interview. Kennedy was watching TV at home on Nov. 2 when she saw her six numbers come up on the screen. She knew right away she was a winner because she has played the same numbers for years. “I picked them out many years ago,” she said. “I couldn’t = Symposium Ron Norman, whose byline was seen throughout the 1980s inside the pages of the CasNews, is back in the saddle and sporting a new byline as editor of the Castlegar Sun. believe it.” She laughs about what she did next: turning and talking to her large dog Snuffy, an Alsatian- Husky cross. “T said, ‘Oh my goodness, this can’t be true.’ Kenneday collected exactly $1,229,937.90. She says she has no plans for the money other than to share it with her family. And she is taking the whole business in stride. “If I need it, I'll use it. It’s just a cushion. I’ve never been one to worry about money.” No exotic trip or spending spree? “I’ve got most everything I need,” says the 71-year-old retiree. She bought the ticket at the Winlaw Mini-Mart that Brilliant intersection done KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff It was touch and go, but phase two of the Robson-Castlegar Bridge, rilliant intersection project, came in on time. from Mother yject N Sharlene Imhoff has tem- porarily left her position as editor to begin her new role as mother. The wage may not be as good, but she hears that the benefits are outstanding. 12 lana Kennedy Oct. 31 deadline. Mother Nature's cooperation.” Vanlerberg said when the project began in mid-July he was appre- hensive that it would be completed by deadline. “I always had that con- cerm—but it was not of major proportion.” The $3.8 million project will allow increased safety for vehicles and wa smoother flow of traffic from Celgar to Nelson said Vanlerberg. “Traffic coming from the Robson-Castlegar Bridge headed west- bound will now pass under the existing Brilliant Bridge and enter High- way 3A via a left turn lane with better grades and site distances.” Traffic going eastbound to Nelson will enter the highway via a newly constructed merge lane. Traffic coming from Nelson and headed to Rob- son will keep to the right and exit the highway on the new exit ramp.” To complete the project there was a total of 54,000 cubic metres of rock, or 100,000 tonnes, said the final lift of pavement, and any remaining work to be done will be completed in the spring of 1995. Highways is cautioning motorists:to use extreme caution until they are familiar with the new traffic pattern: Rocky g said nee and Tangier Contractors Lid., of Revelstoke helped meet the “He [Tangier] really worked hard, and we did have from the area. Road conditions blamed for three-car crash SUN STAFF ——_—____ Slippery roads are being blamed for a three-vehicle accident Nov. 4. Castlegar RCMP say local resident Jose DaSilva, 65, was southbound on Columbia Ave. when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line, clipped the mirror of a City of Castle- gar truck and then hit the front end of a‘vehicle driver by Richard Creak, 62, of Calgary, Alberta. Although there were no injuries damage was esti- mated at $5,600. No charges have been laid. Continued from 1A impacts the 30-year-old treaty has had on the region. The deal with the U.S. is expected to be worth $5 billion over the next 30 years, with an up-front payment of $250 million expected by 1995/96. The amount to be allocated to the Kootenays has not yet been determined. The purpose of the symposium was to discuss cre- ation of a regional authority to take charge of the Kootenays’ DSBs and invest in projects which will benefit the entire Columbia Basin. The legislation to create the regional authority will be introduced in the spring session of the legislature However, Clark's enthusiasm for the “hydro option” was received cautiously at best by most delegates, many of whom remember the forced relocations, flooded farmlands and forests, and damage to fisheries and wildlife habitat caused by the original Columbia River Treaty hydro projects. “That was a clear-cut case of someone from the Lower Main land who doesn’t understand the outer regions,” said Cranbrook city councillor Ron Tart, adding most of the immediate economic benefits of more hydro develop the Mi of Energy, | emmoent... nobody has to get mar- ment would be felt in West Koote- nay. “If that route is gone, then we're going to have to see some- thing else up front because the benefits to the entire basin (from hydro) won't accrue for 14 years.” And Clark's colleague's in the government were quick to point out the minister was misleading if he gave the impression the “hydro option” was a take it or leave it deal “We don't want to get tied up with the option of the power genera- on projects. This is not a done deal There are lots of other opportuni- ties,” said Kootenay MLA Anne Mines and Petroleum Resources. “The scariest thing for a gov- ernment is to come to an event like this without what we call... a “deliverable’,” said Nelson-Cre- ston MLA Corky Evans. Evans, who favors the hydro option, said the joint venture would be more politically saleable to Cabinet because it Tepresents a concrete investment rather than a $250 million give- away to a region with relatively few voters. But he respected the right of Kootenay residents to “say maybe.” “In this region, with this gov- nied until they fall in love,” Evans said as the symposium wrapped up. Josh Smienk, chairman of Columbia River Treaty Commit- tee, stressed the hydro option was for discussion purposes only at this point “We're going to see what options are available for us to invest in projects that will create opportunities and benefits for the entire basin, or it’s not going to be palatable,” said Smienk “There are many options We're not sold on this one yet,” Smienk added. “We're not taking a pig in a poke.”