He’s in murder business VANCOUVER (CP) — Bob Desmarais is in the murder business. He doesn't commit them. He looks for those who do. Desmarais, a Vancouver police sergeant, has been making murders his business for 15 years. Last year, the major crime squad he is a part of made arrests in 13 of the 20 murder cases in the city. It also recently charged a man with the murder of a cab driver. os __ Castlegar News _ ‘orns, 10s Beauty & Health Care That means Di is and nine other homicide detec- tives are searching for six killers, but Desmarais is confident they'll find them. “Eventually, the suspect has to talk to someone,” says Desmarais, 58. “The story of the murder has to come out of someone's mouth.” Until then, they'll pursue other avenues — anonymous tips, new clues, rereading the files, consulting other detec- tives — in their hunt for the killers. In the case of David Wil- son, 27, found stabbed to death last June 2 in a skid row hotel, Desmarais says police are investigating “a certain individual we believe may be responsible.” Similarly, for Joseph Sid- ney Andrews, 50, found stabbed to death the same day as Wilson, in a ski row rooming house, Desmarais says police have a suspect. “We feel quite strongly about (the suspect), but knowing it and proving it are two differ- know who is the death of Leonard Lang- ford, 36, who died July 5 during surgery following complications which devel- oped after he was stabbed in the chest June 24. “The case is being exam- ined by Crown counsel and the coroner's office,” he says. “It's classified as an unsolved homicide, but it may not be an offence.” There are no suspects in the stabbing deaths of Leo- nard Marcel Hogan, 30, Dieter John, 45, and Edward Brian Jepson, 36. The longer these crimes go unsolved, the harder it be- comes to find the killer, Des- marais says, because the leads become fewer, the trail colder. Everyone likes furs NEW YORK (AP) — That touch of mink. More and more North Americans are finding it hard to resist. Even businessmen and babies are found swaddled in luxury furs once associated mainly with Hollywood starlets. Furriers say Americans buy the most furs in the world, making it a billion dollar industry in the United States. Ranchers and trappers bring their pelts to auctions such as the recent season. opener in New York City at Hudson's Bay Co., the coun. try’s biggest fur broker. More than 850 pelts went on the block over four days, selling for a total of $25 mil- lion to $30 million, said Herb Korr, a spokesman for Hud. son's Bay. The pelts are tanned, mat ched for color and texture, stretched and stored in re. frigerated vaults before being hand-stitehed into gar. ments. It takes about three days to turn 46 skins into a full. length coat that costs any where from $2,000 U.S. for a quality ranch-bred mink to $100,000 for a coat made from the downy white belly fur of the rare Russian lynx. But mink remains “the mainstay,” Kerr said. At Dimitrios Furs in New York's fur district, about half the sales are in men's coats, said salesman Bill Ruten berg. Another trend is the surge of repeat customers. More and more people are building a fur wardrobe. They're no longer satisified with just one coat,” he said SS The sour Aloe Vera Brian L ‘, " | AVACARE B row n NATURAL SOURCE PRODUCTS CERTIFIED © Skin Care GENERAL * Body Care ACCOUNTANT * Sports Line © Natural Vita ree 270 Columbia Ave. | * Make-Up “His hospital insurance Castlegar : phate contre ints runs out in 15 minutes.” i Ph. 366-2181 * Household Products CALL pe ASK CHES OR JOHN FOR YY aa’ Beaumark the MOROSO APPLIANCES ay , WITH B.E.W.C. TO PROVIDE ALL PARTS MARKIN & AND ALL SERVICE FOR THE LIFE TRAIL, B.C. . OF THE MACHINE y, BLAIN Cleaning CERTIFIED Consignment|| Jewellers GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS 241 Columbia Ave. “TIOTHING, DRAPERIES Castlegar BEDSPREADS LAUENER BROS. Everything on consignment. Ph. 365-7287 FOR £3810 NEARLY NEW SHOP JEWELLERS PROF NAL 776 Rossland Ave., Trail CLEANING —— | —_ * Carpets - SOLIGO, KOIDE & JOHN CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 615 Columbia Ave. (Upstairs) Castlegar Phone 365-7745 Henry John, B.Sc. C.A. Resident Partner Appliances @FAST COURTEOUS SERVICE OGENUINE MAYTAG PARTS OWE SERVICE ALL MAKES SPECIALIZE IN MAYTAG CASTLEGAR PLUMBING & HEATING LTD. 1008 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, * Upholstery * Car Interiors * Window Cleaning FOR ESTIMATES CALL RICHARD VANTASSEL Trait 364-1344 Contractors * We change onty the doors and * Exposed surfaces are retaced with durable * A.newlooking kitchen at an price * Free estimates —< = ® anne CELEBRITY CABINETS Box 3124, Cestlegor 365-3561 Auctions Country Harvest Delicatessen (Located nent to Gabriel s Restouront) 1436 Columbia Ph. 365-5414 Drafting & Design DRAFTING & DESIGN SERVICES Residential * Renovations * Planning Office Interiors Diamond Rings Wedding Ringe WATCHES * Bulova * Seco * Pulsar BONE CHINA = Doulton * Wedgewood * Royo! Albert 1355 Cedar, Trail 368-9533 Moving & Storage WILLIAMS MOVING & STORAGE 2337-6th Ave., Castlegar Invite you to call them for o free moving estimate. Let our representative tell you obout the many services which have made Williams the most respec ee TELEPHONE 365-5210 copy chonges ond Now alonteas tor the Castlegor News will be accepted % 26 tor the mont! cretarial Residence 365-2618 or 112-800-642-1234 Radio Electronics Gb EC LLNOTLLO LLL. RADIO — T.V. — AUDIO COMMUNICATIONS Sales & Service NEW LOCATION (Behind Turbo) 615 - 13th St., Castlegar 365-5351 Instelletion & Meintena: Auto * Radios * Ster: Speaker Systems * C.B. Radios * Radio Telephones 2-Way Radios * CCTV & Alarm Systems Uitte si 2ervices ALL TYPES OF MMERCIAL PRI Pp eae eR COMMERCIAL PRINTING | The Typing Shop saat sy pelea SECRETARIAL SERVICES OFFSET & LETTERPRESS (WES PRESS FACILITIES Word CASTLEGAR NEWS | Processing 197 Columbia Ave. 365-7266 © Volume Letters © Mail A > Moling tar * Theses SS Sal copytron, 28° - 12th Avenve Castlegar, 8. Copier Sy CALL DAVE PLANT SEPTIC TANK SERVICE “We clean up your act!” 365-7007 Mobile N412511 COLEMAN COUNTRY BOY SERVICE Sump & Septic Tank lumping PHONE 365-5013 3400 - 4th Avenue Caath SHORTWAVE RECEIVER *200 Quartz - Digital Tuning Medala Shortwave —3635-5687 _ Restaurants THE COLANDER SPAGHETTI HOUSE Specializing in Italian Cuisine For Reservations Phone 364-1816 1475 Cedar Avenue Trai F. PIRSH CONTRACTING Cc bia Ave., Russell Auctions 399-4793 ‘hrums Buy or Sell by Auction Chimneys fis Chimney Services Ltd. RUMFORD PLACE Super Sweep * Complete Masonry Work Chimney Lining * Certified Fire Satety Inspections 735 Columbie Ave. 6141 Troil Renovations Custom-built kitchen cabinets dential & Commercial 1g jobs or small jobs Ph. 368-5911 See us for: * Complete nursery stock FULL LANDSCAPING SERVICE AAMAS IAL OR RESIDENTIAL FREE ESTIMATES CHANG’S Nursery & Florist Ltd. Phone 365-3222 . Conercton ted nome in the moving 365-2546 Ph. 365-3328 Collect | PPPercorn Optomestrist Funeral P Dining Under the Palms ot 1} ML LeRoy Attordable Prices ——“AACTILCAD©~—. TERRA NOVA MOTOR INN CASTLEGAR B.S. O.D. 1001 Rossland Ave., Trail OPTOMETRIST FUNERAL CHAPEL a Dedicated to kindly, 1012 - 4th $t 364-2222 thoughtful service Castlegor Granite, Marble and PHONE Bronze Plaques 365-3361 Tues. - Fri. 9a.m.-5p.m Saturday 9 a.m. - 12 noon Roofing Furniture Repair B.Sc. O.D. OPTOMETRIST No.2 - 615 Columbia, Castleger 365-2220 or 366 Boker St., Nelson 352-5152 diP'n striP ShoP LV. (Les) Camp, Sales Publishes Ayr nat pocce The Plumbing & to Feb. 15-1973 TREMBLAY Heating Centre sunt CAMPBELL ~ is! on oe * Americon Stondord RON NO! 8. Gener. ¢% * Valley Fibreboth KENNLYN HARVEY. Plont Forenon wet . 4° Cre remon. LIN. FURNITURE STRIPPING | > dere Pumps 2 Softeners ENTERPRISES ll REPAIRS & RE-FINISHING | 22°C" ¢= Co" consents Aavertising Monsen 352-5456 Service and Installation = HADLEY, Circulation 365-7705 jonager. MICKEY “wens Neteon 2317 - sth Ave. Costleger Ph. 365-5190 Composing Room Foreman Plumbing & GIBSON WICKLUM ————reofing Government Certified Box 525, Nelson, B.C. FREE ESTIMATES 15 Years Certified Roofing Speciolizing in Shokes PHONE LORNE 352-2917 Satellite Upholstery VINYL REPAIR & UPHOLSTERY Now in Raspberry Village Water Purifiers cAVAPURE An advanced purification Portable — Practical — Inexpensive CALL Gloria Fomenott 365-8367 Weight Loss Now Open WEST KOOTENAY GLASS & TRIM All Windows Windshields Mirrors Screen Repairs BOAT TOPS © Convertible Tops © Vinyl Roofs © Sun Roofs © Seat Repairs Service — Our Competitive Edge! Senior Citizen Discounts 2230 - 6th Ave.. Castlegar 365-2744 OGLOW'S PAINTS & WALLCOVERINGS 365-6214 Window Covering Products B,C,D... orX,YorZ Yes, whether your business name starts with A or with Z, Business Directory advertising is for you! RATES ARE ATTRACTIVE, TOO! Phone 365-5210 for Full Details ( PUBLISHER . The Costlegar News is published by Castle News Ltd Mail subscriptions rote to the CASTLEGAR NEWS 1s $30 per year ($34 in where the post office has let ter carrier service). The price on newsstands is 50¢ for each edition. The price delivered by communities Newspaper carrier for both editions is only 66¢ 0 week (collected monthly). Second class mail registration number 9. ERRORS The Castlegar News will not be responsible for any errors in advertisements after one insertion 11 1s the respon sibility of the advertiser to tread his od when it is first published Wt is agreed by the adver tiser requesting space that the advertisement is accepted on the condition that in the event of failure to publish any ad. vertisement of any descrip tion, or in the event thet errors occur in the publishing of an advertisement, that por tion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous ether item toge for but the balance | vertisement will be paid for ot the applicable rote. in the event of an error. advertising goods oF services at o wrong Price. the goods or services Need not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell. The offer may be withdrawn ot any time NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT Full, complete and sole copyright ter produced to Castle News Ltd however thot copyright THAT PART AND THAT part ONLY of any advertisement Prepored trom repro proot, engravings. etc prov and belong to the advertiser CASTLEGAR NEWs Established Aug 7. 1947 Twice Weekly May 4. 19% Incorporating the Mid-Week Mirror subirshed from Sept 12 1976 to Aug. 27 1960 Speaking Students at Kinnaird Elementary School won medals and certificates in the school's annual public speaking com- Petition held this week. ++ AT College Awards Selkirk College held an awar ceremony recently re 39 students were recipien- ts of cash awards. . . AS The six winning numbers in Saturday's Lotto 6/49 draw were 6, 7, 8, 35, 36 and 43. The bonus num- ber was 33, The $500,000 winnin; cial lottery draw is sidiary prizes. the to re-open... AS 1] West Arm re-opens The rush to nab fish is number in Friday's Provin- | | On. 98 233026. There are also sub- world- renowed West Arm of Kootenay Lake prepares WEATHERCAST Cloudy periods today, with little chance ot percipitation. Highs of 6 to 8”. Similar outlook tor Monday Winds light, picking up in the at ternoon to 15 kilometres-per hour 50 Cents — VOL. 38, No. 20 CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 1985 2 Sections (A & B) RCMP_INVESTIGATION Castlegar Airpor won't be affected By ADRIAN CHAMBERLAIN Staff Writer A police investigation into fraud allegations involving Pacific Building MINGLING WITH THE CROWD .. . Democrat leader Bob Skelly (right) chats with John B.C. New NDP MEETING By ADRIAN CHAMBERLAIN Staff Writer Unemployment figures have skyrocketed, and the economy and education in B.C. have hit the bottom of the barrel under the direction of the Social Credit party, provincial New Democrat party leader Bob Skelly declared friday night Speaking to about 200 party faithful at the annual general meeting of the Rossland-Trail riding in Trail, the opposition leader attacked the Socreds with the confidence of a man amongst friends. Skelly said, in contrast to Social Credit cutbacks to public schools, universities and colleges, the NDP “poured a tremendous amount of resources into education” when in power during the early 70s Educational institutions means jobs for teachers, and “spin-off jobs” for communities, said Skelly, who maintains that “education is good economics and good business.” According to Skelly, the present government boasts that the electronics industry in B.C. is now in fifth place, ahead of fisheries. But while the Socreds promise ‘that British Columbians are making headway in the international high-technology race, Skelly says this is being undermined by the lack of “high-tech” facilities in public schools and technical colleges. He said the B.C. Institute of Technology in Vancouver recently had a 100 per cent chop in their new equipment budget. Meanwhile, the institute's existing equipment is becoming “rapidly obselete.” Added Skelly: “My kids are selling chocolate bars on the streets of Victoria to buy a computer for their school NDP LEADER VISITS 's cleaning contract for the Vancouver airport probably won't i that "s contract with Adams of Castlegar during annual Rossland-1 rail riding meeting, held Friday night in Trail CosNews Photo by Adrian Chamber ian Skelly slams Socreds That's the Socred commitment to high-tech.” While countries that have a successful high-techno- logy industry spend about 10 per cent of their gross domestic product on education, Canada spends only five, and B.C. between three and four per cent, he said. Skelly also told the enthusiastic audience that the government is ignoring B.C.'s natural resources. “Now Social Credit cabinet ministers are going around the province saying forestry's a sunset industry . . .” he said. “Soon we'll all be producing micro-chips. It's crazy.” The government has allowed mineral, fisheries, water and energy, and forestry industries to “run down” by failing to encourage research and development, Skelly said He said the Socreds “turned down” millions of dollars in funding from the Liberal government for silviculture a few years ago, and has ignored the employment potential in forestry renewal Instead, the government has concentrated on “big sexy mega-projects” like the proposed Coquihalla highway — to run from Kamloops to Hope, at a cost of $357 million. And Skelly slammed Expo ‘86, which, he says, will put B.C. $311 million in debt, and — like other mega-projects — is designed to be completed in order to impress voters before the next election “There's no question in my mind, if an election were held right now, the NDP would win,” he said According to Skelly, the Social Credit’s own polls suggest that “the Socreds are the most hated government in Canada.” continued on poge A3 the Castlegar Airport. A Transport Canada spokesman confirmed this week that Pacific Build- ing Maintenance's dealings with the Vancouver International Airport are being investigated by Vancouver RCMP following fraud allegations. No charges have been laid. Pacific Building Maintenance also has a three-year contract for firefight- ing and maintenance at the Castlegar Airport, as well as a number of private and public contracts throughout B.C., said Steven Rybak, Transport Canada public affairs manager. But even if the company is charged and found guilty with regard to their Vancouver airport dealings, Rybak says it won't affect its other contracts. “You can almost equate it with a recall notice for a car,” he said. “Just because 6,000 cars . . . have been recalled, does that mean every car that has been made by that particular company is supsect?” Rybak said police investigators into Pacifie Building Maintenance’s Van- couver contract include an inspection of that company’s and Transport Can- ada’s books. “That's .being done by the RCMP, and I don’t know how far they've got, or what they've uncovered,” he said, adding that the company’s manage- ment may not necessarily be at fault. Kootenay West MP Bob Brisco has also examined the situation, and agrees that “there is no question of a problem for the maintenance crew at Castlegar Airport.” But Randy Grant, department chief for the maintenance and firefighting crew at the Castlegar airport isn't so sure the investigation into Pacific Building Maintenance won't affect workers here. “(Rybak’s) only speculating that it won't,” he said. “We're speculating that it will. So it can be taken any way. “We don't anticipate it, but it's a possibility that it could.” Grant is also shop steward for Local 102 Nelson of the International Broth- erhood of Electrical Workers which in- cludes the 10 firefighting and main- tenance workers at the airport. He says Pacific Building Mainten- ance has a three-year contract at the Castlegar Airport, which runs until 1987. Grant says his union had planned to meet recently with Pacific Building Maintenance with an eye towards securing a contract. The union, al- though certified, presently has no con- tract. But these talks have been postponed until next month because of the com- pany's present difficulties, Grant said. Pacifie Building Maintenance’s con- tract for the Vancouver airport expired Feb. 28, said Rybak. After public tendering process, another firm, Dy- namic Building Services, took the con- tract over immediately. Of 12 tenders submitted, Pacific Building Mainten- ance’s was fifth or sixth, said Rybak. School board urged to submit needs budget By CHERYL CALDERBANK Staff Writer Parents and employee groups of the Castlegar school district Thursday urged the school board to submit a “needs” budget to the Ministry of Edu. cation. A total of 13 groups made presen. tations to the Castlegar school board on educational concerns. Most of the presentations offered support to the board if it submitted a budget March 15 based on the district's needs, board chairman Doreen Smecher said in an interview. The special meeting followed a request from a parents’ organization, Cuthbert named chief foreste VICTORIA (CP) — John Cuthbert, manager of the Nelson forest region, has been appointed British Columbia's chief forester, Forests Minister Tom Waterland announced Friday. Cuthbert, 46, succeeds Ralph Rob bins who retires April 1 The new chief forester is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, and has been with the Forests Ministry since 1961. new position and the Castlegar District Teachers’ Association, “asking for access to the board in order to make a presentation on a needs budget,” Smecher said. In order that every group in the district had access to the board, an afternoon was set aside to give groups an opportunity to make a presentation. The board heard presentations from parents groups from Twin Rivers and Castlegar Primary; Kinnaird Elemen tary and Valley Vista; Ootischenia; Sil ver Birch; Robson, Pass Creek; Tarrys and Shoreacres; Blueberry Creek; and Woodland Park. The District Parents Group also made a presentation as did parents of students in the Russian Immersion program. The CDTA and the Canadian Union of Public Employees local also spoke to the board. Smecher said she was “ with the quality of the p She was equally impressed with the knowledge the people making the presentations had about what is going on in education. “All (the presentations) will have a definite impact on the joint submission sent to the ministry,” Smecher said “They are going to make a loud state. ment in that joint submission.” The board and the CDTA are planning to send a joint submission to the Ministry of Education, stating its opposition to government cutbacks in education. The CUPE local is also planning to participate in the joint submission. Smecher said that most of the groups wanted the board to submit a needs budget, as well as a budget which followed ministry guidelines. The B.C. School Trustees’ Associ- ation, at a joint meeting in Vancouver on Sunday passed a motion urging every local school board to submit a March 15 budget that reflects the educational needs of the district. But Smecher said she personally has a problem supporting a motion recom mending submitting only a needs bud- get “But a needs as well as compliance would keep me within the confines of the law,” she said. “If the majority of boards in the province will make a statement to the minister . . . if he doesn't recognize this as a reaction from the province, then he is listening to a very selective polling procedure,” Smecher said. “I imagine boards would have to expect that there would be some repercussions (in submitting a needs budget),” she said, li: g elimination of the board as an example. Although Smecher admitted that most people from whom the board heard wanted a needs budget, she noted that there are still a large number of taxpayers from whom the board has not heard and doesn't have access to. continued on page A2 RCMP charge man with armed robbery By RON NORMAN Editor It didn’t take Castlegar RCMP long to make an arrest in the Wednesday morning armed robbery at the Mohawk gas station at 1415 Columbia Ave. Police charged Mark Andrew Mere dith, 17, of Rossland in connection with the incident. Meredith appeared in Nelson provincial court Thursday afternoon He was released on his own recog nizance and will appear in Castlegar provincial court March 19 RCMP Sgt. Wes Guymer said police made the arrest less than 24 hours after the robbery. The suspect was stopped by police while driving a white pickup truck along Columbia Ave., Wednesday afternoon, Guymer said Police also retrieved a sawed off shotgun from the vehicle Meredith faces five charges, includ. ing armed robbery, committing an indictable offence while his face was masked, two counts of possession of stolen property, one count of posses sion of a prohibited weapon and unlaw fully using a firearm while committing an armed robbery Guymer said police recovered all the money stolen in the 1.a.m. Wednesday robbery. He said the amount was less than $100