A4 September 21, 1986 o ESTABLISHED AUG mMCORPOGA TWO Toe st WHEE BOR PUBLIIONED Mert 12197 AUG 1? 1960 PUBLISHER AUG 7 1947 F688 13.1975 OFFICE MANAGER — — Linda terieta ADVERTISING MANAGE! CIRCULATION MANAGER TWICE WEERLY MAY 4 1980 Parents still bitter The surprising thing about this weeks controversy over the so called ‘locked-door policy’ at Castlegar primary school is not that students are reportedly forced to play outside until school starts (In tact, a follow-up report reveals that children are forced to remain outside the school no more than 10 of 15 minutes and then only on nice days. Otherwise the school remains open) Rather, its the parents reaction to having their children play out- side betore school Have those same parents torgot- ten what it was like tor them 15, 20 and 25 years ago? In those days children arrived at school early to meet triends and play on the school grounds. Who doesn't remember playing tag or what have-you betor®@ school? It is also interesting that when the children were asked if they wanted to move inside to get out of the rain, they refused. But when parents were asked about how their children felt about playing outside, reporters were told that the children really couldnt know what is best for them It's a strange world when we come to expect everything to run pertectly. We expect our school bus system to deliver all of the students to their schools minutes before classes start. But we dont want it to cost any more And if the school buses can't meet our expectations, then we want teachers to arrive early to babysit our children. It would make more sense for parents to supervise their own children But is the point of this controver sy really bus schedules, school starting times and locked doors? Isn't it odd that the only group of parents to voice their concerns are those whose children were attec ted by the closure of the four rural schools. Could the controversy be just a vehicle for disgruntled parents? It's all too apparent that the parents who make up the Castlegar Society for Quality Education are still bitter about losing their rural schools. And it seems they have decided to try to make Castlegar school board's lite as miserable as possible Why else would the society reject an invitation trom the board to participate in a special commit- tee that will present a briet to the province on the effects of restraint on rural schools? If the society really wants to live up to- its name, it would do whatever is necessary to help provide quality education in this district including taking part on that special committee. It's time to put the bitterness aside and do what's best for the students Ron Norman Mayor Audrey Moore's decision Saturday to grab for the brass ring and seek the Rossland-Trail Social Credit party nomination really adds a whole new dimension to the race Many have suspected Moore of having Socred sympathies, but she has been careful to cloak them during her nine years in the mayor's chair By coming out of the closet Moore gives the local Social Credit a legitimacy it never quite had before regardless whether or not she wins. She provides a new face for Socreds to parade to Rossland-Trail voters and that helps to bolster the image that the Social Credit party under Premier Bill Vander Zalm is not the same party that Premier Bill Bennett led for the last decade But contrary to what some pundits are saying, Moore does not immediately take over the tag of odds-on favorite to take the nomina tion. Longtime Socred Ted Goodman touches on one of the reasons in his news release supporting Castlegar News publisher Burt Campbell. Goodman points out — none too subtly that Moore is relatively new to the Social Credit party — her membership card is barely two months old. There's been talk among staunch Socreds that she hasn't yet paid her dues Moore faces another difficutty While she is probably better known han any politician in Castlegar, hat’s not true in Trail, Rossland and Fruitvale. Like Mayor Chuck Lakes—another candidate—who is closely linked to Trail, Moore is inevitably connected to Castlegar, which could be a disadvantage. On the other hand, Moore is the consummate politician. She works hard and always does her home. work. When she said she had to “research” before deciding whether or not to run, you can bet she took a thoroughly accurate reading of the water before plunging in. Presumably, the water must be just fine or she wouldn't be running complete some Ivs_ also apparent Campbell knows who presents the stiffest opposition — thus the Goodman comments Campbell must also be viewed as another favorite, and I don't just say that because he happens to be the publisher of this paper. He's a former MLA who has been away from politics long enough to appear fresh on the scene, yet he has experience something like Vander Zalm In addition, he brings the same thoroughness and attention to detail to his campaign for which he is so well known among those at all familiar with him He has already lined up some impressive support among local Socreds — and that, after ail, is the support that counts on Sept. 29 at the nomination meeting Some say perhaps his biggest drawback is that he lacks Moore's charisma. As well, he may carry some political baggage from those previous campaigns The real winner in all this is of course the Rossiand-Trail Socred constituency. It is shaping up to be a real horserace for the first time in memory And not only are there some strong contenders, but they can look forward to riding on the coattails of a hugely popular premier The only better scenerio would have been if Marc Marcolin had decided to run Unemployed need ‘deal Giving Westar ‘limber’s Southern Wood Products employees a 30 per cent discount on any program offered by the Regional Recreation Com mission is very commendable I notice the cost of my program has increased from $20 to $25 per session. Is this to help defray the 10 per cent ri donation the recreation commission is making? How about a “deal” for the unem ployed who still pay taxes to support our regional recreation? R. Parfeniuk Castlegar Letters to the Editor Castlegar can do better I wish to express my concern with the apathy our community showed towards the Terry Fox Run last Sun day. Our department, in cooperation with the Cancer Society of Castlegar, sponsored the local run and received the support of 77 participants. This result represents less than 1.2 per cent of the city population or .6 per cent of the area population. These figures in themselves are discouraging and even more so when you consider the community of Genelle had 40 partici pants. Please address all Letters to the Editor to: The Castlegar News, P.O. Box 3007, Castlegar, B.C. VIN 3H4, or deliver them to our office at: 197 Columbia Castlegar, B.C Avenue Letters must be signed and in clude the writer's full name and address. Only in very exceptional cases will letters be published without the writer's name. Never theless, the name and address of the writer must be disclosed to the editor The Castlegar News reserves the right to edit letters for brevity. clarity, legality and grammar Where Any day now the B.C. Utilities Com mission will set hearings into the Utili corp takeover of West Kootenay Power and Light Co. At the very least Trail, Nelson, Penticton and Kelowna should be designated hearing locations Over a year ago Cominco announced the sale of all holdings not essential to mining and finished production of lead. zine, silver and fertilizers. Until the Utilicorp annogpcement, no one asked for government guidelines, let alone rules, as to Mcceptable Accordingly, rapid Cominco interéSts in Fording Coal, Con Mine, Pine Point Mines, Western Can ada Steel, and West Kootenay Power were sold by arbitrary corporate de cision. The Brilliant and Waneta dams were retained by Cominco as essential for the survival of industry in Trail and Kimberley Where do we go from here? The pur chase price cannot be rolled into rates. The Commission is firm on this. What about exports? One of the enduring myths about West Kootenay Power is that it has excess capacity and exports electricity Not so. Cominco does have a surplus but is allowed by the National Energy Board to export power only when it is extra to WKPL's requirements. In fact West Kootenay Power can generate purchasers succession, only 65 per cent of its customers’ power needs. The rest is bought from Cominco (32 per cent) and B.C. Hydro (three per cent) with the remaining 65 per cent generated at the familiar plants on the Kootenay River, Corra Lynn, Upper and Lower Bonnington. and South Slocan. No room for exports there Can or should this energy depend ancy on Cominco and Hydro be re duced? Not unless new generating cap acity is built at Waneta, Brilliant, or at one or more of several small hydro or gas turbine sites. This potential ex The Terry Fox run itself is a national event whereby Canadians have the opportunity to show their gratitude to a national hero who undertook a challenge that most healthy individuals would never consider. As well, it is an opportunity for Canadians to keep Terry's dream of finding a cure for cancer alive by pledging monies which go directly into research. The run in Castlegar was well publicized with articles in the local paper, continous announcements on the local radio station, posters throughout Selkirk College and the local schools as well as national ads appearing on the Canadian TV stations. A lack of aware ness of the event cannot be a reason for non-participation. Let’s talk I think it's time we started talking about rainbows! Last evening (Sept. 16) was one of those spectacular rainbows that I would wager is un beatable for sheer magnificence The rainbow was caused by light passing through rain falling between Castlegar and Syringa. The streaming light of the setting sun passing through curtains of rain projected a full-bowed rainbow over Brilliant The major bow contained five repeating bows within its arc causing a “tunnel” effect. Further, the intensity of the display caused a relection up A young Canadian gave his life to make a better world for so many, yet we cannot give one or two hours per year to help fulfill his dream. For those few that did participate we certainly appreciate the support and your ability to raise in excess of $1,800. To the 25 high school students in the 1987 graduating class, a job well done in raising $926.75. Also to MLA Chris D'Arcy who ran in the Trail run at 8 a.m. and then here in Castlegar at 11 a.m. and provided a substantial dona tion. Castlegar, I would like to think we can do better. P. Metge Director of Recreation rainbows ward resulting in a reverse rainbow or mirror image. The mirror image showed an inverted bow with the spectrum reversed, that is the red was on the outside edge of the bow I have seen three or four of these rainbows every year during summer and early fall. One I recall displayed eight repeating rainbows. I think it's time to claim that Castle gar is the city of the perfect rainbow display; a place for the Irish to visit Colin Pryce Castlegar More letters, AS to from here? D’‘Arcy Report By CHRIS D'ARCY Rossland-Trail MLA pansion will provide much needed con: struction and operating jobs. It would cost money and impact on rates, but would also reduce expenditure on pur chased power, now running at better than 20 cents on the dollar and rising fast Will Victoria halt the sale by legis lative action? Possible, but not likely In 1961 the Socreds expropriated the then B.C. Blectric Co., merged it with the Power Commission, and presto, B.C. Hydro was formed. Now 25 years old and $10 billion in debt, Hydro is hardly a political asset of government especially to WKPL customers. As in 1961, expropiation appears to be Victoria's main option to halt the sale, but one they are unlikely to use. Thank heaven for small mercies. Hydro ownership would mean higher rates and job losses in Trail as WKPL staff would be centralized in Vancouver and Vernon What about the future? West Koote nay Power will become more aggres sive at marketing and developing new energy sources within the Kootenay Okanagan service area. This will bring at least a smattering (date we hope for more?) of jobs and development that would not otherwise be here. Will rates go up? Yes. They are anyway. The reat question is, will rates go up faster than they would have under the paternalistic ownership of Canadian Pacific and Cominco? The jury is out on that one, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Right now B.C. Hydro customers pay 400 per cent more in interest charges than we do on the West Kootenay Power system. That's right — 50 cents of every dollar goes for interest right off the top for that $10 billion debt. For West Kootenay bill payers, the figure is 12.5 cents on the dollar in interest charges. As long as Utilicorp doesn’t mort gage away WKPL’s enviable debt equity ratio, they should get along quite nicely. As under Cominco, the rate watchdogs will have to be the Utilities Commission, elected repre sentatives, and you the public. Lest we forget, the water in the Kootenay River is a public resource. West Kootenay Power — under any owner _must use that resource carefully Remember The rising tide of interest in Al berta's Social Credit government was evidenced at a Coronation hall meeting last week. A surprisingly large gath ering was addressed by J.H. Black more, Social Credit member of parlia ment from Lethbridge, Alta. Mr. Blackmore delved deeply into the workings of Social Credit both in theory and in practice. He believed that British Columbia would do very well under a Social Credit government. . . The Vancouver Sun in a newspage story Friday said that Columbia Cellu lose Company survey parties are de lighted with good stands of hemlock, spruce and cedar in the Arrow Lakes area. The surveyors are cruising the lake inspecting timber that will be used for the proposed $75,000,000 pulp and newsprint plant at Castlegar. . 8 @ The Cubs were knocked out of the playoffs Monday evening when they went down to defeat 6-1 at the hands of the Shaver's Bench Outlaws. The Bench boys will now meet the Trail Hotel Giants for the league title. 25 YEARS AGO From the Sept. 21, 1961 Castlegar News Plans for the West Kootenay Tea chers' Convention being held this year in Castlegar are nearing completion. The Chant Report which has caused much reorganization of British Colum bia’s educational system will be the main topic of Dean Scarfe's address to a public meeting at SHSS on Oct. 20. 7. 6 8 Kinnaird will not send a delegate to a meeting on Oct. 3 at Oliver between the provincial cabinet and those com munities concerned about the proposed buyodt of the WKP & L Co. However, the village will write the City of Trail informing it that Kinnaird backs that city in any representations it makes concerning assurances wanted that rate increases will not result from the proposed buyout a Two Castlegar men were elected to the executive of the Rossland-Trail Social Credit Association when that organization held its annual constit uency meeting last Thursday evening at Rossland. Burt Campbell was re-elected presi dent of the association while Earl Greep of Castlegar was named vice president 15 YEARS AGO From the Sept. 23, 1971 Castlegar News Acquisition of a block of 24 acres in Kinnaird for possible use as a civic centre has moved one step closer with the involvement of the Department of Lands in the negotiating arena Buy Mayor Maddocks points out everything is still in the future, and much depends on the problems of amalgamation. * 2© « The first results of the 1971 census of Canada has shown several communities in this area have had a drop in popu lation since 1966. Figures released this past week by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Commerce in Ottawa show that Castlegar in 1966 had a population of 3,440 while this year it is 3,068. A similar trend is shown by Kinnaird which in 1966 had 2,869 to 2,838 at time of census taking. . . L.V. Campbell, Castlegar News publisher, has retired from active involvement in the day-to-day opera tions of the newspaper Castlegar News editor Burt Camp bell has been appointed manager of the newspaper 5 YEARS AGO From the Sept. 20, 1981 Castlegar News A petition arguing that Cominco must be allowed to control its low cost power if it is to remain a viable operation providing a large percentage of the West and East Kootenay labor force with jobs gained significant support Saturday Ernest LeRose, spokesman for a group of area residents supporting Cominco's application to the B.C. Utili ties Commission that the company be exempted from the Utilities Com mission Act, said Saturday that the petition received tremendous support when petitioners circulated throughout downtown Trail during Cominco's 75th anniversary parade . 2 « Students and instructors at Selkirk College were urged Tuesday by Pro gressive Conservative MP Flora Mac Donald to join other people in Canadian post-secondary education in objecting to federal government plans to slash contributions to cost sharing agree ments with the provinces. MacDonald made her remarks during a public forum at Selkirk's Castlegar campus. She was in the area as part of a speaking tour MORE LETTERS Kristiansen case for sanctions destroyed I read with interest a letter pub lished recently in your paper written by Lyle Kristiansen, president of the Kootenay West New Democrats, re- garding comments about South Africa which I made during an interview with another publication. When you cut through the super- fluous rhetoric of Mr. Kristiansen's letter, it does express a fair and demo- cratic viewpoint shared by many. The credibility of Mr. Kristiansen's argu- ment is unfortunately destroyed, how- ever, when he wrongly equates the position I have taken, with that taken by such convicted racists as Ernst Zundel and Jim Keegstra. I suggest to Mr. Kristiansen that if he were to examine the issue a little more closely and carefully, he would find that there is opposition to full- scale economic’ jsanctions against South ty Africa in circles other than those which he chooses to identify. For Mr. Kris- tiansen’s benefit, I offer the following excerpt from a speech given recently in Toronto: “There are something like 24 million black South Africans, over half of whom are 15 years and younger. There is a huge population bulge moving -— the marketplace bgt will soon at houses, hundreds of ewnnte of jobs, and who will be demanding a vast increase in educational, social, health and welfare services. “All reality tells me that we des perately need to maximize the growth rate of the South African economy, starting right now as a matter of grave urgency if a whole new generation of black South Africans are not going to live in poverty more abject than we have known thus far. “In times of economic growth, black trated middie class generates potent forces and it is f absolutely true that the South African economy is now almost entirely dependent on the black middle class. “Economie stagnation reduces that potency and that is one of the reasons why those who are committed to violence campaign 80 vigorously for a. They do not want to see progress thi rough negotiation. They do not want sega see progress through democratic opposition. “If South Africa is heading towards becoming a modern democratic in dustrial state, disinvestment strategies on the part of the west which will reduce econonii¢ growth are sheer madness. “Blacks simply do not accept dis. investment as a strategy of their choice. The masses of black South Africans tell me so.” govern- ment of Canada, and it is one that I firmly support. I believe that I am correct in saying that Mr. Kristiansen and I share the same basic view in that we abhor apartheid and wish to see it dis mantled. It is the process for Feaching that end which is a matter for debate. desired result. I sincerely hope they do. However, I fear that as resources in opportunities for blacks in all Southern African nations would be wiped out. I fear that the resulting scenario would not be unlike that which we witnessed with horror recently in Ethiopia. We cannot expect apartheid to disappear overnight. A system that has been built up over a number of years is going to take a number of years to Those are the words of hu Gatsha Buthelezi, chief of the South African Zulus, by far the largest con tingent of South Africa's blacks, numbering 5.7 million. The government of Canada is totally opposed to the South African policy of apartheid. Canada favors unrelenting pressures on South Africa to change unjust laws based on racial segre le. Change is oc- curring in South Africa, but it is gradual and fragile. It is not occurring fast enough, but then it never could. Pressure is to promote change, but it must promote negotia- tion, not confrontation. Bob Brisco, D.C., M-P. Kootenay West FURNITURE WAREHOUSE Tues.-Sat., 9:30-5:30 China Creek “Drive a Little to Save a Lot” Hl ARROW BEER & WINE STORE Open Every Day Til Christmas Eve HOURS: MONDAY - SATURDAY crag nem. SUNDAYS — 11 A.M. Large Selection of B.C.'s Wine & Beer © ELEGANT GLASSWARE © CHILLED WINES ¢ COLD BEER © MUNCHIES © T-SHIRTS & HATS 651 - 18th St., Castlegar neglected to do that in your CasNews told only one side Usually, your newspaper sponse. The first point is that story” anywhere in her let reports both sides of the Mrs. Johnson does not indi- story. For some reason you cate “the other side of the SAFEWAY More than ever, it makes sense to shop SAFEWAY! . story about Castlegar pri mary school in the Sept. 17 edition. I suppose that you did not attempt to contact the school, the board office or even a school trustee because you knew that you may have to print the truth Your decision to print one side of the story, undisputed, was nothing short of sen sationalism. Many people worked hard to address the concerns of Castlegar primary school parents. I'm sure they would have been readily available to give you the facts. In another section of the article you negate some very important information. The board committee you refer to is being struck to address the plight of the small rural elementary school in B.C. and to present the information to the Ministry of Education. We had hoped that a repre sentative from this newly formed parent group would give their particular insight to the project You made it sound like the board is farming yet another committee to protest re straint. What you failed to point out is this very valuable committee may very well present their findings to a Royal Commission on Edu cation. Again, a sithple tele phone call would have pro vided you with that infor mation The committee will con tinue its work without that parent group representative Schools in the district will continue to keep their doors open to educate our kids. But the question is: “Will your newspaper continue to provide one-sided coverage of important issues?” Kay Johnson school trustee Editor's note: It is the policy of this newspaper not to reply to letters to the editor except to correct ob- vious factual errors. This paper believes our readers are entitled to state their qinions unencumbered by editorial comment. It is un fair for the editor to be in the position of always having the last word However, the above letter demands some sort of re ter. The article in question reported about parents’ com- plaints that their children have to wait outside Castle- gar primary school. That issue is not addressed here. Secondly, her comment that the CasNews did not contact the school board or a trustee because it knew it would have to print the truth is patently false. The paper covered an open meeting of a parents’ society, reporting fairly and accurately what was said — just as it does when it covers Castlegar school board meetings. And just as at school board meetings, the paper does not always have the time to contact parents, teachers and others concerned about edu cation for comments. There have been instances where the paper has reported com ments from trustees without checking with parents or teachers to see if they agreed with the comments. There were no complaints about the practice at that time. In an ideal world everyone involved in an issue would be contacted and every com ment and opinion would be countered by opinions from others. However, in the real world of news deadlines it's not always possible to con tact everyone. In any case, the parents comments were viewed as a response to the school dis. trict's decision to change the bus schedule and the start of school at Castlegar primary which were\reported in an earlier story. In that sense, they rounded out the story Finally, Mrs. Johnson poses the question: “Will your newspaper continue to provided one-sided coverage of important issues?” This paper has been ac cused on many things, but one-sided coverage hasn't been one of them. We believe we have presented balanced reports on very emotional issues, presenting both the board's and the parents’ views accurately and fairly E FOR A CHECKUP. ‘Fresh Pasta Oliveri’s. Spinach or Egg. Spaghetti, Linguine or Fettuccine. 450 g Pkg Fresh B.C. CARROTS & ONIONS B.C. Grown No. | Grade ie 1.49 )2.1.49 Lucerne Eggs | Small, Canada Grade A white sday morning, 9:30 tecostal Church. Wee WEE COLLEGE For Four and Five Year Olds Will be held from October to April every Thur 11:30 at the Castlegar Pen- teresting Bible oriented Kindergarten Course FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL MRS. 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