F October 18 1995 OPINION WU The Gastidgar Sun AS Serving the 16,900 people of the Castlegar area, The Castlegar Sun is every by Sterling Lid, at 465 Columbia Ave. Castlegar, B.C. V1N 1G8. The Castlegar Sun is polit cally independent and a member of the Sterling News Service, Cana dian C y sA , 8.6.6 y Newspapers Assocation, and the B.C. Press Council. Established 28, 1990 Mail 10420. PUBLISHER MARILYN STRONG TRENT BANCARZ CHRISTINE MOYER EDITOR PRODUCTION MANAGER KAREN KERKHOFF GARY SCHNEIDER REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER PRO! DUCTION ASSISTANT JEFF GABERT CATHERINE ROSS SPORTS REP. MARGE LALONDE NICOLE BEETSTRA OFFICE/CIRCULATION MANAGER, ADVERTISING REP. FRED JACK CARI DOLGOPOL CLASSIFIED ADS ADVERTISING REP. Direct Department Phones General Office ++++- 965-5266 Circulation Classified Ads Display Advertising editorial comment Our call! This thumbs up, thumbs down column seems to be on the positive side this week. Enjoy it readers, because as you well know this isn't always the case! However, it's nice to be able to report good news Thumbs up to the Ministry of Lands and Parks for having the foresight to have the recently poached Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep ram’s head mounted at Fort Steele Although most of us prefer to see a ram’s head attached to a moving body, it’s nice to know that this world-record ram won't go to waste in To all of the individuals who have worked endlessly to ensure that the Ministry of Health's Closer to Home initiative is as pain- less as can be. Most of the board members have donated their time and haven't been paid for all their efforts. Way to go! in To the RCMP for taking advantage of corpo- rate passes at the Castlegar Arena Complex Even though they’re not required to do so, Castlegar’s finest spend many lunch hours stay- ing in shape so that they might serve us better. To all the Pass Creek parents who took their time to survey. the area to find out if, in fact, there are enough children to re-open Pass Creek School. There has been a lot of effort made towards gathering information and band- ing together to ensure that their bid to re-open the school has a good chance. ig tp To the person who threw a beer bottle through an RCMP vehicle window. You might have fun doing it, but it’s us taxpayers in the end who have to pay the $750 tab To Pat Picton who offered to buy a local boy a brand new 10-speed bike after the boy’s was stolen. It’s good to know that caring and good- will still flourish. To the many businesses and individuals who have donated so generously towards seeing the Stoodley home in Pass Creek being completed after owner James Stoodley died while attempt- ing to do so. Castlegar is a bedutiful place to i> te NEWS ITEM: CASTLEGAR CITY Comal ABostT TO GET TOUGH WITH LDP PARKIOG TICKET ~ HoLbers ... COONULMAN ARMBRUSTER ?! I Hw He GeaTLEMmend Yoo'Vve WIRED TD LOOK AFTER UDPAID PARKINIK FINES PRE VERS ?!... Mi MN SER Lie Good media has to deliver bad news too Now that the Simpson trial is over and the world is-recovering from the most media cov- ered event ever—an event by the way which had more viewers than the John F. Kennedy funeral—armchair critics are coming out of the woodwork. By far one of the most common critiques throughout the trial and_its rebounding after- math has been the media’s Participation in “the trial of the century”. While I think the world has had enough of what I call the American tra’ esty of justice, me included, I couldn't help but reflect upon the media's influence upon the trial and the people who watched it. To tell you the truth I’m sick of media bashing. Talking with my brother who in lives in Seattle, and who is an O.J Simpson trial Junkie, he spoke disparagingly of “the media”. I was insulted, as I always am when the words “the media” or “the press” is spoken with obvious disdain. I quickly set him Straight about the role the media plays in everyday society. It seems we're all lumped together, good and bad alike, much the way that all teens are labeled as being delinquent, or the elderly as being senile. We're seen as camera toting, poi- son-pen writing ghouls. That's simply not true. Tt seems that people view us in ways that suit them best at the moment, and seldom reflect upon our true roles—especially that of the media in a smaller community such as Castlegar. Our job is to cover the news—and that means both good and bad news. And news, in a small city, is much the same as news in a larger city, but on a smaller scale Good news is always welcomed, clubs and organizations know that. Their good deeds, such as donating money or helping those in need, are as much a part of a communi- ty paper as other types of news. It's a staple of a com- munity paper. We know it, they know it, and our readers know it But unfortunately we also have to cover “bad” news. We have a job to do. Many times it’s a job we don’t want to do. I remember when I first started at The Castlegar Sun. 1 was about as green as you can get. One of the first pictures I was sent to take was that of a fire in South Castlegar. When I arrived at the scene my heart was pounding and my mouth was dry. This was the day I was going to prove myself to the other seasoned staff. Panning with my camera I took a picture of smoke furling out of the house, firefighters readying gear, and of the fire chief directing volunteers Looking AN INSIDE LOOK KAREN KERKHOFF around I saw the picture of a lifetime—the owner of the house was standing not 20 feet away from me. With tears streaming down her cheeks. her eyes widened in shock and being hel closely by a neighbor I knew without a doubt that was the picture the editor, and let's be truthful, our readers wanted. But somehow I just couldn't put my finger to the camera for that shot When I returned to The Sun I told the editor. and photographer about the chance I threw away. Although I received some joking com- ments, I know that they truly understood what happened that day. After all, they were green once too. 2 Three years later I no longer refuse to take those types of pictures. That doesn’t mean I’m calloused, unfeeling, or hardened. Nor are my fellow employees. Those types of pictures are stil difficult to take. It’s hard for all of us in the newsroom and that will never change There's been many times that we’ve been stunned by deaths or other heartbreaking news in the community. But being a good reporter means bringing all the news to the community, both “good” and “bad” The difference between bad media, and eth- ical media is ly quite simple. Bad media covers bad news because it’s sensational Good media covers bad news because that's part of the job. We at The Castlegar Sun like to think we're doing our jobs well. Speaker’s Corner Question: Was justice served LEGISL AT TVF |) TRRopY Wednesday, October 18, 1995 Dear Editor: I have watched the debate over the so-called “Singing Forest” Since it’s beginnings. It strikes me that the rhetoric used by the proponents of this proposal fol- lows exactly the format used by the environmental movement since the first park was proposed by an environmental group. Specifically, I am referring to the practice of speaking about the current proposal—wherever it is—in isolation of the existing parks in the immediate vicinity. The “singing forest” is an excel- lent case in point. Here we have the Western Canada Wilderness a . Pgs ‘i Significance of the 600+ hectare patch of BC all of which leads the uneducated observer to believe that the “singing forest” is the last remnant of its type in the province. The reality of the situation is that if you draw a circle on a map with the singing forest as its centre and a radius of SOKM, contained ‘within that circle will be over three hundred th d See Plenty of trees in "Singing Forest' drainage's are thousands of hectares and both of them have never been logged with the result that both of them contain tens of thousands of hectares of forest exactly like the “singing forest”, As an individual who sat at the CORE table for 18 months committed to the concept of set- ling aside a representative 12% hectares of old growth forest that has never seen a road much less a chain saw, Specifically, 1 am referring to the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy and the newly created White Grizzly 8 to have tree ring counters go into the singing forest and age the trees, we have all sorts of rhetoric in all forms of media about the Forestry Dear Editor: The Association of BC Profes- sional Foresters regards the recently released report by Price Waterhouse, Analysis of Recent British Columbia Government Forest Policy and Land Use Ini- tiatives, as a timely review of public forest policy in British Columbia. The report contributed valuable research and analysis to the public debate on forest policy. This report addresses a serious issue that professional foresters currently face; meeting the pub- lic’s diverse expectations for a variety of benefits from public forests. the polarized debate over the Alliance report has focused mainly on the economic compo- nent of certain forest resource values and does not recognize that many recent forest policy changes are helping to protect forest ecosystems and increase environmental benefits from BC forests. The Association cautions British Columbians that reduc- tions in, and constraint on, the Wi . The Purcell Wilder- ness Conservancy, on its western slopes contains two major drainage’s in Fry Creek and Car- ney Creek. Both of these pling of the major biogco- climactic zones in the West Kootenays I have to ask. Was I wrong? Did I spend eighteen months negotiating under a false impression? It would appear that some of the sectors at the CORE table were under the impression that we were negoti- ating to save every last old growth tree in the known world and with the failure of the CORE process to do so are now embarking on a campaign to do exactly that Now, I realize full well that this will create a firestorm of Protest from the environmental movement, but all 1 want is the answer to one very simple ques- tion Is there a point—short of 100%—at which we can expect the environmental movement to Say “We now have enough of the Provincial old growth set aside’”? If we ever hear that statement, we the rural communities of BC will finally be able to start plan- ning with a degree of confidence for our futures based on the working land base that remains! E.E. (Al) Beix Chairman - ShareBC Kaslo, BC report valuable - Foresters commercial forest land base can be expected to reduce the eco- nomic potential of the forest sec- tor. While forests can: produce a variety of commodities and pro- tect a range of values depending on the forest policy in place at the time, trade-offs are inevitable. This is key point made by the report and should not be lost in the uproar. The ABCPF recognizes the valuable contribution this report has made to better public under- standing of provincial forest poli- cy. Public debate about forest Policy needs to consider the full range of impacts resulting from differing choices among available forest resource values. This debate is vital if British Columbia's forest policy is to reflect the informed will of its cit- izens. The Association of BC Profes- sional Foresters is the provincial body that licenses, regulates and disciplines individuals practicing professional forestry in British Columbia. It represents over Reader asks for drawing Dear Editor: Over the Thanksgiving weekend I received a re estate flyer that had in it an artist's impression of a yet to be built condo complex, off llth Avenue, and a yet to be built shopping plaza, off Columbia Avenue. The rear of the condos will, it seems, be overlooking the roof tops of the plaza. May I ask, through this newspaper, for Southcentre Realty Ltd. to publish an artist's impression of the plaza and the rear of the condos, both on the same picture, as they will be seen from Columbia Ave John Gibson Castlegar FIND IT IN THE CLASSIFIEDS Coming to Castlegar October 25th, a 1995 p 3000 Registered Professiénal Foresters employed in govern- ment, industry, consulting and academia. Trudy Standidge E.V. Scoffield, RP. F. Executive Director Assoc. of B.C. Professional Foresters | SERVICES is pleased to welcome Trudy Standidge of 223. Bookkeeping to their team. Trudy has taken over the bookkeeping, word processing, resume preparation, photocopying, faxing, binding and income tax services. She is looking forward to Providing her customers these services & more. Please give Trudy a call to discuss your needs. : x 123 BOOKKEEPING ¢ 1402 Columbia Ave. ¢ 365-096 DR. BRIAN GORMAN /s pleased to announce the relocation of his dental practice to: 2024 COLUMBIA AVENUE beside the new Canadian Tire Store Telephone: 365-2424 NEW PATIENTS WELCOME WEST KOOTENAY KABS ANNOUNCEMENT We would like the public to know that the news release which was given to the Press and radio by the police erroneously stated that the driver was on duty when, ‘in fact, he was not. Even though he was not on duty, he is no longer employed by West Kootenay Kabs. We hope that our customers will continue to use our taxi service in the future. If the Public has any questions about this incident please contact us at 365-0666. Thank you of West K y Kabs You are cordially invited to attend The City of Castlegar DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION GRAND OPENING Wednesday, October 25, 1995 2:00 pm In-front of the Castlegar City Hall 460 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar Refreshments will be served in the Portuguese Social Centre, 421 - 13th Avenue, Castlegar, B.C. The Castlegar R.C.M. Police will be holding an Open House following the Reception four years Guaranteed to perk your interest. Once again we're offering our four year term deposit that has a double difference First, a.great guaranteed rate That means you'll receive no less than 6.875% for Secondly, your interest Best of all, your money stays here in the Kootenays, helping people like you finance their dreams And, unlike the banks and trust companies, we share our profits with all our customers live, thanks to individuals like these Castlegar student Tamara Terry is pounding the pavement in search of answers to questions that correspond with news stories that have appeared in The Castlegar Sun. If you see Tamara, it could be your opportunity to appear in Speaker's Corner, which is published each week could go up! We're linking So the more busines CANADIAN TIRE in the O.J. verdict? To the City of Castlegar for their persistence this deposit to our mortgage you do with us, the more in seeing that three street lights are erected at the Columbia Ave Robson-Castlegar Bridge Junction, The black hole that exists there was waiting to swallow up its first victim. Now we can all rest easier rates, so if those rates rise we'll share with you in yours will too. They go Drop by today and ask us up, your interest goes up about our four-year term They drop down, your deposit. Its a great way to get Interest stays put at 6.875% CANADA'S Tire Store Come to us first for all your tire needs. We carry high quality tires made by the leading North American manufacturers We've got you covered with premium all-season radials, wet weather and high performance tires as well as quality light truck tres Watch for our 10 - page Grand Opening Flyer. Come celebrate - Canadian Tire comes to the Kootenays. Wednesday Oct. 25 - Saturday Oct. 28, 1995 2000 Columbia Ave. There's A Lot More To Canadian Tire For A Lot Less.* J Trail ¢ Fruitvale * Castlegar * Salmo « South Slocan « Ne your money working for you. But Our four-year term deposit could also you'd better get it while it’s hot. Because be included in your RRSPs and RRIFs Kootenay Savings Where You Belong its only available for a limited time ERRORS I think the @ advertiser agrees that the publisher > Justice was not served \bsolutely, there was. Even if he didnt com to much evidence por mit the murders him traving a setup, When self, he was involved Besides, last time | vould kill Someone and checked wife beatine leave behind bloody was a crime. gloves — Nate Kemp I don't think justice was served. Too many Justice was the last thing served. The whok: case Was a media circus Where the kiw: took sec ond place to publicny. It dict decision lot a guy guilty as sin go — Patti Hamelin tree i verdict speaks for itself. He was an innocent man ot errors in racial issues bent the amount paid for the space actuall advertisement in which the error occ to the neghgence of its servants or otherwise all be no liability for non-insertion of any advert nd the amount Paid for such advertisement. All advertising subject to publisher's approval. Contracts must be completed within one year trom contract date. No contingent orders accepted tion of the who would not have ou think about, who case and jury, result risked all he had to kill his wife urred, whe error ts due and there ing in a to0-soon-ver _ *, Nakusp e w Denver e¢ Wanet: — Charmaine Garay usp © New Denve aneta — Laura Richardson ' i