SPORTS Busincs> Coaching coaches—tips for helping athletes give it all Kootenay coaching conference highlights/9A WEDNESDAY June 3, 1992 Friendly talks will resume soon/3A The Castlegar Su Successful local business | proof of positive thinking Dealership recently picks up prestigious award/5B MIXED Weather 3A Vol. 2- No. 27 ‘Leading the way in supporting local business’ 75 Cents + G.S.T. Minister wields heavy broom on college board JASON KEENAN Sun staff The former chairman of the Selkirk College Board said last Friday's appointments to the Board are too sweeping. “T am sorry to see such a large scale change,” said Elizabeth Fleet. “The board has always been educationally orientated and I certainly have not sensed dissat- isfaction at the College, nor in the communities of the region,” she added. Eight of the eleven board members have been replaced by Minister of Advanced Education Tom Perry. Five of the eight are long time supporters of the New Democratic Party, one refused to comment, one could not be reached, and the other supports no political party. Fleet said she was disappointed with the size of the change, and the difficulties that might arise from a lack of continuity. “I had hoped to stay with the Selkirk Board for one more year to assist with the transition,” Fleet added. “This was not to be.” Fleet has been appointed to the Open Learning Agency board as ELIZABETH FLEET the Kootenay representative. She will bring nine years of College Board experience (she was chair- man for the last four-and-a-half years) to Open Learning, a provincially based operation which runs the Open University, the Open College, and the Knowledge Network. “I will miss the regular con- tacts with Selkirk students, sup- port _ staff, faculty and administration- they are a won- derful group of people,” she added “I hope that those coming on to the board will enjoy their role... and I hope they will continue to work for the best possible educa- tional opportunities in this Tegion.”” L Other board members who had their appointments terminated last Friday were Judith Campbell, James Gray, David Marshall, Stu Mathieson, Patrick McLaughlin, Harry Sommerville, and James Wood Leo Perra, who reports to the board as Selkirk President, said the change in membership might provide some change in direction Negotiations stopped—strike planned for June 15 SHARLENEIMHOFF Sun Editor Negotiations between the Pulp and Paper Industrial Relations Council and the Pulp and Paper- workers of Canada and the Cana- dian Paperworkers Union officially broke off Friday after- noon, and union officials are preparing for a strike by June 15. Eric Mitterndorfer, president of the industrial relations council, said the latest offer has been pre- sented to the unions, but he expects both to vote against it. “Our understanding is that they've gone home and plan to take a vote on it by June 9. It’s also our understanding that the unions’ position is to reject the offer,” Mitterndorfer said. Mediator Vince Ready has been working with the two side for some time now. Even though mediation has not produced an agreement yet, Mitterndorfer did say the lines of communication were opened some what. “I'm disappointed that we weren't able to conclude. But it takes two to tango.” _Conference on the mound Mitterndorfer said the latest offer on the table would cost the industry employers an extra $44 million in wages and benefits over two years. Currently, the average wage for the 12,000 workers is $20.15 per hour. ~“L have.no.idea where-they' ll find that extra money. The possi- ble is defined by the economics. For the last two years, the eco- nomics have been poor, and things don’t look good.” But PPWC President Stan Shewaga says just the opposite. “All indicators are pointing in @ positive direction. The pulp and paper industry runs on a cycle, things were bad, but they are improving already,” Shewaga said. Two Conflicting reports regard- ing the offer can also be noticed. The PPWC president says the latest offer on the table will likely be voted down by employees. “I expect the vote to be well over 90 per cent against,” he said. “Then, if we don’t get back to the table, you can bet we'll be walking on June 15.” Shewaga says the employers SUN STAFF PHOTO /Jason Keenan Sherri Finch, left, Christina Edvokimoff, and Neva Kootnekoft discuss their strategies for victory. current offer provides for a flat 15-cents raise in the first year, and an 85-cents raise the follow- ing year. “You tell me how that equals $44 million", he asked. “I expect the voted to be well ~over-90 percent against,he said “Then, if we don't get back to the See STRIKE 2A frrg ‘3 \ Sumfe Only 23 days left until Sunfest ’92 for the College. The board oper- ates as a corporate body, and decisions are made by the group. “They may want to change direction a little bit, or a lot,” Perra added. “These new appointments demonstrate the government's ing from the picture. commitment to better reflect the diverse nature of British Columbia on its boards and com- missions,” said Minister Perry in the press release announcing the cuts. Randy Garrison, Perry's minis- terial assistant, said board selec- -NBA wanabees tion is a closed cabinet process. “Because the appointments had to be in by April 30, they had to be selected under the old way,” Garrison said. The NDP govern- ment has promised to review the Process in the next year, to make See SWEEP 2A Enjoying some intense but friendly competition in the parking lot at Kinnaird Mid- dle School are; clockwise from left, David Evdokimoff, Jay Antignani, Garth Vatkin, Josh Salekin and Scott Carlson—the sixth player Shawn Horcoff is miss- SUN STAFF PHOTO / Brendan Halper Locals attend Northport meeting Long-term residents suffering from various illnesses SHARLENE IMHOFF __ Sun Editor Officials from the Central Kootenay Health unit, the Min- istry of Environment, Celgar Pulp mill and Cominco were observers at a recent meeting in Northport, Washi held to discuss sus- Piciously similar illnesses which Sun Staff Rossland-Trail MLA Ed Conroy, along with MLAs from surrounding ridings, are meeting in Victoria today to discuss the American drainage of the Columbia River reser- voirs in order to maintain U.S. water supply. Conroy says there isn't much the MLAs can do except talk about the damage that could potentially be done by the insatiable American thirst for water. “We've been sitting around waiting for a year like this to happen—now it's here,” said Conroy from his Victoria office. Under the Columbia River Treaty, the U.S. has control over the water flow from the Koocanusa reservoir, situated on the Canada-U.S. border at Fer me “It's certainly a serious situ ation and we are concerned,”said B.C. Hydro spokesperson Peter McMullan. Conroy to discuss water tug-of-war ED CONROY Some of the water stored by Hydro in its Columbia River reservoirs is also allocated to the U.S. for its own power needs. McMullen said the Americans are using that stored water faster than it can be replenished. Lower than normal snow- packs in B.C., and the western U.S. have led to a drastic reduction in spring run-off. The run-off in the Columbia See WATER 3A are affecting long-term residents of the area. The meeting, held last week in surprisingly similar. More than 80 people from the Northport/Kettle Falls area the ; the Northport school gy was initiated by the citizens group, Citizens for a Clean Columbia. Also present at the meeting was the Washington State Department of Health, which is planning over the next three months to decide if it's pos- sible the health concerns are linked to Canadian industry— namely Cominco in Trail and 4 think the main reason why we were asked to attend the meeting was so that we could hear their concems first hand.’ — DR. NELSON AMES Central Kootenay Health Unit Celgar in Castlegar. “I think the main reason why were asked to attend the meeting was so that we could hear their concerns first hand,” said Dr. Nelson Ames from the Central Kootenay Health Unit. “I thought g, and talked about the ailments they had been diagnosed with, namely Chromes Disease, colitis, thyroid prob- lems, magnesium poisoning, res- piratory ailments and cancer. One participant in the meeting, Bev Mihalovich, said the meeting was very informative. “It was also very friendly, no one was there to point fingers.” Colville Statesman Examiner reporter, Lorraine Marie, said many of the people who spoke at the meeting, have been living in the area for over 15 years. Long- term residents, she said, seem to have the most severe health prob- lems. “It’s a real concern out here. People have discovered their health problems are amazingly similar to their neighbours’ health problems,” she said. Although the underlying See ILLNESS 3A it was a fascinating opp y to witness community interaction with large agencies.” The American group, Citizens for a Clean Columbia, initiated the meeting after it was made aware, through its own investiga- tions, of illnesses affecting people in the y of which seem For all the local news and sports the Castlegar Sun } 4 ‘