Page 2A awa — SO ee ardinn The Castlegar Sun Protesters claim prejudice KAREN KERKHOFF cy ek : Reformed Sons of Freedom dsiding in the New S are claiming that recent action required before survey of the property can begin. “I know some who have been try- ing to get their land out of Agri- cultiral Land Reserve for years, said sympathizer and son of Mar- ilyn Konkin, Tony Koch. also claim that car- against them by B.C. Lands is out-and-out ‘ In fact, they are appealing to the community at large to ask the alle; se, eethtuy Oo athe of whee services, were. used to coerce residents to purchase the on all proceedings occur until At a press meeting held at New Settlement last week, protesters told media that the cost alone of police action October 4 against them far outweighs the taxes in arrears and thus warrants a public inquiry. “They'll never recover the cost. I have a great deal of sympathy for the taxpayers” said New Set- Perepelkin and others also claim that a portion of the 233.5 acre parce! was taken out of agri- cultural land reserve status in a rapid and covert manner. They chool’s future ill an unknown KAREN KERKHOFF Will he or won't he? That's the question on everyone's minds paid their taxes the service was disconnected. And when they continued to refuse to pay taxes they say gov- ernment officials found other cre- ative ways to recover the money. One resident, Elsie Erickson, who is the sole provider for her family and whose husband is ill with heart disease, said she had her wages gar- nisheed. Just when her taxes were paid off through garnish- ment, she said she received a new See PROTESTERS 3A say this was done because it is As you are aware Cohoe Insurance October 21. It is di Thank You was gutted in a fire on Friday, and watch your ng to stand by life's work go up in smoke. But, it is so comforting to know just how many people care. So many clients, friends and associates have called or extended their hands in friendship and service and we truly appreciate every gesture of support we have received throughout this trying time. We will still be “takin better care of you" at a temporary location in the rear of RHC Realty at 343 Columbia Avenue and are mow back in business. A special thanks (in no particular order) goes out to the following for their help & support. Doug & staff at Homestead; The Castlegar Sun; Ev's; Artistic Aromas; CKQR --Wilf & Arlene Warner; Castlerock Cafe - Jeff & Staff; Gord's Service; Fire Dept's., of Castlegar, Ootischenia & Robson; Ray Hackett; Dick campy Rare pram cde tea Read Page Tel; Provincial Ambulance; Andy Roberts; Shawn Von Diebitsch; Dennis Hughes; Paul & West Kootenay Carpets; Lori Ann Shumey; Corey Davies; Ken Gorkoff; Albert Calderbank; Rob & Dave Campbell Tom Leckie; Alan Cawte; and countless others. And a special thanks for their hard work, loyalty and dedication to: Cheryl Poznekoff; Chris Mota; Bev Storvold; and Kristina Savitskoff. Coboe Insurance Agency Lid. Sincerely, Charlie & Sue TAKIN’ BETTER , CARE OF , "YOU ng of B Art Charbonneau's visit to Twin Rivers Elementary School, Octo- ber 20. After touring the aging school, Charbonneau met with Parent Advisory Council (PAC) mem- bers, School District No. 9 Board trustees, teachers, and the princi- pal and vice-principal of the 50- year-old school. After a warmly-received letter explaining the need for a new facility, written and read by PAC member Cheryl Mueller, Char- bonneau commended the tone of the letter despite obvious frustra- tion at the condition of the build- ing. During a short speech to those in attendance, Charbonneau acknowledged the apparent decrepit state of the facility, but refused to commit funding for replacement saying that “A min- ister cannot go out and announce ‘I'm going to borrow”. Instead, Charbonneau alluded to a forth- coming announcement. “The Premier and I will be making an announcement next week regarding the general needs of schools. I think at the end of the day you'll be pleased and par- ents elsewhere will be pleased [with the announcement).” After speaking about the need for replacement or upgrade of numerous aging schools through- out the province, Charbonneau once again alluded to the forth- coming announcement. “I hope to have special news of a good nature in the not-too-dis- tant future.” Vice-Chair of Twin Rivers PAC Kris Stanbra said she is encouraged by the Minister's speech. “We're really impressed because he gave us hope—he said it twice [that the news would please those in attendance}.” The visit wasn't without humor. As Principal Paul Phipps was pointing out specific defi- ciencies and disrepair of the facil- ity, he tripped on a piece of tile which had been ripped previously from the floor. Amidst laughter While visiting Twin Rivers Elementary School October 20, Minister of Education Art Charbonneau (I) took a few moments to speak with music teacher Robert Bertuzzi. Rossland-Trail MLA Ed Conroy asked Phipps how long he had practiced the trip before the min- ister arrived. Conroy also commented on the nature of the tour. “This is proba- bly the only tour the Minister has been on where [trustees, parents and teachers) want to show him how horrible the school is instead of how wonderful it is.” The history of the fate of Twin Rivers is long. In 1987 a feasibility study" recommended that the school be upgraded. An applica- tion to upgrade resulted in $1.5 million in funding from the Min- istry in 1991. By then the cost to upgrade had skyrocketed to $3.8 million, which was close to the cost of rebuilding. It was decided by School District No. 9 Board ‘SUN STAFF PHOTO (Karen Kerkhoft members that the $1.5 million would be returned along with a request for funding to rebuild instead. The Ministry of Education funded planning money for the project, but board members were told last year that funding to rebuild had been denied. With detailed plans in hand, the school board has been hesitant to do major repairs on the facility should funding to rebuild come through. This a team of inspec- tors toured the building and made numerous recommendations to ensure that the facility was a safe environment for students and teachers. Although some repairs have been made, others, of a less- er or cosmetic nature have been put on hold until the future of the facility is decided. THE WINTER THAT NEVER ENDS Nov. 3 at Selkirk College Noon K-10 ° 8 pm S-113 Mov. 8 at SHSS Activity Room & pm Mov. 9 at Rossiand Highschool 8 pm $4.00 ADMISSION Preject therecy’ = Do you have time to help an adult leam basic reading & writing skills? Training for volunteer tutors on 5 wednesday evenings, starting November 2. Call Castlegar Library at 365-7765. Castlegar United Church Market Day - 222 - 6th Ave. Oct 29, iP ge ll Plants, crafts, baking, garage sale. Lunch welcome. available. Everyone Castlegar Women's Aglow - Now. 294 10am-Fresde Inn. ‘Speaker - Joyoe Widmer. Reservations - 365-3279 or 365-6506. Tides $8. Seniors Assoc. #46 - Business meeting - Nov 3 - 2pm. Open house every tuesday 10am - Whist Nov. 10 - Seniors Assoc. #46 - A meeting to discuss transpo protfeme for seriors wil ba held n the Castoper Sertors Hall Oct 27 at 2:30pm. The = Economic shot in the arm for Healthy Schools program KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff ~~ action plan geared toward creating a healthier school. Schools in the district have developed varied pro- Every home needs a solid foundation just as every child needs a healthy foundation in which to grow into a healthy adult. That's the reasoning behind the Healthy School Initiative that began in 1992 with 39 schools in the Central Kootenays receiving $500 grants for healthy school projects. Geared towards educating children about making healthy lifestyle decisions, the initiative has been a With a — in mind to actively involve students in -making skills for health, peeks eas cone Primary, Stanley Humphries Secondary School, Tar- trys, Twin Rivers, Valley Vista, and Blueberry Creek —_) Project Coordi , Flaine Chemoff said that ultimately the program is benefit- ing more than students. “There are changes in their attitude and behavior at school and in the communi- ty. They take these skills home to their family and the community. The added bonus is that this is something which can't be measured.” The program focuses on student participation and ownership which directly involves students in a five- Step process to develop, implement and evaluate an = Poach . Bh ry Creek Elementary School's project consisted of nutritious snacks and lunches prepared and sampled by students with plans to create a school cookbouk. Castlegar Primary students participated in through physi- cal education wih a holistic approach to health. Stan- ley Humphries student peer counselors addressed drug and alcohol prevention, child abuse prevention and teen pregnancy issues. Tarrys Elementary stu- dents improved their fitness and had fun at the same time using scooters. Twin Rivers Elementary stu- dents, assisted by parents, cdllected compost buckets, reduced garbage in school lunches, and provided weekly hot lunches and collected recipes. Valley Vista students studied nutrition, fitness, personal safety and a personal — program. Brilliant interchange. Demage to the vehicles has been estimated at The i, ofa 17- year-old Cranbrook girl has vowed he will hunt down his daughter's attacker, The girl was attacked while walking alone in Cran- brook one night last week. When she ignored the man's verbal obscenities the man became enraged and punched and kicked the girl, leaving her with bruised ribs and cuts to her face. Five finger discount A 72-year-old Cranbrook woman and her 54-year-old daughter appeared in Cran- brook court to answer to charges of shoplifting. The mother-daughter duo had been caught lifting goods from a Zellers store August 4. When apprehended the mother had $234.79 worth of stolen items in her possession while her daughter was apprehended with $27.98 in her possession. The judge fined the mother $200 and the daughter $230. Dingalings An 800-pound bell that graced the Rossland Firehall was top- pled by vandals last week. One of the bell’s arms was damaged in the fall. RCMP are investigating the incident. Missing Officials suspect that a Cana- da World Youth from East Timor has defected. The 22- year-old participant who went missing from her host family’s home in Nelson on October 9 left a note explaining that she was leaving the program and her temporary home. Three years ago an East Timor man, also in the program, is said to have defected. Something's fishy © Fish and Wildlife officials are trying to determine what caused the recent death of sev- eral thousand Kokanee salmon in Kootenay Lake. A fish biol- ogist said that in his 17 years with the department he has witnessed at least 10 Kokanee kills. Dead fish have been ana- lyzed in the past but yielded no clear determination of cause of death. Bad luck bridge On Friday, October 14 there were four accidents on the Vic- toria Street Bridge in Trail. Three of the accidents within 10 minutes of each other. Total damage to all vehicles was estimated at $8,500. Indecent assault Former Kaslo man Christo- pher Alan Seath, 36, in B.C. Supreme court last week in Nelson to answer to charges regarding an alleged year-old girl. It is alleged that oral sex with him a number of times between 1977 and 1981 when he was in his early 20s. Wednesday, October 26, 1994 The Castlegar Sun Red surge and Page 3A '! polished brass Two years after borrowing referendum, RCMP building Officially declared pen SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor Almost two years to the day that Castlegar taxpayers voted yes by referendum to borrow $1.7 million to build a new RCMP building, the ribbon-cut- ting ceremony on the steps of that new building took place withred surge and polished brass. The official opening of Castle- gar's new $2-million RCMP building, took place Saturday, and was followed by public tours which took place throughout the afternoon. Speeches by RCMP officials, ceremony. During his speech, O’Connor thanked the contractors, Nick and Kevin Chemoff of Trowelex Con- struction, for a job well done. O'Connor, as well as RCMP offi- cials, also noted city staff employ- ees and the previous council for their dedication to the project. .) For two individuals especially, the opening of the new RCMP building was a sweet day indeed. City Councillor Kirk Duff, was on the Protective Services Com- It was a day of red serge and polished brass during the official opening of Castle- gar’s new RCMP building.On hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony were (I-r): Staff Sergeant Steve Lozinski; Superintendent D.E. Belke; Superintendent R.Swan; Mayor Mike O'Connor and Castlegar Staff Sergeant Kerry Solinsky. mittee along with former City Councillor Jim Chapman at the staff at city hall,” said Duff. Personally, Duff considers the hard at planning and promoting the 1992 fall referendum. “The previous council was rec- ognized at this official opening and it npletion of the RCMP building as a “a real success” in his political life thus far. Coming off of a failed paving referendum, not to mention growing dissention among voters towards city hall, Duff and Chap- ‘sell’ Castlegar taxpayers on a new RCMP building through ref- erendum, it would have to be done correctly the first time. “We kept pushing the informa- tion out. We didn’t want there to be any confusion over why the building was needed or how much money was going to be public meeting, open-line talk show and overall media blitz Prior to the referendum. Their efforts paid off, as results from the referendum showed that 34.8 per cent of eligible voters (1,578 people) participated in the referendum. Of those, 78 per cent (1,231 people) voted yes, while 22 that recognition, as did the current man knew that if they wanted to spent,” said Duff, recalling the _per cent (343 people) voted no. Kootenay tradesmen want to chase out the ‘rats’ » KAREN ‘Sun Staff Kootenay Trade Unionists were at Kootenay Canal last week letting the “big cheeses” at B.C. hydro know that “rat” unions won't be tolerated. Communications Director for West Kootenay All-Trades Coordinat- ing Committee Robert Walters said there are two issues regarding the use of TNL workers. TNL, which Walters said wasn’t Tecognized in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba as being a union is into problems they have a hard time finding anyone to represent them {such as a shop steward]." Historically, explained Walters, “rat” unions hire young people “who don't know what a union really is” and individuals on welfare or U.1.C.—"people in a bind who can't afford to quit”. This results in inferior workers which Walters said is unacceptable, especially when there are ifi che ple in British C out of work. The second issue is hiring locally, an ingredient in keeping a healthy local A press release from the All-Trades Coordinating Commit- considered by most trade unions as a “rat” union. “Rat” unions, explained Walters, are ized by the employers and not sanctioned by the B.C. Federation of Labor. “Union” members don’t get to vote, nor do they have elections. “When a member runs tee states that TNL has said they will do all of their hiring out of Alberta. The protest was attended by about 160 people as well as B.C. Building Yukon Trades President Len Warden and Nelson-Creston MLA Corky Evans. Staff Sergeant takes reins Solinsky spoke of the impressiveness of the build- ing, and how he and his coworkers are already enjoy- ing the working conditions such a building has to offer.” Solinsky and his wife have two children, both of whom are now attending school in Castlegar. “My family has only been here for about a week, but so far the people of Castlegar have been very friendly and welcoming to us.” Solinsky hopes to remain SUN STAFF Castlegar’s newest staff Sergeant says it’s a real pleasure to come to work in the moming. Kerry Solinsky, 40, who arrived here with his family from New Hazelton, official- ly assumed his position of Staff Sergeant October 17. Solinksy was part of the official opening celebrations of the new RCMP building in Castlegar, and during a speech to local citizens, Sears merchandise returning slowly Constable Larry Oster displays a portion of the Sears merchandise, mostly rugs, which have been recovered thus far. SUN STAFF of guilt and fear may be striking at some of the thieves responsible for stealing Sears merchandise from a Cana- dian Pacific railcar, after items have begun to mysteriously show up at the site of the theft. The theft, which occurred last week, resulted in thou- sands of dollars in Sears mer- chandise being lifted from a rail car which was originally destined for Regina Saskatchewan, but ended up on Celgar property after it was incorrectly linked to other cars on the track. Television stands, lamps and rugs make up the majority of items stolen, though RCMP are still waiting for a list from Sears that will detail every sin- gle item that the car contained. RCMP have so far recovered a mumber of the items, includ- ing close to 30 In an interview with The Castlegar Sun \ast week, Cor- poral Al Hudema said RCMP were pinpointing the investiga- tion on Celgar Pulp employees. This investigation continues, and Hudema said officials from Celgar Security are being as helpful as possible. “There's things we know ahd then there's things we only suspect. Hudema said interviews by RCMP are continuing this week @ Protest Continued from 2A bill for next year’s taxes. Other protestors spoke of savings accounts and investments being depleted through attachments by the government They say pension cheques and pen- sioners accounts were no exception. “These kind of tactics are meant to wear people down,” said Konkin But it hasn't worn them down, if anything it has made them more deter- mined to hold on to their beliefs. “If there’s not a moratorium we expect we will be looking at arrests and convictions. A lot of us are retired and it’s kind of hard to start all over again,” ” said Konkin. Land A i for politicians and other officers, _in Castlegar for the long-term. Kerry Solinsky the neal Region Herb Hess denies that removal of the land from ALR sta- tus was illegal or covert. “It was all done through proper procedure.” Hess says that utilities weren't offered as “carrots”, however resi- dents had to meet certain criteria to be eligible for such services. On one occasion, said Hess, a person was supplied with a service inadvertently, but when the error was discovered the service was disconnected. Government Agent Peter Lee wouldn't comment specifically on wage garnishment, but did clarify that methods taken to recover the taxes was in line with government regulations. “The Tax Act is set out in legisla- tion and it applies to all parties. It is applied to all people equally.” Rilkoff to rebuild: The owner of the building’ that caught fire last Friday morning says he will begin rebuilding as soon as insur-: ance adjusters have completed: their work. George Rilkoff, owner of the Rilkoff building that housed Vogue Portraits and Cameras;: Cohoe Insurance; Georgie’s Ladies Wear and Kootenay. Klothes Kloset, continued to say he will be calling for tenders as soon as he is able. By this spring, Rilkoff says he hopes to have a better idea of 2 new look to compliment Castle- gar’s ongoing downtown revital- iation project. Attention customers of the businesses affected by the Vogue fire sexual assault against a 10- 4 Seath forced the girl to have |! 35,000, Mixed emotions after fire: After inspecting what the fire did and did not destroy, Charlie Cohoe, owner of Cohoe Insur- ance, had mixed emotions. Gone were many personal Continued from 1A This unforgivable action by the hunter sickens and angers Christie “It’s pretty disgusting. For most people that bull would have been a trophy they'd be glad to have.” Because the elk had decom- posed Christie is unable to deter- mine the exact size of the elk, but estimates that it was shot some- time between mid-September to the first week of October Hunting area 415-B, which encompasses Pass Creek, Cres- cent Valley and Krestova is noto- rious for its trophy size elk. In total there are only about nine limited entry tags per year for bull elk in that area. Castlegar Conservation Officer Mike Krause is also looking for the poacher of a cow elk which was shot October 18 on a ridge between Norns-and Goose Creek Roads. Anyone with any infor- mation about either incident is requested to call the conservation office. Krause assures that all information received is kept in strict confidence. The B.C. Wildlife Federation is offering a reward for information leading to a conviction such as gifts and some collectors items. But he was more than please to see that almost everything having to do with client’s records survived the flames, smoke and water. “All our files are in tact— they don‘t smell very they're in tact,” said Cohoe. Data from computer hard- drives was saved, as were a series of licence plates and decals. Cohoe Insurance is now locat- ed at the back of RHC Realty, in downtown Castlegar. Cohoe is Georgie's fadies Wear Thank you to everyone for the kindness and help during the fire. We anticipate a as SO Thank you for the help and best We will open wishes. on as possible Cobhoe Insurance Agency Ltd. Now open at our temporary new location. 343 Columbia Avenue at the rear of the RHC Real Estate office Feel free to enter from Vogue Studio Temporary location Noah's Ark 349 Columbia Ave. Photo finishing and film sales. Thank you Firefighters, The Castlegar Sun, CKQR, KBS. Al Cawte, Deebels Transport, Downtown Businesses, Noah's Ark, Ken Ferch and the rest of the Vogue staff in Castlegar and Nelson. Our sympathy goes out to Cohoe Insurance, Georgies Ladies Wear & Kootenay Klothes Kloset. November 15 opening with all new stock. in = fT] 7 a= Bieset™ 359 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, BC 365-7589 Georgie's Ladies Wear our original location. 1129 - 4th St., Castlegar 365-0954 Columbia Avenue or through the rear entrance. If you had work at Vogue, please call us and we'll record the information. Thank you Castlegar for for your continuous support to help us through these trying times. ‘Watch for our new location. Your continuous support will be appreciated. 343 Columbia Avenue Phe 365-3301 Fax: 365-2313 TAKIN’ BETTER CARE OF MB Vogue Studio Columbia Avenue a. & 365-7515