Page 2A -

(EIN

Name: Jeannie

Pet: None ;

Where you work: Babysitting

What you do there: Watch 'T.v.

Castlegar likes: Shelly's piace

Best kept Castlegar secret: Syringa Creek Park

What would you rather be doing? Modeling in.
Hawall

Vehicle; Bike

Or do you k

Would you like to be our Face In The Sun?

Give us a call at 365-5266 or drop by our
office at 465 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar.

who ld?

Surprise! Another
application made
for rate increase

KAREN KERKHOFF
Sun staff

It’s no April Fool's joke, BC
Hydro has applied to the British
Columbia Utilities Conymission
(BCUC) for an interim increase
of 3.9 per cent effective April 1
1993

Although the interim
increase won't affect Castlegar
residents directly, Peter
McMullen, BC Hydro Manag-
er of Corporate Communica-
tions, said it will affect them
indirectly through West Koote-
nay Power (WKP) who sup-
plies Poyer to West Kootenay
residents.

McMullen said the applica-
tion could translate inte-an
increase of 14 cents a month to
the average residential cus-
tomer in the WKP area. “That
would bring an average cost
for 1000 kilowatts: per hour
(kwh) from $36.40 up to
$36.74.”

But WKP’s director of com-
munity and public affairs,
Mike Bradshaw, said it was not
certain if WKP customers
would be affected. “We don’t
know if it will affect WKP
until we get a decision on the
last hearings. We won't know
until we find out what our rela
tionship is with BC Hydro

What Bradshaw was refer
ring to was BCUC public hear
ings which occurred eartier
this month. WKP and BC
Hydro were involved in inten
sive hearings in both Castlegar
and Vancouver

The hearings, which com
menced Feb. 9, were in
response to BC Hydro’s
request to levy increased
pom

WKP

r purchase rates towards

with the understanding
WKP would receive
ible rate, for power purchase

while developing their own

a favor

resources.

The Castlegar Sun

Wednesday, February 24, 1993

Castlegar kids

KAREN KERKHOFF
Sun staff

Castlegar students have caught
the bug—the flu bug that is. But
Marcella Mugford, C. astlegar
Health Nurse Assistant Adminis
trator, said even though there are
cases of influenza being reponed,

Castlegar is not in the middle of a
flu “epidemic
‘The amounts are not any
heavier than previous years.”

Although Mugford said the
Health Unit hasn't received any
reports of high absentee rates

Negotiations
KAREN KERKHOFF
Sun staff

Negotiations are still ongoing
between the Brilliant Suspension
Bridge Restoration Working
Group and the Regional District
of Central Kootenay to determine
the best method in which the
transfer of the bridge should be
negotiated

Andy Davidoff, spokesperson
for the “working group”, said
there are still several legal ques-

from schools, some teachers are
reporting higher than average
absenteeism rates,

Last Friday; Woodland Park
Elementary school had 24 stu
dents: absent from a total of 150,
while Castlegar Primary reported
that one division had a signifigant
number of ‘students absent last
week. Kinnaird Elementary
School also reported that some
classes had a lot of students
absent last. week

Kinnaird Middle School prin
cipal, Bruce Gerrand, said tha
appears absenteeism is decre

‘bugged’ by flu

this week

“It's not ridiculously high
joday, During the flu season we
peak at about ‘nine per cent. The
average rate is about three and a
half per cent, and we're currently
running at about five per cent
absenteeism

Mugford said the virus which
is manifesting itself in Castlegar
is both of the influenza “A”, and
the influenza “B" strain, and each
individual might experience vary-
ing common flu symptoms. “It
could be fever, lack of appetite,
achiness, or coughs, those general

types of symptoms.”

Even though there is not a
“cure” for the flu, individual
symptoms can be treated, Mug-
ford said. “Get plenty of rest, take
something for the fever, drink
plenty of fluids. If medicine is not
controlling the fever, o¥ if the
fever persists for more than three
or four days, then they should see
their physician.”

Mugford cautioned that
teenagers or young children
should not, take ‘aspirin, as aspirin
has been linked to Reye's syn-
drome, a fatal disease

ongoing over Doukhobor bridge restoration

tions regarding the ownership of
the bridge before it can be
stored.

“We are currently determining
the best method by which RDCK
could take over ownership. We're
looking forward to further discus-
sion with the Ministry of High-
ways with respect to the ultimate
transfer of the bridge.”

Before restoration can occur,
Davidoff said there is another
important step which needs to be
done.

“Before the restoration process
can begin a second phast of engi-
neering has to be completed. That
would include testing of the
cables (magna flux) and a restora-

, tion working drawing being pre-

pared.”

The Brilliant Suspension
Bridge Restoration Working
Group was formed in 1991, and
consists of local, regional and
provincial representatives, histor-
ical and heritage societies, and
other interested parties. These

KAREN KERKHOFF
Sun staff

Date set for Pass Creek Park upgrade

next day (after approval). The members are gung-
ho and ready to go. There are about 35 members; |

between Castleg

well

March 10.

vious to that meeting to tune up

agree on the proposal.”

Development and upgrading of Pass Creek Park
could begin as early as March 11
ar Selkirk Lions Club and the
Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) go

John Moorlag, Director of Castlegar Selkirk
Lions, said a proposal from the Lions will be pre-
sented at an RDCK meeting which is to be held

“We will have a proposal 10 present to them, but
we will be meeting with Pat Metge (Director of
Recreation for Regional Recreational No. One) pre- or d

thing now is to put together a legal document which
will satisfy both parties. Hopefully everybody will

Moorlag said the Lions Club is eager to start
upgrading, and intends to do so as soon as approval
for the proposal is granted. “We would start the

Suspect the majority will be out there on the work

party.
if negotiations

The first project the Lions Club has planned is to
tum an existing Open concessian into a permanent
structure said Moorlag.
number one, We would probably use an existing
building, enclose it and wire it.”

Some of the other projects the Lions Club have
planned are: a permanent band stand; trail develop-
ment; a bridge over Norns Creek and upgrading of
existing campsites and ball diamonds.

It is planned that each year one: or two projects,

would be und di

“The concession would be

ig onthe

the proposal. The

size of the development being considered. In an
earlier interview with The Castlegar Sun, Moorlag
said that eventually Pass Creek Park will be a park
of which residents of Castlegar and area can be
proud.

“Over a period of five to ten years, we will have
a first class park on our hands.”

City snow removal under review process

Annual report could result

SHARLENE IMHOFF

Sun Editor

a

The Castlegar Public Works
Jepartment is engaging in its
annual snow removal review
in order to determine if any
changes are needed for next
year

We're currently
at the committee
then we'll be reporting to
council,” said Superintendent
of Public Works Barry Comin

Despite the heavy amount of
snowfall which fell in relative

reviewing

level, and

Comin
received dan

dy short time periods
said his office
ave amount of phone calls
to enquire or complain about
snow removal

“We did some
phone calls this year—but
nothing out of the ordinary
We usually get a lot of calls:
requesting information on
removal routes and
what the priorities are around
town.”

Comin said the public works
department was able to meet
all of its requirements despite

teceive

snow

HomoLite product

TRAIL TIMES

Phe Trait entrepreneurs produc=
ing HomoLite are in trouble again
After the dairy industry failed in
two attempts in the past three
months to get the courts to prevent
the sale of the product, a ban on its
importation has been obtained. The

Import Controls division of Exter-
nal Affairs and International Trade
has indicated that a shipment due
To arrive today will be the last
allowed into the country without
an import permit, and that the
chances of getting a permit are
next to zero.

HomoLite is produced in
Spokane because no Canadian

in changes for next winter

1 heavier-than-normal snowfall
in December and Januffry

This year, several letters to
the editor were received by
The Castlegar Sun which criti-
cized the department for the
time it took to remove snow
from certain areas

Comin admits the depart-
ment's biggest difficulty this
year was not in clearing snow,
but in removing it. “Through-
out December and January we
never really had. what's
referred to as a melt-period
So when we would be out

plowing snow. and it wouldn't
stop snowing, there
little time to pick
remove it.”

Comin said this resulted in
people viewing large piles of
snow along the road and then
immediately believing no work
was being done to get rid of it

Comin said the committee
report, which could result in
some snowplowing routes
being changed, should be com-
pleted before the beginning of
March.

was very

it up and

receives ban on im

dairy woulttnake the product, said
Annable Foods president Danny
Ferraro.

The low-fat drink is made of
fresh and powdered milk along
with natural thickening and fla-
voring agents that give it the taste
and texture of whole milk. "We
talked to these guys (at import
controls) before, but now every-

thing has changed,” Ferraro said.

The import controls division
indicated late last year that it was
going to ban HomoLite, but then
held off pending a full review
after Ferraro'’s lawyers com-
plained Annable Foods had
already jumped through all the
regulatory hoops.

Nancy Vote, a Toronto patent

Wildlife banquet raises money for habitat

SHARLENE IMHOFF
Sun Editor

They raised a whole ‘lotta
cash, and a heck of a good time
doin’ it too.

Members. of the Castlegar and
District Wildlife Association
raised more than $6,500 for
wildlife habitat during their 29th
Annual Wildlife Banquet and
Awards Dance

“Club President Steve Davis
said the club is currently looking
at 50 acres of land near Castlegar
that would make great wildlife
habitat. “The money raised at this
banquet. from the
and ticket
achieve thi

Award

unious hu

sale of prints
illy help us

out for
ments to
enior and jur Jub m
Award wer

Schreiber, Ray Gre
Campbell, B

mbers
winner Thomas
Don

Kosiancic

awison
rie
Robert Johnson
Ron Milton

Steve Davis
Murray Booth

Garry Ingham,
Michael Sarton,
Pete Holoboff:
Albert Ingham

Grand Aggregate winner, Garry Ingham (left), and President's Cup winner Rick Price were
honored for their work and achievements, along with other Castlegar and District Wildlife mem-
bers during the club's 29th Annual Banquet and Awards dance

Jay Mykietyn, Gary Fodor
Doug Johnson, Allan Gorcak

George Worobcy, Ron-Milton
David Campbell. Robbie Camp

‘bet

SUN STAFF PHOTO

Dennis Clow,
McIntosh

Shariene imho

and Murray

include the B.C. Heritage Conser-
vation Branch, Ministry of Trans-
portation and Highways, and
federal Public Works personnel,
as well as Regional District Rep-
resentatives, John Voykin and
Ken Wyllie

The Brilliant Suspension
Bridge was manually built in
1913 by the area's Doukhobors,
and because of the unique her-
itage aspect of the bridge, many
local citizens have rallied behind
the rebuilding of it

Davidoff couldn't be specific
on-how long it would take for the
bridge to be restored, but he was
adamant it be completed.

“As soon as possible, these
things take time.”

City throwing
support behind
college report

SHARLENE IMHOFF
Sun Editor

Castlegar City Councillors
voted unanimously in favor of
supporting the submission that
was drafted by Selkirk College
for the West Kootenay Post Sec-
ondary Education and Training
Review Panel

I think it’s important that the
city support Selkirk College in
any way possible
thing that directly involves all of
us: said Councillor Kirk Duff

Selkirk College released the
document, which calls for recog-
nition of University-College sta-
tus, earlier in February and is
seeking public input. The docu
ment will be submitted to Dr
Margaret Fulton, who is chairing
Mhe review panel. Fulton will be
making recommendations on the
future of post-secondary educa-
tion in the West Kootenay when
she has completed her review

The City of Castlegar is
requesting that each community
that has a Selkirk College cam-
pus and that the MLA'’s for these
communities support the pro-
posed University-College status
that has been requested.

this is some-

portation

lawyer retained by Ferraro, point-
ed out that the Import Controls
division started making noises
after the Dairy Bureau of Canada
lost its bid in November to obtain
a temporary interim injunction.

The Dairy Bureau then applied
to the court for an interim injunc-
tion. “The Import Controls divi-
sion thought about it until after
the interim injunction was-lost
and now we get this. There is no
coincidence there,” said Vote.

Vote said her firm will ask Exter-
nal Affairs Minister Michael Wil-
son to allow Annable Foods to
continue importing HomoLite
while the ruling is appealed through
the department's review process.

The sale and labelling of
HomoLite has been approved by
the federal departments of Agri-
culture, Health, and Consumer and
Corporate Affairs, as well as the
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture as
not falling under their regulations
for fresh milk. “None of these reg-
ulations govern what actions will
be taken under the Export and
Import Permits Act,” said Norbert
Kalisch, director of the imports
controls division in Ottawa. “They
serve different purposes.

Kalisch said the purpose of
import controls is to complement
Canada’s system of managed dairy
prices. Although HomoLite was
Previously deemed a product that
is not regulated for import purpos
es, Kalisch’s office has now decid
ed that because it can be used to
make ice cream, cheese, butter and
yogurt, it should be classified as
burterfat, which is controlled

Wednesday, February 24, 1 1993

The Castlegar Sun

P&T will remain in business during
due to positive conditions

upgrade

KAREN KERKHOFF
Sun staff

The Pope and Talbot $9.5 mil
lion upgrade is still a go, but due
to a strong lumber market the
upgrade won't necessitate a total
shutdown as earlier planned.

Pope and Talbot project man
ager, Bob Coutts, said the layoffs,
which were scheduled to be in
conjunction with the upgrade,

Blueberry
lesson for

SHARLENE IMHOFF
Sun Editor

“You can only kick a dog so many
times before he learns not to come
back.” And according to Bill Cook,
chair of the Blueberry Creek Fire
Commission, the City of Castlegar
has been doing its share of kicking
over the last two decades.

Cook said he is “completely
baffled that Castlegar City Council
would discuss and have a report
done on the possibilities of offer-
ing Blueberry Creek fire protec-
tion.”

In last week's edition of The
Castlegar Sun, a story titled, Let-
ters resurface burning issue of
Blueberry Creek fire protection
was published after city council
lors began discussing fire protec
tion possibilities. From the
round-table discussion that took
place that night it appears that city
councillors are under the impres-
sion that fire protection service
was offered to Blueberry Creek by
Castlegar at one time, but that the
offer was refused in a rude manner.

“TI don’t know why it was turned
down then, but I think it might be
an option to make the offer once
again,”.said Councillor Doug
Green during the meeting

Green's comments and those by
other councillors have Blueberry
Creek residents such as Cook, both
upset and confused.

“Obviously these city council
lors have been misinformed,
because Castlegar has never, ever
offered us fire protection.”

Armed with documents and
minutes dating back to 1983, Cook
said the issue of fire protection
first began on March 15, 1972
when Blueberry Creek voted
whether to accept fire protection
from the Town of Kinnaird. Even
though the request was initiated by

will also be of a shorter duration
“We! won't have
Of the three
least one line will b
at all times. The
scheduled for April 2
not last more than two wecks."
Origigally the layoffs were
scheduled to start Feb. 26,.with
the majority of workers sched.
uled to return to work by March
15. But Coutts said construction

a total shutdown
lines we haye, at
in operation
layoffs are

and should

workers will be working on the
upgrade while the mill is in oper
ation, and therefore the construc-
tion phase may cost more’ than

ally anticipated

Because of the strong lumber
market we are able to justify that
(the added cost). We have a $10 mil
lion job to do-we're going to do it.”

In an earlier interview with The
Castlegar Sun, Coutts said the
$9.5 million upgrade is only part

of a larger plan
for “phase two”,

There are plans
however the cost
and specifics of phase two have
not yet been determined.

The upgrade is. in response to a
condition set out by the Ministry
of Forests which required Pope
and Talbot to submit plans for the
proposed upgrade to the ministry
within one year of transfer. of
Westar Timber’s cutting rights to
Pope and Talbot

Creek resident provides history
Castlegar City Councillors

the Blueberry Creek Irrigation Dis-
trict, residents defeated the vote 52
to 41. Although Cook was a mem
ber on the irrigation board, he was
not able to attend the meeting
From what he understands howev
er, not only was the vote turned
down, but some residénts were
quite rude to then Kinnaird Fire
Chief Rene Archambault. “I guess
that some of the residents were
quite vocal about being against fire
protection service from Kinnaird.”
But Cook believes this is where
Castlegar City Councillors aré con-
fused. “The City of Castlegar had
absolutely nothing to do with this
venture, because at that time, Kin-
naird was a separate town.”

More than a decade later, a
building in Blueberry Creek
caught fire and was completely
destroyed—resulting in a $121,600
loss. It was after this incident that
Blueberry Creek residents request-
ed fire protection service from the
City of Castlegar. “We were tumed
down,” said Cook, who added that
in 1985, Fire Commissioner
Inspector J. Voke did an investiga-
tion into fire protection for the
Blueberry Creek/Fairview area and
requested that another hall be built

“We realized though that it
would like a
money to have so many fire halls

seem waste of

in a close so in 1989, we
again approached Castle
fire protection. This time through
the Regional District’ of Central
Kootenay.

Castlegar turned th

gar for

request
down, stating wt did not feel its fire
department could respond quickly
enough to Blueberry Creek to be
effective, nor did ut fee! that Castle

gar’s fire chief could devote time
for sufficient training for a Blue

berry Creek volunteer crew. There
was the possibility of providing
service however, in the form of a

Aaron Chernoff,

Primary School principal
Stanbra, and Sunsweet
Tony Pattison

Castlegar Primary School was the proud recipient
of a $2,000 prize as a result of
1992 Customer Bonus Draw which included schools
across Canada who participated in fundraising
through Sunsweet Fundraising Inc
Cole Stanbra
and Bhounsavahn Houngmany. Back (I-r); Castlegar

the Sunsweet Fall

Front (I-r);
Siharath Vilaypheth

John Eggleton, parent Kris
Fundraising representative

SUN STAFF PHOTO / Karen Kerkhof

mutual aid agreement—but this
would involve Blueberry Creek
establishing its own service firs

C6ok said the Blueberry Creek
Irrigation District made one more
attempt to obtain fire protection
from Castlegar in 1990, through
RDCK Area Director Ken Wyllie

“It was a very short meeting
one. in which we turned down
again.”

The next year, the RDCK and
community residents da

community voted 88 per cent in
favor of establishing their own fire
protection services. About 79 per
cent of residents voted in the refer-
endum.

Cook is now questioning why
Castlegar City Councillors did not
know the history behind the issue.
Cook says the Blueberry Creek fire
commission is committed to sup-
plying fire protection to residents,
but not at the expense of Blueberry

Blueberry Creek Fire Commis-
sion which began looking at other
alternatives besides Castlegar for
fire protection. According to
Cook, the committee decided to
first turn towards the community
of Genelle

“The first response we got was,
“Why don’t you go back to Castle-
gar,"” said Cook

A recommendation was made
during the meeting that in order to
receive protection, Blueberry
Creek would have to purchase a
pumper truck for-Genelle’s hat.

“That recommendation was
totally unacceptable. to us. Why
should we outfit another fire hall in
another district? If we have to buy
a pumper truck, it would be for our
own hall.”

It was at this time that Blueberry
Creek residents decided to go it
alone when it came to fire protec-

tion. And in September, 1992, the

= Strategic Financial Plan

Creek's 2 He is now ques-
tioning just what Castlegar is con-
sidering.

“T think it would be a good idea
to sit down and talk about this with
the councillors, they should know
what's going on.”

= Accreditation

for Thursday and Friday.

Temperature: Max/Date

-1.9/15

Precipitation: Rain

“Number of
Hours

31.9

REMARKS:

and milder temperatures.

Forecast provided by The So

WEATHER

OUTLOOK: The Forecast for
Wednesday: Sunny with cloudy
periods. High temperatures near
-2. A ridge of high pressure
should maintain dry, fairly sunny
conditions into the weekend. Temperatures should
remain cool Wednesday night, but moderate slightly

A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST WEEK:
Min/Date

-16.4/16

Snow

Winter returned with a fresh outbreak of cold, dry Arctic air on the
15th. Record breaking overnight low temperatures occurred on
the 16th and 17th while maximum hours of sunshine were
recorded during the day. Moisture from the Pacific moved into the
Kootenay regions for the weekend giving varying amounts of snow

at Castlegar, B.C.

ARROW LAKE RESERVOIR FORECAST
Sorry not avaliable

van

Normal
Mean

Mean

-11..8 -7.8

Normal
Total

Total

16.4

Normat Number
of Hours

17.6

- East interior Weather Office

Continued from 1A
established which would “com-
mensurate with the excellence of

Ci Castlegar Hospital Administra-
tor, Ken Talarico, credits profes-
sionalism and commitment from
staff members and physicians for
the prized accreditation.

“I'm extremely pleased with the
report, and all the efforts of the staff
and physicians who have contribut-
ed such fine care.””

The accreditation comes on the
heels of Castlegar Hospital being
recognized in Chatelaine Maga-

zine’s Nov. 1992 issue as one of the
“clean threes” (330 best all around
hospitals in Canada).

= Transit

Accreditation is not mandatory,
however many hospitals strive for
accre

Continued from 1A
service to Castlegar.
“Yes, ridership is down to
around eleven per cent of

return back in the fare box, but *

B.C. Transit has not advised
me of any plans to cut service.”

The provincial government
subsidizes 54 per cent of the cost
of maintaining bus service for
Castlegar, while the remaining 46

per cent is paid for by the Region-
al District of Central Kootenay
(RDCK). The majority of the 46
per cent which RDCK pays is
money which is received from the
City of Castlegar, while a small
portion comes from areas I and J
Stack’s contract with B.C
Transit is due to expire Dec. 31
1993, at which time the con-
tract will be tendered’ for bids

Continued from 1A

at the same time explaining the importance of community participation,
some residents who attended voiced their doubts about the effectiveness

of the planning meeting

‘Is this really a serious exercise, or are we just going through the

motions,

said one local resident and business owner.

Adams said later that he could fully understaffd why such questions
of doubt were raised, since residents of Castlegar have never had the
opportunity for such input when it came to planning the future financial

picture of their community

‘This is something we can't, nor do we want to, push through as

some people

take time and make good decisions,”
The meeting began at 7 p.m.,

have suggested. The whole reason for this process is to

said Adams.

and lasted until well after 9 p.m.

Tables were set up at which groups. focused their attention to filling out
priorities for future capital funding projects. After this was completed,

MIKE POPOFF

one member from each group read that particular table's prioritics for

both capital projects and principles.

When the meeting concluded, most people were satisfied the exercise.
was a good one, and are now waiting to see if their efforts will be put to

good use by city hall

“I think it was a good thing-to do. Now I just hope that [city council-

lors] will pay attention to it,”

said Jean Sylvest
Another resident, Dean Miner, is still skeptical

“T think {the meeting)

was somewhat effective, but I'm not’sure if I'll be heard,” he said.
Castlegar resident Mike Popoff said he was glad to be told of the

meeting, and said he welcomed the opportunity for involvement

“Peo-

ple have to get involved, they just can't sit at home.” =
City hall is planning another workshop for Castlegar residents, in
order to continue the process. The date has been set for April 5. Many

of the resident who attended last
returning.

‘People have to get involved, they just
can't sit at home.’

— MIKE POPOFF
Local resident

week's meeting said they’ would be

‘I think it was a good thing to do. Now |
just hope that [city councillors]
will pay attention to it.’

— JEAN SYLVEST
Local resident

JEAN SYLVEST
a

>
a

44

ao
nN

1/3 of weight given to this guideline focused on a decrease in the

Improve transportation routes and traffic movement - almost
amount of traffic onColumbia via an alternate route

Improve the appearance and character of the City

keep borrowing to a minimum

Each participant was given the opportun

nN
no

rove & maintain roads,

»

Additional items tented fbi Important

(those with a weight of 5 orgreater)

© long term planning (12)

© gain and listen to public input using consensus
decision-making (7)

* sensible management (7)

© guaranteed project tunding-funding in place betore
work starts - ‘first things first’ (6)

© create and use local expertise (6)

© separate

priority over creating new ones

don't depend too heavily on one
maintain existing services as a

i!
Highting & landscaping
property tax class

and capital (5)

rity employment
ality of Iife

ih

Improve and di

maintain the
described In

s
ty

to place five votes on prioriti

NOTE: Participants could place more than one vote on an issue