Blueberry set for referendum @ Fire protection awaits Sept. 12 approval Scott David Harrison EDITOR Blueberry voters are going to the polls. On Sept: 12, a referendum will decide whether Blueberry will get it’s own fire depart- ment. “I think it’s very important that Blueberry gets its own service,” Regional District of Central Kootenay Area J di- rector Ken Wyllie said. “This would be the final link in pro- viding fire protection through the independent operating units of Robson, Ootischenia ’ and Blueberry.” The referendum will ask Blueberry voters to approve a plan which would cost them a maximum of $45,000 per year. That equals a charge of $3.45 per home per $1,000 of as- sessed value. The Blueberry Improve- ment District, which would open an office at the fire hall, will share some of the capital costs as well. Wyllie endorsed the costs, saying fire service would dra- matically reduce fire insur- ance premiums to Blueberry residents. He also said the cost of fire protection would be fur- ther reduced when Fairview residents are brought into the fold. “The public response has been very supportive of this plan,” said Wyllie. If approved, a hall would be constructed to house a pumper and tanker truck. RCMP continue Kinnaird investigation Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER Castlegar police are still in- vestigating the events of a Kinnaird Junior Secondary School band trip. “I would think we'll wrap up our investigation before the end of August,” said Cpl. Al Brown. ' According to the mother of a KJSS child on the June 20 trip to Cranbrook, one girl was touched several different times by the driver of a pri- vately-run bus company. “There were a whole lot of kids on that bus, and we need to interview some more of them,” Brown said. _ Howto put yourself in Hawaii, California “It’s hard getting hold of these kids during the summer months.” Brown said that once the investigation is finished, any evidence will be presented to the Crown prosecutor to de- termine if charges will be laid. “But we're not even close to that stage yet.” onF Scott David Harrison EDITOR Opposition to the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s Solid Waste Management Plan is mounting. Castlegar Mayor Audrey Moore called the plan which could cost as much as $3.75 million per year “is short-sighted.” Moore said she feared an RDCK plan that reduces landfill sites from 11 to four, including Ootischenia, could place an unnecessary tax burden on Castlegar, Area H, I and J residents. Moore called for the RDCK to re- examine its recently tabled Stage 2 report and find better ways to reduce refuse from the solid waste stream. Moore criticism comes on the heels of a report submitted to the RDCK board by Area J director Ken Wyllie., He blasted the RDCK’s Stage 2 report, saying it lacked substance and any clear vision for waste reduction over a 20- year period. “To determine (the Ootischenia) site as a regional facility seems a remarkably simplistic solution with little vision in terms of long-term planning,” Wyllie stated. “I suggest to you that any greater reliance upon Ootischenia as a regional landfill will simply shorten its life span to the detriment of all constituents.” Wyllie urged the RDCK to “put on the brakes” stating he couldn’t endorse any waste plan that failed to outline specific costs and sources of revenue. Send away for a free Aeroplan™ membership today and you're on your way to free travel. Now until September 30th, Air Canada and AirBC are waiving Aeroplan’s™ customary $25 enroll- @ Wednesday, July 29, 1992 Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER B.C. doctors are sick of the NDP government. Health Minister Elizabeth Cull swallowed a bitter pill Thursday, announcing that she was “not opposed to me- diation” to end the doctor dis- pute. But Premier Mike Har- court surgically removed any happy thoughts, saying me- diation was “not necessary.” That has made local B.C. Medical Association repre- sentative Dr. Jon Van Vliet furious. “To me this is grossly un- fair,” Van Vliet said. “We have a legitimate dispute. (The NDP government) re- neged on a contract and we still feel there isn’t enough money in this years budget to look after the people of B.C.” Van Vliet said that by lim- iting medical spending to $1.27 billion under Bill 71, the government has reduced the availability of health care “without asking the voters.” He said such a move would decrease the quality of B.C.’s health care. “Health care is suffering because of a decision made by the NDP, Mrs. Cull and the Premier. There cannot be as many services this year as there were last year,” he said. Van Vliet said that in or- der to get medicare healthy again, the government would have to inject an additional $60 million. “(Doctors) either swallow that $60 million or we just quit seeing patents come January or February — just shut the system down.” A government representa- tive was not available for comment. Shaw inks new deal NEWS STAFF Shaw Cable employees have ratified a new three-year con- tract. The announcement, which was made July 23, covers 12 Shaw employees in the West Kootenay area — nine of them in Castlegar. Shaw employees, working without an agreement since January, ratified the contract July 17. A news release states the agreement is retroactive to Janu- ary 1, 1992, and will have a first year wage increase of 1.8 per cent. City considers load limits Scott David Harrison EDITOR There’s a new twist to Castlegar’s never-end- ing bridge battle. Despite opposition from industry and the Regional District of Central Kootenay, Castle- gar may amend its traffic bylaw to include load restrictions along Columbia Avenue and Arrow Lakes Drive. And unlike first reported in the Saturday edition of the The News, there is lit- tle the province can do about. According to city administrator Gary Williams, Castlegar is well within its munici- pal powers to apply weight, height and/or load restrictions on its street. The city is considering amendments to its traffic bylaw in an effort to get the province to commit to the construction of the $23.5 million Castlegar-Robson bridge. The changes, which don’t need Transport Minister approval, could be made under the ’ Municipal Act which allows cities to define traf- roads. fic use for secondary highways and its own Mayor Audrey Moore said the city will pro- ceed with caution before making any changes. “We're going to get together with all the ma- jor stakeholders and discuss what options are available to us,” she said Tuesday. “Certainly (industries) are saying please don’t do this and we can understand that. So we have to meet will be done.” with the major stakeholders before anything If implemented, load, weight and/or size re- strictions could prevent trucks from reaching Celgar and Pope and Talbot. Williams admitted the pressure tactic had one flaw, however. He said‘the province could pass an cabinet order which would overturn Castlegar’s bylaw. Pre-bridge homes up for grabs Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER Twelve Castlegar houses will be on the move soon. The Ministry of Trans- portation has announced that homes located on Columbia Avenue-upstream from King Street must be moved by Oc- tober — making way for the proposed Robson-Castlegar bridge. “All of the houses in ques- tion were privately owned at one time,” said B.C. Purchas- ing Commission property agent Mike Bancroft. “We have taken possession of them or are about to take possession of them.” But the BCPC doesn’t want to keep the houses. “We are selling them for re- location,” he said. “Once the site has been cleared, the foun- dations will be flattened and filled and seeded to maintain the property in an acceptable and safe condition until bridge construction begins.” But government informa- tion office Eliah Farrell says the action around the base of the proposed bridge is no cause for excitement. “We were in the process of acquiring the properties and setting the design,” she said. “And (Highways Minister Art Charbonneau) announced that the bridge construction was on hold. “We had enough money in our budget to complete the ac- quisitions. But remember, the minister has put the bridge on hold, he has not cancelled it.” Farrell said that an on-site open house will take place Aug. 14 and 15, when bids will be taken on the houses. “(The houses) are pretty sol- id,” she said. “We hope there is a good turn out.” ment fee, plus GST. Sign up today and you'll gain free access to 4 Canada’s largest airline, hotel and car rental frequent flyer network— plus a 4,000 mile first flight bonus. With Aeroplan’s™ impressive part- ner network, it’s easy to quickly build your Aeroplan™ account and cash in your bonus miles for free flights, free hotel accommodation and free car rentals. You'll earn Aeroplan™ miles every time you fly Air Canada, AirBC or any other Air Canada Connector ® airline, or enjoy selected services on the following world-class carriers: Austrian Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Sabena, Swissair, and Singa- pore Airlines. You'll also earn bonus miles every time you stay at one of 450 Aeroplan™ partner hotels or use the services of Avis, Budget or a Park N Fly facility. With over = 1,000,000 members, Aeroplan™ is one more reason why more Canadians fly Air Canada. The report states any subsequent wage increase the follow- ing two years is dependent on Shaw Cable’s negotiations on the Lower Mainland. . The new agreement also sees an improvement in employee training, new job classifications and Saturday shifting. Trail women get helping hand NEWS STAFF Women in Trail wanting to learn have been given a helping hand by the province. The Trail Continuing Education office has been given $9,900 by Women’s Equality Minister Penny Priddy to develop an ed- ucation outreach curriculum for women. The project will be designed upon identified issues relating to women’s learning goals, and will be delivered through six ses- sions based on the area curriculum. COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR 6th and N ber 7th, Casth Community Complex. Sponsored by Blueberry Creek Recreation Commission. New crafters are to please phone: L. Gallo, 365-3878 or Roz. Cook 365-3057. 4/60 WWWWWWWWWWWWWwwwWw www . or Europe for free: A 0 = MMMMMMMMMMMMMAMMMMMAMMMMMM Coming events of Castlegar and District non-profit organizations may be listed here. The first 15 words are $5 and additional words are 30¢ each. Boldfaced words (which must be used for headings) count as two words. There is no extra charge for a second insertion while the third consecutive insertion is half-price and the fourth and fifth consecutive insertions are only half price for the two of them. Minimum charge is $5 (whether ad is for one, two or three times). Deadlines are 5 p.m. Wednesdays for Saturday's paper and 5 p.m. Monday for Wednesday's paper. Noti should be brought to the Castlegar News at 197 Columbia Ave. COMMUNITY Fora free Aeroplan membership to a world of free ose this application form, printing clearly, |, Aeroplan Enrollment Centre, 6, Station A, Toronto, Ontario, M5W 1S8 Department Store 1217-3rd St., Castlegar 365-7782 WWWWWWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwww AN AIR CANADA CONNECTOR = WWWWWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwwwww ewsc ae