14 Saturday, January 23, 1993 @ To: Tom Shaw, Jr. B Director B.C. Amateur Hockey Association From: Jonathan Green Castlegar News Dear Tom, Hi, how you doing? I’m pretty good myself. I’m writing to talk to you about a Castlegar fellow who wears his hockey heart on his sleeve, and it has landed him in a fair bit of hot water. I’m sure you know his name, seeing as it’s up to you to act as judge and ju- ry for the crime he’s committed. His name is Gordie Walker. It was a sunny Sunday in Golden, where the host Rockets were enter- taining the Castlegar Rebels in the second of a two-game Kootenay Inter- national Junior Hockey League series. The hosts knocked the Rebels off 6- 5 the day before in a hotly-contested contest, one that stretched Castlegar’s losing streak to five games. Coming out for Sunday’s game, the Rebels wanted no part of five becom- ing six and showed it early on when they lead 2-1 after one. Things stayed that way until Gold- en tied it up 11 minutes into the sec- ond period, a power play goal that had the Rebels running around like Nite Hawks (a little KIJHL humor) with their heads cut off. But rather than fold like they had in the weekend’s two previous games, Castlegar replied just 10 seconds lat- er en route to a 7-3 win. For the most part, it was cause to be happy. After all, the Rebels had just snapped a nasty losing streak in a con- vincing manner. But I don’t think happy would be a very good word to describe how my friend Gordie felt. It was early in the third period when Rocket Chad Cammock skated by the Rebels bench and did a little knick-knack-paddywhack on some of our guys helmets with his stick. Suffice to say this didn’t sit too well with Gordie. Thinking with his hockey heart rather than his hockey head, Gordie jumped down off his perch and chal- lenged the Golden goon to try it again. Thinking he was bluffing, Cam- mock accepted his challenge. Well, what happened next wasn’t the smartest thing coach Walker could have done, but it was one of those heat-of-the-moment things. Releasing some of the frustrations that had built up over the last little while, Gordie took a swing at Cam- mock but didn’t connect. Sure, a coach taking a poke at a player isn’t something to be taken lightly, and I’m sure you won't. But let’s take a closer look at that weekend and the events leading up to Sunday’s soiree. I think the best place to start would have to be the bus ride out to the East Kootenay Friday morning. Gordie hadn’t been off shift for too long when the bus headed out, and it couldn't have helped any when we had to take a detour. Normally, detours might cost you an hour or so at worst, but this one JonathanGREEN was closer to four. In all, the team took 10 hours to get to Invermere for a game against the Columbia Valley Rockies, the East Di- vision’s best team (that’s what we call an oxymoron). To make a long story short, the Rebels didn’t win and the post-game bus ride didn’t get us into Golden un- til 1 a.m. Saturday. Well, things looked a little brighter when everybody woke up, probably because the sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. After breakfast, Gordie and fellow coach Garry Sauer rounded up the troops and sat them down for about an hour-and-a-half, going over things they needed to work on. But when the team hit the ice that night, it was obvious those 90 minutes were pretty much a waste of time. The Rebels were down 2-0 within Putting my law school days to good use the first 10 minutes and never man- aged to take a lead of their own. It was nice to see them tie it with just over five minutes left in the third, but Golden spoiled that effort 25 sec- onds later with the go-ahead goal. Pressing like a team that had to win, the Rebels swarmed the Rockets in the dying seconds. Assessing the situation, Golden dumped it out, looking for the empty Rebel net at the other end. Well, they missed and the two lines- men (we'll call-them Curly and Moe for convenience sake) called an icing, bringing the face-off all the way back into Golden territory. But the ref (let’s call him Larry) overruled them and, for reasons un- known, faced it off at centre. To say Gordie didn’t like this would be a colossal understatement. In as many words, he went up one side of Larry and down the other, but it didn’t do him any good. The call stood and the Rebels lost. The writing was on the wall for something ugly to happen Sunday when Larry, Moe and Curly wore the zebra suits again, and this takes up to the Gordie incident. Although it didn’t look like it, coach Walker had the best interests of his players in mind and I'd like you to con- sider that and the way the weekend had gone when you determine the length of his suspension. Thanks. a Your pal, pes—.- CRHL gets interesting NEWS STAFF It’s nice to know in this world of change that some things stay the same, and one of those things is right here in Castlegar. A quick peek at the Castle- Shelt Banjo's CASTLEGAR RECREATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE {As of Jan. 20) Pressure Wash 21 Koot. Computers 21.10 9 Sports Centre GWe 22412 9 97 22 10 10 20. 6 12 gar Recreational Hockey League standings on Dec. 28 saw Woodland Park Shell on top, Banjo’s Pub on the bot- tom and the other three teams taking turns in second, third and fourth. A quick look at those same Gordie Walker held the hot hand for Pressure Wash, scor- ing three goals and assisitng on another while Dave Ter- hune chipped in with a pair of goals and a trio of assists. Chuck Lind had two goals and an assist for the Comput- Events & Kootens SS uth Come and see what we can do foryou... OPEN HOUSE 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m. — Tuesday, January 26, 1993 RDKB Building, Rossland Avenue, Trail, B.C. Convention Bureau @ Saturday, January 23, 1993 Nine to FIVE Your business is our business Neil Rachyski 365-7266 $15,000 WINDFALL Castlegar resident Shirley Sherstobitoff is $15,000 richer. She bought the Snowbank instant lottery ticket despite her husband's wishes. There’s no word on what the couple plans to do with the money. wcsB ADVICE A workers’ advisor from the Ministry of Labor and Consumer Services will be in Nelson Feb. 3. Injured workers or dependents will be able to get confidential advice on claims. The advisor is independent of the Workers Compensation Board. Phone 354-6104 to book an interview. TEAMS UP IBM has joined up with B.C. schools in an effort to develop students’ math and science skills. The project will include teacher training and will use leading-edge IBM hardware and software. Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER I often wondered how mail-order companies got my name and address. Further to that, I question why they send me the material they do. What is it that makes me a good prospect for buying encyclopedias or cooking wear? Sometimes it seems with all the unsolicited mail I receive I’m less of a prospect and more of a target. Last week I was sent material called “A Personal Wealth-Building Invitation From Gordon Pape.” It’s a sizable amount of information that came from Hume Publishing Company Limited in Georgetown, Ont. It delivers this great pep talk about how I, too, can live debt-free, own a home free and clear, and retire rich. All I have to do is buy an indefinite number of brochures that tell me how. The author is Gordon Pape. I don’t * know him from a hole in the wall but the literature states he is heard weekly on CBC, and is “Canada’s most widely followed personal finance commentator.” Fair enough. I’m sure Pape is rich, and he obviously wants me to add to his coffers. What grabbed my attention was the way the publishing firm had printed my address — and the link to another mail-order company was obvious. About five months ago I called Time-Life Video to order “The Best of Saturday Night Live” series. The company screwed up my mailing address and I was surprised the videos actually found their way to me. I had told Time-Life to send it to: Neil Rachynski c/o The Castlegar News P.O. Drawer 3007 Castlegar, B.C. VIN 3H4 In fact, Time-Life mailed the videos to: Neil Rachynski P.O. Drawer C O Castle Apt. 3007 Castlegar, B.C. V1N 3H4 Well, Hume Publishing used precisely the same address to send ‘their wealth- building kit to me and the link was undeniable. Time-Life list manager Rob Small wouldn’t confirm that Hume Publishing got my name from Time-Life, but did say the two companies have conducted business for a numbe: of years. Speaking from Time-Life’s offices in Richmond, Va., Small said selling lists can be lucrative. “For a one-time use it can cost from $80 to $100 per 1,000 names,” Small said. He would not disclose how much of Time- Life’s revenue was generated from selling its customers’ names and addresses. But Small said the company is prepared to grant its clients’ wishes if they ask to be taken off their mailing lists. “We build suppression files, we’re sensitive to people’s wishes,” Small said. “It costs us money to mail-out material. We appreciate it when people tell us they don’t want the mail.” He said the more recent your mail-order purchase, the better chance you have of finding yourself on someone else’s lists. You become a hotline name. That’s what happened to me. Demographics weren't an issue, while timing was. That explains why Hume Publishing sent a wealth-building kit to some guy who would pay to watch reruns of John Belushi dress up like Beethoven and sing “What'd I Say.” But Small said privacy is a big issue, and that stricter privacy laws in Canada are making it increasingly difficult to conduct business in this country. What is Canada Post’s role in this? None, according to their communications manager, Doug McClelland. “Canada Post doesn’t get involved in the brokerage of lists,” McClelland said. “In the United States they have a much more dvanced direct mail history.” McClelland said people in the U.S. , receive three to five times more of such mail than residents in Canada. And he said incentives have a significant impact. “To send an addressed piece of mail (in Canada) you wouldn’t get a discount. In the States you would get a considerable discount,” McClelland said. For those sick and tired of this kind of mail, there’s relief in sight. The Canadian Direct Marketing Association, which makes up 80 per cent of the industry, has just announced what it calls “the most advanced self-regulatory privacy protection program of its kind anywhere in the world.” The initiative will allow customers to stop the transfer of their name to another company simply by checking an appropriate reply box on material they are sent. By the way, I cancelled the video series from Time-Life, and Gordon Pape is going to have to build his empire with somebody else’s money. Finally — a gli Two thumbs up for the City glimmer 0 of Castlegar. Council should be applauded for the efforts it city meetings. f hope from city council] Bureaucracy are a mainstay at John Coyle, president of the Even the budget for capital projects has been given due care and attention. By striking standings on Jan. 20 shows that not much has changed. Shell is still first, Banjo’s is still last and the other three teams continue to play musi- cal chairs. Monday, Castlegar Presure Wash made a big move to challenge Shell for top spot when they shaded the Koote- nay Computers 6-5. made with Monday’s 1993 proposed budget meeting. The gathering was well prepared, articulate and most of all, open to the public process. The mayor was present, and five of the councillors were on hand to explain some of the financial details of their portfolios. Coun. Doug Green couldn’t make it because he had prior commitments. The city administrator, treasurer and fire chief were also present. And to top it off, two representatives from the B.C. Assessment Authority helped with the presentation. It was a well organized event that was well attended by the city. Too bad the same can’t be said for local residents. up a committee to deal solely with proposed plans, such as city hall renovations, council has shown a capacity for making prudent decisions. But the public hasn’t embraced these precedent setting moves and _ it’s frustrating. OK, the subject material is dry. Wading through budget figures and tax rates may not justify missing an episode of Seinfeld, but these are decisions that have a direct impact on our lives. It’s a shame when we don’t grab the chance to give direct input. At any rate, it appears we're on our way to a responsible 1993 budget. The first clue on Monday was the apple fritters and long johns that were cut in one-half rations for the public. Castlegar and District Heritage Society, knows a good forum when he sees one. In his request for more funding from the city, he introduced himself by saying, “hello, my name is John Coyle, and I’m with the Castlegar Hysterical Society.” Witty, John is, but smart too. He had the attention of two newspapers, a radio station, the cable TV station and six elected members of council. He couldn’t have called a better news conference if he tried. That’s why the city is now holding such meetings. While regular council sessions are largely a time for the public to see what council is doing, these meetings are council’s chance to see what the public is thinking. The company has already done similar activities in Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. There's no word on the cost of the program. ers while Perry Hyson scored (Downstairs Across from the Chamber Office) once with a couple of assists. With the win, Pressure Wash moved to within two points of league-leading Shell while the Computers stayed tied for third with Castlegar Sports Centre, 7-5 losers to Banjo’s Tuesday. Shell faces Pressure Wash Monday. Refreshments will be served! Planning an event, convention, meeting or tournament? We have FREE products and services to assist you. Contact the Kootenay South Events & Convention Bureau.... 202-843 Rossland Avenue, Trail, B.C. V1R 4S8 « Tel. (604) 368-3312 ROSSLAND WARFIELD « TRAIL * MONTROSE * FRUITVALE - ax ae The Bottom For over a year now the city has been chastised for not being open enough with its taxpayers. Well, council put its best foot forward, and they were met with general apathy. Only 26 people showed up. The regulars, of course, were there. Members of the Coalition Unaccepting Rash iJRACHYNSKI Ne