Page A2 The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, November 22, 1995 Negligence charges dismissed against Slocan Valley pair KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff Two Slocan Valley men have been acquitted of negligence charges in connection with the death of a Glade teen. Crescent Valley residents Jason Popoff and Patrick Tomlin were charged with criminal negligence causing death following a two-vehi- cle collision March 5, 1994, The crash claimed the life of 16-year-old Jolene Ozeroff. Justice S. Enderton handed down the not guilty verdicts Nov. 15 in Nelson Supreme Court ‘Tomlin was the driver of a vehicle in which Ozeroff was a passenger. Popoff was the driver of the other vehicle, The two vehicles collided near Highways 3A and 6 at Playmor Junction. The two were charged last December following an eight-month RCMP investigation. Leon Soukeroff, a passenger in Popoff's vehicle, had also been charged with criminal negligence causing death, But crown stayed his charges during a hearing in August ‘As KAREN KERKHOFF _ Sun Staff Castlegar firefighters were put on red alert Monday after a 1,000-gallon propane tank spilled its contents after rolling down a hill at'Celgar Pulp. Castlegar fire chief Gerry Rempel! said the department received a call at 12:01 p.m. from the Celgar Pulp fire depart- ment advising him a tank had rolled down a 15-20 foot embankment at the mill site. Because of the potential seri- ousness of the leak, both the north and south firehalls responded to the call and remained on standby at both fire- halls and Pope and Talbot, which was upwind from the leak. “We secured the area until Propane representatives arrived ~ ae a Ready For Action - Castlegar firefighters were on full and assessed the situation and BOVE FF FOF” “Be CARNATIONS ? with this coupon determined whether to move the tank or, not,” explained Rempel. “He assessed it to be empty.” Upon notification, the Fire Commissioner's office in Cran- brook also advised evacuation of the immediate area, including 800 metres downwind or east of the leak. Luckily, said Rempel, winds were brisk and the propane dis- persed quickly. Jim McLaren, Celgar’s tech- nical services manager, said the woodroom effluent pump and immediate roadway area were cleared of people until 4 p.m. when the propane had dispersed and the danger passed. McLaren said he believes the tank was full when it rolled and said it’s uncertain how the tank came to rest down the embank- ment. He assured that an internal team of investigators will “get to the root to find out what caused it to roll." Propane leak draws caution Wednesday, November 22, 1995 The Castlegar Premier's resignation surprises - TRENT BANCARZ Sun Editor Rossland-Trail’s NDP MLA has yet to decide who he'll Support to replace Premier Mike Harcourt. “It (Harcourt’s resignation) has been a shock to us all,” said Ed Conroy..“"No one has come forward at this point and to tell you the truth, I haven't even thought of who might replace the premier.” Premier Harcourt announced last Wednesday he will not seek re-election and will be stepping down both as premier and NDP leader. Harcourt will stay on until the party picks a new leader, likely in February. Harcourt said provincial politics has taken a toll on his personal and family life and the main reason he's stepping down is “to return to my wonderful family and to my personal life.” Harcourt, a former Vancouver mayor, served as party leader for nine years. Aside from the personal reasons stated, Conroy said he believes Harcourt also resigned to deflect attention away from the party caused by the Nanaimo bingo scandal, “TI think it was a gutsy move by the premier,” said Conroy. “He'd become the lightning rod for the scandal, I think he felt he may have been a liability for the party heading into the next election. I think he wanted the focus to shift back to the govern- ment's accomplishments and away from the scandal “He certainly was under no tremendous internal pressure to resign.” Conroy added the NDP government under Har- court has ac Pp d much including a robust economy, deficit reduction and the lowest per-capita debt of all provinces, while keeping a high level of services in place. “T think the premier can walk away with his head held high,” said Conroy. “I think the work we've started has to go on. We should not allow a (Ontario Conservative premier) Mike Harris-stvle govern- ment to come into B.C." Police officer has close call Officer almost hit The driver’s name was not between nearby houses. RCMP alert during the propane leak. SUN STAFF PHOTO Karen Kerkhoft 2 ozenFor'si197 ¢ Central health laundry postponed (regular $13.97) While Quantities Last 1502-G Columbio Plazo, Columbio Ave., Costlegor 365-3056 ( : d Dertratt Pari Sts fun CAA COCT YON. VELOIOCAN ‘lop tn 7 ‘TRENT BANCARZ Sun Editor The regional hospital district has postponed plans for a centralized laundry facility, At their meeting Saturday in Nelson, Cen- tral Kootenay Regional Hospital District directors voted to put off the $1.5 million pro- posal so it may be studied in greater depth. The proposal calls for centralizing laundry services in Nelson for the region's hospitals and other care facilities, some of which are current- ly outside the hospital district boundaries, The CKRHD would put up 40 per cent of the money with rest coming from the province and each of the district's individual hospitals, Facilities outside the district would use the F toto source From Home Goods & LA-Z-BOY Our Inventory Is Up! Our Prices Are Down! LA-Z-BOY r140LA laundry on a fee-for-service basis. Director Hans Cunningham said Nelson was chosen because current facilities at its hospital could be adapted for the least cost. In P to i from other di Ss, Cunningham said hospitals in both Trail and Castlegar would have to undergo extensive ham. “This will save money.” Ciinningham admitted an option is to wait until a regional health authority is in place and then have it fund the facility. Some directors questioned whether Nel- SON was geog ically central igh to have the facility. But Director Gerald Roter- and/or i to the lai \ au h: added ing i such q as “p ism” and said directors must think in a more i mindset. gh izing services is in keeping with B.C. Health’s plans to switch facility governance to regional health boards. He said facilities currently outside the dis- trict's boundaries, such as Trail, may soon be under one regional health authority roof. “It’s coming and this is the most efficient way to provide the service,” said Cunning- >to source F tor e F toto source Dortraits & F foto source i a Cameras Lid. x : There’s never been a better time to save .. . “We can't look at this parochially,” he said. “We can’t sit around this table and say ‘it's not going into my town, so I’m not voting for it.’ If it’s something we need, let’s build the damn thing and get on with it.” Directors may vote on the issue again at their meeting next month. Arthur Thomas On Saturday, Nov. 11, 1995, Arthur Edward Thomas of Castlegar passed away at the interment of cremains to take place at a later date. Mr. Thomas was bom Aug. 19, 1910 at Armstrong, B.C. where he grew up until moving to Rossiand as a young man in 1932. He married Martha Mar- jorie Boyden in 1936 and had one daughter, Diana Thomas. in 1959, he moved to Castle gar and married Myrtle Olive Wolfe. During his life he worked for Cominco from 1938 until retirement in 1973. Mr. Thomas was a chancellor and member of the Knights of Pythias and enjoyed fishing and outdoor photography. He is survived by one daugh- ter, Diana Thomas of Encino, Califomia. Mr. Thomas was predeceased by his wife Myrtle Olive and one sister, Ruth Read. In teu of flowers, Const. Eileen Scholten of the Castlegar RCMP almost became a statistic while investigating a motor vehicle accident early Sun- day morning. Cpl. Al Hudema says Scholten was at the scene of an accident near the Brilliant Dam when a vehicle speeding by at a high rate of speed almost struck her. Police pursued the vehicle and apprehended a 26-year-old Cres- cent Valley woman. The woman will appear in Castlegar Provin- cial Court Jan. 25 to face alcohol- related charges. released Const. injured. Return to sender Police are investigating two incidents last Friday in which Ganada Post mail boxes were d. formal charges. Scholten was not The first incident occurred when someone threw a mail drop box from Arrow Lakes Drive and Ferry Street over a bank. The other incident involves a mail box from the corner of Sth Avenue and 6th Street. The box had been stolen and then dumped Say it’s undetermined if the two incidents are related. Police con- tinue to investigate. Investigating RCMP are investigating a sin- gle vehicle accident which sent three people to hospital. A 17- year-old South Slocan resident apparently lost control of his vehicle and collided with a utility pole. The accident, which hap- pened Nov. 19 near the Brilliant Dam, caused $10,000 damage. The driver and two passengers being taken to hospital with undetermined injuries. Petty theft up, assault down - report KAREN KERKHOFF cane Sun Staff concerned. Petty crime is going up, but people are leaving their There’s good news and bad news for the City of Castlegar and local RCMP. A recent protective services report submitted to city council indicates a city suffering grow- ing pains. Staff Sgt. Kerry Solinsky of the Castlegar RCMP said the rise incrime is mostly in petty crime areas such as theft from vehicles, ‘He said most petty crimes are preventable. “I think the residents should be ked and stuff lay- ing around.” While some crimes are on the rise, such as impaired driving (which has almost doubled in fre- quency), other crimes like assaults have decreased dramati- cally since September of 1994. Solinsky said although it appears impaired driving is increasing, the reality is the RCMP are becoming . more aggressive in removing drunk drivers from the roads. “We're doing more enforce- LOCAL CRIME STATS A look at crime in Castlegar and Area, as of September 30, 1995 Assaults Break & Enter Theft of Motor Veh. 5 Theft Over $1000 Theft from Motor Veh. Shoplifting [> <>< Thefts Under $100 may be made to the charity of your choice. Cremation arrangements were Ee cipleghetentd F toto source F toto source F toto source under the direction of the Castlegar Funeral Chapel FUNERAL NOTICE HELEN SHELFONTIUK passed away Now. 19, 1995 at the age of] @ im Castegar. Helen was bom in Regina, Sask. oa June 8, 1926. She came to (Casthegar where she raised ber family, which she felt was her greatest achievement. She is survived by her husband Nick. ber soa Keith (Roxanne), her four daughters Sharoe (Bill) Arnett, Rhoads (Jack) Swetlishoff, Andrea (Stewart) McCullagh and Holly (Richan) Smith all of Castlegar, her tea aad cee great She is also remembered by her five brothers Arsold Ritter of Scarborough, (Ou... Engese Ritter of Regias, Gordoa Rimer of Regina, Clareace Ritter of and Glen Riner of Surrey, and iher six sisters Eileen Grad of North Sask Cauca Jamskewrch of Regina, Gladys Robiason of Calgary, Loraine Karyszko of Kamloops. Doris (Christasen of Sarrey sed ber twin sister | Willful Damage Liquor Seizures Balak Written Warnings j Hit & Run Mtr, Veh, Acc. Impaired Drivers Total of Lost & Found items | > 41> b> ih > 137 ment and checking more cars.” Crimes on the rise are: + Theft of motor vehicles; from 16 to 17. + Theft from motor vehicles; from 71 to 85. + Theft under $1,000; from 192 to 231. + Willful damage; from 133 to 178. * Liquor seizures; up to 102 from 82. * Traffic tickets; up to 589 from 509. wy + Written warnings; up to 700 from 629. + Impaired driving; up to 58 from 34. Assaults have decreased to 64, down from 81 last year, as have break and enters which decreased to 37, down from 71 in 1994. Also on the decrease are; + Thefts over $1,000; down to nine, from 21 last year. + Hit and runs; down to 45 from 61. GRAND OPENING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 CO, | books and calendars Biiea Martino of Over, B.C. as weil as If you play hockey, save big now! The doors close Nov. 25th! imtrnmeat to follow ia Park Memorial (Cemetery, with Pastor Ira Jokason officiating. Donations © the B.C. 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