Wednesday, August 19, 1992 &@ Dave McCullough Publisher Scott David Harrison Editor Mickey Read Composing Room Foreman Warren Chernoff Accountant Mary Ann Fullerton Circulation Manager Burt Campbell Publisher Emeritus L.V. Campbell Aug. 7, 1947- Feb. 15, 1973 OurWiEWS Rounding the CURB It’s official — Castlegar city councillor Marilyn Mathieson is stepping down. Marilyn Mathieson handed in her resignation Tuesday, marking the end of a promising civic career. More than anyone else on the present council, Mathieson showed a dedication to the people of Castlegar. Her decisions were made with Castlegar in mind and its people in her heart — qualities that will be sadly missed by this community. As hard as it will be to replace Mathieson, who is relocating to the Lower Mainland, Castlegar voters will be given that opportunity on Oct. 17. The byeleetion — coupled with a referendum on a new RCMP building — is as big as they come. It marks the first time Castlegar status quo will be lobbied against. That opposition will be voiced by the Coalition Unaccepting Rash Bureaucracy — the.upstart citizens group which heated up Castlegar’s chilly winter. If nothing else, this byelection marks CURB’s coming out party. CURB, which has yet to select its candidate, must be viewed as a serious contender in the coming byelection. To the benefit of Castlegar and the bemusement of city council, CURB has managed to make changes from the outside looking in during its six-plus-months of political existence. CURB may not win this byelection, but at least it will provide voters with something radically different — a departure from the status quo. ry od SE ala ping foras If there’s one thing I love British Columbia map, I about my job, it’s meeting people. Be it in person or over the telephone, it’s one of the perks of this job that sf wouldn’t change for anything or anyone. There are a lot of colorful people in our community and that color comes shining through every time I come across them. I’d like to talk about one of those people now, if I may. His name is Terry Dalton. s.D.HARRISON Harrison Comparison really didn’t know what to expect when I took my first spin down Columbia Avenue. ; It didn’t help matters that two days before I loaded up my life in a Volkswagen Jetta, the Vancouver Sun and Vancouver Province both ran stories about high radon counts in Castlegar. That was a source of good- natured ribbing with the folks I left behind at White For those who don’t know Dalton — and I find that hard to believe — he is a local lawyer whose shy demeanor and big heart make him a pleasure to work with. Dalton was oné_of the first people I met when I moved to Castlegar last November. Truth be known, he was the first. Being new to the area, I wasn’t too sure what to think of this tiny little city called Castlegar. Besides being a dot on the Rock’s Peace Arch News who affectionately dubbed me Captain Radon. / Sick humor aside, I was tossed into a foreign community with no safety net. The staff of The News was great in helping me take the plunge into Castlegar living, but they really couldn’t give me the inside goods on this, that and the other thing. That was left to people like Terry Dalton. please see HARRISON page 7 | Street TALK Question: How much of your shopping ia Baynes Lake “Hardly any.” Kyla Hickey Nelson “I don’t shop here.” Castlegar “All of it.” dollar do you spend in Castlegar? Tilly Kamperma Castlegar “Just about all of Ralph Chalmers Castlegar “I do all niy it.” shopping here.” @ Wednesday, August 19, 1992 Other VIEWS | Please address all letters to: Letters to the Editor Castlegar News P.O. Box 3007 Castlegar, B.C. V1N 3H4 or deliver them to 197 Columbia Ave. Letters should be typewritten, double-spaced and not longer than 300 words. Letters MUST be signed and include the writer's first and last names, address and a telephone number at which the writer can be reached between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The writer's name and city or town of residence only will be published. Only in exceptional cases will letters be published anonymously. Even in those cases, the name, address and phone number of thé writer MUST be disclosed to the editor. The News reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity, legality, grammar Letters ‘coWHE EDITOR An open letter to the board of directors of B.C. Hydro: We are writing to express our deep concern and dismay regarding the low water levels on the Arrow Lake this summer According to press reports, B.C. Hydro and other officials are blaming these unacceptably low levels on the Columbia River Treaty and the low rainfall levels in B.C. and the U:S.A: , We simply do not accept these arguments as justification for this current. situation, especially when we hear that the water levels on the U.S. side are at or near normal levels for this time of year. We were further angered to learn that the water levels increased again last week and the lake is going to drop yet another foot. We feel very strongly that it is high time that a consultation and negotiation process be developed and implemented that will more evenly balance the needs and requirements of B.C. and U.S. communities and other users of this body of water. Kootenay communities must be included in the planning process and given more control over what happens to the lakes and river that are so much a part of the lives and the livelihoods of local residents. The Arrow Lake is a beautiful recreation area for local residents and tourists; it possesses extensive and productive sports fish stocks; it is the water supply for local communities and industries; it is the home of numerous waterbirds and animals which live on or near the water; it is a ‘Issues which were either ignored or not considered during the negotiation of the Columbia River Treaty are simply too important to be disregarded any longer.’ Contrary to recent statements by B.C. Hydro staff and others, the Arrow Lake is much more than just a reservoir to serve the needs of the United States and make some money for B.C. Hydro. Issues which were either ignored or not considered during the negotiation of the Columbia River Treaty are simply too important to be disregarded any longer. transportation corridor and it is potentially a source of hydroelectric power. The low water levels in the the lake and the unusually and unnecessarily high levels in the river downstream have discouraged local users and tourists and certainly has had environmental consequences which can only be guessed at. We know we speak for many people in this region when we Community must probe B.C. Hydro say that we would see your refusal to respond to this situation as .another huge betrayal of an area of B.C. that has long suffered from policies that ignore local needs. Many here will never forget or forgive the destruction of the farmland and communities along the Arrow Lake and the total disregard of local concerns when the Columbia River Treaty was negotiated and signed. We have some hope that you, as a newly-formed board of directors of B.C. Hydro will act immediately to assure us that we are being heard and taken seriously. We hope that a meaningful discussion will soon take place with all concerned along the Arrow Lake and Columbia River system as a first step to developing a more satisfactory approach to managing this important water system. We would appreciate a response to this letter at your earliest convenience. Ann and Bud Godderis, Castlegar about Russian people by the millions. Kar] Kristensen’s letter published in the Castlegar News (Aug. 8) is one Christians during the war were sending Jews to extermination camps Kristensen’s comments can’t go unquestioned Mi Letter writer sadly misinformed | Where were the so-called “freedom fighters” during World War II? No Russian came to Canada to fight Canadians, yet scores of countries of many anti-Russian letters or hate literature that constantly appears in our press. Kristensen’s language is clearly intended to stir hate against Russia so that the West can justify any military action against it. “Moscow Military Committee is allied with Islamic forces” is a lie, Kristensen. It was the Soviet Red Army which defeated fascism during World War II “Where were the so-called “freedom fighters” during World War II?’ When the ship St. Louis arrived on the shores of Canada with 900 Jews, our prime minister stated “the Jewish problem is not Canada’s problem”. As a result, these victims ended up in Nazi death camps. Hungary, the land invaded Russian land and sent goons to rape, murder and plunder Russians. Even Canada, when Sir Robert Borden was our prime minister, sent 6,000 troops and a squadron of Royal Northwest Mounted Police to help with the pillage. Besides the News, I hope this letter is published in Ivujivik, Que. — the town Where Kristensen wrote it. formed. and as a result the state of Israel was of the “freedom fighters” established a museum to the extinct Jewish race. \ Nick Verigin, Castlegar Harrison continued from page 6 . I met Dalton following my first editorial — one titled Ferry not forgotten. It was an easy editorial to write, after all, I was merely reminding the government that it made a promise and it better stick to it. Dalton, who was merely a name at this point, contacted to thank me for the coverage. It was the beginning of what was to become a mutually-beneficial relationship which grew to include several stories, editorials and commentaries. If you hadn't figured it out and taste. yet, Dalton is also the frontman for the Robson-Raspberry Ferry Users Ad Hoc Committee — a small band of vocal citizens who refuse to accept the loss of their cable ferry. I’ve always admired the ferry users for their tenacity — any group that can force a provincial government to explain itself scores points with me. The ferry users may have lost the battle, but they clearly. won the war. After all, if this pint- sized group didn’t kick up a fuss, the government would have gone ahead with plans to close four other inland ferry routes. Even today, Dalton et al refuse to rollover to Victoria’s penny-pinchers. The ferry users have taken their case to the B.C. Supreme Court, demanding that the NDP government live up to an election promise and restore services. for Robson :and Castlegar. That case is expected to be heard in October. Truth be known, I wish the ferry users luck, but I don’t expect the court to rule against the government, especially knowing the infamous Castlegar-Robson bridge is expected to be built sometime between now and the Year 2000. You must be wondering what what all the fuss with Terry Dalton is about. Well, it’s simple — Dalton suffered a mild heart attack last week. He is currently recovering’ in Castlegar and District Hospital. I extend my wishes for a speedy recovery to Terry Dalton. He’s one of the colorful people that help make this community what it is. He’s also one of the many people that helped make my transition to Castlegar life as enjoyable as it’s been.