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Moy’. 1988 CastlégarNews 43

B.C. Briefs

Gym roof unsafe

VICTORIA (CP) — Students and faculty must
stay out of the University of Victoria gymnasium after
a ruling by engineers that the structure is unsafe.

Until repairs are made, the building will stay
empty, University president Howard Petch said he
will seek funds from the provincial government for the
work.

The discovery follows the collapse of a parkade
roof at a new Save-On-Foods supermarket in the
Vancouver suburb of Burnaby last Saturday.

Harcourt woos

VANCOUVER (CP) — Opposition Leader Mike
Harcourt is trying to win the support of British
Columbia's mining industry, which is still leery after
its experience in the 1970s under B.C.’s only New
Democratic Party government.

Harcourt told the Canadian Institute of Mining
and Metallurgy in Vancouver that a Harcourt govern-
ment would tax the industry fairly.

The NDP leader said only profits would be taxed
under_a system that would fluctuate with revenues
and production costs.

Premier backed

LAC LE JEUNE, B.C. (CP) — Premier Bill
Vander Zalm may be criticized by. party members over
his handling of such issues as abortion and the sale of
the Expo lands in Vancouver but he is solidly backed
by British Columbia Young Socreds.

At their annual convention at this community
near Kamloops, about 40 Young Socreds passed a
unanimous vote of confidence in Vander Zalm — both
as party leader and premier.

Outgoing young Socred president David Janis
accused the media of conducting a vendetta against
the premier and insisted he knows nothing of a drive
to unseat the premier from within the party.

Major development

VANCOUVER (CP) — A second major develop
ment has been proposed for the Vancouver waterfront
and will go to city planners within two weeks, say
officials of Marathon Realty.

The redevelopment comes on the heels of Wed-
nesday's announcement of the $2 billion Pacific Place
project for the 84-hectare former site of Expo 86.

The latest project will be across the main business
district from Pacific Place and stretch along Burrard
Inlet from the Bayshore Hotel on the edge of Stanley
Park to the sail-topped Canada Place.

Police searching

VANCOUVER (CP) — The first program in
Canada to regularly screen women over the age of 40
for breast cancer has been developed by the provincial
Health Ministry and the Cancer Control Agency of
British Columbia.

The pilot program, which will use an X-ray of the
breast tissue called mammography to screen for early
tumors, is scheduled to commence July 1 for
Vancouver-area women. The government and the
cancer agency are not releasing specific details of the
project until a Monday news conference.

Program developed

VICTORIA (CP) -- Suburban Saanich police
began draining and raking a settling pond behind a
poultry processing plant Friday, looking for evidence
in the disappearance of Marguerite Telesford.

The pond, about 25 metres wide and 114 metres
deep, is one of three used for plant effluent

Police Insp. Dave McGregor said the pond
draining was a search for evidence, “onewf a number
of follow-up investigations being conducted.”

Telesford, a 20-year-old University of Victoria
student, disappeared Jan. 18, 1987, while on an early
morning jog. Neighbors reported hearing shots, but
only her blood-stained earmuffs were found.

Scott MacKay, 25, was charged April 20 with
first-degree murder.

.
‘Fringe’ support
KAMLOOPS (CP) — Premier Bill Vander Zalm
draws his support from the lunatic fringe, and that
could split the Social Credit party, says the former
leader of British Columbia's New Democrats.
Vander Zalm grabbed onto the right-wing
extremists at the Socreds’ leadership convention more
than two years ago, Bob Skelly said in an interview
before a speech to about 125 NDP supporters.
“There is a substantial block of Social Credit
delegates to any convention that are kind of the
rubber-room, lunatic-fringe block,” Skelly said. “I
think (Economie Development Minister) Grace Mc-
Carthy controls that block.
“They're the same group that a few years ago
presented a resolution to the Social Credit convention
saying that they should circumcise rapists.”

Garbage crisis

VICTORIA (CP) — Environment Minister Bruce
Strachan says the province is on the verge of a major
garbage crisis because it's running out of places to put
the trash.

British Columbia generates more than two million
tonnes of solid waste a year, about two kilograms per
person per day, Strachan said as he released the
results of a waste disposal survey.

Wheelchair tour a challenge

By RON NORMAN
Editor

Rick Hansen can quit worrying; I'm no threat to him
in a wheelchair. I found that out Thursday morning at the
invitation of the Castlegar Disabled Needs Advisory
Committee.

The committee was looking for someone to wheel
around the streets of Castlegar as part of May 1 Ability
Awareness Day. That is the day Castlegar council set
aside to honor Hansen's arrival in Castlegar last year on
his round-th ld wheelchai

Last year Mayor Audrey Moore did a similar wheel-
chair tour of Castlegar, and after my little jaunt through
town I know why they couldn't get her to do it again this
year. It's tough! And I don't just mean the physical
wheeling, though that’s no cakewalk on some of our
streets.

It's also the sense of being in a wheelchair; of being
so conspicuous. ‘And you're a lot sharter than everyone
else. My neck started to get a kink in it after looking up so
long.

* can also understand why Hansen had a special
rapport with children — they were at his level and he was
at theirs’. They could literally see each other eye-to-eye.

As for the tour, cracks in the sidewalk began to look
like the Grand Canyon and the curb on the railway bridge
leomed about 10-feet high. As I struggled to steer the
darned thing, I had a fear I would catch an edge and

» topple into the middle of Columbia Avenue.

Coming off the bridge into downtown Castlegar is
simple enough, thanks to the ramp at the end of the
sidewalk. But trying to cross the road and get up onto the
sidewalk beside Bonnett’s is a different story. There was
no way to lift the front end of my chair over the curb. I
finally got up and out of the chair and lifted it myself.

I hear that’s a common complaint ‘by wheelchair
users: You can go only so far before you're stuck.

Wheeling through downtown is actually pretty easy.
But getting in and out of stores isn't. It takes some
spevial manoeuvring to pull-open the door and wheel
through it all at once — especially if it's a tight entrance-
way.
° Without a doubt, one of the easiest entranceways in
town is the post office, thanks to a new wheelchair ramp
on 2nd Street. There's only one problem: the ramp
leading up from the crosswalk to the sidewalk is so steep
and bumpy I just about didn't make it up. (That, by the
way, is the same ramp our illustrious mayor lost it on last
year).

Heading back towards the Castlegar News I quickly
found hills that weren't there before. That's another
thing aBout wheelchairs: every incline is more than
obvious.

I can also understand why Hansen's shoulders and
arms were so huge. They do plenty of work.

I finally returned safely to the Castlegar News,
though I didn’t try to work my way up the steps into the
building. It's an impossibility.

I understand a lot more about wheelchairs and the

ON THE MOVE. . ..CasNews editor Ron Norman
wheels his way out of the Castlegar post office
Post office has newly-installed wheelchair ramp,

moking it one of the most accessible buildings in
town for disabled residents

osNewsPhoto by Brendon Nogle

people who use them after

seeing “it from their

perspective. I also know now why we don't see all that

many around our streets.

FERRY

continued from front page
route, via the Kinnaird bridge, adds 20
kilometres to a round trip, he said.

Vanderpol said eliminating the
ferry would interrupt valuable regional
services such as the provincial am.
bulance, mutual fire protection, meals
on wheels and homemakers.

“All of these people will now have
to travel around,” lie suggested.

Vanderpol noted that area resi-
dents must pay for the Coquihalla
Highway, so it is only fair that the rest
of the province share in the cost of the
ferry.

Vanderpol heard about the ferry
decision Wednesday evening and called
an emergency meeting with area resi-
dents that night.

He said a petition and letter-writ-
ing campaign are in the works. As well,
he said residents plan to ask for the
support from various area organiza-
tions, such as the chamber of commerce
and the Castlegar and District De-
velopment Board.

He said residents intend to pre-
sent a brief to Rogers outlining reasons
why the ferry should remain under the
jurisdiction of the provincial Highways
Ministry.

Mayor Audrey Moore called the
move to transfer responsibility “abso-
lutely deplorable” and added that the
High Ministry is ing its
responsibility to provide “reasonably
convenient” access.

The AKBM resolution Saturday
noted that the Highway 3 and
Highway 22 interchange in Castlegar is
already fully loaded with traffic and the

existing truck traffic through Castle
gar makes it difficult for passenger
cars.

It also points out that the transit
service Rogers mentions is a single bus
which takes 40 minutes to travel
between Castlegar and Robson.

Rossland-Trail MLA Chris D'Arcy
also objects to the ministry proposal
and told Rogers that Thursday.

“Rogers backtracked,” D'Arcy
told the Castlegar News. He said
Rogers indicated the province only
wants to discuss transfer of respon-
sibility, and doesn't intend to force
anything on local governments.

“Essentially it's an open question,”
D'Arcy said.

He noted that he plans to discuss
the ferry issue again with Rogers on
Monday.

D'Arcy defended the ferry, noting
that it is the second most used fresh
water ferry in the province.

CHRIS D'ARCY

DO

continued from front page

Romano said the injury to Josh's
jaw was by far the worst injury the boy
suffered in the attack.

“I've never seen a broken jaw
before and I never want to'see one
again,” she said. “Everything was out
of place.”

The boy will be making frequent
trips back to the hospital to have his
injuties examined over the next four to
six weeks, and right now Romano isn't
sure how well Josh will recover from
his injuries.

“There's no guarantee,” she said.
“Our main hope for the future is that
his jaw is alright and his (adult) teeth
grow in straight. It'll take a few years
before we know for sure.

Romano said she is relieved her
son came through the ordeal and added
she isn’t sure if the family will pursue
the matter.

's health; we can't
think of anything else right now.”

TASK FORCE
TO EXAMINE
TAX BENEFIT

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — A task force will examine the criteria
for determining which northern and isolated community
residents will qualify for housing and travel tax benefits,
Minister of Finance Michael Wilson announced.

A northern benefit package introduced in December
1987 was originally set to benefit only communities of less
than 10,000 people north of the 60th parallel. People
living in eligible communities can receive tax deductions
of up to $225 a month for individuals or $450 a month for
families. Deductions provide for up to two vacation trips
per year and all medical-related travel provided by the
employer.

Wilson recognized borderline problems would arise
between locations that qualify and nearby locations that
do not.

“I believe that the question of an appropriate
boundary is a legitimate one for the task force to
address,” Wilson said.

“Pending the report of the task force, I am
introducing interim measures to complement the rules
applying to residents north of the 55th parallel.”

The regulations defining the eligibility of residents of
areas on or between the 55th and 60th parallels will be
amended so that those who currently do not qualify will
be eligible for the housing and travel deductions in 1987.

Wilson wants the task force to consult extensively
with residents of affected regions across Canada and to
file a report by October 31, 1989. t

Land acquired
to protect elk

Police file

Castlegar RCMP and “The mother left a little
Castlegar firefighters attend- three or four-year-old in the
ed a minor car fire at Central car and he was playing with

AIR TEAMS

continued from front pege

All Albertan participants are members of that
province's Civilian Air Reseue Emergency Service (CARES)
while the B.C. aviators belong to the Provincial Emergency
Program (PAP). Both organizations belong to the national
Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA).

Hall says CASARA was formed about two years ago.

“The federal government. recognized that civilians, if
properly trained, will'save them from” dispatching expen:
sive military aircraft for searches.

CASARA is a volunteer organization which receives
some funding for the maintenance and fuel for the planes.

“We volunteer our own private aircraft,” said Hall.

Asked why he became involved in search and rescue,
Hall said, “Those of us who fly aireraft of our own readily

Foods store parking lot matches,” Castl

Tuesday. The car sustained Chief Bob Mann explained.
minor damage to the front Firefighters extinguished
seat on.the passenger side. the fire with a dry chemical

There were no injuries. fire extinguisher.

1 that al aviation is fairly safe, it might be
one of us down in the bush one day.”

Because one zone from B.C. didn't enter the
competition, the Kootenay zone will enter two search and
rescue teams.

The Kootenay zone is also sending an “airborne
communications platform,” says Hall. The aircraft will make
communications possible for the search and rescue planes in
the air during the competition.

“Communication by air in the mountains—is. very

“difficult,” said Hall, adding it is easier to communicate with

another plane than with the ground.

Entering the competition are: Leo Sommers of Castle-
gar, who is owner and commander of a Cessana 182;
navigator Don McKinnon of Procter; spotter Richard Vare
of Nelson; and spotter Robert Haack of Castlegar.

oss Baybrook of Cranbrook, will command a Cessana

182; Bob Peacock will be navigator; Bean Berlingham will be
one spotter; and Felicia Fator will be another spotter.

The airborne communications plane will be a Cessana
177 Cardinal flown by Mickey Dupuis of Trail and the first
officer will be Ken McLean of Trai

Hall says there are standby lists in case someone is
unable to attend the competition.

VANCOUVER (CP) — The
Nature Trust of British Col-
umbia has acquired a long
strip of land along the west
side of Columbia Lake to
protect prime elk and déer
habitat in the Kootenays.

Executive director Ron
Erickson said the trust
bought about 1,900 hectares
from Crown Forest Indust-
ries for $400,000. The comp-
any donated an additional 290
hectares.

“We've been trying to
semble large tracts like this
for sme time, and this area
has very high wintering cap-
ability, especially for elk and
mule deer,” Erickson said.

Forest fires that went
through the Canal Flats area

in 1985 burned off the
southern end of the property,
but Erickson said the blaze
encouraged the growth of
shrubs which wildlife such as
deer browse on.

He-said Crown has done
selective logging at the
northern end, but that type
of logging opened up the
forest canopy and also en-
couraged shrubs.

Court news
———

In Castlegar provincial
court this week, Roderick
MacKinnon was fined $400
for driving while impaired.

TRADE FAIR...
Hundreds of people
decended on the
Community Complex
yesterday to look

at all the exhibits at
the West Kootenay
Trade Fair. (Top right
picture from left to
right) Ferns Bale, Mary
Fair and Louise Fair
show some of their
handicrafts. ata
Trade Fair booth.

INTERESTING ITEMS
«+A Trade Fair booth
operator (middle ngn)
hustles his merchandise
to int ted customers.
Two Trade Fair
enthusiasts (bottom
right) swap stories at
the outboard motor
display. An entertainer
(bottom left) gets a Cub
Scout to hold up some
spinning plates.
Dwayne Chaffee
(middle left) creams
some fudge on a table
at the Trade Fair.
CovNewsPhotos by Brendon Nagle