1 ‘ ® q ¢ § ¢ 1 6 ¢ ‘ f é f § t t t ea Te eN eS on : Page 2A. TT Te NINN RENO Grany ew Wednesday, August 26,.1992 Vour satistaction is our main concern 12 pack * Reg. or Diet. ¢ plus‘Deposit 3° ¢ plus assorted flavours (gov inagph pork © fresh © rib or tenderioin boneless Pork loin roasts kg 8.11 7 leh poy + Coa ly «Sin. Bw fresh stewing hens fresh pork loin halves gov't. inspt. pork © rib or tenderloin end kg 4.14 Selkirk graduate flying new Conair Firecat BRENDAN HALPER Sun staff Most Castlegar residents are familiar with the sound of Fire- cats lifting off from the airport-the unmuffled piston engines roaring as they carry hundreds of gallons of retardant to forest fire targets throughout the region. There was a new type of Firecat stationed at the airport, a quieter, faster, more Turbo Fire- cat from Conair Aviation, the same folks who built the original bird. Selkirk Aviation graduate Tim Paul is the pilot with the honour of flying the new Firecat on its operational Western Canadian debut during the 1992 fire sea- son. The Turbo Firecat is basical- ly an updated version of the original, with easier to maintain turbine engines. Turbine engines allow for faster take-off, climb- ing and cruising speeds that are 25 per cent faster than the piston engine Firecat. “I'm also equiped with oxy- gen,” said Paul. “I fly at 16,000 feet sometimes.” The piston engine Firecat only flies at 6-8,000 feet—oxygen is needed after 10,000 feet. Unlike the original, the Turbo model can fly in poor weather, and advanced avionics including the satellite- based Global Positioning System (GPS) allow for optimum naviga- tion. Of the eight Turbo Firecats built so far in Abbotsford by Conair, seven were sent to France, leaving one for trial use in Canada. | BAIN THE SUV Wednesday, August 26, 1992 The Castlegar Sun Improvements to railway crossi Sun Staff not to mention worrying abdut the sibilities of a train corbing Improvements to Cast legar's railway crossings will soon be more than just talk, according to the City of Castlegar and the Canadian Pacific Railway. The three Crossings have been criticized for the deep and rough crevices which make: crossing by wheelchair a less than pleasant experience. “It's embarrassing trying to push yourself oat of the tracks— around the corner. I don't know what I would do then,” said '§1- year old Dan Bush, in an earlier interview. Bush, -who suffers from Multi- ple Sclerosis, has been making phone cails to both the city and CP’ in am attempt to make..the rail- way crossing more safe and con- venient for people in wheelchairs. Earlier in August, city and CP officials met together to discuss the problemis, and find a sohition Kirsten’ Mason wow KIRSTEN MASON Housing for se niors a major problem in Castlegar? BRENDAN HALPER Sun staff + Fleetwood black forest Schnieders eye of round — pastrami = 99. 19 Schnieders hone ham : 99. french bread 987 9. loaf apple 8 inch © 680g. Ovenfresh © white © whole wheat © 4-loaf pack unsliced bread 454 g. loaf California grown © no. 1 green seedless grapes kg 1.52 69. —— turnout at the breakfast which honoured him—but he ‘ear-old New Brunswick native was the honoured Police investigating three-vehicle accident Sun Staff “See our flyer in the Weekend *. rT turd y iG D PLAZA oe + ot unt! CASTLEAIR 365-2412 Shopper" On August 19 at 1:35 p.m. Castlegar RCMP attended a three-vehicle accident in the 1700 block of Columbia Avenue. A 16 year-old Castlegar youth was riding his motorcycle and stopped behind a vehicle which was turning left off Columbia Avenue. A car driven by a 21 year-old Castlegar female Gaetano Der- mody struck the rear of the motorcycle, pushing it into the left-turning vehicle. Total vehi- cle damage is estimated at $1,500. Charges are pending. The most urgent concer for Castlegar's senior citizens ts housing, says local Senior's Action Committee volunteer coordinator Elma Maund “Housing is at the top of the list,” said Maund. “Many of our seniors have nowhere to go but out of town. It does not exist in Castlegar. She said there are waiting lists for public housing in Castlegar. “Creston is actively pursuing that market—Castlegar is doing nothing.” However, Castlegar resi- dents, senior citizen or not, will get a chance to voice concerns of area seniors at a public forum to be held September 10. The public is encouraged to attend the Senior's Advisory Council Public Forum at the Fireside Motor Inn banquet room from 1:30-3 p.m. Although seniors’ health issues have been addressed quite well, Maund feels there is a great deal of awareness and education needed as many con- cerns are still not being addressed. She says elder abuse is com- mon in the Castlegar area. “Nobody talks about it Nobody goes to the police.” Castlegar’s Seniors’ Action Committee has applied for grant money from the Federal Gov- emment in order to do a needs assessment study for Castlegar seniors. The Seniors’ Advisory Coun- cil was formed under the Seniors’ Advisory Council Act in June 1989, to advise the Min- ister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors on cur- rent issues of concern to seniors of British Columbia and pro- vide a means of communication between seniors and the provin- cial government. “The Council welcomes these public forums as an Opportunity to broaden our con- Sultative activities,” said Howard Petch, Seniors’ Advi- sory Council Chair. “The rec- ommendations that the council makes to government should reflect the views and concerns of as wide a range of B.C seniors as possible.” Maund is optimistic about the forum “Let’s hope we give the politicians something to think about.” that would result in easier access. While'CP has agreed to plage a rubberized material between the tracks to eliminate large gaps, the city will create an approach to the tracks by building ramps and sidewalks, The cost to the city will be approximately $2,500 for each crossing. “We will complete the tracks in the Woodland Park area first, and find out what public percep- tion is like before we continue with the remaining two,” said Ss them in BRENDAN HALPER Sun staff Former Miss Castlegar Kirsten Mason did her city proud last week at the 1992 Miss Interior Pageant in Penticton. Mason returned with the Miss Friendship Award, the Talent Award, and ‘First Runner-up for Miss Interior. “I don't think it could have turned out any better,” Mason said. “The other girls were great, they're a really close group.” ngs set for fall Barry Comin, superintendent of public works. The recent announcement has brought some relief to Dan Bush, though he admits he won't be sat- isfied until the work is actually completed and he can cross the railway tracks without tipping over his wheelchair. “We've waited an awful long time for this—I just hope it gets done like they say it will,” Bush said. City officials estimate the work will be completed by early fall Penticton She spent many a 12-hour day in interviews, rehearsals, touring Penticton and promoting Castle- gar. “It was exhausting,” she said “They kept us busy.” Mason said the pageant does provide good promotion for Castlegar. There was some Curiosity about the town. “A lot of the girls had heard about Selkirk College,” she said “There was some cheering for Castlegar when I stood up to give my introduction speech. Department concerned over false alarms BRENDAN HALPER Sun staff Castlegar city officials are concerned over the number of false alarms the Castlegar Vol- unteer Fire Department has been Teceiving lately. “We've been getting a few false alarms alright,” said Fire Chief Gerry Rempel. “They've all been system quirks.” Activation of alarms by way of malfunctions, construction and renovations is common. Rempel said the false alarms come in spurts, sometimes up to three or four in one week As firefighters are paid per call attended, each false alarm represents more funding from the city. “There's been quite a few at the Sandman Inn in particular,” said City Councillor Lawrence Chemoff. “We have no problem responding, but we as a city, and taxpayers, pay the bill. I think it should be corrected.” Alarm systems must be inspected and serviced regularly by qualified inspectors, accord- ing to British Columbia fire codes, something Rempel says is done in Castlegar. Rempel is expected to pro- vide city council with a full report at the next council meet- ing Chernoff says if any systems are found to be faulty, he hopes they can be quickly updated. OUTLOOK: The forecast for about 24. Low 4 to 6. 20's. Lows 6 to 8. Temperature: Max/Date 36.7/18 Precipitation: — Rain Number of Hours 46.9 ARROW LAKE R make it to the car wash, the’ Castlegar Volunteer Firefighters spent a money for Muscular Dystrophy. Despite the were driven on to the Safeway Parkin raised for Muscular Dystrophy. Washi Duane Monsen; (back I-r) And thy cause during a Muscular D September by the local department. 2 Pee rainy Saturday washing cars to raise cold, wet weather, a number of vehicles g lot to be washed. Approximately $300 was ing this vehicle is; (front I-r) Dick Dunlop and ly Roberts and Dan Verigin. If local residents didn't y will have another chance to donate money to this wor- ystrophy Telethon, to be held the long-weekend in SUN STAFF PHOTO / Sharlene Imhoff WEATHER Wednesday; Mainly sunny. Highs Outlook for Thursday and Friday: Cloudy with sunny breaks. Show- ers may threaten at times both days. Highs in the mid A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST WEEK: Min/Date 5.1/23 19.0 Snow Total 0.6 0 REMARKS: A strong concern wain during the second half of the week when tempera- tures dropped dramatically. Not much Precipitation was recorded at this site but areas close by had significant amounts. Even though the period ended with record low temperatures, it started near with near record highs hence the mean was about average for the week. Forecast provided by The South - East interior Weather Office at Castlegar, B.C. for our forests began to Mean SONAL EA Ne ey So long Castle I haven't been looking forward to writing this. Believe me, my letter of resig- nation twe weeks ago was much easier to write. After living in Nelson and working for The Castlegar Sun for 18 months, I've learned more about photography, and the news- Paper business in general, than I Possibly could have in my college years. Big photo mistakes made on the job are not easily forgotten and learning by mistakes is a sure way to learn. Through good times and bad, I must say I've enjoyed living and working in the West Kootenay. I would like to thank all those people who picked me up hitch- hiking to and from work last sum- mer (while my Volkswagen Rabbit was undergoing surgery— a car which I subsequently sold immediately after repairs were completed). * Thanks as well to all the peo- ple, young and old, who were not camera-shy. Many of those people who didn’t flee from the path of my Nikons helped me build a portfo- lio which landed me a position as staff photographer at a larger Paper in Kamloops (the ‘loop’, or Spoolmak, as some call it). Meanwhile, around the office, folks have wasted no time prepar- ing for my departure. A mere three minutes after word of my resignation was received, my fel- low reporter Jason Keenan stole my computer, leaving in its place, the technological equivalent of Archie's farting little comic-book jalopy-way to go man! Returning to the office after buying a soda- pop, I found him hunched over 4 ues ss at a larger paper has been my goal for some time now. Gone is the computer...ha-ha-haaaa...you can = keep it Jason. Sucker. z Gone are the seemingly-end- less games of Phone-tag and sit- ting behind a desk. $ Who knows, maybe someday *' T'll miss it and want to start again. >: But I doubt it. Fy To continue thanking people & would be redundant and sappy, $+ and besides, they know who they are. I mean, really, I’m not‘: accepting a Pulitzer Prize...yet. I have, more recently, been = dubbed by my colleagues as Castlegar's ‘old man of the media’. No I'm not the oldest, but at 18 months I've been here longer than anyone else presently = working in the local media. 2 : z So I hereby relinquish the hon- = orable title of ‘old man of the > media’, giving it to my ex-editor Sharlene Imhoff (or ‘Chuck’) z who ‘old woman of the = I start the new job tomorrow, S after about 12 hours grace between finishing one job and Starting another—six and a hal hours to drive to » four to sleep, one and a half to get ; ready and have breakfast, then... bango! Typical media schedule. And I don’t even have a place to live yet. Misuse of disabled parking spaces frustrates woman who needs them SHARLENE IMHOFF _ Sun Editor If you’re an able-bodied Castlegar resident who habitual- ly parks in the designated Dis- abled Parking spaces around town—look out. You're being watched. “This message should be read by a lot of people,” said Maralee Tycquit, who suffers from Multi- Ple Sclerosis, and requires the use of these spaces when parking downtown and at the Castleaird Plaza. “Very rarely are these spaces empty, and 90 per cent of the time, the vehicles which are Parked there do not have a sign or placard stating it belongs to a Person with disabilities,” Tycquit said, noting that there are very few parking spaces for people with disabilities to start with Castlegar RCMP are not involved in the enforcement of parking bylaw, unless requested to do so by the city, which has its own traffic enforcement offi- cer. Shirley Vigue, who holds a Part-time position with the city, enforces the parking bylaws around Castlegar randomly. The bylaw is tough to enforce, since parking violators can leave quickly after being reported When a person is caught, a park- ing fine is $5 if paid within two days, $10 if paid within three days and $15 if paid after that Still, Tycquit feels that much more can be done—and she's decided to do it herself “I approach these people while they are still in their vehi- cles and tell them where they ‘ve Just parked. Usually they'll say they are sorry and just move their cars. Other times, I'll get a snide remark or a dirty look and nobody moves anything.” The number of snide remarks and dirty looks has prompted Tycquit to start a list containing the licence plate numbers of all vehicles parked in a disabled parking zone which do not con- tain placards or stickers. “I really believe [people with disabilities) have to enforce this bylaw because the local busi- nesses won't do anything about it'and the city isn't doing enough.” Over the last month Tycquit has been recording more than a dozen licence plate numbers which belong to vehicles without any placards. She feels these should be published in a local newspaper. “Maybe this is the only way we can stop these people from Parking illegally.” ‘SUN STAFF PHOTO / Jason Keenan BRENDAN HALPER, former employee at The: Castlegar Sun, doing what he does best.