-A2 Castlegar News August 10, 1991 August 10, 1991 News BRIEFLY By CasNews Steff Parks plans move ahead Proposals for a parks master plan for Castlegar and a design plan for Twin Rivers Park are expected next week, city admin- istrator Gary Williams said Thursday. “We're waiting to get a proposal in from a couple of planning consulting firms,” he said. “It’s a joint proposal from two firms to do both our parks master plan and the design plan for Twin Rivers Park. I'm hoping to get it next week.” Williams said it will be a joint proposal because of the simi- larities between the two projects. i “What we wanted to make sure was we didn’t have two sep- arate consulting firms doing the same thing with the same peo- ple but for different projects, in terms of interviewing and pub: lic involvement and those sorts of things.” Williams will also meet Aug. 19 with Peter Calder, B.C. Hydro’s project for lower Columbia River develop ment, to finalize an agreement regarding the park “It’s ially just a two-pag that says what our rights and obligations are and what Hydro’s rights and obligations are,” he said. Hydro wants to deposit fill from excavation work if the utili- ty proceeds with its project to install generators in the Keen- leyside dam, Williams said. “They want to be able to deposit the fill. We would like the fill because we need to raise the level of the outward bank to keep it from flooding if Murphy Creek (dam) is ever built. So we have this sort of mutual interest.” “Unfortunately, they had to get their lawyers involved and we had to get our lawyers involved. And then everything changes. What was simple becomes less than simple.” “What essentially has happened is we had a go at this with the lawyers involved and now we've decided that Peter and I will sit down and negotiate this and then we’ll bring our lawyers into it and say here’s what has to happen and then everybody will be happy we think. I hope that by the end of Augu8t that we would actually have signed the thing.” City backs idea with bucks Castlegar city council has agreed to contribute $5,000 to ‘RIEMP — the Columbia River Integrated Environmental Monitoring Program — which is keeping an eye on the health of the Columbia River. Council also agreed to provide office space for the program’s coordinator and have the city act as financial controller for the CRIEMP committee; which essentially means the city will do all the i "Ss ing, city inistrator Gary Williams said. Williams is council’s liaison to the committee. The city encouraged the creation of the CRIEMP committee during the review of the Celgar pulp mill expansion proposal by the federal and provincial governments. The CRIEMP com- mittee consists of representatives from the federal and provin- cial governments, B.C: Hydro, Celgar and Cominco. The objectives of the monitoring program are: * to assess the present environmental quality of the lower Columbia River; * to provide information that can be used as the basis for predicting the impacts on the river of industrial and hydroelec- tric projects; * to determine if environmental conditions meet general and site-specific criteria and objectives set for the river by various regulatory agencies; and * to provide information that could be used for assessing the need for future environmental monitoring. Cominco rescinds 110 layoffs Cominco Ltd. said Thursday it has rescinded 110 layoff Notices for production and maintenance workers issued June 19. Layoffs for an additional 129 workers have been delayed, the company said. Cominco issued 258 layoff notices in June. Layoff notices issued to six office and technical workers are unchanged, Cominco said. The said it’s the layoffs be 70 workers have quit or retired. As well, recent approval of some “modest” construction projects such as a $6 million absorption tower, necessitated the cancellation of some layoffs and the delay of others. The layoffs will still take effect in three stages this fall, Cominco said. The first 15 production and maintenance work- ers will be laid off Sept. 13 with the remainder to go Oct. 11 and Nov. 8, the company said. The six office and technical employees will be laid off Sept. 13 and Oct. 4 Conditions called improved Conditions which have led to the gassings of construction workers at the Celgar pulp mill expansion project have imp d,a k for the building trades said Thursday. “It’s an ongoing thing but there has been some progress made, yes,” said Len Embree, business agent for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 2300 in Castlegar. “I think that we've got to keep right on top of it but there’s been some progress made, definitely. “We now have a full-time monitor and a coordinator between the in-plant forces (pulp workers) and the construction people, which is something we asked for four months ago.” “There’s a communication system set up so that if they start to run into upset conditions they notify us and then we can get out of the area if it’s unsafe to work there.” Pipes too thin VANCOUVER — About 80 per cent of copper water pipes in new B.C. buildings are likely to burst prematurely, a study ordered by the provincial government Suggests. The tests, ordered after widespread premature pipe break- ages, found that 20 of 25 samples were six to 20 per cent thin- ner than permitted. Now the federal government is investigating Wolverine Tube (Canada) Inc., which supplies more than 80 per cent of copper piping used in Canada, Chris Martin, a federal Con- sumer Affairs Department representative, said Thursday. The substandard plumbing is in almost all homes and build- ings built in British Columbia in the past three years, the provincial report says. “Although we draw on the light side of the specification, we feel our tubing is as good or better than any other North Amer- ican producer,” Wolverine vice-president Frank Sullivan said Thursday from London, Ont. The Canadian A iation of Industrial Mechanical and Allied Workers made allegations about substandard pipes after Wolverine closed its Vancouver plant in April. “These pipes are meant to last 50 years but the Piping that’s being sold could last as little as seven years,” said union spokesman . Rick Ward Carl Loeblich dies at 77 Former Towmof Kinnaird mayor leaves long political legacy Former Castlegar alderman and mayor of the Town of Kin- naird, Carl Martin Loeblich, died Sunday, Aug. 4. He was 77, Loeblich was born Nov. 7, 1914, at Spruce Grove, Alta. He came to the Trail-Castlegar area in 1936 and started work for Cominco on May 12 of that year as a member of the Tadanac labor gang, earning $2.75 per day. He retired after 42 years as chief clerk in the smelter office. Always active in sports, Loe- blich collapsed on the pitcher's mound in Trail in 1941 and was taken to Edmonton where, according to a news report of the day, “An operation performed but a few times in world medical history has been completed by a young Edmonton doctor . . : who cut open a miner from Trail's heart to save his life.” The open-heart surgery was a success and Loeblich always praised the skills of the young doctor. Known in softball and base- ball circles as “King” Carl Loe- blich, the former community worker played baseball in his youth with the Edmonton Army- CARL LOEBLICH © «+» former Kinnaird mayor Navy Grits and softball with the Trail Cardinals and the Trail Indians. He was later coach of the Castlegar Cubs softball team. = He was active in organizing the Castlegar Co-op Transporta- tion Society, serving as its presi- dent. He and his wife, Esther, also helped found the Castlegar Savings Credit Union. In 1971, he was appointed a justice of the peace, serving at least seven years in that posi- tion. Always interested in politics at all levels, Loeblich was a key player in organizing the Social Credit League in the Rossland- Trail riding in 1952 and the election of R.E, (Bob) Sommers. Loeblich served as village chairman and mayor of Kin- naird for 14 years. He was on council there from 1958 to 1967 when it was a village and served as mayor from 1967 to 1969 when it was given town status. He served as a Castlegar alderman after amalgamation when the former towns of Castlegar and Kinnaird became the City of Castlegar. He also served as a vice-presi- dent of the Association of Koote- nay-Boundary Municipalities. Loeblich was proud of Kin- naird's beauty and di municipal conventions and func- tions are legendary. Also in those early years the Kinnaird fire department served almost as his political wing. The fire department always got a positive reception at budget time and each December the depart- ment manned the phones, drove cars and got the vote out for the Carl Loeblich team. Loeblich is survived by his wife, Esther, whom he married on April 24. 1948. He was the last of 15 children who are all deceased expect for a sister, Marie, of Portland, Ore., and Player Place, Ariz. He is also survived by his daughter, Gay Kathryn Whitnell of Edmonton; his step-daughter and her husband, Donelda and Bob Huesdens of Peachland; step-son Bernard Locke of Van- couver; sister-in-laws Jean Erik- sen of Wauchope, Sask., and Elsie LeBlanc of Los Angeles; and 15 grandchildren. the centre as “The Garden Municipality.” In the earlier municipal years, he and some members of his council were known as “The Rat Pack” and their exploits at There was no funeral service by request and cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the B.C. Heart and Stroke Fund. Citizens debate defence By BARBARA TANDORY Special to the CasNews Castlegar citizens are Preparing to take part in anoth- er national debate, this time on Canada’s defence policy. And some of them are pre- pared to voice radically new notions of what national defence should be in a modern nation at peace. Castlegar peace activist George Richards thinks the time has come to shift attention, and money, from military pro- tection to social welfare. “The central government is spending $13 billion-a year on a defence budget,” he said. “We (in the peace movement) don’t think that keeping troops in Europe is keeping up with the times and we don’t think that spending $13 billion on defence in a post-Cold War period makes sense. “The Iron Curtain is gone and we're still spending $13 bil- lion,” Richards said. “What is the logic of that?“ Richards, a spokesman for the local peace movement, made his comments after a meeting held earlier this week by the Castlegar Peace Group, the West Kootenay United Nations Association and the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ. The local coalition, active during the recent Persian Gulf War, met to organize local input into citizens’ inquiry on Cana- da’s security sponsored by the Canadian Peace Alliance head- quartered in Toronto. The purpose of the citizens’ inquiry is to gather input into the process of formulating a new national security policy through meetings across. Cana- da by a six-member panel, including former Canadian ambassador to the UN Doug Roche, a former Conservative MP; former Liberal party presi- dent Iona Campagnolo; and for- mer NDP president Johanna den Hertog. The citizens’ inquiry will start with a forum in Vancouver next month, It will be in Kelow- na — the closest it will come to Castlegar — Sept. 15. Richards said the local peace movement will forward several individual briefs and is plan- ning to send a representative to Kelowna as well. “The whole purpose of this civilian inquiry is to find out what makes citizens insecure,” he said. “Is it more important to have defence against a military aggression, or is it jobs?” Richards said he personally feels the national defence against the threat of “commu- hordes” is outdated in today’s world. TRASHED TREE By CasNews Staff Vandals went on a spree Thursday night in Castlegar, hitting everywhere from city parks to city hall. Kinsmen Park got the worst of it as the fountain there was smashed and several sprinkler heads snapped off. Trees in the park beside city hall were damaged and Castlegar's superintendent of public work: stripped of Its branches overnight Thursday. Vandals snap trees, break windows in overnight spree Damages estimated at over $1,000 just down the street flower boxes were also vandalized. Damage to city property is estimated at over $1,000 dur- ing last week alone, said Barry Comin, the city’s superinten- dent of public works: Comin said it would take about four or five people to knock over the Kinsmen Park fountain. At least a dozen signs were is, Barry Comin, examines a spruce tree which vandals CasNews photo by Simon Birch also knocked over along Columbia Avenue for the sec- ond time last week, he said. Elsewhere, a rock was thrown through the window at Video World on Columbia Avenue, but no one entered the building, police said. The RCMP are asking for assistance from anyone who may have information about the incidents or observed any people responsible for the offences. CasNews photo by Simon Birch Cement trucks and thelr operators stand idle by the side of the road Thursday morning after Ceigar Pulp Co. locked out Its Wednesday night. LOCKED OUT x: Ceigar employees mark time at the entrance to the pulp mill Thursday after the company locked the doors Wednesday night. Celgar continued from front page gar opted to lock them out rather than continue meeét- ings to settle differences between the two sides. “It seems unfortunate that Celgar wanted the lockout rather than making any movement (on contract issues),” Him said. “It was really disappointing to the members that (Celgar) had to take this action.” Browne said a major issue is a $505,000 damage award the company won as a result of an illegal strike by the PPWC in 1988. The award was announced last year by an independent arbitrator, The amount of the award, with interest, now totals $650,000, Browne said. The union has not made any pay- ment. Celgar has proposed a three-point settlement which would include a $3,000 cash payment by the union to sat- isfy the outstanding damage award, Browne said. The com- pany has also asked for an agreement that, in the event of a legal strike, picketing would not interfere with con- struction of the new mill, he said. Browne said the union has rejected the settlement offer and has 46 remaining local demands on which - no progress has been made. Him agreed the damage award is a major issue but said it’s not a stumbling block to a settlement. “The union stated that they were not firm on getting everything but will look at any package and that no one item addressed on Aug. 7 was any more important than any other one,” he said. “We just wanted some movement somewhere and we would con- tinue to meet and there would be no problems in the mill.” Browne said Celgar remains prepared to meet with union negotiators at-any time to try to setlle the dis- pute and resume norma} pro- duction at the mill. However, Him said Friday the company refused to meet. “Repeated calls yesterday (Thursday) to the mill only resulted in the company telling us that they were too busy to meet with us. Even though the press release says that they are willing, they are unwilling at this time.” Him said picketing union members reported Thursday the picket line caused “quite a severe disruption” to many of the construction workers and eventually nine concrete trucks ended up dumping their loads. Len Embree, business agent for the United Brother- hood of Carpenters and Join- ers of America Local 2300, said union workers in the building trades won’t cross PPWC picket lines. “Of course, our guys won’t work behind picket lines. But we'll continue to report to work and I guess it’s up to Clegar pulp to resolve that problem,” Embree said Thurs- day. “Our agreements with our contractors are there and we're going to honor them. We want to go to work. But we're not going to go through any picket lines. That goes with- out saying.” THAT'S A BIG BIT Paul Gobat of Shorty's Bob- cat Service in Castlegar drilis holes Thursday mom- Ing for construction alongside Highway 3 in Preparation for work which will begin soon on the Kin- naird bridge. Your Castlegar SAFEWAY GIVE A BUCK! HAVE A FLOAT AND HELP THE KIDS! For a Minimum $1.00 Donation, Have an A&W Root Beer Float Proceeds go to the B.C. Lions Society for FRI. & SAT., AUG. 16 & 17” SERVED BY THE CASTLEGAR AMBULANCE CREW AT YOUR CASTLEGAR SAFEWAY ROUND ROAST Grade A + $5. $2.16/kg. 278 | 98. aeW AT SAFEWAY EAN DELI MEATS CAJUN, HERB, HAM, SUMMER, BEER, . OR BEEF SAUSAGE HAM, PASTRAMI, CAPICOLLI LESS THAN 5% FAT -- 29 ¢ SUMMER FRESH PRODUCE FRESH LEAF TOMATOES | LETTUCE $ BULK WEINERS Regular or B.B.Q. Garden Fresh .39.|.33. e IN-STORE BAKERYe KAISER FRESH BUNS BREAD 450 g. EDWARDS COFFEE 737 g. 4°. ADVERTISED PRICES IN EFFECT SUN. | MON. | TUES.) WED. ;THUR.| FRI. | SAT. 11 | 12/13) 14/15) 16/17 Mon. to Wed. & Sat. & Sunday 9 am. to 6 p.m. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. We Reserve the Right to Limit Quantities