B10 CASTLEGAR NEWS, Friday, August 11, 1978 Worst Year Feared TIME TOGRIN’ Fire Hazard Increasing High to extreme forest fire conditions are reported throughout British Columbia, and with the current 90-day weather forcast for below nor- mal precipitation, the situation is quickly becoming worse. Most areas of British Columbia have received less rainfall this year than experi- enced during some of B.C.'s worst fire years such as 1958, 1961 and 1971, During those seasons Na- naimo, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Prince George, Terrace and Fort Nelson had January to duly grand total rainfalls of 7 mm (96 inches) in 1961, 3 mm (91 inches) in 1971 and 1981 mm (79 inches) in 1958. Grand total rainfall for these same stations this year is only 1764 mm (70 inches). “Should lightning storms occur under these present con- ditions,” says Hank Doerksen, forest service fire suppression Manager, “we could have o forest fire situation similar to those experienced during some of our worst years." With the forest fire danger level reaching the critical stage, the forest service is reviewing the need in all regions for addi- tional forest restrictions, Camp- fires are currently banned in the Vancouver forest district, portions of the Prince Rupert forest district, portions of the Prince George forest district, and the Penticton and Ellis Creek watersheds in the Kam- loops forest district, The need for additional restrictions depends a great deal on cooperation received from the travelling public, The public should check with the nearest forest service ranger station for the latest information before travelling through forested areas. Everyone is urged to use extreme caution while travel- ling on highways, roads or recreation areas near forested areas this weekend. Any suspected forest fires should immediately be reported to the nearest forest service ranger station or the special toll free Zenith 5555 forest fire reporting number. Largest Kootenay Arts Fest Promises Culture and Fun The largest arts festival in Nelson's history, the Kootenay Summer Arts Festival is only weeks away. Over 300 applications have been received from artists, craftspeople and musicians who will be participating in this cultural event, The four-day event will be held from Aug. 17 through 20 at the David Thompson Uni- versity Centre, and will feature daily entertainment, art exhi- bits, information displays, workshops in the visual and performing arts, theatre, eve- ning concerts with top Cana- dian entertainers, speakers on humanity and the environment, anda large outdoor crafts faire. Included in the crafts faire will be 100 booths representing a selection from over 200 crafts- persons from the Kootenays, the West Coast, the Okanagan, and the Gulf Islands. Some of the finest crafts in B.C. will be on display and for sale, in- cluding a wide range of works in pottery, clothing, leather- work. furniture, jewellery and more, “In terms of quality, var- iety and size, this crafts faire promises to be the best e hosted by the Kootenay stated crafts coordinator Paul- ine Hanbury. This same optimism was expressed by art exhibit co- ordinator Kayda Gagnon. “The ev has been extremely ig. Professional artists eam all over the Kootenays will exhibit their finest paint- ii sculptures, stained glass, ing, prints and drawin ery. batiks and photo. entertainment side I, coordinator Alan ti ind Canada, with many nown Eastern Canadian ineluding Bruce Cock- burn, Paul Hann and David Essig coming to the Kootenays for the first time. Daytime entertainment in- cludes theatre, mime, pup. dance and music. One of ighlights will be the Bim, Kom and Room clown trio, a star troupe from the Moscow circus, who have recently taken up residence in Canada.” Many of the performers will host workshops, giving the public a unique opportunity to study with renowned artists in val cimosnhers Work- dulcimer building. song writing and photography are some of the classes scheduled over the four days. Other informative classes include speakers on the World Symposium on Humanity, en- ergy conservation, and healing. Booths on awareness, ecology, and tourism will also offer educational information to the interested public. “It this year’s festival is successful, it will continue as an annual event,” stated festival director Jack Anderson. “We hope the event will tie in to a future summer school of the arts which is planned for 1979 at David Thompson University Centre. “The cultural resources of the area could then serve as a base for re-development of the university, as well as an econo- mie stimulus for the tourist in- dustry in our community.” K ABOUT HE FOREST How far out does an evergreen send its roots? I am curious. In travelling through dry ‘areas I have seen pines or firs growing where one would think they would die due to lack of water. No Charges Laid After Collision No injuries or charges resulted from a collision be- tween vehicles driven by two Castlegar residents in the Kootenay Savings Credit Union parking lot, local RCMP re- ported, Police said $1,000 damage was caused to a 1973 Datsun driven by George Frank Daw- son and $50 was caused to a 1973 Dodge driven by Louise Dyck when the two vehicles apparently backed into each other, Sunday B&E Nets Change Local RCMP are investi- gating the breaking and en- tering of a vacant Robson home duly 26. Police said nothing was re- ported missing in the house, probably entered through a sliding bathroom window. Court News Thomas A. Mackay, 29, of Castlegar, was sentenced to a $350 fine or one month in de- fault in provincial court last - Tuesday after pleading guilty to refusing to provide a breath sample. * 8 « Daniel Vetrov, 25, of Rob- son, was placed on six months probation after pleading not guilty to indecent exposure. L housing Ist. ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED Selkirk College students will again need housing In the Castlegar area for the 1978/79 academic year. If you have a basement sulte, apartment, house, private room or trailer that you wish to rent to student([s] please call 365-7292, local 251 or 261 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, and place your name on the In very young trees, roots may extend out to a distance equal to the tree height. With advancing age, however, this ratio of root-spread to height diminishes and the roots of older trees seldom spread much beyond the edge of the crown, on average. There are, of course, al- ways exceptions, Some roots of old trees growing on thin shallow soils or in sandy soils, may spread out to half the tree height or even more. These roots may have encountered good zones of nutrients or water in the soil and have moved along them, thus allow- ing the tree to survive, despite its arid location. This chance encounter with favorable zones can create the impressior that trees are able to grow where you would expect them to perish. However, when par. ticularly severe drought years come along, such trees often have a struggle and die. Sometimes, erosion has taken place after the tree has become established, again re- sulting in a siluation where the tree does much better than might be expected. Or, in wet years roots of a tree will spread across an inhospitable dry zone into a zone with moisture, thus providing the tree with a bridge to water. - As you will gather, to a considerable extent the distri- bution of root systems is’ a matter of chance.. We have much to learn about roots. Bridge Club Ten tables took part in last 4 Monday night's play at the Joy Keillor Bridge Club for an average of 108 and the follow- ing results; North-South Tied for first, Ian and Bev MacDonald with Joy Keillor and John Frame, 123; third, Don Ellison and Jude Goodwin, 120; fourth, Cleada Bower and Agnes Charlton, 117.5. East-West First, Stan Greenwood and Phyllis Matteucci, 126. ond, Jim and Bev Swai third, Fred Hess and. Ernie Gilfillan, 119; fourth, Norman and Les Gallie, 117.5. Next week: beat champs Martin and Kees Vanderpol. HARLEY-DAVIDSON Proudly introduces the Low Rider SEE IT AT BSYD'S CYCLE LTD. Waneta Junction, Trail Dealer Licence No. 020708 364-1366 Top quality merchondise clearing at unbelievably low price Special Rack =~ SHIRTS Values to $23 While They Last... Entire Stevk ef Summer SUITS 25% Plains & Patterns Buy the First Pair at’. REGULAR. PRICE end get the Second Poir for Entire Stock T-SHIRTS 4U All White JEANS “Short Sleeve SHIRTS Miscellaneous CORDS & JEANS $500 Alterations in an or M.. agndise iH KLOTHES » KLOSET © 365-7589 HOWICK, 4 STAR, PENTIMENTO 55 MAPLE STREFT g at’ The Cros: roads of the Kootenays” ITT OS UT NTTET TI se iatslativa Library, iligment BLlEaes 501 Tavilta, 25 Beas Bye Distributed Bright and Early Every Thursday Mor It’s easler to do a job right, than to explain why . you didn't, : GWG, BRITTANIA, LEVI, VOL. 81, No, 33 TWO SECTIONS (AG) CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1978 25 CENTS Sawmill Fire Report Still Under Review Release of the report on the June 17 fire which caused over $6 million damage to CanCel’s main and smallwood mills here has been delayed until final examination of its findings has been completed, B.C.'s deputy fire marshal said Tuesday, Ken Collier confirmed ear- lier reports that the fire which put more than 200 sawmill employees out of work was caused by a welder's torch, but he declined to discuss details of the report until the fire mar- shal’s supervisor of investiga- tion completes his study of its findings. He said the investigations supervisor was expected complete his study of the report this week, . Also contacted Tuesday at the fire marshal's office, the fire's investigator said his pre- vious -statements to the press linking the fire to the welder's torch had drawn criticism from the International Woodworkers of America Local 1-405 sawmill " committee. William Clydesdale said the committee had sent a letter :to the Attorney-General Garde Gardom in relation to the investigation. Sawmill committee chair. » man Jack Walker told the Castlegar News Tuesday that the letter to the attorney- general stated the union's ob- jections to the implication “that an hourly-paid man is to blame.” is Walker said the investi- gator's statements to the press implied that the welder had created the fire. “So often, unions are being accused of being careless about (Con't. Pg. A2, Col. 5) Airport Committee Chairman Com, ha x se VANDALIZED ENTRANCE of Russian Hall on the Main Street 100 block Is ‘uesday by John The bi sustalned varlbin damage to doors and ane on Its ground-floor level, although nothing was reported stolen. Polic resident who reported the break-in said he saw a youth In the vicinity Tuesday morning.—CasNewsFoto by Ryon Guedes ald the Main Street ‘They Didn't Ask City’ The city would probably not be withdrawing from the Castlegar Airport function now had it been offered the “third actually receive payment for the service. “I feel that had the minis- try been Prepared to pay a party” currently being investigated by the fed- eral transport ministry. That was the - reaction Tuesday of Ald. Gerald Rust, city council's airport amount of money for operating it and taken the city off any major Hiability, 1 don't think we'd be in the ‘situation we's re in today,” the chairman, to reports last week that the ministry was consider- ing. the payment of a separate ' airline, ‘company or organiza- tion to operate the airport after Castlegar ceases operating it Oct. 31. Rust said the ministry hd paid the expenses for the sity's operation of the airport bat had never suggested an arrange- ment in which Casifegar would He said he was “rather surprised" to learn that the ministry was considering the with. had the city continued to operate it,” he said. Al Bach, the satan re- gional air transportation man-~ ager, told the Castlegar News in an interview last week that the “third-party” arrangement was under consideration, He said the system, used in several Quebec airports, was only one of several options being con- sidered by the ministry. Council voted last month to out having offered it to the city in the nearly two years during which it operated the airport. “If the ministry takes over operation of the airport it's going to cost taxpayers in Canada considerably more than Another. J3’tayoffs Expected this Week 25 More Left The shutdown of CanUel's planer mill here Friday has added about 25 more Inter- national Woodworkers of America members to those left unemployed by the June 17 sawmill fire, a company per- sonnel officer said this week. Dave Lloyd said the layoff of the single planer shift, combined with another layoff expected this week, will reduce the sawmill work force to about 100, compared to the 275 employed before the fire caused over $6 million damage to the serve iate notice of the cutoff date after citing the lack of ministry co-operation and tangible benefits, as well as the lack of proper equipment and the potential liability faced by the city in its operation of the airport. “Sprinkling Rules Offences Showing Marked Decline City crews have shut off water to six offenders since they took over sprinkling regu- lations enforcement late last month, city works superinten- dent Alex Lutz reported Tues- day. Lutz said the number of disconnections, made by city workers driving through resi- dential parts of the city, was satisfactorily low and indicated stricter policing was acting as a deterrent to regulations of- fences, “It seems to be the answer to the problem,” he said. City vehicles patrol Castle- gar for offenders in the normal course of municipal workers’ Unemployed company’s main and smallwood mills. He said 18 IWA members, still employed in the shipment of cut lumber at the mill, are expected to be laid off at the end of this week. “This is the last of. the A fall referendum has been named this week as the objective of a five-man steer- ing committee studying ie ofa For Robson Fire Protection Fall Referendum Eyed information on costs, gov- ernment funding, legislative requirements and other as- pects of providing adequate fire p from Brilliant volunteer fire department for the Robson area. Chairman Cliffe Church- es, serving on the committee along with fellow Robson area residents Art Graham, John Coyle, Bill Marks and recently-appointed member Gordon Garland, told the Castlegar News the commit- tee hopes to present its findings to residents at a public meeting eafly next month and hold a plebiscite on fire’ protection in “Octo- ber or November.” “He said the committee met Monday to delegate responsibility for gathering Elementary School to the Keenleyside Dam. The committee mem- bers have yet to determine the requirements of holding a referendum during fall Regional District of Central Kootenay elections as well as the provincial fire mar- shal’s requirements for fire department which would have the authority to buy equipment and recruit mem- bers, he said. Also slated for investi- gation is the proposed fire department's housing needs, he said, as well as the possi- bility. of securing power shut-off service from West Kootenay Power in the event of fire. “One of the other things we'll request is a liason with (Castlegar) to investigate the requirements of setting up a mutual aid program,” Churches said. “Maybe if we show we're doing something for ourselves we will be able to establish something where they help us and we help them.” In the meantime, he said, the proposed fire de- partment is gaining steady support from residents, “We've had a really good response," Churches said. “A lot of people with teally good firefighting back- ground have come to us.” major layoffs as far as I can see,” Lloyd said. “The only work remaining will be related to the reconstruction of the “In other developments this week, an estimated 60 un- employed local sawmill workers will be interviewed by late today for jobs at Canlieos duties during the morning, Lutz said, while in the evening two trucks patrol the city specifically for sprinkling of- fences. Each city works truck carries at least two workers to corroborate reports on offen- ders, he said. City council voted July 25 to abolish the position of water regulations inspector after de- ciding city workers could police the city more thoroughly. ‘Under . city regulations sprinkling is allowed from 7 to 10 a.m, and 5 to 9 p.m. Auto- (Con't. Pg. A2, Col. 4) Initial Contract Talks End rash Pilot Error Bla The 35-year-old pilot of the water bomber which crashed at Castlegar Airport July 25 died as a result of his own ‘ ‘misjudgement,’ es the city coroner declared Monday. In his inquiry report Carl Loeblich sald the death of Robert Johnston Smith of Abbotsford was caused by the pilot's attempts -to manouever the water bomber, a converted Orummond F2F Tracker, tles,"’ “beyond its capabill- Reviewing testimony on the accident, Loeblich noted in-his report that Smith, demonstrating the aircraft's firefighting capabilities for B.C. forest service personnel, “banked too sharply, with perhaps one engine stalling” and crashed on the edge of the runway “nose first, almost in an upside down position" before the aircraft burst into | flame. The coroner airport personnel as well as the local RCMP detachment “for the fine and efficient manner in which they responded to the emergency and conducted the investigation.” Loeblich commended the Castlegar Fire Department for having firefighting equipment from the Castlegar North Sta- tion at the scene of the crash within eight minutes, sending a backup truck from the Castle- gar South station minutes later “as wellas providing temporary protection to the city during the crisis.” He also commended the RCMP Nelson subdivision's identification squad for assist- ing in the investigation. Interviewed early this month, the coroner told the Castlegar News no inquest would be held into the death of the pilot—the sole occupant of {(Con’t. Pg. A2, Col. 5) Federal Restraints Cause Postponement Newly-announced fiscal re- straints have peparently caused the notify “at the last minute” Mayor Audrey Moore, who was least until next month of Ne tional Museums of Canada offi- cials' visit here to discuss the local National Exhibition Cen- tre’s funding problems. NEC director Bernard Bloom this week said the two officials’ visit—scheduled late this month—had been confirm- ed as recently as last Thursday, but was postponed late Friday afternoon. A National Museums spokesman telephoned the cen- tre and said the spending restraints announced by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau Aug. 1 made the postponement necessary, Bloom said. “They're talking now about coming up about the middle of September,” he said. The NEC director said he was surprised by the cancella- tion of the meeting and had to Lockout Still Possible Area school boards’ threat- ened lockout of 240 employees is still pending despite the con- clusion Friday of initial contract negotiations with five Canadian Union of Public Employees locals, That was the update Nan Hendrie, chairman of the West Kootenay Educational Employ- ers Association steering com- mittee, provided this week on the dispute which resulted in Selkirk College and the Castle- gar, Nelson, Trail and Grand Forks school boards serving 72-hour lockout notice on the union members July 19, Hendrie, a Nelson school board trustee, said all WKEEA members’ Tepresentatives have Trail smelting cording to a company official, Glen Harper, a Cominco officer on next year's contract with their locals and have scheduled a second interviews arranged by the joint five-member committee of union, company, Canada Man- power and provincial labor (Con’t. Pg. A2, Col. 6) Manpower Office Closed This Week Regular once-weekly ser- vice at the Canada Manpower office on 105 Maple St. will be interrupted tomorrow because of staff holidays, according to a Manpower official. Jim Switzer said Tuesday that the office will be closed this week but will resume ite regular Friday service Aug. 25. Meanwhile, local residents can receive full service, at the Manpower office in Trail, he sald, series of ings for Septem- ber. A mediator has been ap- pointed for negotiations be- tween the Nelson and Trail boards and their unionized em- ployees, she said. “The lockout notice is viable until the beginning of October,” she said. “But while the mediator is appointed nei- ther party can strike or lock out." She declined to discuss details on the talks, saying the WKEEA was still-at a “very early" phase of the negotiations and did not want “to negotiate through the press.” In the Castlegar area, School District No. 9 employs nearly 50 CUPE members. CUPE members were unavailable for comment on the negotiations. Rotarians Get Gravel From Ministry Pit Local Rotarians will re- ceive 300 yards of crushed gravel for their planned con- struction of four tennis courts, a highways ministry spokes- man announced Tuesday. Two Groups to Discuss Nuclear Power Here ‘Two groups are scheduled to discuss in meetings in Castlegar this month the local impact of proposed nuclear power develop- ment, Speaking before city council Tuesday will be a delegation of the Nelson-based Kootenay Nuclear Study Group, and on Aug. 80 a five-1 member panel from the federal government's task force on nuclear issues in Canadian communities will appear at the Regional Recreation Complex, A citizens’ group opposing uranium mining in the region and in BC., the KNSG is expected to urge council to take a similar” stand on the issue. The group made a similar submission to the Regional District of Central Kootenay board July 20. the C The fi ive-member panel, the Cammnaittes on Nuclear Issues in will be with in such fields as aainceriag ras political science, physics and worker safety and will appear at 7:30 p.m. on the public forum date to explain and discusa the issues arising from the prospect of uranium mining and other aspects of the nuclear power industry. The spokesman said High- ways Minister Alex Fraser this week granted the Rotary Club , permission to obtain from the ministry’s rock crushing plant in Qotischenia the gravel it required to build the courts, which will be designated for public use, beside the Regional Recreation Complex. also scheduled to attend. Meanwhile, Bloom cited as more positive news the centre's receipt this week of the $9,000 in core funding from National Museums. He said that the $9,000, combined with the $2,500 pledged by the city, will allow the NEC to operate until the end’ of this year. He said he had not yet received a decision on the centre's application for a Can- ada Works project which would cover four salaries over a 14-week period and could qual- ify as part of the $18,000 it must obtain from other sources in order to receive an extra $9,000 from National Museums. - THE INSIDE e GENELLE: Still united as a community. Page Al4 e@ PHOENIX: One bird which will fly no more. Page B12 e PULPIT: Another mini ter takes over. Page BS: AnnLanders ... Page Ab’ BillSmiley .... Page B2 Classified Ads, Real Estate, and Automotive. Pages A10-A11-Al2. ‘A183, Editorial Pa One Man's Opinion Sports ... . Pages AG-AT Telenews . . . Pages BS-B4 f Weekend j Weathercast GENERALLY UNSET- TLED weather will continue throughout the weekend, with a few showers in the alvernoons and evenings. ButRotary nDon Carmichael, contacted yester- day, said the club had not yet received confirmation of the announcement by the ministry. will be below seasonal normal. For convenient home delivery e Castlegar News, call sestee September 7 the “new” C. TLEGAR NEWS