‘ De Castlégar News August 3, 1988 CERTIFIED COUNSELLORS Chamber of Commerce travel The Castlegar counselfors received official travel counsellor certificates recently. Varabioff and Donna Wolff (from left to right) Lesley Price, Jon Pregnancy study delivers new facts By DANIEL Q. HANEY BOSTON (AP) — At least one-third of all pregnancies end in miscarriages, but most of them occur before the woman even realizes she is pregnant, researchers in Canada and the U.S. reported. The study helps explain why couples often have trouble achieving pregnancy, and may provide new ways of uncovering the causes of infertility, re- searchers said. Using a sensitive new test, the study confirms what many scientists have long suspected: The female body discards a large portion of its fetuses in the first month or so sfter conception. “There are many exciting things about this,” study, Dr. A. Brian Little of Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, who wrote an editorial for the study, said in an interview. He said the test, which is not yet commercially available, may allow doctors to pinpoint more accurately the causes of infertility. For instance, if the test shows that infertile women are having early miscarriages, it will help them rule out several possible reasons for their problems. Little said the test also should help doctors check on the progress of test tube, or in vitro, fertilizations. Relationships prolong life expectancy WASHINGTON (REUTER) — Re lationships contribute as much to a longer life as do a healthy diet, exercise or not smoking, three social scientists say. People with family and friends live longer than people without such social contacts, they said. Studies to date “suggest that social relationships, or the relative lack thereof, constitute a major risk factor for health — rivalling the ef- fects of well-established health risk factors such as cigarette smoking, blood pressure obesity and physical activity,” they said. The scientists, writing in the July 29 issue of Science magazine, are James House, Karl Landis and Debra Umberson of the University of Mich igan. They said the strength of the evi dence linking social relationships to a longer life “approximates the evi dence in the 1964 surgeon general's report that established cigarette smoking as a cause or risk factor for mortality and morbidity from a range of disease: By ranking an individual by the quantity and quality of their rela tionships, researchers have been able to predict with some accuracy the length of the person's life, the Univ ersity of Michigan researchers found Social relationships do predict mortality for men and women in a wide range of populations, even after adjustment for biomedical risk fac tors for mortality,” they said. Some researchers think that rela tionships act as a buffer to stress and other health hazards. Others suggest that social contacts promote healthy living, such as a proper diet and regular visits to the doctor, the sci entists say They say studies suggest that in than women. Drug stops premature births NEW YORK (AP) Monitoring uterus contractions in the seventh month of pregnancy can identify 70 per cent of women who will give birth to premature infants, and drugs can be used to prevent many of those premature births, a researcher said Tuesday “We can use this data to make pre. maturity a preventable event,” said Dr. Michael Katz of the Children's Hospital of San Francisco. Until now, doctors have had few ways to identify women likely to give birth prematurely, Katz said in New York at a reporters’ seminar spon sored by the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital of Memphis, Tenn. He noted that prevention of pre mature births could cut medical costs by reducing reliance on expensive newborn intensive care units. The techniques he has devised to prevent premature births might add $100 or $200 to the cost of a pregnant woman's health care, he said. It costs about $2,000 a day to treat a premature infant in a newborn intensive care unit, he said. Dr. Russell Chesney, professor of pediatrics at the University of Ten nesse and past president of the Society for Pediatric Research, said of Katz's presentation: “I was struck by his results. If we could identify those people who would benefit, it would be very exciting.” longer, marriage helps men more than women and the death of a spouse hurts men more terms of living “Women, however, seem to bene. fit as much or more than men from relationships with friends and rela tives,” they said. YOUNG WOMEN The study of 221 healthy young women, which appears in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that 22 per cent of pregnancies ended spon- taneously before the woman realized she was pregnant. Nine per cent more ended in miscarriages after the pregnancy became apparent. While 31 per cent of the pregnancies ended in miscarriage, the true figure is probably even higher because some early pregnancies escaped detection by the test, said Dr. Allen Wilcox, who directed the study. “We can say that the majority of early pregnancy loss appears to be unrecognized,” said Wilcox, a researcher at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Little, in his editorial, speculated that as many as half of all p might end Wileox said the body probably rejects these fetuses because they are defective. When re- searchers study later miscarriages in which fetal tissue is recovered, they find that half of them show gross genetic abnormalities. “It's reasonable to speculate that the same would be true in these very early losses,” Wilcox said. BAD SIGN However, early pregnancy loss is not necessar- ily a bad sign, he said. Almost all of those who had unrecognized miscarriages were able to become pregnant within two years. The 221 women in the study had decided to stop using birth control and get pregnant. The researchers collected urine from them and checked it for traces of human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced by the fetus. The hormone shows up in the woman's urine when the fetus attaches itself to the wall of her uterus, usually about a week after conception. Wilcox noted that many physicians tell women to resume birth control for a few months after a miscarriage to minimize the risk of losing another pregnancy. But he said this may not be necessary, at least after quite early pregnancy losses. Fourteen women in his study got pregnant again the next month after unrecognized miscarriages. Thirteen of them went on to give birth. [A a.m. Ford’s Equity Cash Back [A O$ Down cc. from Ford on se! 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Cs - vev 1x4 502 Be Socreds gather Can premier Bill Vander Zalm unite his fractured caucus as it heads into two days of closed-door meetings?..-. A2 Norman is back CasNews editor Ron Norman is back from holidays and takes a look what some other communit' have done with heritage ation... A4 LOTTERY NUMBERS The winning numbe bonus number was 20. The $1,000,000 winning number in Friday's Provincial lottery draw is $37: The winning numbers drawn Friday in The Pick lottery were 13, 19, 21, 23, 33, 34, 42 and in Saturday's Lotto 6-49 draw were 6, 28, 29, 32, 43 and 45. The and his A2 IWA inks new pact WA boss Jack Munro bargaining committee are happy with a new three-year deal they signed Friday ~ Sunday C Vol. 41, No. 63 aN) ts astlégar 60 Cents r New CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 1988 WEATHERCAST A mixture of cloud and sun today with highs near 25°. Monday will be sunny tem: peratures a of precipitation is 20 per cent today ‘and near zero Monday 2 Sections (A & B) -—— CASTLEGAR REMEMBERS HIROSHIMA——_— RE WM, rYNO HIF KROS Hin AR A, HIROSHIMA DAY . . . More than 150 people attended a ceremony in front of the Castlegar courthouse to remember the anniver sary of the first use of atomic weapons. The vigil heard prayers speeches, and songs related to peace and disarmament. The sometimes singing, gathering at the island's peace garden. group walked, to Zuckerberg Island tor CasNews Photo by Bonne Morgor HIGHWAYS PRIVATIZATION Decision month away By BONNE MORGAN Staff Writer It might be a month before the provincial government decides who will maintain Kootenay highways and bridges. “We've started negotiations with some of the people who have sub- Island contract, A2 mitted bids,"’ an official in charge of highways privatization told the Castlegar News Four contract areas are being of- fered in the Kootenays. Nelson-Cres- ton-New Denver, which is area 10; Grand Forks-Rossland, area 9; Cran- brook-Fernie, area 11; and Revel, stoke-Golden, area 12, Peter Clark, of the government restructuring pri vatization group, said Private contractors will take over much of the maintenance that is currently done by the Ministry of Highways. In addition to winter maintenance, private firms will be responsible for summer upkeep such as minor patching, brushing and pos- sibly seal coating, said Clark. New Democrat leader Mike Har- court has expressed concern that highways standards may be lowered to reduce bids. But Clark says within the 28 areas offered, “‘there may be four or five bidders (on each), so you'll get a range of bids.”” He stressed that it is not a tender document situation where the lowest bidder is awarded the contract,but - likened the selection process to collective bargaining among screened bidders “We're looking for a good busi- ness deal,’’ he said. “We may negotiate with two or three bids at the same time,”’ he said. ‘‘The bids have ranged.” He said an operator's track record is thoroughly checked to see if it has a sound financial and management background. So far, area one, southern Vancou- ver Island has been awarded to a private firm. Clark says it would have cost highways $31 million to maintain that area and it has been awarded for $29.9 million. Clark says that continued employ- ment for ministry workers is a major concern in negotiations, although “‘we can’t dictate that.’’ The Vancouver Island contract was awarded under successorship, with highways workers ‘‘retaining their same union.”’ KSCU workers join union By BRENDAN NAGLE Staff Writer After Having union certification ballots challenged by Kootenay Sa- vings Credit Union, the United Steel workers of America has certified em- ployees at credit unions in Castlegar, Fruitvale, Kaslo and Salmo. Thirty-three employees at the four branches are now the latest credit union workers to certify with Steel. workers Local 9090. But the certi- fication of the four branches didn't come without a challenge from KSCU. Susan Carrigan, secretary to United Steelworker representative Ron Schmidt, said the ballot boxes were sealed in early July after votes were conducted at the four branches. KSCU challenged the ballots and the boxes remained sealed until an In- dustrial Relations Committee hearing in Rossland on July 28. “The hearing dealt with all chal- lenged ballots,"’ Carrigan told the Castlegar News. ‘‘A settlement was mediately following the hearing.’ Ten of 11 credit union employees in Castlegar voted in favor of cer- tification. The 11 employees at Fruit- vale and six at Salmo voted 100 per cent in favor of certification and four of five opted for certification in Kaslo. Carrigan didn’t say what the basis of the KCSU ballot challenge was, just that the settlement was a ‘‘pack- age ee on all four branches."’ reached between the and the credit union at the hearing and the votes were counted im- ™ was to evitibedy concerned,"’ she said. continued on page Ad Lake level to drop one metre By CasNews Staff The Arrow Lakes will drop about one metre over the next few days to provide water for U.S. power com- panies downstream. But the move has Mayor Audrey Moore concerned The lake will drop about a half a foot a day and by Friday will be down just over a metre from its current level, according to B.C. Hydro The Bonneville Power Authority, which is based out of Portland, Oregon, has requested the water under the Columbia River Treaty for power because its water reservoirs are low. “They're in trouble for water Lawrence Flynn, B.C. Hydro’s assis tant supervisor of the Nelson sub area, told the Castlegar News. Starting today, B.C. Hydro will be increasing its water flow through the Hugh Keenleyside dam to 87,000 cubic feet per second. This week the dam wes releasing 65,000 cfs Flynn said Hydro has gradually teleased about 1.2 metres from the Mica Creek dam near Revelstoke to make the drop on the Arrow Lakes less severe “if we hadn't done that, it-would be going down 6% feet,’ he said Mayor Audrey Moore expressed concern that a drop in the Arrow Lakes could have an adverse effect on Castlegar’s recreational use of the lake during its prime tourism month continued on poge A2 BCGEU all set or vote By BONNE MORGAN Staff Writer British Columbia Government Em ployees’ Union members are ready to show their strength in a strike vote Only one person voted against taking a strike vote at a BCGEU general meeting in Nelson Thursday night in which 66 members attended. Shields on vote, A2 Other West Kootenay meetings in Grand Forks and Nakusp this week have seen unanimous approval of a strike vote. “Hf we can get in a good strike vote that may be the leverage we need,"’ said Debbie Offerman, BCGEU staff representative “‘No one wants to go on strike if you are in your right mind . . . but people are ready to stand up for a principle,"’ she said The union will conduct an official strike vote the week of Aug. 15. Contract talks broke off with the province a week ago and the union's contract expired July 31 The most important issue to the BCGEU's West Kootenay members is article 24 which protects workers from privatization and contracting out “That's what the folks are the most angry about."’ contracting out, said Offerman. ‘‘To add insult to injury, they're (the government) call- ‘ing it job security." The government has offered BCGEU's 29,000 members a four per cent wage increase in the first year. four per cent in the second year and five per cent in the third. The BCGEU has asked for a 17 per cent increase over one year ‘‘which would include adjustments for comparabil- ity and then a reasonable wage adjustment on top.’” Offerman declined to specify what a “reasonable wage adjustment’’ would be “We've been under wage controlls since 1981. That's how far we've fallen behind “We have social workers who issue welfare cheques that are more than what they make,’’ she said Offerman said a biologist with the government makes about $16 per hour while a non-unionized biologist makes $20 per hour And there are other clauses within the BCGEU contract that compound low wages, she said. A BCGEU office worker making $9.64 an hour works a 3S-hour week with a mandatory 7% per cent deducted to pay for pension benefits, while other office workers make $10.32 an hour: When the BCGEU conducts its strike vote, it will have*to comply with the public service act which says a majority of eligible voters must vote ‘If you are eligible to vote and you don't vote, that vote is counted as a “no. 7 “We have to go out now and beat the bushes for those people that are on vacations,”’ she said A formal strike vote will be con ducted in Castlegar on Aug. 16. but members may still vote in Nelson at the BCGEU office or with a deputy returning officer until the end of the month By RON NORMAN Editor The coyote that mauled an 18-month-old Edmonton girl last Sunday had attacked another child just two days earlier, the Castlegar News has learned. Jim Heyland, Regional Con- servation Officer in Nelson, said that Zina Walker of Wynndel Coyotes not rabid, A2_ reported that a coyote attacked her four-year-old daughter on July 29. Heyland said Walker and her daughter were) picking flowers on the west side of the Salmo- Creston Highway summit on the afternoon of July 29 when a coyote “nipped the girl on the leg and buttocks area.’ Two days later a coyote at- tacked Jolynn Kimball while her family was stopped at the Stag The tot needed nearly five hours of surgery and doctors used more than 200 stitches to COYOTE ATTACKED ANOTHER CHILD close wounds to her face, head, arms, legs and abdomen. The child was released from Trail Regional Hospital Friday and the family was reported t be returning home to Edmonton Heyland said that other than some bruising, the Walker girl was not seriously injured and the girl’s mother chased the coyote away. Walker reported the incident to the Creston RCMP, who sug- gested she call the Castlegar Conservation Office. The sole conservation officer in Creston was on holidays at the time. Heyland said Creston RCMP also patrolied the summit area where the attack occurred, but didn't spot the coyote. Meanwhile, because the Castlegar Conservation Office was closed, Walker reported the attack on the office's telephone message machine Heyland said a Castlegar con- servation officer received the message at 8:30 a.m, Saturday continued on page AS