OPINION Decision not made lightly Bod news hurts: it a death is involved, the news causes grief and upsets family and friends. We received about a dozen telephone calls trom people who pre upset about the photograph we ran on the front page of Wednesd y's Castlegar News showing rescuers attempting to save the lite of Gerald Corbett of Genelle who died from injuries he received in a single-vehicle accident on Celgar Road last Tuesday night. The callers said we have poor tastd, poor judgment ‘and aré irresponsible and uftaring, among other things Choosing which photographs to publish from the accident — or whether fo publish them at all is one of those Uitficult decisions we in the newspaper business must make from time ‘to time. For- tunately, here in Castlegar, we don't have to make those decisions often. In tact, of the 30 tront page photographs the Castlegar News has published since fhe start of 1989, 24 of them have been what could be classified as “good news” photos, ranging from young Jodi Tompkins playing her fiddle and the arrival of the Easter bunny to Gordie Hill restoring a wooden clock and Tim Pretty receiving congratulations tor his gold medal in special Olympics floor hockey at the B.C. Winter Games in Nelson And of the six photographs that weren't good news,” only the shots of a home fire in Woodland Park could be considered truly “bad news So it's not often we are tacéd with a decision to publish photos of tragedies such as that of last Tuesday. And when we are, we do not make such decisions lightly We, too, have families and understand and sympathize with the anguish Mr. Corbett's family and friends must endure. Wednesday's photo was graphic no question about that But_perhaps-it will serve as a reminder of the need tor constant care and concentration in the operation of motor vehicles because of the unanticipated perils such as a deer darting across the highway that can arise in a split-second when driving it Wednesday's photo reminds just one of our readers perhaps one of the young Stanley Humphries secondary school students about to graduate to slow down, stay alert and stay alive when driving, then the photo served a purpose and Mr. Corbett did not die in vain. callers suggested the-pointot pubtishing photos such as Wednesday's is not to sell newspapers nor to compete with supermarket tabloids as some The point is to uphold our responsibility to publish the news both good and bad may upset some people even it it means publishing a photograph that We don't expect everybody to always agree with our reasons tor doing so LETTERS Cable offer annoying I recently received an announcement from Shaw Cable offering additional television channels on the cable service for a monthly fee of $3.20 (plus tax) No doubt you are familiar with the of fer, which requires that I must notify Shaw Cable if these channels are not wanted or it will be assumed that Ihave agreed to pay torthem As a marketing ploy, a negative op- tion offer has a lot to recommend itself toShaw Cable. During April, no doubt many subscribers will, through forget fulness or otherwise, fail to respond and will then pay the bill-when it arrives, even though they do not want the service. Those who have opted to pay for cable service by pre-authorized cheque will not even get a bill; they will just-have the amount deducted; Thus Shaw Cable will be able to claim, as they are already predicting, that some 80 per for the expanded service. cent of subscribers have opted ILannoys me, and a number of other, people to whom I have spoken, that Shaw Cable cannot be bothered to.un dertake a requires a positive response from the No doubt it would be more expensive, but the marketing scheme which subscriber expense of marketing one’s product is one of the costs of doing business A Shaw Cable official, defending his methods on CBC that it is not employer{s sales radio, necessary pointed out © send in the postage paid card to reject the extra channels-One may simply refuse to pay the extra fee when it is billed or may even phone Shaw Cable. That is true, but it is beside the point. The consumer should not have to actively reject a service he or she does not want and may not even know about. (How many people throw out-their junk mail, or anything resembling it, unopened?) Some time ago, it was not uncom= mon for to receive un solicited goods or credit cards in the mail, followed by demands for payment and even threats of legal ac- tion. The threats were hollow, but many people did not know that. This method of seHing was so despised by consumers that governments were tor ced to put into statute that the recipien- ts of such had no financial Obligation unless they actually accep ted the goods or cards in writing. The rule should apply to cable television services consumers items same Cable television is regulated by federal statute, and 1 would recom: mend that Shaw Cable subscribers write to their member of parliament and ask him to approach the minister responsible with a view to preventing the present marketing scheme from continuing, and—atso~ preventing similar schemes from being instituted in the future. I greatly fear that, if Shaw Cable is permitted to sell its ser vices by way of unsolicited negative option plans, it will do so again and again RobertJackson ‘Castiegar Truck contest a sad commentary I am writing in regard to the city of Castlegar allowing the big wheel" trucks of destruction to perform at a gladiator-type event in the guardians community this spring. Appropriate use of However, when technology is (ab)used to build Vehicles w hich in their construction use up valuable resources, and in their use tectinotogy~is great ultimately useless consume and destroy even more, it is truly a sad commentary on our en- vironmental ethics It would seem that by allowing and therefore condoning such an event, Castlegar city council has no firm commitment toa sustainable future Fred Marshall Midway Sy. Castlegar ar News MEMBER OF THE 8.C. PRESS COUNCHL STABLISHED AUGUST 7 INCORPORATING THE MAID. Lv, CAMPBELL PUBLISHER AUGUSI 7 194 ray TWICE wr WEEK MIRROR PUBLISHED SETPEA FEBRUARY PUBLISHER — Burt Compbell EDITOR — Simon Birch PLAN’ ADVERTISING MANA: IN — Peter Harvey GER Gary Fleming inda Kositsin — Heather Hodley WEVE COME To YOUSE GUYS FROM.DA DEFICIT... PROTECT. Letters to the editor Photo offensive As a close friend of Gerry (Corby) Corbett, 1-am-deeply_offended and shocked by the photo your editorial staff decided to print on the front page of the April 12 edition. You showed Gerry's dead body. All bloody. It was instantly obvious to Gerry’s friends and family who it was, right from his leather shoes and white socks to his tussled Blond hair. Prin- ting this photo was in extremely poor taste. Everyone who knew Gerry, and even. people who didn’t are offended by the publication of this macabre pic- ture ~ Gerry had the uncanny ability to.ac- cept everybody for who they were. He didn’t judge anyone. He didn’t deserve to be shown this way: Gerry_made-every girl and-woman feel like a princess. He loved us all. He was tender and gentle. A big teddy bear. Weall loved Gerry - He made all men and boys (he called them ‘‘dudes"’) feel like equals and real “men.”” He took my boys fishin’, taught. them “how to play baseball properly, and was there when they needed a man to hug and talk to. Gerry was like a father, a big brother, to them. Dave and Glen love him. All kids, boys, girls, young and old, loved Gerry. He was everybody’s buddy and helped anyone with anything. Gerry was completely and: totally giving. selfless We don’t want to remember Gerry @s—the-corpse-on-your~front-cover: Please-print-this-photo of Gerry, my boys, Ernie Dingo and his young friend, in parade last spring. Gerry's smiling his famous un- forgettable smile. His blue eyes are twinkling from deep down. He’s in his hot little red mean machine. The top is down. It's a beautiful day. Gerry’s happy We all want (Corby) this way. We love you always, Gerry the Sunfest to remember Gerry Tanya Tolima Martin Genelle Choice questioned © 1 am writing this letter to bitterly protest the cold, ruthless exploitation of the last few moments of Gerry Cor- bett’s life 1am the girlfriend of the deceased, a very good friend of the seriously in jured young man still trapped in the car arnd-the mother of the distraught young man that tried so hard to prevent the photographer from taking pictures of his friendsin that condition I'm sure the photographer, who so proudly displayed his name with the horrible picture of Gerry, will remem ber a very upset young man who physically and verbally tried to restrain him — butall in vain “Freedom of the press,"’ he was told I very much hope that the people responsible for the horrible choice of photographs never have to feel the shock of seeing a loved one spread all over the front page of a newspaper There are no words to describe the devastating feelings Whereis the respect for the dead and where is the compassion and con- sideration for Gerry’s and Harold's families and friends. ls money and suc cess so important that a respectable newspaper cannot show alittle decency and integrity in cases such as this? There is so much pain and suffering involved with the loss of someone you love that one should never have to see the harsh, cold facts that your paper so cruelly displayed for all the world to see ' Have you no feeling, that you can so coldly disregard the already shattered lives of Gerry's family and friends plus those anxiously awaiting Harold’s recovery. I know for a fact that there were other photos that could have been printed. Why, may | ask, did it have to be that one? Mary Lou Hall Castlegar Language programs make education richer In the past month, I have followed, with interest, the concerns of various members of the community in regard to the Russian bilingual program in the Casttegar schoot district and the bur den it has placed on the local taxpayer 1 must say, | was somewhat ‘con fused’’ when, upon checking the cost of this program, | was informed that the *‘burden’’ amounts to. ap proximately $2.50 per taxpayer. It ap- pears that this particular program has been singled out as a *‘scapegoat"’ for other underlying reasons. | am further appalled that the locally elected schoo! board members are being blamed for the indiscriminate cutbacks and Tack of foresight, which were forced on them by the provincial government An educated Canadian is one who is well aware that this is a multicultural country. An uneducated Canadian is simply that: uneducated! 1 understand that trustees of the board have committed to implemen: ting French immersion next year. I dréad to™think that the Canadian Parents for French may be put through the same wringer as the Paren ts for Russian As one of the founding members of the Castlegar Multiculyaral Society, 1 was hoping that by this area would Mature and start respecting the multicultural makeup of the West Kootenay, but this does not seem ap- now, parent In the past, being involyed with the Multicultural Society, 1 have suppor ted the Portuguese language program in Castlegar and the Italian language program in Trail. Because of the language programs, we are richer today than we would have been without them. Language is the key ingredient. in education. My children have all gone through the sch- ool system now; and-+am giad that the school board has the foresight to direct a very insignificant amount of my tax dollars to address current language programs, upcoming language programs and! possibly any other future language programs. John N. Voykin Pass Creek Reader discouraged by abortion opinions Mike Chernenkoff’s letter was an in teresting, though discouraging, read Sunday morning. First we get a general condemnation of the educated, then all youth who have watched television That takes care of just about all of us. The main point seems to be that he and God are against abortion. Others interpret things differently, and each of us makes his or her own decision Many Canadians do not believe in God, and that is to be expected in a multicultural society. People do expect to make decisions about their health alone, without fanatics raving and raging at them. One sentence of the letter in question began; “What value can we place on a woman who That is the start down a very frightening path. If the “we’’ in question get a chance to judge the value of women, what sort of consequences will the Women sulTer ptoning? The suggestion that a nine-month fetus with breathing difficulties is made into collagen rather-shan rushed to intensive care is an insult to the medical profession and the intelligence of the reader Women do not have abortions for pleasure of profit. To force women to breed for someone else's ideals went out with the Nazis. In a country without rigid controls on thought and ACUION, We Will just have to accept that others choose for themselves what we would not Meta McCleave LETTERS Group urges ‘input The Taxpayers Education Cegumji« tee was formed in Castlegar in March 1989. The reasons the commjxee was formed are to encourgge public ‘awareness and input in sur education system, to question the excessive in- crease in our local school taxes for the third year running and to make the public more aware of the present school board's priorities in its expen- ditures. The Taxpayers Education Commit- tee’s goals and objectives are: 1, To consult with the school board and district administration on budgetary matters and priorities. 2. To inform the taxpayers as to where their tax dollars are being allocated. 3. To ensure every board member is speaking 1,000 people he or sh¢ represents. Please take the timt to be informed. We urge you to attend the open meetings ai the school board office on the third Monday of every month. Laurie Anderson, Chairman Taxpayers Education Committee Robson Respect not shown I feel that I have to write and express my disgust with your front page pic- ture in the April 12 issue. It seems to me that there is little respect of life shown when a newspaper has to capitalize on such ac- cidents, as well as no feeling or com- passion shown for any of the family or, friends of the deceased. How would you feel if someone in your family was involved in an accident and their pic- ture was splashed on the front page of a for the approximatel ‘or PP! y “ local newspaper. Is this what reporting has become all about? In a city the size of Castlegar, | am sure that you could find-betterthings to take pictures of, which woutd al sell your newspaper. C.A. Oler Picture uncalled for Asa subscriber to your newspaper, I was very disappointed in your ap- proach to the death of-a young man of our community. To display a photo (on the front page) of the accident, with the victim visible was completely uncalled for. It showed a total disregard for the feelings of family and friends. By all means report the news, but also consider the effect this kind of sensationalism has on everyone. Tasteless to say the least. Elizabeth E. Lord and Family Genelle, Photo not necessary Weare writing to you concerning the distasteful picture of Gerry Corbett in the April 12 newspaper. It was most distressful for us to see Gerry in such a sad condition. Perhaps a present-day picture before this sad event occurred would be more com- passionate for everyone to see. There is such a thing as good taste in all fields of endeavor. Pictures like that are very unnecessary. R. Kratky and 25 students Trail Please address all Letters to the Editor to: The Castlegar News, P.O. Box 3007, Castlegar, B.C. VIN 3H4, or deliver them to our office at 197 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar. * Letters should be typewritten, seokle spaced ond not longer than 300 words tetters must be signed and include the writer's full name ond address. Only in very exceptional cases will letters be published without the writer's name. Nevertheless, the nome and the writer must be di editor The Castlegar News reserves the +i to edit letters tor brevity, clarity. ond grommor perm April 16, 1989 Castlégar News AS SARE BETTER... Twin Rivers elem Y hold their hool PI to the THREE HEAD: and Chieng ring Arts Festival at Stanley from various Castlegar schools displayed their Pp dary school. ertwork and held evening drama, dance, band and choral performances Thursday and ; n Friday. Training will help business VANCOUVER (CP) — New job training initiatives « by the federal government will better equip Canadian business to compete in world markets, Kim Campbell, minisier-of state for Indian affairs and northern development, said Campbell told about 250 members of the Canadian Club that Canada’s growing economy has created serious. skill shortages in the workforce “Unless we start acting tomorrow's jobs, with their increasing technological demands, will create even greater skill shortages that are beyond the reach of many Canadian workers,” she said Campbell's speech focused on the government's new labor force development strategy, announced by Barbara McDougall, minister of em ployment and immigration, on Tuesday. McDougall had been scheduled to deliver the speech. Campbell, member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, said she was asked to stand in for Me- Dougall because the minister had to Stay in Ottawa to answer questions in the House of Commons on the new policy: The policy includes almost billion in unemployment cutbacks, some of which will be used for retraining in the workforce. *NOSECRET’ “Mt is mo secret that Canadian businesses and industries tag behind ff OR SHA most other industrialized countries in providing training and retraining for their employees,"” Campbell said She said Japanese employers provide on average more training in a week than Canadian employers doin.a year. U.S. companies provide twice the training of Canadian companies. Among the controversial aspects of the program are changes to on qualification fer unem- ' TREND '89 (& Luxurious jetted baths \ and spas are ‘IN’ (! Retail dealers urgently needed in your area for an exclusive Canadian manufacturer line. Call Don or Brad 421-7721 Collect calls are welcome cer FAMILY ALLOWANCE | DAYS SAVE 10 family allowance now, ever not include cigarettes and tobacco products. Ettec tive April 18-23. COOKED HAM mE SUMMER SAUSAGE FRYING CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS PALM BUTTER $948 ores «Ib. With $25 FAMILY ORDER. OVER MAPLELEAF $1.3 SLICED OR SHAVED insurance vo, SLAMATO JUICE $1.88 _, GROUND COFFEE see $199 PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCHY. 1.5 kg. DECORATIVE 49 OVERLANDER. SLICED VED & SANBORN. most No. 1 QUAur 25 FAMILY ORDER. ina % OVER Limit $6.49. Grape grower forced to quit producing NARAMATA, B.C. (CP) — Guy Wilson loved the Okanagan, Riesling grapes, he.grew on two hectares of land. high above Okanagan Lake. Now he’s ripping them out. “‘It is literally breaking my heart," says Wilson, one of the 210 Okanagan Valley grape growers forced to quit or drastically cut back producing grapes because of the-free-grade-agreement-between-Canada~and- the United States and a ruling by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. “The writing was on the wall in 1986, but in Oc- tober 1987 when the free-trade agreement was announ- ced, my heart went out of the industry,"’ says Wilson, a former board member of”the B.C. grape marketing board and the B.C. Grape Growers’ Association “My property's net worth and share in the winery dropped by 50 per cent overnight.” Both GATT and the free-trade deal called for the phaseout of provincial markups on imported wine that gavea price advantage to domestic wine British Columbia and Ontario shielded their grapes and wine industry from foreign competitors with markups on imported wines. In the Okanagan Valley, about 971 hectares of cheaper grape varietjes have been torn out, for which growers will get about $8,000 an acre (about $19,700 a hectare) from the B.C. government. SOME STAYING About 400 hectares of better quality grapes are to stay in the ground Wilson, 44, has been in the business since 1967. His five-h property near » high on a cliff above the south end of Okanagan Lake, is a dream location of solitude and beauty Two hectares are planted in Okanagan Reisling grapes. The rest is parkland and cliff From the house, which I built myself in 1983, 1 can see more than 27 kilometres up arid down the lake,”” says Wilson. ‘‘I believe the further a man can see, the clearer are his thoughts."” What he sees now is the prospect of a new career growing ginseng, an exotic herbal medicine rott. “I'm getting very positive feelings about ginseng now."* Ninety-five per cent of the herbal medicine is marketed through Hong Kong. Asians have been eating and drinking concoctions prepared from the root for 5,000 years and believe strongly in its curative proper- ties. ' The root sells for $132 a kilogram, so grdss income could be $345,800 to $395,200 a hectare, Wilson says But getting into ginseng is expensive — about $111,000 a hectare — and it’s four years to the first har- vest An additional problem is that after harvest, the gound cannot be replanted with giriseng for 35 years — an enzyme produced by the plant prevents it Butany other crop can be planted “It’s like a McDonald's franchise “It costs a lot to get in but you don’t see many of these restaurants going broke.” He plans to plant slightly more than a hectare to start, eithef this fall or in 1990, depending on gover nmient compensation for his grapes “I haven't gotten any money yet when I get it.”” About three hectares will be fenced off to raise heifers. “How much, 1 can do each year depends on my profit,’* he says. “*Perhaps I can convince a banker that in two years maybe I will see $150,000 an acre ($370,500 a hectare). 1 might get the money to rent land and keep planting while waiting for that first crop. ““L-kgow I can do it and will work like hell 1d prove it,”’ Wilson says. ‘*1 won all sorts of prizes for my wine grapes and | will grow the very best ginseng I can."” * says Wilson. 1 will count it Our Action Ad Phone Number is 365-2212 CARING FOR ELDERLY PERSONS AT HOME With Moyra Jone: Thurs., April 20 7-9 p.m. (Free) Friday, April 21 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., $30 Workshop For Care Providers and Professional Staff Sat., April 22 9:00 o.m. - 3:00 p.m., $30 WORKSHOP FOR HOME SUPPORT PERSONNEL The Challenge and Joy of Caring for Elderly Persons: technicians TO REGISTER: Please call, Selkirk College Continuing Education at 365. 7292, YScol 208, or send in the Registration Form, along with your cheque or money order, to Box 1200, Castlegor, 8.C., VIN 3/1. Each day is 7, the costs for both days etan es Castlegar PUT A LITTLE SPRING IN YOUR MAZDA After a long winter it's time to give your Mazda our Spring treatment. Come in and get the Mazda Full Circle Service and rest assured you're benefitting from the expertise of factory-trained Mazda and the installation of only Genuine Mazda Parts. Do it now, then you and your prized- possession can go and kick up your heels. - SCOPE TUNE-UP Light Trucks 39.95 $49.95 PARTS EXTRA. Free Sotety inspection Genuine Mazda Parts & Accessories Speciahzed 68 8 Cylinder Mazda Lebour Only. Now ..... Service FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL BOB McLACHLAN COLLECT AT 365-7241 In the Castlegar Auto Mall CIMAIT ployment insurance benefits. In some areas where there are more job oppor- tunities, claimants will have to work longer to qualify and the duration of their benefits will be shorter. As well, penalties are increased for people who quit their jobs without just cause or who fraudulently benefits. Campbell said the program will con- tinue to provide income support for those who really need it. LIPTON’S SOUP We Have a Good Noovit Supply of Garden ae 99° Supplies in Stock! We reserve the right to limit quantities Prices limited to stock on hand jop-Easy Foo0s | CENTRAL FOODS OPEN SUNDAYS Community Owns 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 2717 Columbia, C Gi iF YOU INSIST ON DRINKING AND DRIVING, YOU CAN'T ESCAPE THE CONSEQUENCES. NOODLE 2-POUCH PACK collect PRICES EFFECTIVE *SUN., MON. TUES., WED. as than your” | licence, your job and your self- . It could also cost you your freedom. So please. For your sake and the sake of your passengers, don't drink and drive. SPRING COUNTERATTACK ROAD CHECKS — APRIL 13 - MAY 4 DRINKING DRIVING Government of COUNTERATTACK British Columbia CICBC