Page 2A The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, February 8, 1995 Library finances ‘precarious’ RON NORMAN financial state”, head librarian Sun Editor Judy Wearmouth ‘told the library's lic Library is in a “precarious annual general meeting on Jan. 30. “A presentation to the city in January regarding our precarious The Castlegar and District Pub- Pt STAR Strategic Asset Allocation HOW TO REACH THE FINAL RRSP FRONTIER. Mackenzie's STAR strategic’asset allocation program enables you ro quake your most important decision beter STAR first establishes your goals you're prepared ro assume to reach them. It then matches your and how much risk goals to one of a number of scientifically selected portfolios ot mutual funds, structured ro meet your needs — with the goal of building more consistently rewarding long-term RRSP investment performance For more information on STAR from Mackenzie, please call us at the number below. And let us help you reach the final RRSP froncer. Pi DAVIES & AS! s TD) Financiae ad Ron Davies & Associates Ltd. FPO neers SECURITIES DEALER financial state and our increased workload was received for infor- mation and finally resulted in a toughening of the city's attitude to us and the regional district, saying the regional district had to Support us to the tune of $90,000 ‘or we operate without that sum..” All remaining fluctyate, as Invest wisely: Important informa gram 1s contained in the industrial Group o| advisor and read ther ‘eturns of each fund within you 1418 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, B. C. VIN 3K3 Tel: (604) 365-0040 tion abou simplified the STAR asset allocats spectuses sof The Universal Fu Yoho are not guaranteed and will will the overall mar ket value oof your STAR portfolio, reflecting changes in the valve of the underlying fu 1129 - 4th St., investment. Res to settlement - but cos settlements will average less of the total under the responsibility for the negotiations and f NEGOTIATING AFFORDABLE LAND Ciams In BC. WILi STRENGTHEN Our Economy. ' ontinued uncertainty about our land and resources has cost British Columbia an estimated $1 billion in potential Iving trearres now will encourage investors to support our province and generate new yobs ir our communities Costs will vary-trom settlement ts would be higher without settlements B.C.'s cash contribution to treaty than 17 percent ost sharing agreement with Ottawa. The federal government has the primary of land clauns funding all treaty settle winter dresses. Fashions to fit Georgi's Ladies Wear Castlegar ments. B.C.’s contribution will also include unoccupred Crown lands. ALL TREATIES Must BE AFFORDABLE TO B.C. TAXPAYERS. As noted, the federal government has primary responsibility for the costs of treaties. B.C.’s agreement with Ottawa means treaty costs in B.C will be shared by all Canadians and any cash compensation to * First Nations will be spread over a period of years: For more information about land claims call 1-800-880-1022 or write to: Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs 908 Pandora Ave., Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 Government of British Cotumbia pars RO Hc en nA RRR RAE. st aR ce Wearmouth said the message from the city is “loud and clear.” “Without proper regional sup- port we cannot grow, We._are too expensive for the Castlegar tax- payers to shoulder alone, although our record of service to the com- minty is acknowledged.” s and shrinking city grants, “I expect our materials budget to suffer and consequently expect much dissatisfaction from our patrons accustomed to a regu. lar influx of exciting new books.” Wearmouth also noted that the city examined converting the library from a public association run by members and with a board elected by members, to a munici- pal library with a board appointed by council. “That issue seems to have been dropped for the time being as the most important factor is regional district support.” Despite the funding uncertain- ties, the library had another record year, Wearmouth said. “Yet again I'm proud to report a record year, with circulation statistics soaring to 124,441.” She noted that city member- ships jumped by more than 1,000 to 4,331, while regional member- ships nearly tripled to 1,613. “The exceptionally high circu- lation figures are the result of this in regional hi in addition to the steadily grow- ing number of city members using the library,” Wearmouth told the more than 55 members in attendance at the Legion Hall The annual meeting was preced- ed by a dinner in recognition of the library's more than 40 volunteers. Former city councillor and library board member Jim Chapman pro- vided the evening's entertainment following the meeting with a read- ing and story-telling. She reported that the automa- tion fundshas reached the $25,000 mark, with $10,000 of that com- ing from the Legion. SUN STAFF Bill and Jean Thorne with sympathy card for Steve Carpenter SUN STAFF PHOTO / Ron Norman Couple supports Carpenter lobby “Toughen up the laws,” says Thorne. “Plug the loopholes.” To show their support, the Thornes have gathered 22 names on a card of sympathy which will be sent to Steve Carpenter. The Melanie Carpenter murder has prompted a Fairview couple to throw their support behind MELANIE, the criminal justice lobby group formed by Steve Car- penter, Melanie’s father. “We've got a lot of laws that should have been replaced years ago,” says Bill Thorne. Thorne, along with his wife Jean, are urging Castlegar resi- dents to get behind MELANIE and push for law reform. They are also sending $250 to help fund the criminal jus- tice lobby group. They note that anyone who wants to help fund the group can do so through a special trust fund established at any branch of the Royal Bank in B.C.. The nearest Royal Bank is in Nelson. 365- 5522. = Utility. Continued from 1A by 44 per cent or $109—from $248 in 1994 to $357 this year. The total-municipal utility bills for south-end homeowners increased $89 or 33 per cent— from $268 last year to $357 this year. In a letter to homeowners that accompanies the utility bills, the city points out that the new garbage fees will not be offset by a corresponding reduction in the municipal tax bill, due out in June. “To date council is planning to keep municipal taxes the same as 1994,” says the letter, “no increase for inflation, but no reduction to offset the garbage- collection fee either.” The letter also explains why water and sewer rates have increased again this year. “Additional money is required to continue operating and upgrad- ing the facilities while meeting higher demand and increased Teg- ulatory requi *41 Film per 10 depending on ™, L picture developing *12 - 24 exposure quantity of prints FREE FILM WITH EVERY ROLL PROCESSED IN FEBRUARY* HOUR PORTRAITS NOW AVAILABLE With our proffessional photographer Call for appointment ca ae “T he _—~ ©Picture “Place CASTLEAIRD PLAZA 365-2211 Wednesday, February 8, 1995 The Castlegar Sun Cas' jar 4-H Club members were at the Castleaird Plaza on Saturday selling jail or bail tickets for the First Annual Winter Carnival. Proceeds from the carnival will go towards upgrading Pass Creek Park. 50 attend town hall meeting KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff More than 50 people attended a town hall meeting last Wednesday called by Kootenay West-Revel- stoke MP Jim Gouk to discuss gov- ernment spending and social programs. Gouk, who has been stumping the riding since Jan. 23, held 11 such meetings in as many days try- ing to educate people about the serious and voracious financial hole the federal gdvernment is find- , ing itself in and to gather input from his constituents. “I'm trying to get out and explain the problems occurring with social progr P has lacked foresight. At worst, said Gouk, Canadians will be leaving their children a legacy of a burdensome debt and a bankrupt country. ‘This Is unfair to our children. We're plac- ing a.mortgage on their future.’ — JIM GOUK Kootenay West-Revelstoke MP “Big government has failed. It's d our children’s future. and what we plan to do.” “ The purpose of the meetings, explained Gouk, was to gather input from the taxpayers, the very people who he said hold the solution to the the government is current- ly facing. In his opening statement Gouk stressed that his loyalty lies not with the government, but with the TS. “T am not a representative of the government nor of the Reform Party. I am a representative of the constituents of Kootenay West- Revelstoke.” Gouk told the audience that, according to a national survey, (Canada is one of the best places to live in the world. Part of the reason for Canada’s global success, he said, is its social programs. But Gouk warned that these pro- grams are in jeopardy due to the national debt unless Canadians wrest control of the from a government which he said has been inept at managing money and This is unfair to our children. We are placing a*mortgage on their future.” The national deficit is currently $40 billion. To demonstrate exactly how much that is Gouk said a per- son would have to work 11 days at $1 a second to earn $1 million. To earn $1 billion a person would have to work 33 years at $1 a second. Gouk said the solution to the deficit and debt problem lies not in finding ways to increase revenue, but in ways to decrease spending. Gouk believes that one of the way to chop the debt is by restructuring social programs. Although he said he has some ideas of his own about how this should be done, he’s hoping the questionnaires he came armed to the meeting with will help him divine what the voters think should be done to reign in government spending. While explaining the question- naire to the audience, many had $8 million upgrade slated KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff Cominco will upgrade its four generating units at Waneta dam to the tune of $8 million. Richard Fish, Cominco's chief public relations officer, said the upgrade will increase the dam's capacity by as much as 117 megawatts by 1998. Currently, the Waneta dam has a generating of 375 megawatts. This upgrade is the first of *four upgrades scheduled, with total completion slated for the end of 1998. Fish said environmentalists have no cause for concern. He explained that in fact the upgrade might mean a better environmen- Court date Three local men charged with criminal negligence causing death appeared in Nelson Provincial Court Jan. 31 and had their day in court put off until