Wednesday, June 24, 1992 & Syringa water woes continue @ Marina owner says fish are in jeopardy Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER Hopes are dropping along with the water level at Sy- “We're screwed right now for space. We have absolutely nothing left,” Syringa Park Marina co-owner Kevin Smith said. The Hugh Keenleyside Dam continues to pour water from the Arrow Lake Reser- voir at a rate of 104,000 cubic feet per second. And while B.C. Hydro trimmed the draw on the dam last week by 15,000 c.f.s. to stop the flood- ing downstream, the up- stream marina operators re- main worri Smith says his customers aren't too happy. “They’re (angry). A lot of guys can’t use their cabins that they’ve been using for 20 years. * “There’s not a beach around you can use,” Smith said. Scottie Tait of Scottie’s Ma- rina is more concerned about the stock of Kokanee salmon. ‘I think the local people have got to get their asses in gear.’ —- Scottie Tait “I’m not worried about the marina or me going out of business,” Tait says, “but if we lose the fish we lose the tourist trade.” Jay Hammond, department head of B.C. Fisheries in Nel- son, says the draw from the dam shouldn’t have much of an. effect on the salmon spawning because the fish are tributary — or stream — But Hammond did say “probably with all the water drawn out it has pulled a lot of fish through the dam.” Hammond couldn’t specu- late on what effects the water. draw may have on the fish. He said he would have to just wait and see. Asked what would happen if B.C. Environment deter- mined that the loss of water from the reservoir was harm- ing the fish, Hammond said “it doesn’t matter. “All (the Americans) are do- ing is exercising their right to draw water under the Colum- bia River Treaty,” Hammond said. Tait figures area residents have to become involved. “I think the local people have got to get their asses in gear,” Tait says. “Politicians don’t do anything until they: get a thousand letters. “This had the potential to be the best year yet.” vattering Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER The forests need a shower. = Ted Evans, district planner for the Arrow Forest District, says “it would be ideal to have a steady soaking of rain for a week.” Evans says the danger rating for a fire haz- ard is “moderate.” “It’s been very dry,” Evans says, “a very dry spring. We haven’t had any spring rains to moisten things up for summer.” Record-breaking temperatures the past few days are adding to the problem. Meteo- rologist Jim Richards from the Southeast In- terior Weather Office says Sunday’s high of 34 degrees Celsius broke the previous record of 33 and Monday’s sunshine hit 36 C on the thermostat, shattering the old record-high of 32 C set in 1973. Richards says precipitation in the area has been minimal, although he adds 33 millime- tres of rain fell during the weekend of June 12. Evans says the Arrow Forest District runs from the U.S, border to the Southern bound- ary of Glacier National Park. Already the fire count is on the rise. Evans says three hectares have been burned so far this year. “To date we've had 20 fires. Nine have been lightning-caused, and 11 man-caused,” Evans said. “Compared to the last two years, at the same point we had three or four fires.” He says if the weather persists the area could move into a high hazard rating within a few days. He partially blames last winter’s low snowpack level and lower than normal precipitation this spring. es But the area could get some of the rain it needs. Richards says the ridge of high pressure over the area might start breaking down Thursday, leading to increasing cloud and the slight chance of cooler temperatures. Trail man dies in weekend crash NEWS STAFF A 40-year-old Trail man is _left the road. when his 1991 Dodge pickup According to a police report, Turner’s car left the road and travelled along a steep em- Unions protest contract NEWS STAFF ; Castlegar’s union movement delivered a message Thurs- day. Niaibers of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, the United Steelworkers and the Pulp, Paper and Woodwork- ers of Canada staged a protest in front of the Castlegar Sav- ings Credit Union, protesting its decision to award a build- ing contract to a non-union company. A flyer distributed outside the credit union claimed that $1 million of construction work on the new Castlegar Sav- ings Credit Union plaza will be preformed by non-union labor, A union representative could not be reach Tuesday for comment. UG) @@ Wednesday, June 24, 1992 Minister calls on Ready to end strike @ Friction persists as both sides insist they won't give an inch Scott David Harrison EDITOR | Moe Sihota is getting involved in the province-wide pulp strike. Stating that he is “gravely concerned about the damage this dispute is caus- ing,” Labor Minister Moe Sihota has in- structed Vince Ready to take another kick at the mediation can. “There can be no resolution unless the parties are at the bargaining table,” Si- hota stated in a news release. “To that end, the Industrial Relations Council has instructed Vince Ready to resume his role as mediator in the dispute.” Fresh from meeting with representa- tives from the Pulp, Paper and Wood- workers of Canada, the Canadian Paper- workers Union and the Pulp and Paper Industrial Relations Bureau last week, Sihota called for the conflicting parties “to make the necessary compromises.” PPWC president Stan Shewaga said he was curious about Sihota’s request. Shewaga said the two unions made it clear to Sihota during their 20-minute gathering last week that they would not budge concerning the removal of one of four statutory holidays. He said the same statement was delivered to Ready during the first two rounds of mediations. Meanwhile, the pulp bureau says it will reiterate to Ready its need for con- cessions from the two unions. “Let's face it, as an industry, we are suf- fering the worst losses we ever have,” PPIRB president Eric Mitterndorfer said. Pointing to management-recorded 1 of $533 million in 1990-91, Mit- ‘So far in these negotiations, the only one making concessions is the employer.’ — PPIRB’s Eric Mitterndorfer “It remains to be seen what happens, but (Ready) must know something I don’t,” Shewaga said. “All I know is we're not backing off in terms of that holiday. Both the minister and Ready already know that.” Shewaga said the striking unions have little to report to Ready when the expect- ed meeting takes place later this week. He said the unions agreed to meet with Ready because, “politically, I don’t think we have munich of a choice.” terndorfer said the union is making un- realistic demands on the depressed in- dustry. “In the context of the losses the indus- try has recorded and the losses we are ex- pecting to record, we are still willing to make our workers the highest paid in the world,” Mitterndorfer said. “Concessions are the name of the bar- gaining process. We have.made $52 mil- lion in cc i (for proposed wages and benefit increases) over the next two rors, he said. “Cor i aren ry,” he con- tinued. “You do it with your wife, you do it when you buy a car and you do it when you purchase anything. “So far in these negotiations, the only one making concessions is the employer.” : News photo by Glen Freeman For the second time in as many weeks, local union representatives staged a rally in front of the Castlegar Savings Credit Union. dead following a traffic acci- dent Friday. Charles Edward Turner died as a result of traffic-relat- ed injuries on the Salmo- Castlegar summit 11 kilome- tres east of the weigh scales “There is no indication that alcohol is related,” said Castle- gar RCMP Corp. Al Hudema. “But we are entertaining the idea that speed was in- volved.” bankment for about 450 yards before it came to rest. Witnesses are currently be- ing questioned and the matter is still under RCMP and coro- ner investigation. PoliccCBEAT Police received reports that Plotnikoff failed to remain at an accident in which his car received $5,000 damages, and was contacted by police the next day. eee A 46-year-old Castlegar man was charged with refus- ing to take the roadside screening test Saturday and will appear in court Sept. 1. A 33-year-old Nelson man was charged with impaired driving Saturday and will ap- pear in court Sept. 1. A stereo was stolen from a car parked at a graduation party Saturday night. Police have no suspects and are still ARROW LAKE ELEVATION . 1413.5 ft. on June 19 Forecast of Elevation 1406.4 ft. on June 27 Bluetop THIS IS A Veto Wigan COMMUNITY Let us welcome you! HOMEMADE CHILI & GARLIC BREAD $495 All Our Prices Include the G.S.T. Now open til 9 p.m. 1521 Columbia Ave. 365-8388 Call Ahead Drive Through Service Phone 365-2455 H@ Mediation could get Castlegar on its feet Scott David Harrison EDITOR Mike Babeeff says things couldn’t be better. Despite 15 days on the picket lines, the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada Local 1 spokesman says his members are united. “We’re in this for the long haui,” Babaeff said Tuesday. Local 1 showed its solidar- ity Monday, holding a closed- door meeting to discuss strike strategy. Babaeff declined to offer details on the evening session, saying it was for Local 1 ears only. He did, however, say that Local 1 members are considering ways of escalat- ing strike action. “T will tell you that a lot of talk about (picketing the Cel- gar expansion project gates) happened, but the ramifica- tions of that would be severe,” he said. Babaeff said “physically” there is nothing stopping Lo- cal 1 from picketing at the lone access to Celgar’s $700 million expansion project. STAY TUNED WITH MAZDA Genuine k/ Mazda Parts & Accessories fe MY, Specialized Mi SURROUN! ‘Ou jazda we ay Service WITH SATISFACTION He said the legal implica- tions of such a move far out- weigh the benefits. “There are a lot of guys who don’t want to go to jail,” he said. Babaeff said the only way Local 1 could disrupt con- struction was to have other B.C. locals do the same. “No one local can do it with- out the help of other locals in the province,” he said. “If we're to do it, we would have to do it together.” One week ago, PPWC Pres- ident Stan Shewaga urged all locals to be defiant is their ac- tions. In fact, Shewaga said “I think we should be using every facet we have to stop the employer from making progress and that means stopping all work.” Babaeff said Local 1 is op- timistic the latest round of mediation will bring a resolu- tion to the strike which has forced neighboring Pope and Talbot to lay off its 279 em- ployees. “Tm always hopeful that we can get the best deal for our members,” he said, “so the town can get back on its feet again.” M&J Sports (formerly Providing a comple Roadside Place) ste line of. Pogonn? CASTLEGAR B mazpa_ 713-17th St., Castlegar DL. 7956 CALL NOW COLLECT 365-7241 MAZDA— IT JUST FEELS RIGHT! Why rent?... WITH 5% DOWN AND EASY MONTHLY PAYMENTS YOU CAN OWN YOUR OWN HOME! We have a good selection of new and used mobile homes. * Pads available in family and adult parks. 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