a Poachers beware: the province’s Conservation Offi- cer Service is going undercov- er. Environment Minister John Cashore told the annual B.C. Wildlife Federation con-. vention funding has been ap- proved for anew undercover section to help uniformed of- ficers in their battle against poachers. “I feel very strongly about poaching,” Cashore said. He noted he has not been an active hunter since his youth, but it is clear to him that, “there continues to be a need for increased enforce- ment... This represents the first major step taken by gov- ernment since 1972.” In addition to the new covert-operations ection, Cashore told the 104 voting delegates representing more than 35,000 hunters, and an- glers and conservationists from across the province that uniformed officer numbers will be increased by 15 full- time officers and five support staff. The new recruits will boost province-wide Conservation Officer numbers to 165. “For obvious reasons, we have to be very careful about what we say. All I can say at this point is that we will be targeting specific areas and that we will be co-ordinating these efforts with our existing resources.” Wildlife Branch Director Ray Haliday remained equal- ly cagey on how the new sec- tion will function and refused to put a number on how many officers will be used. “There is a real need for COMM CHRISTIAN WOM Christian Women’s Club Luncheon, An expanded five part Al Bulletin Board covert operations, but we have to ensure we don’t give any secrets away at this point. No one should know who they are or how many we'll have in the field.” Statistics gathered by the branch indicate a dramatic increase in the numbers of poachers over the last few years, notably cases dealing with the illegal trade in ani- mal parts, Haliday said. “Bears, for instance, are in trouble world-wide. There is a strong trade in bear parts, es- pecially in the Asian commu- nity. Bear populations are down in many parts of the world as a result. Naturally, the trade concentrates wher- ever there are lots of bears . . . and our field inspections in- dicate the illegal trade in B.C. is increasing.” Hunters legally harvest about 4,000 bears annually in B.C. “We are concerned about both grizzly and black bear populations.” The problem is intensified, he said, because “the people who do it as a business are very aware of any weakness in the law.” Catching and convicting professional poachers has been extremely difficult, but “now that we have our own undercover force I know we'll be successful,” Haliday said. Lower Mainland Conser-: vation Officer Service super visor Dave Elliot registered a sense a vcliet the covert-op eratio “Uniformed officers can on- ly do so much because we're known. This will be a real help.” UNITY |EN'S LUNCHEON 11 am. to 1 p.m., Thurs., May 21 featuring Tulips Florists. Reservations, phone 365-8025 or 365-3886. 2/38 ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND HEALTH INFORMATION SERIES hol, Drugs and Health Information Series begins Wednesday, May 13, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at Castlegar Community Services, 1007-2nd Street. Gain and share insights and information on a topic that affects us all. For more information phone 365-2104. There is no charge and the general public, including youth, are welcome. 5/36 insertion is half-price and the fourth Coming events of Castlegar and District non-profit organizations may be listed here. The first 15 words are $5 and additional words are 30¢ each. Boldfaced words (which must be used for headings) count as two words. There is no extra charge for a second insertion while the third consecutive and fifth consecutive insertions are only half price for the two of them. Minimum charge is $5 (whether ad is for one, two or three times). Deadlines are 5 p.m. Wednesdays for Saturday's paper and 5 p.m. M fi dnesday’s paper. jor uf should be brought to the Castlegar News at 197 Columbia Ave. Brian L. Brown. CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANT 270 Columbia Avenue Castlegar - 365-2151 Surgenor & Rogers CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS 1444 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, B.C. NEIL E. SURGENOR, C.G.A. RESIDENT PARTNER Bus. 365-7208 Fax. 365-3908 RENOVATIONS =§“%y 365-3410 CASTLEGAR - INDUSTRIAL , * AGRICULTURAL For more information, call your Authorized Garco Builder Midwest Construction Services Ltd. 428-3332 Box 1633, Creston, B.C. MASONRY DESIGN & INSTALLATIONS COh UNITY *Use Real Stone — It Will Last Forever’ FREE ESTIMATES Morrison Painting & Insulation ¢ Blown Insulation _ » Batts & Poly DUNCAN MORRISON 650-5th Avenue 365-5255 CASTLEGAR FUNERAL CHAPEL Dedicated to ody ort service. COMPLETE FUNERAL SERVICE Cremation, Traditional Burial and Pre-Arrangement Plan Available Granite, Bronze Memorials, Cremation Urns and Plaques PHONE 365-3222 MODERN REFLEXOLOGY AND FOOT CARE ROOFING ¢ Guaranteed Work ¢Fair Prices ° 43 Years in Business -Free Estimates _ JAMES SWANSON AND SONS Ph. 367-7680 OIL & GAS FURNACE SERVICE & REPAIR HERCULES HEATING & PLUMBING 365-4948 CASTLEGAR PLUMBING & HEATING For all your plumbing needs and-supplies - FIXTURES - PARTS - SERVICE CALL 365-3388 PLUMBING | AND { HEATING & DOCTOR * GAS CONTRACTING + REPAIRS & RENOVATIONS - COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL PLUMBING 24 Hour Emergency Service Ph. 399-4762 aay AIR CONDITIONING & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS © Plumbing Air Conditioning ° Furnace Service & Installation _© Controls 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE 365-2485 CLEAN-SCENE CARGET _CURANEES 305-4900, ¢ Most Advanced System Gets more deep down soil than any other cleaning method + Upholstery Cleaning Too — SATISFACTION GUARANTEED — Why Not Call Us Today! FREE ESTIMATES PH. 365-6969 S| \ vi yf / ww gs Moving & Storage Ltd. 18 Branches in B.C., Alberta & Sask. 2337-6th Avenue, Castlegar Invite you to call them for a free moving. estimate. Let our representative tell you about the many services which have made Williams the most respected name in the moving business. Ph. 365-3328 Collect COLEMAN COUNTRY BOY SERVICE Sump & Septic Tank Pumping Phone 365-5013 3400-4th Avenue Castlegar Sore feet? i Foot problems? es Weill help you solve them at LYON'S SHOE STORE 553 Baker Street, Nelson 352-3034 ~ DEWDNEY — TRAIL STAGES "Charter for groups Anytime, Anywhere!” 1355 Bay Ave., Trail OR CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-332-0282 OUR ACTION AD PHONE NUMBER IS 365-7266 perro emer Win or lose, it’s in The News. Ed Mills 365-7266 LITTLE LEAGUE Res: asl _ SroMers. Among the local juniors (under ae sone 18 years old) entered are Jody and Spe eat Marty Carew, Scott Clifford, Mark al s Perrier, Kris Chernenkoff, Pat Arrow Lakes 5 Biln and last year’s runner-up WP Corey Todd Archambault,. : Gordon All of the above-mentioned are HR Corey teammates on their high school Gordon team. Legion 11 But come 1 p.m. Saturday, they Safeway 6 will put personal friendships aside MINORS and concentrate on besting their Kats Trophy 18 buddies. g Cas. Realty 15 “That's fine, it’s good for them,” ne said Castlegar assistant pro Steve er eo 6 Johnston, who instructs pre- aS ie tourney favorites Archambault and the Carews. “More than Cas. Realty 3 anything, playing against your WP Erin Kinakin buddies just gets you tournament T-BALL tough. It’s better to play them with Cas. Realty 30 ‘ eee oe . ; News photo by Ed Mills — something on the line” CKOR 23 Sisters Nicolle, (left) and Angela Binnie are weighed down by the medals and ribbons they've won in track On the line, of course, is the and field events. right to the title of best junior golfer in the city. But perhaps just eens as important for the players is a berth in the Sunflower Men’s Trials for the centre fire rifl : s . year-old Angela Binnie a team that will H represent the fa Elementary school sisters competitor in high jump, shot Kootenay at the combine for massive medal _ put and the 1500 metres. .C. Summer. . And on both hands is a pile Games ore. sat haul at Interior Track and op edals and ribbons from the O35 ut that aad Field Championships. Interior Track and Field Sua; teres | MEWS STAFF ieee (1 al of Ymir). Contact Talk about a potent one, two The elder Binnie won gold in Bev Pinney in combination. the 400-, 800- and 1500-metre Crescent Valley. On one hand is 11-year-old races, took second in shot put Nicolle Binnie, distance and fourth in long jump. runner, shot putter and long Binnie the younger was first jumper. in high jump and shot put and On the other hand is nine- fifth in the 1500-metre Binnie sisters just super Juniors tee up for title Ed Mills SPORTS EDITOR Castlegar’s junior golfers are a fairly tight knit group. . ° Expect that to change for a while this weekend. Because it will be every young man for himself at the 36-hole School Sports, page 21 Junior Club Championship at the Castlegar Golf Course Saturday and Sunday. Open — Castlegar’s biggest local tourney— that will go to the top two finishers. Archambault said he doesn’t look at it as trying to beat his friends, it’s more just competing dgattins biases But if it ever came down to a one-hole playoff, Archambault would get tough. “Td play like I didn't even know them. When you get out there you’re out there to win, not to make friends.” Defending champ Todd Bond- aroff will not compete this year, as he is currently touring the Orient. semifinal. The medals were actually part of encore performances by the two Kinnaird Elementary School kids who managed similar feats at the Knights of Columbus track event in Trail two weeks ago. The Binnies, who train with the Trail Track Club and are coached by mom Brenda and dad Don, will try to continue their amazing roll at the provincial championships in Richmond May 22-23. Need a mortgage? ~ Well make it happen. 5 | Kootenay Savings ‘Where You Belong