eS {1ST News _oecomboris.ies _ MMEDICINE DEPO-PROVERA New contraceptive's safety in question By STEVE KERSTETTER OTTAWA (CP) —.-Sup- porters and of the Connie Clement of Tor- onto, former program co- drug Depo-Provera seem to have only one thing in com- mon: both agree it is a highly effective means of birth con- trol for women. ; Beyond that, the two groups disagree strongly about the safety of the in- jectible contraceptive, whe- ther it would fill a genuine need in Canada and whether the regulatory process for bringing the drug onto the market adequately serves the public interest. The Upjohn Co. of Canada is seeking federal approval to market Depo-Provera as a contraceptive. A décision on the application is expected early in the new year. Supporters of Depo-Prov- era include international or- izatic i in fam- of family pl g programs for the city of Toronto and now one of the managing editors of the quarterly magazine Health- sharing, says the experts still have a long way to go before her concerns are satisfied. Here are some of the main questions raised, the answers given by Walters and Cle- ment, and additonal informa- tion from other sources. Q. Do the benefits of Depo- Provera outweigh the risks? A. The drug rivals oral contraceptives in its ability ‘to prevent pregnancy. It of- ten leads to changes in men- struation, some welcome and some not. And it has been linked’ with certain types of cancer in laboratory experi- ments on female dogs and ily planning, some leading medical specialists and their professional associations, and the Health Department's special advisory committee on reproductive physiology. Dr. Jack Walters, profes- sor of obstetrics and gyne- cology at the University of Ottawa and chairman of the advisory committee, says he finds it hard to understand - opposition to the drug, and why it suddenly provoked vocal protests after so many months of silence. Opponents of the drug have joined. together in the Canadian Coalition on Depo- Provera. Its driving forces are women in Winnipeg, Ot- ~ tawa and Toronto with spec- ial interest in the health of women, groups that work on behalf of the mentally re- tarded, and feminists associ- ated with the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. jon CHICAGO (AP) — Most people treated for multiple personality disorders are fe- male, highly intelligent, high- ly creative and the victims of child abuse, a study found. It also indicated such pati- ents retain imaginary com- panions, said Rosalyn Schultz, a St. Louis psychol- 2 ogist who led the three- member research team. “To have imaginary com- % panions up to the age of six is 4 considered a normal phenom- | enon,” said Schultz, who pre- sented the findings at an 4 international conference on multiple personality-dissocia- { tive disorders. “After the age of six, there | is concern that they are used todefend against a variety of stresses.” Multiple personality disor- ‘ ders are believed to caused by traumatic experi- ences. Psychiatrists theorize pa- | tients try to cope with the trauma by splitting their ‘ personalities, each storing pieces of the bad experience. Schultz said the study was based on data collected over 1 several months from 309 therapists. Each had been | asked to select the patient they had been treating the 1 longest. Of the 309 patients, 91 per cent were women, 81 per cent had above average IQs, * Clement;. says Canadian women alréatly have access to.a number of methods of birth control, and she ques- tions the need to add Depo- Provera to the list. Her main concerns centre on the long- term effects of the drug. Walters says the benefits of Depo-Provera “outweigh the risks and there's no rea- son not to approve the drug. He sees it as an alternative to existing birth control meth- ods for select groups of women. Women who can't take the pill because of the risk of strokes or blood clots, for example, wouldn't have to worry with Depo- Provera. Q. Has the risk of cancer in women from Depo-Provera been proven or disproven beyond any reasonable doubt? A. The validity of tests of the drug on both animals and humans has been the subject and 80 per cent were con-_ sidered creative, mainly with a talent for drawing’ and painting. Ninety-seven per cent of the patients studied said they had been abused as children, many over long periods’ of + were - detect adverse effects, and of continuing controversy. Walters says it's ridiculous to think that Depo-Provera caused a few cases of en- dometrial cancer in monkeys, because the drug is actually used to treat endometrial cancer. He also says that long-term studies of women, and the assessmeht of those studies by internationally- known experts, resulted in a clean bill of health. ‘Clement says the animal studies, taken together, raise disturbing questions. As for the studies in women, very few North American studies pena 3 ‘ie Telephone 365-5210 News New insertions, h id for TOR copy an e Castl Directory will be accepted up to 5 p.m. Dec. 20 for the month of January. Beauty Salons Brian L. ‘Brown CERTIFIED GENERAL - ACCOUNTANT THE HAIR ANNEX eS) studies done in the Third World are suspect because of 270 Columbia Ave. Castlegar Ph. 365-2151 OGLOW’S PAINTS & WALLCOVERINGS 365-6214 the lack of proper g for different types of cancer, she says. Q. Why should Canada ap- prove a contraceptive that the United States turned down? A. The standards that prescription drugs have to meet before i are SOLIGO, KOIDE & JOHN CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS roughly the same in both countries. However, officials of the. Health Department say that doesn’t mean they will come to the same con- clusions on every drug appli- cation they study. Walters says the U.S. de- cision was political rather than scientific’ Scientists were dumbfounded when the final decision was made last year because they thought they had an air-tight case, he says. Opponents of Depo-Prov- era will no doubt cite the U.S. decision, at the very least, as reason for Canadian author- ities to regard the Upjohn application with extreme wariness. time starting from birth. Of those abused, 48 per cent suffered abuse in all of four categories covered by the study — neglect, physical mistreatment, psychological mistreatment and sexual abuse. are availab “Silent Night, Christmas Song Sheets Castlégar News 197 Columbia Avenue le from the Not Open 615 Columbi (Upstairs) Castlegar Phone 365-7745 Henry John, B.Sc. C.A. Ave. Partner MoROSO, MARKIN & BLAIN CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS 241 Columbia Ave. Castlegar Ph. 365-7287 } FAST COURTEOUS SERVICE : @GENUINE MAYTAG PARTS ‘OWE SERVICE ALL MAKES: — SPECIALIZE IN MAYTAG CASTLEGAR PLUMBING & HEATING LTD. 1008 Columbia Ave., Castleg. -, B.C. +3388 RUMFORD PLACE Super Sweep Chimney Services Ltd. asl Za & ‘* Complete Masonry Work © Chimney Lining © Certitied Fire Satety Inspections 735 Columbia Ave. 365-6141 Concrete WEST K CONCRETE LTD. PIPELINE PITT RD. Genelle Customers +2. Castlegar 365-2430 PLANT TOLL FREE 1-800-332-2218 Contractors 620 © 1985 Universal Press Syncicate C & M HEATING © Furnaces General Metal Work Air Conditioning Humidifiers Flashing Service Work Plumbing Call 365-8138 i Moving & Storage “Just put her inside the door.”’ ALL TYPES OF COMMERCIAL PRINTING * Letterheads * Envelopes © Brochures ® Raffle Tickets OFFSET & LETTERPRESS WEB PRESS FACILITIES 197 Columbia Ave. Rubber Stamps RUBBER STAMPS Made to Order CASTLEGAR NEWS 197 Columbia Ave. Phone 365-7266 COLEMAN COUNTRY BOY SERVICE Sump & Septic Tank Pumping PHONE 365-5013 3400 - 4th Avenue Castlegar Skin Care CARE STUDIO copy Copier Systems CALL DAVE PLANT 1-800-642-1234 tw WILLIAMS MOVING & STORAGE the many services which have made Williams the most respec- ted name in moving business. Ph. 365-3328 Collect F. PIRSH CONTRACTING 2045 Columbia Ave., ! Trail Russell Auctions 399-4793 hru Buy or Sell by Auction * Custom-built kitchen cabinets ee ° _J.T. (TIM) ALLEN : B.Sc. O.D. a OPTOMETRIST No. 2 - 615 Columbia, Castlegar 365-2220 or 366 Boker St., Nelson 352-5152 © Big jobs or small jobs Ph. 368-5911 raperies Auto Rentals Plus 12¢ km. Saturday and Sunday LOCATED AT Castlegar Airport Terminal Adastra Aviation — 365-2313 —— CREATIVE DRAPERIES ML LeSoy B.S. O.D. OPTOMETRIST 1012 - 4th St. Castlegar PHONE 365-3361 Tues. - Fri. 9a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 12 noon THE STORE THAT HAS IT ALL IN DRAPERY! Gwen Kissock In-home drapery estimates — no charge, no obligation. Commercial or Residential 9:30-5:30 Tues. to Sat. Bus. 15 Res. 1434 Columbia Ave., Castlegar BARTLE & GIBSO The Plumbing & t Centre ‘© American Standard * Valley Fibrebath Jacuzzi * Crane Homegoods is NOT open today (Sunday, Dec. 15). The Castl News apologizes for this incorrect ad which ran in Wednesday's paper. ‘and 1444 Columbia Ave. 365-7555 ‘{ ' CASTLEGAR FUNERAL CHAPEL Dedicated to kindly, thoughtful service. creator Traditional '* Duro Pumps & Softeners © PVC Pipe Fittings © Septic Tanks 365-7705 2317 - 6th Ave. Castleger RAE'S PLUMBING Commercial — Residential ROI PRINTING * BROCHURES % PRESS SERVICE * FLYERS * PHOTOCOPYING 800 Highway Dr. Blueberry Creek Castlegar Roy S. Dickie Ph. 365-2565 RECYCLING SPAGHETTI Specializing in Italian Cuisine “A Trail Tradition” Dinner 5 to 9 every day. Lunch 11:30 to 2 week days. For Reservations Phone 364-1816 1475 Cedar Avenue +__Trail, B.C. Peppercorn TERRA NOVA MOTOR INN CASTLEGAR 365-2656 THE COLANDER Telephone 365-7616 Did you know all the following health and beauty services ore available to you? je 2 hour facial hh facial treatment Monicure Pedicure Eyelash tinting Hair removal by waxing Colour and wardrobe analysis -Week New Image Classes Gilt Certificates INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED ESTHETICIAN Typesetting PROFESSIONAL TYPESETTING Give your photocopied printing (newsletters, notices, etc.) o professional image. CASTLEGAR NEWS Commercial Printing 365-7266 Lose the weight you want to, healthy food, t Cent sof 5) buy. Call for your sultation today. HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 7.a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sat. — 8 a.m. -9a.m. Call 365-6256 siative Library, tiament Bligs., oria, ix? B.C. C SOl Belleville St 28 VOL..38, No. 101 me aad tlég CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1985 3 Sections (A, B&C) ASISSI SKIN “The Leeding Convention Hote!” ‘+. 3 halls to serve your needs from 25 to 400 le 10 the menu: Terra Nova Motor Inn 1001 Rossland Ave., Trail Welding & Backhoe ROCK BLUFF WELDING & We dig borements. sepnc systems, water lines, orc spewed REASONASLE RATES ~ 365-2383 ‘Owner, Pulp mill faces 29 harges By CasNews Staff Westar Timber’s Celgar Pulp Opera- tions has been charged with 29 counts of exceeding its pollution control permit during last May. ~ The provincial Ministry of the Envir- onment laid the charges Dec. 11 under Section 34-5 of the Waste Management Act, the ministry said in a prepared release. “The charges allege that emissions on bivalent sulphur compounds from the recovery boiler stack were in excess of the maximum allowable daily limits authorized by Pollution Control Permit PA-3080 during 29 days of May. 1985,” the release said. The release did not say why the ministry waited nearly seven months to lay the charges and Carl Johnson, head of the Waste Management Branch’s industrial section in Nelson, was unavailable for comment. Westar Timber will appear in court in Castlegar Jan. 14 to face. the charges. The maximum fine under the Waste Management Act is $50,000 for each count. Dioxin decision delayed By CasNews Staff Westar Timber in Castlegar will not use wood chips treated with the potentially dangerous chemical trich- lorophenate, says Celgar Pulp Opera- tions general manager Wilf Sweeney. But a Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada respresentative said the company has decided only not to use the chemical until April or May. Sweeney angrily tried to downplay the issue during the interview Friday, saying! the mifl is already on record as not going ahead with the use of TCP. “It’s not happening. It’s a non-issue. It's not being used,” Sweeney said. TCP’s potential danger comes in the pulping process where wood treated with the chemical — if burned too cooly — gives off deadly dioxins. But while Sweeney said Westar Timber is not now using TCP to treat its wood, he didn’t discount the possib- ility of its use in the future. “If we ever used it, it would be with the complete assurance that dioxins would not be created,” Sweeney said. Dave Adams of the PPWC said, “The company has decided not to use the stuff (TCP) until April or May.” Adams first brought the issue to the public's attention in a letter to the Castlegar News in September. “We're still very concerned about it,” Adams said. “The union will always be active (and) the issue won't fizzle into oblivion ‘because the company backs down.” Adams said in his letter that Westar Timber's Southern Wood Products was considering using TCP to stop hemlock boards destined for overseas from dis- coloring. Off-cuts from the boards cut to length would be chipped and sent to the Celgar pulp mill for processing. TREE-TRIMMING . . . You'd think decorating a Christ- mas tree is serious business by the look of concen- tration on Brian John’s face. Youngsters in tree at the Kinnai the as this photograph makes out. Castlegar Library's storytime hour helped decorate ird branch — and it wasn’t all as quiet —CosNewsPhote by Ron Normen TUITION FEES College eyes increase > By CHERYL CALDERBANK Writer Selkirk College students may be facing another tuition fee increase in 1986. College principal Leo Perra told the college board Tuesday night in Castle- gar that most post-secondary institu- tions across the province plan to recommend tuition fee increases of be- . tween five and 10 per cent in 1986. He said a recommendation for Sel- kirk College — likely five per cent — will be presented for the board's consideration at the January meeting. “It is a sizable portion of revenue (for the college).” Perra said in an inter- view. He said the college gets about $800,000 from tuition fees. The administration doesn't want to see the college out of stép as it was five or six years ago when there hadn't been a tuition increase for 10 years, he added. ¥ Perra said that even with a five per cent increase, tuition fees at Selkirk College will still be among the lowest in the province. In other news, Selkirk College may be training Lebanese students in the near future. Perra said in his report to the board that colleges and institutions were in- vited to submit proposals for the training of Lebanese under LEO PERRA ... five per cent? dents sponsored by the Hariri Found- ation. Perra said a proposal from Selkirk College is to accept 15 students at the Rosemont campus. If approved, the students will take English as a Second Language training and then move on to ‘ical and hanical prog = Elsewhere, a proposed 200-seat am- the auspices of the Canadian Bureau of International Education. The bureau is responsible for placing some 300 stu- for the C: campus is one of the highlights of a college facilities plan. Perra said in an interview the al e is feasible but it’s a matter of demonstrating the college's need for such a facility. He said the amphitheatre could serve the community, as well as the college. Also part of the plan at the Castlegar campus is the provision for three to four new classroom spaces, a perman- ent Learning Assistance Centre, wash- room facilities in the classroom wings, equipment and vehicle storage com- pound, and a possible student union building. We The college is also looking at rein- troducing the first-year Physical Educ- ation program next September. Perra said Selkirk College indicated to Minisry of Education officials that if a PE program had been in place in 1985/86, enrolments in the University Transfer program probably would have exceeded the projected figure. He said the college now has to look “at all things it has to do to get the program back.” This will mean increas- ing staff and making some shifts from other areas of the college into the Physical Education area. “It’s a program that certainly has received a fair amount of interest,” said Perra. Elsewhere, no new college programs have been approved for 1986/87, but the college is still trying to get approval for the following programs at the Rosemont campus: Welding Fabri- cation and Layout, Fire Apparatus, continued on poge A2 - Frost puts uilding id’ * to raise the rest of the construction of its-new $80,000 build- ing. ‘ : But after the ground refused to budge, the chamber has decided to de- lay start-up. “We're going to put it on hold until after the new year,” building commit- tee chairman Mike O'Connor explained _in an interview Tuesday. O'Connor said the chamber thought the ground would be frozen, but was surprised at how deep the frost went. “We made an attempt” to break ground, he said, but found the frost- more than half a metre deep on the chamber property adjacent to the Community Complex. O'Connor said the chamber is con- js thawing the ground, but doesn't want to proceed with that if it takes too much time and means addi- tional costs. “Hopefully, milder weather,” says O'Connor. The building will be constructed with a $29,350 grant from the federal Modified Industry and Labor Adjust- ment Program. = The funding will be used only for labor and will create five jobs. The chamber has had to raise the money for the 1,144 square foot building. And so far that has been done through donations. ‘O'Connor said the chamber has a number of fund-raising ideas it will inside JOB CREATION: Kootenay West MP Bob Brisco an- nounced Tuesday that another $150,000 has been approved for six Canada Works projects in the Cen- tral Kootenay region. However, none of them are in the Castlegar area . money needed for the building, in- cluding a program where ‘past-presi- dents donate $100 each and in return have their name engraved on a plaque to be mounted on the building. The building will include a board- room/meeting room, reception area, bathrooms, manager's office and a con- sulting office for the business in- formation centre, along’ with a full basement for storage. The second storey of the two-storey structure will remain unfinished, O'Connor said. However, the space can be made into additional office space at a later date if necessary. The exterior will be cedar siding with cedar shake roof. There will be two chalet-style roofs on either side of the entranceway, which will face 6th Avenue. O'Connor says the chamber hopes to have an artist's sketch of the exterior available in the near future. As well, the city plans to install a sani-station along the side of the building. Council has set aside $10,000 for the work. be particularly handy during events at the Community Complex like the Lions Trade Fair and annual rodeo. Although O'Connor says there is no firm date, the hopes to have the building finished “by ist rn.” MORE MONEY: Central Kootenay regional district directors have voted themselves a pay hike . - -A7 THAT'S A LINE-UP: LONDON — A Briton is sitting outside a London department store trying to break the world record for what many foreigners regard as a British obsession — lining up. Kevin Mellish, 37, has spent nine days outside Selfridges in the capital's Oxford Street and intends to stay there another nine, waiting for the store's winter sales to begin. If he succeeds, he'll beat the present record of 17 days and four hours by 20 hours and earn an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. But Mellish, an unemployed Londoner, is not just waiting for the sales. He's trying to raise money for the National Rainer Foun- dation, a charity organization which helps young people at risk or in need “People come up and talk to me all the time and bus passengers wave to me; | never get bored,” says Mellish, sitting on folding chair by a bus stop outside the store. Friends bring him food and he goes across the street toa hamburger shop to fill up thermos flasks with hot water and use the bathroom. At night, he unfolds his camping bed and wraps himself in a thermal blanket. RECORDS BROKEN: Castlegar Rebels Ken Hoodicoff and Kelly Hurd have shattered club scoring records . . . BI Loud school music disturbs parent By SIMON BIRCH Staff Writer Things are booming at Stanley ondary School — and at least one Castlegar parent doesn't like it. The problem is music — loud music — and Peter Ommundsen has written a letter to the Castlegar school ‘+ amplified recorded song, and a number of people have ined of ear i Sec- Or d: since the concert.” says in the letter. “The fact that no immediate action was taken to reduce the sound level indi ideli are likely inadequate and warrant urgent review.” At its Monday meeting, the board took up "s = that existing board “what policies, gui are in effect to protect the hearing of students during musical events and and pi Or Superintendent8f schools Terry Wayling said he spoke to SHSS principal Don King and learned.that “one trustees. “Sometimes we get into policy that should be left to people in charge.” Rick Pongracz = up. the discretion of the said. “It’s a concern that administrators.could Jook after.” Ed Conroy added that people's taste in music differs. “One person's noise is another person's bliss,” Conroy said, adding that planned renovations to the SHSS activity room should help solve the problem. But Gordon Turner agreed the music at school and added that after the bands had been asked to turn the important that music down there was “a tendency to sneak the levels But Farrell told the board that if it establishes a policy on decibel levels, it would have to buy the equipment to enforce that policy. “If you establish a policy, you set yourself up to buya decibel meter at a cost of about $400,” Farrell said. In his letter, Ommundsen says “it is particularly setan in dances.’ Ommundsen also suggests that “current practices be investigated.” Ommundsen was spurred into writing the letter by the recent Stanley Humphries Christmas concert, where he says the sound level was “dangerously high” during the dance duet. “The dance duet was accompanied by a highly of the performances was very loud. Wayling said the district does not have any guidelines limiting the decibel level of performances but added that in the past “when bands have been asked to turn down the music they've cooperated.” But a suggestion that the board refer the problem to its policy comfhittee sparked some opposition from the dances is sonietimes too loud, saying “my son always comes home from these things with his ears aching.” ‘Turner asked former SHSS principal and now the district's director of instruction Lach Farrell if a policy would help. “I don’t think a policy would help at all,” Farrell said. He said “bands from time to time have been loud” health protection. Sound pressure meters should be routinely employed at dances and musical performances where amplifying equipment is in use.” ‘The board referred the matter to Wayling who sai he would-contact health officials to ine acceptibl decibel levels and would bring the problem up at a meeting of district administrators.