ia ony on by A
vested in ond belongs 10 Castle News Lid.; provided, however, that copyright in that port end that part only of
prepered trom repro proots, engrovings shall remain in ond

any advertisement
belong 10 the odvertwer

etc provided by the edvertiser

What's happening?

The West Kootenay has been
‘ely battered by the provincial
government restraint program.
Still, amidst all the cutbacks in
provincial government services,
Castlegar has managed to emerge
comparatively unscathed, with
Trail and particularly Nelson
shouldering the brunt of the
restraint measures.

That appeared to change this

where there are “alternate roads”.
And where there are no alternate
roads, Mr. Fraser said bridges will
be built. But there was no mention
of the Castlegar Ferry.

It is obvious, then, that the first
step Mr. Fraser must take is to
clarity just what is happening with
the Interior ferries. Which ferries is
the government looking at

Nicat

week with the ent by
Highways Minister Alex Fraser
that the Castlegar ‘Ferry will be
removed trom service as of April 1

* Though the decision appears to
be cut and dry, it really isn’t. Mr.
Fraser's only mention of the
Castlegar Ferry came in the

ing? Is Castlegar one of
them?

Until then — and in light of the
government's recent, restraint
measures in the West Kootenay —
residents can only assume the
worst.

Nevertheless, it is difficult to
ine Robson residents going

liway of the Legislature in
response to questions from repor-
ters. Nowhere else has he said the
Castlegar Ferry’s days are limited.

To be sure, he said in the
Legislature the government is con-
sidering eliminating some of the
costly ferry routes in the Interior

‘terryless”. The arguments in favor
of retaining the ferry are sound.
We just hope Mr. Fraser realizes
that the roads across Keenleyside
Dam and around the Highway 3
interchange are simply not
adequate “alternates”.

Pro versus amateur

The Olympics are a treat to
watch, the Winter Games in par-
ticular. The winter events are a
favorite because no select group of
countries seems to dominate the
events like in the Summer Games.

That said, it is time the Olym-
pics recognized that we are living
in 1984. Olympic thinking appears
to have stalled around 1932. That's
especially true in the International
Olympic Committee's handling of
the “professional” versus
‘amateur’ ue.
no secret that for the last
three decades many countries
have entered so-called amatuer
athletes who are in fact
professionals. The sublime b
ridiculous this week when the IOC
ruled that some professionals are
allowed to take part in the hockey
event, while others — notably
those who have played in the

National Hockey League — are
not.

It would be nice to see the IOC
abandon its so-called amateur
status altogether and allow the
free use of professionals. It is done
already in downhill, slalom and
giant slalom ski events.

Downhill skiers, for example,
make up to $500,000 a year. The
money is simply put in trust until
the skiers finish taking part in
Olympic and World Cup events.
Whether the skiers have the
thoney now or later makes little
difference. It makes even less dif-
ference in their pertormanée at the

is difficult to.see
how a professional cross-country
skier or hockey player or bobsled
rider could tarnish the Olympic
image any more thah it was earlier
this week with the harangue over
the amateur issue.

=

Fe

cal

bo

“ike it — it contuse the auditees even more..."

of
Castlegar ice queen with pageant and
legion band in attendances, Men's
broomball game: Kiwanians vs. K.P.
Lodge. Fancy figure skating and
clowns at intervals during the pro-
gram. All happening at the skating rink
behind the community hall.

* 6° @

At the February monthly meeting of
the Kinnaird Improvement Society, it
was decided to make application to
E.C. Hunt, District Horticulturalist, for
a pruning demonstration in Kinnaird.
J. Wisted offered the use of his
orchard.

. 8 «

Kinnaird visitors attending the Sno-

Sho in Rossland during the past week

report that our Queens, Miss Madge
Hargreaves of Kinnaird and Miss Ara
Reid of Castlegar, have made a fine
showing in the various contests.

.

Letters to the Editor

Castl High School Junior Hoc-
key team travelled to Salmo Friday
night for a return hockey game on
Salmo ice. Castlegar defeated Salmo

Program not frivolous

Editor, News:

A recent article on the Russian Im-
mersion kindergarten stated that I
would “do almost anything” to keep the
program alive. Whereas this was not a
direct quote, I do strongly endorse the
study of languages and am concerned
about the future of Russian Immersion
in Castlegar schools.

I first heard of the proposed pilot
project in May 1983, when I registered
my son for kindergarten. Initially, I
was rather skeptical about the benefits
to my child since I envisioned a class
that would stress mastery of Russian
vocabulary above the other important
social and educational skills that chil-
dren acquire in kindergarten.

John Holden, trustees, several primary
teachers and the Parents for Russian
group. The final decision to enroll my
son was influenced by the highly suc-
cessful results of the Ukranian-English
bilingual program in Manitoba and by
the extremely enthusiastic, positive
responses from parents whose children
are in French Immersion classes in
Vancouver.

Fred

( +,

. Se
Merriman VV. }

Well, doctor, the story goes this
way: back in 1982 I thought I would
try to run 1,000 miles in one year. I
had run 500 miles back in 197f. Yes,
I know middle-aged people must be
more careful.

1982 was a failure because my log
book recorded only 918'miles. Yes,
there were a few excuses, none of
them with any substance.

That was the beginning of my
present trouble. With 4 defication
born of stubbornness and an at-
tempt to regain my long lost youth,
my goal for 1983 was 1,000 miles or
bust. #

Yes, doctor this old man did reach
the goal by running 1,004 miles in
the year. This not altogether
humble person also ran the Terry
Fox run in 45 minutes and picked up
a third in the old man’s category in
the Rossland Grind.

I completed my season of running
with a 13-mile Fort Steele Trek in
September in a quite respectable
time although 15 minutes behind
Castlegat’s best — another mid
dle-aged runner named Ben Thor
Larsen, a legend in his time.

I had run home after work from
the top of Tadanac Hill in Trail on
Friday just before the Fort Steele
Trek — another 13 miler. I-felt fine
doctor after both these mini-mara-
thons.

A young teenager in our family
appealed to my macho ego and we
went up to the school grounds to
play soccer the same day, the same
evening of the Cranbrook run and
the old pins took-abuse-beyond-their
ability. The knee hurt.

The next evening we attended the
| nerdy Fitness centre and I pushed

rly 600 pounds with the hurting

leg. Perhaps the exercise would get
the kink out.

Discretion became the better part
of valor and this fitness fanatic
rested awhile. However, the open
road and that mountaintop thou-
sand-miler lay off in the distance.

We — my leg and I — healed
enough to meet the goal with four
miles to spare late in December.

Doctor, I swear I had no goals for
1984 — except perhaps to increase
my speed. Seven-and-a-half-minute
miles are not satisfactory.

There was my final downfall. I
was practising restraint this year in
the mileage category and was
instead attempting to increase my
stride which would in turn increase
the amount of ground to a seven-
minute mile or better.

With 66 miles already behind me
this year run in some pretty
crummy weather conditions I opted
for a four-miler after work just last
night. The time was good and the
old injury from last September
seemed quite in order when my
running world fell apart.

We — my knee and I — were not
more than 25 yards from the house
after completing a respectable run. I
usually pour on the coals down and
last half block to the driveway and
that did it.

I heard the knee go pop and I
limped the remaining few yards.
Now here I am doctor this fuiet
Wednesday afternoon at issing
a day of labor asking you to look at
my self-inflicted injury in hopes that
maybe it will net be too long before I
can walk upright again. Now I know
what it is like to hobble.

Please tell me that I'll be able to
run again. ‘

In Sep , my son, like the
majority of students in the Russian
Immersion kindergarten, neither spoke
nor understood any Russian. The first
four to six weeks represented a general

j to a school it
(routines, bussing, new friends) and, of
course, a class in which only Russian
was spoken by the teacher.

During this observation and essen-
tially “listening and gaining compre-
hension” period, my son, usually man-
aged to recall four of five Russian
words a day. .

Within five brief months, my son has
an active vocabulary of at least 500
words, uses expressions and speaks in
short sentences in Russian. He initiates

As a parent, I am amazed and very
pleased with the i

readiness for reading, writing and

Prog
achieved through the immersion
method of instruction. I doubt if the
children would have learned so much so
quickly in a standard approach to lan-
guage teaching (e.g. a half-hour ses-
sion, once or twice a week).

The pupils in the Russian Immersion
have been exposed to themes identical
to those taught in regular kinder-
garten. They have studied shapes, col-
ors, numbers, parts of the alphabet
days of the week, months, the weather
and seasons. They have learned the
words for numerous familiar objects,
pertaining to themselves, home and
school. Some examples would be: food,
clothing, _ transportation, classroom
items. 7

The students follow directions pre-
sented in Russian for all their daily ac-
tivities (coloring, cutting, pasting,
etc.), play classroom games, conduct
gym events, and celebrate special oc-
casions (birthdays, Halloween, Christ-
mas), using Russian vocabulary.

Throughout, the “fun” aspect of kin-
dergarten has been maintained, as
children are free to select an activity
centre, each day, where they are per-
mitted to infera informally with
classmates. They complete creative art
projects and are encouraged in self-
expression (circle sharing time). They
have field trips (Castlegar Library) and
have been entertained by musicians
and drama groups.

In addition, the Russian Immersion
children experience integration with
other students through a buddy-
reading system with a Grade 2 class,
music with regular kindergarten stu-
dents and films, concerts or special
guests with all the Castlegar Primary
pupils.

Memory and problem-solving skills,
which are applicable to any learning

with Ri
people and delights in “teaching” his
friends.

He is definitely more aware of fore-
ign languages, spoken in public or via
the media and is keen to learn French
and other equivalents.

are a natural element of the
lessons. Students give oral responses
and complete worksheets on visual dis-
crimination (same-different), numerical
relationships and learn concepts such
as size, distance (large-small; near-far;
left-right) — all of which establish

Education a low

Editor, Castlegar News:
An Open Letter to the people of the
Interior of British Columbia.

On Jan. 4 the Minister of Educ-
ation, Jack Heinrich, announced the
permanent closure of the David
Thompson University Centre, B.C.’s
only degree-granting facility in the
Interior.

Serving over 500 full and part-time
students in Fine and Performing Arts
and Education programs this residen-
tial campus draws over 40 per cent of
itg_student population from areas
outside the West Kootenays.

Created in 1977 by the p

educational “restraint measure” — this
one executed without any opportunity
for the itutions or the ity to

The Russian

8-6. Goal-getters for Castlegar were
Jack Oswald, Freddy Hargrave, Floyd
Boettger, Bob Thompson and Joe
Thompson.

Plans are now being made for the
opening and dedication service of the
Cc United Church on Wednes-

ten is definitely not frivolous and has
certainly surpassed my expectations. I
would like to credit School District No.
9 for approving this innovative pro-
gram, Mr. Gerrand and Mrs. Archi-
bald for incorporating the class into
Castlegar Primary and Mrs. Alimkulov
for her superb achievements in
fostering the i hi

day, Feb. 18. A social hour is scheduled
to follow the official opening.
. ee

Mrs. C.S. Phelps was the hostess at
the February meeting of the Deer Park
Women's Institute. At this meeting,
the members voted a donation of $8 to
the Emergency Fund towards the

Knowledge of languages is vital in
our increasingly complex world
and numerous studies have demon-
strated that students attain greater
fluency and mastery with instruction

from an early age.

I trust that the school board will
recognize the merits of the Russian
Immersion program and effect its
expansion into the primary grades.

Castlegar

Display was
‘a pleasure

Editor Castlegar News:

I would like to publicly thank three
ladies who put on a weaving and
spinning demonstration for three clas-
ses in the library at Stanley Humphries
Secondary School on Feb. 3.

These women are Mr.s Ingeborg
Thor-Larsen and her daughter Eliza-
beth and Mrs. Nancy Knight.

Besides sharing their knowledge
with us in an entertaining fashion, they
brought a spinning wheel, several
looms, great quantities of wool, silk and
even such weaveable materials as dog
hair and many samples of their own
fine work.

Due to the efforts of these ladies, our
young people were able to experience
the pleasure of a home craft.

Mrs. Bunny Charters
Librarian

priority

province going to the Interior, the
government has transmitted a clear

res| :
The impact of the closure of DTUC
with the abolition of its many unique
educational programs will; have a
disastrous effect not only on our
students, faculty and staff but also on
the community — educationally, cultur-
ally and economically.

In addition to the students at DTUC,
nearly 30,000 individuals living in
B.C.’s Interior are participating in
credit courses, diploma and profes-
sional offered

government as a successor to Notre
Dame University, DTUC has been a
cooperative venture between Selkirk
College andthe University of Victoria.
Students midway along in such career
programs as Writing, Theatre, Music
and the Visual Arts will have serious
difficulties in relocating if they wish to
continue their education.
The May, 1, 1984 closure date has
left Nelson and other West Kootenay
ities shocked, dis and
angered at thé government's latest

Prog
by the three major universities, (UBC,
SFU and UVIC).

Funded by special “ear-marked”
grants from the Universities Council,
these university offerings serve over
60Interior communities; this year the
remaining two-thirds is in jeopardy.

Those of us living geographically
“Beyond Hope” will continue to see a
dramatic reduction of university ser-
vices throughout the Interior. With
less than two per cent of the entire

budget for University Programs in the

ion is low priority.

Regional colleges are not exempt
from restraint measures. Funding for
all inui d ion and
programs is under review by the
Ministry of Education. Small colleges
and especially multi-campus colleges
will find it increasingly diffieult to
provide the number and range of
courses that so many part-time lear-
ners from our communities have found
both useful and enriching as part of
their life-long learning.

If you are affected by these changes,
if you are concerned with the rapidly
diminishing access to post-secondary
programs in your community I urge
you to find out what is happening in
your area and write to your MLA and
the premier expressing your views. I
would appreciate a copy of your letters.

‘&- public endeavor:
B.C. desperately needs your invol-
vement.
M. Pearce, Director
David Thompson University Centre

_More letters page AS

hill Disaster Fund.
eo 8 «

E.E. Hyndman, chief inspector of
sehools, visited briefly here Wednes-
day. Mr. Hyndman, who became chief

last b it

F-.P. Levirs, was at that time District
Superintendent of Schools in the Pen-
ticton District.

* 8 @

A walk on the Pass Creek Bridge
came up for discussion last night at the
Chamber of Commerce meeting: This
walk is especially needed inthe
summer months when so many chil-
dren are swimming in the creek and
making use of the bridge.

It is hoped the Federal Department
of Public Works will include funds for
an extension to the Robson Wharf next
year.

It was reported work is progressing
on the new location for the building
from the ferry, the removal of which
was announced a month ago.

It was also reported that Castlegar
Rotary Club is looking into costs of the
construction of a Health Centre here.
Land has already been set aside for the
purpose.

15 YEARS AGO
From the Feb. 13, 1969
News

A contemporary plan for a play-
ground with equipment for the Castle-
gar Primary School site was given
approval by trustees of School District
No. 9 at their meeting Monday night.

* . 6

A coat of arms seems imminent for
the Town of Kinnaird in the near
future.

A letter has been received at the
town office from Allan B. Beddoe, OBE,
consultant in heraldry, stating they are
ready to proceed with the preparation
of the letters patent.

This will finalize the town's guest for
an official coat of arms, a search that
started when Kinnaird became a town

Castlegar
A $700,000 plant centre in Castlegar
is among the $7 million in capital eon-
struction planned by B.C. Tel for the
West Kootenays in 1979, a company
official announced this week.
* 8 «

A 86-year-old Fruitvale medical
technician will represent the Social
Credit Party in the next provincial
election.

Phil Brooks was elected by acclama-
tion in Trail Monday by about 76 mem-
bers of the Rossland-Trail Social Oredit
Constituency Association to oppose
New Democrat Chris D'Arcy, who has
represented the riding since 1972.

= * # e

Danny Walker of Castlegar has been
named to the University Iowa State
ive i team. —=
Waiker, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Walker, joins &* Bot*goy team that
university cbécb.Rale
“will the making some,

country.’ .

says,
in tall

being offered in hopes the poisoner will
be found. .
Any information given will be kept
confidential.
The groups involved include: Ladies

’ Auxiliary, Robson Fire Department,

Robson Parent Group, Robson Firemen

Setting it

» Castlegar News:
Iread, with interest, your comments
in the Castlegar News, Jan. 29, 1964,
headlined “PWA to add two flights.”
Your story speaks of the intro
duction of our mid-week excursion fare,
but, inadvertently advises

and anxiety they. have caused over the
past years. .

When they are apprehended every
effort will be put forth to see that they
are cl i

‘The executive of the Castlegar SPCA

straight

day of the same week.

An exception to this rule is in place
to accommodate situations, such as
Castlegar-Calgary, where mid-week
service is provided on only one of the
valid mid-week days — that being

“can quality for part of the excursion
fare if they travel on one of three
mid-week days and return on another
day,” without specifying that this sit-
uation is only applicable to our
Castlegar-Calgary segment.

When service is provided on a daily
basis, as is the case with Castlegar-
Vancouver, in order to qualify for the
mid-week excursion fare, travel must
commence outbound on either Tues-
day, Wednesday, or Thursday, and
return travel from the outbound des-
tination must be concluded by Thurs-

w in the Castlegar-Calgary
market.

In this particular situation, an ex-
ception to the rule permits either
in-bound, or out-bound travel on one of
the mid-week excursion days, as long
as return travel is completed on the
next scheduled service. The fare ap-
plied to this situation is one-half of the
mid-week excursion fare plus the
applicable one-way economy fare.

Thank you for allowing me to set the
record straight.

8.J. Bullock
Director, B.C. Interior

FIDDLE CONTEST APRIL 14

Berg heads Fiddlers

Armand Berg was elected
president of the local B.C.
Oldtime Fiddlers at a Feb. 5
meeting in Castlegar.

Other elected officers
were: ‘Jack Regnier, vice-
president; Bill Marks, second
vice-president; Annie Ray-
ner, treasurer; and Edith
Berg, secretary.

The group also decided
that no member can hold an
executive office for more
than two consecutive years.

In other business, it was
decided that members will

accept an invitation to play
for Las Vegas Days in
Castlegar on March 23 and
2A.

This will be the third year
the Fiddlers have played at
this event.

‘The Fiddlers will also play
for a telethon in Rossland on
April 1.

Bill Marks was

test, to be held April 14 at
the arena complex in Castle-
gar will be Fred Jack.

The meeting was followed
by a potluck supper, where a
birthday cake was presented
to Harold Holm.

A jam session was then
held by all the club musi-
cians, and everyone agreed it

to look into a request for the
fiddlers to play for Robson
days on June 16.

The master of ceremonies
for the upcoming fiddle con-

was a very enj after-
noon.

The next meeting will be
held in Castlegar on March 5,
Anyone interested in oldtime
fiddling is invited to attend.

CREDIT UNION

N«
FRO

INTEREST

CASTLEGAR SAV

FROM

INGS CREDI

office.

“Today the federal gov-
ernment pays 80 per cent of
university costs in B.C, and
have nothing to say about
how they are run or whether
they are closed down.

Society to meet D’Arcy

Representatives of the
Kootenay Society for the
Handicapped will be meeting
with Rossland-Trail MLA
Chris D'Arcy as part of a
province-wide campaign to
convince government to re-
store the functions of the
Provincial Inservice Re-
source Team, Society Presi-
dent, Dr. Keith Merritt an-
nounced today.

“The Provincial Inservice
Resource Team (PIRT) pre-
vented children from being
sent to costly institutiong and
assisted them to remain at
home with their families,”
Merritt stated.

“The loss of this team rep-
resents a severe blow to
families of handicapped chil-
dren.

“We are hoping to convince
the government that this
service was the least expen.
sive way of supporting han-
dicapped children,” he added.

“With the decision to close
down Tranquill i

‘ment that came into effect in
1977."

Kristiansen rose in Parlia-
ment last week and directed
his demand to Secretary of
State Serge Joyal asking him
to, “explore the possibility of
the federal government
bringing economic sanctions
to bear upon the government
of B.C. on the strength of

DR. KEITH MERRITT
. .. issue ‘vital’

“It was the resource that
professionals in education,
health and social work went
to for help,” Merritt added.

The Kootenay Society for
the i dis joining 60

this team is even more ur-
gently required. The PIRT
team was the best resource
of its kind in North America
and its expertise is sorely
missed, particularly in rural
areas of the province.

similar associations and its
provincial voice, British Col-
umbia for Mentally Handi-
capped People, to campaign
for the return of the PIRT
team.

“We ask the support of all

government's moving to’ y
block funding in 1977, it did
education

to
in many ways what it allowed
to happen with . . . medi-
care...”

Kristiansen explained that
since 1977 the federal pay-
ments to B.C. for post-sec-
ondary education have in-
creased by 1238 per cent,
while inflation devalued the
dollar only 78 per cent,
meaning B.C. has had in-
creasing amounts of federal

colleges and universities
threatened with provincial
closure.

He pointed to the proposed
new Canada Health Act as an
sities. example of how the federal

“The sad fact, however,” government can intervene in
Kristiansen said, “is that the provincial jurisdiction.

REWARD

$.P.C.A. and Robson Residents are offering a
REWARD of $1,000.00 for information leading to
the appreh a th (s)

LYLE KRISTIANSEN
. .. DTUC at stake

money to spend on univer-

Castlegar citizens to restore
this vital lifeline for families
and handicapped children. A
letter to the Hon. Grace
McCarthy, Minister of Hu-
man Resources, Hon. Jack
Heinrich, Minister of Edu-
cation and the Hon. Jim
Nielsen, Minister of Health,
c/o Parliament Buildings,
Victoria, would have a posi-
tive effect on this ign,”
Merritt stated.
For further information,
contact: Norma Collier, 356-
7462 or Nancy Clay, 365-3811."

e Pp abt
9 in the Robson
area. Decision as to payment of the reward will
be made by the S.P.C.A.

How To Start Your Own

Business
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15

P.M. TO 10:00 P.M.
MONTE CARLO — CASTLEGAR
COST: $18.00

REGISTER NOW WITH
Sharon Coventry 426-7241 (collect)

Federal Business Banque fédé: = :
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