December 7, 1986 oar L sananen OF THE 8.C. PRESS COUNCH MMMRROR PUBLISHED Ser! 12 1978 AUG 27 1980 PUBLISHER AUG 7 1947 FEB 15 1975 aDvel y CIRCULATION MANAGER — Heother Hodley TWICE WEEKLY MAY 6 1980 Gor mn duced by Costie News Lid ‘ond that ly mond _S EXPANSION continued from pege A3 the three tenders for this part of the project range from $6,000 down to $2,900, the $2,900 coming from the lowest tender. WHAT IS PLANNED The original building plan was for 8,000 sq.ft. (including basement) which, when tendered, came in well over the allotted $400,000. The lowest three bids were over by $83,000, $122,000 and $123,000 respectively, producing a unit cost of $58 per sq-ft., $62 per sq-ft., and $63 per sq.ft. When the plan was revised, dropping a 1,725 sq.ft. module (which can be added at a later date), the retendering produced bids and costs which were over the $400,000 by approximately $40,000, $41,000 and $65,000 respectively, producing a unit cost of $66 per sq-ft., $67 per sq.ft. and $70 per sq.ft. And there is very little else to cut back on. The eliminated 1,725 sq.ft. would have provided ample room for our present collection with enough space for future acquisitions. It also contained an adult quiet reading area. Without that 1,725 sq.ft. we'll still have enough space for our present needs and the quiet reading area in the children’s section remains. When the original library was built, no one really planned for expansion: the old building is dead center on the lot. One of the significant aspects of the new building is that it can easily be expanded in the future when funds become available. The module which was dropped from the original plan can be added without any great degree of difficulty at some later date. There have been some suggestions that other existing buildings might be suitable for acquisition as a library. One suggestion was the building across the street from: the downtown library that currently houses the Ministry of Social Services and Housing. This building has 4,850 sq.ft. on one floor with an unheated parking lot below. It would barely meet our current needs and does not have any potential for the future. Its list price is $335,000. Even if we were able to purchase it for less, the extensive renovations required to suit our purposes would take us well over the $400,000 we have and we would still have a building unsuitable for our future needs. It has been suggested by some that this is not a good time to be considering a library expansion. No time will ever be perfect but now is when we need one and if we continue to dither over it we run the risk of losing it entirely It has also been suggested that because libraries don't make money we shouldn't be considering spending money on such a fac’ in these tough economic times. True, libraries don’t make money — but then, neither do sewers, road maintenance, policing, fire, and many other services. But they do make our city a better place to live. The decision by the board to use the current plan for expansion of the downtown branch was not arrived at lightly. It may not be the best solution, it is merely the best possible solution given what we had to work with. And it provides us with a library that will meet our current and future needs. Patrick Donohue Library Board Member Robson Ron Norman It's great to see the Castlegar Regional Transit System operating. But who thought up that name? Let's call a spade a spade, and a bus a bus. One bus no more re sembles a regional transit system than the Vancouver Canucks re semble an NHL team. The words “regional” and “system” give the impression we've got a whole fleet of buses on the go out there. In reality, it’s one bus trying hard to satisfy the public transit needs of everyone in the community. Of course, it can't. And that’s why the new bus is in a catch-22 situation. Because it is only one bus, it can only provide minimal service. And that means not everyone can use it. For instance, I'm one of those who fall between the cracks in the bus’s timetable. I've looked forward to a bus system so I could leave my car at home instead of having to drive the length of Columbia Avenue to and from work every day. But the bus doesn’t do me any good. I still have to take my car to work. I start work most days at 8:30 a.m. and finish about 5 p.m. Since I live in the very south end of town, I would pick up the bus at bus stop G (the corner of 32nd Street and Highway 22). The bus leaves the stop at 7:12 a.m. and again at 7:59 a.m The 7:12 bus is out of the ques tion. It would get me to the Castle gar News building downtown at 7:32 a.m. It’s quick, I'll say that much — only 20 minutes. But while I'm as eager to get to work as anyone, I'm not crazy about arriving an hour before I have to. The 7:59 bus at first glance, appeared perfect for me. Since the 7:12 bus takes only 20 minutes to get downtown, you'd think the 7:59 bus would have me at work at 8:19 a.m. — plenty of time to take off my coat and be ready for the 8:30 a.m starting time, right? Wrong The 7:59 bus takes an hour to get downtown (62 minutes to be exact). That's because when it leaves the corner of 32nd Street and Columbia Avenue it only goes as far north as Ca.tleaird Plaza. It heads east to Selkirk College, and continues on into Brilliant and Robson. Then it turns around and heads back into Brilliant and Selkirk College before arriving at the plaza again. It gets downtown at 9:01 a.m. And while that route may be great for Selkirk College students, getting to work a half hour late every day wouldn't make me too popular with my boss. Besides, an hour bus ride every morning isn't exactly high on my list of good times. If I wanted to spend that long commuting to work every day I'd live in Surrey My situation isn’t unique. I'd guess that most people who start work at 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m and that would be most of those employed downtown — can't use the bus. That's where the bus is snared in a catch-22. It's losing potential riders because it can't meet their needs. Yet those riders are neces sary to prove to B.C. Transit and the provincial government that the bus is well used, and that a second bus is necessary I think putting on a second bus wouldn't just double ridership, it would triple it. The bus would not only serve a larger area, but because it would travel more fre quently, more people would use it This single bus really has to be the beginning of a proper transit system, one that provides extended and more complete ser vice only Speaking of extended and more complete service, the Castlegar li brary expansion issue is still on the front burner and will likely remain there until the Dec. 23 deadline the library board has set for raising the $46,000 needed to get the project off the ground Even though I support the admit there wholeheartedly expansion, I have to have been times I've wondered if it really is necessary, especially in these tight economic times. Then I remember back to when I arrived in Castlegar five years ago and wandered up to Kinsmen Park I took one look at the library and automatically assumed it was the park's public washrooms Letters to the Editor Don't buy war toys With the Christmas season almost upon us, we and the children of the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ have a deep concern about the safty, happiness and future of all the children throughout the world. Since Christmas is the time for giving, we appeal to all parents not to buy their children toys or videogames of war and violence. Here is some information we would like to share with the readers of your newspaper. War toys versus children: e of the top six toys sold in the U.S., five are war toys; © the sales of war toys have risen 600 per cent since 1982. e according to Hasbro, the average five-to-eight-year-old boy was exposed to 50 ads for GI Joe in 1982. The increasingly high sales of war and violent toys helps ensure that our society is saturated with the values of the military. Many of these toys boast Routine post office practice frightening Apparently it is common practice for the Canada Post Office to redirect mail to chartered accountants acting on behalf of banks to help them collect overdue bills. This is done without a court order. The situation was brought to the attention of Michel Cote, minister responsible for Canada Post, by Cyril Keeper, the NDP postal critic. Keeper said the accounting society in Manitoba admitted the practice was routine. On checking with legal advisors, Keeper determined it is against the law I find the practice unacceptable and frightening and I credit represent atives such as Cyril Keeper of the New Democrats who are defending the rights of beth ordinary citizens and members of the business community. Slow mail deliveries, increased pos- tal costs, residents in new subdivisions not being able to receive house delivery, is the service the ordinary citizen of Canada has to look forward to, while the “privileged customer”, the banks, can receive an illegal redirect mail service from Canada Post. It sure looks to me that the average Canadian using the system is fast becoming “second class” as the power of the banks is increasing, a trend that Canadians like myself want stopped Dorothy Kinakin Nelson the latest in military technology — weapons which are being used today against people in the Third World. The military is engaged in a battle for the hearts and minds of our children. Play is one of the primary ways a child learns what the world is all about. What does a child learn from being given toys which symbolize wea- pons that hurt and kill living things? It is only logical such a child will grow up believing war and violence are accep- table — even revered — ways of set: tling differences. The existence of guns that don't kill, tanks that are “just toys,” can make it easier for us to ignore what real guns and tanks can do. War toys “conscript” children into the military mentality long before they are able to com prehend what really happens in war. If you haven't done so already visit your local toy store and take a good look at what's on the shelves. Then spend a Saturday morning watching cartoons. You will be appalled. May this holiday season give par. ents, grandparents and especially the leaders of different countries the wis dom to realize war is not the answer and that they hold the future for us, the young people of today. Please, let your voice be heard. Katie Keochin Irene Lebedofi USCC Sunday School C. Remember Pp pr and Cliff Wanless, secretary-treasurer. The club held a social evening last Monday night when presentations were made to George Green and Bunny Hall. Both men served on the volunteer fire brigade and now live in Trail. . °* * The Robson WI meeting was held at the home of Mrs. R. Waldie with 15 members and two visitors present. After the business, Mrs. C. Saunders of Castlegar spoke on the need of a hospital in Castlegar and district. . 8 @ Four major ski meets are scheduled for Red Mountain during the coming winter including the Inter-Collegiate on Jan. 11-13; Inter-High School Meet Feb. 15 and 16; Western Canada Downhill and Slalom, March 1 and 2; and Giant Slalom on April 13. 7 8 The local association to Guide and Brownies met on Nov. 28 at the home of Mrs. C.H. King with nine members present. Mrs. Burnham, district commission- er, was present and gave her annual report which was very interesting. Castlegar The Hospital Auxiliary’s annual nut drive, convened by Mrs. D. Campbell, assisted by Wm. Reed, auxiliary mem- bers and their husbands, was most successful. In spite of very poor weather, 54 Air Cadets turned out to act as salesmen. Able assistance from the Kiwanis Club, called on at a late date to provide extra drivers, turned the drive into a real community effort. * 8 6 A Castlegar man has been awarded a Rotary Overseas Travel Award. It was announced at this week's meeting of the Castlegar Rotary Club that Burt Campbell of Castlegar, editor of the Castlegar News, had been suc- cessfully sponsored by the club for the award. Mr. Campbell sails from New York on March 22 for six weeks in the United Kingdom. . 8 6 Kinnaird’s population is only 95 persons less than that of Castlegar. Figures supplied by the provincial department of health to School District No. 9 and obtained from the recent Dominion census, show the 1961 population of Castlegar to be 2,187 persons while that of Kinnaird is 2,092. An enthusiastic crowd applauded loudly Monday night as Kinnaird aldermen gave an account of their UtiliCorp bid favored I have been watching, reading about and listening to the efforts of UtiliCorp United Inc. to purchase West Kootenay Power and Light Co. and have decided it is time I wrote my own views about it as I know many others share them but do not speak up. As a director of the Regional District of Central Kootenay I voted for the RDCK to study the possibility of buying WKPL as many people were concerned about what might happen to that company. At , time it was not known who was inferested in buying it Later, after being informed that there may be a lot of upgrading needed on some of the dams and systems, some of us became concerned with the pos sibility that if regional district bought it and something went wrong there could be a big problems. As Premier Bill Vander Zalm said, you have to be very careful with something like that If you make a mistake you could break your regional district Many of the people I talked to were against the regional district or B.C Hydro owning the power company Most seemed to favor Inland Natural Gas and the WKPL employees at first, but many now favor UtiliCorp since it entered the picture. Most people do not seem concerned about an American company owning it. They just want their rates to stay low Many also feel it wouldn't really be fair to deprive Cominco of the $20 million overly extra A lot of scare tactics have been used that I don’t think are fair, like how our rates would go sky high, the profits would go to the US., the U.S. would control the water levels, UtiliCorp might build a nuclear power plant, they would export our power to the U.S. boot out WKPL employees and bring in their own non-union people and so on. Pretty well all of this has been disproved. The Electric Consumers Association came on the scene with a proposal to get WKPL customers to purchase the company. It was said that if each customer put in $300 we could own it ourselves. Well, that kind of bothers me because I don’t feel we can afford to put up $300 and I know of a lot of other people that are even less able to afford it. I also know of some who could certainly afford to, but would not want to. They say that with paying this $300 our rates would still go up, so what is the point? Who would be running the show and who would decide what should or should not be done? I don't want to fiddle around with being on a board trying to make decisions on how to run a power company. I just want to pay my power bill (as low as possible) and forget it for another month or two. Where would the money come from if major repairs were needed? Would the system deteriorate so this new company could show a profit or pay high wages to the ones running the show? Would we end up with power outages and such all the time? I don't know about you, but I have a lot of concerns with this proposal. I feel we should get as much as we can out of our dams and rivers now as it won't likely be long before new power sources are developed and hydro power may become obsolete. I also don't feel that allowing a U.S. company to purchase WKPL sets a precedent Each purchase should be looked at individually to see what would be best for B.C Perhaps a foféign company would buy B.C. Tel_apdogive back our call radio service or replace the radio- phones they made obsolete. B.C. Tel doesn’t seem to give a damn about us fellow Canadians and we pay plenty for use of their system. Or perhaps a little foreign competition would make them a bit more sympathetic with the prob- lems of their customers. When they are a monopoly we do not even have the choice of buying elsewhere to show our displeasure. I would say we have more chance of keeping our power rates down if a U.S. company owns WKPL because people are going to scream louder to the utilities commission about rates than they would if it was a Canadian company. I also understand UtiliCorp plans to get its investment back from sales of stock rather than from its customers. I like this idea. Another thing I like is that UtiliCorp says it would try to expand and try to attract new industry and business and investment to our area. I have been told it would even look into the possibility of plants such as Washington Water Power that could use hog fuel (waste wood) from our local sawmills. I think we could use a company with progressive and fresh ideas to become a part of our community. Power is their business, not a sideline, as it is with Comino. UtiliCorp has said it would be willing to attach their promises to conditions of the sale being allowed by the utilities commission. I think this would solve the whole problem. As to ownership, UtiliCorp plans to goon the Canadian stock exchange just as Cominco, which owns WKPL, is now. It also has a plan for employees to acquire shares, so it could be Canadian owned as much as it is now. Most of the employees I have talked to prefer the UtiliCorp purchase. I just hope those who oppose the sale to UtiliCorp will pay the rest of our shares and rate increases if they are suctessful in stopping the sale. I don't think there are that many people who feel differ ently than I do and I hope they also speak up. Iris Bakken Salmo More letters on A5S ‘dship to the and election candidates spoke on their plans for the future. About 120 persons attended the lengthy meeting in Kinnaird Hall. Opening the session were the aldermen giving their annual statements and this was followed by three-minute speeches from the candidates, under the chair- manship of Wilf Sweeney. * 8 6 Nearly 300 people jammed the Kin naird Community Hall last week to hear details on the sewer referendum from aldermen and officials of Asso- ciated Engineers. Very few new facts were brought to light during the meeting, but keen interest in the $1,637,000 plan was shown by the number of questions thrown at the speaker's table. . 8 Taking their fourth straight win over Nelson Midget Reps on Sunday was the Castlegar Midget Reps who slammed in five goals to Nelson's one marker to delight of the Castlegar fans who were watching the game. 5 YEARS AGO From the Dec. 6, 1961 Castlegar Chamber of Commerce will elect a new president for 1982 at a special meeting Thursday — and so far first vice-president Mike O'Connor has the inside track O'Connor, owner of Castlegar Fu- neral Chapel, has been nominated for the top post by the chamber nomin. ating committee. . 6 Castlegar residents reversed a three-year tailspin and gave nearly $45,000 to the local United Way cam paign this year. That's $7,000 more than in 1980 and more than 80 per cent of this year's $55,000 goal. * 8 6 The Castlegar Ministerial Associa tion has a new chairman — Rev. Ira Johnson. Rev. Harvey Self was elected vice-president and Rev. Roy Hubbeard secretary. All positions were filled by a unanimous vote. MORE LETTERS -KCIR ‘glimmer of hope’ It was a memorable occasion that against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Today, one may well wonder and ask, what can be darker in this world division and periodic outbursts of outright violence. At the latest session of the Koot Spiritual Communities of Christ prof- ferred to the former harassers, as a gesture of “bury the hatchet” and “tive and let live.” The invitation to come and share the traditional bread, salt, and water was a token of understanding that we all are the good Lord's children, created in God's image, and deserve to be looked upon as human beings, and not as mere human animals. The acceptance of the invitation by than the of the nuclear threat hanging over the heads of all mankind? What can be termed as more wicked ip “high places” than the spiritual wick- edness reflected in the teachings of the . hureh whieh is said to be in bondage to the p of the fac tions in the Doukobor midst did unmistably demonstrate that prov idence itself is setting the stage for the final scene of the historic play started by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. And what, in his epistle to the Ephesians (Chapter 6 in the New Ti ). following expression: “When I get through with the Doukhobor issue, there will be left remaining one type of Doukhobor with one Doukhobor philosophy, and not two, three, or four Apostle Paul wrote: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, ly d versions of the faith as at present.” Should Mr. Bourne bring that into reality, he will go down in history as the greatest benefactor to the Christ- Situation a disgrace of not being “taken by the devil”. These may not be on par with the angels, yet Toys ‘disturbing’ Well, it must be close to Christmgs. One is always aware of this as one walks through the toy section of almost any department store. It is the season for giving, and my, what we give each other! Christmas time is the big selling season for toys. About 60 per cent of all toys are given during Christmas. Toy merchants are eager to mar. ket their new products. A large part of these are war toys. This season, as every one before it, is filled with war toys: Rambo knives and ma chine guns, GI Joe tanks and planes. All of this to give as gifts, while honoring the memory of the “Prince of Peace.” Our society has become more and more unsure of it self and thus seeks security in force. While we have much unemployment and cutback in our social services, we divert more and more of our national income to arms. We carry this obscenity to our children by supplying them with models of mass des truction. One of the local merchants offers as a Christmas contest prize, a7'/ foot model of an aircraft carrier. The real version of this child's toy has the potential of killing as many people as the two great wars combined. In giving our children war toys we make real in their eyes, the violence in our FURNITURE WAREHOUSE Tues.-Sat., 9:30-5:30 China Creek children war toys. toy manufacturers go all to devise new toys that tate cutting, ripping, and shooting others. These manufacturers would be way. We have been informed that one Castlegar merchant, Carl's Drugs, does not stock war toys, and has not for 20 years. Thank you Carl's — on behalf of our children. come along Open Sundays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Prices effective Sun.. Mon., Tues. & Wed. CHICKEN LOAF INSTANT NOODLES. 99* G. woeenee see CORN BEEF LO auc. $595 NUTSin the SHELL 5 1% MUMONS WALNUTS... .ceceeeeeseesee-s S437, U, We reserve the right to limit quantities ind. Prices limi to stock on CENTRAL FOODS Swor-Easy * The present library situa tion in this city is a disgrace! Only the dedication and con- juring skills of the staff and the extreme tolerance of the many users has allowed the situation to exist for so long. I have been involved with the Castlegar library as a frequent user and former Library gets full support This is to state our full support of completion of the proposed new library as planned To show we are willing to “put our money where our mouth is,” here's the plan our family has devised: We in tend to take a portion of our Christmas budget and donate it to the library fund. In turn, each friend and family mem ber who'd otherwise have benefitted from this expen diture will receive a note with their (less extravagant) Christmas gift stating that they have, in a small way. helped contribute toward a much more valuable gift — for themselves and their children, and for the com munity at large. It's just one drop in the ocean, but it is a drop. board member for many years and have seen succes- sive boards struggle to in- crease library space. They have investigated every pos- sible site, but with very lim- ited funds the options were few. They have looked at a number of existing buildings, but found all too small, and too difficult and expensive to expand and adapt to the needs of a library. Funding sources for libraries are al most non-existent in B.C., but any possibilities were persistently pursued. Now at last there is a vi able package: funding, site, and a building designed to be used as a library. If they wait to investigate still further options — sites which may be available in the future, build- ings which are smaller than the planned one — we may lose it all! Many of us consider the library an essential service in this community — for edu while we have the chance. Then let the library staff and board get on with the job of providing even better library service to the whole com munity ‘Susan Port Castlegar DEAD- LINE! .. DEC. 23, 1986 Our Bottom Line to Begin Construction of the NEW LIBRARY IS $46,000. $30,000 jaye * ¥ What's wrong with us? Why do we favor impetuous seasonal extravagance over thoughtfully-considered long term investment? Libraries In the Last Few Days we Have Already Raised are that make the best ideas and discov eries of all time accessible to us here and now. Surely, we should such a precious resource for grant. $11,285... ed. We must hurry to help the dream become a reality. e The McDowell family e Rebson For Your Convenience OPEN SUNDAYS ® ll a.m. -4p.m. (Now ‘till Christmas) BJ's MODELS The Time is NOW Please Make a Tax Deductible Donation We’re So Close — Let’s Not Let It Slip Away Again! & CRAFTS 1120 - 4th St., Castlegar Boat. in-o-bottle Woodburning Sets Wooden Dinosaurs Crewel & Cross-stitch Sets Solar Powered Windeslt Helipione & Biplone 8 Grott, Dorts There'll Be NO DOOR TO DOOR CANVASSING Ph. 365-6611, 365-7765 CASTLEGAR & DISTRICT LIBRARY SpAgunaA giana gig ge AFEWAY ‘TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9/86 | GROCERY Gainsborough. 198 1 Pix MINI TART 1.49 Frozen Tower COOL WHIP 1.49 DRINK Asst 4 250 mi Core ia Ae) LUCERNE ee 21.49 ECGS. dors He GLAD KITCHEN CATCHERS 20422 Pago 24 Wcte Seqmenes 204 To NANTON SMOKED La OYSTERS H 1.49) INVISIBLE MENDING TAPE PRODUCTS WITHOUT BRAND NAMES WAX CRAYONS DIE-CAST e TOY RS cane 23 GIRLS POM-POM socKs Conon Aus 4 Pasta BOYS DRESS | SOCKS LADIES SPORT SOCKS MEN’S CUSHION TUBE SOC — 21.49 MELITT. COFFEE FILTERS ada sts 1.49) [— MEAT Safeway * me L so. ” FRESH KING KRAB MEAT MEATS THIN SLICED SANDWICH 2:1.49 Fresh DELUXE 1.49 277" 1.49 SCHNIEDER SHEPERD PIES FRESH IN-STORE SAUSAGES... FRYING CHICKEN, . 1.49. | 1.49... 1.49... A BiiesiZ 2) ay \ SALAD PACK = PRODUCE 1.49 NAVEL ORANGES Kiwi FRUIT Lanch = 14:1.49 5:1.49 WHITE OR RED PENNINGTON POTTING SOIL GRAPEFRUIT 6 ; 1.49 | 1.49 | ral os Available at Stores with In-store Bake Shops canes AX" 6: 1.49 SOURDOUGH BUNS 18:1.49 HOT BREAD DANISH, BUTTERHORNS BEARCLAWS Palas 2:1.49 3:1.49) Agi it a “ We reserve the right to limit sales to retail quantities CANADA BSAFEWAY LIMITED