The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, May 13, 1992 Page 24 FACE IN THE SU Vehicle fires in Trail suspicious say RCMP for a possible connection with two car fires earlier this year. The RCMP and regional fire not possible to determine if the -latest-arson-was linked to two-car figes within a two-week span in January and February. Those fires are still under investigation. Cowan said the RCMP lab would be investigating whether an was used in Mon- Services p toa fire on the 1300 block of Columbia paint. Sgt. Wilson Cowan, who is temporarily in charge of the Trail RCMP detachment, said RCMP are investigating. He said it was day's fire. He added that “the lab couldn't identify an accelerant” in connection with the first two fires, but “a container (used in the first fire Jan. 25 on Kootenay Avenue) sure made it look like The second fire on Feb. 7 also occurred in the 1300 block of Columbia Avenue. Police suspect paper was used to help start a fire which caused $2,500 damage when the front left corner of the car was burned. Guest speaker paints grim picture for grad students Jim Miller tells of own misfortune to keep kids safe JASON KEENAN Sun staff : : As-the school year rapidly comes to a close, it's an extra special time for those students in grade 12. They are about to grad- uate, and mark their official pas- sage into adulthood. An important part of that pas- sage is boring speeches about being responsible, and the tired old lecture about drinking and driving, and playing it safe on grad night. The students at Stan- ley Humphries Secondary got the speech last Thursday morning in the school gym. It wasn’t the boring old speech. Jim Miller scared them straight. “The five words I never want you to hear, that's why I’m here today- you will never walk again.” Miller lost the use of his legs in an accident eight years ago at the age of 21. Hauling cattle in Alberta with his three-week old Freightliner rig, Miller fell asleep at the wheel. That day he left for the road at 4 a.m. He had been push- “It was a beautiful fall evening, and I started to get a little dizzy.” He got out of his rig and walked around for a few minuets to wake himself up. He got back in and started driving. He blacked out 15 minutes later. “I didn’t nod off. I blacked out.” When he woke up, he was travelling full-speed down the ditch parallel to the highway. Five feet in front of him was a four- foot high driveway leading in to a farmer's field. “It seemed like I had about two minutes before I hit for all the thoughts I had in that time. I didn’t even have time to hit the Ss. In that time his first thought was of his sister, who was killed in a head-on collision at the age of 19, five years before. “I thought I was going to die and see my sister again. “She was my best friend.” Her boyfriend was driving home at 7 am., after a party. He was tired, his reactions were slow, he was driving into the sun, and the road was cover with ice. They hit a family of four in a half-ton truck. No one survived. Miller said his father came home that day and was called to the morgue to identify the body. He told Jim “If I could have got- ten her up, I would have laid down and died.” When he saw the embankment, Jim worried that his parents would have to go through the pain again. His rig flew through the air, and threw him against the ceiling. When he came down, he landed between the seats, and the pres- sure crushed a vertebrae in his back. He was on the floor, his legs wrapped around the gear shift, blood pouring out of his eyes. In shock that he survived, he In the third car to stop, there you up. He told the students that their parents might be upset being When the ambulance arrived 45 minutes later they wanted to find out the extent of his head injuries. They asked him for his parents’ names and phone numbers “I didn’t want to give it to ‘You can't get high school kids not to drink. . . Just make them aware of the risks they take. — JIM MILLER Guest speaker at SHSS d from bed to pick them up, but the tune will be a little different in the “Your parents will say ‘I'm glad I didn’t have to go to the morgue and identify the body’.” Miller emphasized that the ple and kill people every year are preventable. People decide every day not to wear their seat-belt, they drive while over-tired or drunk, or they ski on runs way Jim Miller talks privately with two students after speaking publicly to an assembly of SHSS students in the school's gymnasium. Miller lost the use of his legs after falling asleep behind the wheel. The theme behind Miller's speech to the students was of making smart choices on grad night and beyond. though he had a chance. “I reached up to touch my forehead and touched my skull.” His scalp was split from the bridge of his nose to two-thirds of the way to the back of his head. And he couldn't move his legs. He lifted himself into the driv- er’s seat, and tried the CB. No response. He flashed his lights and blasted his horn, but no one stopped. Grabbing the rails on the rig and the door, he dropped his battered body seven feet to the ground, and dragged himself to the highway. A man got out of the first car. “When he got out of his car he got about 20 feet away and he looked at me. I can close my eyes today and still see the colour drain from his face.” Grads employ local paramedics for the ride of life BRENDAN HALPER Sun staff A ‘Ride of Your Life’ is not a rollercoaster but rather a designed to make high school i i the cel- ebrations—auch safer. Stanley Humphries Sec School graduates and local British Columbia Ambulance Service paramedics are teaming up for the second year now to make the 1992 grad year accident free. The Ride of Your Life pro- gram started in Vernon in 1980 and is now a popular and suc- cessful part of high school gradu- ations in more Ambulance Paramedic Lawrence Chernoff calls the program very successful and said 18-20 paramedics will be participating, as well as a Paramedics grads to and from the party, with dona- tions of vans, gas and food com- ing from local businesses and societies. Stanley Humphries student organizer for the program Rene Scholtz said grads will be picked - up at the arena and taken to the designated area for the 1992 - ‘Safe Grad’ party. All grads will have to ride either with lics or parents. + Parents will also be involved with cooking and supervisory duties for the Safe Grad celebra tions. “It makes some parents feel a lot better just to be there,” Scholtz said. Scholtz said those grads want- will have the opportunity to reg- ister on a sign-up sheet placed throughout the school. With around 140 taking part in ite F é ing to take part in the prog will be very busy on grad night. “The program requires total Participation in order to work,” said Cheroff. “It was designed to prevent accidents.” them.” His main thought in the *two hourrambuiance:ride to Edmonton was the worry and grief his parents would go through a second time. The same sort of worry he doesn’t want Castlegar’s parents to face this grad. “I’m not going say don’t drink. It's a reality. When I was in high school I did too. You can’t get high school kids not to drink...just make them aware of the risks they take.” Miller asked the kids to make the same decision his friends now make. Arrange a cab ahead of time, plan to stay the night, phone your parents and get them to pick SUN STAFF PHOTO / JASON KEENAN above their abilities. “It might be the last decision you ever make...why not make the right decisions when you still can?” Miller is now the manager of mobility and rehabilitation equip- ment for Anamed in Edmonton. Her said there’s more than enough business for him from people crippled by unpreventable events. Selling to people injured in preventable accidents is a prof- it he'd gladly sacrifice. “I sell wheelchairs for a living, and there's enough disease out there putting people in wheelchairs.”” He doesn’t want the students’ business. Local RCMP report three weekend accidents Castlegar RCMP report three accident over the long holiday weekend. On May 15, police were called to a single motor vehi- cle accident which occurred 11 km west of Castlegar on Highway 3. A 1988 Chevy Blazer, driven by Gloria Seora of Kelowna, lost control and rolled after hitting the soft of the p i vehicle driven by David Pember- ton of Castlegar. Ford sustained minor injuries and RCMP have charged Pemberton with failing to confine his vehicle to its own side of the Police responded to a third accident occurred on May 17 about 3:10 p.m. This two-vehicle The driver and lone occupant received minor injuries and were taken to hospital by ambulance. Police responded to a second accident that day, this time a two- vehicle accident 4:45 p.m., on Deer Park road. A 1981 Chevy, driven by Glenn Ford of Trail was sideswiped by an east-bound at the Robson access road when a 1990 Chrysler, driven b y Ray Thomas of Ymir B.C., collided with a Plymouth driven by Fred Markin of Castle- gar. One passenger from each vehicle was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries. Thomas has been charged with failing to yield. By Leigh Rubin A partnership for safety - Paramedic Lawrence Chernoff and graduate Rene rk that will hopefully prevent the real need for ambu- Scholtz represent the lances on grad night. SUN STAFF PHOTO / Brendan Halper Gramps tells Wednesday, May 20, 1992 The Castlegar Sun Controversial survey completed in Castlegar schools No major concerns or objections recorded by parents or students BRENDAN HALPER Sun staff The controversial McCreary Centre Society's Adolescent Health Survey has now been completed in school districts .throughout the province, includ- ing District No. 9 Castlegar. Commissioned and endorsed by both the province's Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, the survey was turned down by some schools and dis- tricts throughout the province but still received an 80 per cent par- ticipation rate. Despite board member con- cerns over the way certain ques- tions were phrased, District Superintendent Terry Wayling Hogg said, adding that the stu- dent was excused from taking the survey. Wayling expects the information from said he did not receive any complaints from parents. “We certain- ly haven't been overwhelmed,” Wayling said “Certainly no major concerns have been expressed by ‘We have to know what's happening to students today in order to address each particular need.’ — TERRY WAYLING Superintendent the surveys, once compiled, to influence future school programs such as Learning for Living, which covers general health, physical and sex educa- tion as well as nutrition and family life from kindergarten to Approximately 100 d from four different classes at Stanley } phries S dary School took part in the survey while 45 from Kinnaird Middle School participated as well—25 were grade seven students and 20 were grade eight. or par- ents.” Stanley Humphries principal David Hogg said he only heard grade 12. * Wie have to know what's happening to students today in order to from one parent opp d to the survey. “Let’s just say she was not a big supporter of the survey,” dd. each p need,” Wayling said. The survey, which received full support from the Central OUTLOOK: WEATHER _ The forecast for Wednesday; A mixture of cloud and sun with the possibility of afternoon showers or thunder- showers. Highs near 23. Lows around 7. Thursday we can expect more sun with highs around 21. Sun and cloud is expected for Friday and the weekend with warmer temperatures. 26.8/17 Rain TERRY WAYLING Kootenay Health Unit covered drug and alcohol use, sexuality, STD's and pregnancy, nutrition and eating habits, self-esteem, Suicide, physical and mental health and family life. Contracts for road and bridge maintenance signed Sun Staff $25,000,000. For the Central K The provincial government has signed contracts for road and bridge maintenance agreements for 28 service areas in the province. For local areas, including the service area of Kootenay Bound- : ary, Emcon Services Inc. was the successful bidder at a price of -Truck crash the propo- nent was Bel N Inc. istry of Transportation and High- ways, Charbonneau says the inf ion was rel to the cess began in February 1991 and concluded with the signing of an for a negotiated price of $39,900,000. This same company will also take care of the East Kootenay, for a negotiated price of $29,990,000. All three road and bridge maintenance contracts expire in 1994. In a press release by the Min- public based on the NDP's promise for honest and open gov- ernment. “The information clearly shows the bids negotiated, the contract price, and the time peri- od in which the contract remains in place,” Charbonneau said. The contract-negotiation pro- Police and paramedics from Nelson assist the driver of a Safeway produce truck which left the road near Taghum while eastbound on highway 3A early yesterday morning. The driver appeared to be in good condition following the accident. RCMP could not have details of the accident made available to The Sun prior to deadline. SUN STAFF PHOTO / Brendan Halper Student parents get economic break Day care made more affordable BRENDAN HALPER Sun staff Student Parents in Castlegar will soon find day care to be more affordable as a result of pol- icy changes announced on May 12 by Social Services Minister Joan Smallwood, Women's Equality Minister Penny Priddy and Advanced Education and, Training and Technology Minis- ter Dr. Tom Perry. The amount of student loan designated for books and tuition will be exempt from the defini- ‘The changes will affect some of our parents who have been struggling’ — KATRINE CONROY KCCCS Administrator tion of unearned income. As well, families where both parents are students are now cligible for day care subsidies. “It’s really beneficial for par- ents going to school because in the past you couldn't get subsi- dies,” said Katrine Conroy, Admini of the K y KATRINE CONROY Columbia Childcare Society. “The changes will affect some of our parents who have been strug- gling.” Conroy said the new policies might result in more parents get- ting the services of quality licensed children. The previous Policy was restrictive because it considered the entire student loan as unearned income. This has a significant impact on women stu- dents wishing to pursue post-sec- ondary education. Also, families where both parents were students were not eligible to receive any day care subsidies. The policy change is effective June 1 1992—the Ministry of Women’s Equality will transfer to Social Services $1.8 million in funding to cover the increased expenditures resulting from the changes. “Our priority is to provide safe, affordable care that better meets the needs of working fami- lies, single parents and local communities,” said Penny Priddy. “This initiative will ensure more students will be able to continue their education.” in the Fraser Valley service area on March 31, 1992. The contracts represent the second term of privatized road and bridge maintenance. During the term of the 28 new contracts, Charbonneau said he will be conducting a comprehen- Sive review of the privatized road Number of Hours 67.5 A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST WEEK: Temperature: Max/Date Min/Date 0.9/12 Snow 04 ° Mean 1.6 Total 04 Normal Number of Hours 54.5 recorded lately. Water levels of the local rivers and lakes are on the rise as the spring runoff has begun. There is little con- cern so far as the freezing level continues to fluctuate and minimal amounts of precipitation have been Forecast provided by The South - East interior Weather Office : at Castlegar, B.C. ARROW LAKE RESERVOIR FORECAST May 16 - 1427.16 ft. « May 23 - 1427.82 ft. and bridge progr Immunization program aimed at youth to combat hepatitis B rise Sun Staff Grade six students in School District No. 9 will be part of a hepatitis B immunization pro- gram for British Columbia chil- dren this September. The vaccine will be offered to ail grade six students and after a consent form has been signed sexually active or more difficult to immunize. Though anyone can be at risk in contracting hepatitis B, drug abusers, sexual relations with multiple partners and infants whose mothers contracted the dis- ease are considered high risk can- didates. those affected as silent chronic carriers. “That's part of the risk, people can become exposed and not know how or when it happened,” said Mugford. Though not linked to AIDS, hepatitis B is spread in the same manner and precautions taken for AIDS, are the same taken to pre- by: parents, the immunizations will begin, said Marcella Mug- ford, communi- cable disease coordinator public health ‘That's part of the risk, people can become exposed and not know how or when it happened.’ —MARCELLA MUGFORD Central Kootenay Health Unit vent hepatitis B. Although no statistics could immediately be made available, Mugford said the Central Kootenay Health unit nurse for the Central Kootenay Health Unit. In 1980, 16 cases of the disease had been reported, by 1991, that number increased to 830 cases. “At the rate this disease is increasing, I think [the program] is a wise move,” Mugford said. British Columbia is the first province in Canada to introduce this broad-based program, which aims at children before they enter the age group at which they might Hepatitis B, which is not linked to the HIV virus which causes AIDS, is becoming increasingly apparent in this province. The infectious disease, which has no cure, affects the liver and can lead to cancer or cir- thosis. The disease can also be hard to detect, since symptoms can range from the very obvious to virtually none at all, leaving 10 per cent of recorded cases of the disease when discovered. “I can’t give an exact number, but there have been cases of hep- atitis B here in the Kootenays,” Mugford said, who believes the immunization might have to eventually be expanded further to include more children. More than 45,000 students will be immunized during the next school year at a cost of $3.5 million. Castlegar resident appointed to provincial board SHARLENEIMHOFF Sun Editor A Castlegar man has been named to a new 14-member board of directors for the B.C. Hydro and Power Authority. Announced by the provincial government, the new board is made up of seven women and seven men, with representation from the North, Interior, Vancou- ver Island and Greater Vancouver. William (Fred) Parker, a forester and manager of fibre sup- ply at Celgar Pulp Co., is the Castlegar resident on the new board. He replaces outgoing member Diane Picket, also from Castlegar. “T think that regional represen- tation is important in an organiza- tion as large as B.C. Hydro which has such large impact on many people. The previous board mem- ber provided that representation and I think it should continue,” said Parker in explaining why he excepted the position. Parker, who is still waiting for a more formal clarification by the government regarding his posi- tion, will be required to spend one year on the board. FRED PARKER Community Pride Day one week away City hoping event will bring residents together JASON KEENAN __ Sun staff Community Pride Day, a chance to meet your neighbours and show how you feel about Castlegar, is just over a week away. “It will help make Castlegar a friendlier and safer place,” said organizer Verona Walker. “If you know your neighbourhood, it’s a safer place to live.” The celebra- tion is a Canada 125 event, and is a part of Canada's birthday cele- bration. The celebration will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in 14 parks across the city, and each park will have a different theme and entertainment. “The community is multi-cul- tural and diverse, so activities at the parks will be different,” said Walker. The Old Time Fiddlers will be on a flat bed touring various parks, while school bands, bee contests at each park. There is a binding unity to the events though. There will be ice breakers at each park. Arriving at the park, citizens will get a sheet with a list of questions like jazz bands, a yodeler, Highland dancers, and western line dancets will be providing enter- tainment at local parks. At Zucker- berg Island, the ‘It will help make Castlegar a friendlier and safer place.’ the — VERONA WALKER is the newest neigh- bour?” and “who has been here longest?” This will make it easier to meet neighbours said Walker. Organizer entertainment will be a nature walk. “Bach te Each _ park will have a giant postcard for d to sign, and the cards chooses what they want to do at their parks,” said Walker. There will be different games like fris- will later be displayed at the Complex At 7:15 cake and juices will be served at each park, and a promi- nent citizen will present the uni- versal toast to neighbours and Castlegar. The event will also be part town hall meeting. “One of the alderman or the mayor will be visiting each park,” said Walker. The politicians will be rotating around the parks. “If anyone has any questions, they can ask them then,” she added. About 100 volunteers are involved in making Community Pride Day work. The City has kicked in $2,000 from the Munic- ipal Awareness Fund to pay for the refreshments and decorations at the parks. The entertainment, and all of the work at the parks is being provided by the volunteers.