210 Saturday, January 4, 1992 @ 1991: A year easy to bid farewell Now the New Year reviving old Desires The thoughtful soul to Solitude retires, Where the ‘White Hand of Moses on the Bough’ S Puts out, and ‘Jesus from the Ground’ suspires. Edward Fiztgerald: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. The infant New Year is upon us and the Old Year, whom only 365 days ago we welcomed in his perky nakedness with so much optimism, is gone, un- wept and largely unsung. It has been a year of deeply divisive illnesses — personal, national and international. And I for one.am not particularly sor- ry to see it shuffle off to join its myriad ancestors. In fact, as always at this time, I feel a little like the two-faced Ro- man god, Janus, who stood at the door of heaven, or the New Year, one face looking back at the unchangeable past, one forward into the uncertainty of things yet to come. “Neither excites me overmuch. That promising Kid ’91 carried more brick- bats than bouquets behind his back and shaped our lives more radically than anyone would have dreamed pos- sible. Moreover, many of the lumps that he handed out so generously, he passed on to the new kid who is proba- bly carrying a few of his own in that broad ribbon which so inadequately covers his nakedness. Nonetheless, the ‘Old Kid’ had much to offer to my personal wish-list, to re- member and to be glad for. For exam- ple, and to my considerable surprise, Bunny and I celebrated, with much o a4 Reflections and Recollections John CHARTERS help from family and friends, our sil- ver wedding anniversary in August. Admittedly I wasn’t in the best shape for it and the P-M.R. which was already making itself evident washed out plans for a second reception later with local friends. For this I am deeply sorry. On the other hand, the flowering of that ill- ness brought forth such a perfume of friends and support that_it has_pro- foundly affected and brightened all the rest of my days.. True, I did not complete the Castle- gar article for the Beautiful B.C. Mag- azine by the indicated deadline, but Ed- itor Brian McNeil was more than gen- erous in his extension to give me breathing space. Argo Construction build that permanent causeway and saved the integrity of Zuckerberg Is- land Heritage Park, while the Rotary Club provided a drinking fountain for thirsty visitors, both projects high on my wish list. 1991 also marks the first year of the new ownership and direc- tion of the Castlegar News and my 40th: year of writing for the paper. Barely seems possible. For events on the larger scene, I claim no responsibility, though the pro- ponents of the Chaos Theory would probably disagree. I offer, therefore, my sincere condolences for those less for- tunate who, caught in the uncertain and treacherous currents of political expediency, economic disruption and ethical confusion between liberty and licence, right and responsibility, are facing-an uncertain future. They are trapped in the millrace flowing through Janus’ door to the future. I was listening to a historian on the radio this morning. He was speculat- ing on the long view that history would take of this past year, how it would pi- geonhole this period of profound change. It would be seen, he suggest- ed, as the highwater mark of a new tribalism. The earlier view of the world in this technological age was that ofa ‘global village’. Events to date however, he suggested, have fragmented that village into numerous, short-sighted, self-seeking tribal units, each demand- ing recognition as autonomous bodies responsible to no one but themselves. Internationally we have seen the Balkanizing of the Soviet Empire, Yu- goslavia and others. In our own-country we have East versus West, and West versus Quebec, plus a thousand pres- sure groups of every stripe and de- scription, all demanding rights without responsibility while our Canada spins in a whirlwind of confusion and inde- cision. It reminds me of a satire writ- ten by Jonathon Swift, writer of Gul- liver’s Travels, in which various parts of the body each declare their indepen- dence. The mouth for example refuses to have anything to do with the stom- ach, the stomach with the intestine, and so on. For a brief while the body stumbles along. Then the bowel goes on strike and causes severe constipation, and the entire charade falls apart. I don’t like the view of 92! Many, many years ago when life was simpler and I was in elementary school, and when we all knew that we were Canadians first, under the crown, and whatever else came second, there was a poem in our faithful old Domin- ion Readers series. It was a fragment of ‘The Lay of the Last Minstrel’ by Sir Walter Scott. It read: Breathes there a man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, “This is my own, my native land”. Whose heart hath ne’er within him burned, . As homeward his footsteps he has turned From wandering on a foreign strand. - The New Year is traditionally the _time for making New Year's resolu- tions, promises to ourselves and others of what we intend to do to improve our- selves for the next twelve months. Per- sonally, with the example ofso many of our political leaders making a fine art of promise breaking, I prefer to leave most of them alone. However, in view of all that has hap- pened and is happening I would still make the following resolve: To cherish my country, my friends, my faith and my ideals, and to live life one day at a time. Enough is enough. Have a good one in’92 everyone, and again my deep- est thanks for all-that you have been and are. Remembe,vWHEN — 40 YEARS AGO 25 YEARS AGO 12:46 a.m. in the Castlegar to be in operation along with tion proposed for the area at a pews Wy Mar Wo ca. ial aa From the Jan. 3, 1952 Castle News Friday evening, Dec, 28, the stork won a race with the Castlegar Taxi when Mrs. A. Read was being rushed to the Nelson hospital. An eight - pound baby girl arrived en- route and both mother and daughter are doing well. Mrs. L. Howes accompanied Mrs.Read on the hurried trip. The Castle Bar Ranch ap- propriately started their win- ter sports activities this year with a Christmas Carol singing sleigh ride through the streets of the Village of Castle- gar. Dear ABBY * exper . From the Jan. 5, 1967 Castlegar News _ Asalary increase of 8.67 per cent was granted to teachers of School District No. 9 by an ar- bitration board. C.H King, secretary-trea- surer of School District No. 9 said the increase affected teachers in all categories and went into effect Jan. 1. Figures quoted by Mr. King included a new salary range of $4,650 a year starting salary to $7,000 maximum after 10 years for teachers with ele- mentary basic qualifications. eo ee Castlegar and district's 1967 centennial baby, a boy, was born Tuesday, Jan. 3, at and District Hospital. The baby, weighing nine pounds, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Alexander cf Kin- naird. Dr. D.F. Ternent was the attending physician. 15YEARSAGO —— From the Jan. 6, 197 Castlegar News Boundary extensions and major upgrading to the water system in the south section of the city are all part of city plans for 1977. é In his address as acting mayor, G.S. Rust said that the new extension, which was not finalized in time for 1976 but will be a priority in 1977, will make possible the creation ofa much needed industrial park the completion of the Castle- gar-Salmo Highway which is expected in early 1978. ee e The Castlegar News cele- brates its 30th anniversary this year. It was on Jan. 3, 1947 that L.V. (Les) Campbell opened the Castlegar theatre as own- er-manager. Seven months lat- er, on Aug. 7, 1947, the first is- sue of the Castle News (as it was then called) was pro- duced. 5 YEARS AGO From the Jan. 4, 1987 Castlegar News Ootischenia area residents will be able to voice their opin- ion on a major tourist attrac- Facts on hearing disorder music to DEAR ABBY: Several years ago, you printed several letters concern- ing older people who had heard music inside their heads: I would appreci- ate any information you can give me, because my 92-year-old mother is unadulterated information and pleasure. JUDITH PHILLIPS, R.N., CANYON, TEXAS DEAR JUDITH: That problem i to surface from time those symp and needs reassurance that she is not “going crazy.” , Thank you for your assistance in this matter, and for many years of . to time, and when I explain that it is not unusual, readers are tly relieved to learn that they are not alone. Here they are again: DEAR ABBY: Thank you for printing those—letters from people who_keep hearing music in their heads. I am one. I am now 76, and never told others because I was afraid of what they might think. I have been a nurse for more than 50 years and had never heard of this condi- tion. I feared that maybe I was get- ting senile. I was truly relieved after Jan. 13 public hearing. Castlegar-based CETAC Development Ltd. is proposing to build the facility, which would include a waterslide, on a 6.16 acre parcel along High- way 3 in Ootischenia. The first snowstorm of 1987 hit Castlegar Friday night, dumping a record 20 centime- tres of snow and was respon- sible for scores of power fail- ures throughout the area Sat- urday. Doug Fergusson, - district supervisor for West Kootenay Power and Light Co., said power outages were too nu- merous to count. many ears reading in your column that many others had the same experience. During my waking hours, I hear hymns and waltzes. All the waltzes I loved to dance to keep drifting through my mind. Now I can tell my doctor about it and not be afraid that he will look at me and think, “Poor soul. She is,really failing!” EMILIE IN BUCKS COUNTY re ' Ez CASTLEGAR LEGISL 47 1 VE GOSECONDS |@OURPEOPLE | OUR PEOPLE Life in’ the classroom «is rapidly changing.With manda- tory implementation of the Year 2000 intermediate program slated for 1994, many teachers in the Castlegar school district are starting to phase in parts of the program. page 9 @ LOCAL SPORTS In need of some manpower after losing.a couple of de- fencemen. last week, the Castlegar Rebels called on their parent club in Veron and got just the guy they were look- ing for. page 15 Saturday January 11, 1992 BES 75¢ CROSS-COUNTRY KID It's been lights, camera, ac- tion for 23 years at the Castle Theatre for Bob Bennett. And in that time, the owner/manag- er has done just about every- thing except star in the picture. page 20 Farside Norman Beyer After Hours Our People Crossword Horoscope Local Sports Hockey Draft Work Place Action Ads Council tables budget Scott David Harrison EDITOR The city of Castlegar has an 2 its 1992 wish list. With five months of tinkering ahead of it, Castlegar city council tabled its provisional budget Wednesday. The 50-page report. calls for a 200 per cent increase in capital projects, as well as two per cent tax breaks for city homeowners. The provisional budget acts only as the framework for city funding. Council will finalize the city’s budget in May after a series of meetings with the public. According to the plan tabled by Ald. Kirk Duff, the budget for capital projects will increase to $3.6 million in.1992 from $1.2 million the year before. Duff said the $3.6 million will pay for equipment replacement costs; _ News photo by Ed Mills Judging from his choice of head wear, hockey and baseball are Kyle Hurford’s games. Still, the 10-year-old showed he could cut a track in cross-country skiing Wednesday during gym class at Twin Rivers Elementary School. Cominco layoffs ‘a rumor’ Scott David Harrison EDITOR Rumors of hefty layoffs at Cominco’s Trail operation are just that according to Richard Fish. “We are not in the habit of confirm- ing or denying rumors,” the public rela- tions officer said about reports that some 340 workers are headed for the unemployment lines. “People are just reporting on rumors that have been cir- culating around the community.” Reflecting on the $100 million the Trail operation has lost in the last two years, Fish said Cominco is considering every option. “We’re looking to make some changes that will make us more profitable,” Fish said. “What those changes will be, I can’t say.” Fish said Cominco won’t be rushed into deciding on the fate of the smelter’s 2,800 workers, nor would he discuss the possiblity of layoffs “No date (of possible layoffs) can be given,” Fish said, “because we just don’t know what is in store for us in the fu- ture.” the relocation of the city works yard, city hall renovations and downtown revitalization. Downtown revitalization is responsible for the bulk of the capital budget, accounting for some $1.6 million. Relocation of the city works yards requires $850,000, while the first phase of city hall renovations checks in at $500,000. : Projected revenue in the 1992 budget is $10 million — some $4.46 million from taxation alone. Mayor Audrey Moore defended the cost of capital projects, saying the expenditures are reasonable. “We’ve had a substantial growth in our tax base,” Moore said, pointing to the extra $467,000 Castlegar will collect in revenue for 1992. “We have a fair amount of money coming out of (taxes), we have some money coming out of reserves and we have moved some money forward out of our development cost charges. “Everything is all accounted for in the budget,” she said. i Moore said the growth in the city’s taxation base has also enabled Castlegar to cut taxes by two per cent — a savings of $14 in 1992 for homes valued at $80,000. please see BUDGET page 2 : BS CAMPAIGN FOR LIFE IN FULL SWING, PAGE