Page 2A The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, June 21, 1995. Wednesday, June 21, 1995 The Castlegar Sun Page 3A Teachers requested to complete survey Instructors in the Castlegar regarding any past history of School District have been asked —-violerice while in the work to complete a survey on vio- environment. * lence in the workplace. Besides physical violence, At a board meeting held last the questionaire also deals with Tuesday, Superintendent another common, but often Everette Surgenor told trustees unrecognized type of violence, that the two-page survey was verbal abuse. forwarded to instructors as ‘The forms are required to be required by the Workers Com- completed and returned by June ion Boatd. 30, 1995. Surgenor said the require- If it is determined that there ment is timely in that it dove- is a risk of violence in the tails with the Safe Schools workplace, W.C.B. requires that concept. ‘ procedures are set up to elimi- The survey asks questions _mate or reduce the risk LEANNE LEDUC, Photographer Congratulations The Winner Of The Wedding Package Murily Strong The Winners Of The Sitting Package Sandy Donohue Stephanie Villegas Thank You! To All Who Attended Our Grand Opening Call Or Drop In And See What We Can Do For You! 745B Chickadee Lane, Castlegar 365-3838 No planned nursing cuts in Castlegar KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff There won't be any nurse lay- offs at Castlegar Hospital despite lean budgets and subsequent reduction of nursing staff in hos- pitals throughout the province. Ken Talarico, administrator for Castlegar Hospital said that even though other hospitals have had to lay off nurses to meet their budgets, Castlegar Hospital has Composting in the Kootenays: It’s Submitted Nell Rodenburg thinks every- one should have an Earth Machine in their backyard Rodenburg, who lives in the Fairview subdivision south of Blueberry Creek, has been using her Earth Machine composter for ~ two years. “I agree 100 per cent that everyone should have one,” Rodenburg said during a tele- phone interview “Look at what's going into the landfill,” she said, adding that combined with recycling, her composter has helped reduce her household garbage by half. The City of Castlegar, Ace Disposals and Recycling, and the Regional District of Central ‘Giant Price The Sale is On Now!!! Mark powns Bunk Bed Kitchen Microwave no immediate plans to do so “It's not our intention to cut full time nurses.” Instead, other cost cutting measures will be taken to avoid such a scenario, “We're looking at decreasing the amount of sick and vacation relief in non-patient care areas,” Talarico explained. Currently staff and administra- tion are working together to reduce costs for high ticket items Kootenay are sponsoring a one- day only sale of Earth Machine composters on Saturday, June 24 at the Castlegar Foods recy- such as overtime. “We're looking at ways to deal with overtime,” said Talarico. “It {overtime} was phenomenal last year, Trimming overtime costs will include hiring casual staff for overtime rel; id asking regu- lar nursing si to-nanage their time more effectively. “We'll be trying to impress upon staff the need to reduce overtime and organize their cling dropoff. From 10a.m. to 4p.m., 75 composters will be offered for sale at the subsi- dized price of $39 all taxes work so they can get out on time.” As well, each department will have more control over spending, leaving department heads to manage their budget in ways they feel fit. Just last week Trail Regional Hospital announced that due to an anemic budget it would be laying off 15 nurses including head nurses, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in the bag! included. And Nell Rodenburg says she has probably found buyers for three of the composters i= ea 2 é - Even Rocky the dog knows that composting is the environmentally friendly way to go. Posing with Rocky is Ace:Disposal employee Scott Riske, Kootenay Cruise back in the ’Gar Education Retirement package ruffles feathers Union writes letter against large settlement KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff Feathers of local educators are ruffled at the early retirement package of John Dascher, sec- retary-treasurer for the Castlegar school district, “TI really think it’s exorbitant. I was totally surprised. A lot of teachers think it's exces- sive,” said Margaret Hill, president of the district at a time when class sizes are large “Our members would like to see class size reduced so they can better teach students.” Hill believes that tough economic times require that all personnel within the district put students first, and that administrators in the province should quit reaching beneath the goose for the golden egg. “We'll be asking the board to ask the Min- Castlegar and District Teachers A istry of B to stop the large:settlements (CDTA). Hill claims that funding which should be used towards education is instead feathering nests for retirement——-Dascher's included, She asserts that Dascher's retirement pack- age, which she estimates to be between $132,000 and $140,000, is a shame when stu- dents within the district are doing without ade- quate essential tools of learning. “A teacher from Kinnaird Middle School couldn’t believe it. She told me that some of her students have textbooks which are held together with elastic bands because the fund- ing’s just not there to replace them.” The board, said Hill, could have better spent the money on hiring extra teachers in the which have been given out in the province. Someone has to spearhead. it.” Dascher's package, said Hill, really comes home to roost when teachers in the district who take early retirement generally end up with a package worth only about $20,000. But board chair, Joanne Baker, staunchly defends Dascher's package and pointed out that Dascher’s contract was, negotiated by a previous board, as were most contracts which the district is now bound to abide by. “All clauses in every contract are voted on and approved, whether by this board or previ- ous boards, and will be honored.” Dascher’s buy-out evolved from 30 years of service, said Baker, and pointed out that it would be erroneous to assume that his pack over the years: when there were better years,” she explained. Baker did acknowledge that Hill was cor- rect in her assessment of the cost of Dascher's package, but said that to take the sum as a Castlegar growth makes for easy hiding place say local police KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff whole is a disservice to a valued employ with over 30 years of “faithful” service. “Almost $40,000 of that is six months accrued sick leave. Out of all those years he maybe took three days.” In total Dascher accumulated 530 unused sick leave days. His contract also calls for an amount equivalent of 10 per cent for each year's service and adds some $80,000 to his package. It also includes a continuation of all benefits for up to 18 months. Baker stressed that the board would not engage in any discussion which attacks the content of an individual or group contract, but invited those who wished clarification to con- tact the board “If anyone wants to ask questions we're more than willing to answer them.” RDCK stipends SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor Some rural directors on the Regional Dis- trict of Central Kootenay (RDCK) say they have been painted as a greedy bunch, after a story was published in the June14 edition of The Castlegar Sun The story centered around RDCK Munici- pal Director Kirk Duff, who said he wasn’t happy with a proposal that would see rural directors receiving additional money from a general administration account from which both rural and municipal areas pay into. Under the bylaw, introduced at the June 17 board meeting, rural directors will get $700 a month, plus $92 for each regional board meeting, regional hospital board mect- | -ing and standing committee meeting they attend, There are three standing committees. There is usually one regional board and one regional hospital board meeting a month, Rural directors accepting, but not greedy in addition to one or two standing committee meetings. At that rate, rural directors would get between $11,000 and $12,000 a year. Municipal directors receive $400 a month, or $3,600 less a year that rural direc- tors. In addition, they get $92 for each board meeting, for a total of between $7,000 and $8,000 a year. But what rural director John Voykin wants to make clear is that it was not rural directors who asked for the increase. Rather, it was a motion made by two munic- ipal directors, one of which was Creston Mayor Lela Irving. Municipal directors agreed that the current funding levels for rural directors was unfair, since they receive nothing from_rural areas for the extra work they do. “My concer is that people will think thit rural directors wanted more money when in fact it was municipal directors who came up with this,” said Voykin, who added that when the issue was discussed in detail at the board table, Kirk Duff was absent, and his alter- nate, Castlegar Mayor Mike O'Connor, did not attend in his absence. New Denver Mayor Gary Wright is chair- man of the RDCK Administration and Finance Committee. He also maintains that the proposal was made at the request of municipal, not rural directors. “Every municipal director receives money for being on his or her city council as well Rural directors receive nothing extra for working for their constituents,” said Wright But the New Denver Mayor did say Duff's arguments regarding from where the extra money should come do hold great merit: As aresult, changes will be made “The entire directors’ stipends will come from general revenue in 1995 and starting in 1996, rural areas will be taxed to cover the expenses of their own directors. the same way municipalities are now taxed. How well do you know your next door neighbor? Residents in Castlegar, and throughout the province, have no way of knowing if their next door neighbor has been convicted of a sex crime such as pedophilia. There is no P stamped on their forehead, nor is there any legal requirement to register with local police when entering a community. “Once they finish their term they're released to the community— they've satisfied the judicial system. Once they're finished they're the same as everybody else legally,” said Corp. David Beach of the Castlegar RCMP. Sometimes, said Beach, a condition of the offender's release might be that the person refrain from attending areas where children are present. Although Castlegar is still a small community, as compared to Vancouver or other such large cities, Beach said that per capita it's possible that Castlegar has as many sex offenders as any other town or city in the province. Beach readily admits that RCMP have “no idea” how many con- victed offenders who have served their sentence have been released back into the community. Although Beach said that on occasion parole officers would be aware that an offender had entered the community, but only if it were part of the offender's release conditions to do so. Beach said Castlegar’s.recent boom has added to the problem of the invisibility of the convicted. “It used to be that Castlegar was a small community and every- one knew who was who. But Castlegar is growing and it’s not like that anymore.” Although Beach has his own personal opinions regarding integra- tion of sex offenders into communities, he says that legally there is little that can be done by RCMP until another crime is committed. “Our hands are tied and other agency’s hands are tied.” Corp. Rob Weiss of the Elkford RCMP said that the only reason why Roger Bourgeois, a pedophile who was released from jail to Elkford recently, gained high media visibility and was ultimately pressured into voluntarily relocating to a residential institution in another town is because some of his victims remained in the com- munity. Bourgeouis, said Weiss, was quickly recognized by the res- idents of that small East Kootenay town which lies only six hours from Castlegar. Weiss said that if not for that fact, Bourgeois might have been able to insinuate himself into the community without its residents ever knowing they had a convicted sex offender in their midst “Had he gone to Castlegar he could still be living there without anyone knowing.” Verbal assurance doesn’t hold true says local man Reund up leftover paint The Third Annual Kootenay dance with live music is being Anyone requiring more infor- Outfits Complete SLEEP SETS Ovens GE Dinettes 7-Piece: Table and 6 Chairs 6 cu. ft. #4 59 8 cu. 4.91 99” —_, 800 watt Carpeting —- Bereresque Acolorful Berber densely-piled on Kanga (dense urethane back) A great carpeting at $ 9g a new low price. ONLY 8q. yd. A low profile, toned, action-backed tough carpeting on sale (Ideal carpeting for any room) . REGINA - Asculptur-d, all-nylon Rubber back seiieesaitey ATHENS - A level loop Berber on rubber back g°* sq. yd. 99 2-pce set 499° 2-pce set 449” 2-pce set 229” 2-pce set 179” 2-pce set 449° | HUGE STOCK OF LA-Z-BOY ROCKER-RECLINERS from *399 | Look for BIG PRICE DISCOUNTS on following: Furniture Warehouse Floor Covering Centre Living Room Table Groupings, Color Television, Wall Units, Curio and China Cabinets, Bedroom, Dining Room, Kitchen Dinettes, Chesterfield Suites, Motion Furniture, Sleeper Sofas (trashed in price), Wing Back Chairs, Laundry Pairs From $799-°899 and more! LOOK FOR THE SPECIAL DISCOUNT SALES TAGS! Don't Miss These Special Discounts At China Creek Halfway Be: & ————— 5:30 5 5. througt WE DELIVER! Cruise is happening on June 24 at the Community Complex in Castlegar. This event is an open show with 12 judged categories. With cars and trucks from vin- tage to custom rods, and a brand new class for motorcy- cles, the 1995 Kootenay Cruise will be a great show. Prior registrants attended from the West and East Kootenays, the Okanagan, Shuswap, Van- couver and Washington state. Registration numbers increased from 88 in 1993 to 142 in 1994 and an even bigger showing is expected for 1995. Besides the show and shine, a new event is happening — an indoor swap meet. A poker run is scheduled in the afternoon. To top off a fun day in the the sun, a 50s held at the Community Complex in the evening mation can call Dwayne Mills at Avenues Hair Salon. Marcia Jackson from the local Chamber of Commerce enjoyed a break from her job to joy-ride with Rex Landis, a participant in the upcoming Kootenay Cruise, in his 1966 Cyclone GT. The chamber is providing information about Castlegar to all Kootenay Cruisers during Saturday's event. Ctellar Place ADULT COMMUNITY FINAL PHASE SUN., JUNE 25TH 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. Join us for coffee & donutsil 13 LEVEL ENTRY! “Some Basement Models!" UNDERGROUND SPRINKLERS! ALL LANDSCAPED LOW MAINTENANCE FEE! CLUB HOUSE ALL 2 BDRMS « 2 BATH EVERAL ALREADY RESERVED BOOK OURS NOW!!! 2210-Columbia Avenue, Castlegar « 365-0474 SHOW SUITE OPEN DAILY "KAREN KERKHOFF _ Sun Staff Eighty kmh or 50 mph—any way you cut it it stacks up the same; it’s too fast for Brilliant residents who live near the Rob- son Access Road. Brilliant resident, Brian Marsh, fis angry that the speed limit on ahat road changed from 60 to 80 dmb contrary to a previous verbal ‘agreement Marsh claims that during meet- ings held prior to the redesign of the Brilliant Interchange and con- struction of the Robson-Castlegar Bridge, di were p ised kmh from 80 kmh. utWe were-concerned about safety and the noise of the chip trucks going by. We were always assured that the speed limit would be dropped to 60 and left there. That pacified us.” But suddenly, and without notification, signs were erected last Thursday increasing the speed limit to 80 kmh. Now every time a chip truck thunders by at 80 kmh residents flinch and burn with anger over an unkept promise. Rocky Vanlerberg, highways project manager, confirms that by Ministry of Transportation and Highways officials that, due to the expected increase of chip truck traffic from Celgar Pulp after completion, the speed limit on that stretch of the road would be permanently reduced to 60 were told that the speed limit would decrease to 60 kmh and remain that way after con- struction. “That was the intention. The drawings were submitted with the recommendation that the signage decrease to 60.” Rejuvenation for Reform says local president STERLING NEWS SERVICE If you listen quietly, you can hear the grassroots-a-growing. At least that’s what Elmer Pel- lerine, local president for the B.C. Reform Party, has to say about the movement since its successful weekend convention. The convention in Kamloops featured passionate debate on wel- fare, abortion and labor law, with the leadership repeatedly pleading with the members not to adopt too strident policy positions. This type of debate and give- and-take between the leadership and rank-and-file is good for the party though, said Pellerine The local president says con- vention delegates are frustrated because they feel nobody is listen- ing to common sense Pellerine said governments have become so captive of spe- cial interest groups and Charter of Rights challenges that they “are almost constipated.” The issue ays Pellerine, are about fairness. He cited the fact that single mothers can collect welfare until their children are 12-years-old, while unemploy- ment insurance benefits for maternity leave last 15 weeks. “That is the rule for working stiffs, Why is there a different set of rules for welfare recipients? .. If you or I blocked a road, it wouldn't take police long to throw, us in jail. But if a special interest does it, it's okay. It's for these kinds of things that the NDP governments are getting thrown out on their ears.” Pellerine said Reform party leader Jack Weisgerber has agreed to visit the West Kootenay on July 8 for a joint meeting of the Rossland-Trail and Nelson- Creston constituencies. & —= See us for all your-natural gas or, propane fireplaces; appliances; furnaces; salee & installation. FREE QUOTATION ViSiT OUR SHOWROOM TODAY 1008 Columbia Ave., Castlegar 365-3388 But Vanlerberg said that when making the promise and the sub- sequent recommendation he was unaware that to permanently change speed limits requires a legal process. “There's been a communica- tion breakdown, part of which was my not knowing the process to this. I’ve apologized for this misguided promise.” Vanlerberg said that despite his recommendations, highways offi- cials decided to reinstate the 80 kmh speed limit “We made the recommenda- tion to the district office and they felt it appropriate that our recom- mendation wasn't needed and that it would be left at 80.” Art Prodeahl, acting district highways manager said he's inves- tigating exactly what highways officials told residents at those public meetings. Regardless what residents were told, Prodeahl said there is still a legal process required to change the speed limit. Prodeahl said that if residents truly want the speed limit reduced to 60 kmh highways is willing to make that submission to the Ministry in Victoria, but warned that people should be careful what they wish for. “If it’s lowered to 60 I’m sure the police will be out there enforcing that—people have to realize that. If they say they want it reduced, and they get a ticket, they will be the first ones in the office complaining.” Wyllie charged u SUN STAFF Director on the Regional District of Central Kootenay, and a promi- nent Castlegar/Nelson lawyer, Ken Wyllie has been charged under Section 80 of the Wildlife Act. Section 80 forbids anyone to “cause or allow a dog to hunt or pursue wildlife or game” Conservation officer Mike Krause said Wyllie had been issued a $100 ticket earlier this year after an alleged incident in Robson on or about Feb. 15 The incident has come before the courts, explained Krause, because Wyllie is contesting the nder Wildlife Act charge. “A person can either contest it or pay it.” Krause declined to supply specifics of the case saying that it is before the courts. It's not common, said Krause, that individuals are ticketed under Section 80. “You don’t hear about it all the time.” It is typical however, said Krause, that most incidents [of domestic animals chasing wildlife] occur during late winter or early spring. “We generally have some problem in late winter or early spring.” Wyllie will appear in Castle- gar Provincial Court June 21 to fix a date for trial Submitted Castlegar residents can round up their leftover household paint and bring it to the B.C. Paint Care Association's free paint col- lection and community paint exchange, June 21 From 3p.m. to 7p.m. at the South Castlegar Works Yard, 2405 6th Avenue, residents can drop off their leftover oil and latex paints for safe disposal. Any reusable paint will be set aside and made available to the public for free on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is the second of eight mobile collection events span- ning the Central Kootenay, geted include Nelson, Trail, Grand Forks, Penticton, Summer- land, Princeton, and Oliver. Across the province, the B.C. Paint Care Association is spon- soring 24 leftover paint collec- tions in June. The Paint Care Program is not intended to handle anti-fouling marine paint, industrial paint or aerosol cans; nor does it handle other household hazardous wastes (HHW) such as solvents, pesticides, poisons, pharmaceuticals, paint thinners. A limit of 10 cans per vehicle would be appreciated. The Paint Care Program is funded and managed by the B.C Paint Care Association, a non- profit industry organization rep- resenting over 90 per cent of Kootenay-Boundary and Okana- gan-Similkameen regions this month. Other communities tar- B.C.’s paint industry. For further Paint Care infor- mation, call 1-800-505-0139. Celgar Pulp Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Fred Inglis as General Manager of its operations in Castlegar. LANS, Networki technology “Novell networks Trail Campus, Cost: Novell Netware Course An intensive course for anyone interested in: ‘getting a solid grounding in LAN (Local Area Network) ng & Else *pursuing the Novell Certified Network Engineer designation July 17 - July 21, 1995 Selkirk College $1,600 (discounts for multiple registrations from same organizations) Registration Deadline: June 29 For more informatiorv/registration call Community Education in Trail: 368-8229 | Mr. ‘ved Inglis General Manager, Celgar Pulp Company Fred joined Celgar Pulp in October, 1991 and was appointed Assistant General Manager in February, 1994. He has performed many of the duties of his new position over the past several months and effective June 15, 1995 takes up the full challenges of that job. Prior to joining Celgar Fred held various senior management positions within the pulp industry with responsibilities in both production and maintenance. As General Manager Fred will report to Mr. Claude Janelle, Designated Officer of the Joint Management Committee, representing the owners of Celgar Pulp Company