0 Shi Lae ee = ser toca tarireent reer vnrtogsn ‘ m@ Saturday; May'1657992° WB Anti-drug video earns Stanley Humphries peer counselors $500 prize Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER Peer Counselors at Stanley Humphries Secondary School have once again proven to be a class act. The. students have won their region’s first prize in a MuchMusic and ‘the B.C. Dairy Foundation. Prizes were awarded to six tries province-wide. “I sure was surprised to find out that we won the re- gion,” said Peer Counselor Seanan Sharp. “I’m happy with the final product, but I wasn’t sure we'd win.” The prize awarded consists of $500 for their school and a director’s chair. The theme of the student’s video is “It’s cool to be you!” and illustrates that kids don’t have to take drugs to have fun. Student-producer Ken Skibinski feels that all of the 12 kids involved deserve a pat on the back for their work. “It was a real group effort,” he explained, and co-worker video contest co-sponsored by” different regions, with 52en- ° | Ease tt ep oN 4 News photo by Glen Freeman Stanley Humphries Peer Counselors were delighted with their award-winning effort and the accompanying $500 cash prize. Amy Polonicoff agreed, saying “I think everyone worked re- ally hard to contribute to this. “I’m really happy with the finished product.” Teacher Don Mair said he was also happy with his stu- dents efforts, and would like to enter the contest again. “If next year’s group choos- es to do it, I’ll be more than willing,” Mair said. “It cer- tainly was a worthwhile ven- ture.” Mair added that while’ his group deserved a lot of credit, they couldn’t have won with- out the help of SHSS musi- cians George Wabisca and Mike Paine. “We put them on the spot and they really came through for us,” Mair said. The prize-winning video will continue to be taken into local elementary classes as part of the Peer Counselors anti-drug campaign. B.C. tackles hepatitis B scare Wi Castlegar’s Grade 6 students to be immunized against growing virus Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER Castlegar school kids will be getting a shot in the arm next fall. According to Health Minis- ter Elizabeth Cull, a hepatitis B vaccine will soon be admin- istered to all British Colum- bia Grade 6 students. “Hepatitis B is a viral in- fection that attacks the liver,” said Public Health Nursing Assistant Administrator Mar- cella Mugford.“And it’s very much on the increase in B.C.” In 1980, 16 cases were re- ‘ported to officials. In 1991 that number had swollen to 830 cases, giving B.C. the highest increase rate Forest officials keep eyes open for spread of harmful insects W@ Gray Spruce Loopers are unwanted guest in West Kootenay forests Jonathan Green NEWS REPORTER Area forests are playing host to a large number of un- wanted guests. The Gray Spruce Looper, a defoliator of coniferous trees, has made its way into and on- to local-trees and this has ieee. cea ka cae hoe we're looking at pretty serious damage over a large area (be- fore we take action),” he said. Stock said the ministry is conscious of another member of the looper family, the West- ern Hemlock Looper. “It’s always around in low numbers,” he said. “It’s never really blown up to any out- break level.” The life cycle of the looper runs in four stages, the sec- ond, or caterpillar stage, is when the damage occurs. Stock said the presence of the looper hurts a tree in two ways. Initially, he said it pre- vents the tree from growing. After that, it prevents the tree from building up reserves. “It’s a kind of attrition,” he, the time be- ing, the ministw#y will observe the looper befote making any moves. “We'll watch it and see what it does,” he said. It may just disappear as soon as it ap- peared.” Pete’s offers sneak preview i Castlegar offered small taste of Power Punch proceedings Monday disc player. Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER Pete’s TV is the place to be Monday. From noon to 4 p.m., Pete’s TV will be the sight of the Power Punch Sneak Preview. “Pioneer is bringing in a $120,000 BMW 850 si from Toronto,” said event organizer Jason equalizer, 15 speakers and a six-disc compact “This is more of a get-together,” Davis said, “alittle warm up for the big event in June.” Pete’s will be hosting the real Power Punch Davis. “The stereo system is super loud, but it’s J she held very nice sounding.” The car has six amplifiers, a seven channel Davis said. June 27 at the Community Complex. “There will be competitors from as far away as Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Vancouver, Cal- gary, and a lot of local competitors,” Davis said. Spokane rock station KZZU will be broad- casting live, and a bikini and beefcake contest “It’s going to be a lot of fun for everyone,” Sun’s rays can prove harmful i Local doctor cautions sun worshippers to use moderation this summer Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER Summer is the time for baseball and barbecues, the perfect time to go to the lake and catch some sun. However, according to the Canadian Dermatology Asso- ciation, the sun you catch lethal. While Canadians are better off than sun-baked countries like Australia, the CDA pre- British Columbians will get a form of skin cancer called melanoma this year. About 85 of those people will die. “Certainly we don’t get as much (cancer causing) ultravi- olet light at this northen lati- tude,” said Castlegar Dr. Ron Perrier, “but we see all kinds of skin cancer in this office.” Perrier said that while types of He also noted that kids do not re; ly get skin cancer, but more sunburns you greater your chance of devel- oping melanoma in later years.” But according to CDA Me- dia Relations Manager San- dra Tice, “people can have a fun summer and a safe sum- mer,” if certain precautions are taken. Castlegar residents con- cerned about skin cancer are reminded to wear sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of at least 15 at all times. Dermatologists also recom- mend that people avoid going outside from 10 am to 2 pm, when the sun’s rays are strongest. @ RCMP kicking off summer campaign NEWS STAFF The Castlegar RCMP is on the lookout for speeders. Local police are starting their summer speeding campaign. The campaign is designed to ticket speeders who don’t obey the letter of the highway law. “There’s more traffic out there during this time of year,” Cpl. Al Hudema said. “(Speeding) for the sake of saving five minutes and putting yourself or some else at risk is foolish.” Hudema said the sum- mer speeding campaign won't involve more officers. Instead, he said RCMP members will be paying close attention to the area’s highways, hoping to ticket those driver who insist on breaking speed limits. CASTLEGAR WOMEN Want to look great. . . You want cash in your pocket Combine socializing with customer service to build a lucrative career selling Fifth Avenue Collection fashion jewellery. CALL CELESTE BONNET COLLECT of hepatitis B in the country. “It is infectious,” Mugford said, “and can be tr: itted sense precautions could help to prevent the spread of the through sexual contact, blood, small scratches, through pla- However, Mugford also added that 25 per cent of he- “Some people just get it and that’s why we support the government’s universal immunization program.” ie — Marcella Mugford 862-3640 de centa and so on.” A government news release attributes the increase to “im- migration patterns, intra- venous drug use and lifestyle changes.” Mugford said. that while she did not know how many hepatitis B carriers there are locally “there are some in the as She added that common PETE" ~ patitis B patients are in no risk group, and it is unclear how they got the disease. “Some people just get it,” she said, “and that’s why we support the government's uni- versal immunization pro- gram.” The immunization pro- gram will begin in September, and will cost taxpayers ap- proximately $3.5 million. CUSToy Cars West Kootenay’'s LARGEST GARAGE SALE ponsored by: Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce Space will be offered to anyone, private or business. Cost is $15 for a 10x 10 space. Call the Chamber today to reserve or find out more information. 365-6313 RESERVE YOUR BOOTH NOW! SPACE IS LIMITED Donate your garage items to the chamber and we will pick them up. S POWER PUNCH ‘SNEAK PREVIEW’ Coming Monday, May 18th to Pete's TV! Stop by and get yourself an "EARFUL' of the customized 'BMW' 850. All Regular Priced Car \ Audio Systems & All Tapes & CDs. May 18 Only! Don't Miss This Blast!) The car is worth $120,000, and has a top speed of 300 km-h. Add six amplifiers, a top of the line six- disc compact disc player, a top of the line deck, a seven channel equalizer crossover, and 15 drivers (speakers), and about 150 hours of installation time, and you have one fine piece of machinery. N 4 SII, IN-STORE FINANCING @) PIONIGER The Art of Entertainment ‘Pete S TV cd ne Total Entertainment Centre 279 Columbia Ave., Castlegar 365-6455