-.- Saturday, May 2, 1992) Jonathan Green NEWS REPORTER Environmentalists at a regional watershed are standing firm in their fight to prevent area logging from commencing. Since April 15, protesters have been on sight as Dosenberger Excavating has been working at road building in Lasca Creek. “The feeling at that time was the road was proceeding, and fall of 1993. That decision didn’t sit too well with local environmentalists, who set up a tepee on the lawn of the government building in Nelson shortly after to let the province know of their feelings. { ‘After the tepee was taken down, the pro- testers headed to Lasca and have been their since. Bouland said that couldn’t be al- lowed,” said group spokesperson Cara Bouland. ne, But -because of the protesters pres- ence, Bouland says ‘I think the people are planning to stay there for as long - as it takes.’ — protester Cara Bouland still effective. that the some 25 protesters who were on site initial- ly have now dwin- dled in size, but are “It’s been a Dosenberger’s road hasn’t gone too far. “I would say only a couple hundred me- tres,” she said. The protest is the third action taken with- in the last six months. Sixty-four protesters were arrested last November, and similar ac- tion was taken in February. In March, Environment Minister John Cashore and Forests Minister Dan Miller made ajoint announcement that deferred log- ging in the Hasty Creek watershed for 24 months, but allowed road building to contin- ue at Lasca, with logging to commence in the steady core of about eight or 10, which has been enough,” she said. ‘Bouland said Nelson RCMP have dropped by without confrontation. “J think basically they’re keeping an eye on things,” she said. Bouland said the protesters haven’t made any plans to leave soon. “Every day there is another day the road doesn’t go into the watershed,” she said. “I think the people are planning to stay there for as long as it takes.” Nick Dosenberger was unavailable for com- ment. PolicCBEAT Robert Cecil Main, 29, of New Westminster has been charged with break and entry and unlawful confinement af- ter he allegedly forced his way into a Robson home Wednes- day, April 22 and detained the owners. A 23-year-old New West- minster man failed a RCMP roadside screening device test Thursday, April 23 and was charged with impaired driv- ing. A hit-and-run was reported April 24 after a vehicle back- ing out of a driveway was struck by a vehicle travelling on 7th Avenue. Castlegar RCMP are inves- tigating the Sunday break and enter of an 8th Avenue home, when approximately $250 worth of hockey cards were stolen. eee % Police charged 20-year4 Daniel Nelson with enteri licensed premise after bei ejected after a Sunday altercation at Dexter’s Pubj eee a Acar driven by 28-yea Matthew Hasshenin receivi $1,500 in damages Mondi when he struck a deer app: imately five kilometres e: the overpass on Highway Warren Goldsbury, struck a deer while driving Arrow Lakes Drive Tuesda His car sustained $1,000 - damages. ; eee 3 The Robson Fire Volunteé Department responded to | single-wide trailer fire 4 Columbia Heights Tuesday. « The fire, which caused e tensive damage to the traile is. being investigated 1h RCMP and the Fire Commi sioner. : Scott David Harrison EDITOR An American-based envi- ronmental group is joining forces with Lasca protesters. The Greater Ecosystem Al- liance jumped into the fight Thursday, lambasting the B.C. government for allowing logging to continue in the con- troversial watershed. - “The B.C. government has to step back and take:a larg- er look at what it is doing,” Evan Frost said. “Interna- tional boundaries are arbi- Amercian group supports action trary when you are talking about ecosystems. The gov- ernment must defer logging activity and put a moratori- um on road building to main- tain an ecological balance.” The Bellingham, Wash., based group says it.is con- cerned logging would threat- en wildlife. Frost said Wood- land caribou’ — an endan- gered species in the Untied States — migrate to Lasca during winter months He also said Lasca Creek logging could wipe out caribou herds, as well as Selkirk grizzlies, mountain lions, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, wolver- ines, grey wolves and bird’s of prey. “Lasca Creek is essential to the survival of these species.” Though he stopped short of tree-spiking, Frost said the GEA would endorse “any ac- tions” taken by Lasca protest- ers to ensure logging is stopped in the watershed. The GCA is anon-profit or- ganization with over 500 members. Safe home offers refuge from violence Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER The Castlegar Women’s As- sociation has won a minor vic- tory against abuse. Commencing in mid-May, Castlegar’s battered women and children will have a place to find temporary refuge. “We have three safe homes which will aid Castlegar said co-ordinator Leigh Simms. “That’s great, but more safe homes are definitely needed.” Simms was hired by the women’s association a short time ago with a special man- date. “What I did in a 14 week pe- riod was release as much in- formation about the issue of munity to be safe home providers.” According to Simms, three families have been trained as “basic support people” who will be able to shelter abused women in need of assistance for a short time. ‘No area is immune from violence against women.’ — Leigh Simms “But this is by no means a long-term solution,” Simms said. “We are not replacing the transition house service. They offer assistance to battered women on a longer basis if needed.” Simms says that she didn’t know what to expect of Castle- gar at first, but she’s happy with both the community and the association’s accomplish- ments. “No one had done this kind of work before in Castlegar,” Simms said, “and the commu- nity responded very positively. They were great.” While some local residents may not see the need for a safe home system in Castlegar, Simms insists such shelters are invaluable. “There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that there’s a need for this program in Castlegar and every commu- nity,” Simms said. - “No area is immune from violence against women.” The three safe home loca- tions are kept confidential to retain the program’s integrity. Women needing shelter from an abusive partner can contact RCMP or the Trail cri- sis line at 364-1718. WE MEAN BUSINESS MID EFFICIENCY FURNACE & AIR CONDITIONER SPECIAL HEAT/COOL PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT 5 and 2 day programming with up to 4 weekdays and 2 weekend temperature schedules. 1834 C 1996 Heat Cool Stat. 1-CUGE 100 Mid Efficient Gas Furnace 100,000 Heating BTUH 1-CL24-1 Condensor — 2 Ton 1-UC 24 A. Coil 1-3/8 x 5/8 x 50 ft. Line Set SPECIAL $1 g 799 PLUS INSTALLATION .- Add $120 to price for CUGE 125 Furnace. Offer good until May 15, 1992 or while quantities last. ALL TAXES EXTRA. CASTLEGAR PLUMBING & HEATING ue 365-3388 “i a TRAIL NELSON 1008 COLUMBIA AVE., CASTLEGAR, B.C. VIN 1H2 “i Saturday, May'2, 1892 & 6s Jonathan Green. NEWS REPORTER Donald Scarlett went to Vancouver .last week to make himself heard. “I didn’t go all that way to stand. by and watch,” he said. , The Kootenay-Okana- gan Electric Consumers As- sociation member was in the big city last Friday to at- tend the Power Export Hearings. Scarlett said the ECA is concerned over the free trade agreement’s impact on exports of electricity planned during the next six years. The Kaslo man ques- tioned B.C. Hydro on the agreement, but the utility refused to acknowledge him. “The room was packed with people from B.C. Hy- dro” he said. “Here I was feeling very alone and_at the same time very angry.” Scarlett appealed to th B.C. Utilities Commission, who ruled in his favor and forced the utility to respond, which left him with mixed feelings. “I would say I’m not sat- isfied all the questions were answered completely,” he said, adding that the trip wasn’t a total loss. “I certainly got more than I thought I was going to get.” Scarlett said he wasn’t thrilled with the hearings being held in the Lower Mainland because it dis- tanced anyone in the province who wanted to at- tend. “It’s really a shame be- cause it’s supposed to be a public process,” he said, adding that he was the lone gion. “There were no people from the Interior there at And though he admitted to being seriously outnum- bered by B.C. Hydro offi- cials and lawyers, Scarlett said he was dealt with ob- jectively. “I do feel I was treated reasonably fairly,” he said. Scarlett said he expected to have answers to the rest of his questions this week. The hearings are expect- ed to wrap up next week. Shaw Cable cuts payment office NEWS REPORTER Shaw Cable is pulling the plug on four Castlegar jobs. According to assistant manager Steve Lake, the payment facilities in Penticton, Vernon and Castlegar are shutting down. “Three full-time employees and one part-timer will be losing their jobs here in Castlegar,” Lake said. However, Lake insists that local televi- sion coverage will not suffer. “All this means is that people won't be able to drop in and pay their bills any- more. All current technical. staff will keep their jobs, thus enabling Shaw Cable to continue producing community shows. The closure of the Castlegar payment facility is being done because people have changed the way they pay bills. “More and more people are using their bank machines to settle their accounts,” ‘Lake said. “One large payment facility will be opened in Kelowna, and we're sure that will better serve local subscribers.” The Shaw Cable layoffs will take place July 31. ic. 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