Update committee regrets loss @ Conflict with Castlegar prompts update committee chair to resign Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER Walter Flux will be missed. : Councillor Bob Pakula, a city representative on the Official aa Plan Update Com- mittee, is sorry to see ux resign as chair. “(Flux) has done an awful good job,” Pakula says, “it’s unfortunate he sees a conflict. I don’t see a conflict, but he has to do what he has to do, I guess.” Flux announced his resignation Thursday from the committee, citing an upcoming court battle over a water and sewer charge with the city as his reason for quitting. Flux has been told by the B.C. Office of the Ombudsman to take his complaint to the in- vestigator of municipalities at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. Acting ombudsman Brent Parfitt says the Office of the Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over municipalities. “Our authority is over all ministries of the province and Crown corporations,” Parfitt said. The OCP Update Committee has not yet met to discuss a replacement for Flux. In fact, Pakula hopes Flux will reconsider. “T plan to talk to Walter before the next (com- mittee) meeting, maybe he'll rethink it. Castlegar report draws mixed reaction @ Provincial bodies split over release of document Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER Some say ‘yes’ and some say Two government agencies are at opposite ends as to whether or not Castlegar city council should release the re- sults of the study it commis- sioned two years ago that ex- amined its overall operations. Council refuses to publish the findings in a Price-Water- house document grounds that it deals with per- sonalities. The report was : no. commissioned in 1990 at acost - kept confidential. to taxpayers of $24,000. Acting B.C. Ombudsman ” Brent Parfitt says in similar . then that department head is provi government studies “we have no difficulty separat- said. ing people from the opera- tions.” On the other hand, an in- spector with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs says sepa- rating the two is difficult and similar studies are normally on the “If any allusion is made to one department or another, it,“inspector Fred Thompson y Wednesday, July 22, 1992 Why rent? ... WITH 5% DOWN AND EASY MONTHLY PAYMENTS YOU CAN OWN YOUR OWN HOME! We have a good selection of new and used mobile homes. Pads available in family and adult parks. BELAIRE MOBILE HOMES 1525 Columbia Ave., Castlegar - 365-8077 WE "SELL, BUY OR TRADE” oa Ga ROAD MAINTENANCE AND MECHANICAL SERVICE Travel Safe on your Summer Holidays Keep our Highways clean. Please don't litter Emcon Services Inc. 1-800-665-7959 or 442-2025 to view to be held 875 Columbia Avenue = PRE REFERENDUM PUBLIC TOUR R.C.M.P. DETACHMENT BUILDING July 23, 1992 + 7-9 p.m. Castlegar R.C.M.P. Detachment This is your opportunity to view existing working conditions for this community based service. R.C.M.P. Building Committee Phone 365-7227 Gemologist and Ted Allen's Jewelle ry _ making your dreams come true aker Since 1962 Proprietor of Ted Allen's your area. Se NOTICE TO ALL WEST KOOTENAY POWER CUSTOMERS West Kootenay Power employees represented by the IBEW are on strike. Management will do its best to maintain essential services for customers. Please call your local office to determine if there has been a change in services available or a change in normal office hours in Jewellery, is pleased to announce that his company has secured the exlusjve services of talented goldsmith and jewellery designer, E.J. Duncan. Mr. Duncan brings to Ted Allen's a wealth of training and experience in his field. He worked for the last 12 years with a prominent and respected Victoria i y pany, specializing in the design and creation of handcrafted gold and silver jewellery. This new association with E.J. Duncan is part of Ted Allen's Jewellery ongoing commitement to “making your dreams come Ted Allen's Jewellery 431 Baker Street, Nelson, B.C. 352-5033 E.J. Duncan You will continue to receive your power bills and we encourage you to use the postage paid return envelope. We thank you for your patience and cooperation during this difficult period. I. “_ 365-8212 - Crawford 227-9231 - Creston 428-5357 - Grand Ferks 442-3142 eretaneed 406 005 . Sheng 960-2126 - K 409-5844 - Oliver 496-2474 Osoyoos 495-2474 - Penticton 493-3818 - Salmo 357-9711 - South Slocan 359-7613 - Trail 368-9111 WEST KOOTENAY POWER @ Wednesday, July 22, 1992 AroundTOWN 365-7266 BACK TO SCHOOL, MOM Young mothers now have the opportunity to complete their high school education. To learn about your education, parenting skills, _ child care and support groups, please attend an important meeting at the Hobbit Hill Children’s Centre Friday at 10:30 a.m., or contact Glynn Woodburn at the Central Kootenay Health Unit, phone number 365- 8525. TALL ON PRIDE The Little People of British Columbia Association is holding their 10th anniversary celebration this year in Richmond, B.C. from Aug 13 to Aug. 16.If you are under 4 feet 10 inches and would like more information on the conference, call Roger Stark at 432-7873. CHECK UP TIME The Screening Mammography Program of B.C. will have their mobile van at the Castlegar hos- pital from Aug. 8 to Aug. 11. Itis recommended that women take advantage of this program, as the the next time the van will be in town is Jan. 18. Please call 1- 800-663-9203. OQurPEOPLE Working together for life Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER The sound of sirens may be annoying to some, but to trauma victims and their families it’s like music to their ears. And it’s good to know that the dedicated _ folks behind those sirens are qualified people like British Columbia Ambulance Service Unit Chief Dennis Gracey. “We’re years ahead of most jurisdictions,” Gracey said of the Castlegar branch. “And the (BCAS) is the best emergency organization in Canada.” Gracey, a father of four who has been in Castlegar for eight months said that the two full-time emergency medical attendants and the on-call paramedics here are always ready to roll. “There’s a very quick response time at this station,” he said, “It’s truly phenomenal how fast these guys get out the door and get to a trauma scene.” A fact which is not only important when a medical emergency has occurred, it’s vital. “People are waiting for what seems like to them to be an enormous amount of time,” Gracey said. “This period of anxiety while they wait for us is very stressful both on the patient and on the family. between life and death.” So obviously Gracey feels that once an accident has happened, the wise thing to-do is wait for an ambulance. “About 25 per cent of spinal cord damage is done after the accident, sometime during *handling,” he said. “They provide the _ dedication, enthusiasm and spark that makes this service run. “The on-call paramedics aren’t into this for the money for sure. They are from Castlegar and they care about Castlegar.” And they want to make Castlegar a News photo by Glen Freeman “When a minute feels like a lifetime, Ken Hunter-Oglow (left) and Dennis Gracey are two of the paramedics who keep Castlegar alive . it’s important that we get there as quick as possible.” And once Castlegar’s paramedics arrive on the scene, they are qualified to save lives. “In terms of cardiac and extreme trauma, what is done en route to definitive care is important — it could be the difference “If you have trained professionals handling the patient, the risk goes down considerably. We are trained professionals.” And they have a commitment to the community that is second to none. “The dedication of the part-timers is unbelievable,” Gracey said. better place to live. “My goal is to integrate fire and ambulance service so we’re pulling in the same direction,” Gracey said. “That way we can become more effective and save more lives.” Glen Freeman NEWS REPORTER During times of emergency and crisis it’s commonplace to see neighbors pulling together. But generally, when things are going well, a good neighbor is hard to find. That’s why it’s refreshing to know that there are still people in this world who care — people like the residents around Castlegar’s Cone Hill and 9th Avenue parks. “We installed an adventure playground this weekend,” said Cone Hill Parents Group member Brenda Turner. “And it was wonderful. A community: project like that only comes together if people volunteer.” And volunteer they did. More than 30 local residents showed up at the Cone Hill site to dig, hammer, saw, sweat and just serve their community. “Some people spent their whole weekend doing volunteer work in the park,” Turner said. “I think that’s wonderful.” Castlegar residents have community spirit Another thing that Turner feels is wonderful is the fact News photo by Gien Freeman Hard work paid off last weekend as two city parks were refurbished. that local businesses supported the cause. “The word I like to use to describe their service is invaluable,” she said of Columbia Excavating, West K Concrete, West Kootenay Power, Arrow’ Building-~ Supplies, Chicken Time and the City of Castlegar. “They made it all possible.” And 9th Avenue Park representative Garth Huziak agrees. “The park used to be a plot of land and now it’s a playground,” he said. “It has benefited me, it’s benefited my neighbor-hood, it’s benefited the whole community.” And children for years to come will be able to enjoy the parks’ new facilities. But Turner and the park people are still not satisfied. “We have some plans to fix the place up even more,” she said, “but nothing concrete.”