the new (Crown (PS Diliiitiitiiigtisiiiit Bulictin Board ST. DAVID'S THRIFT SHOP Will be closed for the holidays, t 18 until Tuesday, donations during thet peri Coming events of Castlegar and District non-profit organizations may be listed here. The first 10 words ore $3 and additional words are 15€ each. tion while the third consecutive insertion is halt-pr Minimum charge is $3 (whether ad is for one, two or three times). Deadlines are 5 p.m. Thursdays tor Sunday's per and 5 p.m. Mondays for Wednesday's pape: Notices should be brought to the Castlegar News at 197 Columbia Ave. OMN Bulletin Board B.C. and producing “17 Vancouver ne v SUNRISE: 7:44 A.M. 2 Castleg SYNOPSIS: A strong northwesterly flow is pushing bands of moisture across ight snow in most communities. Temperatures from -5 to - SUNSET: 3:55 P.M. Mike O'Connor (left) WINNERS . presents itt certificate to Tom and Anne Titford of Kinnaird, winners of residential section of Chamber's Christmas light display contest. Cashews Photc House burned while owner away By CasNews Staff A house belonging to a Castlegar man away on holidays is a total loss after an early morning fire destroyed it Saturday morning. The three or four bedroom home, belonging to former dines ALWAYS WELCOME & PRACTICAL —~ Clocks & Watches Wall Thermometers Calculators & Binoculars Stamp Albums & “Bragg” Books Calligraphy Sets & Cameras Sylvania Sun Sticks Briefcases & Dopp Kits for Men Wallets by Buxton Travel Kits & Money Belts Shavers & Blow Dryers Flashlights & Lanterns BEDECK YOUR CHRISTMAS TABLE Candles & Candle Holders Priced from $1.49 to $49.91 By Holt Colonial Baillargeon, Canuck Pottery Figments Handcrafted in Kaslo Crystal D’Arques in 24% Lead Crystal Gift Boxed Sets or Single $5.99 and up FOOD PROCESSOR ae $89.95 c= YOGURT MAKERS 529.95 Seaman KITCHEN SCALES Cheese Boards and Ring Holders Salt and Pepper Mills And for Truly Elegant Entertaining Noritake Fine China in Many Styles to Suit any taste and decor! 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Castlegar alderman Jim Gouk of 3208-1st Ave., was and its contents is “well in engulfed in flames when excess of $100,000." firemen arrived minutes No one wae in the house at after being notified at 7:46 the time, and none of the 16 a.m., said Castlegar fire chief firemen attending the blaze Bob Mann. were injured, despite “The roof went in just as dangerous conditions, Mann we pulled up,” said Mann. said. “It's a complete loss — it was a complete loss before we got the call.” Although Mann said no official damage estimate was available, the cost of the cedar-lined, 1" storey home He said it was difficult for firemen to get their water hoses up to the house because the house was about six metres up from the road. “The biggest thing was that the house next door was in quite a danger. (Fire) was licking the south end of the house next door,” said Mann. He said that the next-door house suffered some damage to its siding and eaves even though firemen “immediately” had the flames under control. The fire was completely out in 45 minutes, Mann said. He estimated that it had been underway about two hours before the fire department received a call from an Ooti- schenia woman who noticed it from across the Columbia River. Although the house is surrounded by neighbors on both sides, neither was aware of the fire until they were notified by the Castle- gar fire department, said Mann. He added that Castlegar RCMP “have been trying to get in touch with (the owner) all day, but I don’t think COLONIAL SOFA WITH SWIVEL ROCKER Rust and Beige... DECORATOR WALL UNITS Two Only .. SWIVEL ROCKERS 2-PCE. 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Telephone Co. and the Telecommunications Work. ers Union are seeking a fed- eral conciliator to assist them in their current contract negotiations. “We've progressed as far as we've been able to alone ind will commence negotia “fidos again in the new year,” union president Bill Clark said Friday. Clark said the request to the federal government for a eonciliator is not a sign that contract talks are in danger of collapsing. Clark declined to elaborate on the negotiations. Aluminum Sheets 24'r' x % 11012 13 to 24 25 or More 75¢ Each 60¢ Each 50¢ Each CASTLEGAR NEWS 197 Columbia Avenue Castlegar SO YOU'RE 30 ON DEC. 24 DIANNE! HAPPY BIRTHDA Fomily & Friends! HAPPY 40th Stait Writer The Central Kootenay Union Board of received the thumbs up signal from Vietoria to present Castlegar Health Unit building to Thursday that | “treasury clearance has beet received, and that the British Colaba: Buildings Corp. has been instructed to proceed with the planning of “The building schedule is not available, but I would expect that occupancy would take place in August or September of 1985,” he said. fr | CHRISTMAS WORKER . . . RCMP Constoble Blair Imrie, checking out drivers’ licence, will be one of By CHERYL CALDERBANK Staff Writer For most people, Christmas Day is a time for family get-togethers and celebrations. But while the festivities go on this Christmas, it will be just another day on the job for some Castlegar residents. Castlegar and District Hospital will have a nursing, housekeeping and dietary staff of about 15 people working at the hospital on Christmas Day, says hospital administrator Ken Talarico. Lab, x-ray and operating room staff are on call. Two doctors will also be on call on Christmas Day The staff will take care of the patients who have to spend Christmas in the hospital Talarico says the hospital tries to send as many patients home as possible, but usually ends up with between 20 and 25 patients in acute care, as well as 15 extended care patients. Talarico says emergencies at the hospital vary from year to year. “Some Christmases it's quiet, and some are pretty hectic. There's no trend.” Nursing director Denise Reed says the hospital tries to let as many employees as possible off for Christmas Day. For those left at the hospital both staff and patients, the day is brightened up with visits from carollers. As well, Santa Claus delivers gifts to patients in the extended care and children’s wings. Patients also receive Working at Christmas ~ Teail,wifl move into the expanded health He baid:a “rough estimate” af the cost of expansion is $250,000. The go-ahead for the expansion is welcome news, Arnott added. It will be “very much more comfortable for the staff — they'll have enough space to work in,” he said. r residents working on Christmas ers are enjoying the day's festivities CosttewsPhote by Chery! Colderbank many Castle Day, while o Although there are no scheduled commercial flights at Castlegar airport, some staff will still be working. Len Darnbrough at the flight service station says on Christmas Day “we work our butts off.” He says because the weather office is closed that day, the two people working on Christmas Day provide weather information to people wanting to fly that day, in addition to regular duties. Darnbrough says that depending on the weather, the flight station could get quite a few contacts from fliers in the West Kootenay area. “It's possible to get say 50 contacts in here,” he says. But still, “it's just an average day” for the staff on Dec. 25, he says. “It's just the same ny other day.” Two people are also working at the control tower on Christmas Day, according to a spokesman, who says some planes will fly on that day Other than manning the control tower, spend the time reading manuals or studying staff will Three maintenance men will also be working at the airport on Christmas Day, and one of them is mainten ance foreman Emile Marchildon. He says the workload is average on Christmas Day, but “there could be a lot more work if it's snowing heavily,” then there'll be roadways and runways to plow “But the reason why we have to be here is for fire coverage,” he says. so at the meeting, was a report on the king water in Fruitvale, and the surrounding Ne Harnadek, chief health inspector, said the fd ‘ombudsman’s office has received “several from Fruitvale residents unsgtisfied with action ‘being taken by loca! trustees and public health officials on possible contamination of their water supply. “The ombudsman's office has become interested in the situation, and I, today, bundled up our whole file on Fruitvale (and sent it off), including a recent report the regional district received on the water problem in the Beaver Valley as a whole,” Harnadek said. He said the Fruitvale Waterworks District plans to hold SURVEY SHOWS 2 referendum on the Fruitvale water and added: “Dr. Arnott and I hope they bold meeting before that so the whole issue can be di “If the vote is positive, then things will re normally. Money will be raised, and work will be done. Ihe vote is negative, then Dr. Arnott and I will have to talee-6t serioys appraisal of what has to be done.” ‘n his report, Harnadek notes that Kelly Creek is the main source of supply, with Fruitvale Creek and a drilled well used to augment this source at different times of the year. Upgrading of the water system will involve reducing sediment loading, disinfection, improving existing works, and installing some new works, says the report. ki gear selling well this year By ADRIAN CHAMBERLAIN Staff Writer A number of Castlegar residents will be downhill skiing 1 expensive new gear, tapping the keys of new computers, and quaffing generous amounts of B.C. and French wines this Christmas (not necessarily all at the same time), accord. ing to a sample survey of local stores. Hot sellers during November and December include Koflach and Trapper ski boots from $125 to $350, ladies ski jackets from $100 to $200, track suits from $50 to $75, and children's ski packages from $150 to $250, according to Lyle A bault, manager of M Ski and Sports Hut. Sales of children’s ski gear are especially good — up about 20 to 25 per cent from last year, said Archambault. Although he said many families may be upgrading their children’s ski equipment because of an increasing concern with child safety, Archambault thinks more children are skiing this year. “The kids are definitely getting into it.” However, Archambault said “some of the less expensive items that normally sell well are not selling good” — equipment in the $10-$40 range, like ski gloves. While sales for December have been comparable to last year, the ski-supply store experienced a 20 per cent increase this November. Christmas is also liquor-buying time, according to Al Brown, manager of the Castlegar government liquor store. During the last week of December sales are usually up 80 per cent from what they normally are, and sales increased 20 per cent during the month compared to November, he said. wine sales, a decrease in the sale of spirits and the continuing popularity of dairy-based liquers. But on the whole, provincial liquor sales aren't up from other years. “This year around I do not expect to see any great increase in sales,” said Wallace. “It's partly the economy and the recession, and this accursed unemployment problem we have.” The lingering effects of the recession are still affecting some local stores. Chris Markin, manager of Robinson Stores in the Castleaird Plaza, said while sales this Christmas aren't much different from last year, they're down from two or three years ago. She says although the store sells a wide variety of merchandise, practical items such as clothes seem to be buyers’ preferences tiis season. “There's a fair amount of children’s stuff going out for Christmas,” she added. Bonnett’s Boy's and Men’s Wear is finding fewer buyers for more expensive clothes this year, according to manager Fred Bonnett, who attributes this to local unemployment and layoffs. But Castlegar Computers Ltd. says Christmas business is booming. Manager Tim Messenger says sales of home computer systems are up 50 per cent since last year. One of the big sellers is the “immensely popular” Apple Il C computer, which goes for $2,000. The computer is more sophisticated than some of its Brown, who says policy pi him from Specifically on liquor sales added: “This time of year, to tell you-the truth, everything selts well.” But the manager of the Liquor Distribution Branch in the Vancouver head office says Castlegar residents are especially fond of B.C. and French wines. “The French wines in total for the province account for 40 per cent of all the wine we sell,” said Bob Wallace. He said the current low rate of exchange in France makes their wine relatively inexpensive compared to other imports. Wallace said other Christmas buying trends for Castlegar and the rest of B.C. are: an increase in German s — with a capability of 10,000 programs — and is is portable. Messenger says many buyers are people who have already purchased a basic computer, but are dis satisfied. “I would think what's been happening is a lot of people bought beginner's type computers in the past, and realize they have limitations,” he added. And more of this seasons buyers have done their home. work before walking into the store, Messenger says. “Now they come in and say they want the computer to do this and this and this. . . they're pretty specific in their needs.” And “there's always cleaning up to do. CKQR Radio is another business where employees work on Christmas Day The radio station has a pre-taped program that is run 1% times on the special day, says managet Brian Prit chard. But there will still be four people who will work four-hour shifts on Christmas Day “to make sure (the tape) is running smoothly” says Pritchard. The staff will also put in brief newscasts on Christmas. Pete Lindy is one of those four who will be working “It (working on Christmas) gives a chance for other employees to get a chance off who want to go home for Christmas,” Lindy says. Gary Halls, who works on the Castlegar ferry also doesn’t mind working on Christmas. “I get paid double time on,” says Halls who is one of four who'll work on the ferry on Dec. 25. RCMP “try to be nice” to those drivers, but adds that He his Christmas won't be disrupted too much. police have to consider the fact that the drivers “may be When off day shift he'll celebrate Christmas with i friends, his wife will be away. dential section of Castlegar Chamber of Commer ce’s Christmas light diplay contest 14" COLOR TV Auto Color & Tint Control 5-Year Complete Warranty WINNING DISPLAY . . . Home of Tom and Anne Titford of 2628 Columbia Ave. comes olive with magniticant array of Christmas lights. Titfords were winners of a special treat with their breakfast and a Christmas meal jlable to them at luenh, says Reed Elsewhere on Christmas Day about eight RCMP officers will be on duty during a 24-hour period, says Staff Sergeant John Stevens. He says Christmas Day is usually quiet. Const. Bair Imrie—one of the officers on duty this Christmas—says it’s quiet on the big day. but he couldn't say what kind of complaints are common in Castlegar, having been here only since the summer “In Surrey it was basically family fights,” Imre said For instance, in some eases a separated family tries to get back together for Christmas and after having had a few drinks the spirit of Christmas soon disappears and develops into a domestic Holiday drivers who have had a few to drink can be a CortewsPhote by Dowg Morvey $2995 MATTRESS & BOX SPRING SETS SCUMY. rote ® TID.DS ro van *24D.DS cveen* 299.95 TAKS ENTIRE FLOOR STOCK SPECIALLY PRICED .. . . TREMENDOUS SAVINGS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT! Gifts of Fragrance Will always make him or her feel special! Carl's has o very large selec tion and price range! sane aves... OT CORTRRATE CARL’S DRUGS ((SUN., DEC. 23 12 Noon Brenda Hilda are back}! HILLTOP CAFE 1S UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT. Join us for breoktost No paper Wednesday The Castlegar News will not publish this Wednesday as employees and management observe the Christmas Boxing Day holiday. The next issue of the CasNews will be Sunday, Dec. 30 The TV Week listings from Thurs 2 are Detachment to close? By CasNews Staff Srescent Valley RCMP de tachment may permanently close in the name of “economy and efficiency.” The area presently policed by the detachment would instead be covered by the Castlegar, Nelson and New Denver detachments, said Cpl. Dave Brigidear Thursday However, the closure isn’t final, and the RCMP is seeking public input to assist in reaching a decision by inviting groups and individuals to write to: Commanding Officer, RCMP 602 Stanley St., Nelson. prior to Jan. 5. As well, Brigidear said a public meeting on the proposed closure will be held Jan. 9, 7 p.m. at the Winlaw Hall Representatives from the Nelson. Crescent Valley, Castlegar, and New Denver detachments will attended. At this time we take this opportunity “It's felt it would probably be run as to wish our readers a very Merry efficiently or more efficiently through Chri other detachments,” he said.