October 2, 1991 Vol. 2 - No. 40 ‘Divine’ job A tlegar SUN | ‘Leading the way in supporting local business’ Actually, Gerhard Koch is not a pastor, but rather a member of the St. Peter theran Church who is helping with some exterior improvements. Local residents should prepare for flu-bug SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor. When most people think about preparing themselves for the fast approaching winter months, they may be concemed with vehicle maintenance, storing food preser- vatives and getting out the storm windows to keep the house better insulated. What they often over- - look however, is the preservation of their own good health, by ensuring they have received their inoculations for Influenza. While the flu can make you miserable, send you to bed and cause you to hate the world for a week, it is much more than an RUBES annual annoyance.:The flu is a dangerous diseases that takes thousands of lives every winter. Which is why the Lung Associa- tion is encouraging everyone to receive their vaccinations this month. Dr. Nelson Ames, from the ‘West Kootenay Health Clinic in Castlegar, says people are becom- ing increasingly vigilant when it comes to vaccinating themselves and their families. “The interest in vaccinations has increased every year for the past five years,” he said. “How- ever it is still very important to remind. people of the oncoming flu season, and to ensure that peo- By Leigh Rubin Worst case scenario aaa ostrich with a fear of heights.’ - ple receive their shots, especially those who are in a high risk posi- An estimated 5,000 people die every year in Canada due to pneumonia and influenza, and over 85 per cent of these deaths are of people over 65 years of age: os See FLU i 2A Sunfest changes underway It’s true that Sunfest is a go, but it might not be the same festi- val that Castlegar. has known in the past. : “We're not out of the woods yet, not by a long shot,” said Donna Jory,:president of the Castlegar Festivals Society. Jory, along with three other dedicated volunteers, were elect- ed to executive positions during ‘Wednesday's meeting. The exec- utive, besides Jory, consists of: Betty. Price, vice-president, Cheryl Ogloff, treasurer and Last week, the fate of Castle- gar’s Sunfest was up in the air as not-much ‘interest could be drummed up within the commu- nity'to even attend a short meet- ing. That all changed last Wednes- ‘According to Jory, between * 25-30 people showed up at the latest meeting, expressing their ‘See Fest 2A See SONraTind Adee lt wa Xt Aan da YINOLOTA ANaWYT Tadd AAILYISIOS at WMialiX Weather 3A 75 Cents +G.S.T. Safe-Home System needed in Castlegar SHARLENE IMHOFF , Sun Editor . Nelson has a | Women's Resource Centre and Trail has a Transition House but women in Castlegar are still being denied access to a local “safe place” from abusive situations. Until recently, that need was never officially addressed, but a local Women’s Association in Castlegar has taken action to change that. _ Established last February, the group has remained small and is «Struggling to remain an official “organization. Yet, this Women’s Association has identified a need in Castlegar and is making head- way after applying to the provin- cial government for a grant of $10,000. - “The money will be used to establish a ‘Safe-Home System’ in Castlegar - something which i ‘desperately needed,” said Bonnie :Nilsen, one of the governing council members for the local Association. , Nilsen says the situation is so iali at elo: Services, and The M Social Services have all indicated aneed for a ‘Safe-Home System’, “People believe that just because it’s not happening in their own homes, it isn’t happen- ing at all. This is a fallacy, it is happening all over.” Once the grant has been received, Nilsen hopes a coordi- nator can be hired to train volun- teers, who would then offer their homes for safe haven. Bonnie Nilsen ‘If a.woman_was_in distress, _ she could contact a volunteer who would provide her and any chil- dren with transportation to anoth- er volunteer's home where she could sperid the next 24 hours.” As Nilsen explained, during. this crucial time, the woman would have some time to ponder. her situation in a secure atmo- sphere in order to decide what her - next step would be. Be Currently, some women from Castlegar have been travelling to , which has the nearest Tran- sition House, However, due to the lack of public transportatio! between Castlegar and Trai there is often a lag between the. time a women decides to move: out of an abusive situation, and: when she can actually secure a- place in a safe environment. Currently, there is a ze vacancy rate in Castlegar and sis housing is unavailable locally.. ‘Women, who are then directed to” temporary housing in a motel, often find it difficult to access the: support services they need at such. a vulnerable time. : Castlegar RCMP Staff Sergeant, Doug Hall, says he fully supports the idea of a ‘Safe- Home System’, and says it is des- perately needed ‘in . this community. _. “There is a problem in. this community with domestic dis- putes, and women in Castlegar need a safe place to stay after ‘See SAFE 2A Property owners affected by bridge ‘to be contacted late-October JIM ZEEBEN Sun staff oti, Sixteen owners of property in North Castlegar are aware they could be getting a knock on their door in late October telling them it’s time to sell. ‘The Ministry of Highways has contacted every properly owner whose land might be affected by Easy does it! the final road design of the pro- posed Castlegar bridge. The conceptual bridge design and the preliminary road design will be completed by the end of October. “The world is unfolding as it should,” said the Regional Man- ager of Planning for the Ministry of Highways, Don Barcham. “There are consultants proceed- ing with various designs and SUN STAFF PHOTO / Brendan Halper “Driving through a maze of pylons is no easy task - O8pi driver.is. | lally:when you're being graded on it, as this more fisheries work was done recently.” Representatives of the Min- istry of Highways met in person with more than 16 property own- ers even though all might not be forced to move. “We haven’t finalized the exact alignment yet,” said Barry Eastman, the Regional Manager of Professional Services for Highways. “In two weeks the design should pretty much be in place.” Eastman said the decision on whether or not to alert people who faced potential displacement ‘was a no-win situation. “We've contacted all property owners who could be affected,” he said, then stressed, “But not all of them will be affected, It’s kind of a Catch-22 decision because the people we inform say ‘why do we have to put our lives on hold,’ and if we don’t inform them it’s a big surprise when we come for the property.” The site selected, Site-7, was identified from meetings the min- istry held with the community. It’s pros and cons were then rated along with three other locations and came out as the preferred See SITE 2A » Ann Landers Business .