Wednesday, December 2, 1992 @ By Gary Larson TheFARSIDE “Now now now ... You won't be a lonely road forever, you know.” Fate of Sunfest being put in citizens’ hands @ Survey will tell society whether city wants Sunfest Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER The fate of Sunfest could be in the hands of local residents. Following a Nov. 27 meet- ing of the Castlegar Festivals Society, it was determined that the community should decide on the future of Sun- fest. A survey will be published in the local newspapers asking residents what they liked about the event in past years. People will also have their brains picked about what they haven’t liked with Sunfest, what the event should be like, and even if it should continue. “We’re looking for input in general, for what the commu- nity wants from Sunfest,” a Festivals Society representa- tive said, preferring not to be identified. “We've been struggling for a few years now. “Tf the rest of the communi- ty doesn’t want it then we feel like we’re banging our head against the wall,” the repre- sentative said. As an incentive to have res- idents respond to the survey, the society will hold a draw. People who complete the forms and promptly return them could win a CD player. “We used to have all kinds of events in Castlegar. We had May Day, July 1st and Labor Day celebrations,” the repre- sentative said. “As Castlegar grew we’ve seemed to lose some of that.” Emphasizing that the plur- al ‘s’ in Festivals Society means more than one festival, the representative said maybe it’s time the society looked at channeling its efforts on dif- ferent projects. The final draft of the survey will be drawn up Wednesday. The representative said it’s one of the most drastic steps the society has taken to see the continuance of Sunfest. Castlegar Aquanauts License No. 777858 SATURDAY, DEC. 5 Castlegar Arena Complex $4000 PAID OUT JACKPOT $6600 RRL Rie, LLAST BINGO Early Bird 6 p.m., Regular Bingo 7 p.m. NUC closer to accreditation? ‘Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER Nelson University Centre may be two steps closer to accreditation... hey The B.C, Legislature is expected to receive a petition ‘from Nelson-Greston MLA Corky beg today, calling for the accreditation of. The petition comes on the heels of a Victo- ria visit by NUC President Dr. Patricia Mur- tischenia-based program may be dismissed by Evans. “If Corky wants to represent our interests he should be supporting us, too,” the program’s president said Monday, lamenting the MLA’s sul for NUC accreditation. makin said Evans is overlooking WKTEP by presenting the petition. “We're not being represented by this deci- sion,” he claimed. Kinakin said phy, who present- ed Advanced Edu- cation Minister ‘If Corky wants to represent our tion NUC’s _accredita- request “doesn’t make Tom Perry with interests he should be supporting us, too.’ sense.” 900 letters sup- porting the cen- WKTEP’s Mickey Kinakin According to Ki- nakin, WKTEP’s tre’s accreditation bid. Despite those moves, NUC isn’t expected to be granted immediate accreditation. Instead, the provincial government is planning to re- view post-secondary services in the West Kootenay. That review will be headed by Dr. Margaret Fulton, a past-president of an NUC affiliate, Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. Mickey Kinakin is wondering what impact the review will have on the West Kootenay Teachers’ Education Program. He said the Oo- BASIC QUALITY one program has twice the number of students that the entire NUC campus has. “They can’t attract students, but what they seem to attract is a lot of political smoke.” Meanwhile, Evans said all educational pro- grams will be considered by the review panel. “Obviously, south-eastern B.C. includes ar- eas from Golden to Trail,” he said. “(The report) will let government make the best decision that will be of the most benefit to the people in the Kootenays.” CHIRO- EXCELLENCE | DELUXE 365-6433 NO FRILLS NO GIMMICKS LOW PRICES 4445 Minto Rd. | OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Choosing to buy Furniture & Mattresses anywhere else is like choosing to pay higher prices 10 am -6 pm Closed Mon-Sat: a= Sunday: @ Wednesday, December 2, 1992 3a = r © 7 SS ~ S S os CALL THE NEWS ®General Inquiries 365-7266 OUR HOURS The News is located at 197 Columbia Ave. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to5 p.m Closed on weekends and Statutory holidays SUB RATES The News is published by Castle News Ltd. for Canwest Publishers Ltd. Mail subscription rate to The News is $37.50 per year The price on newsstands is 75¢ for each edition. The price delivered by newspaper carrier for both editions is only 90¢ Controversial bylaw passed by RDCK @ Bylaw 923 receives final reading despite protest from Slocan Valley Scott David Harrison EDITOR The Regional District of Central Kootenay is telling the Slocan Valley to clean up its act. Despite mounting opposition, the RDCK passed a controversial bylaw which forces Slo- can Valley homeowners to remove stockpiled cars, building material and other items deemed unsightly. The Unsightly Premises Bylaw re- ceived fourth and final reading Saturday, much to the chagrin of the Slocan Valley Concerned Citizens Forum. “Democracy in the Central Kootenay is dead as far as I’m concerned,” SVCCF president Zak Ackerman said. “They shot her dead Saturday.” Bylaw 923 was a source of controversy ever since it was introduced last spring. Slocan Val- ley residents claim the bylaw impedes on indi- vidual property rights and contravenes the _ Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Despite that, Municipal Affairs Minister Robin Blencoe approved the bylaw Friday, in time for Saturday’s board meeting. “I’m so disgusted with Mr. Blencoe,” Acker- man said. “He passed this on Friday and gave us 18 hours notice. I say that’s an act of cow- ardice on his part.” The SVCCF held several discussions with Blencoe prior to the bylaw’s approval. Acker- man said Blencoe assured the SVCCF that it would have a say in Bylaw 923 adoption, but that didn’t happen. “I’m very disappointed with the minister, but I’m thoroughly disgusted with the actions of the RDCK.” Ackerman said the RDCK had never con- sulted the public before implementing the by- law. He said the RDCK even dismissed a 700- person petition which denounced the bylaw ~~ rejected a SVCCF-financed public opinion poll. “They just didn’t want to hear from the pub- lic,” Ackerman said “When Bylaw 923 came up, it was bing, bang, boom — it’s passed. We nev- er got a chance to speak on the bylaw and that is crap.” Ackerman — who has called a town hall meeting for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Winlaw Hall — said he won't accept the bylaw. He said the SVCCF will take the RDCK to court on be- half of all areas that are subject to similar by- laws. According to the Municipal Act, the SVC- CF has 60 days to have its case heard in the B.C. Supreme Court. ‘ “It’s obvious that (Bylaw 923) totally contra- venes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and I think our chances of winning are pretty good,” he predicted. George Cady wouldn’t comment on pending legal action. The chair of the RDCK said the by- law has gone through the proper channels, whether Slocan Valley residents agree or not. “The minister has given his approval to the bylaw and the board has given its consent,” Cady said. “The bylaw passed in fourth and final read- ing and it will be put in place. The process is FENDER-BENDERS ae he a soc RCMP urging drivers to prepare for winter road conditions News photo by Jonathan Green With snow falling, Castlegar RCMP were busy attending to numerous accidents Friday, including this one near the Kinnaird Bridge. The driver of the truck was not injured when it left Highway 3 and entered the ditch. 16. Winter woes hit Castlegar roads conditions, driving too fast on the roads,” he said. “It’s fender-bender time, I guess.” The Castlegar RCMP responded to at least Conroy iSSUeS apology Scott David Harrison EDITOR The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary got what it was looking for — an apology from Ed Conroy. The Rossland-Trail MLA has issued a letter of apology to the RDKB board for comments he made in the Nov. 18 edition of The News. Conroy found himself in hot water after he criticized the RDKB board for introducing a plan that would see the Trail school district bus some 300 students on regional transit. The plan was agreed to on Nov. “If the regional district would only get off its fat asses and come up with a better way to handle declining usership, this wouldn’t be happening,” Conroy told The News in an interview. That comment sparked anger from the RDKB board, which Scott David Harrison EDITOR C-r-u-n-c-h. Winter has truly arrived in Castlegar and no one knows that better the local RCMP. The Castlegar RCMP lost one of its new cruisers to the winter weather Friday when it was side-swiped by a chip truck. The cruiser was parked near the Kinnaird Bridge while responding to a weather-related accident when the chip truck slid out of control into the 1992 fully-equipped Chevrolet Caprice. The RCMP cruiser sustained $5,000 damage. That accident was one of many to occur in Castlegar as winter descended on the West Kootenay. “It’s normal,” Staff Sgt. Doug Hall said Tuesday, “You always get that first batch of accidents when the first snowfall comes. “People just aren’t prepared for the icy five accidents Friday, resulting in some $22,500 in damages. Elsewhere, Friday’s winter weather is being blamed for the traffic deaths of three West Kootenay residents following accidents in Grand Forks and Washington state. ; Myrna Harman, a 51-year-old head nurse at Trail Regional Hospital, died instantly when the vehicle she was driving lost control and slammed into the side of a van just outside of Grand Forks. Rossland’s Bramley Eccles, 66, and Trail’s Katherine Matheson, 69, were also killed, following a head-on collision near the town of Addy, Wash. A third senior, 69-year-old Albert Tuff of Trail, remains in critical but stable condition in a Spokane hospital with multiple internal injuries. Eccles was the driver of the 1985 Buick when the accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. demanded that Conroy make peace. “We have received a letter of apology,” board member and Trail Mayor Sandi Santori confirmed Tuesday, declining further comment. The school district’s decision to bus students on the RDKB- financed transit system has been met with huge opposition from area parents and the union representing bus drivers. The Canadian Union of Public Employees has vowed to fight the move, saying it won't accept job | to its members. The plan is expected to save the Trail school board some $48,000 per year.