The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, March 29, 1995 Wednesday, March 29, 1995 ‘The Castlegar Sun Page 2A Committee petitions city to take ownership of footbridge “They don’t consider it-a Highways issue,” said Dickie, adding that thefninistry has given the com mittee until the end of April to come up with a firm plan to take over the bridge. The committee is proposing that the city also pro- vide liability insurance for the footbridge under the of its ipal “We're not asking the city to put out a lot of money,” said Dickie. The city sent the proposal to its administration and finance committee to investigate and return (o council with a recommendation. “We've talked to local businesses and service clubs. We have their support for doing the maintenance.” Dickie said the city would only be responsible for the footbridge for the next two years. “We would like the city to basically take that on for a two-year period, which would give us the time to try and establish ourselves.” Dickie said the committee is proposing to become part of the Castlegar and District Heritage Society, rather than form a separate registered society. “We would work to obtain heritage status for the footbridge and in the long term the same status for However, he said the committee hasn't yet dis- cussed the proposal with the heritage society. If the heritage society turns down the offer, the committee would then form a separate society to operate the footbridge in the same way the heritage society operates the CP Rail Train Museum and Zuckerberg Island. Dickie said the committee's “main concern” is that the community retgin the right of passage over the footbridge. ‘ He cited the footbridge’s imp for al purposes, for tourism, and for historical reasons. RON NORMAN Sun Seer The Save Oar Footbridge Committee wants the City of Castlegar to take over ownership of the CP Rail footbridge. In a presentation to Council last week, spokesperson Rob Dickie asked the city to buy the footbridge for a nominal price of $1. ‘The bridge is owned by the Ministry of Highways and has been closed since last fall. However, the Highways Ministry is not willing to maintain the footbridge now that the new Castle- gar-Robson Bridge, which has a pedestrian side- Company stands by its record KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff Gold Unlimited, a multi- level marketing company which has recently become high pro- file in the media, is standing by its record despite a recent BCTV news story. On March 21, BCTV News ran a story about the company, claiming that its Surrey office had been shut down after a recent raid of the company's Kentucky office by police in the United States and the F.B.L, which are trying to determine if the compa- ny is legitimate. The story featured a clip of an interview with one investor who claimed he had put $200 into the program and saw no return on his investment. But Fred Nesbitt, an indepen- dent representative of Gold Unlimited, told The Castlegar Sun in a telephone interview from Surrey that the closing of the Surrey office was-—“not a direct result of the temporary restraining order.” Nesbitt said that, in fact, there was a temporary restraining order served on the head office located in Madisonville, Ken- tucky, not by the F.B.I., but rather by the U.S. Postal Service. In attendance were one police officer and one F.B.L agent. “A decision was made by the people who run the Canadian office, who are Americans, to close the office.” But the voluntary “closure” from March 21 to March 24, explained Nesbitt, extended only to monetary transactions. “My understanding is that no charges have been laid against David Crowe [a principal of the i J.” Nesbitt explained that he believes that the only legal action currently underway is “investigative procedure”. Nesbitt explained that the stu- dent was telling the truth when he said he realized no gain on his investment. “He said he didn’t work the program so~he didn't make money. There’s not anybody who lost his shirt in this business who went out and worked it.” The multi-level marketing company, which has a lengthy history with the Better Business Bureau, is owned by principals that it merely reports on activi- ties which have come to their attention and doesn't recom- mend, or endorse companies. But Nesbitt said that just because Gold Unlimited has been investigated doesn’t mean the company isn't legitimate. “Look at Amway and Herbalife. They've all been attacked at one time or another by regulatory bodies and they're still in business.” @ Forecasters Continued from 1A said Willson. But aviation safety is still a concer for Willson and the two other weather specialists,Ron Lakeman and Jim Richards, who make up the Castlegar weather office. Willson said that many pilots, both commercial and pri- vate, won't fly until they “have spoken with the Castlegar weath- Dickie pointed out that the committee would undertake the general maintenance of the footbridge, such as replacing lights and deck boards. the rail bridge,” he sald. “By obtaining heritage sta- tus, several provincia) programs would become accessible for funding.” SUN STAFF PHOTO /Marilyn Strong On hand last Saturday for ground breaking for the upgrades to the Doukhobor Historical Society's facilities were (I-r): Harold Nevokshonoff, society construction manager; Rossland Trail MLA Ed Conroy; John Fostey, society president; and Lawrence Voykin, society director. Funding for the $220,000 upgrades comes in part from the federal/provincial infrastructure program, and will include a new well and irrigation system for the Doukhobor Village anu the adjacent restaurant. Public meeting for ballfield tonight RON NORMAN “The association represents approximately 1,300 Sun Editor players,” said Hunter. A public meeting on the proposed fourth ball field for Kinnaird Park goes tonight at 7 p.m. at the Com- munity Complex. The meeting will be preceded by 4a site tour at Kinnaird Park at 4 p.m. In a memorandum to council, city clerk Dianne Hunter noted that the Castlegar Ball Association has thrown its support behind the new ball field. @ Water She said tonight’s meeting is necessary to deter- mine if there is sufficient public support for council to proceed with the field. “The opponents of the project have aired their concems on many occasions, however, the support ers of the project have refrained from responding as they felt it was better to present their views at a pub- lic forum which would allow dialogue between the two parties rather than polarizing the community.” Continued from 1A He said the communities have been given plenty of time to bring their systems into compli- ance. The Safe Drinking Water Regulations were brought down in the new Health Act in Octo- ber, 1992. For the last 2 1/2 years the health unit has been undertaking regular sampling and notifying water districts of the results. Harnadek said the time has come now for the health unit to begin enforcing the regulations He said they will begin with the three or four largest offenders. “We'll take the ones most at risk, those being the larger popu- lation centres.” He said the communitiies will be asked to appear before the health board to show what they have done to improve water quality. He noted that several commu- nities have already started to improve their water systems, and pointed to Rossland and Christina Lake as good examples. Fruitvale and Kaslo are another two which have improvements planmned. “So they're making positive movements,” Harnadek said “They're doing something.” However, he noted that it will be more difficult for the unorga- nized water communities to improve their systems because they don't have access to provin- cial and federal grants. er office. “There's a lot of things the forecast doesn't tell you. There have been a few crashes of planes out of here that weren't briefed. “When things [the weather] gets tougher those who usually go to flight services come to us.” Recreationalists also depend on accurate and up-to-date local weather services as does those waiting for a flights to arrive “Hang gliders and windsurfers use us a lot. On bad weather days we are inundated with calls from people wanting to know if the plane can come in.” Other businesses which also rely on the local weather service include the aviation department of Selkirk College, the Ministry of Agriculture, Canadian Heli copters, Fording Coal, Creston Agriculture Society, West Koote- nay Power, Castlegar Airport, Whitewater Ski Resort, and the City of Castlegar. Those who wish to make their concerns known about the proposed closuye of the Castle- gar weather office can either write Kootenay West-Revel- stoke MP Jim Gouk, or the Honourable Shiela Copps, Min- ister of Environment at the House of Commons three. years. Dickie also said the footbridge is “sound” and will need minimal maintenance for the next two or Group home workers strike Susar giving though. “We hoped not to have to reson Castlegar Kootenay Society for Community Living (KSCL) employees represented by CUPE 116 (Canadian Union of Public Employees) are out on strike. Citing lack of wage parity and inadequate benefits, the members served 72-hour strike notice March 24 and carried through with their threat to strike yesterday, Now supervisors are caring for the seven residents who live in the two group homes in Castlegar. As well, a day program, Community Options, in which people with dis- abilities are supported in work experience, has been suspended until the strike is over. Nona Pearson, president of local 116, said strike notice came about after recent mediation failed to get the two sides talking. “There was no movement on the employer's part to offer other than what they offered before which was not enough.” The. strike didn’t come with- out forethought and some mis- @ Chapman to a withd 1 our services, but it has finally come to this,” said Peter Wegener, president of CUPE Local 1729: and spokesperson for the group. Wegener charges that the employer, the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA), “appear to be wasting money with their fancy staff meet- ings...and their staff of big shots idents whom we care for, are work- ing for pathetically low wages.” Wegener said some of the employees, especially single par- ents, earn an average of $12 an’ hour, which he says is below the poverty line. This has resulted in some members having to access food banks and other community services to get by. “Imagine how determined our people must be if they are giving up wages when they already depend on-extra support to survive. It is unconscionable that public sector workers in B.C. should be making the kind of poverty wages we are.” Japanese students on visit Continued from 1A he. created and ran the annual the Canad I Institute for the Blind for the last 20 years and is presently community coor- dinator in Castlegar and a direc- tor for the CNIB’s Southern Interior District. Chapman was also one of the organizers of the K.C. Days, which grew into the pre- sent Sunfest celebrations. And @ Weather National frog Jump- ing Contest, which has been a’ part of Sunfest for more than 20 years. Chapman is still extremely active in the community, involved in five different organi- zations, including the newly-cre- ated Castlegar Community Health Council. Continued from 1A Gouk agrees with Willson. Gouk is the Reform Party's transportation critic and- was an air traffic con- troller for 22 years—14 of which were spent at the Castlegar airport. Gouk spared no kind words when speaking of the automat- ed system. “It doesn't have any reliability. It’s a piece of junk.” Originally,Gouk explained, AWOS was designed to measure wind speed, wind direction and temperature only. Initially, it was never intended to gather more sophisticated information. and lacked the human element when reporting the weather. “A human observer looks at the sky. [AWOS] doesn’t tell what kind of could it is, how big it is and makes a guess on to what kind of ceiling it is. If a beam from AWOS hits a rain- drop it ricochets and the comput- er thinks that there is no ceiling.” That, in itself, is dangerous concluded Gouk. But when you add in unique geographics, such as can be found in Castle- gar, the end product can be a scary ride for pilots and pas- sengers alike without correct, up to date and site specific forecasting. “It doesn’t warn the pilots in change in conditions. There's no doubt that things will be less safe than before. We are treading a fine line and should be very careful.” Gouk said he's spoken with Environment Canada about the impending closure of the Castlegar weather office and will continue to have talks with the ministry. record their debut CD. Maple Ridge band Schriek, (I - r): Slim, Dave Schriek, Chris Schriek, and Kenny James serenaded The Castlegar Sun staff at 9 am last Monday mcrning. The band name is a misnomer; they play pop/rock not heavy metal. After their gig in Castlegar they will be heading to Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver to SUN STAFF PHOTO (Karen Kerkhott Visiting students from Miyagi Prefecture near Tokyo they all donned t-shirts commemorating the event. SUN STAFF A group of visiting Japanese high school students was given a warm welcome Friday after- noon at Stanley Humphries Sec- ondary School. The 20 students from Miyagi Prefecture north of Tokyo are in join Castlegar and Nelson exchange students for a group photo Friday at Stanley Humphries Secondary school after the West Kootenay as part of a joint exchange with the Castlegar and Nelson school districts, Castlegar Councillor Bob Pakula greeted the students and their chaperones on behalf of the City of Castlegar, while Council- lor Doug Jay brought best wishes from the City of Nelson. Castlegar school board vice- chair Ron Norman and Nelson board chair Carol Mann were also on hand to welcome the Japanese students. The visiting students are bil- leting with the families of Castle- gar and Nelson students. The Japanese students will be in Castlegar and Nelson for a, week, during which time they will attend school, have a tour of the region and take a side trip to Spokane The group will also go skiing at Whitewater Ski Resor near Nelson and have a farewell din. ner in Salmo. They will spend their last day Friday attending school before they leave on the afternoon flight SUN STAFF PHOTO A total of 20 Castlegar and Nelson high school students will make a return visit to Miyagi for a week in July. The Castiegar-and Nelson school districts received $50,000 from the Ministry. of Education to fund the exchange. Participat- ing students also contributed $1,000 towards the cost. BC 21 GRANT SOUGHT Adult day care centre proposed KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff unique needs of those clients “Right now in the If you have to go to work, and yet you're responsible for caring for your loved one who has Alzheimers or senile dementia, what do you do? Two local nurses, Susan Wiese and Laura Oster, think they have an answer. The two,women are forming a non-profit work there.” And Wiese insists Castlegar for those and senile dementia. In fact, a recent report by the University of Victoria's Centre on Aging along with the society and are applying for funding to Careg establish a local adult day care and respite program for those with the devastating dis- eases. The idea of the program, said Wiese, would be to provide quality care geared towards the a place for these people. It would be built and planned for the client, not forthe people who Kootenays we don’t have other larger cities. such as Vancouver, would earn that dubious distinction Wiese expects that the centre, which she said will initially provide respite care for six to eight clients and 12 day-care spaces, would that a place is needed in affected by Alzheimers likely need to be enlarged. “I think that we would be full and [we] would quickly need to expand.” of B.C. indicated that or friends. the Central Kootenay has the second highest number of caregivers providing care to family “I was really shocked,” exclaimed Wiese, who explained that she expected to hear that She hopes that funding from BC 21 will be forthcoming within the next few months and that plans for the centre will be finalized_by early summer. But regardless, Wiese and Oster are com- mitted to establishing the centre Police briefs Still investigating been arrested after Trail RCMP Castlegar RCMP fo investigate the cause of a sin- gle-vehicle accident on High- way 22 near the Blueberry Creek exit March 25 RCMP say that Wolfgang Koban of Rossland was north- bound on Highway 22 when the driver of the vehicle in front of him slammed on his brakes. While trying to avoid the vehicle Koban lost control of his vehicle causing it to travel into a nearby ditch and roll. Koban and his wife were taken to Castlegar Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries Speakerless Castlegar RCMP are investi- gating the theft of speakers from a vehicle parked on 10th Ave. The theft occurred some- time between | a.m. and 9:30 a.m. March 23. Theft Three young offenders from Fruitvale have been arrested in connection with a rash of thefts March 21 from vehicles in the West Trail area. All stolen property has been recovered. The youths appeared in front of a Justice of the Peace who released them under conditions. The trio will appear in Ross land Provincial Coun April 27. Auto theft RCMP in Trail are investi- gating the March 21 theft of a 1988 Toyota 4-Runner from the Kootenay Boundary Regional District parking lot The vehicle is described as being grey in color. Shoplifters Three young offenders have to two sep com- plaints of shoplifting from Zellers March 21. The youths will appear in Rossland Provin- cial Court April-27. Missing Trail RCMP are investigat- ing the disappearance of 49- year-old George Albert Tyson, of Trail. RCMP say Tyson was last seen on March 12 by a Trail doctor and that foul play is not suspected. Trail RCMP were unable to supply a description of the missing man. Cocaine charge Silvana Iachetta, 37, of Trail has been charged with trafficking in cocaine and pos- session for the purpose of traf- ficking after a search of a Laurel Crescent residence last week. Trail RCMP say Iachet- ta was also arrested Feb. 20 on similar charges. Up in smoke Trail RCMP have charged three Delta residents with pos- session of illegally stamped tobacco after seizing 95 cartons ‘of illegally imported cigarettes from a camper van and motorhome March 22 RCMP have charged Susan Maureen Francis, 47, Robert Joseph Trudel, 50, and Barry Joseph Trudel, 47. Both Trudels have also been charged with possession of a narcotic The camper van and motorhome from which police say they were selling the con- traband has been seized. Windows of opportunity Trail RCMP are investigat- ing the theft of 12 windows from Morrish school in’ East Trail March 23. RON NORMAN Sun Editor Castlegar property owners will soon be able to help pay directly to upgrade city services in front of their homes and busi “I’m gong to hang on to this until it hap- pens,” said Wiese with conviction. Local improvement bylaw gets go-ahead A local improvement project can proceed with the approval of a majority of the property owners representing at least half of the value of the properties. Castlegar council last week gave three readings to a local improvement bylaw. The bylaw divides the cost of between the-city and the adjacent property owners for things like streets, sidewalks, water and sewer systems, land- scaping and parks . Council has set aside $100,000 in 1995 as its share in any local improvement initiatives. Council hasn't yet established what portion of the costs of local improvements property owners will be required to pay and what portion the city will pay. As well, council will have to set out how it intends fo collect the taxes from participating prop- erty owners. In a memorandum to council, finance director Jackie Hamilton said a bylaw detailing the charges and collection method “will be brought forward in the near future.” “Once this groundwork is done, neighborhoods can petition to participate in the program ie she said Commercial Printing & Bindery High Volume Copying Graphic Design & Typesetting 511 Front Street, Nelson (604) 354-1700 FAX (604) 354-1666 HAIR-4-U and the UPPER ROOM GIFT SHOP Featuring Seniors < Discounts every day 314 - 10th Ave. 365-2213 ANNOUNCEMENT A Touch of ' Elegance in the Castleaird Plaza, Castlegar. The store with beautiful antique furniture, face and body products, beautiful Royal Velvet towels, bathroom acc, aromatherapy lotions, oils, perfumes, candles, porcelain pieces, gifts. Some items on sale before new owners take over April Ist. ©” FORECAST ¢ 365-3131 SOUTH-EAST INTERIOR WEATHER OFFICE THE CASTLEGAR SUN WEATHER ALMANAC CC pte TONIGHT seme TEMPERATURE s 3° POP % CLEAR SKIES “ : 0% SUNSET : 06:16 at SUNNY WITH SCATTERED ‘ AFTERNOON CLOUDD THURSDAY samme TEMPERATURE 15° POP % : 10% SUNRISE : 05:32 FROM: Mar. 21/95 TEMPERATURE: MAX: 14.8/27th RAIN: 5.6 mm PAST WEEK: 44.5 MIN: -3.6/25th PRECIPITATION: mm and cm snow: 0.0 cm SUNSHINE: Hours and tenths ALMANAC SnnnERTES REE 10: Mar. 27/95 MEAN: 5.1° TOTAL: 5.6 mm NORMAL: 29.7 A \v, ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE: Check’ the tag first! Many clothes don't have to be dry cleaned or don't need It quite So often. AATKRA Less dry cleaning means saving money and less pollution, The weather outside can't be - controlled...but we can help make you more comfortable inside, grey, reg. $171 Reg. $1190 ivory & polished brass. Reg 4 jets, white. Reg. $1635 .. * 1 ONLY Crane Sonnet Vitreous china basin, u ... 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