LL BRA y BL vey BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1995 WEDNESDAY July 5, 1995 he Castlegar Su fative Arrow Lakes fish/2A Taking a look at the class- room of the future/1B VARIABLE Weather Vol. 5 - No, 33 ‘The weekly newspaper with a dally commitment’ 84 Cents + G.S.T. Health care Squeeze play Nelson and Trail join forces in deciding future services KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff The recent announcement of a “joint venture” between Trail and Nelson has left other health care providers wondering it they're victims of a squeeze play. Ken Talarico, administrator for Castlegar hospital said it's “good” that the two hospital have agreed to form a “There has been no communi- cation with other hospitals other major step. It will bring an end to the two hos- than Nelson and Trail.” This, said Talarico, is against the mandate of the Hospital Plan- ning Council which is supposed to include input from all hospitals in the West Kootenay, with decisions being made on a regional basis. “What concerns the rest of us is that we're no longer viewed as pitals and ensure the continuation of secondary level services for the West Kootenay Regional,” said Susan Raschdorrf, vice-chair of the KLDH board in a prepared press release. In the release, Gentil Mateus, TRH chair, said the venture will ensure savings while still provid- ing quality committee to over- see merging of administrative and support services, but wonders how other hospitals in the West Koote- nay, including Castlegar, will fit ‘What concerns the rest of us is that we’re no longer viewed as a partner in all of this.’ — KEN TALARICO health care. “This is a win, not only for both Trail and Nelson, but for the entire West Kootenay area.” Cc gar Hospitat Adi A Joint into the picture. “The concern is that the only thing that’s changed is that all the support services are being shared by the two hospitals. That was not the intent when it was looked at on a regional basis. It was sup- posed to be a joint approach with all the hospitals.” Talarico is also concerned about the lack of communication at a time when communication between all health care providers is essential. Bucci makes a BCJHL deal JEFF GABERT _ Sun staff Let the cry rise up - “The BCJHL is coming, the BCJHL coming.” Now let's hope the B.C Junior Hockey League Board of Governors doesn’t head it off at the pass. Castlegar businessman Bryan Bucci has been seriously negotiating to bring a better brand of hockey to Castlegar for over two months now Those negotiations have been with Brent Parker for the Kelowna Spartans franchise which is dormant for the 1995- 96 season. According to Bucci, that deal is now done and the papers are signed. The only stipulation Standing in the way of its com- pletion is a stamp by the BCJHL Board of Governors “The bottom line is I've done a deal with Kelowna and it’s sub ject to ratification by the BCJHL Board of Governors,” said Bucci shortly before press time. Bucci expected to talk with the Boatd of Governors via conference call either Tuesday or today to finalize the deal which would bring B.C. Junior *A’ hockey to Castlegar as soon See BCJHL 3A a partner in all of this.” Talarico said he fully intends on discussing the “joint venture” at the next HPC meeting. “My concerns will certainly be voiced.” It’s planned that Trail and Nelson will share admi Venture Com- mittee has been appointed to oversee the “possible” merging of the services including such ser- vices as laundry, food, pharmacy, materials management, finance information systems, laboratory, maintenance and other support and support services in an effort to reduce costs and end the heated competition between the two. “The joint venture agreement between our two hospitals is a Team members are: Russ Bab- cock, Jackie Wiltshire and Norm Gabana of Trail; and Margaret Mason, Suzanne Raschdorff and Hans Cunningham of Nelson. holes in which to beat the heat. Three-year-old Sophie, of Pass Creek was found last week cooling off in her back yard kiddie pool. Recent hot weather has Kootenay residents finding water SUN STAFF PHOTO / Karen Kerkhoft SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor child’s best interest.” Among other changes children. cess. The courts A new Adoption Act tabled in the leg- islature last week will remove barriers that currently discriminate against gay couples applying to adopt infants and But Rossland-Trail MLA Ed Conroy, who voted in favor of the new Act, says the legislation is not a “gay-adoption act” and should not be viewed as one. “What the Act says is that gay-cou- ples can now be’ included in the pro- still jurisdiction to state what's in the can adopt their children. Rights and Freedoms.” Conroy maintains that the bottom line will always be the welfare of the child. “Children must be raised in loving and caring relation- have says Conroy, is that birthpar- ents now have a say in who “The new legislation replaces a 38-year-old Act, and what we are doing is bringing the Adoption Act : in line with the Charter of — Conroy defends new Adoption Act ships. Any decision on their adoption should not be based on sexual orientation.” Conroy says there is a terrible perception in soci- ety that gay people are more likely to commit pedophilia, but he cites a comprehensive study that clearly states 85 per cent of pedophiliac acts are heterosexual ones. “What about the seven- teen-year old father who suffocated his child, or the parents who starved their recent Ed Conroy children to death? There are cases in thé news everyday that show terrible things happening: ia, what ete: PGNREL ES normal’ families.” Other changes to the Act include open- ing up access to for adult adoptees and birth parents wish- : ; for ing that ensure home assessments are under- eticle eetaced damier aaa tion about the child they are adopting; birth parents and adoptees wishing to maintain privacy can do so by register- ing a disclosure veto, prohibiting the identifying information. release of Drivers’ distractions dismay local police KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff Castlegar RCMP are blaming recent rear-end accidents at 17th St. and Columbia Ave. on rear- ends. That's right, rear-ends. RCMP say that numerous accidents have happened at that intersection dur- ing times in which car washes are taking place in the Safeway parking lot adjacent to the inter section. “It would appear the drivers on Columbia Ave. are being dis- tracted by the people or weekend carwashes going on...,” said Cpl Dave Beach in a press release RCMP are asking drivers to Pay special attention to the road and_drivers in front of them at that intersection Beach is also reminding drivers that the centre lane on Columbia Ave. is for turning only, and was not intended for Merging purposes. Castlegar compliant with restrictions Castlegar residents have been complying with city watering restrictions. According to a senior staffer at city hall, more than 90 per cent of locals have been obeying the city’s bylaw that restricts daytime sprinkling of lawns and gardens. Residents are not permitted to water their lawns and gardens between 11 a.m and 7 p.m.. “We've had some interesting telephone calls though,” said Dianne Hunter, municipal clerk. The most popular question is “Do the restrictions mean that my kids can’t run through a sprinkler when it's hot out?” Hunter says there isn’t much the city can say about something like that. After all, it wasn't council's intention to take away summer fun from kids. And running through an outdoor sprinkler is just something all kids like to do at some point. “We're telling people to use common sense. The bylaw is in place so the city can conserve water and we want to promote an awareness of conservation.” Hunter admits that handing out a ticket to anyone who lets their kids run through a sprinkler is like asking for a building permit to build a tree house. But at the same time, parents still have to keep in mind that restrictions are in place. Hunter says notices are being sent to residents who are obviously failing to comply with the sprin- kling restrictions, though no fines have been given Residents can also apply for an exemption to the permit. For example, if they have recently placed new sod or were sprinkling for dust control, they would be exempt from the restriction & Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen while enjoying the great outdoors!