j HE iGH ER SIDE The Castlegar Sun WEDNESDAY, December 2 1995 Ann Landers Syndicated Columnist Dear Ann Landers: This is for the person in Michigan who whined about prison rape in'a recent column, Get over it. A three-time loser sentenced to life in prison has no right to expect incarceration to be a vacation in summer camp. I'm sick and tired of thugs behind bars belly- aching and going on strike because they don’t like the food. I wish the millions spent for health and dental care and recreation for jailbirds could be diverted to help the homeless. Most prisoners have better food and medical attention than the average working stiff who obeys the law and plays by the rules. While I don’t condone physical abuse under any circumstances, the solu- tion to the problem is sim- ple — don’t do the crime and you won't have to worry about doing the time. — Also Outraged in Albuquerque Dear Al.: The response to that letter was surpris- ingly heavy. The recurring message was the same. Keep reading for more: Dear Ann Landers: I am a retired officer, in corrections for 32 years, and I would like to respond to “Outraged in Michigan” about prison rape. When a prisoner complains that he or she has been raped by another prisoner, we send the vic- tim to the hospital for treatment and call in the police. Most of the time, the rapist gets time added to his regular sentence. Movies do not give you the real picture. Rape, no matter where it occurs, is hideous and dehumanizing. When members of the same sex are housed together for long periods of time, rape will occur. The sex drive is intense, and it doesn’t turn itself off when a person goes to prison. In prison, we obtain war- rants if there is a com- plaint. Sometimes, the victims refuse to prose- cute. When that is the case, we can do nothing. — St. Louis Dear St. Louis: Thanks for writing. Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson WHAT THIS GAME NEEDS ARE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENTS > tc 704 LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY PARLIAMENT BULLDING VICTORIA BC V&V WEDNESDAY December 27, 1995 Vol. 6, No. 6 ‘The “ EDITORIAL 33... 27... 18. \ ys ITS CUEAR I'LL NEVER HAVE A CAREER IN SPORTS UNTIL T LEARN To Si ‘SURVIVAL INSTINCT, THATS iT, HRMMiE! YOU CANDO IT! Conn!) Just A LITTLE (oot!) DARAYL ! COME Quick! HAMMIE IS TRYING To, CLUES ACROSS . Crow (5) . Cereal (5) . Soil (5S) Calorie (5) . Bring upon oneself (5) . Trousers (5) Assemble (6) Complied (6) 3. Entice (5) . Candid (5) 5. Murmur (7) . Get free (6) YES! HE Dip ir.’ Aw eee, Ham! YAY YEA... Don't ow IF T HAVE THE STAMINA To WATCH HIM LEARN To sit ur! SA - . Go.on horseback (4) . Three times (6) . Unwell (3) . Nourished (3) . Distress call (3) . At this time (3) . Tutor (7) . Motionless (6) . Accumulate (6) . Sauntered (6) . Detest (6) Foremost (5) . Ascend (5) . Placid (6) Male singer (5) . Scheduled (6) . Wail (4) . Refrigerate (5) . Set fire (slang) (5) . Small island (5) ACROSS 28. Epsom 29. Clear 30. Badge DOWN SOLUTIONS 1, Gloat 5. Wheat 8. Earth 9. Therm 10. Incur 11. Pants 12. Ride 15. Serene 17. Tenor 18. Slated 20. Baw! 25. Chill 26. Torch 27. Islet 1. Gather 2. Obeyed 3. Tempt 4. Frank 5. Whisper 6. Escape 7. Thrice 13. Il 14. Fed 15.SOS 16. Now 17. Teacher 18. Static 19. Accrue 21. Ambled 22. Loathe 23. First 24. Climb | UIE WANE To Go To THE MALL, DISCOUNT TOY SHAG, 10S’ OUTLET, COMPUTER GALAXY, (ee eee ONE BIG HAPPY by Rick Detorie TRENT through the crack ‘Sun Editor He had lived in Canada before, but went back to —— England for a time. When he came back to Canada, A Castlegar cabbie hopes he’s had his last brush “the rules had with Canada's immigration department. changed and Mi Ni i landed N i ly } sud- immigrant status and plans on becoming a Canadian denly became an citizen in the next couple years. “illegal = immi- “Tt was nice to get that status after all the prob- grant.” lems with the government,” said Normington. “I was Normington very relieved when they agreed to it. I’m ashappy as__ was to be deport- a lion in the forest. It feels great. ed in spring, but “It's taken a lot of pressure off me and my family.” _11th hour efforts This Christmas is a vast de; Christmas. At that time, the ton was faci i by his family gave him a temporary reprive. Immi- gration Canada extended his work visa for two years and he was allowed to stay. His status has now been sof changing immigration rules. ington feel even more secure. During the tenuous months in spring, the commu- nity rallied behind the Castlegar cab driver and over ‘I love Canada and | want to stay here, work hard and make a contribution.’ — MICHAEL NORMINGTON Castlegar cabbie jailed for six years JOLANDA knob,” said Langford. Sterling News Service “She's not able to estimate the number of times he hit her,” the NELSON — A drifter who prosecutor added. brutally attacked an 11-year-old girl with a dumbbell has received a six-year jail sentence for aggra- vated assault, James Allen Mulder; 30, was d in Nelson Sup REDEEM THIS COUPON AND RECEIVE (Labour onty> Expires Dec. 20 : 10° appliance repair OH,DEAR, | WELL, MITCH IS IN (STHIS | THE HOSPITAL. ABAD TIME? CASTLEGAR PLUMBING & HEATING LTD. 365-3388 1008 Columbia Ave., Castiegar Happy Birthday to mo Happy 4th Birthday Mariah Love mom, dad, and Rhea Happy 10th Birthday Alycia Lakevold Love mom, dad, and Chad Brought to you by The Castlegar Sun, The weekly newspaper with a daily commitment. 465 Columbia Ave. Castlegar, BC VIN 1G8 Dec. 20 Happy Birthday Mila Vigue From Marge & Fred Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad Rohn With love from the family Excellence in Service Award Happy Birthday Travis Green From Marge & Fred Lalonde Happy 13th Birthday Jennifer Postnikoff Love mom, dad; Ben, Ken & Christina This award will be presented every week to someone in Castlegar who shows extraordinary service to his/her customers or clients. Happy Bitthday Alaine Palmer Love Grandnia & Grandpa Shay Happy Birthday Mom Love Marge; Fred, Angela & Derek The recipient will receive an award plaque to keep courtesy of Kats Trophys. We'd like everyone in Castlegar to know that service excellence exists in our community. This award recognizes a nominated business. If you know of someone that offers “Excellence in Service," call me, Marilyn Strong at 365-5266, or drop a letter at the Castlegar Sun with your suggestion. Court Thursday after pleading guilty to attacking the child, leav- ing her with severe cuts requiring 150 stitches to repair, Mulder had charges of theft and attempted murder stayed. Prosecutor Laurie Langford told the court Mulder was an acquaintance of the victim's mother, who had given the tran- sient a place to sleep on the evening of Nov. 20. “They were offering Christian charity by giving him a place to stay,” Langford said. Mulder was left alone with the young girl when her mother had to leave the house to visit her son. Her daughter was asleep in her bed when she awoke to being struck with what “felt like a door- “She put her right hand up and was struck on the hand as well. There were lacerations to the skin that went to the bone and three levels of stitching were needed to repair the cuts.” The prosecutor said the girl was then taken into the hallway and made to stand up even though she repeatedly asked her attacker to let her lie down. “He told her she was his savior and she had to bleed for him,” Langford said. When the child’s mother returned home the attacker ran downstairs and grabbed her car keys, speeding off in the family car, said Langford. Police put out an alert and Mulder was arrested the follow- ing morning in Castlegar. Langford said that, although it was lucky the girl did not suffer permanent debilitating damage, senseless acts of violence toward a child have to be treated harshly. | Playing chicken this holiday season. Labor impasse threatens ski season RAYMOND MASLECK | Sterling News Service Unioni workers and at Red ski area are Steelworkers Local 9705 served strike notice on Red Mountain Resorts last Wed: y and the comp jponded by th ing to close the hill for the winter if the union strikes during the lucrative Christmas season. “If they shut us down Christmas week, we might as well kiss the hill | goodbye for the rest of the ski season,” said RMR negotiator Enzo Accardo. “The losses they would take are so horrendous, they wouldn’t even bother trying to open it again.” Contract talks resumed last week with the assistance of provincial mediator Jim Kelly. The union can legally strike 48 hours after Kelly » books out of negotiations. » “We're coming down to the crunch,” Accardo said Wednesday night after talks adjourned for the evening. “If we don’t get a settlement soon, it looks pretty serious.” But Accardo expressed optimism Kelly could help the two sides work out their differences as he did when last involved with ne gotia- tions at Red Mountain in 1990. The major issue is the union's desire to end a freeze on advance- sments to the top of a three-stage pay grid for each of the 125 unionized jobs at the hill. Accardo said ending the freeze would boost 60 to 70 per cent of the employees into the top wage grade and RMR simply can’t afford that. If we have to lock horns with the union, we will lock horns. But the pniy way we will do that is if we can't pay,” he said. “The board of ctors is not going to keep losing money. They are facing $150,000 ore in debt payments this year to pay for the new lift.” The Steelworkers have been without a contract since Oct. 31. Wages the old agreement ranged from $7.25 to $16 per hour. which makes Norm- ton's sister Leni. “It’s certainly different than last hri ” Normington’s ordeal started 3 1/2 years ago. Despite the problems, he said he loves Canada and is -Rah! Rah! Pom Pom Princess - Krista Austin does a number with the cheerleading squad of Kinnaird Middle School during a talent contest last week at the school. SUN STAFF PHOTO Trent Bancarz Immigrant gets welcome English-born local cabbie gets landed imm gift igrant Status after three-year fight looking forward to becoming a Canadian. 2,000 people signed a petition to protest his deportation. “It’s a great deal of happi- ness for our family this the su Christmas,” said Norming- doing so. “I love Canada. It's a great country,” he said. “A lot of people take it for granted and I don't think a lot of people realize what they have here.” Normington also is grateful for the community support he received during the difficulties. “There were people who signed that petition that I didn’t even know,” he said. “It was a great feeling to know so many people cared about it. There’s no way I can thank everybody, but I certainly do appreciate ipport. “Without the help of my sister (Leni), it would have been a hard road to travel. I love Canada and I want to stay here, work hard and make a contribution.” Normington said he can apply for full citizen- ship in two years’ time and has every intention of Amalgamation meeting slated for next month KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff Those with concerns about the amalgamation of seven area school districts can air those at a public meeting next month. The meeting is slated for Jan 10 at the Castlegar and District Recreation Complex Everette Surgenor, superinten- dent for the isn Dhateiete tobe mated include Castlegar, Trail, Nelson, Kettle Valley, Grand Forks, Arrow Lakes and part of Creston-Kaslo. Another concern is the super- intendent’s accessibility to par- ents and students and vice versa, “You can't run five and a half hours from one end of the district- to the other. There is a question of access and Castlegar school district, said the informational meeting will pro- vide for public input as well as educate parents about the loom- ing amalgama- tion. is an extremely impor- tant meeting for — EVERETTE SURGENOR School Superintendent we want to ask Parents if that's acceptable in the Kootenays.” Surgenor i also concerned about the mation will have upon Spe- cial Education “There will the community. We need to put the facts about amalgamation before the citi- zens. We think it will have seri- ous implications,” warned Surgenor, Surgenor said although the seven school districts only have two per cent of the provincial student population, they will end up carrying 15 per cent, or about $4.2 million, of the cost of amal- be $2.1 million taken from Special Education.” Surgenor and trustees say other impacts include job losses in all employee groups and loss of autonomy and local decision- making. The board, said Surgenor, has until the end of February to make tion. % ie Arena workers Start negotiations SUN STAFF Unionized employees of the Castlegar and District Arena Complex could soon have a new three-year contract. “It’s going well,” said Pat Metge, director of recreation for the Complex. CUPE Local 2262 officials, who represent 22 Arena Complex employees, and arena officials sat down last week to hammer out a new three-year deal. Metge speculates bargaining should wrap up come early Jan- uary after the two sides return to the table following Christmas Health board gets new chairman The West Kootenay-Boundary Regional Health board has a new chair Robert Jackson, who is also a Castlegar and Dis- trict Health Council board member, was elected to the chair at WKBRHB's regular meeting earlier this month Jackson takes over the chair from Debby Zeeben of the Nelson and Area Health Council. Zeeben served as the WKBRHB chair since its designation by Heath Minister Paul Ramsey in October, 1994. Have a safe New Year's - Don't drink and drive holidays. “We'll meet again in early Jan- contract since March of this year when their three-year contract expired.