eee EE SPORTS LOCAL FEAT\ SHSS Rockettes are provincials-bound Loc Survey brings interesting facts on seniors to light content but are inn of resources/3A Celebrating women of the past and the future... rated this week/1B WEDNESDAY March 3, 1993 MIXED The Castlegar Sun Vol. 3- No. 15 ‘The weekly newspaper with a daily commitment’ 75 Cents + G.S.T. Vat —Eyeing the damage Salvation Army Officer Dick Parr takes a close look at the damage incurred to the back door of the Salvation Army following a break-in and theft, which occurred last Wednesday. Police are still investigating. See story, page 3A. SUN STAFF PHOTO / John Van Putten Killing of ram ignites controversy over Aboriginal hunting rights Wildlife groups plan meeti SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor Glance Sy Blueberry Creek fire hall Castlegar City Council has decided that it will ‘leave well enough alone’ regarding fire Protection services to Bluebe: Creek. During last night's city council meeting, Councillor Doug Green said the matter had been discussed between the Protective Services Committee and RDCK Director Ken Wyllie. Since a majority of voters in that community chose to have their own fire hall through referendum, Castlegar will only consider whethersa mutual aid agreement can be implemented. Standing trial Two Castlegar males have been ordered to stand trial July 19 in Castlegar Provincial court Gary Bycroft and Steven Stro- foniuk are appearing on charges of possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking. Two other men, Lonnie Floyd Pow- ell and Vernon Paul Markin, had similar charges against them stayed. The charges the result of a raid which took place on their home in November by Castlegar police 'SHARLENE IMHOFF_ Sun Editor Castlegar has just added its name to a list of communities that has established a grassroots lobby-organization known as Share B.C. Held Monday evening in the Castlegar Community Compiex, more than 40 men and women attended the first meeting to dis- cuss the possibilities of starting up a local Share group. Residents from Rossland, Nelson, Salmo, Trail and Deer Park were also represented, and part of the dis- cussion included whether to establish one large group based out of Castlegar, or smaller groups trom each community. There are currently 26 Share groups. across the Province, including a small group in both Nelson and Slocan City, with a collective membership of more than 25,000 people. Loosely fed- erated under the banner of Share B.C., the lobby-groups have been Residents start ‘Share’ group in Castlegar established by people in resource- dependent rural areas whose underlying concern is the stability of their communities. “We are attempting to ensure that our communities survive on a sustainable basis. And in order to survive on a sustainable basis we must have a working land- base,” said Al Beix, chairman of the Kootenay West Share Society and secretary for Share B.C., which is based out of Ucluelet Beix, who owns a gasoline sta- tion in Cooper Creek, said Share B.C. began in the late 1980s as a result of “the preservationist movement.” “There is tremendous pressure by preservationist groups to stop industry—no ifs. ands or buts about it. These people are no longer environmentalists, there is a big difference between an environ. mentalist and a preservationist.” Share B.C. has been criticized by environmentalists as being See SHARE Members of wildlife associa- tions throughout the West Kootenay say they are livid with anger after a Bighom Sheep ram was killed while on a winter range feedlot last Saturday. The feedlot, which is located 12 km from the Nelway Junction along the Salmo-Creston High- way, was designed and built by members of the area's wildlife associations, in order to sustain sheep during the winter months when food is nonexistent due to heavy snowfall The full-curl (adult) ram, according to volunteers who bring supplies to the feedlot, was shot with a bow by a Fernie-man claiming Native status. “This ram, as far as we are concerned, was poached,” said George Roberts, past president of the West Kootenay Big Game Trophy Association and execu- tive member of the Trail Wildlife Association. Roberts said he contacted the game warden in Fernie to “report a poaching incident” and requested that the animal be brought in for inspec- tion. Roberts said he is also going to check with Crown Council to see if any charges can be layed. “If the game warden in Fernie doesn’t seize the sheep, I'm going to try to lay charges myself.” The feeding program for sheep in that area began five years ago and was initiated by the Trail Wildlife Association, along with the support of other area clubs. Roberts said the ram that was taken on Saturday was an adult that had been coming back to the winter range every year. The limited entry hunting sea- son for bighorn sheep lasts for about three weeks, and although the ram could have been killed this fall during the 1993 hunting season, it would not have occurred on the feeding range, since animals veer away from the feeding spot when food is See RIGHTS 3A SUN STAFF Conservation office investigating kill Davis doesn’t blame Native people for having the off-season rights, he. does however, blame the raised in this area. The killing of a Bighorn Sheep ram at a winter Tange feedlot area along the Salmo-Creston high- way has now brought the delicate subject of Native bunting rights to the West Kootenay. Essués involving the out-of-season harvesting of salmén or elk by Native people have been well- covered by provincial media—and many West Kootenay residents have watched their television sets and wondered if such an issue would ever be “Now that it's happening here I really hope the general public starts realizing that something treaties with Nati’ Victoria. federal government. “I blame the government completely. When government people of the day didn’t think any fur- ther than the noses on their faces.” Aescording to. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks officials from Victoria, there is currently no updated written law that unequivocally defines the boundaries of Native hunting rights. “There are parts that are black and white, and then there is a huge part that is a pretty grey color,” said Ray Hallady, when reached at his office in ive people were first signed, the should be done,” said Steve Davis, p Castlegar and District Wildlife Association. of the See INVESTIGATION BCUC ruling BC Hydro obligated to continue WKP supply KAREN KERKHOFF Sun staff British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) has reached a decision in the dispute between West Kootenay Power (WKP) and British Columbia Hydro (BC Hydro). The decision came after inten- F Crunch time! sive public hearings were month in Castlegar and Vancouver between WKP and BC Hydro to determine if WKP should pay increased rates for power pur- chased from BC Hydro. A press release from BCUC said “BC Hydro has an ongoing See DECISION 2A Todd Doyle is sandwiched between Derek Bird and Forks players. The Castlegar Rebels were eliminated from the play-offs by the Grand Forks Border Bruins in game six. See page 9A SUN STAFF John Van Putter Ron Loeffler, two Grand