a4 Saturday, November 14, 1992 @ Trail lead program shows 13.6 per cent decline Scott David Harrison EDITOR Trail is getting the lead out. The Trail Lead Program Office is re- porting a 13.6 per cent decrease in blood lead levels over a one-year period. “Basically, in all areas across the city -and in all age groups, a drop in blood lead levels has been reported and that is encouraging news,” administrator Terry Oke said Thursday. The 13.6 per drop puts the average blood lead level recorded among chil- dren aged six months to six years at 10.8 micrograms per decalitre. That compares with 12.5 ug/dl recorded in 1991 and 13.1 ug/dl in 1989. “This is just more than chance,” Oke said. “There have been several steps that have been taken in Trail to help re- duce the lead levels and it appears to be working.” Oke said Trail parents appear to be the leading force behind the lead-level reductions. “The truth is, it’s the parents of Trail that have to be congratulated. They have really taken the initiative. We’d love to say that it is the lead program and I’m sure Cominco would love to say it was them, but it’s really the parents that have been leading the way.” The results were complied from 574 children tested in Trail and Beaver Val- ley. The Trail Lead Program Office had designs on tracking 926 children, but it received 257 refusals and 87 no-shows when the final testing was done. Oke said many families have relocated, while others didn’t turn out on testing days. Despite the 63 per cent turn out, Oke said he is pleased to see the over- @ Saturday, November 14, 1992 News file photo The Trail Lead Program Office announced this week that blood lead levels have decreased by 13.6 per cent over a one-year period. Of 574 children tested, the average blood lead level measured was 10.8 micrograms per decalitre. all reduction in lead levels. He only wished he could pinpoint where it is happening. “We can’t really say what it’s from, all we know is that it is dropping,” he said. The Trail Lead Program Office was established in 1989 following a study by the University of British Columbia which showed alarmingly high lead levels among Trail children. Those lev- els were splashed all over the pages of the Vancouver Sun last year when a se- ries of articles put Trail on the hotseat, claiming that the city, the province and Cominco were doing little to curb high lead counts. “The Vancouver Sun, what they were doing was exaggerating the situ- ation,” Oke said. “They were taking a little piece of the story and blowing it up. They were talking about the poten- tial of lead contamination and that is like saying that if you go outside with your hair wet, there is the potential that you'll catch a cold.” Despite that, Oke said Trail does have a lead problem, just not as bad as The Sun articles portrayed it. “There have been significant im- provements made since the studies were undertaken and everyone is play- ing a hand in that,” he said. “It has to with things Cominco has done, things we have done, sweeping the city streets more often and things parents have done. “We have not reached our goals yet, but we are still working on it.” Low water levels have a, CHURCH DIRECTORY CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 809 Merry Creek Rd. - Ph. 365-3430 PLEASE NOTE: Copy SEVENTH-DAY B.C. Hydro on edge Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER One of the driest years on record has B.C. Hydro officials closely watching water levels on the Columbia River. Community relations co-or- dinator Al Geissler said 1991- 92 is “the third driest year on record in 50 years.” He said that may pose a challenge for B.C. Hydro to meet power demands over the next several months. Geissler said people put the greatest demand on the system in win- ter due to the short days and the cold temperatures. “What we normally do in the winter is use our non- treaty water,” Geissler said. “It'll be close but I think we'll make it through.” The non-treaty water is that which is not included in the bilateral Columbia River Treaty agreement with the United States. While Geissler said he is confident the power demand can be met during winter, he said it will be the following year that is cause for concern. “We need to get snow,” Geissler said. With a below-average run- off from the snowpack this past spring, Geissler said B.C. Hydro is hoping for at least an average year. “Snow is measured by weight,” Geissler said. “All we can do is compare the readings to the average levels of the last 25 years. “We hope that the Pacific storm fronts dump the aver- age amount of snow for the year.” Geissler said by the first week of January, B.C. Hydro will have an idea how the av- erage is coming along. But he also said “February and March is critical.” In the meantime, Geissler said the Crown corporation is preparing for the worst over winter. “We've looked where we'll be able to meet our domestic demands based on a worst- case scenario,” he said. “Sometime around there, usually in January, there’s one week of critical period when we're running at full capaci- ty.” PASTOR: BOB MARSH Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Evening Services 6:30 p.m. For program information please phone 365-3430. —-EVERYONE WELCOME — changes taken once per month only. Deadline is the last Tuesday of each month, for the following month. ADVENTIST CHURCH 1471 Columbia Ave., Trail 364-0117 Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. Divine Worship 11:00 a.m. Pastor Leonard Andrews *365-5197 UNITED CHURCH ~ OF CANADA 2224-6th Avenue 10 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. Sun. School Mid-Week Studies & Youth Activities hy Ph. 365-8337 NZ REV. ANN POLLOCK ST. DAVID'S ANGLICAN CHURCH 614 Christina Place 8 A.M. — HOLY COMMUNION TRADIT! JONAL 10 A.M. — FAMILY EUCHARIST AND CHURCH SCHOOL NURSERY AVAILABLE The Rev. Dorothy Barker 365-2271 or 365-6720 To Know Christ and Make Him Known! CHURCH OF GOD 2404 Columbia Avenue Church School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11am. Pastor Ira Johnson + 365-6762 Faith Fellowship 2329-6th Avenue Phone 365-5818 PASTOR STUART LAURIE + 365-3278 Sunda’ ing Worship 10:30 a.m. Nursery A Ghitdton's Chverch provided Mid-Week Service and Study Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 p.m Bible teaching for all ages. A non-denominational family church preaching the word of faith! IF YOUR HURTING REMEMBER GOD CARES JOIN US AT NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY 602-7th St. Ges-s21 2) SUNDAY SERVICES: 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Theme: Rebuilding the Walls of our Lives inderchurch/Nursery all available for the children 6:30 p.m. Evening Celebration Theme: Freedom From the Pain of Your Past MIDWEEK ACTIVITIES: Wed. 6:30 p.m. Support Groups/Pioneer Club Adult Bible College Electives Fri. 6:30 p.m. Youth Explosion Pastoral Staff: Rankin McCougan & Rick Popooff GRACE PRESBYTERIAN 2605 Columbia Ave. Morning Worship 11:30 a.m. Rev. Murray Garvin 365-2438 1-226-7540 FULL GOSPEL FELLOWSHIP 1801 Connors Rd. Phone 365-6317 PASTOR: Stan Block - 365-7201 — SUNDAY SERVICES — Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Evening Celebrations 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7 p.m. HOME OF CASTLEGAR CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 365-7818 New labor code leaves small businesses ‘holding the bag Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER The province’s new labor legislation is flawed, according to Elmer Pellerine, The president of the Ross- land-Trail Social Credit con- stituency said “there’s some fine tuning that needs to be done. “Democracy would be best served by the use of secret bal- lot,” Pellerine said Tuesday. With the new labor legisla- tion, certification votes would no longer be able to be held by secret ballot. Pellerine said with the adoption of the labor law, “small business is left holding the bag. “The way government re- sponds to big business and big unions is a recipe for a big deficit. “Government itself becomes part of that mentality by catering and creating expecta- tions that are way too high,” the Socred president said. Pellerine said the New De- mocrats are increasing the province’s deficit. As an exam- ple he points to the change in the social welfare policy which he said was made last May without going to the legisla- ture. “If you have a single parent who is receiving assistance, that person is considered un- employable,” Pellerine said. “And that person doesn’t have to seek work until the child is 19 years-old.” Pellerine referred to a Peat Marwick study, and said “after 15 years of Socred govern- ment, the total deficit was $1.7 billion, but after one year of NDP government the deficit is $2 billion to $3 billion.” No deal for Selkirk instructor to dispute that, but I think everybody was sat- isfied with the way things were going Tuesday.” Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER On Tuesday, Leo Perra was feeling “opti- mistic” but by Thursday his tune changed. The Selkirk College president met with the major appliance repair course instructor, some students enrolled in the class and others. Perra said meetings on Monday and Tues- day were aimed at resolving problems with late equipment, students falling behind in their studies and the possible resignation of instruc- tor Tony Aben. “But that didn’t happen,” he said. ; “It was not the ideal situation. I’m not going Perra said, however, that plans to find a re- placement for Aben are still on-going. “I’m not sure what stage that’s at but we haven’t hired anyone yet.” Meanwhile, Aben handed in his resignation and his final day was to be Friday. “We'll have instructional activity on Mon- day,” Perra said. “Students will take in some other activity until we have someone with Tony’s specific ex- pertise in place.” Aben could not be reached for comment. SuperValu awaiting Cott’s word WH Local manager anxious to see talks get underway Corinne Jackson NEWS REPORTER Anxiety has not sped up the process to find a meeting date. SuperValu, the Teamsters Union and mediator Don Cott have agreed to meet on Nov. 20, but they still do not know where the meeting will be held, Richard Howes said Thursday. “They’ve got some places in mind like Cranbrook, or Castlegar but it hasn’t been confirmed yet,” SuperValu’s manager said. According to Howes, there have been no informal talks between the employer and the union while they have been trying to decide on a meeting place. However, Howes said, “I want to get this settled. “J think any employer would be anxious to get this settled.” Although Howes may be anxious to have a meeting, he said he is willing to wait until Cott — who is on holidays un- til Nov. 16 — comes back to decide on a meeting place. “We'll wait until he gets back and confirm it with him and take it from there,” Howes said. “It doesn’t matter where (the meeting is held). What matters is that we are meet- ing.” SuperValu’s 24 employees have been without a contract since July 1, 1991. Outstand- ing issues include pensions and wages. FOR CHRISTMAS PROJECTS alico }\orner Wednesday, Een Nov. 18 A PRE-REGISTRATION DAY, EVENING « Folk Art AND SATURDAY + Painting Classes & Supplies CHILDREN'S CLASSES 280 Columbia Avenue (Upstairs) 36 5-0995 City Centre, Square, Castlegar Castlegar Savings Credit Union is able to assist you with getting the best return for your investment dollars. For more details, contact either location of CASTLEGAR SAVINGS CREDIT UNION "Your Community Financial Centre” 601-18th St. cs 3026 Hwy. 6 Castlegar Slocan Park 365-7232 226-7212 pet hing~ Z hh tl; Po Gy " MG ti ' thes Aa DVM bet diyes gah ah ce ye 4 PATEL Oy The Classic Story. The Enchanting Characters. The Academy Award-Winning Music. Produced In Association With SILVER SCREEN PARTNERS IV Seyeissh Aree Cnmene wad Comper Ds om RECORDS. © The Walt Disney Company VALLEY VIDEO Castleaird Plaza — 365-3777 Visit our NEW and expanded LOCATION!'