OPINION DNESDAY, September 22, 1993 The Cast gar Sun -— or IS PUBLISHER MARILYN STRONG QHARLENE IMHOFF CATHERINE ROSS ADVERTISING REP. JOHN VAN PUTTE! NICOLE BEETSTRA SPORTS REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER ADVERTISING REP. KAREN KERKHOFF CHRISTINE MOYER REPORTER PRODUCTION MANAGER MARGE LALONDE TRICIA LAKTIN CIRCULATION MANAGER PRODUCTION ASS! SHAUNA KATTLER OFFICE MANAGER/CLASSIFIEDS Direct Department Phones General Office 365-5266 Circulation 365-5266 Classified Ads 365-7848 Display Advertising 365-2278 Newsroom 365-5579 Fax .... 365-7762 SS YY B The & oo Sun oS ~ Zi\\S 465 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. V1N 1G8 IS POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE STERLING NEWS SERVICE Established November 28, 1990 Published by Sterling Newspapers Ltd Weekly on Wednesdays Member of Canadian Community Newspapers Association B.C. Community Newspapers Association and B.C. Press Council Publications Mail Registration pending editorial comment WANTED: - THIEVES WHO STOLE CASTLEGAR S HISTORY acess Without a thought for anyone except for themselves thieves stole a piece of Castlegar's history Last week they took it upon themselves to steal the time capsule and contents which had been placed in the wall of the building which now houses Hooters Fitness, in 1979 by then Premier, Bill Bennett, and one of Castle @ar’s leading citizens, Mrs. L.V. Campbell Although the items inside the time capsule were of no value, except to those of us who hold Castlegar and its memories dear, the thieves chose to také the capsule, the contents and even the brass plaque which we thought insured its safety, thus stealing a piece of Castlegar from all of us. Even though the act has been done, and has left those of us who care about Castlegar’s history feeling violated the thieves still have the ability to redeem themselves The simple act of returning the plaque, the contents and time capsule would, in itself, show the residents of our proud little city that there is hope for most people, even those who steal indiscriminately No one is asking the thieves to turn themselves in, but rather to consider their actions, and hopefully, have enough of a conscience to return that which is not theirs If the thieves truly need the 1979 centennial coins which were inside that capsule, that is one thing. But, how can one justify stealing something that has absolutely no monetary value? Once again, we ask you (and you know who you are) to return the items. It is only right that the items belong in the care of the city, and not in your pocket or home John And why not make them work! You never cease to amaze me with your line of thought Karen. One week you say we need free and unlimited access to guns. for everyone so we can, as you say, “protect” ourselves Then you argue that area high school students should have roaming rights wherever and whenever they please. And now, when the government finally starts a program to get our monies worth out of som¢é of the welfare and unemploy- ment Insurance recipients you are saying this is unfair! I can't understand your thought patterns. I can almost guarantee that if you were lying on the Sigmund Freud's couch he would ask you to get up and trade places on the grounds that you gave him a nervous breakdown What are you going to sug- gest mext—that we combine all your recent arguments? If that were the case, we would be sending you out with a gun to shoot all the store owners who are trying to limit daytime access to students. Once you complete that task we could hire Karenski the hit woman-from-hell to hunt down the federal and provincial politicians who are trying to let US, the taxpayers, get some benefit from all our hard- earned money (which is cur- rently going into. the ever-growing big stew pot which already has an over- worked ladle It's about time that we, the taxpayers, get some return on the social assistance pot. But there are many more benefits which are not just monetary For example, take the valu able work-experience partici pants would gain from such a program. No harm ever came from having too much work experience. As it is now, those on the governments financial free ride are gaining no job experience For the vast majority of those on the many forms of social assistance, the opportu nity to work would be a wel come change, as all their effort looking for work has reaped sesresicdhrdneenrerne to them little benefit A change in attitude, and increased motivation would result from their work, experi- ence on a make-work project Even if the wages offered were lower than a top paying union factory job, isn't being able to go home after a hard day's work a better way to go through life than waiting beside the mailbox for Canada Post to drop off the little gift? For those of us who work for wages that land us just above the poverty line, and contribute the majority of our wages in the pot, it's about time some good came from that coin which is so liberally dis- tributed Social assistance is not the end-all and be-all for most Canadian citizens. I can't think of anybody that I know who has been collecting ULI or welfare that wasn't ecstatic to tind a job and earn their own keep For those who currently wait for their cheques in the mail on a regular basis all they need is to be given a chance to work I am sure most people would rather take the opportu nity a make-work project offers to better their lives It's only through hard work and commitment that those who desire change are able to achieve their goals. You ought to know better than most John that working for next to poverty wages is an insult, and definitely not a way to live Make work projects are just that—they only make work, in truth they most certainly don't make jobs—and there is a difference! = I know my opinion won't be popular this time around. After all, shouldn't people on social assistance be required to earn their keep if they are able to do so? All someone has to do is read your comment about us “getting our money's worth” out of someone who collects social assistance. What a bar baric, unfeeling, and uneducat ed statement! While that line of thinking is usually the general consensus fet me point out a few things to you. The work which is created for welfare recipients is often dead-end and menial jobs The wages are usually mini mum wage, no more. Instead of honestly going through the pro cess of hiring an individual who , has earned the right to a job through a good work history, or resume, and paying the going rate for that type of work, the government has taken it upon themselves to offer these jobs, at a poor wage to welfare recipi ents gr those on unemployment insurance Make work projects Karen And, if they refuse the work, they have the specter of a sev- ered money source hanging over , the government has appointed themselves king of all the unfortunates, and, with a grandiose gesture, have declared themselves the savior of these poor unfortunates’ fate. The government acts as if they are doing these people a favor, when in fact, the only people they are really helping is themselves. I agree that if a person is healthy and able they should be working—no doubt about it— but I also feel that the govern- ment isn't offering those people any sort of a future. Instead they exile them to a day-by-day exi: tence in which they must always be explaining their actions (or inactions) Who the government is really helping is themselves. Instead of offering a decent wage, they can, in effect, coerce a recipient into accepting the work at a wage which is:less than they would have to pay otherwise I suggest the government exert their efforts toward mak- ing these people employable on a long-term basis If it takes four years of edu- cation to make someone employable then that is what they have to do. That alternative seems to me [to be a better choice than having to. support that person and their family on a long-term basis. When will the government learn that the answer is not in exiling their people to a fate of terminal minimum wage? If their people age earning a good wage doesn't it stand to reason that those people will then be able to contribute more in the way of. taxes towards our gov ernment’s voracious coffers? We need a strong work-force of individuals who will be able to contribute towards the next generation making their way into the mainstream of life. We don't need a work-force of undereducated people. That is the bottom line Oh, one last comment John. If you think I have driven Freud crazy just wait and see what I have planned for you! or i about this week's Cheek to Cheek, feel free to if you have any q send us your comments in a letter to the editor c/o The Castlegar Sun. if you have a subject that you would like to see debated In the Cheek to Cheek column, Karen and John would love to hear your suggestions. Call the newsroom at 365-5579 or fax us your nts and 1 at 365-7762 | Do you have a pearl of wisdom, or a viewpoint you would like to share with other My Turn readers? If so,call The Castlegar Sun for more information at 365-5579, or send in your column. Your column should be typewritten and 400-600 words long. Sorry, no My Turn column this week. Due to the large Wednesday, September 22, 1993 Letters to the Editor stlegar Sun Page 7A Students create the problem Dear Editor: ‘This letter is in regard to the September 15, 1993 + Cheek-To-Cheek column, “Limiting Student Access”. Why can't, or don’t, these school kids see for them- selves the problems created by large groups gathering and taking up lucrative Space? Are they not able to rectify these situations them- selves rather than having someone else do it for them? Which would only declare they are still children who need to be told what to do! It seems they want to have the rights and privi- leges of adults, but continue to act like children. A. Sojourner Editorial comment offensive and unfair Dear Editor: Your Editorial September 15 was offensive and deeply insulting to everyone who cares about this community You entirely missed the point ‘of the com- munity meeting held September 14. In a patronizing tone you talk about us wanting fo protect, in your words, “...their perfect lit- tle neighbourhood (which we're sure has perfect citizens living there with their perfect children)”. If you had bothered to ask, or had even attended the meeting, you would have heard very real concerns about problems already in More to it than voting Dear Editor: Without the security of a healthy environment and a numerically balanced robust population, the issues of unemployment, the economy, N.A.F.T.A, and a debilitating national debt are reminiscent of “fiddling while Rome burns” Having a job and making pay ments on the BMW or pick-up are superfluous if you can’t breathe the foul air, drink the pol luted water or find unc - Haven't they heard of Selkirk Coll Dear Editor: Now that Selkirk College is a beehive of activity once again with many eager students rushing to get into the ¢ver-popular classes I believe it is a good time to sub. mit the following Haven't they heard of Selkirk College? That was the question whispered on all sides (in disbelief) by flabber gasted people at the Provincial Liberal Party's recent leadership forum in Castlegar people who couldn't believe their ears over the Strange turn of events that took place that evening of August 12 Many were, in fact, on the verge of walking out the door on finding that the first question from the floor (regarding the past closure of the little David Thompson University Centre in Nelson) was to occupy. a major part of the evening Indeed it became a tragi-comedy of considerable pro- Portions as the evening progressed under the, rigid disci- pline of the heavy-handed lady moderator. Despite the fact that Selkirk College (a highly successful institution for the past 25 years) was only a stone's throw away from that well-attended meeting room — and despite this college's well-researched proposal to move up to “uni- vertity college” status (as those in Kamloops and Kelow- na have already done) the eager candidates seemed unaware that this place even existed. The lack of knowl- edge of the state of post secondary education in the Kootenays became more evident by the minute the neighbourhood. You would have heard of the drug overdose in one woman's front yard, of insults and profanity, intimidation, drug use, drunkenness, and vandalism. You would also have heard that most of these problems seem to be caused by people in the same age group as the Project Genesis par- ticipants. Maybe then you would understand our con- cem about ten or more youth living in one house in this neighbourhood. You imply that it was wrong for the neigh- bourhood to come together to try to find the truth behind the rumours and you imply that Not that there was anything wrong with the original question but unfortunately the eager candidates seemed to think that,this was the only important educa tional issue in the Kootenays With practiced “savoir faire” they promptly took their turns at attacking the present and former governments over that much-vilified matter of closing the poorly attended yet valiantly struggling little university One would have hoped that the heavy-handed moder ator (or even the Liberal Party president) would have intervened to put the question into proper perspective but no such luck. And with the flawless diligence of this lady in charge no redeeming plea from the floor was possible Thank goodness for that one mildly-worded question (the last allowed) which finally made it to the micro phone from the worried former chair (Elizabeth Fleet) of the Selkirk College board She politely asked whether the candidates had read the recently released Fulton Commission's report on post-secondary education and training in the Kootenays a perfectly logical request since the declared theme of the evening was that of education But alas! Few, if any, of those hopeful candidates had read this pertinent study Yet, even the reading of this much-discussed report would not have helped in any case, since it accomplished little for anyone. Surprisingly, it proceeds to overlook ege? completely the good work being done at the highly suc cessful campuses of Selkirk College at Castlegar, Nelson and Trail Instead it dwells extensively upon recommendations in the field of remote education by electronic means - and obvious effort to avoid any serious expenditure of money. Indeed I find it strange that the respected Dr, Ful ton and her commission would fail to mention the indis putable necessity of human camaraderie and human contact in this important field things which cannot happen in the process of electronic education What an irony that those candidates were not informed on the very theme for which the forum was set up and that this meeting was run with such iron-handed disci pline as to fail to achieve its purpose Many Castlegar residents wondered why they had come at all as other important questions never got asked — nor was there any chance to do so So, to those seven hopeful candidates vying for leader ship of the Provincial Liberal Party I would suggest that they do their homework If they wish to improve their stakes in Castlegar, they had better stop pretending that our highly successful regional college the first in British Columbia does not exist. We very much need a strong opposition in Vic toria and we urge them to get their act together HLF. Killough we are against Project Genesis now that we More letters page 8A know of it. Again, if you had bothered to ask you would have found that most people sup. port the principle of the project and are plan- ning to attend an open house to meet the Participants. I think the fact that the neighbourhood could come together so fast, with more than fifty people attending a community meeting on just one days notice, is very positive and not the awful thing you portray it as. I think you owe us an apology G with 's wel 248 Columbia Ave., Castlegar 365-7017 ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION Branch 170 Sundays 12 pm - 6 pm Mon. - Thurs. 2 pm - 10 pm Fri-Sat. 11 am-11 pm Bingo every Thursday Greg Gold: All Our Be astlegar Foods PRICES EFFECTIVE SUN. Castlegar Foods - 635 Columbia Ave., SEPT. 19 TO SAT. SEPT. 25, 1993 Castlegar * 365-5755 Rock Cornish GAME HENS $188 Ib. PORK BACK RIBS Danish 6.34 kg Ib. All Time Favourite T-BONE STEAK Wing #10.74 kg ¢ Family pack ROAST BEEF | 8 99° /100 gr. ed food. The mammals of the Great Lakes now qualify as hazardous toxic waste; the average human See ROME BA Rusk & Tri Prodacts Seniors Rates 314-10th AVe 365-2213 Switzer Cloverleaf FLAKED TUNA 184 g. © Limit 4 California Grown No, 1 Red seedless © 1.96kg. 89 69 [ ( Uncle Tom's LONG GRAIN RICE 2 kg. bag B.C. Grown Melntosh 99 L ; approx. res Vat | [een 20 Lb. Box | SLICED BREAD KKK volume of Letters to the Editor, we will be running Letters to the Editor on this page for this week only. pas The sdventioer agrees that the publisher sh REWARD: A CLEAR CONSCIENCE AND 4 GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP ERRORS: not be liable tor damages arising out of errors in any advertise amount paid for the space actually occ advertisement in which the error occu 2 to the negligence of its servants or other and there shall be no ability tor non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement All advertising subject to publisher's approval Contracts must be completed within one year trom contract date No x accepted intingent orders a Letters to the Editor Donations, and helping hands needed Dear Editor: I would like to thank The Castlegar Sun for this opportuni- ty to update my letter in the September 15 issue on the Christ mas hampers for abandoned and suffering people in Romania The food hamper boxes ha arrived, and are available for dis tnibution through the Recreation Centre and our churches In addition, we have opened an account under Practical Love Romania #18253 5 in the Castlegar Savings Credit Union. Donations towards shipping costs, etc. can be made at the Credit Union or at the Recreation Centre Please give your name, addréss and postal code so an official receipt can be mailed to you from Canadian Good Grains Bank The Lions Club has graciously illowed us to store clothing gifts in their store room in the Cham ber of Commerce building Please be sure clothing is clean and in excellent condition and include a gift of money for trans portation. This may be done at the Recreation Centre. The cloth ing will be trucked, at no charge, to Abbotsford by Motorways Transport. We would also appre ciate any who could volunteer to help with sorting. packing and foading The clothing 1s bailed into 100 pound bails at Global Relief in Abbotsford, and shipped in a ontainer holding 166 bales Globa Relief uses a Senior Citi zen Volunteer group called Helping Hands” to check and ort clothing into mens, ladies and childrens groups One container wall clothe about 4,000 people, and one bale of 100 pounds will clothe about 24 people—so, the shipping costs work out to about $1.50 to clothe one person Clothing mainly goes to the abandoned childrert institutions. If you can donate clothing, please give enough to cover the shipping costs at the rate of about $10 for 25 pounds Thank you for your interest: The Practical Love - Romaina ¢ om mittee. Bob Salstrum n Calgary oO They land where Mildred California Grown T 99 52 kg. * Fresh, Green 69: Old Dutch HAPPY CHIPS 200 g. ® Assorted 19° ANIMAL COOKIES 3999 NL COOKIS| WHIPPING CREAM | ¢ lb. box Castlegar Foods...” CORN OIL We reserve the right to limit quantities. HOURS: & Sat. 9 - 6, Fri.9 - 8 OPEN SUNDAYS * 10 AM- 5 PM