Wednesday, July 26, 1995 Castlegar Mayor Michael O’Connor hands out city pins to visiting Japanese stu- dents from Aoyama Technical College, during a civic ceremony at the CPR Train Station Museum last week. The students depart for their homeland next week. KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff The medical health officer at the Central Kootenay Health Unit (CKHU) says a recent increase in the number of regional cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, is not an out- break. “We're not calling this an outbreak,” said Dr. Nelson Ames in a news release, Although there is no general concentration of cases, there has been an increase throughout the region, with eight cases so far this year. Last year there 17 reported Cases of whooping Not an outb but a Conce Whooping cough continues to affect region cough in the region. Ames said local physicians have been notified and instruct- ed to be om the lookout for any new cases. Although whooping cough resembles the common cold in its initial stages, it can quickly become a concern if accompa- nied by coughing that is fol- lowed by vomiting and a shortness of breath.. : It is recommended that any- one who has a bad cough last- ing longer than five days contact a physician. Treatment with antibiotics in the early Stages of the infection -has been proven to shorten the illness reak, rm and decrease its spread. Immunization against the ill- ness is about 80 per cent effec- tive. Those who have been immunized usually have milder symptoms of the disease if it is contracted. Non-immunized children under the age of one are at the greatest risk from pertussis, with a Canadian fatality rate of 1-to-200. Protection from the illness is not passed from mother to child. With this in mind, Dr. Ames said the health unit is encouraging parents to have their children immunized whenever possible PHASE Il * 2 BEDROOM & 2 BATHROOM + PROFESSIONALLY LANDSCAPED + LEVEL ENTRY * LOW MAINTENANCE FEES * YEAR ROUND MAINTENANCE + RECREATION CENTRE * PRIVATE FENCED YARDS * SOME BASEMENTS trom *113,900% Stellar Place ADULT COMMUNITY 2210-Columbia Avenue, Castlegar 365-0474 Image overhaul ion) KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff They aren't RoboCops, Dirty Harrys or even Sergeant Prestons — they’re simply dedicated men and women committed to making our communities better places in which to live. RCMP across the nation are undertaking a major image over- haul of their image. But it's not just their images that are getting the overhaul—it's also the com- munity’s perception of RCMP officers as law enforcers. E In 1988, the Canadian Police Commissioner called for a new Style of policing delivery called comrpunity policing. Based on the belief that we arc all stakeholders in the social health of our communities, and that RCMP need to be in closer touch with those they serve, com- munity policing was born. Now RCMP across Canada are being trained in a concept which is more of a mindset than a checklist. Castlegar RCMP officers Staff Sgt. Kerry Solinsky and Cpl. Al Hudema have recently returned from a course on pommunity iant Summer 3 PIECE SOFA, LOVESEAT, CHAIR All in Black Leathe: BIG SCREEN COLOR TELEVISION 31 inch. Full warranty to year 2000, parts and service.. BEAUTYREST 2-PIECE SLEEPSETS Full Size... BEAUTYREST 2-Pii ECE SLEEPSETS Queen Size King Size ........ 3 PIECE OAK WALL UNIT CARPETING Action Back or Kanga Back............ SLEEPER SOFAS, CHESTERFIELD SUITES, BEDROOM, DININGROOM REFRIGERATORS 3888 12 cu. ft R 14 cu. ft $ 16 cu. ft. Deluxe 18 cu. ft COMPLETE BUNKBED OUTFITS CHEST FREEZERS MICROWAVE OVENS (Electronic). 6 cu. ft. Lots of features. . Sale Prices BEAUTYREST 3-PIECE SLEEPSETS A * ALL REDUCED . "1a to ©1392 *SALE PRICED * BOUGHT AS A PAIR * * 18 cu. ft. REFRIGERATOR |/$799 . 30" RANGE $ 1 298 *899 - *995 *1049 to $1099 The best heavy-duty laundry pairs you can buy. HOME GOODS Furniture Warehouse Floor Covering Centre a t China Cree ok WE DELIVER back-to-basics policing Staff Sgt. Kerry Solinsky policing, held in Vancouver. Both officers speak favorably of the concept that will.see RCMP as being more: account- able to the people of the commu- nity, while at the same time sharing responsibility. “Eventually every member will be trained in community policing. This is something that has come down right from the top and it's not something that will just go away.” said Hudema. Officers are tired of being viewed as the “bad guy” and so, officers across Canada, including those in the Castlegar detach- ment are embracing the concept. “The members are accepting this well. They’ would sooner do this than be enforcers”. The concept is simple—police and the community work togeth- er to solve policing problems. “It used to be that someone Cpl. Al Hudema would come in with a complaint and we'd say ‘No problem, we'll take care of it’. It used to be our problem—but not any longer, it’s now a community problem,” said Hudema. That doesn’t mean police won't be as involved as they were before. It simply means instead of treating the symp- toms, RCMP will now work with the community to find the root of the problem so that they might find a solution. Solinsky gave an example’ of local community policing. A youth was apprehended for breaking and entering and theft; this was his first such crime. Until most recently that youth Might have been formally charged for his actions and would have had to go through the judi- cial system. But to what purpose? An mother Natures Inventory Clearance Sale MOZZARELLA CHEESE $2.99 Ib- and all herbal combinations % OFF already overextended judicial sys- tem was not the place for this par- ticular youth to be. Instead, officers met with his family and the victim to try to find an accept- able solution to the problem. The youth had to face his victim and be accountable for his crime to both the victim and his family. With the consent of the parents and victim an agreement was made in which the youth would make restitution. He hasn't offended since. Both officers believe that it's this kind of accountability and problem-solving which is the most effective way of making our Communities better places in which to live “T think the community has to be aware that we can't solve all the problems. We live here and want the community to be as safe for our families,” said Hudema In order to. facilitate a smoother transition to communi- ty policing, Const. Dave Ness has been appointed coordinator for all community policing activ- ities such as Block Parents, Neighborhood Watch, and the drug awareness program. There is also a 12-member community consulting group that meets with RCMP on a regular basis. Consisting of a cross sec- tion of community members, this group discusses community problems with the RCMP. The group and the RCMP then work together towards solving the problems—sometimes before the ever actually occur. While the concept is still in its infancy, there's lot to yet be done. But it’s hoped that built-in monitoring within the system, and regular auditing by the police commission will keep the program on track. Community Policing Program has developed a mission statement which now hangs in all detach- across Canada. : Fests Gesnenions 7 HERBAL TEA Cameousile, Peppermiat Sloepytime, Clamamen/appie $1.99 box ©Tray - $269.95 10 Tray - $299.95 ALL Lyyie@ Natural Sources” 20% OFF and all herbal combina: % OFF Plus: Other Great in-store Specials! - Sale ends July 31 276 Columbia VISA Downtown Castlegar 365-7750 ENSURE all policing services are provided cour- teously and inupartially. WORK with the comnm-- nity and other agencies to ACT within the Canadian justice system to address community problems. PROMOTE a creative and responsive environment to allow all RCMP mem- bers to deliver community policing services. TREAT all ly and with respect. le equal- Wednesday, July 26, 1995 The Castlegar Sun Province plans to beef up photo radar SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Staff The Harcourt government Plans to ticket an additional 1.6 million vehicle owners next year by photo radar, but right now police are not sure whether’ West Kootenay drivers will be among those caught on film. Sgt. John Nykiforuk of the Nelson Highway Patrol said there are a number of local “hot spots” Where photo radar cameras could be used to slow down di Playmor Junction, Arrow Lakes Drive to the Celgar Pulp mill and Highway 22 between Castlegar and Trail. Nykiforuk says photo radar would be more effective than Standard police radar, since motorists often warn each other of a police presence by flashing their headlights. “The camera is an expensive Piece of equipment, but I'm sure it would be put to good use if uti- lized i in the West Kootenay.” drivers, But he added that to sim- ply install a camera and hand out tickets without educating the pub- lic about why they're receiving fines in the first place defeats the Purpose behind traffic control. “The Majority of accidents we If used properly, I think a photo radar camera could be a deterrent for speed,” said Nykiforuk. Hot spots for speeders include the school zone in Thrums, the ife also said that a regular police presence on loeal highways has played a big role in reducing the average speed of Kootenay drivers. “This area has come a long way. But there are still people out there who need to be educated on how excessive speed can cause major problems.” Opinion research conducted for the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia (ICBC) last July con- firms that most B.C. drivers would prefer direct police cita- tions rather than “technopolicing” through photo radar. Nykiforuk said that while direct police citations allow for public education, the general pub- lic would prefer direct policing because it provides an opportuni- ty to possibly “explain your way out of a ticket,” as the repon to ICBC found. Likely the biggest winner in photo radar would be the provin- cial government, which, according to opposition claims, would rake in an-extra $160 million annually. “An extra 1.6 million tickets next year means that the 30 new photo radar cameras will nail someone every 20 seconds; an incredible increase in fines that will do nothing.to catch and stop dangerous speeders when they are actually on the road,” said B.C. Reform leader Jack Weis- ‘Whether the cameras actually deter speeders is still to be deter- mined, though, as is Weisgerber's claim that photo radar is nothing more than a cash cow for the provincial government. Miller plans student loan Future of Selkirk College loans undecided after gov't reveals participating ‘risk-sharing’ banks DEREK ZEISMAN __ Sun Editor A new student loan agreement aimed at increasing students’ flex- ibility in negotiating repayment of their loans has been announced by the B.C. government. Skills, Training and Labour Minister Dan Miller says the new agreement will likely save the province millions of dollars over the next decade. Currently, the provincial gov- emment tees student loans and pays for all bank interest accumulated while students are in school and for up to six months after their study period. Under the government's new risk-sharing agreement, financial institutions will lose provincial loan guarantees and assume full responsibility themselves for loan collection and losses. For accepting this additional risk, the government will pay the banks a five per cent premium on all loans. Abe province will also rs y for parc loans. The new plan will enable financial institutions to offer students options similar to other consumer loans, such as variable or fixed-rate loans, and greater flexibility in negotiating terms repayment based on indi- vidual needs. Students will also receive debt counselling where neces- sary. “This positive approach pro- vides the extra flexibility that stu- dents need to repay their loans upon graduation without any added costs,” ” Miller said. this fall, means that where neither the oe Bank nor serve area — like Castlegar — they must make arrangements with another nearby bank or cred- it union to service student loans. “The needs of the students West Kootenay police are warming up to the idea of ‘Gee radar, despite motorists who prefer having an opportunity to “explain their way out of tickets,” Kykiforuk of the Nelson Highway Patrol. reforms best risk-sharing plans. Both of Castlegar’s banks and both its credit unions will have the option of accepting the new loan terms now in place, or they could refuse to participate. Scott McCloy, director of cor- porate i at CIBC, will negotiate new loans with the Royal Bank of Canada or the Bank of Nova Scotia, the two banks initially selected by tender to take part in the “risk sharing” plan. “In other provinces, risk shar- ing has proven effective for everyone,” Miller said. “Financial institutions have more flexibility to tailor repayment terms for stu- dent loans, students get better ser- vice, and B.C. taxpayers will save millions annually.” But where does this leave the students of Castlegar’s Selkirk College? Castlegar is currently served by two major banks, nei- ther of which are the Royal or Scotiabank. “Unfortunately, Selkirk is the only public college in B.C. not located by either one of the two banks chosen for our new pro- gram,” said Jim Vanstone, direc- tor of the student services branch at the Ministry of Skills, Training and Labour. “That's why we’ve made provi- sions to put alternative forms of ser- vice into the new loans contract.” This “alternative service” take p in any agr worked out,” said Vanstone. “The Royal Bank and Scotiabank must somehow meet the needs of Selkirk College, and they can’t charge extra despite the extra effort involved in meeting this commitment,” But what if none of Castlegar’s financial institutions are willing to take on responsibility for Selkirk loans under the government's new plan? Vanstone called this “the worst-case scenario,” but said he was not sure what would. happen in that situation. “I suppose temporary kiosks at the college could be set up [by the Royal Bank or Scotiabank] to handle student loans come September,” he said. “Or they could pay one of the local banks (CIBC or Bank of Montreal] to process their own loan plans.” Vanstone pointed out that this inconvenience might end up being temporary, since the province will soon be sending out contracts to the 26 other B.C. lending institutions that were shut out of the province’s loans process when the Royal Bank and Scotiabank submitted the said he “has no idea” whether his bank will play a role in B.C.'s revamped loans plan. “We haven't been officially informed by the provincial gov- ernment that we have the choice of participating in the new plan. I can’t comment until we sce it on. paper.” A spokeswoman for the local Bank of Montreal said the bank “is not handling new louns any- more.” She said the bank will continue to service its existing student loans, but no new ones. The federal government will also be announcing a new risk- sharing student loans proposal shortly. CIBC, the Royal Bank and the Scotiabank have been chosen by Ottawa to participate in the new plan. Unlike B.C."s new loans pro- cess, Vanstone. pointed out that students holding federal loans will be required to transfer their loans to one of those three institutions. This means Castlegar’s CIBC branch will probably end up with responsibility for all federal loans held by students at Selkirk, whether students like it or not. Local officials promise battle over passenger safety DEREK ZEISMAN Sun Editor In the midst of all the financial turmoil surrounding the Castlegar Airport, one subject that contin- ues on a slow boil is the issue of passenger safety. Although the airport's weather navigation office is currently run by human controllers, there are worries that financial cutbacks may lead to the installation of a computerized Automated Weath- er Observation System (AWOS) to replace the employees who now ensure rough weather doesn't lead to airborne tragedy. Local Reform MP and trans- port critic Jim Gouk has now called on Transport Minister Doug Young to take “safe and human weather Airport, weather office manager Tom Willson said there is a possibil- ity it will soon be implemented, whether local residents like it or not. “There's nothing firm here yet, plece of junk ... if they want to install it in Castlegar, they're going to have a fight on their hands.” — JIM GOUK Kootenay West MP airports, for the sake of public safety. “AWOS is nothing more than a computerized piece of junk. I’ve been calling for the system to be scrapped since last Decem- ber,” said Gouk, responding to a Trecent Senate committee recom- mendation to shut down AWOS. “All those concerned have Stated their opinions regarding the unreliability of the system, which at at $275,000 per unit is a total waste of taxpayers’ money.” Although a definite time line has not yet been put in place for installing AWOS at the Castlegar Willson said he has serious concerns about AWOS being installed as it's now designed. “The technology just isn’t there to do it properly right now. And if it doesn't work properly, then it has to be done by humans.” Gouk, a former air traffic con- troller, said the system should be decommissioned until it is “fool- Willson agreed. “I have very mixed feelings about AWOS. It does do a very good job on cer- tain things, like measuring tem- and wind speeds, but as an overall benefit it would be negative. It's just not as good as human observers.” Gouk pointed to an air crash in Ontario last February, caused when AWOS failed to notify a flight of blizzard conditions. “Luckily no one was killed, but hopefully it won't take fatalities to convince the government to wake up.” AWOS is a 24-hour system, while human observers at smaller airports like Castlegar’s are usu- ally on duty only during flight hours, about 12 to 14 hours a day. But Willson s#.J this apparent advantage doesn't necessarily mean anything. “People tend to be working when the weather's at its worst, and lo and behold, that seems to be when the computers break down.” He said technology is still a long way from catching up to proof”. He said the d system now has difficulty differ- entiating between certain types of weather, endangering passengers and crew, “not to mention inno- cent civilians on the ground.” RUSSIAN Borech, Pyrahi, Varenniki, Lapeha Located Playmor Junction Ph: 359-7770 old-fashioned visual observation. “Humans are still the best computers.” Gouk promised a fight if Transport Canada makes any attempts to implement the AWOS system at the Castlegar Airport. "If they want to install it in Castlegar, they're going to have one helll of a fight on their hands.’ says Sgt. John ‘Sun file photo KAREN Sun Staff Negotiations have begun between Donkhobors at the New Settlement in Krestova and goverment representatives, A recent press release states that the two sides are meeting to establish tenure and Pay- ment for government services which includes outstanding promety faxes, comes after the ‘The meeting comes arrest of 12 of the residents last fall who woe 233.5