‘In the pink

A community food drive 7
means the food bank is

open: for an-extra

month\ COMMUNITY B: 81.

| Drug den _
| A fire reveals: a secret
lab. that. has been aes
‘producing: crystal meth
here\NEWS AS:

$4. oo PLUS -76: GST. a
1 {$2.10 plug 8¢'G5ST.:
coutelde of the Terrace area)

SEnTRce

: VOL. 16 NO. 49

f Schoals He fees ‘spring

Closures.
possible’ if t new.
school is used

~~ By JENNIFER LANG ..
COAST MOUNTAINS school: trostees

can expect another -difficult Spring as:
the. board wrestles : with. ‘potential -
- school. closures ‘in “Terrace: and. South =:
Hazelton, ° another ; debate’ aver: ‘the.
four-day week,’ and. the” future: of

. Mountainview. school. -

_. “Last, week,: ‘Uplands. ‘Blemenary;,
Kiti K’Shan ‘Primary ‘and E,T. Kenney,”
Primary in: Terrace: learned they’ re ‘be-..

ing considered: for.closure::. °°:

the new Terrace school that. ‘never,
» opened due ‘to declining ‘enrolment.
“South ‘Hazelton Elementary is also.
on notice — the ‘school has, just 100._
students, ‘and as group. répresenting .
~ Gitksan_ and. Wer’ suwet’en parents is”...
asking, the: board. to: close | one. of. three
elementary: schools. in “the: Hazelions ~-
“and Tevert: back. to. the: five-day. week :
‘there.

~ The: board will decide “April: 6 which
Mountainview proposal —

' go-ahehd next: year. <" -
“ GA30-day public consuliation: ‘pro- a
cess: “has: begun. - After: Spring: break, .

trustees: will, ‘attend a-series. of- public °-
ectings ‘at schools i in: each’ commuoni-. :

ee Sty, a. ‘addition . toa. ~ public’ forum o
“Each is potentially affected ‘by: pro- _

posals for Mountainview Elementary. ;

_ scheduled. for April 5.

“Four Proposals have’ been: released:

“if 2 any ~ cil

_www.terracesta nd ard. com

for public comment, One submitted by

’ trustee: “Hal ‘Stedham involves ‘giving

Uplands Elementary parents first: crack

at: Mountainview, a. proposal that. «.

would result.in closing. Uplands.

. bourhood and they. have a:right- to that”:
schoél,” he said, promising | to drop: the:
: plan. if. patents: ‘are. opposed: ws
oo The ‘proposal | fora, cilturally-re-
a ‘sponsive : ‘First ‘Nations’ magnet. ‘school *.
.would ‘potentially. .result-in’ the’closure
~ of -E. T: Kenney Primary: school;. trus-..%
tees’ warn,- ‘while the: ‘Canadian’ Parents:
“For, French ‘proposal could force the “-...
closure. of Kiti K’Shan Primary, the:

present ‘home: of Terrace’ 3. ‘elementary
French: immersion program,” - :

A proposal: from: an- indeperident ;
Christian, school; ‘lo. 9. purchase, Moun-

“Those people :live. in that--neigh- >.

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

chaos again

tainview may actually be the least

disruptive,. since it would not involve ©

closing other public schools: :

; week. ; .

‘continue: ‘the: four-day week next-year. .

‘ esSary.,

, leased yet,

Also. up for debale . is the’ four-day

oA ‘Supreme: oun justice has: now: ..
told. the board. jt: will have to’embark
one theaningful, ‘public. .consultation.
‘process: before deciding” whether: to.

The four-day’ week: wae supposed to
‘save’ an estimated: ‘$1, 4 million, but: the. .
“actual, financial. irnpact hase’ t been re, :

vey. anne
“By. the end: of this month, “we. ‘ex- a

“pect we will know a-lot more,” Ter-'

race trustee Diana Penner said. |

” But the biggest: headache will: be 7

balancing: the budget. - on am
A’ return: to’ the: five-day school -

3 week could: résult in’ ann-extra $1.8 mil-

lion-in operating expenses, pushing: the

* anticipated . operating. deficit to. $3.4. °
“Board chair‘Lorrie ‘Gowen: indicated
ihat’school-by-school consuitation. and”:
a public. forum would Probably be nec- ae
“°, provincial ‘buffer’ grant: for declining

enrolment, he: added. « Pas

«million: forthe: coming year, secretary a
‘tréasurér Marcel. ‘Geoiges said.” a
The district can -no. longer. expect a

“The district willl ‘have: lost between ;
300. and: 350. more “ students. by, next. .

mB ' September, resulting, in.as much as’ a
Trustees are ‘also waiting for the: re+
sults of an- upcoming district wide Sure:

‘$2 million ‘drop-in its operating. grant ce

from n provincial Bovernment. | : Le

By. JENNIFER LANG -

' is‘one’ lucky dog. .

_ Tow morning..

SPCA's relocation: program...

Mainland. All 33 found new. homes:

_ put'down last-year.

“unwanted - _pets:-from: the- Thornhill ‘Animal

Stikine regional district...
Home-grown. airline’ Hawkéir wants” ‘to

A BRIGHT, brown: eyed Pooch named Buster :

+ The- eight-month- -old miniature “pingctier
- boards‘a flight to freedom: fi rst thing, tomor- “

“He and two ‘ftisky: Io-week:old kittens

> who’ were abandoned: at. the: Costa Lessa Mo-- :
tel in early. February. are ‘being: transferred’ ‘to -)..-
SPCAs in the Lower Mainland, where they ©
stand a. better-chance of finding good homes. * -
Buster’ and his’ feline companions are the».
first Thornhill shelter: pets:to take part in the ms

In January; ‘eight. dogs aiid 25: éats . ftom :
Kitimat’s.-SPCA ‘were .takén’ ta: the”: ‘Lower:

That's: almost’-the same number. of adopt:
_ able dogs the: Thornhill shelter | ‘Was Forwed: to,

The SPCA -has. ‘pred | lo: transport some. ae

Shelter, -which. is : ‘operated - ‘by ‘the’ Kitiniat.

; help, and has offered the- “regional district Te

“duced Fares for animal ‘ianisfers on a trial bar
sis;

“The “Thornhill Animal: ‘Shelter put “down-a a
total.of 57 ‘dogs. last year. Thirty-four'of them. ©
-were’ considered - adoptable,. the ‘rest “were::
$810k, ‘injured ‘Or too* ‘aggressive - along: wilh”
+219%cats; most-of them! too: wild, 10. make a

suitable household pets: ~
STt*s sigkening,”

Stacey, ‘Kennedy: ‘said,’ blaming ' owners, who:
still: refuse ‘to ‘spay: “and. netiler: their: “pets; S

despite’ decades’ of public’. ‘Awareness cami
“We! put down. far too’ many: ani

>with: the animal: relocation’. program, ' ‘She’
2 fears the Thornhill Animal’Shelter could ‘be
come:.a- -dumping- ground . ‘for. even more un:
_- wanted . pels as. People. wrongly. assume: -their ,
a abandoned pet’ won't be put:downs, 7
Ce AY ‘mandatory Spay. and: neuter program: has: aN
3 been, in effect: for one year at: ‘the: shelter: ‘No ”
-animal-i is adopted: unless’ it’s been. fixed. -
~The. regional district has been. alsa” active: a
in part because it. wasn’t more cost “effi.

tive ihan. the ‘ctirrent’ service: ws

Oy seeking new. homes for animals. that aren’!
being adopted: The shelter, donates ‘Kittens

‘ahimal- control: ‘officer’

But) Kehnedy, sees. rn potential déawback--

KITTEN-FRIENDLY: Kolton. Moore, 9, (left), and brothers Bradley, 8, ‘and Shane Milne, - 10 (right), play with some of ihe kittens. 1
up for adoption at the Thornhill Animal-Shelter. Just 52 cats and 51. dogs: | were adopted in 2003. JENNIFER LANG PHOTO

- Buster and friends “iy to freedom |

‘and puippies to a Tocal pet: ‘store ‘when possi-

ble. One dog: was’ even adopted out to a Tess. =
; : on forest licence and ‘that. the city: offer: to. sell, same of. that

* -wood to’ small mill operators. °

cue organization’: for Shelties.

‘Potential’ pet. owners. will: soon be’ able t to. -f
peruse the Thornhill pound from: anywhere i in:
the world:=’ the. regional: district. plans to.ad-".
vertising . adoptable, animals,” “on- line: at
Wh, ‘Petfinder. COM we
- Buster’, S owners ‘put him: “up: Tor ‘adaption:
s because: they .were-moving. out’ of”. town,: ea
ever-more: common expldnation:| in ‘our uncer®: A
“fain. economy.” : :

Staff..did’ th

stands. a: “greater ‘chance ‘of - ‘being. adopted: »

down: there," Kennedy. said.”

‘next February,.-

best 10: ‘help. ‘inétease ~
Buster's: chances: of: adaption, -When. he: ar-.: |:
rived,’ he was timid ‘and shy. He ‘was even : in
“unsure about being petted: ' ae .

But lots-“of? love cand © ateition. soon”
» brought | him but of his shell. LePEGE sas

“He's youn cule, ‘a: sinall: ‘breed he" : oa a
young, ‘port in "Prince Rupert will: bring big:new opportunities, a

‘Last year; the regional disttict jodked: “into:
“aumitig the Thornhill shelter. into an'SPCA ta”

see if, ‘made sense. “The. iden: was. abandoned [. |
| manufacturing centre, where wood: from the interior stops

_ off for custom cutting on the way to the Pacific Rim.

5s New call for
forest fixes

Report is third j in six years
By JEFF NAGEL ;

-FORCEFUL sew deimands. for emergency. action t to aid .
~and transform, the northwest forest industry Were unveiled ;

last week by a‘ city- appointed forestry’ task forge, -
It recommends ‘city.council Jobby:t thé provinde'to° ‘al. 7

low raw Jog exports up .to.a 35 per cent limit. for another...

three- years- when the: current. government order expires

“Tt would really hamper next. ‘year’ 5. operations linless oo
there’s an: extension: well ahead of that," said task force’
chair lan Smith. * a ve

Raw log. exports ‘allow loggers, ondbuilders and silvi-

cultisre workers to’ ‘survive while: the industry, gets back . : ev

on its feet, he said. ;
Topping: the task- force’ s List of priorities is for Victér: -

_ ia to launch a-“Northwest Solutions Initiative” that takes |

into: account the: ‘higher’ pulp log content: cand. challenging

‘terrain here.”

The 1 member | task: force: sprang. “out af the’ city’ Soo 7

Communities’ i in ‘Crisis: ‘conference. last ‘September, ~ ma

“Its 71-page réport. is. the product, of 17: rieetings

through the. fall-and: winter and “is arguably ‘the most! |: :
* comprehensive dociiment: on the’ region’: 5: forestry. chal-" ee
lenges’ ‘and solutions: compiled to dafe,*- fo

“Key, recommendations. include? ee
“i Increasing the amount. of timber being sold through .

| B. C.. Timber Sales.”

a Studying potential. uses: Sof pulp-grade: vigod, includ-

' ving. potential energy-congeneration projects...

‘Ml Providing. the. City. of Terrace with:a’ ‘community. Sos

a. Doing. more ‘work, to. build. mats for, nothwest _—

e Products.

- Opening up more: 2 deciduous forests for logging:

{> Mil Supporting Prince: Rupert’ s container port,.and ine a moe
‘i vestigate how: to. maximize the arising business: opportu-” fe
nities for Terrace.” ;

H Developing: ihe Siewsirt-Omiieca ‘Resource Road 7

and improve. the Cranberry. Connector. between. New - _
Aiyansh ‘and Hwy, 37. Publicly maintain major. forest a
. roads: now maintained by: industry. °.

The:report: ‘also’ suggests the, city. step up ‘to the. plate :

and. establish a ‘property-tax ‘free zone~in. “which -new in-
os dustries could Set MP: and enjoys a tax holiday’ for a ‘period |

s thé planned ‘construction : lof | a dontainer: 7

- With’ it, Smith said, the. Vast. majority .of lumber pro- oo

ai duced. in B.C.’s interior-can: take: the train’ west: and g0. oo
on onto, containers: bound for Asia. i

“He said: it’s conceivable. Teitace’ could. become: a: re-_ ,

“ Continued: Page. A2)

700, 000 from its b ) u ide gi et

By JEFF NAGEL : _ a
CITY COUNCIL will slash $700, 000. :
out of this year’s budget because of _
lingering uncertainty about. when and. ..
wliether New Skeena_ Forest. Products:

"will pay-its ptoperty taxes. ©

. City) officials. had expected - ihe
‘company to’ pay’ atleast. one "year’s __
worth of outstaiding. taxes -by this July."
and -included. ‘the’ ‘expected: ‘tevenue |

when they. drew. up this. year "s draft:

budget back in November.”

That was. when the: mayor; and Ye
council’ were predicting a quick‘ end. to: Le
efe re the” _

the New Skeena’ ‘Saga. rand, b

money. back out of the budget. a
- “Phe ‘certainty: may not be: theré,”../
> “chief ‘administrative: officer. Ron: Poole ™.
‘said, “We ‘don’t want to spend money ae

‘mittee aerate last. eee was the: 2
O- rece “dollars, mayor Jack:Talstra fioted: 2
d °°. -The:city is-also: waiting ‘forthe fed-;
ot eral: government. to/deliver. ona. prom: :
(ise. to 0 give: towns. and: citles a full BX-

courts extended the company” s cred
weeks.
_That’s because it won't ‘need 10".

spend: $216,000 iow. ih:the budget lo
: the next. few weeks. on whether: the :

Sportsplex will be* under, construction
- this: year or not.: Tf. not,: money. would °..
also be saved’ from this. year’s budget. ; be
dE savings: don't « materialize - on:
those, fronts, councillors will! ‘look: for: :
clits ‘to_ other ‘parts: of the city’s capital .
projects: ‘budget = such’ as the $385,000 >.
“cut ‘some ‘élements:-to. save. about’
$75,000. anid retiain.on budget for the =

‘There at are no D plans | to cut the. coer, -eity’s $400,000 shaie. of costa. 1

tor protection to Apiil 13.
_Now,. amid’ fears. it ‘could: drag: an
much jonger, council. is taking the

we have not. teceived: Yet.” 7m
ne The first” item. eliminated: ‘ait. ry com-.

remaining cuts needed . for. a few.

expand the Ferry Island campground if

a matching federal grant. for, the some -

amount isn't approved.: :

‘The. city. will spend - ‘the. money if.
the, gtant . matetializes --— and”. that
‘should be known later this: month. *:,.

“It's shard: to: turn: down 50

“emption from paying GST. That “would”
- "Usave..the.city another. $80, 000 - bon

$100,000 this year; .. -
“And: ‘council expects ‘a decision in,

to. bé spent, tepaving Munroe™ St bet-,
ween Walsh and Straume.. :

ating expenses side of the budget, ° ;
Some on council also want.to-find . -
extra money to cover cost overrufis. on, °

nthe rélocation of the George «Little:
house to anchor a new. dowiitowh tour: -

ism: zone, -
Higher” than: expected” “expenses a

have pushed. that project's total cost:
close: to, $1. ‘million, said city develop,”
:ment services. director Marvin: Kwiat.
‘kowski,

-Hé told: councillors he? 8: Touking . to a