Challenging season expected Shames remains « optimistic. THE NUMBER of visitors to Shames Mountain last winter plunged by more than 20 per cent from the previous year — despite the best skiing the bill has had in years. The ski resort recorded 25,000 skler visits, com- pared to 32,000 in 1996/97, said company president Gerry Martin. The resort’s later-than- usual opening on Dec. 20, coupled with increasing concern about the local economy were the factors Martin pointed to ‘for the drop in visits, *'Weather-wise and skiing wise, it was probably as good a year as we've had up there,’’ Martin said. ‘‘But it was a tough year from a revente perspective,’’ He’s hoping local resi- dents will support the mountain this winter despite the continuing economic downturn. “It’s going to be tough again this year,”’ he added. “It’s a difficult time for dis- cretionary disposable spend- ing. So that’s going to hurt.” The mountain has com- mitted to run at the same level of operations as last year, and is hoping for an earlier start, Martin said. “If you can’t get people into the sport early in the season and get them com- mitted to it you Jose them,”” he said, He said the company hasn’t acted further on a BC Tel faces spill charge | ALMOST A YEAR. after a 4,000 litres of diesel, fuel spilled from a BC Tel repeater _ station Meziadin Lake Jast fall, the provincial government is taking BC Tel to court. BC Tel officials are sched- uled to appear in a Smithers courtroom Aug. 10 on one’ charge of introducing waste into the environment. If liable, BC Tel could pay a $1 million penalty under the Waste Management Act. According to provincial environmental safety — of- ficers, the spill occurred over an eight-day period be- tween Aug, 25 and Sep. 12 last year. Dicsei is used to operate the generators thal supply power to the repeater station located in the middle of Meziadin Lake Provincial Park. But things went wrong when a connector hose reportedly cracked and diesel gradually leaked into an-area surrounding the sta- tion. . BC Tel is reported to have excavated more than 200 cubic metres of con- taminated soil last October in an effort to clean up the park. It’s not known if diesel leached into ground water surrounding Meziadin Lake. near: If fast 1% more Canadians were physically active, annual savings in health-care costs ; Shoring 0 Healthier Fuivrs” ) | "ORT OTTION Oe could betas mich 2s $12,000,000. @ study paid for last year by Shames’ investors - don’t the federal government that helped identify ways the mountain could boost its revenues, Much of that centred on " expanded lodge operations, particularly restaurant and bar service, where revenue isn’t hitting levels recorded at similarly sized ski hills. Although the study might . have led to matching grants to cover portions of an ¢x- pansion, said mancy at this lime. “We would need 300, 000 or 400,000 dollars. of our own money to pul up,’ he said. ‘“We don’t have those kinds of dollars to put up. That’s why that didn’t go any further.’ When the hill is in better financial posilion, however, Martin sees expanded food and liquor service opera- ti arca of thy fed dltustrations: fomie Hustrations a igh ving ‘suggestions only: Advertived pricet do -Indude G5t.1 AIR MILES INTERNATIONAL, INGS MLV, LGIYALTY MANAGEMENT GROU CTOUEED USEF have their portion of the. portunity. If the Jodge were ex: panded he also sees poten- ‘tial lo market it in the sum- mer as 4 lodge for campers, hikers, mountain bikers and anglers. ’ “It has a lot of potential, it just takes capilal to do things like that,”’ he added. Although no major capital expansion is planncd this year, the mountain is in the midst of an extensive sum- mer maintenance program, RADELET & COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors Tax Law © Trusts * Corporate & Commercial 1330 - 1075 West Georgis Street, Vancouver, B.C. Y6E 3CP _Phone : 604-689-0878 ; Fax: 614-689-1386 NOTICE A. All playing fields at the Terrace, Thornhill & Kitimat area schools will he fertilized monthly. This program will run from May through October 1998. . If you've got EMAIL, you can.reach: elactronically. We welcome. fetters News tips, sports and cammunity contributions, and feadback of ali types standard@kermode.n : @ 79... I rc Chef Style Standin Rib Sted 9 q Valu Pack. Product of Canada, Canada No. 1 Grade SAVE up to 31¢/lb 235. CNY C tub Price Eciwards Coffee Regula, Finr of Extra Fine Grind. 300-g, FIRSTTWO - combined varieties SAVE up to $2.78 ueberry ing \ Ring Cake 450 9, From The Bakery. SAleWAY Cub Price Coke or Sprite Assoited varieties. Plus deposit or envira levy where applkatie, 2% 355-mL. SNE up to 2.98 on two